Category: Travelogue International!

St Nicholas Church and the ‘Holy’ Spike Situation! (9.9.2023)

I think a Saxon Church was built on a Pagan site – and then eventually replaced with a Norman construction which still stands today. After photographing these constructions and enquiring as to their function – a number of experts stated that they look like ‘Homeless Spikes’ (or earlier prototypes) designed to keep people from entering and loitering in certain areas deemed ‘sensitive’ by landlords, business owners and caretakers of State property! These constructs, however, seem to pre-date the ‘modern’ incarnations of ‘Homeless Spikes’ – but almost certainly serve the same function – despite not appearing on any other corner of the outer Church construct!

Continue reading

UK: British Museum Faces Renewed Calls to Return Cultural Relics! (7.9.2023)

“They are the subject of loot. They were illegally taken out of the country,” Tijani said. He demanded the British Museum give back the Benin Bronzes, which British forces took in 1897.

“It is irrespective whether they are safe there. That is not an issue. The issue is that these are stolen artefacts, and they should be returned to Nigeria to the communities that they belong to,” he added.

Bell Ribeiro-Addy, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations, threw light on the “insulting ridiculousness” of the British Museum’s refusal to return artefacts to their country of origin on security grounds.

“One of the most insulting reasons that they’ve given is that the other countries that these items belong to would either not be able to take care of them or they are likely to be stolen,” she said. “But you’ve got people in this country putting them on eBay.”

Continue reading

1986: Video of Me Attending a Shukokai ‘Karate-Do’ Course! (7.9.2023)

Hereford is the place where the (professional) 22nd Special Air Service (SAS) has its military base and airfield. Many men in this area either have been in the British Army – or are members of the ‘V’ (‘Volunteer’) Squadron of the SAS. This is a ‘Territorial Army’ (TA) Unit in the 22nd SAS that allows local men to try ‘Selection’ and if successful – join this highly elite group of men. Believe or not – there are individuals out there who are not in the British Army (and have never been in the military) and yet are physically and psychologically tough enough to meet this challenge!

Continue reading

Laos Buddhist Socialist Republic: Laos-British Ministry of Foreign Affairs Strengthen Cooperation! (5.9.2023)

In this meeting, the two sides appreciated the friendship and good cooperation between the Laos PDR and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland throughout the past period, and expressed a determination for this interaction to continue and grow in support one other. The two sides discussed various aspects of cooperation, such as politics, trade-investment and British aid projects in Laos, such as the Unexploded Ordnance Clearance Project (leftover from the US aggression in the region), the Biodiverse Landscape Fund (BLF), the Youth Empowerment Project (Lone Buffalo), the Health Sector Cooperation Project (Fleming Fund) – whilst the NHS is cut in the UK – and others. In addition, the two sides also exchanged opinions on the ASEAN-UK Cooperation Framework, and the Laos ASEAN chairmanship in 2024 and some outstanding situations that both sides are interested in.

Continue reading

China: Gansu Buddhist ‘Smile of the Orient’ Said to Equal That of the ‘Mona Lisa’! (5.9.2023)

The early Buddhist groups in China mirrored that of the extant Confucian scholiastic system – often forming around married laymen – with disciples taking the surname of the teacher as their ‘Dharma-Name’ and essentially becoming an extension of his family. Grottoes such as that featured below were places where Buddhists could meet, share and practice their understanding of Indian Buddhist philosophy. An understanding of Buddhist monasticism started to arrive and distinguish itself in China from the existing lay-practice around the 5th century CE – the date I believe this ‘smiling’ monk appears to date from. Whereas Buddhist lay-practitioners did not shave their heads (like Daoists and Confucians) – monastic Buddhists (male and female) were required to shave their heads – indicative of their ‘rejecting’ of the desire-laden conventions that define, guide and justify the external world.

Continue reading

Ruckersville [2009]: Chris Chan Is Working On It! (4.9.2023)

Interestingly, Robert Chandler (a US Army Veteran who fought in Korea) – was a very successful engineer in his civilian life – whose many different patents also contributed to the development of the 3-D Printer! Apparently, the family made a comfortable living from these patents whilst Robert was alive and it is something of a mystery as to ‘why’ this income never continued to help Chris and Barbara after his death in 2011. Furthermore, although Chris suffers from Autism – he made an attempt to keep his bedroom relatively free of the clutter that dominated the rest of the living space. Robert Chandler is well aware of the reality (and ‘danger’) of ‘hoarding’ – and explains this to Chris whilst not realising the camera is still running and whilst assuming that the internet is situated in a specific location somewhere in the outer world! He is referred to as the ‘Lumberjack’ – as he once implied he could ‘cut-down’ the internet!

Continue reading

1 … 341 342 343 344 345 … 357