boats – SANGHA KOMMUNE (SSR)

UK: A Migrant is a “Displaced Worker”! (9.9.2026)

09/09/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

Of course, the Royal Navy could deter Channel crossings by its presence and the RNLI does not need to risk the lives of its crews. Assisting criminals does not happen in any other area of society. Sanctions should be imposed on France if it continues to facilitate mass migration to the UK. These are just ideas on the ground – but all it would take is a change of policy at national level. The masked men you see in the video above are known as “Black Bloc” in the UK. I think this is Dover. Notice they are wearing black and there are no national flags. This is because these individuals are “anarchists” who have taken the side of the far-right in the migrant issue. They seek to intimate and attack migrants (and anyone who helps them) as they land.

UK: Visting Tower Bridge – North & South Towers – East & West Walkways! (1.8.2026)

01/08/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

Of course, the bridge was never designed to be a tourist attraction per se – but it certainly is today – replete with a glass-floor on each of the two towers. Climbing the 209-steps-up essentially culminates in the traversing of the two towers – “North” and the “South” which are 213-feet above the water of the River Thames. Along the side of the Walls are arranged historical write-ups about this or that fact. For instance, a “bail of hay” has to hung beneath the arms of the bridge when these arms are not in operation and/or receiving repair.

UK: The “Engine Room” of London’s Tower Bridge! (1.8.2026)

01/08/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

We visited Tower Bridge on Friday July 31st, 2026. Oddly, none of us had visited this iconic site before. The Engine Room is around a hundred foot or so from the bridge proper (we actually visited the bridge proper – before we approached the Engine Room) – and features the original turbines that lifted the bridge up and down. Although the engineers that built the bridge received ridiculously good wages – the everyday workers who kept the bridge functioning safely on a daily basis received nothing like as good pay. Still, the engine is said to be similar to those found in ships like the Titanic.

China: Revolutionary Campaign to Liberate Hainan Island [1950] – How did PLA Soldiers Overcome Difficulties with Clever Strategies? (14.7.2026)

14/07/2026 Adrian (釋大道)

The PLA soldiers either died fighting, were wounded and captured, or died of lack of resources, etc. Just six-months later – the CPC was reading to try again with an army of over 100,000 men. This time the plan worked, and Hainan was liberated (men were told to move off the beaches quickly into the hinterland and not gather as a target for the advanced US weapons the Nationalists possessed). The PLA suffered over 4,500 casualties (killed and wounded) whilst the Nationalists lost 33,000 (killed and wounded). The PLA possessed NO combat boats. Instead, every fishing boat was commandeered – even those with holes (which were quickly repaired). The idea was to move massive numbers across the sea before the US warplanes could destroy them with aerial bombing. The liberation of Hainan was a remarkable feat of arms hardly noticed in the West. It led to virtually all the islands controlled by the Nationalists being recovered – except for Taiwan and one or two irrelevant coastal places in Fujian and Zhejiang. A few months later the Chinese Peoples Volunteers would be in direct action against the US troops in Korea – inflicting tremendous defeats!

Confederate Infantry [1861-1865] penned by the British experts Ian Drury & Gerry Embleton (1993)

CSA: Book Review – “Confederate Infantryman [1861-1865]” By Ian Drury & Gerry Embleton! (16.11.2025)

17/11/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Osprey Publishing is a British Publishing Company specializing in military history originally based in Oxford. Being English myself – and having been born in Oxford – I appreciate a clear-thinking and non-bias account of historical matters. The book above – Confederate Infantry [1861-1865] penned by the British experts Ian Drury & Gerry Embleton (1993) – is an extraordinary introduction to the subject of the Confederate Army in general – and the Confederate infantryman in-particular. An estimation of the Confederate causalities sustained during four-years of fighting (1861-1865) is as follows:

Confederate Casualties = 483,026

Killed in Action (KIA) = 94,000

Wounded in Action (WIA) = 194,026

Died of Diseases = 164,000

Died as Prisoners of War (POWs) = 31,000

Fire Boat Festival (Lai Heua Fai), marking the End of Buddhist Lent on October 7, 2025. Coinciding with the full moon of the 11th lunar month

Laos: Rainy Season Retreat Comes to an End for Buddhist Monks! (13.11.2025)

13/11/2025 Adrian (釋大道)

Beyond the spiritual rituals, the festival grounds came alive with vibrant activity as local vendors showcased a wide array of goods, ranging from traditional foods and drinks to handmade crafts, clothing, and household items. The lively marketplace added a festive touch, transforming the event into not just a religious celebration, but also a vibrant community gathering.

Well-organized and secure, the event provided a safe and joyful environment for all attendees. It stood as a testament to Laos’ rich cultural heritage, while also promoting environmental consciousness and community unity.

As the glowing boats drifted peacefully down the Mekong and candlelight danced in the night breeze, the Fire Boat Festival once again proved to be a captivating blend of faith, folklore, and festivity—a timeless tradition that continues to illuminate the hearts of those who take part, year after year.

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