Seasons & Cultures

 

Cold Europe and Maniac Storms during the festive season gave us the chance to enjoy some warm days in Singapore,in the north of the Equator,and in the exotic island of Bali in Indonesia,in far Southeast Asia-Southern Hemisphere,only a few degrees of latitude below the Equator.

According to the lunisolar Hindu and to Hindu scriptures,there are six seasons in a year,each one two months long,and people use them to structure their lives around the year and to organise important Hindu festivals and religious ceremonies.

The winter season,Shita Ritu,begins on Dec. 21 and ends on Feb. 18. with average temperatures 26°C – 33°C just enough to enjoy swimming and get fantastic views over the Indian Ocean.

Private Indulgence under “Tedung” Ritual Beach Umbrellas at Nusa Dua Holiday Resorts.Indonesians preserve their Hindu-Buddhist Heritage even at the beach with coloured umbrellas resembling the Sacred Pajeng or Tedung which adorns Temples and graces family Shrines during religious festivals & other ceremonial occasions.

“Tedung”,the Balinese Sacred Umbrella,literally means “to guard”,and they believe it wards off bad spirits and brings good luck.Umbrellas & Colours in the Hindu-Buddhist World are Symbols,& every colour of Tedung has meaning.If you put them together they symbolise the “Balance of the Universe … ”
The hanging capiz shell from each tip was melodically dangling and pleasantly mingling with the soft sounds of the ocean …

The only winter sign we saw,was a cute snowman at the airport of Bali welcoming holiday visitors.

I wiil try to squeeze some of my travel experiences in one post as I usually post once in a Blue Moon so as to have enough spare time to visit my favouite WP bloggers & friends & enjoy their work,which I really miss.

Singapore Skyline and the last 2017 glittering lights and views over the city from the Sands Skypark Observation Deck.Although Singapore is one of the most densely populated regions in the world,with nearly six million people living on just 700 square kilometres,the city-state has earned the nickname “City in a Garden” thanks to its considerable areas of green space.

The SuperTree Grove and the trip up to the Skywalk – the bridge that connects two of the tallest SuperTrees and gives a bird’s-eye view over the entire park – are totally fascinating.

Soon 2017 was past.Singapore welcomed the New Year with flamboyant light shows and celebratory events.

The very next day,early in the morning,I found myself surfing the clouds and making dreams for 2018.

 Futuristic Architecture at Marina Bay Sands was Manipulating the Hierachy of Space.Such Great Heights!

The SkyPark floats atop the 3 – soaring Marina Bay Sands Hotel Towers and looks like a surfboard or spaceship docking on a tripod.On top you literally feel you stand amongst the clouds.SkyPark is a roof like no other,perched 200 metres in the air with an infinity pool and an observation deck in the clouds which offers you unobstructed 360-degree views of the Singapore skyline.It’s a remarkable feat of engineering designed by visionary Moshe Safdie architects.The giant,gravity-defying platform,is one of the largest in the world,large enough to park four A380 Jumbo Jets.It also houses lush gardens,top-notch restaurants and an exclusive,infinity-edge swimming pool with a legendary view.The 150-metre pool,the world’s largest elevated body of water outdoors,has been designed with a vanishing edge.It is as if there is nothing between the swimmer and the skyscrapers in front.After experiencing “Heaven” on SkyPark,you can descend to “Earth” where a world of shopping,dining and entertainment attractions awaits you at the rest of the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort.The complex resort,which opened in 2010,includes a 2,561-room hotel, a huge convention-exhibition centre,the Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands Mall,a museum,two large theatres, restaurants,two floating Crystal Pavilions,a skating rink, and the world’s largest Atrium Casino.

I was Enjoying it while considering the Complexity of Applying Aesthetics & Functional Utilitity in Architecture,and the Relationship between Human beings & the Frenetic technological progress ….

“A line is length without breadth … ”
“There is no royal road to geometry … “

“Ὅπερ ἔδει δεῖξαι, ὅπερ ἔδει ποιῆσαι.Καὶ τὸ ὅλον τοῦ μέρους μεῖζον ἐστιν … ” in other words :

“Proved,done.And the Whole is Greater than the Part … ” Euclid 325 B.C. – 270 B.C. Greek mathematician-father of geometry.Thoughts for the lovers of accurate reasoning and mathematical learning ….

“The welcoming hand of Singapore ” sculpture,the Lotus Flower ArtScience Iconic Museum had its white petals open.

It’s the most Environmentally-Sensitive museum over-the-top Marina Bay Sands Resort,a Dynamic Interplay between Arts & Sciences.It was designed by the renowned architect Moshe Safdie while its asymmetrical structure was conceived by ARUP,a constructive firm (SHAPING a Better World),founded 70 years ago,by Sir Ove Arup,an English engineer.Its design does look like the aquatic Lotus flower and collects Rain and Light as if it were real and wanted to stay alive.

It is structured into two major parts.The base of the ArtScience Museum,embedded in the earth and surrounded by the Bay’s water and a giant lily pond,and a flower-like steel structure made of 10 petals,which floats above the landscaped pond base.The petals,or fingers as some refer to them,rise towards the sky and each one of them is crowned by a skylight which draws in daylight penetrating the base and illuminating the galleries within.Its dish-like roof collects rainwater and drains it through an oculus,creating a waterfall through the centre of the museum and then flows into an interior reflective pond.It’s really great inside and outside.Visitors enter the musem through a free-standing glass pavillion and large lifts and escalators convey them to the lower and upper galleries.The 6,000 square metres museum & cultural centre welcomed its first visitors in 2011.Sheldon Adelson,chairman of Las Vegas Sands Corporation, which developed Marina Bay Sands,named it :”The Welcoming Hand of Singapore”

Great architects,designers,planners,engineers & technical specialists inspired by nature & turning daring concepts into architectural wonders …

Various Forms of Life & Sea Anemones ..

Colourful Coral Reefs & Sea Anemones through a Window to the “Open Ocean”,and Silvertip Sharks chasing Nemo and Marlin …

Exploring the World under the Warm Sea in Sentosa Island

S.E.A. Aquarium in Sentosa Island is always Warm & Life from the Marine Park is bursting with bright colours.It’s one of the largest oceanariums in the world with 100,000 marine animals of over 800 species in 49 habitats.The centrpiece of the Aquarium is the “Open Ocean” tank with more than 50,000 aquatic animals and strange photogenic creatures.More than 100 sharks,from silvertip,sandbar & the endangered,strange-looking scalloped hammerhead,swim above your head in a massive habitat.It feels as if you are underwater with sharks swimming all around you.

Finding Nemo … ?
The most famous reef-dwellers & movie stars Nemo,Merlin & Dory braved the “Sea Beasts”,they were briskly swimming & circling around Sea Anemones in the warm waters of my collage-habitat …

And,strolling around in ethnic neighbourhoods.

Chinatown’s heritage was spectacularly displayed in every corner.Wonderful buildings,restaurants,wine bars,boutique hotels and shops.

However,our real summer holidays started in Bali where all was beautifully different and in absolute Harmony with Nature.

Sublime Hindou Temples,Shrines,serene Sanctuaries for Meditation and wonderful holiday resorts with sandy beaches sitting on the active Ring of Fire.

We explored the island with Mr Gede;a lovely,kind,friendly and genuine guide,captured next to a bunch of Bromeliads.

He speaks perfect English and his Greek is better than mine (self-taught & he has never visited Greece) … Isn’t it unbelievable ?Om,that must be the Xenoglossy or xenoglossia,or xenolalia putative paranormal phenomenon,I thought.

Respect to a nation that still preserves its Hindu-Buddhist Heritage with deep faith and fervour.

In the lobby of Ayodya Resort there was an alter decorated with stone & wood carvings depicting gods,demons,creatures & characters from the mythology of Bali.Lighting a Diya(oil lamp) in the “Island of Gods” & burning Incense as an Offering makes your soul feel purified,cleansed of bad thoughts & negative influences.There is a duality in nature,high and low,right and left,day and night,clean and unclean and especially good and evil.It is the Yin and Yang of life and humans are caught between those opposing forces …

But who is this elephant headed deity with the large rotund belly holding fruit and sweets ? It is Ganesh(a),one of the best known and loved deities in the Hindu Pantheon of Gods.He is the King of the Spirits,the Lord of Learning and Remover of both Material and Spiritual Obstacles.The elephant’s head symbolises unmatched wisdom and the gaining of knowledge through reflection.
Interestingly,he also places obstacles in the path of those who need to be checked…Before you ask Ganesha for his favour,you must offer him your respect and reverence along with sweet smelling fragrances such as incense or fresh flowers.However,no Balinese ceremony would be complete without Tedung.The satin Balinese Ritual Umbrellas were shining in the lobby and were in alignment and orientated towards Gunung Agung,the sacred mountain in Bali.The Yellow colour & the White symbolise the dedication to the Hindu religion …

Here is Gunung Agung,the half asleep sacred giant,as seen early in the morning.

Scientists say that the fiery Bali volcano may slow global warming for 1-2 years.Volcanoes emit carbon dioxide,which traps heat,but they also spray out ash particles and gases such as sulfur dioxide,which form compounds that reflect sunlight, and therefore cool the planet.

The sea was inviting,the warm sand received and reflected the light and played with the gentle waves.

Kuta Beach on the western side of the island’s narrow isthmus was almost crowded.Once,it was a quiet fishing village,now,a popular surfing spot in the Indian ocean with consistent waves.

Our next visit would be to the Sacred Monkey Forest in Ubud and to Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest and Sanctuary to see the grey long-tailed Macaques who are considered sacred.

We found them upset,they had an urgent assembly after the gripping news on the 25th of Jan.2018.

Is it Ethical to Clone us … ?

Lots of monkeys at the sanctuary,their natural habitat,where they walk along paved pathways,swing through the trees and sit around beautiful ancient temples with guardian statues covered in moss.

Watching their actions,you find human nature in them.Striking the behavioural similarities,they seem to be our closest living evolutionary relatives …Wonder how the newly born – the cloned ones- feel.We could ask Dolly the sheep,the first mammal to be cloned in Edinburgh,July 5, 1996,but she died young,14 February 2003.Poor little Dolly …

Softly,softly, little catchee monkey … Don’t you worry baby,Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua will soon come by and play with you.I bought some rattles the other day,you’ll have lots of fun together and make them feel happy outside the incubator in the laboratory ..

Are we smart enough to know how smart animals are and how they feel ?Still think Humans are the most Intelligent Animals & use their intelligence for good?

Two identical long-tailed Macaques – named Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua – were born at a laboratory in China.

Cognitive Science says Human Intelligence may not be so Human after all …

Here is a gentle Sumatran Giant at Bali’s dedicated elepnant rescue reserve receiving a thank you leaf-treat for the safari through the cool Taro jungle.

https://www.masonadventures.com/elephant-park/

Tanah Lot,Water Temple

 Tanah Lot Temple is one of Bali’s most important landmarks,famed for its unique offshore setting.An ancient Hindu shrine perched on top of an outcrop amidst constantly crashing waves.The temple is located in the Beraban village of the Tabanan regency,20km northwest of Kuta.

Tiered Pagodas Of Pura Ulun Danu Bratan Temple 

 Pura Bratan * Shavite Water Temple in Bali’s central highlands on Lake Bratan with a misty  view over the mountain range in the backdrop. * Shaivism is one of the major traditions in Hinduism that reveres Shiva as the Supreme Being or its metaphysical concept of Brahman.And,Naga by the lake.In Hinduism Naga means deity and  it is  associated with water.It is usually depicted as a crowned,giant, magical serpant.

Performers getting ready for Barong dance.

 Balinese Barong dance and drama in  Kuta

It represents the enernal fight between the good and evil spirit. Barong is the symbol of goodness and Ranga of evil.Both figures engage in an endless battle,but  they are unable to knock each other down.The eternal struggle that has a philosophy in life.It is the Yin & Yang,humans are caught between those opposing forces …

Here is an exotic,tropical flowering plant for my WP friends,a showy Heliconia  Hanging Lobster Claw or False Bird Of Paradise.

(Heliconia, derived from the Greek word Ἑλικώνιος) .Heliconia is named after Mount Helicon,the seat of the Muses,the nine goddesses of the arts and sciences in Greek mythology.

And,last but not least,a reflective shrine in Gunung Kawi at the bottom of a lush green river valley,one of Bali’s oldest and largest ancient monuments,with 10 candi (shrines).

Respect to a nation that still preserves its Hindu-Buddhist Heritage with deep faith and fervour.

 

Besides,different creeds are but different paths to reach the same God …