Friday, July 16, 2010

Floating flower market in Amsterdam




This unique floating flower market, founded in 1862 is a series of permanently moored barges that contain the most exotic and unique flowers from around the world, as well as the beautiful blossoms that you may be familiar with. If you are a flower or gardening enthusiast this is definitely a site that you will not want to miss a trip to the Bloemenmarkt. Located near Muntplein the Bloemenmarkt is found in Singel between Vijzelstraat and Koningsplein. There are several trams that will take you to the Market, and the tram schedule allows for frequent arrivals and departures. Most people advise that a trip later in the afternoon is best if you wish to take your time to look through the displays of flowers, plants, herbs and bulbs that are available.








































































The heavenly smell of the thousands of flowers givens this area a lovely scent and provides an opportunity to talk to other garden enthusiasts from around the world.













Thursday, July 15, 2010
















In addition to the flowers there are also souvenir and knick-knack shops that have both Dutch and international art, sculptures, and ornaments.




















Thursday, January 28, 2010

Cheung Chau Bun Festival - 包山節

Cheung Chau ( 長洲, Chángzhōu; lit. "Long Island") is a small island 10 km southwest of Hong Kong Island. It has been inhabited for longer than most other places in the territory of Hong Kong, with a population of about 30,000 up to 2006. Administratively, it is part of the Islands District.
Geographically the island is formed from two mostly granite lumps joined by what was presumably once a tombolo, a kind of sandbar. With an area of 2.45 km², the island is therefore "long", hence the name as translated from Cantonese is Long Island. Thus, it is redundant to say "Cheung Chau Island". The island is dumbbell-shaped, with hills at the northern and southern ends and the settlements concentrated in between.














Cheung Chau Bun Festival ( 包山節) or Cheung Chau Da Jiu Festival ( 長洲太平清醮) is a traditional Chinese festival on the island of Cheung Chau in Hong Kong.Being held annually, and with therefore the most public exposure, it is by far the most famous of such Da Jiu festivals, with Jiu (醮) being a Taoist sacrificial ceremony. Such events are held by mostly rural communities in Hong Kong, either annually or at a set interval of years ranging all the way up to once every 60 years (i.e. the same year in the Chinese astrological calendar). Other places that may share the folk custom include Taiwan, Sichuan, Fujian and Guangdong.
Cheung Chau's Bun Festival, which draws tens of thousands of local and overseas tourists every year, is staged to mark the Eighth day of the Fourth Moon, in the Chinese calendar (this is usually in early May). It coincides with the local celebration of Buddha’s Birthday.