Home is Where the Heart is

This picture was taken in 2009 in Anna Maria Island, Florida.  Florida's Gulf Coast is home to some of the best beaches in the entire world.  Florida is famous for its warm clear waters and white sand beaches. Anna Maria Island is located west of Bradenton, Florida and has over 7 miles of pristine beach.  I've been going to Anna Maria since about 1989 and Mr. Bones BBQ Restaurant is STILL there.

Battle

This photo was taken in 2009 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Flowers in Jilin

This photo was taken in 2009 in Jilin, China. During my stay in Jilin, the coldest night was -38 degrees Celsius. And yes, that's cold.

That's G

This picture was taken in 2009 at the National Stadium in Beijing, China. The Bird's Nest, as it is known, was the site of the 2008 Summer Olympics' opening and closing ceremonies, athletic events, and soccer finale. For another post and more info on the Beijing National Stadium, click here.

Covered Chairman Mao

This photo was taken in 2009 at Century Square in Jilin, China. The normal skate spot had been largely walled off due to renovations to Chairman Mao's statue for the 60th Anniversary of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 2009. You can see the statue covered in red(of course!) fabric behind the wall. Century Square's Chairman Mao statue is relatively small compared with ones in other cities I have seen. One must wonder what Chairman Mao would have thought of skateboarding.

Hoa Lo Prison Memorial Garden

This photo was taken in 2009 at Hoa Lo Prison in Hanoi, Vietnam. Hoa Lo Prison was used by the French to house Vietnamese revolutionaries and later gained infamy in America as the prison that American POWs sarcastically referred to as the "Hanoi Hilton." The memorial garden is a tribute to all of the Vietnamese who died at the hands of their French captors. The French were exceptionally brutal, keeping Vietnamese prisoners chained to a large, flat table by their ankles then torturing them and executing them by means of the guillotine. The words on the wall mean, "High Indomitable Patience - Eternal Glory."

Statues

This photo was taken in 2009 in Xingcheng, China. The two figures on the rock are not people, but statues facing each other. If anyone knows what the statues mean, please fill me in!

Hanoi Propaganda

This photo was taken in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2009. The mural is propaganda for the Communist Party of Vietnam, hence the sickle and hammer logo in the top right. Under the mural, the words translate to, "Determination to successfully implement the resolution of the Party." In Vietnam, it is not uncommon to see Communist propaganda on walls near schools, police stations, and public meeting places. Sometimes, the murals feature various workers or students crowded around a teaching Ho Chi Minh.

Donkey Cart

This photo was taken in 2009 outside of a restaurant in Manzhouli, China. Donkey pulled carts are not uncommon in China, especially in smaller cities. Many vegetable deliveries are still carried out by local farmers who can't afford cars or delivery trucks and have no other option but a donkey cart. When the donkeys become too old to pull the cart, they are slaughtered and eaten, usually as stuffing for dumplings. Such is the life of the sad, poor beast of burden.

Through the Tinted Glass

This photo was taken in 2009 on the beach in Xingcheng, China. The early Inuit used glasses with a small slit down the middle to reduce the exposure of the sun, however, they didn't decrease the intensity. Sunglasses as we know them have been used since the early 1900's. In 1929, Sam Foster introduced cheap sunglasses to the masses in New Jersey, U.S.A. Foster's brand was called Foster Grant and was sold from a Woolworth's in Atlantic City. Regular use of sunglasses can reduce the chances of getting cataracts, glaucoma, snow blindness, and eye cancer.

Two Girls on a Beach

This photo was taken in 2009 at the former Demilitarized Zone of Vietnam(DMZ). The DMZ is located about 100 kilometers north of Hue and was established at the Geneva Conference of 1954. The DMZ was set at the halfway point and separated the communist controlled Democratic Republic of Vietnam(North Vietnam) and the imperial controlled Republic of Vietnam(South Vietnam.) Troops from either side were not permitted within 5 kilometers of the DMZ line.

Objects Farther Than They Appear

This photo was taken in 2009 at our hotel in Beijing, China. Pictured through the peephole is my friend, Stephen Kovaz. In the U.S., a burglary occurs every 14.6 seconds and 34% of burglars come in through the front door. So please, lock your doors and utilize your peepholes.

Tiananmen Square

This photo was taken in 2009 at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China. Present day Tiananmen Square was the result of Chairman Mao's dream that Beijing be home to the largest meeting place in the world. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of The People's Republic of China, a number of important buildings were erected around Tiananmen between 1958 and 1959. These include The Monument to the People's Heroes on the southern side, The Great Hall of the People on the western side, and The Revolutionary History Museum, now called The National Museum of China, on the eastern side. The northern side of the square contains the gate to The Forbidden City.

Ngoc Son Temple

This photo was taken in 2009 at the entrance to Ngoc Son Temple on the northern side of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi, Vietnam. Ngoc Son means 'Jade Mountain' in Vietnamese and was built as a dedication to Tran Hung Dao, a Vietnamese military commander who defeated Kublai Khan's Mongol army twice in the 1280's. The victories over the mighty Khan are considered by military scholars to be one of the greatest military feats in history. To this day, Tran Hung Dao is revered by Vietnamese and has several shrines and temples erected in his honor.

The Bird's Nest

This photo was taken in 2009 at the National Stadium in Beijing, China. It is nicknamed, 'The Bird's Nest' because of the intricate weaving of the 100,000 tons of steel used to construct the outer portion of the stadium. The stadium was used during track and field events and the soccer final of the 2008 Olympics. Since the closing ceremonies, the stadium has been used for soccer primarily, but plans are in the works to turn the stadium into a shopping center and entertainment complex. Upwards of 25,000 people visit the National Stadium per day.

Khai Dinh Tomb

This photo was taken in 2009 at Khai Dinh Tomb in Hue, Vietnam. Emperor Khai Dinh was the 12th Emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty. Khai Dinh only reigned over Vietnam for 9 years (1916-1925) and was an unpopular ruler. He collaborated closely with French occupiers which was the main reason for his unpopularity. He was accused of living in luxury while the average people of Vietnam suffered horribly at the hands of the French. Only 15 years after Khai Dinh's rule was over would Ho Chi Minh become leader of the Vietnamese Independence Movement.

Xingcheng Beach

This photo was taken in 2009 at Xingcheng Beach in Xingcheng, China. Xingcheng contains one of 4 cities left over from the Ming Dynasty and is considered to be the most well-preserved. The city walls are still in tact despite being constructed in 1428. Despite China's rich history, it is sometimes difficult to get a glimpse of authentic relics. The reason being that during The Cultural Revolution(1966-1976), it is estimated that 70% of China's historical relics and buildings were destroyed, damaged beyond repair, or sold abroad.

Anonymous Woman on a Bicycle

This picture was taken in 2009 near the Perfume River in Hue, Vietnam. Hue (pronounced, Whey) was Vietnam's Imperial Capital from 1802 to 1945. During the Vietnam War, Hue was dealt major damage by Northern Vietnamese forces, who also perpetrated the Hue Massacre. Hue's historic monuments have resulted in it being named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.