Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Earth Hour 2008
We live on Earth, feed on Earth, sleep on Earth, play on Earth and shit on Earth.Yes, we literally do shit to Earth.
Everyday, we let the tap run too long, switch that air-con too low, took a cab instead of the bus, took a bus instead of walking, left the computer and lights on while we're sleeping etc. The amount of resources wasted by individual may be insignificant, but the damage done to Earth by the collective actions of individuals is massive.
For one, the snow storms this winter in China and the extreme rainy days in Singapore have caused inconvenience (and discomfort, since the old get rheumatism ailments when it's too cold) to many.
This is Global Warming in action.
Everything happens in a cycle in nature. Water cycle, carbon cycle, life cycles etc. We should have guessed. What we're doing, or have done, will ultimately come back to us. It may be this lifetime, the next, or further on.
You can choose to doubt the existence of Global Warming, you can say there's no concrete proof that we're overusing our limited resources, and you can say that it doesn't affect you. But there's climate change all over the world, there's scientific research and calculations that are scary, and that many other people will be affected.
So, how can we help? Every little effort counts.
"Earth Hour is the highlight of a major campaign to encourage businesses, communities and individuals to take the simple steps needed to cut their emissions on an ongoing basis. It is about simple changes that will collectively make a difference – from businesses turning off their lights when their offices are empty, to households turning off appliances rather than leaving them on standby."
Earth Hour 2007 was in Sydney. Earth Hour 2008 is a global movement. Simply turn off your lights at 8p.m. on 29th March. Show that you care.
I signed up for Earth Hour - have you?
posted by QueenPig @ 1:22 PM
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Monday, March 24, 2008
QueenPig Loves Colours!
This is not an advertorial or anything!But look what I have found!
Muahahaa! I'm in love with coloured stockings and tights! I wanna bring them home! :x
Colours like lollies, colours like M&Ms, colours like my moods! ^^
Tsk tsk... Honey, I know you love them too! Now, you have the chance to order them online! In 45 colours!
posted by QueenPig @ 4:54 PM
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Wednesday, March 12, 2008
10th Feb (Day 4: 南普陀寺、厦门环岛路、胡里山炮台)
Tralala! The last of my Fuzhou trip photos!Warning though, this will have little explanations and content, because I didn't jot down any notes and I forgot 99.9% already! :x
First up, 南普陀寺!
If I remember correctly, the temple has some 1000 years of history.
Do you guys even remember how many temples I visited?And how many times I said 'I LOVE COLOURFUL FLAGS!'
Count the storeys. 救人一命胜过造七级佛陀。善在善在。
Love the many bells, though I have no idea what they serve as.
Reminds me of Char Siew Bao... The bun shape with a red dot. :x
Lotus buds everywhere!
HUGE! In gold ink!
Butterfly supports? I think they made a mistake and placed Liang Shan Bo and Zhu Ying Tai there!It's interesting to see that there are little inspiring stories on the notice boards around the temple.
This is one of the shorter (considering that many people reading this doesn't read that much Chinese) stories that I like.
Fate is another key idea in Buddhism.
It's a SKILL to pray okay! Bet you didn't know that! There's a step-by-step to offer incense!
Dragon 飞檐s!
For an instance, I thought I was in a Hindu temple! Anyone knows the significance behind the elephant in Buddhism?
CNY is BIG BIG BIG!
On the way out, there's this small pond with DUCKS roaming freely! Can you see them in the water? I tried shooting them when they were flying, but the picture turned out blur! :(
Pagoda: multiply stories, multiple lives saved.
This is like a scene out of some old movie! Here, you'll find the empress and her zheng, tea and snacks, together with a few maids fanning her...
You know how we use both sides of the paper to save the trees?The Chinese use both side of the entrance! View out: SO MANY PEOPLE COMING IN!
View in: Not as many coming out!
Know what this means? The place is freaking crowded.
While waiting for latecomers (yea, the same old people who's ALWAYS late), I took some random pictures. Compare the green of the grass to that of those in 世纪公园.
I love ripples! I love reflections! But I don't love the fog!
Next, we took a boat ride to see something elusive.
We took the ferry, and there are performances when the ferry turns around.
Dragon on the ceiling... I know, I look at weird places.
But tell me, how do I miss this?!
Unintentional framing. That is the 郑成功 statue. He is looking towards the direction where he lost the war. (That's Taiwan, btw.)
Random ship out at sea. Is it military? Well, we all know that there exists tensions between China and Taiwan.
One of the carvings at the 'balcony' of the sheep. It looks random, with various auspicious items grouped together.
That is the 厦门环岛路! It's a super long expressway! The tour guide told us that, when seen from afar when the water level rises, it will look as if the cars are travelling on water!
Heh, the first thing I look for when I walk around. Just in case the ferry becomes Titanic...
Cute little boy! He's super excited to have instant noodles!The shrewd businessmen, they sell snack on the ferry, especially noodles! The whole ship smelt of instand noodles because almost everyone bought them for lunch!
I miss my baby! :(
Ooh hoo! We are getting close!In case you are wondering, passengers are not allowed to go to the front of the ferry YET. The cordoned off the area for 'tourist shots' by 'professional' cameramen! Evil evil evil! Unless you pay extra moolahs, you can't get a decent shot without some random stranger at the back!
See! I tried! Even climbing up (to block the sailor) doesn't help! And the lighting is BAD!
This is what we are all looking for! Remember, at the end of 9th Feb post, there's something similar?
Performance time! Our ferry had puppet show! There are other performances on other ferries, though I am not sure what. One thing for sure though is that all the performances are considered traditional with deep historical roots.Final stop: 胡里山炮台!
Cactus! Mummy loves them! The fat ones look like my mum threw her fat cactus into Doraemon's device (the one that looks like a tunnel, and can either enlarge or shrink things)!
Guess what are these?Tree fossils! Don't ask me how they got them. My guess is that they arranged them deliberately. I was told that when the bomb dropped, the trees splited. I doubt the story, 'cos they look like my chopped carrots.
The BIG CANON.
I couldn't resist climbing up. The aunties in the tour laughed at me and I have no idea why. Until I saw the picture.It looks... obscene. :x
Big hand, big bomb. Small hand... erm... Small IKEA vacuum flask. ^^
And if you have a big canon, of course you need a big bomb! Or rather, a long bomb.Notice how the inside looks like a beehive?
Do Re Mi! If you read the 9th Feb post, you will know that bomb shells make good knives!
My favourite phrase so far in China. Too bad they have no idea how to put it in practice. War does not necessary mean military war. Wars take on other forms.
To hide the soldiers. I think, given China's population, there'll be loads of soldiers in the little cavern. They'll die faster than those on land, 'cos the place is not very well-ventilated.
Old bomb, chopped laterally. The centre is where all the gun powder is.
Chinese are really kaypo people! I wanna take picture with the flags and the mop he also wanna see! And he refuses to go away!Anyway, the flags AND mop are props for a dry-run. The TV station was there for a shoot, and had the supporting actors take the flags and mops and run. Poor thing, they ran several times before they can sync with the music.
For my dearest Elmo Didi.
We'll now take a peek at the general's room!
Looks small right? And the stuff looks like those I saw at the Shanghai Museum.
I used to make such models for social studies class in Primary School. But mine always look like shit. My friend always have wondeful models. Because his mum is a professional at making models.
This is what the soldiers wear.
Heh, life-size figures. They live in TRIPLE DECKERS, while the general sleeps in his own big bed. How unfair can it get?
Duty roster! Totally Primary School style! I have no idea why they made him dig his ear. I mean, everyone will be looking!
Similar to the first, except the additional table and chairs.
And this. SHOW-OFF! *screws nose*
*Hei... Ooh...* Only one person is thinking in the picture, do you know who?Yea! The one stroking the beard!
*Knock knock, who's there?* This igloo house is so typical what we draw when we were kids! Door in center, windows at the two sides...
Door knobs cum door 'bells'.
Fake fake fake. I don't like artifical stuff! There're no smell, no aura, no ghosts of the past!No wonder Singapore seems boring to me!
Ha! My tour guide didn't know I took this picture! Sneaky me!We were then brought to this tourist place that sells sharks-products. Hate them.
Please do not kill! DO NOT EAT SHARKS' FINS! *chants*
And home sweet Shanghai home at the 泉州晋江机场! The above photo is taken at one end of the airport. This is probably the smallest airport in the world. Almost as big as a soccer field, I think.
Finally! This is the end of my Fuzhou CNY trip! ^^Fuzhou is worth a visit if you enjoy Chinese history and can appreciate Buddhism. Otherwise, skip Fuzhou and spend your moolahs on some other stuff/tour!
posted by QueenPig @ 3:03 PM
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