Z if for Zoo?? (Abc Wednesday + Wordless 96)



Visit abc wednesday for more z posts!


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Well.. actually what it is not a zoo at all.. but the animal department of Dongyue temple in Beijing. I think I have might used the top pic in the past but I really like it and think it's well suited for this abc wednesday.. ;o)




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W is for Wall (Abc Wednesday & Wordless 94)



Read about the Xian City Wall HERE.

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U is for Usuki Stone Buddhas (Abc Wednesday & Wordless 92)



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Click this link for Usuki Stone Buddha info.

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T is for 'Ten Treats for the soul' (Abc Wednesday)

Ten things that make my world go round.. in no perticular order..



Caffeine.. Nature.. Music.. This kind of love.. Sushi.. The Pixie Cat..
Japan.. That kind of love.. Skywatching.. Creativity..

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R is for 'Reflective Opera in the Playhouse' (Abc Wednesday & Wordless 84)



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The Copenhagen Opera House reflected in The Royal Danish Playhouse.

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Q is for Quickest in the world (Abc Wednesday)



The Maglev (magnetic levitation) in Shanghai is the world's fastest passenger train.

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O is for Osaka-jo (Abc Wednesday & Wordless 75)




(Jo=castle)

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N is for Nimis (Abc Wednesday & Wordless 73)













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About Nimis
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ladonia_(micronation))

Nimis is a series of wooden sculptures situated along the coast in the Kullaberg Nature Reserve, Höganäs Municipality, in the northern part of Skåne County, Sweden. They are a massive, wooden labyrinthine structure connected by several wooden towers, and are said to be mostly constructed from driftwood. They were begun by the artist Professor Lars Vilks in 1980 and have been the subject of a long-running legal dispute between the Swedish authorities and the artist. As no permission was given to build on the site within the nature reserve, the County Administrative Board in Skåne has sought to have Nimis demolished, despite the fact that it has become a popular tourist attraction. As Nimis' existence is not sanctioned by the state, it is difficult to find - there are no official sign posts, nor is it marked on maps. It lies a few kilometres northwest of the town of Arild and somewhat farther from the town of Mölle, and can only be reached on foot following a well-worn path with yellow "N"s painted on trees and fences. The path begins as an easy stroll past Himmelstorp, a well-preserved eighteenth-century farmstead, but quickly becomes a steep and rocky climb down to the coast.

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G is for 'Giants of Longmen Grottoes' (Abc Wednesday & Wordless 70)







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F is for Fringe Flyers (Abc Wednesday)





During the Edinburgh Fringe there were 1000s of flyers being handed out all over town.. some were also put on this fence.. and a whole lot ended up at the ground.. I can't help wondering if anyone is giving the environmental aspect a thought at all.. after all it is quite a waste of paper and trees..

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E is for Edinburgh (Abc Wednesday)

With only 4 days left of my month-long visit in Scotland the letter 'E' couldn't have come at a better time.. it will of course stand for Edinburgh. A city I used to live in and that still feels like home over 2 years later. I come here to visit friends as often as I can. And every time I leave reluctantly, with a heavy heart and mind. I love the city and am sure that one day I will return to live here again.





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D is for 'Dancing after Dark' (Abc Wednesday)

One thing I will remember most from my trip to China is walking down a street after dark and suddenly the sound of traditional Chinese music would reach my ears. And soon the most amazing sight would appear in front of me. Women in all ages, both the young and the elderly, dancing the night away. Sometimes they would hold a fan or a silk cloth in their hands. Some were singing to the music. Seeing this always filled me with a strange warmth I never ever felt back home in Sweden. You see, over there you never ever see an older woman out in the streets after maybe 7pm. That would be a rare sight. And you would definately never see a 17 year old girl spending time with an older lady. But in China things were different. Here women were together, side by side, row after row, doing their own thing at night. Chinese women rocks!

The following pictures were taken in Luoyang. It 's a fairly small city and time was around 11.30pm. Still I had never seen so many dancers. It was breathtaking.





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Hosted by Mrs Nesbitt


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C is for Crowds (Abc Wednesday)







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B is for Buddha Park (ABC Wednesday)











All photos are taken in Oriental Buddha Park in Le Shan - China!

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A is for Art in China

My entry is found on the brand new ABC Wednesday blog - HERE!

But I can't help but to publish the pics here as well...





Traditional & Contemporary Chinese Art!


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Z is for Zen

My choice for today's Z-theme in ABC Monday is a Zen temple in Nagasaki - Sofukuji. It was constructed in 1629 and belongs to the Obaku school of Japanese Zen Buddhism.



Because Zen is so hard to explain here are some quotations that may help you get an idea of it
(The Source):
* The essence of Zen Buddhism is achieving enlightenment by seeing one's original mind (or original nature) directly; without the intervention of the intellect.
* Zen is big on intuitive understanding, on just 'getting it', and not so hot on philosophising.
* Zen is concerned with what actually is rather than what we think or feel about what is.
* Zen is concerned with things as they are, without trying to interpret them.
* Zen points to something before thinking, before all your ideas.
* The key to Buddhahood in Zen is simply self-knowledge.
* To be a human being is to be a Buddha. Buddha nature is just another name for human nature - true human nature.
* Zen is simply to be completely alive.
* Zen is short for Zen Buddhism. It is sometimes called a religion and sometimes called a philosophy. Choose whichever term you prefer; it simply doesn't matter.
* Zen is not a philosophy or a religion.
* Zen tries to free the mind from the slavery of words and the constriction of logic.
* Zen in its essence is the art of seeing into the nature of one's own being, and it points the way from bondage to freedom.
* Zen is meditation.


For more ABC pics - visit Mrs Nesbitt's place at

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Y is for Yuyuan Garden

In early June I headed off on a backpacking trip in China. It started off in Shanghai and the following pictures are taken in the Yuyuan Garden. It was finished in 1577 by a government officer of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) named Pan Yunduan and this garden was built for Pan's parents as a place for them to enjoy a tranquil and happy time in their old age. To read more about this amazing garden - visit TravelChinaGuide










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T is for Tree Tower



A while ago I lived a bit further north of city of Malmö - in a tiny town called Nybro. Not much to do there so when boredom hit me I used to go for long walks in the woods that surrounds the town. One day this tower caught my eye.. it's some sort of hide-out and look-out post for elk hunters in the area and of course me had to investigate... curious as always.





Fortunately there were no elks nor hunters within sight that day! Good thing for a vegetarian like myself!


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S is for 'Seoul Museum of Chicken Art'

First time I participate in ABC Wednesday! My choice for S is a hilarious museum I stumbled upon when travelling in South Korea - the Seoul Museum of Chicken Art!



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