Flowers

"None can have a healthy love for flowers unless he loves the wild ones." 

-  Forbes Watson

Good things in life



Serra da Estrela - Portugal



"When every day seems the same, it is because we have stopped noticing

the good things that appear in our lives."
(Paulo Coelho)

The LUCKY cat

Lucky

Lots of people talk to animals.... Not many listen, though.... That's the problem.

Benjamin Hoff, The Tao of Pooh

Iced Reasons

Someday everything

will all make perfect sense. So

for now, laugh at the confusion,

smile through the tears, and

keep reminding yourself

that everything happens

for  a reason.



Animals

"Until one has loved an animal,  a part of one's soul remains unawakened."

 ~ Anatole France

Valentine

Once in a while,

right in the middle

of an ordinary life,

Love gives us a fairy tale.

HAPPY VALENTINE

Journey

Sometimes in your life you will go on a journey.

It will be the longest journey you have ever taken.

It is the journey to find yourself.

- Katherine Sharp -

Visions



Belém - Lisboa



The future belongs to those who see possibilities before they become obvious."

— John Scully

Tak Bat - A venerable tradition

The practice of offering food to monks is most visible in Theravada buddhist countries like Laos and Thailand, where the practice sustains large monastic communities. They walk single file, oldest first, carrying their alms bowls in front of them. Laypeople wait for them, sometimes kneeling, and place food, flowers or incense sticks in the bowls.

Tak Bat - A Venerable Tradition in Luang Prabang

It's one of the most vivid images of Laos - from 5:30 in the morning onward, silent lines of saffron-clad monks walk down the streets of Luang Prabang to collect alms. The locals are there ahead of them, ready with bowls full of the Lao staple sticky rice; every monk gets a scoopful in their bowl. With almost eighty temples in Luang Prabang alone, this adds up to hundreds of monks, who take different routes depending on where in town their temple stands. The routes that walk through Th Sakkarin and Th Kamal are among the most viewed by tourists, although the ritual occurs all around Luang Prabang.

Each monk carries a large lidded bowl, which is attached to a strap hanging from the monk's shoulder. As monks file past the line of almsgivers - who are usually sitting or kneeling on the street - these containers are reverently filled with handfuls of sticky rice or bananas, incense and even money.

The best rice for the tak bat ritual is prepared by the almsgivers themselves. The locals wake up early to prepare a batch of sticky rice, which they then scoop generously into each monk's bowl as the line files past.

The ritual is done in silence; the almsgivers do not speak, nor do the monks. The monks walk in meditation, and the almsgivers reciprocate with respect by not disturbing the monk's meditative peace. For hundreds of years, the ritual has cemented the symbiotic relationship between the monks and the almsgivers who maintain them - by feeding the monks and helping the laypeople make merit, tak bat supports both the monks (who need the food) and the almsgivers (who need spiritual redemption).

The upsurge of tourism in Luang Prabang has endangered the tak bat ceremony, as many tourists approach the ritual not as a religious ceremony to be respected, but as a cultural show to enjoy.
Tourists often jostle the monks, breaking their meditation; they take flash pictures of the line; and they disrupt the ritual with their inapppropriate noise, actions and dress.

As a result, fewer local are inclined to take part, because they refuse to be part of a dog-and-pony show for tourists. Some Lao officials are considering stopping the tradition because of the deep offense caused by tourists'beastly behavior.(http://goseasia.about.com/od/laos/a/Tak-Bat-Luang-Prabang-Laos.htm)

Simple things



Luang Prabang - Laos



“The simple things are also the most extraordinary.”
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist

It always makes my day!

Children of Laos

“A child can teach an adult three things: to be happy for no reason, to always be busy with something, and to know how to demand with all his might that which he desires.”
― Paulo Coelho

Smiles

Angkor Thom - Cambodia

A smile is a language everybody understands. It costs nothing but creates much.

It happens fast but its memory may last forever.

Special moments

The heat was tremendous

so I had to go for a bath...! :)

Moments of complete happiness!

These are my moments, and.. sometimes (very few)... I'm on the other end of the camera.

Time spent with animals, beasts like this one, are absolutely unique.

They don't deceive or betray us, they do not know envy, jealousy or hate.

They are Special! :)



by: Jorge Vassalo

 


by : Jorge Vassalo





by  : Jorge Vassalo




by : Jorge Vassalo



by : Jorge Vassalo




by : Sérgio Rosa



(Luang Prabang - Laos)


Have a great WEEKEND!

Fly!

                                 Wondering why it’s looking at me that close?  Well…got my lunch!!! … didn’t see it coming! J

You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true.

You may have to work for it, however.

Illusions - Richard Bach

Forever..

Tomb of King Duarte and his wife Queen Leonor of Aragon - Mosteiro da Batalha (Portugal)

"... And I meant every word I said
When I said that I love you I meant
That I love you forever.."

(Keep on loving you - REO Speedwagon)