Curiosities

Oliver

2011-05-24T18:23:00.000-07:00

When "Oliver" was first brought over from the Congo by Frank and Janet Burger (well known animal trainers) no one would believe what they had found: a hybrid of man and chimpanzee, a "humanzee"! His unusual personality and habits, shocked the world during the 70s when he was exhibited in the Ed Sullivan Show; what amazed everyone was his incredibly human-like facial features, light eye color, pattern boldness and soft voice. He had gestures incredibly similar to humans; in fact, he walked upright unlike other apes and never was trained to walk upright. Oliver preferred the company of humans, and was sexually attracted to human females. Some of his habits were having a morning coffee, an evening cocktail and he often mixed his own drinks. He also began doing chores spontaneously like using a wheelbarrow when the loads were too heavy. He would feed the animals, overcome obstacles and used his logic to find solutions. Until 1996 Oliver lived his golden years in a chimpanzee retirement villa.

Tower of Babel

2011-05-19T21:12:00.000-07:00

No one knows for sure if the Tower of Babel ever existed, however, evidence supports the contrary. According to archeologists’ investigations, the ruins of the Tower of Babel exist to this day at the site of ancient Babylon, which is today near Baghdad, in Iraq. They discovered what may be the foundation of the tower, "a square of earthen embankments some three-hundred feet on each side", says a researcher. Biblically, the story says that the tower of Babel was built after the big flood by the descendents of Noah who spoke a universal language. They wanted to unite and be independent from God, so they would build a tower that would reach to heaven. God visited the city and as a punishment to their arrogance, He confused their language, so that they couldn’t underestand each other. They therefore had to disperse and never were able to finish the tower.

The Last Colombian Nomad Tribe...

2011-05-16T18:06:00.000-07:00

Recently, about 80 members of the tribe, which included adults and children, wandered out of the jungle and set up camp in the south of the country, declaring that they wanted to join the modern world. According to a New York Times report, the Nukaks have no concept of money, of property, of the role of government, or even of the existence of a country called Colombia. They are a very particular tribe, they are very friendly even though they never have had contact with outsiders; monkies are very important for them, and women usually adopt and nurse the babies (when their mama dies) as if they were their own children. They also live completely naked, and all of them have a close-cropped hair cut with triangular bald patches; their faces are usually painted with red dye as a repellant for the mosquitoes. At the moment the government is providing them with aid, but is afraid the Nukaks may become dependent and lose their traditional way of life forever.

The Nukak-Maku tribe is the last Colombian nomad tribe in the Amazons.

A beautiful Love Story...

2011-05-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

In 2001, a group of people were exploring the forest in Jiangjin County,

China

where they discovered hand-carved steps that led to a cave. The curious adventurers followed the steps and to their surprise, they found that the cave was actually a home to an elderly couple who had a beautiful love story to tell. Half a century before, Liu Guojiang, a 19 year-old boy had fell in love with Xu Chaogin, a 29 year-old widow. At that time, their love was not allowed because of the age difference—it was morally wrong and unacceptable. So the couple decided to run away and live in a cave where they could have peace and freedom from their society. In the second year of living in the cave, Liu started building the 6,000 stairs for his wife, so she could go down the mountain easily. Those were hard days since they didn't have any modern conveniences or food, but their love was bigger than anything, and they fed themselves with roots and herbs from the forest. They had seven children and lived very happily until the day Liu came from his job as usually and collapsed. He died in Xu’s arms. Liu and Xu lived in seclusion for over 50 years and never were apart a single day. Read more and see their pictures at http://www.hoax-slayer.com/greatest-chinese-love-story.shtml

Amazones...

2011-04-30T20:37:00.000-07:00

According to ancient writers Amazons really existed. They weren’t just a myth and were very desirable and attractive women. The legend says they were very brave, strong and fearless combatants who were governed by a queen; they could have possibly lived in Europe, Asia and America, and developed independently on different continents. This matriarchal civilization was courageous and bold, but never cruel. They risked their lives to save the lives of others and always fought with dignity.

Venice, Italy...

2011-04-30T20:30:00.000-07:00

Venice, Italy, known also as the Queen of the Adriatic, is believed to have been founded by the Romans in the 1st century. The city was built on a salt marshland at the mouth of the Adriatic Sea, and it is rich in architectural marvels. The real magic of Venice comes from its mysterious and narrow cobbled streets; its ancient bridges and appealing constructions. With more than 150 canals, Venice is connected by 409 bridges and has about 3000 alleyways on the 117 islands. The city is sinking, and experts say that Venice may sink eight inches in the next 50 years. The average amount of tourists that visits Venice every year is 15 million and no one can say Venice is not a city like one taken from an enchanting fairy tale.

Ancient Perfume Founded

2011-04-26T15:26:00.000-07:00

Photo source: photoshoptalent.com

According to the National Geographic, a German research team said in March 2009, that the favorite perfume of a powerful Egyptian queen "may be resurrected from residue found in a 3,500-year-old perfume bottle". The bottle was found in the queen’s tomb with some other of her possessions with a hieroglyph of her name. The research group believes the perfume may be re-created within a year when they identify the substance. So we all are going to know how an Egyptian queen smelled, and even smell like her!

The Oldest Footprints

2011-04-26T15:18:00.000-07:00

According to a scientist report in the journal Science, the oldest human footprints have been uncovered in Kenya. Its believed that the footprints found in Northern Kenya, may have about 1.5 million years old; Scientists note that they were possible made by an ancient human relative, "Homo erectus, a species that lived in Africa long before our species, Homo sapiens". The footprints were compared with modern humans and they are pretty much similar to ours. "These new prints confirm that the human pattern of walking was established nearly two million years ago," says Professor Chris Stringer, human origins expert at Natural History Museum and a "valuable information, since we still lack well-preserved foot skeletons of the species concerned, Homo erectus."

The Sahara Desert

2011-04-26T15:13:00.000-07:00

The Sahara Desert is the largest and hottest desert in the world with a temperature that ranges between 30 and 50 degrees. It occupies most of Northern Africa and it is over 9,000,000 square kilometers. In ancient times, The Sahara Desert was a much wetter place than it is today and it was home for dinosaurs and some people who lived on the edge of the desert. Today, people still live there, especially Egyptians, and some nomades. There are also a few species of animals such camels and goats, the Saharan cheetah, the sand vipers, monitor lizards and scorpions. According to scientists, the Sahara shrinks and grows; they say that in the early 1980s, "The Saharas Southern edge expanded into the Sahel, a dry band that separates the desert from the savanna. But by the mid-1980s this area was green and wet again. Wonderful fossils of dinosaurs like Afrovenator, Jobaria, and Ouranosaurus, have been found in the desert.

Cupid

2011-04-26T15:08:00.000-07:00

Cupid, that mischievous winged boy that feels pleasure every time his arrow traverses the heart of his victims—to make them fall in love, is believed to be responsible for the craziness of love. This cute and magical child is the symbol of romance and is known as the son of Venus. The legend says that Cupid has two kinds of arrows, the golden one which represents true love, and the leaden one which represents desire and passion. According to a mythological tale, Venus was playing with his son when one of his arrows scratched her; the result made the goddess fall crazily in love with Adonis, the first man she saw after receiving the wound.

Joan of Arc

2011-04-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

Joan of Arc is known as a national heroin of France who was born in 1412 and died in 1431. She was only seventeen years old when she led the French army to several victories against the English. Joan believed she had visions from God that told her to recover her homeland from English domination; because of that she was later captured, tried and convicted of heresy by an English-controlled church. She was nineteen when the church decided to burn her at the stake. Twenty four years later, Joan of Arc’s case was reviewed and she was found innocent. The Catholic church decided then to canonized her.

Muse

2011-04-26T15:00:00.000-07:00

A muse is a word originated from Greek mythology and is referred to each of Zeus daughters. In modern times a muse is someone who inspires an individual to create or design specific art; there are many artists, writers, poets and musicians who have said they have been inspired for a muse; usually their muse is a woman they have been in love with. Nevertheless a muse is not always a human being. A muse can be someone originated from a spiritual world, a painting, or even an imaginary individual or magical person you just invented to make your work of art more creative and special. Read more at mythindex.com

Ann Boleyn

2011-04-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

Ann Boleyn was the mother of Queen Elizabeth I and the second wife of Henry VIII. She is remembered as an intelligent and very well educated girl who had a charming personality, was fashionable and had a lively social life. She was accused of witchcraft, treason, incest and adultery and was beheaded in 1536. Since her death, it is said that her ghost appears once in a while in the Green Tower as an elegant woman; other times appears near the place where she was executed, and according to the Green Tower’s guards, her ghost sometimes carries her head.

Tidbit

2011-04-06T16:21:00.000-07:00

After eight years of living with no males of the same species, a female blacktip shark named Tidbit, was discovered to be just about ready to give birth to a baby in the Virginian aquarium. Tidbit was taken to have some tests but it died during the tests. The scientists discovered that Tidbit had a pup just about to be born and it was a great surprise for them since Tidbit had been in the aquarium for eight years with no male of the same species. The pub was tested by Damian Chapman, a shark scientist to be sure the baby had no father. The virgin birth is known as "parthenogenesis" and it has been also documented in some fish and amphibians, snakes, birds, and in Komodo dragons.

The Kayan

2011-04-06T16:15:00.000-07:00

According to Wikipedia, the Kayan are a "feminine religion that it’s built on a feminine solidarity and a preservation of traditions." They live in Burma, officially the Union of Myanmar, the largest country in mainland Southeast Asia. When a girl is five years-old, she starts wearing the neck rings, which are brass coils that are put around her neck; later on, when she is ready for marriage, she has to change it for a longer neck coiling. It is a great celebration because is the starting of her body modification, however it is incredibly painful and it takes months to adjust. Then is when the girl needs to decide if she should stop the tradition and be married into another tribe, or continue with her suffering and honour her tribe by following their rules.

Minerva

2011-04-06T16:12:00.000-07:00

Minerva is an owl that was found starving and in a very bad shape after someone reported seeing it seated on a fence for three days. Minerva was suspected of being blind and because of that, it couldn’t hunt or feed itself. Once the veterinary ophthalmologist confirmed Minerva had cataracts, it underwent two hours of eye surgery and was fitted with contact lenses. After the surgery, and making sure Minerva was in a good condition, the medical personnel decided it was time to let it free, so it could hunt by itself; Minerva did it very well.

Teh Glasswing Butterfly

2011-04-06T16:09:00.001-07:00

The Glasswing Butterfly is the most exotic and beautiful butterfly species in the world. It is found in South America and its beauty is breathtaking: its wings are as delicate and fine as blown glass or stained glass; they are transparent and you can easily see to the other side through them. According to ecologists, they are a rare tropical gem and it is used to determine ecological changes.

Fish Pedicure

2011-04-06T16:07:00.000-07:00

Fish pedicures are getting very popular in the D.C. area thanks to John Ho, who owns the northern Virginia Spa, Yvonne Hair and Nails Salon. John and his wife Yvonne Le have said that more than 5,000 people have tried his innovative idea so far. According to John, anyone who wants to have nice feet, this is the best treatment. The treatment is simple: as the small fish swim in a hot water tub that doesn’t support plants or aquatic life, they would eat whatever food is available, so they devour the dead skin eagerly. Customers may be a little bit intimidated at first, but once they tried it, they just love it! Some say that it has been the best pedicure they ever have had, and some just ended with a big laugh once the fish start doing their job. Ho, who wanted to have something unique to replace the common use of razors to scrape dead skin, came out with this fantastic idea and is now thinking about offering a network of "Doctor Fish Massage" franchises.

The Miraculous Stairs of Chapel of Saint Loretto

2011-04-06T16:05:00.000-07:00

The story of the miraculous stairs in the Chapel of Saint Loretto, Santa Fe, Mexico, started in 1850 when the chapel was nearly completed, and the nuns realized that they would need stairs to access the choir loft, 22 feet above. The problem was that as the chapel was so small, there were no way to build stairs without taking too much space, and climbing a ladder would be a great difficulty for the sisters. So, that was when according to the legend, the sisters started a nine day pray to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, seeking an answer to their architectural design dilemma; on the ninth day of the prayers, a man came to the chapel with a donkey and a toolbox looking for work. Months after the beautifully well done circular staircase was completed, the man disappeared without leaving a trace. The legend says it was St. Joseph himself. No one knows for sure who the carpenter was, but the staircase is a wonder: it was build with a wood unknown to the region; there were no nails anywhere and no glue; the stairs have two 360 degree turns and no support of any kind; added to that the designs perplexes experts because the wood and other materials are gorgeous and they are not available from any known local source.

Castrati Tradition

2011-04-06T15:58:00.000-07:00

Castrati is a historical tradition where young boys were castrated before puberty, in order to not experience the hormonal changes and could keep their childlike voice. The operation was supposed to lower the male voice and the boy would grow up being able to sing with the same voice as a soprano. Unfortunately the choice had to be made when the boy would not be able to choose this option by himself, and many kids were tricked later on by their parents with stories like a pig had eaten their testicles; The boys once castrated, were sent to conservatories were they would have an extensive and overwhelming training. Fortunately this horrendous practice was banned from the papal chapel by Pius X in 1903.

Que crueldad!

Mud Baths

2011-04-06T15:54:00.001-07:00

Since ancient times, mud baths has been known as curative for lots of diseases including joints and spine problems, calcification, rheumatisms, muscle fatigue, psoriasis, and stress, among so many others. Mud baths are also known as an elixir of beauty (Cleopatra used Dead Sea black mud) and its components of sulfur, chloride, fluoride and radioactive gases are believed to give you such a relaxed sensation, that you look ten years younger after a bath! To have a mud bath you don’t need to go as far as the natural hot springs or volcanic mud are, look for the spa nearest to where you live and book a nice afternoon to see how you feel after it!

The Star of The Morning

2011-04-06T15:49:00.000-07:00

The thick layer of clouds that covered Venus resembles very much the earth’s light fogs. However, it differs in the thickness which creates an impenetrable veil that extends between 45 and 70 km above the surface. The atmosphere is mostly made of carbon dioxide, and the clouds of sulfuric acid; the clouds trap surface heat and creates a temperature of about 470 degrees Celsius (880 degrees Fahrenheit) making it impossible to land on the planet. Nobody would survive more than a few hours. Venus is called the star of the morning or the star of the evening because at sunrise it appears in the east and in the evening it appears in the west. It cannot be seen in the middle of the night.

La Tomatina

2011-04-06T15:46:00.001-07:00

Every last Wednesday of August, La Tomatina (Tomatoes fight) starts in Buñol, Valencia, Spain. It is a tradition where thousands of participants come from all over the world to fight in a brutal battle on the streets. The battle is supposed to start when the first person climbs up a greased wooden pole; however if it takes too much time to get to the top, people get impatient and start the tomato fight right away. The pleasure of the fight is pelting and being pelted by tomatoes. Approximately 35,000 tourists come to the tomato fight to enjoy also the paella cooking contest, music festival, parades, dancing and fireworks. There is always limited accommodation for people who want to participate in La Tomatina, so usually they have to stay in Valencia, and travel by bus or train to Buñol about 38 km. Shopkeepers prepare with anticipation by using huge plastic covers on their storefronts, so their stores will be protected from the carnage.

The Baby Hippo and The Tortoise

2011-04-06T15:44:00.000-07:00

During the Indian Ocean earthquake on December 26, 2004, a baby hippopotamus was orphaned in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Kenya. During a long day trying to rescue the 600 pounds baby hippo, the 1,000 villagers finally saved him by using shark nets; they named him Owen, the same name of the villager who finally tackled the baby hippo during the rescue. Owen was taken to Haller Park, a wildlife sanctuary in Mombasa, Kenya; he was released into a large wooded penned-in area which included a pond and a co-inhabitant, a 700 pound, 130-year-old tortoise named Mzee. Owen immediately felt bonded to Mzee, but the tortoise resisted his approach; Mzee has never shown any affection for other tortoises, monkeys or the antelope in that enclosure, so why would she feel different towards Owen? Surprisingly, over time, Owen gained Mzee’s heart; she finally accepted the young hippo, and Owen started to mimic Mzee, who taught him what to eat and where to sleep. Scientists are surprised not only about the bond of the two animals, but about their unique vocal communication they developed to understand each other. Owen and Mzee are inseparable, and can’t live without each other!

The Black Hole

2011-04-05T20:07:00.000-07:00

Contrary to the legend, a black hole is not a scary cosmic vacuum cleaner. It is a specific place of space in which anything can’t escape its pull, even light! An easy way to explain this fact is by knowing that a star is made of gas, and when its fuel exhausts, cannot any longer counteract the inward pull of gravity. Because of that, "the crushing weight of the star’s overlying layers implodes the core and the star digs deeper into the fabric of space-time. Then the star passes through its event horizon and disappears from our universe, forming a singularity of infinite density." In short, a black hole is what remains when a massive star dies, and as many speculators say, it also could be the pathways into other universes. (Source: http://www.pbs.org/)

The Fainting Goat

2011-04-05T20:02:00.000-07:00

The fainting goat is a breed of domestic goat that collapses every time it gets too excited or scared. It carries the hereditary genetic disorder called myotonia congenital which makes the legs rigid and stiff for about ten seconds when they collapse. Older goats learn to spread their legs or lean against something when startled, and often they continue to run about in an awkward, stiff-legged shuffle. Their size is between 43 to 64 centimeters tall, and weigh anywhere from 27 to 75 kilograms. The fainting goat is also named as stiff-leg, nervous, wooden-leg, and scared goat; it is said that it was brought to Tennessee in the early 1800s by a farmer from Nova Scotia. See the fainting goats collapsing at http://www.youtube.com/.

El Che Guevara

2011-04-05T20:00:00.000-07:00

Commonly known as "El Ché", he was a physician, politician, writer, military theorist and guerrilla leader. His trip throughout Latin America transformed him when he saw the incredibly poverty; it was then when he came to the conclusion that all that was the result of the monopoly capitalism, neo-colonialism and imperialism, and it was time for him to fight for the equality and fairness of the poor. El Ché later met Fidel Castro in Mexico and joined his 26th of July Movement. In December 1956 he participated in the invasion of Cuba under Castro’s leadership to overthrow U.S. power that previously worked hand in hand with Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. After the victory, el Ché got strong military roles in Cuba for several years, but finally left the country to continue with his ideals in South America. In 1967 when he was captured and executed in the jungle of Bolivia with the help of the CIA, he was already a legend around the world. After his death, his picture above became a symbol of hope and freedom for many worldwide.

Obsolete News About Colombia

2011-04-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

It is very annoying that today one is still reading obsolete-negative news about Colombia.

Even when the country is doing very well and the new government has kept the country peaceful and safe (for more than a decade) the media still is "reminding" readers of Colombia’s outdated reputation. By mentioning that Colombia was "notorious for drug trafficking and a corrupt political system", or referring to Bogotá, the capital of Colombia, as "once considered the most-dangerous city in the world…" the media not only is being negative and narrow minded, but ignorant about what is really happening in South America today. It is not productive or healthy to dwell on historical images from the past. What people need to know about Colombia is that it is now a land of opportunity, especially with the recent free trade agreement signed between Colombia and Canada. Writers about Colombia should forget the old beliefs and focus on what is the current truth; that Colombia is a safe and beautiful country to experience. Period.

Sloths

2011-04-05T19:44:00.000-07:00

Sloths are the slowest mammal in the world and are found in Central and South America. They are extremely slow-moving, have prominent claws and are the size of a small dog. They spend most of their lives hanging from branches and sleeping upside-down; sloths also have their babies in the trees and even die in them (Dead sloths retain their grip and remain suspended in the air). Sloths very rarely go down to the ground and when they do, they are incredibly slow and motionless. Sloths sleep between fifteen and twenty hours a day and eat at night. Their diet consists of leaves, shoots, and fruit from the trees. They are very silent and can live their whole life in the same tree.

Gypsies

2011-04-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

In spite of what common people believe about gypsies, they are very interesting people. For centuries they have been known as nomadic suspicious bands that steal and take advantage of naïve people in order to get what they want. Their bad reputation however, goes back centuries ago, when they had to steal and break the law in order to survive—they were pursued, discriminated against, and even killed because of their resistance to belong or become part of any culture or society. Nevertheless Gypsies are mystical, magical, and colorful people. They are strongly proud of their freedom, they have their own laws and "Tribal Code of Conduct". They have their own language, which has survived and has been passed from generation to generation. They are artists: singers, dancers, fortune tellers, and excellent entertainers. They are found everywhere in the world. It is believed there are over twelve million gypsies living on the outer boundaries of many nations, and always alone, separated from society, but happy and proud of their freedom.

The Vampire Bat

2011-04-05T19:15:00.000-07:00

The "vampire bat" contrary to the common beliefs, is not a human blood sucker. Actually it doesn’t like human blood, it feeds only on animals’ blood such as cattle, horses, pigs, and birds, and just makes a tiny bite that the animal never notices. The vampire bat is the only one in this species that needs blood to survive; it needs to consume a few tablespoons every day and uses its sharp teeth to make a tiny cut in the skin of the sleeping animal; the bat then laps up the blood that seeps from the wound. The vampire bat exists in South America and is disappearing at an alarming rate because of the vampire control program—cattle-raising is a growing business there and farmers do not want their animals to be contaminated with rabies, which is the main danger from their bites. Since scientists have discovered that vampire bat saliva is the best form of preventing blood clots, the bats may soon be used to prevent heart attacks and strokes.

Cannibal Trees

2011-01-02T16:26:00.000-08:00

Ancient legends tell stories about atrocious cannibal trees that ate people. In 1878 Carl Liche, a German explorer, “witnessed” a “horrendous ceremony” in Madagascar, where according to him, he watched how a carnivorous tree ate a young girl. “The atrocious cannibal tree, that had been so inert and dead, came to sudden savage life. The slender delicate palpi, with the fury of starved serpents, quivered a moment over her head, then as if instinct with demoniac intelligence fastened upon her in sudden coils round and round her neck and arms; then while her awful screams and yet more awful laughter rose wildly to be instantly strangled down again into a gurgling moan, the tendrils one after another, like great green serpents, with brutal energy and infernal rapidity, rose, retracted themselves, and wrapped her about in fold after fold, ever tightening with cruel swiftness and savage tenacity of anacondas fastening upon their prey.” Very vivid story, however, research has shown that Liche’s story is entirely fabricated and cannibal trees never have existed in Magadascar.

Atlantis City

2011-01-02T16:14:00.000-08:00

The fascinating story of Atlantis, the city that “sunk into the sea” goes back to 355 B.C., when Greek philosopher Plato wrote about it in his book Timaeus. The book is written in dialogues where there is a character named Kritias who tells the story of Atlantis, a story that had been in his family for generations. According to Plato’s writings, Atlantis was an advanced civilization located to the west of the “Pillars of Hercules” (what is today the Straight of Gibraltar) on an island in the Atlantic Ocean; a sophisticated and powerful city which was an awesome sight of architecture and engineering and a city that was built of a serious of concentric walls and canals; in its centre as it is described in the book, there was a hill, and on its top, a temple to Poseidon, the God of the sea. The city of Atlantis became corrupt and greedy (9000 years before Plato’s time) so the Gods decided to punish them by shaking their land with a violent earthquake which brought giant waves that rolled over the shores making the island sink into the sea. So, is Atlantis a made up story by Plato, or it is really a fact? That is something that we probably will never know, but what we know for sure is that this will always be a captivating and fascinating story that will continue leading to make amazing movies and books.

The Creepy Mojave Booth

2011-01-02T16:07:00.001-08:00

The creepy “Mojave Booth” placed in the middle of the Mojave Desert, during the 1960s, (Southern California) finally came to its end when unfortunately in 2000 th National Park Service and Pacific Bell tore down the famous phantasmagoric phone booth. The old phone booth never got a call for nearly 30 years until a guy named Deuce, wrote about it no his website. Soon, people around the world spread the mews through cyberspace and started to dial the number, just to see if someone would answer. Well, someone answered the first call, and then another one, and another one until the isolated telephone booth became a destination; people traveled miles and miles just to answer the phone! There were people calling from everywhere in the world just to talk to someone they would probably never meet, but the fun came to its end because the Mojave phone booth was getting too many calls and also the travelers were making a negative impact on the desert. The

phone company decided to kill the pun people were having…If you want to know what response you will now receive, go ahead, phone 1-760-733-9969!

San Andres, Colombia, a paradise!!!

2010-08-28T19:48:00.000-07:00

Aruba, Jamaica, or Hawaii are just a few of the most popular places North Americans choose to have their vacations. The beaches are gorgeous, the sea wonderful and food excellent, but realistically these places are too crowded, noisy and expensive. If you really want to relax, save money and feel out of this world, consider visiting the Caribbean islands of San Andres. San Andres is an archipelago located 480 miles North-West of Colombia, 150 miles East of Nicaragua and 528 miles from Jamaica; it is made of the three main islands of San Andres, Providencia, and Santa Catalina which

are tiny islands surrounded by several islets, cays and banks that make your vacation a real heaven of peace and tranquility. The archipelago of San Andres is Colombian territory but it is distant from the country and from the main government in Bogota; it is safe, peaceful, and a very friendly island to enjoy a family vacation. The official lenguage is Spanish but the islanders also speak Caribbean English. www.sanandres.com

La Doncella...

2010-08-20T21:13:00.000-07:00

Reuters

In Salta, Argentina and after eight years of study and preparation, the world finally can see La Doncella (The Maiden) the stunning mummy of an Inca girl who died more than 500 years ago in a ritual sacrifice. According to the archaeologist who found the mummified remains in Argentina in 1999, the girl and two other children, were left on a mountaintop in the Andes as offering to the Gods. Once there, the children succumbed to the cold, but their bodies were perfectly preserved through the centuries. The mummies of the other two children, remain in storage for further study, museum officials said. ©2010-2018 CafeJournal, NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Reuters

LOST CITY, SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA

2010-08-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

Discovered in 1972 for treasure hunters, Ciudad Perdida (Lost City) is a Colombian archaeological site of an ancient city in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Being one of the most amazing discoveries of the world during the last decades, Ciudad Perdida it is believed to have been built by the Tyrona culture about 800 A.D.—Some 650 years earlier than Machu Pichu. The city is an astonishing complex of tiled roads, stone terraces and bridges, drainage systems, and small circular plazas set under steep rock walls rising up into the mountains. The local tribes, the Arhuaco, the Koguis, and the ARsario, have stated that they visited the site regularly long before it was widely discovered, but that they kept quiet about it since they consider Ciudad Perdida as a sacred legacy from their ancestors. It takes a six day trek through the Colombian Jungle to visit Ciudad Perdida, and the scenery is absolutely amazing. CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

Transportation in Colombia

2010-07-30T21:25:00.000-07:00

Si, it is illegal, but no one says anything and it's pretty normal to travel like this in the middle of a busy street, and it doesn't matter if it's not safe. There aren't tickets for them because they are working, aren't they? In this picture the jeeps are not really busy, most of the time there are a lot of people on the top of the car, plus ten or twelve inside, plus the ones who are standing up in the back— many times there are more than six all together holding themselves trying to not fall off.

Here, "la chiva" (the way we name this funny bus) is the normal transportation in the remote villages in Colombia, mostly in towns that is very hard to visit because of the hard roads and distance from the big cities. It's the native transportation and almost always it is like in the picture, very crowded, and the natives not only bring their kids and stuff with them, but also chickens, turkeys, or even pigs (alive). In the big cities however, "La Chiva" is not a way of transportation, but an entertaining distraction for the locals and tourists.

As I wrote in an older post about "La Chiva", inside of these buses there is a big screen playing the most popular Salsa orchestras, a nice dancing floor in the middle, loud music and a disc jockey who makes everyone feel happy and ready for the fun. Everyone drinks, dances, sings, and over all, we laugh till we cry. This is my favorite thing to do when I visit my family and friends in Cali. La Chiva goes around the city and for three hours we pay $700,000 pesos which is more or less $350 CAD. Some Chivas hold more than 100 people, but of course, we don't go on the top!

This is the modern form of transportation in Cali, and the rest of the big cities of Colombia, nothing to do with La Chiva.

The "Smiling Bird"...

2010-07-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

In 2005 the rare and believed extinct “smiling bird” was photographed in Colombia after 40 years of absence. The curving beak that gives the illusion of a “Mona Lisa” smile is what makes this bush bird an enigmatic and exotic species. Researchers found the bird in a 250-acre reserve and said that it was last seen before 1965. The smiling bird has also been seen in Venezuela, but always in very remote habitats. Colombia has the most wide and exotic natural sanctuaries in the world; a few years ago the “”Yariguíes Brush-Finch” was also discovered there. It is a beautiful bird that has a large and colorful black, yellow and red plumage. The “smiling bird” photograph was taken by a Colombian conservationist who works for Pro Aves, a Colombian non profit organization. CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

Nostradamus Prophesies...

2010-07-16T14:47:00.000-07:00

Nostradamus was born on December 14, 1503 in St. Remy, France. At an early age, he was taught by his grandfather, Latin, Greek, Hebrew, mathematics, and astrology. In 1529 he received a medical degree and it is said that he had extraordinary healing abilities. When he was in his late 40s, he started having visions of the future, so he began to document them and published his famous “Centuries” in 1558. His revelations have been always criticized by believers because they say his predictions came from the occultism and not from a gift, or inspiration from God. Nevertheless his prophesies are scary because they are extremely accurate; all that he predicted in the past has been realized. He even predicted his own death.CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

Secret Societies...

2010-07-16T14:41:00.000-07:00

Secret society can be described as a “fraternal organization” in which secret practices are performed by selected members. These practices are secret ceremonies ranging from the common to mythical, often with luciferian beliefs and weird rituals. These societies have existed since ancient times and always have been clandestine; among the most known secret societies are the Masons, Odd Fellows, Rosicrucians, and Skull and Bones, society that president Bush, and Massachusset’s Senator John Kerry, have been said to belong to. Today secret socities still exist and all of them are very powerful; they have strong ties beteween members, and frequently have their rituals which outsiders never are permitted to observe. CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

A Beautiful Love Story...

2010-07-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

Boris and Anna Koslove, were married for only three days when he had to say good-bye to his wife, to rejoin his military unit. Anna kissed her husband expecting to see him again soon, and never thought for a moment that it would be the last time she would see him; at least, for the next sixty years. When Boris returned from the war, he didn’t find his bride, nor her family. The whole family was sent into exile in Siberia, thanks to the cruel regime of Joseph Stalin. Boris did all that he could to find Anna with no luck. No one knew where she was, so he eventually lost track of her. Anna’s mother decided that her daughter should remarry, and against Anna’s will, arranged her daughter’s wedding. According to Anna’s mother, Boris had “remarried and forgotten her”. Boris and Anna remarried with others and had children, but never forgot each other. They grew old, and their spouses died, and it was then when Anna decided to visit her home town, to see the house again where she once married the love of her life. That day, in the same town, she saw a familiar face staring at her…it was Boris. He was also visiting his home town, and he had come to lay flowers at his parents’ gravestones. “I thought my eyes were playing games with me,” Anna said. “I saw this familiar-looking man approaching me, his eyes gazing at me. My heart jumped! I knew it was him! I was crying with joy!” Boris and Anna are married again, and are now inseparable. CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

The Maya Calendar

2010-07-16T14:00:00.000-07:00

The Mayan Calendar is a complex system of multiple calendars used in conjunction. The Tzolkin, or “The Long Count”, is the most fascinating calendar of all since it is above all a prophetic calendar and it records time intervals in excess of billions of years. This calendar is used to track dates and utilizes a numerical decimal system. Its accuracy is astonishing. It predicts the end of an era or the end of the world—as many believe, on December 21, 2012. However, it’s not really the “end of the world”, it is just the end of a 5,126-year era, or the end of the Mayan Calendar. It is actually, the start of a new age—the golden era as many call it, and the cycle of wisdom, harmony, peace, re-birth, love, and the return of natural order.CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

A Breathtaking Monastery...

2010-07-16T13:39:00.000-07:00

The breathtaking sacred monastery of Tiger’s Nest, in Paro, Bhutan, was built in 1692, and it hangs on a cliff at 3,120 metres (10,200 feet), some 700 meters (2,300 feet) above the bottom of Paro valley. The monastery suffered several blazes and is a recent restoration, however the building remains exactly the same as it was built in its beginnings. The monastery is magical, and anyone who visits it, is touched in the most astonishing ways; the experience is completely amazing and you will never want to forget the feelings you got by being there. Special permission is required for non-Bhutanese to visit the monastery, and you will find a few Bhutanese army soldiers at the entrance to register the visitors and to ensure you are not bringing a camera to the sacred monastery. Picture:Douglas J. McLaughlin (Photograph edited by Vassil). CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

Experience your own funeral...

2010-07-16T13:14:00.000-07:00

If you want to appreciate your life more and feel really “alive” consider going to Korea to have a temporarily death. Thanks to Korea Life Consulting Co., who charges up to 300,000 won ($460) per customer, you can experience your own funeral. The whole process starts by the client solemnly reading his or her will; then a man in a black suit says in a resounding voice: “I want to give you one more day to live, but it’s time to be placed into your coffin. I hope your tired flesh and body will be peacefully put to rest.” The client lay in the coffin, which is then nailed shut with dirt thrown over the top. The lights are turned off, and funeral music is played. After 15 minutes, and when many participants are just about to have a panic attack, the coffin is opened up and the person experiences a “rebirth”. Korea Life Consulting held the fake funeral at a mountain resort in Chungju, 150 kilometers south of Seoul. Participants take a class on the meaning of life, pose for portrait photos to be used at the service and write wills as if they have three days to live. CafeJournalCopyright 2010-2018. NohraCeciliaLeschyson. All Rights Reserved. No part or totality of this site may be reproduced, copied, altered in any way without the written permission of its owner.

Find Out The Truth About Colombia!

2010-04-29T20:12:00.000-07:00

COLOMBIA IS PASSION!

Colombia, the only risk is wanting to stay!

THE GOOD SIDE OF COLOMBIA

2010-04-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

It is not a secret that Colombia has a very bad reputation because of its drugs and guerillas. Around the world, Colombia is unfairly known for being one of the most dangerous and violent countries in the world. Unfortunately, what the media never says is that those things happen only in certain regions of the country. Those regions are remote towns, villages among the mountains, and the jungle. Colombia not only has peaceful and safe places to visit, but also very friendly, kind, and charming people that make foreigners feel welcome and comfortable in their country.
Bogota, Medellin, and Cali, the main cities of Colombia, are equally as safe as Mexico City, New York, or Vancouver, to name a few. As in any big city, people must be careful with their belongings, places they visit, and suspicious people in the streets in order to have a safe stay. Other cities like Cartagena, Barranquilla, and Santa Marta, are very safe also. They are very interesting cities to visit since their Atlantic coasts, beaches, and their old Spanish constructions make them look very attractive for the visitors. In addition, San Andres and Providencia Islands, situated at the North West of the Atlantic Ocean of Colombia, are some of the most gorgeous Pacific islands of the country; they are well known for their beautiful white beaches and the intense blue-green of their sea.

On the other hand, Colombians make their country more enjoyable and attractive to visit by having such friendly and charming personalities. They welcome everybody who comes from
Anywhere in the world and ensure that they feel comfortable and safe.
When you arrive to a Colombian home, they prepare exquisite dishes, offer any help you could need, and they will speak Spanish slowly so you can understand them well. They also will give you some gifts like Colombian crafts, music, t-shirts, coffee, or their special regional liquor, in order for you to feel welcome and appreciated. So, do not be afraid to visit this beautiful country because you will not only lose the opportunity of knowing such an appealing geographical region of South America, but also an intriguing and rich culture filled of its particular warmness and friendliness. Article published at KamloopsCity.com

Freiburg, Germany

2010-04-08T21:35:00.000-07:00

This is a beautiful town situated at the southern of the Black Forest region (Southwestern Germany), only 3 km from France and 42 km from Switzerland. Freiburg is a great city to be included in the perfect European trip. Its scenic beauty, warm and sunny climate and its easy access to the Black Forest, makes this city a very attractive place to visit.

Founded in the 12th century, a visit to Freiburg is like stepping into a fairy tale setting. It is filled with picturesque ancient structures, Gothic style churches, and impressive giant clocks which chime every hour. The cobblestone streets are lined with man-made streams which attract the attention of children, birds, and visitors. Bicycles and free-use electric trolley cars dominate the avenues, with little automobile traffic. Natural parks help make the air smell fresh and clean. It is obvious that the local German population take great pride in their jewel of a city called Freiburg.

I enjoyed visiting this city so much! Its people are very friendly, the food very tasty, the weather just perfect, and the beauty breath taking. Shopping is wonderful because the prices are very fair compared with the prices in France or Switzerland.

This is one of the cities I would love to visit again; I have very good memories of this bella ciudad beautiful city. I also would like to go to the Black Forest next time because we missed it when we were there. Shame of me because I didn't educate myself about this town before I visited. I always research about the country and city that I'm going to visit, but this time I just didn't. I guess it was because we were visiting so many countries and cities in Europe that I just missed Freiburg.

Venice...

2009-11-13T19:37:00.000-08:00

This picture shows the day we arrived in Venice, it was a beautiful day and the weather perfect. It was during the second week of August and there were lot's of tourists. I thought that in order to go to our hotel when we left the train, we should take a taxi, so when we asked, we were told that taking a taxi was extremely expensive, that we should take the "bus" instead. I didn't realize that the taxi wasn't a regular taxi, but a private boat, and the "bus" it was sort of a ferry.

The trip to the hotel was amazing, it took no more than 15 minutes—on the water to get there, but we had enough time to admire this magical city! Its ancient structures makes one feel like going back to the tenth or twelfth century...walking by its narrow streets, crossing its ancient bridges and looking at such appealing constructions, leaves one with a sense of nostalgia for those times not lived and a strong desire to know more about Venice's origins. This is defenitely my favorite city in the world, I felt part of this culture even though I am from South America.

Me, Plaza de San Marcos...y las palomas!

It costed US $350 (three years ago) to go in the "Gondola" for 15 minutes... I spend that money better on clothing, fine dinners, or gifts for my family! Furthermore, the "Gondoleros" are rude, unfriendly, and the only thing they want, is your money! They even ask you for money if you want a picture near their Gondolas!

I love Venice!!!

Rome

2009-11-13T18:40:00.000-08:00

What I liked the most in Rome was the ancient monuments, its busy streets, the beautiful breeze of its summer's afternoon, and the ice cream I enjoyed with my husband while we toured one of the main streets. It was very nice to see how Italians have preserved the ruins of such an ancient culture! We didn't have time to visit the museums and that's something I really regret. But we ate authentic Italian pasta and pizza instead! I liked the wine too. I remember that my husband asked me to stay a couple of days more, but I was impatient to go to Venezie. That's where I really wanted to go! I always thought that going to Venezie was kind of an unreachable dream for me. However, now I think is very easy actually. I learned that one can go from Vancouver, to Venezie without any stops.

Aaaah Paris!

2009-11-10T20:32:00.000-08:00

Al fin conoci Paris!

This was one of our best trips because we had the time to tour Europe by the Eurorail. For me it was so fun to go from country to country by train. I felt as if I were in my younger years, traveling with my boyfriend around the world with just our backpacks!

During the trip I wrote everything in my traveling journal, so I could remember small details about every country we visited. The Eiffel Tower is the most amazing thing I have ever seen. It is too bad that one can't see how the tower really is in pictures or movies; nothing gets closer to what the tower really is, nothing! It's thousands of lights make the tower seem unbelieveable , something very hard to describe. My husband and I were speechless when we saw it for the first time.

I also loved to visit the Louvre Museum. There are so many things to see, learn and experience there, that it would require a whole year to see everything! It was so interesting to see the famous paintings, especially the Mona Lisa and her magical smile. What a great moment we spent there!

I loved to see the castles too, but the one I liked the most—even though it made me feel very down, was the Marie Antoinnette castle...it was too depressing, and as I had just finished reading and watching the Marie Antoinnette book and movie, I could feel how hard her last days were in that castle as a prisoner. Below is her jail cell in the castle...

My husband and I on our first day in Paris...

We are going to go back to Paris again soon (right mi amor)? This is a city that is a must to visit more than once since there are so much history and interesting things to do there. Besides that it is really the most romantic city in the world!

I just loved Paris!

Santa Marta, Colombia...

2009-11-10T19:19:00.000-08:00

Santa Marta is one of my favorite cities in the world, and it isn't because it is in Colombia and I am Colombian, but because of its authentic culture and beauty.

Used to be in so many beaches like in Cuba, Mexico, Dominican Republic, USA, Canada, and some in Europe, I found Santa Marta a very attractive city to visit for everyone: It's an inexpensive city, secure, friendly, and very beautiful!

What I liked the most, is the fact that one doesn't find everything so "Americanizado" or so "Americanized" style there. Everything is so Colombian!

When I was there in 2007, I remember walking by myself by the beach and having that feeling of belonging that I missed so much in Canada. when I was walking I remember thinking, I am in MY country, with MY people, and I have NO "accent" here. I belong here, and I'm part of it. It was a nice feeling, however, I know, if I would go back to live in my country, I would miss Canada so much too. This is my home anyway and this country has given me so much that I will never leave it for sure! Now I feel that my true roots are spread between two wonderful countries.

Above, buying some neckleces from a Colombian. Below, a lady convinced me to have my braids done.

Below my nephew Cristian...

Me, enjoying the beautiful atardecer sunset of Santa Marta...

My Vacations...

2009-11-08T23:04:00.000-08:00

I have to remind myself that in order for me to have a great time when I travel, I need first to work hard with Cafe Journal. I feel overwelmed because by the first week of December, I have to have printed in advance four issues! This is not easy because I work with deadlines and that is very stressful. I also have to create several new ads, and that takes a lot of time for me because I'm very picky and I don't like to merely make a plane or boring ad. I like to create ads that are catching for the readers! I also have to make the research online for the facts, jokes, curiosities, and write "Thougths to feed your mind". Besides this I have to check my papers where I display them—I like to be sure that the other publications don't cover my paper with theirs in my own stand or move the stand where no one can see it. It is a job to do! I also have to do a lot of paper work, and visit customers if they need me right there. That's why once I take my vacations, I enjoy them as much as I can.

Cali, Colombia in December

2009-11-05T18:53:00.000-08:00

At this moment there are 40 days, 19 hours, and 48 minutes remaining for me to arrived in Colombia (December 14th to January 18th). I can't help myself but counting the days to arrive there again. And it is not as my daughter—who lives in Vancouver— thinks, that I don't appreciate Canada, or that I don't care that she and her husband and baby, and my parents and niece, live here. It's just that I like to enjoy Christmas and New Year's eve in my hometown as I used to when I lived there.

I feel very happy every time I know I'm going to spend time with my sister, brother, nephews, other family members and friends during the holidays. December is a very special month in Cali because of La Feria De Cali, (The Cali's Fair) which is a very similar fair to the one in Calgary. There are so much fun during this month: the city becomes gorgeous with its beautiful Christmas lights; there is live music everywhere, and lots of fun activities such parades, International food, orchestras, etc. Every night in December is a big party!

We do not have a rest! Below, with my friend Mary, my cousin Martha, and my sister Amelia in the back of the car laughing and singing Rancheras Mexicanas.

In this picture, myself tocando la campana Ringing the bells...a fun entertaining in La Casa de la Cerveza, The Beer House; it is placed in the dancing room and every time one ends a dance, we pass by and rings it. It's very loud!

My husband looking at me "kissing" one of my favorite Latin singers...

My sister, my childhood friend, and myself happy to be together, I hadn't visit Cali for four years!

I'm pretty sure that when my daughter reads this post and sees how happy her "mommy" is when she's in her hometown Cali, she is going to understand better that I'm not "abandoning" her, it's just that I know she is happy with her own family, and now it is my time for me to take advantage of this brief opportunity to enjoy myself with the other part of my family in Cali.

My Hometown

2009-11-01T12:25:00.000-08:00

Every time I go to my hometown, Cali, Colombia, and see "Cristo Rey", the 45 meters monument similar to the one in Rio de Janeiro, I feel like my city is receiving me with open arms. The monument is seen by the whole city since it is placed on the top of one of our huge mountains. At night, the monument is gorgeous because it is covered with thousands of lights, and as one can't see the mountain because of the darkness, the monument looks like if it is hanging from the sky. It's beautiful! A great attraction in Cali. We also have another huge monument, "Las Tres Cruces" (The Three Crosses). It is said that the Three Crosses were built in 1937, in order to protect the city from the devil, who according to the locals, one day appeared on the mountain and cursed the city. As a way of protection, a priest hired an arquithect and made him to build the Thre Crosses to enclosed the devil on the mountain and protect the city from its course.

Las Tres Cruces from one side of the city. This is the highest mountain in Cali.