being a spin-off from the weather thread.
could be about your favorite places/some recent random visits - anything you like.
the local museum of natural history was closed for a pretty long time due to extensive renovation. it's been re-opened now with some new "big guys" added -
i went to see these monsters today:
giganotosaurus just about to eat that poor family...
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3601/3395225268_7cce3edefe.jpg?v=0)
that thing was bigger than t.rex! :shock:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3641/3395223930_1bacb7dec7.jpg?v=0)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36543214@N07/sets/72157616074146688/
good idea!!!!
man that looks scary :shock:
i prefer the aquarium and the zoo with cute little furry animal and colorful fish. our zoo has an elephant baby and it's just precious. http://www.koeln-lodge.de/img/fotoalbum/images/31-koelner-zoo-elefanten-ming-jung-cut.jpg
:D
I try to go to a little island here in the south of Sweden once a year, preferably during the spring or autumn seasons. What we do there on Utklippan, as the name of the island is, is birdwatching and birdbanding. This is a perfect place for contemplation and spending time with good friends in the nature. We´re rather isolated during one or two weeks (I never stayed more than one week though) but there´s always plenty of good food and a few nice beers aswell.
Take a look at a skua flying by my treasure island.
I really wanted You to see the island aswell but didn´t manage to attatch two separate pictures in one post so here is another post with a picture of the island itself. Enjoy.
Quote from: fiction on March 31, 2009, 20:14:31
I really wanted You to see the island aswell but didn´t manage to attatch two separate pictures in one post so here is another post with a picture of the island itself. Enjoy.
Wow I'm impressed :shock: It's like a painting. So beautiful.
Quote from: fiction on March 31, 2009, 20:10:19
I try to go to a little island here in the south of Sweden once a year, preferably during the spring or autumn seasons. What we do there on Utklippan, as the name of the island is, is birdwatching and birdbanding. This is a perfect place for contemplation and spending time with good friends in the nature. We´re rather isolated during one or two weeks (I never stayed more than one week though) but there´s always plenty of good food and a few nice beers aswell.
that's looks like a dream location. thanks for posting the pics.
this reminds me of many years ago, i once spent a week on the island of jurmo (in outer åland islands. that was late in summer/early autumn, good birdwatching time too. ;)
the island is pretty remote and can only be reached by a ferry only a couple of times per week.
i've always wanted to go back there since that.
found some pics here:
http://www.rosita.fi/galleria/jurmo/index.htm
more pics: http://www.jurmo.com/albumi.html
(click the link "avaa albumi..." to view the photo folders)
Quote from: fiction on March 31, 2009, 20:10:19
Take a look at a skua flying by my treasure island.
a great pic! that's an arctic skua, isn't it?
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 01, 2009, 20:42:27
that's looks like a dream location. thanks for posting the pics.
Well, thanx for enjoying them.
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 01, 2009, 20:42:27
this reminds me of many years ago, i once spent a week on the island of jurmo (in outer åland islands. that was late in summer/early autumn, good birdwatching time too. ;)
the island is pretty remote and can only be reached by a ferry only a couple of times per week.
i've always wanted to go back there since that.
found some pics here:
http://www.rosita.fi/galleria/jurmo/index.htm
more pics: http://www.jurmo.com/albumi.html
(click the link "avaa albumi..." to view the photo folders)
What great pictures. But then of course the archipelago of Åland is mysteriously beautiful. I´ve actually spent a week during an easter holiday there in search of king eiders (kyhmyhaahka). We didn´t spot any but we saw a lot of eiders (haahka), long tailed ducks (alli) and white tailed eagle (merikotka).
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 01, 2009, 20:42:27
a great pic! that's an arctic skua, isn't it?
Right on target, Captain. It´s an arctic skua of the darker phase.
I´ll see to it and post some more pictures another time.
that would be nice.
i'd really need to arrange some stay in the archipelago again. haven't been there for years. the spring would be the best time. i always feel like i'm just wasting it away...
otherwise i really like it that there's a large natural coservation area almost right in the heart of the city here, especially famous for the bird life:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanhankaupunginlahti
some interesting exotic friendships i've made there, like citrine wagtail (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrine_Wagtail) and great egret (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Egret).
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 02, 2009, 08:24:44
that would be nice.
i'd really need to arrange some stay in the archipelago again. haven't been there for years. the spring would be the best time. i always feel like i'm just wasting it away...
You do that. It´s so good for the mind to do some contemplating in nature.
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 02, 2009, 08:24:44
otherwise i really like it that there's a large natural coservation area almost right in the heart of the city here, especially famous for the bird life:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanhankaupunginlahti
some interesting exotic friendships i've made there, like citrine wagtail (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Citrine_Wagtail) and great egret (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Egret).
Again You bid us beautiful pictures and to me some fantastic heron memories from Mallorca and the swamp of S´albufera. That´s possibly the best birdpark I visit abroad. Check it out some time.
Here is a picture of a banded pallas´s warbler from Utklippan.
Hmm... I don´t seem to understand how to post more than one picture at the time in these mails. Well, I give You one more to look at. It´s a view at the lighthouse.
Okay, now I just saw the link to the right and if this works as I expect it to do the following images representing the lighthouse of Utklippan, a bluethroat, a rough legged buzzard (check out his look), and me with a firecrest. The latter one we did suspect died later on because all of the goldcrest (the related and more common specie) were very tired when they hit the island and many of them were prayed upon by sparrowhawks.
great pics again! :) (that's you in the last pic?)
in the list of favorite places, i like cemeteries. or, "collecting cemeteries" as you might also call it (ok that might sound a bit weird, easy to get it all wrong... but no, it's not that i like to hang around there at midnight dressed as a vampire or to push over tombstones or something. instead, read on...).
i had some nice appointments the other day on my usual cemetery walk in hietaniemi cemetery:
http://blog.curefans.com/japanesebaby/2009/04/09/an-appointment/
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3563/3424613854_bf3d34e7fc_o.png)
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 09, 2009, 11:55:01
great pics again! :) (that's you in the last pic?)
in the list of favorite places, i like cemeteries. or, "collecting cemeteries" as you might also call it (ok that might sound a bit weird, easy to get it all wrong... but no, it's not that i like to hang around there at midnight dressed as a vampire or to push over tombstones or something. instead, read on...).
i had some nice appointments the other day on my usual cemetery walk in hietaniemi cemetery:
http://blog.curefans.com/japanesebaby/2009/04/09/an-appointment/
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3563/3424613854_bf3d34e7fc_o.png)
Yup, it´s me alright.
It´s a bit scary that story of Yours and the pictures of the squirrel. I´m just reading a book (that one of my students made such a great rapport of that I just had to read it myself), "The Magic House" by James Herbert. I´s a sweet story about two young lovers finding their dream house with a garden full of tame birds and squirrels. And just the squirrel is the start of all evil as he gets a bit close to the pair in love. Spooky. I just pictured the view very similar to Your picture.
Quote from: fiction on April 09, 2009, 12:24:11And just the squirrel is the start of all evil as he gets a bit close to the pair in love. Spooky. I just pictured the view very similar to Your picture.
how could he be start of anything evil? :D
(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5504/p4083903b.th.png) (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p4083903b.png)
anyway, funny how the associations can be so different. i have such a nice memory of that creature that it's hard to imagine anything else.
have to check out that book sometime.
Wow. Nice encounters. Here in Paris' Père Lachaise cemetery, the only thing you may bump into are the wild cats that live in there. I also find walks in such an environment very relaxing. You get to feel what's really important around you.
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 09, 2009, 12:31:58
how could he be start of anything evil? :D
(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5504/p4083903b.th.png) (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p4083903b.png)
Well for starters, Your little friend is at a greveyard :roll:. No of course squirrels are nomally not the root to something evil. You have taken a very nice picture, almost a portrait of the individual.
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 09, 2009, 12:31:58
anyway, funny how the associations can be so different. i have such a nice memory of that creature that it's hard to imagine anything else.
have to check out that book sometime.
When it comes to that book I really don´t recommend it. The review was better than the actuall book imo. At least for as so far I have gotten thus far.
thanks for visiting my blog, please leave a comment if you like. ;)
Quote from: Descent on April 09, 2009, 12:33:41
Wow. Nice encounters. Here in Paris' Père Lachaise cemetery, the only thing you may bump into are the wild cats that live in there. I also find walks in such an environment very relaxing. You get to feel what's really important around you.
yes, that's exactly why i find cemeteries really relaxing, nothing spooky or scary in there. places sprawling with people are spookier, actually.
i remember the cats while visiting montmartre cemetery once. this one posed for me a bit, enjoying the sun:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/3425593315_a676bf4b9c.jpg)
Quote from: fiction on April 09, 2009, 12:39:00
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 09, 2009, 12:31:58
how could he be start of anything evil? :D
(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/5504/p4083903b.th.png) (http://img12.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p4083903b.png)
Well for starters, Your little friend is at a greveyard :roll:.
ah well that can't be denied. ;) but like said, many times i do feel more at ease at graveyards than in regular streets for instance. there are spookier things which you run on a daily basis in the city centers/subways/etc...
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 09, 2009, 12:50:40
ah well that can't be denied. ;) but like said, many times i do feel more at ease at graveyards than in regular streets for instance. there are spookier things which you run on a daily basis in the city centers/subways/etc...
Yeah, You´re right there. I did score a few points at a course in Digital Storytelling in Stockholm a year ago. For my production I went to the biggest graveyard here in Uppsala to take stills for the visual effects. I had in mind the great cover to The Damneds "Phantasmagoria" when I took the shots and when I created my film from the stills. It came out rather nice wiyh me telling a true story of something dark that had occured during my childhood whlie growing up. The cutting came out a bit lame thanx to me being quite ignorant of the tecnique we were using.
Long story there. What I really wanted to say was; Yeah graveyards are a great source for inspirations in certain areas and state of minds. It´s not my number one honest place to go to if I want to contempalet though. A forest, preferably after a heavy rain, is like a mindmap to me.
A couple of weeks ago I went to the north of Scotland (where there are more sheeps than inhabitants !). It took a while to "recover" from the experience : I really didn't feel like going back home and to civilisation again. It was like exploring the edge of the world really : magnificent mountains, extreme weather changes (from snow to sun, short massive rain sometimes, freezing wind), deserted beaches and lakes, dark and desolate moors... I encountered absolutely nobody for quite some kilometers on the road. Delightful place. It's no wonder a few thousand years ago, people worshiped rocks, trees... What an atmosphere.
Also see my panoramic photos at http://www.innerstatic.com (http://www.innerstatic.com) if you're interested.
I was also very impressed by the Kelvingrove museum in Glasgow (back to an urban zone to catch a train). Small collection but an amazing way to present it : you could read cards and access to files (photos or else) explaining techniques or inspiration etc. Lots of areas for kids. Lots of imagination really when the big world museums don't even bother.
I forgot about the signs on the road in the remote places. :-D
Waow Descent! These pictures are really something. I always wanted to go to Scotland, well atleast for a rather long time now. I´m much of an autumn person and I think that I could cope with the whiskeys and Imperial pale ales aswell.
Is it ok if I snatch the picture at the top? The colours are adoreble. I wont take it without Your permission.
Nice streetsigns aswell. And how beautiful panoramas! The castle is amazing!
Thanx for showing!
Thanks very much. Of course you're free to download a pic if you like it. ;)
Just credit, if you use it somewhere online.
It seems spring is still a good time for seeing snowy landscapes there. I can't imagine how beautiful and even more harsh it must be in autumn in the north highlands. Almost nobody lives there. Fortunately, there are a few B&B to host visitors. :lol:
great pics (as always ;)). thanks!
Quote from: Descent on April 09, 2009, 15:55:08
I forgot about the signs on the road in the remote places. :-D
love that frog sign! :) they should really have these elsewhere too.
Quote from: Descent on April 09, 2009, 21:48:50
Thanks very much. Of course you're free to download a pic if you like it. ;)
Just credit, if you use it somewhere online.
Thank You. I just want to print it out to watch on occasions. Maybe make a painting out of it. If I do I scan it and show it here later on.
Thanx again.
back to the spooky herbert book, if they ever turned it into a hollywood movie then perhaps this bird might get a part?:
Damar the starling bird talking his head off (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtQCHD1TuHo&fmt=18)
:eek: :P
or: come on terry! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZyBNWVD70w&fmt=18) (especially around 4:20 - that would be spooky to hear from a tree!)
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 10, 2009, 14:28:41
back to the spooky herbert book, if they ever turned it into a hollywood movie then perhaps this bird might get a part?:
Damar the starling bird talking his head off (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtQCHD1TuHo&fmt=18)
:eek: :P
or: come on terry! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZyBNWVD70w&fmt=18) (especially around 4:20 - that would be spooky to hear from a tree!)
C´M ON TERRY!!! Yeah, that´d scare the shit outa me in an early morning in the woods anyway.
Just finished the book and it turned out the squirrel was a good chap after all. Crazy book with a real overkill at the end.
Quote from: fiction on April 10, 2009, 00:30:04
Thank You. I just want to print it out to watch on occasions. Maybe make a painting out of it. If I do I scan it and show it here later on.
Thanx again.
I'd be very interested in seeing your work if you do it. Let me know if you need a larger resolution file. :)
Quote from: fiction on April 10, 2009, 20:41:54
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 10, 2009, 14:28:41
back to the spooky herbert book, if they ever turned it into a hollywood movie then perhaps this bird might get a part?:
Damar the starling bird talking his head off (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtQCHD1TuHo&fmt=18)
:eek: :P
or: come on terry! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZyBNWVD70w&fmt=18) (especially around 4:20 - that would be spooky to hear from a tree!)
C´M ON TERRY!!! Yeah, that´d scare the shit outa me in an early morning in the woods anyway.
say no more.
by the way, a funny coincidence:
...Terry, an awesome Raven who I adopted at that the Tilgate Nature Center located in Crawley, Sussex, England.i only noticed that now. anyway, makes it fit for the forum i suppose. ;)
stumbled on a finnish raven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOVYMQP7gMM&fmt=18
seriously, i find that really spooky! :eek:
Quote from: fiction on April 10, 2009, 20:41:54
Just finished the book and it turned out the squirrel was a good chap after all. Crazy book with a real overkill at the end.
i guess the writer himself realized that the idea of a spooky evil squirrel was pretty silly in the first place and had to "make an emergency landing" story wise. oops?
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 11, 2009, 01:22:18
stumbled on a finnish raven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOVYMQP7gMM&fmt=18
seriously, i find that really spooky! :eek:
Pfuiii. Imagine one day in the woods and this black bird walks up next to you and says "ja ska" Which in Swedish means "I will". What do you want? would be my reply.
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 11, 2009, 01:22:18
i guess the writer himself realized that the idea of a spooky evil squirrel was pretty silly in the first place and had to "make an emergency landing" story wise. oops?
Or rather did I misinterpret the beginning of the squirrels apperance. I was a bit on edge, waiting for the mysteries to begin.
Quote from: fiction on April 11, 2009, 01:40:21
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 11, 2009, 01:22:18
stumbled on a finnish raven: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOVYMQP7gMM&fmt=18
seriously, i find that really spooky! :eek:
Pfuiii. Imagine one day in the woods and this black bird walks up next to you and says "ja ska" Which in Swedish means "I will". What do you want? would be my reply.
it's his name, jaska. it's a rather common first name for men. it's really spooky how he says that with an exactly right accent. and then he says "joo" which means yes/yeah (the english speaking girl on the video mistakes this as "you" by the way). and again, the accent is perfect. spooky!
This is another place where you could easily find me on a warm day from spring to early autmn. One of Uppsalas five frisbee golf courses. Preferably I throw my discs at the Ultuna course. Like I did today (see the picture) and believe me or not but I set a new personal record and that this early in the season. I improved my score with five throws and that is rather a lot. Especially at this craving court. It´s been years since I cut my best result at Ultuna that huge.
The frames represents from left to right and downwards:
1. Me at the first hole
2. My favorite long distance range disc. It´s an old Leopard in classic plastic.
3. An unbelievable lucky throw at hole 3. I´m i" on the right side. Otherwise you have to go back about 70 yards and make your second + one throw.
4. My favorite hole # 8. You´re standing about 20 yards above the basket and the distance is 95 yards. A windy day this hole is TRICKY!
5. Happily ever after. Home at hole 18 with a new personal record!
6. The reward! At home there was a cold Fuller´s IPA waiting.
hey thanks for sharing. there are some frisbee golf courses here too, i used to live pretty close to one of them but never tried it though.
i often went for a picnic on that frisbee course area with friends, once i remember i got an idea to climb into a tree and it took ages for me to get down. would have been embarrassing if the fire department must have been called, to pick me down, like a cat. :oops: :P
i've updated my blog (http://blog.curefans.com/japanesebaby/) with a few more entries about small adventures in the natural world. also, introducing the new blog theme /thanks david for help!).
sexy boots:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3477695228_44fa734593_m.jpg)
and i'm getting behind with my vegas report...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caminito_del_Rey
Nice gorge in Spain. But I don't think I'll ever go there. Too dangerous.
There's an old walkway and it's forbidden to take nowadays. 6000 euros fine if you get caught.
Scary video (for those sensitive to heights). It's more about climbing/walking through the path than filming the landscapes there, but I can't help to watch it anyway. Crazy stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmDhRvvs5Xw
:-D
Quote from: Descent on April 27, 2009, 20:18:22
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caminito_del_Rey
Nice gorge in Spain. But I don't think I'll ever go there. Too dangerous.
There's an old walkway and it's forbidden to take nowadays. 6000 euros fine if you get caught.
Scary video (for those sensitive to heights). It's more about climbing/walking through the path than filming the landscapes there, but I can't help to watch it anyway. Crazy stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmDhRvvs5Xw
:-D
:eek: :shock:
thanks for the link, that was almost unreal. awesome place but i couldn't take a step on that path.
i wonder why and how the walkway was originally built(?). it must have been a difficult job!
(funny how there seemed to be quite a lot of people there even if it's forbidden - but i guess it's not the easiest place for cops to go and arrest anyone. :-D)
**edit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caminito_del_Rey
In 1901 it became obvious that workers at the hydroelectric power plants at Chorro Falls and Gaitanejo Falls needed a walkway to cross between the falls, to provide for transport of materials, and for the inspection and maintenance of the channel. Construction of the walkway took four years and it was finished in 1905.they must have had only people with strong stomachs working on that hydrogen plant.
I was in France from Thursday to Sunday. At Gorges du Verdon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorges_du_verdon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorges_du_verdon)
I've I find the time I will upload some pics I took.
that video is freaking scary. i get sick just from watching it... fitting music in the background though. i like it :)
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 28, 2009, 08:25:45
they must have had only people with strong stomachs working on that hydrogen plant.
I'm so scared of heights, i freak out on a three meter high ladder :oops:
.... respect to those people building :smth023
Quote from: Descent on April 27, 2009, 20:18:22
Scary video (for those sensitive to heights). It's more about climbing/walking through the path than filming the landscapes there, but I can't help to watch it anyway. Crazy stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmDhRvvs5Xw
:-D
That was quite a ride. Pfuiii... No need for roller-coasters after that.
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 27, 2009, 09:08:25
i've updated my blog (http://blog.curefans.com/japanesebaby/) with a few more entries about small adventures in the natural world. also, introducing the new blog theme /thanks david for help!).
You´re blog is really worth looking through from times to time jb.
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 27, 2009, 09:08:25
sexy boots:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3477695228_44fa734593_m.jpg)
Yeah, really sexy and, might I ad, these boots are NOT made for walking.
Quote from: Trust... on April 28, 2009, 10:33:00
I was in France from Thursday to Sunday. At Gorges du Verdon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorges_du_verdon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorges_du_verdon)
I've I find the time I will upload some pics I took.
that looks really nice, glad you got to visit there. :D
i read it is said to be one of the most beautiful gorges/valleys there. looking forward to your pics!
thanks fiction. glad if someone likes to read it sometimes.
Quote from: fiction on April 28, 2009, 20:49:11
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 27, 2009, 09:08:25
sexy boots:
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3543/3477695228_44fa734593_m.jpg)
Yeah, really sexy and, might I ad, these boots are NOT made for walking.
haha you are right. more like made for waddling. ;)
Quote from: japanesebaby on April 28, 2009, 21:27:25
Quote from: Trust... on April 28, 2009, 10:33:00
I was in France from Thursday to Sunday. At Gorges du Verdon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorges_du_verdon (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorges_du_verdon)
I've I find the time I will upload some pics I took.
that looks really nice, glad you got to visit there. :D
i read it is said to be one of the most beautiful gorges/valleys there. looking forward to your pics!
It is one of the most beatiful gorges! I was there 6 years ago and I thought I will never have the same impression by seeing it for the second time, but it's still great and wonderfull to see! Soon I will upload some pics.
Quote from: Trust... on April 28, 2009, 21:31:27
Soon I will upload some pics.
Hurry hurry. We need to see! :smth023
Quote from: fiction on April 28, 2009, 21:58:00
Quote from: Trust... on April 28, 2009, 21:31:27
Soon I will upload some pics.
Hurry hurry. We need to see! :smth023
Okay, okay, I do what I can :D
Here they are :D
Quote from: dsanchez on April 29, 2009, 14:51:32
Quote from: Trust... on April 29, 2009, 12:54:49
Here they are :D
where is this, Trust?
In the country where you live :-D It calles "Gorges du Verdon". We took the road from Castellane to Moustier Ste Marie. The end of that is "Lac Saint Croix" It's really a beautiful place on earth!!
I was there 6 years ago and than I almost drowned it that river :-D We where young and stupid !! It looks like a very calm river, but in the summertime they open "the gates" (I don't know how to call it in English :oops:) and than you really have a wild river for rafting and when you're there with a simple rubber boat, yes than you're happy that you can see it again as a living person :-D
It's really impressive, more than you can see on the pics, this place and another (The valley where they make the film "Jurassic Park" are the two places I should say I like the nature the most) But hey I need to see some more places!
Quote from: Trust... on April 29, 2009, 18:11:14
It is more beautiful in real!!
it always is.
thanks for the pics, it looks really beautiful out there. especially wonderful pale but jewel-like blue color in the water.
A fresh report from the ISLAND... With Cure on my mind...
These pictures are taken during may this year. The bearded guy, with glasses and not too much hair, represented in four of the pictures is my brother.
continuing...
thanks fiction!!! the pictures are beautiful. i know this was shot in island but somehow it makes me wanna go back to sweden... weird :)
Quote from: alwaysprayingforRAIN on May 19, 2009, 17:02:43
thanks fiction!!! the pictures are beautiful. i know this was shot in island but somehow it makes me wanna go back to sweden... weird :)
Oh no, no, no! These pictures were shot in Sweden on THE island which is my favorite island as southeast as you can get in Sweden. The islands name is Utklippan and it´s located southeast of Blekinge.
Quote from: fiction on May 19, 2009, 17:44:56
Quote from: alwaysprayingforRAIN on May 19, 2009, 17:02:43
thanks fiction!!! the pictures are beautiful. i know this was shot in island but somehow it makes me wanna go back to sweden... weird :)
Oh no, no, no! These pictures were shot in Sweden on THE island which is my favorite island as southeast as you can get in Sweden. The islands name is Utklippan and it´s located southeast of Blekinge.
oh ok. looks like my feelings were smarter than my head this time :)
Quote from: fiction on May 18, 2009, 22:36:16
A fresh report from the ISLAND... With Cure on my mind...
wow i really envy you now, being able to go there again. i hate it that i always have so much work in april/may (the busiest time of the year) so that it's practically were difficult to get much holidays then and i often have some 10 hour days. i always feel like i'm missing unforgivably too much of the best time of the year, the spring. when i get some real days off, it's already almost over. like now. maybe some year it'll be different, maybe someday...
i really like the way you named the pics after cure songs. :D i like that pic of the wave breaking in 'snow in summer'.
and the one called 'just like heaven'. it really looks like that - both for me looking at the pic and for any tired little bird trying to stay up in the air over the endless waves fighting its way up north, i imagine. what a paradise island for the weary.
Quote from: japanesebaby on May 19, 2009, 20:17:49
wow i really envy you now, being able to go there again. maybe some year it'll be different, maybe someday...
Well I was just there for one week. My brother and the other guys stayed for two weeks. But still... It´s an island for contemplation and serenity. I hope You´ll find space for some valuable time in the archipelago of Åland this summer.
Quote from: japanesebaby on May 19, 2009, 20:17:49
i really like the way you named the pics after cure songs. :D i like that pic of the wave breaking in 'snow in summer'.
and the one called 'just like heaven'. it really looks like that - both for me looking at the pic and for any tired little bird trying to stay up in the air over the endless waves fighting its way up north, i imagine. what a paradise island for the weary.
The picture called "Just like Heaven" is taken from an aeroplane or helicopter some years ago so that pic wasn´t really taken by anyone of us. I just found it and thought that it would give a good survey of how small the islands are. One can go there by helicopters but we always go by boat.
It would be a great place for a relaxed curemeeting. Unfortunately my birdfriends doesn´t care much for any kind of music and maybe that really doesn´t matter on a place like this but sometimes it´s a great thing to just discuss some music.
I´ll try to get there for a few days this summer aswell for marking razorbills. Never done that before. Send you some pics if that comes true.
Here's my frog that lives in my garden:
Quote from: Trust... on May 24, 2009, 10:48:05
Here's my frog that lives in my garden:
Qute! And it´s got its own raft aswell. Georgious!
Quote from: Trust... on May 24, 2009, 10:48:05
Here's my frog that lives in my garden:
definitely gorgeous! :D what species is this, do you know?
thanks for the pic!
i've read that many species of frogs and other amphibians are heavily declining in many places. sometimes for some unknown reasons, sometimes it could maybe be linked to the climate changes. at least around here i've noticed this to be true. frogs are not at all so common as they used to be. even in the spring (when you should be able to see masses of them, gathering to ponds and small lakes), you just didn't see them that much at all. it's a bit alarming, really. :?
Quote from: japanesebaby on May 24, 2009, 11:29:35
i've read that many species of frogs and other amphibians are heavily declining in many places. sometimes for some unknown reasons, sometimes it could maybe be linked to the climate changes. at least around here i've noticed this to be true. frogs are not at all so common as they used to be. even in the spring (when you should be able to see masses of them, gathering to ponds and small lakes), you just didn't see them that much at all. it's a bit alarming, really. :?
Very true. At Utklippan there are two species of which one of them, Grönfläckig padda, bufo viridis (see the pic.) is endemic for atleast Sweden. They can be found at some Danish islands aswell and in eastern Europe and down to north Africa.
Quote from: fiction on May 24, 2009, 11:04:02
Quote from: Trust... on May 24, 2009, 10:48:05
Here's my frog that lives in my garden:
Qute! And it´s got its own raft aswell. Georgious!
Yes it is georgious :-) There were some plastic frogs on that raft in the past, I'm glad we have a real one :)
He makes a lot of noise too. Maybe I can tape it, is a lossy frog-sound file possible :-D
Quote from: japanesebaby on May 24, 2009, 11:29:35
Quote from: Trust... on May 24, 2009, 10:48:05
Here's my frog that lives in my garden:
definitely gorgeous! :D what species is this, do you know?
thanks for the pic!
i've read that many species of frogs and other amphibians are heavily declining in many places. sometimes for some unknown reasons, sometimes it could maybe be linked to the climate changes. at least around here i've noticed this to be true. frogs are not at all so common as they used to be. even in the spring (when you should be able to see masses of them, gathering to ponds and small lakes), you just didn't see them that much at all. it's a bit alarming, really. :?
This frog is not new here, last year we had more of them and also baby's, but now I can see only one.
Quote from: fiction on May 24, 2009, 12:04:42
Quote from: japanesebaby on May 24, 2009, 11:29:35
i've read that many species of frogs and other amphibians are heavily declining in many places. sometimes for some unknown reasons, sometimes it could maybe be linked to the climate changes. at least around here i've noticed this to be true. frogs are not at all so common as they used to be. even in the spring (when you should be able to see masses of them, gathering to ponds and small lakes), you just didn't see them that much at all. it's a bit alarming, really. :?
Very true.
http://www.javno.com/en-world/europes-frogs-and-snakes-in-danger-study-shows_259454
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/half-of-europes-frogs-face-extinction-942824.html
More than half of all amphibian species in Europe could become extinct by 2050 because of a combination of habitat loss, infectious diseases and the effects of climate change, scientists have found.:(
Quote from: japanesebaby on May 24, 2009, 14:48:41
http://www.javno.com/en-world/europes-frogs-and-snakes-in-danger-study-shows_259454
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/half-of-europes-frogs-face-extinction-942824.html
Did You notice the irony in the ad of that first link? It advertised Benvenutti python bags.
Quote from: fiction on May 24, 2009, 18:06:39
Quote from: japanesebaby on May 24, 2009, 14:48:41
http://www.javno.com/en-world/europes-frogs-and-snakes-in-danger-study-shows_259454
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/half-of-europes-frogs-face-extinction-942824.html
Did You notice the irony in the ad of that first link? It advertised Benvenutti python bags.
no i didn't, for me it offered 'reptile heat tape - "Safe, even, constant heat for healthy animals" among others.
the adverts change every time you visit the site/every time you hit reload, it's a typical looped thing that just automatically throws in adverts that happen to include some keywords on that site. just like on some cure sites you get these silly adverts offering you medical help for pretty much every imaginable problem, from feet fungus to... all sorts of embarrasing issues. ;) and just because of the word "cure". some of those are really funny - sometimes i think some innocent passer-by might think that these cure fans (whatever they are) must be the most sickly kind of poor wretched people out there. :-P
Quote from: japanesebaby on May 24, 2009, 18:40:30
[ just like on some cure sites you get these silly adverts offering you medical help for pretty much every imaginable problem, from feet fungus to... all sorts of embarrasing issues. ;) and just because of the word "cure". some of those are really funny - sometimes i think some innocent passer-by might think that these cure fans (whatever they are) must be the most sickly kind of poor wretched people out there. :-P
it happens to me all the time. and when i forget the 'the' the google results are quite stupid... nowadays there seems a cure to every problem you never had.
:smth078 (i've always wanted to use that one!!!)
Quote from: Trust... on May 24, 2009, 13:53:20
He makes a lot of noise too. Maybe I can tape it, is a lossy frog-sound file possible :-D
ok let's hear him!
and yes, i think we are happy to accept all kinds of frog recordings, lossy or lossless - i don't think any frog recording collectors will be against it. ;)
:lol:
@fiction: i've never seen a frog like that before. i didn't know you have those in sweden.
Quote from: japanesebaby on May 24, 2009, 22:36:25
@fiction: i've never seen a frog like that before. i didn't know you have those in sweden.
I´m not very good at amfibians but I know that this specie is to be found only at Utklippan (this particular picture is taken in the autumn of 2005 at Utklippan) in Sweden and sometimes extremly rarely in Skåne. I don´t know how many pairs there are at Utklippan but I know that there are many people out there checking their mating status very frequantly. Serious science my friend.
Quote from: fiction on May 24, 2009, 22:44:25
but I know that there are many people out there checking their mating status very frequantly. Serious science my friend.
:P
sometimes one wonders how there can be animals like frogs in some remote little islands like that. how did they end there - perhaps they were using similar kind of rafts like the belgian frog above? ;)
Quote from: japanesebaby on May 24, 2009, 22:50:40
Quote from: fiction on May 24, 2009, 22:44:25
but I know that there are many people out there checking their mating status very frequantly. Serious science my friend.
:P
sometimes one wonders how there can be animals like frogs in some remote little islands like that. how did they end there - perhaps they were using similar kind of rafts like the belgian frog above? ;)
that would be cute... maybe they developed in the sea and found that island quit fitting when they decided to breath air ?? :)
since there's no cure shows to tape, one needs to find substitutes. ;)
i went biking this evening: very nice evening, clearing skies after a slightly rainy day. the scent of bird cherry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_Cherry) is almost intoxicating in the groves by the seaside. really nice.
nightingales are suddenly everywhere this time of year, it's just a stunning display of their vocal fireworks all around in some good spots. not the best singer ever there are better and "clever" ones than him. but i really like nightingale's song and i think it deserves the fame it has. and it sings amazingly loud and strong, when you get to hear it from a close range! that gives is great quality. also, i love the rhythm and tempo changes of its song. its vigorous but not too fast.
i was standing right under the tree where one of them sang, i had my edirol recorder with me. so, since i didn't meet any frogs, here's a finnish nightingale for you:
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=UJ06RQW0
lineage: edirol R-09 +built-in mics :oops: - and shared in mp3s :oops: :lol: - but hey the master is of course in 48 kHz/24-bit! so just pm me if you wanna trade some lossless birdsong!! :-D
Quote from: japanesebaby on May 24, 2009, 22:50:40
sometimes one wonders how there can be animals like frogs in some remote little islands like that. how did they end there - perhaps they were using similar kind of rafts like the belgian frog above? ;)
Well I found this pdf about the frog and its adventures at Utklippan here. I know You understand Swedish and there is a summery in English aswell. I found out the Finnish name was Viherkonna. I also found out that this is the most endangered amfibie in Sweden and it´s put up on the Red list.
See this link if You want: http://www.k.lst.se/NR/rdonlyres/88168F1A-E565-484C-A3FE-E92D2FB7383A/0/Viridis.pdf
Quote from: japanesebaby on May 24, 2009, 23:01:08
not the best singer ever there are better and "clever" ones than him.
Well you know it´s his cousin, the Nightingale (luscinia megarhynchos), that sings lovely. The type of nightingale we got up here is the trush nightingale (luscinia luscinia) and unfortunatly it does not sing as melodiously as its cousin.
But I totally agrre with You. Our friend sings great and sometimes even furiously and I love the way its voice scatters the night.
Quote from: fiction on May 24, 2009, 23:11:16
Well you know it´s his cousin, the Nightingale (luscinia megarhynchos), that sings lovely. The type of nightingale we got up here is the trush nightingale (luscinia luscinia) and unfortunatly it does not sing as melodiously as its cousin.
ahh yes, you're right. the one that fascinated mr keats
(
MY heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains
My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,
Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains
One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk...)
...and all the other poets, it was/is indeed the "other" nightingale.
but i still like our northern version. :-D
by the way, i think this is a very nice site about finnish/scandinavian birds: -> http://www.birdphoto.fi/
(it's in english so it's easy to navigate)
there's a wide array of photos, taxonomically arranged, and you can also listen to clips of their songs while viewing the photos.
thanks for the viherkonna .pdf file. some interesting bed reading. :D
Quote from: japanesebaby on May 24, 2009, 23:24:16
ahh yes, you're right. the one that fascinated mr keats
(MY heart aches, and a drowsy numbness pains
My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,
Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains
One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk...)
Ahhh... Ode to a Nightingale. One of my favourites.
And thanx for the link. What an absolutely great logotype that looks like a wave at the same time as it looks like a bird of prey (an osprey perhaps?).
I got a bit inspired by the graveyard pictures at the beginning of this topic so I went out to look for the grave of our famous poet Gustav Fröding and I found it. I also found a very beauiful nature stone used as a tombstone. See for yourself.
that's nice. more graveyards (for any graveyard freaks ;)) here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36543214@N07/sets/72157619236230833/
this is alter johannisfriedhof in leipzig. very interesting place, it's been used since 16th century or so. most of the oldest stones are impossible to read anymore though. an interesting (and a new) thing for me was that most of the 18th and 19th century gravestones are not scattered here and there individually, but are attached to these long walls that slice the graveyard into sections.
at least i had never seen that anywhere else. perhaps it's been common in that area, i don't know. anyway, it was different. i really liked the atmosphere as it was more like a peaceful park with these ancient walls than a graveyard. there were some interesting birdlife there too, i made some recordings. ;)
the rest of my leipzig photos are on flickr too, if anyone wants to have a look and/or comment:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36543214@N07/collections/72157619293364184/
i'm usually not inspired by visiting famous people's graves or "walking in their footsteps", but thomaskirche (st. thomas' church), where j.s.bach used to work as a cantor, was an experience to me. i also visited mendelssohnhaus which is the last home of composer felix mendelssohn-bartholdy turned into a museum. they still have some concerts there too, in the original music salon. very nice trip back in time. and visiting these was a nice contrast to all the industrial and EBM sounds at the festival.
anyway, this one's (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36543214@N07/3600322396/in/set-72157619236342029/) definitely me after the festival. :lol:
i've been dead tired all week!
hey jb!!! thanks for all the pictures i really love them!! I've been looking at some pics from the WGT before, but that was mostly from people that had no idea what it was about and were just like wow he/she is dressed in black let's take a pic :?..... i would have loved to go there even without really being into the whole 'scene' if you can call it that just to feel the atmosphere.
your pictures are different though. more like how you saw it. i especially like the graveyard ones. it does look more like an ancient beautiful park than a graveyard. not sad more... thoughtful maybe :)
Quote from: alwaysprayingforRAIN on June 08, 2009, 22:19:39
hey jb!!! thanks for all the pictures i really love them!! I've been looking at some pics from the WGT before, but that was mostly from people that had no idea what it was about and were just like wow he/she is dressed in black let's take a pic :?..... i would have loved to go there even without really being into the whole 'scene' if you can call it that just to feel the atmosphere.
your pictures are different though. more like how you saw it. i especially like the graveyard ones. it does look more like an ancient beautiful park than a graveyard. not sad more... thoughtful maybe :)
hey thanks a lot :D
it has happened to me when i'm out somewhere, that sometimes my friends ask me "why are you taking a pic of
that?" or "you take pics of weird things". i never really end up having much pics of myself (if any) on any travels, i don't like posing in front of this or that.
and yes, the WGT atmosphere is really worth a visit! i plan to go there again for sure. besides, i like city festivals like this SO much more than standing out in some muddy field for 2-3 days anyway. :-P
i went to the botanical gardens yesterday, the "rhododendron valley" is at full bloom this time of year:
http://blog.curefans.com/japanesebaby/2009/06/14/blazing-colors/
the colors look good especially against black background: http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/onblack.php?id=3626131206&size=large&posted=1
I just got through the pictures from Utklippan and I post You five here and if You want to see the others You can check in here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/coj09/?saved=1
The pictures represents from top to bottom
The members of this years expedition
The Razorbills who were the reason for this trip
The only young Razorbill we found and banded
A redshank warning its young ones for the hazards of me and some gulls
The dried green algys create nice patterns of green and white at the waterline
It was a great trip, as always, but we were there one or two weeks too early. The bird were hatching allover so we couldn´t stay or else we might have desturbed the Razorbills in their hatching process. The sun was streaking its mercyless rays at our bodies and the sunblockers came handy.
hey!!! glad to see your back, i hope you had a good time :)
thanks for the pics... i know this isn't a 'qualified' comment, but that little bird is pretty cute!!! ;)
Quote from: alwaysprayingforRAIN on July 02, 2009, 21:34:50
hey!!! glad to see your back, i hope you had a good time :)
thanks for the pics... i know this isn't a 'qualified' comment, but that little bird is pretty cute!!! ;)
Well thanx RAINprayer. Glad to see that You´re still hangin´ around. And yeah those pully Razorbills are kinda cute. When it´s grown up it´ll look like those three birds in the picture above. Real Rock n Roll birds all black and white with sharp bills.
For all who likes the history from Egypt, here some pics from my trip to Luxor.
http://picasaweb.google.be/Trustinimagination/Luxor2009# (http://picasaweb.google.be/Trustinimagination/Luxor2009#)
Quote from: Trust... on July 28, 2009, 15:31:07
For all who likes the history from Egypt, here some pics from my trip to Luxor.
http://picasaweb.google.be/Trustinimagination/Luxor2009# (http://picasaweb.google.be/Trustinimagination/Luxor2009#)
awesome! :eek:
lucky you! now you have to tell us more about the trip! :-D
Quote from: japanesebaby on July 28, 2009, 17:32:42
Quote from: Trust... on July 28, 2009, 15:31:07
For all who likes the history from Egypt, here some pics from my trip to Luxor.
http://picasaweb.google.be/Trustinimagination/Luxor2009# (http://picasaweb.google.be/Trustinimagination/Luxor2009#)
awesome! :eek:
lucky you! now you have to tell us more about the trip! :-D
:-D Wonderful country and wonderful people. A perfect mix of nature, culture and adventure, all in one ;)
And JB, Egypt is 96% desert, we did a trip into the desert on a quad, awesome, nothing else but stones and sand :-D
If you want to know more, don't hesitate to ask me ;)
If you want to see more:
http://picasaweb.google.be/Trustinimagination/Luxor200902# (http://picasaweb.google.be/Trustinimagination/Luxor200902#)
finally got myself a new camera :) and i've been trying it out a bit. some recent visits:
natural history museum: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36543214@N07/sets/72157621977764264/
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3420/3799718805_490be9a8e4_m.jpg)(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3800543950_0cc84516fc_m.jpg)(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2464/3799724697_0011f2a444_m.jpg)(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3519/3800541682_6cf5dc10ca_m.jpg)(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2449/3800505306_991c221e24_m.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3465/3799722723_5338319e59_m.jpg)(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3550/3799723475_49d6bd26f5_m.jpg)(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3529/3799724819_d2c2e4e8ec_m.jpg)
i'm especially happy about the luxurious 25mm wide angle and the 16:9 aspect ratio. :smth026 i might have been overexhausting it a bit lately but i think i'll calm down. ;)
another really interesting place recently, helsinki university museum: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36543214@N07/sets/72157621821447041/
the exhibitions display the history of the development of the scientific research and scientific tools/instruments that have been used during the university's history.
the sections for medical and veterinary science specifically thrilling - sometimes plain creepy, sometimes quite hilarious too.
there's also "mineral cabinet", a pretty section for minerals and stones, also meteors and fossils.
see the link above for full size pics.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3789955268_ed75764ca9_m.jpg)(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2483/3789922056_2139a46001_m.jpg)(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/3789050971_72e05fcac0_m.jpg)(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2473/3789108177_7868ffc7c0_m.jpg)(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2430/3789939682_5ca03ae038_m.jpg)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/3789035645_7e9348c6dd_m.jpg)(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2629/3789077193_6bab0dd06a_m.jpg)(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3522/3789920856_4a08a18e9e_m.jpg)(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/3789114251_bf8f1bf91f_m.jpg)
besides, i realized that gustav klimt was a thief (http://blog.curefans.com/japanesebaby/2009/08/08/before-klimt-invented-it/).
Nice pics.
Open up and say aaaahhhhhh...
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3503/3789114251_bf8f1bf91f_m.jpg)
You too :P
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2473/3789108177_7868ffc7c0_m.jpg)
Quote from: alwaysprayingforRAIN on March 30, 2009, 15:56:56
and the zoo with cute little furry animal and colorful fish. our zoo has an elephant baby and it's just precious. http://www.koeln-lodge.de/img/fotoalbum/images/31-koelner-zoo-elefanten-ming-jung-cut.jpg
:D
perhap i'm boring everyone with pics by now. anyway, i visited the local zoo some time ago after a really long absence.
i upped some zoo animal pics and made a little blog entry for them too (http://blog.curefans.com/japanesebaby/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=149).
(click mr parrot for the pics.)
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3580/3833676183_e956808aa4.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/36543214@N07/3833676183/)
i tried to choose just my favorite shots to be upped this time. this one (http://blog.curefans.com/japanesebaby/wp-admin/post.php?action=edit&post=149) was in my top three.
A view from the Hintertux Gletcher in Zillertal Tirol (Austria)
You feel like you are on the top off the world 8)
Matmata mountains in Tunisia ...
This "moon-landscape" was used for fragments off following films:
Indiana Jones, Raiders of The Lost ark, Star Wars and Planet off The Apes.
looks like another planet.
a friend of mine once stayed overnight at the same place (it's been converted to a hotel/hostel) which was luke skywalker's tatooine home in the original star wars film.
while in the UK i did a day trip up to beachy head (famous for the videos for just like heaven & close to me remix) one day - it was SO windy up there, turned into a september storm towards the evening:
(http://uuvana.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/imgp8586-panoraama-beachy-head-b2.jpeg)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beachy_Head (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beachy_Head)
I found a dead pigion on my terrace this evening.
Didn't"t saw my kitchen-window :(