Explore Paradise Philippines. Take a peek at Filipino’s culture and history as mirrored in century-old churches, ancient forts and modern museums. Paradise Philippines have the top of nature’s paradise pictured thru white-sand beaches and three-layered virgin forests.

Paradise Philippines is blessed with an extensive coastline, ringed with unspoiled beaches and first-class resort facilities. Paradise Philippines’ deep-blue, crystal-clear waters offers about 40,000 square kilometers of coastal reefs teeming with a variety of marine life.
Top Philippine Destination and Paradise Spots

Paradise Philippines is endowed amid a tropical climate offering perfect paradise treat to enjoy the sunlight. Lying in Southeast Asia and surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Paradise Philippines boasts of unsullied beaches, spectacular sunsets, luxuriant pastoral lands, cool mountain weather, brilliant man-made paradise resorts, and dazzling 7,000+ islands.

Paradise Philippines boasts of one or two of the best beaches and scuba diving waters in the world. Witness the vast expanse of nature’s paradise Philippines’ splendor underneath the spell of cool paradise Philippines mountain breeze.

Here are some featured destinations and paradise regions that is living proof of Paradise Philippines reputation of being referred to as Paradise Philippines.

Alona Beach, Paradise Philippines

Panglao Island, Bohol (May 6, 2007) – The Tourism Secretary Joseph Ace Durano has inaugurated the first age of a P600-million upscale resort complex that is riding on the tourism boom in this province. Durano said, referring to the 16-hectare Eskaya Beach Resort & Spa, which is making 70 luxurious villas catering to the rich Filipino tourists and visitors from Europe, the United States, Australia, Japan and Korea.

Donsol, Whale Shark Capital, Paradise Philippines

Once a sleepy coastal village located at the northwestern tip of Sorsogon province, this town now eyes to be a first-class municipality, thanks to giant sea creatures that are now attracting hordes of foreign and local tourists who infuse millions of pesos to the local economy.

Boracay Paradise, Paradise Philippines

Widely known as one of the best swimming destinations in the world, Boracay is blessed with unsullied fine talcum powder-sand beaches. Its tranquil crystal simple waters are best for swimming, sailing, fishing and sunbathing. Boracay in addition boasts of sapphire seas and spectacular sunsets. Countless hidden coves dot the island and tall coconut trees line up along the beaches. Boracay lies at the northwest tip of Panay, in the west Visayas region, off the Sibuyan Sea.

Captivating Guimaras, Paradise Philippines

Nueva Valencia, Guimaras – An Italian couple on a two-month holiday in the Philippines chose to include the present paradise in this itinerary and stayed at the Raymen Beach Resort in December 2006, unperturbed by to know about the oil spill that brought the island province to world attention in August of the same year. “We are just here to see good beaches,” said the Boldo couple, who are just among the hundreds of intercontinental guests who kept coming to Guimaras even in the aftermath of the infamous oil spill.

Wonderful Palawan, Paradise Philippines

The exotic beauty of Palawan remains undefiled. Branded as the country’s survive frontier, Palawan is a sanctuary to an amazing variety of exotic flora and fauna which are found nowhere else. With more as opposed to a thousand islands and islets, Palawan boasts of white-sand beaches, scenic rock formations, underwater rivers and magnificent caves. Palawan is additionally structure to Tubbataha Reef, the only nationwide marine park that made it to the World Heritage List and whose grandeur is comparable to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia.

Banaue Rice Terraces, Paradise Philippines

Traversing the rugged terrains of Cordillera highlands in a duration of one week is an adventure in itself and could be an immense learning experience for someone who has the guts to be on the look down to the depths of mountain cliffs to get a good view of the rice terraces. With tall rice terraces at the backdrop and cool breeze shuttling between mountain peaks, a journey across the Cordillera heap ranges exposes one to an atmosphere strangely different from the daily offering of Manila and its suburbs.

Amazing Coron, Paradise Philippines

Coron, a town in the Busuanga Island in Northern Palawan, can charm much the most insensitive amongst men. Its natural beauty can only be described as seductive, giving first-time visitors and repeaters alike a sense of wonder so is hard to shake off.

Cebu City, Paradise Philippines

Cebu City drew 403,326 worldwide visitors in 2005, making the “queen city of the south” the top provincial destination of worldwide travelers. Data from the Department of Tourism (DOT) also showed such a Cebu City attracted 1,813 distant Filipinos and 712,938 domestic travelers.

Pagudpud, Paradise Philippines

If Aklan has Boracay, Ilocos has Pagudpud, its northernmost town bordering the South China Sea. The coastal town of Pagudpud is the perfect setting for panoramic movies and photoshoot for travel magazines cover. The town’s main attractions are Saud Beach, famous for its fine white sand stretching for hundreds of meters and Maira-Ira Point, which hides a secluded beach called Blue Lagoon. Other breathtaking landscapes in Pagudpud include Bantay Abot-abot, a natural sculpture carved by the wind and sea, the Mabogabog Falls and the Patapat viaduct that treats motorists to a scenic view of red lushes and green waters of South China Sea.

Bohol, Paradise Philippines

Bohol is one of the loveliest islands in southern Philippines. It is situated at the heart of Visayas and with coastline skimmed by gentle coves and white-sand beaches. Many highways snake along sparkling beaches or leafy rivers where one can stop at any point and jump in. With its rolling hills and plateaus, crystal springs and beaches, the province of Bohol is a picturesque province replete amidst ancestral structures and centuries-old churches.

The coastline of New Jersey is no stranger to tourists and does not require an introduction since it is notoriously famous for its beautiful seaside and cool breeze. Nor is it threatened by the sandy beaches of Florida and California since it stands out quite remarkably on its own.

Summer rentals are all the rage during the summer season. Hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals flock to the coasts to enjoy the high waves and open skies. There are numerous cities along the New Jersey coastline that are great for outdoor fun and summer rentals. This article will focus on five such locations in order to better inform the readers and potential visitors about the beaches of New Jersey.

1. Loveladies, NJ – Home of the LBI Foundation of Arts and Science:

The city of Loveladies is famous for two things namely its unique name and for being flagship home of the Long Beach Island Foundation of Arts and Sciences. Founded in 1948, this establishment provides numerous recreation programs for local residents as well as visitors. This neighborhood is located between Barnegat Light and Harvey Cedars and is famous for its large-scale elegant homes often rented by celebrities from time to time.

2. Barnegat Light, NJ – Home of the “Old Barney”:

The city Barnegat Light is famous for historical reasons. It is home to the Barnegat Lighthouse also known as “Old Barney” created back in 1859. It is located at the northern tip of Long Beach Island at what is now the Barnegat Light State Park. It also borders the Atlantic Ocean and has a population of about a thousand residents.

3. Beach Haven, NJ – Hot Summer Resort:

Beach Haven prides itself as being ranked ninth in the 2008 Top 10 Beaches Contest.  Located in Ocean Country, on the southern part of Long Beach Island, this borough has a population of a little over one thousand people. The city is also famous for its great attractions some of which are:

Surf light Theatre
Bay Village Shopping Center
Long Beach Island Museum
4. The Dunes, NJ – Fertile Real Estate:

The Dunes has it all when it comes to beach front rentals and shore property widely regarded as the finest on the Long Beach Island. It is an excellent place to both buy and rent.

Situated between Haven Beach and Beach Haven Terrace, The Dunes was founded by James and Elizabeth Brogdon and is one of the Island’s small communities under the control of Long Beach Township.

5. Brant Beach, NJ – More than A century Old:

Established in 1909, the town of Brant Beach lies between Ship Bottom and Beach Haven Crest. It is home to the Long Beach Township head quarters also known as James J. Mancini Municipal Building. Its main park known as Bay View Park is located alongside the ocean. During the summer months, lifeguards patrol all of the township’s beaches and Bay View Park. It is regarded as one of the most popular spots to launch windsurfers and kit-boards.

The above mentioned locations are some of the best the Garden State has to offer. Anyone planning a summer vacation should definitely take up New Jersey and witness nature at its best.

Just across the Bay from the hustle and bustle of Cancun lies the small serene island of Isla Mujeres, nestling on the Mayan Riviera. Here white sand beaches border the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea, under the blue skies, as colourful fishing boats dot on the horizon. Isla Mujeres is a very popular destination for those seeking a more relaxed, tranquil, Mexican holiday experience. The Mayan Riviera world famous Coral Reefs create paradise waters for Snorkeling and Scuba Diving. Isla Mujeres white sand beaches, and quaint Mexican street scene takes on back to a bygone era.

There is great holiday accommodation offered which is varied, affordable and comfortable, from where to explore, and enjoy, the pleasures of Isla Mujeres.

Nature is certainly bountiful on Isla Mujeres. There are many vantage points on Isla from which you can see stunning sunsets and breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea. Cosy hotels and restaurants located downtown, a Marine Park with world class facilities a haven for snorkellers with an incredible underwater world teeming with tropical fish, with their bright colours, nurturing the senses.

Dolphin Discovery

Swimming and playing with dolphins is a unique and therapeutic experience. Because these mammals have a friendly and sociable nature, it is for people to interact with them safely, and you do not need to be an expert swimmer to do so.

At Dolphin Discovery you can touch a dolphin, shake its fin, go diving with them and even receive a kiss. Visitors have the chance to interact with these amazing creators as well as with other marine species such as sharks, sting rays, spider monkeys, toucans and macaws. Dolphin Discovery definitely is one of Isla’s most fantastic attractions

Garrafon Marine Park

The name Garrafon means ‘decanter’, an excellent name for this natural aquarium where the waters are clear, calm and reefs are so abundant with life that it gives you a feeling of being inside a decanter. You can safely swim and snorkel due to the soft ocean current being almost imperceptible.

The reef in this area is part of the second longest barrier reef in the world and is home to an enormous variety of species, including some which are considered endangered.

Punta Sur

Located on the southern most tip of Isla Mujeres, where the sun rises, in the Park of Sculptures. Due to its unique geographic location, it has been designated as a permanent open air museum in 2001 and displays 23 original pieces by local and foreign artists. Among the most famous pieces are those by the world famous sculptors Sebastian and Jose Luis Cuevas, from Mexico.

It is a splendid site, enhanced by the incredible backdrop of majestic cliffs, enhanced by the stunning turquoise waters of the Caribbean.

Turtle Farm

For thousands of years the beaches on Isla Mujeres have been nesting grounds for marine turtles that return to the same beach every year. Between the months of May and September they lay hundreds of eggs and then return to the sea, leaving their babies to fend for themselves.

The Turtle Farm is on of Isla’s main attractions and a source of pride for the local community and without the important work of Tortugranja (Turtle Farm) only a small number of the hatchlings would survive, as many of the local natural predators and also poachers.

The hatchlings are protected until they are strong enough to live in the sea. At which point the local Island schools are invited to set them free on the shore. This provides a fantastic opportunity for the children to understand about conservation techniques and to learn how to help the survival of this wonderful species.

Templo Maya

Historically speaking, Templo Maya, is one of the most important attractions on Isla Mujeres. In Punta Sur, there is an ancient temple, erected to worship the Mayan Goddess of the moon and fertility, Ixchel. Built on higher ground, archaeologists say it was also used as a lighthouse to guide the trade boats coming ashore from Cozumel, Tulum and Xaman-ha, now known as Playa del Carmen.

Mundaca Hacienda

An interesting attraction, is the remains of an old estate belonging to the famous Caribbean pirate Femin Antonto de Mundaca y Marechega, who is also renowned architect, poet, slaver trader and of course dreaded buccaneer. The Hacienda has many legends to tell, especially famous is one about Mundaca’s heart was broken, leading him to despair and a terribly sad end.

The estate is open to the public and is home to a small zoo, where visitors can see endemic animals species and walk through the lush tropical gardens.

Whale Sharks

Isla Mujeres and her visitors are blessed as once a year, with arguably the world’s most amazing opportunity, to experience Whale Sharks in their natural habitat. During the summer months (June – September) hundreds of Whale Sharks gather just north of Isla Mujeres in a seven mile radius to take advantage of the plankton rich waters created by the joining of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

A quick, but breathtakingly beautiful, one hour boat ride from the docks of Isla Mujeres will place you right within the territory, where a trained guide will search out the Whale Sharks. This will be an experience you will never forget.

The Shark Whale is normally solitary creates, but off Isla Mujeres they socialise in groups of up to 20. This phenomenon gives nearly a 100% success rate of seeing multiple Whale Sharks on a one day tour, not to be missed.

To find out more about the enchanting Island of Isla Mujeres go to www.islamujeres.co.uk

Cycladic sculptures are thousands of years old and yet look eerily modern. A face with no facial features, except the nose, is not exactly how we think of ancient Greek art. Cycladic art came to prominence during the twentieth century. Unfortunately that started a period of looting, which destroyed the possibility of putting the sculptures in any kind of location or archeological context. To this day we know very little about Cycladic art. A measure of its growing importance is the existence of the Cycladic Museum located in the heart of Athens, Greece.

The Greek islands of the Cyclades are located to the South East of Greece and to the North of Crete in the Aegean Sea. There are more than two hundred islands approximating a circle around the most significant island Delos, the birthplace of Apollo, Greek God of music and light from Greek mythology and of Artemis, the huntress. The Greek name for the Cyclades is Kyklades, an obvious reference to a circle.

During the period between 3200 and 2000 B.C. the small Cycladic islands in the Aegean became home to a flourishing culture. The most prominent craft in Cycladic culture was stone-cutting, especially marble sculpture. The abundance of high quality white marble on the islands encouraged its use for the creation of a wide range of artifacts. Among these, Cycladic Figurines are the most distinctive Cycladic creation because of the style, the great numbers in which they are found, and the significance they held for their owners. The majority of Cycladic Figurines show women, nude with the arms folded over the belly and the long feet, soles sloping downwards. We do not know whether they were meant to show mortals or deities, but probably symbolized the worship of the ‘Mother Goddess’. In this case, the figurines may have been conceived as representations of the Goddess, or companions to her. Many figurines have been discovered in relation to burials as the Cycladic civilization flourished and burials became more elaborate to reflect status.

There have been recent discoveries (in the last five years) of piles of buried and broken statues and pottery, as if the breaking of the statues was a feature of some unknown ancient ceremony. This ritualistic behavior appears to be centered on the island of Keros in the Cyclades.  Also, hidden deposits of broken pottery and figurines have been found on islands around Keros, many fragments brought there from other locations. Why would the Cycladians do that? To what end? The mystery surrounding Keros, the Cycladians and their art deepens as archeologists sift through clues of human history and behavior. To this day Keros and surrounding islands are home mainly to archeologists attempting to explain one of those mysteries of human behavior and human art that drive us with a â??need to knowâ??. Art, in all forms, leaves behind a legacy of a civilizations history, behavior, values and intrigue. Fortunately for us it also provides beauty that only human civilizations can produce.

Cycladic Sculptures

In visiting Sicily you will be in the company of such renowned commentators as the Roman philosopher Cicero, who described Syracuse as the greatest and most beautiful city of all Ancient Greece.  And although one 19th century commentator described the island as being â??Seared and riven by lava and sun, like a hell on Earth, inhabited by people more devil-like than humanâ?, other visitors have had much more favorable things to say.  Among these visitors have been the countless members of the European gentry to make Sicily a stop on their Grand Tour of Europe, a tradition popular from the 17th to 19th centuries.  One of the more well-known of these travelers was the famous intellect Wolfgang Goethe, who wrote about the island of Sicily in his Italienische Reise,  or Italian Journey. 
Travelers have appreciated the natural beauty of Sicily since the time of Odysseus, who sailed along its coast witnessing its magnificent sunsets.  The coast is not the only place from which to view this spectacle, however; the ruins of Megara Hyblea and the Greek theatre at Taormina have also been noted for their spectacular natural views.  Those who visit the island in search of adventure may find it by climbing Mount Etna, the highest peak in Italy outside of the Alpines as well as the largest active volcano in Europe, or by swimming in the sea at Camarina, where countless ancient ships lie hidden beneath the waves and the sand.
The many Sicilian architectural remains, considered to be some of the finest from all antiquity, date back as far as the 13th to the 17th centuries BCE, which is the period from which the ancient and enchanting Necropolis at Pantalica originates.  This â??City of the Deadâ? contains over 5000 tombs from ancient times, yet has been described as â??a charming place to liveâ?.  Other architectural elements date from the 8th century BCE, when the island was colonized by the first Greek settlers, imprinting Sicily with the lasting marks of the Hellenic civilization that they brought with them.  At one time an independent Greek city-state, Sicily is still home to one of the greatest examples of Greek art and architecture in the world, the Valle dei Templi, or Valley of the Temples, which is not only one of the islandâ??s central attractions but also an Italian national monument.  Sicily was once even the center of an extensive kingdom, the Kingdom of Sicily, which it ruled for seven centuries, beginning in the Middle Ages.  Its other attractions for culture seekers include its many archaeological parks such as the ones at Selinunte and Piazza Armerina.
The culture of Sicily is singularly unique, shaped as it is by a wide variety of influences.  From its art and architecture to its cuisine, language, and religion, the culture of Sicily is not to be surpassed anywhere in the world.  Beginning in ancient times, Sicily has been infused with a mix of varied cultural traditions, thanks to its positioning as a key fixture of multiple Mediterranean trade routes.  Thus today Sicily reflects influences from Angevin, Aragonese, Byzantine, Catalan, Greek, Muslim, Norman, and Roman contributors, which combine in a colorful pastiche to make modern Sicily into a one of a kind, open air museum.
The island of Sicily has been inspiring visitors for thousands of years with its exhilarating combination of natural beauty and rich cultural heritage.  Visitors from antiquity through modern times have been drawn to the Mediterraneanâ??s largest island and impressed by everything it has to offer.

Greece and Cyclades are known for their ancient history, culture and mythology. For decades now these have lured thousands of tourists from across the world to get their share of this enchanting location. The Mediterranean offers a chance to explore the coastline of Greece and find some of the best hidden islands. The sight of the bright white houses dotted along the coast everywhere is a classic Greek greeting to everyone who comes here.

There are so many islands, small and big along the coastline that the best way to explore it all is through Yacht charter Greece which would allow you to visit a new island and a new port every single day. Greece yacht charters offer you the chance to experience the classic Mediterranean culture in a true luxury style. Some of the best places in Greece and Cyclades to visit are:

Kea- the island of Kea is still very well hidden from the tourists which is what adds to its charm. This quiet little island has beautiful beaches, hills and valleys that are filled with orchards and dotted with almond, oak and olive trees. The beaches here are exceptionally beautiful and secluded. Mykonos- Mykonos is very well known for its glittering nightlife. The atmosphere here is really vibrant and alive with the youthful crowd walking around the narrow streets, the colorful markets, the many pubs, bars and clubs that are dotted along the beautiful beaches. Delos: Delos is situated quite close to Mykonos and is the most important archeological site in Greece. The island has some very important archeological sites that date back to centuries and a museum that showcases its history. Ios- Ios is again known for its vibrant crowds and its party culture. There are numerous bars and clubs here lined at the beach and the center of the city and the beaches here are known to be the ones that attract the most stylish people from around the world. Sifnos- the island of Sifnos has a rugged charm with its string of hills that surrounds the island. Sifnos has plenty of small villages where life is still lived the ancient Mediterranean way and there are plenty of orchards and hillsides that are covered with aromatic herbs. Kythnos- this island is still very secluded and does not attract throngs of visitors. The Island has several small villages that have character and the charm that a truly Mediterranean island must have. Life here is very relaxed and there are a number of beaches here that have perfect white sand and sparkling azure waters.

The islands in Greece and Cyclades can leave you mesmerized by their sheer beauty and their enchanting culture, anyone who comes here once will surely be touched by the abundant natural beauty here.

Many who visit the Island find some ancient caves with sculptors dating back to times about two thousand earlier. They are well preserved now and attract thousand of tourists each day. The ride itself from Gateway of India to Elephanta is quite interesting. It gives not only an opportunity to get away from the crowds and noise of a great metropolis but also a short trip out in the sea to experience the winds and the waves.

ayurveda training school india

There are hundreds of diesel powered boats lined up at Gateway of India to take you there and people will approach you themselves inviting you to take the ride. Rates are down to earth cheap and worth a beautiful visit to the island. Do not forget to take your water bottle and some eatables as it gets quite hot and humid and restaurantsâ?? at the island are not as reasonable as on the mainland in the city.

The ride itself is quite well organized and interesting as you get to see the Mumbai Port and ships of various sizes and kinds berthed around. As you near the island you get an opportunity to see from a distance inverted cup like structure of Bhabha Atomic Research centre at Trombay which is right opposite the jetty of Elephanta Island. The only thing that I dislike most is the quality of the sea water all around Mumbai. It is dirty. Seems all the filth of a city of over 10 million people is freely allowed to flow in the sea making it yellowish in color. Plastic bottles, polythene bags and all kinds of rubbish you can see floating in the sea.

relaxation massage delhi

On the island itself things are neat. The caves are interesting; as you climb a flight of stairs, though climb is little tiring. Most people visit the caves and a little beautiful Museum that is there. But as there is no sign board to direct to the Gun at the top of the hill most people miss it. You got to ask the people about the Gun. They will direct you to a small little unpaved trail leading to the top of the hill. It will take around ten minutes climb. If you are old and infirm I advise you to avoid it.

Once on the top you will notice the Gun. Itâ??s quite big. It reminded me the movie Guns of Navarone. Ofcourse, in the movie there were two guns, while it is one and the size is little smaller then what is shown in the film. But it is quite interesting to see it here on the island and the view all around is also great.

 

By Wendell W. Solomons 

Literary scholars from Russia arrived in Sri Lanka for a symposium on writers Chekov and Bunin.

After a July 1890 visit, Chekhov, in letters to friends described the Russian island of Sakhalin as â??hellâ?? and called Ceylon â??paradise.â??

During the March 2006 visit the Russian scholars were wondering why Anton Chekhov wrote a detailed book to describe Sakhalin, a prison colony island, whereas he did not publish as much a short essay about the island he had called â??paradiseâ??. The larger world has named a place of historical pilgrimage in the island – Adamâ??s Peak.

Chekhovâ??s compatriot Sergei Bunin had visited and written about Ceylon. Bunin had become the first Russian to be awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature.

The scholars had arrived for the March symposium from frosty Moscow attired in suit and tie. You could sense what the tropical sun did to them in Colombo. The local side, Sri Lankan scholars arriving at the Russian Cultural Centre for the symposium, wore light cotton-mix clothing.

Yet, it was not the tropical sunlight alone that the Russian team had to overcome. A mystery of Anton Chekhov pursued them to the symposium.

They asked – Why had Chekhov not shared impressions of Ceylon with his large readership?

Although Chekhov’s fame today rests primarily on his plays, he had written hundreds of short stories even if you were to set apart those of his teenage years. It was pointed out at the symposium that Chekhov had travelled to Kandy in the central highlands where he met a Russian-speaking Buddhist monk from Russiaâ??s Buryatia. This monk sought out details about a native lady healer and travelled subsequently with Chekhov to seek a remedy for an ailment of Chekovâ??s.

We know Chekhov was impressed with the lady and presented her with a necklace. When leaving the island, among finds that Chekhov took with him were a pair of little mongooses and a palm civetâ?¦ Yet, why did he not share with his large audience, a story of his findings in Ceylon?

At the symposium, a member of the Sri Lankan group tried to place the Russian guests at ease.

He suggested: Perhaps Chekhovâ??s major interest was to get acquainted with Buddhism?

At that you almost sensed an â??Ah!â?? going through the thinking of the participants; here was relief at last!

Buddhism wafted me into thoughts of Helen P. Blavatsky. Her visit with Henry Steele Olcott had preceded Chekhov to Ceylon. It had prompted Olcott to lead a major drive for founding more schools in the island. Seated next to me was a woman journalist from Moscow, and I reminded her of Yelena Blavatskayaâ?¦

She remarked, “There seems more to Blavatskaya than we presently realise.”

Then she commented on the now vivid faces at the symposium, “Look at the natural smiles. They arenâ??t the ones staged by American advertising industry.”

The home scholars were happy that the guests were at ease. I read the smiles also as of two groups who had broken the ice and received affirmation of shared interests.

A cocktail evening was scheduled to follow. Yet, after dipping into some snacks. I was deep in concern: “Was the mystery solved? Had Buddhism interested Chekhov?”

To Research Now

The Russian scholars had reminded us that after Shakespeare, Chekhov has become the worldâ??s next most popular dramatist. They also told the audience that the only memorial to Chekhov they knew outside the former Soviet Union is located in the Grand Oriental Hotel – or GOH – in Colombo.

I could go to the Grand Oriental Hotel to search for clues. The location of hotel, which had been bought by a state bank in the 1950s, was quite familiar. At the bank, my father was picked to supervise reconstruction of the hotel and as a child I had visited him at work. A hotel isnâ??t a museum but my fatherâ??s generation, like the preceding one, had preserved a memorial in the â??Chekhov suite.â??

In the alcove that leads into the room are framed Chekhov pictures. Inside the room are more pictures; Chekov seated with Tolstoy and then with Gorky.

The illustrations and the room took me out in time. They reminded me of the sentiments involved and again of the nature of the people who had preserved the memorial to the writer.

Speaking of sentiments involved â?? was Chekhov studying Buddhism as a consequence of the debate on the origins of biological life prompted by the 19th Century publication of Darwinâ??s Theory of Evolution? Was Chekhov in search of an earlier or stronger ethical anchor for society as in the case of Blavatskaya and Olcott?

 

 

Speaking historically, the ethic of philosophies such as Buddhism appeared at 600 BC, that is, before Christianity. Preceding philosophies do gain illustration in the Bible and this quote briefly describes an issue that absorbs page after page of Ecclesiastes:

The wise man has eyes in his head, while the fool walks in the darkness; but I came to realise that the same fate overtakes them both.
Then I thought in my heart, “The fate of the fool will overtake me also. What then do I gain by being wise?” I said in my heart, “This too is meaningless.” (Eccl 2:13/14)

Do Buddhism and Christianity deal with the issue of â??meaninglessâ?? in human life?

Chekhov was raised in a religiously focussed family that sang Old Slavonic liturgies at home and read the Bible. Foundational philosophies did not escape him. Take one response to the issue in his story â??Ward No: 6â??. A Chekhov hero exclaims on the Greek Stoics whose ethic of detachment reached its zenith not long after the arrival of Buddhism â??

“What was I saying? Oh, yes! This is what I mean: one of the Stoics sold himself into slavery to redeem his neighbour, so, you see, even a Stoic did react to stimulusâ?¦”
We know that among forms of stimulus, â??compassionâ?? takes priority in Gautama Buddhaâ??s teachings. In the Four Noble Abodes of Existence the first place is reserved for â??Karunaâ?? (Pali language â??compassionâ??.) Last but not least we witness that Gautama Buddhaâ??s personal life provides us with the example of his practicing a caring for people and all life.

Audience and Chekhovâ??s Message
Regarding â??compassionâ?? in Chekhov, he outlined his choice of form and substance for his own work in a letter to his brother Alexander:

1

Absence of lengthy verbiage of a political-social-economic nature;
2
Total objectivity;
3
Truthful descriptions of persons and objects;
4
Extreme brevity;
5
Audacity and originality; flee the stereotype;
6
Compassion.

Chekhov did not intend that his work be restricted to a solitary sectarian subculture. From what he writes at point 1 above you might estimate that he had chosen to write for large audiences. To do that his work fends off mutant â??fads and ideologies of the day.â??
That original phrase is one of 1998 and comes from Western banker named James Wolfensohn.

Gaining spport – like Kurt Waldheim – James Wolfensohn had climbed to head the Washington-based World Bank in the 1990s. As to Waldheim in the UN Secretary-Generalâ??s post, his bio-data later exposed him as a Nazi officer.

Wolfensohn was shifted to the Washington DC development bank from the lead position of the J Schröder Bank in New York and from the same canny and queer commercial bank’s board of directors Allan Dulles had been elevated to head the CIA. The J Schröder Bank represented Gremanyâ??s I H Stein Bank that was in turn headed by a Schröder relation. To complete the circle, Adolph Hitler and Heinrich Himmler belonged among old faithfuls of the I H Stein Bank clan and issued cheques drawn on their personal accounts in Cologne.

 

The Wolfensohn words were spoken to World Bank directors after the 1998 final collapse of the Russian rouble at the hands of reformers who under the â??Monetaristâ?? label had been sent to Moscow in 1993.

 

According to testimony placed before US Congress by Professor Janine Wedel and according to the research of Anne Williamson (both available on the WWW,) the fad Monetarist group was put together by Wolfensonâ??s direct deputy, who also holds the bankâ??s second forceful position of Chief Economist.

After the Wolfensohn comment the Monetarist leader Milton Friedman started closing his book but the viral mutant, a negative nihilism, runs wild creating community antipathy and social dissolution.

Chekhov in answer to Nihilism
In Chekhovâ??s time, a strain of Russian nihilism had become a professionalâ??s shelter from myriad social and political movements such as those of Anarchists, Decembrists and Narodniks who preached a removal of the monarchy.

Alexander II was the Tsar who answered US President Abraham Lincolnâ??s call when he faced violent separation by slave-holding southern US states. Alexander II sent a flotilla of Russian warships to New York and California at Lincolnâ??s request. At home, the reform-oriented Alexander II abolished serfdom in 1861 and corporal punishment. He established local self-government, initiated judicial reform, revised the educational system and improved administration of the police.

 

 

Dissolution of Social Ethic
If the social good is deconstructed or hidden by a myth or fad, then a finger may seem to exist without the body of humanity. In that blissful ideology, “I” survive though society freezes to death.

Monetarists such as Milton Friedman associated closely with Alice Rosenbaum. Born in Petrograd in 1906, Rosenbaum later settled in the USA to begin expositions on social philosophy in the 1930â??s under the name â??Ayn Rand.â?? She borrowed nihilism and then took it over the brink to Thomas Hobbes of the 1650â??s.

 

 

Looking at a rash of marauding frauds that hit US companies, illustrious New York financier George Soros called the situation “self-defeating.” Two can play the same game.

 

 

Rizal admired Colomboâ??s beautiful buildings, barracks, temples, tree-lined streets, botanical garden, and museum. After visiting a hospital the physician wrote: â??No odour of sickness, no dirt, nothing that reminds one of illness…â??

 

 

 

 

 

The Chekhov legacy includes more than 400 short stories. So much awaits evolution into scripts for video and TV. The Chekhov legacy also includes scores of dramas that can still more rapidly be transferred to TVâ?¦Chekhov cannot be judged within the framework of advertising-driven consumerism. He needs study as a mobiliser for compassion and for the social good.A Return to Incorporating the Social GoodBy then it appeared so dangerous to me that on July 28th, 1992 I sent a 3,000-word explanatory protest (visible on the WWW) to the World Bank and copied it to the â??Moscow News.â?? I suggested there too that a tricked Russia could turn towards the East, as it now has, where China, for instance, had begun a careful reform policy.The 1977 label for the islandâ??s social deconstruction was “Open Economy”. After one and a half decades of tests, the social virus was repackaged as â??economic reformâ?? and used by the Monetarists in Russia in 1993.Impressed by what he saw, Rizal remarked: â??Colombo is more beautiful, smart and elegant than Singapore, Point Galle and Manila…â??His observations are not alone. We might take up the a second plaque at the Grand Oriental Hotel that states that Jose Rizal, physician, man-of-letters, patriot, martyr, and national hero of the Philippines lodged at the hotel in 1882, during one of his four visits to Colombo.In Sri Lanka the self-defeating savagery was imposed since 1977 when the World Bank and affiliates began social surgery. As a result, Chekhovâ??s paradise island can no longer be easily evoked.They were blind to the civic traditions that developed from the year 1215 Magna Carta, an agreement that limited the power of the King of England. In the hands of Rosenbaum and Milton Friedman who had leaped onto the platform of US Presidential Economics Advisor, nihilism began to shift whole societies to a pre-civic, savage and heady opportunism.Hobbes, a plagiarist of Italyâ??s Machiavelli, had pamphleteered that â??a war of each against the otherâ?? would help British elites dominate over common folk. This fad was discarded because it would create social dissolution in Britain. Yet, Rosenbaum and Friedman belonged within recent, migrant groups that were alien in the 20th Century to Western civilisation.The rise of a nihilist ethic (â??treat everything external to your work table as nothingâ??) allowed a doctor, for example, to tend a sick patient irrespective of whether the patient broke into anarchist, liberal, monarchist or other politics in the hospital ward.
We must distinguish that some part of this coincided with Anton Chekhov. Taking the oath of Hypcrites during his training as a doctor, he perceived a need to help a general population, irrespective of political fraction and labelled himself a free artist.
Yet, more. Starting in the land he knew at first hand, Russia, Chekhov was to become worldwide, a mobiliser of audiences towards the social good without his being sidelined by man-made viruses such as sectarian exclusivism or philosophic deconstruction.Yet, Alexander II was assassinated by a bomb thrown into his carriage. The name of a local revolutionary group, the Narodnaya Volya (â??Peopleâ??s Willâ??) was invoked but what could not always be assessed was the flow of money into political groups including monies that arrived from foreign sources for subversion in Russia.Using prime-time state TV channels, the faddists promised a stable, convertible rouble. They then went on to wreak havoc. With currency devalued more than a hundred times, family incomes dwindled to nothing. Mothers and fathers sold their apartments to seek food. Without a roof, they and their children were lost in the dark. Frozen bodies had to be picked up in icy streets in the morning.Scapegoating Jews was used to rally Germans to Hitler. So we might decide that Wolfensohn was speaking from authority on â??fads and ideologies of the day.â?? Media can be used to spread a myth to impoverish a population.However, witnessing the difference between (a) the Buddhist temple where stanzas are chanted in ancient Pali and (b) the Christian church today where hymns are sung in a local language, can you expect any similarity of values?Something to pursue propped up. Not in ritualistic but in deeper sense, can the anchor of Buddhism be considered to belong in Chekhovâ??s work? That may have contributed to Chekhov ascent to his now traditional popularity among Sri Lankaâ??s Buddhists – or said in another way, Chekhovâ??s sentiments had long found sympathy NOT ONLY in the Christian heart.

First Web publication:

http://news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=351&Itemid=52

Friday, 30 June 2006

David Mutlow travels to Patmos and revels in its descovery.

In 95 AD during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian the Apostle John (the last living disciple of Christ) was exiled on this Island of Patmos. It was here that St John wrote the book of Revelation.

The Book of Revelations’ depicts St John’s vision of historical events yet to take place. His banishment to the Island was far from comfortable, believed to have been in his late 70’s at least.

He lived in a cave above the Islands capital of Skala as a hermit. Today this cave is one of the most revered locations for all Christians. Not only is it revered as a place where one of the Disciples lived in exile.  It’s also a place where God revealed himself to a human being. In theological terms it is an extremely blessed spot. According to our guide and Archaeologist ‘Heinrich Hall’

Just below the Monastery of St John founded by St Christodoulos in 1095 Ad is the Katholikon of the Monastery of the Apocalypse and the location of the Cave of St John. It’s here that the holy evangelist dictated to his disciple ‘Prochoros’ the Book of Revelations.

Listening to our guide a profound reverence is given in the description of the cave itself. “When entering” says our guide Heinrich Hall. “You’ll be struck on how small this cave is. According to belief there is a little niche in the wall where St John laid his head during the night. There’s also a little recess in the wall that was used as a handle when he got up in the morning after all he was a very old man and another hollow that looks like a pulpit where his disciple Prochoros sat taking St John’s dictation.”

The cave is extremely small, no bigger than an average size living room. The granite-like volcanic formation wraps from below our feet into the Cave and flows back above our head within reach of my fingers. Soot from candles long ago can still be seen in the crags in the walls and ceiling. Today a building’s wall doubles the size of the original cave. This is the ‘Katholikon Chapel’. Only a very faint smell of incense is in the air but the atmosphere, the reverence it inspires, is quite humbling. St John’s exile only lasted 2 years on the Island, in 96 AD after the assassination of the Emperor Domitian St John returned to Ephesus to life out the rest of his days.

Above the ‘Katholikon Chapel’ is: The Monastery of St John the Theologian, giving its full title. It  is a fortified Monastery founded by St Christodoulos in 1095 Ad at the beginning of the Crusades (1095 -1291). This is when the Byzantine Empire was under attack from the east and the west hence its fortifications. Over time a town developed outside the Monastery walls. Now called Chora mostly for protection its 16th & 17th century style buildings has a striking resemblance to hill towns in Tuscany. Narrow alleyways with the occasional parked scooter outside it’s owners door can be seen yet the similarity ends there, where in Italy the walls are clay brown in Chora brilliant whitewashed walls dazzle us in the sunlight. Cobbled squares in every shade of white with accents of green (vines) and red (bougainvillea) attract the eye.

Inside the Monastery the fresco paintings outside the Chapel of Panayia are a must see. Wall paintings in vivid colours portrays various miracles of St John can be seen with rare depictions of images of the anti-Christ on the walls outside. Inside the Chapel of Panayia (The Virgin) built in the 12th century and the oldest in the Monastery, ornate frescos undiminished over time are everywhere. Rich purples and gold depict the Madonna and child with the Archangels Michael & Gabriel wingless and dressed in military-imperial uniforms either side.

Listening to Heinrich’s revered enthusiasm is infectious “The Monastery has the best medieval library in Europe with 10s of thousands of documents showing the running of the Monastery and its property. Its archives are used to study the Mediterranean economy from the Middle Ages to the present.” says Heinrich Hall. Sadly access to the archive is by written permission however the Monastery Museum displays the most choice pieces in its collection.”

In a courtyard outside the Monastery we sit drinking frappes (cold Instant coffee) our glass-bottled water advertises ‘Water from Central Greece’ with a marine scene by Alison Reid. We are high amongst the gardens of Chora, our platform shaded by bamboo. To my right silver/green olive branches and eucalyptus trees drape over our balcony Carob trees planted century ago its fruits used for cattle hang within reach of my hands. Fig trees with fleshy leaves and cactus plants with their prickly pears are all around our garden in the trees.

Returning to our boat whilst walking through the port of Skala we are stopped by Heinrich. “This spot marks the location where St John baptised his followers” a small brass plaque purched on a ring of ornate iron fence protects the remains of the original quayside.

Getting there…
David Mutlow travelled with ‘Peter Sommer Travels’ on their North Dodecanese Archaeological tour for seven days visiting Samos, Patmos, Leros, Kos and Halicarnassus (Bodrum) the site of the Mausoleum. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world. http://www.petersommer.com

Located in the Fujian province of China, Xiamen is an exiting place to visit if you’re a travel fanatic. A unique mix of native and overseas Chinese culture enriches the already thriving cultural diversity of this oriental city. This coastal city is one of the more quiet places in China that tourists have the pleasure of visiting. Home to a number of famous attractions, Xiamen is most renowned for Gulangyu Island and the Overseas Chinese Museum. With major international presences haunting the past of Xiamen, this remarkable city has also been honored by being nominated as one of the most suitable places to live in China. Despite keeping a low profile, Xiamen is a major contributor to the fast growing Chinese economy and is a favorite destination for a large number of foreign investors.

Covering an area of 50,000 square meters, the Xiamen Overseas Chinese Museum is a venue that highlights the proud heritage of overseas Chinese. This magnificent palace like structure is divided into three main exhibition halls: the Hall of Relics of Motherland’s History, the Hall of Nature and the Hall of History of Overseas Chinese.

The Hall of Relics of Motherlands History houses a fascinating collection of extremely valuable relics and artwork form ancient times. Thousands of pottery, bronze ware, sculptures and paintings from past dynasties are also found within these walls. The Hall of Nature exhibits a number of animal species ranging from mammals to birds and even showcases a variety of plants as well. The Hall of History of Overseas Chinese exhibits a number of artifacts that examine the history of overseas Chinese prior to and after the liberation.

Xiamen is also home to Gulangyu Island where gorgeous colonial buildings are plentiful and automotive environmental pollution is non existent purely because the use of vehicles is not allowed. This is a perfect getaway destination for those of us who just want to escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. Guests can find a Xiamen hotel practically anywhere in the city but Millennium Harbourview Hotel Xiamen offers unparallel services and a full range of amenities for a memorable stay.