CAPTIVE BIRDS OF PREY AT PRAGUE CASTLE

As a visitor to the Prague Castle, when you enter the main complex and turn left towards the sprawling gardens you could come across an unusual sight  of majestic birds of prey perched on posts . A closer look will show the legs of all the birds tied to posts . These birds belong to the falconry that exists at the castle.

One of the captive Eagles

Hawks/Falcons waiting for their chance of flight

With quick twists of its neck, this owl was a keen observer of all the tourists

 A Falcon with its head Gear - does look pitiable !

The falconry at the castle organises special shows of these birds in flight and also the opportunity to have these powerful birds perch on your gloved hand.

However it is sad to see these mighty birds in captivity, their freedom taken away from them.

HAPPY DIWALI

Today is Diwali , the festival of lights . This is the most important festival of India. It signifies the triumph of good over evil and victory of brightness over darkness.

Candles and oil lamps ( though these are now being replaced by electric lights) are lit up and placed around homes to give a bright and festive look.

Diwali is derived from the Sanskrit word Deepavali which means an array of lights. Balconies of homes and windows are decked with lights on window sills and parapets.

On Diwali, the goddess Laxmi, a symbol of prosperity, is worshipped.  Special Pujas ( prayers ) are performed at home before the beginning of celebrations. People wear new clothes, share sweets and light firecrackers. The North Indian business community usually starts their financial new year on Diwali and new account books are opened on this day.

Puja Place

The place where Puja is held is specially decorated with colours and flowers. This ritual is performed in every Hindu home. The main doors of homes are left open for the evening to enable the Goddess Laxmi to enter homes and bring wealth with her.

The evening ends with family and friends getting together, exchanging gifts and sweets, bursting crackers and dining.

Wish you all a Happy and Prosperous Diwali

COVENT GARDEN IN LONDON

Street performers, bars, restaurants, shops and theatres - that is Covent Garden. Situated in the heart of London's Westend, Covent Garden would probably be the most lively and action packed entertainment and leisure destination in London.

The Covent Garden Piazza

The area of Covent Garden consists of  an Italian style central  piazza which is dominated by what orignally was the fruit and vegetable market surrounded by bars, restaurants and fashionable boutiques.

The Apple Market

Built in 1632 by Inigo Jones, the Covent Garden market is a large glass covered building comprising os several arcades of high fashion boutiques, cafes, bars and restaurants and a plethora of arts and crafts. The Apple Market which is a part of this unique market does not sell apples !! It is estimated that 30 million tourists visit this famous tourist destination.

The Covent Garden Market

Covent Garden attracts street performers from all over. You will see numerous mime artists, musicians, jugglers and others entertaining the tourists in the central square. Dont be surprised if a statue springs to life as you approach it and reaches out towards you. This is just one of the acts that you will come across.

A Street Performer

Another scene of Covent  Garden

So if you are in London , head for Covent Garden , have a drink at the numerous bars in that area, watch a street performance , shop at one of the fashionable boutiques and in the evening take in the theatre. You could end it with dinner at Belgo !

EATING IN LONDON - BELGO FOR BELGIAN FOOD

If you are in London and in search for great seafood - head for Belgo at Earlham Street near the Covent Gardens. Belgo is a very unusual restaurant. The main entrance leads to a waiting bar area where you can start off with a glass of beer before you are seated at your table. The main restaurant is in the basement to which you descend in a cage like lift.

View of the Restaurant

The ambiance and look of the restaurant is very different from most places. A bit noisy with tables and benches for seating. Remember to book your table in advance or you may land up waiting for over 30 minutes. Lots of steel visible with no false ceiling. When you think Belgian Food , what does come to mind is seafood and in particular mussels. There is a wide variety of seafood available at the Belgo, however what you must order is a steaming pot of Mussels accompanied by a bowl of freshly made crisp fries with creamy mayonnaise. And of course the Beer without which Belgian food is incomplete.

The Kitchen
The area around the Belgo at Covent Gardens is a very lively and and fun place. There are numerous pubs and other entertainment activities which includes plays and musicals over here.

In front of a theatre showing Chicago

While you are in the area, be sure to spend some time at the covent gardens which is a very unique and interesting place. Lots of street performers, places to eat and shopping.

The surroundings

To find out more about the restaurant click on the following to go to the official site of Belgo   

 Link to the website of Belgo restaurant in London

HAPPY EATING

THE MYSTIQUE OF STONEHENGE

Huge stones sticking out of the earth to a height of over 30 ft in a semi circular horse shoe shaped formation in the middle of lovely green meadows - that is Stonehenge. Another must visit place when you are in London, the ancient Stonehenge leaves you full of questions on the origin and purpose of these stones. Stonehenge is an icon symbolizing mystery, power and endurance. There has been a lot of speculation on its original purpose , from being a sacred burial site for high ranking citizens of that age  to a temple for the worship of ancient earth deities and a place for human sacrifice . It has also been speculated that this was an astronomical observatory for marking significant events on the prehistoric calendar. One fact is certain, Stonehenge must have been something very important to the ancients to make them take this effort and investment to put up this magnificent structure.

Stonehenge as it is today
The ancient monument of Stonehenge  was built as a temple about 5000 years ago as a large earthwork with a circular ditch surrounding a raised bank with upright wooden poles. This was the new stone age or the Neolithic Age.

The Circular ditch around the Central area with the Stones

(Note the Station Stone in the foreground)

About 2500 years ago, when the wooden pillars had begun to rot, the first stones were brought to replace the timber. This 2nd stage of Stonehenge started around 2150 BC when some 82 blue stones from the Preseli mountains from Southwest Wales were transported to the site. These were believed to have been brought by sleighs and rollers and through waterways - travelling a distance of 250 miles. This also marked the beginning of construction and alterations that lasted over 800 years stretching into the Bronze Age.

By this time, Stonehenge was the greatest temple in Britain, its banks, ditches and standing stones arranged in sophisticated alignments to mark the passage of the sun and the changing seasons.

A great Sarsen stone trilithon

These are two massive upright stones capped by a horizontal Intel . This is one of the 5 that originally stood over here.

Part of the outer sarsen circle with the best preserved section of surviving lintels.

It is apparent that the sarsens were carefully trimmed and shaped before being set up in their positions.

                                   

The Heelstone at Stonehenge

About 250 ft from the centre of the monument on the northwest periphery of the circle is a single large sarsen stone known as the heelstone. This is about 8 ft in diameter and stands 12 ft above the ground. The purpose of the heelstone however still remains a mystery.

Some Facts about Stonehenge

Age estimated at 3100 BC
Location Wilt shire, UK
OS Reference SU 122 422
Type of stone Bluestone, Sarson, Welsh Sandstone
Worship Lunar, Solar
Access English Heritage - there is a charge to visit the stones.

Stonehenge is an easy 3 hours drive from London. There are numerous tours to Stonehenge during the day. Normally there is no access to the inner circle - however there are special tours on certain days at sunrise and sunset which allow one to go within the circle up close to the stones. However you need to book very much in advance to get a seat on one of  these tours. I was in London in August and every tour was full up even though I had tried a month earlier to get a booking.

THE RAVENS OF THE TOWER OF LONDON

If you are a visitor to the The Tower of London, don't be surprised when you come across some large black birds that look like over sized crows. These are the Ravens of the Tower of London and have a history almost as old the tower itself.

One of the ravens at the Tower of London

There is no authentic record of when these ravens first appeared at the tower, their presence is however surrounded by myths and legends. Legend dictates that at least 6 ravens must always remain at the Tower else the Tower and the Monarchy will fall.

To prevent the ravens from flying away from the Tower, their wings are clipped and have pens to live in.

Pens in which the Ravens live

Currently there are seven ravens at the Tower - this is so in case one of the ravens dies or escapes, six will always remain.

Raven with it's wings clipped

All seven ravens at the tower have names and have their wings clipped. One of the Yeoman warders is the Ravenmaster who cares for the birds.

The Legend of the ravens of the Tower can be traced back to a Medieval chronicler - Geoffrey of Monmouth. In 1136 he wrote a book called Historia Regum Britannia - The History of he Kings of Britain in which he refers to a British King called King Bran Hen. Bran is a Welsh word for Raven. King Bran had requested that on his death in battlefield, his head be buried as a talisman against invasion on the White Mount where the Tower of London now stands. The ravens therefore came to symbolise the king and to this day they are accepted as necessary occupants of the Tower and the legend that should the ravens ever leave the Tower of London, the White Tower will crumble and a great disaster shall befall Britain.

It is believed that King Charles II ( early sixteenth century) was responsible for the declaration that at least 6 ravens should be kept at the Tower at all times to prevent disaster. This has since been followed religiously.

Here are some interesting facts about the ravens of the Tower of London

• There are seven ravens currently in residence
• The wings of the ravens are clipped so that they cannot fly away
• The ravens get a healthy diet of meat, bird biscuits and eggs besides other foods
• Ravens can live up to a ripe old age. The oldest raven to live at the Tower was Jim Crow who lived to an age of 44 years.
• Ravens who develop bad habits are dismissed from the Tower and sent to a Zoo.
• Ravens have also occasionally escaped and have been found at distance from the Tower.

If you plan to visit the Tower of London, book your tickets online and save time standing in queues and save time. Click on the Link below for The official site of the Tower of London is

Official Site of the Tower of London

Eating in London - The Dickens Inn

If you are visiting London, The Tower of London would certainly be on your ternary. After a few hours (that's the minimum time you will spend here) and as you move out the exit you will notice the magnificent Tower Bridge on the river Thames on the right. Just beyond the Tower Bridge are the Docklands - St Katherine's Docks. On the banks of the harbour and overlooking the Tower Bridge and the harbour is this picturesque restaurant - The Dickens Inn - a place popular with both the locals and tourists.

The Dickens Inn in London

Tracing its origin to the early 17th century when this building was a warehouse, it was moved from its original position to a new spot and converted into a traditional London pub. Whereas the place has 3 specialist restaurants, the most interesting is ' The Tavern Bar ' a traditional English Pub and the Beer Gardens ( which are really a part of the Tavern Bar)  where you can enjoy some traditional English food with beer.

At the Beer Garden with Fish & Chips and Beer.

If you want to enjoy the warm sunny London summer day , choose one of the beer gardens. Collect your beer from the bar and place your food order - the food will be served at your table ( you will need to choose your table first ) . My choice was the traditional fish&chips which is served with a selection of sauces  and beer. The fish was excellent as was the beer.

Pigeons enjoying a bite at the pub.

A walk around the area after a bite at the pub is very pleasant  with some lovely views of the harbour with its boats.

The Harbour with it's Yachts

One of the many interesting boats anchored in the harbour.

My vote is  a definite YES for  visit to this charming English pub and a stroll around the area

The Address :

The Dickens Inn

Marble Quay
St Katharines Way
London
E1W 1UH
Tel 0207 488 2208

Click on the link below for details on getting there

Link to Directions and Official website of Dickens Inn

London Eye

Was in London on vacation last  week and since I was staying near the County Hall, managed numerous visits to one of the most popular landmarks of London – The London Eye.  The County Hall which till 1986 was the seat of the Mayor of London has now been converted into a hotel - The Marriot. And next to the county hall are 2 of most important landmarks of London - Westminster and The London Eye,. The London Eye, . towering at a height of 135 metres, is the tallest cantilevered observation wheel in the world and attracts over 3,5 million visitors a year. Shot of the London Eye from the Westminster Bridge
The London Eye is the most popular paid tourist destination in the UK. Situated on the south bank of the river Thames, it is located between the Westminster bridge and the Hungerford bridge.

The London Eye at Night
In the summer months of July and August, the London Eye is open till 9.30 at night giving one an excellent opportunity to have a birds eye view of London at night. Particularly spectacular are views of  Westminster and Big Ben overlooking the river Thames.

The London Eye has 32 air conditioned capsules which can hold 25 people each and weighs  10 tonnes. The capsules are designed such that one can easily move around to get views from all angles.The capsules move at a speed of around 10 in per second and takes around 30 minutes to make a full revolution. Since the speed is slow, people alight and get on to the capsules while moving.

 A capsule of the London Eye

The capsules are fixed on a rim which is supported by spokes resembling the wheel of a cycle. An interesting fact is that different parts of the wheel were produced in various European countries - steel from UK, cables from Italy, bearings from Germany, the spindle and hub from Czech Republic.

If you are visiting London and haven't visited the London Eye ,do plan a visit and ride on this most interesting landmark. To avoid ques, book tickets online.

Click on the Link Below to go to the :

Official site of the London Eye for ticketing

Shanghai and it's buildings

Shanghai is a city of contradictions. You will see the ultra modern Shanghai with building reaching into the sky , the tops of which disappears into the clouds  on a cloudy day

This office building is located in the commercial section of Shanghai. Building vie with each other in height and the skyline of city is a series of tall skyscrapers.

These modern buildings are hotels overlooking the central square on Nanjing Street.

Spires and Domes are a favourite in this part of Central Shanghai

By Night

Another view at Night

The tallest building in Shanghai, this one houses the Hyatt Hotel from the 85th Floor onwards. Taken on a cloudy night, note that the top of the building disappears into the clouds.