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 |   A Journal to impart knowledge and facts |
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July 22, 2015 I'm going to start today to record on a daily basis whatever happens to strike my fancy. So, it is a very cool breezy day. I just posted 5 short book reviews to The Monthly Reading Challenge. I'm suppose to put away some winter wood today from the woodpile outside but I'm playing hookey from work to write so starting this blog will get done. I'm having a daily fight with a flock of English Sparrows that are trying to take over my barn. They are making a terrible mess so they have to go. I have destroyed several nests so far they don't leave but they get out of the barn when I am around. I'm just starting the fight so I guess I don't know how far I have to go to discourage them. I'm trying not to spread myself to thin on WDC because I find so many things that are interesting here and I am trying to work on a new story. I really enjoy sitting at my desk with a cup of tea and reading blogs on WDC. |
Prompt: How are you making the world a better place for those that come after you? Write about this in your Blog entry today. Hi. from ApondiaGeography and Environmental studies taught me about the term footprint on the earth. Now I look for ways to make our footprint smaller. One way I discovered is Earth Breeze Laundry Detergent. The packaging is better than plastic bottles. The county I live in does not recycle so we have to find good ways to recycle. Less plastic is better. Plus,for every one of the product sold Earth Breeze donates laundry Detergent to worthwhile causes. I accomplished some research about plastic waste; when I wrote some articles for Journalistic Intentions on  . Plastic waste is a major concern to planet Earth. It is causing extreme havoc to the waterways of the planet.I was personally startled by the real threat to lifeforms that live in water ways, both saltwater and fresh water environments. There is a plan in place to clean the oceans which is good news. Nevertheless, using fewer plastic bottles will help.Then, we tried out a corn burning stove to replace our wood furnace. Corn burns hotter than wood and is also a faster renewable resource than wood. It also burns cleaner than wood putting less pollution into the air. Another plus, it is a money crop for farmers. Over the years I have been trying to recycle useful articles from my home that we no longer need. We began insulating strongly to make the house easier to heat. This will still be an ongoing work effort in the next few years. Just a few of the practical ways to be helpful to the Earth and leave a worthwhile legacy. Spend some meditative time in nature today. It's good for your health. |
 Hi from Apondia  Milodon Cave Once again the Hotel we are staying in has many floors and my room is up high, which gives me views of the tops of many buildings. The bed are comfortable and the pillows soft. They serve a very nice breakfast. Breakfast is a favorite meals. It is a nice place to rest from our travels. The Milodon Cave tour was really interesting. It was declared a historical monument in 1968; then declared a National monument in 1993. Inside the cave is stored the historic find by Captain Eberhard in 1896. The Captain found the skeleton of a Giant Ground Sloth. Giant Ground Sloths once lived in both North and South America. The ones in North America became extinct before the ones in South America. Even after they became extinct in South America some of them remained living on the Island of Cuba until about 4200 years ago. Because of their height, 12 feet tall, they were able to reach high into trees for food by standing on their hind feet. They were herbivores. Giant Ground Sloths weighed about 4 tons. They are given some credit for the dispersal of avocado seeds. They were able to swallow avocados whole. If you have ever eaten an avocado you know the seeds are quite large. As they traveled around they would distribute the seeds. The USA imports about 80% of grocery avocados from Mexico. Agro-forestry is used in the growth of avocado trees because they need extreme amounts of water to grow the trees. Each tree uses about 60 gallons of water to keep it growing per season. There is a knick name for avocados. They are sometimes called alligator pears. Like the Sloth they need help to keep growing and not become extinct. I found a song on YouTube "You Call Me Slow." It is the Sloth Song. It can also be found on Spotify. It is a song to examine the blight of Sloths by WR-Song Music. Very interesting lyrics but not really too musically slow. Another memorable visit to a special place. See Ya Later. |
| Argan Oil for a Moroccan Spa: Hi from Apondia: Garnier actually sells a hair product called Fructis. Walmart carries it. Interesting that I thought Argan Oil had something to do with coconuts. When I saw they were using it for the spa I decided to find out more about this oil. Fructis contains more than one product. Argan oil is only a percentage of the ingredients within Fructis. Argan oil actually comes from Argan Trees. Argan trees are grown in Morocco and Southwestern Algeria. The tree produces a small green fruit. The fruit is similar in shape and size to an olive. Inside the fruit is a kernel. The kernel is used to produce the oil. Surprise! Moroccans have been eating Argan oil for years. They use it to flavor food or as dip for bread during a meal. The oil has health benefits. It gives the human immune system support, controls cholesterol, heals wounds, and has anti-aging affects. Who knew?  Consumers might not know because Argan Oil is primarily promoted as a cosmetic in the USA.Three primary places are a part of Argan Oil production, Agadir, Essaouira, and Taroudant where many of the Argan trees are grown. A cooperative named Amazigh which means sisters employ about 100 women to produce Argan Oil.The women receive a salary, free child care, health insurance, and literacy courses for their service. First the Argan fruit is dried in the sun. The employees then peel and mash the fruit with stones. Using this process they are able to extract the kernel. The Kernel is then fed through a machine pressing the kernel to extract the oil. It takes about 3 days of grinding to produce one liter of oil. The use of Argan oil in cosmetics has caused an upsurge of demand for the product since 2002 when the Amazigh Cooperative was first set up. The women say they enjoy the work. They sing and enjoy fellowship while they work. Amazon sells a 2 ounce bottle of 100% pure natural, cold pressed, unrefined Argan oil in an amber bottle for $15.99. There is also a picture of an Argan Tree and goats and a second picture of a women processing the fruit. Amber bottles protect the product from light. A label on the bottle advertises information about the product can be found at www.us-organic.com. When we get Argan oil in a day at the spa we are well pampered. I need a Moroccan spa at my house. THE END |
| Kirstenbosch and the National botanical and zoological gardens are now The South African Biodiversity Institute. Hi! from apondia April 29, 2024Fires on Table Mountain started by lightning strikes cause evacuations of guests. Caution extended to Kirstenbosch Gardens on that day. .Can you imagine the concern extended to this beautiful area of diverse plant life threatened by fire. The dell is the oldest part of Kirsten Bosch. It is a place where cool shade loving plants thrive and flowing spring waters run clear. A peaceful serene area to visit. Stone age implements have been found in the Dell. They are from the Khoikhoi people who have been living in the area for 2000 years. Kirsten Forest is named after a family that used to reside somewhere close to the land used for the Botanical Gardens. However they never actually owned any of the land used to build the Biodiversity Institute. Kirsten Bosch means Kirsten forest. A card sent to my family back home: There is so much to see here. It is like this on our virtual tours. To much to see in just one day. The hotel where we are staying gives us a rare view. Our rooms are high in the sky. I'm enjoying the view and the beauty of the rooms. Kirsten Bosch means Kirsten Forest. An interesting feature is the many shops actually attached to the Botanical and Zoological Institute but accessible without buying a ticket to view the Gardens. Having a great time and learning a lot. Taking lots of pictures to show you when I get back. Love, Mom There are so many different areas inside the Gardens. A concert area, African stone sculpture area has a gift store as a part of it, Maps to the different parts can be downloaded, Gift shops and book shops are available, a conference center, The conservatory actually houses a baobab tree, a Cycads area is called living fossils, because the plants there have not changed much since the dinosaurs were roaming around, There is a lily pond on the main lawn. I think it is a great place to spin a science fiction yarn. It is a beautiful place and the pond reminds me of many stories I've read about magical ponds.Each place in the garden grows its own variety of plants. So many different areas I won't take time to name them all. It is interesting that one of the maps shows areas where pet dogs are allowed to be taken on walks. Have a great day. apondia#1781748 |
Madagascar ApondiaThe lyrics of Bali Ha'i from Rogers and Hammerstein's South Pacific remind me of the natural beauty and biological diversity of Madagascar. Bali Ha'i environments can only be explored by brave people with pure hearts who dare to explore the secrets of the land. Constance Tsarabanjia is a beautiful place to visit. I particularly liked the swings in the cabins. I also enjoyed the open-air idea of the South Sea Islands type of housing. I doubt the idea that humans are physically related to lemurs. There are a lot of different species of lemurs living in the many National Parks of this country. One is the Golden Lemur. The national parks here are beautiful and have some very wild parts. The truth is even though Humans have similar DNA to Chimpanzee's it is not the same as chimps. Humans and Apes may have a similar remote ancestor. That is not presently a proven fact. It is one of the most erroneous of facts that homosapiens are descended directly from any species of ape. Madagascar is sometimes related to as the 8th continent because of its' biological diversity. I visited the Baobab Avenue. The trees are awesomely large. They used to be part of a large forest. The forest has been removed over the years by humans. It leaves the Baobab trees standing. They only drink when liquid is needed. They are called Hydro Homies because they need the Dihydrogen Monoxide of the liquid, they intake. A great place to travel. New things to learn about the earth. |
For the end of the day: or just after the camel ride:  Camels and Cairo Cairo is considered the cultural capital of the middle east. It is particularly known for the pyramids and the Egyptian museum. Within the culture it is considered impolite to point any part of your foot at someone or to show someone the soul of your shoe. Not visiting an acquaintance for a long period of time shows how insignificant you feel about you relationship, and it is a compliment for the food if you take a second helping. The people I met were all very helpful and polite. I saw the Khan El Khalili Bazaar early in the morning. It was actually quite calm with fewer people than I expected. Because it was early in the day. I was told that the way to pronounce the name was Ham Hem Halee. With a short a,e,In first two syllables and long ee in the last syllable. So, many things to see. Jewelry, backpacks, statuettes of all kinds, beautiful long gowns, shoes, sandals, slippers. Linen pants with camels on them and rugs of all kinds. I would like a dozen for my home. A Uber driver said to be sure to get a good price by haggling. He said if they say 100 come back with 50 but don't let them talk you up higher than 70. Inside the bazaar helpful people were only a step away. I saw too many items to describe them all. The camel ride was just amazing. Mounting was done while the beast rested on the ground. Good thing because once it stood up its long legs (6 feet plus at the shoulder, 7 feet plus at the hump), put us quite a ways up in the air. The first camel kept its head low at the guides shoulder, the others held their heads high and were strung out in a line. Attached to each other by long leads. We waved and called out hellos to other riders as different tours walked past each other. The ride was an hour long. The camels were decked out in beautiful bridles and colorful rugs under their saddles. I enjoyed the long languid walking gate that covered a lot of ground quite quickly as we strolled along. We mainly rode near the area where the pyramids could be seen and there was a lot of sand. A sign at the entrance said, "Built for Eternity" as we entered the pyramids. You must buy a ticket. There are security guards everywhere who check tickets. Once we were walking on the grounds near the pyramids there were stray dogs wandering among the crowds. I noticed there were also Arabian horses decked out for tours. Once I saw a two-wheel cart being pulled by a team of ponies. The pyramids were awesome and not anything like I have seen in pictures. The bricks were larger than I expected. One of the pyramids was bent having been not formed properly. I was reminded of a place in the Exodus where the Hebrew's were punished because of an argument Moses had with Pharoh. Their punishment was to make their own bricks for building as well as to maintain their schedule for building. I think the pyramids we were visiting are not the older ones that are not on the tourist guides list for visiting. It was a very long day. I enjoyed everything and learned things I did not ever think about as they applied to Egypt and the pyramids. Riding camels is fun. Bye for now. |
| Bhutan: Apondia When I think of Bhutan, I think of a peaceful place with lots of mountainous spots with deep valleys and rivers. The environment seems to be a key to the remoteness of the country and the devotedness of the residents to a peaceful life. One time in my various readings I read that the original Budda (Siddhartha Gautama}, commanded that he should never be worshipped. I came into some of my knowledge by studies in Mindfulness and Yoga. Although it is true that Mindfulness is associated with Buddhism it is also true that meditation is used in Judaism and Christianity. If you really study or just read books about different religious endeavors you will find similar and dissimilar ideas recorded in these three subjects. There is a book in our local library written by an associate of Siddhartha Gautama. When I read it I felt every child would benefit from the ideas expounded by the Bhudda. I also wondered why this particular type of writing was not set forth in writings about Jesus. I could see the hand of One God influencing the teachings of the Bhudda. I'm sure when people were sitting in places listening to the Christ, that he was telling them many of the teachings in the book I read. Also, one time probably 35 or 40 years ago I heard a speaker explaining the pitfalls of yoga in a Christian's life. Yet a book on Yoga I have in my library says Yoga is used in worship of one God. There is a place in Ezekiel where the prophet tells people not to use Yoga to worship the sun. I know there is a sun salutation, but it is only a morning greeting to the sun as it is considered a living entity. It is not a worship to the sun. The beliefs of naturalist credit every part of life as a living entity. Planets are greeted as mothers to civilizations. Plants make their own sounds. Animals within their own realm can think and communicate. A serious storm seems to wreak havoc with a life of its own. So, I was not surprised today to learn that Tiger's nest was created because a monk rode a Tigress to her lair on a mountain. It seemed a sad thing that the original temple burned in 1998 and was rebuilt. I visited the sanctuary. It was impressive. Even though it was extremely expensive; it would be a peaceful type of vacation from daily life. I thought of having tea at the tea bar. The tea bar offers 20 different types of herbal tea. There is a Bhutanese Medicine doctor in residence at the sanctuary who will consult with travelers about health remedies. The restaurant terrace overlooks the beautiful Neyphu valley. And the rooms offer a choice of a terrace or a balcony room that also show fabulous scenic views of the valley. To top it off I found singing bowls for sale in Amazon today. So, my swift exploration into Bhutan at Youtube.com and books I have read reaped some memories of readings and some new knowledge about a remote, beautiful and spiritual country. Hope your day is blessed. |
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