Blue Moon July, 2015

There was a full moon on July 2 and last Friday, July 31, the second one appeared.  When there are two full moons in one calendar month, the second is described as blue.

The term blue moon,  has nothing to do with the color of our satellite,  but  refers to the succession of two full moons in the same month of the calendar, something which happens approximately every three years. In fact it is not blue. It is one full moon, like any other, of the same color as are most full moons: between pale gray, silver or milky white.  Here are two amazing photos of the Blue Moon.

People gathering to watch the blue moon rising over Glastonbury Tor.

  

Here, a group of friends pose like the Beatles as the moon rises above Penny Lane in Liverpool.

Read more:  Daily Mail 

The reason why it is possible to have two full moons in the same month is due to the fact that  the full moon cycle is approximately every 29.5 days.  If the full moon occurs the first day or the second of the month, it is more likely  that a second full moon would appear in the same month, what we would call a blue moon.

Does the Moon look blue?  In general, no. To make the moon appear with a  bluish tone copper, it  must be influenced by the ashes and smoke.  For example, in 1883, the explosion of the volcano Krakatoa (Indonesia) covered the clouds with ashes. The particles of ashes that absorbed a small amount of light tinted the atmosphere,  hence the moon could be seen as blue through the ash covered clouds.  Source:  Science Magazine Muy Interesante

The same was repeated in 1983, as explained from NASA, with the Mexican volcano El Chichón eruption. Source:  Hipertextual

Source of photo:  Hipertextual

We call the second full moon occurring in the same month as  blue Moon because of its rarity, as it is not an astronomical phenomenon that is usually observed.

The term Blue Moon actually had no scientific sense. James Hugh Pruett was the writer who baptized  the third full moon in a quarter that counted with four full moons.

Many cannot hear the expression without remembering a melody.  Blue Moon is also an American song by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, one of the many versions of a story by performers such as Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.

Five Legendary Wooden Bridges

Here are five legendary wooden bridges that are still functional.

1) Wind and rain bridge, China
This bridge is  perhaps the most emblematic in the tradition of building bridges within the ethnic group Dong, China.  The wood bridge that crosses the Linxi River is about 64 meters long. Built with embedded stones and wood, the bridge has five towers and eaves, and is the epicenter of a picturesque landscape: the meanders of the river, the trees of tea in the hills, and farmers working in their fields. The constructive technique is so surprising in that they are curiously held in place through centuries without the use of neither nails nor rivets.

  
2)  Ubein Bridge, Myanmar
Close to Amarapura, Myanmar lies the  U Bein bridge, the most extensive Teka bridge in the world, standing on pillars from the year 1849. In total, are 1.2 miles through the Taungthaman Lake, a walk used both for recreation and for activities such as fishing,  that attracts more and more tourism.

3) Medieval Bridge, Lucerne (Switzerland)
There are two medieval wooden bridges crossing the Reuss River in Lucerne. The Chapel (Kapellbrücke) bridge is the longest as well as the oldest wooden bridge in Europe, with 200 meters of length. It is on foot from the 14th century (although a part was rebuilt after a fire in 1993). In addition, the bridge provides for an artistic stroll since in the roof, there are numerous paintings that partly narrate the story of the city.

 4)  The bridge in continuous repair in Saphan Mon, Thailand
The bridge is located across the Lake from Sangkhlaburi and has 400 meters of extension. It is the longest and largest bridge in Thailand, and being of artisan construction requires continuous repair. For this reason, its appearance is continuously changing. It can only be crossed either on foot or by bicycle.

5) Kintai Bridge, Japan
It is one of the most important bridges in Japan. The bridge consists of five arches of wood on the banks of the Nishiki River, a national treasure built in 1673 as an  access to the Iwakuni Castle. Although what we see  today is a reconstruction (lack of maintenance from the wars and the typhoon caused havoc), the Kintai bridge is a perfect replica in line with the parameters of the construction in 1763.

The above bridges are all examples of how through his creativity, man has overcome the natural barriers of the rivers, in times in which the constructive limitations were accented.  Likewise, these are some of the colorful and curious  bridges of wood that we can still go through in different points of the planet.
Source:  Viajes Increíbles
Translation:  Tradukka

Robot Chefs Of China

What would you rather do? pay for an employee to work for you or just have a robot that is cheap and only uses electricity?

In China, there has been a new trend in the use of Robot  Chefs. The NoodleBots are chefs programmed to cut noodles which are popularly consumed in Asian  countries.  The NoodleBot is sold at 2,330 US$  and  was invented by Cui Runquan, a  36  yrs old  farmer from the province of Hebei, China.  Cui  created his first robot in 2007 and received the patent of his invention with its brand name called Chef Cui, in 2008. The most recent version of the robot measures one  meter tall and can slice 160 pieces of noodles per  minute, which makes it three times more efficient than any human chef.

The NoodleBots make a certain type of fine noodles called "xiao mian".  It is of Shanxi origin,  The electrical appliance takes a piece of dough in one hand and uses a knife to cut it and then tosses it inside the boiling water. 

The robots can help the restaurant owners to save on the cost of an employee, said Duan Wanhu, administrator of the Tianxiang Food Machiner Factory, a company that manufactures the robots in China.  "Likewise is the issue on hygiene, Duan also mentioned.  "The human chefs perspire in summer and the perspiration falls on the noodles.  The robots do not perspire".

The factory started to manufacture the robot two years ago.  Now they make approximately 20 Noodlebots per day. Source of information:  El País

Al Ain Paradise, World's Most Hanging Flower Baskets

Al Ain Paradise, is a public garden holding the world record for the most hanging flower baskets (2,968) and represents the latest in landscaping and irrigation technology. It was awarded the Guinness World Records achievement on the 20th of March 2010. It is located at Zakher Area of Sweifi District, a 15-minute drive from Al Ain Town Center, in UAE. The gardens originally opened in 2010 in a 7,000 square-meter space on Nahyan Al Awal Street at the Zakher roundabout.  But it has increased to 21,000 square-meters.

 

Vertical landscaping is always a challenge, especially in this climate where proper controlled irrigation is vital for the living plants.

In addition to the display of living plants, which have to survive a season lasting seven months, there is a model of the Eiffel Tower and several intriguing sculptures.

The heart arches represent the three municipalities of Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region).

Source of images: Gulf News.com  and Al Ain Enthusiast
Source of information:  The National

World's Longest Bridge Fountain

  Moonlight Rainbow Fountain in Seoul, South Korea

The Banpo Bridge and the Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest bridge fountain. Source of image:  Robert Koehler in Flickr.

The Moonlight Rainbow Fountain is the world’s longest bridge fountain with nearly 10,000 LED nozzles that run along both sides that is 1,140m long, shooting out 190 tons of water per minute. Installed in September 2009 on the Banpo Bridge, it showcases Seoul’s eco-friendliness, as the water is pumped directly from the river itself and continuously recycled. The bridge has 38 water pumps and 380 nozzles on either side, which draw 190 tons of water per minute from the river 20 meters below the deck, and shoot as far as 43 meters horizontally. Source: Facebook

Takanori Aiba's Tree Castles

The Japanese art of raising bonsai trees is a beautiful way to infuse greenery into indoor spaces. But artist Takanori Aiba takes the art to a new level with his incredibly intricate series of bonsai castles. The Japanese artist carves miniature masterpieces that weave in and out of the miniature trees, creating cohesive architectural marvels that burst forth with life!

Treating each tiny Bonsai as if it were a deep-rooted full-sized tree, Aiba creates incredible buildings that wind around the boughs and branches. Using copper line, epoxy putty, plastic, resin and stone clay, he fashions detailed buildings, bridges, balconies and towers. Using the bonsai trees as the foundation, the dioramas are inspired by the unique shape of each tree, creating both vertical and horizontal landscapes and buildings.

Aiba’s first few creations relied heavily on the function of the bonsai as a tree. The plants hold tree houses, and the leafy branches of the bonsai poke out of the tops and cascade to the floor. Each branch is adorned with patios, umbrellas, and tiny strings of lights, creating an incredible dwelling for a miniature Swiss Family Robinson.  Source:  Inhabitat  by Lori Zimmer, 02/19/12.  Source of images:  Cúanta Risa.

For nearly a decade since the late 1970s artist Takanori Aiba worked as a maze illustrator for Japanese fashion magazine POPYE. The following decade he worked as an architect and finally in 2003 decided to merge the two crafts—the design of physical space and the drawing of labyrinths—into these incredibly detailed tiny worlds. Using craft paper, plastic, plaster, acrylic resin, paint and other materials Aiba constructs sprawling miniature communities that wrap around bonsai trees, lighthouses, and amongst the cliffs of nearly vertical islands.

Source of photos: Google Takanori Aiba

      

       

      

      

Truly amazing bonsai tree castles in a magical creation of a miniature living world.

Weird Restaurant, Taipei

In the Restaurant called Modern Toilet of Taipei, nothing is what it seems, or better yet what you see is not the reality.  Although you see the diners seated on bath seats or the tables seem to be washroom sinks, they are not eating in a bathroom facility but in an authentic restaurant with a theme inspired on bathrooms at the time that they designed the sitting room.

The ambience is similar to a giant service room  that has more than 100 toilet seats, whereas the tables are made of glass and there are urinals along the walls.

Image:  Fun Fever

Want to know more?  the plates are small spittoons and the drinks are served in urinals!!!  And so it could not be otherwise that  toilet paper is used for cleaning your mouths.

Image:  Fun Fever

Image:  Fun Fever

I first learned about this restaurant, when my nephew with his wife shared the picture of their eating experience in one of their trips to Taiwan on occasion of the wedding of their friends.

Toilet Story started from  a group of “muckrakers” following their dreams.  Here is their story:  It all started when one of us was reading the manga, Dr. Slump on the toilet – and the rest is history. In the beginning, we mainly sold ice cream – a big pile of chocolate ice cream sold in containers shaped like a squat toilet. This humorous spin became a great success.After much planning from all of our partners, we finally took the first step towards realizing our dreams in May 2004 with the launch of the “Marton Restaurant”. The restaurant immediately caused a stir in Taiwan with its humorous “out-there” design. At the start, many people peered in at the restaurant trying to figure out what we were selling – then had a big smile on their face when they finally worked it out. By continuing to come up with great ideas and making improvements on old ones, we have expanded over the past few years from just ice cream into a fully-fledged theme restaurant with stores all over Taiwan. Our stores have also won the support of devoted fans as well. Future Business Philosophy and Direction To expand the variety of our stores, in April 2006 all Marton restaurants around Taiwan changed their names to “Modern Toilet Restaurant”. In the future, a greater range of washroom facilities will greet new customers and old friends alike. We will also continue to do our best to surprise and entertain everyone! Your comments are welcome! Source: Modern Toilet.

Here are the pictures:

    

    

    

Source of information:  The most unusual restaurants in the world.
Source of images:  Modern Toilet.

I know that there are weird restaurants, but this so far for me is the weirdest and the most unappetizing place to go for food or drink.  Simply disgusting for me. Eating is not only for the good of its taste but also the presentation should  be catching the eyes before even savoring the food.  But then we live in a free world...

Unique Flowers from Thailand

Every year during the first weekend in February, Thailand celebrates itss the Chiangmai Flower Festival. This is Thailand's greatest flower show, featuring a parade of floats made with colorful flowers, beautiful Thai and hill tribe girls in traditional dress, a Miss Chiangmai Flower Festival beauty contest and loads of exotic plants and flowers on display.The city is awash with vibrant colors ranging from the electric orange and lilac colors of the bougainvillea to the velvety blossoms of petunias in all shades of pink, white and purple. The strident red of the poinsettias, bought by many at Christmas and New Years, is echoed by beds of scarlet salvias. Homes and shop owners alike line the city streets with colorful flower boxes. The sheer profusion of color that the flower festival and carnival brings to Chiangmai aptly gives the city its name “Rose of the North”. On all three days of the festival, prize blooms are on display at Suan Buak Haad near the city center. Every type of flower, miniature tree and orchid is put on display for the judges to choose the best of the species. Landscape specialists put on an elaborate display, which includes patios and waterfalls with exotic decorative plants and flowers.
Source:  All Thailand Experiences

Some of their native flowers are:

1) Bat flower white and Bat flower black: A very unusual species with black bat shaped flowers up to 12" across, and long 'whiskers' that can grow up to 28". Tacca chantrieri grow wild in the tropical forest  where they can get as tall as 36". These beautiful flowers grow best in well-drained soil and high humidity.  Source:  Van Bourgondiens' website.

2)   The Plumeria Tree-  The plumeria, or frangipani, is a flowering shrub or small tree which grows in tropical climates. The plant produces white, yellow, pink or red flowers that range from two to four inches across. The flower is fragrant and waxy with five petals, each tucked under one of its neighboring petals and layered above the other. The leaves are large and leathery, growing up to 20 inches long and 3 inches wide. The plant needs a frost free environment to survive.FloriData: Plumeria spp. Common Species: Plumeria rubra; Plumeria obtusa; Plumeria pudicahttp://www.hear.org/starr/plants/images/search/?q=Plumeria       

The Plumeria Metallica Thai

3) Parrot Flower, "Impatiens psittacina". Known to the people of Thailand as "Dork Nok Khaew". Impatiens psittacina Facts: Size: Plant grows to app. 6 feet (1.8) meters Leaf : Broad, sharply pointed, to 2 1/2 inches (6 cm) Flower size: App. 2 inches (5cm) Stem thickness: To 1/2 inch (1.5cm) Bloom season: October/November in Thailand Growing conditions: Tropical, humid, and moist. Source:  The Exotic Rain Forest.

Added to the wonderful collection of their orchids, Thailand, I would say is a beautiful country of flowers.

Original houses

Here are some absurd houses, although others may call them original.

    

If you do not want any visitors, you can just cut off the wires. While ordinary people would likely use trees to surround their houses, but when you are weird, you use huge stones. Creepy, creepy, creepy.

    

Just the mere sound of the cracking of a branch will drive me nuts!
And that car, how did they manage to  get it  in there?

    

The tree below while the flowers on top, this is not too bad. But imagine having to go home to a place like the picture on the right after a long day's work!
    
    

Not when there is a hurricane, thank you.  And who cares for humidity?

    

My son loves bridges and he takes delight in taking pictures of different kinds of bridges, but I am sure he would think twice before buying a house like this. And my daughter will  certainly be "chilled" with the idea of living in an iceberg house like the one pictured above.

Ridiculous houses but highly imaginative, I would say.

Source:  Somebody with a tremendously powerful imagination.