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Tuesday, March 31, 2009
K is for Kristiansand in ABC Wednesday
Why should I make a post about Kristiansand in this series when I am born and bred in Bergen? There are very good reasons for this:- It is Norway's filth largest city with about 80.000 inhabitants.
- It was founded by the Danish-Norwegian King Christian IV. ("Kristian Kvart") in 1641
- It is beautifully situated in the best part of Summer Norway.
- I once lived and worked there.
- I now have a daughter living and working there.
The panorama picture above shows only part of the city. The picture is dominated by a hill on a peninsula called Odderøya. It was once a Naval Fort and served as a training camp for coastal defence artillery until 1997. After that it has been most famous as the site for the Quart Musical Festival ("Quarten").
The map shows more or less the same, but now with the sea at the bottom. To the right in the map is the Eastern harbour and mainly residential areas, while to the left is the Western harbour with the older part of the city - Kvadraturen. This part of the city was more or less laid down by the king himself with all the streets in in a square pattern.
The main shopping street in Kvadraturen in Kristiansand is called "Markens gate", or locally "Markens". This is just a small part of it. The picture was taken in the beginning of May 2008.
There are also quiet residential areas in Kvadraturen. This is from one of the streets leading up to Kristiansand Domkirke (The Cathedral in Kristiansand).
The church dates from 1884 (the one before was destroyed by fire) and is one of the largest in Norway as it has a capacity of 1500 seated - initially 2000 seated and 1000 standing.
Kristiansand has also its own ship, the full-rigged ship "Sørlandet", one of the three large sailing ships left in Norway. She dates from 1927 - and beautiful she is (for a picture of her at sea, look here).
It you enter Kristiansand in your own vessel, chances are that you will moor in this area, beside Christiansholm Festning (The Fortress of Christiansholm) which dates back to 1672
But Kristiansand has more: It has Norway's largest and best known zoological and amusement park, Dyreparken i Kristiansand ( Kristiansand Zoo and Amusement Park). There you might meet someone like this. The picture is courtesy my youngest daughter.
Kristiansand is also a communication centre with airport and ferries to Denmark (formerly also to England). The main route is European Route E18, which according to Wikipedia:European route E18 runs from Craigavon in the United Kingdom to Saint Petersburg in Russia, passing through Norway, Sweden, and Finland. It is about 1,890 km (1,174 mi) in length.
Such mighty bridges can of course be seen from the sea level - we are in a boat-concious area after all.
And where there is a sea there is a bird...
Today's post is an entry in the fourth round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.Monday, March 30, 2009
And in a spectacular own goal...
South Africa has spent the past week reeling from the spectacular own goal scored by the government when it refused a visa to the Dalai Lama to attend a peace conference. The Dalai Lama was evidently due to speak at the conference on the role that soccer could play in tackling xenophobia and racism. The government initially said the reason the visa was denied was because they didn’t want the Dalai Lama’s visit drawing attention away from the 2010 World Cup. However, it seems that it was pressure from the Chinese that inclined the government to deny the Dalai Lama access to the country.
There are a few things that have struck me in thinking about the matter.
Rather worryingly, South Africa’s leaders and some of her people, seem to have forgotten our own long struggle for freedom and democracy. It seems to be a case of, “Now that we’re sorted, tough luck for those who aren’t - not our problem.” This conveniently forgets the international aid and support we had from so many quarters. And it forgets how much of that support came from international sporting bodies.
The decision by the government is nothing more than rank hypocrisy hiding behind the skirts of “economics”. Moreover, it is a decision laced with self-centredness and shows absolutely no consideration for the fact that we are all in this together, as one. It is one world, we are one people - what happens to one, impacts upon the other. Tragically, however, it seems our greed and fear are always too strong for us to remember that. History faced with self interest appears to teach us little.
Sadly, money is once again allowed to speak louder than what is right and just. But this whole business of trade vs human struggle is a double edged sword - given that trade with China has resulted in the loss of innumerable jobs in the clothing, textile and footwear industries in South Africa. While consumers have, to date, been happy to buy Chinese made goods, trade unions and workers have long protested against Chinese imports. And of course, it is not only these industries that have been affected – many others have taken a knock at the hands of cheaply made Chinese goods. It would do well for the government and for those South Africans who support the denial of a visa to the Dalai Lama to remember that.
But the Chinese link raises another issue. Not only has the government failed to consider the often brutal reality of the Chinese occupation of Tibet and our own history and struggle for freedom from the apartheid past but they’ve also forgotten our colonial heritage. In a moment of greed and myopia they fail to observe the role that China is increasingly playing in Africa. If anyone was upset by British colonialism, be sure that it will be a tea party by comparison to Chinese colonization, which is already well under way.
The point might even lead one to ask why Mbeki followed such very quiet diplomacy with Zimbabwe. Was it perhaps because Mugabe had already sold out to the Chinese, thereby giving them a kind of ownership in the country, which enabled them to bring economic pressure to bear on the Mbeki government?
But the most critical point remains this: Trade is all well and good but what happened to ethics and human values? Since when did trade become more important than freedom, justice and democracy - the very pillars on which the constitution of South Africa stands? It is a sad day indeed when one’s own leaders forget these things – and it’s no small wonder that several groups are going to the court over the matter.
The self-interested focus on trade at all costs is a sad indictment of what South Africa – that place that once stood as a beacon for human rights - is becoming. It strikes me that those who support the government’s decision are probably also those who last year took to the streets of South Africa in waves of xenophobic violence against refugees from neighbouring countries – countries that had aided those who sought to end apartheid. It all speaks to the same mindset. And it leaves me thinking that too many South Africans (and too many humans per se – witness the global economy) have become far too focused on self interest - to the extent that the view of the far bigger picture of our humanity has been lost. It is a sad day when the South African concept of ubuntu - the ethical and humanist philosophy which focuses on people's allegiances and relations with each other and which acknowledges that we cannot and do not exist in isolation - is forgotten.
The reality of the thing is that the denial of a visa to the Dalai Lama has nothing to do with soccer. It certainly has nothing to do with peace. It definitely has nothing to do with democracy. It would seem to be about something far more complex. Time to wake up and smell the chop-suey wafting through the plastic bead-curtains of self-interest.
There are a few things that have struck me in thinking about the matter.
Rather worryingly, South Africa’s leaders and some of her people, seem to have forgotten our own long struggle for freedom and democracy. It seems to be a case of, “Now that we’re sorted, tough luck for those who aren’t - not our problem.” This conveniently forgets the international aid and support we had from so many quarters. And it forgets how much of that support came from international sporting bodies.
The decision by the government is nothing more than rank hypocrisy hiding behind the skirts of “economics”. Moreover, it is a decision laced with self-centredness and shows absolutely no consideration for the fact that we are all in this together, as one. It is one world, we are one people - what happens to one, impacts upon the other. Tragically, however, it seems our greed and fear are always too strong for us to remember that. History faced with self interest appears to teach us little.
Sadly, money is once again allowed to speak louder than what is right and just. But this whole business of trade vs human struggle is a double edged sword - given that trade with China has resulted in the loss of innumerable jobs in the clothing, textile and footwear industries in South Africa. While consumers have, to date, been happy to buy Chinese made goods, trade unions and workers have long protested against Chinese imports. And of course, it is not only these industries that have been affected – many others have taken a knock at the hands of cheaply made Chinese goods. It would do well for the government and for those South Africans who support the denial of a visa to the Dalai Lama to remember that.
But the Chinese link raises another issue. Not only has the government failed to consider the often brutal reality of the Chinese occupation of Tibet and our own history and struggle for freedom from the apartheid past but they’ve also forgotten our colonial heritage. In a moment of greed and myopia they fail to observe the role that China is increasingly playing in Africa. If anyone was upset by British colonialism, be sure that it will be a tea party by comparison to Chinese colonization, which is already well under way.
The point might even lead one to ask why Mbeki followed such very quiet diplomacy with Zimbabwe. Was it perhaps because Mugabe had already sold out to the Chinese, thereby giving them a kind of ownership in the country, which enabled them to bring economic pressure to bear on the Mbeki government?
But the most critical point remains this: Trade is all well and good but what happened to ethics and human values? Since when did trade become more important than freedom, justice and democracy - the very pillars on which the constitution of South Africa stands? It is a sad day indeed when one’s own leaders forget these things – and it’s no small wonder that several groups are going to the court over the matter.
The self-interested focus on trade at all costs is a sad indictment of what South Africa – that place that once stood as a beacon for human rights - is becoming. It strikes me that those who support the government’s decision are probably also those who last year took to the streets of South Africa in waves of xenophobic violence against refugees from neighbouring countries – countries that had aided those who sought to end apartheid. It all speaks to the same mindset. And it leaves me thinking that too many South Africans (and too many humans per se – witness the global economy) have become far too focused on self interest - to the extent that the view of the far bigger picture of our humanity has been lost. It is a sad day when the South African concept of ubuntu - the ethical and humanist philosophy which focuses on people's allegiances and relations with each other and which acknowledges that we cannot and do not exist in isolation - is forgotten.
The reality of the thing is that the denial of a visa to the Dalai Lama has nothing to do with soccer. It certainly has nothing to do with peace. It definitely has nothing to do with democracy. It would seem to be about something far more complex. Time to wake up and smell the chop-suey wafting through the plastic bead-curtains of self-interest.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Mini-daffodil in Today's Flowers
The daffodils don't bloom quite of themselves just yet around here, but I found this mini-version on public display in Bergen yesterday.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
The Rhododendrons have arrived
My favourite flowers have started to show themselves off in parks:
Rhododendron thomsonii
Rhododendron fulgensThe pictures were taken almost two weeks ago at the Arboretum and Botanical Garden - no doubt about it - spring has come to Norway! Or at least our part of it...
Some photos, oh and some more photos
Remember - to switch your lights off on the 28th March at 20h30 for an hour!!!
I had all good intentions of rushing home and doing a blog post. Only after a week away and nine hours on the road because of road works, I instead came back to various piles of pooh. And since I didn’t want to do a blog post which was full of whinging, I thought I’d just lay off posting completely.
In a nutshell, the holiday was lovely – see pictures below, and the pooh involves:
So, back to being on holiday – which now seems an awfully long time ago... I think I’ll just let the pictures do the talking for themselves! And erm, there may be a lot of photos for the next while. It seems, armed with a digital camera I will take a gazillion shots in order to get “the one perfect shot” and I have an eye that sees “shots” everywhere!
There were tides of oyster catchers running on the beach...
There were country roads that disappeared into deep valleys...
There were piles of driftwood, some with small birds paying a visit...
There were oceanscapes in moody weather...
There were walks on beaches...
Crashing waves...
And then, oh well, there was just a lot more of this...
I had all good intentions of rushing home and doing a blog post. Only after a week away and nine hours on the road because of road works, I instead came back to various piles of pooh. And since I didn’t want to do a blog post which was full of whinging, I thought I’d just lay off posting completely.
In a nutshell, the holiday was lovely – see pictures below, and the pooh involves:
- painters who didn’t return to finish a job which they had botched in several places and despite multiple assurances they would return to fix things. We now have to find someone else to do so which will mean shelling out more money;
- debt collecting attorneys who are sending me threatening letters for monies owing on an account which I don’t even have. This has meant spending half a day in the store where I supposedly hold the account filling in dispute forms and getting legal advice - and it's still not over;
- and then there was the whole Dalai Lama thing which I’m sure you all know about by now – when, scoring a stunning own goal, the South African government, under pressure from the Chinese, refused the Dalai Lama a visa to the country in order to attend a peace conference hosted by, amongst others, Nobel Laureates Desmond Tutu and former presidents FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela. But that’s a topic for another blog post. By which stage it will be old news.
So, back to being on holiday – which now seems an awfully long time ago... I think I’ll just let the pictures do the talking for themselves! And erm, there may be a lot of photos for the next while. It seems, armed with a digital camera I will take a gazillion shots in order to get “the one perfect shot” and I have an eye that sees “shots” everywhere!
There were tides of oyster catchers running on the beach...
There were country roads that disappeared into deep valleys...
There were piles of driftwood, some with small birds paying a visit...
There were oceanscapes in moody weather...
There were walks on beaches...
Crashing waves...
And then, oh well, there was just a lot more of this...I know, I know, it's a tough life, but like I keep saying, someone's got to do it. And I promise, I did think of you on many occasions, and I toasted to your good health far too many times! So you see, you did get to go with me - in spirit...
POSTSCRIPT: For more pics go here or click on the Flickr link in the side bar - and prowl through the first five pages - I did say I was snap-happy, didn't I...?!
POSTSCRIPT: For more pics go here or click on the Flickr link in the side bar - and prowl through the first five pages - I did say I was snap-happy, didn't I...?!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Sky watch friday # 51
Nevlunghavn
Rødtangen
RødtangenFor more Sky Watch photos, visit the Sky watch site - Sky watch was Dots idea, now hosted by Sandy, Wren, Klaus, Fishing Guy and Ivar.
The J got a POTD!
One more day with my head in the clouds: My J-post to ABC Wednesday got a Post of the Day from the well-known Australian journalist and super-blogger David McMahon. Thank you very much indeed, David! You have made my day - once again!Now I just have to continue blogging.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
J is for Joy in Photography AND in Blogging
I usually have decided on what letter to use for ABC Wednesday several days in advance. However, J proved to be an unexpectedly difficult letter to work with. Nothing seemed to fit. So I did what I usually do in such circumstances - I grabbed the camera bag and went for a walk. At first I was not in the mood for photography at all (photography is a "mood" thing for me). That is, until I found the subject above. Something was sticking its tongue out at me! Joyfully I crept close and snapped it with my 17-70mm lens. Perfect. No cropping needed.But what it is, you may well ask? Look at the picture beneath and guess again. Still no cropping.
Here I had taken a step or two backwards to include a bit more of this wooden monster. A sort of angled eye had appeared.Still no clue? Look beneath again.
A quite ordinary cable drum, but of fairly large dimension. And a picture I have obviously cropped for effect.That is the Joy of Photography and Blogging: There is always something to be found that can be used for both if only you keep the mind open and the finger on the button. And of course, carry a camera.
Today's post is an entry in the fourth round of ABC Wednesday, the meme initiated by Denise Nesbitt.
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