June 2013
4 posts
May 2013
15 posts
Visiting Bali
One is never quite prepared for the reality of Bali. Emerald hillsides curving spectacularly against azure skies, satin-ribbon beaches, the sensual fragrance of frangipani and jasmine, timeless temples and a culture of slow grace… for a very small island, Bali packs a huge punch as a travel destination.
Culture Clues- “Here be Dragons”
Dragons, griffins and other mythical creatures were once common fixtures on old-world maps of land and sea, illustrated by hand to signify the presence of uncharted or unexplored territories. The Latin inscription that accompanied these drawings read “Here be Dragons-” a fancy way for mapmakers to indicate dangerous regions and basically say “use caution- this land is unknown.”
The romanticism of this phrase has held on through popular culture, and you may still hear it used today to indicate a dangerous or risky proposition.
April 2013
9 posts
“Well begun is half done”
—English Proverb
The price of greed – a Jewish folktale
Source: Story Arts
A beggar wandering around a busy marketplace came upon a purse that had been dropped by accident. Opening the purse, he found that it held 100 coins of gold. Just then, he heard a shout: “My leather purse is lost! A reward for whoever finds it!”
The beggar was an honest fellow. He walked up to the merchant and handed him the purse. “Here it is, sir. May I have my reward?”
The merchant was already counting the gold pieces. “What reward?” he asked, raising an eyebrow scornfully. “When I dropped the purse, it contained 200 gold coins. And now, I see only 100. Looks like you’ve already stolen much more than my reward! Be off or I shall summon the police!”
The beggar refused to be cowed down. “I may be poor, but I am honest,” said he, defiantly. “I will not accept this injustice. Let us resolve this matter in court.”
At the court, the judge heard out both men. Then came his verdict. “I believe what both of you have said. Justice can be done. ”
Addressing the merchant, he said, “You said that your purse contained 200 gold coins when you lost it. That’s a lot of money. But this purse the beggar picked up had only 100 gold coins. It stands to reason that it could not be the same purse as the one you dropped! ”
So saying, the judge handed the purse with 100 gold coins to the beggar.
Culture Clues - Elephants Over the Alps
Nearly two thousand years ago, a Carthaginian general by the name of Hannibal achieved one of the most stunning maneuvers in military history- he and his commanders led a troop of 37 full grown elephants over the Alps and into Roman territory. Although many of his elephants perished on the steep mountain ranges, Hannibal nonetheless entered Italy with several creatures intact, thoroughly surprising the Romans and securing his legacy as an unmatched war strategist. If you ever hear the expression “elephants over the Alps,” it probably refers to a seemingly impossible task or mission.
Marble Art from India
Culture rich India has several forms of stone artwork from different regions. Brilliantly painted marble from Rajasthan is one of best examples of such stone artwork and can best be described as ‘poetry in stone.’
