Halloween is one of the oldest holidays celebrated by people from different countries all over the world. In most western countries like US and Canada, carved pumpkins and corn stalks sprawled all over the suburbs, trick-or-treating, and costume depicting scary creatures are staple practices during the festival. However, Asians celebrate Halloween in a slightly different way
Kitsune were known for many abilities. The list of things kitsune were capable of seemed to change from story to story, but for the most part, many things were common enough to warrant being listed as 'kitsune powers'. These powers are called 'fox magic'.
Legends tell of Saharan kings who could turn into lions when their tribes were endangered. The Mfalme were a race of kings, shapeshifters believed to have been descended from the gods. Their lines ran in nobility of various tribes, and they were strongly integrated with humans. Mfalme were so strongly integrated with humans that there were no wild clans at all. Despite the presence of an Asiatic subspecies of leo pantheris, there were no natural werelions found outside of sub-Saharan Africa.
A werelion is born, as are many other Shifters, but they are the product of a double-recessive gene. They must have both of the werelion genes before the traits will express and the person will be born a werelion. This means that if two Mfalme have children, they will be born a werelion, but any other combination has varying rates. Mfalme can safely parent Tau-Kin, and human children. Unlike werewolves the ability is entirely inherited, and therefor the Mfalme/Tau/Simba cannot infect a human.
Werelions are associated mildly with the sun, similarly as the werewolves to the lunar cycle, but their lives are not nearly so dictated by it. They grow weak during a solar eclipse, and solar flares can affect them. Strong solar flares can provide a peak in power, and when they are present during the birth of a child can have varying and interesting effects.
The werelions are an interesting singularity among their bretheren, in that they do not shift as often as their cousins. Their shifting was not triggered specifically by puberty or high stress situations, but by the need to protect their lands and tribe. Most Mfalme spent a lot of time as humans, but once they had experienced their first shift they could attain their beast form at-will. The leo form, an equivalent of Fire-blooded, was almost always triggered by extreme feelings of defense.
The Mfalme strike a fine line between the female-backboned prides of wild lions, and the primarily patriarchal sub-Saharan human cultures that they integrated with. The males ruled as kings, princes, and warriors, but the females demanded a level of egalitarian society that was very rarely seen. The queens and princesses took a more active role in the life of the pride, often with their own hunting parties, and being advisors and occasionally even military leaders in times of war. Mfalme born to those not of the royal houses would, if allowed, become prominent figures among their tribe, as strong warriors and hunters.
Mfalme can occasionally be found in the north as well, being descended from Tau-Kin that were taken as slaves by the Muslim traders. They are not unwelcome as long as they respect Islam, and converts are simply another member of society. Very rarely, one would be born in the Americas due to the slave trade. In the event that they ever did shift and realize their heritage, they lived solitary lives, not knowing of their lineage.
The werelions have heightened senses, with inhuman strength, but their speed is not that great, and u
In folklore and fantasy fiction, Werecats are shapeshifters who are similar to werewolves, except that they turn into some species of feline instead of a wolf. The species involved can be a domestic cat, a tiger, a lion, a leopard, a lynx, or any other type, including some that are purely fantastical felines. Typically, an individual werecat can only transform to one unique feline, not to a number of different species. The word "werecat" was not coined until the late 19th century, so it was not directly used in legends from earlier eras, only by later folklorists' commentary.
Asian werecats usually become tigers. In India, the weretiger is often a dangerous sorcerer, portrayed as a menace to livestock who might at any time turn to man-eating. Chinese legends often describe weretigers as the victims of either heredity or a vindictive ghost. Ancient teachings held that every race except the Han Chinese were really animals in disguise, so there was nothing extraordinary about some of these false humans reverting to their true natures. Alternately, the ghosts of people who had been killed by tigers would become malevolent supernatural beings, devoting all their energy to making sure that tigers killed more humans. Some of these ghosts were responsible for transforming ordinary humans into man-eating weretigers.
Anybody who go BBQ there in Kent Ridge Park would agitate the Malay solider ghosts who were burnt to death when crossing the fire drain.
Phantom sounds of gun firing could be heard at night. (Evelyn may have mistaken them as techno music).
Sightings of were-tigers in Pasir Panjang reported. In Malay, those green-eyed were-tigers are called Harimau Jadi-jadian - tigers who become something else. Were-tigers were said to have originated in a place called Kerunchi in cnetral Sumatra. There is a mountain named Gunung Kerunchi where some people went on full moon nights to perform rituals which would transform them into tigers. They kill people by ripping off their throats with their paws. Then eat half of a body in one bite, the rest in another! Even the Bomoh doctors in trapping tigers would be careful of not catching a were-tiger. Rumours said that nothing can cage them with their unbelievable strength. -- Source: "There Are Ghosts Everywhere in Singapore", Vol. 2, The Publishing Consultant.
Ritual to infuse the power of prayer into your body:
First, prepare item as below:
1. Some leaves of kafir lime that have been exposed to morning sun
2. Coarse salt
3. Weeds 3 pieces
Crash all the ingredients to fine pieces into a half glass of plain water.
Clean yourself and bring the mixture outside of your house. Find a quiet place so that you will not be disturbed.
Put the glass directly onto the floor a few feet in front of you, and then take posture as if a tiger. Craw until your belly is directly over the glass. When you have done so, recite the above prayer slowly for 444x. After that, blow four breaths towards the water.
Now you can sit cross-legged on the floor and use your right hand to squeeze the mixture in the glass until the aroma is released. After that, wipe the liquid all over your body, pay attention to your face. This is because the heart of hypnotizing power is hidden in the face. But remember, you must control yourself so as not to roar like a tiger … or you will be part of the weretiger family J.
When you have completely rub the water all over your body, then my friend, you will feel your body hair stands up straight as if touched by small static electric charge. Let it be as your body is in the process of absorbing the nutrients and power of a tiger, you are allowed to return home once you feel calmer.
If you heard one roar, then reply with “waalaikummussallam”. If you heard a second roar, then do not respond as this is the challenge of other weretigers.
You can clean yourself once you are safely inside your house.
It is advisable to perform this ritual once a month if you want to further into the world of weretigers.
To activate the power:
1. Recite the prayer above 4x then release your breath to your right index finger.
2. Rub your index figure on the part between your nose and lips:
a. For paralyzing power: Rub your finger from top down.
b. For business, interview etc: Rub your finger from down up.
3. To be invisible from your enemy:
a. Get a piece of weed and place it horizontal below your nose, recite the prayer 4x and break the weed. Throw one half to your right, and the other to your left. But you are forbid to touch the body of your enemy, if you do so, he will be able to see you.
4. You must recite the prayer 4x before you sleep every night to maintain its power. It is said that once you have mastered this spell, you can even tame a wild tiger.
Harimau Jadian or Weretiger is also known as Hantu Belian. A weretiger is said to be originated from a person who has mastered the art of weretiger or it can be inherited from father to son. This type of spell enables a person to possess the ability to transform oneself into a tiger while he/she is alive or after he/she is dead. The original purpose of learning this art was for self protection. Just think of the fact that about a century ago, majority of the South East Asia areas are covered by forests. The most powerful creatures roaming about were tigers. Hmm… I hear you, but there are no lions around then.
Local folks believe that the weretigers have independent government with king, ministers, soldiers etc. It is said that the weretigers hung human hairs in front of their houses as a signature mark.
Many people believe that the weretigers are originated from Kerinchi in Sumatra. Folks over there possess the ability to turn themselves into real tigers. According to ancient stories, in order for a person to turn into a tiger, he/she must possess a piece of sarung with black and yellow stripes as if that of a tiger.
Long ago, when I was still in diapers, toddling around the jungles of northern Thailand with my missionary folks, they had a get together with all their missionary friends.
One of the older missionaries, a wise and respected man, told this story.
“We had just moved to a new village, and several people were coming to Jesus. The local witch doctor was angry about it. We found strange things outside our door, and outside the other Christian’s doors . . . cursed items and the like. The witch doctor was powerful, but I wasn’t worried.
But one night, as I lay sleeping, I woke up and smelled a tiger (tigers have a powerful, unmistakable scent). Thinking it was underneath the hut (his hut was on stilts) I jumped out of bed to find my gun. But the Tiger was standing at the foot of my bed!
According to legend there are several ways by which a person can be transformed into this nasty feline monster.
Some believed that only the people who had led a bad life and only asked for forgiveness as they were dying would transform into this tiger-like monster.
In Malaysia, people were said to be able to choose to become one of these beasts.
Some did it to get revenge and others simply because they craved the power, strength and violence.
In the cultures of the West, Werewolves and Vampires are very much popular.
However in the East, where Asians lived in, it is instead more about Weretigers.
While werewolves were thought to be the predators of vampire by nature but however, most of the time these predators are in the control of their prey, the Vampires in most stories.
So , Werewolves are by nature predators of Vampires and in turn the are the prey to their predators , the Weretigers whom are mostly Asian, their distant cousin!
We have all heard of the werewolf. The werewolf has a distant cousin, so to speak. Not as well known outside of Asia, is a mythical creature called a weretiger, also more recently known as a werecat. Before the late 19th century they were all known as weretigers. They are not to be mistaken for the spirit tiger which is a familiar under the control of a supernatural being or a “nat”. The familiar is used to do the bidding of the nat.
Asia Paranormal is proud to announce a collaboration with Dr Ong Hean Fatt, the Feng Shui Scientist on this Seminar: Singapore's Haunted Places: Science & Feng Shui
This unique seminar is a new indepth practical approach to haunting with international scientific findings. Find out latest startling scientific findings on true nature and factors of haunting, e.g.:
*Scientific physical geography guidelines to identify areas in Singapore prone to haunting
*Haunting conditions cause sickness and even cancer. Learn how to deal with haunting!
*Special exercise to find out if you are sensitive to haunting!
*What you are going to learn may save your life or those close to you!
Based on scientific research analysis of over 50 haunted sites in Singapore through field visits, study of topography and geology maps. The haunting can be associated with hilly terrain and faultlines. Scientific factors include winds, infrasounds, radon and piezoelectricity.
Program Outline: Morning
*Scientific Physical Geography Features of Haunting in Singapore Coffee Break
*Feng Shui of Haunting in Singapore as Practical Criteria to House & Office Buying
Lunch Afternoon
*Astrology of People Sensitive to Haunting: Can you stay in a haunted place?
Coffee Break
*Practical Scientific Treatments and Remedies for Haunting Problems
*Special insight: Enigma of Singaporean boy lost in Fraser’s Hill, June 2005.
Hurry! Seats may be limited.
Seminar: Saturday October 27, 2012, 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.
Venue: To be confirmed
Fees: S$350 pax, Meals and Lecture notes included
Free complimentary ebook to Early Birds/members
Early Bird Special: Register before 15th August and quote "Asia Paranormal" and you will get an early bird discounted price of S$250
Why and what makes Preta an ancient Asian wonder of the world ?
view videos as follows :
Petra Jordan one of the new world wonders, and rightfully so. Enjoy this spectacular rose red ancient city. The Treasury and Monastery Mysterious lands mythical locations paranormal activity ufo sighting ghost sighting Archaeologic site in Jordan famous for its many stone structures carved in rock. Re-discovered in 1812 by the Swiss explorer Johann Burckhardt, Petra was the capital of the ancient Nabateans and was the center of their caravan trade. They controlled the flow of water to the city creating a natural oasis
Al Khazneh, one of the ancient world's most magnificent ancient megastructures which humans display formidable resourcefulness and courageous endeavour to create. It was generally believed to be built between 100 BC and 200 AD. Petra is a historic and archaeological city in the Jordanian governorate of Ma'an that has rock cut architecture and water conduits system. Established sometime around the 6th century BC as the capital city of the Nabataeans, it is a symbol of Jordan as well as its most visited tourism attraction. It lies on the slope of Mount Hor in a basin among the mountains which form the eastern flank of Arabah, the large valley running from the Dead Sea to the Gulf of Aqaba. Petra was chosen as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in July 7, 2007 and a World Heritage Site since 1985. Petra was chosen by the BBC as one of "the 40 places you have to see before you die". The site remained unknown to the Western world until 1812, when it was introduced by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Stations 19 through 26 of the stations list of Exodus are places associated with Petra. (The stations list is the list of the 42 Stations or Mansions visited by the Israelites following their exodus from Egypt as described in the Bible). This part of the country was Biblically assigned to the Horites, the predecessors of the Edomites.
The Porcelain tower of Nanjing, also known as the Temple of Gratitude, is one of the marvels that appears on the list of the Seven medieval wonders of the world. This great construction was the highest building in China at the time of its construction and was set to dominate the banks of the River Yangtze for over 400 years before it met its grisly end. The porcelain tower of Nanjing was one of the most breathtaking constructions of its time and truly deserves its place in the 7 wonders of the medieval world category.
Why and what makes the Great wall of China a Wonder of Ancient Asia ?
Please view videos :
The Great Wall of China is a series of stone and earthen fortifications in northern China, built, rebuilt, and maintained between the 5th century BC and the 16th century to protect the northern borders of the Chinese Empire. Since the 5th century BC, several walls have been built that were referred to as the Great Wall. One of the most famous is the wall built between 220206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang. Little of that wall remains; the majority of the existing wall were built during the Ming Dynasty.
The Great Wall stretches from Shanhaiguan in the east to Lop Nur in the west, along an arc that roughly delineates the southern edge of Inner Mongolia. The most comprehensive archaeological survey, using advanced technologies, has recently concluded that the entire Great Wall, with all of its branches, stretches for 8,851.8 km (5,500.3 mi). This is made up of 6,259.6 km (3,889.5 mi) of sections of actual wall, 359.7 km (223.5 mi) of trenches and 2,232.5 km (1,387.2 mi) of natural defensive barriers such as hills and rivers.
Potala Palace, the Indestructible Palace which is Earthquake Proof is in Tibet , China. It is classified as one of the Ancient Asian Wonders of the World
The building measures 400 metres east-west and 350 metres north-south, with sloping stone walls averaging 3 m. thick, and 5 m. (more than 16 ft) thick at the base, and with copper poured into the foundations to help proof it against earthquakes
What and why makes the Taj Mahal an ancient Asian wonder of the world ?
Please view video as follows :
The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj"), located in Agra, is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. The focus of the Taj Mahal is the white marble tomb, which stands on a square plinth consisting of a symmetrical building with an iwan, an arch-shaped doorway, topped by a large dome. It was built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan (1628-1658), grandson of Akbar the great, in the memory of his queen Arjumand Bano Begum, entitled 'Mumtaz Mahal'. The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The remaining parts of the complex took an additional 10 years and were completed in order of minarets, mosque and jawab and gateway. A labour force of 20,000 workers was recruited across northern India.
The Taj Mahal was built on a parcel of land to the south of the walled city of Agra. Shah Jahan presented Maharajah Jai Singh with a large palace in the center of Agra in exchange for the land. An area of roughly three acres was excavated, filled with dirt to reduce seepage and leveled at 50 meters above riverbank. In the tomb area, wells were dug and filled with stone and rubble as the footings of the tomb. Instead of lashed bamboo, workmen constructed a colossal brick scaffold that mirrored the tomb. The scaffold was so enormous that foremen estimated it would take years to dismantle. According to the legend, Shah Jahan decreed that anyone could keep the bricks taken from the scaffold and thus was dismantled by peasants overnight. A fifteen kilometer tamped-earth ramp was built to transport marble and materials to the construction site. Teams of twenty or thirty oxen were strained to pull blocks on specially constructed wagons. An elaborate post-and-beam pulley system was used to raise the blocks into desired position. Water was drawn from the river by a series of purs, an animal-powered rope and bucket mechanism into a large storage tank and raised to large distribution tank. It was passed into three subsidiary tanks, from which it was piped to the complex.
The plinth and tomb took roughly 12 years to complete. The remaining parts of the complex took an additional 10 years and were completed in order of minarets, mosque and jawab and gateway. Since the complex was built in stages, discrepancies exist in completion dates due to differing opinions on "completion". For example, the mausoleum itself was essentially complete by 1643, but work continued on the rest of the complex. Estimates of the cost of the construction of Taj Mahal vary due to difficulties in estimating construction costs across time. The total cost of construction has been estimated to be about 32 million Rupees.
The Taj Mahal was constructed using materials from all over India and Asia. Over 1,000 elephants were used to transport building materials during the construction. The translucent white marble was brought from Rajasthan, the jasper from Punjab, jade and crystal from China. The turquoise was from Tibet and the Lapis lazuli from Afghanistan, while the sapphire came from Sri Lanka and the carnelian from Arabia. In all, twenty eight types of precious and semi-precious stones were inlaid into the white marble.
A labour force of twenty thousand workers was recruited across northern India. Sculptors from Bukhara, calligraphers from Syria and Persia, inlayer from southern India, stonecutters from Baluchistan, a specialist in building turrets, another who carved only marble flowers were part of the thirty-seven men who formed the creative unit. Some of the builders involved in construction of Taj Mahal are:
The main dome was designed by Ismail Afandi (a.k.a Ismail Khan),of the Ottoman Empire and was considered as a premier designer of hemispheres and domes.
Ustad Isa of Persia (Iran) and Isa Muhammad Effendi of Persia (Iran), trained by Koca Mimar Sinan Agha of Ottoman Empire, are frequently credited with a key role in the architectural design, but there is little evidence to support this claim.
'Puru' from Benarus, Persia (Iran) has been mentioned as a supervising architect.
Qazim Khan, a native of Lahore, cast the solid gold finial.
Chiranjilal, a lapidary from Delhi, was chosen as the chief sculptor and mosaicist.
Amanat Khan from Shiraz, Iran was the chief calligrapher. His name has been inscribed at the end of the inscription on the Taj Mahal gateway.
Muhammad Hanif was a supervisor of masons and Mir Abdul Karim and Mukkarimat Khan of Shiraz, Iran (Persia) handled finances and management of daily production.
Commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan to house the remains of his cherished wife, the Taj Mahal stands on the southern bank of the Yamuna River in Agra, India. The famed mausoleum complex, built over more than 20 years, is one of the most outstanding examples of Mughal architecture, which combined Indian, Persian and Islamic influences. At its center is the Taj Mahal itself, built of shimmering white marble that seems to change color depending on the sunlight or moonlight hitting its surface. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983, it remains one of the world's most celebrated structures and a stunning symbol of India's rich history.
Taj Mahal: Shah Jahan's Romantic Gesture
Shah Jahan was a member of the Mughal dynasty that ruled most of northern India from the early 16th to the mid 18th-century. After the death of his father, King Jahangir, in 1627, Shah Jahan emerged the victor of a bitter power struggle with his brothers, and crowned himself emperor at Agra in 1628. At his side was Arjumand Banu Begum, better known as Mumtaz Mahal ("Chosen One of the Palace"), whom he married in 1612 and cherished as the favorite of his three queens.
In 1631, Mumtaz Mahal died after giving birth to the couple's 14th child. The grieving Shah Jahan, known for commissioning a number of impressive structures throughout his reign, ordered the building of a magnificent mausoleum across the Yamuna River from his own royal palace at Agra. Construction began around 1632 and would continue for the next two decades. The chief architect was probably Ustad Ahmad Lahouri, an Indian of Persian descent who would later be credited with designing the Red Fort at Delhi. In all, more than 20,000 workers from India, Persia, Europe and the Ottoman Empire, along with some 1,000 elephants, were brought in to build the mausoleum complex.
Wonderfull documentary by National Geographic about the Taj Mahal, world's greatest and divine symbol of true love.
why and what makes Mausoleum at Halicarnassus a wonder of ancient world of Asia in present day Turkey?
View the Video
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus or Tomb of Mausolus (in Greek, Μαυσωλεῖον τῆς Ἁλικαρνασσοῦ) was a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC in the Greek colony of Halicarnassus for Mausolus, a satrap in the Persian Empire, and Artemisia II of Caria, his wife and sister. The structure was designed by the Greek architects Satyros and Pythis. It stood approximately 45 m (148 ft) in height, and each of the four sides was adorned with sculptural reliefs created by each one of four Greek sculptors — Leochares, Bryaxis, Scopas of Paros and Timotheus. The finished structure was considered to be such an aesthetic triumph that Antipater of Sidon identified it as one of his Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
The Mausoleum of Halicarnassus:
The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus or Tomb of Mausolus (in Greek, Μαυσωλεῖον τῆς Ἁλικαρνασσοῦ) was a tomb built between 353 and 350 BC at Halicarnassus (present Bodrum, Turkey) for Mausolus, a satrap in the Persian Empire, and Artemisia II of Caria, his wife and sister. The structure was designed by the Greek architects Satyros and Pythius of Priene. The Mausoleum stood approximately 45 m (148 ft) in height, and each of the four sides was adorned with sculptural reliefs created by each one of four Greek sculptors — Leochares, Bryaxis, Scopas of Paros and Timotheus. The finished structure of the mauloseum was considered to be such an aesthetic triumph that Antipater of Sidon identified it as one of his Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Hagia Sophia was a legacy of the Byzantium (Roman Empire), the Eastern Roman Empire established in present day Turkey.
What and why makes this building a wonder ?
View the videos
Hagia Sophia-The legacy of Byzantium
Hagia Sophia Cathedral (Holy wisdom) was build up by two Greek architects Anthemius and Isidorus during the reign of Emperor Justinian.
Hagia Sophia (from the Greek: Ἁγία Σοφία, "Holy Wisdom"; Latin: Sancta Sophia or Sancta Sapientia; Turkish: Aya Sofya) is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey. From the date of its dedication in 360 until 1453, it served as the cathedral of Constantinople, except between 1204 and 1261, when it was converted to a Roman Catholic cathedral under the Latin Patriarch of Constantinople of the Western Crusader established Latin Empire. The building was a mosque from 29 May 1453 until 1934, when it was secularized. It was opened as a museum on 1 February 1935
Hagia Sophia (Άγια Σοφία in Greek), the Church of Holy Wisdom, known variously as Sancta Sophia in Latin or Ayasofya in Turkish, is an ancient cathedral of the Church of Constantinople located in modern-day Istanbul, Turkey. It was converted to a mosque by the Turks and is now used as a museum. It is universally acknowledged as one of the great buildings of the world and a reference point in history of architecture. (The church is sometimes mistakenly called "Saint Sophia," as though it were named for a saint called Sophia.)
The first great church on the site was built by Constantius II, the son of Constantine the Great, but was burned down during the Nika riots of 532. The building was rebuilt in its present form between 532 and 537 under the personal supervision of emperor Justinian the Great. It is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture. Of great artistic value was its decorated interior with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings. The temple itself was so richly and artistically decorated that Justinian is believed to have said Νενίκηκά σε Σολομών: "Solomon, I have surpassed you!"
Interior of Hagia Sophia
The architects of the church were Isidore of Miletus and Anthemius of Tralles, professors of geometry at the University of Constantinople. Justinian's basilica was at once the culminating architectural achievement of late antiquity and the first masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. Its influence, both architecturally and liturgically, was widespread and enduring in the Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Muslim worlds alike.
Hagia Sophia is covered by a central dome with a diameter of 31 meters (102 feet), slightly smaller than the Pantheon's. The dome seems rendered weightless by the unbroken arcade of arched windows under it, which help flood the colorful interior with light. The dome is carried on pendentives: four concave triangular sections of masonry which solve the problem of setting the circular base of a dome on a rectangular base. In Hagia Sophia the weight of the dome passes through the pendentives to four massive piers at the corners. Between them the dome seems to float upon four great arches.
At the western (entrance) and eastern (liturgical) ends, the arched openings are extended by half domes carried on smaller semidomed exedras. Thus a hierarchy of dome-headed elements build up to create a vast oblong interior crowned by the main dome, a sequence unexampled in antiquity.
The structure has been severely damaged several times by earthquakes. The dome collapsed after an earthquake in 558; its replacement fell in 563. There were additional partial collapses in 989 and 1346.
All interior surfaces are sheathed with polychrome marbles, green and white with purple porphyry and gold mosaics, encrusted upon the brick. On the exterior, simple stuccoed walls reveal the clarity of massed vaults and dome.
For over 900 years the Hagia Sophia was the seat of the Patriarch of Constantinople and a principal setting for imperial ceremonies. It was converted to a mosque at the Fall of Constantinople to the Ottoman Turks under Sultan Mehmet II in 1453. Since Islam considers the depiction of the human form to be blasphemous— that is, it is iconoclastic—Hagia Sophia's iconographic mosaics were covered with plaster. For almost 500 years the principal mosque of Istanbul, Ayasofya, served as model for many of the Ottoman mosques of Constantinople such as the Shehzade Mosque, the Suleiman Mosque, and the Rustem Pasha Mosque.
The Hanging Gardens are one of the Wonders of the World from the ancient world of the Asians of Babylonia , present day Iraq
Does it really exists , today ?
What makes it a Wonder and why ?
View the video below
The Hanging Gardens of Babylon are considered to be one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They were built in the ancient city-state of Babylon, near present-day Al Hillah, Babil, in Iraq. They are sometimes called the Hanging Gardens of Semiramis (in reference to the legendary Queen Semiramis).
The gardens were supposedly built by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II around 600 BC. He is reported to have constructed the gardens to please his homesick wife, Amytis of Media, who longed for the trees and fragrant plants of her homeland Persia. The gardens were destroyed by several earthquakes after the second century BC.
What truly makes this legendary and famous Historical Site, Angkor Wat of Cambodia a wonder of the world ?
Why is it consider as a wonder?
View video to learn more
How Khmer built Angkor that it is very wonderful temple in the world.
Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city.
One of the best old ancient complex engineering structures on the world.
Before dying, here the place where we should see
There are two great complexes of ancient temples in Southeast Asia, one at Bagan in Burma, the other at Angkor in Cambodia. The temples of Angkor, built by the Khmer civilization between 802 and 1220 AD, represent one of humankind's most astonishing and enduring architectural achievements.
From Angkor the Khmer kings ruled over a vast domain that reached from Vietnam to China to the Bay of Bengal. The structures one sees at Angkor today, more than 100 stone temples in all, are the surviving remains of a grand religious, social and administrative metropolis whose other buildings - palaces, public buildings, and houses - were built of wood and have long since decayed and disappeared
Angkor Wat is a temple complex at Angkor, Cambodia, built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city. As the best-preserved temple at the site, it is the only one to have remained a significant religious centre since its foundation -- first Hindu, dedicated to the god Vishnu, then Buddhist. The temple is at the top of the high classical style of Khmer architecture.
Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple mountain and the later galleried temple, based on early South Indian Hindu architecture, with key features such as the Jagati. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers.
The initial design and construction of the temple took place in the first half of the 12th century, during the reign of Suryavarman II (ruled 1113 -- c. 1150). Dedicated to Vishnu, it was built as the king's state temple and capital city. In the late 13th century, Angkor Wat gradually moved from Hindu to Theravada Buddhist use, which continues to the present day.
A Harvard student was bewildered on a visit to Vatican City, not because of the beauty or the history, but because a 500-year-old painting by Raphael which shows a man who is an exact doppelganger of Sylvester Stallone.
As soon as we saw the painting, we knew it was him. My whole family thought it was hilarious. It could actually be a portrait of Stallone, 20-year-old Anthony Zonfrell of Mass. told The Sun.
Displayed in one of the Raphael Rooms at the Vatican, the fresco painting called The Cardinal and Theological Virtues was created in 1511 by Raphael, famous for being the third in the trinity of great artists which include Michaelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci. Raphael was commissioned to paint four rooms in the Apostolic Palace in Vatican City, which later became known as the Stanze di Raffaello, which translates to the Raphael Rooms.
The painting on one wall in the Stanze della Segnatura room depicts Pope Gregory IX approving the Vatical Decretals to represent a balance between law and religion. According to The Daily Mail, art historians believe that Raphael sketched the outline while Lorenzo Lotto actually painted the fresco, namely the Stallone part.
What is China up to? An extremely odd collection of objects has been discovered in the Gobi Desert, close to the border with Mongolia – and nobody is quite sure exactly what they are.
The objects were spotted using Google Maps and resulted in a substantial amount of speculation – especially among conspiracy theorists. Could we be looking at China’s equivalent of Area 51? Or signs of an ancient lost civilization? Or some form of guidance system for alien spacecraft? Or …?
What I do know however is this; In ancient China there were two types of magic being used in the Taoist world, one that is known to me by "Taoist white magic" and the other "Taoist black magic" .
White magic users were reputed to have the abilities of what you may have seen in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon for example, flying , healing/transferring qi to a sick person , moving their internal organs at will ect. ect. ect.
Black magic users on the other hand preferred to be deceitful and used spells and curses against their foes summoning dead martial artist and evil spirits, and demons so that they could inhabit the summoners body and fight for them and steal your opponents QI
why Taoist made Black magic is still odd to me some say it was because of the yin and yang principal or perhaps the sages were just bat-S@#$ crazy.
both used alchemy I think and texts like the I Ching is considered white magic
People in the Gulf have a reputation for being particularly superstitious people with strong beliefs in the evil eye, the easiness of being possessed by a jinn, and susceptibility to being affected by white and black magic. Through his research, Dr Fahad bin Abdulaziz Al Sunaidi, a Professor at the Department of Islamic Studies at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia, discovered that Arabs spend up to 5 billion dollars a year on magic and witchcraft and that for every 1,000 people in the Arab world you will find one practicing magic.
The Evil Eye
Many Arabs have a general belief in the evil eye - believing that you can jinx someone just by having a negative thought, or by making a negative body gesture or statement. Some people in Qatar blame illness, broken marriages and engagements, miscarriages and the inability of a woman to conceive a child as all consequences of someone putting the evil eye on them. For example, the refusal of a woman to attend another woman's wedding and her sitting in her house with the doors and windows closed and her arms folded is a sure way to put the evil eye on the bride's marriage.
White Magic
If you have been cursed through black magic or the evil eye there is a way out � white magic. While black magic is prohibited not just by religion in Qatar, but also law, white magic is perfectly acceptable. What do I mean by white magic? White magic is a combination of magic and religious rituals which people seek out as a cure to what they believe is a curse or spell through black magic and the evil eye. There are many religious sheikhs, and even a well known community of older Qatari women who people go to with the belief that they can cure them.
White magic usually entails the reading of Qur'an over water and then having the supposed victim to wash in that water or drink it, as well as other rituals such as breaking eggs over things while saying Islamic prayers or sprinkling salt and other food substances over one's self. Some people genuinely believe that white magic works and if it doesn't work, they come to the conclusion that the spell or evil eye is just too strong and that they need to seek out another form of white magic.
Is feng shui a religion? You might think so depending on what kind of feng shui book you are reading. Feng shui comes from China where the most popular religious practice is Buddhism.
Feng shui is not a Buddhist practice. Some Buddhists practice feng shui and some don‘t. When feng shui was introduced to America, it was altered from its classical form to what is known as Western or New Age feng shui.
They made it easy and fun so we would try it. American pop culture loves fun, easy things. Happy Buddhas, fortune kitties, lucky gods, lucky frogs, love symbols, wealth corners, and lucky bamboo plants are fun.
Today, businesses are even marketing products as having “good feng shui”. My grocery store sells bamboo plants with signs on them that read “lucky bamboo“.
Ahhhh, here it is a beautiful Sunday and I’ve already received two calls about my services and the question comes up, ”Is Feng Shui some kind of a religion?”
Many of us (Feng Shui professionals) have tried to put that subject to rest many times, but it still seems to trouble some people.
Feng Shui is about harmony, tranquility, comfort and abundance. It has nothing to do with religious or mystical beliefs. Feng Shui is actually a science that offers the ability to create an energy balance in our homes and office spaces.
The science of feng shui is a way to build one’s prosperity and a sense of well-being. Feng Shui is rooted in physics, and architecture, and it’s popularity in this country has become massive as more and more people are beginning to explore the incredible benefits that this ancient practice has to offer.
Feng Shui has been around for two millennia and has been practiced by scholars, sages, scientists, physicists and you name it! Certainly not by people who were only interested in folklore or frivolity.
Why are Vampire Crabs called as Vampires ?
Please be ensured of one thing, although they are called as vampires, they do not suck blood.
Since that is the case, why are they called as vampire then ?
One possiblily could be due to their appearance.
They are one of the most colorific crabs to become available, regularly exhibiting orange, purple, red, yellow and black, and thanks to their red eyes, which become evident at sub-adulthood.
But again, it can also be the coincidence of vampires in our human culture.
First of all, each and every single vampire crabs have a very unique tatoo born with them on their shell, all at the exact same spot & angle of the exact same shape
this shape itself is the symbol for vampires
Next, they are purple in colour. Purple is itself a royal colour in ancient europe. It is the color that only the royals and nobels can wear and none others are allowed to wear.
Typically in european cultures of Count Dracula and other vampire stories, they are usually associated with the royals and nobels. The traditional uniform of Count Dracula does has purple colour as well. It is black on the outside and purple in the inside.
Thirdly , Vampire crabs are night creatures. They are only active at night. They are not active during the day. The way on how vampire crabs stalk and sneak to attack on their preys will only remind you of the way on how vampires prey on their victims in the movies.
Finally, direct sunlight is hurtful towards them
This 4 points itself is a weird coincidences by itself. How can it be so much of a coincidences ?
My ex-girlfriend from 15 years ago was half Lao, half Thai. Her mother was Thai and this lady was a hardcore "researcher" on voodoo and fortune telling. She had this thick black book that she would worship like the holy bible. This book was honky huge and the text were all in fine print with some small diagrams and drawings on most of the pages. At the time I was only 20 and thought her mom sure devoting alot of time to such a useless "hobby". She did however read my fortune up about 8 years from the time of the reading with coincedental accuracy :-/ by reading my palms and face features? I was only dating the daughter for about 3 and a half years and was head over heals in love with this girl.
To keep from telling a long story, theres no doubt the parents wanted their daughter to marry me due to my family prominence and since her family were immigrants to Canada, held that so called status in very high regard. Her family often told their friends we were already engaged and not in a joking manner. If the mom truly believed a love spell exists and would work, its a certainty she would have cast the spell on me. They often lavished me with traditional food and soups when I was over.
When the daughter and I broke up, I was heartbroken and my life was turned upside down. I even dropped out of University and went down a different path in life. Thoughts of this girl pop in my head numerous times every day without fail for the last 15 years! This is simply ridiculous because I have zero intention of ever getting back together with such a money-hungry, superficial person. I've been in numerous long-term relationships and breakups over the past 15 yrs so I know what heartbreak feels like. And these daily thoughts my ex on a daily basis over this span of time are completely un-natural since I have no wish or desire to even see this girl again.
Like I mentioned earlier, I haven't heard of a Thai love spell until a few days ago and even if I had heard of such a thing, would have laughed at such a silly notion. Nevertheless, hypothetically speaking, I would like know if there is any way to reverse a love spell. Does anyone know how I might go about lifting such a spell??? I couldnt find anything on the net about it except that its suppose to last for life. Of course I definately dont want to ask my Mom or anyone I know in fear of sounding like a mental patient. lol [Click here to read full article]
