No More Living In Darkness

Pin It Now! "No More Living In Darkness”, are words that I came across whilst walking through Auckland Uni. They got me thinking about what the person who wrote them was getting at. Is it a Biblical message or something else? What does it mean to NOT live in darkness?

Photo taken with an iPhone 4S

Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho Temple, Bangkok

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At the end of last year, I spent a few days in Bangkok and whilst there I visited a few temples. One them was Wat Pho Temple which is the home of the Reclining Buddha which because of its sear size was quite a site. 

Facts about the Reclining Buddha:

• Covered in gold leaf 
• 15 meters high 
• 43 meters long

Photo taken with an iPhone 4S

Wishing Bell at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple Auckland

Pin It Now! The Wishing Bell comes with the following instructions when making a wish:
1. Make 3 prostrations
2. Kneel down and join palms
3. Recite “Na Mo Sakyamuni Buddha” 3 times
4. Make a wish
5. Knock the bell once
6. Arise and bow once

Ringing The Bell at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple Auckland

Pin It Now! A Buddhist nun ringing an extremely large bell at the Fo Guang Shan Temple.

Beating The Drum at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple Auckland

Pin It Now! Someone (I am not sure if she is nun?) beating and extremely large drum at the Fo Guang Shan Temple.

Stone Light at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple Auckland

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There are twelve of these lights within the temple and they represent the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination: Ignorance, Mental formations, Consciousness, Name and form, The six sense organs, Contact, Feeling, Craving, Clinging, Becoming, Birth, Ageing and death. 

Pagoda at Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple Auckland

Pin It Now! There is something about water that brings a feeling of peace and tranquillity.

Free Palestine Demonstration | Auckland

Pin It Now! The issue of Palestine has for a very long time been a contentious issue for Israel and Western powers who have a vested interest in that part of the World. Over the weekend, I came across this small group of people who felt the need to express their views about Palestine to the people of Auckland.

Tui Yeah Right Calendar Girls Billboard

Pin It Now! You've gotta love the stuff the people come up with for Tui's "Yeah Right" billboards. "I thought it was shop where girls sell calendars?" made me laugh because I could just imagine a guy explaining this to his wife or partner or girlfriend ever so innocently. For those of you who don't know what "Calendar Girls" is, Google it and then it will make more sense.

Proud Maori Flying The Maori Flag

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I came across this individual at the 2011 Ragamuffin music festival. As you can see, he wanted people to know just how proud he was to be Maori. Maori get given a bad wrap but there is absolutely nothing wrong with them.

Raggamuffin 2012 Is Just Around The Corner

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Earlier on in the year I took a bit of time out to head down to Rotorua for Ragamuffin. This year the line-up included: MARY J BLIGE, JIMMY CLIFF, MAXI PRIEST, THE ORIGINAL WAILERS, KY-MANI MARLEY, CHE FU & THE KRATEZ, NESIAN MYSTIK, 1814 and SONS OF ZION. SEAN PAUL was supposed to perform but was unable to make it. That being said, it was still a fantastic event and I am already looking forward Raggamuffin 2012. Hopefully they will make an announcement on next years line-up soon and I will be sure to get tickets as soon as they go on sale.

The photo is of the huge banners they had on either side of the stage. I am just in love with the colour combination. 

University of Otago Clocktower Building

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The University of Otago Clocktower building which is located along the banks of the Leith River is probably the building that gives the university campus its character.

Carved Posts At Te Pane O Horoiwi – Achilles Point | Auckland

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The other day I went ‘exploring’ and found myself at Achilles point which is on the cliffs above Ladies Bay in St. Heliers. This is where I came across these carved posts (pouwhenua) that represent the Maori ancestors who arrived at this point (Te Pane O Horoiwi) on the Tainui waka over six centuries ago. These people were:

Hoturoa – commander of the Tainui waka
Taikehu – chief and key ancestor of the Ngai Tai People
Horoiwi – chief who settled at Tamaki Head and named the person who named this location

Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa Marae | Auckland Airport

Pin It Now! I have been in this country for a number of years now and have seen and visited a number of Marae in that time but they never cease to amaze me. The thing that gets me the most about them is the “tekoteko” and “maihi” carvings.

Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa Marae is only a couple of minutes drive from Auckland Airport if you want to pay it a visit.

Life Is Just A Pyramid Scheme

Pin It Now! After having lunch in the city I found myself at Pt. Erin Park and decided to go for a walk around it. I ended up on a path along the side of the park that lead me to the point where Shelly Beach Road crosses over SH1. That is were I found this piece of ‘art’ hidden from public view. I wonder what this artist meant by saying "life is just a pyramid scheme?"

Graffiti in Wellington

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A random house on a street close to the Wellington CBD with some interesting graffiti on its wall. Graffiti is a problem around New Zealand and as a result businesses and various councils have been spending a lot of money cleaning up graffiti. This particular piece of work however has been there for a while and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere. I guess the people who live there like it like that.

Sell photos on photrade | By Gerri

Kaffir

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I was in a supermarket the other day and a friend drew my attention towards a jar of Kaffir Lime Leaves. This caught me by surprise because I had no idea that such a product existed. It wasn’t so much the product that caught me by surprise, it was the name, KAFFIR! and I couldn’t help but take a photo of it.

I am from Southern Africa and KAFFIR was a derogatory term used to describe black southern Africans during the Apartheid era (much in the same way as the 'N' word). The term is still regarded as being highly offensive and stirs a few emotions in many a people when it is used.

You learn something new every day.

Note – I took this photo with my phone hence the poor quality. At least you get to see what I was going on about.