Grand and imposing, the Pennsylvania State Monument at Gettysburg has both the names of its generals carved into the top and their likenesses sculpted at the corners. The base is surrounded by tablets bearing names of less-decorated but equally brave soldiers who fought in the battle.
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
Showing posts with label virtual tours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label virtual tours. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
islas Galapagos, Ecuador
Open publication - Free publishing
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
Monday, July 6, 2009
Wild Ocean , South Africa
Each year an unbelievable feeding frenzy takes place in the oceans of South Africa as billions of sardines migrate up the Kwazulu-Natal Coast. WILD OCEAN captures spectacular breaching whales, feeding sharks, diving gannets, and massive bait balls inside and up close on the giant screen.
The migration has provided an annual food source for both life in the sea and the people living along the African shores for countless generations. The film demonstrates how business, government, and the local people have joined forces to protect this invaluable ecological resource. WILD OCEAN will delve audiences into an epic underwater struggle for survival and reveal the economic and cultural impact the migration has on the coastal communities.
Produced by the creators of STOMP and Academy Award nominated directors of Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey, WILD OCEAN is an explosive, symphonic documentary film about man and nature.
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
travelWednesday, May 20, 2009
Κuwait - Language, Culture, Customs and Etiquette
Facts and StatisticsLocation: Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iraq and Saudi Arabia
Capital: Kuwait City
Population: 2,257,549 including 1,291,354 non-nationals (July 2004 est.)
Ethnic Make-up: Kuwaiti 45%, other Arab 35%, South Asian 9%, Iranian 4%, other 7%
Religions: Muslim 85% (Sunni 70%, Shi'a 30%), Christian, Hindu, Parsi, and other 15%
Language in Kuwait
Arabic is the official language of Kuwait, but English is widely spoken. It is used in business and is a compulsory second language in schools. Among the non-Kuwaiti population, many people speak Farsi, the official language of Iran, or Urdu, the official language of Pakistan.
Arabic is spoken by almost 200 million people in more than 22 countries. It is the language of the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam, and of Arab poetry and literature. While spoken Arabic varies from country to country, classical Arabic has remained unchanged for centuries. In Kuwait, there are differences between the dialects spoken in urban areas and those spoken in rural areas.
Kuwaiti Society & Culture
Islam
Islam is practised by the majority of Kuwaitis and governs their personal, political, economic and legal lives. Islam emanated from what is today Saudi Arabia. The Prophet Muhammad is seen as the last of God's emissaries (following in the footsteps of Jesus, Moses, Abraham, etc) to bring revelation to mankind. He was distinguished with bringing a message for the whole of mankind, rather than just to a certain peoples. As Moses brought the Torah and Jesus the Bible, Muhammad brought the last book, the Quran. The Quran and the actions of the Prophet (the Sunnah) are used as the basis for all guidance in the religion.
Among certain obligations for Muslims are to pray five times a day - at dawn, noon, afternoon, sunset, and evening. The exact time is listed in the local newspaper each day. Friday is the Muslim holy day. Everything is closed. Many companies also close on Thursday, making the weekend Thursday and Friday.
During the holy month of Ramadan all Muslims must fast from dawn to dusk and are only permitted to work six hours per day. Fasting includes no eating, drinking, cigarette smoking, or gum chewing. Expatriates are not required to fast; however, they must not eat, drink, smoke, or chew gum in public.
Each night at sunset, families and friends gather together to celebrate the breaking of the fast (iftar). The festivities often continue well into the night. In general, things happen more slowly during Ramadan. Many businesses operate on a reduced schedule. Shops may be open and closed at unusual times.
Although over 95% of the population are Muslim, Kuwait is known for its religious tolerance. The three Churches are allowed to practice freely. Kuwait is the only Gulf Country to establish relations with the Vatican.
Family Values
. The extended family is the basis of the social structure and individual identity. It includes the nuclear family, immediate relatives, distant relatives, tribe members, friends, and neighbours.
. Nepotism is viewed positively, since it guarantees hiring people who can be trusted, which is crucial in a country where working with people one knows and trusts is of primary importance.
. The family is private. Female relatives are protected from outside influences. It is considered inappropriate to ask questions about a Kuwaiti's wife or other female relatives.
Naming Conventions
. The first name is the personal name and used as we would use ours.
. The second name is the father's personal name. It is used with the connector "al- ".
. The third and fourth names are the grandfather's personal name and a name that denotes the family lineage. Both names generally start with the prefix "al-".
. The name of Suleyman Al-Ahmed Al- Mustafa Al-Sabah means Suleyman, son of Ahmed, grandson of Mustafa of the Sabah family/tribe.
. Women do not take the husband's name upon marriage.
Gift Giving Etiquette
. Extended family or very close friends may exchange gifts for birthdays, Ramadan, Eid, Hajj and other celebratory occasions.
. If you are invited to a Kuwaiti home, bring a houseplant, box of imported chocolates, or a small gift from your home country.
. If a man must give a gift to a woman, he should say that it is from his wife, mother, sister, or some other female relative.
. Do not give alcohol unless you know for sure he/she partakes.
. Gifts are not opened when received.
Dining Etiquette
. Kuwaitis socialize in their homes, restaurants, or international hotels.
. If both sexes are included, they may be entertained in separate rooms, although this is not always the case.
When going to a Kuwaitis house:
. Check to see if the host is wearing shoes. If not, remove yours at the door.
. Dress conservatively.
. Show respect for the elders by greeting them first.
. Accept any offer of food or drink. To turn down hospitality is to reject the person.
. If you are invited for a meal, there is often a great deal of socializing and small talk before the meal, and the evening comes to an end quickly after the meal.
Watch your table manners!
. Eat only with the right hand.
. Meals are generally served family-style. Guests are served first. Then the oldest, continuing in some rough approximation of age order until the youngest is served.
. Honoured guests are often offered the most prized pieces or delicacies such as the sheep's head - so be prepared!
. Hospitality and generosity dictate showering guests with abundance. Comment on this.
. Leave some food on your plate when you have finished eating otherwise they will fill it with more.
. When the host stands, the meal is over.
. The first name is the personal name and used as we would use ours.
. The second name is the father's personal name. It is used with the connector "al- ".
. The third and fourth names are the grandfather's personal name and a name that denotes the family lineage. Both names generally start with the prefix "al-".
. The name of Suleyman Al-Ahmed Al- Mustafa Al-Sabah means Suleyman, son of Ahmed, grandson of Mustafa of the Sabah family/tribe.
. Women do not take the husband's name upon marriage.
Gift Giving Etiquette
. Extended family or very close friends may exchange gifts for birthdays, Ramadan, Eid, Hajj and other celebratory occasions.
. If you are invited to a Kuwaiti home, bring a houseplant, box of imported chocolates, or a small gift from your home country.
. If a man must give a gift to a woman, he should say that it is from his wife, mother, sister, or some other female relative.
. Do not give alcohol unless you know for sure he/she partakes.
. Gifts are not opened when received.
Dining Etiquette
. Kuwaitis socialize in their homes, restaurants, or international hotels.
. If both sexes are included, they may be entertained in separate rooms, although this is not always the case.
When going to a Kuwaitis house:
. Check to see if the host is wearing shoes. If not, remove yours at the door.
. Dress conservatively.
. Show respect for the elders by greeting them first.
. Accept any offer of food or drink. To turn down hospitality is to reject the person.
. If you are invited for a meal, there is often a great deal of socializing and small talk before the meal, and the evening comes to an end quickly after the meal.
Watch your table manners!
. Eat only with the right hand.
. Meals are generally served family-style. Guests are served first. Then the oldest, continuing in some rough approximation of age order until the youngest is served.
. Honoured guests are often offered the most prized pieces or delicacies such as the sheep's head - so be prepared!
. Hospitality and generosity dictate showering guests with abundance. Comment on this.
. Leave some food on your plate when you have finished eating otherwise they will fill it with more.
. When the host stands, the meal is over.
Business Etiquette and Protocol in Kuwait
Relationships & Communication
. Since Kuwaitis prefer to do business with those with whom they have a personal relationship, they spend a great deal of time on the getting-to-know-you process.
. You must be patient since impatience is viewed as criticism of the culture.
. Kuwaitis judge on appearances so dress and present yourself well.
. They respect education, so carefully mention if you have an advanced degree, especially if it is from a prestigious university.
Business Meeting Etiquette
. Try to schedule meetings in the morning when meeting with government officials, since they are restricted to a 6-hour day.
. Many businessmen prefer to meet in the early evening.
. Do not try to schedule meetings in July and August as many Kuwaitis leave the country during the worst of the summer heat.
. Meetings may be interrupted if they interfere with prayer times.
. Meetings are generally not private unless there is a need to discuss matters confidentially.
. Expect frequent interruptions. Others may wander into the room and start a different discussion. You may join in, but do not try to bring the topic back to the original discussion until the new person leaves.
Business Negotiating
. Business will only be discussed once an atmosphere of trust and friendship has been established.
. Kuwaitis are event rather than time-driven. The event of getting together is more important than the timeliness of the meeting or the outcome.
. Kuwait is a hierarchical society. Many companies are structured around the family. Decisions usually come from the top after determining a consensus of the various stakeholders.
. Decisions are reached slowly. If you try to rush things, you will give offence and risk your business relationship.
. Kuwaitis are shrewd negotiators who are especially interested in price.
. Do not use high-pressure sales tactics. They will work against you.
. Repeating your main points indicates you are telling the truth.
. There is a tendency to avoid giving bad news and to give flowery acceptances, which may only mean "perhaps".
. Problems may be discussed outside the meeting in a one-on-one situation rather than in the group meeting room.
. If you change the lead negotiator, negotiations will need to start over.
. Proposals and contracts should be kept simple.
. Although negotiating is done in English, contracts are written in Arabic. If there is both an English and Arabic version, the Arabic will be the one followed.
Dress Etiquette
. Business attire is conservative.
. Men should wear lightweight, good quality, conservative suits, at least to the initial meeting.
. Women should avoid giving offence and refrain from wearing revealing or tight fitting clothing. Although they do not need to wear skirts that reach the ground, skirts should cover the knee and sleeves should cover the elbow and fasten at the neck.
Titles
. Titles are important. Use the honorific "Mister" and any academic or political title and the first name.
. Do not use only the first name until expressly invited to drop the titles.
. The title "Sheikh" denotes that someone is a member of the royal family. It is also used for old men.
Business Cards
. Business cards are given to everyone you meet.
. Have one side of your card translated into Arabic. Be sure to check the translation carefully as there is often confusion with the order of western names.
Useful Information and Links about Kuwait
* Currency - the currency of Kuwait is known as the Dinar. Use the free currency converter to compare to dollars, GBP or Euro.
* Weather - visit Yahoo!'s up to date Weather for Kuwait.
* Translation Services - do you need an Arabic Translation Service?
* News - check out all the latest Google news on Kuwait.
* Intercultural Know-how - use the Intercultural Business Communication tool for tips on doing business in Kuwait.
* Dialling Code - the international dialling code for Kuwait is +965.
* Time - Bahrain is +3 hours GMT.
* Hotels - Hotels in Kuwait.
* History - read about the long and rich history of Kuwait. Since Kuwaitis prefer to do business with those with whom they have a personal relationship, they spend a great deal of time on the getting-to-know-you process.
. You must be patient since impatience is viewed as criticism of the culture.
. Kuwaitis judge on appearances so dress and present yourself well.
. They respect education, so carefully mention if you have an advanced degree, especially if it is from a prestigious university.
Business Meeting Etiquette
. Try to schedule meetings in the morning when meeting with government officials, since they are restricted to a 6-hour day.
. Many businessmen prefer to meet in the early evening.
. Do not try to schedule meetings in July and August as many Kuwaitis leave the country during the worst of the summer heat.
. Meetings may be interrupted if they interfere with prayer times.
. Meetings are generally not private unless there is a need to discuss matters confidentially.
. Expect frequent interruptions. Others may wander into the room and start a different discussion. You may join in, but do not try to bring the topic back to the original discussion until the new person leaves.
Business Negotiating
. Business will only be discussed once an atmosphere of trust and friendship has been established.
. Kuwaitis are event rather than time-driven. The event of getting together is more important than the timeliness of the meeting or the outcome.
. Kuwait is a hierarchical society. Many companies are structured around the family. Decisions usually come from the top after determining a consensus of the various stakeholders.
. Decisions are reached slowly. If you try to rush things, you will give offence and risk your business relationship.
. Kuwaitis are shrewd negotiators who are especially interested in price.
. Do not use high-pressure sales tactics. They will work against you.
. Repeating your main points indicates you are telling the truth.
. There is a tendency to avoid giving bad news and to give flowery acceptances, which may only mean "perhaps".
. Problems may be discussed outside the meeting in a one-on-one situation rather than in the group meeting room.
. If you change the lead negotiator, negotiations will need to start over.
. Proposals and contracts should be kept simple.
. Although negotiating is done in English, contracts are written in Arabic. If there is both an English and Arabic version, the Arabic will be the one followed.
Dress Etiquette
. Business attire is conservative.
. Men should wear lightweight, good quality, conservative suits, at least to the initial meeting.
. Women should avoid giving offence and refrain from wearing revealing or tight fitting clothing. Although they do not need to wear skirts that reach the ground, skirts should cover the knee and sleeves should cover the elbow and fasten at the neck.
Titles
. Titles are important. Use the honorific "Mister" and any academic or political title and the first name.
. Do not use only the first name until expressly invited to drop the titles.
. The title "Sheikh" denotes that someone is a member of the royal family. It is also used for old men.
Business Cards
. Business cards are given to everyone you meet.
. Have one side of your card translated into Arabic. Be sure to check the translation carefully as there is often confusion with the order of western names.
Useful Information and Links about Kuwait
* Currency - the currency of Kuwait is known as the Dinar. Use the free currency converter to compare to dollars, GBP or Euro.
* Weather - visit Yahoo!'s up to date Weather for Kuwait.
* Translation Services - do you need an Arabic Translation Service?
* News - check out all the latest Google news on Kuwait.
* Intercultural Know-how - use the Intercultural Business Communication tool for tips on doing business in Kuwait.
* Dialling Code - the international dialling code for Kuwait is +965.
* Time - Bahrain is +3 hours GMT.
* Hotels - Hotels in Kuwait.
."A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
travelWednesday, April 29, 2009
VESPA BLOGGER AWARD FRIENDSHIP
I have received an award from one of my blogger friends; from April :) That's very nice..I felt honored..Thanks my friend..
Now i would like to pass this award to some of my blogger friends..And the winnersss are: ........ :)
toomanytribbles
Verwon's Blog
Vrakas Kostas
Prophet Estarian
Miltiades aka Mavros Gatos
mamashift
Aeglie’s Adventures
Lorelei Am Rein
KoreanPapers Art
Asteroessa
Κατερίνα ante portas
she blogger
( I just hope my other blogger friends won't get mad at me..It's soo hard to add all of you my friends.. :)
If you would like to pass this award to some of your friends, than;
1. Put the logo on your blog
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs
4. Add links to those blogs on yours
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blog
Wishing you a great day...
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
travelMonday, April 27, 2009
Castello Banfi, Tuscany, Italy
Castello Banfi appears on the Tuscan horizon like a pink hilltop castle straight out of a fairy tale. A tall, slender Rapunzel-style tower overlooks a huge estate that reaches almost as far as the nearby Mediterranean. Within this authentic medieval fortress lies a cozy courtyard; outside lies a cluster of stone cottages with narrow vine-covered streets, a hamlet that clung to the castle walls in the dark ages. The estate holds vines, olive groves, wheat fields, plum orchards, and woodlands; within those same forests live wild boar, deer, pheasant, even truffles.
But unlike many European winery castles, this place is no fortress when it comes to visitors. It has two restaurants, one of which has a Michelin star. It has a gorgeous wine store with spacious ceramic flooring, handsome dark wood rafters, and attractive display shelves. The winery facilities with their endless rows of barrels are immaculate, as are the 14 guest rooms located in the surrounding stone cottages.
The winery even has its own onsite cooperage, where the best oak planks from France and Slavonia are custom made into barrels. If this isn't quite enough, what surely marks this winery out as a must-see in southern Tuscany is its intriguing Glass Museum, six rooms displaying glass from the present day all the way back to the 15th century B.C. Egyptian urns sit beside Babylonian vases beside ancient Roman ampules and goblets; present-day examples include decorative crystal by some guys called Picasso, Cocteau, and Dalí. It focuses your mind temporarily away from the wine onto the see-through object that holds it.
Such rich, historic splendor has its genesis in the most unlikely of places -- Long Island, New York. This is where owner John F. Mariani's father started out with an Italian wine importer called Banfi in 1919. His timing could not have been worse -- Prohibition came a year later. He limped through those dry years selling wine for "medicinal purposes," then wasted no time importing the very best from Italy when the law was finally lifted. Business boomed, and over the years Banfi introduced the finest of Italian wines to the American market, including Lambrusco, and Chianti.
The winery itself has put its faith in Sangiovese; vineyards teeming with the grape now besiege the castle walls. While the whole complex has a somewhat polished, corporate feel, rest assured that this is no Disneyland of wine -- it's the genuine article.
Contact Information:
Castello Banfi, Montalcino; tel. 39/577/840111; www.castellobanfi.com.
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
travel"Cuba Libre" ...Anima Libre
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
travelSunday, April 5, 2009
Antarctica the land of extremities
This is a short clip inspired by Hans Zimmer's music from "The Thin Red Line". My tribute to great composer and beauty of nature.
Antarctica was the last, 7th continent I visited and dove. Kind of a last stop on a journey called "Earth". But in fact the journey never ends...
All shots were made with Sony EX1 camera.
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
travelFriday, February 6, 2009
Happy Birthday Charles Darwin ..δωσε τις σκεψεις σου για τα 200 χρονια απο την γεννηση του Δαρβινου.
Happy Birthday Charles Darwin
2009 is the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Shrewsbury’s most famous son Charles Darwin and founder of the theory of evolution. It is also the 150th anniversary of the publication of his most famous work ‘On the Origin of Species’.
To celebrate we are inviting as many people as possible to pass on their own birthday wishes and special message to Charles Darwin, you can even upload an image if you want to.
Send your birthday wishes to Charles Darwin by clicking the link below.
click to go.
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
travel
2009 is the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Shrewsbury’s most famous son Charles Darwin and founder of the theory of evolution. It is also the 150th anniversary of the publication of his most famous work ‘On the Origin of Species’.
To celebrate we are inviting as many people as possible to pass on their own birthday wishes and special message to Charles Darwin, you can even upload an image if you want to.
Send your birthday wishes to Charles Darwin by clicking the link below.
click to go.
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
travel
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Iceland, a marvelous photo journal ...Ισλανδία, ένα μαγευτικό φωτο-αλμπουμ
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
Monday, January 26, 2009
India. time-lapse of Ganges ...ενα λεπτό στον Γάγγη, Ινδία.
The Ganges (IPA: /ˈgænʤiːz/, also Ganga pronunciation (help·info), Devanāgarī: गंगा, IAST: Gaṅgā in most Indian languages) is one of the major rivers of the Indian subcontinent,it has its origin in gangotri glacier with the name Bagirathi flows to join the river Alakanda and hence ganges is formed .
It flows east through the Gangetic Plain of northern India into Bangladesh. The 2,510 km (1,560 mi) river rises in the western Himalayas in the Uttarakhand state of India, and drains into the Sunderbans delta in the Bay of Bengal. It has long been considered a holy river by Hindus and worshiped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism. The Ganges and its tributaries drain a 1,000,000-square-kilometre (390,000 sq mi) fertile basin that supports one of the world's highest density of humans.
The many symbolic meanings of the river were described by Jawaharlal Nehru in his Discovery of India,
The Ganges, above all is the river of India, which has held India's heart captive and drawn uncounted millions to her banks since the dawn of history. The story of the Ganges, from her source to the sea, from old times to new, is the story of India's civilization and culture, of the rise and fall of empires, of great and proud cities, of adventures of man…
In November, 2008, the Government of India decided to declare Ganga a "national river".
The river supports some 400 million people. Pollution of Ganga affects the people who live along the river and campaigns attempt to reduce the environmental stress.
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
travel
It flows east through the Gangetic Plain of northern India into Bangladesh. The 2,510 km (1,560 mi) river rises in the western Himalayas in the Uttarakhand state of India, and drains into the Sunderbans delta in the Bay of Bengal. It has long been considered a holy river by Hindus and worshiped as the goddess Ganga in Hinduism. The Ganges and its tributaries drain a 1,000,000-square-kilometre (390,000 sq mi) fertile basin that supports one of the world's highest density of humans.
The many symbolic meanings of the river were described by Jawaharlal Nehru in his Discovery of India,
The Ganges, above all is the river of India, which has held India's heart captive and drawn uncounted millions to her banks since the dawn of history. The story of the Ganges, from her source to the sea, from old times to new, is the story of India's civilization and culture, of the rise and fall of empires, of great and proud cities, of adventures of man…
In November, 2008, the Government of India decided to declare Ganga a "national river".
The river supports some 400 million people. Pollution of Ganga affects the people who live along the river and campaigns attempt to reduce the environmental stress.
Just a simple video I put together from my trip to India. Edited with Final Cut Studio 2.
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
travel
Sunday, January 25, 2009
National Archaeological Museum of Athens
myathensguide com-National Archaeological Museum of Athens
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
Plovdiv, Bulgaria ...ενας μικρος ταξιδιωτικος οδηγος
Plovdiv In Your Pocket
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
a virtual tour: all aboard HMS Beagle ...ενα διαδραστικο ταξιδι με το πλοιο του Δαρβίνου
Charles Darwin’s revolutionary theory of evolution by means of natural selection has had a powerful impact on our society, both past and present.
It was taken up by many of the major thinkers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and phrases such as ‘survival of the fittest’ used Darwin’s theory as a scientific justification for eugenics, enforced sterilisation and even genocide.
Today, Darwin can be seen as the father of ecology and his theory as the foundation for the contemporary environmental movement.
Παρτε το εισιτηριο σας εδω:
take the tour here:
"A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." -- Lao Tzu
Copyright © Demetrios the Traveler
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