Tagged With "Forest fires"
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 8, 2014: Blue Sky, Over Me
Coming in to land on a plane - just as the sun's setting ! The sky's on fire ......
Comment
Re: Missoula, Montana — Home of Grizzlies
I like this one because it reminds me of a time when my son was a naval fire fighter and was talking about becoming a smoke jumper after he was discharged. He changed his mind, something for which I'll be forever grateful. Read 'Young Men and Fire', by Norman Maclean and understand.
Comment
Re: Missoula, Montana — Home of Grizzlies
Originally Posted by PortMoresby: I like this one because it reminds me of a time when my son was a naval fire fighter and was talking about becoming a smoke jumper after he was discharged. He changed his mind, something for which I'll be forever grateful. Read 'Young Men and Fire', by Norman Maclean and understand. Those smokejumpers are amazing! Absolutely fearless. When everyone's running away from a fire, they're jumping from planes to run toward it. Another good fictional book is the...
Comment
Re: Newgrange; Ireland’s ancient Passage Tomb
Walking the "Walls" that enclose the City - maybe 3 miles around - is a local ritual ! At frequent intervals there are Pubs to stop at. The idea being that you stop at each one , have a drink and proceed to the next. Its only the hardened drinkers who complete the circuit. A friend from Anna Maria Island, Florida sent his daughter to stay with us for a while. Same age as my daughter and they got along like a house on fire ! So when we arrived in Chester I told her our day was walking around...
Comment
Re: More Art under Your Feet
In Tokyo, They also use the covers for Fire Hydrants,something I haven't noticed before
Comment
Re: More Art under Your Feet
Thanks to you Paul, I'm now taking a lot of photos of manhole covers and birds on statues. Really some interesting things I never paid much mind to before. Here's a couple more manhole covers. I'll add the my statue birds on your next story. In Oslo Fire Hydrant in Tokyo
Comment
Re: Over 200 European Cities to Ban Vehicles for a Day
Let's hope that the mobility impaired don't have to go anywhere that day. Let's hope no one needs an ambulance or police or fire dept services. Seems a retrogressive primitive move to me. What's next? The same government banning vehicles altogether?
Comment
Re: Jallianwala Bagh, Amritsar
On the 2 nights prior to the massacre, Indian Government buildings had been set on fire. Telegraph poles destroyed and railways attacked. Europeans - including a female English school teacher - had been attacked by mobs on the streets. Stripped naked, beaten and left for dead at the roadside. There were no British soldiers in the town. They were all in the mountains to escape the heat. The Ghurkhas' - Nepalese Soldiers - were trying to enforce the curfew that had been imposed following the...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Apr. 27, 2014: Painted Ladies in San Francisco
Many Victorian buildings that survived the 1906 earthquake were destroyed in the fires that followed. Those, like these, that escaped both were largely located west of Van Ness Ave, the line at which fire fighters dynamited buildings, creating a fire line to save at least part of the city. I'm glad these were saved, PHeymont, or the City would be a very different place, wouldn't it. Thanks.
Comment
Re: Why You should visit Nevada's Valley of Fire
You are correct, GarryRF. There have been a number of movies filmed in the park. Lifted straight from Wikipedia , here is a listing of these: Film History : Valley of Fire is a popular location for shooting automobile commercials and other commercial photography. It has provided a setting for the following films and television shows: The Professionals with Burt Lancaster , Lee Marvin , and Claudia Cardinale was filmed in 1966. As of November 2012 a piece of the movie set is still up for...
Comment
Re: How do you see Airbnb? The Times keeps track.
The most negative feelings I've seen expressed online directed at Airbnb have been on forums, almost all from those not adventuresome enough to try it but who consider themselves "in the know". I think it must be terribly frustrating for those who'd like us to think they know everything, but who know nothing but hearsay about what's really become a movement. I've been verbally turned on when I've posted anything positive, accused of shilling for the site, among other imaginary sins. I always...
Comment
Re: In-flight refueling for airliners? Worth a look!
Existing planes can travel half way around the world now, without refueling. For example, from Texas to Singapore. I'm not sure I see the point to this. Having a plane full of fuel flying around waiting to refuel another craft has to be expensive, and while the low risk of fire and such for the military might be acceptable, I'm not sure it is for commercial aviation. I'd rather have my plane refueled in the usual manner.
Comment
Re: France to Send 120 Extra Police to Secure Channel Tunnel
Did the tunnel last Friday - Paris to London and back same day. No trouble, but was very concerned there might be having read about tires being set on fire on the tracks. The migrant issue hadn't occurred yet. That's new. But I wonder why the French government didn't do a damn thing about the tire burning. Ah, it was a union issue - no wonder.
Comment
Re: June 23, 2019: Chimpanzee Habituation In Kibale Forest, Uganda
Superb shots! I'm envious.
Comment
Re: Getting to know Canada's hidden gems
There are ruins of a Viking settlement in the northwest corner of Newfoundland. Admittedly a remote hard to get to place, but I'd like to see them someday. Indian tribes tended just to bunker down in the winter in a place they knew would be safe for them. Sheltered somewhat from the wind, wood and fresh water supply nearby, etc. Food was generally harvested in the summer and consumed during the cold winter months. Their tents were constructed of hides (as were their clothes) and are...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, October 24, 2015: Poppies -- Weeping Window at Woodhorn
I bought a Poppy in September this year from a Vietnam Vet in Easton MD. I commented on his cap with the dates on - and he removed his jacket to show me his T-shirt with his Division and Da Nang and a host of other cities where he fought. Had some amazing stories to tell. There should have been a crowd watching him, but just me. In 2015 a total of 888,246 hand made ceramic Poppy's were placed at Tower Bridge London to remember the number of men who fell in battle 1914 - 1918. The Poppy was...
Comment
Re: Where in the World is TravelGumbo (#112)
Brush fires are common in its native habitat; one of its characteristics is that it's fire-resistant. It's also resistant to deer (or anything else that doesn't want to get cut on sharp edges!)
Comment
Re: Berlin: No, the airport won't open in 2017
Oh, there's been plenty of corruption in it; that's known and been investigated. But that doesn't account for the incompetent fire safety system that assumed smoke goes down, not up, etc. And yes, it IS possible to screw up more than this: They could have OPENED it with the bad fire control system and the weak roof and the ....
Comment
Re: A visit to Normandy: exploring the D-Day beaches
Yes - my Dad and lots of other guys told me their stories! My Dad was in the Royal Navy and was taking landing craft full of soldiers from ship to shore - several times - under heavy fire! A guy I was doing work for had lots of photos and souvenirs on the walls of his house. Medals and maps. Newspaper cuttings and Badges. All in frames. I asked him how much he remembered of D-Day. "Every minute of every hour. Me and my mate had been together since the outbreak of war. Nearly 5 years. We were...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 26, 2013: Zhangjiajie National Park, China
I haven't seen Avatar (yes, some of us haven't!) but the switchbacked road and the arch at the head of the stairs made me think of another movie: Shangri-la...
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 26, 2013: Zhangjiajie National Park, China
What a beautiful and magical place! It is like something out of a storybook or film, isn't it? Thanks for sharing this destination with us.
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 26, 2013: Zhangjiajie National Park, China
Avatar was one of my favorite movies! Now I've another reason to go to China (besides the awesome food!)
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 26, 2013: Zhangjiajie National Park, China
Wow! I must go.My favorite Picture of the Day yet!
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 26, 2013: Zhangjiajie National Park, China
Glad you guys liked the pictures. Indeed, this place impressed us a great deal. Like Karl said it’s like something unreal. Stay tuned, in part II, I will show you what underneath those mountain pinnacles.
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Nov. 26, 2013: Zhangjiajie National Park, China
Like ! the picture of the hairpin turns. That is my kind of road. The picture of Heaven's Gate is very special. thank you
Comment
Re: Where in the World is Gumbo? #16
Its somewhere hot (Palm trees) and dry (burnt grass) It has a US Type Fire Hydrant. Its been built as a showpiece. By someone with too much money ! Decadent ! Only one place it can be.
Comment
Re: A Walk through Florida's Everglades: Big Cypress Bend boardwalk at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
Looks like a great place for a walk and a learn! You might just be putting Florida on my map...
Comment
Re: A Walk through Florida's Everglades: Big Cypress Bend boardwalk at Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park
What a great walk.I really enjoy the boardwalks that are all over Florida.Really let's you get on top of some interesting things that you don't want to walk through.
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Jan. 09, 2014: Roadside produce stand, Southern Sri Lanka
"When in Rome do as the Romans do" Cicak. You don't find toast - you find bread ! Then you toast it on a Toasting fork by the fire ! Afghan bread has no firm crust and tastes similar to the Armenian lavash bread. It has a dense and rich taste.
Comment
Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Mar 10, 2014: Fiori di Como, The Bellagio, Las Vegas
Well, when you're in Vegas for your anniversary sometime GarryRF, spring for the Bellagio for even just one night and let your beloved wife see the fountain show from that side of the street! I enjoy Vegas in small snippets -- 2-3 days every few years is about perfect. Great place to meet friends, eat well and enjoy a show. Gamble if you want, though I find it too painful to have my wallet stripped that way. I like to go there in the spring and fall so I can head into the surrounding desert...
Comment
Re: The Future: A plane with NO window seats?
Sounds like the new Boeing Dreamliner . When the Captain decides it's bedtime - he darkens all the windows to an inky shade of blue. You miss the sunrise and sunset. The amazing scenes of clouds on fire as the sun reaches the horizon. The spectrum of blue to deep orange as the morning sun puts on its best show of the day - at sunrise. Sounds too claustrophobic for me !
Comment
Re: Biltmore-House A Place of Fairy Tales & Magic – The Biltmore Estate
I could see myself lost in a book, cozy in a chair with a leg up on a arm in that library with a fire crackling away.. yes I could.
Comment
Re: The (Long and Winding) Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia
Some wonderful pix of Australia that bring back so many memories of my visits Islandman I could look at those rock formations for hours. Looking into a million years of history. Australia is certainly like nowhere else on Earth and every day is a fascinating adventure. Certainly is a well written comprehensive Blog you've presented. I've enjoyed it. Thanks.
Comment
Re: The (Long and Winding) Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia
Thanks for sharing this interesting and most beautiful roadtrip with us, Islandman! Another one for my bucketlist.
Comment
Re: The (Long and Winding) Great Ocean Road, Victoria, Australia
Wow Islandman ,thank you for this blog. it really moved Australia up on my list. When i saw your photo of the Loch Ard Gorge i immediately thought of the Calanques near Marseilles, France .
Blog Post
Memphis, Tennessee 3) The rest of the city
There’s a lot more to Memphis than Graceland, although Graceland is by far the city’s most popular attraction (which I’ve previously discussed here ). A city of about 650,000, Memphis has a...
Blog Post
Walla, Walla: “So nice they named it twice!”
What’s a Walla Walla? It’s a Indian name meaning “many waters”. It’s also the name of a charming city in southeastern Washington; nestled close to the Columbia and Snake River valleys, and with a river of its...
Blog Post
Lisbon: Cheap, but Steep!
That’s my short take on Lisbon after two weeks there last summer. A variety of economic factors, not all connected with the Euro crisis of the past few years, have made Portugal incredibly cheap for foreign travelers—but you have to be...
Blog Post
San Juan's El Morro: Layers of Stone, Layers of History (Where Gumbo Was, #84)
El Morro, the giant fortification that's guarded San Juan Harbor for nearly 500 years, is the sight we saw before we saw it. Its image is everywhere when you do online research for a trip to Puerto Rico; its "garitas"—small domed...
Blog Post
El Yunque: A visit to the rain forest
When we began planning a trip to Puerto Rico, and planning to include our 14-year-old granddaughter, we sent her some of the material we were gathering and asked her what her priorities were. She, and we, both had El Yunque right near the top of the...
Blog Post
Old San Juan: Beautiful...and not all old
San Juan, Puerto Rico is a city of contrasts, of modern skyscrapers, crowded residential areas of different eras, resort hotels and casinos along Condado, and much more...but the image that usually comes to mind is really that of Old San Juan, the...
Blog Post
Road Trip, Day 1: City of Ten Thousand Buddhas and The Skunk
Gateway to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas March 9, 2015 In the late ‘80s, I lived in L.A. for a couple of years. My S.O. knew lots of cool L.A. stuff. One of those was something he’d read that...
Blog Post
Road Trip, Day 2: Mendocino Coast Botanical Garden
March 10, 2015 I woke the first morning of my visit along the Northern California coast at a friend’s house in the village of Elk. I was alone, the kitchen toasty warm from the fire Jane had made for me before leaving...
Blog Post
Emirates adds Orlando; more fuel on Open Skies fire?
Emirates, the largest of the Gulf carriers, has announced it will start a daily flight between Dubai and Orlando, starting September 1, using a B777. The expansion comes at a time U.S. carriers are lobbying hard for limits on expansion into the...
Blog Post
Why You should visit Nevada's Valley of Fire
Tired of the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas? Had enough of the concrete canyons and smoked filled casinos of Sin City? Not sure if it's day or night (there are no clocks allowed in Vegas casinos)? Then you should do...
Blog Post
Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Apr. 2, 2015: Fire above Las Vegas!
I was fortunate to be on a flight approaching Las Vegas. Just as the sun was setting. Mid Winter and a few clouds to reflect the red sunset. This effect rarely occurs so I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. Even at speed this...
Blog Post
Enjoying the Wonderful Sites in Zacatecas, Mexico
Millions of tourists visit Mexico every year, mostly in the winter as people like to get away from the freezing temperatures and snow in the north. Almost all of these people visit the tourist cities of Cancun, Acapulco, Cabo San Lucas,...
Blog Post
The Cabins, Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada (Where Gumbo Was #107)
This was a tough puzzle which eluded even our great TG travel sleuths. In the above quiz photo we see evidence of a constructed dwelling in a place of red-rock, but not much else. As Jonathan L pointed out, the image screams...
Blog Post
New aluminum battery could be traveler's best friend
Imagine a smartphone battery that could recharge fully in just over a minute, could be recharged 7500 times, and is lighter than any battery you've ever had. And, oh yes, it can't catch fire as lithium-ion batteries can, and it's easier to recycle....
Blog Post
Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Quebec. Where Gumbo was, #73
Gumbo was visiting the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, a massive church set near the banks of the St. Lawrence River in the Canadian province of Quebec. Congratulations to GarryRF for being the first to recognize the site, and...