I see humans but no Humanity

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Blogging, france, news, world

“I see humans but no humanity.”

Jason Donohue ―

Je suis Charlie

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Blogging, france, news, world

Mutual respect should be universal. Freedom of Speech must be the rule. Deliberately kill is indefensible whatever race, religion or political orientation. Using our brain, thinking for ourselves, having our own opinions are our greatest asset and we cannot give them up. Therefore, in my own way, Je suis Charlie.

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Respeito mútuo é imprescindível. Liberdade de Expressão tem que ser a regra. Matar premeditadamente é indefensável qualquer que seja a raça, religião ou orientação política. Fazer uso dos nossos neurónios, pensar por nós próprios, ter as nossas opiniões são a nossa maior riqueza e não podemos abdicar delas. Por isso, à minha maneira, Je suis Charlie.

 

Happy 2015!

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Blogging, new, wordpress, year

2014 was a great year and here at 1001 Scribbles. We’ve received more than 65 000 views, lots  lots of kind and encouraging comments and reached 10 000 followers, which is a major and very gratifying point. Your feedback matters, so please keep sharing it in 2015! I want to know what you’d like to see, all your point of views and I’ll try to interact more with all of you who visit this blog. Thank you all for making this blog worth it and for enjoying my photography and thoughts.

I wouldn’t be able to start this new year without a special thanks to the Guest Posters who make this an even more interesting blog and for their kindness and enthusiasm in welcoming new readers to their posts. You all represent a pretty important part of 1001 Scribbles. Having this in mind I’d like to make an individual reference to Kerry Leibowitz from Lightscapes Nature Photography who shared his knowledge and his talent in photography here at 1001 Scribbles for 3 years. It was a great pleasure having his Thursdays Tips every other Thursday and even thought this next one (which will be published on the 8th Jan) will be his last of this series, I hope you keep following his amazing work through his own blog. Thank you Kerry, I’ve learnt a lot with you!

Thank you for 2014 and I wish a Happy 2015 to everyone!

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2014 foi um excelente ano aqui no blog. Recebemos mais de 65 000 visitas, imensos comentários simpáticos e encorajadores e alcançámos os 10 000 seguidores, o que é um aspecto deveras gratificante. O vosso feedback importa, por isso continuem a partilhá-lo em 2015! Quero saber o que gostariam de ver mais, os vossos pontos de vista e da minha parte, prometo interagir mais com quem visita o blog. Obrigada a todos!

Não poderia começar este novo ano sem um agradecimento especial aos Autores Convidados que fazem do 1001 Scribbles um blog ainda mais interessante e apelatico e pela sua simpatia e entusiasmo em receber novos leitores para os seus artigos. Vocês são uma parte fulcral do blog. Tendo isto em consideração, pretendo fazer uma referência individual ao Kerry Leibowitz do blog Lightscapes Nature Photography que durante 3 anos partilhou o seu conhecimento e talento na fotografia através da sua série de artigos Thursdays Tips, publicados ás Quintas-feiras de 2 em 2 semanas. Embora a próxima publicação (Quinta-feira dia 8 de Janeiro) seja a última desta série, espero que continuem a seguir o fantástico trabalho dele através do seu próprio blog. Obrigada Kerry, aprendi imenso!

Obrigada por 2014 e desejo a todos um Feliz 2015!

Exploring Hong Kong

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Asia, Backpacking, Blog, Blogging, Food, Photography, Travel, Writing

Visiting Hong Kong had always been on my bucket list. Huge city, bright lights, lots of people… I love it all. And nothing says “adventure” like a congested Asian city in the middle of summer.

I arrived from Tianjin, China after a stint teaching English to high-schoolers. Navigating the octopus (Hong Kong’s public subway system) went just fine but making my way through the busy streets was a disaster. The pack on my back was nearly ripping at the seams from being stuffed with 3 tea sets that I so proudly haggled for at the Chinese markets and behind me, I toted a rolling suitcase that I bought from a grocery store in Tianjin. No sooner did I make it above ground did the wheels of my suitcase pop off, the straps tore and the zippers burst – almost all on cue. Dragging my belongings down the sidewalk, I trekked to my hostel, located snuggly above a series of Indian-run pawnshops and lurid massage parlors. How lovely, I thought to myself. Just what my parents envisioned when I told them I’d be backpacking through Asia.

After unloading my things in my hostel room, I met up with Eric – a friend of a friend and a native Hong Konger who very kindly agreed to show me around the city. Having spent the last month and a half living off of white rice and Silken tofu (vegetarian food is a rare commodity in rural China), I was desperate for a feast. We decided to splurge at a great little taco stand in downtown called Taco Loco (to this day, my favorite taco stand in the Eastern hemisphere).

After nearly bursting from burritos and margaritas, Eric and I made our way outside of the city to the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island. The bronze Tian Tan Buddha, or Big Buddha as it’s known, stands 112 feet tall and towers over the majestic seaside. A glass-bottom cable car transported us to the monastery at the base of the mountain (you can hike it but I was told it takes 4 hours) and, like all good Chinese mountains, the hundreds of steps allow you to climb from the bottom of the hill right up to the Big Buddha statue.

View from the cable car

Tian Tan Buddha at the Po Lin Monastery, Hong Kong

Later that evening, Eric brought me to the popular expatriate hangout, Lan Kwai Fong – a street famous for its drinking, dining and clubbing scenes. Until you have visited Lan Kwai Fong, you have not experienced the truly awesome nightlife of Hong Kong. It was at LKF that we found the Balalakia Russian Ice Bar (where they keep it a chilly -7 degrees). Borrowing one of the many fur coats the restaurant offers, Eric and I entered the ice-enclosed fortress…in our flip flops! The blue tint of the iced walls combined with the narrow window where you order shots (from an extensive list of worldly vodkas) made the perfect backdrop for our pictures.

Nearing midnight, Eric saved the best for last. We hailed a taxi and scurried to the top of Victoria Peak – one of Hong Kong’s photographic hot spots – to watch the city’s nightly light show. Overlooking the illuminated buildings, I couldn’t believe how head-over-heels in love I was with Hong Kong. The day, the sites, the locals I met – it all was fantastic. I highly recommend Hong Kong to anyone visiting Asia, if not for the tacos, at least for the adventures!

Hong Kong skyline as seen from Victoria Peak

If you would like more advice on things to do/see/where to stay in Hong Kong or would like to know what other fun things were on my itinerary, please feel free to message me via comments. Thanks!