As i sat there on this Qinghai-Tibet plateau train journey to Lhasa, admiring one of the most beautiful scenes before me – the pristine landscapes, soaring snowy peaks, glaciers, boundless hinterland pastures with patches of sutra flags along the way…this old man besides me kept mumbling (i guess in Tibetan) to himself. Somehow, i think he must be in awe as well with the tranquilly beauty…
Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Tibet: July 2007
The theme for this year World Environment Day is “Your Planet Needs You-UNite to Combat Climate Change”. We can all do our part to protect the planet by using less and acting more. Going green is not as difficult as you might think. Refer useful Green link ie. “TreeHugger’s How to Go Green Guides” http://www.treehugger.com/gogreen.php
This above pic was taken (almost) at water source of the Melinau River, UNESCO World Heritage’s Mulu National Park. To the right of the pic is the underground river tunnel (out of view) from where the water actually flow out from Clearwater Caves underground river system http://www.flickr.com/photos/tree22-fting/2483584724/ ie. the water source origin! This is pristine nature- hope to return to the same spot in future and hopefully see the same.
Food for thought: Borneo is home to the world’s oldest tropical rainforests which, until a few decades ago, completely covered the island. Among the planet’s most biologically diverse ecosystems, these forests are home to thousands of endemic animal, reptile, insect and plant species as well as orangutans, rhinos, hornbills, macaques, gibbons, tarsiers, slow loris and also at the same time, primary oxygen-producing source for Earth’s atmosphere….North America with only approx 0.05% of Earth’s population produces roughly 1/3 of Earth’s CO emission… yeah, go figure.
Mulu National Park, Borneo: Mar 2008
The majority of people who live in the remote Tibet Highlands are nomadic and they migrate seasonally in small family groups. This part of Tibet is one of the most remote and extreme environments in the world. The immense expanse of high mountains and plateau are largely uninhabited. The land in much of this area is infertile and cannot support farming; the great majority of Tibetans thus survive by herding yaks. And, 85% of the population are nomadic herders. Its isolation means that very few children have access to basic healthcare and education facilities. Worldwide, approx 72 million children don’t have access to education facilities!
Along the mountain road to Shigatse, Tibet: Aug 2007
“Don’t hold to anger, hurt or pain. They steal your energy and keep you from Love and Peace“.
“The period of greatest gain in knowledge and experience is the most difficult period in one’s life. Through a difficult period you can develop inner strength, determination and courage to face the problems.” - H.H. Dalai Lama
Hanoi, Vietnam: Feb 2008
Return from sea after their daily morning catch… Kuala Baram beach, Borneo: Jan 2008
“Sometimes you don’t know what you’re missing until you reach out to touch it. Sometimes you can’t see how beautiful something is until it steps back into the light. And sometimes you miss a love you almost didn’t lose. But when you need beauty, dream.” …Anonymous
Miri, Malaysian Borneo: Sept 2007
Currently, 28 of China’s cultural relics and sites have been included on the List of World Heritage by the UNESCO….and this is one of them. This Leshan Giant Buddha was built in 713 during the period of Tang Dynasty. The construction of which took about 90 years to complete!
Leshan, China: April 2006
During my previous visits to Chengdu (2006), a major city close to the recent quake’s epicenter, i had a chance to visit nearby Chengdu Panda Breeding & Research Center –where pandas were breed in captivity and giant pandas roam the “forest” meant to provide them with a safe, natural environment that will prepare them for eventual release. Bamboo, the pandas’ primary source of food, is a major agricultural product in this region but whether it can be supplied to the pandas may potentially be a problem particularly with the infrastructure now damaged by the quake. Good news however, is that Chengdu Panda Breeding & Research Center was reported safe.
Chengdu, China: April 2006
Hampi, India: Feb 2005
Once site of the 13th century kingdom…..even though the site is mostly in ruin now, its architecture and carvings signify a grandeur that time cannot dim.
Hampi, India: Feb 2005
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