Globally, December Month: Finding Christmas Lights Around the Corner

My father was a first person I knew who set out a Christmas tree in the snow, in Lapland, Finland. He had to make sure that the lights would stand the outside freezing cold weather of -45 Celsius and not blow up. This was during the 1970's and there were no specially made lights for outside use, particularly for the cold climate.

There were snow lanterns, though and the favorite of them was the drive from Kemi to Rovaniemi on the Christmas Eve, where most of the 125 kms of the highway would be lit with ice-lanterns 10 meters apart to celebrate Peace in the World. In my mind experiencing that represents the compassion of Christmas Spirit around the world.

The first experience I encountered of a neighborhood where someone would decorate their house with lights for the joy of celebrating the Christmas Season with anyone coming around is from 1995 in Wollongong, Australia. There was one particularly famous house that we all went to see. It was fully lit with thousands of lights and had a particular attraction of Disney movies shown to the kids against the garage door. My kids still remember that well.

In 2000, I experiences the American Christmas Season lit with thousands of inventive lighting designs on every street of Ojai, California. After that, one of the joys of the Christmas season has been spotting lit houses in the neighborhood.

They can be anywhere, just around the corner or they can be taking part of the special Christmas Lights competitions around the cities, in Australia or anywhere. Some houses have taken part for years and years.





There are many themes available for the decorators. Many of the houses that can be spotted celebrate the traditional Christian Christmas theme, including the Star of Bethlehem and the Manger. Everything imaginable is lit. My particular favorite are these presents.






It is important to pay attention to details as many lit objects are very small or high up the trees.




This house in Ipswich, Australia for example has been decorated for the last eight years. The owners sit outside every night and talk to the people who come to look at their house. It is fun. They take part in the Christmas Light competition every year. So far, they haven't won, but who knows when that happens. And if they do, they will get more lights to hang around the house. Many people spend weeks decorating their houses to be ready on the first of December in different cities globally.

Compassion can be expressed in many ways. I find that lighting up your house to show your Christmas Spirit is one of the nicest ways to display compassion to the world. Donating your time and effort for good cheer is a show of 'Joy to the World' in a non-expensive (the solar powered lights can be used) and fun way of contributing to the world around us.

Lets all enjoy our December to the best of our ability and pay special attention to the lights of Christmas! it is a very enjoyable experience.




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Australia, Sunshine Coast, Bli Bli; The Sunshine Castle

For a compassionate world traveler interested in the historical sights of the world visiting the Sunshine Castle at Bli Bli in the Sunshine Coast of Australia is a curiosity without question.

History

The Bli Bli castle is a modern replica of a Norman medieval castle. The building of it started in the early 1970's by an enthusiast who thought to build a castle in Australia.

The first time my family visited the castle was in 1996. We were told by friends that this is a curiosity that we just must see. And truly, even then while we were swept beyond belief by the idea that someone would build a castle in such a place, we were also charmed by it, especially by the then new doll displays.

Visiting the castle today when it has grown and flourished into a real awarded tourist attraction is greatly inspiring.

The castle is a compelling experience of mixed and matched kind

The compassionate visitor is introduced to the medieval life through the objects and signs around the castle, including a considerable display of swords.

Visitors can dress the part, walk around the battlements hunting clues to the questions about the life in the medieval times and at the same time get the more frivolous fairytale feel of childhood memories through marveling the expanded doll exhibition and the fairytale panoramas scattered around the place. There is also a nice miniature train display to see.

Our only disappointment was that there is no access for the higher parts of the castle to people with wheelchairs. Some creative thinking would be greatly appreciated in getting the young disabled persons to see the dolls and experience the spectacular battlement views over the coastal area.

One of the highlights of the exhibitions is the room displaying different castles around the world. It is on the ground floor and would be accessible even to the people in wheelchairs. It truly shows the owner's love of castles, especially the German ones.

The other curiosity that greatly interested our younger mediaevalist minded friends is the original chair that was used in the production of the Hercules and Xena TV series.

The second highlight of our visit was the castle shop. It is filled with quality toys and figurines of knights, fairies and castles.

Our experience

All in all our visit was highly enjoyable. Our friend, who has lived near the castle for a long time, but never visited it before commented that it will be a great place to bring her grand children over the summer holidays. "It is just a place to wake their curiosity", she said. Be prepared to spend a much longer time there than originally planned.

If a visitor were to spend a longer time in the costal area there are scheduled events, such as opera and other theater events throughout the year, including a Medieval Fair.

The Sunshine Castle is a place that a traveler can visit again and again as it keeps growing and developing just like the old castles did. It's presence has been printed in my mind for the last 15 years and I look forward to taking my friends and family for renewed visits there in the future.

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Australia, Sunshine Coast Hinterland, Chenrezig Institute a Centre of Buddhist Study

Chenrezig Institute at Eudlo, Sunshine Coast hinterland is a centre for Buddhist study, retreat, meditation and practice. It is one of the oldest established Buddhist centers in the Western World, being founded in the early 1970's.

It is a delightful experience for the compassionate traveler to spend a few hours there, having lunch and partaking in a discussion on the meaning of the Buddhist tradition. You can also spend longer time there in a retreat enjoying Buddhist teachings. Currently the Centre is a home of two Tibetan Lamas and a community of ordained nuns and monks, students, residents, volunteers and guests.


To get there requires a drive up the hill and an effort to walk lots of steps or drag a wheelchair up a steep hill but it is really worth it. The lunch at the cafe is excellent. The scenery and the atmosphere is breathtaking. Even the insects like it as they are not harmed or killed for sticking to your fingers.

What you need to do though, when planning your visit, is to get on Internet, check the current program and either send them an email or phone to book your lunch and other planned activities.

If you require wheelchair access or otherwise need help, you need to let them know. The centre is not well prepared for this as it is very high on the hills with gravel roads and steps everywhere. There is lots of goodwill and kindness available and thus all the hardship will be overcome.


A visit to the Garden of Enlightenment at the retreat is also a treat. It has a large Stupa that is surrounded with a lovely garden hosting smaller Stupas.





Our time was well spent there. We also took some time visiting the gift shop listening to music, browsing books and other information about the centre, it's activities and the general Buddhist way of life.

If a compassionate traveler would like to know more about the Buddhist tradition. The Chenrezig Institute is a member of the Foundation of Preserving the Mahayana Tradition (FPMT). Lots of worthwhile information about this can be found by googling the Internet.

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Australia, Brisbane, Visiting Brisbane in October During the Jacaranda Festival Time

If anybody asked me to pick a fine time to visit Brisbane, the capital of Queensland in the down-under land of Australia then without hesitation, I would recommend the month of October. This will give the compassionate traveler a chance to see Brisbane when the Jacarandas are in bloom.




Driving around Brisbane in October

Once a year, in October, the city of Brisbane and the surrounding areas turn purple because of the Jacarandas. It is a sight to be appreciated for it's splendor. Drive anywhere in Brisbane and you will find them. Suddenly, where there used to be green trees, the scenery has changed colour. This time of the year a traveler can appreciate the long term planning of the city gardeners.

About 20-30 years ago, someone chose to plant Jacarandas along the Main Rd (Ipswich Rd) at South Brisbane just off the Story Bridge by envisioning what the street would look like to the people who were driving by in the future. Now the future is here and every time we drive by and witness the bloom, it really is spectacular.


One of the good things about touring Brisbane in October is that there is no extra money needed for this, unless you count the fuel cost, of course. For free the traveler can choose a cafeteria next to a Jacaranda tree and enjoy the scenery while having a meal or drinking tea.

 

Choosing Jacaranda Festivals and favorite picnic spots at weekends

There are several famous spots in Brisbane for the compassionate traveler to have a picnic or a possible festival. The New Farm Park with it's ring road is the most favorite choice for the local people in the city area to spend some time during the weekends or the afternoons. There is also a beautiful rose garden there to be enjoyed at this time of the year. In other areas, for example in Ipswich, you could choose the Goodna Jacaranda Festival as a destination.


And it is not only purple you would see. It would be all the other spring colours that celebrate the time of the year as well. A highly enjoyable experience for a traveler with no extra cost involved.

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UK, London, V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green

One of the most fascinating and enjoyable places in London for a compassionate traveler to visit is the Victoria & Albert Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green.

Our friends who have a few children say that they mostly "live there" and after visiting and witnessing all that is happening in the museum on a daily basis I must agree that one very well could. V&A Museum of Childhood is the kind of museum that you include in your frequent visits list. The exhibition and the activities change so often that it becomes a good place to pop in and have a lunch picnic at least once a month.


A few years back the museum underwent a thorough revamping. The exhibition was rearranged in themes that enabled much larger displays. The museum also got a new entrance hall inspired by the original designs for the building in the 1870's.

I thoroughly enjoyed walking around the display cabinets and finding my old childhood memories.


The collection of the old dollhouses was the highlight of my visit. My daughter found the dolls she used to play with and my son was totally fascinated by the action figures that represented the era when he used to play with them. There was something for everyone.


One big part of the museum displayed mechanical toys and small cars. We also found the display that presented book illustrations and what an illustrator does a fantastic experience.

If you are visiting London for a longer period of time, do plan on at least two days of visiting this inspiring museum as there is too much to absorb for just one visit. If you live in London or nearby, lucky you as you can also plan on participating in the many activities that the museum programs for children.

Thoroughly enjoyable experience. I give it 10/10!

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UK, London - Madame Tussauds

Did you know that the building where Madame Tussauds is situated in London was built in the 1880's? At the time nobody thought about inclusion or the fact that someday it would be an attraction that requires several hours long wait outside on the street in order to view the collection. For certain nobody thought about disabled entry.

And why would the compassionate traveler spend a day at Madame Tussauds anyway? Would that add to the compassion in action that we are looking for in this blog?

Well, it would be an interesting day, to say the least.



Our experience

Last I visited Madame Tussauds in London was approximately 10 years ago. The collection on view is totally different from that one I saw then. Even the setting has changed. Certainly, I have never visited it with someone in a wheelchair. So, this time around our experience was totally in it's own category.

Due to the fact that the building is so old, some very inventive modifications have been made to allow for lifts, ramps and such and still it leaves for some places where it is just not possible to accommodate for people who cannot walk. Only three visitors with wheelchairs are allowed in the building at any one time. For the visitors, this is both good news and bad news.

Firstly, there is a booking procedure where you have to go the entry door and negotiate a time to enter. Good news is that you do not have to be cuing for hours to get in, you can do something else, like visit the rose garden at the near Reagent Park.

Secondly, you need to prepare for somebody watching over you at all times and rushing you on to keep to the two hour timeframe that the museum has predicted an average visitor spends there. Unless you remember to tell them that you want to shop at the store, you will miss it.

Otherwise, everyone at Madame Tussauds wants you to have a wonderful experience. They are very helpful and attentive. You get to see really finely fitted lifts and even have to walk around the whole building outside with a guide to get to the amphitheater. But all in all you'll have a very enjoyable time.




Why compassion in action?

Ten years ago, while visiting Madame Tussauds, I was struck by a one single doll. Then, it was the oldest doll in the exhibition called 'The Sleeping Beauty' and it was made out of the death mask of Marie Antoinette, the beheaded Queen of France of the French Revolution. The historian in me was intrigued.

What is pictured here is a replica on exhibition now and wait for it, it breaths. Just keep watching and the breastplate moves.

Marie Antoinette was a friend of Madame Tussaud's before the revolution. The doll artist, namely, had been modeling wax representations of famous people even before the revolution.

During and after the revolution she was ordered to collect and make death masks of the beheaded people, many of whom she knew. Marie Antoinette was one of them.

It has always intrigued me of why would all the macabre scenes of horror be so carefully kept at display at Madame Tussauds in London. Now I know. It is that we do not forget. That they might strike someone as what they are, a tremendous memory of suffering.




After spending a day at the overcrowded Madame Tussauds peaking at the famous wax people being photographed with exited modern visitors, I look at it as a testament to a lady who managed to turn her horrible war experiences into the art of fun and excitement. That would be compassion in action.








In my mind a visit to Madame Tussauds in London is a must for a compassionate world traveler. It is worth waiting in the cue and trying to fit into a room filled with excited people. It brings a smile on your and your companions' face, whoever they are and inspires to think about the fine art of wax doll making as a truly spectacular trade.

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UK, Lewes, The Crimean War Memorial for the Finnish Prisoners

It was always my intention, while visiting UK to travel to Lewes and look for the Crimean War Memorial for the Finnish Prisoners who were brought there in 1854.

One of my most favorite moments at primary school was to sing the most famous Finnish war song from the Crimean War with the class. It was called 'Oolannin sota' (The War of Aland) and it was written by a war prisoner at the Lewes prison.

I took my son and his family with me to investigate Lewes. We had heard that the Obelisk we were looking for was in the old cemetery behind the St Paul's Church.




We had an interesting time trying to find our way to the cemetery as there were no signs or any information about the monument anywhere.




Finally we found our way through a near theatre car park and wound our way through the badly kept terrain and spied the monument we were looking for.







To me finding this obelisk was a curiosity. It had been ordained by the Russian Char, Alexander II in 1877 to commemorate the 28 Russian solders that had died during their imprisonment at Lewes. In 1957 the Soviet Government had paid to restore the obelisk.





I could see the names of the solders ingrained in the Obelisk. They were Finnish. I knew some of their stories from my research.

The Finnish prisoners had become quite a celebrity in Lewes and there were many articles written about them. They had made toys that were sold in order to provide some luxuries for them while at Lewes. Most of the solders returned home after the imprisonment in good health.



After the Crimean War, the British people collected money for Finland. They thought of Finland as a victim of the war rather than an active participant. The money that came to Finland as one of the many charitable acts that the Crimean War inspired was used to enhance the Finnish fishing fleets and ship building and finally to help the people after the famine during the 1860's.

Afterwards, I went to the Lewes Information Office asking about the obelisk. No-one at that office even knew of it's existence.

For the rest of the day, we had a wonderful time walking the streets of Lewes, shopping and having a lovely dinner at a Pizzeria.

We decided that next time we would spend more time there visiting the lovely castle and other interesting tourist destinations.

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