Just for fun post a non-porn pic.

[buzzj]

I've always wanted to visit the land down under. Interesting curved highway structure in the background.

I'm guessing there are some pretty nice structures on that beach in the foreground every once in a while too!!

 

[buttons]

2nd floor: Food

I love that they keep the greens fresh and crisp by spraying them with mist

Some type of cucumber no doubt and next to it was an another that was the same colour as an aubergine (don't ask me why I didn't take a pic of it, I have no idea )

 

[wit_afrika]

Driving through a wintery Cape Town last weekend...

 

[wit_afrika]

Thanks buttons.

These do look very strange!

 

[theworldwithout]

It is just me, or do these two look a bit alike?

 

[wit_afrika]

When you need to make that call...

Wuhan, China ...(thanks to buttons)

Cambridge, UK ...taken Dec 06

Cape Town, SA

 

[buttons]

More food, alive this time

The eels were crawling around in the tub waiting to be bought

This was up the street at a shop that only sold snakes. While I was checking them out someone behind me was checking me out checking them out.

 

[Jeimuzu]

Very mysterious looking! Did you start with a photograph and alter it--- or is the whole thing from scratch?

Whole thing from scratch. I was quite proud - although with Paint.Net, I don't active make something in particular, I mess around until it begins to resemble something, then I go from there.

 

[buttons]

The food stalls

As tempting as some of the sausages looked there were a few that smelled awful

Fish and other dried seafoods of all kinds including sea horses

And this was a big and pleasant surprise. I had no idea rice would be kept and sold in these large tubs and that you could actually feel the quality and weigh your own. I'm so used to seeing it in boxes of 500 grams or bags up to 10 kilos. I love it! I wish we had something like that here

 

[buzzj]

Now, Ma'am, we told you the Corgis would be more fun!

 

[buttons]

Shiny bright newly constructed Wuhan. Somehow they give me the feeling of loss of identity, these building could be anywhere else in the world and add nothing to the skyscape

 

[buzzj]

^^^^You're right!^^^^

I suppose it's just a matter of their coming of age economically. I believe India is doing the same thing... selling their patrimony in order to rush into the mid-20th century! I'm loving all the pictures!

 

[star-warrior]

The rough looking 'cucumbers' are bitter melon, type of fruiting squash with a very bitter taste full of alkaloids. There is a smoother but pitted skin variety that I usually buy. To ameliorate the bitterness, the dish requires something salty, and savoury usually helps too. In the past the bitter melon was cooked until soft, reducing the alkaloid bitterness by cooking, but in recent years there is the trend of having it just about crunch after boiling. I think the Hindi word for this is gurilla.

I can just make out the Chinese bai ku gua - white bitter melon.

 

[buttons]

I believe you're right. I suppose economic progress does come at a price. It's just that I would have loved to see a more "eastern" slant on what a skyscraper could be. Even though I have no idea what that should look like.

This is something I find is an interesting concept. Building in the space between two blocks of flats, using the space in between two (similar) buildings to provide more living space.

Here it is as a highrise block of flats

And here again in a smaller scale

And here are some taken in the neighbourhood enclaves we passed. They have a charm of their own

 

[anemieasy]

 

[buzzj]

buttons, thanks for the pictures! It was good to see trees along that busy street. Utilizing the space between buildings reminds me of the practice of using "air rights" in New York City to build a new building over an existing building without destroying the existing building.

 

[buzzj]

Yesterday I visited the site of an ante bellum plantation near my home town and happened across a goose sitting (presumably) on her (his?) eggs. The bird was so stilll that at first I thought it was a statue.

 

[D-Base]

My Random input:

 

[buttons]

My Random input:

This one looks amazing Where, what, why, when, etc? Tell us more please?

 

[D-Base]

Buttons, this is the capital of the Second Bulgarian Empire, Veliko Turnovo, it was capital from 1185 to 1393.

The big hill is called "Tzarevets Hill" (King's Hill) and that's where the king's papalce was. Here's a pic of that hill and the fortress/palace:

And here's pix from the city present day: