sweet journey in my life

Hitchhiking: Thumbs-Up?

2008-06-25T04:17:00.000-07:00

Author: Bradlley Mckoy

Have you tried hitchhiking? It's fun, and the adventure is its own reward, but you have to know how to play it safe. You can't flaunt your worldly goods, including your loaded money clip or wallets, in case there are greedy eyes around. These tips will help you smarten up before your raise a thumb.

Life on the Road

Jack Kerouac, American writer, redefined hitchhiking in his celebrated novel On the Road (1957). The novel chronicled friendships forged, hardships experienced, and joys discovered - all on a foray across the US continent on empty wallets.

Hitchhiking is not a new phenomenon. It has its roots snaking back to the pioneer days. According to urban legend, two riders would share a horse. The first rider rides ahead, hitches the horse to a tree or bush, and waits patiently for the second rider to reach the spot to unhitch the horse and ride a few stretches, while the first rider would walk until he reached the spot where the horse was hitched to take over. Thus, the expression hitch and hike.

Hitchhiking is alive and kicking in the age of the wild wild west. Each year, thousands of students enlist for the hitch to Prague or Morocco to drum up funds to improve and support education in Africa. Hitchhiking has also joined the ranks of spelunking and mountain climbing in the adventure department. They could have empty or bulging wallets, but they know better than to show it off.

Hitchhikers are mostly young people eager to take on the world via free rides. You'd know them by their backpacks, college football T-shirts, faded jeans, and sneakers. No, they don't don their dressing gowns like Arthur Dent in the sci-fi movie The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, nor are they garbed in executive suits with fat wallets tucked somewhere.

But is hitchhiking still safe? Yes and no. Before you thumb your way to the next state, do a little investigation. Some states like New Jersey made hitchhiking illegal, and if you're not careful, you'll land in jail.

Tips for Safe Hitchhiking

Truckers have put in a word of advice to those who would like to experience the thrill of hitchhiking. According to them, go where truckers have their stops. You are most likely to get a ride there, but don't push it if the person makes you feel suspicious when you reach out for one of your wallets in your attached case masquerading as a backpack.

Have a companion when hitchhiking. Aside from keeping you company to while the hours waiting for a ride, you'll feel safe with a friend with you. The two of you shouldn't doze off when you're on a ride with a stranger. And if the stranger offers you food, eat with him in a public place, and never leave your food unattended - the same advice goes for your things.

Always have several emergency numbers tucked in your wallets, your bag's pockets, and in the seat pockets of your pants. You will never know when and how you'll need these numbers.

If you can, don't wear any pieces of jewelry. Wear the cheapest watch that you have because expensive items can titillate the insatiable greed of robbers on the highway.

As for your wallets, keep it out of reach from beady eyes. It is better to be safe than sorry later. But once you have enjoyed hitchhiking, you'll be eager for more. Thumbs up?

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/hitchhiking-thumbsup-459489.html

About the Author:

When hitchhiking, guard your checkbook wallet with your life. But worse comes to worse, you can always get new cash clip wallets and other wallets from ExecutiveGiftShoppe.com.

Heritage India: Art, Architecture and Entertainment

2008-05-04T00:24:00.000-07:00

by itarang

India is destination of people world over for its varied cultural heritage with special interests in its art, architecture and entertainment.

From the caves of Kujraho to the magnificient Taj, the Indian architecture has always been eyed and greatly appreciated. Indian art has been depicted in such profound architecture. The symmetry in the architecture at the Taj Mahal or the appreciation of the recently built Akshardham Temple has attracted the attention of all across the world.

Today, the visitors are not only concentrated to the long ago built structures. Indian art is also depicted in the modernization of the society. It can also be called as adopting the westernization for the good! The buildings of enterprises, malls, shopping centers, metro rail also attract a lot of tourist attention.

As the years pass, India's outlook to the art has changed. There are shows of Indian performers outside India as well. Indian singers, classical and folk performers and painters are a great demand of the west.

Indian cultural dresses are also hitting the foreign markets. Gone are the times when Indian traditionals were restricted to Indian market places!

Foreign designers are adopting Indian styles into their designer wear. Indian designers have also formed a niche for themselves into the international fashion market. Indian designers also showcase their talent in the international fashion week and such programs of great acclaim. India has already made a mark in the world business but still has a long way to go!!

Apart from a varied variety of things India is famous for, entertainment and precisely bollywood, has gathered a lot of international acclaim lately. Movie stars are being invited into Hollywood movies, international game shows, international award ceremonies etc.

Indian movies, now-a-days have different screenings for the countrymen and abroad. With the trend of cross over movies bollywood has gained more recognition because such movies are not only made in English, for a wider audience but also cater to intellectually strong subjects. This doesn't mean that the essence of Indian movies has lost to such artful movies. Indian movies are liked for their storylines and songs. Indian movies are also being short listed for the Oscars, which are the most prestigious international awards.

Not only bollywood movies, but also regional movies have come of age. Recently there is a buzz that Spiderman- the movie would be made in Bhojpuri.

This infers to a handshake of India and the world. Not only is the world accepting Indian movies with open arms, but Indians too are ready to accept the international movies with their format of lesser duration and no songs as compared to typical Indian movies.

About the Author

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Pontianak the Equator City

2008-01-19T02:11:00.000-08:00

Upper:Upper part of Equator Monument

Upper: Sweet Pineapples

Upper:Kapuas River bridge

Upper: Sunset at the Equator. Photo:Eriz

Pontianak is a capital city of West Kalimantan Province (West Borneo) Indonesia. This city is located in the delta of the Kapuas River the longest river in Indonesia approximately 1,143km from Pontianak to the hinterland.

Pontianak is crossing by the Equator line (Zero Degrees North) at 110 degrees 30” East, it means Pontianak has equal distance between Northern hemisphere and Southern hemisphere

On 21-23 rd of March and September noon you will see that the objects have no shadow, this phenomenon will happens about 5-15 minutes.

From Pontianak we can go to Kuching at Sarawak, East Malaysia by public bus, it will take about 10 hours, the popular foods are seafood, banana fried, kwe tiau noddles, while the fruits durian (smelly), rambutan (hairy fruits), duku, manggis, pineapples etc.

Pontianak according to the fairy tale is a name of a lady ghost, who has along hair. Because there were a lot Pontianak ghost at the ancient time, so the people named this city Pontianak.

West Kalimantan has multi ethnics, Dayak (the indigenous), Malay, Javanese, Madurese, Chinese, Bugis. The languages are Bahasa Indonesia (official), Dayak, Malay, Chinese dialects Hakka and Teochew. The religions are Muslims, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhism, Hindu and others.

Pontianak Region with Mempawah as a capital city has some tourism objects, Temajoh Island with it white sandy beach and coral reef is good for diving, boating, fishing, sailing only 1 hour by boat from Sungai Kunyit village and Pola Kijing Beach in Sungai Kunyit village, Melanggar waterfall at Landak river, Remabo waterfall in Airbesar. Pasir Panjang near Singkawang. Sungai Kunyit also famous with it sweet pineapples, and sea food product.

I understand that there is a quarrel between the people, whether Pulau Temajoh to become a seaport or tourism object. You must bring the lotion of anti-insect when you visit Temajoh . Also there is a plan to build a bridge between Temajoh and Sungai Kunyit. I think the Government should make a careful study on it.

Sungai Kunyit (Tumeric River) also a name of places in Johor, Sungai Kunyit Lampung and Sungai Kunyit Solok.

According to Wikipedia the population in West Kalimantan are 3,740,000 (year 2000), and the area is 56,682 sq mile, this are very low population density, while Kalimantan (Borneo) is the third largest island in the world

Bali the Island of Heaven

2008-01-18T19:42:00.000-08:00

Upper:My son at Sanur Beach, Denpasar.

Upper: Accommodation at Batu Belik

Upper:Accommodation at The Studio Bali

Upper:Sunset at Ulu Watu

Upper: Kecak dance

Upper: Ulu Watu

Photographer:Revvi

Early January 2008 the weather were not friendly, rains all day, thunderstorms and cloudy, but the tourism must going on.

Bali is one of the 17,508 islands of Indonesian archipelago and one of the 33 Provinces in the Republic of Indonesia, with Denpasar as the capital city of Bali Province.

According to wikipedia the populations in Bali are 3,150,000 peoples (year 2000), while the total populations of Indonesia are 206,264,595 (year 2000). The total Bali area 2,175 sq miles, while the total Indonesia area 735,355 sq mile.

Bali is one of the beautiful and exotic Indonesia Islands and Bali is famous around the world as the largest tourist destination in the country. Most populations in Bali are Hinduism (93.18%), they rich with temples, dances, sculpture, painting, leather, metalworking and music.

The people in Bali are friendly, and eager to help the outsider.

The living cost in Bali relatively cheap, say modest accommodation in Seminyak like the Studio Bali start from Rp350,000 (equal to US Dollar 37) per night, car rent with driver and gasoline for only USD 37 per day, or you can rent motorcycle and food are cheaper compare to Jakarta, depends on your choices.

Hebron: Abraham Mosque

2008-01-17T19:16:00.000-08:00

The security very tight here, we have to pass the detector gate, all metals including watch should be dismantled from our body, no camera were allowed.

In this Mosque there are tombs of Patriarchs and Matriarchs, where Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekkah and Leah and Jacob were buried.

This place has been a place of prayer for centuries both Muslims and Jews, now they are separated by wooden walls.

We celebrated the New Year or New Centuries 1 January 2000 in Jerusalem, at the New Year eve we saw fireworks blows from Bethlehem where Jesus was born.

We left Jerusalem to the border, then change to other bus to Amman, we stayed overnight in Amman before continuing our trip home.

Bethlehem: Jesus birthplace

2008-01-17T19:13:00.000-08:00

Upper: Look at the place to mark the place of the manger and the repose of the holy family.

Upper: Part of our Big Family

Upper: Me and my wife, Inside the Church of the nativity.

We visited Bethlehem, we entered the Church of the Nativity where the birthplace of Jesus (Isa Al Masih or Isa Ibn Maryam) thru the Door of Humility is the lower door we have to bow to enter it. Bethlehem is still world famous because of its importance in several Bibles stories.

All people from different religions are gathered here to see the birthplace of Jesus son of the Virgin Mary. In Muslims we believe that Jesus is a Prophet son of the Virgin Mary (Isa Ibn Maryam)

If I am not mistaken in front of the Church of the Nativity there is a Caliph Omar Mosque, which was build during the Caliph Omar era.

Jerusalem

2008-01-17T19:05:00.000-08:00

Upper:In front of the golden Dome of the Rock

Upper: Me,my wife and my son with background of Jerusalem

Upper:Background the golden Dome of the Rock

Upper: Me and my son in front of Al Aqsa Mosque

Upper:Our group from House of Indonesia

We were transported by bus from the border through Jericho to Jerusalem we stayed at Hyatt Hotel Jerusalem.

Jerusalem is located in Israel, Israel bordered with Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Syria.

The interesting places in Jerusalem are

1. The Al Aqsa Mosque is the third Holiest Mosque in the world, in Al Aqsa compound there is the golden Dome of the Rock where in Muslims believer the Prophet Mohammed was ascended from Earth to Heaven from this place.

We attended Friday prayer, men in Al Aqsa Mosque, while women in the Dome of the Rock.

The area around the Dome of the Rock is filled with worshippers, I saw no vacant place.

2. The Western wall, the holiest place of prayer for Jews today.

3. The Temple Mount, also for Jews prayer.

4. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is for Christians.

After Friday prayer we popped in a Mall to buy something, but suddenly we heard the sirens and the shopkeeper closed their shops. I asked what had happened, they told us because tomorrow is Saturday is the Sabath Day for Jews so they have to close early.

On Saturday the Jews are not allowed to cook and eat, because this is the fasting month and we have to have breakfast very early in the morning say around four o’ clock, we ate cold food from the fridge boiled eggs, bread and cheese, banana. Although all the Hotel’s employees are Muslims they must followed the rule not to cook on Saturday.

Amman Jordan

2008-01-17T19:03:00.000-08:00

Upper: My wife at the Hotel

Upper:Inside the antique gallery

Upper:Inside the ancient building

We left Jeddah by Saudi Arabia Flights to Amman Jordan we were picked up by our agent at Queen Alia International Airport.

Amman is the capital city of Jordan officially Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (Jordan is constitutional Monarch).

Jordan bordered with Syria, Iraq, Israel and Saudi Arabia

We visited some places around Amman, Roman Theater, Mount Nebo where Moses said to have gone, also Kahfi Cave which is mention in Al Qur’an (Muslims Holly Bible).

The other interesting place is Dead Sea, ultra saline sea according to Wikipedia it is the lowest point in earth about 402 meters below sea level.

This unique sea has five to seven times the minerals of other seas, and is ten times saltier than Mediterranean.

We traveled to the border of Israel because we wanted to visit Jerusalem and other cities in Israel.

Medina (Madinah Al Munawwarah)

2008-01-17T18:59:00.000-08:00

We stayed at the Hotel closed to Al Masjid Al Nabawi (Prophet Mosque),

So it made easy to us to pray at the Mosque and visited the tomb of Prophet Muhammad (SAAS) (May God bless him and grant him peace), his friends and families.

The same as Mecca, in Medina the people provide foods and drinks for break fasting in the Mosque for free as well.

Medina is famous with Dates products it has a Dates Market with a lot of varieties.

We stayed at Medina for three nights and traveled to Jeddah by coach.

Goodbye Medina, goodbye my beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAAS).

20 th Millennium Umrah

2008-01-17T18:53:00.000-08:00

Praise be to Allah God Almighty who has shower on us prosperity and good health, we have a chance to visit the Holly Mosque for the third time. First time during Hajj season 1994, second time Umrah season 1997.

Our friend asked us to join what they called “Millennium Umrah” in December 1999 until January 2000 (during fasting month Ramadhan).

As usual we arrived at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah at night time, after we cleared our documents we had ritual of cleansing by washed our face, hands and feet before the faithful bow to pray, then we changes our ordinary clothes to Ihram Clothing.

Then we went to Mecca, we stopped at Al Masjid Al Haram to do Tawaaf, Sa’i, drink from Zamzam Wells, prays sunnah and compulsory and have our hair shaved as a part of Umrah ritual.

During fasting month of Ramadhan we have Iftar (break our Fasting) and dinner at the Mosque for free, the people were very generous by providing foods and drinks for Iftar and dinner. They laid down long plastic sheets in the Mosque or around the Mosque then invited us to come to their place for break our fasting and they gave goods services for free.

They served dates, sweets, breads, yogurt, milk, kahwa (Arabic coffee), fruits choices of apples, orange, banana, grape and many others food and drinks.

As usual we visited Muzdalifah, Mina, Hira Cave and Mount Arafat, as a flashback of ancient journey.

Before we leave Mecca we did farewell Tawaaf or Tawaaf Wada, everybody cried we have to leave the Holly Mosque, where all Muslims around the world gathered with no discriminations, everybody prayed and hope to revisit the Holly Land.

Good bye Holly Mosque

2008-01-16T23:08:00.000-08:00

On the third day we have to leave Mecca, we did Tawaaf Al Waada, walked counterclockwise seven times as usual and had prayed may Allah give us a chance to visit the Holly Mosque next time, after that we checked out from a Hotel and traveled to Jeddah.

We stayed at Red Sea Hotel in Jeddah waited for our flight home.

Visited Mina and Mount Arafat

2008-01-16T23:04:00.000-08:00

Upper: me and my wife at Mount Arafat

Upper:Riding Camel

We went to that places to see them outside Hajj seasons, very quite because that places are not residential area. We visited the three pillars of Jamarat at Mina and then to Mount Arafat we visited Jabal Rahmah which the people believed where the meeting point between Adam and Eva after they expelled from Heavens.

We visited Hira Cave, where God has communicated His Divine Revelation thru Gabriel to His Messenger our beloved Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.(May God bless him and grant his peace) for the first time.

The next day we continued prayed at the Holly Mosque as much as we could. Muslims may have Tawaaf as much as we could.

Umrah 1997 Mecca

2008-01-16T23:00:00.000-08:00

After we finished our seminar in Istanbul on our way home we stopped at Jeddah, after we cleared our passport at the Immigration and took our luggage we had a ritual of cleansing (wudhu) which is compulsory,Face, hands and feet are washed before the faithful bow to pray.
We changed our ordinary clothes to Ihram clothing.

We were picked up by our agent and took us to Mecca with limousine. After we checked in at Hilton Hotel we went to Al Masjid Al Haram, we entered the Holly Mosque thru Babussalam Gate and prayed there, after that we offered two Rakat prayer at Hijjr Ishmael , then we Tawaaf, walked counterclockwise around Kaaba seven times, when we finished we offerred two Rakaat prayer at Muqaam Ibrahim, then we did Sa’i, walked between Safa and Marwah Hills seven times, after that we drinked from Zamzam Well and have our hair shaved only part of it.

We continued our ritual prayer at the Holly Mosque as much as we can, then we went back to the Hotel, changed our Ihram Clothing to ordinary clothes.

It is prohibited to take photos inside and outside the Holly Mosque, so I don’t have such photos.

Women are allowed to enter Saudi Arabia for Hajj or Umrah as far she has Muhrim (family,relatives) come together, but non Muslim is prohibited to enter Mecca.

Jiddah , (the end of our Hajj)

2007-12-16T05:29:00.002-08:00

We stayed at the Albilat Hotel (Moven Pick) before we leave for Indonesia, we had two days for visiting some places in Jeddah.

Mecca, May 1994

2007-12-16T05:29:00.001-08:00

We stayed at the apartment near Masjid al_Haram, we were happy because we had a lot of time to performed our Umrah and praying at the Masjid al_Haram, the holliest Mosque in the World.

Before we leave Mecca, we performed farewell Tawaf which is called Tawaf al-Wada, then we transported to Jeddah.

.Arafat, Muzdalifah, Mina-May 1994

2007-12-16T00:59:00.000-08:00

From Medina we went to Mecca via Ji'ronah as the Miqat, we changed our ordinary clothes with Ihram clothing .Muslims male are required to dress only two pieces of white unhemmed clothes(the Ihram clothing is intended to show the equality of all pilgrims in the eye of Allah God Almighty ), Muslim female required to maintain their hijab with normal dress, which does not cover the hands and face.

In Mecca we took Tawaaf Qudoom(Welcome Tawaaf, to walk counterclockwise around The Kaaba 7 times , Sa'i walked between Safa Hill and Marwah Hill ,drinked from Zamzam Well
kissing the Hajr Al-Aswad (the Black Stones), but due to crowded we couldn'n kiss it, we just simply aligned ourself with it and point to the stone.After the completion of the Tawaf all the pilgrims have to offer two Rakaat prayers at the Place of Abraham (Muqaam E Ibrahim), again due to crowded we may performed it in any place in the Holly Mosque.We went to Mount Arafat on the 8th of Dhu al-Hijjah.

In Mount Arafat on the 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah we stand in contemplative vigil ( Wukuf) stayed there from noon until after sunset. All pilgrimage must stayed within a defined area on the plain of Arafat and spent time for praying, no specific ritual required.At night time we left Arafat to Muzdalifah.

In Muzdalifah (area between Mount Arafat and Mina)and stayed there for a few moments and collected some pebbles for ritual of stoning of the Devil(Shaitan).

At Mina, the pilgrims perform Ramy al_Jamarat, throwing stones to signify their defiance of Devil. After the Stoning of the devil, an animal is sacrifices.

On the following day we re visited Mecca for Tawaf az-Ziyarah( Tawaf al-Ifadah) Ifadah, Sa'i from Safa Hill to Marwah Hill,drinked Zamzam and have our hair shaved (for men only), then we changed our Ihram clothes with the ordinary clothes, the we returned to Mina.

We stayed at Mina for next 3 days, we threw stones to 3 jamarat,because we unable returned to Mecca on 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah.

We moved to Mecca.

Medina, May 1994

2007-12-16T00:16:00.000-08:00

We arrived at Medina at midnight, we checked in at Al Anshar Apartment not to far from Al-Masjid al-Nabawi( Nabawi Mosque), Mosque of the Prophet.

Medina is the second holliest city in Islam and the burrial place of Prophet Muhammad.

We visited our beloved Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. tomb also the Tomb of Fatimah(Prophet Muhammad's daughter), Abu Bakr A.S.(first caliph and the father of Prophet Muhammad's wife Aisha and of Umar Ibn Khattab A.S.(the second Caliph)

We stayed at Medina about nine days so we took more than 40 times compulsary prayer(Arbain) at Nabawi Mosque.

We visited Quba Mosque, this is the first Mosque built by our Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. when he stayed at Quba Village about 2 weeks on their journey from Mecca to Medina. This place about 4 kilometre southern Medina.

We visited Masjid al-Qiblatain (Qiblatain Mosque), it means two prayer orientation. In the beginning of Islam era Moslem were ordered to face their direction for prayer to Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem the third holliest Mosque in Islam, then Allah Almighty ordered prophet Muhammad S.A.W. to change the prayer orientation . The Qibla is a direction to the Kaaba. Moslem were ordered to face their direction to The Kaaba at Masjid al-Haram (Al Haram Mosque -The Holy Mosque) in the Holliest city in Islam Mecca. The Kaaba is simply the focal point for prayer.

We also visited Jabal Uhud (Uhud Mountain) where Prophet Muhammad's uncle Syaidina Hamzah A.S. was burried.

We also visited Dates Market, they sale all variety of dates

Jiddah, May 1994

2007-12-16T00:10:00.000-08:00

We arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jiddah(Jeddah) at night time, after we cleared our documents to immigration and custom we were transported to Jeddah Trident Hotel and stayed there until next afternoon, we departured to Medina by Mercedez Coach.

Jiddah is a Saudi Arabian City located on the coast of Red Sea and important gate to Mecca and Medina. Jeddah is the largest city in Makkah Province second after the Riyadh Capital City of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Some people believe that the Tomb of Eve (Sitti Hawa) - the Grave of Eve the first human mother is located in Jeddah.

Small Gathering at home

2007-12-15T23:50:00.000-08:00

Due to our departure for Hajj Pilgrims to Mecca, we invited our neighbor, relatives, friends to gather at our house, we prayed may God Almighty gave us a safe and pleasant journey.

We invited our neighbor no matter what their religious are and had lunch together, we gave some to the poor people, to share our happiness.

Preparation for Hajj Pilgrims

2007-12-15T22:14:00.000-08:00

Bismillahirrahmanirrahiim, by the name of Allah S.W.A.most gracious most merciful.

Praise be to Allah S.W.T God Almighty who has shower on us good health and prosperity.

In preparation for our Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 1994 we followed exercised maintained our healthy body and mentally.

Hajj is compulsary ones in a life time by every able- Muslims who can afford to do so, Hajj should be performed in Dhul al-Hijjah lunar month, while rituals Umrah could be performed in any others time, and not necessary to stand vigil in Mount Arafat.