VARANASI, India (AFP)
The longest solar eclipse of the 21st century cast a shadow over much of Asia on Wednesday, plunging hundreds of millions into darkness across the giant land masses of India and China.
Ancient superstition and modern commerce came together in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity likely to end up being the most watched eclipse in history, due to its path over Earth's most densely inhabited areas.
While bad weather confounded some eclipse watchers, tens of thousands of people gathered at dawn on the banks of the Ganges river in Varanasi where a largely cloudless morning offered a stunning view.
With Hindu priests conducting special prayers, the crowds cheered and then raised their arms in salutation as the sun re-emerged from behind the moon, before they took a spiritually purifying dip in the river's holy waters.
A total solar eclipse usually occurs every 18 months or so, but Wednesday's spectacle was special for its maximum period of "totality" -- when the sun is wholly covered by the moon -- of six minutes and 39 seconds.
Such a lengthy duration will not be matched until the year 2132.
State-run China Central Television provided minute-by-minute coverage of what it dubbed "The Great Yangtze River Solar Eclipse" as the phenomenon cut a path along the river's drainage basin.
Millions of people in areas of southwestern China enjoyed a clear line of sight, according to images broadcast on CCTV, but the view was obstructed along much of its path by cloudy weather.
Shanghai viewers braved rain and overcast skies to witness the spectacle as darkness shrouded China's commercial hub at 9:36 am (0136 GMT).
"It is working hours now, but with such a spectacle going on, you don't want to miss it. The experience is truly thrilling," said Allen Chen, a Shanghai office worker, who stepped out into the street to witness the event.
And despite the weather, hotels along Shanghai's famed waterfront Bund packed in the customers with eclipse breakfast specials.
Those who could afford it grabbed expensive seats on planes chartered by specialist travel agencies that promised extended views of the eclipse as they chased the shadow eastwards.
The cone-shaped shadow, or umbra, created by the total eclipse first made landfall on the western Indian state of Gujarat shortly before 6:30 am (0100 GMT).
It then raced across India and squeezed between Bangladesh and Nepal before engulfing most of Bhutan, traversing the Chinese mainland and slipping back out to sea off Shanghai.
From there it moved across the islands of southern Japan and veered into the western Pacific.
In Mumbai, hundreds of people who trekked up to the Nehru planetarium clutching eclipse sunglasses found themselves reaching for umbrellas and rain jackets instead as heavy overnight rain turned torrential.
"We didn't want to watch it on television and we thought this would be the best place," said 19-year-old student Dwayne Fernandes. "We could've stayed in bed."
Others opted to stay home and shuttered their windows, fearful of the effects of the lunar shadow which some believe can lead to birth defects in pregnant women.
Superstition has always haunted the moment when Earth, moon and sun are perfectly aligned. The daytime extinction of the sun, the source of all life, is associated with war, famine, flood and the death or birth of rulers.
The ancient Chinese blamed a sun-eating dragon. In Hindu mythology, the two demons Rahu and Ketu are said to "swallow" the sun during eclipses, snuffing out its light and causing food to become inedible and water undrinkable.
Some Indian astrologers had issued predictions laden with gloom and foreboding, and a gynaecologist at a Delhi hospital said many expectant mothers scheduled for July 22 caesarian deliveries insisted on changing the date.
The last total solar eclipse was on August 1 last year and also crossed China.
The next will be on July 11, 2010, but will occur almost entirely over the South Pacific, where Easter Island -- home of the legendary moai giant statues -- will be one of the few landfalls.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Pulau Ubin Expat
We reached Changi Ferry Teminal at 4pm. After waiting for 12pax to fill up the boat, we took off out journey.The boat ride cost $2.50 which is 50cents increment since the last time i took it.We shared the ride with some youngsters and a lady with 2 kids.Chat with her and get to know that she went to that island every weekends...and indeed, the kids seems to know the "uncles" there .
To ease my motion sickness, i tried to focus my mind on taking pictures.
This island looks like Kampong to me..in fact no change from the last few trips i came. I don't expect that as i heard that most of the islands are developing and that include Ubin.
When we walk out of the jetty, you will see shophouses selling food, drinks and bicycle rental, the place where tourists rent their bicycles and have their meal...The hygiene wise, i reserved my comment. Never tried the food there this time.
We rejected the ride on the van and proced to the bike rental shop.
Each of us get our own bicycles and moved on to explore the island. I shall be the guide.
First stop will be the first quarry we came by.... Pretty calm and cosy place.
We shall head on to the on road track as there are ladies around, off track are no advisable for those who can't handle the bicycle well and also those that lack of stamina...(i mean Shirley) As for me, i cycle quite often...
Some started to complain about the mozzies after some ride...Lucky for them, i brought along some traditonal medicated oil. This probably save their dayz..
After an hour of cycling, we took a smoke break...i won't recommand this place to those that doesn't good in sport...Steep uphill slopes everywhere....seem endlessly... unless they took the transportation provided by the islanders..
Upon their request, we turned in to a off track road and explored whats inside. Like i aways said, they have problems in reading chinese, i heard them reading the signboard "法官" which sound like judge to me... When i U-turn to look at the board, its written "法宫" (temple) instead...Great!! I shall give them a "U" grade for that. It was too late to shout them back...they were far ahead..
It was quite bumpy to ride on as the track are covered by stones. This seem to be tough for Shirley. I'm fine with that as i had experienced the worst..i ever tried cycling on soft compound filled with sands and muds, which took more strength to paddle and burning the energy faster.
Well, the ladies never failed to catch up with the guys. This is the stop point and we gonna turn back as it seem to be dead end.
To respect the divine, i did not take any pictures of the structure.
We carry on with our exploration...There is this old school water stop point for the hikers and cyclist. I remembered this is the place where i bought the coconut juice the last trip here for camping.(Event taken in 2003, i've imported the story into this website).
Eventually, we came to a dead end...This place changed alot..There are more and more resorts coming up...some are still under construction which can see from the progress, it gonna be done soon...
Blossom~
RAMBUTANS!! Attempt few times to pluck some for refreshment but its too high for us to reach. No equipement like ropes. We tried throwing stones on it but it doesn't work. Well, we planned for the next trip here and noted what we gonna bring along..Target will be the fruits...
We failed to harvest but still managed to feast on few... taste sweeeeet..
We spotted some desolated houses while cycling and i'm very sure that there are peoples staying in such environment where the only source of electricity are Generators...
Next, a super steep downslope leads to a junction. Signboard shows "Dismount"
We don't really care but pressured on the brake. Shirley heed the advice and push the bicycles down.... While waiting for her, i took some pictures.
The skies getting dark...time to head back to the jetty..
Time: 1850
while on my way back, i saw a monitor lizard swimming in the pond!!! i tried to take a picture of it but it was too far away..
We reached the jetty at 7pm and boarded a boat back to Singapore Island.
After so much energy burned, we decided to have our dinner at Changi Village....BBQ stuffs they suggested...Although i don't like the idea, but still give in to them...
This come to the end of the day....Rest~
To ease my motion sickness, i tried to focus my mind on taking pictures.
This island looks like Kampong to me..in fact no change from the last few trips i came. I don't expect that as i heard that most of the islands are developing and that include Ubin.
When we walk out of the jetty, you will see shophouses selling food, drinks and bicycle rental, the place where tourists rent their bicycles and have their meal...The hygiene wise, i reserved my comment. Never tried the food there this time.
We rejected the ride on the van and proced to the bike rental shop.
Each of us get our own bicycles and moved on to explore the island. I shall be the guide.
First stop will be the first quarry we came by.... Pretty calm and cosy place.
We shall head on to the on road track as there are ladies around, off track are no advisable for those who can't handle the bicycle well and also those that lack of stamina...(i mean Shirley) As for me, i cycle quite often...
Some started to complain about the mozzies after some ride...Lucky for them, i brought along some traditonal medicated oil. This probably save their dayz..
After an hour of cycling, we took a smoke break...i won't recommand this place to those that doesn't good in sport...Steep uphill slopes everywhere....seem endlessly... unless they took the transportation provided by the islanders..
Upon their request, we turned in to a off track road and explored whats inside. Like i aways said, they have problems in reading chinese, i heard them reading the signboard "法官" which sound like judge to me... When i U-turn to look at the board, its written "法宫" (temple) instead...Great!! I shall give them a "U" grade for that. It was too late to shout them back...they were far ahead..
It was quite bumpy to ride on as the track are covered by stones. This seem to be tough for Shirley. I'm fine with that as i had experienced the worst..i ever tried cycling on soft compound filled with sands and muds, which took more strength to paddle and burning the energy faster.
Well, the ladies never failed to catch up with the guys. This is the stop point and we gonna turn back as it seem to be dead end.
To respect the divine, i did not take any pictures of the structure.
We carry on with our exploration...There is this old school water stop point for the hikers and cyclist. I remembered this is the place where i bought the coconut juice the last trip here for camping.(Event taken in 2003, i've imported the story into this website).
Eventually, we came to a dead end...This place changed alot..There are more and more resorts coming up...some are still under construction which can see from the progress, it gonna be done soon...
Blossom~
RAMBUTANS!! Attempt few times to pluck some for refreshment but its too high for us to reach. No equipement like ropes. We tried throwing stones on it but it doesn't work. Well, we planned for the next trip here and noted what we gonna bring along..Target will be the fruits...
We failed to harvest but still managed to feast on few... taste sweeeeet..
We spotted some desolated houses while cycling and i'm very sure that there are peoples staying in such environment where the only source of electricity are Generators...
Next, a super steep downslope leads to a junction. Signboard shows "Dismount"
We don't really care but pressured on the brake. Shirley heed the advice and push the bicycles down.... While waiting for her, i took some pictures.
The skies getting dark...time to head back to the jetty..
Time: 1850
while on my way back, i saw a monitor lizard swimming in the pond!!! i tried to take a picture of it but it was too far away..
We reached the jetty at 7pm and boarded a boat back to Singapore Island.
After so much energy burned, we decided to have our dinner at Changi Village....BBQ stuffs they suggested...Although i don't like the idea, but still give in to them...
This come to the end of the day....Rest~
Thursday, July 9, 2009
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