Visiting The Temple Of Heaven In Beijing

When deciding what sites to see while visiting Beijing, the colourful Temple of Heaven is a must-see on your list. The literal translation from the traditional Chinese for this unique site is “Altar of Heaven.” Regardless of what you call it, you will certainly feel like you have found your own slice of heaven when you visit this unique site.

The Temple of Heaven is comprised of several buildings in the southeast section of Beijing, in the Xuanwu District. In addition, the buildings are based on Taoist beliefs which refers to a set of philosophical and religious traditions that have existed in Asia for more than two thousand years. It’s such an impressive and important structure that it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998.



History of the Temple of Heaven



The Temple of Heaven site was built in the early 1400s while the Yongle Emperor ruled the land. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, emperors visited the complex for prayer ceremonies. The ceremonies, which took place each year, were meant to bring a good harvest. The Yongle Emperor also built the Forbidden City in Beijing, which is another site that should certainly be added to your list of places to visit.



Visiting The Temple Of Heaven In Beijing

Back To Old Money, Imperial Weights & Measures Post Brexit?

There have been several articles in the press recently speculating about reverting back to pre metric weights and measures and old money once the UK leaves the EU. At first my reaction was that it was a great idea, but then I began to wonder. There is a well known British saying that goes ‘if it isn’t broke don’t fix it’ and I believe that they are usually wise words. I’m having a little debate with myself as follows:

Pounds, Shillings and Pence VS Decimal Currency

The decision to go decimal in this country was announced to parliament in 1966 after a very short conversation between then prime minister Harold Wilson and Chancellor of the Exchequer Jim Callaghan. Decimal coinage was gradually phased in until the last of the new coins were released on February 15th 1971. The banks even closed for 4 days to prepare for the final changeover.



Back To Old Money, Imperial Weights & Measures Post Brexit?

Buying And Registering A Domain Name For Your New Website Or Blog

What Is A Domain?

A domain is a website address like britster.co.uk or even google.com.
It’s what distinguishes your website from others just as your home
address does from your next door neighbour’s, but you get to choose it.
Your domain can reflect what your website or blog is about, be a vanity
domain as mine is, be the name of your company, or a brand that you are
building like Google or Yahoo.

Choosing Your Domain

If you are niche marketing then it is better for search engine
optimisation if your domain reflects what your website is about, for
instance like my toptoysite.co.uk blog.  A large amount of the search terms used by visitors to find the blog are ‘top toys’.


By picking the domain toptoysite.co.uk
and using ‘top toys’ in the title I helped to make it easier for the
blog to be found in the search engines. I could have done the same by
using a different domain and adding ‘top toys’ as a category or an
article but it wouldn’t have been so easy to get the site ranking for
those particular search terms.



Buying And Registering A Domain Name For Your New Website Or Blog

Pushkar Chaos: Camels, Sadhus, Snake Charmers, Lepers And Little Blue Boys Dressed As Lord Shiva

I entered the bizarre world of the Pushkar Fair: Camels, sadhu holy men, pilgrims, touts, tourists, snake charmers, lepers and little blue boys dressed as the Hindu god Lord Shiva. They were all there. The full moon of November brings a bit of insanity to the local atmosphere–fireworks, glitter, Rajasthani fashionistas–all side-by-side with the filth. But that’s India.



The novelty of the Pushkar Mela (or fair) never seems to wear off–this was my fifth visit in two decades. Each year the camel fair culminates on the final full moon day, Kartik Poornima. It’s a holy event, but one that seems to have become the capitalistic god-focus for the ever-growing onslaught of vendors from afar who are drawn to Pushkar’s sanctified lake this particular week . . . and to the money they can garner from selling their trinkets. Hotel rates can skyrocket as much as 500 percent during the even



Pushkar Chaos: Camels, Sadhus, Snake Charmers, Lepers And Little Blue Boys Dressed As Lord Shiva – Where To Go

Review of Trapped – Visual Adaptation

Trapped is the first visual adaptation of a story by Dean Koontz written in 1989. Published in 1992 by Eclipse it is a short story adapted by horror writer Edward Gorman and illustrated by Anthony Bilau. Think comics with a glossy card cover and brightly coloured glossy pages and you might be able to picture the effect.



Caught in the pool of light from my bedside lamp I could see the creature staring at me. The malevolent expression on the big white rat’s face was enough to make me shudder – or was that caused by the cold I wondered as I snuggled further into my bedcovers. On further inspection I could see that the rat on the front cover of the book looked cute rather than scary, especially as it’s red eyes look crossed.



Read on....  Review of Trapped – Visual Adaptation

The Melting Pot Called Baguio City

Baguio City in the Philippines became a chartered city over 100 years ago on September 1st 1909. Before that, the Kankanaeys and the Ibalois were the natives inhabiting the city which was then called bag-iw that translated to English means moss. This was because the Baguio that we know now as an highly urbanised city built in a tropical rain forest was once covered with moss and a prolific amount of natural resources.





The Melting Pot Called Baguio City – Where To Go

http://toptoysite.co.uk/puzzle-mates-portapuzzle-jigsaw-accessory/

I used to like doing jigsaw puzzles but haven’t done any for a while because of lack of space in my house. I like to be able to build a jigsaw puzzle up over several days or even weeks, just do a bit when I feel like it. I sometimes made them on my kitchen table but had 2 problems with that.



There were times that I needed to use the table and had to break up partly made puzzles to store them away. The other problem is my cat Tuppence. She seems to delight in sitting on tables and knocking whatever is on them on to the floor, bit like a naughty child really.



When I saw the Puzzle Mates Portapuzzle I knew that it was the perfect solution for my space and cat problem, it seems to me the ideal accessory for building, sorting, storing and transporting 1000 piece jigsaw puzzles. That’s because the Portapuzzle range has a unique specially designed lining that keeps puzzle pieces in place and also has the ideal surface to build your puzzle on.



Learn more: http://toptoysite.co.uk/puzzle-mates-portapuzzle-jigsaw-accessory/

Be My Valentine

It’s February and Saint Valentine’s day and the big love in is growing closer. February 14th is the dedicated day in Great Britain and many other countries world wide where love is celebrated. Couples of all ages send each other cards and buy each other gifts to show how much they care for each other. There are also many others who declare their love secretly with cards or gifts.



Valentine’s day originated in Western Europe as a Christian feast in honour of 1 or more early saint called Valentinus. It isn’t a public holiday anywhere, but it is recognised as an important cultural and commercial celebration in many regions.



Read on Be My Valentine | Britster: 

Shower Of Fear

I wrote this true story 20 years ago, I hope you enjoy reading it.

Shower of Fear

I was luxuriating in the sensuous feeling of water cascading over my body when it happened. It was Boxing night and I was thinking about the evening ahead working at the local pub. I really didn’t feel like working that night after an hectic Christmas Eve and Christmas day lunchtime behind the bar.

What I would rather do was curl up in front of the fire with a bottle of wine, a box of chocolates and a good novel. No television to disturb my quiet pleasure, at least not until later on.

Read more: Shower Of Fear | Britster: 

Just Who Are The Weaker Sex, Men Or Women?

 Just Who Are The Weaker Sex?

A young male work colleague was poorly with a cold (man flu?) a few
days ago. He didn’t carry on working throughout his shift like the rest
of us do when ill.

He went upstairs to sit in the office with his feet on the desk and playing with his mobile for at least 4 hours out of his 8 hour shift. His actions (or lack of) angered the rest of the staff and lost any sympathy that we might have had for him not feeling well.

It’s no wonder we women joke about man flu!



Read more: Just Who Are The Weaker Sex, Men Or Women? | Britster