Word-Of-the-Week #852: Wonderment
December 3, 2020 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on Word-Of-the-Week #852: Wonderment
Wonderment – the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising; curiosity.
Are you naturally inquisitive? Are you amazed by archeological sites like the Pyramids in Egypt and wonder how they were ever built? Do you find yourself filled with curiosity about the world as you get older?
“The meaning I picked, the one that changed my life: Overcome fear, behold wonder.” ~ Richard Bach
This week’s WOW comes from long time subscriber and friend Joe. This was his reply to Venturesome. “Fear is the biggest obstacle for people in deciding whether to try something new or to boldly go where they have never been before.
It is that fear of the unknown that always seems to hold us back. We don’t know who we will meet, we don’t know what will happen when we get there, we don’t know if we can do something we’ve never tried before.
I know that whenever I go to a city I’ve never been, I like to leave the hotel and take a walk around the town, not really with any destination in mind. I will say hello to people I meet, go into a coffee shop, or even strike up a conversation as I wait in line for a sandwich.
Quite often I will tell my daughters that every day is like a brand-new lifetime. You never know who you will meet, or what challenges or opportunities are ahead of them.
For me, it is the curiosity. Finding out what makes people tick or what it is that is around that next corner is what provides the answer to my wondering.
We can’t fear the embarrassment of not knowing something or how something works. Life is for learning, every single day. It is natural for us to feel sheepish in front of others that we don’t know something. That is human nature.
I have always been naturally curious. I WANT TO KNOW. And if I can’t find out, I keep looking until I do find out. That is just me.
All of my life I have always been puzzled by how so many are not curious. I don’t know if it is that they don’t want to know or just don’t care.
Curiosity stimulates the mind, and that is what keeps me feeling adventuresome in all aspects of my life.”
Like Joe, I am filled with curiosity and am so grateful for being able to travel and see so many wonders of our world. What I am really surprised about is how much I enjoy history and geography. I found school mostly boring! (Probably because they dictated what I should learn.)
This week’s focus is on wonderment. What subjects or hobbies are you curious about? Do you like watching documentaries, the History or Discovery Channel? Do you have a desire to visit any of the Wonders of the World?
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FUN-travel: New 7 Wonders of the World #7 – The Taj Mahal
May 11, 2017 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: New 7 Wonders of the World #7 – The Taj Mahal
Taj Mahal FUN-facts
- Translated means Crown of the Palace.
- Commissioned in 1632 by Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favorite wife Mumtaz Mahal.
- She was a Persian princess who died giving birth to their 14th child.
- It took 20,000 artists 10 years to complete at a cost of 32 million rupees.
- In 2015 it would have cost 52.8 billion rupees or $827 million US.
- Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 as “the jewel of Muslim art in India and universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”
FUN-Fact – It is made of semi translucent white marble and polished to emphasize the exquisite detailing of flower carvings.
More FF – Specialists brought in from as far away as Europe produced magnificent marble screens, archway spandrels decorated with highly stylized almost geometric vines, flowers and fruits, and pietra dura (marble inlay work) made with thousands of semiprecious stones, yellow marble, jasper and jade then polished and leveled to the surface of the walls.
- In the summer of 2007, more than 90 million people cast their votes to determine which architectural marvels in the world deserved to be one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. There were a total of twenty-one landmarks vying for that title.
- Of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, only the Great Pyramids in Giza, Egypt still stand. The pyramids were given an automatic spot after infuriated Egyptian officials said it was a disgrace to have to compete for something that had belonged to their country for so long. I agree! We saw them in 2007.
- It is our goal to see all twenty-one landmarks. Also, Chris and I have collectively seen a lot of the twenty-one, however, not together. So the rule is, “If you’ve been there but not together, it doesn’t count.”
New 7 Wonders of the World we’ve been to:
#1 Chichen Itza, Mexico – 2005
#2 Great Wall of China – 2010
#3 Machu Picchu, Peru – February, 2012
#4 Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro – February, 2012
#5 The Coliseum – Rome, Italy – August, 2012
#6 Petra, Jordan – March, 2013
#7 The Taj Mahal – Agra, India – November 2016
New 7 Wonders of the World Runner Ups we’ve been to:
# 9 Statue of Liberty, New York – May, 2005
#10 Sydney Opera House, Australia – January, 2006
#11 Hagia Sophia, Istanbul – May, 2007
#12 Acropolis, Athens – May, 2007
#13 Angkor Wat, Cambodia – March, 2010
#14 Eiffel Tower, Paris – October, 2010
#15 Stonehenge, England – October, 2011
#16 Alhambra, Spain – August, 2012
#17 Easter Island, Chile – February, 2013
#18 Neuschwanstein Castle – Füssen, Germany – September, 2013
#19 Red Square, Moscow – July 2014
TBD #20 – Kiyomizu Temple – Kyoto, Japan – April 2018
TBA #21 – Timbuktu – Mali, Africa (may never happen due to current civil war)
FUN-travel: Taj Mahal Milestone – Our 7th New Wonder
November 7, 2016 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Taj Mahal Milestone – Our 7th New Wonder
- It is Official…
…we have now been to all 7 New Wonders of the World!
…and to 19 of the 21 landmarks vying for that title.
- Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983…
…for being “the jewel of Muslim art in India…
…and universally admired masterpieces of the world’s heritage”…
…this masterpiece made of semi translucent white marble…
…is polished to emphasize…
…the exquisite detailing of flower carving.
- Specialists brought in from as far away as Europe…
…produced magnificent marble screens…
…archway spandrels decorated with highly stylized…
…almost geometric vines, flowers and fruits…
…and pietra dura (marble inlay work)…
…made with thousands of semiprecious stones…
…yellow marble, jasper and jade…
…polished and leveled to the surface of the walls.
FUN-fact – We arrived in time for a sunset visit and then had a sunrise the next morning. Good thing we had both! Best photos were at sunset (foggy in morning) and no long lines to enter inside in the early morning.
FUN-travel: New 7 Wonders of the World Runner Up – Red Square
February 20, 2015 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: New 7 Wonders of the World Runner Up – Red Square
Red Square FUN-facts
- The square was considered the central square and main marketplace with all roads
St. Basil’s Cathedral
originating here.
- It sits just outside of the Kremlin.
- It’s bordered by St. Basil’s cathedral, Lenin’s tomb, GUM department store & Moscow museum. The word red in Russian means beautiful and applied to St. Basil’s Cathedral.
- GUM is a three-arcade structure with three tiers of all worlds’ brand stores and cafés.
- Over the centuries has been the site of national celebrations, coronations, executions, hand-to-hand battles, and May Day Parades.
FUN-Fact – St. Basil’s Cathedral was built in 1561 at the behest of Ivan the Terrible who allegedly killed the architect.
More FF – It’s a New 7 Wonders of the World runner up and #18 on our list that we have visited.
- In the summer of 2007, more than 90 million people cast their votes to determine which architectural marvels in the world deserved to be one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. There were a total of twenty-one landmarks vying for that title.
- Of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, only the Great Pyramids in Giza, Egypt still stand. The pyramids were given an automatic spot after infuriated Egyptian officials said it was a disgrace to have to compete for something that had belonged to their country for so long. I agree! We saw them in 2007.
- It is our goal to see all twenty-one landmarks. Also, Chris and I have collectively seen a lot of the twenty-one, however, not together. So the rule is, “If you’ve been there but not together, it doesn’t count.”
Moscow Museum Opposite St. Basil’s Cathedral
New 7 Wonders of the World we’ve been to:
#1 Chichen Itza, Mexico – 2005
#2 Great Wall of China – 2010
#3 Machu Picchu, Peru – February, 2012
#4 Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro – February, 2012
#5 The Coliseum – Rome, Italy – August, 2012
#6 Petra, Jordan – March, 2013
TBA #7 – The Taj Mahal – Agra, India
New 7 Wonders of the World Runner Ups we’ve been to:
# 9 Statue of Liberty, New York – May, 2005
#10 Sydney Opera House, Australia – January, 2006
#11 Hagia Sophia, Istanbul – May, 2007
#12 Acropolis, Athens – May, 2007
#13 Angkor Wat, Cambodia – March, 2010
#14 Eiffel Tower, Paris – October, 2010
#15 Stonehenge, England – October, 2011
#16 Alhambra, Spain – August, 2012
#17 Easter Island, Chile – February, 2013
#18 Neuschwanstein Castle – Füssen, Germany – September, 2013
#19 Red Square, Moscow – July 2014
TBA #20 – Kiyomizu Temple – Kyoto, Japan
TBA #21 – Timbuktu – Mali, Africa (may never happen due to current civil war)
FUN-travel: New 7 Wonders of the World Runner Up – Neuschwanstein Castle
January 13, 2014 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: New 7 Wonders of the World Runner Up – Neuschwanstein Castle
Neuschwanstein Castle FUN-facts
- It was built from 1869 to 1886 by King Ludwig II.
- He died mysteriously and building ceased.
- He only lived there for 172 days.
- It was only 1/3 complete.
- It was designed by a stage painter – not an architect.
- It had gravity fed fresh water & sewer systems.
- It is built over the ruins of 2 medieval castles.
More FF – Rumor has it he was spending way too much money & was declared insane. The next day he and his psychiatrist were found drowned in a Munich lake
– It was the inspiration for Sleeping Beauty & Disneyland castles.
– It’s a New 7 Wonders of the World runner up and #17 on our list of the 21 vying for it.
- In the summer of 2007, more than 90 million people cast their votes to determine which architectural marvels in the world deserved to be one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. There were a total of twenty-one landmarks vying for that title.
- Of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the World, only the Great Pyramids in Giza, Egypt still stand. The pyramids were given an automatic spot after infuriated Egyptian officials said it was a disgrace to have to compete for something that had belonged to their country for so long. I agree! We saw them in 2007.
- It is our goal to see all twenty-one landmarks. Also, Chris and I have collectively seen a lot of the twenty-one, however, not together. So the rule is, “If you’ve been there but not together, it doesn’t count.”
New 7 Wonders of the World we’ve been to:
#1 Chichen Itza, Mexico – 2005
#2 Great Wall of China – 2010
#3 Machu Picchu, Peru – February, 2012
#4 Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro – February, 2012
#5 The Coliseum – Rome, Italy – August, 2012
#6 Petra, Jordan – March, 2013
#7 The Taj Mahal – Agra, India – TBA
New 7 Wonders of the World Runner Ups we’ve been to:
# 9 Statue of Liberty, New York – 2005
#10 Sydney Opera House, Australia – 2005
#11 Hagia Sophia, Istanbul – 2007
#12 Acropolis, Athens – 2007
#13 Angkor Wat, Cambodia – 2010
#14 Eiffel Tower, Paris – 2010
#15 Stonehenge, England – 2011
#16 Alhambra, Spain – August, 2012
#17 Easter Island, Chile – February, 2013
#18 Neuschwanstein Castle – Füssen, Germany – September, 2013
#19 The Kremlin, Moscow – TBA
#20 Kiyomizu Temple – Kyoto, Japan – TBA
#21 Timbuktu – Mali, Africa – TBA (may never happen due to current civil war)
