XieYueOnTheGo

some photos of myself

2009-07-20T07:50:00.001-07:00

A photo taken on the boat from Faial to Pico island. Holding the support quite tight to keep myself stable.

already got used to the bumpy boat. more relaxed.

Below are the two craters from volcano eruption connected with the sea.

At Terciera island, below is a natural swimming pool, formed from a crater.

Inside a deep cave of a crater, which is the only crater in the world open to public. It’s very large inside, with a chimney to the surface of the ground.

Nearby there is another cave with very low channels formed by lava. we had to wear helmet inside.

more about the whale dolphin watching

2009-07-20T07:12:00.001-07:00

sperm whale at Azores

2009-07-19T14:39:00.000-07:00

It's quite difficult to take a good photo of a sperm whale, the major species of whale at Azores, using a non-SLR camera. But my Fuji S5100 did catch this moment when the whale took a diving for food and before it was totally gone. This picture was the winner out of other dozens of trials, if not hundreds.

dolphins

2009-07-19T14:36:00.000-07:00

Before we went back to the marina at Horta, we met a bunch of dolphins. They were happy animals and swam around the boat, or more actually we were following them. They swam up and down in the water and could jump from anywhere, which made taking a picture of a flying dolphin not easy. Luckily, my old good Fuji S5100 got one. Today's weather was perfect, shining, calm, breezy.

Mousse lima

2009-07-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

2009-07-15T14:25:00.000-07:00

Sunset at Pico

2009-07-14T15:05:00.000-07:00

Sunset at Pico

2009-07-13T14:27:00.000-07:00

A couple pictures of Pico harbor at sunset. The mountain behind is the volcano which is the highest point of Portugal.

Horta and Pico

2009-07-13T09:22:00.000-07:00

Landed at Horta airport in the morning. The fisrt picture is the airport. Had lunch in a sport cafe before boarding the boat to Pico. The second pic is the flags posted in the cafe by all kinds of sailers as a tradition. The third pic is a drink after finishing the survey of the first site. It's getting hot outside.

Lizbon morning

2009-07-12T22:48:00.000-07:00

Today Lisbon is cloudy. I was confused with the time zone, got up 1 hr earlier. The phone didn't auto update time. Sometime does, most of time not. Had hard time going to sleep last night. Not sure how will the boat-riding turn out.

Slow and crowded Lisbon custom

2009-07-11T22:23:00.001-07:00

Never experienced a passport contro so crowded and slow. Fortunately i dont have a connecting flight. Not sure it's because Lisbon is a city too popular, or a place where efficiency is bad.

Newark lunch

2009-07-11T11:01:00.001-07:00

Just arrived at Newark for connection. Some turbulance in finalapproach. Little bit dizzy. Now sitton in Friday's for a nice lunch, chicken fingers.

Heading off to Azores: 4. Azorean Cuisine

2009-07-09T10:26:00.001-07:00

http://www.travellady.com/Issues/July03/TheAzores.htm

Food in the Azores has a Portuguese base, but with a strong local flavor. Limpets (a shellfish), crayfish and rabbit stews are specialties. Octopus stewed in wine is typical of São Miguel, while beef stew is traditional on Terceira. Fish chowders are rich and tasty, and the fresh catch of the day is featured at most eateries.

The wide variety of local fish is a benefit of being in the middle of the ocean, and each island has its own way of preparing the bounty of the sea. On land, there is no shortage of cows, grazing in natural pastures. Thus, the Azores offer fine beef, served in numerous ways including grilled and roasted in a wine sauce. And, the Portuguese staple of salted codfish is omnipresent here, with unusual local and traditional mainland recipes.

There is a large variety of local cheeses, mostly made from cow's milk. São Jorge's cheeses are famous throughout Europe. And, São Miguel, Pico, and Faial also produce excellent cheeses. Try them on any of the many local breads, from the sweet breads, to the flat breads of Pico, or the levedo muffins of São Miguel. And, the vast array of pastries and cakes makes the Azores a sweet place to visit. Try grilled pineapple, Dona Amelia cakes, or the cheese cakes from either Graciosa or Vila Franca on São Miguel.

Pineapple hot houses are unique to the Azores, with the island of São Miguel boasting more than 6,000. The local pineapple is quite different than any other, with a small crown, and an intense flavor. Better yet, it is grown year-round. Add pineapple to the many pastries and cakes of the Azores, and any local meal is guaranteed to end well.

While there is no shortage of table wines from the mainland, fine wines, liqueurs and brandies are distilled on the islands. Be sure to try the wines of the lava soil of Pico, the excellent wines of Graciosa, and wine from the north coast or Terceira. Exotic fruits are made into liqueurs and potent brandies. And, Especial, the local beer, is an excellent lager.

Heading off to Azores: 3. The Nature of the Azores

2009-07-09T10:25:00.000-07:00

http://www.travellady.com/Issues/July03/TheAzores.htm

One of the wonders of this archipelago is the bio-diversity of its trees and plants, brought from locations around the world. The Azores began, for the most part, as lava. Then the winds brought grasses and bit of organic debris By the time humans arrived there were plants and evergreen forests throughout the islands. Humans brought new plantings, such as the cryptomeria conifer (Japanese cedar) from Japan. All told, there are some 800-plus species of plants – only 300 of them are native. Cedar trees, heather, ling, mountain grapes, white wood, ginger, dogwood and the tamujo bush are a few of the local species. The newcomers include the acacia tree, flowering hydrangea and azaleas, camellia, incense and other ornamental plants. Despite their proximity, each island has its own look, feel, and climate. And, thus the fauna can vary dramatically from island to island.

The Azores' commitment to the environment led the European Union to recognize the islands in 1995 in the European Awards for Tourism and the Environment The Azores offer numerous natural reserves, protected landscape, parks and forests.

The Azores takes it name from the sea hawk, and birds can be seen and heard everywhere on the islands, from the night calls of the cagarro, to the nests of swallows. The most common non-domesticated animals on the Azores are birds. More than 150 species can be seen, of which about 35 breed in the Azores

They include various types of seagulls, plovers, terns, chaffinches, sparrows, bullfinches, buzzards, goshawks, and doves. The priolo, a native species, the hawk, blackbird, cagarro, wood pigeon, and common and red garajau are also common. The sea off the Azores is home to many species of fish and shellfish, as well as sperm whales. Not surprisingly, underwater diving and snorkeling are very popular.

Whalewatching
From the beginning, the Azoreans hunted whales for oil. They were so successful that every major Atlantic whaling expedition would stop in the Azores. In 1979, Portugal not only outlawed whaling, but also made the deep waters around the Azores a natural reserve. The economic impact to the whaling industry was replaced by the eco-tourism of whale and marine-life watching that soon took over. Former whalers became guides, spotters, and hosts in museums.

Today, whale watching in the Azores often means going out to sea in a small semi-inflatable motor boat in search for the largest mammal on the planet. Launches ferry people to the whales for a close-up encounter. New laws passed by the Regional Government protect the whales and the visitors by limiting the number of boats, and the speed and distance they can use to approach a herd. Experienced guides offer insights into the lives of these creatures and, best of all, seeing a whale is almost guaranteed. This is because on mountainsides throughout the central group of islands, former whalers are posted as spotters, radioing in the position and number of whales to the boats. Local whales include sperm whales, northern bottlenose, pilot, sowerby's beaked whales, and occasionally orcas. Two excellent whaling museums may be found on the island of Pico, detailing the history and culture of the now-banned trade.

The dolphins that are commonly sighted on these trips include: Atlantic bottlenose, risso, Atlantic spotted and striped. The protected waters has not simply been good for the whale watching industry, but has helped numerous whale species to recover and prosper, making whale watching an exciting and unique experience.

Heading off to Azores: 2. Islands (Graciosa island)

2009-07-09T10:20:00.001-07:00

http://www.azores.com/azores/graciosa.php

Approximately 31 miles of Terceira lies the island of Graciosa. It has a surface area of 24 sq miles (61 km2). It is called the white island due to the landscape and the names given to certain places like "Pedras Brancas" or White Stones, "Serra Branca" or White Mountain, and "Barro Branco" or White Clay. The island has about 4600 inhabitants. The main municipalities are "Santa Cruz" and "Lajes".

Enxofre Caves

The islets along the coast of Graciosa add a peculiar beauty to the islands. The "Praia" Islet, totally covered by vegetation, and the "Baleia" Islet, named this way because of it has shape of a whale.

Graciosa Island

The undulating wheat-fields, green and purple vineyards. The vanes of windmills revolving in the wind. The colour of the vineyards. The mirror formed by a lagoon hidden in the depth of the earth. The peace and quiet of country life. The nectar of delicious wines. Pastoral attractions of Graciosa, which also offers, in dramatic beauty, the rainbow colours of underwater life.

Some of the places to visit

Ethnographic Museum which contains items related to the culture of wine and the now gone whaling industry.

From the "Monte de Nossa Senhora da Ajuda", you can have a look over the town of Santa Cruz.

The "Furna do Enxofre" (Sulphur Cavern), in the interior of the "Caldeira", or crater of a former Volcano there's a tunnel about 330 feet (100 m) deep and has a lake filled with cold sulphur water.

It is possible to visit other caverns such as "Bolos, Lembradeira, Manuel de Avila, Labarda, Furada, Linheiro, Cardo, Gato, Castelo, Calcinhas, Queimado, Vermelho, Cão, Urze and Luis".

From the "Timao" summit, at an altitude of 1300 feet (398 m), and the "Facho" summit, at an altitude of 1230 feet (375 m), as well as from the "Dormida, Branca and Fontes" mountains you can get a glimpse not only of the island, but of the surrounding ocean and the islands of Terceira, São Jorge, Pico and Faial.

The "Carapacho" Hot Spring Baths with medicinal waters.

Some of the Festivities

Espirito Santo - 7 weeks after Easter

Festival of Santo Cristo (early August) - boat races, bullfights, plus cultural happenings

Heading off to Azores: 2. Islands (Sao Jorge island)

2009-07-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.azores.com/azores/sao_jorge.php

The green of the broad pastures sprinkled with wild flowers. The yellow circles of delicious cheese. The vertical line of tree-covered cliffs. Discover the silence of nature. The multicoloured blobs of rugs woven on primitive looms. The flat pieces of land of the fertile "fajãs" where vineyards and orchards grow. Attractions of São Jorge, an island that is like a ship anchored on the ocean.

Coastal rock formations

The island of Sao Jorge, another island from the central group, lies 21,6 miles off Graciosa, 11 miles off Pico, 32,4 miles off Terceira and 16,2 miles off Faial. It has an approximate area of 95 sq. miles (246 km2). The island has about 9500 inhabitants. The main municipalities are Velas and Calheta.

Sao Jorge Island

S.Jorge Island has an indented coastline appearing with an oblong shape. A mountain range forms the back-bone of the island, its highest peak the Pico da Esperança at 3455 feet (1053 m) it offers views of the other islands of the central group.

Some of the places to visit

The faja of the Caldeira do Santo Cristo, is in the Ribeira Seca area and it is a protected nature reserve where you can find an underground cave and a lake.

The Topo islet lies on the eastern tip of the island, and it is also a natural reserve. It is a breeding ground for the gulls of the central group of islands, as well as a home for migratory species of sea-bird.

A walk along the sea-shore near Urzelina takes one to the Furnas da Pombas, a curious volcanic rock formation which is populated by wild pigeons.

Urzelina - The church tower here is all that remains of an ancient church that was buried when the Pico de Esperança erupted in 1808.

Manadas - A picturesque village with attractive country houses surrounded by orchards and cultivated fields.

Church of Santa Barbara - Built in the 18th century, in Baroque style with carved archway and chancel with a carved cedar roof, a valuable collection of hand-painted tiles depicting scenes of the life of St. Barbara.

All the "Fajas" along the coast offer spectacular views.

Some of the Festivities

Espirito Santo – 7 weeks after Easter

Cultural week (in Velas) - First week of July.

The July festival in Calheta - Music festival, last week of July

Heading off to Azores: 2. Islands (Pico Island)

2009-07-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

Pico island, named for its imposing mountain, is one of the most beautiful and most underrated island of the Azores. Only second to S. Miguel in size the 'Mountain Island' stands majestically in the middle of the Azorean central group, at about 4.5 nautical miles from Faial Island and 11 miles from S. Jorge Island. It is approximately 167 square miles (433 km2).

Pico island history was built on the destiny of is whale hunting and winery traditions. The famous Pico wines and the UESCO world patrimony designated vineyards, as well as wooden boat building, are contemporary fixtures of Pico. Whale hunting, long gone, gave way to a movement of fair treatment study and observation of whales, dolphins, and other sea mammals. Whale and dolphin watching trips can be organized from Madalena or Lajes. Volcanic eruptions ended 300 years ago. Pico is considered a dormant volcano adding to the mystique of the island and serving as a magnet for scientists.

The Pico island landscape is a sublime mixture of lava rock and exotic vegetation in an ever changing scenery that envelopes this scarcely populated island. Pico features the best swimming holes in the Azores, and every so often an occasional sand beach appears. In 2006 is Prainha’s turn to offer a beach to the delight of the locals and the tourists. Pico is also the ideal island to trek, hike, jog, walk, bird watch, whale and dolphin watch, swim, fish, ride bikes and motto-quad bikes. Speleology is also a favorite pastime of Pico and its visitors.

Why is it better in Pico? Because it has great roads and trails and it is not crowded. Take a day to ride a bicycle or walk from Cabrito to Madalena passing by Arcos, Lajido, Cachorro and Cais do Mourato and taste the history of this island. Pico is an Island where calm and peace can be found around every corner, yet there's always the choice of escaping to the village and experience the bustling culture or the occasional festival. Trips to Faial and S. Jorge are one ferry trip away. While it takes no time to know the smaller Faial Island, it takes a long time to get to know Pico as it is the type of destination where one must get out of the car to explore all that it has to offer.

As one local governor puts it, Pico is California of the Azores Islands (well at least until the gold rush), offering the sun, the ocean, the plains and the mountain. It is a puzzle for locals that people will consider stay in Faial and make one day trips to Pico. Pico is the place to visit if you want to experience the unadulterated Azores. Hurry up, it won’t last.

Pico island is best from June to January. However as any island in the Azores the weather can be unpredictable and February through June can also be delightful.

To really experience Pico stay at one of the local rustic villas such as Villa Cabrito or Adegas do Pico. All those are listed on the Azores.com lodging pages.

Some of the Festivals

Espirito Santo Festivities - Seven weeks after Easter, from Friday to Tuesday in several villages of the island, but Tuesday in Madalena is one of the most significant ones.

Cais de Agosto (music festival) in S. Roque - Last weekend of July or the first of August.

Festa do Senhor Bom Jesus Milagroso (religious) in Sao Mateus - First week of August.

Semana dos Baleeiros in Lajes (religious and music festival) - Last week of August

Heading off to Azores: 2. Islands (Terceira Island)

2009-07-09T10:16:00.000-07:00

http://www.azores.com/azores/terceira.php

Terceira Island is located approximately 90 miles off Sao Miguel and 66 miles off Faial, and has a surface area of 148 sq. miles (382 km2). The international airport, located in "Lajes", about 2 miles from the city of "Praia da Vitoria", serves both civilian and military needs, and includes both the Military Command for the Azores as well as an important American Air Force Base. Terceira is the second most populated Azorean island with 58000 inhabitants.

The municipal seat is located in "Angra do Heroismo", where the The Pacos do Concelho" (City Hall), a majestic construction of the 19th century, is an important example of the rich patrimony of Angra.

After a violent earthquaque in 1980 and the subsequent reconstruction of the city, a large portion of Angra's historical center has been classified Public Interest, and is included in the UNESCO's list of World Patrimony since 1986.
Angra has one of the best public libraries and archives in the country which also retains some important private art collections.

The network of streets of a town that is a monument in itself; Angra do Heroísmo was entitled as world-wide patrimony city. The colourful "impérios" or chapels that bear witness to popular devotion. The walls of a castle that was a royal prison. The constant presence of history. The gentle ondulation of a green countryside. The white triangle of the typical chimneys. Sides of the attractive and colourful prism that is Terceira.

Some of the places to visit

"Monte Brasil", classified as Protected Landscape, provides a recreational area and resting place as well as a fantastic view over the ocean and the city.

The Sao Joao Baptista do Monte Brasil Fort, is a large, fortified wall 2.5 miles long.

The Angra do Heroismo Museum, is located in the old Convent of St. Francis and is adjoined to the "Nossa Senhora da Guia" Church (Our Lady of Guidance).

The "Imperios"(religious monuments) are all over the island and are considered interesting due to their coloured facade

The "Algar do Carvao" is famous for its' grottoes that reach a depth of approximately 328 feet (100 meters). These spectacular grottoes contain stalactites, stalagmites and an interior lake. Near the "Algar" the "Enxofre, agua" and "Cabrito" Caves and the "Balcoes, Agulhas" and "Natal" Grottoes, are of special interest especially to scientists.

"Praia da Vitoria" is a young city with one of the most inviting beaches of the Azores. The architectonic patrimony is concentrated in the churches and chapels.

In "Biscoitos" you can visit the only wine museum in the Azores archipelago. This museum, inaugurated in 1990, illustrates the process of traditional wine making in the archipelago.

Some of local Festivities

"Sao Joaninas" (24th of June is the highest point of the festival though the celebrations take usually 10 days), the popular marches are the most important activity of the celebrations. The tauromathic fair is inserted in the Sao Joaninas.

"Tourada a Corda" (Running of the Bulls) is another traditional activity all over the island. It consists in leaving the bull in the streets, tied with a rope, some men challenge the bull while other control the bull with the rope. There are touradas on a daily basis (sometimes 2 and 3 in one day). The season runs from May 1 to September 30.

"Festas of Praia da Vitoria" (includes a gastronomical fair, with small restaurants from the whole of Portugal and some international as well)- second week of August.

"Angrajazz" (jazz Festival in Angra do Heroísmo: first weekend of October.

"Ramo Grande Festival" (world music): End of October/beginning of November.

Heading off to Azores: 2. Islands (Faial Island)

2009-07-09T10:15:00.000-07:00

http://www.azores.com/azores/faial.php

Faial island is part of the central group of the archipelago, about 66 miles from Terceira, 4.5 miles from Pico and 11 miles from S. Jorge. The surface area of Faial island is approximately 67 square miles (173 km2). The island has about 15.000 inhabitants and its main municipal seat is located in the city of Horta. Different colours of blue decorate the houses, divide the fields and line the roadsides, giving Faial the name of Blue Island.

In the 18th century the development of whale hunting brought the early whaling fleets to Horta. By 19th century, Horta had become an important sea port, and a stopping point for a large number of yachts crossing the Atlantic.

In 1957 a great volcanic eruption from the "Ilheu dos Capelinhos", about 1 km from the coast, projected large quantities of lava and ash forming an islet that later became connected to Faial island by an isthmus.

The green circle of a volcanic cone at the top of a hill. The white houses of a town mirrored on the sea. The masts of sailing boats that have come from all over the world. The ochre walls of a fortress that has witnessed naval battles. The unforgettable sight of sunrise with the island of Pico in the background. The quiet inlets with beaches of soft sand. The hydrangeas standing out against the landscape, framing houses and roads, thus ustifying the fact that Faial has been called the "blue island".

Faial Highlights:

Cabecao Gordo - With an altitude of 3422 feet (1043 meters). Located in the centre of the island, it offers amazing views of the neighbour islands of Pico and Sao Jorge

The Caldeira - Also a great attraction, an enormous crater with 6560 feet (2 km) diameter and 1300 feet (400 m) deep. This area is classified as a natural reserve.

Monte da Guia - A mountain from where you can have a look over the town,it is also a protected natural reserve.

Ponta dos Capilinhos - One of Faial's main tourist attractions. Here the visitor can see the results of the eruption of 1957/8 which transformed the landscape, burying fields and houses. The old lighthouse can still be seen.

Lajinha and Ponta Furada - Great attraction for their caves and strange lava arches, where the sea often flows violently against the rocks.

Vale de Flamengos - Attractive area full of colourful plantations, flowers and picturesque houses.

Scrimshaw Museum - This is a private collection belonging to the owner of the popular Peter's Cafao. Over a hundred pieces are exhibited here, engraved with beautiful sailing boats, mermaids, images of whale-hunting, among many others.

Horta Museum - Housed in the former Jesuit College, the museum is noted for its collection of fig wood, one of the island's traditional handicrafts.

Port of Horta - Built in 1876, this important sea-port is a principal port-of-call for many transatlantic yachts. The sea wall is of special interest as it is covered with hundreds of paintings and messages left by the sea-travellers who call in at the port.

Heading off to Azores: 1. history of Azores.

2009-07-09T10:11:00.000-07:00

I'll start a 2 week trip to Azores. Some homework before the departure.

"The Azores (Portuguese: Açores; Portuguese pronunciation: [ɐˈsoɾɨʃ]) is a Portuguese archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,500 km (950 mi) from Lisbon and about 3,900 km (2,400 mi) from the east coast of North America. The two westernmost Azorean islands (Flores and Corvo) actually lie on the North American plate. The Azores' most significant industries are tourism, cattle raising for milk and meat, and fishing."

"The islands were known in the fourteenth century and parts of them can be seen, for example, in the Atlas Catalan. In 1427, one of the captains sailing for Henry the Navigator, possibly Gonçalo Velho, rediscovered the Azores, but this is not certain. A History of the Azores by Thomas Ashe written in 1813 marks the discovery by Joshua Vander Berg of Bruges in Flanders.^[1] Vander Berg was said to have landed there during a storm on his way to Lisbon.^[1] Ashe then claims that the Portuguese left to explore the area and claim it for Portugal shortly after.^[1] Although it is commonly said that the archipelago is named after the goshawk (Açor in Portuguese) because it was supposed to be a common bird at the time of discovery, in fact the bird never existed on the islands. Most, however, insist that the name is derived from birds, pointing to a local subspecies of the buzzard (Buteo buteo), as the animal the first explorers erroneously identified as goshawks."

"In 1943, during the Second World War, The Portuguese dictator, António de Oliveira Salazar, leased bases in the Azores to the British, despite his previous collaboration with Germany.^[2] This was a key turning point in the Battle of the Atlantic, allowing the Allies to provide aerial coverage in the middle of the Atlantic. This helped them to hunt U-boats and protect convoys.

In 1944, American forces constructed a small and short-lived air base on the island of Santa Maria. In 1945, a new base was constructed on the island of Terceira and is currently known as Lajes Field. This base is in an area called Lajes, a broad, flat sea terrace that had been a farm. Lajes Field is a plateau rising out of the sea on the northeast corner of the island. This Air Force base is a joint American and Portuguese venture. Lajes Field continues to support United States and Portuguese military operations. During the Cold War, the United States Navy P-3 Orion anti-submarine squadrons patrolled the North Atlantic for Soviet submarines and surface spy vessels. Since its inception, Lajes Field has been used for refuelling aircraft bound for Europe, and more recently, the Middle East. The United States Army operates a small fleet of military ships in the harbour of Praia da Vitória, three kilometres (2 mi) southeast of Lajes Field. The airfield also has a small commercial terminal handling scheduled and chartered passenger flights from other islands in the archipelago, Europe, and North America.

In 1976, the Azores became the Autonomous Region of the Azores (Região Autónoma dos Açores), one of the Autonomous regions of Portugal, and the Azorean districts were suppressed."

Peary System

2009-07-09T09:27:00.001-07:00

In the book To The End of The Earth, Tom Avery depicted how the legendary early 1900 adventurer Robert Peary pioneered the expeditions to the North Pole.

To prepare for the second try after the first failure in 1902, Peary developed a completely new travel strategy, called Peary System. The Party would be splitted into three, a pioneer division to break the trail and build igloos, support divisions following on twenty four hours behind, ferrying supplies to those in front, and a small, light-weighted polar division concerving its energy at the rear.

The real benefit of the Peary System was the load was always relatively light, therefore the dog team can travel much faster than they had on Peary's previous attempts.

A photo post test

2009-07-07T19:06:00.001-07:00

SanYa in 2008 December

A new test

2009-07-07T19:00:00.001-07:00

A new test

xieyue

Test via gmail

2009-07-07T18:54:00.001-07:00

Test

Test using gmail

2009-07-07T18:52:00.001-07:00

email posting test

2009-07-07T18:50:00.001-07:00

Test posting via email

xy

2009-07-07T18:40:00.001-07:00

First SMS blog for testing.
xy