Global Themes

china's bubble..

2011-04-04T15:56:00.001+02:00

mobile hearts..

2011-02-14T19:07:00.002+01:00

love can be taken anywhere.. in this case from my home of israel to prague for a whirlwind winter getaway..

a message from one nation to another..

2011-02-14T19:05:00.000+01:00

Revolution in Egypt, 25 January 2011, Day 1

2011-01-29T22:04:00.000+01:00

"Soldier suffering from tear gas. I wish they'd understand that what hurts us, hurts them to. "

One of our own Mohamed is in Cairo doing what he can for a better future for his country, A media and Internet Blackout has cut most of the contact with Egyptians. The picture and the following brave words are an update from Mohamed's blog on the night of Wednesday the 26. There have been no updates on his facebook or blog since then but he is safe and still standing strong with the rest of his Nation. His blog has many more pictures from the protests.

I'll keep it short, and will write a narrative some other time.
In the meantime,
Whatever happens,
Never believe them if they say we lost.

Autumn in Holland

2010-11-15T12:10:00.000+01:00

I miss our regular posts.

Most Awaited Gadgets of This Year

2010-03-29T21:20:00.005+02:00

This year two technology giants will be releasing their next generation gadgets, one is iPhone 4g from Apple & another is Playstation 4 from Sony along with other minor devices. iPhone 3G was able to create a huge hype in the market due to its innovative features and advanced UI based system which was some leaps ahead than the existing mobile phones of that time. Apple official sources didn’t reveal what changes they are bringing to their next generation mobile phone although there will be definite change in its carrier as Apple will be ending their contact with AT & T this year. Version CDMA is one of the strongest possibilities Apple will be adapting as carrier, making a Verizon iPhone available to the users. Sony, on the other hand will be implementing real world motion sensor technology in their next Playstation. However, neither price nor release date of these two devices has been officially announced.

Muharram

2009-12-25T12:19:00.003+01:00

An Al'am is of spiritual significance for the Twelver Shia Muslims in India, Pakistan and other areas. An Alam with a "Panja" on top of it is considered to be a religious flag of Islam, and it is said to be carried by the Prophet Muhammed, Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Abbas ibn Ali during battles or expeditions. The battle of Karbala further glorifies its importance. An Alam is usually seen during Muharram Processions and at designated sites in Shia Mosques.

For more information about Muharram visit Muharram Blog

help from our friends..

2009-12-13T12:51:00.001+01:00

a guy clinging onto a sign post to avoid wetting his shoes and his friend in a wet suit helping him.. telaviv beach last weekend..

miracle..

2009-12-09T07:14:00.003+01:00

ben gurion airport (israel) flight schedule showing two flights without airlines or gates.. these flights were to syria..

Multi Culti Cookies

2009-12-08T03:05:00.002+01:00

Multicultural Gingerbread cookie cutters can be found at the extremely popular store INDISKA in Stockholm, Sweden. Here in the shapes of a camel, Taj Mahal, a butterfly (and there is one of an elephant too). Traditionally you would use cutters shaped like hearts, pigs, gingerbread men and women and a tree. Xenophobes are, of course, not rejoicing.

(wo)man's best friend

2009-12-05T15:28:00.007+01:00

This past summer, a couple friends and I rented a weekend house near the beach in Chigasaki, Japan. Japan is not known for its beautiful beaches. In fact, among residents, it's known for its rather too-crowded, litter-strewn sand. However, this beach was one that was used mainly by locals, so not a lot of tourist traffic. There were a lot of regulars who just came out with their rowing boats, dogs, and carefree attitude. It was a nice break from city life.

Minaret Ban

2009-12-02T12:02:00.002+01:00

Switzerland just had a public vote on wether or not Minarets (the large towers on mosques) should be banned. 57% voted YES. The picture I have posted up here is taken in Sweden. Far in the distance you can see a minaret and a church tower side by side. Hard to differentiate between the two. The encouraging aspect of this intolerant vote is that most of the religious communities, in particular the Jewish were against the ban.

Tea for Three

2009-12-01T01:00:00.003+01:00

Evening tea in our home in Stockholm used to consist of two cups of chai and is now joined by a milk bottle.

My Hometown...

2009-11-30T03:08:00.002+01:00

I keep hearing Bruce Springsteen singing "My hometown" in my head. And what could be more fitting than that to describe Stockholm's city central. The photo was taken from the roof top of Ersta University. you can see Globen, the white golfball looking globe.

Capoeira Crew

2009-11-29T01:15:00.001+01:00

You gotta love people being spontaneous. Like this group of capoeira dancers at Medborgarplatsen in Stockholm. May I remind you all that this photo was taken in October(!) and the weather was fab. Anyone doubting global warming...doubt no more!

A dish of pure yumjoy!

2009-11-28T14:53:00.003+01:00

There is no Eid without the sweet dish vermicelli or seviya eaten in the Indian Subcontinent, and by those of us who share in that heritage. My swedish mom makes a killer seviya! Yumjoy!

stars and spiderwebs..

2009-11-28T10:12:00.005+01:00

i love these towers in telaviv, israel.. they're called azrieli.. and to me they look like plains of spiderwebs or gridded stars.. i took this photo on the way to my sports massage last night.. btw happy thanksgiving and eid mubarak to all..

Kitchen Decor

2009-11-28T02:45:00.000+01:00

Oriental meets swedish crocheting in my kitchen window in Stockholm, Sweden.

Gingerbread Mosque!

2009-11-27T02:49:00.001+01:00

Today Sweden (and many other countries, some tomorrow) celebrates the muslim holiday Eid. This mosque was built two years ago however a new one will be built (successfully hopefully) on this Sunday. Will show you the end result then.

Happy and blessed Eid to all you celebrators out there!

Sweden's Eye

2009-11-26T02:25:00.000+01:00

The Swedish city Malmö has its own "Eye". I am of course referring to the London Eye ferris wheel. The weather on the day this photo was taken was also very Londony...

Global Themes is Back

2009-11-26T02:12:00.006+01:00

Dear Readers and GT photographers,

Global Themes has been on a very long hiatus. What can I say? Life kicks in, and priorities are sometimes not as they should be. At least in my case.

However, the blog will go on with one small change:

Instead of weekly themes, the blog will be free. Meaning, all GT photographers post what they like from their life and travels. Sort of like a global photo theme diary perhaps?

This was once a vibrant place where people from all over the world could meet. I hope we will see GT like that again.

Let's see where we go from here!

Spring has sprung

2009-05-18T13:51:00.000+02:00

Spring with a twist

2009-05-15T12:45:00.006+02:00

Last summer I spent a week in Caux, a mountain top town outside Monntreux (famous for its Jazz festival), in Switzerland. The scenery is amazing and during a walk to the top of the mountain we ran into a natural water spring. I had a drink and it was fresh!

Natural order

2009-05-03T10:50:00.004+02:00

It's been a while since the "Chaos" theme was listed and it doesn't seem that any of us ever got around to posting on the topic (ha! the irony!). So, I'm gonna take the initiative for the next topic and suggest "Order." This was the view from the thatch umbrella shade I lounged under recently in New Caledonia. The views every where you looked seemed just how paradise should look--every beautiful thing in its rightful place. ;)

Monument of wonder

2009-03-13T23:17:00.005+01:00

One can't escape mentioning the pyramids in Giza, Egypt when talking monuments. The question remains though; what are they a monument of? Great architecture, maybe even miraculous in away. Or great suffering?

jewish wedding blessings..

2009-02-26T12:49:00.001+01:00

just outside netanya israel..

coating..

2009-02-16T12:19:00.004+01:00

hanuka doughnuts coated in stuff.. chocolate wins hands down.. telaviv israel..

someone talking about you?

2009-02-16T12:17:00.001+01:00

my colleague's red ear burning in the sun as we walked through beit shemen forest in israel..

Chocolate Christmas Tree

2009-02-14T19:28:00.002+01:00

I didn't even dare ask about the prices. :)
Bologna, Italy.

Melted Goodness

2009-02-14T08:01:00.000+01:00

The boys decided to melt their Easter Eggs for a healthier option - dip fresh fruit into the warm, sweet chocolate!

Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Every day should be Sundae

2009-02-12T19:30:00.004+01:00

Chocolate ice cream with hot fudge sauce and fresh whipped cream - mmmmmmmmmmm!

Berlin, Germany

In a basket

2009-02-09T19:50:00.003+01:00

Big chocolate Easter eggs taunt me - but I held fast and was only tempted to take their image!

South Melbourne Markets, Victoria, Australia

Italian Red

2009-02-06T09:05:00.001+01:00

Scooters lined up in a row on the pavement.

Hamburg, Germany

Fresh

2009-02-05T13:50:00.000+01:00

Apples and tomatoes for sale in the South Melbourne Market.

Melbourne, VIC, Australia

Killer red

2009-02-04T03:19:00.001+01:00

Botanical gardens Singapore

Tree Community

2009-02-03T10:42:00.000+01:00

Red bugs, or Gemeine Feuerwanze in German, congregate on a tree in the Schloss Charlottenburg park.

Berlin, Germany

Valentine dates

2009-02-03T08:25:00.003+01:00

Singapore Botanical gardens.

Royally Red

2009-02-02T13:11:00.002+01:00

One of the many domes of the Mysore Palace, home of the Wodeyar dynasty.

Mysore, India.

Red Dates

2009-02-02T12:59:00.001+01:00

Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Red Tower

2009-02-01T13:30:00.002+01:00

The lights phase red on the Burj Al Arab.

Dubai, UAE

Night after night, he'll treat you right...

2009-02-01T13:08:00.006+01:00

...baby, it's the guitar man.

Taken at rehearsals for the 2006 Jazz Festival.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Walls make a house

2009-01-28T09:33:00.003+01:00

Walls of the Botanical gardens main house building, this leads to the famous Singaporean orchids.

It's a new day

2009-01-27T22:27:00.003+01:00

Last week, I was lucky enough to travel to Washington, DC to witness the inauguration of Barack Obama as the United States' 44th President. It... was... aaaaaahhhhhhh. Reeee-lief! This was on the wall going into the MidAtlantic Ball.

Warm Glow

2009-01-24T17:00:00.000+01:00

The textured painted wall and logo in Café Sarotti - one of our favourite Berlin cafés.

Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany

Strange Places

2009-01-21T18:15:00.003+01:00

Some people pick curious places to sunbathe.

Behind this wall was the most glorious sandy Australian beach. Then again, he was sheltered from the cool wind that was blowing off the water.

Port Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Seeing Double

2009-01-21T18:07:00.006+01:00

I sat in this room for a couple of hours while waiting for J to have Lasik eye surgery.

On this interior curved wall was a painting of a Berlin church. Across the street, 100m behind the mural and visible from the windows, was the real thing!

Berlin, Germany

Frozen Imagery

2009-01-21T17:40:00.003+01:00

Local children were photographed and displayed in this large mural which we walked past while on holiday.

Reykjavik, Iceland

Good luck...

2009-01-06T08:04:00.002+01:00

...for the new beginnings.

P.S. It is misspelt in the tag.

Thanks for the spell check in the tag (D'Rebel)

Universal City Dubai

2009-01-05T13:10:00.001+01:00

The promotion both for the newest proposed Universal Studio and Themepark, Dubai UAE.

Try to eat just one

2009-01-02T16:22:00.005+01:00

I dare you. The name on the box might say "Candy Cane Joe Joe's," but I think that the nickname I gave these cookies--Christmas Crack--is much more apt. Just TRY to eat only one... they're basically Oreo cookies with candy cane creme filling... it is truly impossible. They are totally addictive and I, for one, have no qualms about dealing these out and spreading the addiction. Maybe if there's enough demand for them, Trader Joe's will start carrying them year round instead of just around Christmas time. Bought these in California, spreading the addiction in Tokyo, one poor innocent at a time.

Swedish Treats

2009-01-01T15:59:00.003+01:00

There have been so many holidays overlapping each other the past weeks. Eid ul Adha, Christmas, Hannukah and New Years.

Although we don't celebrate christmas, the traditional Swedish baking that is done is very much part of our yearly routine. We fill the table and stomach with lussebullar (saffron buns), knäck (a kind of fudge with hazelnuts), kokosbollar (chocolate oatmeal balls covered in coconut) and pepparkakor (ginger bread cookies), to name a few. Stockholm, Sweden.

Entering 2009

2009-01-01T15:19:00.003+01:00

A Global Themes journey that began on December 11th 2006 and today, 1914 posts later and a group of contributors from all over the world, continues its way into the year 2009.

We have sipped coffee and tea at many cafés in winter white weather. We have been coloured both orange and yellow, and visited many capital cities and their government buildings and places of worship.

I myself have been a rather silent contributor the past year, though always present.

Thanks to dedicated and passionate fellow GT'ers, the blog has been kept running, alive and a place of discovery of the world's amazing inhabitants, cultures, religions and places.

D Rebel (now in Pakistan), Lirun (in Israel), Moi (in the US), Shalom (back in India), Diligent Candy (enjoying Singapore) , nzm (somehwere in the world), Miki (bringing us Tokyo) and Mo-ha-med (last I heard, in Palestine) to name a few who have been extra active, and whom I owe huge thanks for being part of making GT what it is.

THANK YOU DEAR FRIENDS!

Here's to 2009 and many more amazing travels around the world through the photos and videos that we get to see from our fellow www.globalthemes.org bloggers!

/Shaykhspeara

sufganyot..

2008-12-25T16:22:00.005+01:00

our jam doughnut hanuka delight.. israel..

fishy akko..

2008-12-21T12:18:00.000+01:00

markets in the old city of akko israel..

The Daily (or rather Nightly!) Catch

2008-12-17T07:08:00.003+01:00

Fish on display at Fort Kochi, right next to the iconic Chinese Nets where they're caught. The fish on the bottom left corner are Pearl Spot or currymeen in Malayalam - one of the fish Kerala is most famous for. On the right side, the three fish kept vertically were called 'helicopter fish' ...... I'm sure that's not really what they are, it just refers to how they're displayed :)

Taken in Kochi, Kerala.

market quench..

2008-12-16T12:24:00.001+01:00

sickly market slushies sold to supercharge your kids.. at the beachside markets of eilat israel..

eilat beach front markets 1..

2008-12-16T12:23:00.000+01:00

kaffiyes being sold at eilat israel..

seeds..

2008-12-13T18:21:00.003+01:00

these are not my memories from my childhood.. but these seeds of peace will have a recollection of working hard as children to bring peace to arabs and jews.. taken today at the festival of festivals - eid il eidat haifa israel.. they today are creating memories that i too hope to share.. god bless them..

my mum has quintaplets..

2008-12-13T18:17:00.003+01:00

i grew up in a foody family.. eggplant delights have always been a family specialty.. when i saw this one in my mother's fridge tonight i couldnt resist sharing.. telaviv israel..

A Bygone Era.....

2008-12-11T17:56:00.003+01:00

......but the structure still stands tall.

Mysore Palace, Karnataka, India.

Good Old Times

2008-12-09T05:48:00.000+01:00

Remembering the good old times, a camping/fishing trip with college friends in 2001. Iowa, USA.

One Winter Afternoon

2008-12-07T00:01:00.002+01:00

Old Man Winter is here. The fresh layer of snow, this season in Wisconsin, US.

Two ski poles and a snowboard = sknowboarding!

2008-12-05T16:14:00.003+01:00

Me showing that despite my defection from skis more than 14 years ago, I can still handle the poles like a pro. Sknowboarding in Niigata, Japan a couple years ago.

Paris Winter

2008-12-05T15:57:00.002+01:00

Being originally from Southern California, I was so excited to live in a city with seasons, including a "real" winter. Well, compared to places farther north, Paris' winter is relatively mild. But this first snow from my tiny appartement (yes, I had just the one window) was great! It was so pretty!

White all over

2008-12-04T20:55:00.000+01:00

Another picture of snow covered trees, there was fresh snow and I was snapping away from my car window, Muree, Pakistan

Let it snow

2008-12-04T20:48:00.000+01:00

A snow covered tree in Muree, Pakistan.

soapy sudds..

2008-12-03T14:48:00.000+01:00

dizingff square telaviv israel.. someone put soap in the fountain..

Icing

2008-12-01T12:39:00.005+01:00

It was -10degC and we were walking through icy snow in the Black Forest. Luckily, I was too excited to be photographing pretty scenery to register that I had lost the feeling in all my popsicle toes!

Schwarzwald, Germany

First Snowfall

2008-12-01T12:00:00.005+01:00

A couple of Saturdays ago, we had the first decent snowfall of the season at about 1am. It was enough to cover everything in a few centimeters of snow for about 12 hours before most of it melted away.

Berlin, Germany

Underwater Park

2008-11-29T16:25:00.004+01:00

The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is a protected area within the Great Barrier Reef which is the largest coral reef in the world, and the biggest structure to be made by living organisms - coral polyps.

I photographed J swimming around a large coral bommy on our last trip to the reef in July this year.

Queensland, Australia

Between 5th & 6th Aves and 40th & 42nd Sts

2008-11-29T16:05:00.006+01:00

Bryant Park is one of our favourite green spots in Manhattan, and we visit it whenever we're in the city. It's a privately run park and there's always something happening. With the exception of twice yearly fashion shows, every event in the park is free to the public, including the ice skating rink which is erected during winter.

New York, New York, USA

liquid park..

2008-11-27T16:07:00.003+01:00

a recreational space for people to kayak eilat israel (facing aqaba jordan - taken 20 minutes ago)..

Besides the Eiffel .....

2008-11-25T16:40:00.002+01:00

..... lies this cozy lil park!

Paris

A Park from the Movies

2008-11-25T16:27:00.002+01:00

A park that most Hindi film buffs would've seen in the film Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge :)

Interlaken, Switzerland

Light at the end of tunnel

2008-11-24T21:26:00.002+01:00

US supposedly started creating national parks in 1872 with Yellowstone National Park being the first. Today the country has 58 designated national parks . This was shot in Smoky Mountains National Park: established in June of 1934, is one of the largest protected areas in the Eastern United States. Set amidst Appalachian mountains it get its name due to the natural fog that hangs over the mountains in the mornings and after rains.

Canyons in midst of corn country

2008-11-24T21:22:00.003+01:00

Mid-western US is believed to be flat and replete with farmlands......while for most part that is true, imgaine our delight when we discovered these canyons amidst the corn country :) At Matthiessen State Park, Illinois, US.

Swans at the Jurong Bird Park

2008-11-24T05:19:00.000+01:00

Jurong Bird Park, Singapore

2008-11-24T05:15:00.000+01:00

The café area

2008-11-24T04:43:00.000+01:00

Al Azhar park hosts many restaurants and cafés as well as a souvienir shop. I would perhaps skip the shop but don't miss a visit to this green retreat in the middle of polluted and dusty Cairo.

View over the Park

2008-11-24T04:40:00.002+01:00

The Restaurant building of Al-Azhar Park seen from one of the green hills of outlook over the area. Cairo, Egypt. Underneath the rubble and garbage while building the park, one actually found part of the old city wall surrounding Cairo back in the day.

Garbage becomes Al-Azhar Park

2008-11-24T04:26:00.006+01:00

I discovered this amazing jewel in Cairo, Egypt last week. None other than Pakistani Agha Khan Foundation had turned an 500 year old garbage dump in Cairo near Hosseini into an amazing park with restaurants and fountains, all according to 13th century style Islamic Architecture.

The food was amazing and the views fantastic over old Islamic Cairo. The project was completed a few years back and some of the garbage dumps are now green hills with amazing viewpoints over Cairo.

Words make up Books

2008-11-23T15:54:00.003+01:00

On the facade of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt, different letters from the world´s written languages can be found. A very creative idea!

House of Books

2008-11-23T11:52:00.002+01:00

I just got back from my third visit to the land of the Pyramids and my favorite Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Alexandria, Egypt. Home to a lot of books, to say the least!

On the table

2008-11-22T20:24:00.003+01:00

.......some of the several that occupy the coffee table in our home (Illinois, US)

Under the table

2008-11-22T20:23:00.002+01:00

...they are all over the place. Needless to add, I love to surround myself with them. (Illinois, US)

By the bed

2008-11-22T20:22:00.001+01:00

.......the more the merrier :) (Illinois, US).

From my home.......

2008-11-22T20:21:00.001+01:00

This comes straight from our living-dining space (Illinois, US).

Paradise

2008-11-19T01:15:00.001+01:00

"I had always imagined paradise as a kind of library" - Jorge Luis Borges

Book seller

2008-11-18T05:59:00.001+01:00

A painting in Hong Kong.

Around the world, in a bookstore

2008-11-17T04:38:00.002+01:00

Some collection at the same book store in Bayfield, Wisconsin.

Enlighten my world!

2008-11-17T00:01:00.002+01:00

Books lined up in the background at this charming local book-store in Bayfield, Wisconsin, US.

pedestrian struck..

2008-11-10T23:19:00.005+01:00

this happened 30 minutes ago in yaffo israel.. you can just make out the huddle of onlookers and the ambulances flashing light.. let alone the honking of impatient drivers caught in the resulting traffic jam..

"In 2003, there were an estimated 68,016 to 160,504 serious pedestrian injuries and 46,286 to 109,226 pedal-cyclist injuries in the 25 European Union countries."
imagine worldwide..
in israel hundreds of people die a year as well from road accidents..

Obama Victory

2008-11-10T10:25:00.000+01:00

Collage of headlines from all over the world declaring Obama the new president of the United States of America.

C-ing Things

2008-11-09T17:47:00.004+01:00

Passing by the drinks fridge, this display caught our eyes - click on the image and read the line under the name.

This is Iced Black Tea with 5% Swiss hemp/cannabis bloom syrup and a tiny (0.0015 percent) quantity of THC, the active ingredient of marijuana, added to it. It's such a miniscule amount of THC that you would have to drink a heck of a lot of it to get anywhere near a buzz, but it's still interesting!

We've seen a similar product in a green can here in Germany.

I haven't tried it - I don't like tea.

Zϋrich, Switzerland

Highly Visible

2008-11-09T12:55:00.003+01:00

The Óshlíd Lighthouse stands guard over the Isafjarðardjúp fjörd.

From this point, we saw our first wild Orca pod which was a thrilling sight!

Bolungarvik, West Fjords, Iceland

No Peanuts

2008-11-09T12:45:00.003+01:00

Plump dried apricots hang out with other fruit and nuts in Rita's Nut Shop which was a favourite haunt of mine - particularly for the Turkish Delight and Wasabi Peas!

South Melbourne Markets, VIC, Australia

International Rescue

2008-11-09T12:10:00.008+01:00

The fishing boats' rescue raft capsules, lifebuoys and buffers glow in the twilight gloom. Some of the cabin roofs are also bright orange.

In maritime circles, orange is the colour of most rescue devices and the internationally recognised colour of distress, as it's highly visible.

Bolungarvik Harbour, West Fjords, Iceland

Nature's own display of fireworks

2008-11-07T04:04:00.000+01:00

at Galena, US.

Leaves

2008-11-07T04:02:00.001+01:00

...........in their autumnal glory in a local cemetery, Galena, US.

Hello Pumpkin :)

2008-11-07T04:00:00.001+01:00

The autumn harvest on display at a local farmer's market in Galena, US.