Etosha National Park, Namibia by safari-partners on Flickr.

Namibia by muriwai_girl on Flickr.

Etosha National Park, Namibia by safari-partners on Flickr.

Manama, Bahrain

The Systematic torture in Bahrain continues with full impunity on torturers
http://bit.ly/myjPGq 14feb

Bahrain: Front Line’s Andrew Anderson highlights the denial of justice in the trial of Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja
http://bit.ly/jwMb1l 14feb

Bahrain uprising Martyrs
http://ping.fm/tQRKG

Surely my favourite place on earth.

Seems like the weeds always grow faster than the grass.

Surely my favourite place on earth. 

Lago Como. Italy

Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles

Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles

OMG ITS THE SAME PAVILION FOR REALLLLL

OMG ITS THE SAME PAVILION FOR REALLLLL

Tech Talk with @UniCycle50

Eduard Bohlen shipwreck, Namibia

Windhoek, Namibia (outside of Windhoek)

Eduard Bohlen shipwreck, Namibia

The Eduard Bohlen was a ship that ran aground off the coast of Namibia’s Skeleton Coast on September 5, 1909, in a thick fog. Currently the wreck lies in the sand a distance from the shoreline.

The ship was a 2,272 gross ton cargo ship with a length of 310 feet. In September 1909, it ran aground in thick fog and wrecked at Conception Bay while on a voyage from Swakopmund to Table Bay. This wreck is said to personify the loneliness of Namibia’s coast best. Its remains lie rusting in the sand, partially buried.

artificialowl

[Guardian] Bahrain rights activists jailed for life

Bahrain unrest: Eight Shia activists sentenced to life:

Bahrain has sentenced eight Shia pro-democracy activists to life in jail for “plotting to overthrow the government”, the state news agency says.

They were among 21 opposition figures tried by a special security court. Others got sentences of up to 15 years.

Ahead of the verdict, their supporters blocked roads and staged rallies.

Bahrain’s mainly Shia protesters have been calling for democratic reforms and more rights for the country’s Shia majority in the Sunni-ruled kingdom.

They have long complained of systematic discrimination, and point to high unemployment, poor housing and the fact that they are denied high-level positions in government departments.

A wave of peaceful protests swept the country in February and March, but they were put down by force by the government, which called in troops from neighbouring Gulf states. Emergency law was only lifted on 1 June.

Correspondents say the sentencing threatens to re-ignite simmering tensions in the tiny Gulf state.

Read More: BBC News

Bahrain's crackdown: Out of the streets into the courts:

Eight activists are given life sentences and hundreds more face trial and torture

Durrat Al Bahrain is the largest artificial islands in Al Bahrain  after the Amwaj Islands, the island is composed of 13 series of artificial island with an area of about 20 million square meters with a 6 and 5 fish-shaped island crescent-shaped island. Facilities at the Durrat Al Bahrain is so complete, there are five-star hotel, an extensive golf course, 12 bridges. The marina is developed by a joint venture between Durrat Khaleej Al Bahrain and Tameer, one of the GCC region’s leading developers. The marina development is the first of its kind in the Middle East, based on the type and size.

[source]

A perspective from space can be found here.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Bahraini protesters poured back to the streets Wednesday after a security court sentenced eight Shiite activists to life in prison in the latest blow by the Western-backed kingdom to cripple the biggest Arab Spring opposition movement in the Gulf.

The fast and angry reaction to the verdicts — the most significant display of unrest in weeks — underscored the volatility in the island nation after four months of unrest and raised questions about whether any credible pro-reform leaders will heed calls by the Sunni monarchy to open talks next week.

In size, Bahrain is little more than a speck off the coast of Saudi Arabia. But it draws in some of the region’s major players: hosting the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet and serving as a growing point of friction between Gulf powers Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Security forces used tear gas to drive back hundreds of Shiite marchers trying to reach a central square in the capital Manama, which was once the hub of their protests for greater rights. In other Shiite areas, protesters gathered in the streets but were held back by riot police. No injuries were reported.

Bahrain has allowed two major rallies this month by the main opposition party, but the confrontations Wednesday were among the biggest challenges to security forces since martial law-style rule was lifted June 1.

Shiites account for 70 percent of Bahrain’s population of some 525,000, but claim they face systematic discrimination such as being barred from top government and political posts.

The protests — claiming at least 31 lives since February — have put U.S. officials in the difficult position of both denouncing the violence and standing by Bahrain’s rulers and their call for dialogue. In response, opposition groups have increased demands that include an end to the political trials and withdrawal of a Saudi-led regional force helping prop up Bahrain’s ruling family.

In Washington, State Department spokesman Mark Toner said the U.S. was “concerned about the severity” of the sentences and the use of the military-linked security courts. He noted that President Barack Obama said in May that “such steps are at odds with the universal rights of Bahrain’s citizens.”

“We continue to urge the Bahraini government to abide by its commitment to transparent judicial proceedings, conducted in full accordance with Bahrain’s international legal obligations, and to create the conditions for a meaningful, inclusive and credible dialogue,” he said.

Bahrain’s government said in statement late Wednesday that the convicted activists were responsible for “bringing the country to the brink of total anarchy” with a wave of marches and sit-ins earlier this year.

“Today’s sentencing sends a message that law and order will be preserved,” the statement said, pledging to guard against “attempts to overthrow the regime.”

The official Bahrain News Agency said those sentenced to life include prominent Shiite political figures Hassan Mushaima and Abdul Jalil al-Singace and rights activist Abdulhadi al-Khawaja. Mushaima returned from self-exile in London earlier this year after Bahrain’s leaders promised to erase old charges of opposing the state.

Pro-reform activist Ibrahim Sharif — the only Sunni among the suspects — received five years in prison, while other sentences ranged from two to 15 years. The sentences can be appealed.

A leading opposition figure cast doubt on whether talks can get under way.

“We should conduct the dialogue in an open atmosphere, not when people are being arrested,” said Khalil al-Marzooq, who was among the 18 Shiite parliament members who staged a mass resignation to protest the crackdowns earlier this year.

The charges at the latest security court trial show the depths of the tensions. The activists were convicted of trying to overthrow Bahrain’s 200-year-old monarchy and having links to “a terrorist organization abroad” — an obvious reference to claims that Iranian-backed Hezbollah is behind the unrest.

Eight received life sentences while 13 others received shorter prison terms apparently because they weren’t considered leaders.

Bahrain’s rulers fear that any Shiite gains in the country could open new footholds for influence by Shiite power Iran.

Shiite leaders in Bahrain repeatedly have denied any ties to Iran and accuse leaders of using the fears of Iranian string-pulling to wage crackdowns that have included hundreds of arrests and purges from jobs and universities.

Fourteen of the 21 convicted are in custody while the rest were sentenced in absentia by the security court, which uses military prosecutors and a military-civilian tribunal. Among the life sentences, however, all but one of the suspects was in Bahrain.

Sharif’s wife, Farida Ghulam, said her husband cried out “Our people demand freedom” after the sentences were read.

Ghulam said al-Khawaja then shouted: “We will continue our struggle.” His daughter, Zainab, was dragged from court by female guards after she yelled “Allahu akbar,” or “God is great,” said Ghulam.

The verdicts could also bring some direct diplomatic fallout. At least two of those sentenced to life also hold European passports: al-Khawaja, who is a Danish citizen, and Mohammed Habib al-Muqdad, who has Swedish citizenship.

The court has presided over a series of cases linked to the protests, including issuing two death sentences against men accused of killing police officers during the demonstrations. Earlier this month, it sentenced a 20-year-old woman to a year in prison for reading poetry critical of Bahrain’s king.

Next week, a trial is scheduled to resume for more than 30 doctors and nurses accused of supporting the protests. Some of the medical personnel claim they were abused while in custody.

___

Associated Press writers Matthew Lee in Washington and Barbara Surk in Dubai contributed to this report.

[BBC] Bahrain unrest: Eight Shia activists sentenced to life[Guardian] Bahrain rights activists jailed for life:

Military court finds eight campaigners guilty of plotting coup during protests in Sunni-ruled kingdom

Potsdam at night (by mdoors)

Potsdam at night (by mdoors)

Beautiful days with beautiful people...

Just arrived in Sarzburg last evening and now in Linz.
The days in Berlin before coming here were also wonderful.

I have to recognize that I missed the time so much.

And I thank all people who have helped me for this short trip. Thanks to them, now I am here and having beautiful, fruitful time.

Vielen dank … :) 

View of an old Greek-inspired palace, from Frederick the...

Universität Potsdam, Berlín - Alemania

View of an old Greek-inspired palace, from Frederick the Great’s retreat palace, Sans Souci (Without worry)

Jaguar E / 1961 on Flickr.Shot of a Jaguar E, construction year...

Salzburg, Austria (by Peter Gutierrez)

Because I’m excited! I forgot to blog about it last week, but we had a meeting about what we’d be doing while we’re away in Austria with orchestra, and it was one of those lovely moments where you slowly start to smile, and by the end of the presentation you’re just full on grinning. 

So we’re staying here:
 

which is in Huttau near Salzburg. 

Then we’re going here:

Which is St Gilgen where we’re doing a concert in a pavilion on the banks of this lake, the ‘Wolfgangsee’ 

Then we’re going to actual Salzburg

Maybe looking round Mozart’s birth place. 

We might be going across the border to see Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest, which is one of those creepy but interesting things, and it’s in my history textbook etc.

And a salt mine, which looks pretty fucking nice. 

And then on the way home we’re having a day at Disney Land like we did last tour and playing at “Magic Music Days” and watching the parade and the fireworks.

AND OMG I JUST CANNOT WAIT! 
(I’m sorry to have bored you all with these photos) 

Source - ArtPhoto

Austria (by jasmine8559)

Salzburg, Austria at sunset

I know many of you have been waiting for this EPIC Sound of Music Video that Sara and I made. If you don’t watch the whole thing, at least watch the last few minutes starting at 5:40. Enjoy! (it is also the corniest video I have ever made)

The Leo’s Sound of Music Salzburg Tour (by Josh Leo)

Salzburg, Austria

Jaguar E / 1961 on Flickr.

Shot of a Jaguar E, construction year 1961, taken at the Gaisberg Rallye in Salzburg, 2011

Potsdam at night (by mdoors)

Potsdam at night (by mdoors)