Drakensbergen - Lesotho

In one of my last weekends I made a trip to Drakensbergen and Lesotho.
Lesotho is an enclaved landlocked country completly surrounded by South Africa.

Hluhluwe Safari - South-Africa

My third weekend trip was a Safari in the park HluHluwe (pronounce: SluSluwe).

I did see the complete Big Five: Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Rhino and Leopard.

Here some pictures:

(not one of the Big Five)

Oribi Gorge - South-Africa

My second weekend trip was to Oribi Gorge (South-Africa).

I'll just show you the pictures.

Wild Coast - South-Africa

Last month I came back from 8 weeks South-Africa.
I did soms volentairs work and in the weekends I made some touristic tours. One was to the Wild Coast.

If you see the pictures, I'm sure I do not have to explain why it's cold the Wild Coast.

This last picture is of a mangrove forest at the Wild Coast

National Anthem: Tibet

One last national anthem. Tibet isn't an independent country but I really like their anthem and I love the sound of it!

So no info this time, but just listen and enjoy.

National Anthem: Mongolia

The tenth and last national anthem and I choose Mongolia.

Over the past 100 years, Mongolia had several national anthems. The first one was used between 1924 adn 1950. It was called the Mongolia Internationale. It is significantly different from the well known "Internationale" from Russia.
in 1950 there was a new anthem chosen and in 1961 again.
In 1991 most of the anthem of 1950 is used again, but the second verse (praising Lenin, Stalin, Sukhbaatar and Choibalsan) has been removed.

Here's the lyrics and translation of it.
 

Mongolia Дархан манай тусгаар улс Даяар монголын ариун голомт Далай их дээдсийн гэгээн үйлс Дандаа энхжиж, үүрд мөнхөжнө Хамаг дэлхийн шударга улстай Хамтран нэгдсэн эвээ бэхжүүлж Хатан зориг, бүхий л чадлаараа Хайртай Монгол орноо мандуулъя Өндөр төрийн минь сүлд ивээж Өргөн түмний минь заяа түшиж Үндэс язгуур, хэл соёлоо Үрийн үрдээ өвлөн бадраая Эрэлхэг Монголын золтой ардууд Эрх чөлөө жаргалыг эдлэв Жаргалын түлхүүр, хөгжлийн тулгуур Жавхлант манай орон мандтугай

English Our unwavering independent nation All Mongols' sacred ancestry All world's good deeds Always stable, forever continue With all honest nations of the world Strengthen our bonds With all our will and strength Let's develop our beloved Mongolia Our great nation's symbol blesses The peoples' fate supports Our ancestry, culture and language Let's forever cherish and prosper Bright peoples of brave Mongolia Have freedom and happiness Key to happiness, column for prosperity Our great country prosper

National Anthem: New Zealand

Two more to go before we traveled the world in 10 National Anthems. This time we listen to New Zealands national anthem.

New Zealand actually has two national anthems. One of them is God save the Queen, the same anthem as the United Kingdom. Their second anthem is God defent New Zealand. That's the one we're going to listen to.

The lyrics, originaly a poem was writen in 1876 but it wasn't  til 1970 that it was named the second national anthem. The lyrics is a combination of Maori and English

Here is the lyrics:

Māori verse: "Aotearoa" E Ihowā Atua, O ngā iwi mātou rā Āta whakarangona; Me aroha noa Kia hua ko te pai; Kia tau tō atawhai; Manaakitia mai Aotearoa

English translation (Karetu) O Lord, God, of all people Listen to us, Cherish us May good flourish, May your blessings flow. Defend Aotearoa

Continent box Antarctica #2 life at the continent

Hallo travelers,

We're going back to the cold south today to look at the animals at Antarctica. With the freezing cold at the continent there aren't many animals, a few birds, seals and whales.

I'm trying to collect lots of different (plastic) pinguïns and other animals, but it isn't going fast so far. I decided also to make cards (A6 size) with pictures and names of the animals. I searched the internet (google) for nice pictures of six different pinguïns (Adelie pinguin, King pinguin, Emperor pinguin, Gentoo pinguin, Rockhopper pinguin, Macaroni pinguin)

I also looked for pictures of diffrent mammals that live in the sea, ten different seals and whales.

I printed the cards and laminted them to put in my continent box.

Here my mammal cards.

National Anthem: Russia

We travel on and go to Russia, a country that actually is part of two continents, Europe and Asia.
Most people however live in the European part of Russia so that's why I consider it European.
More about that in an other blog later.

In the past 100 years Russia had actually had many different national anthems.
In 1944 Russia repaced its anthem (used since 1902) for the Soviet anthem because it was more Russocentric.
After 1956 the anthem was used without lyrics because it referenced to former leader Joseph Stalin. It was only in 1977 that a new lyrics was introduces by Mikhalkov. This new lyrics was placing less emphasis on the Great Patriotic War and more on the victory of communism.

in 1990 Russia sought a new anthem after the collepse of the Soviet Union. The lyric-free "Patrioticheskaya Pesnya", composted by Mikhail Glinka was officially adopted that same year.
in 1993 the government sponsered a contest to create lyrics but non of the enteries were adopted. This resulted in Presedent Vladimir Putin's restoration of the Soviet anthem.
Eventually the goverment sponsored a contest to find lyrics to a compositon by Mikhalkov. The new anthem was adopted in alte 2000. This is the same anthem as they use now adays

National Anthem: Indonesia

The 7th national anthem is from Indonesia.
The song was 'born' long before Indonesia was again an independed country after successon of the Dutch East Indies.

The song was introduced in 1928 during the Second Indonesian Youth Congress in Batavia by it's composer Wage Rudolf Supratman. It marked the birth of all nationalis movements in Indonesia that suported a single Indonesia rather than spliting in several colonies.

Later the song was chosen at national anthem in 1945 when Indonesia proclaimed it's independence.

This is the first piece of the lyrics:

Indonesia tanah airku,
Tanah tumpah darahku,
Di sanalah aku berdiri,
Jadi pandu ibuku.

 

Indonesia kebangsaanku,

Bangsa dan tanah airku,

Marilah kita berseru,

Indonesia bersatu.

 

Hiduplah tanahku,
Hiduplah negeriku,
Bangsaku, Rakyatku, semuanya,
Bangunlah jiwanya,
Bangunlah badannya,
Untuk Indonesia Raya.

 

Refrain :

Indonesia Raya,

Merdeka, merdeka,

Tanahku, neg'riku yang kucinta!

Indonesia Raya,

Merdeka, merdeka,

Hiduplah Indonesia Raya!

Continent box Africa #2 People

Hi everybody,

Today is International Nelson Mandela day, so this Friday we're looking at the people of Africa.

The people of Africa are on of the things that shows the variety of the continent. Their skin color is a little different every place you go, their clothes, their habits, their life.

I made 30 cards with pictures of the people of Africa, beautiful portrets from 30 different countries.
Here are a few.

these are actually the old ones. I re-did them and wrote the country under it.

Here are some.

 

 

National Anthem: France

The next national anthem we're going to listen to is the Frenc. It is called 'La Marseillaise' which means 'The song of Marseille'.

I choose the France anthem for today because tomorrow it's the the France national day. In the English speaking countries also called 'Bastille Day'.

The song was writen en composed in 1792 during the Frence Revalutionary Wars by Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle. Three years later in 1795 is became the National Anthem of France.

It is the first 'March' song used as a national anthem in Europe. When you listen to it you can hear the army marching by.

The lyrics is quite long so here only a little piece of it with English ranslation:

French lyrics	English translation
Allons enfants de la Patrie,	Arise, children of the Fatherland,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé !	The day of glory has arrived!
Contre nous de la tyrannie,	Against us tyranny
L'étendard sanglant est levé, (bis)	Raises its bloody banner (repeat)
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes	Do you hear, in the countryside,
Mugir ces féroces soldats ?	The roar of those ferocious soldiers?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras	They're coming right into your arms
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes !	To cut the throats of your sons and women!
Aux armes, citoyens,	To arms, citizens,
Formez vos bataillons,	Form your battalions,
Marchons, marchons !	Let's march, let's march!
Qu'un sang impur	Let an impure blood
Abreuve nos sillons !	Water our furrows! (repeat)
Que veut cette horde d'esclaves,	What does this horde of slaves,
De traîtres, de rois conjurés ?	Of traitors and conjured kings want?
Pour qui ces ignobles entraves,	For whom are these vile chains,
Ces fers dès longtemps préparés ? (bis)	These long-prepared irons? (repeat)
Français, pour nous, ah ! quel outrage	Frenchmen, for us, ah! What outrage
Quels transports il doit exciter !	What fury it must arouse!
C'est nous qu'on ose méditer	It is us they dare plan
De rendre à l'antique esclavage !	To return to the old slavery!
Aux armes, citoyens...	To arms, citizens...

Continent box South-America #2 the tast of...

Hi travelers,

Today again a little peek in my South-American continent box. At the last peek you have already seen to pictures of fruit. Today more of my fruit and spices cards.

South America has many unknown fruits and spices. We know many from Asia, but some how the ones from South-America stayed less known.

Have you ever seen these pieces of fruit? I know I never have. They are Carambola and Pitaya (never heard of either). Wow some look even stranger than others.

Some other 'new' tasts come from the different spices. To bad you can't smell the picture.

I printed the cards (A6 size) and laminated them. I made only six fruit cards, but making this blog I think I'll make some more. There are so many strange pieces of fruit.

National Anthem: North Korea

No#5 a national anthem we hardly ever hear because the contry is very closed-up, the national anthem of North Korea.
I choose this anthem because it is so unfamiliar. North Korea adopted this song in 1947 and is called "Aegukka".
There isn't much known about the North Korean anthem.

A lyrics has little use for we can't read the North Korean letters. But in the video clip the text is subtitled in English.




You should also watch this video clip

Continent box North America #2

So, A second peak in my North American Continent box. Last May I visited New York City for four days. So this time I'll show my my souveniers.

We visited lots of places, so I have some maps and tickets. Liberty Island and Ellis Island, Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Central Park and a broadway Musical; Phantom of the Opera!

Off course I had to buy a tiny Statue of Liverty!

And I totally loved this umbrella. It's a see through with I Love NY on it.

National Anthem: United Kingdom

No#4 of the National Anthems is going to be God Save the Queen from the United Kingdom. I think it's a well known anthem in most parts of the world, probably because of the language.

Before Queen Elisabeth was the queen the text was God Save the King and offcourse when Charles becomes the king, it will again be God Save the King.
For some Commenwealth contries 'God Save the Queen' is the Royal Anthem (not the National Anthem)

Here's the lyrics:

God save our gracious Queen!

Long live our noble Queen!

God save the Queen!

Send her victorious,

Happy and glorious,

Long to reign over us:

God save The Queen!

 

O Lord our God arise,

Scatter her enemies,

And make them fall:

Confound their politics,

Frustrate their knavish tricks,

On Thee our hopes we fix:

God save us all.

 

Thy choicest gifts in store,

On her be pleased to pour;

Long may she reign:

May she defend our laws,

And ever give us cause,

To sing with heart and voice,

God save the Queen!

 

Continent box Australia #2 What people make

Hi there,

We're going to look at the continent Australia today and what the people make (stemps and instruments).
The continents are not only being represented by what the continent grows but also by what the people living in it make. Stemps are often tiny works of art that picture all the thinks that a country is proud of. Instruments are made by men and they make the sound of the continent.

Here what I collected so far.

DIY cards with instruments on it.
The fruit cards will be mentioned in a lter

Australian and New Zealand stemps

National Anthem: Argenina

The third national anthem I choose is the one from Argenina. The anthem is already more than 200 years old. It was adopted as national song in 1813, three years after the May Revelution.
In 1924 they shortend the song letting out the part about the vivid attacks agains Spain.

What I like about is the music. There are many instrument to hear like a complete symphony orchestra, that makes the song very rich.
Luckly there are video clips with english subtitels because otherwise I wouldn't have a clue what they sang about.

For the everybody who can read it, here's the lyrics:

Oíd, mortales, el grito sagrado:
"¡Libertad! ¡Libertad! ¡Libertad!"
Oíd el ruido de rotas cadenas
ved en trono a la noble igualdad

Ya su trono dignísimo abrieron
las Provincias Unidas del Sud
y los libres del mundo responden:
"¡Al gran pueblo argentino, salud!"
"¡Al gran pueblo argentino, salud!"
Y los libres del mundo responden:
"¡Al gran pueblo argentino, salud!"
Y los libres del mundo responden:
"¡Al gran pueblo argentino, salud!"

Sean eternos los laureles,
que supimos conseguir,
que supimos conseguir.
Coronados de gloria vivamos...
o juremos con gloria morir!
O juremos con gloria morir!
O juremos con gloria morir!
 

Continent box Africa #2 Animals

Hi Tigers

Well that's just a word joke to introduce the next subject: African animals in my continent box.

Africa is known for its big and megificant animals but also for its deadly, fast and weird animals.
So far I have seen the camels and small crocodiles and many different birds. But last Sunday arrived in South-Africa for a two month stay and off course I will go on safari where i hope to see zebras, elephants, giraffes, wilde beast and many more.

In my continent box I have different ways of collecting the African animals. I'll show you.



A plastic camel, lion cub, jaguar, vulture and a stone elephant.

 Five drawings on postcards

And these cards. A selection form a supermarket collection "Super Animals" sponsort by the WNF (WWF)

DIY: pinguins out of toilet paper rolls

Last week I made different Zoo animals with the kids. We used toilet paper tubes to make the animals.

I think I liked the pinguïns the best. So here a few examples.

It is really easy. Roll a piece of black paper around the tube. Cut out a piece of white for the belly of the pinguin. with orange you make two feet and a beak and with black again two wings.
Off course you can make it as difficult as you wish.

To make a few different pinguïns look up some pictures and use them as example.

National Anthem: South Africa

Today I'm flying to South Africa to do some volentering in the next 8 weeks.
So the next National Anthem Í'm doing is the South African (offcourse).

What I really like about this anthem is how it is build up from 5 of the 11 languages that South Africa has. Xhola, Zulu, Sesotho, Afrikaans en English.
I actually think the South African anthem is one of the most beautiful in the world.

Here are the lyrics of the South African anthem:

(Xhosa)

Nkosi sikelel' iAfrika
Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo,

(Zulu)

Yizwa imithandazo yethu,
Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo

(Sesotho)

Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso,
O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho,
O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso,
Setjhaba sa, South Afrika — South Afrika.

(Afrikaans)

Uit die blou van onse hemel,
Uit die diepte van ons see,
Oor ons ewige gebergtes,
Waar die kranse antwoord gee,

(English)

Sounds the call to come together,
And united we shall stand,
Let us live and strive for freedom
In South Africa our land.

 

 

Also listen to the song below, it's the same anthem but it repeats the pieces and I think it is really beautiful.

Grey Explains: How many countries are there?

Our plant is a big place and there are many countries. But how many are there actually?

I can start a list:
- The Netherlands
- Germany
- United Kingdom
- United States of America
- Canada
- Egypt
- Turkey
- South-Africa
- ..
- ..

Well, maybe this isn't the best way to find out how many countries there are.

Luckly Grey made a video clip to explain this complicated question.


I would like to try to talk about as many countries as posible on this blog. That makes a long to-do list ;-)

What countries have you been to?

DIY: Asian paper dolls

I like to make paper dolls. They are cute, easy to make and colorfull. I've been looking for nice coloring pages to use for my paper dolls and I found many cute ones.

Today we're making paper dolls of Asian people.

What you need to make these is:
- printed coloring pages
- coloring pencils
- scissors

First print a few coloring pages. Then you and your kids can start coloring them. When finished, cut them out.
I lamineted them but you can also gluw them to a piece of cardboard.

To remember from which country they are, write it down on the back side of your paper doll.

Here some of the coloring pages I used, but there are many more on the internet.