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Welcome to the Blog Zone!
All photographs and text are by me, the author of this website!
Explore a library of unique words and images; not content that has been regurgitated 1000 times!
Chinese Square Dance: where does it come from?
Dancing in China has been seen as an important way to improve fitness, and dexterity and recover from long-term illness
Isaac Ohringer
Sep 7, 20242 min read
171
History of Chinese Lanterns in Only a Few Words.
Perhaps the most iconic symbol of the Han Chinese, these lanterns can be found all over the world.
Isaac Ohringer
Jun 13, 20241 min read
92
Donglin Temple: A Little Known Gem in Shanghai
Donglin Temple was originally built in the Ming Dynasty in 1308, but the original structure has long been lost to the mists of time.
Isaac Ohringer
Jun 12, 20243 min read
173
What is a Puja in Buddhism?
What is a Puja? To put it simply, a Puja is a prayer. In Mahayana Buddhism, the most prominent branch of the faith, the Buddhas can be...
Isaac Ohringer
Apr 7, 20243 min read
118
Every 12 years: Pachali Bhairav Khadga Siddhi Jatra. What is it?
Every dozen years, a procession takes place. Hardly known outside of Nepal, this rare festival marks a story involving rice
Isaac Ohringer
Apr 4, 20247 min read
656
Holi in Nepal: A vibrant show indeed
What is it? Even if you don't know the name, a picture like this, with colours flying over the heads of the crowd is not exactly obscure....
Isaac Ohringer
Mar 25, 20243 min read
43
Why do kids block the streets with ropes during Maha Shivaratri in Nepal?
Two weeks ago, on Maha Shivaratri, the roads in Kathmandu and the surrounding valley were full of children with long ropes. They worked...
Isaac Ohringer
Mar 20, 20241 min read
194
Maha Shivaratri in Nepal: where does it come from and why is it celebrated?
Maha Shivaratri (Night of Shiva) is a Hindu celebration of Shiva's wedding to Parvati. The festival is unusual for Hinduism in that it...
Isaac Ohringer
Mar 20, 20243 min read
76
A Short Modern History of Buddhism in Nepal
In the last few decades, Nepal has experienced a revival of Buddhism as a result of increased openness by the Nepalese government. In the...
Isaac Ohringer
Mar 11, 20243 min read
182
![London Lights at Night: How long have they been here? [A Short History]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a38d37_bea4f45ec911418db49ef081dc308671~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1332,h_1000,fp_0.50_0.50,q_30,blur_30,enc_avif,quality_auto/a38d37_bea4f45ec911418db49ef081dc308671~mv2.jpg)
![London Lights at Night: How long have they been here? [A Short History]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/a38d37_bea4f45ec911418db49ef081dc308671~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1220,h_916,fp_0.50_0.50,q_90,enc_avif,quality_auto/a38d37_bea4f45ec911418db49ef081dc308671~mv2.jpg)
London Lights at Night: How long have they been here? [A Short History]
Lighting has been a significant concern for humanity for thousands of years. This was no different in London. Until the 16th century,...
Isaac Ohringer
Jan 11, 20242 min read
130
London Buses: Why are they red?
London Buses have been around for almost 200 years. In 1829, the first recognisable bus service was created between Paddington and...
Isaac Ohringer
Jan 7, 20241 min read
158
Falconry: a noble pastime
Falconry has often been a sport associated with the medieval nobility. Yet its roots are much older, the Hittites (now in modern Turkey),...
Isaac Ohringer
Nov 20, 20232 min read
48
The Yom Kippur War: How a man peed Into the Suez Canal.
(This article does not condone either side in the current 2023 conflict nor previous conflicts involving Israel) There is a picture of an...
Isaac Ohringer
Oct 9, 20233 min read
30
The History of Dogs: Man's Best Friend
The history of dogs started long ago. Dogs originated around 12,000 to 14,000 years ago (although it could have been earlier). The...
Isaac Ohringer
Oct 6, 20233 min read
54
Horses in the Past: Creating Kingdoms and Feeding Millions
While horses in the 21st century might not be seen as important, they certainly were until very recently. The first horses seem to have...
Isaac Ohringer
Oct 2, 20234 min read
88
Highgate Cemetery: The Place Where People Pay to See a Communist.
Highgate Cemetery is London’s best-known cemetery. Why? Because everywhere you turn, there is a famous dead writer, in gravestone form....
Isaac Ohringer
Oct 2, 20232 min read
185
Cockfighting in China: a Long Gruesome Show
Cockfighting in China has a history of more than 2,800 years. According to historical texts, as early as ancient China's Spring and...
Isaac Ohringer
Sep 26, 20233 min read
41
Mount Snowdon: Where the Weather Never Makes up its Mind
Just as the weather on this ancient terrain is prone to change, so has this mountain's story had a few twists and turns along the way. So...
Isaac Ohringer
Sep 20, 20233 min read
48
The Barbican Estate: That One Instance of Good Brutalism
The Barbican estate is a complex which has 2,000 Flats and is in Central London, the estate was built in the 1960s.
Isaac Ohringer
Sep 19, 20233 min read
188
Topkapi Palace: the Seat of Ottoman Power
The Topkapi Palace, known as "Topkapi Sarayi" in Turkish, is a palace complex located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is not far from the Aya...
Isaac Ohringer
Sep 17, 20232 min read
154
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