Around 700 BC, the poet Hesiod’s Theogony offered the first written cosmogony, or origin story, of Greek mythology. The Theogony tells the story of the universe’s journey from nothingness (Chaos, a primeval void) to being, and details an elaborate family tree of elements, gods and goddesses who evolved from Chaos and descended from Gaia (Earth), Ouranos (Sky), Pontos (Sea) and Tartaros (the Underworld).
Pantheon
Greek Mythology: The Olympians
At the center of Greek mythology is the pantheon of deities who were said to live on Mount Olympus, the highest mountain in Greece. From their perch, they ruled every aspect of human life. Olympian gods and goddesses looked like men and women (though they could change themselves into animals and other things) and were–as many myths recounted–vulnerable to human foibles and passions.
The twelve main Olympians are:
Zeus (Jupiter, in Roman mythology): the king of all the gods (and father to many) and god of weather, law and fate
Hera (Juno): the queen of the gods and goddess of women and marriage
Aphrodite (Venus): goddess of beauty and love
Apollo (Apollo): god of prophesy, music and poetry and knowledge
Ares (Mars): god of war
Artemis (Diana): goddess of hunting, animals and childbirth
Athena (Minerva): goddess of wisdom and defense
Demeter (Ceres): goddess of agriculture and grain
Dionysos (Bacchus): god of wine, pleasure and festivity
Hephaistos (Vulcan): god of fire, metalworking and sculpture
Hermes (Mercury): god of travel, hospitality and trade and Zeus’s personal messenger
Poseidon (Neptune): god of the sea
Other gods and goddesses sometimes included in the roster of Olympians are:
Hades (Pluto): god of the underworld
Hestia (Vesta): goddess of home and family
Eros (Cupid): god of sex and minion to Aphrodite
Temple of Zeus the Olympian
Greek Mythology: Heroes and Monsters
Greek mythology does not just tell the stories of gods and goddesses, however.
Human heroes–such as Heracles, the adventurer who performed 12 impossible labors for King Eurystheus (and was subsequently worshipped as a god for his accomplishment); Pandora, the first woman, whose curiosity brought evil to mankind; Pygmalion, the king who fell in love with an ivory statue; Arachne, the weaver who was turned into a spider for her arrogance; handsome Trojan prince Ganymede who became the cupbearer for the gods; Midas, the king with the golden touch; and Narcissus, the young man who fell in love with his own reflection–are just as significant. Monsters and “hybrids” (human-animal forms) also feature prominently in the tales: the winged horse Pegasus, the horse-man Centaur, the lion-woman Sphinx and the bird-woman Harpies, the one-eyed giant Cyclops, automatons (metal creatures given life by Hephaistos), manticores and unicorns, Gorgons, pygmies, minotaurs, satyrs and dragons of all sorts. Many of these creatures have become almost as well known as the gods, goddesses and heroes who share their stories.
Are you like me who just doesn’t like to buy gifts for anyone when travelling? If you are…..whats your excuses???
Me….I dont have room in my luggage as I travel light!
Now that doesn’t always settle down with alot of people and most think I am just an ungrateful person and do not like them.
I do make exceptions thou…..and usually make exceptions for friends who are genuine and they usually send me payments for any gifts they want.
Another exception are for friends and family which I probably missed out on Christmas gift or birthday gifts and I feel horrible about that as well.
So this week it was a hunt for a Genuine Hand-made Greek Sandals just to make up for a failed Christmas gift…..yeap….I failed miserable last Christmas.
So had to walk around the whole Island of Naxos in Greece just to find the perfect Sandals. After about an hour of searching I came across this little shop tucked away in a narrow street alley.
Pagonis create high quality handmade leather Greek sandals the past 80 years. The Pagonis family is evolving the craftsmanship of manufacturing the best Greek Sandals
The owners of the firm “PAGONIS” specialize in the art of making leather goods and have been involved in this business, working on the island of Naxos since 1940. The first generation of the family learnt the secrets of leather and shoemaking from their uncles Andrea and Manoli Diasiti, who had a shoemaking workshop in the previous century.
In 1940 the three brothers of the Pagonis family made their own workshop, supplying the Naxos market with handmade shoes, whose notable characteristics were their innovative designs and their unrivalled quality.
In 1950 the family business moved to Athens where a modern shoe and leather goods factory was opened with the name of “ PAGONIS” Bros. The products were on sale in well known Athens shops.
In 1982 the name “PAGONIS” reappeared in Naxos, it’s owners running a successful business with two retail shoe and leather goods shops and a workshop. This new page in the history of the company was initiated by Kostas S. Pagonis, who belong to the second generation of the family.
Our efforts over all these years have been with the aim of continuing the worthy traditions and with the emphasis on maintaining the quality of our products, on offering a wide choice, competitive prices and a personal service. Now, at the beginning of another new century, we have new ideas but also a strong basis from which to keep progressing, aiming always for better promotion, in Greece and worldwide, of the craft which we love and it’s products – Kosta Pagonis
A walk around Athens and you’d surely come up to a important ancient sites from the Classical and Roman times
The Acroplis
The Acropolis also called the Sacred Rock, is the most important ancient heritage of the country. It is also the trademark and most famous site of Athens and of Greece. It has been the main attraction of Athens since the 5th century BC and is dedicated to Athena, the goddess of wisdom and protector of the city.
Acropolis
The Parthenon
The Parthenon, the most famous ancient Greek temple ever, stands proudly over the modern megalopolis of Athens, a reminder of the great civilization he has witnessed. The Acropolis can be seen from almost every part of Athens. It was and still is, without any doubt, the ultimate achievement of the city classical and architectural glory
Parthenon
Herodeion Theatre
The Herodeion Theatre is one of the most impressive monuments of Athens and it is today hosting the Athens Festival with performances of theatre, music, and dance. The theatre is open to visitors only during performances. It is located at the south slope of the Acropolis and was added in 161 AD during the Roman rule. The theatre was built by Herodes Atticus, a wealthy Roman, in memory of his wife Regilla. It has exceptional acoustic capacities and can sit up to 5,000 spectators. It has a facade of 28 m high and 2,4 m width.
Herodeion Theatre
Temple of Hephaestus
The Temple of Hephaestus is the best preserved Doric temple in Greece. It was dedicated to Hephaestus, the god of the forge, hence the reason why the temple used to be in the center of numerous metalwork shops and foundries. It was built during Pericles rebuilding program.
Temple of Hephaestus
Temple of Zeus
The Temple of Olympian Zeus took 700 years to be built and is the larger that was ever created. The work was completed by Emperor Hadrian in 131 AD. The huge Temple is composed of 104 Corinthian columns of 17 m high. Very little is left of his greatness today since only 17 columns are still standing.
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Panathenaic Stadium
Panathenaic Stadium
The Panathenaic (Roman) Stadium was built in the 4th century BC. It was hosting the Panathenaic Athletic contests. Herodes Atticus inaugurated the stadium when he rebuilds the seats with Pentelic marble. The stadium was strangely abandoned for centuries. It was finally restored in order to welcome the first modern Olympic Games of 1896.
Arch of Hadrian
Arch of Hadrian
The Arch of Hadrian was built by Emperor Hadrian in 132 AD in order to mark the limit between Ancient Athens and his new city. It is also a commemoration of the consecration of the Temple of Olympian Zeus. It is located at the end of Amalias Avenue.
I wanted to visit some Greek islands before my trip back to Papua New Guinea early February. My online search recommended Mykonos and Santorini as the place to go. However, when I told my travel agent ‘Makis’ that I wanted to go Mykonos……he was like……’there is nobody there’! Mykonos only comes to life during summer but now is winter and everyone has left.
He then recommended that I do Naxos instead. I was reluctant as I didn’t read up Naxos and I didn’t think it was fun to visit as well. He told there is a new place ‘Grotta Hotel’ that he can put me up for a few nights before I go Santorini.
I reluctantly agreed…….so he book me on a on a trip to the Greek island of Naxos. Naxos is located in the South Aegean and is the largest of the Cycladic islands filled with white-washed, cube-shaped houses and vibrant small town life.
Arrival in Hotel Grotta
As soon as I arrived at ‘Grotta Hotel’ I was blown away on how beautiful the view is. . It was a small but luxurious place to stay and had a stunning view of the sea both from the windows and patio and also from the restaurant.
Lucky for me, it was located right on a hill ner the beach. It was incredible to wake up each morning with the Aegean in our front yards, and I would highly recommend renting a villa or room here if you are planning to visit Naxos.
As since, it just opened. I was the only ‘Lonely Guest’ in the most beautiful, scenic hotel one could ever imagine to stay. I stayed there for two nights and were taken aback by the beauty of the island and architecture, as well as the local culture and food.
To make the most of your trip to Naxos, I recommend that you rent a car, so you have the autonomy to explore the island yourself. There are so many incredible sites to visit and renting a car opposed to relying on public transformation or hiring a driver gives you a lot more freedom.
Naxos is somewhere I would recommend visiting if you find your way to Greece, and offers so many ways to experience the culture, cuisine, and history. I would most definitely recommend taking the trek to this island for the experience of a lifetime.
Much is still unknown about the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak and health officials are urging vigilance.
That means travelers crisscrossing the globe should be aware of the virus, steer clear of heavily impacted areas and exercise some of the same kinds of preventive measures they’d use to avoid influenza and other illnesses.
Whilst the virus is mainly in China and more specifically Wuzan Province, there are reported cases of it in Australia, Japan, United States and Singapore. In Wuzan Province, everyone is locked away indoors as they believe the virus is spread by Human-to-Human contact
Health Authorities around the region are stepping up their efforts to ensure everyone is screened an border controls are also on high alert.
But does this health warning stop anyone from travelling for business or leisure? I think it shouldn’t and I do believe every traveler should practice personal health safeguards that would prevent them from catching any of these virus.
Here are some tips to take with you when you travel or in at the airport.
Medicines –
Codral Night & day, if you free sick – 90% chances are its common cold
Asprin – always take those for any headaches
Clothing
Bandanas or scarfs – you can use them just to cover your mouth and it will still look good
hand gloves
face mask is a must
Take some sunnies as well
Food
Eat only Warm/hot food –
don’t eat any food that is cold
always wipe clean food that is exposed to air
Meeting People
Don’t shake hands – just do fist bumps
Avoid hugging anyone
Toilets
Use paper towels as oppose to air blowers in bathroom
Hand sanitizers – always wipe your hands before you want to touch your eyes and mouth.
Always wipe fruits such as apples before you eat as they are exposed
And finally, if you can do it…….try stay away from the reported areas.
Ending this decade with a discovery of a perfect spot for a truly Papua New Guinean experience.
Now you may ask me, what do you mean by a Papua New Guinean experience? Well, I have friends who have traveled to Papua New Guinea and want to soak up what Papua New Guinea is all about. Friends who have visited for the weekend, stayed 2 weeks and even some stayed as long as 3 months.
Off course, flying them to Kokopo, Kavieng, Manus, Mt Hagen and Goroka would be the perfect cultural indoctrination for them.
But how about those who are here for business? That time is against them and all they need is an injection of Papua New Guinea in a day?
I dont want to show them Apec Haus, the hotels, the potholes and Gordon’s market. Nor do I want to show them the museums, the Parliament Haus or even the filthy Boroko Bus stop. I want to show them the real Papua New Guinean living even if it is only 1 night.
So my quest of find the perfect spot lead me to this discovery of the decade!
Drive to Gelebara from Gabone Village
Gelebara Kite Club……
A small setup by my newfound friend Pako. Now, I didnt think I’d find this place after hearing it from a few friends. But after scruff-ling over the internet for a few days, I came across Pako’s contact details.
Just 1 hour 20mins from Port Moresby
Fate has it that the number works…….and within a few hours, the drive to discovery the perfect ‘shot of Papua New Guinea’ begins.
Gelebara Kite Club offers visitors a full beachfront, has 3 huts which are for rent, visitors can bring their own tents and setup. They provide cooking facilities, also pit toilets, rain water, and the can cook for you as well.
You can even lease the whole property for the weekend and have your own private functions, beach weddings or just time alone
What more can you ask for as an experience?
You can swim out the sea….walk a mile on the white sandy beach and as the sun sets, watch God paint the sky for you.
The financial crisis is one inseparable part of a person’s
life, and it may come in anyone’s life, without any notice. There are
situations when the most financially stable person would seek support. Any they
come at any time of our lives without notice.
That need for financial support is complemented by a loan,
which could be a formal arrangement with the banks, financial institutions or
informal money markets with individuals. The loans are either business loans,
housing loans and the widely use loans are the personal loans.
Debt is one of the biggest cause of poverty
When the credit is availed by the banks, other financial
agencies and informal money markets for the personal use, it is called Personal Loans. This Personal Loan has
come to the rescue of the many people, with the instant availability of funds.
These Personal Loans have always been the helping hands during the urgent needs
of the people and have solved various unavoidable circumstances in a person’s
life.
But at the same time, the Personal Loan has been a cause of
worry for many. Even, if the Personal Loans have been the lifesavers many
times, they are the ones, which come with some hidden traps too
Informal Debt-Trap
In Papua New Guinea, the desire for fast personal loans to
patch the gap before the next payday has forced many people to turn to INFORMAL MONEY MARKETS. The main reason
for this is the CONVENIENCE, quick
turnaround and the ZERO paperwork that comes with the requests for a loan.
As always, convenience comes with a price, and the price for
this informal money market is very high. The interest charge for these loans
are usually between 30-60 percent and only for a short period usually within
1-2 weeks.
The formula used for this interest calculation is the SIMPLE FORMULA.
You borrow K1, 000.00 at rate of 40% for 2 weeks; you pay K1, 400.00 at the end
of the 2 weeks. If you do not pay at the end of the 2nd week, they
charge another 40% on that K1, 400.00 and you end up paying K1, 960.00 after a
month.
These informal money markets has sadly been a DEBT-TRAPPED for many Papua New Guineans
who were not able to pay their loan when the loan sharks come calling.
Formal Debt-Trap
Then there is the Banks and the Financial Institutions who
also offer personal loans aside from housing loans and business loans.
The requirements for personal loans, housing loans and
business loans varies from each Bank and financial institutions. However, the
calculation of the interest charge is the same across all those different
requirements.
I will discuss the Housing Loan and how interest are charge,
it is no different to a personal loan and business loan.
Personal loans have higher interest rates, Kina Bank charges
about 20% p.a and BSP charges at about 27% per annum. Home Loans have lower interest rates. Kina
Bank Charges 6.5% interest on home loans whilst BSP Bank charges 6%, however
BSP has a special of 4% per annum for the First Home Ownership Scheme over a
period of 40 years.
Let’s use the FHOS of BSP to do a calculation of K400,000
for period of 40 years at 4% per annum interest
These Banks and financial institutions use COMPOUNDING FORMULA to calculate
interest payable and additional charge interest on any outstanding loans which
the called CAPITALISATION. There 2 calculations, the first is for the
repayment amount for the duration of the loan and the other is the interest
charge on any outstanding loans. The interest is calculated daily and charge
monthly.
Formula:
Mortgage Calculation Formula
Calculation:
4% annual interest rate needs to be change into
an effective monthly rate. Therefore we divide 4%/12 months = 0.3% effective
interest rate
Number of repayments would be 40 years multiple
by 12 months, therefore 40 x 12 = 480
Calculating the Monthly repayment using the formula
above gives you K1, 573.64 which is monthly repayment
Aside of the fixed repayment, there is also an
interest charged for loan outstanding. This interest is calculated daily and
charged monthly, this charge is called CAPITALISATION.
A simple spreadsheet of repayment looks like this after calculations are done, it is done using a compounding formula
The BIGGEST TRAP
in this Formal Loan is that the loan interest is charged daily and added to the
loan amount monthly. This interest on loan increases the loan amount each month,
and whilst we pay fixed amount monthly, the repayment would not seem to make
any difference as CAPITALISATION
costs keeps adding up.
The only way to get out of this formal debt-trap is that you find ways
to pay more than then monthly repayment, any lump sum amount or extra
repayments would assist in getting out of this, otherwise, it would take more
than 40 years to completely pay of your debt.
My third trip to Europe was end of January 2019. Usually on
these business trips, you fly-in the night before the meetings, do all the
meetings for the week and fly out the next day. And I have just done that for
the last 2 trips.
This year, I decided that I would do something different,
that I would see abit of Europe after the meetings in Amsterdam. My plan was to
take a train and travel to Norway via German, Denmark and Sweden. Reason for
Norway was that I wanted to see the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.
Nas Daily – Planet Iceland – a great vidblog
So I requested for a week break after the meetings and
during the week of travel, a friend alerted me to fly direct to Iceland from Netherlands. So
after little search, I found direct flights that are just $150 dollars (K400)
return from Amsterdam to Reykjavik.
Cathedral of Christ the King in Reykjavik.
January is in the Winter Season for Iceland, and when I arrive…..from the airport to the hotel, there is only ICE covering almost everything I can see. One thing good about ICELAND is that they are so well organized. You have tour buses picking you right at the airport, drops you at the hotel, picks you up again when you ready and takes you straight to your tour sites. All you do is book them online and everything is organize for you.
So off I went….see the Aurora Borealis and also get to swim in the ‘Secret Lake’ in the middle of the night! Yes, it was cold and it was minus 10 degrees but I have come these far to just stay in the room. I was determined to see that Northern Lights and show Papua New Guinea that I have seen it with my eyes.
But the highlight of my trip is the ‘Secret Lake’ in the middle of nowhere! After driving 2 hours, we came to a small lake, that we all changed and went it. The feeling was divine! I felt I was reborn that my whole system had reset itself…….now I feel I should do an annual pilgrimage there again.
There are several problems with the traditional system of
education. First of all, you need to pay thousands per term to attend a
prestigious school. With all those budget cuts, busy classrooms, and course
shortages, you won’t always get the chance to study exactly what you want.
It’s no wonder why millions of students from all around the
world opt for online degree programs or take at least one college course
through an online platform. Online learning has to be the greatest revolution
in contemporary education. It made a huge change in the system and opened great
opportunities for everyone who wants to learn something.
Nevertheless, online education is still related to
stereotypes. People often think that online students are not smart enough for a
traditional college or university, they are lazy, and they don’t get “real”
degrees. These claims discourage many people from taking online courses, so
they get stuck in the traditional educational system that consumes a huge deal of
money, nerves, and years of their lives.
Allow us to explain why online learning is more awesome than
you think. We have 5 advantages of online learning that will make you
reconsider your attitude towards this type of education.
1. You can learn whatever you want!
Benefits of working online
You can pick the program of your dreams in traditional
education, too, but that would involve traveling away from home, living in a
completely unknown city, and struggling in an extremely competitive learning
environment. With online education, you can take any program or course present
in traditional four-year universities.
For example, let’s say you’re mostly interested in neuroscience. All it takes is a Google search for such online course, and you’ll easily find the online programs offered by some of the most prestigious universities from all around the world. You can take such a course even if you have no aspirations to apply that knowledge in your future profession, but you’re simply curious to discover new interests and understand how the human brain works. The great variety of online programs and courses is a huge advantage of this type of education. It doesn’t matter where you live and what you want to study – you can always find a suitable course or even a degree program that you can follow from home.
2. Comfort.
Forget about attending classes for hours, sitting in an
uncomfortable chair, and suffering from back pain by the end of the day. You
will not be bound to physical class session when you opt for online education.
All lectures and needed materials are provided via online platforms, so you’ll
easily access them from the comfort of your home. You will not take public
transport to get to campus, you won’t have to spend money on gas for your car,
you won’t have to get up early to get dressed for class… the list of
conveniences goes on and on.
Studying Anywhere
Comfort is a strong advantage, but it can go both ways. You
mustn’t allow yourself to get too comfortable when studying from home, so it
would be best to abandon the couch for few hours a day and set up an
inspirational studying environment in your home. All you need is a large desk
and a nice, comfortable chair.
3. Online courses look great on a resume.
Online Certificate from IBM
It doesn’t matter where your career stands at this moment;
an online program will always look good on your resume. It will show potential
employers that you’re committed to learning and you’re eager to obtain more
knowledge and new skills. Hiring managers don’t see online degrees as inferior
to traditional ones. A degree is a degree. If you obtain an online degree from
a prestigious university, you’ll boost your career with the speed of light. You
will certainly become a better candidate for a job promotion, and your resume
will look much better when you apply for new positions.
4. Self-paced learning.
When you start browsing through interesting online courses
and programs, you’ll notice the Self-Paced label on most of them. What does
this mean? Self-paced learning means that the students can start completing the
targets at any time, and he can arrange a learning schedule that meets his
individual needs.
When you enroll in a traditional college program, you’ll
have to forget about work, hobbies, and even family. In such setting, studying
has to be a priority. That’s why many single parents and people who work decide
to forget all about their dreams to get a higher degree.
A self-paced system enables them to make progress with
rhythm that suits them. This type of system does not require attending live
sessions; you can access the materials at any time that works for you. If you
have to work or take care of your home and children during the day, you can
study at night. That’s an advantage the traditional educational system cannot
beat.
5. Lower costs.
The fact that online programs are cheaper when compared to
the ones held in a traditional campus setting is enough to convince you to
consider them. The average tuition for online courses depends on multiple
factors, so it varies from one program to another. If, for example, you want to
enroll in the Big Data Specialization program provided by University
California, San Diego through Coursera, you’ll pay $399 (K1,000). You also have
an option to pay $49 (K110) per course. Financial Aid is available for learners
who cannot afford this fee, so that’s something you should always keep in mind.
We saved the best part for last: many online courses are
completely free of charge. MIT, for example, offers all course materials online
without any charges. Free courses don’t usually come with certificate of
completion, but they are still more than useful for anyone who wants to learn
from prestigious educators.
Online Education Is Totally Worth The Effort
Online courses and degree programs are more convenient and
cheaper than their counterparts in traditional education. Those are the two
main advantages of online learning that lead many students to opt for online
platforms when they want to earn a degree or certificate.
The best thing about online learning is that you can learn
in a relaxed manner even if you don’t want to get certified. You only need
passion for learning and a quick online search that will take you to the right
course. From that point on, you will be the master of your own education.
Have alot of friends from around the world who asks me to tell
them about Papua New Guinea.
I usually start to tell about Manus only and really don’t include bits about the highlands nor do I get to include the Milne Bay and most certainly don’t tell them anything about Western Province. The summary of the version of Papua New Guinea is just places I am comfortable with.
I was browsing through youtube and found this cool video from Geography Now. Whilst there are some places and things I felt should be included (not enough of Manus me think), I do believe it has more than what I would tell anyone about Papua New Guinea.
So for friends and relatives who want to tell others about Papua New Guinea….ask them to watch this video
Paura - the Digital Nomad 