Tagged With "buildings"
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
Wow, an interesting way of living, but people are still living there or is just a tourist attraction?
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
These are living communities. A few have been abandoned in favor of apartment blocks and are melting back into the earth, as mud-brick construction does, but most of the thousands scattered through the hills of the province continue to be villages in themselves, enjoyed and maintained by the Hakka communities that occupy them. A few of the largest individual tulous and clusters have become tourist attractions but if you hurry you'll likely be, as I was, one of the only western tourists for ...
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
Ah i understand now, thank you for the information, nice topic btw
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
Amazing!! As you said, ahead of the crowd.....what an adventure!
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
Thanks, Dgems. When I wrote this piece, last year, I didn't have access to my own photos. In the next month or so I plan to post a gallery of my own pictures of the tulou so you'll have a better idea of the variety of structures and ambiance of the area.
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
Thank you for bringing us back these wonderful photos of a secret splendor. (I still want to know what happened to you without easy communication. Those are the moments that challenge and expand us, and they must have for you. )
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
HistoryDigger, I'll explain. At the end of the first day of tulou visits, the large tour bus rendezvoused with a small van and it was indicated that I should bring my things and come with a young man. Since no one could explain, I had to simply trust and go along, an interesting sensation. I later realized that I was the only one who had opted for the second day. The young man drove me to a very basic village of mostly new buildings built, I suspect but of course don't know, for...
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
I'm amazed at seeing this. At first I was thinking, well, communal dwelling, sort of like pueblos, and then I realized that this is much bigger, since you said there are hundreds of these. Do you know if they are in other areas of China, too? Are people still building like that now?
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
Sisyphus, not to nit-pick, but thousands of them according to everything I've read, not hundreds. They're built by the Hakka people so confined to Fujian and neighboring provinces. I suspect there may not be many under construction as efforts seem to be going toward maintaining the ones standing. When I was walking through the clusters I visited there were a few abandoned and in disrepair but not many, at least that I saw. There very well may be more unmaintained in remoter areas. Young...
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
Fascinating piece, PortMoresby! Truly a stranger in a strange (but fascinating) lang. Thanks for sharing it with us!
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
Thanks PortMoresby! Do you remember where you saw the original Photo.Glad to hear the adventurous spirit is alive and well.
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Re: The Tulou of Fujian Province
No, Rob. Sorry, I don't remember. I read a lot of publications, online and off, and the original picture got lost in the dust of enthusiasm to research logistics. I don't think there's any lack of enthusiasm in the world but that obscure places are getting less obscure every day. What I do think is lacking is imagination. We tend to read about places people have enjoyed, as here on TravelGumbo and follow, rather than setting out for parts unknown. I believe if a place is hard to get to it...
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Re: Manitoba Legislative Building, Winnipeg. Where Gumbo Was (#120)
Thanks for all the wonderful pictures and info. My husband and I love to tour the capitols here in the States and would love to see this capitol, especially Golden Boy. Surprised he even made it there, lol. Thanks again.
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Re: Feb. 11, 2016: Flatiron Building, New York City
Glad you grabbed one of my favorites! Even though it's sometimes had embarrassingly badly-dressed stores in the base, it's always had a real dignity to it. Incidentally, it was New York's first building with a steel skeleton instead of masonry, which allowed it to be built very rapidly. In a way, it was an advertisement for its owner, the Fuller company (still a major builder). Daniel Burnham was the architect—which doesn't mean the building was popular when new!
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Re: Feb. 11, 2016: Flatiron Building, New York City
Incidentally, as you can see, it IS more or less the shape of a flatiron, and not a right triangle...
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Re: Feb. 11, 2016: Flatiron Building, New York City
Hmmmmm...looking at the picture you posted of the roof of the Flatiron Building Paul, it looks like a right angle triangle to me. There's only one way to settle this...my wife and I would love to visit New York again. So, one day (hopefully sooner than later) we'll have to meet on the Flatiron roof...I'll bring a carpenter square. If I'm right, you owe me a Guinness. If you're right, I'll buy you a delicious beverage of your choosing. Either way, visiting Manhattan again and meeting you is a...
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Re: Feb. 11, 2016: Flatiron Building, New York City
Love to meet you there (or anywhere, since I don't think there's public access to the roof!)...and I'll be glad to buy the Guinness, since it turns out I was wrong about the triangle...the corner of 22nd St. and 5th Avenue is the right angle. You might find this article about it interesting: The Museum of Math did what might be called a performance piece, with 500 mathematicians measuring it in lightsticks and applying the Pythagorean theorem...
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Re: Feb. 11, 2016: Flatiron Building, New York City
HI there, Great post. We were in NYC last October and this was definitely something my husband really wanted to see. Have to admit it is pretty cool to see in person. Thanks for all the info and happy memories.
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Re: Feb. 11, 2016: Flatiron Building, New York City
Hello Paul and Samantha : ) Paul, I do hope that one day we will have the opportunity to meet. Thank you for your insight of the Flatiron Building. You indeed are a good sport. Samantha, I am glad you enjoyed my post of the Flatiron Building. You sum it very nicely by saying that seeing this building in person is pretty cool.
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Re: Sun Life Building, Montreal, Canada
Nice! The angle turns a cliche 'looking-up" picture into a really fresh view!
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Re: Willis Tower and Our Skydeck Experience—Chicago
I haven't been on this one, but I have gone to a few, including Empire State and the old World Trade Center in NY. I always enjoy the view, but if there's an open observation area, I find myself with small chills and odd feelings in my legs as if I were going to fall...no matter how secure it is! So for me, it's the view plus a thrill ride!
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Re: Willis Tower and Our Skydeck Experience—Chicago
I've been to the Hancock tower in Chicago, but not the Sears tower (I like that name better to). The views sure are spectacular. As for me, I'll admire the view without going into the skybox, thank you very much!
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Re: Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Feb. 12, 2014: National Building Museum
Fantastic. And now on my list of places to go. Gumbo scores.
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Skyscraper hotel planned for Swiss valley
A 100-suite luxury hotel, the same height as the Empire State Building, is planned for a tiny Swiss town of only 1000 residents. Room rates would run from just under $1000 a night to nearly $25,000 a night. It's aimed at (VERY) wealthy guests from the...
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Smithsonian reopens historic D.C. building
The Smithsonian Institution is reopening its historic 1881 Arts and Industries Building, at least for special events. Not the famous "Smithsonian Castle," but similar in style and almost as old, Arts and Industries closed for renovation in 2004....
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Empire State Building - The Experience
Samantha shares her Empire State Building experience with us, including some great views of the building as well as from it!
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Sun Life Building, Montreal, Canada
Travel Rob shows us one of the prettiest buildings in the world, the Sun Life Building in Montreal Canada
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Tourist to Traveler: Exploring Old San Juan
Jonathan L, a veteran traveler to Puerto Rico, takes you down some of his favorite off-the-tourist-track streets in Old San Juan
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Securing the History of Old San Juan
The Puerto Rico Historic Building Drawing Society is hard at work to preserve San Juan's UNESCO-listed architectural heritage. Jonathan L visited and interviewed its founder.
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January 12, 2020: Evita, Ministry of Health building, Buenos Aires
DrFumblefinger admires the portraits of Evita on this tall government office building in Buenos Aires.
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North Dakota State Capitol—Peace Garden State
Samantha and her husband tour the beautiful North Dakota State Capitol and feel sorry for other visitors that did not appreciate their capitol. It is an incredible piece of art.
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December Lights in New York City
Jonathan L takes us on a walk through Manhattan to see some of the Holiday Lights
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El Capitolio de Puerto Rico (Where Gumbo Was, #117)
Puerto Rico's Capitol building is not quite iconic—although its decor includes artwork of iconic themes and events in Puerto Rican history that will probably come clear now that you know where it is...and Jonathan L did. It sits on a bluff...
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Manitoba Legislative Building, Winnipeg. Where Gumbo Was (#120)
Gumbo was visiting the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg. This is home to the provincial government of Manitoba -- not unlike a USA state capital building. A number of you solved this puzzle. In order of emailing us...
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National Building Museum, Washington D.C. (Where Gumbo was #245)
Gumbo was visiting this fascinating museum in Washington D.C. George G shares great observations and photos of his visit.
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Hawaii State Capitol Building – The Aloha State
On their quest to visit all 50 state capitol buildings, Samantha and her husband feel a spirit of 'aloha' in Honolulu.
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, April 10, 2014: Central Park, New York, New York
Central Park is an 843 acre urban park located in Manhattan in New York City. It opened in 1857, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1962. Open all year, it boasts many activities such as birding, boating,...
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Vienna's new novelty: Wooden skyscraper
A new trend in 'green building' may be emerging with the construction of a 24-story wood building in Vienna and a taller one planned for London.
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My Favorite Pile of Bricks: London's St Pancras
St Pancras International and the St Pancras Hotel, once tagged for demolition, live on to serve, and to captivate hearts anew.
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LaGuardia rebuilding causes highway, airport chaos
Building the new LaGuardia is putting extreme pressure on getting to and from the existing terminals.
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Willis Tower and Our Skydeck Experience—Chicago
A visit to Chicago's tallest building, with its spectacular new glass features, with Samantha.
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Dec. 19, 2016: Views from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building
Travel Rob shows us where to see some of the best views of Tokyo.
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Paris: Abandoned rail sites get new lives
French rail operator SNCF, after years of keeping unused Paris properties off the market, is working with arts-based groups to create new uses.
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Anheuser Busch Brewery Lights in St. Louis, Missouri
Holiday lights are a tradition in many places. Here, Samantha takes us to see one of her favorite displays.
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Hydraulic Tiles in Old San Juan
Jonathan L took a tour of Old San Juan buildings to explore the use of Hydraulic Tiles as design features
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Camera Heritage Museum, Staunton
George G visits the largest display of cameras in the United States and explores the museum's neighborhood in Staunton.
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San Francisco's Ferry Building
The Ferry Building has been the heart of the Port of San Francisco since it's construction in 1898 and was also at the center of PortMoresby's summer commute.
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April 3, 2019: The Famous Five, Winnipeg
DrFumblefinger visits this tribute to the suffrage movement, which in Canada was spear-headed in Manitoba. Nellie McClung was an important figure in helping Canadian women gain voting rights.
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April 29, 2019: Reflections of Toronto
DrFumblefinger shares some features of downtown as seen in the reflections of its modern skyscrapers.
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Gumbo's Pic of the Day, Feb. 12, 2014: National Building Museum
Great Hall of the National Building Museum, in the historic Pension Building. I first visited this museum to see an exhibit on the development of urban transportation—with no hint what the building itself would look like. It took my...