SaiL Amsterdam — Parade of ships

SAIL Amsterdam is a large maritime event held every five years in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Tall ships from all over the world visit the city to moor in its Eastern harbour, and people can then visit the ships for four days (free of charge). The event was organised for the first time in 1975 to celebrate the 700th anniversary of Amsterdam, under the name 'Sail Amsterdam 700'. At that time, interest in tall ships, which had sunk to a low since the 1930s when the last commercial tall ships had been built, was starting to rise[citation needed]. The success of Sail Amsterdam 700 led to the establishment of the Stichting Sail Amsterdam (SSA, Foundation Sail Amsterdam). More images after the break...

Sail is one of the largest maritime manifestations in the world, and the largest event of any kind in the Netherlands. Tens of tall ships and hundreds of other historical ships are involved. Numerous other ships and boats are present besides the participating ships, amounting to 8000 boats in the 2000 edition.

Lesser events take place during the festival, involving small sailboats, sailor choirs or re-enactments of naval battles. The Sail In or Parade of Sail on the first day attracts many other small ships, including creations like a sailing organ (with trumpet accompaniment) or a train converted to a ship. On the next to last day there is a naval pageant and on the last day the 'Sail Out'. The Next Sail Amsterdam will be held from 20 August to 24 August 2015.

Mobile Cinema

I wonder why it was created ...may be for rural areas...more images after the break...

Shanghai — Then and Now

Shanghai Stadium

The city of Shanghai has certainly changed over the years as evidenced by the photos in this post. While the city may have been poor in the past, it certainly isn’t any more. It is new and modern and full of life.

Shanghai Grand Theater

The People Square

Nanjing Road

Shanghai Library

Shanghai Railway Station

Shanghai Museum

Yuyuan Shopping Center

Shanghai Pudong International Airport

Shanghai Hongqiao Economic and Technological Development Zone

Pudong

The Bund

The trolly and Bridge

The truck driver survived, after a truck accidentally got up and crashed into a bridge. But I guess, the driver of the this truck is very careless, the trolly of the truck is open and it was hit by this bridge and all it was happened, More images after the break...

13 Year Old Boy Makes Friends with Killer Buffaloes

To most South-Africans they are known as the “Black Death, but to 13-year-old Luke Michaelides, two wild African Buffalos have become his best friends. The African Buffalo is one of the “big five” African species credited with killing over 200 people every year, in South Africa alone. Some specimens grow up to 6 feet tall and 11 feet long, and can weigh up to 1,350 kg. They can easily rip apart a full grown man, let alone a 13-year-old, but that hasn’t stop Luke from becoming friends with “Hop-a-long” and her offspring “Skip-a-long”.

Their incredible friendship started developing at the turn of the year, when Luke saw the two buffaloes looking all sad and alone, in the middle of his parents’ farm, in Limpopo. He decided to get a little closer, to keep them company. Aware of the fierce reputation of the “Black Death”, he kept his distance, at first, and spoke to them, calmly. More images after the break...

Luke began visiting Hop-a-long and Skip-a-long, daily, getting closer to them with each day, bringing them food and water, and talking to them. One day, they looked so peaceful that he decided to touch them. Now their friendship has evolved so much that he is able to give them scrub baths and lie on as he watches the sun go down.

Although they realize how special their son’s relationship to the African buffaloes is, Luke Michaelides’ parents say they are terrified each time they see him going towards them, and his mother says a prayer so the Lord keeps him safe. Luke himself is aware of the danger he exposes himself to every day, but he loves his friends so much he can’t stand away from them for too long.

Luke Michaelides is currently working on a book on the African Buffalo, things he has observed in the nine months he spent so close to them, and the way he managed to gain their trust and become such a close friend.

Beautiful Leighton Meester

Beautiful Leighton Meester Candid....More images after the break...