SIGHTS VIENTIANE LAOS

Has just arrived from a day and two nights in Vientiane, Laos or known to be as the city of Sandalwood in Southeast Asia.
It has been my second visit since last year of November when I exit for a Non-B visa purposes. Didn't get the chance to go around on my first trip there because of the rain that hindered me and to some of the foreigners who went to Laos just to obtain the same desire to get a visa at Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane Laos.
Since my school contract has just ended yesterday, exiting Laos is the main country in the eastern part of Asia for those who wish to get a long term visa extension and some visas.
Well, I don't wanna go into details of explaining about the process and why we need to go Laos, Cambodia or Malaysia for visa. That's just the way it is, the immigration in Bangkok refused to cater the needs of the foreigners if visa is the issue.
Now, lucky as it may seems my second exit to Laos was a bit fun when the opportunity to see the pride of the country was just beneath the distance of my eyes.
Without wasting time, I hit the road just where my feet leads me. Of course, I asked infos to the information clerk of the hotel where I stayed but the English and so as the accent was so bad and audibly hard to understand.
Anyway, I went around with two newfound friends from Philippines also enjoying a much needed trip.

CITIES ABOUT TO SINK

My school contract is over...now I am resting for a while and preparing myself to a new venture somewhere else. I am pretty sure of the place but not sure enough of God's approval, however I have this strong and positive feelings that God would send me there.
So much of that little drama in life, let me share with you this article that I have read in the internet that shocked me. As we all know that our planet is suffering for global warming and the polar caps is slowly melting because of our cruelty. We took advantage what the Lord has given and we never give back what He deserves.
Have to pause now and bring your serious attention to this shocking news:


"Many of us take for granted the notion that all of our beloved cities will be around for centuries to come. However, cities around the world seem to be vying for the title of "The Next Atlantis." Shaky foundations and encroaching seas are posing significant threats to some of the world's largest and most beloved cities. When planning your next vacation, keep in mind that some of the world's favorite destinations have a bit of a ticking clock on them. Here are seven major cities that are preparing to take the plunge.



#7: Bangkok, Thailand
Thailand’s capital is sinking — and sinking fast. However, unlike other cities on our list, a shoddy foundation isn’t necessarily to blame. Resting on the Chao Phraya River — which flows into the Bay of Bangkok about 30 miles south of the city center — this colossal settlement is more likely to drown than sink. Experts now say that this mouthwatering foodie destination — along with the dozens of beautiful temples found here — may be under water in as little as seven years.
According to Thai scientist Dr. Ajong Chumsai na Ayudhya, the fate of Bangkok can best be explained by global warming. Asia News Network reports that “Ajong said humans were mainly to blame for such disasters because they were using up natural resources, chopping down forests and kept emitting greenhouse gases with no regard for the future.” Ajong also says that changes in the earth’s overall climate will lead to more severe tsunamis in the Gulf of Thailand that will have extremely negative effects on the southern portion of the country. With less than a decade to spare, time might be running out for a trip to Thailand’s most popular tourist getaway.



#6: New York City, New York
If you've never seen the Statue of Liberty or been dazzled by the lights of Times Square, now's the time. Much like its Thai comrade, America’s most densely populated city is doomed to suffer the effects of global warming. Sitting at the mouth of the Hudson River where it flows into the Atlantic Ocean, this concrete jungle will soon be at a much higher risk of damage from rising sea levels and imposing tropical storms. And unlike the ones bobbing around in a barrel on Halloween, this Big Apple will not float.
Science Daily reports that the sea levels in the New York City area are expected to rise about twice as quickly as sea levels around the world, meaning that Gotham will take the plunge well before the rest of the United States. However, Science Daily says that flooding is just one of the symptoms New York will suffer: "The submersion of low-lying land, erosion of beaches, conversion of wetlands to open water and increase in the salinity of estuaries all can affect ecosystems and damage existing coastal development." Not only will the Empire City be transformed into a wading pool, but it will slowly be washed out to sea.



#5: Houston, Texas
Houston, we really do have a problem — soon, NASA's Visitor's Center won't only be stuck on Earth, but in it as well. The city that Fodor's deems is arguably Texas’ most cosmopolitan is struggling to stay above ground. Built on a gold mine of natural resources and the determination to flourish, Space City has become a major energy hub and the taking-off point for U.S. space exploration. However, America’s fourth-largest city was built on a foundation of sand. Literally.
Houston sits on the loosely packed banks of four major bayous that empty into the Gulf of Mexico. For years, residents of Houston relied on groundwater to fulfill their needs, but the mass amounts of extraction needed to supply the ever-expanding city weakened Houston’s foothold. Oil extraction was also damaging to the foundation, as was continuous sprawl, not to mention the 300 or so active fault lines that run beneath Houston’s streets and skyscrapers. Now, many parts of this metropolis — specifically Jersey Village to the northwest — are sinking by as much as two inches per year, according to Science Daily. Experts note that while sinking has slowed significantly in areas that have stopped extracting ground water, a permanent solution to Houston’s problem has yet to be found. If Houston is on your list of cities to see, you best prepare soon for take-off.



#4: Shanghai, China
Things aren't looking good for Shanghai, either. Located on China's coast, this sprawling city was built on swamplands surrounding the mouth of the Yangze River. Originally a small fishing village, Shanghai began to draw more and more residents in the mid-19th century. Modest homes were replaced by breathtaking skyscrapers (not to mention some of the best shopping venues in Asia), and Shanghai soon became the most densely populated city in the world, housing over 20 million people by 2001. The city was handling rapid expansion just fine until the early 20th century, when wells became a major source of water and the underlying sediment deposit was disturbed. According to PBS, Shanghai sank roughly eight feet between 1921 and 1965, which equals about two inches per year. The city still continues to drop at a rate of about half an inch per year.
According to experts, not much can be done to keep Shanghai above ground — the city is simply too heavy for its foundation. However, in an effort to slow the sinking process, all new high-rise buildings must be built with deep concrete piles to help support their weight. If you have any interest in seeing the architecture for which Shanghai is both famous and floundering, don't wait too long.



#3: New Orleans, Louisiana
When colonists chose New Orleans as the capital of French Louisiana, they did so because of its inland locale. However, any land protection the city had has been washed away, making America's favorite place to celebrate (approximately half of which sits at or below sea level) even more prone to tropical storms.
It wasn't until after Hurricane Katrina that experts really took note of New Orleans' downhill situation. In 2006, National Geographic reported that the city sank about a quarter of an inch per year in the years leading up to Hurricane Katrina, while the levees designed to protect the city from the Gulf sank at four or five times that rate, exacerbating the long-term effects of the storm. Experts say that not much can be done to save the Big Easy. According to a report issued in 2009 by the National Academy of Engineering and the National Research Council, "Levees and floodwalls surrounding New Orleans … cannot provide absolute protection against overtopping or failure in extreme events. … If relocation is not feasible, an alternative would be to elevate the first floor of buildings to at least the 100-year flood level." Just goes to show that there's never a time like the present to don your Mardi Gras mask and head south to Bourbon Street.



#2: Venice, Italy
It's been several hundred years since the Venetians decided to construct the towering St. Mark's Basilica and sprawling Piazza San Marco atop submerged wooden planks and forgo roads in favor of canals. Back in the day, the city's geography made sense: Direct access to the sea was necessary in order for Venitians to maintain control of commerce on the Mediterranean Sea. But the dig for fresh water proved to have a negative impact on this fish-shaped city: According to The Christian Science Monitor, Venice has sunk almost a foot over the past 100 years. To make things worse, water levels in the Mediterranean Sea are also rising. Although acqua alta (high water) has plagued this ornate tourist hotspot for centuries, flooding frequency has increased dramatically in recent years. Justin Demetri of LifeInItaly.com notes that Venice now experiences over 60 bouts of acqua alta each year.
Preserving Venice has been a priority of the Italian Government for about 30 years. Several billion euros have been dedicated to a flood defense system, the MOSE Project, which is expected to be completed in 2011 or 2012. However, some experts claim that the only way to save the city is to move it altogether. Either way, if you've always dreamed of a gondola ride through the Bride of the Sea, you had better do so soon with galoshes in tow.



#1: Mexico City, Mexico
Resting on a fickle lake bed in the Valley of Mexico, Mexico City has been facing the possibility of going under for centuries. However, according to geologists, there are parts of this massive metropolis that are sinking by as much as eight inches per year. Because of a lack of sufficient drainage, the city was heavily prone to flooding from groundwater flowing down from the surrounding mountains, leading to the construction of a vast underground drainage system. But over-extraction of groundwater from the Texcoco lake bed during the 20th century has caused the city's clay foundation to crumble, forcing the metropolis to sink deeper into the ground. And as the city sinks, so does the drainage system, forcing waste water to reverse its course and head back into the city. According to AZCentral.com, Mexico City's drainage capacity has decreased by 30 percent since 1975.
There are several projects underway to keep this sinking city afloat, including a 23-foot-wide ($1.1 billion) Eastern Drainage Tunnel that will deposit waste water about 40 miles north of the city. The tunnel should be completed by 2012. Work is also being done to help save the architectural gems — like the popular Metropolitan Cathedral — found in the Historic District, which are one of the city's major tourist draws. But despite best efforts, engineers say that there is no way to keep Mexico City from sinking."
(Source: Fourwinds )

WISH MAKER

It's been quite a while since I've last posted (Sorry for that, again). My lifestyle has been so different lately till now. I dunno why. I am getting so irritable, yet, trying to control it. October 6: It's the first week of the month. One week more to go and I am leaving (pretty soon) the place where I considered home for a year. It's kind of hard to believe that I survive for a year in a place that is so peaceful and no recreation to amuse myself. Right now,I just dunno where I'm going to go for the reason that I entrusted everything unto the Lord. I notice how this world changes for its goods. Although I stumbled and fall and is still does it, yet, I let God decide for me since my human-ness has no enough power to decide what's best for me. I wanted to go home and see my parents. My heart is bleeding and there's no cold night that I shed a dipper of tears how I miss them so badly. End of September, I went to Bangkok not just to go around and meeting friends, but I ran errands for such an essential job. Wish that God would grant me this time too. My contract supposedly lasted at the end of September but my headteacher asked me if I could still teach for two weeks in October. The students were expecting that I won't be visibly seen in the school by October, shocking as it is I told them that I am given two weeks more to go. Honestly, I'll be missing a lot of things in this little warm town and I just don't want to think of it. Yet, I know I have a lot of goals to accomplish before that. It's going to be a challenge as I am jobless and a floating for while, just as I am anticipating the result of my applications. If I could just lay on the carpet of green grass and watch the blue sky, daydreaming just I used to do in the Philippines my missingness and worries would be temporarily gone. Well, I entitle my blog "Wish Maker" 'coz I myself is a big wish maker since I learned to think deeply. The pictures here were recently taken.