October Blog-O-Sphere Think Tank - “Where would I like to travel to?“

October’s Topic: “Where would I like to travel to?”

1. Sri Lanka’s Gem Mines (Sapphire)

One of the world’s most beautiful and exotic islands, Sri Lanka, (formerly Ceylon) lies just below the southern tip of India. This pear-shaped bit of tropical paradise, about the size of Sicily, is a tourist’s delight offering British teahouses, rubber plantations, and gem mines.

Marco Polo wrote of his visit in 1292: “I want you to understand that the island of Ceylon is, for its size, the finest island in the world, and from its streams comes rubies, sapphires, topazes, amethyst and garnet.” Little has changed since Marco Polo’s time except that Sri Lanka faces overpopulation and a faltering economy.

Its gemstones, however, seem to occur in endless supply. Known as the “Jewel Box of the Indian Ocean,” Sri Lanka, like possibly no other locality on earth, has yielded precious stones and fine gems in a great profusion of gem species and varieties.

…from Peter Bancroft’s “Ceylon’s Gem Mines” via Pala Gems http://www.palagems.com/ceylon_sapphire_bancroft.htm

2. The Taj Mahal – India

In 1631, Shah Jahan, emperor during the Mughal empire‘s period of greatest prosperity, was grief-stricken when his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died during the birth of their 14th child, Gauhara Begum. Construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632. The court chronicles of Shah Jahan’s grief illustrate the love story traditionally held as an inspiration for Taj Mahal. The principal mausoleum was completed in 1648 and the surrounding buildings and garden were finished five years later. Emperor Shah Jahan himself described the Taj in these words:

Like one pardoned, he becomes free from sin.
Should a sinner make his way to this mansion,
All his past sins are to be washed away.
The sight of this mansion creates sorrowing sighs;
And the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes.
In this world this edifice has been made;
To display thereby the creator’s glory.

3. …last but not least a Fishing Trip to Costa Rica!

Please stop by and visit this month’s other participants:
It’s a small group – but please stop by and say hello on their posts as well!

pencilfox : http://www.pencilfox.com

Christine: http://sistinachapel.blogspot.ca/

Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/

A Short Note from Our Fearless Leader – Andes Cruz:

What is this new “Blog-o-Sphere Think Tank” thing? Andes and several friends formed a group of bloggers…named “Blog-O-Sphere Think Tank”…we come together from different areas of life, ‘once a month’, to do a blog circle on a new but specific topic. So, check back in once a month, or join us as we all write about the same topic, and hopefully we all post at approximately the same time , on the 20th of each month.

We get a new and different topic each month which keeps it refreshing, and it is always interesting, to read everyone’s unique take on a new idea or topic. It’s fun, light, and gets your mind going. Everyone has different thoughts; so you might learn something, or open your eyes to new ideas . In any case, I hope you’ll visit all the blogs and have a read!