It is now June 2010...time flies again

What has happened in the past two months?

Well, I made a trip to Mexico on 6th April to 13th April - Yucatan peninsular; and had a great time....The main objective was to witness an extraordinary event - the setting of the sun over a pyramid in Mexico called Chichenitza on the 6th April. It was an old Mayan structure. The setting of the sun over the pyramid creates 5 to 6 triangles of light & shadow on the west side of the pyramid...and during Equinox (21st Mar), 7 triangles could be seen. Only on 6th April (and 6th Sep), can the complete 9 triangles be seen. 9 triangles is the most complete of the phenomenon, with eight visible on the staircase and the ninth illuminating the head of Kukulkan.

Why is 6th April so special in the Mayan calendar that a structure is built in such a way as to commemorate it? It is my friend's belief (and I concur) that it was to commemorate the day the believers of Christ in the old America was delivered from death. The unbelievers had threatened to kill all those who had believed that the Savior would be born and signs would be given, if the signs foretold by prophets of old did not come to pass.......The signs did come and the believers were spared from death.....It has been revealed to our dispensation that 6th April was the date of our Savior's birth....

Now, do you think it was just a coincidence that this phenomena in Chichenitza happens on 6th April?

Chitchenitza at 5.40pm - no visible triangles

Chitchenitza at 6.15pm - 3 visible triangles

Chichenitza at 6.50pm - 9 triangles (including the light on Kukulcan)
Kukulcan - Maya serpent god

Now in all my trips, I do get a chance to do some birding, thanks to my friend who supported me in this interest. Some of the pictures for remembrance.

Turqoise-browed mormot
It was an exciting time sighting this bird - wow! a real colorful racquet-tail!!

Brown Pelican
- they are so friendly to cameras
Magnificent Frigatebirds
It was fascinating watching them fish...

Even more fascinating to watch them steal fish one from another in mid-air piracy!
Flamingoes
Lots of other birds images - I need to find out how to create a website that I can display my pictures like in a gallery for people's viewing.....

Met a couple of people in Mexico, mostly friends of Norman....they are so beautiful. I love the shots of these two little girls...

We visited this family....Norman became the Santa ~ all kids crowded to him for Easter eggs and extra candies. This family loves him.
I bought a hammock from them, but could not bring it back to Malaysia due to weight limit...maybe next trip. The Mexican hammock is very nice, very comfortable and I love to sleep in them. In two of our nights there, we slept in hammocks, choosing these over the beds in the rented chalets. The family also let me tried making and baking some tortillas (i think that was what it was called....a corn bread....). Took me more than two tries before I can make a real round looking one...ha ha. I ate my own creation, and it was delicious..:-)

Me getting out of the cooking house, cleaning my hands! Happy & satisfied with my culinary skills....ha ha

One thing I do realised that eversince I took up bird photography, I dont have many pictures of people or scenery of places I go.....maybe my equipment is just too heavy and cumbersome for ad-hoc shooting....or I was afraid to lose them to theft........as such, I did miss out on many memorable shots of everyday sightings.....Maybe I need to get myself one of those little idiot-proof camera, or maybe, i should just hold out a handphone....(if i have one! I am thinking of which hp I should get.....well, that is another story.). Adventures in the US will be my next story, when I get time and mood to write.....