Monday, December 10, 2012

BENEFITS OF STAR ANISE

  • The star anise is botanically known as Illicium Verum. It is dark brown in colour with eight segments.It has a sweetish licorice taste.Besides the culinary uses, star anise also has health benefits.
  • In traditional Chinese medicine, star anise is prescribed as a digestive aid, promoting health of female reproductive organs and for lactating mothers to increase breast-milk secretion.
  • The anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties of star anise is useful in the treatment of asthma, bronchitis and dry cough. For this reason some cough mixtures contain star anise extract.
  • Star anise can also be used for its sedating properties to ensure good sleep.
  • The oil of star anise is useful in providing relief from rheumatism and lower back pain.
  • Star anise also can be used as a natural breath freshener.
  • Shikimic acid, a compound present in star anise is used for preparing drug for curing influenza or the flue virus.
  • Linalool, a compound present in star anise contains anti-oxidant properties that are very good for one's overall health.

Image source : Gardenseeker.com
Information source : Bombay Times

Saturday, November 24, 2012

TULSI VIVAH

 
 
Tulsi Vivah is the ceremonial marriage of the Tulsi plant to the Hindu god Vishnu or his Avatar Krishna.It is celebrated on the next day of Karthik Ekadashi. On this day Tulsi is married to Saaligram.
The tulsi plant is held sacred by the Hindus as it is regarded to be an incarnation of Mahalaxmi who was born as Vrinda. Tulsi was married to demon king Jalandhar. She prayed to Shri Vishnu that her demon husband should be protected, with the result no God was able to harm him. However on the request of the other Gods, Shri Vishnu took the form of Jalandhar and stayed with the unsuspecting Tulsi. When the truth emerged after Jalandhar’s death, Vrinda cursed Shri Vishnu and turned him to stone (Saaligram) and collapsed. From her body emerged the tulsi plant. That is why Vishnu puia is considered incomplete without tulsi leaves.

The very name Tulsi, that which cannot be compared, the "incomparable one", has spiritually uplifting qualities. Tulsi has been found to possess extraordinary powers of healing.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

IF FURNITURES COULD SPEAK DURING DIWALI CLEANINGS




I am sharing this article from " SPEAKING TREE "

At Diwali, everything comes alive. The weather, friends, family, markets and even the non-living things (jadd vastu) like the furniture at home. As this is the Indian spring cleaning time where people wash curtains, carpets, clean every nook and corner of their homes and prepare it to welcome Laxmi I wondered if our furniture could speak to us and let us know how they felt during the festive time, what would they say to us?

Of home-made food and many a pickle
Of dinner conversations that tickle
I speak of this family's delight
In relishing their meals with me each night
These bonds worth beyond dime and nickle
Come join me.. 

- Yours, Dinner Table


I have seen them chuckle,
Weep, pretend and confide
In me they slide, spin yarns, dream and hide
With me they wear out wordly woes
Reborn next morning, on their toes
Their trust in me, so bonafide
Freehugs, no bugs

- Yours, Bed

Crawled on me, learnt walking
Rolled on me laughing
Jived to music, started dancing
Showed confidence and strength in me
Prayed to me, I was gleaming
Making me the ground beneath thy feet
Attractive force that keeps you grounded

- Yours, Floor



Leisure and lounge, no rush
Sunk in, guests felt plush
Wrongfully sinfully accused I am
All day long, overused I am
By couch potatoes or couples who mush
Shhhhh, go hush..
- Yours, Couch

Images Source : Google

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

GOD'S ACCURACY - THE FACTS



This is awesome! How Great is this Creation!!!

God's accuracy may even be observed in the hatching of eggs. . . . .
For example:
-The eggs of the potato bug hatch in 7 days;
-Those of the canary in 14 days;
-Those of the barnyard hen in 21 days;
-The eggs of ducks and geese hatch in 28 days;
-Those of the mallard in 35 days;
-The eggs of the parrot and the ostrich hatch in 42 days.
(Notice, they are all divisible by seven, the number of days in a week!)

God's wisdom is seen in the making of an elephant.
The four legs of this great beast all bend forward in the same direction. No other quadruped is so made.
God planned that this animal would have a huge body, too large to live on two legs.
For this reason He gave it four fulcrums so that it can rise from the ground easily.

The horse rises from the ground on its two front legs first.
A cow rises from the ground with its two hind legs first.
How wise the Lord is in all His works of creation!

God's wisdom is revealed in His arrangement of sections and segments, as well as in the number of grains.
-Each watermelon has an even number of stripes on the rind.
-Each orange has an even number of segments.
-Each ear of corn has an even number of rows.
-Each stalk of wheat has an even number of grains.
-Every bunch of bananas has on its lowest row an even number of bananas, and each row decreases by one,
so that one row has an even number and the next row an odd number.

-The waves of the sea roll in on shore twenty-six to the minute in all kinds of weather.

-All grains are found in even numbers on the stalks,
And the Lord specified thirty-fold, sixty-fold, and a hundred-fold all even numbers.

God has caused the flowers to blossom at certain specified times during the day.
Linnaeus, the great botanist, once said that if he had a conservatory containing the right kind of soil, moisture and temperature, he could tell the time of day or night by the flowers that were open and those that were closed!

The lives of each of you may be ordered by the Lord in a beautiful way for His glory,
If you will only entrust Him with your life.
If you try to regulate your own life, it will only be a mess and a failure.
Only the One Who made the brain and the heart can successfully guide them to a profitable end.

I HOPE YOU FIND THIS AS FASCINATING AS I DID.
May God Bless You In Ways You Never Even Dreamed.
Courtesy - Bindu Nair Varma

Sunday, October 21, 2012

KNOW YOUR SPICES







This is an informative mail I recieved and I am sharing it here.

Sunday, June 24, 2012

ICE AGE ANIMALS

There was an exhibition of these life-size replicas of the animals of Ice Age in Curitiba. It was really very interesting to know their history and origin. I am sharing with you all. Some of you might be interested to read it.



GIANT MOA

New Zealand.
Period: 17th century
Size : Height 3.6 - 3.9 meters, Weight 230 - 280 kgs

This tallest flightless bird that ever lived appeared in several species only in New Zealand. Like other modern flightless runners, Moa has a paleognathous skull type. In comparison to the rest of the body, the head is small, with a wide, curved beak and small eyes and rests on a long neck. The shoulder height of adult moa birds reached 1.5 - 2 meters and about one half of its entire height. The body misses any signs of wings.The bones of the forelegs are fully reduced. The Moa laid one or two eggs at a time. The eggs were about 24 cms. long, 18 cms wide in diameter and the volume of its contents was approximately equal to 80 chicken eggs. Based on DNA studies, it was found that female birds were about 1.5 times taller and 2.8 times heavier than the males.



MAMMOTH

Europe, Asia, North America
Period: Some suggestions point to survival untilapproximately 2,000 AD
Size: First form of sub species reached shoulder height of about 4.3 meters. Later forms were slightly smaller, but still much larger than the modern African elephant. (max. height around 3.3 meters)

Mammoths were large animals adapted to life in Tundra, Steppes and on the outskirts of Taiga. Their body structure was similar to modern elephants but with large and taller heads, with bulge on top of it - the tallest part of the mammoth's body. Over 4 meters long tusks were pointed towards each otherand were pointed towards each other and were used as snow plough. Mammoths had long blakish brown even reddish fur to protect them from cold climate. Length of their hair reached from 20 to 60 cms. Like modern elephants, mammoths also lived in herds. Based on plants found in their teeth and stomachs, mammoths grazed on grass vegetation of Arctic Steppes.



MEGALOCEROS (Giant Deer)


European & Asian Steppes ( from Ireland to Lake Baikal)
Period: 400,000 to 8,000 years ago.
Size: 2 - 2.1 meter shoulder height... Weight: 300 - 500 kilograms

Large cloven hoofed deer was characterized by its great shovel-like antlers. The span of antlers reached upto 3.6 meters; their weight upto 40 kilograms. It's size matches that of a Moose, however its morphology relates to Giant Deer - more to Bucks and Fallow-Deer. The large antlers requires substantial amount of minerals, especially calcium phosphate, which at the time of growth could have led to states similar to Osteoporosis. Due to its monumental antlers, Megaloceros could have inhabited only Steppes - wooded areas represented great danger and basically an impassable territory.



WOOLY RHINOCEROS

Europe & Asia
Period: 700,000 to 10,000 years ago
Size : 1.7 - 1.8 meters shoulder height .... Length : 1.7 - 1.8 meters
Weight: 1.5 to 2 tons

The wooly rhinoceros was well adapted to the extreme environment. The long reddish-brown fur was an excellent protection from the cold. Molars and high frilled crowns allowed the wooly rhinoceros to feed on the tough grasses and sedges of the Tundra Steppes. Two horns, flat from the side, which grew out of its skullwere of Keratin, the same material of claws. The ante-rior horn was upto 1 meter long. The horns were not only used for defensive purposes, attracting mates but also to sweep the snow away from the vegetation. Although not closely related, its body and head morphology are reminisent of the modern white rhinoceros. The wooly rhinoceros is a faithful companion of the Mammoth. There is a large probability of finding them at a mammoth finding site. The only place the wooly rhinoceros was not found together with Mammoths is North America. For reasons unknown, they were unable to cross the Bering Strait. The most eastern finds are in China.



ELASMOTHERIUM (one-horned rhinocerous)

Europe, South-Eastern Russia, China
Period: The first species appeared approx. 2 million years ago.
The largest species, E.Sibiricum-appears around 500,000 years ago
The species dies around 10,000 years ago.
Size : 2 to 2.2 meters shoulder height - Body length 5-6 meters
Weight upto 5 tons

The Elasmotherium was a speciesof a giant rhinoceros. Despite its size, the body was quite agile.A single Keratin horn based across most of the facial part of the skull, reached upto 2 meters in length. The second significant attribute of the Elasmotherium is its unique dentition, distinguished by an extremely high frilly crown found in other rhinoceroces and even more importantly- by the absence of molar roots, allowing for constant growth of teeth. This caused the constant need for a highly abrasive diet.




GLYPTODONT (Armadillo)

South, Central, North America
Period: First Glyptodonts appeared in the lower Eocene - 40 million years ago. The last ones died 10,000 tears ago.
Size : Length - 2.5 to 3.5 meters Height : - 1.2 to 1.5 meters
Weight - upto 2 Tons.

Glyptodonts, like their armadillo relatives, had a fairly easy life style with a wide range of diet. Their teeth, like in other edentates (toothless mammals such as ant-eaters and sloths) were globe like...persistently growing, lacked enamel and were formed by a special two layer dentine. The grinding teeth were upto 20 cms long and 4-5 cms wide, and grew in the shape of 3 connected coloumns in sets of six in each jaw. Thw whole dental set functioned as a highly effective mill for vegetable diet. Glyptodont's feet, similar to those of a sloth had strong claws. The body was covered with mosaic of thousands of inch-thick bony plates called Osteoderms. These plates also covered the top of the head and created kind of skull guard. Even the tail was guarded this way in some species. The nasal part of the skull suggests a possibility of the exixtence of a small trunk as in Tapirs.



MEGATHERIUM (Ground Sloth)

South America, closely related genus also in Central and North Americas.
Period: 2 million to 8,000 years ago
Size:  Length .. 5 - 6 Meters   Weight ... 2 - 3 tons

The ground sloths were edentates ( mammals known as toothless) of different sizes. The largestt ones were approximately the size of an elephant. The size was reflected in the robust skeleton, extrememly large pelvic girdle and strong muscular tail.All limbs had five long and massive flexed claws. The foot morphology suggests that these animals treaded on the foot's outer edge. Megatherium was able to stand on its hind legs, supporting itself with the tail and grab branches with relatively long forelegs. Dentition was characterized by a high crown with two lateral crests with cutting outer edge. This feature suggests a cutting rather than crushing function.
      The Megatherium was one of the first mammals to advance to North America. Some Megatherium related genea made it all he way to Alaska.



AUROCHS ( Wild Cattle )

Originally Asia, later Europe and North America.
Period: First appeared in Europe around 25,000 years ago.
Size:  Body length .. 2.6  -  3.1 meters  
          Shoulder height .. 180 cms.
          Weight ... 800 - 1000 kgs Bulls , 1/4 less Cows

Aurochs had black and brown fur with white snout and a light stripe along the spine. Long and thin horns turning upwards were typical for Aurochs. Sexual dimorphism, especially of the horns, was prominent. Wild cattle were social creatures, living in family herds, while the elder ones led a life in solitude. Aurochs were generally forest animals, feeding on grass, herbs, acorn and fallen leaves. Wild cattle were domesticated approximately 8,000 years ago. Aurochs died out first in India, gradually population more to the west disappeared. The last exemplars were noted in the Lake Mazur area in Poland during 17th century. The last individual was hunted down in 1627. Attempts at breeding back the Aurochs from the species assumed to be closest to them ( Highland Cattle, Hungarian Grey Cattle, French and Spanish Arena Cattle) are taking place now.

Friday, June 1, 2012

EK "NRI" KI KAHANI

 NRI's story.....

ना इधर के रहे
ना उधर के रहे
बिच में लटकते रहे

ना India को भुला सके
ना America अपना सके
इंडियन अमेरिकन बन के काम चलाते रहे

... ना गुजराती को छोड़ सके
ना अंग्रेजी को पकड़ सके
देसी accent में गोरो को confuse करते रहे

ना turkey को पका सके
ना ग्रेवी बना सके
मुर्गी को दम देके thanks giving मनाते रहे

ना Christmas tree बना सके
ना बच्चो को समजा सके
दिवाली पर Santa बनके तोहफे बाँटते रहे

ना shorts पहेन सके
ना सलवार कमीज़ छोड़ सके
Jeans पर कुरता और स्नीकर्स पहेन कर इतराते रहे

ना नाश्ते में Donut खा सके
ना खिचड़ी कढी को भुला सके
Pizza पर मिर्च छिड़ककर मज़ा लेते रहे

ना गरमी को भुला सके
ना Snow को अपना सके
खिड़की से सूरज को देखकर Beautiful Day कहेते रहे

अब आयी बारी Baroda जाने की तो
हाथ में पानी का शीशा लेकर चलते रहे

लेकिन वहां पर.............

ना भेल पूरी खा सके
ना लस्सी पी सके
पेट के दर्द से तड़पते रहे
हरड़े और एसबगुल से काम चलाते रहे

ना मच्छर से भाग सके
ना खुजली को रोक सके
Cream से दर्दो को छुपाते रहे

ना फकीरों से भाग सके
ना Dollar को छुपा सके
नोकरो से पीछा छुड़ाकर भागते रहे

ना इधर के रहे
ना उधर के रहे
कमबख्त कही के ना रहे

बस "ABCD (American Born Confused Desi) "

औलाद को और Confuse बनाते रहे
 
This is a mail forward I recieved and am sharing it here.
 
 

Saturday, May 19, 2012

WHY GOD MADE MOMS


 Answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

 Why did God make mothers?
1.  She's the only one who knows where the scotch tape is.
2.  Mostly to clean the house..
3.  To help us out of there when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?
1.  He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.
2.  Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.
3.  God made my mom just the same like he made me.  He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?
1.  God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.
2.  They had to get their start from men's bones.  Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?
1.  We're related.
2.  God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mom like me.

What kind of a little girl was your mom?
1.  My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.
2.  I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.
3.  They say she used to be nice.

What did mom need to know about dad before she married him?
1.  His last name.
2.  She had to know his background.  Like is he a crook?  Does he get drunk on beer?
3.  Does he make at least $800 a year?  Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?
1.  My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world.  And my mom eats a lot.
2.  She got too old to do anything else with him.
3.  My grandma says that mom didn't have her thinking cap on.

Who's the boss at your house?
1.  Mom doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such a goof ball.
2.  Mom.  You can tell by room inspection.  She sees the stuff under the bed.
3.  I guess mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.

What's the difference between moms and dads?
1..  Moms work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work.
2.  Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them..
3.  Dads are taller and stronger, but moms have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends.
4.  Moms have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?
1.  Mothers don't do spare time.
2.  To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?
1.  On the inside she's already perfect.  Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.
2.  Diet.  You know, her hair.  I'd diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your mom, what would it be?
1.  She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean.  I'd get rid of that.
2.  I'd make my mom smarter.  Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me.
3.  I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

GRAPES


Here's why you should include them in your daily diet....
The humble grape might look like an ordinary fruit but is packed with healthy nutrients. Here are some of the health benefits of this fruit.

  • Grape juice is an effective way for curing migraines.

  • For people who suffer from constipation, grapes are considered as a laxative food.

  • They cure indigestion, relieve heat and irritation of the stomach

  • Grape juice also provides you with instant energy. the anti-oxidents present in grapes provide the much needed boost to your immune system.

  • They are also known to bring down cholesterol levels. Red grapes have antibacterial and antiviral properties that protect you against infections.

  • Experts say that grape juice not only prevents the risk of Cancer but also inhibits the growth and multiplication of cancer cells.

  • Pigments found in grapes enhance the overall immunity of your body.

Information Source: Bombay Times
Image source : Google Search

Thursday, April 5, 2012

EASTER




EASTER ( PASCOA in Portuguese)
Christians across the world celebrate Easter, to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion. The celebration of Easter is preceded by the forty days of Lent, a period of prayer and fasting during which they abstain from meat.
Easter doesn't fall on a set date every year, as most holidays do. It is observed anywhere between March 22 and April 25 every year.

Easter traditions are similar in most of the countries. The origin of the ancient custom of decorating eggs is not known. In ancient times the real eggs were boiled with some flowers to change their colour.

These days decorative chocolate eggs wrapped in colourful foils are used instead. The first mass-produced chocolate egg appeared in England in 1873 when Cadbury debuted their first Easter egg. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that milk chocolate Easter eggs became available.

Saturday is traditionally spent decorating Easter eggs and hunting for them with children on Sunday morning, by which time they have been mysteriously hidden all over the house and garden.

Traditions involve parents telling their children that eggs and other treats such as chocolate eggs or rabbits, and marshmallow chicks and jelly beans, have been delivered by the Easter Bunny in an Easter basket, which children find waiting for them when they wake up.



Friday, March 23, 2012

INSTANT NOODLES - HEALTH HAZARD.



BEWARE NOODLE LOVERS : COOKING INSTANT NOODLES IN WRONG WAY IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR HEALTH .
Many of us find it convenient to just cook a packet of instant noodles when we are hungry. Here is a piece of information to share so that we can remove the potential health hazard of consuming such foods. Maybe you should print this and pin it up in the kitchen or dining room as reminder or in your purse if you are always travelling. DO NOT IGNORE THIS ... Especially those fond of easy- to-cook Instant noodles.
WRONG WAY OF COOKING NOODLES:
Normally, how we cook the instant noodles is to put the noodles into a pot with water, throw in the powder and let it cook for around 3 minutes and then it's ready to eat. This is the WRONG method of cooking the instant noodles. By doing this, when we actually boil the ingredients in the powder,normally with MSG, it will change the molecular structure of the MSG, causing it to be toxic. The other thing that you may or may not realize is that, the noodles are coated with wax and it will take around 4 to 5 days for the body to excrete the wax after you have eaten the noodles.
CORRECT METHOD:
1. Boil the noodles in a pot of water.
2. Once the noodles are cooked, take out the noodles, and throw away the water which contains wax.
3. Boil another pot of water, add the cooked noodles into the hot boiling water and then turn off the stove.
4. Only at this stage when the stove is off, and while the water is very hot, add the flavouring powder into the water, to make noodle soup.
5. However, if you need dry noodles, remove the noodles and add the flavouring powder and toss it to get dry noodles.
Dietician's Note: If you buy plain hakka noodles which you make, you initially need to boil in water and discard the water. This will soften the noodles but to prevent it from sticking we need to add a tbsp of oil and also the noodles are deep fried partially to make them crunchy and then dusted with flour to prevent them from sticking while boiling. Hence when you buy the noodles they are already made unhealthy and plus they add MSG / Ajinomoto and other chemical preservatives. A large number of patients with ages ranging from 18-24 years are ending up with pancreatitis either as a swelling or infection of the pancreas due to regular consumption of instant noodles... If the frequency is more than 3 times a week, then it is very hazardous..
DISCLAIMER:
I don't know if this information is 100% correct and accurate, but thought I'll share it since I read it HERE
Image Source : Google
Please share this info and help others to lead a healthy life .

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

WHY DO WE VISIT TEMPLES ?



Here is a scientific explanation !!!!!
There are hundreds of temples all over India in different sizes, shapes and locations but not all of them are considered to be in the Vedic way. Generally, the temples are located in a place where earth's magnetic waves pass through. In simple terms, these temples are located strategically at a place where the positive energy is abundantly available from the magnetic wave distribution of north/ south pole thrust.
Because of its location, where high magnetic values are available, the Main Idol is placed in the center, and also because they place a copper plate written with some Vedic scripts, which is buried, beneath the Main Idol's placement known as "Garbhagriha" or Moolasthan, the copper absorbs the earths magnetic waves and radiates to the surroundings.

Thus a person who regularly visits a temple and makes clockwise pradakshina of the Main Idol's placement, automatically receives the beamed magnetic waves which get absorbed by his body. This is very slow and a regular visit will make him absorb more energy, known as positive energy.

The Sanctum Sanctorum is completely enclosed on three sides. The effect of all energies is very high in here. The lamp that is lit radiates the heat and light energy.

The ringing of the bells and the chanting of prayers gives sound energy.

The fragrance from the flowers, the burning of camphor give out chemical energy. The effect of all these energies is activated by the positive energy that comes out of the idol.

The north/south pole magnetic energy that is absorbed by the copper plate and utensils that are kept in the Moolasthan.

When people go to the temple for Deepaaraadhana, and when the doors open up, the positive energy gushes out onto the persons who are there.

The water used for the Pooja is mixed with Cardamom, Benzoine, Holy Basil (Tulsi), Clove, etc is the "Theertham".

This water becomes more energized because it receieves the positive-ness of all these energies combined. The water that is sprinkled onto the people passes on the energy to all. That is the reason why in some temples in the South, men are not allowed to wear shirts and ladies wear more ornaments because it is through these jewels (metal) that positive energy is absorbed in ladies. It is proved that Theertham is a very good blood purifier, as it is highly energized. This water is mainly a source of magneto therapy as they place the copper water vessel at the Garbhagriha. It also contains cardamom, clove, saffron, etc to add taste and Tulsi (holy Basil) leaves are put into the water to increase its medicinal value! The clove essence protects one from tooth decay, the saffron & Tulsi leave essence protects one from common cold and cough, cardamom and benzoine known as Pachha Karpuram, acts as a mouth refreshing agents. This way, one's health too is protected, by visiting Temples!

Information: E-mail Forward
Images: Google Search

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

PARANAGUA


Paranagua is a small city in the state of Parana in Brazil. Paranaguá means "big round sea" ( with reference to the big wide bay ) in the Tupi-Guarani language. It is Parana's oldest city. It is said that the city was originally founded somewhere around 1550 on the island of Cotinga, and later expanded onto the mainland.
It is 77 kms. by road from Curitiba.

PARANAGUA PORT

It is known for its excellent port facilities, being the busiest seaport for Curitiba, the capital of Parana. It is the 2nd most important port in Brazil, and is known especially for grain export. From here soybean from Paraná, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Paraguay are exported to the World.


OLD HISTORIC BUILDINGS

The city preserves many of the oldest colonial remnants in Parana.


CHURCHES

Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rocio; an important peregrination place in Paraná, as devotees come from all over Brazil to visit and pray. The image of the Lady of Rocio was found by fishermen that built the chapel here in 1813.( Shown in the picture below) Paranagua has many more historic churches. This is the only one I could see in this trip.


OLD CITY MARKET

One of the oldest restaurant in the Market place. The restaurants here are famous for their fresh sea-food delicacies.


CLUBE DO MAR


View from ' Club do Mar '
People owning private yatchs can become members of the club. Their yatchs are maintained by the club and ready for them to use during their visits.

BEACHES & ISLANDS


At a distance on the other side of the beach is " Ilha do Mel " ( Honey Island) A paradise on earth : no roads, no cars; only sandy trails linking beaches and smalls villages with the maximum capacity of 5,000 people allowed on the island. There are small but comfortable Pousadas / guest houses if you like to stay on the island. ( will post the pictures when I visit the island ) Paranagua is the only departure point to this island.


SERRA VERDE EXPRESS

Another tourist attraction is The Exciting Train Tour from Curitiba to Morretes ( an 18th-century town) and Paranaguá. " Serra Verde Express " ( Green Mountain Express) The railway is considered an engineering masterpiece. Its construction began in 1880 and ended in 1885, crossing 110 km through the Atlantic Rain Forest. There are 14 tunnels and bridges to link Curitiba, located about 900 m above sea level; same as Paranaguá. You can witness the amazing beauty of the valley, waterfalls. In the months of April / May the trees are in full bloom with yellow and purple flowers. It really looks like a Paradise on Earth.