Yuelu Academy - Changsha, Hunan, China - July 2008

Exterior view of the temple @ Yuelu Academy
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We recently travelled to China to complete the adoption of our daughter, Joanna Mei.
During our stay, we had the opportunity to visit several sites which became the subjects for a photo journal of our journey. One of the stops on our itinerary was the Yuelu Academy
(now Hunan University) which dates back 1000 years or so. A famous alumni ....... Confucius.
So, here are the photos of our brief visit.

Bamboo plants line a walkway connecting buildings at Yuelu Academy

Bamboo graffiti - no spray paint here.

Views of the temple through 2 courtyard approaches.

Koi pond.

Window ornamentation in the men's restroom.

Student picking his toes in a beautiful pastoral setting.

Ancient high tech scaffolding.

Ornamental ceramic plates close up the ends of roof tiles.

Dragon roof ornamentation.

Answers to the 'Obscure' Epcot Post

1. Mexico - aloe plants

2. Canada - looks like it could be the U.K. but the phone booth is located @ Canada

3. The Land - a beautiful mosaic adorns the entrance

4. Test Track - the world map at the attraction entrance

5. Germany - thought the angled windows were a cool archetectural feature

5. U.K. - the sundial at the center of the pavillion (what?! 2 #5s?!)

6. Journey Into the Imagination - lamp posts are found only in the area outside the attraction

7. Universe of Energy - the sphere is at the head of the walkway to this attraction which is groaning with age for a remake

8. Japan - hallway on the lower level

9. Norway - grass and flowers provide insulation & ornamentation on the roofs of Norwegian homes

9. Italy - a dolphin spits water at the Italy pavillion (can't this guy count?)

10. France - cool off on a hot day

11. China - a reflecting pond

12. America - the most interesting item to photograph in this very plain looking area

13. Mission: Space - an unusual archetectural feature through some native Florida foliage

14. The Seas - kenetic art directional signs throughout Future World

15. Morocco - one of our favorite places to eat @ EPCOT

Ever Been to EPCOT?

If you are a visitor to one of our blogs, you probably know that we are fans of the Disney EPCOT Amusement Park. With our season passes, we use the park (mostly Fall through Spring - Summer is a hot, crowded mess) and sometimes just go over to speed walk around the World Showcase Lagoon dodging waddling tourists as we go.

One morning, we paid a visit as soon as the park opened and had some great opportunities for photography. I took some images of some rather obscure sights in the park which are posted below. For those who frequent the park (there's a few I've met out there in Blogdom),

try to identify where you can see the items pictured below. Some are more obvious than others. Just for fun, leave a comment with your guesses. Answers will be posted in 10 days.

1. A tropical plant adorns a wall at EPCOT.

2. Not a familiar sight here in the States.

3. An intricate mosaic turns a wall into a work of art.

4. A world map at which attraction?

5. An unusual window on a tower.

5. Anyone have the time?

6. These unusual outdoor lamps light up which attraction?

7. A spear sphere.

8. Looks like a nice place to get out of the heat & crowds.
9. Where's the goat? The roof needs trimming!

9. One of 2 'dolphin' in the fountain at this attraction.

10. If there's a breeze, you can get cooled off with the spray from this fountain. Where is it?

11. A water bird relaxes on a rock in a fish pond at this attraction.

12. Silouettes on a wall in this building.

13. An unusual architectural of the building at what attraction?

14. Kinetic art tops off a directional sign at this attraction.

15. Pottery for sale in one of EPCOT's multitude of shops.

Good Luck! And if you're coming to Central Florida,

I'll show you where all these items can be found.