GNN's award winning City of the Month January ... is Harbin where the Ice Lantern and Sculpture Festival starts in January every year. Harbin is in Manchuria, in northern China and is the capital city of Heilongjiang Province.
The average temperature is minus 16.8 degrees celsius in the winter when the Festival is held at Sun Island (snow sculptures) and Zhaolin park (ice-lantern exhibition).
Ice creations can be made by the modern technology of lasers to traditional ice lanterns and are created by sculptours from around the world. Most sculptures are huge - life size or larger than life. At night they are lit with amazing colours and fireworks.
Photos and more info at R Todd King's Site or geocities
Photographer: Magnus Rosendahl FreePhoto.se
Harbin is often called Oriental Moscow as it has a quaint old Russian district, with it's magnificent Santa Sophia Orthodox Church, due to it's history - In 1898 Harbin began with the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway by Russia.
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The much awaited award winning City of the Month for
February is Valentine.
Being February it just had to be Valentine USA : Heart City USA. Yes that's what they call it - Valentine in Cherry County Nebraska is a small city (population in 1999 was 2,862) which abounds in natural wonders - waterfalls, sandhills, national forests, the Nebraska river where you can canoe and fish and two national wildlife refuges where you can see buffalo, elk, deer, prairie dogs and over 200 species of birds. Visit Heart City of the best ten wilderness towns in the USA, according to National Geographic. "Dining, dancing or enjoying a concert by such headliners as Merle Haggard or Neal McCoy are just a few ways to "kick up your heels" in the city. Valentine also has many annual festivities such as Old West Days and the Classic Car Show." The official guide to Valentine Nebraska and Cherry County.
American Bison or buffalo photo by Jack Dykinga
Valentine was named after E.K.Valentine who was born in Iowa in 1843 read more about his military career at you can also visit the Rosebud Reservation - homeland to over 18,000 Sioux Indians. You can attend a pow wow in the summer months or roam the 880,000 magnificent acres of rolling prairie, hills and canyons to the enticing Ghost Hawk Park, Woman Lake and Little White River.
"Not many places in this country can boast about its 19,000 acre National Wildlife Refuge with abundant buffalo, and elk. Valentine can!" See more about National Wildlife Refuge at Fort Niobrara.
Niobrara Saloon
In 1883, in Nebraska, William Cody founded "Buffalo Bill's Wild West," 1899, Courier Litho. Co., Buffalo, N.Y. ; copyright expired
GNN's award winning City of the Month for March
... goes to Coventry
- yes you heard me right that is Coventry in the United Kingdom - you've all heard the expression "sent to Coventry" which actually has a negative connotation of shunning or ignoring some one - well here is a positive reason to go to Coventry. March 8 is international Women's Day and Coventry is celebrating with a month long women's festival.
Besides that the city does have some pretty interesting history...visit Robert Orland's great site on Coventry - you may even find out where the expression "send to Coventry" came from, read a postcard from 1933 and see their interesting elephant and castle coat of arms.
So what are women's acheivements and why March 8 ?
Well not that long ago women were still campaigning for the right to vote. On March 8, 1907 women in the USA were calling for the vote. In 1857 American women workers protested against the low wages and poor working conditions for woman and on March 8, 1909 the USA formally recognised this day as Women's Day. In the following year they were joined by Germany, Denmark, Switzerland and Austria who called for women's right to vote and an end to discrimination by sex.
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THE STATUE OF LADY GODIVA
11th century legend of Lady Godiva who rode through the Coventry naked on horseback to protest against the high taxes. The city folk were commanded to look away as she rode, but one man did not and became known as Peeping Tom a saying that has stayed to this day!
The ruins of the St. Michael's cathedral
a 14th century Gothic church later designated Cathedral, a ruined shell due to bombing in the Second World War.
A view of Coventry 3 miles away from the city centre.
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GNN's award winning City of the Month for April
... goes to Melbourne
Melbourne for it's International Comedy Festival on the 1st to the 26th April, 2009. The Festival was launched in 1987 by Barry Humphries and Peter Cook and is an annual event.
It has an extensive ticketed and free program of stand-up comedy, cabaret, theatre, street performance, film, television, radio and visual arts with local and international comics. The Melbourne Town Hall, 120 Swanston Street, is the main venue of the Comedy Festival.
Melbourne is known for its food, atmospheric eating places, bars and shops.
The City Circle Tram is a free service around central Melbourne. It is a flat city and easy to get around by bike or foot.
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GNN's award winning City of the Month
for May was Cheung Chau
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is a traditional Chinese festival held on the island of Cheng Chau off Hong Kong every year to mark the Eighth day of the Fourth Moon, in the Chinese calendar - usually in early May. It coincides with the local celebration of Buddha's Birthday.
A tower of pink and white steamed buns filled with lotus paste are placed on 3 bamboo towers outside the Pak Tai Temple. There are bun scrambling and bun snatching competitions to add to the festivities.
'At midnight tonight, teams of contestants will scramble up 5 story tall towers, literally covered with steamed, bean-filled buns. Whoever collects the most buns from the tower walls, wins. What a hoot! My bet is on the "home team." ' from Laszlo Ilyes photographer
See video and photos and at flickr
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival began way back in the Qing Dynasty as a ritual for fishing communities to pray for safety and make amends with the spirit world.
Building the giant tower that will be covered in buns.
Mask Dancers in Flying Colours Parade - part of Cheung Chau Bun Festival
Thanks to Wikimedia commons -Laszlo Ilyes photographer
GNN's award winning City of the Month
for June is Ammeberg
GNN's award winning City of the Month
for June is Ammeberg
Ammberg is in the southern part of Sweden.
It's Midsummer celebrations occur on the Summer Solistice in late June which marks the Ancient middle of Summer.
Ammeberg is near lake Vättern which is famous for the excellent quality of its water. Situated in Askersund Municipality it has a population of around 600 people. It is thought to have been established in the 12th century.
The traditions on Midsummer in Ammeberg are focused on the midsummer pole, midsommarstång or majstång. The wooden pole is in the shape of a cross with two rings. (see one in the painting below)
Traditional ring dances, such as Små grodorna (The little frogs) are popular with people attending the celebrations.
"Because Midsummer was thought to be one of the times of the year when magic was strongest, it was considered a good night to perform rituals to look into the future. Traditionally, young people pick bouquets of seven or nine different flowers and put them under their pillow in the hope of dreaming about their future spouse. In the past it was believed that herbs picked at Midsummer were highly potent, and water from springs could bring good health. " Read more.
Midsommardans (Midsummer Dance) by Anders Zorn, 1897, oil on canvas now in National Museum, Stockholm, Sweden.
GNN's award winning City of the Month for MAY
... Cheung Chau
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is a traditional
Chinese festival held on the island of Cheng Chau off Hong Kong every year to mark the Eighth day of the Fourth Moon, in the Chinese calendar - usually in early May. It coincides with the local celebration of Buddha's Birthday.A tower of pink and white steamed buns filled with lotus paste are placed on 3 bamboo towers outside the Pak Tai Temple. There are bun scrambling and bun snatching competitions to add to the festivities.
'At midnight tonight, teams of contestants will scramble up 5 story tall towers, literally covered with steamed, bean-filled buns. Whoever collects the most buns from the tower walls, wins. What a hoot! My bet is on the "home team." ' from Laszlo Ilyes photographer
See video and photos and at flickr
The Cheung Chau Bun Festival began way back in the Qing Dynasty as a ritual for fishing communities to pray for safety and make amends with the spirit world.
GNN's award winning City of the Month - July
Sonkajarvi in Finland where, in July, you can view the Wife Carrying World Championships, the winner receiving the prize of their wife's weight in beer. Dropping and bouncing of the wife incurs a fine. This "sport" dates back to 19th century, according to the local legend, when Herkko Ronkainen used to carry girls on his shoulders. You can also participate in either the sprint or the marathon if you think you are fit enough to beat the world record of 55.5 seconds, held by Margo Uusorg and Birgit Ulricht from Estonia. Also the wife, who does not need to be your own, must weigh more than 49 kilograms and be older than 17. More info at SONKAJÄRVI Photos of Wife Carrying Championships at Arto loves Miki |
Thank you for Photos of Wife Carrying Championships to Arto loves Miki where you can see more photos of this world championship event.
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GNN's award winning City of the Month August is
Moncrabeau France where early every August they welcome storytellers, boasters and braggers for the Liar's Festival. The winner of the tallest tale is crowned. This competition, with entrants from all over the world spinning their yarns in turn, has a long history to it. The Academy of Liars was established in this town in 1748 and it's officials, who swear to parody the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, are the judges of the competition. 1st Sunday august 5 euros to enter.
More about the Academy and Festival...
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GNN's award winning City of the Month for September is
Goodnews Bay, Alaska.
The Yup'ik Eskimos called this village of Good News Bay "Mumtraq."
This remote village, with the great name, is located on the north shore of Goodnews Bay at the mouth of Goodnews River. Goodnews is a traditional Yup'ik Eskimo village with a population of 243 (2010 U.S. Census Population).
The villagers have a subsistence, trapping and fishing lifestyle.
'41 residents hold commercial fishing permits for salmon and herring roe fisheries. Many residents engage in trapping. Subsistence upon salmon, seal, walrus, birds, berries, moose and bear is an integral part of the lifestyle.' More statistics at Alaskan Community Database including map and contacts
Looking down at Goodnews Bay from aeroplane
PHOTO THANKS TO DIVISION OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS COMMUNITY PHOTO LIBRARY
Amazing view behind beach, looking from airport.
PHOTO THANKS TO DIVISION OF COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS COMMUNITY PHOTO LIBRARY
The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, shines above Bear Lake in beautiful ALASKA
GNN's award winning City of the Month
International Day of Tartan 07 Jul 2013
The celebrations begin with a wake up call when a lone piper will play his pipes from the top of the St Mary's church tower.
The action then moves to Cameron Park at the rear of Maclean Shopping Centre for a celebration of Scottish music, dancing, bands, guest artists and mini Highland Games.
Bring the whole family for an interesting fun filled time.
Maclean in NSW Australia where in June you can bet on the ugliest amphibian of them all in the Cane Toad Races. The races are part of the Maclean Cane Harvest Festival as it is a sugar cane industry area. Maclean, which bills itself as the Scottish town in Australia, has a population of 2890 people and is situated on the Clarence River, 667 Klm North of Sydney. Everything about the town at the Northern NSW Regional Site
Photo gallery of the town
Maclean District Historical Society
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GNN's award winning City of the Month October is ...
Bumthang in Bhutan འབྲུག་ཡུལ་, Druk Yul, meaning land of the thunder dragon.
The Bumthang Festival takes place each year in late October. Photos at 2camels.com In 2008 the date are October 25th to October 29th.
Masked dancers in Bumthang, Photo by tarmo
Bhutan, a Himalayan Kingdom, was formed in Asia early in the17th century and it's main religion is Buddhism. The gross national happiness of the country is considered most important. The Bumthang festival is a religious celebration
The Bumthang valley is considered the most sacred of all valleys in Bhutan and one of the most beautiful.
2008 is a historic year as they commemorate 100 years of monarchy and the Coronation of the Fifth King His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk
The exotic animals alone make Bhutan fascinating... check out the bharal, migo, takin, snow leopard and serow to name but a few.
Good links
Travel Postcards Bhutan
The Tiger's nest in Bhutan photo by wang
GNN's award winning City of the Month for
NOVEMBER goes to Eumundi
Eumundi is just over an hour north of Brisbane on Queensland's Sunshine Coast in Australia.
This historic town holds it's wonderful markets each week whatever the weather. You can sample and buy local produce such as organic foods, jams, treats, nuts, view original art and craft work including local photography, buy homewares and clothing. There are many musicians and other entertainers.
The markets, with over 600 stalls, are held every Saturday and Wednesday throughout the year and on Thursdays in December there are the delightful twilight markets between 5pm and 9pm.
Thanks saschmid for the photos
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Local colour
Katz Tatz ( Katrina Farrar ) create unique temporary tattoos and body art. They are airbrushed onto the skin in an endless selection of colours or black and white which looks like a permanent tattoo. Kat was the winner at Airbrush the Australian Body Art Carnivale in 2007. |
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Photos: lanpm163 katzbodyart LookOutBack |
So what is Eumundi's history?
- 1850's cattle runs
- 1867 1st road due to gold discover at gympie
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Pioneer settlers 1879 0n
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1900 stores start opening - general stores, a bakery, saddler, blacksmiths, butcher shops, auctioneers and agents. Some of these old buildings still stand today.
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1900 Timber milling
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Dairy farms and butter factories 1900's
from Eumundi & District Historical Association
Good City Award
GNN's award winning City of the Month
for DECEMBER goes to the North Pole
We all know the North Pole is where Santa lives but did you know the North Pole is in Alaska?
"North Pole is a scenic small town of approximately 2,099 people that serves as the commercial hub of the “Greater North Pole” area of over 30,000 residents. " CITY OF NORTH POLE
You can visit the Ice Park which is full of ice sculptures created by local and international scultors. It is right next door to Santa Claus House.
PICTURE rmkfont |
Hotel North Pole is Open and Ready for YOU! |
"The City of North Pole is proud to announce the grand opening of Hotel North Pole! The hotel officially opened on May 15th and, according to Hotel Manager Melissa Conatser, they are ready to fulfill your lodging or meeting needs. " WEBSITE |