hkskyline's Today in History Photo Thread

[mousquet]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

In light of what happened to the Notre Dame, I hope we can look at these old photos again in a few years and barely notice the difference.

Yeah, they're rebuilding everything just the way it was. With the same materials and all. It will take years and I would have liked a new contemporary spire instead of the 19th-century one by Viollet-le-Duc. But preservationists and NIMBYs once more had their say and won.

The fire was triggered by a construction site that was to maintain the cathedral. Things like that happen. Construction sites are something not always safe and I think a contemporary spire would have reminded everyone of it in the future.

But a majority of people thinks restoring Viollet-le-Duc's spire is better. It will reopen to the public in a couple of years. But the entire restoration work will take at least a decade.

That kind of medieval monuments require constant maintenance anyway.

[hkskyline]

On this day - June 8 in ...

2019 - Chiang Mai
This place feels so far from the typical image of Thailand. There are no beautiful tropical beaches, and no traffic jams extending beyond your line of sight. This is a temple town with less crowds than Bangkok, and a more laid-back atmosphere.

[hkskyline]

On this day - June 15 in ...

2011 - Valencia, Spain
Spain offers wonderful value for money, and lots of fresh orange juice. Isn't that what Valencia is famous for? I lived at the edge of the historic centre and all this was walkable. Further out is the modern district with lots of inspirational yet controversial buildings.



2013 - Dubai
Dubai's long linear skyline is hard to capture from this perspective, although the haze layer adds to the mystique with the Burj being the clear outlier.

[hkskyline]

On this day - June 21 in ...

2013 - Moscow
Tetris has come alive! I was so busy taking photos of St. Basil's Cathedral on the outside that I didn't bother going in for a look. With midnight sun and the blue sky keeping photography conditions great long after dinner, I took advantage to go for an extra early and late round of sightseeing on many of my days in Russia.



2017 - Toronto
I always enjoy exploring rooftop bars and restaurants with a view. It's not a common vantage point like an observation deck and I can get a drink as well. Yorkville is a good place to head upwards to see the skyline and watch the density taper quickly on the other side.

[hkskyline]

On this day - June 28 in ...

2015 - Shenzhen
At the time, Kingkey 100 was the city's tallest building, with a luxury 5-star hotel occupying the top floors. Getting up there to enjoy the view is not easy. You can't even reach the lobby up in the sky unless you have a reservation either to stay or to dine. Hong Kong's distant northern suburbs are easily seen surrounded by plenty of greenery.

[hkskyline]

On this day - July 1 in ...

2010 - Shenzhen
The new business district in Futian is laid out in an orderly fashion with many glassy towers placed within these blocks. This pair caught my attention not only because of their colour but also the pattern. Did CIBC Square take a page from them?



2012 - Dalian
Dalian was once ruled by the Russians and then by the Japanese. Colonial influence remains heavy here, and there are a few examples around Zhongshan Square, which was once named Nicholas Square. Strolling around this city is quite pleasant with less crowds and congestion with a decent amount of history and beautiful sea views.



2017 - Vancouver
I've always wondered how these glassy towers would fare in a big earthquake. After all, this stretch of the West Coast is along the Ring of Fire. But before that event arrives, the lucky residents get to enjoy the beautiful sea views.



2019 - Macau
The world's largest casino destination actually has extensive history from its Portuguese colonial era. Across the river, Zhuhai on the Chinese side is rapidly building a skyline of its own, but gambling is not allowed there.

[hkskyline]

On this day - July 2 in ...

2015 - Nikko, Japan
The Toshogu Shrine is an elaborately-decorated structure that was built in the 17th century. A bling bling temple doesn't seem to match the typical Japanese style, which are usually more modest and simple.



2016 - Borobudur, Indonesia
The central part of Java offers lots of historic sites and hotels are far cheaper than overtouristed Bali. While Indonesia is mostly a Muslim country today, Borobudur is actually a Buddhist temple dating from the 8-9th centuries. A private hire doesn't cost an arm and a leg, so I was able to travel around in relative luxury at my own pace, easily hitting the 2 big temple sites in a single day.

[hkskyline]

On this day - July 5 in ...

2016 - Bali
Not giving into the luxurious resort's draws, I stayed out of my hotel most of the time to sightsee around the island. There are many unique temples and Hindu influence in Muslim Indonesia but when you combine with cliffs and the ocean, it just becomes a little more special.



2018 - Helsinki
My impression of grand European churches is a historic structure with lots of intricate carvings amidst a grand interior where a louder voice will echo across to the other end. Temppeliaukio is different. It is impressive because it is carved into the rock and the whole space is intimate and natural.

[hkskyline]

On this day - July 15 in ...

2018 - Roros, Norway
While Norway is famous for its stunning beauty, I was surprised that this last minute add-on side trip from Trondheim yielded a nice surprise. Roros has crosses in its "o"s and is a uniquely wooden town, fuelled by the copper mine that closed in 1977. Farmers worked here except during the summer growing season. The highlight was the church, which was built with segregation and class struggle in mind. Upper classes had their own section with private box and curtains, while prayers encouraged discipline and submission.

[mousquet]

Originally Posted by hkskyline

The highlight was the church, which was built with segregation and class struggle in mind. Upper classes had their own section with private box and curtains, while prayers encouraged discipline and submission.

Oh? What kind of church was that? I know the Norwegians have had their own kind of national church as the rest of Scandinavia. The Swedes and the Danes have the same, their own churches. But frankly, submission and obedience to the establishment are not particularly a Christian attitude. Christ was never submissive to anybody, was He? He was a serious rebel. The greatest, most fantastic revolutionary in human history!

But yeah, social constructions are something touchy and slow at making progress given the average behavior of human beings. We're all aware of that. So I see why they would do that. But again, this is not genuinely Christian in my opinion.

In real Christianity, everybody including (and especially) those born to the so called Working Class should get opportunities to grow socially successful, at any point of their lifetimes. And they all should stand together as a single united group at church, just like they do in Catholicism.

Social classes and class struggle are a Marxist concept that I deeply dislike anyway.
Society should not be segmented into castes. That is just not ok in Christian faith.

[hkskyline]

Originally Posted by mousquet

Oh? What kind of church was that? I know the Norwegians have had their own kind of national church as the rest of Scandinavia. The Swedes and the Danes have the same, their own churches. But frankly, submission and obedience to the establishment are not particularly a Christian attitude. Christ was never submissive to anybody, was He? He was a serious rebel. The greatest, most fantastic revolutionary in human history!

But yeah, social constructions are something touchy and slow at making progress given the average behavior of human beings. We're all aware of that. So I see why they would do that. But again, this is not genuinely Christian in my opinion.

In real Christianity, everybody including (and especially) those born to the so called Working Class should get opportunities to grow socially successful, at any point of their lifetimes. And they all should stand together as a single united group at church, just like they do in Catholicism.

Social classes and class struggle are a Marxist concept that I deeply dislike anyway.
Society should not be segmented into castes. That is just not ok in Christian faith.

Apparently Lutheran, but I don't think it was a true Christian church in practice given the class segregation the mining company implemented.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/norway/...1112482/360229