Prince George makes second outing for christening of the year part 2

By Belinda Goldsmith

LONDON (Reuters) - After arriving to a global media frenzy, Britain's Prince George will make his second official appearance this week at a christening designed to be as low-key as possible for the world's most-hyped baby.

Prince George, third-in-line to the British throne, will be christened on October 23 in a private, 45-minute ceremony in the Chapel Royal at St James' Palace by the spiritual leader of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

George will become the formal head of the Church of England himself if he accedes to the throne.

Few were surprised by Prince William and his wife Kate's decision to break with tradition and not hold the service in Buckingham Palace as is typical for royal christenings.

The royal couple, known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge since their 2011 wedding, have made it clear they are not sticklers for tradition and their informality has helped portray a more modern, relevant royal family in austerity-hit Britain.

So far the only official photographs of Prince George are family snapshots taken by Kate's father Michael Middleton.

The christening will be the first time in over 100 years that four generations of royals are photographed together, with a picture of Queen Elizabeth, her son and heir Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George to be released after the event.

Although the christening will be held behind closed doors, tourists and well-wishers have already flocked to the 16th century St James' Palace built by Henry VIII in central London.

"In the States, the royals fascinate people, especially William and Kate who are young and approachable," said Sean Tyrrell, 44, a policeman from Manteca, California, outside the palace gate flanked by guards in red tunics and bearskin hats.

Sean Tyrrel, 44, a policeman from Menteca, California, outside the palace gate flanked by guards in red tunics and bearskin hats said that In the States, the royal fascinate people, especially William an Kate who are young and approachable.

STYLE ICON

German students Julia Magrian and Anne Krause, both aged 17, said they would be following the christening closely, keen to see what Kate wears. The "Kate-effect" is well-known, with anything the duchess wears prompting a sales rush.

"We like Kate because she is a link between royalty and the common people and she has great style," said Magrian.

Magrian said that they like Kate because she is a link between royalty and the common people and she has great style.

Royal officials have released few details before the christening, allowing only one photographer and one TV crew inside the palace - unlike Prince George's birth when an army of cameramen camped outside St. Mary's Hospital for three weeks.

Millions of people around the world watched live coverage of the duke and duchess, both aged 31, leave the hospital with their sleeping son, the only public sighting of George to date.

His birth on July 22, along with a run of sporting success for Britain during an unusually good summer, was credited with boosting consumer spending in July and bolstering the popularity of Britain's royal family at home and abroad.

William and his party-loving brother Harry have been at the forefront of the modernisation of the monarchy whose popularity suffered after the 1997 death of their mother Princess Diana.

British media have speculated on the guest list and whether Prince George will wear a replica of the gown used by Queen Victoria's eldest daughter in 1841 and worn by many royals since.

Bookmaker William Hill expected Prince William and Kate to opt for friends as the godparents for their first child and skip the royal tradition of choosing family or other royals.

Shopkeepers said the christening was unlikely to boost sales since little was available in terms of baby memorabilia.

"There's always demand for anything royal but licensing rules mean we're very limited in what we can provide," said Younes Nokra of the Crest of London store in Leicester Square.

Younes Nokra of the Crest of London store in Leicester Square said that there's always demand for anything royal but licensing rules mean they're very limited in what we can provide.

Despite the christening being held behind locked gates, royal fans were still planning to descend on St. James' Palace to soak up the atmosphere and look out for Prince George.

"He will have a lovely christening dress on and I want to see him with his eyes open," Margaret Tyler, a royal enthusiast and memorabilia collector, told Reuters.

Margaret Tyler, a royal enthusiast and memorabilia collector, told Reuters that He will have a lovely christening dress on and I want to see him with his eyes open.

(Additional reporting by Hugo Hodge and Georgina Cooper, Editing by xxxx

Source : http://uk.news.yahoo.com/prince-george-makes-second-outing-christening-160604174.html#4r5LZpJ

Prince George makes second outing for christening of the year

Belinda Goldsmith

LONDON (Reuters) - After arriving to a global media frenzy, Britain's Prince George will make his second official appearance this week at a christening designed to be as low-key as possible for the world's most-hyped baby.

Prince George, third-in-line to the British throne, will be christened on October 23 in a private, 45-minute ceremony in the Chapel Royal at St James' Palace by the spiritual leader of the Church of England, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.

George will become the formal head of the Church of England himself if he accedes to the throne.

Few were surprised by Prince William and his wife Kate's decision to break with tradition and not hold the service in Buckingham Palace as is typical for royal christenings.

The royal couple, known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge since their 2011 wedding, have made it clear they are not sticklers for tradition and their informality has helped portray a more modern, relevant royal family in austerity-hit Britain.

So far the only official photographs of Prince George are family snapshots taken by Kate's father Michael Middleton.

The christening will be the first time in over 100 years that four generations of royals are photographed together, with a picture of Queen Elizabeth, her son and heir Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George to be released after the event.

Although the christening will be held behind closed doors, tourists and well-wishers have already flocked to the 16th century St James' Palace built by Henry VIII in central London.

"In the States, the royals fascinate people, especially William and Kate who are young and approachable," said Sean Tyrrell, 44, a policeman from Manteca, California, outside the palace gate flanked by guards in red tunics and bearskin hats.

STYLE ICON

German students Julia Magrian and Anne Krause, both aged 17, said they would be following the christening closely, keen to see what Kate wears. The "Kate-effect" is well-known, with anything the duchess wears prompting a sales rush.

"We like Kate because she is a link between royalty and the common people and she has great style," said Magrian.

Royal officials have released few details before the christening, allowing only one photographer and one TV crew inside the palace - unlike Prince George's birth when an army of cameramen camped outside St. Mary's Hospital for three weeks.

Millions of people around the world watched live coverage of the duke and duchess, both aged 31, leave the hospital with their sleeping son, the only public sighting of George to date.

His birth on July 22, along with a run of sporting success for Britain during an unusually good summer, was credited with boosting consumer spending in July and bolstering the popularity of Britain's royal family at home and abroad.

William and his party-loving brother Harry have been at the forefront of the modernisation of the monarchy whose popularity suffered after the 1997 death of their mother Princess Diana.

British media have speculated on the guest list and whether Prince George will wear a replica of the gown used by Queen Victoria's eldest daughter in 1841 and worn by many royals since.

Bookmaker William Hill expected Prince William and Kate to opt for friends as the godparents for their first child and skip the royal tradition of choosing family or other royals.

Shopkeepers said the christening was unlikely to boost sales since little was available in terms of baby memorabilia.

"There's always demand for anything royal but licensing rules mean we're very limited in what we can provide," said Younes Nokra of the Crest of London store in Leicester Square.

Despite the christening being held behind locked gates, royal fans were still planning to descend on St. James' Palace to soak up the atmosphere and look out for Prince George.

"He will have a lovely christening dress on and I want to see him with his eyes open," Margaret Tyler, a royal enthusiast and memorabilia collector, told Reuters.

(Additional reporting by Hugo Hodge and Georgina Cooper, Editing by xxxxx)

Source : http://uk.news.yahoo.com/prince-george-makes-second-outing-christening-160604174.html#4r5LZpJ

MONAS

Monumen Nasional atau yang populer disingkat dengan Monas atau Tugu Monas adalah monumen peringatan setinggi 132 meter (433 kaki) yang didirikan untuk mengenang perlawanan dan perjuangan rakyat Indonesia untuk merebut kemerdekaan dari pemerintahan kolonial Hindia Belanda. Pembangunan monumen ini dimulai pada tanggal 17Agustus 1961 di bawah perintah Presiden Soekarno, dan dibuka untuk umum pada tanggal 12 Juli 1975. Tugu ini dimahkotai lidah api yang dilapisi lembaran emas yang melambangkan semangat perjuangan yang menyala-nyala. Monumen Nasional terletak tepat di tengah Lapangan Medan Merdeka, Jakarta Pusat. Monumen dan museum ini dibuka setiap hari mulai pukul 08.00 - 15.00 WIB.

Pada halaman luar mengelilingi monumen, pada tiap sudutnya terdapat relief timbul yang menggambarkan sejarah Indonesia. Relief dan patung-patung ini dibuat dari semen dengan kerangka pipa atau logam, sayang sekali beberapa patung dan arca mulai rontok dan rusak akibat hujan dan cuaca tropis.

Di bagian dalam cawan monumen terdapat Ruang Kemerdekaan berbentuk amphitheater. Ruangan ini dapat dicapai melalui tangga berputar di dari pintu sisi utara dan selatan. Ruangan ini menyimpan simbol kenegaraan dan kemerdekaan Republik Indonesia. Diantaranya naskah asli Proklamasi Kemerdekaan Indonesia yang disimpan dalam kotak kaca di dalam gerbang berlapis emas, lambang negara Indonesia, peta kepulauan Negara Kesatuan Republik Indonesia berlapis emas, dan bendera merah putih, dan dinding yang bertulis naskah Proklamasi Kemerdekaan Republik Indonesia. 

Di dalam Ruang Kemerdekaan Monumen Nasional ini digunakan sebagai ruang tenang untuk mengheningkan cipta dan bermeditasi mengenang hakikat kemerdekaan dan perjuangan bangsa Indonesia. Naskah asli proklamasi kemerdekaan Indonesia disimpan dalam kotak kaca dalam pintu gerbang berlapis emas. Pintu mekanis ini terbuat dari perunggu seberat 4 ton berlapis emas dihiasi ukiran bunga Wijaya Kusuma yang melambangkan keabadian, serta bunga Teratai yang melambangkan kesucian. Pintu ini terletak pada dinding sisi barat tepat di tengah ruangan dan berlapis marmer hitam dan akan dibuka untuk memperlihatkan teks asli Proklamasi satu jam sekali. Pintu ini dikenal dengan nama Gerbang Kemerdekaan yang secara mekanis akan membuka seraya memperdengarkan lagu "Padamu Negeri" diikuti kemudian oleh rekaman suara Soekarno tengah membacakan naskah proklamasi pada 17 agustus 1945.

Pada sore hari, akan terlihat banyak pengunjung yang akan mengelilingi taman disekitar Monas untuk sekedar bersantai dengan keluarga, kerabat dan orang-orang terdekat. Sekedar menikmati udara sore atau pun bermain sepeda yang sudah tersedia untuk disewakan bagi para pengunjung.

Pasar Apung

Kota Banjarmasin, kota yang dikenal dengan sebutan kota seribu pulau ini memiliki pasar terapung yang sudah didengar oleh banyak orang.  Pasar Apung Muara Kuin adalah pasar terapung tradisional yang berada di atas sungai Barito di Muara Sungai Kuin, Banjarmasin, Kalimantan Selatan. Para pedagang dan pembeli menggunakan perahu. Pasar ini mulai setelah sholat shubuh sampai selepas pukul tujuh pagi. Di pasar ini kita bisa membeli beragam macam barang ataupun bahan makanan, seperti sayuran, buah-buahan, sampai nisan kuburan pun bisa di dapati disekitar pasar apung ini.

 

Para pedagang wanita yang berperahu menjual hasil produksinya sendiri atau tetangganya di sebut dukuh, sedangkan tangan kedua yang membeli dari dukuh untuk dijual kembali disebut penyambangan. Keistimewaan dari pasar ini adalah masih sering terjadi transaksi barter antar pedagang berperahu, yang dalam bahasa Banjar disebut Bapanduk.

Untuk mencapai pasar initidak begitu sulit karena pasarnya berada di kota. Dari Kota kita hanya perlu pergi ke dermaga-dermaga kecil di sekitar daerah Kuin. Dari dermaga tersebut kita bisa menyewa perahu-perahu kecil .

Kini pasar terapun ini dipastikan menyusul punah berganti dengan pasar darat. Banyak wisatawan yang berkunjung ke pasar tersebut harus menelan kekecewaan, termasuk saya, karena tidak menjumpai adanya geliat eksotisme pasar di atas air.