Consciousness and Architecture

Monday, June 14, 2010

Study Abroad trip : Part 1 - Rome

Day 1:

We arrived in Rome on the 15th of May. It was around 10 am and it was rainy and cold, the latter was quite unusual for May in Rome I hear. Tired from a long journey across the Atlantic, 18 of us huddled into the bus that was provided by Royal Caribbean. A friendly guide greeted us and informed us about the agenda and we made our way to the hotel where we stayed for the next 3 nights.

Then we made our first mistake. Instead of resting and grabbing bite, anxious to see the city, we set off to the train station soon after we checked into the hotel. Later we realized we should have just rested that day so that all of us could have enjoyed Rome in a more calm and relaxed manner.

Travel tip # 1: No matter how anxious you are to see the city, have a proper meal, take a shower and at least a short nap before you venture out into the city so that you won't be tired for days to follow. Jet lag won't go away just because you want it to...!!

Travel tip # 2: Buy a Roma pass. This is good for 3 days unlimited travel in the Rome Metro AND you get entrance to 2 or 3 monuments for free. We went to the Colosseum and the Forum with the free pass.

In the rain, we took the train and then walked to the Vatican - St. Peters' square. It was packed, there were long lines and it was cold. Realizing we should visit the Vatican on a sunny day, and arrive there early in the morning, we took off by foot to see the Pantheon.

Travel Tip # 3: It maybe the summer but make sure to take at least one thick sweeter and buy yourself a nice umbrella if it looks like it is going to rain. And take a pair of comfortable, water-proof shoes. You are going to walking a lot and you don't want to be cold.

On our way to the Pantheon, we stopped at Piazza Navona briefly. Made a mental note that we should visit here again, should time permit, to see the full glory on a sunnier day.

Then we headed on to the mighty Pantheon. Just as magnificent as we all have heard, it is an amazing, huge structure. Large columns, and thick walls towering above all the other structures near by, it was truly an amazing site. I had first heard about the Pantheon in history lessons years ago, it instantly went in to my bucket list and I was so glad I was standing right there, on this rainy-gloomy-cold-day, looking at this amazing building constructed over 2000 years ago. We couldn't go in just yet because of the mass that was taking place inside.

The Pantheon was initially built as a temple for all gods by Marcus Agrippa and then was rebuilt by Emperor Hadrian during 126 AD. In the early 7th century, it was gifted to the pope who converted it to a Catholic Church as you will witness it today.

Our instructor, Prof. Mario Ortega from Miami-Dade college who organized this study abroad trip, noted how on a sunny day one could see the 20ft Oculus at the center of the dome-shaped roof lights up the entire interior of the Pantheon and how we should probably come by here again when the weather conditions have improved.

Then we made our way to the Trevi fountain. Again, like many sculptures and art pieces you find in Rome, this took my breath away. Much larger than I had pictured and more beautiful and detail oriented than I could have ever imagined, the Trevi fountain is a true work of art that I didn't want to leave there.

Day 2

We started the day by visiting the famous Colosseum. If you use the Roma pass, you don't have to wait in a long line for hours to get in. No words can explain how amazing it is to be inside there. To realize you are standing on a structure that was built over 2,000 years ago and to imagine how it was built without the aid of modern technology we take for grated ,can make the hair stand at the back of your neck. I don't approve of how they used the place for brutal means of entertainment but it is an amazing theater.

Romans are known for their Arches. Here at the Colosseum, you can see arches are used to add aesthetic beauty and structural stability.

The baring walls are wide closer to the foundation of the Colosseum, you will feel how minuscule a person is, comparatively.

There is a permanent exhibit at the Colosseum and that is not to be missed as well.

40,000 - 50,000 spectators were said to have filled the Colosseum during operational times in the Roman Empire.

Then we headed towards the Roman Forum.

The Roman forum, during the golden days of the Roman empire, housed the senate and the most important civic buildings. At this site, there are ruins of hundreds of ancient buildings. This is, by far, my favorite place in Rome. I was enchanted with the Forum. A strong sense of "this is where democracy, as we know it, shaped" took over me. There is a feeling of a deep connection that I still can't shake off - a month after I have been there. I am still, truly amazed.

On our way back, we stopped by at the Vittorio Emanuel memorial and as I got the opportunity to visit there again later in the trip, i will write about that later.

Day 3

We took of early in the morning to the Vatican. It was a bright sunny day with mild temperatures and it was perfect. The line to enter the Vatican is long but it moves fast and entrance is free. However, you can only go inside the St. Peter's Basilica and you have to wait on another line to enter the Vatican museum and the Sistine Chapel. Entrance to the Sistine Chapel and Vatican Museum is not free and the lines to enter is miles long.

Travel tip # 4: For about 5 - 10 Euros more (around 35 Euros total) , you can join a guided tour and you get priority entrance to all 3 places. You can stay with the tour guide if you prefer but from our experience, they talk a lot and don't spend enough time looking at the art and architecture. So we took off on our own sometime into the tour once inside the museum.

Do stop and take time to see the art and architecture. Some of the world's best art pieces were acquired (not always very ethically) by the Vatican and are preserved there. The architecture of the building itself should not be ignored.

There is so much art & architecture at this museum than I could have possibly documented and than I could post here. But do not miss the opportunity if you ever go there, take time and walk through, just allow yourself to be surrounded by some of the best artworks on earth.

The museum lead us to the Sistine Chapel. Inside the Sistine Chapel, photography is not allowed. The ceilings pf the Sistine are covered with Michaelangelo's famous frescos. You can also find Rafael's, Bernini's & Botticelli's frescos as well.

From there we proceeded to the Papal Catacombs. If you were expecting to see something similar to the catacombs of Paris, behold ! You are in for a surprise. It is more like a fancy underground burial chamber than a normal catacomb. Again, pictures are not allowed so I don't have any pictures to share with you but if you are in the Vatican, please do take time to visit there.

From here we made our way to the St. Peter's Basilica. One thing NOT TO MISS here is the "Pieta". That was a major check in my bucket list, I have been dreaming of seeing Michaelangelo's Pieta & David ever since my first Art history lesson way back in early 90's. I have yet to see David but I sure plan to one day.

The Basilica is full of art & sculpture. I have to apologize to my readers but I will not post many images from there simply because there are so many and it is difficult to pick.

From the Vatican, we headed back to the Pantheon to see the bright sunlight coming through the Oculus and light up the interior. Any picture cannot justify how it looks and feels inside the Pantheon. Truly breathtaking.

From there we headed the Spanish Steps, one last stop before heading back to the hotel.

Day 4

The day that we embarked on the Cruise... !!

Await more posts with our journeys in the Mediterranean....

Saturday, June 5, 2010

Back from my trip

I returned from my 17-day Mediterranean and Egypt trip last Monday. Unfortunately I caught when I returned and I am finally recovering.

I was hoping I would have access to the Internet much more than I did during the entire trip. Sadly I did not but I did the next best thing, making notes on a journal. So during the next few days I will try to upload these notes & pictures and share one of the best experiences I have had in my life so far.

On that note, a few recommendations on traveling as an Architecture students or otherwise.

I realized taking a cruise in a cruise liner is the best way to see the world. I am not sure if it is the cheapest but it sure is the easiest and the safest. You will come to see why when I upload the above mentioned notes
Try traveling in a a group. Not only it is fun but it is also the safest.
If you are a student, take part in at least one study abroad program. If you are in Miami-Dade area you can check with the program I did. I will post more info about that..

I checked-off a few of my bucket list in this trip:

Rome (Everything about Rome) - Check
The Parthenon in Athens - Check
Climb a Volcano : Mt. Vesuvius - Check
Great Pyramids of Giza - Check

Await more pictures and info.....

Friday, June 4, 2010

Why is there something as opposed to nothing?

Is there something?

As Descartes would have said, "I think, therefore I am." We look around and we see mater and we measure energy.

Was there ever a time where there was nothing? If so, "something" would have had to come out of "nothing". Since this is not logically possible, we can assume that - since there is something today and it could not have come out of nothing - there has always been something.

So, we have two possibilities: Either, there has always been something, or there has never been anything. There could not have been a scenario where there was nothing because you and I, we, are here and we are something. Hence, there must have always been something.

Thus the question "Why" is irrelevant because something had always existed. Why has always something existed?, because you can't make something out of nothing. In fact, why comes from the fact that we exist and we can formulate "why." So, while we cannot make something out of nothing, we can take what is and has always been and make it better - for us and for each other.

- excerpt from a discussion with my nerdy husband on a lovely Friday night

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Upcoming trip

I signed up for a study abroad trip with our school. We will be leaving in 2 days and I am excited beyond words.

We will be first visiting Italy - Rome, Naples, Pompeii & Mt. Vesuvius, Sicily. Then we will be going to Greece - Athens, Rhodes. The to Turkey - Ephesus and finally to Egypt - to Alexandria & Cairo.

I have always wanted to visit these places and it was perfect when the school announced it, I jumped at it.

So await more posts with details & pictures from the Mediterranian & Egypt. :)

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Evidence for life before and after lives

Interesting series of videos

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

This is an interview with Dr. Jim Tucker, University of Virginia:

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Life Purpose

Since I was a kid, I've always had this profound sense that there must be something more to life than just doing a great job, having a family and wealth. A sense that I must be here to do something beyond just my own interest. Of course ,I took the wrong paths a few times, tried to immitate others and then realized I must find my own unique path and my own unique goals.

Some of the techniques that worked for me were:

Trying to understand what I deeply cared about, what I valued and what I really liked
Trying to know my skills
Use these skills to find what I cared about, valued and really liked

One of the important things I learned over the years was that things change, I change, my likes and dislikes change and my goals change. I needed to build up and improve the techniques further. Also never stop looking for what needs to be done.

During this quest, I fortunately came across a few very good tools. A few years back I came across Anthony Robin's book "Awaken the Giant Within" and saw some of his books. There were some very good pointers into figuring out your potential and fulfilling your potential. I had taken the CDP course at the IAC previously and wanted to take their Advanced program on self knowledge. It filled in some more of the gaps in this big puzzle I was trying to put together.

Last weekend, one of the best lectures I've heard on the topic happened here in Miami. Wagner Alegretti from Portugal gave an 8 hr lecture of "Identifying your Existential Program". He introduced the concept of Existential Program, which is an integral term for life purpose or life mission; how assistance is an essential part of it; how we have an obligation to ourselves, our families and friends, to the community and to the bigger world. He also introduced some techniques and asked questions that we could ask ourselves in order go deep into this topic.

It is important to stop and think about what kind of life do I want? Then think about what kind of a life do I have now? The idea is to figure out how to match these two but also to go beyond.

We have to understand the concept of Karma. Using this knowledge we can begin to address the obligations starting with ourselves, our families and friends and to the community.

We can start with a comprehensive analysis of ourselves and identify what are the talents, strengths, strong qualities and abilities we posses. We should also identify what are the characteristics of ourselves that are weaknesses, less than admirable and/or than needs to be improved.

Ask important questions from ourselves continuously to keep a tab of the direction we are heading; also, ask yourself from time to time if you die today will you be happy about the life you spent?

One more aspect to consider when trying to figure out our existential program is the need in a particular place we live or the people we live around with. It makes sense to use your talents and skills in an area to help people where help is needed the most.

One of the effective techniques you can use is one more year of life technique. Chasing daylight is a related book you can read that can inspire you. The Journal of Conscientiology volume 10, # 40 reviews this book in comparison to this technique.

Be aware, you will not instantaneously know every detail of the whole journey you have to take and everything about what you have to do with life. Every single step of the way, you will find a new piece of the puzzle that will lead you closer to the goal.

Knowing what we want in life, what we have to do and the direction we must take is quite crucial. This enables us to have a satisfying life and complete the goals to move on to the next level in our evolution.

PS: Recommendation - Dr. Vieira's Existential Program manual is a book to read if you are willing to dive deep into this topic.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

TV interview :)

We did an interview on our school TV station on Consciousness & Architecture. Hope you enjoy it.