Bahá'í Faith in Recife - Video

This introductory video on the Faith came about, not through any Bahá'í initiative, but through a project in interreligious studies at the Catholic University of Pernambuco (Universidade Católica de Pernambuco). Through a series of synchronicities, everything came together perfectly to produce a professional quality video. Especially noteworthy were the contributions of Shorea Ardestani, chair of the Recife Local Spiritual Assembly, and the music of Natacha Santos, visiting from Portugal (who also "happened" to be featured in the previous post). Just further proof that the youth are not the future of the Cause -- they are its present.

Congratulations, Natacha!

Hot off of Youtube from yesterday's broadcast (1st November) of Ídolos Portugal 2009, we present Natacha Jalali Santos, who just happens to be Emilia's first cousin. This is quite likely the first time ever that any of the various "Idol" clones around the world has passed someone to the semifinal round singing a song about 'Abdu'l-Bahá:

Flickr Update

It's been a crazy two months... haven't had time to post anything, but there are now some new pics up in Flickr from our vacation in Rio. Enjoy!

Exploring Rio, Part II - Bico do Papagaio, Cocanha, and Bees?!?

A few new photos have been added to flickr from last Sunday's hike up Morro da Cocanha and Bico do Papagaio. A couple of weeks ago, I had passed near the trailhead and noticed that it had been blocked with a sign indicating that the trail was temporarily closed to do danger of bee attack. Whoa, what? Yeah, bee attack.

Anyway, before going all the way up to the trailhead, I decided to ask at the Park Visitor's Center whether the trail was still closed. Yes, they assured me, it was still closed. They hadn't been able to remove the beehive that was causing problems yet. Oh well, plenty of places to hike there, so I decided to take the long way around and hike up Morro da Cocanha first. At the summit I met a group of climbers and one of them seemed pretty doubtful about the bee story - he said that one of his friends was going down that trail to see what was there, but he hadn't heard back from him yet (they were using walkie-talkies). I decided to go down a short ways and see what it looked like, as well.

Just below the summit I encountered a climber heading up and decided to ask him about the bees, since he was coming from that direction. He laughed and told me, "that sign has been there for four months. I hike on this trail every weekend and I haven't seen one single bee." So, that's how I managed to climb Bico do Papagaio, one of the most popular hikes in Floresta da Tijuca, and have the whole mountain to myself. Not even one single bee!

Photos at flickr with a few new family pics as well.

Hidden Word

O OPPRESSORS ON EARTH!
Withdraw your hands from tyranny, for I have pledged Myself not to forgive any man’s injustice. This is My covenant which I have irrevocably decreed in the preserved tablet and sealed with My seal.

ای ظالمان ارض
از ظلم دست خود را کوتاه نمائيد که قسم ياد نموده‌ام از ظلم احدی نگذرم و اين عهدی است که در لوح محفوظ محتوم داشتم و بخاتم عزّ مختوم

Exploring Rio, Part I: Pedra da Gávea and Pico da Tijuca

Here are a few low-quality cellphone photos from two hikes in the Floresta da Tijuca with a few medium-quality photos that were graciously emailed to me by another hiker. Enjoy!

Pico da Tijuca and the forest as seen from the summit of Morro da Taquara

Looking across the forest towards the east from the summit of Pico da Tijuca

View to the south from Pico da Tijuca, featuring Pedra da Gávea

Cascatinha Taunay - although it looks small in this picture, it is 120 feet from top to bottom

View from the top of Pedra da Gávea. Notice the inequality of Brazil - golf course and luxury highrises of São Conrado along the beach with the infamous favela of Rocinha climbing the hillside behind it

Proof that I made it to the top

Yet another vanity shot

Rock climbing on Pedra da Gávea

Steep trail in the forest on Pedra da Gávea

Harj-o-marj

There is no English equivalent for this word. It is a very Persian word, and suggests the worst thing that can happen to a nation. It expresses the condition of a country that falls into anarchy because its leaders cannot unite and no strong hand holds it together, or because foreign conquerors have come; the time when it slides into the abyss of lawlessness and rapine, looting, and slaughter reign.

---Sattareh Farman Farmaian, Daughter of Persia

Please keep our Iranian brothers and sisters of all faiths in your prayers throughout this critical time in history.

Exploring Rio: A Series

A long overdue post, but here it is at last. Back in April I had my first opportunity to go exploring in the world's second largest urban forest, Floresta da Tijuca in Rio de Janeiro (the world's largest is also located in Rio de Janeiro, Floresta da Pedra Branca). Since then, I have taken the opportunity to hike in many diverse areas of the forest and experience its beauty. Over the next few days/weeks I will begin posting information about the various hikes and what photos I have (cell phone camera, nothing flickr-worthy). But first, here's a little more about Floresta da Tijuca.

First off, Tijuca Forest is only about 150 years old. No, it's not a remnant of old-growth forest. It is, however, an environmental lesson and a symbol of hope for the future. By the 1850s, when Rio de Janeiro supported a burgeoning population of 50,000, an environmental crisis began to occur. The city's water supply was dwindling. The main source of city water at that time was none other than the rivers and mountain streams running down from the Floresta da Tijuca... or more accurately, the coffee plantation of Tijuca. That's because the entire original rain forest had been cut down to plant coffee! And with it, though they didn't know it at the time, the water supply sheltered by the trees had been "cut" as well.

By 1861, the situation was desperate, so the then-Emperor of Brazil ordered the entire area to be replanted as forest using the original native species, putting the work in the hands of Major Gomes Archer. Since that time, this secondary-growth forest has been protected and developed until today it resembles very much the original rain forest, though the trees won't regain their original canopy height for probably another couple of centuries. It is a fascinating preserve of wildlife, lush greenery, and yes, abundant water, all located in the center of an urban chaos. Tijuca Forest is often referred to as "the lungs of Rio."


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Goodreads

Just wanted to pass along this site I was recently turned onto that is designed for book lovers. At Goodreads, you can track the books you've read/are reading, post reviews, check out what your friends are reading, compare your reading tastes with other users, and discover new and interesting books you may have missed. It's a fun site if you like books. If not, well... it's probably not for you. (Hat tip to Jeremy for the info).

Exile in Paradise

For those not in the know, Notes from the Reef will be going into exile for an undetermined period of time - in Rio de Janeiro. What has been rumoured since approximately July of last year has come to pass at last. I have now, as of March 17th, been transferred to a cidade maravilhosa. Because the school year is already in full swing, I have had to come here alone - the earliest that the rest of the family will be able to join me will be sometime in July. Assuming, of course, that we finally decide to make the move once and for all.

But, if one has to be exiled apart from family for a period of time, there are certainly worse places for it than Rio de Janeiro, especially the region known as Barra da Tijuca. This part of the city is something of an oddity in South America, in fact one might call it Brazil: American-style. Separated from the rest of Rio on three sides by imposing granite mountain ranges, Barra da Tijuca is one of the only areas in Brazil to be developed according to strict rules of urban planning.

To the American eye, it looks something like a cross between Southern California and Miami: wide, palm-tree lined avenues with sprawling neighborhoods of tile-roof mansions; towering residential highrises along the coast, surrounded by extensive parks; shopping centers, strip malls, and suburban office complexes; even a region composed entirely of lowrise condos with walkable streets, outdoor cafés and streetside restaurants. One even gets the same odd feeling of déjà-vu found in Los Angeles where various buildings or streets just look somehow familiar - because they've been used as backdrops in countless films and television programs. The combined effect makes Barra da Tijuca simultaneously the most livable and most unobtainable neighborhood in all of Brazil. It's South America's Hollywood.

In light of the widespread poverty and miles after miles of favelas one finds just over the mountains, Barra da Tijuca seems somewhat of an odd hybrid of refuge and parasite - a place of relative safety and security built on the backs of millions of miserable souls who will never be able to enjoy it. But then again, that's the reality of Brazil. In fact, it's the reality of the planet.

Fun in the Pool

A few videos of Eduardo and Jasmin enjoying their swimming classes, which have been figuratively collecting dust the past couple of months, are finally online. Enjoy!

Now They're Just Showing Off!

Clearly not satisfied with the limited nature of total global hegemony, Google is expanding their empire. Those who download the latest version of Google Earth (5.0) or upgrade their current installation will find a new treat included: Google Mars. The latest satellite and probe imagery from the Red Planet, accurate terrain and elevation data, information on the various lander and rover sites - it's all there. And in recognition of the fact that the Earth's surface is 70% water, Google Earth now has an option to remove the water's surface and explore the ocean floor in full 3-D.

I, for one, welcome our new Google overlords.

New Blog: Iran Press Watch

Iran Press Watch has been added to the blog-roll in the left column. It is an excellent site tracking and documenting the continued persecution of Bahá'ís in the Cradle of the Faith. I have linked to the English version, but it is also available in Spanish. Especially moving is the current post, entitled "We Are Ashamed."

New Photos Up

New photos are now up of the two cutest kids in the hemisphere. I will try to get some videos from the swimming class online in another day or two.