Posts from @hindavi

Smap Contest Round 293 1, 2 ,3, 4,

hindavi — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 20:42:54 GMT

Hello, friends, birdwatcher, and community greetings!

this time again posting a few photos of Dove those I took in Poland .

During the visit to Warsaw Old town we were strolling around .

In the center of the Old Town Market Square in Warsaw,

one side Mermaid Monument and other side the 19th-century cast-iron hand-operated water pump.

Doves were all around but, When somebody used the hand pump, some extra water was running around

and stored in pools in the dips I noticed these Doves were nicely enjoy the moments.

First I noticed one, then two of them

Then there were three and then they were four. maybe more afterward.

I liked the way they enjoying.

Thank you @nelinoeva, #featheredfriends community and all community leaders.

For each week give us an opportunity for enjoy this Smap contest.

A Walk Along the Waterfront in Fredrikstad

hindavi — Wed, 21 Oct 2026 20:39:45 GMT

After visiting the library, we continued our walk towards the waterfront, following one of the arms of the Glomma River.

After walking a short distance, I turned around to look back at the area we had just passed through. The view was beautiful, with an open landscape that made me pause for a moment to appreciate the surroundings. This area lies on the outskirts of Fredrikstad’s city centre, within walking distance of the railway station and the city ferry. Today, it features a large lawn and an adjoining gravel field. Historically, the area has served as a popular gathering place for various activities, including sports, circuses, concerts, and Norway’s Constitution Day celebrations on 17 May. It was interesting to imagine how many different events and celebrations had taken place here over the years. As we approached the water, we came across an impressive artwork displayed along the quayside, where a waterside walkway allows people to stroll and enjoy the surroundings.

The artwork In My Faith, In My Hope, In My Love, by renowned Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, stands at Phønixbrygga in Fredrikstad. It consists of three monumental cast-iron heads standing along the waterfront. Their faces are elongated vertically, giving them peaceful, introspective expressions. From different angles, their closed eyes create an impression of stillness and meditation, as though the figures are quietly floating in their own thoughts.

Across the water, we could see the shipyard where work on building sailboats was underway. I mentioned this shipyard in my previous post, and it was interesting to see it again from a different viewpoint along the waterfront. As well, the ferry dock for public ferry transport service. From here, we can see across the river to areas such as Kråkerøy, Isegran, and the approach to Gamlebyen (the Old Town). Sailing ships, local boats, and smaller cruise ships often dock along the wharf in the background known as Tollbodbrygga. We also passed the Fredrikstad Bishop’s Residences; they are beautifully lined up and commonly associated with the Bjarne Aas House in the Cicignon district. This historic building is now used as the headquarters and residence of the Bishop of the Diocese of Borg, a regional diocese within the Church of Norway.

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Happy Birthday Plant Power Vegan

hindavi — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 20:12:30 GMT

Happy birthday, Plant Power vegan💐 First of all, many happy returns on your 5th anniversary #plantpower(vegan)! It is a joy to see how, over these five years—through ups and downs—the community has reached this milestone and is now celebrating its 5th anniversary with such pride. Special thanks to admin @sirenahippie for keeping the community going despite many difficulties. Like all the other members of the community, I extend my best wishes. And as always, wishing all the best for the coming years. Introducing my simple and easy cake in honor of the community's birthday.
It is vegan as well as gluten-free and refined sugar-free.

Ingredients 1 cup coconut milk + 2 tbsp for syrup. 50 grams of chickpea flour 50 grams of rice flour 100 grams of coconut jaggery (30 grams used to make chocolate syrup) 35 grams of peanut butter 50 grams of cacao (10 grams for glaze) 50 grams of cooked and mashed apple 50 grams of oatmeal (I ground it in a coffee mixer) 2 tsp white vinegar 1 tsp baking powder 1/3 tsp salt 1/3 tsp baking soda 1/2 cup cooking oil 2 tbsp coconut oil 20 grams chocolate chips and some walnuts optional For decoration: sugar pearls, rose petals, and cashews. In coconut milk, add vinegar and make a curd-like texture. Put in the bowl Add apple paste peanut butter Coconut jaggery.

Stir it until the jaggery dissolves.

Add oil to it. And vanilla extract. Keep it aside.

In another bowl, mix all dry ingredients

Chickpea flour, ground oatmeal, rice flour, cacao, baking powder, baking soda, salt Mix and shift it. Keep it aside. The dry ingredients, liquid ingredients, chocolate chips, and chopped walnuts are ready to be mixed. Preheat the oven to 180 °C

Mix dry and wet ingredients using the fold-and-cut method. Do not overmix.

Pour the mixture into a greased pan. and bake at 180 °C for around 20 to 25 minutes.

Meanwhile, make a chocolate syrup by mixing coconut milk, coconut jaggery, coconut oil, and cacao.

After the cake is baked, remove it from the oven and let it cool down.

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entry monomad challenge: street scenes from Sibiu

eolianpariah2 — Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:57:12 GMT

Old Town in the city of Sibiu in Romania oozes of authentic old world charm making it a real delight to wander the streets

the Bridge of Lies is perhaps the best known landmark. the building behind the bridge is being repaired. at first i thought this detracted from the scene but when i saw the photo i realized the Cemix tarps actually helped highlight the black cast iron bridge with all its flowers

a little removed from the center there are small cobblestoned parks where locals gather.

Sibiu is known for the roofs with eyes, which are actually dormer windows without glass for ventilation of the attic which is/was used for storage

Old Town has an upper level and lower level connected here with a stepped street

many of the narrow streets allow for motor vehicle traffic but most of that sticks to the main roads on the outskirts

parking is limited to the wider roads. the house in the background are built on the hillside up to the upper level

an old door of an abandoned house. this is a detail from the second photo with the fountain. the house is designated to be of historic interest which means that exterior restoration must conform to historic standards. like most other monument istoric that have already been restored to maintain the town's charm, this house will surely be restored soon enough. but to me having a few like this around gives an extra level of authenticity.

Exploring Warsaw Old Town: Our First Evening and the Following Morning

hindavi — Sat, 17 Oct 2026 22:18:06 GMT

Capital of Poland, Warsaw, and Warsaw's Old Town, full of beautiful architecture, history, and culture. Everything was amazing. I didn’t even realize where the two days went, as I was so absorbed in observing every aspect of each structure and object with its own historical significance.

Hello, friends, travelers, and community greetings! Hope you all are doing well and having a good time with your loved ones.

After checking into the apartment we had booked, we freshened up, enjoyed a cup of coffee, and took some time to relax before heading out to explore the surrounding area. Our apartment was located right on Castle Square, in the heart of Warsaw’s historic centre. It was almost 7 p.m., and although it was raining, the square was still full of people. The cobblestone streets surrounding our apartment were lined with historic buildings, restaurants, and cafés, with pedestrians moving in every direction. This lively area is not only a popular destination for visitors but also an important part of the city, surrounded by historic landmarks, government buildings, and elegant hotels. Just 50 meters from our apartment stood St. Anne’s Church, with its impressive Neoclassical façade, symmetrical columns, ornate pediment, and statues. Against the cloudy evening sky, the church looked particularly striking. Located near Warsaw’s Old Town, it is one of the city’s most recognizable religious landmarks and a popular attraction for visitors.

From this area, we could also see the busy Route W–Z road, which curves around Warsaw’s Old Town. Trams and cars moved steadily along the road as pedestrians crossed the streets. With the historic buildings illuminated by streetlights, the entire area had a lively atmosphere, even on a rainy evening.

Castle Square, one of the main entrances to the Old Town, was bustling with visitors. Some musicians were playing at the foot of Sigismund’s Column, while children ran around chasing soap bubbles floating through the air. Despite the rain, the square was full of life, and it was a lovely place to begin exploring Warsaw. The tall, freestanding bell tower near St. Anne’s Church immediately caught my attention. The tower is associated with the church and is particularly well known for its open-air observation terrace, which offers panoramic views across Warsaw. It is an excellent spot for taking in the city’s historic rooftops and surrounding landmarks.

At the center of Castle Square stands Sigismund’s Column, one of Warsaw’s most recognizable monuments. Has topped with a statue of King Sigismund III Vasa and is decorated with four eagles. It is considered one of the oldest secular monuments in Northern Europe and forms part of Warsaw’s UNESCO-listed historic centre.

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Memories from Budapest

hindavi — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 20:57:48 GMT

The world's largest beautiful parliament building, as well as Hungary's largest building. Parliament House in Hungary.

Two years ago, in the month of September, we visited Budapest. I had previously shared some posts about our travels here. Today, I am glad to share a few more memories from that trip. It's not easy to understand a totally different culture and history. I tried different sources to find the names and some significance of the monuments.
In this post, our visit to the Parliament House.

The House of Parliament in Budapest from the other side of the Danube River.

Having a hotel in the heart of the city made it easy to get anywhere in the surrounding town. We tried to explore as many attractions as possible.
One day we planned to visit the parliament, but because of the flood, a few trams and the underground system were stopped. Most tourists were using the hop-on, hop-off service, as we did.
The parliament building and the campus were beautiful; it was around 9.30 am. The area was full of people. Not only tourists, but locals were also curious to visit the place because of the flood, as it was Sunday.

The statue of Ferenc Rákóczi II has been standing on the north side of the parliament building, very close to the underground metro station Kossuth Lajos ter. The huge Gothic architecture stands very proudly on the bank of the River Danube. The building was shining in the sun, making it more attractive. Kossuth Square and the large national flagpole and the Hungarian flag waving in front of the Parliament building. The entrance of the building, visitors are allowed inside only as part of an official guided tour. Independent or free walk-in exploration is not permitted. Ticket sales are online, which we didn't know about. For that day, tickets were sold out. So we missed the chance. The building is definitely very beautifully carved and built. It is the largest building in Hungary and one of the largest parliament buildings in the world. Used 19 years to construct, costing around 7.66 million dollars, with ca. 1000 labored on-site constantly, and 100,000 people contributing to the project.(Information from different sources) At the south side of the Parliament Building an attractive bronze statue of Count Gyula Andrassy, riding a horse, who served as Hungary’s first Prime Minister. It stands in that square, among other historical figures on the base. They said those are monumental highlights of political life, including Franz Joseph and Empress Elisabeth as King and Queen of Hungary The scene immortalizes June 8, 1867, following the Austro-Hungarian Compromise, with several historical figures. The original statue was destroyed in 1945 and later reconstructed and opened in 2016 The statue of Count Istvan Tisza, a twice-serving Prime Minister of Hungary. Located in the surrounding area.

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Wednesday walk Old Ironworks Yard and HammerDalen

hindavi — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 20:59:21 GMT

Hello, friends, nature lovers, and community!

I hope you are all doing well and enjoying a good time with your loved ones.

Today is Wednesday, and it is always wonderful to share our experiences from the Wednesday Walk Challenge in the #wednesdaywalk community, hosted by @tattoodjay. Today, I would like to share my experience of walking around the Old Ironworks Yard (Verksgården) and Hammerdalen.

One of our ladies' groups often organizes a second-hand market called Bruktmarked (used goods market). It is a lovely tradition here. If you have things you no longer need but that are still in good condition, you can donate or sell them at the market. People bring clothes, shoes, household items, decorative pieces, handicrafts, jewellery, and many other useful things.

I joined the market with a few things we had at home that we no longer needed. After selling some of our items, I decided to take a walk around the area. It was actually my first time exploring this place.

It was the end of September, and autumn was already knocking on the door.
The air was chilly, the trees were beginning to change colour, and the weather was cloudy and windy. Still, walking around the area was very pleasant and refreshing.

The large cobblestone courtyard of Verksgården was relatively quiet, with only a little traffic from sellers and buyers. It was also the autumn holiday, so the nearby microbrewery had a few customers enjoying their time there.

The popular Mikro 'N Pub microbrewery

The pub still had outdoor seating available, which was set up from summer, although some people were sitting inside enjoying their beer. Unfortunately, they don't like to take photographs inside the pub. And I am not a beer fan. I just looked inside from the door.

The interior was old but nice, dating back to 1854 and having a charming rustic character, with exposed brickwork, heavy wooden beams, cozy seating, and pub-style music. According to my friend, most of the beer-producing machinery has now been moved to another location, and the pub currently has 12 taps, each serving a different variety of beer.

From the front of the courtyard, I could see an outdoor area with a lawn, a paved road on the left, and several beautiful old brick buildings.

The large waterwheel and wooden drive shaft were once used to power the heavy forge hammer using water power. It was fascinating to see this reminder of how important water power was to the area's industrial history.

From a distance, I could also see the industrial complex of Fritzøe Jernverk.
There is also the Larvik Museum, established in 2002, which showcases the city's rich history, including its industrial heritage, county estate, and maritime activities.

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Smap contest 291

hindavi — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 23:11:30 GMT

Hello, friends, birdwatchers, and community greetings. I hope you all are doing well, having a good time with your loved ones, and enjoying watching birds.

Today, posting some photos of seagulls from when we were visiting the Opera House in Oslo.

They were very close to people and looking for food, as always. I like that

The seagull and baby seagull are sitting on the wall in the background

The background: The Ferris wheel is called the "Opera" Ferris wheel. made them very beautiful.

It is Northern Europe’s largest mobile Ferris wheel, standing 45 meters tall. The wheel is set up seasonally in the Bjørvika area of

Oslo, located right next to the famous Oslo Opera House and the Munch Museum.

Was a very interesting photo I am posting for this week's contest.

These photos show some seagulls on the roof.

To join the contest, the link is here
https://ecency.com/@nelinoeva/feathered-friends-show-me-a-56a95ea59ceec
Thank you, @nelinoeva, for this time. And the #featheredfriends community for this fun contest.

Kongsten Fort Fredrikstad’s historical heritage

hindavi — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 19:56:57 GMT

Kongsten Fort is one of Fredrikstad’s many unique historical heritage sites. Built in 1685 in conjunction with the fortified town, the fort was part of the city’s extensive defensive system. The complex is known for its thick stone walls, casemates, and important historical role in the defense of the city.

The fort was nicknamed Svenske Skremme (“Swede-Scarer”) because it was built to protect Fredrikstad from attacks from the east, particularly from Sweden.

Kongsten Fort is situated on a hill directly east of the Old Town in Fredrikstad. It was built in 1685 to protect the city’s main fortress against land-based attacks and served as a freestanding outlying fort that strengthened the defenses of the fortified town.

The fort is one of Norway’s best-preserved bastion fortresses, with its historic walls, buildings, and underground casemates still visible. Some areas are open to visitors.

As the town fortifications neared completion, Kongsten Fort featured high defensive walls and followed the Italian system of fortification. The design incorporated hornworks, redans, curtain walls, and tenaille structures.

During the construction period, the fort was known as Königsten. Following an inspection by King Christian V in 1685, it was referred to as Christianstein. After a couple of years, however, the name reverted to Königsten.

The fort was built on rocky outcrops. To the north was the somewhat gently sloping and rounded Galgeberg. A little higher outcrop lies farther south and has steep slopes, particularly on the eastern side facing Sweden.
Before returning home from Fredrikstad, we wanted to visit the Kongsten fort, which is very close to Gamlebyen Old Town of Fredrikstad. It was an almost 7-8 minute drive. A very good parking place for visitors. There are no fees for going around the fort. After parking, we started approaching the fort.

From a long distance, the fort looks very beautiful with lush green trees and bushes.

As we climbed the stairs toward the fort, I took this photo of the surrounding landscape. The area is green and open, with patches of grass and trees, giving it the appearance of a recreational area or park-like embankment. Today, the area is a popular outdoor recreation spot, with historic buildings, pleasant walking paths, and excellent views of the city. While climbing the stairs, on the left side, before the entrance, we can see a solid granite wall showing a section of the historic fortifications, featuring a small, framed vent or loophole in the wall. The entrance was built into a defensive wall structure called a portkurtine (gate curtain wall), which combines heavy defensive masonry with symbolic royal craftsmanship From the entrance, we can feel the peaceful, pleasant atmosphere. A stone building with a vaulted gateway serves as one of the entrances to the fortress area.

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Smap Contest Round 290 some Couples

hindavi — Sat, 03 Oct 2026 14:20:06 GMT

Hello, friends, birdwatchers, and community greetings! Wherever you are on the globe, I hope you all are doing well.
Today I am posting a few birds' photos that I found in a couple.
It was during our trip to West Norway that the birds were always around, searching for food and flying around tourists. Sometimes we find the same birds; sometimes they are together with other birds. Watching them together it is very nice. In my opinion it is the kind of stress-relief therapy.

The royal bird swan. Mallard duck male and female in the grass. Common shelducks; these are from a long distance. They are not very clear. And the pigeons are on the dandelion plants.

Thank you very much, @nelinoeva and the #featheredfriends community, the leaders, and readers.