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@ Transcendence
Barbar Bear begins his Phantasmagorical adventure!
Transcendence
To reach a higher state of mind in which calmness prevails one can employ many means. Meditation is a preferred method but there are other ways of achieving the ultimate calm. Have you ever been so focused on what you were doing, be it exercise, art, or working at a hobby that your mind clears of everything else, and even stops thinking about what you are doing? Some people call it, being in the “zone”.

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@ Model Of Ulm Germany

Blue And Copper Egg
The first painted eggs came from Mesopotamia, and because eggs were forbidden food during Lent, people painted eggs while Lent was being observed—after Lent, they would eat the eggs on Easter Day.

Beautifully decorated eggs “pysanka” are associated with Ukraine, and the oldest painted egg that was unearthed in northern Ukraine is dated to the end of the 17th century.

Model Of Ulm Germany
This bronze model shows a miniature version of Ulm, Germany, founded in 850 AD. Sitting on the left bank of the Danube River, Ulm features the highest Church Spire in the world.

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@ Snowy Mountain Range
Barbar Bear and Crocodile Beauty shook paws, said “How do you do?” and posed for a souvenir photo. “Why am I always on the left?” grumbled Barbar Bear. “Let’s change sides.”
“No,” said Crocodile Beauty. “This is my best side.”
Snowy Mountain Range
Brr! Bundle up warm if you are taking a walk through these snowy peaks. Beautiful to look at, but maybe it would be best to sit in a cabin with some hot chocolate and admire the seemingly endless snowy mountains in warmth and comfort.

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@ Bridge To The Unknown
“Oh hello, Barbar Bear!” cried Rhian. “Didn’t we bump into each other in New Jersey back in late spring? This is quite the change of scene, isn't it!”
”It certainly is!” declared Barbar Bear.
Bridge To The Unknown
You stand and admire the scene before you, colours muted by the mist. Will you walk across the wooden bridge and see what lies on the other side?

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@ Winter Fantasy
"I think there'll be quite a few tired paws, wings and flippers when we get back to the tour bus," said Bess, after she and Barbar Bear had spent some time in the virtual reality chamber.
"Is there a gift shop at the end?" enquired Barbar Bear. "The thought of that generally keeps me going."
Winter Fantasy
Looking like the scene in a snow globe, every pet who loves winter holds in their mind what a perfect winter scene would be. A welcoming home with warm light spilling from the windows. Large fragrant pine trees, branches heavy with snow. An area large enough to build snowpets as large as you wish. Gently sloping hills to ride a toboggan down. What does your ideal winter place look like?

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@ Time And Travel
“I could stay here forever, Barbar Bear,” said Nano. “Virtual reality is an amazing experience!”
“Well, you never know what lies ahead, Nano. I wouldn't be surprised if the next one is even better!” said Barbar Bear.
Time And Travel
Time and travel go together like crackers and cheese. Not just a time frame to get from one place to another but the concept of speeding up time, slowing down time, stopping time, or even making time run backward and then travelling through that altered time to reach something quite different from the here and now.
Countless stories have been written about time travel, do you have a favourite you like to read to your pets at night, or perhaps you have your own time travel story to tell?

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@ Words And Imagination
"I've bought so many souvenirs from the gift shop already my rucksack's almost full!" said Kathleen.
"Me too!" said Barbar Bear. "It's great on this experience, isn't it?"
Words And Imagination
The richness of the written word can paint a world so vividly that you can enter it and experience it, in your mind. Does that make it any less real?

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@ Opening The Pages
Barbar Bear and Viola had shaken paws and were now taking time to enjoy the virtual reality show in a companionable silence!
Opening The Pages
The hasps on the book were broken long ago, and yet the pages had never been opened until you came along. Rivers poured forth from steamy jungles and the sound of wings filled the air. You have been transported to a world in someone else's mind. The wonders contained in a book are endless.

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@ The Lighthouse
“Let's just drink in this exhibit, shall we, Barbar Bear?” suggested Lunaray, sinking down on a convenient chair.
Barbar Bear agreed it was well worth spending some time there!
The Lighthouse
Ships with sails unfurled navigate choppy seas, the sun is setting and the skies have turned dark and threatening. The birds that were following the ships have wheeled off to find safety on land. A beacon of light shines out, and the lighthouse standing as a sentinel eases the mind, you are near the harbour and will soon be home.

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@ Giza Necropolis
“Let's just drink in this exhibit, shall we, Barbar Bear?” suggested Choose a name, sinking down on a convenient chair.
Barbar Bear agreed it was well worth spending some time there!
Giza Necropolis
The Great Pyramid is the largest Egyptian pyramid, built in the early 26th century, and the burial site of Pharaoh Khufu. When the pyramids were built the sides were covered in limestone and were completely smooth. With the sun shining down the sight of these glowing pyramids would have been fantastic.

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@ Fiery Steed
“Do you remember that scene in Johnny English Strikes Again where English thinks he's in a VR scene but he's really out in the streets and shops in London and starts attacking someone with a baguette?" said Rosco.
Barbar Bear joined him in hearty laughter at the memory.
Fiery Steed
This fiery steed is on the move, with flaming mane and tail and hooves that set flames upon the water, to where we do not know. Fire horses abound in mythology. In the Chinese zodiac, the Fire Horse is specific to those born in 1966.

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@ Heading For The Wormhole
“Let's just drink in this exhibit, shall we, Barbar Bear?” suggested Violet Flame, sinking down on a convenient chair.
Barbar Bear agreed it was well worth spending some time there!
Heading For The Wormhole
The Sunday drive has taken on new meaning as we zip around the universe to relax and see new sights after a week of mundane toil.
We are headed for a wormhole and we don’t know where it will lead, so buckle up, it might be a bumpy ride or it could be the smoothest journey you have ever been on. No one knows for sure.

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@ Ice Caverns Beckon
Barbar Bear and Angus McGregor had shaken paws and were now taking time to enjoy the virtual reality show in a companionable silence!
Ice Caverns Beckon
Travel is a wondrous thing, and you never know what new sights you will encounter. There are magical places, and places so strange you are sure you are in another world.
A peaceful forest opens up to a lake of calm water, and beyond that tower walls of ice. A light in the distance beckons to you. If you head to the light and enter the cave of ice what may be found on the other side? This is travel, always seeking what lays just beyond the point you are at.

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@ Trilliant Island Travelling
“You know what, Barbar Bear?” said Queenie. “Seeing all these amazing images makes me want to take up videography myself!”
“Sounds like a great idea!" replied Barbar Bear. "There’s an evening class you can join when we get back!"
Trilliant Island Travelling
A beautiful and remote place to live, which always has the perfect view, no matter which window you are looking out. But, the moving day would be such a bother. As you might have guessed, this is a travelling island. I suppose it might be easy enough to lower the island, pack your belongings in and then raise the island back up to be on your way. As with all things, the more steps you add, the harder it is to become excited about completing the job. Maybe looking for a different place to live would be best.

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@ Another World
Oh look ... you won a pet!
Another World
A stunning, raw landscape filled with jagged peaks and misty pools of water greets our eyes. I don’t think we are on Earth, Toto. That planet looming very close is unlike anything you would see at home.

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@ Solitude Amongst Ancient Stone
"I've bought so many souvenirs from the gift shop already my rucksack's almost full!" said Okelani.
"Me too!" said Barbar Bear. "It's great on this experience, isn't it?"
Solitude Amongst Ancient Stone
Far away, in a forgotten corner of the country is an old cemetery. The winds of countless years have swept the land bare and caused the remaining trees to wither. The stone church that was once filled with raised voices has sat silent for many a century. And yet, there is solitude here, no bird will disturb you, and no living person will engage you. You can rest and think your thoughts in peace.

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@ Mysterious Mushroom House
“You know what, Barbar Bear?” said Lilac. “Seeing all these amazing images makes me want to take up videography myself!”
“Sounds like a great idea!" replied Barbar Bear. "There’s an evening class you can join when we get back!"
Mysterious Mushroom House
What a beautiful little mushroom house. How sweet it is, with stained glass windows and a stone chimney. After a day of walking in the woods, it would be a cozy place to come back to. Light a fire in the fireplace, put on the kettle for some tea, and relax in an overstuffed chair.

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@ An Artists Vision
"I'm going to buy a framed print of that amazing optical illusion, Geoffrey," said Barbar Bear. "It'll go well with my glass maple leaf paperweight from Canada, and my model of Edinburgh Castle from when we went to Scotland."
"That sounds like a nice collection of mementoes, Barbar Bear!"
An Artists Vision
If you could create your world, what would it look like? Would it be an endless sea, with many other worlds within touching distance? Would it be all forest and waterfalls or perhaps an endless desert with more than one sun in the sky? Have you ever thought about your world?

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@ Stairway Through The Universe
"Oh, Choose a name, this VR part reminds me of something in the paper today," announced Barbar Bear.
"What's that, Barbar Bear?" asked Choose a name.
"New sarcophagus unearthed in Eqypt! Archaeologists find a mummy wrapped in gold foil. It was the tomb of Pharaoh Rocher!"
Choose a name groaned quietly.
Stairway Through The Universe
The stairway has always symbolized the struggle to improve in mind, spirit, and body. But sometimes, it is just a stairway amongst the stars, and you can set your mind free to imagine what may lay at the end of those stairs—if they do end.

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@ The Last Wall
“A picture of this would look lovely printed on Christmas cards, wouldn't it, Barbar Bear?” Dragoon said.
“It certainly would, Dragoon!" said Barbar Bear.
The Last Wall
How long has this stone structure been standing here? Strewn about are the stones that once stood together with this lone wall. In decay, there is beauty as all things must return to the earth.

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@ Château de Chambord
"Wasn’t it worth coming all this way, Barbar Bear," said Beast, "for this experience alone?"
Barbar Bear, lost in admiration of the virtual reality scene they were now in, heartily agreed!
Château de Chambord
A stunning Château in France. Construction started in 1519 and continued until 1547, though it was never completed. A combination of French medieval and classical renaissance styles.
The Château was built as a hunting lodge for King Francis 1, though he only spent seven weeks in total. There was no furniture in the Château, so anything needed had to be brought for each trip. Furniture was assembled as needed and then disassembled when the trip was over. Heating such a massive structure was impractical and the surrounding area had no farms, so any food other than wild game had to be packed in as well. As beautiful as this building is the logistics of maintaining it as a permanent residence would have been impossible.
After King Francis 1 died the Château sat unused and empty for nearly a century. The building was left to decay.
The Château eventually was restored and passed through many hands from 1639 onward. Today you can take a tour of this magnificent building.

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@ One Ring
"I'm going to buy a bag of those silver stars, Pu[," said Barbar Bear. "It’ll be nice to sprinkle a few in with the Christmas gift paper when I’m wrapping presents in December!"
"That sounds like a great idea, Barbar Bear!"
One Ring
A ring that was created to control all other rings and in turn to control the wearer. Would you want such a ring? What would you do if such a thing came into your possession? Could you resist trying out its powers?
In the world of myth, such objects have always been a source of fascination. A lamp, containing a Djinn, Excalibar, and Pluto’s helm are but a few of the many objects that test a person.

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@ Fantasy Tree House
"I'm going to buy a bag of those silver stars, Ugie," said Barbar Bear. "It’ll be nice to sprinkle a few in with the Christmas gift paper when I’m wrapping presents in December!"
"That sounds like a great idea, Barbar Bear!"
Fantasy Tree House
A tree house stands in the middle of the forest. Not the type of tree house that young pets like to play in, nestled high in the branches of a tree, but a house built inside the trunk of a large tree. It would be so warm in winter and cool in summer and the large windows would let in plenty of light.
Such a tree house stands in the forest not far from town, the pets and I walk by it when we are gathering nuts and berries. The pets always want to visit and look around inside, they think it would be so cool to live in, but so far we never have. Perhaps one day we will bring a treat for the dog that stands outside and ask politely if we can take a peek.

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@ A Stroll In The Clouds
"I think there'll be quite a few tired paws, wings and flippers when we get back to the tour bus," said Toto, after he and Barbar Bear had spent some time in the virtual reality chamber.
"Is there a gift shop at the end?" enquired Barbar Bear. "The thought of that generally keeps me going."
A Stroll In The Clouds
Every pet at one time or other—unless they have wings—-has wanted to fly. Small pets dream of being able to soar amongst the clouds. Well, every pet cannot suddenly sprout wings, but if you build a walkway up in the sky, you can at least have a stroll amongst the clouds. Just make sure to bring a warm scarf and an umbrella— the weather is uncertain up so high.

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@ Back From The Past
“Do you remember that scene in Johnny English Strikes Again where English thinks he's in a VR scene but he's really out in the streets and shops in London and starts attacking someone with a baguette?" said Elizabeth.
Barbar Bear joined her in hearty laughter at the memory.
Back From The Past
It arrived in clouds of steam, a roaring of engines, and clacking wheels on rails of steel. When it stopped at the station an old gentleman was standing at one of the open carriage doors, waiting to take tickets. Will you buy a ticket and let this powerful mode of transportation take you back in time?

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@ Light In The Forest
"Oh, Barbar Bear! You know that dark grey you see as soon as you turn off the lights—just before complete darkness takes over or your eyes adjust to the lack of light?" asked Mr X.
"Er—no, but yes?"
"It has a name! It's known as 'Eigengrau'. It's a German word meaning 'intrinsic grey'".
"Wow!"
Light In The Forest
Out for a walk, you decide to take a path you have never travelled before. The woods close in and the sun is obscured. Walking further you come upon a clearing that reveals a large mushroom lamp illuminating a cozy house. You have two choices, ignore the house and keep walking or knock on the door and see if anyone is home. You are curious, who could live out here? What will you do?

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@ Step Into Someone’s Dream
Barbar Bear has now completed his Phantasmagorical adventure! As he exits the world of fantasy, he receives a wonderful gift!
Accoutred with a Scooter
Our Dachshund chum has found a new lease of life since equipping herself with a state-of-the-art scooter! She has travelled down a lot of new routes and has revelled in all the attention she is getting, on her fuchsia coloured transport and with her natty pink and blue hat and matching shoulder bag! Other pets are eager to try out the scooter for themselves! Here's one happy little dog with a renewed zest for life.

Step Into Someone’s Dream
Books hold the knowledge, dreams, and ideas of other people. When you hold a book in your hands, you are holding something that can change your life, teach you, guide you and open up the whole universe.
Barbar Bear has enjoyed his Phantasmagorical adventure, but it is time to go home now! Castles in the Air is over now, but there will be more events in PnF soon!