Nov 08, 2009 Sun

So big is the building... so few exhibits.... don't get me wrong, there are interesting artworks.... but too few to fill up the large interior, they feel more like space fillers... and the security guards in the building walk in meditation pace....

The room maybe a dump, but the breakfast is 4 star standard... mostly due to its exotic meat restaurante
hot items, heated bread, fruit....

Sunday is very quiet, like a dead city

Do take the offer of a tour... else you will end up completely baffled (like me).
I have no idea what this building is about.
It is very pretty... but a national library without books? It is all very Zen (well... there are a couple shelves of books but probably less than your local library...)

How to get to Valley of the Dawn (Vale do Amanhecer).....
The Instructions from Lonely Planet is wrong. First the temple is not 45Km away, it is only 30KM away. Secondly, bus 617 does not exist.
Here is the real instruction:
12:22:43 Take the bus 620.3 (or 620 or 630 or any bus to Planaltina) from Brasilia Central station (price 3R), the bus is quite frequent, even on Sunday.
13:15:56 Get off at Planaltina main bus station (this step is important)
14:03:15 Change to a little green bus with destination board saying Vale do Amanhecer (price 1.5R), the bus is usually at the west side of the station (ask the locals)
Look through the windows on your right hand side, when you see Vale do Amanhecer (or the sign of a sun and a moon), get off the bus.... (it is about 6km from the Planaltina Rodoviaria). You walk about 500m to reach the Temple of Mae.... Then a bit more left and in to reach the hill where you can see the whole valley and the lake....
To return to Brasilia, flag down the little green bus on the opposite road, get off at main bus terminal, and take 620 or 630 or 620.3 or whatever that gets you to Brasilia Central. They will make a couple circles, but you will get there. I think the bus runs daily and to very late but this has not been verified.

The Valley of Dawn is a little village, have ceremony on Sunday afternoon. The people are quite friendly... they smoke, drink Coca Cola and eat watermelons, just like you and me. Their dresses are very fancy, like those in AD&D.... I am not sure if I am supposed to take photos during the ceremony, but no one stopped me, and someone actually waved at me.... so I think it is Ok.

Their religious belief involves channeling with a invisible UFO that is orbiting around the Earth.

Next to the central bus station