Wordless Wednesday: Refuge

a shelter for herdsmen and hikers in Cirque de Troumouse, Pyrenéan National Park

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself
and know that everything in this life has a purpose.
- Elisabeth Kubler-Ross (1926 - 2004)

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Wordless Wednesday: Isle of Calypso

a rock formation with salt pans in the foreground in Gozo, Malta

One of the beautiful limestone rock formations in Gozo, Malta. The island is also fondly referred to as the Isle of Calypso (Ogygia) from Homer’s Odyssey. According to the Greek epic, Odysseus was detained in the island by the nymph Calypso for seven years. Well, with a view like this, I guess everyone would be tempted to stay.

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Wordless Wednesday : Dewdrops on a Spider Web

dewdrops on a spider web


In all things of nature, there is something of the marvelous.

- Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC), Parts of Animals

We think in generalities, but we live in detail.

- Alfred North Whitehead (1861 - 1947)

There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion.

- Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626), "Of Beauty"

In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary.

- Aaron Rose (1969 - )

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Not-so-Wordless Wednesday

a lunar landscape in Plaine des Sables, La Réunion

Since we have a total solar eclipse today and as part of the celebration of 40th year of man’s first step on the moon, here are some “lunar” landscapes.

the "solitary" panorama goes on and on...

Well, of course, the shots are not really from the moon. It is from the southern part of La Réunion Island and the landscape is not caused by meteorites hitting the area (as in the case of the moon) but by volcanic eruption.

a deserted yet spectacular vast landscape giving you a certain sense of freedom

And I don’t think the moon sky would have this color as the lunar atmosphere is not the same as that of the earth’s. But I believe many who have visited the Plaine des Sables (literally means Sand Plains) on the way to Piton La Fournaise would have imagined it as traveling across the lunar surface.

alone but not lonely... that is what the view conveys...

For us who didn’t and with a very high probability of never setting foot on the moon, I guess this is the closest thing we can have to a lunar experience (well, at least, to me) *smiles* . And the vista that greeted us when we reach this place is that of extra-ordinary beauty. To use the title of Buzz Aldrin’s new book, the view is really one of Magnificent Desolation.

magnificently desolate

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Wordless Wednesday

a chameleon peeping out from its "hiding" place

Here are some shots of chameleon we saw at the Mascarin Botanical Garden, La Réunion.

its curled long tail

It’s called lendormi in creole. It means “the sleepy”. I guess it’s because it moves quite slowly.

the "spiny" back

When taking a picture of it, avoid using the flash. It will make them blind. Without their eyesight, it would be difficult for them to find food. And they will die eventually. So, please refrain from using the flash *smiles*.

a close-up shot

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Wordless Wednesday

one of the tunnels on the way to Cirque de Cilaos, La Réunion, France

an expression of the gothic in me *winks*

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Wordless Wednesday

Mare à Jonc in the town of Cilaos, La Réunion

This the town of Cilaos by Mare à Jonc (the name of the pond/ small lake) in La Réunion. The view is very relaxing, especially after the long sinuous drive (with a number of hair-raising blind curves) to reach the town.

the view on the left of the house overlooking the small lake

a closer look of the house by the lake with the mountains as a backdrop

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Wordless Wednesday

waves after a strong rain in Grande Anse (between St. Pierre and St. Joseph), La Réunion

And then, the unspeakable purity and freshness of the air!
There was just enough heat to enhance the value of the breeze,
and just enough wind to keep the whole sea in motion,
to make the waves come bounding to the shore,
foaming and sparkling, as if wild with glee.

- from Agnes Grey by Anne Brontë (1820-1849)

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Not-so-Wordless Wednesday

church of St. Peter, town of Carennac , Lot departement, Midi-Pyrénées region

This is the entrance to the small courtyard of the St. Peter’s church in the town of Carennac, Lot department in the southern part of France. From this point, there’s a nice perspective of the tympanum and the short flight of stairs leading to the church’s entrance. It is quite arresting, especially since the view is unexpected (but very much welcomed) when taking a walk on a quiet road of the town by the Dordogne river.

the church's tympanum

The portal was added to the church by the mid-12th century, and one of the “must-sees” in Carennac. In the center of the tympanum is Christ in a mandorla (almond-shaped aureola) with his hand raised in benediction and surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists. And on either side of the figure are the sculptures of the apostles (source: Le Guide Vert: Perigord-Quercy, Michelin, 2005).

close-up of the Christ in the mandorla

It is always a pleasure to find such treasures in visiting towns. Especially when they are very well-preserved. One of my ideas of holidays is breathing in the quiet, history-filled atmosphere of such places. It’s like having a short lesson in art and history while taking a relaxing walk around.

details of the sculpture on the left (above photo)
and right side (picture below) of the central figure of the tympanum

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Wordless Wednesday

a busy bee probing a grape hyacinth (muscari) in our garden

Spring is on its way!!!

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Not-so- Wordless Wednesday

Seeing a seed sprout leaves is like magic... for how can a tiny thing carry so much life in it?... how is it possible that a thing so small start and support not only itself but also other forms of life?... I guess it's one of the many miracles of nature.

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Wordless Wednesday

dew-covered moss

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Almost Wordless Wednesday

hyacinth that I planted in bloom

Every winter, When the great sun has turned his face away,
The earth goes down into a vale of grief,
And fasts, and weeps, and shrouds herself in sables,
Leaving her wedding-garlands to decay--
Then leaps in spring to his returning kisses.

-Charles Kingsley (1819 - 1875), Saint's Tragedy (act III, sc. 1)

It's Spring!!!

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Not-so-Worldless Wednesday

view of the azure window in Dwejra, Gozo Island, Malta from the sea

The natural arch in Dwejra bay in Gozo, Malta is called "azure window" because looking through it from the coast, you see the marine blue color of the sea. But from the sea, I would say it's a "golden hole", especially with the sunlight striking the yellow limestone and creating a golden glow, beckoning seafarers to enter and take a peek at what's inside. And who knows, it might be really a "precious hollow" that provides shelter for boats which unfortunately got caught in a seastorm. On a tempest, I think the view would be spectacular, provided that everybody is safely ensconced by the shore.

see a view of azure window from the coast
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Not-so Wordless Wednesday

Here are some wintry photos of the mountains. I say “wintry” and not “winter” for they were taken last autumn and not this winter. I don’t think I would be able to get tourists out of the camera frame these past Christmas and school breaks, especially since we’ve had abundant snow this winter.

white and blue... what a serene combination!

Snow came early this year (or rather last year). And it happened when we took our holidays in the Pyrénées last fall. So, when people have just finished their summer vacation or still in the planning stage for their winter holidays, we get to enjoy the mountains covered in snow on a bright cloudless sunny day… all by ourselves… well, except for a few tourists (and I could count them in my hands).

let's follow the trail!

I am not very fond of the cold season, but with a view and a weather like these, I wouldn't mind winter that much.

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