Amazonas Day Two – On The Napo River

amazonas-och-galapagos-312_copyA foggy morning, but no wind, only the sounds of the rainforest and the river. After a divine breakfast at the lodge by the lake, we started off early heading for the parrot lick.

amazonas-och-galapagos-323_copyUnfortunately the traffic on the Napo River also brings long vehicles for the oil business here…They told us that the oil people are building a road across the Amazon forest. We had read about it, but now we could even see the trailers and the flames. This just makes me feel so helpless…Their government had promised not to give in to big business – but money always wins over nature and our life on this beautiful planet. So far. Maybe one day, when everything is dead and gone…

amazonas-och-galapagos-359_copyFinally the fog lifted, and we could admire the parakeets using the clay to neutralize the poisonous metals in their food. Notice the one hanging upside down!

We continued canoeing to a village on the other side of the river. Here a women’s collective worked to inform about the old ways of living, the life of the Amazon indigenous people and of their cooking, art and craft.

Back to the lodge for some lunch – and then on to our next adventure!

Travel theme: Forest

Travel theme: Forest

Oh, Ailsa…where to begin…? My favourite motif and my major love – the Forest. Of course I love my own forest best…and in spring when the wild apple trees and cherries greet me when I walk across the meadows to where the forest starts. But…

Tane Mahuta

Tane Mahuta

Te Matua Ngahere

Te Matua Ngahere

Te Matua Ngahere

Te Matua Ngahere – full view

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…the Kauri forest on the North Island, New Zealand, is so impressive, dense and full of giants when you least expect it…I have never seen anything like it and I just never wanted to leave.

On the South Island, we met another type of mystical forest on our way to Milford Sound –  The Enchanted Forest.

WPC: It’s Not This Time of The Year Without…

For WPC

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…my youngsters filling the kitchen with good friends and happy, (or sad…) tasty,  Swedish Lussebullar!

WPC: Magic

Jen at WordPress asks us to bring along some magic…Some of the most magical memories I have, are from the Moroccan desert – the Sahara night. This, is true magic to me.

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Thursday Thoughts – A Story of …Love

In Vilnius I saw this young couple coming out of a church. They did not hold hands. The young lady was holding her dress instead. He was walking casually right behind her.

In one of the old city’s most famous spots, they were photographed.

They looked so young…yet I believe they had known each other for a while. No infatuation shining, no signs of being ”in love”. I watched them silently walking down the street – no sign of guests or friends. Still not holding hands. Half an hour later we saw them sitting on a bench in the square, munching some fast food and watching the air balloons sailing across the sky.

I wonder what they were thinking. I wonder about their lives and their future. I would have liked to listen to their story.

Travel theme: Dark

Travel theme: Dark

For Ailsa – Dark. As a child I was afraid of the dark. I read many books and had a vivid imagination. Today I can still be afraid sometimes…

In the header, a beautifully lit sky on my own doorstep an early morning.

The darkest country I have ever visited was Tibet. But high above Lhasa there is a soaring,  shining light – the Potala Palace.

Being Grateful

It is raining here in Skane, and the winds are not kind. On the news they show Haiti and Florida with strong winds and disaster in its steps.

With all wars and other terrors you can easily lose faith in the human race as well. I am very grateful to live in a peaceful part of the world. Grateful every day. My heart goes out to all in war and turmoil. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

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Travel theme: Enlightened

Travel theme: Enlightened

Ailsa throws in a helping hand for us all who are both low and high these days. The world is so troubled and it is impossible not to get depressed by the news received every day. Let us all try to muster some hope, some enlightened thoughts and deeds – we need Peace, Love  and Compassion on Earth.

In the header, two old gentlemen walking in Segovia.

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Love – my son and his dog

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Love – my two children

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Love – parent and child

Dubbelporträtt2Love – drawing by my daughter of two of her friends

Love – still hiking together

WPC: Nostalgia

Nostalgia

My Islands in the World – Azores. And this little Island, Corvo. Blue Hydrangeas in the blue ocean. My daughter as a young girl…Someday I hope we will return.

Travel theme: Sound

Travel theme: Sound

Some sounds for Ailsa, from Nature! In the header – winter ice cracking into spring.

Sparkling fire on Walpurgis Night.

Mmm, the sound of water can be calm and soft, but also roaring…

And maybe the most beautiful morning sound – a spring thrush, singing when you open your window.

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