Tankar

Thursday Thoughts – Memories from Tibet

/ Leya / 26 kommentarer

I was thinking of Tibet today. Maybe because the sun made a short glimpse through my morning window. A shining memory it is, from 2009. I just hade to go back to the archives…

Through all the sorrows for the people there with the occupation, this nunnery was a gleam of joy. The nuns going about their daily business with a smile. The shining spheres in the yard were for warming water with the sun. The kettle was put in the middle.

The most sacred monastery in Tibet, the Jokhang Temple, was built in 647. The smoke from the fires was thick and people from all over the country gathered to pay their respect, fueling yak-butter lamps, eating and praying. They all waited patiently in line to come inside.

Outside Lhasa people lived off the land and every house had a cow in the street or on a small balcony. Not a great life for the cows not being free – but so much better than in the big factories here in the west. In Tibet they were family members and got some words of love every day.

There were always welcoming doors to the temples…

Seldom is the journey to go to a place more interesting than this one was. We entered the train in Beijing, and I think we sat by the windows with cameras tight every minute of those 48 hours – not in the darkness though. There was extra oxygen in the compartments, and the rails were laid on the permafrost, which I guess now is melting… We were not allowed to leave the train anywhere on the trip.

The landscape was spectacular with long views, open plains and mountains on the Tibetan Plateau.

Nomads with Yaks like little dots – and only once we got this close! A beauty.

How I loved that landscape! And the clouds seemed so huge and so close to the ground.

The beauty of it all seized us and will keep its grip forever.

I have hundreds of photos from that train ride. Every time I look at them I must take a deep breath. And remember. Because I will never see this again.

Last Chance 2024

/ Leya / 55 kommentarer

Luckily we all have a last chance for forgotten pictures or those that just did not fit in. My chosen pictures are from a glorious poppy field in Denmark this summer. I already posted one or two from that day, but there were so many more that I loved. I had a delightful hour in their company. Lying down was the favourite position, even if it is a bit harder to get up again these days.

While driving down a small gravel road, I caught sight of this wonderful field and urged my husband to make a photo stop. And he did – he too loves poppies and their irresistible colour. There is something special with this flower…it only thrives where it stands. Pick it up and it will die in a few minutes. Its slender and fragile beauty is otherworldly.

Treading slowly into that field was one of those dreams come true that I always have at this time of the year.

The red poppy is a symbol of remembrance of those who died or suffered in wars, conflicts and peacekeeping operations. And aside from the connection to war, the red poppy symbolizes resilience and hope. These flowers are known for their ability to grow in not-so-good conditions. In this sense, the red poppy points to the resilience of the human spirit, even in the face of adversity and tragedy. Maybe that is why I wanted to lie down among them –

A big thank you to John, for last week’s Challenge – Winter. That challenge brought me more lovely Winter than I have had looking out of my windows these last weeks…

As we approach the close of 2024, the Lens-Artists team will be on hiatus, returning on Saturday, January 4. As is our tradition, we will open the New Year with our Favorite Photos of 2024. 

Thank you all for a great year of photography, creativity, support, empathy, thoughts and discussions – I am so happy we can meet here and stay in contact! This world is not always a comfortable place, but You make it warmer, friendlier and a better place to live in.

Wishing all who celebrate a Happy and Joyful Christmas, and everyone Happy Holidays! One last wish I have – that of a better New Year for us all on this planet, Earth. Imagine…

Thursday Thoughts – December 2023

/ Leya / 24 kommentarer

I searched the archives for this time last December…

No wonder I am missing this – we had both sun and snow!

Isn’t it incredible how fast we forget…at least I do, but then there might still be hope for a round of snow before Christmas!

Lens-Artists Challenge #328 – Winter

/ Leya / 59 kommentarer

John wants us to share photos of what Winter means to us. He knows it should be winter now – but I can hardly see it here in the southern part of Sweden. We have less and less of the traditional Winter we had when I was a child. And even when our children grew up.

If you join in, don’t forget the Lens-Artists tag and to link to John’s original post.

We haven’t even had frost yet…except for a couple of nights – and all the beauty gone in the morning again. So, I have to rely on pictures from favourite winters some years ago.

Winter and Christmas means of course snow and a typical red cottage. You haven’t been to Sweden if you haven’t seen red cottages!

It means having fun with my dog in the snow – and he loves it even more than I do!

Calm and silent Winter days it is true harmony to walk in the forest. Milo ahead of me of course..

Winter when it is more than – 15 degrees C is a treat – beautiful icicles decorate the old bridge.

But, this picture is more like our winters nowadays – very powdery snow, and too little to ski on.

I will finish with some favourite photos from lovely winter days. As you know, there is not much sun during winter here, and the bluish photos means that day was very cold.

Last week, Sofia’s challenge focused on the Five Elements of Wuxing, a Chinese philosophy. And the answers were amazing. Many of you added Air as well, and we loved that. Next week, it is time for our annual year-end challenge – a ”Last-Chance” for the year’s images that never quite fit our challenge subjects that year. The “rule” is that your chosen photographs must have been taken in 2024 and not have been included in response to our 2024 challenges. We are looking forward to seeing your choices! Go through your gallery and join us on Saturday, December 14, at noon Eastern Standard Time.