Thursday Thoughts

12 november, 201512 november, 2015 / Leya / 45 kommentarer

So, it was raining and …not at all what we had hoped for. This fourth visit to China. As the days went by I adjusted my mind to the drizzle and the cold. What would I do to rewire my thinking and focus?

I started to focus on people and details. To lose myself in details would most certainly reduce the weather conditions to the margin of my thinking.

And China is a country of exquisite details. Walking into the Forbidden City, I had made my decision – this was not going to be an ordinary visit. My previous ones had been made in great awe and many photos had been taken of the splendour here.

I started to focus on the little things, and not the whole city and its buildings.

I focused on the magnificent marble bridges…

The vastness of the open spaces…

The 9 or 11 small protectors on the roofs…where the Emperor resided.

I saw my chances to for once – not rush, I had been here before – but to enjoy the people too. My chances…not to go with the crowd. ..but to turn around and look at everything they were rushing by.

Endless labyrinths – but my thoughts had made their way out of them.

I went to see the Imperial Garden and its wreathing branches. But the garden was so crowded that I could not walk there. Could not stand under the trees without being pushed and knocked around.

My thoughts…went flying up in the canopy…

…and down again. Restless. I imagined my forest at home. I tried desperately to find some peace, but had to admit that in this garden of extreme beauty, it was impossible.

I think I learned something new this day. Even in trivial issues, it is always possible to rewire, to think new, to accept and find new ways. Being a teacher is the synonym of flexibility and thinking new, but when it comes to traveling, I am not used to this much bad luck with the weather conditions – for so long a time. Maybe easily overcome for an ordinary trip, but for a long journey in a faraway country – more difficult.

I was very grateful I had been here before, seeing this ancient country in all its splendour. So, I recalled the Ditan park back then, in golden Ginko leaves, and the silent morning gymnastics.

It is a very special country, China.

CFFC: Anything Painted

10 november, 201510 november, 2015 / Leya / 16 kommentarer

For Cee I’m a bit late, but still. A painted ceiling and roof in the Forbidden City, Beijing.

Cee’s B&W Photo Challenge: Indoor Walkways, Hallways, Elevators

10 november, 201510 november, 2015 / Leya / 4 kommentarer

As usual an interesting challenge from Cee – why not join in yourself? Click here.

#206 Neon (339/365)

9 november, 20159 november, 2015 / Leya / 21 kommentarer

The Pudong area seen from the Bund, Shanghai.

#267 Smakfullt – In good taste (329/365)

8 november, 20158 november, 2015 / Leya / 2 kommentarer

#53 Dyster – Gloomy (318/365)

6 november, 2015 / Leya / Lämna en kommentar

Thursday Thoughts

16 oktober, 201516 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 19 kommentarer

Thinking. Coming back again from Riga, Latvia, and a trip back in time. To my childhood and my cats.

How I loved them…and most of all Måns. Måns was my favourite… and only Mine. He was shocking black, and he lived a short summer at my grandmother’s.

This is not my grandmother’s house…but it could have been…

This is not my grandmother, sitting outside her house, waiting for me…but in my dreams, she still is.

Her cat, Rose (Rosa in Swedish), was rather wild – but I didn’t realise that. I always felt sorry for her…having to stay outside and never coming indoors for some warmth and cuddling. So, one day I let her in.

I should never have done that…I should have listened to my grandmother’s words. Rose went totally wild and scared when let inside. Of course I had closed the door – didn’t want her to disappear out again. But she was in shock and fiercely climbing the curtains, scratching and screaming…

My grandmother came inside and let her out. She never said a word about it…because she knew my heart. This chaos was punishment enough…and I was so ashamed…

Strange, how faded memories come back to you, when triggered by something you somehow recognize or remember. A house, an atmosphere, a tune, a voice, a word, a place…a cat.

And suddenly those old memories seem crystal clear again. They are just lingering there, in the shadowy, hidden corners of your mind…waiting.

And isn’t that just wonderful.

Måns? He disappeared the same day my school started again after that summer vacation. Grandmother told me. He had followed my steps, down the road and away to school. Never to be seen again.

He was charcoal black.

#270 Snickarglädje – Joiner’s Joy (? Carved wood work on a house) (308/365)

15 oktober, 201515 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 18 kommentarer

#116 Hissa – Hoist (307/365)

14 oktober, 201515 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 13 kommentarer

Riga – a Gallery of Colour and Artistic Form

11 oktober, 201512 oktober, 2015 / Leya / 7 kommentarer

Riga is situated on the river Daugava. 2010 the inhabitants were 706 413, a third of Latvia’s population, and the city is the biggest in the Baltic area.

The header shows a picture of the House of Blackheads. The story about this building starts in the 14th century, when there were three city guilds established: one for craft, one for trade and the third guild of the foreign traders – the Blackheads.

Riga has so much to offer a visitor – in this post I will share some of my favourite impressions from streets and corners – daytime and night time. Later posts will include architecture of old Latvia and of Jurmala – the old seaside resort, now being slowly restored to its former glory after being neglected during the Soviet time.

First out – the puppet theatre, where we were fortunate enough to sneak in and talk to one of the puppeteers. He let us take some photos but wasn’t very English speaking. Very sweet though. We understand that this art form is much more revered in the Baltic countries – they have performances every day.