Signs and omens

Seems like things are a little wobbly underfoot again. Coming closer.

As I was padding around preoccupied by my early morning tea drinking rituals, there came a house shaking thud (but remember it doesn't take much to rattle a cardboard and paste house) as if a big animal had jumped on the roof. Watched in idle interest as a crack opened along the central peak of the ceiling in the main room. The cobwebs swayed, (mental note to self to do something about cobwebs) then settled back.

Went out to look for what had landed on the roof, thinking it could only be something like a bear which would crack the ceiling.

Of course I couldn't see a thing in the murky dark. And it was too cold to dither scantily clad outside in that hostile climate anyway.

Did some research this morning: Earthquake at 5:30 in the morning yesterday measuring 4.5 on that famed Richter scale, was centered about 10 miles from Haleikeokekai, between Kingston and Indianola, at depth of 36 miles.

The ground beneath her feet again.

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jan/30/north-kitsap-wakes-up-to-minor-earthquake/

Angels in the architecture

I am sorry for the sporadic nature of posts this month. I have been swallowed up by the vanishing point where my parallel lives intersect.

For consolation I offer a fleeting swoop of architectural angels and cherubs from the House on Fire. Because we all need a little help across the gaping void at times, especially those of us who wear our hearts on our sleeves.

Gung hay fat choy

Since we are a few days into the Chinese (lunar) New Year celebrations ushering in a good earthy ox, may all your contemplations take place prosperously on a beach.

Cast me gently

For all the ties of blood and love which bind and release with simultaniety, with especial thanks to the solid ground of my life: the Port Elizabeth answer at the end of the line.

Cast me gently into mourning, the night has been unkind.

The mirror image:seeing you seeing me seeing you

One of the features of contemporary travel is the internet (and the blog) dimension. This is especailly interesting on the backpacker routes.

Giovanni is an Italian traveler who happened to coincide with me for a short while at Sondzela in Swaziland. One day we took a walk together in nearby Lobamba. Giovanni had a "proper" camera. I ran interference for him with the local populace. He took the "real" pictures that day.

Giovanni can be followed at http://giandecaro.blogspot.com.

I posted some of my pictures from that morning on December 27th. In Giovanni's blog you can compare the same subjects from his point of view.

In the meantime Giovanni has posted one of my pictures of him sharing his images with some of the locals here.

If you do not understand Italian, he summarizes on an English blog: http://dekarotrip.blogspot.com.