#trying to get people out of the sand/city/beach when there are tsunamis coming

[naivesilver]

Vecpio Week - Day 3: Vacation

"Do you think we ought to tell him to stay away from the water?"

Vector cracks an eye open. "What?"

Honestly, he hopes that the matter at hand doesn't require too much of his brain power. He was about to doze off, lulled by the sound of the waves crashing and by the warmth of the sand he's lying on; he's having a hard time even processing Espio's question, half asleep as he already is.

Espio doesn't repeat himself, though. He just raises both eyebrows and inclines his head towards the sea, so Vector has no choice to push himself to a sitting position, groaning, and look at whatever is going on.

The beach they're in is almost empty, with only a couple other people and their kids wandering around. To call it a beach is perhaps an exaggeration, to be honest - in truth it's more of a glorified stretch of dirty sand, stones and pebbles overlooking the sea, where the tide doesn't bring in seashells but rubbish and the occasional piece of algae. No one in their right mind would choose it over the prettier, more expensive beaches further down the coast, except someone as penniless as the Chaotix are.

No one would walk down to it now, especially, not when the war has been over for such a short time. Everyone is still rebuilding and counting their losses, and the three of them aren't any different in that regard. If anything, between rallying survivors for the Resistance, proper fighting and cleaning up the mess afterwards, they've been busier than most people, with barely a moment of respite.

The need for a break is, actually, the main reason why they're on the beach now, even if said break is nothing more than a couple hours spent at the seaside. Surely no one can begrudge them that, not with all the hard work they've been putting in. Besides, though it's not summer yet and therefore no one's wading through the water, the sun is shining bright, and he and Espio are cold-blooded reptiles; they surely need to soak in the sunlight to keep their health up, or at least, that's the official excuse they're planning to use if they meet anyone of their friends.

Charmy is not roasting under the sun beside them, though, and that's what Espio directed his attention towards. Instead, Charmy is...Vector isn't even sure how to call it. Not swimming, because the kid never gets more than knee-deep in the water; rather, he waits for the small waves to crash lazily at his feet, and then he darts back towards dry land, shrieking with laughter. The cycle repeats endlessly, with Charmy returning to dip his feet in the sea only to run away again, as if the tide were a monster he has to escape from, seemingly never tiring of doing the same thing on a loop.

It's a perplexing enough game, but so are most of the the kid's games. Espio's comment seems even less reasonable now that Vector has seen what it referred to. "Nah" he replies after a moment. " Why should we? He's not even causing us trouble, for once."

Espio snorts, but the frown doesn't leave his face. "Have you taught him how to swim? Because I haven't, and I don't remember anyone else bothering."

Ah, so that’s what it is. It's his mother hen instinct coming out swinging. "He's not even swimming! Look, the sea's basically flat. Even if he falls in, I've got plenty of time to get him out before he drowns. I'm a great swimmer, if you'd forgotten."

"As you say." Espio doesn't push the matter further, opting instead for laying down on his belly, his head resting on his arms.

Even so, though, he's facing the sea, and his eyes never leave Charmy, watching the kid like a hawk.

Vector watches him instead, frowning all the while. He's pretty sure he's missing something here, but he doesn't know what it could possibly be, casting a shadow on such a nice afternoon.

It's true that the war has taken a toll on all of them. Even if they've defeated Eggman, it's hard to get used to such a threat looming over their heads. The sea itself is likely still full of ash and debris, and perhaps that's why Charmy's staying out of it, freezing temperature of the water aside. Traces of the fighting mar every corner of the city, after all, be them fallen buildings or handmade posters calling for lost relatives to be found.

They were lucky, on that sense, though. He and Espio both know that, and Charmy as well, though he's too young to realize the extent of it. They've been hurt and scarred more than once, but at the end of the day they always came back to the cramped storage-room-turned-emergency-bedroom in the Resistance base, with its even more cramped bed and the cot that Charmy kept ignoring in favor of crawling in between them. Even their house is still standing, aside from a hole in a wall they'll fix once they're done rebuilding other people's homes. They made it. They’re alive.

There were a few close calls, of course, more than they’d have liked, but there always are, when one gets involved in saving the world as often as they do. Considering it was a bloody war and not the usual skirmish with a robot that takes Sonic five minutes to solve, it’s a miracle they’re still more or less hale and whole. It could have been any of them razed to the ground by that guy with the mask, or trampled by Eggman’s robots, or locked up and tortured as it’s rumored Sonic was.

If after surviving all of that they were to lose Charmy by drowning, it would be...well, a very dark joke on life’s part. Also a damn magic trick, since it’s literally impossible for it to happen. The kid is only a couple feet from them, to the point that he keeps splashing them with damp sand as he runs back and forth. If he so wanted, Vector could reach out and snatch him away before he goes any deeper than the inch or so of water he’s currently kicking around in.

So either Vector’s really missing something, like a tsunami warning on the morning weather forecast, or Espio’s been thinking too much again, and that’s never a good sign.

Espio is a worrier, that’s a given. Vector will begrudgingly grant him some useful idea now and then, but mostly, what he does is nitpicking perfectly good plans and think about things that might never actually happen. Sometimes it’s funny, because there’s nothing more hilarious - more endearing than watching him  fuss and get worked up over nothing, but there are times where Espio gets stuck in his own brain, going in circles around stuff that no one else would deign of a second thought.

If that’s the case, and he’s still thinking about the war, ruminating about what sort of bad stuff could happen to Charmy, then Vector’s duty is to help him. That’s his role, usually, as boss, as partner, as a sensible person who has no intention to spend his life brooding: he gets Espio out of his own head, even if he has to drag him out kicking and screaming.

Most people would probably try to use words right now, to comfort and reassure, but Vector has always been one for more proactive solutions, so he takes off his shoes, drops them next to Charmy’s, and then gets up with a grunt that draws Espio’s attention.

The chameleon looks at him with a puzzled look on his face. “Where are you going?”

Vector gives him a wide grin. “To keep the brat from drowning. You coming?”

Espio stares at him for a moment, wide eyed. Then he smiles, small and barely there, but genuine, which is exactly what Vector wanted. “Go ahead. I’ll be there in a minute.”

Vector nods, starting off towards Charmy. If Espio prefers to stay behind and watch, then so be it, as long as what he sees doesn’t remind him of the war, or work, or whatever impending doom he might be picturing. Vector himself is, after all, devilishly handsome to watch, even as he’s wading through wet sand to play with a little kid.

Besides, it’s not as if there were another war coming for them, right? They’re safe. They’re gonna be okay, all three of them.

As long as Charmy stops long enough to tell him just exactly what kind of game they’re playing, that is.

[vaedar]

Headcanons: Valyrian Geography, Geology, Climate

       In this post, I'll be giving a general description of my headcanons for the geography, geology, climate and other related matters of the valyrian peninsula. It is important to remember that the details and descriptions given here apply only to interactions in this blog for RP purposes and references, they are not official nor canon unless stated otherwise. Also important to remark that some of the descriptions may not fit the laws of reality because this is fantasy and GRRM himself has stated so when people try to give logical, realistic and scientific explanations to how the ASOIAF world works.

Over here you may find more of my headcanons on Valyria. Under cut because it’s a little long.

Terrain

       The majority of the lands in the peninsula are filled with mountains, hills, cliffs and valleys between them. These mountainous regions were more common to the north and center, extending to the southern areas though with reduced heights ( sort of like a 'T' form ), along with the Fourteen Flames. Roads were built between these mountain paths to connect the valyrian cities. To the east and west, the mountain ranges were lower, considered to be more hills rather than mountains but cliffs were actually common right by the coasts. Beaches did exist but more to the south, as well as rivers that flowed in the valleys created between the mountains of the center, north, east and west ( as shown in the map ). Some of these beaches actually had black sand, one of the many effects of the volcanic activity in the peninsula.

Fourteen Flames

      It might be best to start off with the heart, life force and source of the Doom in the valyrian peninsula. The Fourteen Flames is the canon name given to a chain of active volcanoes, where creatures such as dragons and firewyrms could be found. They've been burning for thousands of years ( probably more ), even before the Valyrian Freehold was first founded. These volcanoes affected both directly and indirectly the entirety of the peninsula and a little beyond, in positive and not so positive ways. The valyrians with their magical prowess learned to control or tame the fury of the fires ( as they did with dragons ) to the point where civilization could thrive albeit the close proximity of such a dangerous and deadly force. They were mainly concentrated on the region between the cities of Tyria and Oros, north to Valyria but there were also isolated peaks scattered in other areas of the land. The more common types were composite volcanoes but there were also shield and cinder cone peaks.

On the positive aspects of the presence of these active ( but thanks to valyrian sorcery ) controlled volcanoes, volcanic soils ( in real life known as andisols ) developed and impacted agriculture, fauna and flora. It was particularly positive in the norther region of the peninsula, over at the Lands of the Long Summer, where produce was abundant ( back then, more so than the The Reach in Westeros ). It's from here that most of the food comes to feed the lands and peoples all around the peninsula and a little beyond, connected by the wide and long dragon or valyrian roads. All sorts of crops were grown ( tomatoes, olives, grapes, corn, citrus fruits, tea plants, vegetables and spices ), and from these, the best wines were produced. There was also a wide variety of plants and flowers.

Another positive and it's actually one of the things the valyrians are or were known for the most, are the precious minerals and materials mined from the area in the Fourteen Flames. The constant but controlled flow of magma from within the earth's crust and then of lava that solidifies, as well as volcanic ash; make these precious minerals and metals pretty abundant—though they are highly dangerous to mine. Amongst these minerals and ores mined were gold, silver, garnet, obsidian, and of course, the all famous metal for the 'magical alloy' integrated into valyrian steel ( on that in another post ).

On the negative aspects, the danger would probably be the highest hazard, not just for the risk of eruption but the quality of the air and how the volcanoes affect the general climate. This however, is something that valyrians did control through sorcery and other ways, and the rest of the peoples adapted through out thousands of years. The mining for slaves was fatal and hundreds ( and more ) died while mining in the Fourteen Flames.

Climate and Weather

In terms of general climate over the valyrian peninsula area, it can be comparable to that of a real life Mediterranean climate only a little hotter still. We know that seasons in the ASOIAF world are still not really explained but when the true summer time is on the valyrian peninsula, it's more often hot and dry rather than humid but not to the point of the arid dry climate of Dorne. The seasons of spring and fall are not really noticeable and during winter, the temperatures are generally more on the higher average of warmth for the winter period. Humidity is higher then and rains are far more common than summer season but it does not snow. At night, the temperatures did get a little lower but not much to make a significant difference from daylight temperatures. It's a pretty stable climate.

Particular things that do have association with the existence of the Fourteen Flames in the peninsula are the presence of more clouds, most of them from the volcanoes. The light of the sun does filter through however, enough to give the higher temperatures on the land. An effect of this interaction can be seen in the valyrian sunsets, which are commonly more vividly red  ( mixed with the blue, it could be thought to have purple hues as well ) rather than the more orange-yellow hued sunsets observed in the rest of the continent. In the evenings, the clouds maintained a somewhat red tone to them mixed with the dark grey, an effect of the faint glow originating from the Fourteen Flames reflected on the clouds and sky above the volcanic mountains.

After the Doom

|| To be applied to all verses taking place after 114 B.C., and based on the Path of the Last Embers storyline ||

The massive and simultaneous eruption by all Fourteen Flames changed the valyrian peninsula entirely. It was no longer an attached area of land but shattered in three main islands surrounded by dozens of smaller ones. The area where the Fourteen Flames stood is now known as the Smoking Sea. Though the majority of the volcanoes were swallowed by the catastrophic tsunamis and the sudden rising sea levels, there are those still above ground centuries after the Doom. It's their fires that can be seen in the distance away from the coast, the red hue reflected on the skies and clouds with even more intensity than before the Doom, as they are now active due to the lack of powerful valyrian magic to control them.

The peninsula was mainly shattered and divided into three main islands right over where the rivers used to flow through the land, where it was easier for the giant waves to wash inland and swallow it. Due to the submerged ground, the water is sometimes muddy and very difficult to navigate. A form of volcanic fog covers great part of the land ( mainly the northern area ) that remains as well as the entirety of the Smoking Sea, which can be toxic for unprotected people. The survivors of Valyria are protected from these toxins in the ruins of the city.

The climate does differ slightly from that before the Doom in the temperatures, now a little less warm and more humid, less sunlight manages to filter through the thicker clouds and fog. For long years, they were low enough to be considered cold or tempered but in the recent century or two, it has risen again enough to once again be on the warm and hotter side. Vegetation has slowly began to cover the ruins of the valyrian cities and the rest of the land, growing unhindered by civilization. Animals did survive the Doom and others from outside places, mostly flying or swimming fauna, have moved and now inhabit the remains of the shattered peninsula.

UPDATE:

It is important to remember that this is a fantasy world, so I would like to add that had the Doom taken place in our real life world, the whole planet would’ve been rendered uninhabitable and pretty much the human race would’ve gone extinct. In the best of circumstances, human race would’ve been thrust back into the stone age. So a reminder that these headcanons are all based on the fact that his is a fantasy world, and that laws of nature and physics do not always apply here, considering we have the factor of magic mixed into the equation, which is something Valyrians were skilled in. 

This is all for the general descriptions of the headcanon for now. Please do keep in mind that they have the purpose of serving as references and can be modified accordingly to the interactions. The images used are all found on my board of Valyria over at Pinterest, the artists and/or sources are there.

[fabholidays]

🐳🐳Mini Guide to Thailand’s Islands🐳🐳

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With so many unforgettable locations, most of the people tend to just pass through many of those places. A typical tourist usually tries to see the cities and beaches, but also, they try to visit at least one of the islands. In this short guide, we’ve focused solely on Thailand’s Island hopping tourism.White sandy beaches, bamboo shacks, palm trees, and absolutely breathtaking views of the sea is what all of Thailand’s islands have in common. However, they are very distinctive in numerous ways. We did a bit of researching and we’ve come up with this guide through Thailand’s beautiful islands, so, without further ado, let’s get you ready for your next adventure of a lifetime

Koh Samui

Koh Samui is one of the original Thai islands where tourists came to hike and rave. It has evolved quite a lot during the last couple of decades, and those rustic huts were soon replaced by beach bungalows with amazing details. Koh Samui is definitely one of the best locations for first-timers and people on their honeymoon, as there are loads of stunning resorts and beach hotels all over the island. One thing that makes Koh Samui stand out when it comes to Thai islands is most definitely the fact that it’s one of the best yoga and spa locations in the world. There are some first-class spas throughout the island, combined with the classic Thai architecture and the natural serenity you feel right away, Koh Samui is one of the best islands to visit with your family or a loved one.

The Similan Islands

If you’re interested in Thailand, you’ve probably watched The Beach, a cult movie that somewhat helped Thailand’s tourism boom. Imagine the beach from that movie, but smaller, harder to get, less crawling with people, and in a chain of nine little islands. That’s what Similan Islands have to offer. Some islands in the group, like Koh Miang for example, have small bamboo bungalows where you can stay, while other islands like Koh Tachai offer the softest and sparkliest sand you can imagine. If you’re more into diving and exploring underwater life, Richelieu Rock is one of the best diving locations to spot whale sharks. The Similan islands are probably the best place for anyone interested in amazing beaches and island-hopping.

Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi was almost entirely devastated by the tsunami, but it was rebuilt in the past few years, and it was rebuilt with style. If you’re single, or you’re going on holiday on your own, Koh Phi Phi is probably the best place for you. It offers an amazing variety of activities like diving, snorkelling, cliff jumping, island hopping, and many more. You can also witness the Koh Phi Phi Ley, among other smaller islands, the place where The Beachwas filmed. There are a lot of young people, and there are a lot of energetic parties, especially on New Year’s Eve. Koh Phi Phi is definitely one of those places you should visit at least once in your lifetime.

Phuket

When you think about convenience on Thai islands, the first thing that should come to mind is definitely Phuket. It has everything from celebrity-chef restaurants, through world-class plastic surgery clinics, and all the way to deluxe resorts with private services. Basically, Phuket is the best place for those travellers who like to live large. Other than resorts and services, Phuket offers some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, as well as some great locations for an amazing family vacation. So, if you ever dreamed about an exotic luxury vacation, start doing your research and look for the best family villa Phuket can offer.

Koh Lanta

If you are still not sure what island would be the best for you, and you would like to somehow combine the best from all of them, there are few things you can do. The first thing is to try to stay as long as possible to really experience each and every one of those islands as you should. The second solution is to visit Koh Lanta. Koh Lanta is formed from a group of small islands, and it offers a high variety of various attractions. You can visit nature reserves or virtually endless beaches with no one in sight. There are some great trekking tracks all around, and the island is considered safe and family-friendly. Koh Lanta has everything a world traveller would look for in an exotic adventure. It offers amazing diving locations, stunning beaches, kayaking through forests, unforgettable food, and amazing local population. There are also some amazing spa resorts, and you can easily find a world-class accommodation as soon as you reach the island.

[theuniversekidssuau]

Ocean Gem

The next day there was a commotion on the beach as the whole town seemed to be gathered in front of the house. When everyone had made it outside, they saw what the clamor was about. The water in the ocean was gone, dry sand as far as the eye could see, except for the little puddle in front of Mayor Dewey who was holding a hose and lamenting that all the tourists would leave because the was no beach in Beach City anymore. As soon as he spotted the Crystal Gems he asked if they knew what had happened, which they affirmed. Bismuth announced that they would travel to find the source of the issue and resolve it. The kids and gems piled in the van, with the exception of Steven and Spinel who rode Lion, and they set off in the direction that Lapis left.

They drove for a few hours before taking a break to refuel the van, and the people. Page came prepared with her gem full of food and a couple cans of gasoline, thankful there were no fumes once the cans went into her gem. They continued for a few more hours before the sun started to set and they had reached a large pillar of water. Bismuth mused that it must be because of the crack in her gem. This gave Steven an idea, which he told Page so she could help. Every time anyone approached the tower though, a water clone of that person would emerge weapons drawn. Even Sophie would have a headache when she approached, and her clone always had a large chunk of ice in her hand. Whenever they retreated, so would the clones. Eventually Sophie realized that everyone but her and Steven would have to approach at once to overwhelm and distract Lapis, and when everyone was engaged with their clones, Steven would have to jump with his floating powers to the top of the tower, which from her visions, was low enough he could still breathe, but only because of his gem body. Everyone geared up to go along with the plan, Page for Steven, and Robbie for his twin, the gems for their home. Sophie called them to action and the group charged forward. Once everyone had met up with their clones, Steven took a running leap towards the tower.

As he reached the top, he was starting to breathe heavily, but he found the strength to announce himself. He also demanded she stop the fighting on the sea floor. She complied and asked why he was there. He asked why she took the water from what looked like the whole planet. She explained she wanted to go home, but she couldn't fly, as lapises had wings. Steven replied that she was destroying his home trying to get to hers. He also explained he had a solution. His mom was Rose Quartz, and she had the ability to heal cracked gems, and he inherited that gift. Lapis was apprehensive about letting him try to heal her, as she still thought that the Crystal gems were traitors and devils. But she let him anyway, and when he licked his hand and pressed it to her back she shuddered. She blinked, an action she couldn't do before, and when her eyes reopened, they were regular blue eyes instead of the glassy mirrors they were before. She felt her gem, whole again, and summoned her wings. Steven just sat on the surface of the tower and watched her with amazement, he wasn't quite certain that his spit would work as well as it had. She told him that if he allowed her to go, she'd return him safely to the ground and give him and his group time to leave before letting the tower go. He agreed of course, and she sent him down in a bubble.

Once at the bottom, Steven told everyone to get in the van and for lion to get on top. He then asked his dad to drive forward no matter what, and Lion to open a portal home as soon as the tower started to fall, which got him a huff out of the both of them. They did both do as asked though, and the family arrived in one piece in a matter of minutes. They watched the water come in from the porch about a half an hour later. It sloshed up a little too far up the beach, but there wasn't any terrible flooding in Beach City. When they watched the news however, there were tsunamis in other parts of the world. In some reports you could see weird animals in the background playing in the water, the kids recognized the corrupted gems. Bismuth explained they must've been attracted to the latent magic from Lapis in the water. The kids wandered off to bed and Greg and the Gems talked about the day to decompress, Greg being particularly riled up since he normally didn't go on missions.

[coreglia]

“And the angel said unto them: Fear not, for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a savior which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you.” Linus

I am as enchanted as I am distressed about the encroaching darkness, our search for new life at the end of a heralded gestation, waiting in joyful hope for a glimpse of God wrapped in swaddling cloths, ushering in salvific annuities for all. It’s an explicit narrative, a radical call to love in the most difficult of circumstances, while embracing uncertainty with unwavering faith. This is a stretch for us humans.

As the Winter Solstice approaches we notice how the lumbering nights encroach on the light of day, there is this acute drop in temperature, the trees strip down to bare branches, and we scramble to make final preparations for the highly anticipated mystical nativity that is about to unfold. As a woman I have a love hate relationship with this pivotal celebration because I spend much of my time endlessly wrapping the wrong gifts.

So I’ve been thinking about the slim possibility of transforming all this divine darkness into a more fertile and transformative experience? I mean God gave the wise men a direction, not a list of detailed instructions, with links to the perfect gifts.

For goodness’ sake, it’s as if I have borderline personality disorder, and I’m stuck in the manic phase, as in decorating the entire house including the bathrooms, purchasing a trinity of gifts for each kid, with coordinating wrapping paper, ribbons, and bows, finding the perfect family picture for the greeting card, hunting down Christmas red nail polish, not to mention all the festive celebrations that require extraordinary culinary skills, Marta Steward table settings, and glamorous attire! This is insane, I’m purging through money, time, and my blessed energy as if there were no end in sight. Resistance is futile, and like it or not I’m stuck in this endless cycle, addicted to the sound of good tidings, the expectation of joyful hope, totally in the red, knowing the aftermath will leave me depleted and spent instead of hallowed and holy.

Maybe I need to watch Charlie Brown’s Christmas again, resurrect my latent yuletide priorities, instead of bastardizing the season with all these meaningless tasks? Who’s with me?

Truth be told I am able to avoid some of the chaos with a highly customized self care regime (which I’m happy to share), one that involves on-line shopping in my pajamas, coffee a short walk to the kitchen, roaring fire for ambiance, with It’s a Wonderful Life playing on the television. In this scenario I’m not dealing with the pouring rain, parking garages, crowds of shoppers, coats, scarfs, packages, or the long lines at the cash register.

In fact, Amazon not only takes my money instantly, this year they also shared my card with others (how generous), and then shoved it under the sofa as if a two year old hiding a broken ornament. This is the downfall of shopping on-line but my sister came up with a brilliant solution. Use gift cards for all your on-line purchases and no one can steal your credit card information! Now I get calls from Larry complaining about how much I’m spending at Safeway! Where’s the love?

There are serious seasonal concerns, ones we don’t talk about, because honestly Christmas is not all laughter and good cheer for everyone. In fact suicide rates soar in the winter, all this blessed darkness can instigate a general malaise, triggering severe depression for some. We miss our loved ones who have passed away, forcing many to contend with surges of powerful grief, as we are haunted by the memories of Christmas past. Financial concerns, separations, disappointments, and loneliness are common contentions.

I ache for my Mom and Dad especially at Christmas, and this year we are painfully aware my brother-in-law David is no longer with us, along with my son Tony who won’t be home for Christmas. I find myself humming along with the throaty voice of Judy Garland, “Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Let your heart be light, next year all our troubles will be out of sight. Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Make the Yuletide gay from now on our troubles will be miles away…’

It doesn’t matter where you live the winter solstice happens for everyone at exactly the same time as opposed to Christmas that rolls across the planet like a glittering tsunami. Early societies would celebrate this time of year as the end of darkness, the end of limited meals, and frigid temperatures. No wonder the church intentionally moved the incarnation from the spring to winter as a way of competing with all these glorious celebrations of light. I mean it doesn’t make sense to celebrate both the birth and death of the long awaited messiah at the same time?

Or does it? I’m just wondering if I can return to the deeper meaning of solstice, salvation, and a savvy savior in the wake of all these self-imposed expectations?

John Matthews says the Solstice is a time of quietude, of firelight, and dreaming, when seeds germinate in the cold earth, and the cold notes of church bells mingle with the chimes of icicles. Rivers are stilled and the land lies waiting beneath a coverlet of snow. We watch the cold sunlight and the bright stars, maybe go for walks in the quiet land. . . . All around us the season seems to reach a standstill — a point of repose. And that is exactly why Larry and I decided on our own kind of blessed pause.

Solstice roughly translates to “sun stands still,” sol derives from the Latin which means sun, and the past participle stem of sistere, meaning “to make stand.” I say if the sun appears to pause in the sky then maybe it’s a worthy practice for all of us to employ. We’ll call it a Christmas pause, because Jesus said himself advised, “Come aside and rest for awhile.” 6:31

Larry and I headed north, all alone, arriving at our magical manger in Lake County, to participate in our first annual Christmas pause. Waking early I slip quietly out of bed as to not wake my slumbering mate, I’m now capable of simultaneously feeding the dog and brewing coffee so neither of us is forced to participate in loud and obnoxious barking, it’s sort of miraculous, but these are teachable skills. This is when I notice the fog caressing Mt. Knocti with this magnificent ethereal hand. I pause to observe the intimacy of this gesture, it feels a little voyeuristic, but I’m unable to look away.

Just to be alive on this fresh morning in the broken world, I beg of you, do not walk by without pausing, to attend to this rather ridiculous performance. Mary Oliver

I’m still standing there gawking at the hand of fog (get it?) when Larry walks into the dining room and exclaims, “will you look at the pod of pelicans lounging on our beach.” I’m stunned, totally missed that, they’re like a fluffy white blanket someone casually laid out on the sand. Hundreds of large beaked birds flutter into the water as Larry and I try to Instagram the scene, Shaggy is not helpful, as he prances about defining his territory. One stubborn female spreads her mighty wings claiming her space. You go girl.

While I am devoted to our new practice of extreme pausing, Larry starts clearing the gutters, patching the roof, and decluttering the courtyard but that is how he likes to unwind. I say to each her own. The point being we gave ourselves permission to do exactly what we wanted all weekend and that included bacon and eggs, coffee, reading, writing, Italian nachos, calamari, wine, Netflix and chill. Alleluia!

Remember back in 2012 when a number of enlightened people thought the world would end? Well that didn’t happen even though December 21, 2012 corresponded to the date 13.0.0.0.0 in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar used by the ancient Maya, marking the end of a 5126 year cycle. Advent is not an end, it’s the beginning of the liturgical year, when we consider the implications of incarnation, and wait in joyful hope for God’s eventual return.

As the winter solstice fast approaches, along with the accouchement of God, I’m trying to untangle myself from the all the tinsel, tidings, and traditional expectations that threaten to strangle the meaning out of Christmas. It’s not like I’ve become the Scrooge, I’m a lover of thoughtful gifting, but I truly believe we can herald the birth of Jesus as a new era of transformation if we don’t cave to all the extraneous details. God knows I need time to work on my holy habits and I am grateful for this annual summons so to speak, but this year I declare the labor is done, the real work of loving others can only continues in and through us, but how we manifest this pure and essential call to love makes all the difference.

“May you grow still enough to hear the small noises earth makes in preparing for the long sleep of winter, so that you yourself may grow calm and grounded deep within. Br. David Steindl-Rast

I say we take a respite from all the clamor, be perfectly still, because God isn’t going to shout over all the clatter in our lives. As long as the sun continues to shine, the darkness will wax and wane, and our trust in God’s ability to gift us with salvation becomes the culmination of all of our beliefs. We are a people bound together by love, not twinkle lights, praise be to God. How do we make this glittering tsunami more fertile and transformative? Let’a take a collective and abiding pause…

I’m Living in the Gap, drop by anytime, we’ll discuss our next journey around the sun.

Winter’s Cloak by Joyce Rupp

This year I do not want the dark to leave me. I need its wrap of silent stillness, its cloak of long lasting embrace. Too much light has pulled me away from the chamber of gestation.

Let the dawns come late, let the sunsets arrive early, let the evenings extend themselves while I lean into the abyss of my being.

Let me lie in the cave of my soul, for too much light blinds me, steals the source of revelation.

Let me seek solace in the empty places of winter’s passage, those vast dark nights that never fail to shelter me.

  Anecdotes:

The Pilgrims arrived at Plymouth on December 21, 1620, to found a society that would allow them to worship freely?

On the same day in 1898, Pierre and Marie Curie discovered radium, ushering in an atomic age.

December 21, 1968, the Apollo 8 spacecraft launched, becoming the first manned moon mission.

During the winter solstice of 1988 Kelley Ann came whirling into the world and she certainly ushered in a unique source of light.

The Christmas Pause "And the angel said unto them: Fear not, for, behold, I bring you tidings of great joy which shall be to all people.

[nofomoartworld]

Hyperallergic: A Sea of Suspended Boats Evokes the Migrant’s Perilous Journey

Hew Locke, For Those in Peril on the Sea (2011), model boats and mixed media, 79 boats; dimensions variable. (Collection Pérez Art Museum Miami, museum purchase from the Helena Rubinstein Philanthropic Fund at The Miami Foundation Installation view Pérez Art Museum Miami. Reproduced with the permission of the artist For Those in Peril on the Sea was commissioned by the Creative Foundation for the Folkestone Triennial 2011. All photos by by Daniel Azoulay Photography unless otherwise noted.)

MIAMI — Hew Locke’s installation For Those in Peril on the Sea was exhibited once in a church’s nave at the Folkstone Triennial in 2011 and later at the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) in 2013, where it’s currently on view for a second iteration. Once part of the PAMM’s inaugural programming, the installation has powerful context in a museum that sits just miles from the Port of Miami, bordering Biscayne Bay, in a city comprised primarily of immigrants. The piece features dozens of small boats — model ships and replicas — suspended from the ceiling, forming many horizons that nearly blend into one; we must look up toward them, as if we were submerged beneath the water. The boats are handmade and decorated by Locke with cardboard, papier-mâché, and wood. Each is different — there are multicolored miniature oil tankers, British police boats, Indonesian fishing boats, cruise ships, rafts, schooners — but they do have one thing in common: they all face the water.

Adorned with fake flowers and gold paint, the boats are dedicated to the countless people who’ve lost their lives en route to new land, to those on those journeys now, and to the children whose parents come from countries far from home, pondering the strange state of belonging to two places at once. Upon viewing the boats for the first time, craning my neck to glimpse their tiny details, my mind — prompted by their playful, toy-like quality — wandered briefly to the Friendly Floatees.

Hew Locke, For Those in Peril on the Sea (2011)

Made known by oceanographer Curtis Ebbesmeyer, the Floatees were 29,000 plastic bath toys, manufactured in China by the toy company the First Years. Loaded into a shipping container departing from Hong Kong and sent overboard during a storm in 1992, several Floatees washed up on the Alaskan coast later that year. Others, however, floated over 17,000 miles, traveling the Arctic Circle and making landfall in Britain in 2007. Their trip, as detailed in Donovan Hohn’s book, Moby-Duck, sat at a funny intersection of many stories: those of environmentalists, oceanographers, beachcombers, and toy factories. While the Floatees have nothing to do with Locke’s boats, there is something to be said for a toy that seems ready to travel perilous waters, despite its size and vulnerability.

Many histories, interwoven by virtue of their taking place on the sea, are represented by the ships. One of them, “Nanashi Maru” (Japanese for “The Nameless”), pays homage to the boats capsized during the 2011 tsunami; another, labeled the “MV Sirius Star II,” refers to an oil tanker seized by Somalian pirates in 2008. Locke himself traveled across the sea, first by boat from Edinburgh — where he was born — to his family’s native Georgetown, Guyana, and then back to Great Britain by plane (he now lives in London).

Hew Locke, For Those in Peril on the Sea (2011)

In a conversation with Jarrett Earnest for The Miami Rail, Locke explains, “I am very conscious of the predicament of Cuban Americans in relation to the piece … There are people in Calais trying to sneak onto a ferry to get into London and at the same time someone is doing the same thing in Havana, or getting onto a rickety boat off the coast of Senegal to get to Tenerife, where you have people sunning themselves on holiday and in the midst of a dramatic rescue situation.” Just last year, the Miami Herald reported that eight Cuban migrants had arrived on the shores of Miami Beach in a 25-foot wooden boat “with a small engine.” Two years before that, a boat of Haitian migrants made it to Ft. Lauderdale (a city just north of Miami); one man drowned. Meanwhile, as in Tenerife, tourists on vacations lay in the sand, unwitting background characters in a story encompassing so many others.

Hew Locke, For Those in Peril on the Sea (2011) (photo by the author for Hyperallergic)

The day I visited the exhibition, there were a group of high school students there with Alex Zastera, one of the museum’s teaching artists. When he asked them to examine and point out the boats’ details, one quietly observed, “There’s life on them.” Though she was mostly referencing the fake plants, spilling out of the boats all lush and verdant, the statement was also a poetic ode to, as Locke described in a video documenting the piece’s first installation, “people on the sea, some of them, as the title says, in peril, and some of them going about their daily business.” The installation seemed to stretch far past itself, out the museum’s windows and to the bay — which itself reaches into the sea — where cargo and cruise ships float, seemingly the same size as Locke’s little boats, all belonging to the same horizon.

For Those in Peril on the Sea continues at the Pérez Art Museum Miami (1103 Biscayne Boulevard) through August 28, 2018.

The post A Sea of Suspended Boats Evokes the Migrant’s Perilous Journey appeared first on Hyperallergic.

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[vannidajoaneblog]

Aurora Province 2017

Off to Baler for the weekend :) My dad’s hometown. I never really grew up there, but every time I come for vacation, no doubt it feels like home. The last time I was there, it was during its quadricentennial celebration. I was with my grandfather who came home from the US. He was popularly known as “Ka Feliz” by a lot of people.

#Circa2009

It’s been awhile since the last time I’ve been to Aurora. It has fast become a tourist attraction - known as one of those surfing destinations in Luzon. Not to mention, the province also has its own enchanting natural wonders, historic spots and others. Despite all, it still remains quaint and pristine - the thing that I like most. It's a  great rehab from the hustle and bustle of the concrete city.

GOING THERE

Genesis Transport Service schedules regular bus rides going to Baler. With only P600+, you can always take the regular. Or, if you want a more comfortable option to travel - slouch on a lazy boy with NO STOPOVERS - you can take the “Joybus,”  a new line for a fare of P700+. It also has an onboard comfort room, free snacks served by a bus stewardess, free wifi, blanket & pillow and a good morning kit. Not bad for a 4-6 hour ride right? :) Me and my travel tribe-mate sister ate Iza took the 12:30 MN schedule. I easily fell asleep and next thing I knew, we were already at Ma. Aurora in just 4 and ½ hours. Just in time for the magnificent break of dawn.  

BALER SUNRISE

Upon arriving at the bus station, there’s a queue of tricycle waiting. So it was very easy to find our way to the hotel, just simply had to tell the driver. We hurriedly took one because we didn’t want to miss the break of dawn at Sabang beach. Baler sunrise is very beautiful. Facing the Pacific ocean, it is a must to catch a glimpse of it. It is the best welcome to Baler after our touchdown :)

BAY-LER VIEW

Ate Iza Sanchez is writing for Bayler-View Hotel for this trip - you can check out her blogs for some travel tips & travelogues at www.takethetravel.com. One of the perks that we had is the free accommodation.  

They have a very nice crew (being Tagalog.) Made sure we are happy all the time :) If you plan to choose this hotel, it is a thumbs-up because it’s just a few steps from the shore. You can just simply grab a surfboard (another free perk) and hit the waves - anytime. After getting settled, we did not waste time and immediately started our itinerary.

TRICYCLE

In Aurora, one thing that you will notice is that there are NO JEEPNEYS. No room for those belchers and the steam that comes out of it in Aurora :) It either tricycle or 4WD’s. For just P800 (or less than that if you are good at haggling,) you can go around visiting the different tourists spots that this province has to offer - Baler Church, Dona Aurora House, Museo de Baler, Ermita Hill, Diguisit Falls, Aniao Islet on Diguisit Beach, Hanging Bridge, Millennium Tree, and Mother Falls to name a few. Friendly tricycle drivers also serves as tour guides.

Looking at the very tall trees, and smelling the fresh green fields overlooking the mountains while in a back -ride of a tricycle is a must to do in Aurora ;)

BIG BALETE TREE

The first thing that we visited is this 600-years old massive century old Balete tree that had become an icon of Baler - the “Millennium Tree” in the town of Maria Aurora. It is said to be the largest tree of its kind in Asia. This tree towers more than five stories high. Through the years, the trees roots have grown above ground and in various sections of the trunk and it can fit a handful of people inside.

And if you are into climbing trees, you will love this gigantic one. “For a minimal fee, local guides can assist you on climbing it, holding only to roots and branches. It’s an extraordinary experience. You will definitely be surprised on how the tree seems to look like a different world up above with its unique trail that leads to a seemingly new dimension” as they say.

I am glad to have a picture by it. Photo credits to ate Iza for taking a panoramic shot while I was chilling on another branch around it. I know, I grew up in Manila but this pic is a simple reminder of where I root from :) #Roots

DITUMABO FALLS

Taking a cool dip by the waterfalls in San Luis is our next stop. It is called the Ditumabo Falls or, as they call it - the Mother Falls, simply because it is the grandest of all waterfalls in Aurora.

To get to the falls, you have to trek. So get on with your best flip flops because it is generally rocky. And, I would suggest be in your swimming outfit already ;) There’s a big pipeline (the Mother Falls serves as a source geothermal energy for San Luis) with numbers at around 100 to 1. Just follow that pipeline and it will lead you to the Mother Falls. They say that it is a rough trek but, you will not mind it after being engulfed with trees as you get deeper in the forest. You can stop to rest on big rocks and dip your feet into the clear water that goes running up and down big and small rocks.

 At end of the pipeline, you just need to walk a little further and you will get to see - towering at around 140 feet and with the cold water from the highland of Sierra Madre Mountain Range, the Ditumabo Falls freely cascading water drops into a wide rocky basin forming a natural pool.

Taking a dip here is really a refreshing experience. It is cold but for some reason, you will not feel the chill when you get up from the water.

HANGING BRIDGE

In the middle of the trip, I said to manong driver I had to go pee. And of course, he knows one place and he drove us there next. “Not too far from the town center and along Zabali Road, is the Baler Hanging Bridge. Manong driver said, the CR is on the other side. 

Hehe, manong driver has got sense of humor. But I didn’t mind crossing the wiggy-jiggy long bridge :) This bridge is a rickety one, patched together from rusty wire, weathered planks of wood and fragile bamboo railings over the moss-green waters of the Tibag-Sabang River. You’ll have a grand view of the river mouth while crossing the bridge.”

The river underneath is really not that deep because you will see a lot of local kids taking an afternoon swim and it is just above the knee high. Aside from taking pictures, you can also interact with these little locals. They will tease you to throw coins and they will for dive for it. So, make sure that you have pennies with you and bring out your “Tagalog” prowess also, you’re in for some convo with local kids on a bridge with a pretty nice view of the other Aurora province from this point.

ERMITA HILLS

Next stop is the Ermita Hills. It is situated in Mt. Dibudalan at Sitio Dicaloyungan, also in Barangay Zabali. Coming up to the top of this hill, you can get a bird’s eye view of the whole Baler Bay as well as the Dima-Dimalangat and Aniao Islets. 

But it is not just the view that Ermita Hills is known for. This is a historical spot and the natives will tell you the story by heart. 269 years ago on the 27th of December 1735, a catastrophic event occurred in the town of Baler. It was in the early morning around 2:30 that the town was engulfed by tsunami with tremendous proportion without warning, and within an hour the town was gone.

This is a statue of one family who survived that calamity because they were able to climb up Ermita Hills.

It also serves as a relocation area that keeps the locals safe whenever there is strong typhoon hitting the province. But during regular days, it is a tourist spot. It is like a mini park where you can have a picnic overlooking the whole of Baler as well as the other towns of Aurora.

DAGUISIT FALLS & BEACH

There are also small waterfalls that is a must see (and feel) in Aurora. One of them is the Daguisit falls. If you want a massage and you want natural waterfalls to do it, this is the best place to go. This small waterfalls are easily accessible along the main road going to Dicasalarin Cove. You have to trek a little bit if you want a nice view from the top. Just be careful because the rocks are quite slippery. These waterfalls are made up of three small cascades that drop to rocks and boulders. Its pretty nice to just go sit on one of these rocks and feel the pressure of the water on your body as you overlook the scenic view of the Daguisit beach on the opposite road.

If you want a scenic view on the other hand, try the Daguisit beach. From here, you can sit on top of some rock formations and see the small islets of the other nearby beaches such as the Aniao.

ANIAO ISLETS

Off to the next beach that will take your breath away. My favorite part of the tour - the seeing the Aniao Islets. 

You think that it is just one of them beaches here in Aurora but when you are in the zone, it feels like you were morphed into paradise. I just simply love the elements of this beach surrounding the Islets - the sand, the rocks, the sky and the crystal clear water. It was almost sunset when we got there, the sky was filled with thick rich clouds when we arrived. The sun was illuminating the rich creamy sand and the dark rock formations underneath the crystal clear water. You can just simply chill on these boulders as the waves crash in on you. Not so distantly are the islets that sprang a few distance from the shore. You can surely hide underneath  these rocks if you don’t feel like getting toasted by the sun. I went on a frenzy taking lots of pictures of this place. This is just simply one of my favorite spots in Aurora.

BALER FISHPORT

Nearby the Aniao Islets is the Baler Fishport. It is not really a part of our itinerary but manong driver suggested for us to check it out. It was something to check out indeed because, the first thing you will notice is the nearby mountains’ scenic view.

As for the port itself, it was not that busy during that time. It was almost sunset and all the fishermen and their boats went home. There were only a handful of people with their fishing rods trying to catch a fish, perhaps for dinner. Also, there’s a couple of jet ski’s by the water. You can tell that some of the people fishing must have arrived in style :)

It is a nice way to spend the afternoon here. Try to catch a fish and experience the sunset overlooking the mountains. For sure, even if you did not catch any fish, you will still be happy.  

QUEZON MEMORIAL PARK

Back to the town proper. In this place, you can relive the old Baler times with its heritage structures, ancestral houses and other establishments that will remind us of the past. You’ll see lots of historic places of interest around Baler including the Baler Church, the Quezon Memorial Park (the birthplace of the late president Manuel L. Quezon), and the Dona Aurora Aragon Quezon House, a house rebuilt in honor of the wife of the late Commonwealth president or just walk around the old streets of Baler and feel the beautiful vibe that the quaint town exudes.

For tourists, you can simply buy your pasalubongs here. Baler is known for their purple suman and tupig. Also, the other Tagalog souvenirs like “pangkamot ng likod” :) There’s also lots of surfing shirts and other surfing stuff like keychains and magnets now here.

BALER CHURCH

As always, whenever I travel, I always drop by the church. We have one here in Baler - The Baler Catholic Church.  It lies south of the Quezon Memorial Park, near the town museum, Museo de Baler, and the Mount Carmel College. The church of Baler was originally built in 1611. A Franciscan friar named Francisco de San Antonio supervised the construction of the wooden church, which was thatched with nipa. Dedicated to San Luis Obispo de Tolosa (St. Louis, Bishop of Toulouse.) By 1939, the first Lady Aurora Quezon led a move to renovate the church. The new stone and brick church has a painted exterior while the interior of the church has largely been preserved.

Near the plaza in front of the church is a marker in the spot where American military personnel stood when they came to negotiate with the Spaniards who were besieged in the church in 1899. There is indeed a rich history in this place. It is known as known as the site of the Siege of Baler, which took place from 1898-1899 shortly following the end of the Spanish colonization of the Philippines. The current church was built in 1939 but authentic original details may be seen inside, including the old bell, La Campana de Baler. There are markers that indicate the locations where events connected with the Siege of Baler took place. The film Baler (film), presented during the 2008 Metro Manila Film Festival, was based on this historic event.

Historical background:

“On June 27, 1898, 50 Spanish soldiers and 4 officers took refuge inside the stone church, fearing that the Philippine insurgent army was too large for them to overpower. In reality, the Filipinos actually made their army seem more intimidating by burning wood to mimic the sounds of gunfire. Despite the fact that Philippine independence from Spanish domination had just been declared 15 days before they fortified themselves in the church, the Spanish contingent remained there for close to a year.

Under the command of Capt. Enrique de las Morenas, the troops stayed in the church with rations that would last them for 6 months. However, the soldiers began to suffer from malnutrition within 2 months of the siege, contracting scurvy and dysentery. Morenas himself died from disease and was replaced by Lt. Saturnino Martin Cerezo, who proved to be a tough and rigid commander. Under his command, the troops continued to hold out against the Filipino troops as Cerezo refused to believe reports in the newspapers sent by the Filipinos to the garrison which cited that the Spanish government in Manila had already surrendered to America.

The Filipinos attempted to break down the morale of the troops with the use of some unorthodox methods such as holding a fiesta in front of a church. There have also been reports that women were also used to tempt the soldiers to come out but these are unconfirmed. On April 11, 1899, Lieutenant James C. Gillmore landed in Baler and attempted to rescue the Spanish soldiers against the wishes of Major Nemecio Bartolome, an officer in the Philippine army. The Philippine army captured Gillmore and his troop of 14 soldiers, marching them all the way to the Ilocos region and abandoning them there. The American party was later rescued on December 28, 1899.

The Spanish troops finally surrendered on June 2, 1899. A month before, Cerezo was already considering surrender due to the army’s extreme privation. Hewas finally convinced that the war was over by a newspaper left by Lt. Col. Cristobal Aguilar, which reported the surrender of Spain. The remaining 33 soldiers left the church in June to the sound of their trumpet of surrender and to the cries of “Amigos! Amigos!” from the Filipinos who had besieged them. The Spanish soldiers were officially commended by President Emilio Aguinaldo for their courage, given safe conduct passes, and permitted to go directly back to Spain.”

So, that’s our day tour :) After having a hearty buffet dinner. We went back to our hotel room and got ready for the next day.

SUNDAY SURFING

Of course, your trip to Baler will never be complete if you do not go surfing on Sabang Beach. “With its long stretch of sandy shoreline and soft and shallow ocean bed, Sabang Beach in Baler is an ideal place for those who want to learn to surf. There are lots of surf shops now along the beach including surfing instructors and surf board rentals. As for us, the surf boards are for free. Thanks again to Bayler View Hotel :)

Ever wonder how surfing came to Baler? The 1979 war film “Apocalypse Now” directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Marlon Brando, Robert Duvali and Martin Sheen, was filmed in Baler and at Baler Bay. When filming finished, some crew members left their surfboards behind, and locals learned to ride the waves. The film gave birth to the surfing culture in Baler.

While the waves are best during peak surfing season from September to February (yes it can go over the sea wall), you can still catch some baby waves right near the shore all year around. Good enough for us trying surfing for the first time. I really had a fun time surfing :)

So there, that wraps up my weekend getaway in my hometown Baler. Even if it was just for two days, it was still well spent. I was able to rehabilitate my senses seeing the lush mountains, cool waterfalls, tall trees, smell of the grass, hear beautiful Tagalog words, step on crystal clear waters, creamy beaches, get smooched by the sun, moonlight during the night, riding the waves, see the perfect Pacific sunrise… Everything is all natural there, all organic. Would love to be back for sure :)