Wednesday Wander – Balinese Temple

For this week’s Wednesday Wander, I’m travelling through space and time to a temple I visited the first time I went to Bali, sixteen years ago.We had arranged a driver while there and one day, when we told him we’d like to see a temple, he suggested that, rather than see one of the more popular tourist temples, he could take us to the one near his village.

Before entering the temple, we were given cloth sashes to wear around our waists, plus my husband had to put on my sarong so his legs were covered (luckily I was already wearing a long skirt).

Bali temple 1 The temple was built to honour a sacred spring – you can just see the small dark opening at the base of the rock wall where it comes out. This shrine is in the middle of a fenced enclosure where no-one is permitted and, as you can see, the water is crystal clear.

Bali temple 3But the really cool part was that the water was then channelled from the enclosure into two separate bathing pools, one for men and one for women (this is the women’s pool, above). From these pools, the water ran out to the river, where people washed their clothes. So in many ways the spring was venerated for its usefulness, thanks for a gift of water.

Our driver then took us down through the nearby monkey forest to where the older parts of the temple were, including several pools no longer in use. The monkeys were tame enough that you could feed them with ripe banana, if you wanted, but did not approach us otherwise. The river snaked through into a vine-hung gorge where a stone bridge shaped like a dragon marked the crossing – the whole thing had a bit of an Indiana Jones feel.

Bali temple 2Bali back then felt still a bit wild, not quite so touristy as it is now (though not the jungle filled island my grandfather visited in 1947). I have been again since, in 2009. It is still a magical place, the people gentle and welcoming, the lush foliage and ancient temple shrines an interesting contrast to the restaurants, shops and villas. This temple visit is one of my stand-out memories of my first trip there – I hope to visit again one day.

Thank you for taking a Wednesday Wander with me 🙂

 

City Of Dreams

IMG_0219Last night I visited the city again.

A city without a name, yet one which I visit often and know well. Where a river runs through to the ocean and killer whales beach themselves on the shore, where a walk can leave you hanging at the edge of a perilous drop, and the only way forward is to let go. Where familiar streets from other cities join together into a strange new whole, where I know the way but am often lost.

This time was no different. I had a job, and on the way home the subway did the thing it does so often, the track peeling away to turn along an unfamiliar route, leaving me stranded far from where I wanted to be. I knew how to get back, so my faceless companion and I took the walkway through the Asian market, past scented wood and spice and flowers, to end up dangling above city streets before letting go, fear and exhilaration screaming through us as we sailed down to the streets below.

I woke to the yowl of a cat in the street outside, the familiar humped shape of my husband warm comfort as I shuddered with the aftermath of the dream. Then I went to find sleep again. And I was back in my city, though this time twenty five stories up in a building that may or may not have been burning, with people who, for some unfathomable reason, wouldn’t take the stairs with me.

I woke once more, this time to my alarm.

It’s a strange place, my city of dreams, and yet I know it well. I know if I am driving that the road will be endlessly circuitous and choked with cars, never getting me to my destination. That the buildings are a mix of ancient and modern, that whales call in the blue water nearby, salt spray dashing against the stone walls and railings. If I go out of the city to the nearby mountains, another town awaits. One of stone and twisting streets, castellated walls and golden lit windows, shops filled with gleaming merchandise.

It is a place of fear and beauty, my city of dreams.

If you enjoyed this post and would like to read more, you can find me on Twitter @AuthorHelenJ,  Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Plus my latest book release, A Thousand Rooms, is now available on Amazon. Visit my Amazon Author Page to see more.

 

 

The Chicago Files Holiday Blog Party – Next Saturday, December 12th!

The lovely Cher over at The Chicago Files is having a festive blog party next Saturday, complete with virtual goodies and surprises 🙂 Put it in your diary and hope to see you there!

seaangel4444's avatarThe Chicago Files

Blog Holiday Party Poster

Just a little reminder that The Chicago Files Holiday Blog Party will be held right here at the ‘ol blog next Saturday, DECEMBER 12th!  It’s extremely important to me that everyone be included, so I’m going to get the festive mood started at 5:00 a.m. Central Time, which is 10:00 a.m. GMT if I’m not mistaken (for my lovely UK bloggers, please correct me if I’m wrong)!

The blog party we had a few months ago was fantastic! I was absolutely thrilled that so many were able to join in the fun!   Here are the details for next’s week party so you are ready to put on your holiday party shoes:

 1. Choose one of your favorite posts from your blog.  Whatever you’d like to share with the rest of us, whether it be about travel, novels, food, personal adventures, blogging, photography, etc…………. You may share up to three…

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A Question Of Orbs

A few weeks ago, Hugh over at Hugh’s Views and News posted an image he had taken on the beach which featured a strange glowing orb. We ended up having a conversation in the comment section, as I had also blogged about a photograph in which I’d captured some unexplained phenomenon. I mentioned I had a few other shots in which these ‘orbs’ had shown up, and promised to do a post. So here it is.

I took these images at Warwick Castle about five years ago when the Castle was all decked out for Christmas, so they are very timely. Warwick Castle is the ancient seat of the Earls of Warwick and has a building history spanning almost a thousand years, from the original Norman motte and bailey to the Victorian renovations done when Lady Warwick was a favourite of the Prince of Wales, who often visited.

The first image is taken inside the Great Hall, which, as you can see, was set up for a Christmas function. As you can also see, there are loads of orbs in this image, including a tiny one way up high, and another hovering like a bauble at the lower right of the Christmas tree. There is also a cluster of orbs running along the left side of the image. Perhaps a ghostly party going on? Or just a dusty old castle?

Warwick Castle Great Hall

This second image was taken in one of the drawing rooms, renovated in Victorian times but dating back several centuries earlier. In this image there are two visible orbs, one at the base of the wall sconce, the other by the curtain tie-back on the right.

Warwick Castle Drawing Room

And just for comparison, here is a shot I took just a few minutes later in the room next door – the Gift Room. As you can see, the lighting is similar, but there are no orbs. So I guess I can dismiss dust on the lens?

Warwick Castle Gift Room

All the photos were taking using a digital camera within a single half hour period. So I leave them here without any further comment. Looking forward to hearing yours 🙂

Thursday Doors – Commit No Nuisance

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My door this week comes from St Albans. It’s the entrance to the medieval clock tower, the only remaining example of its kind in England. Built in the early 1400’s, the tower is four storeys tall and built of local flint and stone. At this time of year, fairy lights twinkle in the former ground floor shop window, while sparkling icicles dance along the castellated roofline. Yet all year round it is a meeting point – a focal point of the ancient town founded by Romans so long ago.

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I particularly love this door, because of both its obvious age and the writing on it. The door itself is quite small, about five feet or a metre and a half tall, and faces a pub almost equally as ancient, where the King of France was briefly held prisoner many centuries ago. I imagine the sign was written as a more modern reminder to pub patrons as they are released into the night – not sure how many of them would actually take the time to read it though 🙂

For more Thursday Doors, visit Norm 2.0 and click the links. Or add a door of your own!

Wednesday Wander – Andorra La Vella

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This Wednesday Wander takes us to Andorra La Vella, the capital of the tiny mountainous principality of Andorra. While known now mainly for skiing and tax-free shopping, Andorra has a long history, positioned as it is between Spain and France. The site of Andorra La Vella has been settled since pre-Christian times, and in the eighth century was defended by Charlemagne against Iberian invaders.

We spent five days in Andorra earlier this year and the city is lovely, especially the old town. Artworks adorn the streets while mountains rise all around, the river that tumbled past our hillside hotel widening to a racing torrent running through the city and mountains into Spain, only a short drive away. These sculptures in the sky are outside the modern replacement of the 16th century Casa De La Vall, which was, until recently, the main municipal building.

Thanks for joining me on my Wednesday Wander – where to next week?

 

Christmas Grotto – The Ambeth Chronicles by Helen Jones.

The lovely Sally Cronin has very kindly featured me in her Christmas Grotto today! Pop on over and take a look, lots of nice gift ideas to be found there 🙂 And I will be posting my usual Wednesday Wander later today as well xx

Silver Sparkly Lining

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There is a quote by the 17th century Japanese Samurai poet, Masahade, which goes as follows:

‘My house burned down, I can now see better, the rising moon.’

So. It seems pretty clear. It’s all about making the best of a situation, finding the silver lining, so to speak. I personally think that if my house had burned down, a clear view of the rising moon would be only a fleeting consolation, perhaps overtaken by more pressing needs such as shelter and clothing. But I am not a poet , whereas Masahade was – to poets such as he a rising silver moon may have been more important.

Yesterday I had a bit of a Blue Monday. The grey weather matched my mood – niggles about a variety of things clumping together to form a single cloud of unease that coloured my day. Nothing earth-shatteringly bad, just one of those days when things seem a little harder than normal – you know what I mean. Adding to my malaise was the fact that sunset came at 3:56pm, four minutes before I was to collect my daughter from school.

So as I forged through the wind and rain and gathering dark to collect her, I was in a reflective mood. Then I walked past a house which had a string of tiny coloured lights twined through the shrubs beside their front door. The lights winked on and off, a welcome sprinkle of colour in the gloom. And they cheered me to no end.

I am a fan of sparkly lights. Of sparkly things, to be honest. Friends refer to me as a magpie, for I am forever collecting coins and stones and shiny shells. I have fairy lights in my garden all year round, small white stars. I would also like to have them inside the house, but am still looking for the right spot. So this time of year makes me very happy.

And that little string of lights reminded me of Masahade’s quote. And now I (respectfully) offer my own version:

‘As the days grow shorter, I have a better view, of the sparkling lights.’

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Blue Monday

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It’s a bit of a dark and dreary day today. Rain smears on the window, cloudy skies and grey streets. I have to collect my child from school at 4pm, as she has an after school club. According to the weather guru on my phone, sunset occurs at 3:56pm today. So I am collecting my child from school after sunset, which seems weird.

Hmmm. There are niggles as well, small ones, bits and pieces that together add up to a larger sense of unease, that things are not quite right in my world today. They will pass, I’m sure – nothing that can’t be resolved eventually, one way or another. Writing always helps, the words somehow helping me to clarify what it is that I need to address. The mince pie and cup of tea with which I am currently comforting myself helps as well.

It seems I’m not the only one feeling down in blogland today. A couple of fellow bloggers have also written posts about things not going well for them. To them I send commiserations, and hope for a brighter Tuesday for us all.

xx

Thursday Doors – Casa Mila, Barcelona

A quick Thursday Doors post today – this week my door comes from Barcelona, and Antoni Gaudi’s Casa Mila apartment building. The rope and signs get in the way a little bit, but I think you can see what an impressive feature this door is. And it’s only a side door!

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Casa Mila is built of undulating white stone, and features some of Gaudi’s famous chimney pots poking out over the roofline, as well as extraordinary balcony rails made of sinuous metal twists. My construction engineer husband shook his head as we stood outside, thinking about how it would have been to have to manage such a complex build.

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And yet it was managed and stands as a testament to Gaudi’s genius – he is one of my favourite architects and it was a thrill to experience his work in real life. I can only dream of actually living in one of the apartments…

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