Every time I go to Silliman beach It looks a bit different. I went for a late afternoon walk and liked the clouds flying low over the sea and the shape of the island of Siquijor barely visible at the horizon. Groups of student from Silliman university had also gathered at the beach playing guitar and drinking rum.
I have always liked to go to visit churches, pagodas, mosques when travelling. I like sitting there and observe the people who come to pay to a God, a profet, a teacher. Those are peaceful places where I think it is possible to some extent to connect and feel the presence of the belief and faith people have. Last October I was in Larantuka, on the island of Flores (Indonesia), to conduct a study on community disaster preparedness. Larantuka is a nice district town on the sea. Next to the guesthouse where I stayed with the team there was a small church which during the day was closed. One evening, I was coming back after a sunset walk and saw lights inside the church. The door was open and I entered. I sat at the end of the church and watched as people of different ages who entered the church and prayed. They sat on small chairs or prayed on their knees. When they finished praying the went next to the statues of Jesus and the other saints and touched the feet for a brief moment, with closed eyes as to say goodbye to them. I liked the emptiness of the church which did not have banches. The reflection of the curved ceiling on the shiny floor gave me the impression of a tunnel. I found it really peaceful to sit there in silence and watch.
Branches b&w, a set on Flickr.
Was in Cremona (Italy) over new year. Was back in winter after a long time. Since I have been living in Southeast Asia for the last 10 years I felt I was not used to the shapes and lines that barren trees draw on a winter sky. Was nice to be back during winter again.
On our way back from Italy to the Philippines we did a stop over of 24 hours in Assen (Holland). We visited our friends Connie and Ignas. It has been five years since we say good bye in Phnom Penh and now we met at their place. Cambodia is still a strong link with many people we know and who lived there when we lived there. It was a short visit (too short) but it was nice to ride a train in the country side of Holland and see the huge winter sky over a narrow strip of land. Walking in the streets of Assen and finding a 15 metres statue of Lenin (it was there for an exhibition about the Soviet Union). A nice day with our friends. ‘Till the next time.
Swimming training, a set on Flickr.
Nice evening watching the swimmers of the Dumaguete Blue Dolphin Club training and practicing all the four style. I had my zoom lens but the light was a bit low. Did not want to push the ISO too high or use flash. I like how the pictures turned our. They seem abstract paintings to me.
Gingko biloba at University House, ANU Canberra, a set on Flickr.
So this great Gingko tree in the rear garden at the ANU University House in Canberra. There was a nice evening light. Some elderly people, maybe former professors at ANU, were having a summer drink at a table nearby. Nicely dressed. Tall white wine glasses on an elegant table. Nice summer atmosphere.
Branches and blue sky, a set on Flickr.
I had some time in Canberra on a Saturday morning. Decided to follow the advice of my colleagues and rented a bicycle to make the round of the artificial lake. It was sunny, blue sky. Dry heat, so different from the humid heat back home in the Philippines. Was a great two hours ride. Nice countryside. Saw this dried up tree on the shore of the lake. I liked the old grey barren branches and the contrast with the intense blue sky.
