d'Orsay

Circling.

The sun sets,
the day breaks
and everything
is new.

Luxembourg

Une soiree dans les Jardins du Luxembourg

If these chairs could speak,
I wonder what tales they would tell;
Eavesdropping on the conversations
of those who come to rest on them.

Precious

Sky and Church

The sky, something so dear to the Impressionist.

Street

Street scene

All you see is where else you could be when you're at home.
Out on the streets are so many possibilities to not be alone.

Beaune

When I'm feeling blue.

I've always had a soft spot for sky blue, perhaps because it is an ever changing blue. Maybe one day, I will realize the reason why, like how Chagall had been inspired by the reflection of blue from a Russian Orthodox Church through his window as a child. One day, I too will have my revelation.

Bayeux

她想要的那片天空？

忘记你
不如
忘记自己

Ciel

Van Gogh's sky; Arles.

In Arles, it is the sky that takes centre stage. Even the Roman Colosseum and the colourful old buildings pale in comparison.

Persepolis

Guide amused by a guidebook.

I went for the Abbas exhibition at the National Museum today and it brought back memories of my travels in Iran. This photo was taken after my visit to Persepolis, at a rather empty road side diner where the guide, driver and myself stopped for lunch. My driver was very amused by my guidebook and chuckled to himself as he flipped the pages and read some of the photo captions. The whole scene was very lighthearted with my veiled guide smiling gently throughout. I remember finding it very amusing that my guide found my guidebook laughable and also a tad worrying given that I had to rely on it for the remainder of my trip. Its trivial moments like this, moments of spontaneity that make a travel memorable.

Reflection

Self Portrait #3

I am no more than a shadow.
Or a burning torch and stairways leading to dark recesses,
with light creeping in from window panes,
blacken by layers of filth accumulated over the years;
A composite.

Meursault

The ever changing sky and the constant sun.

Yesterday, I was told that to live is to change.

Zahmen

Touch, feel.

You learn a lot after a couple of days without mobile reception or internet connection. You learn a lot about yourself and how to be still. You learn that you have forgotten how it is like to be alone; and you soon realize that no longer craving to be alone is now a good thing. We all go through different phases and subtly change to suit each new phase of life. This is of course, a natural process but it is also a slow process such that one rarely experiences the change taking place. It is only discovered in retrospect. But I digress. The highlight of the trip was oddly enough, listening to the Kings of Convenience on the TGV to Frankfurt whilst watching the countryside whiz by. It was a moment of peace, a familiar peace perhaps reminiscent of my long train rides through the Danish countryside with the same soundtrack. I am a sucker for train journeys. I am also a sucker for the countryside and as much as I look like a city boy, I would gladly trade it all for the country. Now, as I close my eyes I can still feel the warm sun on my face as I walked through the German countryside on a long evening walk. I miss the feel of the tall wild grass brushing against my palm as I walked with my hand held out, yearning for contact. Perhaps I did not digress after all.