(Pixellated) Flowers for my Mum

Yes, it is a virtual bouquet, but on the plus side a) no flowers were harmed in the making of this Mother's Day gift, and b) didn't have to propagate the hallmarky consumery grossness of this most sacred day.  I took this picture in Suzhou garden, on a day that was actually rather strife-filled and unhappy for me.  But it was my Mom (and, I guess, boyfriend) that cheered me back up and let me enjoy and remember all the aspects of the day (and there were many) that weren't unpleasant and strife-filled.  My mother is simply a good person- compassionate, empathetic, giving, and supportive.  All qualities I hope to have should I pass on these genes to another generation.  Yep, I said it- I want to be like my Mum.

I love you Mom!  Happy Mother's Day.

Fearful Puppetry

Those are some bleak marionettes, non?

Beautiful Symmetry

The cavern known as “the Crystal Palace of the Dragon King” in Reed Flute Cave of Guilin, China. This small corner of the enormous cavern (once used as an air raid shelter in WWII) is lit to mimic the limestone karsts dotting the city above.  I'm actually surprised by how clearly this shot came out, given that I was crouching on the floor and being jostled by the herd of tourists.

The Primrose Path

In the Yosemite backcountry.

If wishes were fishes...

We'd all be out of luck, as my childhood friend liked to say during her ichthyophobic stage.  No reason to fear these guys though (apart from the fact that they are actually stone and so not fish at all barring a Gargoyles-type situation).  No, these are decidedly Good Fish (...two fish, bad fish, blue fish)- the two golden fishes of Buddhist symbology.  One of the eight auspicious symbols, they represent fearlessness in the face of the Ocean of Human Suffering (Samsara, or the continuous cycle of life).  Also freedom, movement, fertility, abundance, and the Ganges and Yamuna rivers.  Busy fishies!

Taken at Swayambhunath temple complex, Kathmandu, Nepal.

PIFAbulous

More shots from the show.

La Compagnie Transe Express

PIFA- Which I believe stands for, "Paris In Filladelphia? Arrrgh!" or something like that*, closed yesterday with a fantabulous performance by La Compagnie Transe Express- acrobatics and music on a mobile-like contraption, suspended by crane over a packed (packed) Broad St.

This was a fiendishly difficult event to photograph.  Apart from the standards (night, distance), there was constant motion and a tendency for all of the compositional elements to spread waaaaay far out (the structure bloomed outwards, such that the musicians were all on points of an eight-point star) so that a) there was a lot less light to go round and b) they just didn't combine in compelling ways very often.

So you will just have to take my word for it that this was a really spectacular, unique show.  Actually, you should take this youtube video's word for it, because as cool as the apparatus, the acrobatics, and even the location was, it was the music that made it.  Ethereal, whimsical and ever so French.


*In reality it is, as you might guess, the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts.  First annual, perhaps?  All I know is that is intended to celebrate the creative explosion of early 20th century Paris, specifically the 100 year anniversary of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring (and its accompanying riot).