Cave

One of my most cherished memories was when I was paddling in a dark river that runs through an amazing cave. After minutes of going through what seemed like an endless dark tunnel filled with flying swallows and sleeping bats, it suddenly "pops up" and I found myself in a huge chamber filled with stalactites and stalagmites the bases of which I couldn't see as the light was not strong enough and the space was so emmense. It was a surreal experience. I find that the most beautiful effect produced in caves is when there's a hole in its "ceiling"and rays of light are coming through, penetrating the darkness and illuminating the water that runs through it. It is just spectacular. I wish I could go back there again.

A New House

We are finally buying our new home here in our adopted country. As I told a friend, after having gone through the entire experience of buying a house here in Canada, it was really very much like looking and finding the love of your life, your soulmate. And although I had all my list of criterias, and all the things I'd like to see, as well as having viewed hundereds of pictures of people's houses (and getting a glimpse of how they might have lived their lives - which is an interesting experience in itself - I could have sworn I felt the owners' auras as I went through their rooms and looked at their stuffs), it ultimately boiled down to how you feel the minute you enter the door. It is a cliche but one really could fall in "love" with an inanimate thing such as a house. And I wonder why that is. Maybe it has to do with the life you imagine yourself to have when you are living in it, or the many possibilities that would come to you while you're cropped up in your new room as the rain pours outside or the romantic moments you imagine you'd spend in that very inviting porch or the picture of your child playing in that small patch of a yard or the many birthdays and holidays and memories you'd hope to create in this new house, in this new country...whatever it is, having a house of one's own (specially after you've left your own house back in your home country) is pretty special. Julia would say - "its fantastic!".