Tag Archives: view

Bagan – Sunset from Shwesandaw Stupa

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At last, dear friends, after a week of posts about Bagan, we arrive at the evening of the journey’s second day here. I have completely omitted the eight (8) stupas and temples that we either visited or stopped to contemplate during the day, along with their corresponding Buddhas of white and gold. It feels like time to move on. Besides, we can see many of these religious structures from the top of Shwesandaw Stupa. Let’s go look.

     

 

There actually was a bit of a sunset…

Finally, as we leave Bagan for Mandalay, I give you two complete panoramic views, each comprising about half of the view from the top of the stupa. If you right-click on each image and download it, you should be able to see the panorama in a larger size.

Tomorrow–it’s on to Mandalay!

 

Views near Golden Grove

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Warm late-spring days are truly magical on the island. The air is sweet with roses and Russian olive blossoms. The sun is strong and hot during the day and the stars are bright at night, but at sunrise and sunset a cool fog rises from the sea. And the elements dance: fire and air, sea and land.

Views near Golden Grove

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Why would the house still be unrented for the week of July 3-10th? This, when the week includes the July 4th holiday, with the island’s wonderful hometown parade, and with fireworks, both manmade and natural. Fireworks a lot like this:

and this:

We’ve reduced the price for the week to encourage some lucky person or group or family to come out and share the beauty of our lovely island. If anyone is interested, call Ballard Hall Real Estate at 401-466-8883.

Views near Golden Grove

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I am especially partial to those sunset moments when the sun approaches the horizon so that the thickness of the air makes it go all gibbous and misshapen. Especially if there are a few clouds about to enhance the effect.

Views near Golden Grove

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This is a first: A post about Block Island while I am still on the island. And pictures of the sky and almost-sunset within twenty-four hours of when they were taken.

Yesterday we took advantage of the clear weather to plant a number* of new Rosa rugosas and weed the garden out front. But at about 5:30 I had to take a break in order to photograph the sky. The prediction was for rain starting at about 5am, and the sky was beginning to cloud up with an effect that looked like some kind of aery ocean.

Below it, the ocean and the pond were lit up like some kind of watery sunfire.

Later that evening, the clouds thickened. There was only one narrow sliver of sunset, and that, only for a few moments.

Today, as promised, it’s been raining. All day. Good for the Rosa rugosa.

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* eight

Views near Golden Grove

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We’re back on the island after a winter away, and it is wonderful! Yes, it’s still a bit chilly, especially when the sun’s behind a cloud and the wind is blowing from the northeast, and we’re out planting beach grass. Yes, there was frost on the ground one morning–but the frost is beautiful.

And… we have a morning visitor!

It’s so good to be here…

Estancia Cristina

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Because of the icebergs, we could not approach Upsala glacier from the lake, and so we booked a trip to Estancia Cristina on the far side of the lake and from there took a four-wheel drive vehicle to an overlook site. Estancia Cristina was once a sheep ranch of over 50,000 acres, with over 27,000 head of sheep. Everything had to be brought into the estancia by boat, and prices for wool made these costs prohibitive. Eventually the estancia  with its magnificent scenery was taken over as part of Los Glaciares National Park.

The 4×4 vehicle bumped and jostled over some of the most magnificent countryside Dan and I have ever seen.

We also saw some of the wild horses that roam the estancia–escapees of several generations ago that are now completely feral. And lovely. (Horses now used on the ranch are geldings, so no chance of new blood in the herd.)

In the next post I’ll discuss and show what we all came here to see: the Upsala glacier.