Well I say read this if you want to be astounded… / I will write different experiences on different entries… But here it goes… / My first i…
Well I say read this if you want to be astounded… / I will write different experiences on different entries… But here it goes… / My first impression of Iceland was that of trying to not have a heart attack while the plane tried to land in 70 mile an hour winds. You can imagine what it was like, I felt like the bubble in a shaken bottle of coke… I was the little bubble rising to the surface and popping as I overflowed… Anyway… / Next came Iceland’s airport where fifty year old men in uniforms rode scooters at speed and wove through the passengers very straight faced. Every nown again they would say beep beep! Or more hurdy gurdy beep gher beep ger-her… (That was the Icelandic translation). Anyway out on the forecourt I got the fly bus, now Ironically the wind was so strong I almost flew past it. I wondered whether the name was predictive or just lucky. Anyway night fell at four o clock and it descended like a brick from a tall story building. When night fell the temperature dropped and I could feel that nostril icicle forming rapidly… / Once I arrived at the bus station I was transferred to a smaller bus that could navigate the narrow streets of Rekjavik ( I might have mis-spelled it, but could say it well after a cider). There I arrived at the hotel, a cosy guest house run by a family.. Lovely, sweet, free hot chocolate and… well then there was my room. To say it was large was a lie. If I tried to swing a cat I would have hit the wall with my hand, the cat would have purred and suffocated me because there was no room for it to be swung, launched or kept… In fact the bathroom was larger and that had a toilet where you could shower whilst sitting on the loo. It is always interesting when you make such discoveries by mistake! The shower itself was designed for a person half my width. As for the shower curtain, I know what it is like to become contained in a cocoon. Although I never came out the butterfly… Shame. Now other than that there was an interesting aroma that goes with the water in iceland I like to call it l’eau de egg or if you want full french L’eau to oeuf. Alternatively you could call it a smell that resembled an upset dog’s stomach. Later when I asked about this everyone said they couldn’t smell it on their skin. Where do they smell it then? And how come when I sniffed my hair it smelled like a five year old omlette? Who knows, I did not want to get into this because I thought it better to make a pleasant impression and then surprise everyone later. / Anyway after the bathroom adventure I passed out for a while and then lo and behold a whole load of fireworks went off. It was the 6 o’clock in the evening and time for the warm up for the coming launch. Now what was amazing was my hotel was located right where everything was going to go off… With a bang. I could step outside the door, dodge a firework collide with a drunk and trip over a dog without even trying- marvellous! Not many people can say that when they’re holiday. / So to the explosives. Now in most countries a firework display is where you have fireworks and no people, a barrier, a gap, and then the explosive… Oh no- this is viking land. The people live hard, drink a lot, shout loudly and eat fish… So who would expect a health and safety officer standing to one side saying actually son you might get burned… oh no. From six o’clock it was apparent you needed to carry a portable fire extinguisher. Not just for yourself either. The first fireworks exploded, then more exploded until the explosions become more frantic until midnight and that was when the fun began. Numerous people launched fireworks from their hands. the wind picked up and there it was: a fire was blown over onto a huge set of fireworks. The fireworks fell sideways and then bang bang bang!. Fireworks were blasting along the ground, shooting into the crowd and… well everyone cheered. They loved it. Then while I was photographing I noticed something flying towards me. It was a rocket. Yes a rocket. The blooming thing collided with my leg. My reflex action was influenced by Ninjas so I jumped and booted (kicked it hard) towards an uncrowded area. Unfortunately it rebounded off a wall, spun and landed in the crowd and exploded. They all cheered. I know… it was insane. Then it began to snow, the whole area became uncontrollable. I then came to the conclusion I needed full body armour and the closest thing was a dust-bin (garbage thing) So a created a sturdy baracade to use as shelter for the next rain of fire. Anyway it was whilst leaping a yelping dog and avoiding the drunk lighting a fuse to a rocket that I met my two new Australian buddies. As I dived for my newly constructed shelter they did too. At one point we discussed whether it was possible to make a periscope. Obviously we did not have adequate mirrors although in the hotel hall there was potential. Although did we want to break out cover, fight through a crowd of what resembled sumo-suited people to spend time making a periscope? No. So finally the pair joined me in the what is commonly known as the photographic dash. This happens only when you have one photo left on a memory card and you want to get something memorable. So on the count of three the three of us ran from cover to take our final imagery. And what was it? Well it turns out every year the icelandics take great pleasure in trying to shoot the belfry of the church. So that was what they were doing, but as hard as I tried I could not get the shot. So settled for a red explosion amongst the crowd…. So there we are- new year. My new pals and I went and drank free hot chocolate until we were almost sick… Oh yes…. That was a new year to remember. It was almost as good as when I danced on a stage in front of 40000 Mexicans, met a multimillionaire. Fell down a hole under a palm tree and then was convinced I had missed the ship I was working on at the time… But that is another story. There is more to come from Iceland and the all fours embarrassment saga! / Oh and a young Icelandic gir,l who could not remember the word for fireworks, asked us if we enjoyed the bom bings! That turned some heads I can tell you!
Mahalo a nui loa to the hosts for featuring my image in Featured Art / The True Beauty Group...
Mahalo a nui loa to the hosts for featuring my image in Featured Art / The True Beauty Group Featured Art 17 February 2009 / In Another World Featured Art May 2009 / Inspired Art From my collection: Darkly, deeply, beautifully blue! / Maunaleo ~ Journey With Spirit Copyright © Sharon Mau 2009 / All Rights Reserved This is one of my signature pieces, a composite of seven of my images blended into one using photographs I have taken on the lava seacliffs of Wai’anapanapa Maui Hawai’i blended with Alaska skies and an enormous full moon. / Wai’anapanapa is a beautiful state park and a protected sacred area here on Maui. It is also where Jacob and I married. / / Maunaleo ~ Journey With Spirit is dedicated with deepest respect and appreciation for Keali’i Reichel. This beautiful mele is one of my favourites and I love the gentle power of his angelic voice. It is the beautiful Maunaleo mele Keali’i composed for his beloved Mother, Lei. “Carleton Lewis Keali’inaniaimokuokalani Reichel (born 1962) popularly known as Keali’i Reichel, is a popular and bestselling singer, songwriter, choreographer, dancer, chanter, scholar, teacher, and personality from the State of Hawai’i. He has spent his life educating the world about Hawaiian culture through music and dance. Maunaleo is one of his most beautiful songs and one of my favourites! / Lyrics Source: Keali`i Reichel album “Melelana” Copyright 1999 Punahele, Inc. – “Composed for Keali`i’s mother Lei, she is compared to the majestic sentinel mountain, Maunaleo, who guards, comforts, nourishes and loves her people. Mälie is the gentle wind of the area. ~ Maunaleo – Words by Keali`i Reichel & Puakea Nogelemeier, Music by Keali`i Reichel ~ “He aloha nö `o Maunaleo / I lohia e ke kilihuna / Kohu `ahu`ao no ka uka / He kamalani kamaehu kau i ka hanoë / He kamalei, kamahiwa pä i ka lani ë / ka lani ë He aloha nö `o Maunaleo / I lohia e ke kilihuna / Kohu `ahu`ao no ka uka / He kamalani kamaehu kau i ka hanoë / He kamalei, kamahiwa pä i ka lani ë / ka lani ë Po`ohina i ka `ohu kolo / Kahiko no ka poli `olu / Apo `ia e nä kualono / He hi`ina, hi`ialo, alohaë / Hi`ipoli, hi`ilei, hi`ilanië / ilanië Po`ohina i ka `ohu kolo / Kahiko no ka poli `olu / Apo `ia e nä kualono / He hi`ina, hi`ialo, alohaë / Hi`ipoli, hi`ilei, hi`ilanië / ilanië Eia ku`u lei aloha / No Maunaleo i ka nani / `Ohu`ohu i ka Mälie / He kamalani kamaehu kau i ka hanoë / He kamalei, hamahiwa pä i ka lani e / ka lani e Eia ku`u lei aloha / No Maunaleo i ka nani / `Ohu`ohu i ka Mälie / He kamalani kamaehu kau i ka hanoë / He kamalei, hamahiwa pä i ka lani e / ka lani e No Maunaleo ke aloha kü i ka la`i e Aloha ë, alohaë ~ Beloved indeed in Maunaleo ~ / Sparkling in the light, wind-blown rain. A finely woven cloak for the highlands. / A cherished one, respected for power and strength. / Esteemed, treasured, touched by heaven. / Capped by the silver of the rolling mists. / An adornment for that gentle heart. / Embraced by the surrounding ridges. / One to hold close, to hold near, to love. / One dear to the heart, precious, exalted. / This is my garland of affection for Maunaleo in its beauty. / Glorified by the Mälie breeze. / A cherished one, respected for power and strength. / Esteemed, treasured, touched by heaven. / For Maunaleo is the serenity of deep love. / Beloved are you, beloved indeed.” .... If you would like to hear his beautiful song, click on the hyperlink below / Maunaleo by Keali’i Reichel Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi This image is also offered as a Tshirt, postcard, stamp and other products. If you would like to see it on any other products, please let me know. Mahalo! / My Zazzle Site>
Just published ...
Just published LEICESTERSHIRE / Love, Light & Land / By Me / (Click the image for the preview) Sorry about the price folks, but with over 190 of my best works inside, that means you are paying the equivalent in your own currency to under 37 pence per image to have my work at hand for your pleasure and delectation in whichever room of the house you care to have it – and I gotta eat. Now, with 37 pence a print being such good value, surely you will treat yourself or someone else you love to such a wonderful book for Christmas, Birthdays or whatever – this is a wonderful item just to leave lying around on a coffee table, and shows you have taste…..... Enjoy – the preview gives you the covers and 15 pages to have a look at in low definition – so imagine what a book 13” wide by 11” tall in high quality will look like and feel like. It is available with a dust jacket for the traditional, or a printed cover so you dont lose the dustjacket if you would prefer – see, I look after my customers by giving them a choice! Love and best wishes folks – Now to volume 2 / Cheers / Graeme
Aloha, mahalo nui loa, thank you so much to the anonymous buyer / who purchased one of my matted prints this morning! I very much app…
Aloha, mahalo nui loa, thank you so much to the anonymous buyer / who purchased one of my matted prints this morning! I very much appreciate your kindness, thank you so much! / I sincerely hope you enjoy my image of the beautiful Moose displayed in your home. Please let me know how it looks when you receive it. I would love to know who purchased this matted print to thank you personally, but if you prefer to remain anonymous I certainly understand. Thank you so much for your gift of Aloha!!_ Mahalo nui loa!! E pili mau na pomaika`i ia `oe! Aloha e Malama pono Sharon Mau Copyright © Sharon Mau 2009 SOLD / 1x Matted Print A beautiful cow Moose and her yearling Calf browsing near North Pole Alaska ~ Winter Scenics
What a day, another picture of mine has been accepted in “Australian Landmarks and Icons” Group.
What a day, another picture of mine has been accepted in “Australian Landmarks and Icons” Group.
Thanks so much to the hosts of Contrasting Perceptions. I’m very happy that you liked my image of the great,vast prairies of Western Cana…
Thanks so much to the hosts of Contrasting Perceptions. I’m very happy that you liked my image of the great,vast prairies of Western Canada. A place that so many think is flat and boring, and nothing could be farther from the truth. I hope it will give some folks incentive to visit this amazing landscape, all of the thousands of square miles! /
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