Peak District, UK, July 2006
Photo from BBC, 29/Jul/2006

It's a piece of reservoir dried out by the high temperature across the world this summer.

What have we lost because of our carelessness...

The Bombing in Lebanon











C, a friend of mine and of most postgraduates in York, is trapped in Lebanon now. I was so shocked when Sue told me the horrible news. Although a friend confirmed that she is safe now but I cannot stop feeling worried for her.

I know there is a long history of conflict between Muslim and Jewish communities in the Middle East and indeed in the whole world. The hatred and opposition is too complex to disentangle, I think. But my problem is I really don't understand why people always easily forsake peace and conveniently justify their resort to violence. The war has been making both communities suffer, but still military advancement is always given the priority.

I cannot make any judgment between the two countries as the political situation in that region of the world is really not my specialty. At this moment, I am only selfishly worried about the safety of C and her family. To be honest it's a bit abstract for me to imagine the peoples suffering in the war, while it's more realistic for me to only think about C. Her graceful dancing figure in her birthday party last year kept coming back to my mind throughout the day. I wish they are safe and calm.
My wish is selfish, but isn't "selfishness" a sufficient reminder? If everybody can "selfishly" think about their friends and family and "selfishly" want their friends and family to be happy and safe, he will learn to avoid getting involved in the vicious circle of violence. The economy of hatred will eventually crash everyone within it, it is the only way how violence works. No one can take advantage of violence.

"The Heart of Voh, New Caledonia, France" by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

The storm-shower yesterday evening washed away the dull fatigue that was hatched in this suffocating humidity.
The thunder, the lightning, the smell of rain, the smell of earth in the rain, the sound of rain drops, the gleeful people walking in the rain, the splendid sunset after the rain were refreshing.

During the pouring rain, I kept remembering the last canto, "V. What the Thunder Said", of T. S. Eliot's The Wasteland. The canto begins with a drought and a thirst for water. And finally,

In a flash of lightning. Then a damp gust
Bringing rain
Ganga was sunken, and the limp leaves
Waited for rain, while the black clouds
Gathered far distant, over Himavant.
The jungle crouched, humped in silence.
Then spoke the thunder
DA

(ll. 393-400)

Eliot is talking about his concerns about the culture in the early twentieth century to which the rain symbolically offers a relief.
I was remembering the poem on a literal level, however, in the context of the global warming mentioned in the previous entry. What did the thunder say?

Andy suggested we visit Yann Arthus-Bertrand's photography works. I was very very much impressed. It's worthwhile to take a look at his works to appreciate the world that nourishes us.

Travelogue III: Chicago, 7-11, May, 2006: Shedd Aquarium

The visit to Shedd Aquarium during the stay in Chicago is memorable.
These water creatures are amazing and their beautiful presences make everyone excited.

We encountered many school kids on school excursions there. Despite the fact that the kids were quite noisy, they were such a great audience of these elegant animals. They were very generous to shout out loud their amazement and joy for these treasures of the world.


Nature always brings to human the best comfort and the most blissful happiness. (I still remember the sea otters' naughty smiles, the dolphins' crescent-shaped bodies, and the toddling penguins. See my album 2)

Nature never disappoints us when we need its solace, and it's very important for us to cherish natural resources and to protect the natural environment, especially in this almost unbearable hot summer. If there's antyhing to be responsible for this drastic change of weather, we can never excuse ourselves.

York Mystery Plays, 16th of July 2006 (Sun) II: Cheerful Medieval Music!

The 12 plays of the York cycle were presented on 12 different wagons according to the medieval tradition. There were 4 spots in York to view the pageantry, and every wagon was drawn from one spot to another to give performance. The performers and the wagons paraded the streets between spots following cheerful medieval music. Sometimes when the current play in the spot was about to conclude, the music was also approching from the street announcing the next play's arrival. The mobility of these shows and the trans-spatial melody brought the whole city together. The fact that the pageantry consolidated the communal relationship is in fact more important than its original religious agenda, both in the Middle Ages and the modern times, I believe.

Every pageant entered and exited the spots with music. The musical troops were amazing actors too, they were properly dressed up to fit the medieval theme! The music was simple and clear enough to lighten the hearts loaded with too much solar energy on that afternoon.

Have a go at the music.

York Mystery Plays, 9th and 16th of July 2006 (Sun) I:
Even angels needed ice cream!!

The quadrennial York Mystery Plays in York by the Guilds of York was a very impressive production. It's my first and perhaps the last chance to attend this event. I will definitely miss it if I cannot make it again in 2010!

Good weather has been "haunting" York for a week, and last Sunday was absolutely sunny without a trace of cloud!! Sitting in the sun (almost a mission unimaginable for me if it had been two years ago...) in the Museum gardens, I was watching 12 mystery plays on wagons with a lot of enthusiastic audience.

It's too warm that every single performers was sweating non-stop, especially in their medieval costumes. They had my sympathy.

The temperature is not a problem to me at all, it's the strong sunbeam...
Today I am serious considering walking out with my umbrella.

D came back to York for her graduation ceremony!
We haven't seen her almost for half a year. She's still such a sweet, adventurous, friendly and smiley and energetic.
The theme for last night's dinner is Summer's Jewelries: colourful food, colourful life, and colourful mates! Summer beach, sunshine, and greens all featured in the food.