Sundar (beautiful) Lilla ( Little) Sjöjungfru (Mermaid)

Beautiful Little Mermaid 

     Ever since I read Hans Christensen Anderson, I have been fascinated by his writings and imaginings.  The greatest and the most popular of all Danes. He won that title over the Nobel Laureate Niels Bohr.  So, a visit to Copenhagen would be incomplete without experiencing all things Andersen. I went to Copenhagen because there was a research retreat about two hours train ride away from Copenhagen.  How could I miss the opportunity?  The city is about 7 hrs train ride away from Karlstad.  So, I was sensible --for the first time, and combined work with a short break. 

The unimposing sculpture still attracts all tourists. Besides on a good spring day, which it was the day I walked on the promenade, the walk itself is a prize. April. 2013

      The brewer Carl Jacobsen (The Carlsberg Breweries) presented the mermaid's statue to the city of Copenhagen. The Little Mermaid was unveiled at Langelinje in 1913, as part of a general trend in Copenhagen in those days, selecting classical and historical figures to be used as decorations in the city's parks and public areas.

     The story goes that way back In 1909, brewer Carl Jacobsen was so enchanted by the solo dancer Ellen Price's performance in the "The Little Mermaid" at the Royal Theatre that he commissioned to present the city with the statue. In fact, he asked her if she would pose for the statue. She agreed in principle, but was not very interested in posing without any clothes on, when she found out just how public the statue would be. Instead sculptor Edvard Erichsen's wife stepped in and modeled for the body. Throughout the year, 75% of all tourists visiting Copenhagen go to see The Little Mermaid.

An exhibit at Hans Christensen Anderson Museum 

Copenhagen as the backdrop for the Little Mermaid, April 2013

It was a beautiful walk. I walked nearly 11 hours that day, and fell in love with the city.  I  hope to return soon.  But it is important to state that the statue in of itself is nothing spectacular.  But as with tourist spots, they make for great pictures and conversation starters.  So, is this one--a conversation starter!

For me, it was the experience of experiencing the city that H.C. Andersen called home.  

I met a group of Filipino au pairs, who were enjoying their day off.  Until I noticed that there was one girl from Nepal.  To her delight I spoke to her in Hindi.  She gave me a hug for that.

Hmm....language---just like stories--reaches parts of mind and body that have not been named yet!!

The Last Upper Class Hero

August, 2012, Winterton, 

Near to Inkosana Lodge, 

Close to Drakensberg Mountains, 

South Africa 

I was waiting to return to Durban, and he passed by. 

'Hi, could I please, please take a picture of you?'

He smiled and stood still.

I then asked him to stand next to the trash can that had South African Flag on it.  He complied. I was grateful.  But what touched my heart was when he gave me a soldier like look for the photograph.

Not sure if he was just playing with the camera, honoring me, or simply because he thought that was the appropriate posture for the Camera.

The reason I asked him to stop was his T-shirt.

(I'm) The Last Upper Class Hero!!

A close look will show you that at the bottom of the T-shirt it says, 'Sunny side of life'

I wonder if he knew what all that meant---even if he could read it.

And I truly wonder what would happen if he truly believed it!!

Hamare Khayal, Hamari Kala (Our thoughts, Our Art)

Karlstad, 2012

I walked into the building last year to find an unusual art exhibition.  Try your Art Drawing skills!!  Anyone who wanted to participate was provided with paper and colors. You were allowed to say your mind.  

I was touched so many of these. I took many pictures, but still many remained un-captured.  These folks, most of them, were not artists.  They said what was in their heart and mind.  Words became images, and images--words.  

Robert Fulghum, in one of his books had said, 'that we should fight with crayons, for all the world's leaders played with them at some point"

Well, here is a heated discussion, that some how is in consensus ---all in colors--crayons or otherwise!!

Notice the word 'world' on the right hand corner of the page.  What a simplistic rendition of a chaotic world!!  

We are the Unicorns, but we are people too!! 

How I wish we knew we were Unicorns, and wish we knew for sure that we were people, and not animals fighting over limited resources--people who are able to create an entirely new world by the process of our 'thinking' for the better!!

Whereever Maya takes me, I will go, but my heart remains in Nepal (I can read the script and make sense of the langauge, but it is actually Nepali--a language from India's neighboring country).

I bet there can be a thousand meanings of this painting...

How could love and heart not come into this free expression!!

Truth, Hope and Love!! Something couples get engraved on the insides of their wedding rings!! Karlek (pronounced Sharlek) is the Swedish word for Love!! 

A flower of a heart, a heart on wings!!

This tree had been cut for (profit-fruit) --don't know how many birds come looking for this old tree!!  A message that be applied to environment as well as people to who are kind, do good and are eliminated from positions of power, by those who seek power to rule and not to help. 

What more to ask for, if we have these....

Often true!!

This morning a bad dream woke me up, now I am afraid of going back to sleep!! 

Many of us can relate to that. 

Puss (kiss) and Kram (hug)!! Simple!

This should be a regular festival, rather than a valentine's day or bosses day.....we should focus on expressing ourselves....and we will realize that most of the voices are calm, beautiful and filled with love.