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 |   ON THE WRITE PATH: travel journal for Around-the-World in 2015, 16, 18. |
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For there are many paths.  A tlog. A travel blog. A keeping-track of my trials, er.. travels. February 26, 2015 until ... June 18,2015. January 12, 2016 until February 15, 2016. November 13 to 30 2018 ... 2019, 2020: Taiwain. I went nowhere in 2021. 2022: Portugal, Thailand. Will include: Hawai'i, Japan, Australia, South Africa, Untied Arab Emirates, Portugal, Norway, Ireland and... (2015) ... Norway and Estonia (2016), México (2018), Taiwan, Balkans, Baltics, Turkey, Costa Rica, Nicaragua. Vi får se.  "Where I have traveled, stayed and visited. Over 181 places."     |
| A reminder about word usage for me: http://www.someecards.com/life/workplace/better-vocabulary-words-to-use-instead-... |
| Congos bellow in the trees, small black drums announcing rain... or chattering about us. In our minds, is it always about us? Sea reaches out to shore, tumbles over rocks spraying a surfer praying for the next big wave. A strand of brown leaves and twigs marks its limit. We all have limits. Rain drops on black sand. Rivulets sink into coarse sand. Hermit crabs scurry when it all stops. 22.julio.2016 (Congos = howler monkeys) |
| Just a quick note between travels... the crocuses are blooming and the sun is out. It's the gloom that chases me away from Western Montana... not the cold. Pleasant days and a documentary film festival this week. Soon I'll be off to Costa Rica. Leave March 15th for one month. Then I'll promise myself to blog every day? *sigh* 539 views |
| TROMSØ January 31st: It was Sunday. It was snowy. Wet snowy. A very wet snowy Sunday. Beautiful. But wet. I got soaked. Went to a church service at the domkirke. I didn't understand anything. Not just because it was in Norwegian but the Norwegian church isn't like the Lutheran church in the town I grew up in. There were soloists and organ music as part of the service as this is Sámi Week and the Northern Lights music festival. Missed lunch with music at Skansen but nice chat with Lars from Sweden and with Cecile (Princess Cecile) from Kvaløya. Cecile's a hoot. Watched one Declan Clark movie from beginning to end at Kunstforeningen. February 1st: Less snow, not as wet but I took my umbrella. Made it to Skansen (built 1789; oldest building in Tromsø) and listened to euphonium, clarinet and trombone. Nice chat with Elisabeth afterwards. Got photo of Princess Cecile, complete with tiara, with Esteban (my tiny travel companion). Washed clothes in a washing machine! I've been washing out by hand... which is fine. I lost one of my crampons yesterday so I went out without... a bit slippery. My shoes do not grip properly. Not at all. I must be careful for the next week. Very careful. February 2nd: Posted elsewhere: I try not to think about money these days. I spent many hours predicting the costs, made a budget and then decided I could barely afford to travel if I didn't eat. So here I am... hopefully losing a few pounds. — me, in Northern Norway. Beautiful dawn but I wasn't ready to do anything except look out the window. 488 |
| I decided to use this blog to record my weekly drivel as well as my travel-writing. Why... oh why... Because one blog is full and another doesn't work well for this. So... 24.januar.2016 Dreary day. Tricky walk on ice to Tromsø Kunstforening. It was cold inside so I didn't stay long. It's free, and close so I'll be back soon. Sat for awhile to watch Declan Clarke's "Geist Trilogie". Mostly black/white silent film so any sound/color is startling. Mondo Tromsø has offices here. It's a mobile bookstore art community that reminds me of ZACC. I looked quickly at the zines and other publications. I'm excited to meet them. This is the day after I started "trouble" on-line leading to Sarah setting up a facebook group, "Scribbles". Many of us have known each other for ten years. Odd thought. We've mostly moved on. Some folks are published. A couple have died. Some mourn the passage of others and time. Late evening nightmare. Wrote about that elsewhere. Quite shaken. No one to call. 25.januar.2016 Dreary day. Watched "Murder She Wrote" with subtitles. Now news about Norwegian skier that injured himself. Lots of winter sports news. Room was cleaned. Staff here at St. Elisabeths is great. Went out. Stopped in at Blåst where they blow glass. Spoke to the three working there. One is from France, one from Mosjøen. They are making the awards for the skiing events this weekend. Ate fish cakes microwaved with ham and butter. Good but I'm really not so hungry. Ate one pastry and some chocolate milk later. I feel bloated. Appetite has not returned. Found out details for ski event. A bus goes there... it starts Thursday. Stopped in at the art museum to look again at the huge landscapes. Next time? I'll grab a chair so I can sit down and gaze at my leisure. Not a long walk back but I have no energy and it was a bit uphill. Very tired. Took a shower before using the sauna for the first time. Not used to sharing the shower with anyone. It's been a long time since high school and college. I told myself, "get over it". 26.januar.2016 Snowy blowy. Up early (06:35) then stressed over green-screen-of-death as my computer wanted attention but wouldn't tell me what to do. I restarted it... no problem. Spoke with Luke and Becky from London as they sat for breakfast. I buy my own food at the store because it's cheaper. I'll need to go out and brave the whiteness of it all. 11:20 and still snowing. Appears rainy now. I did get to the store, Kiwi, and have just eaten some risgrøt... which is like mushy oatmeal but with a rice base. Thankfully butter and some brown sugar made it palatable. Cheap, but... The snow was lovely and the walk wasn't slippery and it also wasn't too cold. It's 15:04 and I should go out again or at least leave my room! The Bed made me lie down. That's My Story. 'Nuff said. 27.januar.2016 A lost day yesterday. It's 00:19 and time to go to bed. Although... I spend a lot of time in bed.  Walked north along Fogd Dreyers gate. Took photos of a nest in a birch tree, of rows of houses. Went down to the waterfront. Entered the Nordnorsk Kunstmuseum and took photos of Adelsteen Normann's huge realistic painting, "Fra Bodø Havn". Posted it on facebook. But... the photo doesn't capture the majesty of the painting. Took other photos as well. By going back to the same places people recognize me. Duh... Late night chat with Harald who was here with one of his daughters who is competing in the NM ski event. Keycard (nøkkelkort) wouldn't open my door! It was 22:10 but fortunately someone was at the desk. 28.januar.2016 Up early. I had itchy legs and pain. Maybe dehydration? It's a bright if not sunny day. Watched a bit of the NM ski races on television. Should go visit them. Risgrøt tastes better with cherry jam (kirsebærsyltetøy). Spoke to Berit on second floor. I haven't been as social as I usually am. Partly due to sleeping so much. I say hello to the folks who work here at St. Elisabeths but I need to work on my social skills. People have been tolerant and supportive when I try to speak Norsk. Found out that I can use the laundry for free. I'm so used to washing out by hand I forgot to ask. Sat in sauna for a short time. Couldn't tolerate the heat. 29.januar.2016 Didn't take a nap! I'm totally worn out now though. Talked to Heidi at Actic, a workout center in the basement. I can use the facilities... if I wish. Day was brightened by chat with Ida and Ann at the Tromsø Kunstforening. Ida was just back from Katy, Texas. We talked about how she needs to get her American friend to visit in May. Ann and I talked about Mondo Tromsø, a group of artists. Bought two pastries... I was feeling weak from not eating. I AM eating but not as much as usual... which is good... really good. Managed to take a few photos. Even on days I don't do much I manage. News here? Norway loses 33-34 to Germany in men's handball. Huge storm "orkan Tor" with winds at or near hurricane force slammed into the west coast. 30.januar.2016 A bit breezy this morning but I took the bus to Kvaløya (60 kr.) to watch the skiathlon, women's 15km and men's 30km. Took photos of women's ceremony and caught the final sprint of the men's. Also ate a pølse (hot dog) for 25 kr. and a waffle (with brunost and strawberry) for 25 kr. I managed to stay vertical the entire day. Not up as early as I should've; fading away and it's only going on 10... but that's better than it has been. Nice chat with Robin from Trondheim. He works in the Actic fitness center. I enjoyed the bus ride and managed not to fall (my crampons had issues) at the venue. The sun came out for awhile and the winds died down. We were spared the serious storm that hit western Norway. I'll need to do more this coming week. It's my last and there's the free venues of the music fest and Sami fest. |
| Outside and inside 1. Outside. Wet, always wet and gravelly to prevent the slip and slide from last night's dusting... now turned to ice. In the chapel the sounds of workers; in the cathedral, the silence of wood. I savor the cheap price of a hamburger. Nothing's cheap here. I'm too tight to spend on what I cannot afford to eat. To be born here of stone and water, birch and fish... one must know how to swim. I drown in deep depression, too self-righteous to admit I'm wrong, not ready to let go. 2. Inside. Forget the shoes! Skate down these gun-metal halls past wax green plants between white and apricot walls. Listen in the silence. The sound of the Northern Lights is allusive. Go downstairs to rough stone and firm couches. Look left at slush-sided slopes, right at calm water. What reflects on the surface? What gleams in its depths? Stalk behind a black-clad man to the receptionist's desk. You two are alone. Put your cup under a spout, push a button. Hear the grind. Inhale the fragrance. It would entice a zombie. Inhale deeper. Wake up. Become alive once again. © Kåre Enga Tromsø, Noreg. [23.januar.2016] |
| Days dawn Tromsø, January 22, 2016 It snowed. I know because I was awake in the middle of the night and looked out. Could not see the lights across the water. I know because at 9 a.m. everything is a fresh dark white. Days dawn... ...elsewhere. It's the day after Soldag. The first day of sun after 2 months of darkness. We were fortunate that the sky was clear. We got to see that fickle orb for a few minutes. I took pictures I put on facebook. The newspaper took pictures of me. I'm in the paper. By afternoon I was wiped out. I get up or sleep regardless of the hour. There is no sun to regulate now or then or... I did nothing. But today it has warmed up to 2ºc. Wet and dark. Days dawn. I yawn. I'd better do better today. |
| Tromsø, 20.januar.2016. On another trip. Been in Norway a week and have little to show for it. Oslo: cold and dark. Drammen: cold and dark. Tromsø: cold and darker. There is hope for tomorrow as the sun will come up after disappearing south for two months. I hope to catch its return. But this means focus. Not me. Not this trip. So. Sound: the pounding of a drill removing rock from the hillside next to the hotel. Sight: glow but no sun. Smell: coffee. At least there is coffee. Taste: bread. Touch: smooth tiles and stone. I hide out in my room. Turn on the television to hear something other than myself. I walk to the coffee dispenser for exercise. Outside the cold awaits me and anyone who dares challenge it. I will put on my trackers, walk icy sidewalks and streets. See people I won't speak to. There is nothing I seek. 442 |
| Combustion curry I watch out for fake steps, avoid children being children, the branch that reaches out to stab. I grab onto every rail. I look at the combustion curry, take a video of it boiling, bubbling. I do not touch. No more than the steam that burbles from the vent, the mud that roils the pools that look so innocent: blue, white, red. I'm wise to them. I gaze from afar. I put my nose above the curry, breathe in and wait. If I'm patient I won't burn my day away. If I'm careful when I put one foot in front of the other... I can cross this bridge. © Kåre Enga 29.march.2015 On unsent postcard from Beppu, Japan. 29.march.2015 304 views |
| More than one destination Incense burns at the temple; fragrances waft through this train. We're all on a journey. The sea has many paths; the mountains hide them. Here along the shore we head west on the level. I sit in the last seat in the rear; but, we'll all get there together. The sway and rumble lulls us to sleep. I needn't worry. My destination? The end of the line. But not of life. We witness one small chapter dappled by poles, trees, and passing trains. On this calm Spring day there is more than one destination. We all have our own book to write. © Kåre Enga 25.march.2015. Note: Edited from a postcard to Elle Shroder. Okayama-Beppu, Japan. 25.march.2015 294 |
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