Reversed dimensions

Superlative sequences of splendour, truth, distortion, candour. The words of Edie and the pitch of Eden, the weight of conformity, heavily laden.  Shimmering solistice, celestical sensation, subtle be the shades of grey and blue in your dazzling eyes. 

The Calm before the storm

I returned to Denmark after a swashbuckling five days down in Gibraltar. An exam on the day after my flight back and several days of fun and fiesta thereafter kept me on my toes and made for several decent shots. Roskilde festival is just around the corner and i'm trying to keep as low a profile as possible in the run-up to it. This is the calm before the storm.

Random musing

Astrology may offer few answers as to the way forward and may be unrealiable at best but then again neither do science nor the religious practices of the key faiths on the earth in our day and age. My horoscope for today however relevant or not was overwhelmingly philosophical and tied in with my views on mainstream ethics.  It reads as follows :


"Popularity is incredibly overrated, so don't base any decisions solely on achieving it! Pleasing the masses is no great feat -- after all, appealing to the lowest common denominator just means that you're expecting the least out of other people, and that's not your philosophy. Instead, stick to your beliefs and desires, no matter how off the wall you might think they are. You will be better off in a small group of like-minded folks than in a huge crowd of sheep."


I'm quite sure the busker, the street painter, the ardent magician and the penniless dare-to-differ aspiring musician know of this philosophy. For theirs is a pure artform and a byproduct of sharing, not a corporate pilgrimage to milk the masses of their currency by adorning the exploits of talentless mainstream brain junk food that only replicates social, gender and racial inequalities. We live in a world in which the compositions of pianists, violinists and classically trained musicians are overshadowed by long winded renditions of the attainment of fame, wealth and swagger, Similarly, the simple drumbeats and chants of elementary societies the world over are choked and drowned by corporate sociocultural constructivism that reproduces conformist values adhered to by the greater public. The masses are united through song and dance in denying the obvious and rejoicing in the conformist hypocrisy inherent in tawdry, profit-driven mainstream music. Hence small, like-minded groupings are better off than the crowd of sheep amongst which they walk. These groups maintain their individuality and at the very least, cast aspersions as to the basic governing principles and fundamentals of human life. Their artistic endeavour may not be recognised by society, but then again would they want it to be ? 

Gibraltar: Food and Culture

It's always pleasant to have an international food fair going on when one is on holiday. The annual "Calentita" celebrations in Gibraltar just over a week ago saw the Casemates square (Gibraltar's main square) packed with food stalls selling culinary delights from numerous nations.  Locals and tourists alike turned out in the thousands to sample various dishes and enjoy dance displays and other acts, the highlight of the evening being a stunning 20 minute firework display to cap off the occasion.  The Moroccan stand continued their yearly tradition of being the last stall to turn off their lights so the firework display could start, which the master of ceremony on the day poked a good deal of friendly fun at. I was particularly impressed by the Moroccan and Indian food stands and naturally the local stall had plenty to offer to. If you're ever in Gib, be sure to sample the national dish, "calentita," a bread-like dish similar to the Italian "Farinata." I 

On the subject of food and dining in Gib, recommended eateries include "Ipanema" restaurant by the Marina area which offers a hearty buffet for a mere 10 quid.  The house speciality however is a selection of meats of different sorts, which are roasted on the spit and placed on ones plate thereafter, still steaming and spluttering. This costs an extra 6 pounds but is well worth it. "Celebrity Wine bar" also in the Marina area offers highly varied Indian cuisine for a tenner and as the name suggests, a fine assortment of wines from the proprietor's collection. The view of the harbour and the setting sun from the top of the restaurant's terrace is something out of a movie script, complemented by the soft brown and amber shades of the furniture.  These restaurants were a stark contrast to other more "typical" Gibraltan eateries, which were more British than anything else and turned out to be rather pricey. The smoothie stall in the corner of the Casemates square is also worth a glance. A well priced sortiment of healthy smoothies of all sorts and sizes and genuinely impeccable service definitely made for a wonderful start to my mornings in Gib ! 

Giant Paella

Gibraltan wildlife

Gibraltar is home to Europe's only free-living monkey, the Barbary macaque.  300 or so of these animals live freely on the slopes of the rock of Gibraltar and are thought to have been brought to the area from Africa by the Moors during their occupation of the Iberian peninsula.

Some of the young macaques are rather witty and playful and will jump on one's shoulders to pose cheekily for the snap of a  camera shutter. I was deeply endeared by the affection these creatures displayed towards us during our stroll along the upper rock overlooking Ceuta and the Atlas mountains.

Seagulls are also aplenty in Gibraltar, and their cries and fluttering wings decorate the soundscapes and patchwork of the warm nights.  Like their primate contemporaries, they too are amicable and frequently display overt affection towards human beings, as the last picture in this set demonstrates.

Gibraltar. Rocked to my core. At the key to the mediterranean

More pictures from my Gibraltan escapades; Moroccan mountains in the blue distance and evidence of the heritage of the protectorate.  It's little wonder Napoleon found this enclave to be as fascinating as it is.  The key to the mediterranean, the fringe of the Iberian Peninsula. More to follow.