Cosmos

_{In an oscillating universe, the Cosmos has no beginning and no end, and we are in the midst of an infinite cycle of cosmic deaths and rebirths. If the universe truly oscillates, still stranger questions arise. Some scientists think that when expansion is followed by contraction, causality will be inverted and effects will precede causes. First the ripples spread from a point on the water's surface, then I throw the stone into the pond. First the torch bursts into flame and then I light it. We cannot pretend to understand what such causality inversion means. Will people at such a time be born in the grave and die in the womb? Will time flow backwards?}

_{- Carl Sagan, Cosmos}

I've been reading Carl Sagan while (impatiently) waiting to borrow 1Q84 from a friend. I thought this passage was lovely. Reading it immediately evoked moments from the past I'd love to live again in reverse.

Pura Tirta Empul

Saturday in Bali was a holy day for the goddess Saraswati.  She is the goddess of knowledge, so all the students went to the temple to pray on Saturday.  According to the Balinese, the energy manifested by praying can become either good or bad energy, so it is important to cleanse your spirit the next day, so that the energy from praying is manifested in a pure spirit.  Even though I didn't make it to the temple on Saturday, I accompanied my friend to Pura Tirta Empul, the temple of the sacred spring, on Sunday for some ritualistic cleansing.

The sacred spring.
Water is fed from the spring to pools below, where worshippers bathe and pray.
Visitors move down the line, saying a prayer or making an offering at each fountain.

Conformations

I love seeing photographs creatively combined with another unusual medium.  Shaun Kardinal's "Conformations" series features oversized postcards with beautiful geometric embroidery on top.

Infra Africa

The people and landscapes of the Congo shot on infrared film, from the Infra Africa series by Richard Mosse.

Kuala Lumpur

Recently I spent a weekend in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I wasn't expecting much but in the end I loved the city. I spent hours wandering with little agenda, through massive shopping malls or back alleys of Chinatown. I was drawn in by its pull between old Malaysia and modern metropolis, the way it was covered in chrome and mold, Starbucks and coconut husks.