Homo Modernus

Is this paradise or what? Would you like to bathe in those balmy tropical waters? Take a nap in the shade of those palm trees? Roll about on that smooth golden sand washed by the said balmy tropical waters? Wake up every morning to a radiant sun set in a clear blue sky? Be lulled by the soothing sounds of a gently lapping sea? Fill your lungs with the clear invigorating air of a pollution-free environment? Be greeted by sweet birdsong echoing through the trees? Revel in the sights and sounds of natures' bounty? In short, would you turn away the chance of living on a paradise isle like this away from the hustle and bustle of teeming humanity? What's that you say? You would? Well, strangely enough so would I!

If you have answered yes to my question above, then you already know that the reality of it is that after a few hours of finding yourself on such a paradise island, hunger pangs would kick in and then what would you do? It's bad enough not having any toilet facilities but feeding yourself would be a major problem. With no McDonald's or Burger King in sight, the prospects of survival of a typical modern city-dweller would be pretty bleak. With no hunting or cooking skills (let alone cooking utensils) to speak of, any wildlife that might be on the island would probably be uncatchable and/or uneatable. Most plant life would as likely be inedible or even downright poisonous. And then there are the tropical storms, hurricanes and cyclones that would probably hit the island every so often. Before long you would sicken and, with no medical supplies or care, die. End of paradise existence! Would you still like to live on a paradise isle like this, be it with your significant other?

If you have turned down the chance of living on a paradise island as depicted in the first photograph, then I think I have just the thing for you. In this second photo we have again a paradisiac image just as lovely as the first one but this time we have all the mod cons that we cannot do without, or at least that we think we cannot do without. Modern toilet facilities are of course a must. A full food catering service is also a must. Comfortable accommodation is also in the same category. With all that in place we are ready to enjoy ourselves and make the most of the island's natural charms. If, that is, we can tear ourselves away from the tv, the swimming-pool, the bar, and any other amenities that are meant to make our stay as pleasant as possible.

The one catch of course is that in this alternative setting and set-up your time in such idyllic surroundings would be limited to the size of your bank balance. For most people this does not stretch to beyond two weeks as a maximum. In no time at all you would be back to your routine along with millions of other individuals fighting the good fight to survive in the frenetic and frenzied modern world that we have created for ourselves. And maybe it's just as well. Too much of a good thing ruins a person's character and turns them into a mere toy. Suffering, or at least a little hardship, is good for the soul. And in any case Paradise is for when we die... assuming of course we don't get sent down to that... that other place. Now that would be just too bad, wouldn't it?

A Carpet of Gold

Isn't the above scene absolutely gorgeous? There's no mistaking the season. A golden carpet of fallen leaves proclaims that it is autumn and it is the dying manifestation of the final days of warm weather before the harsh winter begins to set in. Though the ground is strewn with withering leaves, the trees still have many to shed, but it will now be just days before they completely lose their autumnal coat of gold and stand bare in readiness for the cold winter winds and rains and, who knows, even snow.

I took this picture one late afternoon at the beginning of November. The weather was still pleasant though there was a slight chill in the air. The low rays of the sinking sun cast a magical spell on the park, bathing it in soft mellow tones of yellow and gold, highlighting the gold of the leaves even more. And, as one see, there was hardly a soul in sight, most people still at work or at home having their afternoon tea, or maybe not, but whatever the reason, it was quiet and soothing and lovely to see.

After taking these photos and a few others, I just stood still for a moment, bathed in the golden light of the sun, enjoying the vista around me, revelling in the silence, and breathing in the freshening air of the afternoon as it slowly turned into evening. This was the big city and yet in this quiet corner of Nature I could easily have been in the depths of the countryside were it not for the sight of the houses that lined the perimeter of this green space. Gradually, with the waning sun, the rich autumnal shades and colours began to merge into the darkening background, and it was time for me to leave. But I had captured the images I had come for (two of which are shown above).