© irene waters 2016
Some countries allow you to be in a time warp — being both here and there at the same time. In Vanuatu the boys from the bush would occasionally visit. On this occasion they had taken Roger and I and the doctor at the time ,(Victoria B.C. looked after our hospital and the highly trained specialists that came took sabbatical from their normal jobs to man the hospital for six months), and his wife had employed these men to guide us through the rainforest from one side of the island to the other and back again. During the walk we were enmeshed in a world of the past, no trappings of modernity (apart from my camera) were in sight. On our return, as the nambas clad men sat as westerners on the edge of the pool, throwing back a tusker (beer) and sucking on a cigarette. The incongruity of the situation was not lost on me and I could not help but be aware of the here and there.
© irene waters 2016
In a small mountain hamlet in Vietnam, the here was very present in the building design, the décor and in those we encountered however Roger, a soccer addict, became immersed in the there as he watched Germany play a home match.
© irene waters 2016
In Cambodia these steps were designed to put you there. They were so steep that to walk up was almost a crawl. Designed to lift your eyes to heaven and presumably that was where you went as you climbed to worship at the top, eyes still lifting upwards. However for those visitors retreating they were very much in the here and determined to get down without falling or sustaining an injury.
How often are we there
When we should be here
And sometimes
We are both here and there
Incongruities
Juxtapositions
Colliding worlds: life.
In response to Paula’s Thursday’s Special
Reflections and Nightmares- Irene A Waters (writer and memoirist) 
Wonderful photos Irene and I love the way you transported us to both worlds. Great interpretations.
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Thank you Miriam. It had an element of a time machine as I was preparing them.
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Irene, you have me impressed 🙂 I love the second one for the idea of the match on TV, and the symbolism of the third shot which shows something really extraordinary, but I am not oblivious to the first one either. Great entry for which I am very thankful. With your consent I would put the third one in the slideshow next week?
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Your prompts always make me think. Glad they all spoke to you. The third one would be fine to put in the slide show Paula.
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Thank you, Irene.
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Wow. That first photo is such a contrast of “here and there”. I love that one.
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Me too. Two worlds collide.
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What a fascinating view into worlds so different yet thrown together. I’d love to climb the Cambodian temple but don’t have the strength. Still, something I could achieve by practicing a behavior meant to lift myself spiritually.
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Let me know if you master the behaviour.
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