Sunday, August 21, 2011

.... LEFT LONDON FOR 4 HRS pt.1

OLD DOORS USED BY MEDIEVAL MONKS
ARTIST'S INSTALLATION ON DISPLAY

STAIN GLASS WINDOWS-  ONE OF THE BEST SHOTS I COULD GET
I went to the little town of Rochester. It is boasted as the "Historic town of Rochester". In this town you will find an air heavily laden with history brought to you by contemporary features. You will find that if you get there as early as I did pretty soon after 9 am you wont just hear your own footsteps against the cobbled streets.  My visit was in 2 parts: Thursday afternoon I breezed through the newness of the place with an unsuspecting eye to the fabric that had been unfurled before me. The 2nd oldest Cathedral in the UK was my first stop: the air was crisp, with a few visitors not too many it felt like walking in to another cathedral in Dunblane Scotland.




MY GOLDEN PIPES- ORGAN PIPES THAT TOWER OVER THE PILGRIM STEPS CATHEDRAL 
The golden pipes of the organ was fascinating - they were my highlight imagining what my songs would sound like with this massive golden display of pipes bubbling under a one drop niceness. According to the  brochure you were brought to more significant "must see" areas in the building. I decided I was to view what I wanted to and pretended to be in my very own tour guide. I guided by myself along.  
THE CRYPT


So this place swaggers so many facets of English history, from King James II to Charles Dickens to the Guildhall Museum,  an over 500 year old building, Abdication House and Restoration House many antique, charity, candy shops and places to eat that you would need on a day's visit to the Most Historic High street in southern England.
ROCHESTER CASTLE

THE ROCHESTER CATHEDRAL





CEILING IN GUILDHALL MUSEUM


SHOES FROM THE 1700'S

OLD BUILDING HOUSING A CONTEMPORARY CLOTHING STORE

ROCHESTER HIGH STREET AND I'M THE ONLY SPECTATOR

NICE CLOCK

MAN CLIMBING IN WINDOW APPARENTLY LOCKED HIS KEYS INSIDE
OVER 500 YEARS OLD LEANING AWAY

ANOTHER LEANING SHOP, EVIDENTLY CONSTRUCTED MANY YEARS AGO

REFRESHMENT TIME

TO BE CONTINUED ......

pt.2 .....BEWRAY OF BAD DOG


IN this first visit I stumbled upon a very sweet find, charity/second hand shops -which I absolutely love prowling around. Then! Baggins Book Bizarre Store !
There I stumbled on what I found to be the oldest book I've ever seen and touched in real life... When I couldn't believe it I decided to return to this special shop on the Rochester high street the next day to confirm what I discovered before my eyes.



208 YEARS OLD  " THE SEASONS" 
PRINTED IN 1803 - DUNDEE SCOTLAND

THE AGE IS VISIBLE



SO friday I paid more attention the features of the streets and this you will see from the photographs I've shared with you... Needless to say how I could not resist where my feet brought me. The 2 hours I spent in Baggings books store looking at the endless maze of books piled high from the ground up and juxtaposed in every space that they could be wedged; I went back for my mystery book. While I was there I only near missed a chance to find a thin little inconspicuous item ( I tell you we lickle but we tallawah) - a book that was dedicated to Jamaican street sign art published in 1986: in this book everyone who had a business despite the profession was making sure  DEER BIZNIZ WUZ ADVOTISED: As I listened to my own songs through BB earphones I was thoroughly entertained by a bit of my history and culture as depicted through black and white photographs taken in the streets of Jamaica. I would say only in Jamaica you can find these:  



































This trip to Rochester will not be my last and so I enjoyed the final 2 hours celebrating with a slice of Carrot cake and a mug of Latté from the Deaf Cat eat in cafe... Bidding the cobbled streets good bye and finally going across the famous Rochester bridge with my new treasures. 

Thanks for reading guys !!    

Sunday, August 14, 2011

A well needed trip out of London brought us to Pilgrimage in Haifa Israel

A recollection shared......



From the very first day- in hindsight I was still hung up on my feelings prior to leaving for Haifa. I was struggling with my emotions- digging hard to find that place of detachment of self from much of the misery I claim London had inflicted on me. I really wanted to be at one with the purpose behind Pilgrimage.
  Once again I found myself amongst a group of people that said "Hello" and greeted you -with an air of delight and sincerity that makes you begin to think "what kind of happy pills are they on?"- the same way, I had been greeted when I first visited the Bahá'í centre in Kingston. This time Allá'uábha was the point of interaction, God is Most Glorious.
  We were directed to "go and get registered, someone will come and get you!" We were taken to registration with "Aunty" Ann Melville. Then... I thought to myself -"life will never be the same again".  



   Visits to the Shrine of the Bab, Abdul Bahá, the Shrine of Bahá'u'lláh in Bhaji, the Prison in Akko, the gardens, the buildings on the Arc especially the Archives building, the constant visits to the Shrines, the constant air and breath of reverence that was inhaled daily, the aroma of praise, of growth and knowledge of the Cause of God, the constant and daily reminder to serve and to affirm our position as believers.... The indulgence of the places where mankind's history was changed and would never compare to any other happenings; proclamations writings, tablets revealed, letters written, battles won, places where last earthly breaths taken, imprisonment, prayers mentioned....    All this encompassed with the love emanating from the mouths of all the believers present was oh so satisfying. Time spent with family and new friends, in a city where religion matters not, and everyone functioned and got on with daily living as one unit. I had a chance to sing my songs in the Holy Land and I never shied away from breathing in the breath of joy, peace and love, through this I felt in the presence. 

How could one ask for anything more, than to be at the "Home of the Bahá'í faith" as often and for as long as possible? I wanted to remain there, I wanted to submit my name for immediate service. I wanted to do something.... how we are charged to raising the call of "Yá Bahá'u'l-Abha" in cities, villages, mountains, deserts and oceans, to promote the divine teachings! 

........this emotion didn't find its way out until we came back to London.
  I enjoyed the ambiance of pilgrimage immensely. Now I'm reading God Passes By, and Ann has given me some more books to improve my future conversations and testimonies about this Great Cause.
  I had a great time and I had to recreate that space in our home so that I will never forget or dare loose my fervor and yearning. We are making extra effort to be amongst other Bahá'ís here in London. hosting Bahá'í feasts, firesides and BBQs at our place. Everyday I am happy to be a Bahá'í !