The moon paints a streak of silver on the black sea. Just at the edge of it, where the sky meets the water, a series of lights mark out the shape of another ship. The wind is truly cold as it whips at my clothes and the pages of my notepad. The deck I’m sitting at is brightly lit but it is the blackness out there, perforated only by a big glowing disc, that catches my attention. The low humming drone of the ship’s engine and the rhythmic splashing of the waves fills my ears only to be pierced now … Read the rest
The air feels fresh as I walk out on deck and the sun warms my face and glitters off the calm ocean surface. In the relatively low temperature and chilly wind it quickly gets cold out here but I stay to ward off the drowsiness. The lack of sleep last night has taken its toll and now I need to clear my head to not fall asleep again. I can see the trail of swirling water snaking out behind us and another ship following close behind as we pass through the archipelago. The scenery is quite beautiful with the blue … Read the rest
Beautiful but deadly is a phrase that is all too common when describing snow-clad mountains but it feels appropriate here. On this lightly sloping plain the wind has pushed the snow into drifts and ridges and the sun shines out of a cloudy sky on the frozen landscape. Fine snow flows like smoke over the hard surface and glitters in the sun rays. The scene has that kind of barren beauty of an arctic landscape and it has the same kind of deadliness. For although civilization is nearby, the cold is substantial. The wind tears at any exposed skin with … Read the rest
Three empty seats across from me, two to the right. The seats are covered in a dreary blue cloth and the walls of my compartment are clinically grey. Outside the open compartment doors is an empty corridor and to my right, my white and orange jacket in front of the black window. It dangles back and forth with the trains motion, gadunk, gadunk, gadunk. This train reminds me of the Trans Siberian railway but not in a good way, rather in all the ways it is lacking. The compartments in those old Russian trains were more lively and more colorful. … Read the rest
The air is misty and the scene is bleak. A grayish black road with dirty snow piles along the side, and a layer of snow slush on the road that makes a sludgy noise with every step. There are birds chirping in the distance that make me feel weird. There is definitely something wrong when you exit the party just in time to hear bird song. At least the sun has the decency to not rise for another few hours. I feel relatively safe and, surprisingly, relatively sober.… Read the rest
A myriad of streetlights penetrate the night and reflect on the soft blanket of fresh snow and it feels as bright as if it were day. The cold air is crisp against my face as I walk. Although the snow has already been trampled it has yet to be soiled by dirty boots. It is clean, innocent in a way, and the party goers passing by in the other direction don’t annoy me like they normally would. It is, in as sense, a perfect night.… Read the rest
I have never seen a major city airport terminal so deserted. The place is huge and the shops are many, made to swallow thousands upon thousands of shopping hungry customers but, there is no one there. The sales clerks and airport staff easily outnumber the travelers. Large floor to ceiling windows are no match for the cold Beijing night and it feels chilly inside. In this vast, cold empty hall I feel very, very alone.… Read the rest
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