BEAUTY OF EARTH’S ROTATION

Physicists have proven beyond reasonable doubt that the earth rotates around the sun. In a 24 hour period a point on earth would have done a 360⁰ spin that would take it closest and farthest from the sun. This seemingly innocuous movement has a far reaching effect on the appearance of our sky that is sometime taken for granted. When a point is closest to the sun a maximum amount of sun radiation reaches it this is what is normally called mid-day. At mid-day  the strength of the sun radiation is so strong that almost the entire light spectrum reaches earth. Due to this the mid-day sun appears close to white.

On the other hand when a point is moving far away from the sun the amount of radiation reduces to a point when there is so minimal radiation and night fall comes. Just prior to night fall a phenomenal exhibition of the earth’s beauty is displayed; normally called the sunset. As a point moves further and further away from the sun the amount of energy it receives reduces leading to some light waves not reaching the point. Just before the sun disappears the energy that reaches a point is mostly concentrated in the color red of the light spectrum hence the display of red colors experienced when the sun sets! From wherever the sun is looked at Sun set is a phenomenal view to behold! The images that follow do show how the sun set was seen from different places.

A sunset observed in Serowe lights up the horizon with fiery colors. One would be forgiven for thinking that forest fires have been lit in the heaven! The contrast between the setting sun and the clouds sets up a scene worthy beholding. 

As the sun sets in the west the reflective effects were observed on the southern side of Serowe; again the available light clouds ensured that the spectacle is easily appreciated as seen in the picture below.

On the Atlantic coast of Walvis Bay (in Namibia) the sunsets as a ship awaits to get into the habour is seen in the picture below. The horizon is empty of any clouds but still the colors of the setting sun are still very vivid.

Driving along the M1 in Malawi, between Lilongwe and Kasungu, a sunset was captured that completely changed the colors of the sky.

Even in built up areas of an urban setting a setting sun still presents something worthy look at. In the picture below the sunset was caught at service station having set the sky alight.

A sunset seen in a residential area with the sun- rays projecting out of the clouds sets out yet another stunning view. The projecting light rays do make this view even more worthy taking a moment to appreciate the view presented.

On a highway in Gaborone the sun set is seen towards the residential area of Mogoditsane. As the sun sets behind the little hill in Mogoditshane the flimsy clouds are set alight in red colors.

From whatever view point a setting sun is looked at it does present a spectacular view which need appreciating.

LAND, RIVERS AND LAKES FROM THE SKY

Flying over land presents a different view of the earth we live on. Whereas every day we walk tall on the earth and look in awe at the various majestic mountains in our midst a fly past them shows the top of the hill and their majesty sort of diminishes. The mountains and their majesty can still be appreciated though from such heights. Seen from about 1100 metres above the hills that make up the Kruger National Park one is presented with a beauty of hills and valleys. The picture is able to show that in the greater scheme of life on earth the majestic mountain range is just a small beautiful piece of the jigsaw.

A fly past Lake Malawi further reinforces the beauty of the lake as spelled out in lake of stars-tribute to an emotionless model The coastline of the lake is even further defined. The contrast between the land, lake and the clouds does reinforce the amazing beauty of the lake.

At the same time that a fly past shows the beauty of the land below it also gives a glimpse into to damage/destruction that human are effecting on the land. Take the beauty of the lake and land above however another part of the lake you find that the mouth of a river emptying into a lake is one point where erosion upstream is exhibited. The blue waters are replaced by brown water which are a by-product of the silt that has been eroded upstream.

Major rivers seen from up in the sky do present their own fascinating side. At about 10,000metres above sea level the river below appears as if it is just a junior primary school kid’ s art works. The meanders of the river are so vivid that one would choose to believe that the mighty river that gashes as much as 10,000 cu. m every second! A river captured between Mozambique and South Africa shows this.

In another view a river’s impoundment shows the reservoir that has been created clearly.

Every day walking or driving or cycling on land presents a view of the world. However, looking out of the window (when flying up in the air) does give another dimension of the beauty of our world. If one goes over the various fears associated with flying one would really enjoy the beauty below!

OF THE PAST AND THE FUTURE

To onlookers an old woman holding a baby boy appears like an everyday occurrence. But looking closely the picture does say a lot! What is the old woman thinking about? She is looking so keenly at the young boy who is oblivious to all that is happening.  The grey hair and the wrinkled skin do bear witness to the period that the woman has spent on earth. This is a big contrast to the young boy’s skin that is still tender and soft.

The woman looks proudly at the child and loudly says, “I thank God I have lived to see and interact with 3 generations of my direct family”; of course she is holding her great grandson!

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE AND THE BEAUTIFUL GAME

I love football or soccer as Americans will prefer to call it. Yes, the game where 22 men battle it out to show which group of 11men is the best at not only passing the round leather material but also put it past the opposing goal. The irony of the game is that the followers of the game are far more passionate than the players of the game! Being a footballer supporter is great usually one knows the game better than the player, of course as a supporter you never get the chance to show your skills. The one skill that a supporter has a chance to show is PASSION and lots of PASSION!

Supporters’ passion does bring out a lot of interesting qualities to the fray. Take these Argentine and Malawian supporters for instance in their passion they paint themselves in the colours of their nations, looking at them one would be tempted to see the resemblance!

Passion does also make supporters carry items that one would start asking ‘what was he thinking about?’ Imagine a supporter that has flown in excess of a thousand kilometres to cheer his team, what would be the items you would expect them to have; a passport, a scarf and may be a little flag. But again here supporter will say a drum is a necessary carry on no matter whether they will be charged for excess bagged! Of course when they are at border control one can just imagine the face of the border control officers when the tourist declares his baggage!

    

Passion of supporters tends to bring out the artistic element in supporters. One looks at the various costumes supporters wear and one wonders ‘how long did that take?’

  

   

Then there are some costumes that just leaves you with hands akimbo and mouth agape ....

    

Singing at matches is one principal way in which supporters show their passion. It is a marvel to watch and listen when a group of grown men and women sing in unison. The singing starts before the match and goes one well after the match!

  

   

Then there are those supporters that will want to show their passion by making the match a family affair!

  

Then some supporters are just hard to explain...

  

At the end the beautiful game brings together a whole array of people supporting their teams and filling stadiums in the process enjoying the whole kaleidoscope of activities.

The Lake of Stars – A tribute to an emotionless model

At least a third of my country is water of course the farmers in my country will always say at least a third of the country is underwater, land lost! Lake Malawi is a fresh water lake that has had a lot written about it.  It is my main model as I take a journey of exploring the beauty that nature presents on a silver platter. In general the lake is known for its stunning blue that is displayed in a scene captured at Nkhota- Kota pottery.

It is alleged that Dr David Livingstone (the Scottish missionary) gave the lake the name ‘Lake of Stars’ when he was amazed to see this beautiful inland see (as others have called it). I imagine that for Livingstone to give the lake this name he may have had a picture similar to this scene of the lake at night as seen from Nkhata bay in the north.

This is just speculation because he may have seen the lake with the morning sun coming up at this time the lake glitters with the lake transformed by the red colours. Seen here in Nkhotakota this may have been something that may have captivated the good doctor.

The possibilities of what he saw are so numerous a morning in Mangochi at the southern tip is just as spectacular. With women of the village attending to household chores, kids playing and fathers attending to the fish with the sun shining on the lake. The glitter may have made the name lake of stars stick in the mind of the doctor. In one of many part of this daily lake ritual is captured.

The lake in the southern part is regarded the best as far as scenery goes the lake bed is shallower and the water is clearer. Viewed from the top the lake is simply stunning. Nkhuzi bay is captured in this image as seen from the top of Nkhuzi Hill in Mangochi.