Show Us Where You Live

I thought it might be interesting to show some pictures of our surroundings, neighbourhood, town, and stuff like that. Just to get an idea, and to see some corners and places of our countries that you don't normally see.

Here we go. Quick and painless.

[image=http://home.hetnet.nl/~kub3/PLAATJESMAP/stpkerkklein.jpg]

The "White Church", an old Gothic sleeping monster across the street. I like its sinister aura and mystique on a dark, rainy day. As a kid, I used to play in the garden and get shouted at by the insane pastor. He later hung himself, so there you go.

[image=http://home.hetnet.nl/~kub3/PLAATJESMAP/stpgemklein.jpg]

Many centuries ago, this used to be a sanatorium, but in later years it went to become a place for the really mad: it's the town hall. I've seen many a relative wave from the balcony after some uneventful wedding party; my mother caused a bit of a scandal when she wore a low-cut wedding dress in the 60s. Witch!

Next slide, Barney!

[image=http://home.hetnet.nl/~kub3/PLAATJESMAP/stpkerkplein2lein.jpg]

Here -- and oh my goodness, do you see how small this village really is? Can you understand why things like Star Wars never reached us? I sometimes wonder how I've become so smart, tuned in and worldly-wise. And arrogant. But anyway, we're hoping to build a little cinema once so Casablanca can premiere here in this other-worldly enclave.

[image=http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:jvxQOOSHi1MC:www.ukrainetranslations.com/images/20.jpg]

And -- hola! Next!

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You didn't know this, but my uncle used to be a baker. Right there. Whenever there was a birthday, he brought these huge cakes with him. The bakery is right next to the church. And you can't park there. If you do, you're bound to get told off by the old cripple that lives there -- it's fun, I can tell you. He always shouts the same drunken undecipherable (I can spell) sounds, and I always imitate him to everybody's great amusement.

[image=http://home.hetnet.nl/~kub3/PLAATJESMAP/dekloeter1.jpg]

A statue of a typical villager: a harsh, hard-working God-fearing farmer. As you can see, our farmers have really cool lightsabres that they reap the corn with.

[image=http://home.hetnet.nl/~kub3/PLAATJESMAP/nobelhof.jpg]

That's where the elderly live. In fact, they sort of completely occupy the whole freaking village, but this is where they go to when they need to be nursed. Tons of interesting characters there, that I used to observe and study when I was a kid.

[image=http://home.hetnet.nl/~kub3/PLAATJESMAP/twuijvermolen.JPG]

A windmill. This is what I see when I'm in the attic at my parents' house. Sometimes its sails move, or appear to move, and then I'm getting really excited.

[image=http://home.hetnet.nl/~kub3/PLAATJESMAP/stpbenedenweg1klein.jpg]

The main street. Don't laugh! We can't help it. For centuries, it has been the same. I must have walked down that road millions of times, for various reasons.

[image=http://home.hetnet.nl/~kub3/PLAATJESMAP/stpbenedenweg2klein.jpg]

Guess who's living there? Yeah! Not me. But it's a couple of houses from my parents' house.

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This is one of those sights I can dream: a market gardener at work. Notice the funky 70s look this fellow -- "Kwieke Jan" -- has. That's the ongoing influence of Star Wars.

[image=http://home.hetnet.nl/~kub3/PLAATJESMAP/geestmerambachtklein.jpg]

A house on a hill, if you look closely. Last night he came again, the little helper of its resident, asking if we had any brains to spare. Naturally, I had quite a bit to give him. He was happy.

[image=http://home.hetnet.nl/~kub3/PLAATJESMAP/ganzenoudorpklein.jpg]

They came out of nowhere, just before dawn.

So this is the town where I was born. Hope you liked the tour, if not, too bad, I tried my best. And now I'm going to take a walk to celebrate the lovely gift that life is.

See ya!

wow Debo, thanks for the tour! it was great...

i'll try to put together a little tour of my home town a little later when i have more time.

Your town is so pretty Debo!

I wished I lived in a place as beautiful as that.

Well...unfortunately my scanner is broken so I won't be able to get pictures onto the net.

~*Senoj*~

my home town is ellensburg, wa. it's not where i was born (i was born in reno, nv) but i've lived here since i was 12.

[image=http://www.soultones.com/postcards/ellensbrg/third_st_30a.jpg]

this is what downtown ellensburg looked like a long time ago.

[image=http://www.wrensnest.com/images/ellensb.jpg]

here is the pretty little valley we're located in.

[image=http://www.eburg.com/images/mapoff.jpg] [image=http://www.cwu.edu/~esl/davidson.jpg] [image=http://www.eburg.com/images/castlesm.jpg]

the two pictures on the left are of the "davidson" building, one of the older buildings in town. i'm not sure what it's original purpose was but now it houses a salon and an insurance company. the building on the right known simply as "the castle" was once intended to be the governor's mansion when ellensburg was trying to become the capitol of washington, now it's an apartment building.

[image=http://www.eburg.com/images/image1off.jpg]

this is "the bull", a strange local landmark found in the middle of downtown. a certain part of the bull's anatomy stirred up quite a bit of controversy when the bull first arrived.

[image=http://www.hallett.com/site%20pictures/Liberty%201998-5.JPG]

this is our local movie theater where i waited in line for midnight showings of TPM and AOTC.

[image=http://www.ellensburg.ws/WebArt/Park1.jpg]

here is a local park where people go swimming and what not.

[image=http://www.ellensburg.ws/WebArt/Rodeo.jpg] [image=http://www.ellensburg-chamber.com/images/rodeo1.jpg]

the "rodeo" is the big annual event around here, and a time when us locals like to get out of town.

[image=http://www.ellensburg-wa.com/Visual/CWU/library.jpg]

this the university library where i work and where i am sitting right now.

[image=http://www.speaking-of-witch.com/star_wars/our_house.jpg]

and this is my house.

and i guess that's about it.

LOL, the bull statue. Someone should do a study of all the insane things people have come up with: the Big Prawn, the Big Cow, a bull statue.

Interesting architecture, by the way. Unlike anything we have here.

I'll post some pictures after I do my Photojournal for SA.

SA?

Oh, SomethingAwful. I have to take pictures of my day today.

Ah, OK.

[image=http://photos.nenya.net/misc/gcoast.jpg]

This is the view I woke up to on Sunday morning. That's the Gold Coast (Main Beach) about an hour's drive south. I actually live in Brisbane:

[image=http://photos.nenya.net/misc/102-0204_IMG.jpg]

Brisbane is a city of a few million people and I work about a block from Chinatown. There are a lot of Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, Malay and Vietnamese living in Brisbane, so you can be guaranteed of a fantastic Asian restaurant nearly anywhere in the city.

[image=http://photos.nenya.net/misc/101-0200_IMG.jpg]

It's not as picturesque as a small country town, but there's lots more to see and do. The people here are quite friendly as well, as most Australians are, so it's a nice place to live.

Sil, were you in that Greenish thin building on Narrow Neck?

it actually looks quite nice for a big city

It looks very clean. And modern and shiny. As if they took Boston and put it in a washing machine.

It better be prepared for me, though. Have I ever told anyone I'm thinking of either moving to Australia or New-Zealand once?

it's news to me!

[image=http://users.bigpond.net.au/jediguy/Homephotos/pic5.jpg]
A view from my apartment.

[image=http://users.bigpond.net.au/jediguy/Homephotos/pic8.jpg]
The CityCat arriving in the morning.

[image=http://users.bigpond.net.au/jediguy/Homephotos/pic12.jpg]
The Brisbane skyline, again in the morning.

[image=http://users.bigpond.net.au/jediguy/Homephotos/pic19.jpg]
The way back from Uni.

[image=http://users.bigpond.net.au/jediguy/Homephotos/pic21.jpg]
Queen Street Mall - the City centre.

Looks beautiful. It has an architecture unlike anything here.

you have a nice view from your apartment. it really does seem like a nice city.

jediguy: Sil, were you in that Greenish thin building on Narrow Neck?

Yep - the Waterford. 20th floor. Absolute magic!

Debo: Have I ever told anyone I'm thinking of either moving to Australia or New-Zealand once?

I won't argue, but I think New Zealand is absolutely gorgeous. You should visit us both!

Well, Australia's coming up October 25th. If I like it, I'll perhaps come back so no stalking!

It's a shame you're not coming a few weeks earlier. We've got our music festival, Livid, in the first or second week of October.

Throw a party for me then.

Will do.

I can see my work building in that photo of jediguy's.

You will?

And where's that building, in case I'm going to do some stalking myself?

Ha! I'm not making it that easy for you.

I'll just follow you then when you're done peeping into my window.