The elephant is revered, celebrated, and worshipped by many population groups around the world. It is always shown as happy, inviting, and rich. As divinity, it confers good luck, so I am placing it up front for good vibes.
No one takes its benevolence for granted. As you can see, there is a pile of offerings at its feet -- and they are not stale! Life is short, and the highest sacrifice one can make is the gift of TIME. These offerings are created daily. This luxurious ornament adorns the entry of a fancy business in Bali, but it dabs as a temple, so everyone can perform his sacrificial rites here -- which is usually rice wrapped in palm leaves. Years ago, stray Balinese dogs would raid temples and shrines for food, but the growing tourism brought on a salutary craze for dog-pampering.
BTW: The yellow color is the color of positive vibes in some cultures.
This rock...rocks. It's on the 'Trail of Time' on a pathway leading to a view spot over the Arizona Grand Canyon, and it contains the entire canyon below in "zipped" format -- including the Colorado river as a 'hidden' file.
Gratitude
"Erected by the Congress of the United States of America to Major John Wesley Powell, first explorer of the Grand Canyon, who descended the river with his party in row boats, traversing the Gorge beneath this point, August 17, 1869, and again in September 1872."
The names of the expedition members are inscribed on the sides of the portrait, with the respective dates of the explorations. They will remain here as long as Time -- proof and reminder of the courage of the American pioneers.
The explorers confronted eleven canyons. The Arizona Grand Canyon, above, is by far the largest and the most spectacular of all. Visitors can now walk down on stairs and stand on the place where the Powell's team had camped. Looking up from there is an unforgettable feeling of awe and fright - and consider the explorers were camping at night. Only flying above can give one an idea of how huge the canyon is: 217 miles long, 18 miles wide, and one mile deep - breathtaking.
"We have an unknown distance yet to run, an unknown river yet to explore. What falls there are, we know not; what rocks beset the channels, we know not; what walls rise over the river, we know not."
From the diary of John W. Powell, courtesy of the American Geological Survey, "John Wesley Powell's Pioneer River Voyage"
This portrait of John Wayne is on the wall of a bar in the town of Globe - locals are proud of their history, a rough history as it may be. Arizona is the place where heroes and villains shot each other, and helped grow the nation. The sheriff is always upright, brave, and indomitable - in the movies at least...