Sky Watch - Ashen Skies
Rabaul is doing it tough at the moment. The ash is constant and the residents need all the support they can get - but the hospital at Nonga is shut, some schools have closed, and government services are dwindling. East New Britain can not function without Rabaul and I take my hat off to those people who manage to live in these conditions to keep things going. It is an amazing place to visit and on the weekend we took friends here for the day and had a magnificent dinner at the Rabaul Hotel that night. You need medals guys!!!!
We are watching from the other side of the bay and holding our breath and hoping that the damn things stops some time soon to give them a break and to spare us before the winds change!!!
But in the midst of this sobering scene there was a lighter moment. I don't think the guy who wrote this sign knew how funny it looks here in the middle of the devastation, but we all fell about laughing when we read it!!!!
50 comments:
Oh my gosh, Jules! That is dreadful to breathe and open your eyes in! These pictures are amazing, and I suppose a good dose of gallows humor is all that can be done. I hope you are spared the worst of it.
That top is sure an amazing picture.
Wow, Jules - that truly is the most unusual Skywatch I've seen today!
I hope ya'll will be alright!
Cheers, Klaus
Wow, Jules - that truly is the most unusual Skywatch I've seen today!
I hope ya'll will be alright!
Cheers, Klaus
Pretty dramatic photos. I can't imagine witnessing something like this. Those are some powerful hot springs! ;)
Yap, its unusual. Hope every one is okay.
A wonderful post and the pictures are really alarming to a guy like me. I would be looking for the first boat or plane out of there.
My Sky Watch Friday blog is at my Canon Pixels blog. If you have time I would appreciate your having a look at the sky peeking through the oak tree leaves.
OH WOW! What an ordeal!
I hadn't heard it was erupting again. Obviously we got a lot of coverage the last time it went. Really hope its just blowing off a little steam. Good luck!
Those surely are some amazing photos, but I hope it will stop for the sake of everybody!
Take care...
Amazing place to live. Hope the wins keep it from your direction but how do those in Rabaul do it? Poor lungs...
Terrific pictures. Thank you.
Cash only for those "hotsprings"
It doesn't exactly look like a spa.
Wow! That is devastating. Can't believe how thick the ash in the sky is. But have to love your attitude and humor.
That is an incredible scary sight of which I cannot comprehend being there amongst it. Stay safe.
..and here I sit, bemoaning my bout with hay fever, and I have pills to help...I can't even imagine how those people in that ash can survive...
OH MY!! These are sure unique photos... I am really impressed with seeing these sort of pictures... they are very nice and different from what I usually see!!
Great post!!
Mountain Retreat
You seem to cope very well during these times, this does win for the coolest looking skywatch. very unusual. It's clear that you see the beauty of this even though it is rough to deal with. Have you seen the film "The Grapes of Wrath " with Henry Fonda? The dust bowl scenes --
Great photos. I wish I could wish this place some day.
Geez...the most amazing images yet, considering the subject matter. The first two shots are unbelievable. Thank you for sharing. Mine is up too. Yours is far better, though.
Oh my - this is different. I can't imagine what it must be like. Good luck & take care
Oh my gosh that is kind of scary looking but the photos are amazing and real life like. It much be such an awesome place to visit. Happy SWF.
Not so good for asthmatic lungs like mine. For clear skies and pure air come to my Red Centre.
wow, I just can't imagine living in those conditions, a very interesting photo for SKywatch Friday,
Gill in Canada
Under the circumstances, that sign is hilarious. "Louis" hopes your lungs don't have to inhale much of this!
Fascinating photos! It looks both ominous and dangerous.
omg! amazing photos! be safe!
Hello Jules !
Always funny shots...
See You soon.
wow! you deserve an award for capturing this one!
Amazing images and a very good and informative post.
Wow, the ground is surely full of ashes. It looked very unhealthy to breathe so much dust. But the photos are amazing. Please take care of your health and have a nice weekend.
Amazing photos!!
Breathing conditions must be awful!
Good luck!
certainly a different view for SWF. Hope it doesn't last long.
What sobering shots, I am glad there was a little bit of humor (okay, it was really funny!) to balance it out a little. I can't fathom how they cope. The first photo is really eerie. You captured the mood perfectly.
Wow - such striking photos. I didn't know that was going on. You have really embraced 'your view of the sky' in this post. I think they are all beautifully dramatic & love the humor mixed in too.
Speaking as someone who also lives not far from a currently active volcano, I sympathize entirely. Here on Hawaii's Big Island we have to contend periodically with what we call 'vog' (volcano smog), composed of smoke, and gasses emitted by Kilauea Volcano, mixed with water vapor and particulate matter. When it's voggy, we all stay indoors or risk breathing problems -- and more. I could go on and on -- but I won't. Look after yourselves there.
Jules: The odd thing is that even in all that devastaion you found a beautiful photo for SWF, keep safe.
This is so interesting. thanks for bringing us these photos of such an unusual place.
Jules, we really can't imagine how it is to live under such conditions. Your pictures are an eye opener. It is dreadful for the people there. I hope it quietens down and gives the inhabitants a respite.
Thank you for stopping by and take care. T.
Fantastic Sky Watch that offers me the opportunity to discover such scene! I'm with Klauss, these pictures are those I'll remind of yesterday SkyWatch.
Incredible first picture! It look like a war scene!
Well done Jules.
I won 't pay to visit hotspring at this time of year!
Hope it's not as dangerous as it looks.
This is sad indeed - but those who live there have little choice but to make the best of things. My brother was there when St. Helen erupted :( not much to smile about there either.
Jules, what a sight!
What I didn't quite understand is where this is in relation to where YOU live. Any chances of you finding yourself under ash as well?
The only concerns are buildings collapsing under the weight of the ash, so people have to clear it off their rooves. The only concern health wise the experts say are people with asthma-type conditions.
Nathalie - we are 17 kms as the crow flies behind the volcano as it is in the 2nd & 3rd top pictures. When the wind blows the other way we will get ash but it is usually a fine coating not ankle deep as it is in Rabaul town.
Bonjour Jules...
C'est cauchemardesque chez Toi...
Les photos sont jolies, mais la situation doit être dure à gérer...
Courage à Toi.
There is so much devastation in the world at the moment that Rabaul has had no mention in our news. The people there are sostoic and can certainly use a longer break between eruptions. I pray for you all that it goes back to sleep.
Please keep me posted if you can. My husband did some reseach there before the last big one so we have a personal interest in the people.
wow! and to think that you still manage to post and smile!! good on you!
my best wishes to you, yours and all rabaulians!
Yikes, Jules!
Let's hope the wind keeps it away from you.
I love the sign. Too funny.
Oh goodness, that looks awful! How can anyone live and work with that ash? Do please take care, Jules!
My goodness, Rabaul is in my prayers. What a stunning set of pictures. And frightening. God bless.
Amazing shot for sky watch!
One would imagine that it isn’t very good for you lungs...
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