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americananana
My fascination with caves probably began with Planet Earth's "Caves" episode. That and "Ocean Deep" are my favorites because jesus motherfuck, evolution gets up to some crazy shit when you deprive nature of sunlight. Eyeless salamanders and vampire squid all up in my business. But it's not just the weirdo animals -- there's something about caves I find aesthetically compelling. Can't quite pinpoint why. I just have these images that I find appealing: underground waterfalls, underground lakes that go for miles, creatures that are sleeping, creatures that are waiting, and a network of caverns like a three-dimensional maze where you're playing the most dangerous game. Dean and the shadows hunting each other in the caves beneath Tennessee. Castiel standing on the shore of a great lake, waiting for an answer, or a barge, a Charon figure who will tell him that his father hasn't been seen in hundreds of years.
In a way it's kind of the opposite of my romanticization of the desert. The desert is about the desperation of empty space. The cave is about the panicked buzz of claustrophobia. When you are trapped in either, you are forced to confront yourself. The desert does it by stripping everything down to the bone. The cave does it by drowning you.
This is all just a shmancy way of saying, "Hey, look at my vacation pictures."
I went to Tennessee and Virginia with my parents on a cave tour. Not spelunking, alas -- just the tourist trap places where there are benches aplenty for my easily fatigued mother to sit on.
What is it about fountains, wells, and similar things that make people throw money in them for wishes? Why do people do that?
These next two pictures are my favorites.
Stalactites and stalagmites? WRONG. THE STALAGMITES ARE A LIE. These are just stalactites reflected on water so calm that it functions exactly like a mirror. THAT'S THE SHIT I'M TALKING ABOUT, PEOPLE. Anna, in hiding, touches the water's surface curiously and watches the ripples distort the reflected world.
Underground waterfall called, I shit you not, RUBY FALLS.
The light show was a little much, but whatever. Look, it's Waterfallstiel!
If we were in a fantasy movie, the face in the limestone curtain above the entrance would start demanding a password.
During Prohibition, people would sometimes set up clandestine bars in underground caves. The lower altitude means the body needs more alcohol to get drunk, which is a problem when you're trying to make a graceful exit. Often people would try to climb back up after a wild night of partying, but the closer they get to surface level, the drunker they get. They fall and roll back down the stairs, at which point I assume the bootleggers start drawing on their face with anachronistic Sharpie. Don't drink and spelunk, kids.
THIS IS A STALACPIPE ORGAN. ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A DUDE NAMED Robert Sprinkle omg WHO FIGURED OUT A WAY TO MAKE MUSIC WITH STALACTITES. OMFG. Learn more here. This is probably how Anna amused herself when she got bored making ripples in still pools.
Wasn't just caves we went to. We also went to Rock City, which if you're a Gaiman fan, you might remember as where the climax of American Gods took place. I was charmed by how underwhelming it was, just this tacky roadside attraction where the cute is creepy ("Fairyland Caverns" is full of nightmare fuel, for example), and the weirdly awesome is cute ("Balanced Rock"). You can also see seven states from its peak. Anyway, the picture above is of Fat Man's Squeeze, named as such for obvious reasons, and it is the most interesting picture of Rock City I have.
We also went to the Natural Bridge in Virginia!
Man, it even looks like a gateway to another dimension. The Campbells have hunted here. Cas has searched for God here. The veil between the worlds is thin.
Cowboy on a dinosaur, your argument's invalid.
In a way it's kind of the opposite of my romanticization of the desert. The desert is about the desperation of empty space. The cave is about the panicked buzz of claustrophobia. When you are trapped in either, you are forced to confront yourself. The desert does it by stripping everything down to the bone. The cave does it by drowning you.
This is all just a shmancy way of saying, "Hey, look at my vacation pictures."
I went to Tennessee and Virginia with my parents on a cave tour. Not spelunking, alas -- just the tourist trap places where there are benches aplenty for my easily fatigued mother to sit on.
What is it about fountains, wells, and similar things that make people throw money in them for wishes? Why do people do that?
These next two pictures are my favorites.
Stalactites and stalagmites? WRONG. THE STALAGMITES ARE A LIE. These are just stalactites reflected on water so calm that it functions exactly like a mirror. THAT'S THE SHIT I'M TALKING ABOUT, PEOPLE. Anna, in hiding, touches the water's surface curiously and watches the ripples distort the reflected world.
Underground waterfall called, I shit you not, RUBY FALLS.
The light show was a little much, but whatever. Look, it's Waterfallstiel!
If we were in a fantasy movie, the face in the limestone curtain above the entrance would start demanding a password.
During Prohibition, people would sometimes set up clandestine bars in underground caves. The lower altitude means the body needs more alcohol to get drunk, which is a problem when you're trying to make a graceful exit. Often people would try to climb back up after a wild night of partying, but the closer they get to surface level, the drunker they get. They fall and roll back down the stairs, at which point I assume the bootleggers start drawing on their face with anachronistic Sharpie. Don't drink and spelunk, kids.
THIS IS A STALACPIPE ORGAN. ONCE UPON A TIME THERE WAS A DUDE NAMED Robert Sprinkle omg WHO FIGURED OUT A WAY TO MAKE MUSIC WITH STALACTITES. OMFG. Learn more here. This is probably how Anna amused herself when she got bored making ripples in still pools.
Wasn't just caves we went to. We also went to Rock City, which if you're a Gaiman fan, you might remember as where the climax of American Gods took place. I was charmed by how underwhelming it was, just this tacky roadside attraction where the cute is creepy ("Fairyland Caverns" is full of nightmare fuel, for example), and the weirdly awesome is cute ("Balanced Rock"). You can also see seven states from its peak. Anyway, the picture above is of Fat Man's Squeeze, named as such for obvious reasons, and it is the most interesting picture of Rock City I have.
We also went to the Natural Bridge in Virginia!
Man, it even looks like a gateway to another dimension. The Campbells have hunted here. Cas has searched for God here. The veil between the worlds is thin.
Cowboy on a dinosaur, your argument's invalid.
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W.Herzog recently did a documentry called Cave of Forgotten Dreams which looks all exciting and relevent to your interests. He's a great film maker so I reckon it would be good aaaannnnddd FRENCH ACCENTS ♥
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That film looks exactly up my alley. I will have to keep a look out for it! I've seen his film about Antarctica, which I enjoyed immensely, and here he is doing caaaaves? omg. Next he should do one about the desert and the deep sea. XD
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On a completely different note: COWBOY RIDING A DINOSAUR, WHAT. WHY. HOW. WHAT.
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I THINK THAT DINOSAUR IS THE ONLY STEED FAST ENOUGH TO WRANGLE A HERD OF PARASAUROLOPHUS ON.
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I want to go to Dinosaur Kingdom. hee
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ONLY STALACTITES REFLECTING OFF THE WATER.
*drools*
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http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JSW63MK6
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WHAT IS THAT THING AND WHAT IS IT DOING TO THAT CAT?
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In all seriousness, I suspect someone just placed the lobster on top of the cat though. I doubt it would be able to mount the cat on its own, nor would the cat let it. XD
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You know, sometimes I can understand why fabulously wealthy mythological dragons so often choose to live in caves.
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That is awesome! A+
and hahaha, yeah, I wrote the Wordstiel. is it any wonder that I jumped on the thingstiel bandwagon like it was my job? XD I'm glad you like it, bb!
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The Ruby Falls! It's so preeettyyy
THIS IS A STALACPIPE ORGAN
NO. FUCKING. WAY. Seriously? That's the coolest fucking thing I've ever heard!! WOW. *is floored*
Cas has hunted for God in every single one and Anna making music when she got bored of ripples! Supernatural and angels are everywhere.
I keep scrolling up and being all *___________________* IT'S SO PURTYYY.
Speaking of...I posted the art at nikita_tv in the end, it's here (http://august-monsoon.livejournal.com/4094.html), I'd love you to check it out, if you have the time! :)ALSO, what's up with the cowboy?! Where on earth did you find it? Ahhh-it's after the gateway to another dimension, - gotcha ;) (you've clearly travelled extensively) <3
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That cowboy was not that far from the Natural Bridge. We didn't actually go to the dinosaur place, much as I would have loved to. Alas.
Ooh! *clicks over to link*
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NGL, Z, WHEN I GAVE PROHIBITION AU FOR MY MISHALECKI PROMPT, THIS CAME TO MIND. XD
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Mishalecki would be soooo gooood at prohibition AU. And by that I mean good-looking in Prohibition era stuff. doing those prohibited things. OH MISHALECKIPALOOZA SO EXCITE
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