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Pilot Issue
Aug. 2013 August 2013
In this issue
4 14
Features
Photo Essay: Camel Trekking in the Gobi Desert Kevin Earl San Xavier Mission in Wa:k Kevin Earl
4 14
Poetry The Staring Contest Kevin Earl
12
Photography & Art The Old Adobe Mission Kevin Earl
“Just For Fun Magazine” is a periodical dedicated to the publication of writing, photography and art just for the fun of it. All contributors participate because they enjoy what they do. If you’re interested in sharing what you love through “Just For Fun,” please contact me. And, if you like what you see, many of our contributors have blogs and websites featuring more of their work. Some even do it for a living. Enjoy!
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Just For Fun m a g a z i n e From the Editor Call for contributors! Do you write poetry, short stories, reviews of movies, restaurants or books, news stories or opinion pieces? Do you enjoy taking pictures when you travel, go to an event or just because? Do you sketch and doodle while sitting in a meeting? “Just For Fun” is the place to share it. Submit your writing, photography and art to be published in the next issue. Don’t worry, you retain the copyright to all of your creations, and when your work is published in “Just For Fun,” it will be linked directly to your personal website, blog or other web resource. By submitting your work you agree to distribution online in this publication and any of its other media channels. The editor reserves the right to deny publication for any submission. This right will only be reserved for extreme cases. We are open to thought-provoking and provocative thoughts, discussions and debates. Send your submissions to: JustForFunMag@gmail.com Sincerely,
Kevin Earl
Creator & Editor August 2013
Camel Trekking in the Gobi Desert
by Kevin Earl
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Dunhuang, Gansu, China, an oasis town on the edge of the Gobi Desert that has been traversed for centuries by travelers on the transcontinental Silk Road. From the moment I began researching our trip and read about camel trekking in the desert, I knew we wanted to spend at least one night on the dunes. We made arrangements via email with Charley of Charley Johng’s cafe and the Dune Guesthouse a couple of weeks before our grand adventure. Our journey departed in the early evening from the home of Mr. Li, our guide and camel owner. There were four of us - three on the backs of camels being led by Mr. Li. The journey, which seems much longer than it is, took us out into the desert across the sands. Along the way we passed by desert graves and climbed the ridges of sand dunes. When we found our campsite, Mr. Li told us to climb a nearby dune since we arrived just before sunset. We fumbled up with the soft sand to the top of a grand mountain of sand only to be sand-blasted. The sun wasn’t setting immediately, so we didn’t miss anything by scrambling down to get out of the wind. As it got later, we each lost our shoes to the soft, warm sand and climbed another less daunting dune for the sunset, which in the end wasn’t that spectacular in the midst of the fantastical desert surrounds.
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The sun set at 9:30, and dinner was waiting for us at camp. It was a simple meal of ramen soup and rolls that in the desert was delicious and filling. After dinner we all found a place to lay on the sand and gaze at the stars. I couldn’t help but ponder the meaning of the Biblical phrase “as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea
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shore.� It was easy to ponder about anything at that moment because of the tranquility of the night. In China, a land of one fifth of the world’s population, it is hard to be in a place of complete silence and peace. In the cities there is always noise like car horns or fireworks,
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and everywhere you go you’re bound to find people. But out there, under the stars, you can find that moment. This only happened twice for me in China — in Dunhuang out on the dunes camping and on the Li River in Guangxi when we turned off our boat motor and floated in majesty for a few moments. Our reverie of the sound of silence ended after a couple of hours by some rain that came from one of the little white clouds floating by. We scurried into our tents and tried to sleep on the lumpy warm sand. It would have been more comfortable where we sat star gazing but not with the rain. When I had trouble trying to fall asleep, I stepped out for a minute and witnessed an even more brilliant site with no wispy clouds and the brightest I remember ever seeing the Milky Way. It was breathtaking!
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Mr. Li woke us up just before sunrise so we could climb a nearby dune to watch. At the crest of the sand, we could see the sun peaking up on the horizon bring life to a new day. We weren’t the only ones awake on the dunes that morning. All around we found evidence of desert creatures by means of tracks from little lizards and mice and hares. We even saw some of the nearly invisible lizards running with their bodies high above the sand. Had they not been running around, we would have missed them entirely since they look like the sand. Soon after, we got back on the camels and rode back to town. It was a wonderful experience that I would highly recommend. Maybe next time I’ll go on a longer camel trek out to the remnants of the ancient wall or to Yadan National Park. August 2013
The Staring Contest by Kevin Earl 16 February 2013
I see you up there. You think I don’t, but I do. You think you’re clever hiding behind a branch, Less brazen than your cohorts, After all, you’re smaller than they are.
Your little yellow eye on one side of the branch, Than on the other, Your head jerking and twisting to see what gets left behind. Yes, I see you. I too am staring, Watching and staring, Staring and waiting.
How long can you wait? How patient are you? Don’t worry I’ll wait around to find out. I can wait. I have nothing else to do. Do you?
What’s wrong? You’re getting fidgety. Can’t wait any longer? Just a few minutes more and you would have a feast. Off you go then, to the tree across the street, I guess I win.
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You are more patient though. At the slightest sign of recognition they flew the coop. But you stayed, Loosely concealed behind your branch, Staring and waiting, Watching and staring.
You must smell how good this is. And I’ll tell you – it is delicious! But that doesn’t mean I’m sharing. If I share with you, word will get out, And I’ll never be able to do this again.
What do you do when you’re not staring at someone from behind a stick? Do you scavenge or pick off your friend’s scraps? No matter. There might be a crumb left if you wait long enough.
August 2013
San Xavier Mission in Wa:k by Kevin Earl
Off of Interstate 19 between Tucson and the border with Mexico is the only stretch of road I’ve been on in the U.S. that uses the metric system. It is also home to a handful of must-see southern Arizona attractions. Just south of Tucson is the little town of Wa:k (aka Bac) - a Native American community. Driving towards this little town you see a large, Spanish baroque church that dominates the desert around it. This building is an 18th-century mission built by Franciscan monks in what was then literally the middle of nowhere. Back when those missionaries first arrived in this region there wasn’t a large city within thousands of miles let alone a small town. Now you see high-rise buildings in the distance. That makes it all the more impressive when you see the spectacular architecture and the magnificent art inside. When I saw it off the freeway I knew I had to stop. So, after a visit to the Titan Missile Museum further down the interstate, I stopped at the mission for a visit. It was amazing!
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Wandering around the sanctuary is a special experience with spectacular art that would normally be relegated to a museum in the States. The walls are covered in thick plaster sculpted into intricate moldings and statues and painted in brilliant colors with portraits of saints and scenes from the bible. In a side garden there is another small chapel and around the corner is a little museum telling the history of the mission and its restoration. After experiencing the mission upclose, I walked up the neighboring hill with the cross on top. It so happens there is a shrine here where the Virgin Mary is reported to have appeared in 1893. A visit isn’t complete without a treat from one of the vendors on the plaza. I treated myself to some delicious fry bread! This is a must-see on and trip to the Tucson region. Be sure to stop by this fantastic architectural beauty when in the area. It will be worth the time. August 2013
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The Old Adobe Mission, a Catholic church in Scottsdale, AZ with a great story but not a long history even though it looks like it could be as old as other missions in the Southwest. Built in 1933 by parishioners, mostly Mexican laborers, who didn’t have another place to gather. They received donated labor, leadership and materials and ended up with a simple but beautiful place to worship.