“It’s hard to tell the difference between sea and sky, between voyager and sea. Between reality and the workings of the heart.” –Haruki Murakami
I wrote the other day about the somewhat overwhelming nature of the sea here in Hawaii. Over the days since, I have come to realize that the sky is every bit as overwhelming here.
And like the sea, the sky is astonishing here no matter what time of day. This city gleams with brilliant light, but as you stand on the street in front of our hotel at night, you see the brilliant light on one side…and the ink-black dome of the sky on the other. Occasionally in the dark will be broken by the flashing lights of an airplane or helicopter. The moon’s path does not bring it into view from our balcony–a shame that, as there is a full moon very soon–and I haven’t been able to make out many stars.
But the other morning I was up at 5am–sleep comes easier, but my body still thought it was mid-morning–and I went out on the balcony to read and to write and to think and listen to the waves and the birds in the banyan tree and the occasional cars. I looked eastward–southeast, actually–and spotted a couple of stars, and then a few more. And then I knew.
The Hunter.
Orion the Hunter was setting, and the bright star off to the left was Sirius, brightest star in our sky, at home in its own constellation, Canus Major.
Orion has always been my favorite constellation, for many reasons. It’s a big part of why I love the winter sky more than the summer one, and to see it for the first time this winter, while here on this journey, was an unexpected gift.
You’re looking good, Orion! Soon I’ll see you in your normal setting soon…but not too soon. I’m not quite done here.
As for the sky at other times, well…oh, this place.
For a bigger resolution of that last one, go here. I’m slowly getting a lot of my photos from here organized on Flickr, but bear with me as content management isn’t exactly high on my priority list on this vacation!
More later!
