Reflection

Finding Rivendell

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Finding Rivendell. September 2018. Plivitce, Croatia.

Finding Rivendell. September 2018. Plivitce, Croatia.

Plivitce Lakes National Park, Croatia.

If you enjoy The Lord of the Rings as much as I do, then you may see a bit of JRR Tolkien’s Imladris aka “Rivendell,” the refuge for the Elves, in Plivitce.

Plivitce Lakes National Park is a group of 16 lakes situated on different elevations; twelve upper lakes and four lower ones. Upper lakes cascade down into the lower lakes, creating countless spectacular waterfalls. The water that feeds Plivitce is runoff from nearby mountains and moves over the limestone formations surrounding the lakes. As it flows, the water dissolves the rock and becomes saturated with calcium carbonate which creates a travertine coating on the bottom and sides of the lake. Essentially, the water calcifies everything it touches and that is why the lakes are so clear — no mud or algae ever accumulates. This also means that the water has stunning and distinctive shades that range from crystal clear, to aqua, blue, green, and grey. Colors change between lakes and also alter depending on the sunlight and the minerals in the water.

Plivitce is a stunning gem of a UNESCO site and perhaps the only one that would be adequate for Lord Elrond.

 
Finding Rivendell. September 2018. Plivitce, Croatia.

Finding Rivendell. September 2018. Plivitce, Croatia.

She's Out of This World

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She’s Out of This World. Tokyo, Japan. January 2019.

She’s Out of This World. Tokyo, Japan. January 2019.

teamLab Planets immersive digital art museum. Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan. January 2019.

When I first heard of teamLab’s digital art museum, I was skeptical. I’ve seen a lot of these “museums” pop up (ehem Museum of Ice Cream) that are created just for that “Instagram moment” and completely without any artistic meaning or value. I’m happy to report back, I was proven wrong with this museum.

teamLab Planets is a beautiful experience. There are five vignettes (some are better than others), however overall it is a very immersive and impressive experience. This was my favorite room, aptly named “The Infinite Crystal Universe”. The lights and music were so well coordinated and there was not an angle or reflection that did not look other worldly.

Here is my friend Hiroko walking through one of the corridors of the exhibit. To me, she looks like she’s amongst the stars and in a galaxy far far away.

If you find yourself in Tokyo, I highly recommend stopping by teamLab Planets and their other museum teamLab Borderless. You’ll get more than just an Instagram.