Gallimaufry#157

Just a gallimaufry of AI-generated photos, real photos and ramblings 📸

Lost in thought

Portal

Dinner—Northern Thai

Khao Kha Moo 

 Khao Kha Moo is a popular Thai dish consisting of braised pork leg served over rice. The name roughly translates to "stewed pig's leg with rice." It’s a flavorful and hearty dish known for its tender, melt-in-your-mouth pork and savory, aromatic broth.

Tom yam

Nam Prik Ong

Nam Prik Ong—a flavorful and aromatic Thai chili dip that is a specialty of northern Thailand. It combines the savory taste of minced pork, tomatoes, and spices to create a hearty and mildly spicy dip. It’s typically served with fresh vegetables and rice, making it a popular dish for communal eating.

Tod Mun Pla

Tod Mun Pla—aromatic fish cakes that are packed with flavor. These fish cakes are often served as a snack or appetizer, but they can also be part of a larger meal.

Fiery sky captured from my balcony

FROM THE TRAVEL ARCHIVES

The World’s Oldest Working Mechanical Clock – Salisbury Cathedral, c.1386

This mesmerizing tangle of iron gears and ropes is more than just a beautiful relic — it’s believed to be the oldest working mechanical clock in the world, dating back to 1386. Housed in Salisbury Cathedral in England, this clock has no face and no hands. Instead, it once rang a bell every hour, marking time with sound rather than sight.

Built entirely of iron and powered by descending weights, it uses a verge and foliot escapement — a brilliant bit of medieval engineering that predates the pendulum. What you see here is raw, rhythmic precision from a time long before electricity or springs.

Forgotten for centuries and rediscovered in 1928, this clock was lovingly restored and still ticks today — a living heartbeat of history, over six centuries strong

During my mom's funeral Mass, our parish priest shared a beautiful reflection, comparing life to a jigsaw puzzle. 

"Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. Unlike the puzzles we might buy in a store, we don’t get to see the full picture in advance, and we can't check the box for guidance. Each piece represents a moment, a decision, or a person we encounter. Sometimes we find pieces that fit perfectly, bringing clarity and satisfaction. At other times, we struggle with pieces that don’t seem to belong, causing frustration and confusion. Throughout it all, there’s a greater design—a picture that only God knows in its entirety. We trust that each piece, however small or seemingly insignificant, has its place and purpose in the grand tapestry of life. And only God, and God alone, determines when the puzzle is complete—when death, the final piece, falls into place."          Rev. Fr. Aloysius Tan

What a beautiful and profound metaphor! Father Aloysius' words encapsulate the mystery and faith intertwined in life's journey. It's such a comforting reminder that, even in times of confusion or struggle, there’s a greater purpose and design beyond what we can see.

Mom lived a long and full life, reaching the ripe old age of 103. In her final years, as dementia took hold and she no longer recognized us, she often questioned why her journey was so long—why God had not taken her sooner. Yet when the time finally came, there were no tears at her funeral—only joy and gratitude that she was at peace at last, reunited with Dad in heaven. Her journey was long, sometimes painfully so, but now she is whole again, free from confusion, and finally home.