Sights, Sounds, and Smells

There is something about being in a new place that really makes you notice the little things. Everything is new and different and stands out in stark contrast to the familiar sounds and sights and smells that have become the background noise in our day-to-day lives - like the sound of the grandfather clock in your home you no longer even hear, or the smell of the cedars and humidity in Austin or the dry sage in Utah, or the sunrises in Arizona.

When first exposed to these sense experiences we are often amazed by them (or annoyed in the case of some dear friends and their grandfather clock), but over time the exciting becomes the mundane and the mundane moves into the background of our lives only to be noted on special occasions, or on return trips, or when I visit and make you turn on the chime of your clock.

As you might expect, we are experiencing a wealth of new sights, and sounds, and smells here. Some of them pleasant like the views of the city at night from our apartment, or the clouds on the mountains. And some of them not so pleasant like the warm odor that emanates from the open sewers we pass from time to time. Some of them are just noteworthy such as the lack of horns despite the congested traffic. But all of them are interesting and new and stand out to me as if this place is welcoming us and inviting us to get to know it better.

One of my favorite sounds is one we hear many times daily. A sound that is faint and will quickly fade into the background, but one that I stop and listen to whenever possible now because it is so different and beautiful. It is the sound of the Islamic call to prayer (or Adhan) that is sung from a loud speaker on a minaret at the Mosque 5 times a day. The faint echo of the call can be heard almost everywhere on the island. Here is a sample video with English subtitles in case you're interested.