The Planetrise on Filji Baffoo

One of the first stops on my journey with the Gnomes of the Blue Ether was at a little planet named Filji Baffoo. This tiny place (as planets go) is inhabited by a little band of quiet agricultural philosophers. They are small and happy people who gratefully welcome any strangers at their door and take them kindly into their homes.

The Toomi tend to live in large family sized dwellings that rise above the ground, made only from the natural world that surrounds them. These inevitably have large windows that protrude and offer wondrous views of the little world and the spectacular view of the nebulae and planets above.

One can easily see the habitat in this picture - the astronomy learning library located at the top of the tower-like structure. The two large planets (Calmaloo - the blue one, and Fejekstaki - the smaller yellow one) rise above the horizon of this crater in which I was invited to stay at for a few days. The ship that I arrived in can clearly be seen floating to the left of the frame.

Sometimes, I wish my camera could record the sounds of my adventures. Such as the faint wooden clacking and the soft drumbeat and gentle laughter and singing of songs when I stepped outside from the evening meal to capture this moment. The light that shines off of Calmaloo and Fejekstaki is breathtakingly beautiful and soft.

I later found out that life was not indigenous to this tiny little place in the cosmos. Rather, travellers once stayed here to rest on a long journey, and so admired the view that they decided to come back more and more often. Later, some people took up residence here to provide for other travellers, and study the stars in quiet meditation. The place still serves many travellers as a way-station along their routes.

- Traveling Uncle Nat. :)

07/09/99