Normally I like to include a moderate number of images in my post to supplement my story, just as I did a month ago when I wrote about my visit to Highgate Cemetery in London. During that visit, I took tonnes of photos because it was so beautiful there, and I still have a lot of unused content. I know it sounds weird, as you don't normally associate beauty with death, particularly for Asians. Death is still very much a taboo subject, you don't visit cemeteries unless it's the 'visiting ancestors' grave days'. And to turn cemeteries into a tourist attraction is definitely not on the cards, that would probably make my gran turn in her grave!!
I'm fortunate to grow up in both the east and west, and have learnt to see things from both sides. What may be unacceptable in one culture could be perfectly acceptable to another. Death being one of them, and Highgate Cemetery being a perfect example. Normally when I go to visit my granma's grave in Hong Kong, it still gives me a little creepy feeling even though her grave is in the open with lots of space around her. Unlike the majority of the dead in Hong Kong who are crammed in a small slot in a crematorium. Her's by Hong Kong standards is a luxury. Another word that you don't normally associate with death.
In fact my granma's grave is probably more spacious than many of the residents at Highgate, and dare I say better kept as well. However, gran's grave lacks the style seen here. The intricate stonework, the disorganised mish mash, the blend of nature that continues to grow against the headstones for those who have long been dead. All this makes Highgate Cemetery such a fascinating place to visit.
I hope you don't mind the cemetery image overload today. I don't do it often, but unlike the dead, they don't deserve to be buried in my computer forever.
For the best experience view this post on Liketu
This place looks beautiful. I can understand why you took tonnes of photos. The textures of the stones, the ivy, the grasses, the fallen leaves, the bare trees and the evergreens, the rusty chain...
I agree that visiting a cemetery for the sake of doing it may be strange to some. But there are cemeteries, and there are cemeteries, so to speak.
I've only done it once, in Germany. I wasn't going to enter the place but to walk by a nearby path. I was all alone, and at one point I decided it would be better to enter the cemetery. It felt strange. I wandered a bit. There were a couple of lots of graves with about the same date. Realising that they all belonged to the people dead during WWII gave me the chills. I wanted to take more photos, but it felt somewhat as an intrusion. It wasn't death itself, but thinking about the horror of war what shook me. When I got myself together again I strolled a bit in the sunnier side.
I think that "the blend of nature that continues to grow against the headstones for those who have long been dead" is worth all the photos. I agree: they didn't deserve to be buried in your computer.
I don't know, maybe the dead would appreciate people dropping by and paying their respects so they don't feel like they're forgotten, especially those who sacrificed their lifes for everyone. I find some cemeteries in UK are quite peaceful like where my parents are buried, all the headstones are ground level, and with all the flowers, it feels like a park sometimes, very peaceful and calm
Maybe they would appreciate it, yes.
As for the cemeteries that feel like parks,I've had beautiful encounters with birds in one of those. Beauty of the unexpected kind.
Some great photos! I cycle past Highgate cemetery quite a lot, but for some reason have never been in (though I do go in Highgate woods quite a bit with my son)! I guess it seems weird to want to go to a cemetery to me - but yeah this one is super interesting - thanks for sharing!
I highly recommend it tbh, it's very educational for one thing. They got an east and be west side. This is east, I hear west was actually designed as a tourist cemetery!
But honestly, it's on your doorstep, go!!! 😉
No way!
I'll take my son there next time instead of Highgate woods and report back (although then I might have to explain death to him which I've skirted around so far.. hmmm I guess it has to happen some time)
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Cemeteries are an interesting place. I remember hanging out in them, around them, on them as a teenager. Totally disrespectful, would never do that today, totally regret doing it before. But I think what led me to do that back then was my sense of not belonging anywhere, like I was dead to society. You see, you would know that being an ethnic minority growing up in a primarily white neighbourhood has its pros and cons, the cons being that you get a dose of racism / discrimination sometimes and for me, at that age, it was a very dark time. It was quite a long time ago, but I remember it like yesterday. Cemeteries were a way for me to escape from all of that and I think other "miscreants" think the same.
Now in terms of their contrast to Asia, gosh, what a contrast that is. I think culturally speaking, people still have a stronger sense of tradition and connection to superstition over there than here - a strange result given that they aren't very religious - but having buried all my grandparents and seen/participated in the yearly rituals to remember them, I get a greater sense of paying respects to the dead over there than I do here.
Ok, on them is definitely not on!!! Most kids do stupid things, but by comparison, there are much worse than yours, so I think you don't have to kick yourself too much.
There are so many traditions in Asia, it's impossible to keep up with them nowadays especially with all the elderlies gone. When my dad died many years ago we had many aunty advisors, then when my mum died later my siblings and I just relied on what we remembered and winged most of it. I'm sure she's didn't mind!!
Beautifully written and accompanied with interesting images. I remember as a kid visiting the nearby cemetery a lot. The names, and sometimes pictures, of the people intrigued me. I never thought it was strange to walk there out of interest. For me death is as normal as birth. Fearing death, for me, is like fearing life. 😉
Thanks for dropping by. I find reading what's written in the gravestone is very interesting especially those that have died years ago. In my last post about visiting this cemetery, I shared some family I saw, definitely an eye opener
Cemeteries are always so peaceful. I really like when they have the vegetation overgrown like this one.
It's looks kinda sad but sad in a beautiful way .. sounds a bit weird saying that
I will be too scared to try this. Lol
I'm ok at daytime and with someone else, but I'd never dare at night time
Ok that’s cool. I thought I was the only scared one.🙂
I can't say that I lkve cemeteries, but they are fascinating places. I often wonder about the people's stories.
It's surprising how much you can find out about family graves and famous people's graves, and they had quite a lot here. In a way it was a very educational visit
I really have never visited a cementery before, although I drive past them regularly, I see how peaceful they look but they bring me memories of my loved ones I had lost to death and sometimes I get sad. So I try not to dwell on thoughts about cemetery or even move past that area. I know I need to get over the death of these people but for now ....
It's interesting to learn how other cultures perceive death. Some really embrace it and others try to avoid it and there is everything in between. My personal thoughts are that it is good to contemplate ones death, once in a while, in order to put life into perspective. It's much easier to waste ones time and put off important things if one feels that they will live forever.
That's so very true. When we remember life is not eternal we'll appreciate things and people more, we just tend to ignore that simple fact most of the time
Yeah is easier to ignore it and I've found that people generally feel pretty uncomfortable when you talk of death so it is a pretty taboo subject overall.
OMG, finally I'm not alone with my tendency to enjoy cemeteries. I also take pictures of dead things because I think there is still beauty in it lol. So you had me not mind the image overload lol.
Thanks! I was a bit worried about putting too many images in the post, but luckily I think managed a lot of variety
I enjoyed taking a look at them. Not sure how many people actually enjoy cementries but me for sure lol. Have a great weekend.
Loving your graveyard shots @livinguktaiwan I too can spend hours just wandering around soaking up the atmosphere and the beauty.
I wish some techie minded soul would start a community which is there to feature graves and memorials.
Thanks @grindle.
Actually, a cemetery community isn't a bad idea! I seen quite a few posts around.
who doesn't love a graveyard!!!!
sha, one wonderful story.
We are never going to visit the graves. Except going to attend that opportunity. That sounds a little weird.
Ah!! Culture differences. I get what you mean
Those monuments are so ornate and intricate. That is pretty crazy. It is amazing how much some people choose to put into things like that. Also pretty sad that so many of them have fallen into disrepair. I guess that happens as generations pass along though. Those certainly do look very crammed together. Either the people were very short, cremated, or they just didn't care... Nice shots!
Thanks @bozz. It started as a profit making venture originally that's probably why they were crammed together. Some times I do wonder what happened to the descendants, and whether they know their great grandparents X times are buried here
Very interesting! Yes, most people probably have zero clue which is kind of sad.
Looking at those pictures, I wondered... Do people actually make posts about cemeteries?.. wow.
You'd be surprised what people write about on Hive, that's what makes it such a fascinating place
Yeah... Totally agree!
Hive is such an interesting place.
Nice, used to live near there but have not been there for a long time, but it is a cool and interesting place!
I like this graveyard because there is not much pollution. In Balkan, there are tons and tons of plastic candles which burn for about 3 days and then there is a waste and nothing more. Actually, it is not even recyclable plastic - you can't recycle it :( And those graves you have are at least organic stuff, imagine graves nowadays, at least 5% plastic on an average human being. Dying should be organic matter, not tombs, candles and fireworks. Pharaoh tried differently and we see where it gets him - In freaking London's museum so every kid can make a selfie with his dry corps :)
Burning candles for three days sounds pretty dangerous as normally there's bound to be trees and leaves nearby graves. Is that a popular tradition in the Balkans?
yes, but the cemeteries here usually don't have trees, just paths, and graves. The danger is nonrecyclable candles by themselves only.