One of the highlights of our trips to Sri Lanka were the National Parks, and in particular, Yala. On our first viist, Gill missed out on this due to a sick child. So, was really wanting to spot a leopard on our return. We had a top time trundling around the park and, in the end, our guide got the call from his china's that a leopard had been spotted asleep in a tree. We tootled round, joined the queue and got our turn at looking at the distant form of a leopard draped over a branch of a tree. Very cool, but not earth shattering. On we went and saw all manner of bird and animal life. We were whizzing (relatively, anyway) from one part of the park to another, when as we rounded a bend, a leopard was lounging in the road with not another sole around him/her. This was a proper sighting and definitely the highlight of the whole trip. Roll on a few years and I was watching the Youtubes on how to edit one's wildlife photies, so I thought I would revisit the leopard.... One, to make it stand out from the background a little better so it has a bit more punch and then a hi-tone edit in black and white. The black and white one, has slowly grown on me. I definitely wasn't sure about it at first...
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One of our local tourist traps; and I dare say numbers are on the rise since it was the setting for a detective novel. When visiting, the first thing to check is the tides. You could be stranded on the island for 6 hours waiting for the tides to turn and causeway to be passable again. However bleak the prospect of being stuck on Holy Island might be, its better than risking the causeway. Every year, probably about once a month, some poor idiot doesn't heed the signs and drives off the island at the wrong time and their car is abandoned and left to the mercy of the sea as the tide engulfs the narrow strip of road.
Have gone for a bit of a black and white vibe in these. The prior is the oldest part of the island and was founded by St Aiden who was a monk at Iona on the West coast of Scotland. St. Cuthbert, Northumberland's patron saint was abbot here .
The graveyard is well worth a mooch. There are graves of priates, masons and plauge victims (amongst others). In the picture you can see the castle in background... Whch seems to be the motif running though all the pictures. The monastry was, of course, disolved by Henry VIII and its stones were taken to make the original castle builiding around the same time (mid 16th century). During the Jacobite Rising of 1715, Lancelot Errington, one of a number of locals who supported the Jacobite cause, visited the castle. Some sources say that he asked the Master Gunner, who also served as the unit's barber, for a shave. Once Errington was inside, it became clear that most of the garrison were away; later that day he returned with his nephew Mark Errington, claiming that he had lost the key to his watch. They were allowed in, overpowered the three soldiers present, and claimed the castle as a landing site for the Jacobite group led by Thomas Forster, Member of Parliament for the county of Northumberland. Reinforcements did not arrive to support the Erringtons, so when a detachment of 100 men arrived from Berwick to retake the castle they were only able to hold out for one day. Fleeing, they were captured at the tollbooth at Berwick and imprisoned, but were later able to tunnel out of their gaol and escape (Which sounds about typical of Berwick!). The castle was rebuilt in the Arts and Crafts style by Sir Edwin Lutyens. To be honest though, the inside of both the castle and priory are a bit dull and my advice would be save your money. A wander round the outside of the castle is lovely and you can see all that is of interest from the free graveyard of the monastry without paying themassive entrance fee.
Edinburgh is one of my favourite cities. Although the Georgian New town is lovely it is really the Old town that I like (They are both UNESCO world heritage sites). The only problem is, in the summer, the tourists and, all year-round, the weather. It is nice sometimes in Edinburgh (I know this must be true because I've seen pictures) but it always seems to be grey and overcast when we are there: No matter what time of year!
Victoria Street which leads (kind of) from the High Street down to the Grass Market is one of the most picturesque parts of the city. This HDR shot of it gives an idea of the colour and interest that all of the independent shops give. It's a real shame that these only now seem to cater to the richer tourist rather than have quirky stuff the average local may want to buy (which it used to, at least that's how I remember it).
The old town seems to be full of dark little alley ways and closes and appears to be a real hotchpotch of chimneys, spires and roofs (had to check the plural and apparently rooves, which I prefer, is so unusual to not be considered standard!) on the skyline. J.K. Rowling lived in Edinburgh and, I think, one can clearly see some of the descriptions of places like Diagon Alley and some of the homes of dark witches and wizards in her books in Edinburgh's Old Town.
As pretty much everyone knows, Edinburgh used to be known as Auld Reekie, because of the smoke and soot from all the chimneys. This is the look I've been trying for in these black and white shots of it. That, plus the dull weather puts pay to colourful shots of buskers on the mile or anything for that matter.
Well, it's been a while!
We bought a house back in the UK where we both used to work and are now busy showing the children the sights of the North East of England, when we can drag them away from the wifi. There will some evidence of nice weather in future posts, but I have to say it is really cold on the coast here after Bangkok! The weather has been a bit hit and miss. We have had some fabulous days and some absolute shocking weather too. The rain has meant that one needed to be creative to take interesting shots on some days.
This was really close to us! So much so that it was only as we went past it that he became visible. The jeep was quickly slammed into reverse and back we went, a few metres, and there he was. A feeding wild elephant 3, maybe 4 metres from us.
Just pulling strips of leaves off the trees, standing on them and then using his trunk to strip the leaves from the woody part of the tree and then, again, using his trunk to push them into the great pouch that is his mouth, masticate , repeat. It was all very careful, deliberate and slow. No one was going to rush this animal unless he decieded a bit of rushing is what you needed. The river here can be quite picturesque given the right weather. It also looks better while frozen on one of those cold, crisp, clear winter mornings. Perfect for a winter's morning walk. I really like the repeating patterns in these apartment blocks. They also look good at night when some of the lights are on.... One day!
This was excellent! Really, really lovely and not completely over run with 'other people' despite what the guidebook threatened! Each of these stupas house a statue of the Buddha that you can't see one of which is considered a lucky Buddh! Slightly bizarre but very cool (both literally and metaphorically!)
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AuthorsWe are teachers and have worked in various schools in Europe & Asia. This is really a chronicle of out travels over the years. It is meant for us to look back on, reflect and remember where we've been, what we've done and all our little adventures. If you like it too, then fab! If you don't, do you think we care? Archives
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