Month: September 2011

Foto Friday – A Nile sunset

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A Nile Sunset

In 2008 I sailed up the river Nile in a restored 1920’s Royal Steamer the SS Misr. We sailed from Luxor to Aswan over the period of a week and saw many amazing and spectacular sites along the way in this ancient land. But the most spectacular sight of all was a natural one – the African sunset!

One evening I managed to catch the sun setting in just the right spot and at the right time as it dipped down behind some hazy silhouetted palms along the banks of the river as we slowly chugged by.

I snapped this shot from the balcony of our cabin while supping a cold beer sitting on a small wooden stool watching the river pass by below. It was as perfect a moment as you could possibly want on your travels! I hope you enjoy the shot.

Foto Friday – The Chand Baori step well Rajasthan, India

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This step well is located opposite the Harshat Mata Temple, constructed in 800 c. and is one of the deepest and largest step wells in India. It was built in the 9th century and has 3500 narrow steps in 13 stories and is 100 feet deep. It was the most amazing sight to come across in the middle of rural India, literally in the middle of some fields.

The main trouble in attempting to get a photograph that really showed off the true size and scale of the structure was in getting a wide enough angle of shot to pay justice to it! I failed, but I still like this shot! You can however get some idea of the scale of the place from the tiny people seen wandering around the top levels.

Foto Friday – Big Buddha (Po Lin Monastery), Lantau Island

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Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha, is a large bronze statue, at 85ft high it sits on a throne of lotus leaves – the Buddhist symbol of purity – and was completed in 1993, it is located at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong.

The statue overlooks the nearby Po Lin Monastery and symbolises the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion. It is a major centre of Buddhism in Hong Kong.

A crazy ride via a cable car gets you from the mainland across to the island, alternatively you can hike up into the mountains from the shoreline below having crossed by boat to reach the Buddha. I took literally dozens of shots while I was on Lantau but this is still my favourite, The Buddha looks so serene when viewed directly from the foot of the steps but also so very very powerful.

Don’t die without a question!

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“Every man ought to be inquisitive through every hour of his great adventure down to the day when he shall no longer cast a shadow in the sun. For if he dies without a question in his heart, what excuse is there for his continuance?” – Roald Amundsen