.jpg) Cheerful House Front
The narrow streets and laneways of Colombo’s Slave Island district are full of colourful buildings that speak to the area’s rich multicultural heritage. A walking tour with a companion and a camera is a great way to get to know a section of city, and to absorb the local colour and history.
I was lucky enough to have a friend who had been living and working in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for a few years before I visited the city. As two photography enthusiasts who hadn’t seen each other for many years and had plenty to talk about, we had a wonderful time alternating coffee, lunch, and dinner stops with some serious photo-walking around the city. After a morning of chasing Buddhas in two of Colombo’s very eclectic temples (see: Buddhas of Colombo), and a lunch break, we went for a wander through the suburb of Slave Island.
More commonly known to those who live there as Kampong Kertel or Kompanna Veediya, during the period of British colonial rule (from 1796 to around 1865), this Colombo district was called Slave Island in reference to the slaves held there under Portuguese colonial rule (1505- 1638).
The Portuguese, who first arrived in Sri Lanka in 1505, brought around 1,600 ‘Kaffir’ East African slaves from Goa to what was then Ceylon. The popular story is that in the 18th century, under Dutch rule, the Kaffir population had grown to larger numbers, giving them a sense of strength: they mounted an insurrection, resulting destruction of property and deaths. After subduing the riot, the Dutch started housing the Kaffirs on an island in Beira Lake, which at the time was full of crocodiles.
According to one academic article I found (GHCC Annual Lecture 2019), this whole story is apocryphal. But, the name itself stuck – even after the area was connected by bridges and causeways to the rest of the city.
Today, Slave Island is part of Colombo’s Postal District 2, and is predominantly a re-developed commercial area with hotels, shopping centres and street-food stalls. But, there are still narrow laneways packed with colourful homes, and multi-story shop-houses. The area is known for its multicultural heritage, and remains a mix of Malay, Sinhalese, Tamil, as well as minority cultural groups. Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian houses of worship sit in close proximity to each other.
Join us for a wander through the streets and laneways of Slave Island:
.jpg) Empty Building
Many of the buildings in District 2 stand deserted and peeling. .jpg) Park Street Mews
Other parts of District 2 have been redeveloped. The Mews is a cluster of old warehouses that has been turned into a vibrant collection of restaurants, bars, and event spaces. (iPhone6)  Holy Rosary Church
Roughly 11% of Colombo’s population is Roman Catholic. This charming little church in Slave Island is popularly know as the Infant Jesus Church. Rio Cinema
I love the textures of this old building. It opened in February 1965 screening South Pacific – and finishing out its days showing pornographic films. The building was looted and burned during the 1983 riots, and now stands as an empty shell and an occasional venue for pop-up exhibitions, art festivals, and music gigs. Sri Murugan Temple
Down a narrow laneway, and with Colombo’s Lotus Tower in the background, … Bell Tower
… we find Sri Murugan Temple, one of Slave Island’s Hindu temples. A Musical Deity
Every surface of the temple is decorated with creatures … Deities in an Alcove
… and colourfully painted figures depicting Hindu stories. Al Qadir Hanafi Jummah Masjid
Down another laneway, a beautifully painted mosque calls people to prayer. Blue House Front
So many of the old homes are beautifully kept … Colours on a Wall
… and the colours and textures of the old walls are visually interesting. Tuk Tuks in the Street
Everywhere I look, on the arterial roads … Child on a Bicycle
… and down winding lanes, life is happening. Street Art Stillife Found : Shoes on the Step
Shoes are not worn indoors in Southeast Asia, so there is footwear to be found on every front step. A Hive of Activity In a Hurry The Cousins
I was really pleased to come across these young girls – and their mothers – before it got too dark. Girl in Blue
Cousins and siblings, they are growing up as friends in this small neighbourhood. Girl in Florals
They were great fun … Girl in Green
… and enjoyed posing, … Girl in Denim
… and showing the results on the back of the camera to their mothers. Man on a Yellow Balcony
Overhead, the neighbours were curious. Woman and Girl on a Balcony Sundown over Beira Lake
The afternoon grew late, and the sun dropped behind the high rises in the redeveloped end of Slave Island. (iphone6) There are those that say that the buildings in the remaining old sections of Slave Island are not properly maintained and are run down. There is certainly the risk that the push towards urban renewal will destroy the cohesive streets and charming character of the traditional shophouse-style buildings.
The neighbourhood was a joy to wander through, and the people we met were friendly and welcoming – something often lost in those shiny new high rises.
Until next time,
Happy Wandering!
Pictures: 10November2018
Posted in environmental portrait,Every Day Life,Sri Lanka,TravelTags: architecture,blog,Catholicism,environmental portrait,environmental portraits,everyday life,hindu,Photo Blog,portraits,travel,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall,walk
Crystal Crag and Lake Mary
The icy waters of Lake Mary in California’s Mammoth Lakes Basin are a perfect reflecting pool for the unusual granite rock-tower behind. California’s Eastern Sierras are a jaw-droppingly beautiful outdoor playground.
How lucky was I to have a photography-friend with not one, but two bases in this rugged and gorgeous area! Like me, she is a fan of mountain walks and flowers, and we had timed my trip to line up with the best of the mountain blooms (see: Greener Pastures and Wildflowers).
July, when I visited, is the hottest month of the year in these mountains, but the air cools dramatically overnight. It was cold (about 8°C; 47°F) and dark when we got up on my second morning in Coleville. With our cameras and tripods in tow, we set off on a short drive and brisk walk to watch the sun rising over a river bend, high in the Sonora Pass.
Locals will tell you this is the best place in California to live. Mono County is more than 50 times less densely populated than the state as a whole, and clearly appeals to a younger demographic (see: Towncharts: Mono). What it lacks in population, it makes up in unique outdoor beauty. Lee Vining, where we stopped for lunch, for example, is a locality of less than 200 people! But, being on the southwest shore of Mono Lake, near the east entrance of Yosemite National Park, and a short drive from the Bodie State Historic Park (see: Light, Lines and Reflections), it survives on tourism.
The town of Mammoth Lakes, with a population of just over 8,000, is more substantial – but still surrounded by wild beauty that is popular in every season. We spent that evening and the next several days based there before returning to Coleville (population <500).
This is arid country, with most of its precipitation falling as winter snows, so we had crisp, clear skies for our walks among the seasonal flowers. Do join us:
A Bend in the River
Drought-tolerant pinyon pines and juniper trees cling to the rocky riverbanks here, where a low shutter speed slows down the racing waters. In the predawn light, you can just see the snow on the mountains in the distance. Pine Needles
Looking at the dried out needles at the end of these branches, you can understand how fires tore through this region in August-September of 2020. Photographer in the Frame Morning Sun on the Mountains
Just after six in the morning, a golden glow touches the mountains in the background. Sun Below the Horizon
Finally! The sun breaks over the trees and sagebrush behind us. “Prospector Pete”
This is mining country: silver ore was found in Mono County in 1862, and gold was discovered shortly after. The shop at the Whoa Nellie Deli, in Lee Vining where we stopped for lunch on our way to Mammoth Lakes, pays tribute to the old prospectors. (iPhone4S) Afternoon in the Sierras
Once we are settled into our accommodation in Mammoth Lakes, we set out again on a late afternoon hike. Trees in the Hills
The skies are clear and the air is hot and dry. European Starling – Sturnus Vulgaris
I was so excited to spot some wildlife – until I realised it was an introduced common starling! Indian Paintbrush – Castilleja
Wildflowers dot the hills and line the tracks. Hairy Mule’s Ear – Wyethia Molliss Natures Artwork Gorse
As pretty as it is, common gorse is considered an invasive plant in California. A Big Backyard
Even around housing developments, there is a real sense of space. Stump in the Lake
Our last stop – late in the day – was at Lake Mary, the largest of the of the Mammoth Lakes. Fly Fishing
The freshwater lake is popular for fishing … Got One!
… for rainbow, brook, and brown trout. Lake Mary from the West
We were there to collect a family member who was practicing for an ironman swim in the mile-wide waters. Boat on Lake Mary
On the last day of our stay in Mammoth Lakes, we made another trip to Lake Mary – this time in the early morning. The lake has two marinas, and little rented kayaks were already out on the water. (iPhone4S) Crystal Crag
At 3159 metres (10364 feet), the granite rock tower on Crystal Crag is a challenging, but popular, climb starting from nearby Lake George. Kayak on Mary Lake
We opt for more sedate activities. Kayak Colours
There are plenty of rentals available if you don’t have your own boat. I love the colours and patterns they make in the almost-still waters. Lake Mary Stillness
Our endurance swimmer, in his full-body wetsuit against the cold, hardly disturbs the morning peace. (iPhone4S) California Milkweed (Asclepias californica)
Later, as evening falls, we are back in Coleville for a last walk … Moonrise in the Eastern Sierras
… and to watch the moon rise over the surrounding hills. (iPhone4S) I live at sea level these days, and my morning walks are mostly on the flat, so walking in the Sierras where our starting-points were between 1600 – 2900 metres was a challenge!
But, it was well worth the effort.
I’m so glad I have the photos to look back on: with our Australian borders locked down tight, it will be a long time before I get back there – or anywhere else!
Happy Travels …
Photos: 15 and 21July2013
Posted in Flora,Landscapes,Nature,USATags: California,flora,National Park,nature,Photo Blog,travel,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall,USA,walk,wildflowers
Waterways and Bridges
Amsterdam lives up to its reputation as a city of canals and bicycles. The city sits about two metres below sea level, and is criss-crossed by waterways and bridges. The Netherlands is known for its flat landscape punctuated by canals and dikes.
If fact, I was taught at school that dyke was a Dutch word. While it is true that dijk (pronounced ‘dyke’) is a common word in Dutch, it comes from the same Old German word that gave English ‘ditch’.
Sadly, the little Dutch boy who put his finger in a hole in a dyke to keep his town from flooding is virtually unknown in the Netherlands: this story was popularised by American author Mary Mapes Dodge and probably based on a French children’s tale, Le Petit Éclusier, first seen in the mid-1800s.
So, a few myths shattered!
And, contrary to our expectations, even though it was spring and we had seen plenty of tulips and windmills in Belgium the day before (see: Flanders Fields and Beaches), we saw none on our day’s stop in Holland.
We were on our last days on a small ocean cruiser, having come from the Mediterranean, up the Atlantic, through the English Channel and into the North Sea. Amsterdam was the penultimate stop before we departed the ship in Bergen, Norway, and we were determined to make the most of it.
Amsterdam has more than 100 km (60 mi) of canals – more than Venice – so exploring the downtown in a glass-topped canal boat is the perfect way to get a leisurely view of some of the city’s beautiful, narrow-fronted gable houses. In the Middle Ages, the city was surrounded by a moat called the Singel; this now forms the innermost horseshoe-shaped ring around the city. The Singelgracht, together with the Keizersgracht, Herengracht, and Prinsengracht, comprise the UNESCO-listed Amsterdam Canal District: designed at the end of the 16th century, built in the 17th century, and later lauded as a masterpiece of hydraulic engineering, town planning, and a rational programme of construction and bourgeois architecture.
Unfortunately, our canal boat broke down half way through our morning, leaving us stranded before we got to see some of the sights: like the Sloten Windmill made famous by Rembrandt. The timing of our rescue transport meant we missed the afternoon tour we had planned.
But, we did ride some of the canals and walked some of the tree-lined streets. Do come along!
The National Maritime Museum
It is only fitting, in a city surrounded by water and in a country built on its ships, that the first building we pass as we bus into the city is the National Maritime Museum. Originally built in 1656, and reconstructed and modernised in 2011, the building sits on an artificial island constructed over 1800 wooden piles driven into Amsterdam Harbour. One of the many exhibits in the collection is the replica of the three masted Dutch East India Company vessel Amsterdam, which sank in 1749. (iPhone6) Viking Cruise Guide
Our guide escorts us from the bus to our canal boat … Rijksmuseum
… and we chug through the 17th century UNESCO-listed canal system and past old buildings, like the 19th-century Dutch national museum dedicated to arts and history. Layers – Canal Boat on a Canal
It was a glorious spring day and the sun shimmered through the fresh green leaves and bounced off the water. Although Amsterdam is fabled for its rainy weather, we were spared! Amsterdam from the Canals
Classic Dutch pancakes, or pankoeken, are a popular treat. Our Skipper
It must run in families: our skipper’s father also worked on the canal boats. Water, Water …
The waters go on forever. Four of these canals form the UNESCO World Heritage listing for the Grachtengordel (Canal Ring) of Amsterdam, but unless I have unique buildings as reference points, I can’t remember which one we were on at any given time. Circle Line and Bridges
This may be the land of Rembrandt, but these waterways make me think of the much later Impressionists. Westerkerk on the Prinsengracht
The Renaissance-style Western Church was built between 1620 and 1631. The Westertoren
At 87 meters (285 feet), the western tower is the highest church tower in Amsterdam. The crown at the top of the spire is modelled on the Imperial Crown of Austria of Maximilian I. Dappled Light Dutch Delft
Our boat stopped to let us explore some of the local shops. Blond Boatman
Meanwhile, other boats and their skippers chug past us; there are countless tours running on canals. Anne Frank House
The 17th-century canal house that reputedly hid Anne Frank during World War II was opened as a museum on 3 May 1960. On the Bridges
Cars are discouraged in the inner city; pedestrians and bicycles abound. With a Boat and a Map
Many tourists explore the city on their own. Houseboat
The canals are lined with houseboats – many are residences or rentals. Amsterdam Centraal Railway
Opened in 1889, the rambling Gothic -Renaissance Revival railway station was designed by Pierre Cuypers – the same architect responsible for the Rijksmuseum we saw earlier. I particularly liked the wind-indicator clock on the central tower. Amsterdam Visitor Centre
The rather beautiful wooden information centre is a short walk from the railway station. Sea Palace
On the way back to our ship, we pass a complete contrast in architecture: Europe’s first floating restaurant – the three-story floating pagoda-style Asian restaurant on Lake IJ. Bicycles
After lunch on our ship, we walked back into the old city. Bicycle Parking
Bicycles are everywhere! The towers of the 19th century Basilica of Saint Nicholas and the 15th century Schreierstoren sit in the background. Recycled-Plastic Boat
Europe has always done better with waste than many other parts of the developed world: these boat on the Oostertoegang are a good example. The Schreierstoren
Known as the Weeping Tower, this 15th tower was part of the medieval city wall around Amsterdam. It was from here that Henry Hudson set sail in 1609, eventually ‘discovering’ New Amsterdam (New York) on the Hudson River. Red Door at the Schreierstoren
In various places around the old city, I looked at metal plaques thinking they would afford me information; they were commercial sign boards! Kloveniersburgwal
The canals look different from the ground than they do from the water. EYE Film Institute Netherlands (2012)
While Amsterdam is generally associated with medieval and Dutch Golden Age architecture, as our ship pulls out of the cruise terminal we catch glimpses of the city’s more modern conceptions. Although we didn’t see as much as we would have liked, we got a brief taste of the city.
And – luckily for us – Amsterdam didn’t live up to another attribute in its reputation: it didn’t rain!
All in all, a pleasant visit.
Photos: 25April2018
Posted in Architecture,The Netherlands,TravelTags: architecture,blog,environmental portraits,landscape,Photo Blog,travel,Travel Blog,UNESCO,Ursula Wall
Kara Youngster
A young girl from Dus Village, in the remote reaches of Ethiopia’s Omo Valley, meets the camera with bold confidence. The Kara/Karo people, a small tribe of Omotic people, living on the east bank of the Lower Omo River in Ethiopia, are perhaps best known for their love of beads and face paint.
With fewer than two thousand members, the Kara are one of the smallest tribes in the region. They are related to the Hamar (see: The Hamar), and share some linguistic features and cultural practices with the Hamar-Banna-Bashada tribal cluster. The Kara fish, raise goats, and farm sorghum, trading with the Hamar and the Dassanech (see: A Daasanach Village) for other necessities.
This relationship with the Hamar is a double-edge sword, bringing the Kara into ongoing conflict with the much bigger and more aggressive Nyangatom tribe who live on the other side of the Omo River – on lands the Kara say were once theirs. As I have written before (see: The Kara of Dus Village), inter-tribal conflicts have continued for generations. Men need to show their ability to protect the village and herds, and must own an AK47 before they are allowed to marry (see: Men and Goats and Dust).
I was travelling with photographer Ben McRae on a Piper Mackay tour, and the Kara residents of Dus Village were more than welcoming to us. This area is remote, even by Ethiopian standards, with no wired electricity or running water, and certainly no “tourist accommodation”. Thanks to Grand Holidays Ethiopia, we were comfortably lodged in a mobile campsite, complete with portable toilets and showers, deep in the heart of Kara territory.
This meant we had proximity to the largest of the three Kara villages. We visited it several times (eg: Visits to a Kara Village) and spent some meaningful time with these beautiful people in their own environment.
Do join me:
Morning in Dus Village
It is early morning on the plateau at the edges of Dus Village. People wrapped in blankets are gathered around as the village chiefs deal with miscreants involved in a minor conflict the day before. Men in the Morning
The men sit on their small stools carved from acacia wood as they await the decision of the arbitrators. Kids in the Village
The many young children in the village are both shy and curious. Friends in the Beads
It’s very early, and the sun is just sneaking past the conical huts. Old Woman in Tartan Cloth Mother and Child
Kara women often crop their hair close at the sides, tie it into knots at the top, and like the Hamar, dress it with ochre. Mother and Children
Beads and babies are everywhere. Elegant Young Woman
Most people are wrapped in cloths against the morning chill. Old Woman
There is a regal bearing to these people as they go about their early morning routines. Kara Man in Profile
They are a good looking people, … Kara Man in Blue
… and meet the camera’s gaze unselfconsciously. Striped Sheets and Shadows Young Boy at a Grain Store Boy in Ochre
Kara body art encompasses a range of styles, from smeared clay to elaborate paint. I had to admire the strong wicker weaving pattern that went into the elevated grain storage containers. Morning on the Omo River
It is a beautiful spot on the river – but it is not an easy life. Women at the Omo River
Kara livelihood is determined by the rhythms of the floods along the Omo River; when the inundation of water recedes, the Kara pierce the rich mud with sticks and plant their crops, using a practice little changed in hundreds of years. Kara Woman
The morning sun shines brightly on the skin of the young women. Ethiopian Guide
Our guide was as knowledgeable as he was good looking. Each tribe and every village has a different set of rules for visitors and pricing code for photographs, and he helped us navigate it all smoothly. Goat among the Grain Stores
The prevalence of tsetse fly, which attacks large cattle, lead the Kara to focus on goats and sheep, which are less vulnerable. They keep a few cattle, but that meat is reserved for special occasions. Children in Spots Children with a Goat
The children are well aware that posing with a cute kid makes them more attractive to tourists, and they will therefore earn more birr. Woman in Bangles
Both men and women love their jewellery. Like the Hamar, Kara women wear a goatskin smock, bordered with cowrie shells and embroidered with beads for special occasions. Woman in Beads
It is common for Kara women, men, and even children, to wear a nail, a stick, or a piece of grass sticking out of their chin through an incision made under their bottom lip. Beads and Circles Woman with Grain
Kara housing is very like that of the Hamar: upright wooden poles are woven together and covered with a layer of mud, and topped with a conical roof made of straw and tree branches. Red, Blue, and White Beads
Face paint and body paints are made from pulverised local white chalk, yellow mineral rock, red iron ore, and black charcoal. Girl in Spots and Beads
These lovely designs are chalk and mineral rock with ochre. The village offers up endless photographic possibilities, but it was almost nine am, and time for our breakfast.
 But, we’d be back!
Until then,
Happy Rambling!
Photos: 21October2018
Posted in Africa,environmental portraits,Ethiopia,TravelTags: Africa,environmental portrait,environmental portraits,Ethiopia,Lower Omo Valley,Omo Valley,people,Photo Blog,portrait,portraits,travel,Travel Blog,tribal life,Ursula Wall
Crowning Pharaoh Ptolemaios XII
In a beautifully restored wall relief at the temple at Kom Ombo, Goddesses of
Lower and Upper Egypt, Wadjet and Nekhbet, crown Pharaoh Ptolemy XII while Horus (Haroeris) watches on. Bad lighting and dancing shadows lend an eerie air of animation to the figures on the walls all around us. Intricately carved pillars and beautifully restored wall-reliefs contrast with uneven stones and rough scaffolding: it truly is surreal walking after dark through structures built over 2000 years ago.
My Nile river boat was rafted up against a larger boat in the small harbour at Kom Ombo, a small agricultural town in Egypt, about 45km (30 miles) north of Aswan.
I’d started my day at Edfu, after sailing up from Luxor the day before (see: Luxor Bazaar and the Mighty Nile). We’d spent the day chugging up-river, watching the banks with their rich farming lands and and small village slide past. It was already dark when we docked: our destination, the Temple of Sobek and Haroeris, was sitting on a small hill just above us, bathed enticingly in yellow lights.
Often referred to just as Kom Ombo Temple, this distinctive double-temple dates to the Ptolemaic dynasty (305 to 30 BC.), successor to the rule of Alexander the Great, and the last dynasty of Ancient Egypt.
The temple is unique in that it is dedicated to two Gods: Sobek (Sebek) the crocodile god, creator of the Nile River and responsible for fertility, and Horus (Haroeris, Hor, Har, Her, or Heru) the falcon-headed god of power and healing. Therefore, the temple – begun by Ptolemy VI Philometor (180–145 BC) at the beginning of his reign and added to by other Ptolemies – consists of two identical sections along a main axis, each with its own entry, courts, halls, sanctuaries and rooms. The northern section is dedicated to Horus, and the southern section to Sobek.
This temple was Sobek’s chief sanctuary. The ubiquitous Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) had a reputation for eating anything in their path, and generated fear in the local communities. Legend has it that in ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the river banks near Kom Ombo, and as totem animals, a number were kept in captivity within the temple itself. This has lead to another unique feature at Kom Ombo: the discovery of three hundred mummified crocodiles – a few of which are on display in the chapel of Hathor, in “Egypt’s first ever crocodile museum”.
On a photographic technical note: the lighting in the temple was truly awful! Most of my shots are taken at the highest ISO settings available to me – 3200 and 6400 – so the quality is not what I would like. Also, only phone-cameras were allowed in the crocodile museum.
I hope you’ll agree that the content is sufficiently interesting to make up for any lack of quality.
A Hazy Morning on the Nile
It’s barely 7:15 in the morning, but the sun is already high over the banks on the east side of the river. Our Nile riverboat, featuring a hamsa or khamsah – a hand with the fingers spread apart to ward off evil, is docked at Edfu on the west bank. (iPhone6) Tourist Boats at Edfu
It was low season, and operators said business had still not bounced back after the Arab Spring (2010-2012) – making me wonder how crowded it must be on this river in a good high season! Nile Dahabiya Boat Nile Boat and Kom Ombo Temple
After nightfall, we are tied up in the little harbour, looking across other tourist boats to the lovely Greco Roman temple perched atop a dune. Kom Ombo Temple
It is a short walk to the base of the hill. Temple Under Lights
We are not the only tourists walking around in clumps from one point of interest to the next with their guides. Waves of Stone
Every surface tells a story; … Explaining
… the guides point out the features to their groups. Regal Relief
This story-board show King Ptolemy XIII in the centre, flanked by Thoth and Isis on the left and Sekhmet and Horus on the right. These reliefs have been painstakingly restored: between floods, subsidence, earthquakes, and the Copts who used the building as a church, the temple has experienced extensive damage. Carved Column
The carved sections have withstood the tests of time far better. Shadows across the Murals
The lighting is a real challenge! This intricate relief shows Thoth and Horus pouring sacred water over Pharaoh Ptolemy XII‘s head. Two-Headed Nehebkau and Others
Nehebkau (Nehebu-Kau) was a funerary god associated with the afterlife. Offerings More Stories in Stone
While trying to get a few photos, I missed most of the stories our guide told us. I thought I could look them up easily on line afterwards: I was wrong! I don’t know what Hathor, Horus and the pharaoh are doing here. Flat Walls and Round Columns Columns and Courtyards
It was really hard to get a sense of the floor plan in the dark; … Carved Columns
… carved with ankhs, the symbols of life, the columns seemed to go on forever. Guide outside a Small Chamber Tourist Dwarfed by the Columns More Reliefs Telling Stories
Guides give detailed descriptions of each panel to their customers. It amazes me how much is actually known about the Ancient Egyptians thanks to their extensive hieroglyphics and iconography. Horus the Falcon God
I can’t keep up with the different forms the Gods take, and the complicated interrelations between them! Mummified Crocodiles
I thought the mummified crocodiles, and the various statues to Sobek were as interesting and unique as the double-temple itself. (iPhone6) It really is a fascinating place – and it would be worthwhile to see in daylight, but our boat was continuing up the river to Aswan, where more ancient wonders awaited.
 Until next time,
Happy Travels!
Photos: 09October2019
Posted in Africa,Egypt,History,TravelTags: Ancient Egypt,antiquities,architecture,blog,Egypt,history,low light,night photography,Photo Blog,Religious Practice,ruins,sculpture,temple,travel,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall
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