The Prayer-Flag Hanger For centuries, Boudhanath Stupa has been an important pilgrimage site for Tibetan Buddhists. So, prayer flags hung there are particularly auspicious; but they don’t hang themselves!
Dancing on the wind, dispersing prayers, mantras, and general good will across the landscape, strings of prayer flags hang to the four corners of Boudhanath Stupa.
Somewhere, amongst them, were mine!
Prayer flags are said to date back to the battle flags used by the Gautama Buddha in the fight against the asuras – malevolent divine beings considered by Indian mythology to be enemies of the gods. Ubiquitous in the Tibetan Buddhist world (e.g.: Prayers on the Wind: Bhutan), prayer flags come in different styles and shapes, but the most commonly seen are the Lungta (wind horse) flags. These colourful squares of cloth are woodblock-printed with sacred images, sutras and mantras, and hung horizontally in sets of five. The five fabric colours represent the five elements and the Five Pure Lights: blue is for the sky and space, white stands for the air and wind, red is fire, green depicts water, and yellow symbolises earth. Keeping these five elements balanced is thought to produce health and harmony.
Prayer flags are believed to release peace, compassion, strength, and wisdom into the very air, bringing benefit to everyone. They can also include prayers for a long life of good fortune on behalf of the person who supplies them.
What could be more auspicious, then, than adding one’s prayers to all of those fluttering under the careful watch of the Buddha’s eyes at the Boudhanath Stupa in the heart of Kathmandu!
We then watched in fascination as the designated prayer-flag-hanger tied lengths of flags together, climbed to the top of the 36 metre (118 ft) dome, secured one end of the bundled flags to the gilded spire, let the bundles unravel to the lower landings, and then secured the other ends to the outer corners of the complex.
That accomplished, our prayers were free to mingle with all the other positive vibes dancing across the Kathmandu Valley and beyond, to all the pervading space in the six worldly realms.
Prayers Flags and the Eyes of the Buddha My accommodation was a short walk from the magnificent stupa, so I took every opportunity to visit it at different times of day. (iPhone6)
The Stupa One of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world, this iconic structure stands tall over the surrounding skyline. It was badly damaged by the horrific April 2015 Nepal Earthquake, but the site is of such importance that repairs (costing 230 million Nepalese Rupees – about $USD 2,000,000) were begun almost immediately.
Flags on Boudhanath The all-seeing eyes face in four directions, and – like the eyes in a painting – follow your progression around the temple.
Bundled Prayer Flags Flags come in numerous different sizes, but the order of the colours (blue, white, red, green and yellow) is invariable. Wooden block printing is the preferred means of printing the patterns, but some are now screen printed.
Plane over Boudhanath The thirteen tiers that form the pyramid at the top of the stupa symbolise the thirteen steps of initiation leading to enlightenment. The lacy gilded canopy atop the steps stands for the air, and the spire is the fifth element in Buddhist philosophy: space or “ether”. We are near a flight path, and regular jets use that space to fly over us and out of the valley.
Flags on the Landing Before anyone begins the long climb up the restricted area to the top of the stupa, the ends of each flag section have to be tied together.
Angfula and the Prayer Flags Our guide keeps an eye on the whole process.
Ang on the Landing Lime powder is mixed with water to make a lime wash, which is carried up to the top, and poured down over the dome periodically.
Flags Dropping Down Saffron water is then thrown over the whitewash by a worker skilled in making the arches, creating a decorative lotus petal pattern.
Unfurling Flags
Guiding the Flags The whole process of affixing the flags is quite labour-intensive; …
Flags on the Stupa … each string has to be guided across each landing ….
At the Edge of the Stupa … and out to the perimeters of the stupa …
Affixing the Flags … where they are carefully tied on.
Flags at the Corner
On the Landing With a diameter exceeding 100 metes (328 feet), the stupa is huge. Outside the base, the shops and restaurants are almost as fascinating as the stupa itself. The nine levels of the stupa represent the mythical Mt. Meru, centre of the Tibetan Buddhist cosmos.
Guiding the Prayer Flags The whole process of attaching the long strands is repeated, over and over, as fresh flags are continually added.
Flags on the Wind The wind horse, in picture or in words, is the central element of a Lungta flag.
Flags on the Wire The outside corners of the flag are guarded by symbols or drawings of the four great animals: Garuda, dragon, tiger, and snow lion, and the texts are usually a collection of mantras or a short sutra.
Flags to the Gilded Spire More than 30kg of gold were used to repair the badly-damaged golden spire.
Flags to the Spire of Boudhanath The Spring skies darken overhead, as the eyes of the stupa keep watch.
Boudhanath under Storm Clouds The crowds at the base thin, as people start to head home, …
Overloaded! … grabbing any public-transport they can find before the rains get serious.
The air was full of prayers and rain as I dodged rubble and puddles walking back to my hotel.
The beauty of staying so close was that I was able to visit repeatedly, checking out the different moods and activities happening at different times of day (e.g.: Light a Candle).
Each visit, I looked up – up to the flags fluttering overhead, sending good will into the atmosphere.
Auṃ Maṇi Bêmê Hūṃ – ཨོཾ་མ་ཎི་པ་དྨེ་ཧཱུྃ – “The jewel is in the lotus.”
Hamar Man The Hamar people of Ethiopia’s Omo Valley carry themselves with a regal bearing, and meet strangers with a clear and direct gaze.
It is hot, and arid, and a long way from anywhere.
The harsh environment is at least part of the reason why the 16+ ethnic groups who live in the far reaches of Ethiopia’s Omo Valley, near the border with South Sudan, have been left alone to maintain their traditional lifestyles and cultural practices.
One writer has called the Omo Valley a “cultural melting pot”, but this is misleading. They have not blended or melted: their cultures have stayed as sharply differentiated from ours – and from those of each other – as shards of coloured glass. While they are predominantly pastoralists, or agro-pastoralists, who value their livestock (mostly cattle, goats and sheep) above all else, each tribe has their individual traditions, clothing styles, and customs. More importantly, each ethnic group has its own defined territory in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia and speaks its own language – with linguistic roots in one of three distinct language families.
The Hamar are among the most recognisable of these tribal groups: as I’ve said previously (A Visit to a Hamar Village), they are a tall and good-looking people. The women decorate their hair with ochre-butter, and wear shell-beaded goat-skin bibs for special occasions; the men wear distinctive feathered clay caps, and carry their small wooden stools/pillows with them as they go about their business – often with an AK47 slung over one shoulder; and all: men, women and children, wear multiple strands of colourful beads.
I visited the Hamar people on a number of occasions with photographer Ben McRae, as part of a small-group Piper Mackay Photo-Tour. These environmental portraits are from a village near the market town of Turmi where we participated in the “pay-per-click” photo-tourism common in the Omo Valley: the tribes here trade on their distinctive appearances to supplement their incomes.
In theory, this is a win-win system: we visitors pay for the privilege of making photographs. In practice, I found it extremely transactional: it was hard to have natural interactions with the local people when they were making sure we didn’t ‘sneak’ any unpaid shots of cows or fences. I felt like I was collecting ‘head shots’ rather than making connections or gaining any real insight into people’s lives.
But, I tried.
Come meet some Hamar people.
Mother and Child The family compound of round, woven houses is surrounded by a simple wooden fence. The mothers – in their blankets and beads – are proud to show off their babies. Naturally, we pay extra for the children in the photos!
Hamar Woman The metal necklaces on this woman tell us she is married; men can have as many wives as they can afford – payed for in goats, cattle and guns.
A First Wife This woman wears a burkule or binyere: a leather and metal necklace with a large cylindrical detail on the front. This indicates she is her husband’s “first wife”: a position of status in the community.
First Wife and Child Infants and toddlers are everywhere. Up until recent times, children with perceived physical abnormalities were judged to be Mingi, or ritually impure, and were killed or abandoned to die.
Young Woman with Attitude These women seem to have such confidence, …
Young Hamar Woman … and face the camera win an insouciance that is enviable!
Young Hamar Man Traditional hairstyles take a variety of forms, …
Man with a Watch and a Stick … but it is the outfits …
Tommy Hilfiger and Beads … that truly give pause.
Layered Beads and a Close Shave Patterned head-shaving is popular, and if I were to go back to the region, I’d take spare razor blades, as they are highly valued.
Blanket and Attitude
Traditional Goatskin Smock
Woman Carving a Gourd Everyone has something to do: this married woman in a traditional goatskin smock is preparing a gourd which will probably be used to contain coffee.
Child with a Child As is the case in many traditional communities, children often care for their younger siblings.
Young Girl in Profile This adorable young girl was raking in the cash; …
Young Hamar Girl … she has an infectious smile, and we all wanted her picture!
Hamar Man in Profile I’m in awe of those chiselled cheekbones! It’s hard to know where the sculpted hair stops and the feathered clay cap begins; …
Man’s Cap … traditionally, men wear painted clay caps which are decorated with precious feathers and other ornaments.
First Wife A ‘first’ and chosen wife, in her heavy – and heavily symbolic neck adornments – …
Hamar Woman … shows us her goatskin clothes: richly decorated with colourful beads …
In Full Dress … and cowry shells – which symbolise womanhood, fertility, birth, and wealth.
Uncompromising Young Woman These women have strength! They look into the camera with no compromise.
Those Eyes! This young girl (whose picture I have shared before), on the other hand, had such large, emotive eyes, she made me think of those dreadful velvet paintings of large-eyed-children with teardrops that were so popular in my youth.
I’ve left a lot of ‘background’ in my shots because I want to convey some of the dusty, hot environment in which these people live.
But, I don’t for a moment pretend I understand how they do it! I can only hope I left more than I took.
[…] where our base was in Turmi. Over the next days, we visited Hamar (e.g.: Visit to a Hamar Village, Face in a Hamar Village; Hamar Village Portraits; and Morning Portraits), Daasanach (see: A Visit to the Daasanach) and […]ReplyCancel
Man in a Red Turban India is a feast of colours and impressions. Everywhere you go, people in brightly dyed fabrics sit in contrast against roughly painted or wash-tinted walls – as if they are just waiting for random street-photographers to appreciate them.
I just love the photogenic faces of India!
So much of Indian life happens in the streets and public spaces. As a foreigner, wandering around – either alone, or in the company of a guide or group – I have always found that my cameras and I are welcomed into that street life. I meet the eyes of strangers, and they acknowledge me and my desire to make their picture; sometimes they want to see the result on the digital display on the back of the camera, but most of the time, we just exchange a laugh and a thumbs-up, or a namaste of thanks. Some people indicate they are reluctant or unwilling to be photographed – a sentiment I completely understand, and naturally, respect – but in India, that doesn’t happen that often.
It has been ages since I’ve spent time in India. My last small-group visit, with photographer Karl Grobl from Jim Cline Photo Tours, and local guide DV Singh Jagat, included the annual autumn Camel Fair in the Northern Indian town of Pushkar (see: Faces at the Camel Fair, and Among the Camels and Horses). Pushkar Lake has attracted pilgrims at least as far back as the 2nd Century BC. Today, the lake is registered as sacred, and is ringed by Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras, and 52 bathing ghats.
The start of the Camel Fair and the Hindu observance of Prabodhini Ekadashi are determined by the Hindu calendar, taking place on the 11th lunar day of Kartik – which usually coincided with November on the Gregorian calendar. The town and the adjacent fair grounds are filled with crowds of religious pilgrims, animal-traders, entertainers, touts, merchants, and international tourists (see: Street Scenes in Pushkar).
Most of the international tourists are like me: travelling alone or in small groups with big cameras, and are there for the life and the colour.
Seated Sadu The life of a Hindu aesthetic is relatively simple: what you see here is probably everything this man owns: blankets to sit on and wrap in, a kumbh – or pot – for collecting sacred waters, a copy of the Rama Gita or some other holy text, and a small bag for other assorted toiletries, etc.
People on the Ghats Today is Prabodhini Ekadashi – “awakening eleventh” – the day that Vishnu woke up from his four-month sleep over Chaturmas. Ritual observances include chanting, fasting, and bathing in Lake Pushkar.
Woman in the Crowd The streets are busy with pilgrims heading to the ghats and temples.
Salesman in a Kumbh Shop During the Pushkar Fair period, a ritual bath in the lake is said to lead to salvation. Hindu faithful also carry water home with them: often buying special containers, or kumbh, for the purpose.
Prayer Beads and a Blazer I can’t help but wonder how far some of the pilgrims have walked carrying their kumbhs.
Sadhus on the Road The different styles of sadhu are fascinating to watch as they make their way into town.
Sadhu Portrait
Cooking Street Food The streets are lined with fresh food …
Sequinned Textiles … and colourful goods.
Colourful Dupatta Women in red headscarves check out the jewellery on offer in stalls alongside the road.
Pilgrim Women Friends find places to sit and rest on their walk into town.
Older Woman in Blue
Woman with a Young Boy
Woman in Pink and Red
Selling Vegetables Roadside vendors clump into groups, where the conversation is as important the sale.
Mannequins The shop-front mannequins seem strangely out of place.
Street Colours The streets are full of colour as pilgrims make their way …
Child in the Crowd … through the crowded streets …
Outside Gau Ghat … and into Pushkar’s most important bathing ghat.
Woman with a Head Load Even though the pilgrims keep coming, …
A Moment’s Respite … there are moments of quiet reflection, …
Heat and Smiles … and there is always time for a smile.
Face amid the Saris Between the ghats and the fairgrounds, the crowds continue.
Old Sadhu
Women at Tea Shop I love masala chai! An open-air teashop just outside the fairgrounds provides me with a good opportunity to stop, …
Woman in a Pink Sari … chat with the women, …
Woman in a Marigold Sari … and raise a cup of chai.
Hot, sweet, rich, masala chai –
As hot as the streets, as rich as the colours, and as sweet as the welcoming smiles.
Yet again Ursula, it is wonderful to see your smiling face in my Inbox, reliving our great time together once more. Do hope you are well and thank you for the little walk here down memory lane. You are so amazing too. . . . the stories and the depth of your knowledge. Absolutely Amazing. Miss you Girlfriend. . . .ReplyCancel
A Camel and the Pyramids What could be more iconic? A camel in the heat-haze of the desert, a Bedouin tent, tumbled ruins, and pyramids on the horizon!
There are some sights – no matter how many times they have been shown in photos or on film – that you just have to see for yourself.
Sure, there are stock images online that are taken in better weather conditions and from better angles, and the hosts of travel programs get superior entry and access – but none of that can add up to the amazement and wonder that comes from a first-hand experience.
I’ve just returned from my first foray into the Middle East, where the evidence of human civilisation stretches back millennia. A different archaeological wonder lay around every corner as I walked around locations so laden with ancient historical stories that I felt as if I could hear them in the pulsating heat and smell them in the ubiquitous burning incense.
My first day included the short bus ride from my Cairo hotel to Al-Jīzah on the outskirts of the city. Nothing prepares you for that first sighting of the Great Pyramid of Pharaoh Khufu, rising some 147 meters (481 feet) from the Giza Plateau as it comes into view out of dusty bus windows. I caught my breath and swallowed hard.
Naturally, as we walked around the pyramids – jockeying for position with tourists from all over the globe and firmly refusing camel rides, postcards, and trinkets – we were told the stories of their construction. I’ll give you the short version: roughly 4,500 years ago (some time between 2575 and 2465 BC), they were built – not by slaves, as I was told in Grade 3 Social Studies, but by skilled under-employed farmers during the agricultural low season. Current thinking is that during the annual Nile floods, the populace could not work the lands, but could transport building materials on the rising flood waters, and could construct the massive pyramids and the funereal complexes that surrounded them. Egypt’s pharaohs were expected to become gods and return to their bodies after death, so everything they might need was interred with them, deep in secret rooms where robbers or enemies would presumably not find them.
Of course, we all know how that worked out.
But, raided though they might have been, the tombs themselves still stand: testaments to incredible design and engineering skills, superb logistic organisation, and wonderful artistic ingenuity. Thanks to the Rosetta Stone, which allowed scholars to decipher the hieroglyphs so intricately carved and painted on the interior walls, we have a rich understanding of the lives of the pharaohs and the processes involved in their embalming.
The largest tomb at Giza is the Pyramid of Khufu or Cheops – often called simply The Great Pyramid of Giza – is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, and the only one to remain reasonably intact. The whole Giza site comes under UNESCO-World Heritage protection as Memphis (the first Capital of Ancient Egypt) and its Necropolis.
Join me for a glimpse.
View from the Marriott Mena House It’s as if every period of history is represented! Once the site of an old hunting lodge set on 16 hectares of gardens, Mena House in Giza first opened to the public in 1886. Photographs of screen stars, presidents and princesses who have visited sit in a case in the elaborate drawing room of this oId stone palace, and I could well imagine Hercule Poirot sitting under the elaborate gas chandelier, looking out over the manicured lawns and the Great Pyramid.
Entering Giza It is barely eight o’clock on an October morning, but the sun is already high, the light is blinding, and the heat bounces off the stones, both old and new.
Exploring the Tomb of Pharaoh Khufu or Cheops With the Robbers’ Tunnel entrance – excavated by workers employed by the Caliph al Ma’mun, a ninth century Arab governor of Cairo – overhead, visitors clamber over the lower levels of the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Take my Portrait! All over the giant stones, each weighing 2.5 tonnes, …
Check out my Selfie! … people share pictures of their experience.
Walid Explains Our guide is passionate about his country’s history and culture, and enthusiastically explains how the pyramids were built.
Rough Stones The ancient stones were once covered by polished limestone casing stones which would have been smooth and gleaming, shining white in the sun.
Pyramid of Pharaoh Khafre The limestone capping remains on the top of the smaller Pyramid of Khafre, …
Pyramid of Pharaoh Khafre … giving us a good idea how glorious they all must have looked.
People in the Street As well as visitors from all around the world, there are locals, in traditional dress, walking around the site.
Dog at the Pyramid of Khafre The skinny dogs are dwarfed by the giant stones.
Camel-Back Official There is a visible security and police presence.
Leading the Animals Camels and ponies are available for hire.
In Front of the Pyramid of Khafre Tourism in Egypt is still in decline following the Arab Spring and the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, and many touts and guides are struggling to make a living.
Pyramids of Giza The Pyramid of Khafre and the smaller Pyramid of Menkaure float in the heat haze.
Camel at Giza Camels wait for riders …
Camels at Giza … while some get lucky. (iPhone6)
Cairo in the Heat Haze Behind us, the massed high-rises of Cairo disappear into the smog.
Camel and Khafre To me, the camels define the scene.
Mastaba of Seshemnefer IV from the Bus Not all of the tombs are for pharaohs; this one is for Seshemnefer IV, who was Head of the Royal Harem up until about 2340 BC.
Pyramid, Ponies, and Patterns
Perspective is Everything! Giza is home to the enigmatic sphinx.
Inscrutable With the body of a lion, the sphinx’s head was thought to be modelled on Pharaoh Kafre, but the monolith – carved from limestone bedrock – is giving up no secrets.
Giza and the Sphinx If you are not careful with your camera angles, the relatively small (20 m (66 ft) high) sculpture is dwarfed by the massive pyramids behind it.
What an extraordinary introduction to Egyptian mystery and history.
Walking among structures that have stood for so long was simply awe-inspiring.
[…] be over a thousand years younger than the magnificent Pyramids of the Old Kingdoms at Giza (see: Stories in Ancient Stone), but even the graffiti defacing them is older than the buildings I grew up […]ReplyCancel
[…] the mind-blowing pyramids at Giza (see: Stories in Ancient Stone) to the amazing tombs in the Valley of the Kings (see: The Writing on the Walls, and Take me to the […]ReplyCancel
Red, White, Green, and Blue Whitewashed walls, red or brown tiled roofs, green mountain shrubbery, and the blues of the Mediterranean sky: the mountains of Andalusia in Southern Spain are known for their charming Pueblos Blancos or White Villages.
The literature we had been sent called the town of Mijas‘the most charming and picturesque Andalusian village of the Costa del Sol’. They had me convinced with their picture of tiny whitewashed houses lining a steep, narrow staircase, decorated with wrought iron and hanging pots of geraniums; the idea of a stop for churros con chocolate in one of the many coffee shops was just a bonus!
In the mountains of Andalusia, there are a number of picturesque towns collectively known at the Pueblos Blancos or White Villages. We had a day docked in the Spanish coastal city of Málaga (see: Málaga – Costa del Sol) and took the opportunity to make the short bus trip into Las Alpujarras – as the mountains on the south slopes of the Sierra Nevada are called – to spend the afternoon in Mijas Pueblo. This traditional hillside village is nestled on the mountainside about 430 metres (1,476 feet) above sea level, overlooking the Costa del Sol.
The town dates back to prehistoric times, and boasts artefacts from the ancient Greeks and the Phoenicians. It came under the rule of Rome, the Visigoths, and later, the Moors – who ruled Andalucia for centuries before being conquered by the Catholic Monarchs in 487.
In the past, Mijas relied on agriculture, fishing, and some farming and mining for its livelihood, before turning to tourism in the 1950s. Today, the commercial centre of Mijas and the tourist centre of Mijas Pueblo have a symbiotic relationship as separate entities.
As is the case in many of the Pueblos Blancos, the Mijas local council enforces the regular whitewashing of all buildings to protect the tourism and heritage value. Historically, the whitewash mixture (lime, water, chloride, and white cement) was used to keep the houses cooler in summer and to repel insects.
It is a pleasant walk around the town – although with the meandering network of small streets, we kept getting lost! In many places, there are magnificent views back over the countryside and to the coast, which has earned the town the nickname: “Mirador de la Costa del Sol” or “Viewpoint of the Costa del Sol.”
Come for a walk:
“Mijas“ Say no more! The colourful town name on the promotional literature, and on the wall outside the Tourism Office, tells the visitor this is a lively place that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
Andalusian Donkeys The Asno Andaluzor Andalusian Donkey is the oldest European breed of domestic donkey, native to this general area. Today, they are rare – except here in Mijas, where they have progressed from working the fields and local mines, to becoming a tourist attraction.
Paseo Burro – Donkey Taxi Mijas Pueblo donkeys are as infamous as they are famous: animal rights activists have agitated over the years to improve the situations of these sweet little animals. We were lucky to not see any overburdened by overweight riders, and were pleased to see most of them were shaded as they waited for work.
Chapel of the Virgin of the Rock Excavated into the rocks around 1548 by Mercedarian friars, the Chapel of the Virgin is a monastery and Catholic holy site.
La Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña de Mijas The chapel is tiny …
Inside La Ermita de la Virgen de la Peña … but richly decorated, and with precious relics.
Jesus and the Bell Outside, Jesus of the Sacred Heart stands over the chapel.
Buying Fresh Nuts In the chapel courtyard, local nuts are for sale.
Water-Powered Mill Outside the old flour mill, a water mill has been restored …
Antiguo Molino de Harina – Old Flour Mill … and the ancient stone walls are decorated with plants.
Mijas Street Paved and cobbled streets lined with boutiques, coffee shops, restaurants, souvenir outlets, and residences meander off in all directions.
Mijas Street The narrow streets are steep, and full of stairs and tourists, …
Mijas Stairs … but the whitewash and hanging flowers make everything bright and cheerful.
Courtyards There are shops and restaurants to discover around every corner.
Pottery in Mijas Brightly coloured ceramic pottery hangs from artisan’s walls. (iPhone6)
Wrought Iron and Plant Pots The parish church of Iglesia Inmaculada Concepciónsits atop a hill on the horizon.
Mijas Courtyard The local residents must stay very fit with all the stairs!
Callistemon Colour is everywhere.
Fountain Plaza de la Constitución
Andalusian Hills New developments stretch out across the hills – but, they must conform to the rules of colour!
Mijas Panorama From one vantage point, we can look across the 10 kilometres to the sea – and beyond.
Bronze Statue Mijas pays tribute to the role that donkeys have had in its history: outside the Tourist Office, a statue of a donkey – designed by local artist, Lázaro Cruz Jaime and financed by the local Lions Club – takes pride of place.
Andalusian Horse As a horse-lover, I dreamed of Andalusians as a child. I was thrilled to see them in their native home, where they have been recognised as a distinct breed since the 15th century. Such magnificent animals – and much daintier than I expected.
Andalusian Horse I was pleased I had a bit of fruit in my bag to share with this beauty.
Andalusian Donkeys It’s a quiet afternoon, tourist-wise …
Man and his Donkeys … and the donkeys are taken back to their small pens for the night. International pressure has forced the council to keep a closer eye on the handling and care of these donkeys, but there is still room for improvement!
As the donkeys went home for the night, we filed back onto our bus to head back to our boat in Málaga harbour, where we would set sail for the next port on our agenda …
- Performing the Ganga Aarti from Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi
- Buddha Head from Shwedagon Pagoda, Myanmar
- Harry Clarke Window from Dingle, Ireland
- Novice Monk Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, Myanmar
Packets of 10 for $AU50.
Or - pick any photo from my Flickr or Wanders blog photos.
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But, I don’t for a moment pretend I understand how they do it! I can only hope I left more than I took.
As hot as the streets, as rich as the colours, and as sweet as the welcoming smiles.
Walking among structures that have stood for so long was simply awe-inspiring.
