.jpg) Wet Mountain Road
The paved roads slip away quickly in the Thai hills of Mae Hong Son Province. I love driving into Thailand’s green, jungle-draped mountains, where the clouds hang so low they look like snow patches, and the sun traces the outlines of dark post-afternoon rainclouds and glints off the golden Buddhas and bejewelled temple rooftops.
If you turn off the highways, however, it is not long before the ornate temples – and even the paved roads themselves – disappear.
This is the territory of the Thai “Hill Tribes”; ethnic minority groups who are often Animist, sometimes Christian or Buddhist, but seldom rich enough to guild their places of worship. Some of the remote villages in these hills host trekking ethnographic-tourism, but mostly the people farm hill-rice for themselves on the steep mountain slopes, and eke a meagre living out of the market produce they grow. When I first visited the region, it was all cabbages; today they have branched out into corn, tomatoes, and soybean. But, what they get payed for the product of their labour, compared to what the consumers in the valleys pays for the produce, is a pittance.
It’s a hard life in this land beyond the reach of electrical poles and telephone service! But, the people are invariably welcoming – as I have discovered on all my previous trips into the region.
This last May (see: The Faces of THEP), I was travelling with a small group of educators who manage the Thailand Hilltribe Education Projects (THEP), which I’ve written about several times before (see: Ursula’s Weekly Wanders: THEP). It was day three of our travel with the indefatigable Susan Race, the driving force behind THEP, and we set off early in the hopes of getting up the steep roads before rains washed them away. Unlike the locals who navigate the treacherously slippery and rutted muddy tracks on motorcycles, we had the luxury of travelling in four-wheel drive utility trucks. Even so, there were some hair-raising moments!
We were off to visit a school high in the hills at Ban Huay Mae Gok – a village so small that it is invisible to my Google Maps. As remote as this village school might be, the children who attend it live in even more inaccessible locations: hence the new dormitory project that THEP was supervising. For without somewhere on-site to live, hill tribe children from these far-flung mountain hamlets cannot attend school at all.
Join me on a school visit beyond the guide-books.
.jpg) Rudraksha (ไคร้ย้อย) Tree
The dainty flowers on a rudraksha (Elaeocarpus grandiflorus) tree are known as fairy petticoats.
An hour or so out of Mae Sariang, we pulled in at a rest stop for a break, before turning our trucks off the main road for a second hour of driving. Everything is a long way away in “The Hills”. .jpg) Champak (จำปา) Tree
The morning rain had washed everything clean, and the flowers on the champak (Magnolia champaca) tree smelled gorgeous.  Wet Muddy Road
The quality of the roads drops off pretty quickly as you leave the highway, and drive onto the dirt and into the rainclouds. (iPhone6) No Electricity
When we reached Ban Huay Mae Gok School, we found the children gathered in dark classrooms. I looked at the solar panels around the grounds, and asked the principal why they had no power. He shook his head and shrugged: the school is beyond the reach of centralised electricity, and their storage batteries have expired and died. While their solar panels work in good weather, rainy season lasts a long time… When we visited, the school had been without power for about five weeks. Karen Kids in the Classroom
The young Karen Hill Tribe children, many in their traditional shirts woven from purple cotton, … Girls Learning their Letters
… practice their Thai writing on the floor of a dim classroom. Girls Writing
Thai is their second language: these children speak Karen with each other and at home with their families. TV Receiver out the Window
We walked up a slippery hill to the newly-built and as-yet empty dormitory. Looking out the window, I could only reflect on the irony of having phones, television, and internet; all pretty useless when you have no power supply! Workers out the Window
A couple of local men watch … Checking the Toilet Block
… as Susan documents the progress of the building. She keeps meticulous records for reports to project funders. Project Worker
THEP won’t pay for labour on building projects: schools need to find the money themselves, or persuade people to donate their time and skills. Measuring for Bunkbeds
Susan and Khru Apichart – another driver behind THEP – measure the new dormitory for bunkbeds. Giving Thanks before Lunch
Back at the canteen, the children are waiting for permission to start their lunch. Focussed on Lunch
It is simple fare: white rice, fresh tomato, a cabbage and pork mixture, and a biscuit for desert. An Imp and her Lunch
Some of the children are enjoying our company as much as their meals, … Smiling Girls at Lunch
… while others are busy socialising with friends. Lunch Little Girl – Big Plate
The tiniest girl in the room was also the slowest eater. Time’s Up!
We were not sure if she was full, or had just run out of time, when she returned her dish to the washing-up area. Karen Girls on the Steps
A couple of girls wave us off, as we head back to the school’s offices for our own lunch. Food and Laughter
A trip into the hills with Susan Race to check on THEP projects is never short on good, fresh, local food – or on laughter. At the Shelter
Just outside in a sheltered rest area, a Karen grandmother and girl, both in traditional, age-appropriate dress, wait for their transport home. The principal of this school is enthusiastic about promoting English – even though that is the third language for Karen-speaking communities who have to learn Thai to get by. All around the school grounds, there are signs in English, with the corresponding pronunciation and meaning in Thai. Karen Grandmother and Girl
Grandma, who is wearing a beautiful mountain-coral necklace and a traditional head-wrap, has a mouth full of chewing tobacco. Betel nut has fallen out of favour. Karen Kids in the Rain
It may be Saturday, and they may have had their lunch, but the children have not yet been released to go home; … Toothbrushes
… Khru Usa and the school principal have some donated toothbrushes to distribute. Outside the Classrooms The Work Party
Meanwhile, representatives from the the school, the village, THEP, and the Department of Education finish up their discussions outside the office. Susan and the Village Headman
Working with community leaders helps ensure more successful projects. Rutted Mountain Roads
What drives up must go down again: soon it is time to get back into the trucks and navigate the mountain roads down the hill, … … and onto the next project.
Until then,
Happy Travels!
10June2017
Posted in Education,Portraits,Thailand,TravelTags: children,costumes,education,environmental portrait,environmental portraits,flowers,people,Photo Blog,portrait,portraits,Thailand,Thailand Hilltribe Education Projects,THEP,traditional,traditional dress,travel,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall
Chris Eaton and Chris Brooker
Billed as “5 Musicians + lots of different instruments = Great music!”, the Round Mountain Girls are local crowd-pleasers. Support your local musicians!
In Australia, this is easy, for in the world of music – as with just about every other creative endeavour – the country is extraordinarily well represented, per capita, with talented individuals who work hard at their craft.
Although I love getting to see the international “big names” whenever I attend the annual Easter-weekend Byron Bay Bluesfest, I also enjoy indulging in the wealth of local talent – whether that be from old favourites, or from performers who are new to me. One of the many beauties of Bluesfest is the consistent quality of the music – wherever it hails from and whatever the style.
And so it was at this year’s festival last April. We studied our schedules with highlighters in hand, marking the people we had to see and groups we wanted to catch, and then filled in any gaps with whomever else was playing.
Not once were we disappointed!
Whether they were performers I’d listened to many times before, or new (to me) discoveries, the local musicians that I managed to hear were in fine form. This year, it just happened that every local performance I attended was centred on guitars and strings.
For me, it is almost as much fun trying to capture some kind of “essence” of the performers in digital portraits taken from the crowded audience spaces in dark tents – usually with the ISO turned up high on my “noisy” old Canon 5D Mark II to cope with the lack of light, and my second-hand 2.8 70-200mm lens (without image stabilisation) to deal with the distance.
Enjoy some of our local talent!
Jeff Lang
Australian singer/songwriter Jeff Lang is known for his guitar skills. He has played at Bluesfest before, and we’ve seen him there – and at the Thredbo Blues Festival (see: Summer Blues and The Blues in Colour) – and enjoyed him every time. Jeff Lang
Jeff started out playing clarinet at a young age, and now plays slide and standard guitars, banjo, mandolin, Chumbush and drums. The Drummer
On this occasion, however, Jeff left the drumming to one of Australia’s finest percussionists: Greg Sheehan. Ray Beadle
Award-winning Australian blues guitarist Ray Beadle was in fine, toe-tapping form. Ray Beadle
He’s played at Bluesfest before – he’s also spent time playing at B.B King’s Club in Memphis and Buddy Guy’s Club in Chicago. Impressive! Emily Wurramara
Emily Wurramara, the infectiously cheerful singer, songwriter and musician from Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria, was one of the local performers at the Boomerang Indigenous Arts Festival, which ran concurrently for three of the five festival days. Her sweet voice and sunny disposition was an absolute treat (see: Blues Women Rock). Women Dancing
There is always plenty of entertainment and activity outside the tents. Mother and Daughter Dancing
The gypsy dancers start young! Young Girl Dancing
With her feet moving and her skirts swirling, … Young Dancer
… it is clear that this youngster was born to perform! Chris Eaton – Round Mountain Girls
The band is known for their wonderfully frenetic live performances, but their recorded music is also a joy. Chris Brooker – Round Mountain Girls Chris Willoughby – Round Mountain Girls Rabbit Robinson – Round Mountain Girls
Leaping around the stage like a leprechaun, award-winning fiddle player Rabbit Robinson is a joy to watch and listen to. Lucas Proudfoot – Didgeridoo
Lucas Proudfoot, a member of the Tweed Coast Aboriginal and Islander Community, brought his extraordinary talents on the didgeridoo to part of the Round Mountain Girls’ set. Lloyd Spiegel
The sounds of a classic bluesy guitar enticed me into the Jambalaya tent on the second-last day of the festival when I was on my way to hear someone else. I stayed to listen to a couple of original songs and some story-telling before vowing to check Lloyd Spiegel out further the next day. Lloyd Spiegel
I absolutely loved him! And not just his guitar style: his stories about working in Japan demonstrating guitars, about his personal life, and about life as a musician, were all self-depreciating and very funny. “The only thing worse [for a guitarist] than playing after Ray Beadle,” Lloyd told us, “is playing before Jeff Lang!” There he was on the program, wedged between two of Australia’s great guitarists. “Jeff’s never heard another guitarist play at their best,” he continued. “As soon as they find out that Jeff is in the building, they sh#t themselves!” Jeff Lang Back Stage
And sure enough, there was Jeff, checking his equipment before his set. As far as I could tell, however, Lloyd didn’t miss a finger-picking beat. Mojo Tent at Sundown As the sun lowered over the tents on the last day, we became aware that another festival was soon coming to a close.
We still had the last of the international big names to take in, but we were already dancing and singing, well “warmed up” by our excellent local performers.
Until next time,
Let’s dance!
Pictures: 15-17April2017
Posted in Australia,environmental portrait,Music,PerformanceTags: Australia,australian,blog,Byron Bay Bluesfest,dancer,environmental portrait,environmental portraits,guitarist,lights,low light,music,musicians,people,performance,performers,Photo Blog,portrait,portraits,Ursula Wall
Mabry Mill
One of the most photographed sites on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the charming Mabry Mill dates back to the early 1900s. Steering the car off the turnpikes and onto the Blue Ridge Parkway is like stepping back in time.
One has to slow down instantly: the posted speed limit is never higher than 45 mph (72 kph), and the winding mountain curves ensure slower speeds in many sections. For the 469 miles (755 km) that snake through the valleys and passes of the Blue Ridge Mountains, there are trees and mountain-tops stretching into the horizon. The few homesteads or townships that can be seen in the valleys below are rendered idyllic by their very distance.
Appalachian frontiersmen – like Daniel Boone – were glamorised for their ruggedness and self-sufficiency. However, life of old in these mountains was far from romantic. The beauty of the environment has to be balanced against the relentless physicality of the lifestyle. Early farmers struggled not only against the harsh terrain and environment, but also against unfair taxation and lack of state funding for infrastructure development. Even in recent years, poverty indicators have remained high, and isolated pockets still exist without electricity or running water.
The Appalachian Scenic Highway, as the Blue Ridge Parkway was originally called under the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, sought to preserve some of the history and culture of the hard-working mountain people who carved a life there, and to protect the flora and the fauna indigenous to the region. This is the land of bluegrass music, cornhusk dolls, intricate woodwork, and stunning patchwork quilts.
The first stop for my husband and myself after entering this “National Scenic Byway” at its northernmost point at Rockfish Gap, Virginia (Mile 0) late last spring, was at the Humpback Rocks Farm Visitor Center,;where we were able to appreciate how how hard these pioneers had to work (see: Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway Part 1).
Outbuilding – Humpback Rocks Farm (Mile 6.1)
Early settlers used ingenuity and the materials around them, building over creeks and using stone foundations for cold-storage areas. The cabin homestead and outbuildings at Humpback Rocks Farm all date to the 1800s, and were collected from the surrounding area as representatives of the self-sufficient 19th century farms in the region. (iPhone6) White Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus)
As well as readily available building materials, enterprising settlers had plenty of game in the woods, … Wild Strawberries
… and wild fruits, nuts, and vegetables all around them. Wild Turkey
Native American wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) still roam here. I just caught this one from the car window before s/he moved off into the woods. View from the Window
Unlike the roughly-hewn farms of old, the modern farming operations we pass are tracts of very tidy flat ground. (iPhone6) Tulip Tree Flowers
The open farmlands are interspersed with expansive National Forests. One of my favourite trees was the exotic Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera), a native in these eastern North American Appalachian cove forests. Mabry Mill in Spring
It’s a picture postcard: an old wooden mill, backed by stone bridges and wet spring Virginia woods. Mabry Mill (Mile 176.1)
Some time before 1905, Ed and his wife Lizzie Mabry, together with their neighbour, Newton Hylton, started building a wooden gristmill, waterwheel, … Water Flume
… and lengthy water supply system – all with local woods and hand tools. Water Flume
Ed Mabry understood using water for power. In the late 1800s, he had a water-turned lathe, which he used to make chairs. Bridge in the Green
The National Park Service purchased the mill and property from Lizzie Mabry in 1938, and finished the restoration in 1942. Today, visitors can wander around the gristmill, sawmill, and blacksmith shop. Duck on the Lawn Rhododendron Buds
The mill’s surrounds are beautiful; but one can only imagine the daily unremitting physical hard work … Mabry Mill Tapestry
Today, the area is popular with tourists all year round, but especially during peak seasons, when old-time craft demonstrations take place. This tapestry is a eye-catching example of the artistic quilting that is a highlight of the region. Puckett Cabin (Mile 189.9)
Puckett Cabin on Groundhog Mountain is a visual reminder of another great Appalachian
character: Orlean Hawks Puckett. Alternately called Orleana, Orlena, Aulina, or even Pauline, Orlean was born in 1837 and married at 16. The story is that she gave birth to 24 children between 1862 and 1881 – many were stillborn and none survived more than a day or two. It is not clear why all her children died; while it has been suggested that she or her husband murdered them, it is more likely that she had some disease that infected the baby, like Rh hemolytic disease. Without any formal education, and starting when she was almost 50, she reputedly went on to help deliver more than 1,000 babies without losing a single mother or child. She continued to work as a volunteer midwife almost until her death in 1939 at the age of 102. Rain on the Parkway
Every mile … View from my Window
… and every hour … (iPhone6) Stone Bridge
… as we wound our way from Virginia into North Carolina … Endless Mountains
… we could look out over the forests and the mountains and imagine them going on forever as they did in the past. Back in the Modern World
Then, unlike the hardy pioneers, we pulled off the Parkway every evening, and re-entered the modern world for the night. I guess highways and roadworks are part of the price we pay for our modern creature comforts.
It was a very different world for those early Appalachian mountain people – and still is for the communities even now living deep in the woods and mountains …
Until next time,
Happy Rambling!
Pictures: 25-27May2016
Posted in History,Travel,USATags: America,Blue Ridge Parkway,drive,flowers,landscape,National Park,National Parkway,National Scenic Byway,nature,NC,North Carolina,Photo Blog,road trip,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall,VA,Virginia,walk,woods
Colourful “Sadhu”
With his elaborate face paint – and the tinsel, artificial flowers, and pompoms in his hair – this man is a far cry from the ascetic sadhus one sees wandering all over India and Nepal. Pashupatinath, three kilometres northwest of Kathmandu on the Bagmati River, is home to one of the most sacred of Nepal’s Hindu temples and cremation sites.
One of the “seven groups of monuments and buildings” that make up the UNESCO-listed Kathmandu Valley, Pashupatinath Temple and the Bagmati Cremation Ghats are also on just about every tourist’s itinerary while in the city. So, the site hosts a mix of holy people tending shrines and selling blessings, venders trading in all manner of religious paraphernalia and offerings, Hindu pilgrims, non-Hindu tourists and gawkers, hawkers of tourist trinkets, and beggars.
The first time I visited Pashupatinath, some 15+ years ago (see: Heaven and Hard Work), I was almost overwhelmed by the experience: I found the sight of families around the ghats across the black and filthy river, with their deceased loved ones in flames, distressing and ineffably sad. The hot, humid air was thick with the smells of smoke from the funeral pyres, burning incense, and human waste. A crowd of beggars, children and hawkers attached themselves to the small group I was travelling with, and it was impossible to move without almost stepping on someone.
Last March, thanks to a workshop organised by travel photographer Gavin Gough, with the help of photojournalist Jack Kurtz, I got to visit again with a small group of photography enthusiasts.
Pashupatinath has changed: the April 2015 earthquake hit this area, damaging some of the shrines. It was raining, so the steps on the east bank of the Bagmati were washed clean, and much less crowded than I remembered. I certainly don’t remember wildly-decorated “sadhus” hanging around with their hands out for money!
But, I too have changed. I have much more “travel experience” under my belt now, and deal much more easily with the unfamiliar. I found myself “seeing” much more of the site this trip, and interacting more comfortably with all the people there – not just those dressed up for the benefit of the tourists.
I spent some time visiting the Siddhi Shaligram Briddhashram, the “Home for the Elderly”, a Social Welfare Center facility originally built as the Panchdeval (five shrines) Pakshala during the mid- to late 19th century within the grounds of the Pashupatinath Temple complex. This is a beautiful, serene facility for frail old people without independent means, and whose relatives can’t or won’t care for them in a world that has moved towards more stand-alone nuclear families. It was a shame that photos were not allowed inside, because not only did the elderly residents have a quiet dignity, but the central shrine itself – although damaged by the earthquake – was beautiful.
This set of photos speaks much more about the people of Pashupatinath than the place.
Burning Ghats
The cremation ghats, in use 24 hours a day, line the west bank of the Bagmati River. Cremation Pyre
Hindus believe that fire purifies and liberates the body, allowing it to disintegrate back into the five Mahabhutas, or great elements. People on the Steps
Many local and international tourists enter the temple area from the east bank. Perhaps it is a consequence of the still-low post-earthquake tourist numbers, but this area was much less crowded than I remembered from my last visit many years ago. Monkey on the Steps
The monkeys (rhesus macaques) on the river bank enjoy scraps from the visitors and the sadhus. Colourful Sadhus
Three brightly painted “holy men” were waiting in the alcoves on the east bank for tourists to take their pictures. Sadhu with a Kumbha
Nepali Hindus that I spoke to insisted that these are fake “holy men” from India; … Sadhu with a Water Pot
… real sadhus – especially Nepali ones – don’t beg to have their pictures taken. Colourful Sadhu
But, I think it is a bit like the men in leather togas at the coliseum in Rome: they stand around all day in costumes and if you want to take their picture, you pay for it. It’s a tough way to make a living! We agreed a price up front, and made our shots. Bridge over the Bagmati River
Non-Hindus are not allowed into the inner temple, but there are plenty of nooks, crannies and shrines to explore regardless. Hindu Holy Woman
My first stop was to get a tilaka (or bindi) applied to my forehead, some kalava threads tied around my wrist, and blessings in general bestowed upon me, by a holy woman. Hindu Holy Woman Hindu Holy Woman
Having a tilaka on my forehead already didn’t stop the next woman from beckoning me into her little shrine for another blessing. Applying Tika Powder
Morning rituals start young! Total Focus
Creating a tilaka takes a great deal of attention. Tenacity and Grace
Always graceful, but unrelenting: this saleswoman was determined that I should buy one the necklaces she had for sale. Of course, I was no match – and did. Stairs Up
The temple complex continues up a set of steps, away from the river. Ganesha
Although most of the complex is dedicated to Pashupati, an incarnation of Shiva, this shrine features the elephant-headed god Ganesha. Shrines
Old trees, moss-covered shrines, and piles of rubble are everywhere. Old Bell Ruins
Ornate concrete fascia pieces sit in a pile amongst the many shrines. Monkey in the Ruins
The monkeys are at home here. Pouring Water over a Golden Statue
They (and I) watch over a wall as a man pours water over a golden statue; … Guru and a Golden Statue Ruins inside the Enclosure
There was an entry into the enclosure housing the golden statue. Cows roamed freely, and pieces of old buildings slid into collapse. Off-Duty Police Officer
With broken English and pantomime, this charming young policeman and I had a chat. He explained that the man in orange was paying tribute to his guru. (iPhone6) It is amazing what you learn when you have a chance to talk to people at the sites that “everybody” visits!
Until next time,
Namaste!
Pictures: 11March2017
Posted in Nepal,Portraits,Religious Practice,TravelTags: animals,architecture,blog,environmental portrait,environmental portraits,hindu,hinduism,Photo Blog,portrait,portraits,religion,temple,travel,Travel Blog,UNESCO,Ursula Wall
On the Rhine Falls
Tourists on a passenger boat and on a viewing platform marvel at the face of Europe’s largest water fall: the Reinfall on the Rhine River between the Swiss Cantons of Zurich and Schaffhausen. Travelling around Switzerland is like luxuriating in a box of the rich, truffle-filled chocolates that the country is famous for.
Everywhere you go, picture-postcard scenes meet you.
And, if you have Swiss friends to guide you and a Swiss Travel Pass in hand, you don’t even have to work hard: accessing these magic places is easy.
We were headed out on a simple day trip from where we were staying near Zurich: we were taking a train to the SBB (Schweizerische Bundesbahnen) railway station at Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall, another train across the river to Schaffhausen, and then a third train back to Zurich …
Viaduct over the Rheinfall
Our rail trip to the Rhine Falls gave us a good view over the roiling waters of the Rhine – and of the railway and pedestrian viaduct that crosses it. (iPhone5) Accessing the Rheinfall
The medieval castle of Schloss Laufen, sitting high over the Falls, now operates as a tourist attraction … Courtyard over the Rheinfall
… and houses a restaurant and a youth hostel. Outside Elevator
The Castle also offers an elevator down to the river for those who don’t want to make the short walk. The Roar of the Rhine Falls
At river-level, it is easier to appreciate the power of the 150 metre- (490 ft) wide falls. Boats on the Rhine Falls
The tourist boats on the river are colour-coded: some do a brief tour, some let you out at the rocks in the middle of the falls, and some explore further. Boat on the Rhine Fall
The tourist boats are dwarfed by the spray from the 23 metre- (75 ft) high falls. On the Rheinfall
We opted for the short trip – Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall
– which never-the-less gave us a good view of the castle on the right bank of the river, … Central Rocks in the Falls
… and of the island rock structures in the middle of the falls. The taller rock has a boat dock and a walking path up to the Swiss flag at the top. Tourist Boat on the Rhine Falls The Munot
It was a very short train trip from Schloss Laufen am Rheinfall, and across the river to Schaffhausen – with it’s landmark 16th-century circular fortress. (iPhone5) The Munot
Built using forced labour between 1563 and 1585, today the circular Munot Fortress is accessed by a walk bridge over a deep moat. Inside the Fortress
The inside of the Munot is dark and eerie; I have no idea how it must have been configured in the old days when it was defending against French invaders. Wedding Couple
Old buildings might be interesting, but this one is little more than a shell – albeit a fascinating and unique shell – with diagrams; … Wedding Couple
… so having newlyweds using the site for their pictures made the walls come to life! Top of the Munot
At the top of the Munot, there are plenty of tables where you can enjoy a coffee or ice-cream. View over Altstadt
Alternately, you can admire the views over old Schaffhausen … View over the Rhine
… and the river; … Wedding Party on the Munot
… or you can just people-watch. Head Towards the Light!
We worked our way back down through the dark tower, towards the light of the fortress’ doorway. Altstadt through the Vines
From there, we were pitched headlong through the vines … Rooftop
… and past the quaintly tiled rooftops, … Stairs to the Altstadt
… and down the steep stairs towards the Old City of Schaffhausen. Crosswalk to the Old Town Oriel Windows
Schaffhausen has been called “Erkerstadt” because of the 171 Erker (oriel bay windows) in the city. Shopfront Selfie
I love the abstract layers that are produced by reflections: photographer, photographed; old town; modern shop with new products. A Town Square Waiting for the Wife Girl in the Fountain
Haus zum Ritter (built in 1492)
Like many of the building fronts in Schaffhausen, Haus zum Ritter is wonderfully decorated with frescos. Erker : Oriel Window
The oriel windows in Schaffhausen were built as status symbols on the houses of rich merchants. Swiss Cheese Trap
Some of the ornate building-fronts house quirky shops selling unique items – like Swiss cheese traps. Beautiful Building Front
Other buildings appear to exist for their own sake. A simple day trip, but one filled with postcard-views.
Until next time,
Happy Travels!
Pictures: 3August2014
Posted in Landscapes,Switzerland,TravelTags: architecture,environmental portrait,Photo Blog,Pictures,Postcards,Swiss,Switzerland,travel,Travel Blog,Ursula Wall
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You write SO WELL!!! Thanks again Ursula.
Awe, thanks Susan. It is such a pleasure travelling with you. 😀
Humbling and inspiring. The image of the children in silent prayers is haunting. I am happy to see that these little dolls are healthy and happy.
Hi Sidran,
Happy and healthy, they are indeed! No shortage of beautiful, fresh food. They have to work extra hard to get their educations, though.
Ursula,
You are truly a master story teller both in words and images. Now, I too will look forward to your wanders
xoxo
Ivy
Thanks so much for your kind words, Ivy! It will be a pleasure to have your company.
[…] On the third day, we drove high into the mountains to look at a new school dormitory (see: Roads Less Travelled), and then to an old canteen and dormitories in need of repairs and sprucing up. On the last day, […]