A Word A Week: Roof

The Word this week is Roof.

I like viewing  large areas extensively covered by roofs of uniform color and style:

Terracotta roofs in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Bright color roofs everywhere, as far as your eyes can see.

 

Roofs and spire at Tallinn, Baltic.

Light color tiled roofs in Yunnan, China.

More roofs on a closer look in Yunnan, China.

I also like looking at individual roofs with different styles and architecture:

Unforgettable union dome-shaped roofs to church in Tallinn, Estonia.

Stepped roofs in the Baltic.

Roof at LiJiang, Yunnan.

Distinctively styled roofs at FengHuang, China.

Tiled temple roof at HongLuo Temple near Beijing, China.

Roof at Shirakawa-go, Japan. These are thatched roofs with an A frame structure so that heavy snow would not accumulate on them.

Roof to an ancient palace in Okinawa, Japan.

Roofs to yurts in Inner Mongolia, China.

Roof of Genghis Khan’s mausoleum at Inner Mongolian; a mix of dome and tiled Chinese roof.

Roofs to temples at Angkor Wat, Cambodia.

Multi-tiered dooms in Istanbul, Turkey.

Aren’t roofs fascinating ?

Weekly Photo Challenge: Masterpiece

This week’s challenge is Masterpiece.

This is not my masterpiece. I have gone through my archive, unfortunately, none of the photos in my collection can qualify as a masterpiece.

There may be one or two photos taken in the non-digital era that I would like to think are my masterpieces. However, I have lost them; they only exist in my memory. In my retirement, I will be searching for my masterpiece for sharing.

This image is a response to requests ( in English and Spanish!) from several reader friends.  It is the color version of the B&W picture I uploaded in my last post Black and White Photo Challenge: Abstract.

As blogger friend Opalla has pointed out, this is a new Rorschach test which I have created. The image may depict ice cube, bubbles, horse rearing up, smoke etc. It just reflects what is on your mind.

Hope you would like this image too.

Black and White Weekly Photo Challenge: Abstract

This is my entry for Sonel’s Black & White Weekly photo challenge.

Abstract is quite difficult to define. When I look up a dictionary, it explains as: “thought of apart from concrete realities, specific objects, or actual instances”.

I think we know what abstract is when we see one.

Hope the image below conveys what Abstract is about.

Picture taken in an art gallery of the 798 Arts area of Beijing, China (photography was allowed). The image is based on a painting by an anonymous artist but turned into Black and White to make it looks even more abstract. . . . . . . . .

Travel Theme: Tilted

The theme this week at Where’s My Backpack is Tilted.….

Objects which are naturally tilted are more interesting than those which are tilted with human intention or manipulation; objects tilted by rotating the photo or the camera fall into the latter category.

We were travelling up the very steep hills of Tateyama- Kurobe in Japan. The tram was crowded. No seats were left  and I could hardly stand upright in the tram which took us up the steep incline.

Looking out of the tram window, many trees appeared slanting. I realized that this may only be a perception.  A perception that you get looking out of a tilted window frame as reference when the tram made the ascent.

The view from the tram was picturesque as the autumn foliage was colored. Some trees, I noted, however were tilted naturally. The fact that some of the topsoil gradually slipped down the steep slope has brought the trees along with them.

One tree looked particularly tilted (evidenced by comparing the non-verticality with the neighboring trees). I quickly took a picture while trying to  stand upright, never realizing that I could use such a photo for a challenge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Weekly Photo Challenge: Fresh

I like fresh flowers scenting the air.

Flowers just come popping up from the ground; they are love’s truest language, they are indeed the music of the ground.

This is a bouquet of small flowers in Koh Samui. They are so fresh that  you can see the tiny filaments reaching out from the flowers.

 In joy or sadness, flowers are our constant friends. Water lilies convey a special atmosphere of Zen; you feel fresh again on seeing the water lilies.

The water lily was also photographed on the island of Koh Samui, Thailand, early in the morning before of the start of a fresh new day.

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Golden Hour (3)

Some more photos from Jennie, my sister-in-law, on sunset in Africa.

This is a series of four images, taken as the sun went down.

Beautiful sky with swirling clouds, the sun reflected in the calm waters, tranquil lake with tropical water plants.

La Hora Magica – as one of my readers described this golden hour in Spanish!

In fact,  no words  can adequately describe it, it is something to be experienced – no matter where you are – in a city,  the bush, rainforests, mountains or lakes, you will love experiencing the African Sunset.

When the sun finally set and give way to total  darkness, you are overcome by the trillion of stars in the sky.

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Golden Hour (2)

This week’s photo challenge is The Golden Hour.

In photography, the “golden hour” is the first and last hour of sunlight of the day.

The images here were taken in the last hour of sunlight of the day in Langkawi, Malaysia.

The island of Langkawi is our favorite destination for relaxation.  We very much enjoy going out to the beach when the sun is setting and lazing around the beach until the sun finally set.

We like the tranquility of the beach, with the nearby islands silhouetted against an orange sky; the soothing murmurs of the sea as the gentle waves lap on the shore and also the reflection of the islands on the calm waters.

One of the readers commented that the Golden Hour is “La Hora Magica”. I love this in Spanish. It is indeed the magical moment. The minutes just before complete darkness sets in is even more magical. The sea and the sky have turned into a darker shade, but there are colorful streaks in the sky, appearing between the darker clouds.

The scene with islands, boat, tranquil waters illuminated under the last rays of light are not just golden but magical,  dreamy and picturesque; a scene  that we wish will last forever. . . . . . . .

Weekly Photo Challenge: The Golden Hour

This week’s photo challenge is The Golden Hour.

In photography, the “golden hour” is the first and last hour of sunlight of the day.

While I have quite a few images taken in the “golden hour”, but I consider that the images taken by Jennie, my sister-in-law,  out of Africa are more superior; for this reason I am posting a couple of them (or more of them, depending on the response) for sharing.

I can imagine that the burning heat rises up creating ripples in the air and there is a strong smell of the trees and grass in front of me.

While  feeling the heat and the humidity, I can see the distant trees silhouetted black against the colorful sky in the last hour of the sunlight.

Maybe, by now the birds and the wild beasts are all heading home  as the sun sets, ending another normal day in wild Africa. . . . . . .

A View Through the Gap

Climbing up the mountains of Zhangjiajie is a challenge.

When morning has broken, we were happy to have a blissful view through the gap between the canyons in Zhangjiajie, China.

We were at a lost as to how this slender tree can grow so near to the edge of the cliff and how on earth was the gap formed. Anyway, we had a peaceful feeling. . . . . . . . .  .

The Lovely Harbor of Hong Kong

Hong Kong is known for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbor.

Hong Kong actually means fragrant harbor in Chinese. Historians used to say that it was derived from the name of  a fishing village on Hong Kong island where fragrant incense was made and exported hundred of years ago.

There is a view from the Kowloon side which I am never tired of viewing – skyscrapers on the island coming out almost to the water edge, with the tall Victoria Peak as a backdrop.  On a cloudy day, the Victoria Peak is delightfully capped by clouds.

On the right is the Ocean Terminal where ocean going cruise vessels berthed. The docking of ocean liners right at the heart of this beautiful city could only add to the loveliness of the harbor.

This is a place I call home where all my blog posts are written, a place which I would sorely miss when I am travelling. But I know when I come home to this lovely place, the golden sun will shine for me . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .