my travelling journal

Zurich ... the people

2007-02-21T04:21:00.000-08:00

Zurich ... the portrait shots

2007-02-21T04:20:00.000-08:00

Zurich ... the colours

2007-02-21T04:17:00.000-08:00

Zurich ... the city

2007-02-21T04:11:00.000-08:00

London in the snow

2007-02-21T04:05:00.000-08:00

This happened quite a while ago (8 February), but things have been a bit hectic lately, so I'm only posting these photos now. It was a beautiful (though slippery) winter wonderland. Thank goodness for my himalayan snow boots. (Courtesy Karien van Schalkwyk)

2007-02-17T12:09:00.000-08:00

Koebaaaaai

Praying beads

2007-01-09T02:25:00.000-08:00

Since my friend Ricardo have explained some of the beautiful aspects of the Roman Catholic Religion I have wanted to purchase a rosary. The reason not only being aesthetics but also because I believe there lies beauty in this tradition. Unfortunately it has been difficult to find anything other than fashion accesories, which is obviously not remotely the same thing that I had in mind. But, last Friday I went to Greenwich Market with my sister where I found a woman selling antiques from france, amongst which were a few rosaries from the beginning of the 20th century. Not only did I find a beautiful mother of pearl rosary, but it's 2nd hand and you can see how every bead has been chaved away by weary fingers reciting 'hail mary's' and 'our holy fathers'. I am so glad to have found this treasure, which is why I have included these pictures.

For those of you interested in these sort of things, do yourself a favour and wikipedia the word 'prayer beads', mind boggling how many religions make use of this method of prayer. (Yes, even the Christian religion, which is surprising since they are usually the first to condemn the use of these symbolic methods)

Anyway - if you look closely on the left you will see that the Jesus figure is litterally nailed to the mother of pearl cross.

2007-01-04T01:39:00.000-08:00

Terra Naomi's "Say it's possible"

New Year's Eve

2007-01-01T10:35:00.000-08:00

The pictures should speak for themselves. All taken by Richard who is now finally taking pictures! (Apparently I intimidated him...hmmm) I think they came out beautifully. I was working - collecting cover charge, at least I made a good 50 pound and got see a few crazy people abusing alcohol, there wasn't a dull moment.

Photography excursion

2006-12-28T14:26:00.000-08:00

Since Richard and I am both on holiday and living in a house share with 12 others, if we're not sleeping late or watching things on YouTube, we're taking afternoon naps and/or eating. We're so bad, so we decided to leave the house (it's about time) and go for a walk. It ended up being a little bit more of a marathon of dodging shopper-frenzied Londoners - Central London is such a mad house during these January Sales season, never again... We walked all the way from Bank station to Tottenham Court Road Station after which I was pretty much spent. Good news though, our day resulted in 3 precious finds (all from the Virgin Megastore in Tottenham); Chopper and The Blues Brothers (both movies on Richard's list of favourites) as well as Bernard Fanning's album Tea & Sympathy. (which will only be delivered in 2 or 3 days...) So things were worth our while.

Somewhere in the middle of the crazy day we did stop over at my favourite place in Central London, the TATE Modern Museum. We didn't go to any exhibitions, but in the main entrance hall another crazed artist has convinced the critics that the Naked Keizer was actually wearing invisible clothes. Huge slides from the 3rd and 4th floors spiralled and intertwined ending in long straight openings, spewing kids and adults in over sized pillow covers. What a site. But that was not what I noticed, I noticed this little girl playing by herself unnoticed. I think my shot came out quite beautifully.

It was a good day.

Father Christmas

2006-12-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

Christmas

2006-12-26T12:54:00.000-08:00

After a wonderful Christmas day that un-officially lasted 3 days (thanks Kana, for letting us crash at our home away from home) we are now having the feeling of the 'morning after'. Thanks to Phil we had wonderful Roast Lamb and his famous veggies - gifts were exchanged, and thanks to Kana we had a beautiful Christmas tree, way too many biscuits, chocolates and everything we shouldn't. (Too much of a good thing is simply marvelous - M.Monroe)

The annual game of poker was played and the last 3 standing was Phil, Corne & Me. We played with 1p and 2p coins. (about 6GPB, therefor, according to Richard, about R16 200) hmm...
With Nina Simone in the background it was the perfect ending of a beautiful day.
"Human kindness ... overflowing ... and I think it's going to rain today..."

Christmas cards

2006-12-23T02:22:00.000-08:00

I got 12 christmas cards from my students at the end of term: my only proof that I did have some effect on them. I thought it was very cute. Of course, one by one, after shyly giving me the cards, bolted in the opposite direction napoleon dynamite style... (it's VERY uncool giving a card to your teacher by the way init?) Anyway, Richard put them up on a string - our variation on christmas decorations.

2006-12-21T02:14:00.000-08:00

Bernard Fanning - 'Songbird'

One of the greatest surprises Australia had to offer. Well, the 2nd greatest, Richard being the first.

My christmas bed

2006-11-29T06:59:00.000-08:00

Chestnuts raosting on an open fire...

A note from my backpack

2006-11-08T10:10:00.000-08:00

"God is made real in what is beautiful." - Plato

First impressions of Edinburgh

2006-11-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

Our hostel, Castle Rock (Edinburgh)

2006-11-08T10:04:00.000-08:00

Camera Obscura, Edinburgh

2006-11-08T09:54:00.000-08:00

Look at the mix of my and Sigi's features! (Her eyes,
my nose and mouth, her chin... freaky)
What a weird and wonderful place.

High Street, Edinburgh

2006-11-08T09:51:00.000-08:00

I also got a hair braid - picked all the shades of green myself. (I know, I was a tourist, I sold out - it felt good at the time)

Calton Hill, Edinburgh

2006-11-07T13:35:00.000-08:00

Ruins

2006-11-04T10:37:00.000-08:00

On the way...

2006-11-04T10:34:00.000-08:00

From Pitlochry to Inverness

2006-11-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Edradour (the smallest whisky distillery in scotland)

2006-11-04T10:23:00.000-08:00

Loch Ness

2006-11-04T07:51:00.000-08:00

Day 7 in Scotland

2006-11-04T07:08:00.000-08:00

We left Oban at 09h00 in the morning and went for a walk in an "enchanted forest" - that's what we were told. It was rainy and wild and beautiful.

We also stopped off at a rondom church off the beaten track that our tour guide new about - with the most fascinating architecture and details...

Just before we reached Edinburgh we stopped at Stirling to see William Wallace's monument.

And with that it was goodbye...

Our map...

2006-11-01T01:47:00.000-08:00

This is basically the route we took - we went to Manchester to visit Emile. After Manchester we took a train through Carlisle to get to Edinburgh. We stayed there for a couple of days and then went on a jump on jump off tour of 3 days through MacBackpackers which took us the following route...
Day 1:Edinburgh - Pitlochry - Loch Ness - Inverness
Day 2:Inverness - Kyleakin (Isle of Skye) - Fort William - Oban
Day 3:Oban - Stirling - Edinburgh
We then flew home on Sunday morning 8h45... tired and happy.

Back in the driving seat

2006-11-01T01:09:00.000-08:00

Well, my half term is officially over. (1 week holiday in the middle of term) and I am back at work. Now I'll be getting up at 5h55 and WORK (Never mind arriving home) untill the sun goes down. (daylight savings is well and truly over) By the time I reach home (1 hour 30 minutes later) the stars are out, the moon is turned on at full wattage and it seems like EVERYONE in London has been home for hours already. But my cups of earl grey tea does help. Just a little.

My photo's of Scotland will be published over the weekend - since I took over 350 photo's I need to do some downloading, some editing, and still narrow it down to the best shots, which is why it is taking so long. But I promise it will be soon. Hopefully I will also be publishing a map to show you the route we travelled, 'cause I know just mentioning names will probably not mean a lot to most of you. Will write soon, hope everything is well with you all.

My view at night

2006-10-08T13:21:00.000-07:00

Yes, the tri-pod was tested to the full, and succeeded beautifully.

Cutty Sark

2006-10-08T09:45:00.000-07:00

Today I bought myself a tri-pod. I then had a Starbucks Frappachino and waited for life to pass infront of my lens. Although I (only once downloaded) realised that the LCD can be deceiving, my shutterspeed was too slow, I thought I'd publish two...

Richard

2006-10-08T02:32:00.000-07:00

Sigi

2006-10-08T02:31:00.000-07:00

A Beautiful Day

2006-10-08T02:28:00.000-07:00

My recent photographs

2006-10-08T02:17:00.000-07:00

I went on an expedition last sunday : armed with my camera and some good conversation, and these are the best shots of the day...

Me, myself & I

2006-10-07T06:51:00.000-07:00

There is a reason for this - apparently this is what needs to be done for me to upload an image for my profile. Bear with me. Testing testing testing...

It starts...

2006-10-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

Finally I have my own blog up and running. Watch this space for my photo's, musings and experiences here in London and leave a comment.

'Everyone of us has in him a continent of undiscovered character.' -Charles L. Wallis

An update: I'm finally teaching music to about 280 kids from the ages of 13 to 15 at a secondary school in North London and am living in a house share in Island Gardens, on the Isle of Dogs. Today has been the first day of rain and it looks like England's winter has finally arrived. Greenwich park has never looked more beautiful.