All posts tagged: blogging

Traveling to the Cape of Good Hope.

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Notes from Yesterday. It’s early morning here in Cape town and the day is going to be busy. The mountain is grey still and when I finish this, it will be in bright sunshine. We drive on a very narrow road where hills rise to huge heights on the left. The ground drops hundreds of feet on the other side of the road to meet the foaming  turquoise ocean. Along the way we come upon beaches fringed with white houses, they  present a universal affluence. Ocean views give way to lush green pastures and small towns are nestled in tree lined valleys. Many of the houses in the more remote areas are very modest.  Towns with interesting names like Fish Hoek and Noordhoek. This area is unique, the mountains and prevailing ocean winds cause cloud vacuums and clouds burst through  the mountain cuttings like grey rolling blankets. Sometimes when we stop at a stop light, women approach the bus with white paper in the hand. I’m led to believe that it has their name and address …

Morocco tour – No 4.

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Hope this is not getting boring, but with a little down time and fast internet. I am able to finish the images I promised. Doors and windows. All of these images were photographed at the Kasbah of the Udayas. You go through a Massive gate way and the roads wind down to the sea front. It’s an ancient walled town that sits on a small peninsular at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. This is one of those places that you need to play with light to get the best effect for your images. The narrow alleys create strong shadows and the sun hits the tip of the white walls creating reflections that you can use to your advantage. We had just a 15 minute walk where we could compose images so I think I ended up with more walls than street scapes. Cats are everywhere, they are well fed and very comfortable with strangers.

Morocco No 3.

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Photographs of the things I viewed in the Souks. I finally sat and had a mint tea, grabbing the sun as much as I could. The last place I visited was the Museum and Gallery. I walked on tiles magnificent, trying to ignore my painful foot. On to the photography Museum, a delicious late lunch fo Tanging Chicken And then I got totally lost, wandering and asking. Close to tears, I finally recognised my front gate and I was just in time to finish packing and leave for the airport. It was one heck of a day, over 10 kms of walking. But it was inspiring.

Morocco No 2.

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Three countries later, and I have only just found time to add images of my Moroccan visit to the souks of Marrakech.  The photos in this blog were taken the day I left for Nairobi, but I didn’t have time to edit them. Now, 2 countries later and situated in Cape Town I now have 4 days free of work so I can finish the process. I had injured my foot and the pain was terrible as I walked over the cobblestones,  it was also freezing cold but I was determined not to miss the experience. My tour had left and I was in a Riad in the Medina. I enjoyed it, but it certainly wasn’t comfortable for me. I had no desk to work on, lots of stairs and no heating to speak of. Le Orangerie Riad So left to my own devices I found my way around (sort of) First to the Secret Garden. There is an entrance that you could easily miss, but fortunately I found it. I sat in the Gazebo …

Textile styles in the making.

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It’s taken me a while to write this story. Most of you on my blog, are quilters or love the art of Textiles. We have a textile advantage that we take for granted so today I share a story of art and experimental reinvention. Dena Crain a quilter from Kenya, taught the local ladies a technique called “Siddi” quilting. “What on earth is Siddi Quilting” you say? Basically its a style of quilt known as a Kawandi and it is made by the generations of Siddi people taken to India some 400 years ago as indentured workers… possibly slaves. Based on DNA information it would appear that about 50% of the Indian Siddi population are descendants of Bantus from East Africa, while many others are descendants of Ethiopians. Although the Siddis have adopted many Indian characteristics, there are still some cultural elements that are regarded as their own and of African origin. These include the making and use of patchwork quilts known locally as kawandi. These are made by women and used as covers, mattresses and …

People, Portraits and Figures. Winners and my picks.

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People, portraits, and figures, sponsored by the Grace Company. First Place.     Second Place, graphically portrayed with fabric.   Third Place. Makes me smile. I love this quilt. The portrait has an amazing command. I want to look at it over and over again. Judges Choice. Strong emotion.  

Make the most of every day.

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Share your love, your joy, and the things you have learned on your journey
This will be somebody else’s courage.
Travel the world and feel every moment of the experience.
Love with passion, give freely, take with grace.
Speak honestly, walk with pride and learn constantly.
Once you have the tools, you can build the life you dream of.

Early morning photo shoot.

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The alarm rang at 5.30am and shocked me into reality. I stretched my legs, were they still hurting from walking for hours on that hard cement floor the previous day. That darn floor always jumps up and grabs me. “No, they are still attached” I mumbled so I figured I’d made it through to today. A little numb from sleep saturation, I dressed hurriedly. The clothes were ironed and hanging from the wardrobe door, (even down to the compulsory scarf)  in anticipation of an early start. Lisa had woken through the night and had written a list of things we needed to take with us for the day and I had made a mental note, so we both sanctimoniously congratulated ourselves on our organisational skills (that later fell in a heap) The 12 mile drive to the city of Alamogordo was accompanied by Mozart, the sun tipped the mountains to the right and the sky was mellow and the shadows long. We picked up Ricky and headed to the Old water tower in the centre …

Travel.

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  Preparation for travel is always part of the excitement of taking a journey. I personally prepare my cases after unpacking the last trip.  Clean them, wash the covers and the  pods you store your clothes in and put them back in the case in preparation for the following trip. Whoops but this time I can’t find my big old green case  weigher…. or whatever you call it.  I’ve had it for about 12 years…but somehow it has not been  put back in the right place after my last return (which by the way  was only 4 weeks ago) Packing the cases,  means extending the imagination as you do so. What to wear on  each occasion,  and then maybe a few spare interesting outfits, but at least I won’t need winter clothes this time, it’s  going to be hot, hot, hot, just as I like it. On this trip I’ll even get a little down time with friends and for me that means shorts and T’s, and no responsibilities for a few days at least. …

A little down time.

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Being anonymous is wonderful. I don’t have to share my life story at lunch or dinner. It’s very flattering some times but after 10 days I long for a quiet place and here in my home base in NM I can do that. Besides I’m staying with my best friend and we just enjoy interesting things together like photography,  art and travel.