In The Gallery

Some people have got to paint and draw
Harry had to work in clay and stone
Like the waves coming to the shore
It was in his blood and in his bones

Ignored by all the trendy boys in London and in Leeds
He might as well have been making toys or strings of beads
He could not be in the gallery

Extract from “In The Gallery” by Dire Straits, lyrics by Mark Knopfler

Autumn under an umbrella

Torii in the rain

Sake barrels and yellow umbrella

Ready for lift off

The fire department

Peachy

Swish Swish Shoes

Midweek Musical Muse XVI: Handle With Care

Happy belated birthday George!

Here then the heartwarming adventures of Nelson, Otis, Lucky, Lefty and Charlie Wilbury…

“...an essential pioneering rockstar, a visionary poet, a peace inspiring enigma, a pure americana artist, and a living vocal icon.... did they even have to try?”

Tempel van die Draak in Vrede

Die ongetwyfelde hoogtepunt van my dag in Kyoto was my besoek aan die tuine van die Tempel van die Draak in Vrede, Ryoan-ji tempel. Ek het reeds geskryf oor Ryoan-ji se wêreld bekende rots-en-gruis tuin, maar die tempel het ook ‘n enorme konvensionele tuin. Ek wil amper sê ‘n tipiese Japanese tuin.  

Alhoewel ek gekom het vir die herfskleure en dit gereën het het ek nie baie omgegee oor die reën nie want Japanese tempel tuine lyk soms beter as dit nat is. Die lagie reënwater wat soos verpakkingsplastiek om die rotse geklou het en glinsterend op die oog vertoon het en die bewolkte lug het bygedra tot die skepping van ‘n atmosfeer van somberheid en statigheid. Groen was groener and bruin was bruiner. Vallende reëndruppels vanaf blare en takke het ‘n amperse musiekale agtergrond verskaf vir die wandeling deur die tuin en om die dam. Maar beskrywende woorde is nie regtig nodig nie. Ek sal die fotos die praatwerk laat doen.

Kyoyochi Dam wat in die 12de eeu geskep is as ‘n watertuin. Soms dink ek tyd staan stil in tempels. 

'n Bruggie wat toegang gee tot een van die twee eilande in die dam. Die bruggie lei na die grootste van die eilande waar 'n heilige plek (shrine) is wat Benzaiten vereer. Benzaiten is die enigste vroulike godin onder die groep van sewe gelukbringende Shinto gode van Japan.  

Herfskleure op hul mooiste.

Rickshaw Ride to Bamboo Avenue

At the Togetsukyo Bridge

A photo journal of my maiden voyage (pun intended due to the rain) in a rickshaw in Kyoto in black & white...and a little color.

In the "taxi stand" they clean, polish and maintain their riskshaws. 

The "human-horse gallops" across the bridge

The rickshaw, which originates from Japan, was invented in 1869. The name is an alteration of jinrikisha, the Japanese name, which literally translate to "man-powered carriage". I got to know it as a riksja, the Afrikaans for rickshaw that was brought from India to South Africa, where they were pulled by Zulus and mostly used in the city of Durban. Today hand-drawn rickshaws serve mainly as tourist attractions in many cities.

Down Main Street

And up steep hilly, narrow alleys where they sell ice cream, raincoats and umbrellas

Until you get to a bamboo grove, generally known as Bamboo Avenue 

The cemetery at the top of a curved road 

Walking back to Main Street in the rain