Photographs

This afternoon’s rainbow, with a second very faint one just above it. 🌈

A rainbow over a hedge with a dark sky. A propane tank is in the middle of the hedge. A lawn in the foreground has the shadow of a roof on it.

The Story Behind the Photograph: From the Roof of a Bus

Road from Gaya to Bodhgaya from the roof of a bus Following my time in Patna, I continued my journey onto Bodhgaya by catching a train to the city of Gaya. I travelled to Gaya by train along with an American, Ray, whom I had met in Patna. I had an omelette for breakfast in my hotel room, settled up with the hotel owner and then caught a rickshaw along with Ray to the railway station.

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Yesterday morning’s view at sunrise.

An early morning view at sunrise with lush green grass in the foreground, a variety of plants and trees in the middle, and a dramatic sky filled with golden clouds above

My wife gave me two of these metal tumblers from Japan for Valentines Day. They are great at keeping drinks cold…, and look good as well.

A textured metal tumbler on a cutting board. The background is softly blurred.

Cartoon drawing of a man in a tracksuit running, a headband on his head, and writing below saying that week 3 of Couch to 5K program has been completed

Well there’s week 3 of the Watch to 5K program completed. The conditions were perfect today - overcast, barely a breeze, and a comfortable temperature. There was some stiffness, but I was feeling better with the longer runs.

A rainbow is never far away here, but the wet and windy weather is producing some good ones at the moment 🌈

The arch of a rainbow against a dark sky. Black gates in the foreground with start of a driveway. A tree and hedge go to the distance. A digger and house can be seen amongst green vegetation

On a roll at the moment. This evening’s rainbow 🌈

A full arc rainbow against a dark, rain threatening sky. A bush and lawn in the background. A concrete wall and partial driveway with wood stacked against the wall in the foreground

The Story Behind the Photograph: A View Over the River Ganges

Photo of a slide projected onto a wall. It was mid November, 1989. I was four months into my journey through Central Asia. With my visa expiring, my time in Nepal was drawing to a close. Not feeling ready to go home, indeed a deeper sense of purpose and exploration beginning to arise from the trip thus far, I decided to travel down to India. I had left home with a few vague goals of things that I wanted to see or do, otherwise I was following my nose and seeing where the adventures would take me.

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This morning’s rainbow 🌈

A complete rainbow arching across a small valley, grass and shrubs in the foreground, the ocean in the background

We went to a birthday party on the south side of the island last night. It was an enjoyable evening. Just before sunset a whale and her calf swam by the house where the party was being held. As if to send birthday wishes, the calf waved it tail in the air a few times as it went by.

A collection of lit candles and string lights set on a vibrant, multicolored textile surface outdoors at dusk, with silhouettes of palm trees in the background.

A silhouette of a tree against a twilight sky, with small lit lanterns along a garden path leading to a house with illuminated windows in the background.

Sunset at a beach with silhouettes of palm trees, a colorful sky, and green bush in the foreground.

Resting and warming my feet on rocks around a campfire, at night.

I have a number of photographs from our trip to Portugal last year which never saw the light of day because of me catching pneumonia and becoming so unwell. So I am revisiting a Sunday day trip to the town of Beja. During our walk around town we came across some interesting graffiti. Here is a selection of it.

Graffiti art on a door depicting an evolutionary transition from an ape holding a spear to a modern human wearing a beanie and Crocs, while holding a fast-food sandwich and with his hand over his genitals

A vibrant painting on an outside wall of three giraffes against a pink background with silhouettes of tree

Street art mural depicting a topless woman with red hair and eyeglasses lounging on a lifebuoy in water, accompanied by a white cat, with stylized faces of two people in the clouds above. The artwork is framed by a real door

A colorful mural painted on a door depicting a tower of stylized skulls with a background of leaves and two large sets of eyes above. A pink uterus-like shape with a red heart hangs in the center between the eyes, and cut apples on either side

We are really getting a cornucopia of weather conditions at the moment. Days of still weather, clear skies and sun, were replaced with two days of howling winds, though clear skies as well. Now the clouds have come in so thick that all views are obscured and it has just started raining.

Grass in the foreground, a shrubbery bed behind that, and a dark misty sky above it all

Cartoon drawing of a man in a tracksuit running, a headband on his head, and writing below saying that week 2 of couch to 5K program has been completed

Well that is week two of the Watch to 5K completed. This week was harder than the second, though I am also seeing progress. I am running a little further than the previous week. At the moment I am finding it hard to imagine that I’ll be running 5K by the end of the program. However, there are still seven weeks to go, and it is a gradual build up each week. Onwards and upwards πŸƒπŸΌ

The dawn chorus yesterday morning.

Dawn, a graduated sky going from yellows on the horizon to dark blues higher up. In the foreground is a silhouette of a bush, and silhouettes of tropical trees and other shrubs appearing over the bush

Dawn this morning, a couple of hours ago.

The sky at dawn, just before sunrise with scattered clouds in shades of orange and gray above a dark silhouette of trees and shrubs.

The Story Behind the Photo: A Bus Full of People

The original of this image was a slide. I projected it onto a wall and took this photo. I initially posted this photo on September 3, 2023, but offered no context for it. Following the reception to my story about a photograph that I took of Mt.Everest at sunset and encouragement of Miraz and Maique, I have decided to revisit other photos that I have posted of my travels, as well as ones yet posted, and share their story.

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Good morning β˜•οΈ. What will this week bring?

A cup of espresso coffee sitting on a mat on a marble table with a pile of white books behind it

Photographs from a walk along the cliffs near to Ho’okipa Beach, Maui last Friday evening.

Ocean waves crashing against rocky coastline with grassy foreground and the Hawaiian island of Molokai in the distance at sunset. The island in the distance is Moloka’i.

Sunset over the ocean with the sun peeking through the silhouette of the West Maui mountains, with a grassy foreground and a rocky shoreline. The sun is setting behind the West Maui Mountains.

A tranquil sunset overlooking the ocean with a gradient sky, viewed from a grassy hillside.

That was not easy, but a good challenge. A 500 piece jigsaw puzzle of rocks, a Christmas present that I have slowly worked on, a few pieces each day. 🧩

A 500 piece completed jigsaw puzzle on a wooden table. The puzzle is of rocks in different shades of browns, blacks and whites.

The summit of Mt Everest, peeking out from behind surrounding mountains, coloured orange as it catches the last rays of sunlight at the end of the day. This image was captured during a month long trek to the Solo/Khumbu region of Nepal around September 1989. Photo of slide projected onto a wall.

The summit of Mt Everest, peeking out from behind surrounding mountains, coloured orange as it catches the last rays of sunlight at the end of the day. Clouds are building up

This morning’s rainbow 🌈

A full rainbow arching across a blue sky with scattered cloud. Beneath the rainbow is a tropical rural scene with a couple of houses a road going up a hill and curving away. The grey ocean is in the distance

This place is called the Fun Factory and is a favorite of my grandson’s. I’m not in agreement with him on this. I call it soul destroying and a money burner. I wouldn’t tell him this and such, of course, is lost on him anyway.

An amusement arcade with a variety of brightly lit games

As Boxing Day comes to an end, celebrated in my mind if not in the country where I now live, I look back on the beginning and end of yesterday.

A table laid out for breakfast. In each plate is a Christmas cracker. At the far end of the table is the food, so people can help themselves buffet style. Sun light shines the length of the table

A late winter evening. A lawn and been in the foreground. Tree covered hills in the distance. Low clouds, with a break in the cloud where the sky meets the hill, the setting sun shining through

That time of year when I go searching for the ghosts of Christmas past, the good ghosts.

A boxed, blue box,Terry’s Chocolate Orange confection on a reflective metallic surface.

As Christmas night falls here in Hawaii, I wish all those who celebrate, in whatever shape or form, blessings, peace and all good wishes.

Close-up of a Christmas tree with various decorations including a felted owl ornament, a string of colorful felt balls, and miniature Santa Clauses.

Joining in the current online fun. I experimented with a few descriptions and think that this one resulted in the best likeness.

AI generated Funko Pop vinyl model of me standing next to a box with another model in. Dressed in blue jeans, blue sneakers, grey t-shirt, blue, white & black plaid t-shirt, and green rimmed glasses

My favourite coffee shop, and my local one when we lived in Portland was Sterling Coffee Roasters. I still order from them - only three days from Portland, and free postage. A great service. These arrived yesterday, including their Holiday Blend for the Christmas/New Year period.

Three bags of Sterling Coffee Roasters coffee on a kitchen counter: “Blendo Stupendo,” “Holiday Blend,” and “Chiapas Eupromex.” The bags are labeled with flavor notes, processing methods, and elevation of the coffee beans

Two sides of this evening.

A vibrant rainbow arcs across a cloudy sky at sunset, above a trimmed hedge and a leafless tree in the foreground.

A dark sunset sky with clouds and a crescent moon, with silhouettes of trees and hills on the horizon.

From a walk at Ho’okipa cliffs just over a week ago.

Small red graffiti-covered concrete building with a tall pole on top, set against a coastal landscape with grass in the foreground and a sunset sky in the background.

Inspired by the sticker posts of @maique. I spotted these while waiting to cross the road with my grandson.

Stickers, including some pink bananas, on a pole at a street light crossing