Moments of sun, rain and always gold

With over 20 pagodas in the city proper, there is no surprise there are visible monks in Luang Prabang.

Admittedly, this one was more visible than most.
It is one of the more stylish approaches to protect against the elements I have ever seen.

Using umbrellas as sun shield was something I first saw in Southeast Asia. Now these phenomena are everywhere.
Even in the Norwegian mountains hikers and trekkers are using umbrellas.

#umbrella #orange #yellow #buddhism #luangprabang #luang #prabang #Laos #LaosPDR #sun #sunrise #Nikkor #NikonD800 #Nikon #58mm #niftyfiftyeight #f1_4 #D800 #citylife #city #ig_countryside #roadtrip #2015CE #countryside #simplelife #หลวงพระบาง : #ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ #Laotian #WorldCulturalHeritage #oldschool #novice #monk #young #citylife #citywalk

Enjoying a waterfall slowed down

The Kuang Si waterfalls south of Luang Prabang are famous as a visiting spot on a daytrip out from the town.
Even outside the landlocked country these waterfall complexes are famous. From the large waterfall upriver and the meandering river stream with its many smaller falls.
No wonder, it is a wonderful natural area. Spending time walking, relaxing and even take a bath on the designated spots is a half day well spent. The forest, flora and fauna are important parts in exploring this waterfall and stream.
Coming from a country so well endowed with river and river falls as mine in Scandinavia, I will still say Ta Kuang Si being worth the time, and the view.
Laos is using their many rivers and waterfalls to produce electric power for internal use and export. Hopefully they still let this waterfall be a reminder that there are other values in free river streaming and their waterfalls than money income.

There are trips done by car, minivans and tuktuk to this area from Luang Prabang. Food and drink services are available near the site.

#waterfall #river #meandering #veil #waterveil #stone #rainforest #2015 #naturephotography #landscapephotography #TatKuangSi #Waterfalls #Luang #Prabang #Laos #roadtrip #2015CE #luangprabang #luang #prabang #LaosPDR #Laos #Nikkor #NikonD800 #D800 #Nikon #20mm #f2_8 #countryside #simplelife #หลวงพระบาง : #ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ #Laotian #car2061 #buddhism #WorldCulturalHeritage

The classic touch from days gone by

There are still some of these classic German luxury cars spread around in South Asia. A timeless symbol of elegance, money and classic German engineering and design.

I have seen them in almost every country I have visited in the region. The Mercedes-Benz S280 was produced in this style between 1965 and 1973. Meaning by the end of the Laos Kingdom before it changed into PR Laos.

Having some well-maintained wooden houses in Southeast Asian style with some French colonial architecture framing this car sort of feels right. It tells a story of a time gone by. And some timeless style and elegance too.

Luang Prabang has been a World heritage Site since 1995. The city has been a capital in 2 former Laotian kingdoms. It has played a vital role as a religious centre for most of Laos history. There are more than 20 Buddhist pagodas in the city and close vicinity.

The city is surprisingly small, but the status as royal residence city for centuries makes for a well-designed city with interesting architecture and art. That includes some French inspired buildings, but with a distinct Southeast Asian flare. Local markets, shops and lots of restaurant and cafes contributes to Luang Prabang being a nice and quiet place. Well worth a visit.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Laos/The-arts

#roadtrip #mercedes #merc #classiccar #town #oldschool #2015CE #architecture #french #novice #monk #young #luangprabang #luang #prabang #LaosPDR #Laos #orange #laundry #cleaning #boy #boys #Nikkor #NikonD800 #D800 #Nikon #20mm #f2_8 #niftyfiftyeight #countryside #2015CE #citylife #simplelife #หลวงพระบาง #ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ #หลวงพระบาง : #ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ #Luang #Prabang #art #Mercedes #Benz #S280 #vintage #car #Laotian #number #plate #numberplate2061 #car2061 #buddhism #citywalk #town #WorldCulturalHeritage

A young lady and her chick

Or a chic chick with a chick, if you like.

The open market in the small town of Gadjiwan, Cameroon, is the largest in the area. It is under 50 kilometres to the Nigerian border. People come from far and wide to trade.

And of course, in the right age, to look for new friends.

Being foreigner in a market like this far off the tourist area means everybody knew we were visiting. The fact that we had a trail of children different ages following us around made it even more difficult to blend in.

This lady had a younger brother in our ad-hoc entourage, and he was obviously very proud of her. So, he took me over to her trading spot, urging me to take a photo. She would not let a photo op get in the way of her trading chicken.
And that suited me fine.
The young brother had all reason to be proud, I would say.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gadjiwan

#market #marketday #Gadjiwan #girl #awesomedress #chic #bird #2015CE #cameroon #kamerun #asmiletodiefor #africa #westafrica #portrait #Nikon #NikonD800 #D800 ##Nikkor #85mm #f1_4 #primelens #fav #cameroongirls #borderregion

The Lamidat drummer

During a visit to the Lamido, the regional leader in Ngaoundéré, me and my travel companions were entertained by a group of musicians attached to his court.
The drummer made a lasting impression.

Lamidat Ngaoundéré
Ngaoundéré is the largest city in the north of Cameroon, and it have all the facilities you expect from a regional capital. In addition to the Lamidat, there is a university, a big hospital, malls and markets, several mosques and churches and religious missionary stations run by Norwegian Lutherans, US evangelicals and Catholics.
The main industry in the area is keeping livestock, meaning large amounts of cattle everywhere. And some rather nice street food vendors with fresh meat on the menu.

Good relations cross religions
Norwegian Lutheran missionaries started out their activity here in 1923, building the first hospital in 1925. We spent some nice days as guests in the Norwegian missionary enclosure.
Their good relationship with the local rulers was key to get an audience with the RH Lamido and visit to the government quarters, the Lamidat. The Lamido ranks at the level of Emir, or Governor, in their region.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Ngaoundere

#cameroon #kamerun #citylife #music #drummer #happy #lamidat #lamido #2015CE #Nikon #D800 #Nikkor #85mm #f14 #Ngaoundéré #Haut #Plateau #Ngaoundere #audience #music #musician #drummer

Tomtit Ngirungiru on a stick in Rakiura

Tomtit balancing twigs, break and curiosity
The Ngirungiru, or Tomtit, is a very small passerine bird in the Robins-family Petroicidae.
With a maximum length of 12 cm and a weight of 11 gram, it is basically the size of two Ping-Pong balls with wings and tail.

Frenetic enthusiastic
It is also very curious and enthusiastic. Meaning that when it decides you are not a threat when you meet one up close in the forest, it will follow you along for some time. But in a frenetic pattern, jumping between the trees, branches, trail and back up again.

And then maybe, maybe, just be still for a couple of seconds where you get a reasonable shot. Like this one in the forest at Rakiura, Aotearoa.

There are five subspecies of Tomtits, and they have different names in Māori. The South Island and Rakiura Stewart Island variant is called Ngirungiru. The North Island is called Miromiro. And as a loveable little fellow, there are several other Māori and English name for it. Tomtit is an adaptable feather ball, and lives well with most of the changes made to the biodiversity of New Zealand.

#2015CE #Animals #Aotearoa #AotearoaNewZealand #bird #birdparadise #Birds #blue #bluesky #curious #forest #frontdoor #green #Horseshoe #Bay #Kiwi #kiwiexperience #NikonD800 #Māori #NestorMeridionalis #New #Zealand #Ngirungiru #passerine #pingpongball #Rakiura #RakiuraStewartIsland #roadtrip #robins #smallbird #social #southisland #southpacific #StewartIsland #tomtit #weird #birdswood #Ngirungiru #Petroicidae

Lunch with a view to the harbour

Oh, those days when you could take off for a week or two to a distant, tropical island.

Just to relax, enjoy walking and sightseeing, sun and salty sea, fresh air, good food and drinks. And some unique features islands are famous for.

Vanuatu is an island state in the South Pacific, originally Melanesian, but later dominions under France and UK. As an independent state, it has kept the use of French language in a local pidgin dialect and in some of the written signs and some inspirations to local cuisine. The practical, useful stuff like technology, laws and infrastructure is of anglosaxian design and type.

The combination makes a stay here, at least if you choose a homestay with the kind and nice locals, a rather pleasant one. But there are those ordinary hotels and larger resorts for that kind of tourists, too.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanuatu

#islandstay #Efate #Vila #sun #sea #helicopter #lg #g4 #mobilephotography #xmasgettaway #2015CE #coralsea #tropicalparadise #fishboat #fishing #trawler #Port #Vila #PortVila #Efate #Island #Vanuatu