Fence Along Tanjiang River

Along the Tanjiang River in Kaiping is a long stretch of walkway where pedestrians are separated from the river by a unique fence. Here are three shots featuring the fence taken at different times of the day.

 

Kaiping, 2011

In this last photo you see a boat-shaped restaurant that I first posted here.

The fence is for Friday Fences.

The sunset is for Skywatch Friday.

The reflections are for Weekend Reflections.

The fence shadow is for Sunday Shadows.

I am returning to Kaiping early next week, so after this weekend my posting and blog hopping will be interrupted until I find a way to pierce the Great Firewall of China... or leave China. I can always be reached by email.

Location... the red bubble marks the spot:

Shadows at a Resort

For Shadow Shot Sunday here are three shadow images I captured at a very special resort in Ilocos Norte I've posted about here and here.

I like the mix of materials, textures and colors. A metal chair on terracotta Vigan tiles, name after the Ilocos Sur town that makes them. Details on the chapel. Gecko in a paper lamp.

Ilocos Norte, 2010

Click the link to find fun shadows around the globe. Thanks to the new team for continuing to host this fun meme!

Boys, Bicycles and a Footbridge of Misfortune

 Kaiping, 2011

These boys taking a rest with their bicycles gave me some nice reflections and shadows for Weekend Reflections and Shadow Shot Sunday.

They were whizzing around on this large open space in a city park. Across the river, the white building, is Kaiping People's Hall, the seat of the municipal government.

Local friends told us that ever since the footbridge was built in the 1990s, all leading officials - mayors and party secretaries - have ended up being charged with malfeasance. The reason they are caught, the story goes, is that the footbridge is shaped like handcuffs and contravenes basic principles of feng shui (wind-water; loosely meaning geomancy).

[Enlarge for panoramic view.]

The footbridge joins Sunday Bridges.

Ready for Coffee

Manila, 2011

A few days ago I readied my cafetière à piston to make my habitual morning cup of arabica. As I placed it on our marble kitchen counter I noticed and savored the light effects and shadows. [Better viewed enlarged.]

Linking with the meme communities at Weekend in Black and White and Shadow Shot Sunday. 

And for the season:

W is for Windmill

Aptly called giant electric fans by the locals, twenty whopping windmills grace the northern coastline of Ilocos Norte facing the windy North China Sea.

Ilocos Norte, 2010

The 23-storey windmills standing 236 meters apart were installed in 2005 and were the first source of clean energy in the Philippines. Together they produce over 30-megawatts of electricity and supply 40% of the province's energy needs. Yet, to put this into some kind of perspective, the entire province consumes only about half the energy of one of Manila's larger shopping malls!

It's hard to grasp the sheer size of the windmills. Each windmill with 41-meter blades stands 70 meters tall and weighs 104 tons. Its tapered tower of steel measures 4.2 meters thick at its base. Look again at the relative small size of the people in the first photo!

There's plenty of environmental incentive to build these alternate energy projects. But unfortunately, without government subsidies, this renewable energy source would hardly be financially viable, even considering this privately-operated one stands to earn millions of euros in carbon credits.

This final photo was taken near sundown from a platform built along the highway specifically for tourists to view the spectacular scenery.

We're sharing stories with the letter W at Alphabe-Thursday and the shadow shot is for, well, Shadow Shot Sunday.

Queen of the Tropics

This is my pictorial ode to the lovely hibiscus. I fell in love with this flower just this year, although of course I've seen it around for decades. And only recently I learned that here in the Philippines it is called gumamela, a word that rolls pleasingly off my tongue right into my ears. Amazing how shifting my attentions can open up a whole new world. And how the ordinary becomes extraordinary.

With several hundred species of this genus of the Malvaceae or mallow family, I can only show you a very few I've seen around in my neighborhood. You can read more about this versatile flower in this wiki.

Manila, 2011

I am linking with dozens of other stunning flowers at Today's Flower and Weekend Flowers. The top image is offered to Shadow Shot Sunday and then there's Macro Monday. There's plenty to please at all these wonderful memes.

Palm Shadow

Manila, 2011

A potted palm casting its shadow in our lanai (veranda). The organic shape of the leaves in contrast to the geometric lines of the house appeals to me.

Linking with the blogging communities at Weekend in Black and White and Shadow Shot Sunday.

Desert Shadows

You may be inclined to classify this image as a photo cliché... and I wouldn't argue strenuously... To make matters worse, by today's standard, it's a relatively old low resolution image. 

Yet still, I thought those of us in search of scenes for Hey Harriet's Shadow Shot Sunday might enjoy seeing the shadows of folks admiring the desert outside the city of Dubai.

Dubai, 2005

Apple Blossoms

The apple blossoms' shower of pearl, 
Though blent with rosier hue 
As beautiful as woman's blush 
As evanescent too.”
      ~ Letitia E Landon (English poet/novelist, 1802–1838)

The apple blossom exists to create fruit; when that comes, the petal falls.    
      ~ Kabir (Indian Philosopher, 1398-1519)

[click to enlarge to see shadows]

Austria, 2011

I saw this magnificent apple tree in bloom this past spring in Austria.

Linking with Shadow Shot Sunday (see the gentle  shadows of the stamen on the petals?), Weekend Flowers, Today's Flower, and Macro Monday.

Shadow of a Tree

Ilocos, 2010

The coastline of the northern tip of Luzon province in the Philippines is a sight to behold. I sat on that makeshift log bench (better seen when photo is enlarged) for quite a while to watch the waves roll in and feel the cool wind brush against my skin.

This joins the shadow chasers at Shadow Shot Sunday, as well as lovers of photogenic scenes at Scenic Sunday.

Blossoms in a Bucharest Park

Today I strolled down the historic Victoriei Street in Bucharest in search of fruit trees in bloom. I walked quite a ways from the apartment I am staying in before I arrived at this small park. And there I found my blossom trees.

 Bucharest, 2011

Locals too were basking in the cool spring day, while bumble bees buzzed and the sun cast shadows. I was not the only one with my camera pointing at the pretty pale pink.

It is a little late for the Mărţişor, a traditional Romanian celebration of spring held on March 1 when men gift women small amulets tied to strings of red and white. Still I saw dozens of these marţ tied to flowers throughout the town. This one below with a little butterfly is a fancier - maybe more modern - version. 

 

Here is one final view of this charming park looking towards the back of the old royal palace, today the National Museum of Art.

Linking to Scenic Sunday, Shadow Shot Sunday and Today's Flower.

Cactus Shadows

 Ilocos, 2010

Taken at the lovely resort Sitio Remedios I featured here and here... for Shadow Shot Sunday and Weekend in Black & White.

A Public Private Moment

These bridges in Amsterdam are linked with the communities at Sunday Bridges, Scenic Sunday and Shadow Shot Sunday.

Amsterdam, 2008