Haveli harmony

A haveli is a townhouse or mansion, a traditional style found in India, Pakistan and Nepal. Build with an inner courtyard space, rather like the riads found in Morocco, but with a more attractive exterior. There are very many in Rajasthan, particularly the Shekhawati area. It’s possible to stay in a haveli, some have been converted in hotels and guest houses. Like a riad, they would be a calm haven shut away from the bustle of the towns.

haveli2This one wasn’t a hotel unfortunately, but it was possible to look around and they also sold antiques, some very expensive and some accessibly priced.

Homes like this aren’t created in a hurry, they have to develop their ambience over time, don’t you think?

 

Paula’s Black and White Sunday

It’s the last day for Paula’s black and white challenge of ‘Passage’, tomorrow there will be a new theme.

passageThis was originally a very colourful image, bright yellow, orange and majorelle blue, but I didn’t notice the shadows until I monochromed it.

Thanks Paula, for making me think more about black and white photos!

 

Wild dream ponies

I’ve always loved this out of focus photo of Dartmoor ponies and I’ve posted it here before in black and white, but that was years ago.

img_3531aWhen I went hunting for it for Paula’s Thursday challenge, I found two more taken a few days earlier, it was a good year for ponies at Scorhill.

img_3564aimg_3575a

All I remember about those days was wind and my cagoule blowing around, it’s rather exposed up there and I used a long exposure!

Not so lazy Thursday poem

I’m tired tonight, too tired to even write a five minute haiku. So, I decided to look back at things I’ve posted before and choose a poem for this week.

I’ve spent ages looking and there’s still more. I’m totally amazed at how much poetry I’ve written, even if lots of it is of little consequence.

So with apologies in case you remember this from four years ago, and for the lack of image.

Waves of Foam

Foaming ocean laps the Jurassic shore

where molten lava once seared and pitted

into burnished pockets of chalk

that glow pale in the shallows

where volcanic flame no longer scorches

earth but in its place frozen fluid

 turned to stone in the countless millennia

before mankind’s dawn

then lapis and bronze lay down its mineral

to adorn sweet womankind’s questing hands

and feet that step through warm golden sand

above the azure sky reflects light

from the firmament holding the source

of celestial waters in balance

Normal service will be resumed next Thursday with a haiku!

Thursday Special, Pick a Word

I’m picking three this week from Paula’s five, I’m leaving limpid and engorging behind.

First of all I have wholesome.

wholesome

Local yoghurt, honey and poppy seeds in the centre of Turkey, towards Ankara, absolutely delicious.

Next, how about permeates.

A glorious spectrum of colour permeates these organ pipes at Sagrada Familia.

And lastly, back in England,

A pretty emerald lake at Stourhead.

You can join Paula’s Thursday special, here, she’d love to see you!