Come away with the raggle taggle gypsy-o
Autumn in Bruges has chosen ‘See the World’ as her theme this week. Pop across to see a video and hear the great song by Gomez. Maybe you will join in this time? Here is my shot at it. 
Signs like these can be seen all over the place and like the other places Yeji, on the shore of Lake Volta knows it’s the centre of the world, I have to agree!
Visit Elisa and join her new photo challenge, this week the song is Better Days, the soundtrack of Eat, Pray, Love and she has posted song here http://autumninbruges.wordpress.com/category/music-in-pictures-contest/
I took this picture in Ghana on Easter Sunday where they were celebrating the resurrection and better days to come, as they paraded to church.
I thought I would also add that my Nigerian name is Nkeiruka, it means bright future or the best is yet to come!
The lovely Madhu over at http://theurgetowander.com/ chose me for the http://blog.hostelbookers.com/travel/7-super-shots/ and gosh was it difficult. I have 20-25 thousand photos to choose from, how do you decide which are good and which you just like? So mine are possibly a mix of both.
The first was in India a few years ago when I had a point and shoot, to date it is the only photo of mine I have framed. It takes me right back to how I felt that day. It was taken close to the top of Ratnagiri hill in Pushkar which has a temple to the goddess Savitri at the summit. We got up before dawn to climb up for the sunrise as suggested by our driver the venerable Magan Singh. What he didn’t know – until now maybe – was that we didn’t actually quite reach the top, but didn’t have the heart to tell him as he was so sure that we would love it! The problem was that we had been so ill for a few days before and were still incredibly weak. He was right, the view was beautiful. I remember every moment, every laboured step, and most of all, the tiny, bent old ladies climbing to the temple as they do each day for prayer. This one literally took my breath away, I couldn’t breathe as I struggled upwards!
Next, a little closer to home, this is close to the finishing line of last October’s Commando Challenge on Yettington common in East Devon. I love this photo because it shows the determination of these women to complete a really gruelling and hideously muddy course. They ran 10 kilometres through water and mud filled tunnels and tracks that is part of a marines endurance training course. This particular group were so supportive of each other, and it makes me think, isn’t it wonderful what can be achieved when you work together? 
Over in Malaysian Borneo this time, at Kota Kinabalu. There had to be at least one sunset! These are two of the islands of Tunku Abdul Rahman park taken from Jesselton Point. This the photo that makes me dream!
At the village of Baobeng-Fiema the story goes that the monkeys are considered special. The locals give them all names and they are buried in a graves when they die. It wasn’t the monkeys that I found special in this Ghanaian village, it was the children. This is the shot that makes me smile
This young woman’s backpack must have weighed as much as she did. I couldn’t help wondering where she was headed, I suspect a local youth hostel. More interesting still, where had she been? For me, this photo tells a story.
In Western Anatolia breakfast was early one day last June. We had a lot of miles to cover that day so we had to skip the hotel meal but were promised a treat instead. Delicious local yoghurt and honey, sprinkled with poppy seeds, it worked for me and made my mouth water, I’m not sure about the carnivores though. 
Now, I don’t know if anyone else will ‘get’ this photo, what I see in it. Again its a shot that conjures up atmosphere for me. I love the quality of light, I love the activity, the between time. It was taken in Marrakech from a rooftop cafe at a time when the work of the day was ending, and the evening’s entertainment and culinary delights had not yet begun. So this is my photo that I am most proud of , aka my worth of National Geographic shot. 
So there we are, all seven, I hope you like them. Is there one in particular that you think is good? or terrible?
As always there are rules! I have to nomnate five bloggers to take part, but only if you want to. My five are,
http://sophomorejinx.wordpress.com/
http://jobryantnz.wordpress.com/
http://catbirdinoman.wordpress.com/
http://adinparadise.wordpress.com/
http://flickrcomments.wordpress.com/
I was browsing around at other people’s entries for Ailsa’s travel theme and was inspired by http://adinparadise.wordpress.com/2012/07/02/travel-theme-art/ who shows photos of her sister’s beautiful art work. It reminded me of a visit to Sirigu in Northern Ghana, close to the border with Burkina Faso. SWOPA, Sirigu Women’s Organisation of Pottery and Art has been around for about fifteen years. It has brought women out of poverty while promoting their cultural identity in a traditional society. They are known for the way they decorate the outside of their homes and the art they produce is stunning, as well as the pottery they make. Here are the things we bought there.
This hangs on the dining room wall.
Bird one
Bird two
The entrance to the workshops
Round rooms, you can even stay here! That would be wonderful, these huts looked so cute. I would love to return and spend longer than a day visit.
June 8th was world oceans day, http://worldoceansday.org/ and Ailsa decided it would be the perfect topic for her weekly travel theme. I’m posting this photo not because it is remarkable in itself but because being there had such an impact on me personally. It’s Ghana’s Axim beach and truly beautiful. When I stood there I realised that there was no land fall between me and the South Pole, a strange feeling. I don’t know the distance but from the Golf of Guinea, the South Atlantic and the Southern Ocean to Antarctica a vastness opens up. Checking a map there are some minute islands hundreds of miles west, but that’s it. You probably think I’m crazy now but it was very odd at the time!
It’s Jakes day today and his them for this week is door. Visit him over at http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/2012/05/26/sunday-post-door/
and maybe join in. Here is my entry, the ‘Door Of No Return’ at Cape Coast, Ghana. For those who aren’t aware, it is at a 17th century castle from where millions of Africans were shipped to America and a life of slavery, never to return. There is nothing I can add.
Jakes theme this week is work and once again he has created a clever animation here http://jakesprinters.wordpress.com/
Here are my work photos.
Rug making in Anatolia, a woman’s work.
Palm oil production in Ghana, the whole family share the work, even very small children.
Building repairs that seem to be shared work.
Rug uh – guarding? a man’s work!
I watched Lost Kingdoms of Africa on TV last night, with the wonderful Gus Casely-Hayford, he featured the Asante nation in Ghana. I had many experiences there and found this photo. I wonder what this little girl dared to hope for.
A few toys perhaps?
. . . that George can fix it again!
The road to Mole was long and hot and this wasn’t the only break down on that day. We made it of course, thanks to George’s skill – an awesome driver and mechanic!
Between the trees, up in the rainforest canopy, between ground and sky!
Lucid Gypsy 