Weekly Photo Challenge: Texture

August 9, 2014 / wrightsolution / Leave a comment

Favourite textures from a walk through a Spetses pine forest:

The fascinating texture of sticky pine tree bark

Lichens growing on stone walls in the shade

The crispy crunch of dried pine needles underfoot

Weekly Photo Challenge: Zig Zag

August 3, 2014 / wrightsolution / 16 Comments

Late afternoon light creates zig zag shadows for this week’s photo challenge at the abandoned monastery of Panagia Elona, Spetses.

A Word A Week Photo Challenge – Transport

July 31, 2014July 31, 2014 / wrightsolution / 2 Comments

As this blog (and its owner) continues to take a much needed hiatus from all things Nepali, I thought I’d focus on Greek transportation for this week’s challenge. In particular the local ferry, which is a much needed lifeline between our island and the mainland, carrying produce, meat and dairy in refrigerated trucks as well as building supplies, gasoline– – you name it — to the local economy.

And so 6-8 times a day, its a game of “everybody off, everybody on” as the ferry disembarks and reloads on each side. Full trucks come onto the island, and empty trucks leave. Then there’s the motorbikes, three-wheelers, miscellaneous freight and pedestrians that travel back and forth too. I tried to capture a little of the chaos on the dock:

The motorcycles are made to wait for the trucks to unload….

….but once they’re on, its a free-for-all as the bikes and pedestrians head up the ramp.

…then on comes the next load.

Of course, it would be so much more civilized if they didn’t let drivers park on the dock. I couldn’t take this picture until they had let me embark. By then all the trucks had left, so it doesn’t look so chaotic. A few minutes before it was a madhouse of badly maneuvering trucks, parked cars, and jostling motorbikes.

And then for the umpteenth time, the ramp goes up and the ferry heads back across. Suddenly everything is calm and picturesque again. (Almost) like all the chaos never happened.

Sometimes it feels like this guy has the best job in the world.

Summer Lovin’

July 30, 2014October 13, 2014 / wrightsolution / 1 Comment

For other posts on people flippin’ out about summer, see here.

A Word a Week Photo Challenge: Red

July 24, 2014 / wrightsolution / 2 Comments

“Red” is a hard colour to feature on a Greek island! Blues and greens rule here. So I struggled…and then I remember a few things…

Weekly Photo Challenge: Containers

July 22, 2014 / wrightsolution / 2 Comments

For this week’s photo challenge, these beautiful old buildings are traditional stone water storage tanks — or sternas — water containers that are still in use today.

A Word a Week Photo Challenge: Traditional

July 15, 2014 / wrightsolution / 2 Comments

I’m spoiled for choice with this week’s word “Traditional“, as tradition reigns in Nepal. But I think I’ll go for something Filipino to ring the changes… These adorable kids from a local school were doing the traditional hat and stick dance at our Embassy welcome party, and they lit up the room!

For the original story see Community Welcome Party.

River Relic

July 14, 2014 / wrightsolution / 6 Comments

My second contribution for this week’s photo challenge Relic is an extraordinary piece of old river life on the River Thames near Greenwich. Once a jetty, it’s now more like a seagull resting spot or a piece of art.

Railway Relics

July 12, 2014July 13, 2014 / wrightsolution / 1 Comment

My contribution for this week’s photograph challenge “Relic” is about Janakpur train station, in Southern Nepal, which is very close to the Indian border. Its the main stop of what was the only train line in Nepal and is now, unfortunately, closed. Relics of the carriages still remain, some only mere frames and other still full of broken seats and traces of animal life. Its very spooky…and sad too. Hopefully, they will reopen it some day and connect the line with India, creating a much needed rail transportation system. For now it just sits there.

For more pictures of busier times at the station and other railway relics that remain today see: Janakpur No Blast From the Past.

Mr. Momo

July 11, 2014July 11, 2014 / wrightsolution / Leave a comment

The A Word A Week Photo Challenge this week is “Kitsch” and there’s no end of it here – at least by Western tastes. Let’s start with Mr Momo, a steamed dumpling with legs! The animated personification of Nepal’s favourite snack!

But why stop there?! Bhatbhetini Department Store is a treasure trove of perfect gifts for that persons that likes to make a statement. Classy, tacky, kitsch? You decide: