HX Report
Irishman in the Middle East
Weekly Photo Challenge – Wall
Posted on March 13, 2015
The HX region has over 5,500 years of continuous human habitation dating to the neolithic period. On the road between HX crossroads and the nearby lake of Lough Gur lies the ruins of an old church called Teampall Nua (New Church – in English language), which dates from the 17th century.
From The Lough Gur website (loughgur.com):
New Church replaced an older chapel which was used by the Earls of Desmond. The present structure dates from 1679 – a simple rectangular building. It was endowed with a chalice and patten which bear the inscription: “The guift of the Right Honourable Rachel Countess Dowager of Bath to her chapel-of-ease Logh Guir, Ireland 1679” The famed poet harper Thomas O’Connellan who died in 1698 in Bourchiers Castle is buried here in an unmarked grave as is Owen Bresnan (1847-1912) local poet and historian who composed Teampall Nua and Sweet Lough Gur side.
A piece by Thomas O’Connellan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Blt9B16TIQ
Pics by MB!
Weekly Photo Challenge – Orange
Posted on March 6, 2015
Weekly Photo Challenge – Rule Of Thirds
Posted on February 20, 2015
This week’s challenge is the photographic concept – the rule of thirds.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in Istanbul is the Topkapi Palace, which lies in the old town next to the Hagia Sophia Museum & Blue Mosque. The palace was home to the Sultans and their harem of females for three hundred years in the days of the Ottoman Empire, until Sultan Abdülmecid in 1853 decided to move to the nearby Dolmabache Palace.
MB visited Topkapi Palace in early November 2014. The palace lies on the bank of the Bosphorus Sea Straits and the views from the palace grounds are spectacular.
Caught this shot of one of the soldiers on duty, with the Bosphorus blurred in the background:
PS – Ignore the tree!
Weekly Photo Challenge – Symmetry
Posted on February 13, 2015
Ajman Fish Market – UAE (Ajman is one of the 7 Emirates of the UAE)
The fishing boats (generally manned by fishermen from the state of Gujarat in India) unload their catches onto Ajman quay every Saturday afternoon and lay them out symmetrically in terms of size & species. The fish traders from the adjoining market then bid for lots through an auction process as the auctioneer with his microphone walks through all the lines of fish one by one.
Lots of symmetry in this one. The buildings behind. The roofs of the boats. And the fish. Lots of fish!
Weekly Photo Challenge – Scale
Posted on February 6, 2015
Weekly Photo Challenge – Depth
Posted on January 30, 2015
This week’s challenge is ‘Depth‘.
The Great Wall Of China:
One bright beautiful blue-sky morning In October 2009 MB walked on the Great Wall Of China. It’s an incredibly awe-inspiring structure and sight, as it winds it’s way into the mountainous distance, deep into the northern Chinese countryside. 8,850km (or 5,500 miles) deep to be exact. MB walked on a section which is about one hour drive outside Beijing. The wall is extremely steep in many locations as it snakes the contours of the mountain slopes, and a level of aerobic fitness is required to walk a reasonable length of it. Some, or most, of the English language signage along the wall is amusing! Read More
Weekly Photo Challenge – Express Yourself
Posted on January 23, 2015
For six years the Middle East has been MB’s second home.
Mention of the ME conjures up many things to many people. In the Western world maybe it conjures up negative images for the most part. Understandable MB guesses, given that most news coverage, like most news coverage the world over, focuses of the profane, the obscene, the terrible and the trouble. And of course that’s the awful truth of certain locations in the region. Read More
Weekly Photo Challenge – Shadowed
Posted on January 9, 2015
Weekly Photo Challenge – New
Posted on January 2, 2015
Not really into New Year resolutions. But remember sitting in class one sleepy afternoon many years back in secondary school and the nun, who was also the school Principal, advising us all for future life to –
Hitch your wagon to a star
Have never forgotten those words.
Photo is from MB’s trip back home and one of his shots of ‘The Plough’ from his back garden last week. Click to enlarge:
Weekly Photo Challenge – Warmth
Posted on December 26, 2014
The entrance door to MB’s local Grange Church at last weekend’s Christmas Carol Service. The evening was a charity event in aid of St Vincent De Paul and other local charities. The money collector awaits inside (right of pic) with her large collection bucket. Well done to all who organised.
Great warm night. In many ways.
Weekly Photo Challenge – Twinkle
Posted on December 12, 2014
Weekly Photo Challenge – Gone, But Not Forgotten
Posted on December 5, 2014
This week it’s Gone, But Not Forgotten. Read More
Weekly Photo Challenge – Converge
Posted on November 28, 2014
Lough Gur lake, Limerick, South West Ireland. September 2014.
HX Report 