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Travel snapshots from Toonsarah

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  • About me
    • Contact me
    • ‘Always Write’ interview
    • My love of travel
    • My photography
      • Photographic techniques
      • My photography journey
      • Video
    • Disclaimer & GDPR
  • Archive
  • Home
  • Destinations
    • England
      • London
      • Newcastle-upon-Tyne
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Bulgaria
      • Estonia
      • France
        • Paris
      • Germany
      • Iceland
      • Italy
      • Jersey
      • Latvia
      • Norway
      • Portugal
      • Spain
        • Seville
      • Switzerland
      • Ukraine
    • Beyond
      • Africa
        • Botswana
        • Cape Verde
        • Gambia
        • Kenya
        • Morocco
        • Namibia
        • Senegal
        • Tanzania
        • Zimbabwe
      • Americas
        • Belize
        • Canada
        • Chile
          • Rapa Nui
        • Costa Rica
        • Ecuador
          • Galapagos Islands
        • Guatemala
        • Jamaica
        • USA
          • New Mexico
          • New York City
          • Washington State
      • Asia
        • DPRK
        • India
          • Kerala
          • Rajasthan
        • Indochina
          • Cambodia
          • Laos
          • Vietnam
        • Japan
        • Nepal
        • Oman
        • Syria
        • United Arab Emirates
        • Uzbekistan
  • Themes
    • Architecture
    • Art
      • Crafts
      • Street art
    • Colour
    • Dark tourism
    • Eco-tourism
    • Food & drink
    • Gardens
    • History
      • Ruins
      • War
    • Landscape
      • Coast & seascapes
      • Deserts
      • Mountains
      • Rivers
    • Nature and wildlife
      • Animals
      • Birds
      • Plants
        • Flowers
        • Trees, forests and woodland
    • People
      • Culture & tradition
      • Street photography
    • Travel in general
  • Photo galleries
    • Themed galleries
    • Travel galleries
  • Postcards from the road
  • Challenges
    • Photography challenges
      • Just One Person
      • Lens-Artists
      • Mid-week Monochrome
      • Monochrome Madness
      • One Word Sunday
      • Photographing Public Art
      • Pick a Word
      • Squares
      • Sunday Stills
      • The Changing Seasons
      • Words of Wisdom
      • Cee’s challenges
        • CBWC
        • CFFC
        • CMMC
    • General challenges
      • Monday walks
      • Writers’ Quotes Wednesday
    • Challenges archive
      • Bird Weekly
      • Friendly Friday
        • The Friendly Friday Challenge: how to join in
      • Friday’s Foods of the World
      • Life in Colour
      • One-to-Three
      • Ten photos
      • Thursday Doors
      • Thursday Trios
  • About me
    • Contact me
    • ‘Always Write’ interview
    • My love of travel
    • My photography
      • Photographic techniques
      • My photography journey
      • Video
    • Disclaimer & GDPR
  • Archive

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Topics I’ve touched on

africa architecture art birds black_&_white bulgaria cambodia cffc chile churches cities colour costa_rica dprk ealing england flowers france friendlyfriday Friendly_Friday history india just_one_person_from_around_the_world landscape lens-artists Lens_Artists_Challenge london Monday_Walks mountains nepal new_mexico north_korea paris people photography photo_effects PPAC rivers ruins Street_Art Street_Photography Sunday_Stills usa village wildlife
  • England,  Ruins,  War

    Tyneham: a village frozen in time

    September 28, 2020 / 20 Comments
    Ruined houses and white telephone box

    'Please treat the church and houses with care; we have given up our homes where many of us lived for generations to help win the war to keep men free. We shall return one day and thank you for treating the village kindly.'

    Carry on reading

    Or what about ...?

    Brightly coloured boat approaching the shore

    Gallery: Everybody Razzle Dazzle in Liverpool

    October 1, 2021
    Several bridges over a river

    Newcastle: a city and its river

    February 18, 2021
    Mist hanging over a lake

    Gallery: Morning mists over Matthew’s Linn

    January 26, 2021
  • Architecture,  History,  Japan,  Travel galleries

    Gallery: the merchant houses of Takayama

    September 23, 2020 / 9 Comments
    Street of traditional Japanese houses

    There was something special about Takayama. I could feel it in the air as soon as I stepped off the train – crisp, fresh mountain air, so refreshing after the heat of Kyoto.

    Carry on reading

    Or what about ...?

    Small boats on a river with grassy banks and old buildings

    A sunny day out in Cambridge, part one

    July 19, 2022
    Sign on boarded-up window

    Gallery: London, off the beaten track (urban erosion)

    January 17, 2021
    Banner with photo of a tightrope walker

    Friendly Friday: meet a young tightrope walker in Jaisalmer

    August 27, 2021
  • History,  Syria

    Once upon a time in Syria: part two

    September 21, 2020 / 19 Comments
    Roman columns and other ruins

    I think it was in Syria that I first fell in love with the huge open skies of desert landscapes. I felt I could sit and look out of the bus window quite happily for hours ...

    Carry on reading

    Or what about ...?

    Stone church and blue sky

    The wonders of Bulgaria’s Bachkovo Monastery

    February 10, 2022
    Street of adobe houses

    Acoma Pueblo: a place prepared

    January 13, 2021
    Grassy mounds and statues of sheep

    Around the world in ten photos: day three

    December 19, 2020
  • History,  Syria

    Once upon a time in Syria: part one

    September 19, 2020 / 21 Comments
    'Welcome to Syria' banner

    I went to Syria in 1996, when it was a very different country. Today I can’t help wondering about the fate of the people I met there.

    Carry on reading

    Or what about ...?

    Ceramic tiles with blue border and brown lion and castle

    A visit to the Real Alcázar of Seville

    December 29, 2021
    Small boats on a river with grassy banks and old buildings

    A sunny day out in Cambridge, part one

    July 19, 2022
    Ornate moss-covered oriental roof

    Another slice of North Korean history in Kaesong

    October 21, 2021
  • Dark tourism,  DPRK,  War

    So who did start the Korean War?

    September 15, 2020 / 12 Comments
    Relief carvings of battle scenes

    History, they say, is told by the victors. But what if there are no victors? What if the war never technically ended? Then, perhaps, each side feels free to tell its own version of history, a version in which they were triumphant.

    Carry on reading

    Or what about ...?

    Stone statue of man in an overcoat

    A visit to Sofia’s Socialist Art Museum

    October 10, 2022
    Long empty tunnel with subdued lighting

    Jersey under occupation: the War Tunnels

    July 28, 2021
    Statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il

    Why go to North Korea?

    September 10, 2020
  • Animals,  Eco-tourism,  Laos

    Elephant encounters on elephant terms

    September 13, 2020 / 20 Comments
    Two elephants among trees

    Mahn and Mohn are mother and daughter. They were separated after Mohn was born, and sold to two different riding camps. Two years ago they were reunited at MandaLao, where elephants rescued from tourist camps and logging find sanctuary.

    Carry on reading

    Or what about ...?

    River and wooded shore with reflections

    Gallery: on the Narayani River

    November 16, 2022
    Three lion cubs

    Gallery: emerging into life

    April 12, 2021
    Red and black igiana

    The ‘Christmas’ marine iguanas of Española Island

    December 6, 2020
  • Dark tourism,  DPRK,  People

    Why go to North Korea?

    September 10, 2020 / 27 Comments
    Statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il

    When I told people that we were going to North Korea, or the DPRK as they prefer us to call it, I got one of three reactions. From our traveller friends, ‘wow, that will be interesting’. From others, either ‘why on earth would anyone want to go there?’ or ‘gosh, you’re brave – hope you come home again!’

    Carry on reading

    Or what about ...?

    Stone carved with cherubs

    Around the corner in Leipzig: die Runde Ecke

    April 16, 2021
    Looking down on faded yellow-painted buildings

    Campo da Morte Lenta: Camp of the Slow Death

    March 31, 2021
    Empty airport seating area

    Gallery: Wonsan Kalma International Airport sits deserted

    May 7, 2021
  • Dark tourism,  Japan,  War

    Finding peace in Hiroshima

    September 7, 2020 / 11 Comments
    School children in the Hiroshima Peace Park

    ‘Excuse me, may we ask you some questions?’ The three school girls spoke in chorus, politely and in good English. We naturally agreed and, armed with a clip-board and a work-book with a set of these questions, they proceeded to ‘interview’ us.

    Carry on reading

    Or what about ...?

    Ornamental gate

    The Killing Fields of Cambodia

    June 23, 2022
    Empty airport seating area

    Gallery: Wonsan Kalma International Airport sits deserted

    May 7, 2021
    Two large mosaics with portraits of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il

    Gallery: mosaic portraits of a dynasty

    October 21, 2020
  • England,  Landscape,  Travel galleries

    Gallery: the barns of Swaledale

    September 5, 2020 / 12 Comments
    Typical Swaledale landscape

    On a recent visit to Swaledale I became obsessed with capturing the patterns created by the drystone walls dissecting the fields above the valley and the stone barns scattered across the green landscape.

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    Or what about ...?

    Bright pink daisy-like flower

    Gallery: a May selection

    June 2, 2022
    Swan on a lake with green algae

    Gallery: an August selection

    September 4, 2022

    Gallery: on the trail of Knaresborough’s Town Windows

    August 20, 2022
  • Architecture,  Bulgaria,  Dark tourism

    Buzludzha Monument

    September 4, 2020 / 8 Comments
    Sepia photo of Buzludzha Monument

    The road twisted and turned up the mountain, winding through what seemed to be quite ancient woodland, and emerged on to the grasslands above. The crumbling hulk of the monument loomed above us, the last wisps of cloud just drifting away.

    Carry on reading

    Or what about ...?

    Buddhist monk

    Saying prayers for Korean reunification

    June 3, 2021
    Row of old shops and cafes

    A stroll around Las Vegas

    October 19, 2021
    Blue tiles with religious painting

    Gallery: tiles, tiles and yet more tiles!

    April 30, 2022
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Read my featured blogger interview

Logo for blogging feature
By Marsha of 'Always Write'

And my answers to Bren’s ‘five at five’ questions

Lady in a hat and red top sitting on rocks

Some favourite photos

Man in a turban with fishing nets
Fisherman in Fort Kochi, Kerala
Two elephants in long grass
Okavango elephants
Blue glacier edge
Glacier Grey, Torres del Paine, Chile
Elderly woman in black hat and sunglasses
In Santiago, Chile
Very large statues of North Korean Leaders
Statues of the Great Leaders on Mansudae Hill, Pyongyang
Water reflecting the sky with clouds and low sun
Approaching sunset in the Okavango Delta
Feet of huge metal sculpture, with man standing beside
The feet of the Angel
Large moai with row of more behind
The ‘travelling moai’ and Ahu Tongariki
Man in knitted hat by water, black and white photo
Waiting for the ferry, Banjul
Mountain reflected in a lake
On the road to Dyrholaey
Sunset at Wahiba Sands, Oman
Squirrel with a conker in his mouth
In Walpole Park, Ealing
Silhouette of a man in a gateway
Looking out from Bundi Palace
Blue and pink bird on a dead tree
Lilac-breasted Roller, Chobe NP, Botswana
Buddhist monk in orange robes with mobile phone
Monk at Wat Nong Sikhounmuang, Luang Prabang
Man sleeping in a tuk tuk by a carved stone wall
Tuk tuk driver by the Terrace of the Leper King
Close up of flamingo with head tucked under
Flamingo (Jersey Zoo)
Lady with baskets of fruit sitting by a canal
In Hoi An, Vietnam
Small fishing boat with a man in it, on a large lake
Lake Atitlan
Wet street and two people with bright pink umbrella
Street in Lucca, rainy day – edited

Some topics I’ve touched on

africa architecture art birds black_&_white bulgaria cambodia cffc chile churches cities colour costa_rica dprk ealing england flowers france friendlyfriday Friendly_Friday history india just_one_person_from_around_the_world landscape lens-artists Lens_Artists_Challenge london Monday_Walks mountains nepal new_mexico north_korea paris people photography photo_effects PPAC rivers ruins Street_Art Street_Photography Sunday_Stills usa village wildlife

Archive

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  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020

You may have missed

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  • Reading messages from the past
  • Gallery: pick a word (January 2023)
  • Gallery: seeing Japan in black and white
  • Gallery: the sound of silence

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All images and texts copyright Sarah Wilkie - 2023 ©
 

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