Cliché or no cliché, Akbar’s ‘City of Victory’ really does “rise majestically” from a barren rocky plateau. Referring back to my note book, before writing up this visit, I found a string of exclamations: “The scale! Location and position! Extraordinary! Fabulously well-maintained! Power! More palace than fort!” An extraordinary place…
Fatehpur Sikri: City of Victory Read Post »
With Liz being short-listed for another writing competition this week we thought we’d start off our Rajasthan series with one of her latest entries, which we’ve also made available for the iPad and Kindle. Beautifully written, this pulls together a number of themes set in Jaipur, Jodpur and Agra (Taj Mahal), the classic traveller trail called The Golden Triangle. The central story, however, concentrates on a remarkable man we met whilst in Jaipur whose quest to empower women from the lowest castes affected us deeply. Setting the scene for the next few blog posts this is moving, brutal yet ultimately uplifting. It is, in my opinion, Liz’s best non-fiction writing to date.
A Rajput Gentleman – Introduction To The Golden Triangle Read Post »
Munnar is a corner of Kerala that’s tucked away in the mountain peaks of tea plantations and lush green valleys. Miles and miles of strange looking tea trees, interspersed with cardamom bushes and coffee trees, provide great walks and views not seen anywhere else in this mainly tropical state. In this post Liz provides some insight into these wonderful valleys, and throws in a visit to a tea factory.
Munnar Munnar – Do Doo Da Doo Doo Read Post »
As is probably evident from our previous posts, Madurai is a pretty crazy place. Rest, then, from the madding crowd in the calm of one of her grandest buildings, Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace. Deceptively understated from the outside, the open court-yard of the interior is imposing and beautiful. Liz: “If you are in southern India please do not miss this most beautiful palace. I fell in love with it in many ways. Its shape, colour and structure are sublime. Palest peach, vanilla, apricot, and cream combine to impart an ethereal quality”. The palace is close to becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site, which goes some way to illustrate how wonderful this simple building is. At the end of this short post we include a little slide show of a few of the buildings of Madurai.
Thirumalai Nayakkar Palace – Easy For You To Say Read Post »
Last time we left you we’d been wandering the back streets of Madurai and offered plenty of photographic evidence of its energy. In this post Liz gives a more cerebral account of our experience in this fabulous city, taking in the huge Meenakshi temple, which wouldn’t look out of place in Disney World. Her guide teaches Liz about the five sense, and they’re not the sense you or I learned about at school. Strangely every single photograph taken inside the temple ‘disappeared’ from Jamie’s camera, but we have plenty more images of the huge ‘gopurams’, as well as the people of Madurai. Liz’s prose is what travel writing is all about…
Meenakshi Amman Temple Of Madurai Read Post »
Jamie makes it as ‘technical advisor’ in April’s edition of Sailing Today, which sees his initial review of the famous American folding dinghy in print. In the article Jamie looks at the simplicity with which the boat is commissioned, and takes it for a row. The review will be followed up in six months time when he puts the outboard on the back, takes it into rougher weather and attempts to stow it on deck.
You can see the full review by subscribing to Sailing Today online; better still, head down your newsagent and buy a copy!
Jamie’s Review of The Porta-Bote Published in Sailing Today Read Post »
I am proud to announce that Jamie was awarded his Licentiateship at the Royal Photographic Society on Saturday and can now put the letters LRPS after his name. He is thrilled that all the hard work and studying he has put in over the last six months has paid off.
Encouraged by a win in the Times newspaper for best travel photograph earlier in the summer he hesitantly put his images onto the appraisal gallery of Amateur Photographer. Some of the senior members of the AP forum suggested he work towards membership of the RPS and it was their words of wisdom and constructive criticism that lead Jamie to assess his own work with a more informed eye.
Jamie Is Awarded LRPS Distinction Read Post »
We’ve yet to publish our blog on our trip to Goa. We spent a few weeks there and Jamie took a lot of pictures which he is still editing. On one trip we stopped off at a tiny village near Shri Mangesh and took a picture of the busy bus-stop. The Telegraph’s Big Picture editor clearly liked it enough to shortlist it for this week’s competition. It’s a wonderful, dreamy HDR (high dynamic range) photograph that captures the late afternoon ambiance of that part of the world.
Dreamy Goan Bus Stop Pic Shortlisted For Telegraph Read Post »
I wonder if the picture editor of The Times is as bored as we are of seeing Jamie’s photos? Apparently not, as he was runner-up again this week with one of his recent images from Fort Cochin. Just kidding, Jamie, keep ’em coming, I’m so proud of you.
The Times Shortlists FTB AGAIN! Read Post »
I’m almost embarrassed to announce that Jamie has been mentioned again in the Times weekly photo competition. He didn’t win this time, but was runner-up with a shot he took recently in Fort Cochin, of a sweet maker. Here’s a grab of the Times on-line…
The Times Shortlists Another Followtheboat Photograph Read Post »
Jamie’s photography is starting to receive the recognition it deserves. Encouraged by his appearances in The Times and Telegraph I suggested he enter one of my favourite shots into the Scott Dunn Photography Competition for a “Face” or “Place”. Jamie’s image of rough-and-tumble boys in the Dharavi Slums is a great shot.
Followtheboat Shortlisted For Scott Dunn Photography Read Post »
The first of four articles by followtheboat appears in September’s edition of ‘Sailing Today’, which is available in the shops today! This is the first story that covers the Vasco da Gama rally from Turkey to India. It was written by myself and is accompanied by Jamie’s photographs.
Of course we are very excited about this! It’s a six-page feature and will be rolled out over four editions. This one covers the first part of the rally from Turkey to Egypt. Take a look at the link for more info…
Followtheboat Published In ‘Sailing Today’ Read Post »
He’s only gone and won again! OK, so he didn’t win first prize, but Jamie’s photograph of a fossilized coral outcrop in Freedom Bay, Eritrea, was short-listed in this week’s “Big Picture” competition in the Daily Telegraph.
Daily Telegraph Shortlists Followtheboat Snap Read Post »
I’ve been badgering Jamie for some time now to take his photography to the next level. I mean, some of his shots are breath-taking, aren’t they?
Having reluctantly agreed he generously allowed me to do the legwork. I decided to start by entering his work into some competitions, this would start to get his name and work known.
It seems that my nagging is starting to pay off. Firstly, we are going to be published, but more about that exciting news in a future blog. Secondly, he’s just won the first competition he’s ever entered!
Encouraged by his Auntie Chris, we decided to enter one of his photos into The Times Travel Photo Competition.
Followtheboat Wins Its First Competition Read Post »
A little of the hocus pocus rubbed off and we struck it lucky by being taken up by a local, who showed us the best place to view the whole monastery and then wangled us an entry. It was too late to see inside the church and the museum (most annoying) so Jamie and I bought lots of postcards of all the beautiful objects we missed and had a cup of tea. We did manage a walk round the impressive grounds and buildings, which was an experience.
The Day We Sat In A Minibus Read Post »
