This is one of my favourite night shots taken at Izmir dockside, Turkey in March. The mood was very pleasing and I like the city lights in the far background, reflections and the way the ship stood out against the crisp, cool night sky.
Skywatch
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Skywatch - A night to remember
This is one of my favourite night shots taken at Izmir dockside, Turkey in March. The mood was very pleasing and I like the city lights in the far background, reflections and the way the ship stood out against the crisp, cool night sky.
Skywatch
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul
My very first impression when we saw Istanbul's Blue Mosque was how magnificent and incredibly massive it was. We caught our first glimpse of the mosque a few years ago but it was a brief visit and I didn't manage to take too many pictures due to time constraints. Nevertheless, I was so delighted to have had the opportunity to visit it again this year and had a great time taking even better pictures with our DSLR camera.
For those of you who have been following this blog for a while, you must have already seen a few shots of the Blue Mosque in my previous post but I haven't include any shots of the interior, so here are more photos and details of the mosque.
The official name for the Blue Mosque is the Sultanahmet Mosque, named after Sultan Ahmed I, which was built between 1610 and 1617. These days, it's more familiarly known as the Blue Mosque. The name comes from the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. More specifically, the interior was decorated with more than 20,000 shimmering blue-green Iznik tiles with more than 50 different patterns, calligraphy and the domes are so beautifully tiled with delicate geometric designs.
I also noticed hundreds of stunning stained-glass windows with various designs that were a sight to behold as the sunlight cast through them, showcasing their beauty. Apart from that, the floors were covered with lush carpets, and high above I saw many ornate chandeliers. It's a refreshing change from the ornamental cathedrals of most European cities I've encountered.
I found that people of all faiths are welcome provided that they are appropriately dressed. Apparently, no shorts above the knees or bare arms and you need to remove your shoes prior to entry. Plastic bags are provided to carry your shoes in. I used my shawl to cover my head but later found out the head covering of a non-Muslim wasn't required.
While the interior should not be missed, the outer courtyard is equally impressive too as this give you one of the splendid views of the cascading domes and the amazing architecture.
One of the six minarets that stands majestically against the blue sky and as far as I could tell, this is the only one mosque with six minarets in Turkey.
The Blue mosque is beautifully lit up at night. I find it amazing to be able to see both day and night.
That concludes our visit to the Blue Mosque. The outside is spectacular and the inside awe inspiring. It is well worth the visit. On the plus side there is no entry charge but donations are most welcome.
The mosque is open between 9am-6pm daily, except for praying times lasting about half an hour, five times per day and mid-day on Fridays.
Ruby Tuesday
That's My World
For those of you who have been following this blog for a while, you must have already seen a few shots of the Blue Mosque in my previous post but I haven't include any shots of the interior, so here are more photos and details of the mosque.
The official name for the Blue Mosque is the Sultanahmet Mosque, named after Sultan Ahmed I, which was built between 1610 and 1617. These days, it's more familiarly known as the Blue Mosque. The name comes from the blue tiles adorning the walls of its interior. More specifically, the interior was decorated with more than 20,000 shimmering blue-green Iznik tiles with more than 50 different patterns, calligraphy and the domes are so beautifully tiled with delicate geometric designs.
I also noticed hundreds of stunning stained-glass windows with various designs that were a sight to behold as the sunlight cast through them, showcasing their beauty. Apart from that, the floors were covered with lush carpets, and high above I saw many ornate chandeliers. It's a refreshing change from the ornamental cathedrals of most European cities I've encountered.
I found that people of all faiths are welcome provided that they are appropriately dressed. Apparently, no shorts above the knees or bare arms and you need to remove your shoes prior to entry. Plastic bags are provided to carry your shoes in. I used my shawl to cover my head but later found out the head covering of a non-Muslim wasn't required.
While the interior should not be missed, the outer courtyard is equally impressive too as this give you one of the splendid views of the cascading domes and the amazing architecture.
One of the six minarets that stands majestically against the blue sky and as far as I could tell, this is the only one mosque with six minarets in Turkey.
The Blue mosque is beautifully lit up at night. I find it amazing to be able to see both day and night.
That concludes our visit to the Blue Mosque. The outside is spectacular and the inside awe inspiring. It is well worth the visit. On the plus side there is no entry charge but donations are most welcome.
The mosque is open between 9am-6pm daily, except for praying times lasting about half an hour, five times per day and mid-day on Fridays.
Ruby Tuesday
That's My World
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Skywatch - Winter wonderland in Moscow
During our last day in Moscow of March, we went for a leisurely walk nearby the Moscow River.
It was a fine day with white clouds floating in the blue sky but the weather was too cold and my hands were numb. I could not even talk and was unable to take many pictures. The bitter cold wave told me that the journey ahead would be tough though we had prepared carefully.
We braced ourselves against the chill wind from the peak all the way to the river bank. As we made our way down the bank, I couldn't help but admire the beauty of the snow.
Along the way, we saw a nice ski jump hill
After a long walk down the hill, we finally reached the river bank. I was filled with a soothing sense of tranquility and calmness and I felt so small standing there in the open area.
Looking across the Moscow river is the Moscow Olympics Complex
The snowy scenery literally took my breath away. Despite the bitter cold, I enjoyed walking around from sight to sight and getting the taste of Moscow's beautiful landscape. It was a refreshing change as we never get to see snow in our homeland.
The Moscow skyline from the riverside is amazingly beautiful too.
This is my entry for Skywatch this week. Hope you enjoy these photos of the snowy landscape in Moscow.
It was a fine day with white clouds floating in the blue sky but the weather was too cold and my hands were numb. I could not even talk and was unable to take many pictures. The bitter cold wave told me that the journey ahead would be tough though we had prepared carefully.
We braced ourselves against the chill wind from the peak all the way to the river bank. As we made our way down the bank, I couldn't help but admire the beauty of the snow.
Along the way, we saw a nice ski jump hill
After a long walk down the hill, we finally reached the river bank. I was filled with a soothing sense of tranquility and calmness and I felt so small standing there in the open area.
Looking across the Moscow river is the Moscow Olympics Complex
The snowy scenery literally took my breath away. Despite the bitter cold, I enjoyed walking around from sight to sight and getting the taste of Moscow's beautiful landscape. It was a refreshing change as we never get to see snow in our homeland.
The Moscow skyline from the riverside is amazingly beautiful too.
This is my entry for Skywatch this week. Hope you enjoy these photos of the snowy landscape in Moscow.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)