12 Aug 2009

Bilbao: Guggenheim Museum

The Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao was designed by Frank Gehry (born 28 Feb 1929) It was built between   Oct 1993 and Oct 1997 and is made from titanium, limestone and glass. The outer skin of the building is made up of approximately 33,000 sheets of titanium which change colour, reflecting the light and weather conditions.




"Mamon"   the   spider  sculpture   cast   in   bronze,   marble   and   stainless   steel   by                 Louise   Bourgeois (25/12/1911 - 31/05/ 2010), 


13 Jan 2008

Vietnam: My Son





My Son: This was a Cham religious site between the 4th & 13th centuries, rediscovered by French archaeologists in the 19th century, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Centre. We left Hoi An @ 06.00hrs - pillion passengers on motor bikes - It was incredible, driving through the small villages in the dark and seeing dawn break over the mountains. The site of My Son was calm & peaceful and we were the only ones there. Go very early, or late in the evening when the hordes have left!






 

6 Jan 2008

Vietnam: Water Puppet Theatre - Hanoi

Water puppetry, or roi nuoc, dates back over a thousand years and the Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre in Hanoi took its name from the ancient city of Emperor Ly Thai To who moved his capital here in 1010 and called it Thang Long - City of the Soaring Dragon. The puppeteers stand waist deep in a tank of water and control the puppets from behind a curtain. The stories are based in tradition, the daily life of poor farmers, withrich villains, and legends with dragons, and are accompanied by live musicians playing traditional instruments