At Wahringa Mall, Sydney
is such an easy way to remember your travels in a small compact handbag fitting journal. Through learning with Erin Hill Sketching https://erinhill.com.au I’ve met some wonderful people and it’s opened up a whole world of opportunities. I find it SO relaxing and meditative. I’m HOOKED!
It happened to be election day in Rajasthan as we drove to our next destination. Lining up to cast a vote in India is similar to how it is done in Australia with voting taking place at local schools.
Each state of India votes on a different day so that security forces can be transported around the countryside to supervise. Rajasthan had a record turnout with over 74% of the population casting their vote. People voted for change with more votes going to the alternative BJP party instead of the incumbent Indian National Congress.
As all around the world, it was a day for the community to get together and discuss the state of the nation. We could see small groups gathering near the polling booths as we travelled that day, sharing a chai and a “chin wag” or waiting together for a bus or truck to take them in the direction of their homes.
To avoid multiple voting, each voter was marked on their forefinger with indelible ink and to avoid possible clashes, alcohol could not be sold in the days leading up to the election date. Now that’s not such a bad idea.
For me while travelling, blogging takes a back seat. Only when I get home do I again go over photos and journals and relive the wonders of new discoveries all over again.
Enroute home from my son’s fun filled wedding in Mexico (another blog post all in itself), we stopped over in Tokyo. It’s amazing what you can see in only 24 hours.
Near Asakusa, is the oldest temple in Tokyo, Sensoji Temple, said to have been built in 628. After walking past the little old Edo period shopfronts selling new kimonos, hand made traditional Japanese shoes, Geta, snacks and tourist souvenirs in Denbouin Street we came to the temple itself.
It was near here that we saw a sign for a Kimono Museum. What we found was a shop with a free display upstairs of kimonos and household textiles collected by ethnographer, Chazaburo Tanaka.
Ethnographer’s collection
Over 200 years old. Nothing was wasted.
This gallery contains 10 photos
It’s amazing what travel can teach you.
Hint : It’s on a weaving loom
(Oops, no it’s not ON a loom but has to do with weaving)
8 women descended on India for a total immersion into cultural overload. Over 16 days we honed our bargaining skills, learned about the intricate artistry of textile production and decoration, were treated to unparalleled hospitality and established new lifelong friendships from opposite sides of the globe.
Along the way we also learnt a little about India’s tumultuous past, it’s colourful characters and visited wonderful World Heritage locations.
It wasn’t all sightseeing and shopping although, what a treasure trove of collectibles this was:
Inspiration was everywhere, man made:
Incorporating old into new at Qutb Minar
and natural.
The Chambal River
Unimaginably decorative patterns and a rainbow of colours were everywhere.
We also experienced a bit of royal fun:
appreciated ancient techniques
and even learnt new skills from the masters themselves!
I wonder how many of us will incorporate that into our next endeavours?
Colour is all around us. When you think of the city of Singapore, you may think of white and grey concrete buildings, grey sky before the tropical downpour or even the lush green growth of the botanic gardens and street trees.
This weekend while out and about, I deliberately took a note of the colour around us, particularly on the buildings:
Vivid blue building in Chinatown
Green and yellow People’s Park Complex, Chinatown
Mint green of prime riverside warehouses
Tree in gutter of beautiful shop houses, Little India
Beautiful shop house windows, Little India
While looking at architecture it was interesting to see the pre World War 2 buildings of Tiong Bahru:
Pre WW2 staircase
More pre WW2 buildings
Despite there being constant building and development here, heritage buildings are now under some sort of governance preventing their desecration:
Regulations showing what is/isn’t allowed
Photo taken by Bob Dennis
Why do we wear what we wear?
Travel highlights different perspectives in what is considered “normal” apparel for various occasions. Thank goodness the whole world is not yet fully westernized and variety and colour abounds.
Fingers are busy and the machine is whirring hoping to finish in time. So many ideas.
Maybe some will have to wait until next year….
Coasters for my quilt group Christmas lunch. Maybe I’ll make more to give away.
I finished these early
and these felted slippers too.
Four legged one doesn’t miss out.
Am teaching myself something new.
What are you doing?
Exploring the world of couture sewing
TeresaDownUnder
Online art courses and original drawings
Travel sketching and tours. Finding beauty in the everyday.
The secret diary of the next great quilt star!
Documentary and fine art wedding, lifestyle and travel photography
Just a few little threads of my life
Michelle Bridges 12 Week Body Transformation
The Art of Knitting
More Info & Details on www.textontextiles.com
Helpful vignettes for the peripatetic
Travel sketching and tours. Finding beauty in the everyday.
The latest news on WordPress.com and the WordPress community.
Erin Hill Sketching KL 
You must be logged in to post a comment.