Day 287: Shadows III

Day 286: Shadows II

Day 285: Shadows

Day 284: Modern Art

Is it wrong to post a photo of someone else's art when you aren't able to credit the artist as you forgot to write down their name?

I tried to find out from the website who was exhibiting at the Musee de Marrakech (where I took the photo) last week but the site seems to have been last updated circa 2004.

So you'll just have to go there and see it for yourself!

Day 283: Patterns II

I love the patterns in these last two pictures. This one is a shaft of sunlight coming through a small portal window and hitting the wall diagonally beneath another portal window. It made an interesting natural composition, I thought.

Day 282: Patterns

Day 281: Marrakech Part II

A pattern is now forming when it comes to visiting Morocco. First trip, earlier this year, resulted in being stranded by the ash cloud and an overland adventure to Spain arriving home about 5 days late but with the additional bonus of a night train to Tangier, a hilarious lunch in a Port 'o Leith type bar in Algeciras and a couple of lovely days in Cordoba.

This trip ends with the Great British Freeze-off and the slowest, nightmare-ish train journey back to Edinburgh from London last night, arriving close to midnight, about two hours late due to 'events' en route, as the train guard described them. Cold, nauseous, full of flu (picked up in London).

But Marrakech was great. Colourful, noisy, spicy, chaotic. I love it.

Day 280: Rosie II

And again.

That's probably your lot for the next few days as I'm off to Morocco (again), with my Mum this time.

Life is not usually this jet set I can assure you. It's a bit like buses...

See you later.

Day 279: Rosie I

And here is the cutest little girl.

Day 278: Magnus II

Blowing out plastercine candles.

Day 277: Magnus I

Tell me this isn't the cutest little boy.

Day 276: Constructions of Happiness

Check out Constructions of Happiness by Astrid Bussink at the Filmhouse at the moment. It's an intriguing concept and reminds me of this other fantastic project done by Nikki S Lee where she infiltrated all these different social groups. Check it out online.

Can you spot the life size cut out stuck to the wall in this photo?

Day 275: Uncle Fish

Day 274: Secret Garden III

Day 273: Secret Garden II

Day 272: Secret Garden I

Day 271: Boys will be boys

These boys just loved striking Ninja poses and then seeing what they looked like in camera.

There was about twenty of them, all jumping about, arms flailing across each others faces, so I was quite lucky to get this picture, in focus, without someone's arm reaching across the screen Ninja-style.

This is probably the last of my Malawi pics so I hope you've enjoyed them. This is hopefully just the first taste and I'll get a further chance to visit the country and explore it a bit more.

Day 270: Baobab

A cool picture painted on the wall in the Safari Lodge Hotel.

Day 269: Coming Home

These boats can go out at 2 am often to return home 11 am with, hopefully, a net full of fish.

Then the village near where I was staying was crazy busy as business was done and the fish were all sold on.

Day 268: Big Fish

Day 267: Sunrise

Day 266: Fisherman on Lake Malawi

I took this photo at Senga Bay just after sunrise at about 5.30am. This guy was fixing his nets before setting off in this dugout boat to fish on Lake Malawi. Chambo is the most popular fish you get in the Lake and we had it often, totally delicious, grilled open, often served with Nsema.

Nsema, sort of like semolina but more pastey and less grainy, is very much the national dish of Malawi. A meal is not really a meal without it. I had it once and it was quite tasty but I'm not a big fan, generally, of food with porridge/cereal texture so would always go for rice as an alternative, or... ahem... chips, yes, Fish and Chips, you can take the girl out of Britain... etc.

Day 265: Tomato Seller

Along the route of all the major roads you can buy the most beautiful produce from the local villages. Mangoes, all types of vegetables and here, delicious tomatoes, all carefully presented in little stacks, one on top of the other.

Day 264: The (lil) long (we) road

Senga Bay to Lilongwe.

I drove this route, feeling king of the road in a huge 4x4. Ok it might have been semi-illegal, since there was the small matter of a driving license I'd neglected to bring with me. But I made it. Then drove all the way from Lilongwe to Blantyre in convoy the next day.

Ah, the only way to travel.

Day 263: Kids II

Others weren't so sure.

Day 262: Kids

Some kids loved having their picture taken.

This little boy was a delight to photograph, with a smile to die for, and was equally delighted to see his photo taken.

Day 261: Tay Grin

Louisa and her brother Limbani - AKA Malawi's No. 1 rap artist, Tay Grin.

Day 260: Tearoom

Incredible red earth in Malawi.

And incredible blue sky.

And beautiful, brightly coloured chitenge that the women wear.

Day 258: Education Day

Day 257: Beach baby

Day 256: C V

Day 255: C IV

Day 254: C III