Wordless Wednesday

Pest control in India

For just the equivalent of 25 cents you can be the proud owner of this cutting edge pest control device. The passing resemblance to a tea strainer is purely coincidental.

One-horned rhinoceros

There are only about 2,000 one-horned rhinos left in the world and about a quarter of them live in Chitwan National Park in Nepal. If you are on foot the chances of seeing one are almost nil but if you're on the back of an elephant they seem completely at ease... perhaps they can't see that far up?

Plov

Food in Uzbekistan isn't for the faint hearted. The national dish is 'plov', a plate of rice, garlic, horse meat, quail and quails eggs. It's rarely found on restaurant menus but is cooked by local ladies who's expertise gains a reputation by word of mouth. Make-shift cafes are found in back yards and the meal is only available up to about two in the afternoon. Boswell and I were taken to a walled garden in a back street of Samarkand for this meal.

Beyond the grave

It's common in central Asian countries to have your possessions and status symbols shown on your gravestone. Mobsters have even been known to be buried with their prized car. These photos were taken in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.

Elephants in Botswana

I took this photo in Chobe National Park in Botswana. The park is over-populated with elephants to such a degree that many are shipped out to other parks. I noticed this herd standing still and as you can see they are protecting an ill infant, probably about three years old. The mother is stood directly over her baby. The next morning the herd had moved on, hopefully with the youngster fully recovered.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Vatican staircase

This is the amazing double helix staircase in the Vatican museum.

I've got the decorators in...

The Vatican museum is awesome. It covers 6 hectares and is rammed full of pieces collected by various popes over the years from ancient Egypt up to modern works by Mattise. But it's the medieval fresco's that really stand out for me because the popes actually lived among these amazing pieces in their private apartments.

In 1510 when Pope Julius II needed his walls decorating he got Raphael in... this detail is Diogenes from The School of Athens.

Just back from Italy

Just back from two weeks in Tuscany with the family. This is the Piazza Del Campo in Siena, more photos to follow...