Tag: holiday

Salt pans at Guerande, Brittany

Salt pans at Guerande, Brittany

Salt pans at Guerande, Brittany Salt pans at Guerande, Brittany Salt pans at Guerande, Brittany

Salt pans at Guerande in Brittany

They say we’re made of sea-water, so I suppose one could say these fascinating drying salt pans at Guerande in Brittany are concentrating some aspect of mammalian life, in a sense.

Another curious thought is that these muddy and distinctly un-glamorous bird-poo splattered puddles are the source of what I understand is some of the world’s most highly prized sea salt – and they’re just a stone’s-throw from some of the most expensive and glamorous holiday beaches on Europe’s Atlantic Coast. As they say, it’s a funny old world.

 

Photos of Holy Island, off the coast of Northumberland

Matt Atkin on Holy Island

Matt Atkin on Holy Island Matt Atkin on Holy Island Matt Atkin on Holy Island

Matt Atkin on Holy Island Matt Atkin on Holy Island Matt Atkin on Holy Island

 Matt Atkin on Holy Island Matt Atkin Holy Island

Matt Atkin’s usually to be found in Hong Kong and most of his photos are from the exotic Far East, or at least the Eastern Hemisphere. So it makes a refreshing change to be able to publish these photos of Holy Island, off the coast of Northumberland, taken during a brief holiday in England last week. It’s a shame the light wasn’t really on his side, but that’s the home country for you…

Also known as Lindisfarne, Holy Island’s an astonishing place famous for all sorts of things, including being a centre for Christian evangelising starting from 635AD, the historic Viking raid of 793AD, and the illuminated manuscript known as the Lindisfarne Gospels. More prosaically perhaps, it’s also known for its remoteness, the abbey ruins, a photogenic collection of sheds made out of old boats, and as an interesting destination for small boat sailors.

Among the boats, connoiseurs of these things will spot a couple of fairly standard North East coast cobles and a double-ended coble among the boats

For those who like to know these things, Matt’s moved on from his Leica to a Fujifilm FinePix X100. Click on the image below to see the detail it delivers.

Thanks for the photos bruv!

Fuji Finepix X100

Pete Williamson’s amazing photos of boats and boatbuilding in Vietnam

Pete Williamson's photos of Vietnam boats and boatbuilders

Pete Williamson's photos of Vietnam boats and boatbuilders Pete Williamson's photos of Vietnam boats and boatbuilders Pete Williamson's photos of Vietnam boats and boatbuilders

Pete Williamson's photos of Vietnam boats and boatbuilders Pete Williamson's photos of Vietnam boats and boatbuilders Pete Williamson's photos of Vietnam boats and boatbuilders

Pete Williamson's photos of Vietnam boats and boatbuilders Pete Williamson's photos of Vietnam boats and boatbuilders Pete Williamson's photos of Vietnam boats and boatbuilders

Pete Williamson's photos of Vietnam boats and boatbuilders Pete Williamson's photos of Vietnam boats and boatbuilders Pete Williamson's photos of Vietnam boats and boatbuilders

This remarkable set of photographs from a boatyard on the Vietnamese island of Kim Bong were taken by Pete Williamson recently while on holiday in the area. They are published with his permission.

Here’s what he says:

‘The islands of Kim Bong and Thanh Ha on the Thu Bon river near Hoi An are I believe subsidised to preserve the crafts and way of life of the people, and are a major tourist attraction.

‘The wooden boat would apparently take three months to build, and sell for $1000 US!

‘The ”coracles” are in some ways similar to Welsh coracles, but lack the plank seat, have a woven skin and are propelled by rocking rather than paddled. They are apparently raced but are also used to remove the fish caught in the large nets seen in the river.

‘Regards, Pete’

Thanks Pete! Some great shots of boatbuilding in Vietnam here – the net is particularly beautiful, and the boats themselves are extraordinary – I’ve never seen trunnels used this way before, except as a way of demonstrating that it’s possible.

In fact I’ve recently been given a number of photos from Vietnam, and will post some more of them shortly.