Geylang Singapore

Hello and welcome.

Back in August I went to Geylang, a traditional Chinese part of Singapore to take some photos.

Geylang is famous for its local food and prostitution. Brothels in Singapore are legal as long as they are formally licensed. Soliciting on the street is illegal however.

It is also the home to many clan houses.

August is the time of the hungry ghosts. People
leave offerings to appease the ghosts that pour
out of the gates of hell. This first shot shows a
bar that has left an altar of offerings.

I'll be back in January 2012. Have a wonderful
festive season! Hope you enjoy these photos
















The MRT (Mass Rapid Transport) train arriving
at the Paya Lebar Station, which is the nearest to
Geylang
















Inside a clan temple






















Buddhists offer food. It is a good
deed that reminds us not to be
selfish and greedy






















Even the incense bowl gets breakfast






















A much humbler "temple"






















This isn't a Christmas tree. I
took the photo in August. I
guess it is a prosperity tree

The dining table






















Life is tough on the streets of
Geylang. But a good scratch
helps keep the claws sharp for
future fights














Statues of Apsaras (celestial beings) and the
occasional Buddha













A few more.........
















A variety of Buddhas all in the same pose
















Tables and chairs.....
















A table and chairs used for playing cards


















Guess :)














The dressed up lorry belongs to the Boon Yew
Association. It's an Association Management
organisation. Not sure what that means






















No prizes for guessing what goes on
behind closed shutters. Cheap eh!
That's just for the room though.....






















Khadijah Mosque in Geylang



















You can still see vehicles like these in parts of
Singapore















Attractive shophouse architecture
















This is the closest I have ever been to being in
a brothel, honest!
















I started with an altar of offerings outside a bar.
This is a much grander affair! The hungry ghosts
will be hungry no more!

Fiera di Casalguidi and North Tuscan Countryside, Italy

Welcome. This is my last posting from my very short trip to Tuscany in September.

Casalguidi is a small town situated a few km south of Pistoia and about 35 km North East of Florence in Northern Tuscany. Every year it has a week-long Fiera (Festival) in September. I was there at this time so took a few photos.

The Tuscan country is famous for its beauty. Many of the classic scenes that you see on calendars and postcards are from the South of Tuscany. While I was in North Tuscany I went on a couple of trips into the hills and of course couldn't resist taking some shots.

The first photo shows a hot dog and "porchetta" (whole roasted pig) stall with the tower of the church behind
















A closer view
















A very, perhaps uncomfortably close view!






















Street in the town, lit up for the
festivities
















More meat, hanging from the ceiling, and if
that wasn't enough hanging on the walls as well
















The Church of St Peter was first built in the
twelfth century. There is documentation about
Casalguidi from the year 1000. In Roman
times it was probably a way station along the
road from Pistoia to Montalbano
















The Misericordia is a voluntary organisation
like St John's Ambulance. Lovely building






















Daytime and the festivities are
very colourful!
















Watch out! The aliens are also celebrating. The
festival is very agricultural with fine examples
of modern farming machinery
















Out in the countryside now














Tuscan country house
















Cypresses are the hallmark of Tuscan countryside.
They are used as windbreakers













Looking towards the Appennines that divide
Tuscany and Reggio Emilia
















Olive groves
















Entrance to Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo in
Buriano near Quarrata
















Beautifully framed






















Lovely campanile
















There used to be an ancient castle here. This
priory Church was built somewhere around
the 14 century but then restructured in its
present form in 1735
















Very peaceful. There are hopes to make a
museum here






















Olive cultivation began in the
eighth century in Tuscany.
Although its yield is about 10
times less than the olive trees in
southern Italy, it is very popular
because it is less acidic, giving it
a distinctive flavour
















The iron-rich red soil is good for making
overall quality wine
















These lovely houses are cool in summer. They
have very thick walls and very efficient window
shutters to keep the sunlight at bay













More modern houses nestled between the trees
















Panorama
















Green floor mops!
















In the hills steps are built to create flat terraces
for cultivation
















A medieval campanile stands proud in what's
now a modern village
















Many different shades of green as the hills
fold into each other
















Great sky













The long and winding road