Safdarjung's Tomb and Lodi Gardens, Delhi, India

Hi and welcome. This blog shows photos of two ancient Tomb sites in the heart of Delhi. This first photo is the entrance to Safdarjung's Tomb in New Delhi. Although in a poor state of repair I find this building very beautiful. It was my second visit to this wonderful Tomb. There are more photos from my earlier visit here

When I walked through the entrance I saw a photo shoot was going on. I just had to ask if I could join in!

As you can see I was given permission. An exquisitely beautiful lady and dress

Safdarjung's Tomb is a garden tomb with a marble mausoleum.
Safdar Jung (Hindi: सफदरजंग, Urdu: صفدرجنگ‎) (b. c. 1708 – d. 5 October 1754) was the Subadar Nawab of Oudh (the ruler of the Indian state of Oudh, also known as Awadh) from 19 March 1739 to 5 October 1754

It was built in 1754 in the late Mughal Empire style, and was described as "the last flicker in the lamp of Mughal architecture"

There are four water canals leading to four buildings. One has an ornately decorated gateway while the other three are pavilions, with living quarters built into the walls

The tomb was built for Safdarjung, the powerful prime minister of Muhammad Shah who was the weak Mughal emperor from 1719 to 1748

There is a three-domed mosque within the complex

The Bada Gumbad Tomb in Lodi Gardens

Apparently we don't know who was buried there, probably some high-ranking official in the period of Sikandar Lodi 1489-1517

One of my favourite buildings in Delhi

Anyone who has been to India will know how keen children are to have their photo taken

I arrived at the tomb to find there was a school trip!

These three managed to maintain a classic pose

This lot just appeared in a moment of spontaneous joy!

Looking across to Sheesh Gumbad, another tomb

Sheesh Gumbad means "Glass Dome"because of the glazed blue ceramic tiles on the outside. You can see the remains of a line of them above the door inlay

Beautiful detail

A splash of bright colour

Endless photo opportunities!

The other side of Bada Gumbad

Some historians have suggested that it is the tomb of the first Lodi Sultan, Bahlol Lodi, who died in 1489

A common and beautiful Mughal architectural feature

Proud Mum and Molly. She asked me to take a photo of them both. How could I say no!!!

Georgetown: Colonial Architecture, Tan Jetty, Suffolk House

Welcome to the final blog on Penang. 5 blogs out of a 4 day visit shows just how much there is to see on this beautiful Malaysian island!


In this issue you will see Georgetown has many fine, grand buildings reflecting the colonial times. In complete contrast it has a jetty area where people live in shacks on the water. And Francis Light, the founder of the British colony of Penang had a rather nice house.... though there is some doubt he ever lived in it.

This first picture shows St Georges Church. It is the oldest Anglican church in South East Asia. It is one of the 50 national treasures of Malaysia.

I hope you enjoy the photos

Alan
















The Curch of the Assumption. It was built by
the Eurasians that followed Francis Light to
Penang. It was erected in 1861. Francis Light
had a common law wife who was a Eurasian
of Thai-Portuguese descent
















The Penang Customs Department clock tower
The building was originally known as the
Malayan Railway building. It was built at the
turn of the 20th century. The customs
department has it offices there but the building
is now called Wisma Kastam
















Majlis Jabatan Agama Islam Pulau Pinang
Building. Beautiful double storey Neo-Classical
style building constructed in 1907. This is the
pinnacle of colonial architecture in the Straits
Settlements during Edwardian times. It
used to be part of the Government administration
offices. Now it houses the State Islamic Council






















The moorish-style clocktower at
the junction of Lebuh Light and
Lebuh Pantai is sixty feet tall, one
foot for each year of Queen Victoria's reign



















Something strange about this picture.......













The Old Town Hall was once a premier place
for George Town’s social events, balls, public
speeches, art exhibitions and amateur concerts
for the town’s European community. Its
foundations were laid in 1879 and it was the
oldest municipal building in Penang















The City Hall housing the municipal council.
It is a handsome Victorian-style building and
was one of the first buildings in George Town,
to be completely fitted with electric lights and fans











The Clan Jetties are traditional settlements
created by Chinese immmigrants and are a
fascinating feature of Georgetown
















We visited Tan Jetty. It houses the descendents
of people who came from Tan Village in the Fujian
province in China. They came at the turn of
20th century






















At that time, the shoreline of
Georgetown had just been
extended outward to create
a deeper port for steamships,
which in turn created jobs for
port workers and coolies
















Here's Daniela at Tan Jetty






















Hmmmm! Am I wrong or is
there something missing....
















Tan Jetty bird













The shacks













Francis Light's accommodation called Suffolk
House. Although there is a short but interesting
article that suggests this building was built after
he died. Click on the link to read it












My front garden was a bit smaller than this, as
for the house........














Interesting bridge just outside the grounds of
Suffolk House






















And then all of a sudden this
pack of marauding canines
attacked us with great gusto!















It was hard not to put a couple in our pockets
and bring them back to Singapore, though
Singapore customs may have had other ideas!

I hope you have enjoyed the blogs on Penang.
If you get a chance do go.

Happy Birthday Singapore from Tiong Bahru!

Thank you for coming to visit my blog.

On 9 August, Singapore celebrates its 44th birthday. The same year I celebrate my 54th! After more than a 100 years of British colonial rule and 2 years under the Malaysian Federation Singapore was declared a sovereign and independent nation on 9 August 1965.
This is a very big occasion. Singapore only allows its citizens to display the national flag in public in the official period of the celebration.

I won't be in Singapore to take photos next weekend. But I thought I could show you a rather special part of Singapore called Tiong Bahru. While Singapore is celebrating it's independence it is good to look back to one of the few places left that have pre-independence history.

Hope you enjoy it!

Happy birthday Singapore!

Do come back again. I update my blog every two weeks.

Alan
















It is one of the oldest parts of Singapore left
standing, built in the 1930's when Singapore
was still under colonial rule.

















Many consider Tiong Bahru to be Singapore's
most charming residential area




















The building style is a mixture of art deco and
local Straits Settlements shophouse
architecture. The Straits Settlements
consisted of Malacca, Penang, Singapore and
Labuan


















Traditional local hot-pot eatery
















Small side streets are characteristic






















As are external spiral staircases
Other features of the architecture
are rounded balconies, flat rooftops,
and underground storage and shelters


















Perhaps one of the first penthouses?
















All the streets are named after Chinese
Pioneers of the 19th and early 20th century















The whole estate has recently been re-painted






















If you look at the top of the
photo you will see the traditional
Singaporean way of drying the
laundry for people living in flats




















Close up! The poles are bamboo and are iconic
of public housing in Singapore
















Somebody loves their plants. The slatted
windows are also common in Tiong Bahru
















This small traditional Kampung (village) is
dwarfed by the modern high rise private
condominiums






















What a great 'street'! The Kampung
is a village where the inhabitants
know and look out for each other.
Despite modern lifestyles and
architecture the collective community
spirit is still strong in Singapore
















Love the windows and the red brazier
















Before the war not many peole could afford
to live here. The upper class and the rich &
powerful kept their mistresses here. During this
period it was known as Mei Ren Wuo
(Chinese for “den of beauties”)


















Our visit to Tiong Bahru was made special by
meeting a family that invited us to see their
lovely house. This is a picture taken outside.
I haven't posted photos of the house to
protect their privacy















Classic shophouse unique to Tiong Bahru
















The juxtaposition of the old and new in this
and the next photo is part of the fascination
of Singapore






















The tallest building is Capital
Tower. A famous landmark in
Singapore (I work in the block
next to it). The round tower is
Temasek Tower, the tallest
cylindrical building in the world
















Tiong Bahru hawker food centre, recently
renovated. Tiong Bahru is famous for being
a great place to eat.
















Close to sunset. More clothes out to dry. Locals
quantify the amount of washing they have done
by sticks. "I did 5 sticks of washing today"
















Singaporeans eat early in the evening.
We liked the way the restaurant has
incorporated the public bench to extend the
number of tables. Rare to see tablecloths.
Probably a special occasion



















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