Giraffes in the wild

It's amazing how wild animals merge into the background. Here is a lone giraffe standing in the middle of the African jungle. The colors in the background match his colours! Almost like a comouflage.

Giraffes have very long necks and legs. They do not have many predators, though lions can attack them. Giraffes can live up to 25 years in the wild.

Here are two giraffes foraging amongst the leaves in the African jungle.

You don't usually see giraffes sitting in the jungle. But here is one, relaxing.

They may look very elegant and graceful from afar, but close up giraffes are not exactly cute! This is a close up of the face of a giraffe. A portrait of a giraffe.

Related Images: Wild Zebras in Ruaha National Park Tanzania or a Man with camel - photograph and silhouette or check out the label "Animals."

You might also like Yaks in Ladakh or Cat Portraits or Black Hippos in the wild

Wild Baby Giraffe

Pictures of a wild baby giraffe near the riverside where it has come to drink water. Taken in the Ruaha jungle in Tanzania, Africa.

A baby giraffe drinking water. Due to its long legs this process can become quite awkward!

You might also like Black Hippos in the wild or Wild Zebras in Ruaha National Park Tanzania
Or check out some photographs of Wildlife or of all the Animals on this blog.

The Nile ships

There are the small cruise liners which go up and down the Nile River, carrying tourists.

A closer look at the Egyptian cruise liner

The ship deck.

A comfortable room on the ship with a view of the river Nile.

You might also like The River Nile or the ancient culture of Egypt Temple and statues of Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt or for more images of this country in Africa, of important monuments like the Pyramids and other temples.try the label "Egypt"

Esna Lock Photographs

There is a lock system on the river Nile. The reason for it to make it easy for ships to navigate across a difference in height of the water.  A lock is built with a fixed chamber inside of it and in this fixed chamber the water level can be raised or lowered. It is quite an experience to go through a lock. It is like a lift for a boat or ship! However the chamber itself does not go up and down, just the water level does.
Tourists on the Nile who are traveling by a cruiser have to go through this lock. At times the waiting times can be several hours as there is a queue.

Here is a picture of the approach to the Esna Lock. In the background you can see that the water level of the river on the other side is much higher.

Here is a clearer picture of the difference in water levels, seen as you enter the chamber where the water level can rise and fall. The photograph is taken from the top of the cruise liner.

After the water level is raised the gates on the other side are opened.

And the boat goes through to the other side.

You might also like to see photographs of the magnificent River Nile or the Edfu Temple in Egypt or other photographs from Egypt like Fishing at Esna Lock or Nubian Village of Egypt
Or see all the photos of Egypt including that of important monuments like the Pyramids and other temples.

African orgin tribe of Gujarat the Siddi

The Siddi or the Siddhi are people of African origin, primarily from South East Africa who migrated to the Indian subcontinent almost 2000 years ago. They are thought to descend from the Bantu people. They did not arrive in the Indian subcontinent of their own free will, but were brought as slaves by Arab and Portuguese merchants. This ethnic group can be found in Karnataka and Gujarat and some are also believed to be in Karachi, Pakistan. They are Sufi Muslims although some groups have converted to either Christianity or Hinduism.

From the maternal side, the Siddi peoples have mixed blood, mainly Indian. This intermingling of blood is believed to have happened in the last 200-300 years.

These are pictures of the Siddhi tribe from Gujarat, India. They are performing a tribal dance.

Two brightly painted faces.

The Siddi dancing around the fire.

You might also like The Tarpa Wind Instrument of Indian Tribes from Maharashtra, or Adivasi Dancers from Matheran or Pilgrims singing and playing the Manjira musical instrument or Martial Arts from Kerala

Pyramids at night

A brightly lit Khafre's Pyramid of Egypt. A golden yellow light has enveloped the pyramid during the Sound and Light Show. The background is the sky at dusk.

The Sphinx bathed in a golden light and the foreground rocks in blue.

This shows a spectrum of colours of the setting sun as a background for the three pyramids of Egypt. A glowing Sphinx can be seen in the foreground as well as the chairs laid out for spectators of the Sound and Light show. This is a view of Khafre's Pyramid, and the Sphinx which is said to have the head of Khafre.

A glowing Khafre's Pyramid with the Sphinx in the foreground.

An image of a mummy is projected on to the rocks.

The Sound and Light Show tells a story of the Pharaohs and here one of their faces is projected on to the rocks.

This photo was taken at dusk. The fading light of the sky is in the background, and the quickly darkening pyramids in the foreground.

Related Images: Three Pyramids of ancient Egypt
More photos of ancient monuments from Egypt: Temple and statues of Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt or Karnak Temple and Pillar Designs or The Great Sphinx of Egypt or Pyramid Silhouettes and Sketches
For more related photos try the label "Egypt"

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Designs and wall paintings from the Edfu Temple in Egypt

The Temple of Edfu is an ancient Egyptian temple located on the west bank of the Nile in the city of Edfu, built in between 237 and 57 BCE and dedicated to the falcon god Horus. This post has images of the sculptures, wall paintings and other forms of ancient Egyptian art and writings (hieroglyphics) found at the Edfu Temple. The walls writings are about ancient Egyptian myths and religion during the Greco-Roman period when this temle was built. In fact, some of the inscriptions on the temple walls write of  construction details! Scenes from the conflict between Horus and Seth are also on these walls.

The images on the temple walls range from fully armed warriors with weapons like bows or farmers working in the fields or women in different poses. There are also images of ancient Egyptian gods, kings, queens and princes, and musicians.

Both the men and the women are carrying a staff of some kind perhaps used in a religious ritual.

Women wearing a head-dress and jewelery.

This is part of a the bottom of an elaborated carved inner sanctum of the Edfu Temple. These inscriptions are writings of some sort.

The artistic skills of the ancient Egyptians are evident here. They decorated their temples and sacred places in great detail. Although the colours have faded over time the beauty of their art is visible. Whether it was statues, reliefs, paintings, pottery, sculptures or elaborated decorated coffins and tombs, the ancient Egyptians were a very highly evolved culture dedicated to art and beauty.

Here are some wall reliefs at the Edfu Temple.

The base of a carved wall at one of the entrances of a temple hall. The inscriptions are writings, and Egyptian written language is called hieroglyphics.The writing was beautifully pictures and an art form. Hieroglyphics were either drawn, carved or painted.

A sculpture of the falcon god in the Edfu temple complex.

Here you can see the delicate incriptions on the Edfu temple pillars that used to hold up the large halls.  Egyptians were great lovers of art.

Related Images: Some exterior images of the Edfu Temple in Egypt or  Temple and statues of Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt or Karnak Temple and Pillar Designs

For more pictures of Egyptian monuments and sketches/Silhouettes of Pyramids try the label "Egypt"

Edfu Temple in Egypt

The Temple of Edfu is an ancient Egyptian temple located on the west bank of the Nile in the city of Edfu. Some of it was destroyed by fundamentalist Christians as the temple was considered "unchristian." Some of the inner roofs and walls are blackened, as if by fire when Christians tried to destroy the beautiful art on the walls of the temple. The temple initially had 3 large halls, a barque sanctuary and has 9 chapels around it. It is a typical example of an ancient Egyptian temple.

The temple is dedicated to the falcon god Horus and was built in the Ptolemaic period between 237 and 57 BCE, the Graeco-Roman Period. It had been buried in the sand and the French re-discovered it. The Efu Temple lies near the banks of the river Nile.

This is a long shot of the temple as one goes towards it.

The pillars of the temple with a main wall behind it. A lot of it is in ruins today.

A close look at the ruins of the temple with the intricately carved pillars.

A closer look at the beautiful ancient art on the walls of the temple.

The inner courtyard of the temple which is milling with tourists.

Another view of the inside hall of the temple. The roof is gone.

And inner sanctum which houses a mummy and the falcon god guarding it.

You might also like Designs and wall paintings from the Edfu Temple in Egypt or check out photos of some other Egyptian Temples like the Temple and statues of Queen Hatshepsut of Egypt or Karnak Temple and Pillar Designs
Or you might like to see pictures of The River Nile
For more pictures of Egyptian monuments and sketches/Silhouettes of Pyramids try the label "Egypt" or for more ancient temples and monuments from the rest of the world try the label "Monuments."

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Black Hippos in the wild

The photographs in this post were taken of hippopotamus in the wild in Ruaha National Park in Tanzania. Hippos are huge animals, and purely herbivorous. Their skin is thick and the Black Hippo as seen in the picture is more common in Africa. They are one of the largest mammals found on land.  The hippopotamus is a semi-aquatic animal. 

The hippos are very dangerous and one can watch them only from afar. Being a national park there is no fence to separate them from visitors and one has to be very careful. This is a picture of a black Hippo with an open mouth.

Their black colour enables them to merge into the scene. Here they look like black rocks.

Related Images: Wild Zebras in Ruaha National Park Tanzania or Wild Buffalo in Africa  or a Man with camel - photograph and silhouette or check out the label "Animals."

You might also like Yaks in Ladakh or Cat Portraits

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Wild Buffalo in Africa

This photograph of a wild buffalo was taken in the Tanzanian jungle in Africa. In Ruaha National Park. This buffalo may not seem dangerous, but actually it is a very dangerous animal! It was about to charge our jeep.

You might also like Eye of the Elephant! or Cattle on city streets or Stray Cattle in India or Stray Dogs Pictures or Man with camel - photograph and silhouette or Yaks in Ladakh
Or Cat Portraits
Or pictures of Black Hippos in the wild or Green Caterpillar images or Wild Zebras in Ruaha National Park Tanzania or check out all photos of Wildlife.

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Tanzania artisans

This photograph was taken near Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Workers or artisans are busy at work. The craftsmen are making decorative pieces out of ebony and other materials for sale to tourists. The man sitting to the left of the picture has completed a giraffe, which he will probably paint. The man on the right has carved out some figurines.

Related Images: Artisans in India

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Aswan city Photographs

These are photos of the city of Aswan in the south of Egypt on the banks of the river Nile. It is an ancient city and home to stone quarries of ancient Egypt, The rock, Syenite, was used to to build statues and obelisks, pyramids and temples all over Egypt. It is now a tourist centre.


This photograph is of a main street in Aswan.

This is a market at Aswan. A group of tourists are standing in the market.

This is a photograph taken from a boat docked at Aswan dock. The banks of the Nile can be seen as well as the desert in the background. Boats can also be seen in the picture.

This is another shot from the boat, this time of the city of Aswan.