147. KELONG !!

'Kelong' is a Malay word for cheating, rig or fix a game...

In my case, I was spending 2 nights onboard a fishing platform built out into the sea off the coast of Batam, Indonesia.

Such kelongs were homes to fishermen who spend their entire lives on it...their womenfolk were never allowed on it. There aren't many real kelongs left in Malaysia, Indonesia or the Philippines.

This particular one was done up for city folks for R and R with karaoke, air-conditioned rooms, a cook, lots of food and beverage.

Always wanted this experience of sleeping over on one but not the fishing part which the rest did with lines - that's just not my thing...

All onboard!

Approaching the kelong, it felt like I'm been banished to some god forsaken place in the middle of nowhere...!

My cell for the 2 nights

Finding my sea legs...
 

My days are just packed...yea, packed to the gills...with reading materials...

The girls came over from the mainland to provide this massage service!

 

Food came over from shore every morning and prepared on board...

Minions! Minnows - the city folks were thrilled at their catch - no matter the size!

 

More minnows...

Carcases of abandoned vessels left to rot - apparently it's cheaper to leave them than try salvage them, what can be sold has been stripped.

146. ANTONI GAUDI - THE ART NOUVEAU MASTER - A PICTORIAL

'In the execution of surfaces geometry does not complicate but simplifies the construction' - Antoni Gaudi (1852-1926)

Every city has at least one iconic building. Barcelona has Gaudi's Sagrada Familia (Holy Family Basilica) - Gaudi's magnum opus. Rising 170 metres construction started in 1882 and after Gaudi's death, work continues for another 10 years at least...

I first set eyes on this almost eccentric piece of architecture in National Geographic magazine as a young schoolgirl. I was quite fascinated and didn't really understand much of it till I was older to see that inspiration came from Mother Nature.

Entering the cavernous building was like going into an enchanted forest. The pillars were trees rising skywards in which the topmost branches were rich and heavy with large golden fruits, blossoms and foliage forming a canopy. Could this be Gaudi's interpretation of the Tree of Life?

It would not do Gaudi justice to feature just one large snapshot of the entire building whether its Sagrada Familia or his other products of his creative genius...(right below)

Other well-known Spanish artists have equally fertile imaginations - Goya, Dali, Picasso...their works are just so unique. For a society that's been predominantly catholic for a long time, their creative folks have broken all rules and are out-of-the-box thinkers. Today, most Spanish and Europe by and large, have turned their backs on organised religions. Their old churches are tourist attractions - not for worship but more a source of cultural, historical and architectural pride

Lights in the Basilica change to produce this spectacle

                

The flagellation - behind it a bible wall...

These pics are of the new back entrance - it's modern art and they are still working on it and have at least 10 years to finish it to commemorate Gaudi's centenary...

 

There were numerous stain glass windows - all breathtakingly beautiful - these were the only ones that turned out decent in my camera

Park Guell - Eusebi Guell was the financier who bankrolled the creation of this public park - he and Gaudi lived on its premises till they died...

Scaly body of work

Dragon gate

Gaudi derives much inspiration from Mother Nature. He loves the changing colours of the chameleon and those buildings that are lit up at night especially Casa Batllo, change colours. Many surfaces carry his unique tiled work or are plastered such as to look like scales  

Casa Vicens was Gaudi's first project for a wealthy industrialist who was in the brick and tile business....making the residence a showcase. The house is a UNESCO World Heritage Site to honour Gaudi. It's minaret like roof has strong Moorish influence...it has been sold to a banking group in order for it to be opened to the public

Another private residence cum commercial property - Casa Calvert - commissioned by another wealthy industrialist...it's now a high end restaurant. The Spanish subscribe to what true art collectors believe in - that great art is shared with the masses. I suppose it's a way to commemorate Gaudi and it does translate into tourism receipts as Gaudi's buildings attract tourists from all over the world

 

Casa Mila - its roof and atrium

Casa Mila - from across the street - locals know it as Le Pedrera

Mila - its balconies of wrought iron creeping vines - the finish, gothic

  

                          

                                    A tortoise column

The facade of Casa Batllo at street level...time, distance and the long queues made it impossible to visit all Gaudi's architectural wonders

The roof of Batllo - ceramic tiles add colour and texture - no part of the building is spared his imagination

The interior of Casa Batllo from the balcony - my camera can't do it credit. It was like I've fallen into the white rabbit's hole and was enjoying myself exploring the wonders and colours of Wonderland. I'm reminded of something someone said - 'That the mind, once stretched, can never go back to its original dimensions' These earlier works of Gaudi may have prepared him for his most iconic piece de resistance - the Sagrada Familia