DOLLS FROM ZAMBIA AND KENYA (and my visit to the Edinburgh Tattoo, Scotland)

Today I am listing a couple of dolls from ZAMBIA and KENYA.

As always, you can see more information about the dolls, on the website.

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I have just returned from a visit to the EDINBURGH TATTOO (to give it it's full title - THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO).  It is an outstanding performance which draws nearly nine thousand people to each performance.  I have added some pictures from it, down below, but I wish I was a better photographer!

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ZAMBIA (Makishi tribal doll)

(Website Id:  Africa - Zambia - 002)

(The Makishi people are also to be found in Zimbabwe)

KENYA (four men in a boat)
(Website Id:  Africa - Kenya - 0016)

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THE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO

(Postcard of the Castle and the Tattoo)

THE TATTOO.

I have added just a few photos here as it was impossible to photograph it all, or indeed to mention all the participants.

It was an outstanding and very memorable performance which left me completely over-whelmed.  The colourful costumes, elegant dresses, the perfection of the performers, the fantastic sounds and lighting effects all contributed to a fantastic evening.  Who could fail to be over-whelmed?  The commentary was excellent, as were the Pipers and Bands, the co-ordination of the elegant dancers and the unbelievable performance of the six to fifteen year old motor cycle stuntmen, one of whom rode his 50 c.c. motor cycle right over the top of a car and landed safely the other side.  (I couldn't photograph it as I was too scared to look!).  They performed cross-overs with split second timing, fire jumping  and also forming unbelievable pyramids. One of the boys in the team was just six years old.  These performers have to retire at the age of sixteen.  The whole show really had to be seen to be believed.  The participants came from four different continents and came from Scotland, Ireland, Korea, Mongolia, Mexico, New Zealand, Oman and Malta.

It was extremely emotional when every single participant came together at the end for the Grand Finale.  After the vote of thanks it was with great pride that the participants and all the spectators sang the National Anthem which was followed by the spectators all joining hands and singing "Auld Lang Syne", in an act of world friendship - all 8600 of them.  To end the evening entertainment the Lone Piper played the bagpipes at the very top of the Castle to signify the end of the Tattoo performance that evening.  What more can I say? 

THE BEGINNING OF THE TATTOO)

SCOTLAND 

(The Pipers and Drummers)

IRELAND

(Dancers)

IRELAND

(Shamrocks reflecting on the Castle)

KOREA

KOREA

THE IMPS MOTORCYCLE DISPLAY TEAM

THE IMPS FORMING A PYRAMID

MEXICO

MEXICO

MEXICO

MEXICO

MEXICO

NEW ZEALAND

MONGOLIA

(simulated night-time)

MONGOLIA

(simulated night-time)

MONGOLIA

(The Castle "frozen over")

MONGOLIA

(simulated night-time)

COMPETITORS COMING IN FOR THE FINALE

MORE COMPETITORS FOR THE FINALE

BEGINNING OF THE FIREWORKS

MORE FIREWORKS

THE END OF THE FIREWORKS

THE LONE PIPER -the end of the performance

(He is up there.  Honestly!)

DAYTIME POSTCARD
(Edinburgh Castle)

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ENJOY

TRIBAL DOLLS FROM KENYA AND SIERRA LEONE

Today I am listing tribal dolls from KENYA and SIERRA LEONE.
As always, you can see more pictures and more information about the dolls, on my website.

Hopefully I will be able to list more dolls soon.  Recently I have been taking advantage of the glorious weather and doing some necessary jobs.

KENYA (Luo Tribe)

(Website Id: Africa - Kenya - 0014 and 0014A)  

 KENYA (Giriama Tribe)

(Website Id:  Africa - Kenya - 0015 and 0015A)

 SIERRA LEONE (Mendi Tribe)

(Website Id:  Africa - Sierra Leone - 001 and 001A)

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THE FRONT OF A FARMHOUSE

ON ONE OF MY WALKS

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UNITED STATES (Amish FAMILY), GREECE (Rhodes) a doll from HUNGARY (and my walk in the Brecon Beacons)

HELLO EVERYONE!
                                      I hope you are all enjoying the fantastic weather we are having here in the U.K. at the moment.
Today I am listing a little family of AMISH dolls from the UNITED STATES, a doll from GREECE (Rhodes) and a little doll from HUNGARY (region unknown).

As always, you can see more information about the dolls, and also about the AMISH people, on the website.
I have also added a bit about my walk in the Brecon Beacons (Mid Wales), below.  
Thank you.  Carole.

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UNITED STATES
(Hand made by an Amish family)
(Website Id:  America - (United States) - 0027) 

UNITED STATES - (Amish family)
(Website Id:  America - United States - 0028)

GREECE (Rhodes)

(Website Id:  Europe - Greece (Rhodes) - 004)

HUNGARY - (region unknown)

(Website Id:  Europe - Hungary - 004)

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MY WALK IN THE BRECON BEACONS

(PEN Y FAN)

On the weekend I went for a walk (or should I say a hike!) in the Brecon Beacons, Mid Wales.  The weather was glorious, and I managed to make it to the top.  The views from there were really stunning!  Pen Y Fan is 886 metres high.

Photographs courtesy of a friend.

(You can see more of his photography etc. on his website:

www.builthwellsphotography.com)

ME NEAR THE TOP

(I MADE IT!)

ME AT THE VERY TOP

 MY VERY BRAVE GRAND'DAUGHTER!

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DOLLS FROM JAPAN, BANGLADESH, MOROCCO, GERMANY and THE CHANNEL ISLANDS (ALDERNEY).

Today I am listing an interesting Takeda doll from JAPAN, a doll from BANGLADESH, a water seller from MOROCCO,  a pretty doll from GERMANY and three dolls from THE CHANNEL ISLANDS (ALDERNEY).

As always, you can see more pictures and information about these dolls on the website. 

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The photo at the bottom of this blog is an "elephant" tree in Gambia.  I took the photo in 2012.  If you look carefully at the tree, on the left hand side, you will be able to see the shape of an elephant head and trunk.  It is completely natural!

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JAPAN (Takeda doll)

(Website Id:  Asia - Japan - 0025 and 0025A)

BANGLADESH

(Website Id:  Asia - Bangladesh - 007)

MOROCCO (water seller)

(Website Id:  Africa - Morocco - 0017 and 0017A)

GERMANY (Buckeburg region)

(Website Id:  Europe - Germany - 0018 and 0018A)

CHANNEL ISLANDS (ALDERNEY)

(Website Id:  Europe - Channel Islands (Alderney) 003, 003A, 003B and 003C)

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GAMBIA - an "Elephant" tree.  (Can you see the "elephant?)

Isn't it cute?

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DOLLS FROM CAMEROON, BENIN, FRANCE AND ENGLAND

Today's dolls are from CAMEROON and BENIN (West Africa), FRANCE and ENGLAND.
(I have also added a few photos from my walk around Elan Valley).

The Cameroon and Benin dolls are hand made, the little French pair are tourist dolls and the lovely little walking doll dressed in Scottish costume is a RODDY doll.

As always, you can see more pictures and further information about the dolls, on my website.

Thank you, and enjoy!  Carole.

CAMEROON (Mamfe)

(Website Id:  Africa - Cameroon - 007)

 BENIN (Porto Novo)

(Website Id:  Africa - Benin - 002, 002A and 002B)

 ENGLAND

RODDY WALKING DOLL

(Website Id:  Europe - England - 0063 and 0063A)

FRANCE (Landes region)

(Website Id:  Europe - France - 0042)

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ELAN VALLEY WALK:

This seven mile walk was around part of Elan Valley, taking in NANTGWYLLTE CHURCH where the opera singer, ADELINA PATTI (19th. February 1843 to 27th. September 1919) sang, many years ago. An Italian born in Spain, Adelina Patti lived most of her life in Breconshire, Mid Wales, in Craig y Nos Castle, where she died. 

The famous Poet SHELLEY also visited the church in 1812. 

The original Nantgwyllte church is now at the bottom of a dam with several dwellings as the area was flooded to build the dams.

CARREG DDU DAM

NANTGWYLLTE CHURCH

(by Carreg Ddu Dam)

 CARREG DDU DAM

(another view)

CARREG DDU DAM

(close-up)

 ROOTS OF A TREE

LYING JUST ABOVE THE WATER!

 ME SITTING ON THE GIANTS BENCH

TAKING A WELL EARNED REST!

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