Uploads from Lil [Kristen Elsby], tagged architecture, with geodata

Roman Theatre

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Fri, 03 May 2013 06:51:25 -0700

In the middle of an oasis in the Syrian desert lies the ancient Greco-Roman city of Palmyra (near present day Tadmor). One of the most impressive - and almost fully intact - excavated buildings is the Roman Theater, which dates back to the 1st century AD.

Made from five images stitched together - best viewed large.

Palmyra, Syria, 2010

Tetrapylon

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:44:10 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

The tetrapylon structure in the midst of the ancient Roman city of Palmyra has been almost entirely reconstructed - only one original Egyptian granite column remains amongst the 16 columns now standing.

Palmyra, Syria, 2010

Women in chadors at Umayyad Mosque

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 07:07:27 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

Under darkened skies, a group of women wearing black chadors - perhaps pilgirms from Iran where the chador is widely worn - walk together across the huge courtyard of Umayyad Mosque, one of the most sacred places in Islam, towards the massive prayer halls.

Sadly, the 'sister' Umayyad Mosque in Aleppo has suffered heavy damage during the two-year Syrian conflict, but I have not seen any reports of damage to this important mosque in Damascus. I hope this incredible historic site continues to remain intact.

Damascus, Syria, 2010

Densely packed Aleppo

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:15:57 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

Like many Middle Eastern cities, Aleppo is densely packed with sand-coloured concrete and stone housing, closely jammed together, topped by thousands upon thousands of satellite dishes. This particular view is from the Aleppo Citadel in the centre of the city.

After two years of intense conflict, I imagine this urban landscape now looks completely different due to extensive fighting, although I haven't yet had the chance to return to document the current situation.

Best viewed large

Aleppo, Syria, 2010

Wat Phou pavilion in the dry season

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 06:42:34 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

Wat Phou (or Vat Phou) is an ancient Khmer temple complex with structures dating back to the 11th century. It was once part of the Khmer empire, centred on Angkor in northern Cambodia.

Much of the complex is still undergoing extensive archaeological restoration.

Visiting during the dry season makes a sharp contrast with a wet season visit to the site - see here and here. It's hard to believe it's the same place!!

Champasak province, Laos, 2013

Wat Phou under restoration

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 07:25:07 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

Local workers carry buckets of concrete to the archaeologists restoring one of the ancient pavilions at Wat Phou.

Wat Phou is an ancient Khmer temple complex with structures dating back to the 11th century. It was part of the Khmer empire, centred on Angkor in northern Cambodia.

Champasak province, Laos, 2013

Rainy day at the Gateway of India

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Sun, 21 Oct 2012 07:46:52 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

Despite the rainy weather during monsoon season, thousands of Indian muslims descend on the Gateway of India during Eid ul-Fitr celebrations in Mumbai.

Mumbai, India, 2012

Get thee to a nunnery

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Sun, 20 May 2012 10:19:53 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

Nuns cross the courtyard of a remote nunnery in central Bhutan where around 100 Buddhist nuns reside. I was fortunate to be invited to a ceremony in the central tower, which is surrounded on both sides by the living quarters.

Bumthang, Bhutan, 2012

Gangtey Goemba

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Fri, 11 May 2012 10:08:07 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

Gangtey Goemba is an important 17th century monastery in central Bhutan, near Phobjika Valley where the famous black-necked cranes visit in winter. The monks' living quarters surround the central courtyard and main central tower containing one of the five temples in the complex.

Gangtey, Bhutan, 2012

Tiger's Nest Monastery

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:48:04 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

Taktsang Palphug Monastery, also known as Tiger's Nest, sits on a sheer cliff face 900m above Paro Valley, requiring a strenuous climb for several hours to reach the complex. Its location has been considered a sacred site for over 1,000 years and nearly 400 years ago, the original monastery and temple complex was built here. Unfortunately it was mostly destroyed in a fire in 1998 and the present architecture, aside from several temples that were not damaged at that time, is almost entirely a reconstruction. Nevertheless, it is still a truly breathtaking place!

From this vantage point, there are still another 350 steps remaining - down the steep cliff face bedecked in prayer flags, across a small bridge over a waterfall, and up more steps - before reaching the monastery itself.

Paro, Bhutan, 2012

Shwedagon Paya after dark

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 02:01:59 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

At the most famous stupa complex in Myanmar, Shwedangon Paya, pilgrims and worshippers circle clockwise around the solid gold stupa from before dawn until well after dusk. At night, the many temples and stupas inside the complex are light with bright neon and surrounded by thousands of candles.

Yangon, Myanmar, 2012

Stupas at Shwe Inn Dein

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 10:41:35 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

A dense group of the 1,000+ stupas from the 14th-18th century at Shwe Inn Dein.

Inle Lake, Myanmar, 2012

Leaving Badshahi Mosque

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 08:16:13 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

I visited Badshahi Mosque, Pakistan's (and South Asia's) second biggest mosque over the weekend. During peak prayer times, such as Eid, up to 100,000 people can pray together at once. In mid-summer, when the temperature soars between 40-50 deg C (100-120 deg F), the paved bricks are too hot to walk on, so visitors cross the courtyard on a narrow path of moistened mats.

View James Longley's breathtaking video of Eid prayers at the mosque

Lahore, Pakistan, 2011

Dhuhr prayers

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 10:05:49 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

Badshahi Mosque

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 09:19:17 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

Life imitates art

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Sun, 09 May 2010 10:52:09 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

From the Burj Khalifa (originally named the Burj Dubai), the highest building in the world, the city of Dubai looks more like an architectural model than the real thing. The observation deck on the 124th floor - 442m from the ground - is merely half way up the building (828m).

Dubai, UAE, 2010

At the beach by the Burj

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 09:40:51 -0800

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

This week, I found myself unexpectedly stuck in Cairo and Dubai for two days on my way back to Islamabad (flight delays caused by sandstorms and high winds across the Middle East meant missing two connecting flights home). I couldn't think of a better way to spend an unplanned evening in Dubai than walking along the beach next to the Burj Al Arab at dusk.

Dubai, UAE, 2010

The Burj

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:14:54 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

The Burj Khalifa (originally named the Burj Dubai) is the highest building in the world. At 828m high, it dwarfs all the neighbouring buildings.

Dubai, UAE, 2010

Burj window washers

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Fri, 14 May 2010 12:11:18 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

Window washers dangle from dizzying heights while cleaning the windows of the Burj Khalifa (originally named the Burj Dubai), the highest building in the world at 828m.

Dubai, UAE, 2010

A boy's view

nobody@flickr.com (Lil [Kristen Elsby]) — Sun, 09 May 2010 11:02:33 -0700

Lil [Kristen Elsby] posted a photo:

These electronic viewers on the 124th floor observation deck of the Burj Khalifa (originally named the Burj Dubai), the highest building in the world, are really cool - depending on where you point, you can see the live view, the recorded view or the night view, zoom in and out, with or without building names. This young boy couldn't get enough of them!

Dubai, UAE, 2010