Bhoops

This is a photographic tribute to man's artistic abilities, endeavour and creations, traits; all of which find expression in the building and gardens collectively known as the Palace of Versailles or the Chateau Versailles. The metal structures in the last photograph above are part of an artistic exhibition and are thus temporary. The two buildings on either side of the structures are the Palace's stables that housed the king's finest horses. Opulence amongst the aristocrats of the day are still evident in the buildings in the old city of Versailles. The story is that Louis XIV took the aristocracy with him from Paris to Versailles where he could keep a close eye on them. No visit to France should omit the Versailles Palace from the itinerary. As I wrote in the first part, the beauty of the palace and its surrounds should not detract from the atrocities that were perpetuated by the rulers of France during the era that the palace served as the seat of the state.

The palace of Versailles forms part of the opulence of French history during the reign of the kings and in particular King Louis XIV. The site for the palace was identified by his father King Louis XIII as a hunting lodge. Louis XIV moved the government of France and the aristocracy to Versailles where the seat of power resided till the fatal events of 1789. The palace is one of the most beautiful buildings in Europe. It has modern day relevance as its Hall of Mirrors was where the peace treaty of Versailles, bringing an end to the First World War was signed.   The first photo is the front view of the palace, the second the point of access to the palace. Attention to the development of the gardens of the palace was given ample consideration. The restoration of the garden to its almost original state is a view of breathtaking proportions.   The interior of the palace is characterised by pressed ceilings with artwork adorning walls and ceilings. Louis XIV was renowned ...

Vast expanses of land cluttered with exotic trees, rising up into hills and down into the crocodile infested river beds characterises this part of South Africa. It is terrain where the animals roam free, masters of their own survival and destiny. Man is visitor to this land and a guest of the animals. From the breathtaking sunrises to the sublime sunsets, visiting the Kruger is an experience to cherish and to savour.   The early rays of the sun filtering through the gaps in the curtains engulfs one with excitement, a sense of expectation at what is in store for one during the course of the daylight hours. The Kruger never fails to deliver. Every day is rewarded with a fair number of sightings of the big 5 animals either in their entirety or at least most of them and other animals that have this land their home. The young lion cub exudes an air of importance as if already claiming the title of king of the jungle. The hard working lionesses carry a look of exhaustion as the...

The Mluwati concession spans an area bordered by Orpen, Satara and Tshokwane areas of the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Amongst the big five animals (lion, leopard, rhino, elephant and buffalo) present in abundance in this area, the most intriguing are undoubtedly the lions. There are three private game lodges in this area including Imbali, Hamilton's and Hoya Hoya. These lions were seen on the Imbali game drives. Access to this area of the Kruger National Park is best made through the Malelane gate situated in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. This is approximately a five hour leisurely drive from Johannesburg, the most popular city of entrance into South Africa through the Oliver Tambo International Airport. Cars in South Africa drive on the left hand side of the road. The roads are exceptionally good between Johannesburg and the Malelane Gate. The same cannot be said of the road between Delmas and the Orpen Gate of the Kruger National Park. This stretch...