Seeking the Perfect Light: May 2016

Monday, 30 May 2016

Quick Sunday Walk - Handicraft fair

Handicraft Fair

Rubbish bin in the form of ART

Last Sunday late afternoon, I decided to go for a quick walk around our apartment in Maputo. Because it is winter already with average temperatures around 24ºC and the sunset at around 17h30, I had only time for a quick walk.

The place to visit in Maputo is the the Handicraft Fairgrounds, or FEIMA (Feira do Artesanato, Flores e Gastronomia de Maputo) where one will find some beautiful arts and crafts. Also, one has to have the ability to "negotiate" the prices, as the prices they ask are not the real prices and are, often double or in some cases triple the normal price.

So, This time i decided not to take a lot of photos but just to see this differently.

All the photos made with the FUJI X70, compact camera.

Enjoy the photos in full screen mode

On my way to the fairgrounds, There is a flower stand where everybody buys the freshest flowers around. And the men, yes men, are very good in doing the bouquets.

Friday, 6 May 2016

Tofo Part III of III

The Third and final day in Tofo

Sunrise

This was the sunrise I caught early on the day at about 06h15

If you missed the first two posts about this beautiful place in South Eastern Mozambique in Inhambane Province, please click on one of these links.

1) First post

2) Second post

The third day was the final day and the return of a wonderful weekend. WE woke up relatively early to go to the beach for about 2 hours before preparing to return to Maputo.

I decided to take a walk to make some photos of this village, before going to swim with the rest of the family and friends.

Again I only took my FUJI X70 and left my Fuji X-T1 at the lodge. Interesting enough this was the norm for this weekend. I found it very small to handle and just walk around with it in my hand without it being noticed by anyone.

I caught this beautiful butterfly just outside our lodge.

On my way to the village. Beautiful day and colours.

The cleanup the next day

Are you looking at me?

Preparing for the day's business. Street market

Street markets are full of colourful garments.

This walk through is full of lodges and B&B. The beach is about 50 metres.

On my way for a swim after a brief walk at the village.

Wednesday, 4 May 2016

Tofo - Part II of III

The second day of a great weekend

If you missed my first post, please click on this link Tofo - Part I of III.

This is the second part, which means it is about our second day. We woke up relatively early, all still tired from the previous day's activities (fighting the waves and long walks), did a beautiful breakfast and took a drive to see the landscape at tofinho and visit the "Assassination hole" then pass through Inhambane airport and go to Barra beach for the day.

Tofinho's landscape

On our way to Inhambane

As with all travelers, our friend had a puncture so we had to go to inhambane to look for a place to fix the puncture.
On the way I made these beautiful children playing by the side of the road next to their probably great-grand mother selling some kind of fruit.

Inhambane Airport

As we were close to Inhambane airport we decided to visit and stop for an espresso. It was amazing to see such a small airport but with passengers waiting for the next airplane.

Small, nice clean airport

Waiting at the only coffee shop

Barra beach

Before we got to our place at the beach in Barra we rode around to see the scenery and dream a bit.

Beautiful landscapes and beach houses.

Our beach for the day

What a wonderful end of the day this was. beautiful cloudy sunset, but always great to see an African sunset.

Tuesday, 3 May 2016

Tofo - Part I of III

Great long weekend in Tofo

Tofo beach

This last weekend was a long weekend due to the 1st May (worker's day) falling on Sunday. In Mozambique the Monday will be a public holiday.

So we decided to go for the long weekend (3 day weekend) to a fantastic place in Southeastern Mozambique called Tofo in Ihambane Province.

We left Maputo on Saturday morning 05h00 arriving in Tofo at 11h00. It is close to 500km but care and concentration has to be high due to the many cars (and careless drivers) on the roads.

Tofo

Tofo beach or just Tofo lies in ponta da barra (more about Barra on my second blog post) peninsula in Ihambane province which is about 20 km from Inhambane city.

It is a major tourist destination mainly due to the great diving conditions (Manta rays, sea turtle and the whale sharks), but it was historically a fishing village.

There are two beaches here namely Tofo beach which is the main beach (about 7 km sea stretch) and Tofinho (or little tofo) that is smaller and quieter.

I decided to break my experience in three parts

1) first post (this one) about our 1st day and Tofo beach;

2) Second post will be about our day to Barra beach;

3) Third post will be about our final day in Tofo before returning to maputo

Again, for this trip, I took my FUJI X70 and the Fuji X-T1.

I suggest for a better view of the photos in full screen mode

Day 1 - Tofo Beach

Interesting enough after our check-in at our lodge, we went straight to the beach and found that it was empty. Funnily enough we still marvel at the empty beaches in Mozambique, which contrary to Portugal (always full to capacity)