Inspiration from world travels – Part 1
In Oct/Nov EPH (Ever Patient Husband) and I took a trip of a lifetime and spent a wonderful four weeks exploring mostly Cambodia. Initially, we were on a two-week tour with a group, before saying goodbye and then doing two weeks solo exploring.
Below is just a glimpse of what we encountered from a creative viewpoint, although I have slipped in a few extras, beginning with….
Transportation!
We started in Vietnam; a country we have been to before and as we had organised our own there-and-back travel we arrived a day earlier than the group – to allow for any travel glitches! We actually stayed for our first night in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) in the same hotel we stayed in 23 years previously….it was exactly as we remembered, so much so we could have been there just a few months previously!
Parcels, packages and wares
Transferring to our next hotel, within the city, we met the group and after an overnight stay we then transferred to a river boat. Yes, we spent 7 nights in total luxury (I did say the holiday of a lifetime!) cruising the Mekong River from Vietnam into Cambodia, before discovering Cambodia overland with the group.
The Mekong is Ennnnorrrrmous!
Along the way we were participants in all the side excursions. Many involved local industry such as lacquer work, silk production, silk weaving and water hyacinth weaving etc, (water hyacinth is very abundant along the river!). It can be argued that these venues are purely for the tourists, and I agree to an extent….All I can say is that without these excursions I might not have been able to, easily, access the sites. What I did see was that we were a small part of helping these crafts to survive, providing much needed employment (often for disabled persons) within the communities, whilst also allowing the skills to be passed on….but this is not a discussion for this post!
Lacquer work in Saigon
Water hyacinth weaving in C’ai Bé
Bamboo
Another grown product that is extremely plentiful and is used ubiquitously
Everywhere nurtured our souls and provided inspiration for our creative spirits. From the contrast of the busy city to ‘gentle’ rural landscapes, from simply daily life to the busy crafting communities, to the amazing architecture both ancient and modern.
As I have too many photos for this post I’ll sign off until my next one. Just a taster – silk, rice, sweets etc will be included!
But as this post was entitled ‘Inspiration’, and most reading this will be working with textiles, I will leave you with a couple of thoughts on I how I see creative ideas everywhere in terms of shape, colour and design etc. These can be translated into – sewing, embroidery, landscape stitching, patchwork, felting, painting, and weaving to name but a few.
I hope you are able to use your surroundings for inspiration.
20 thoughts on “Inspiration from world travels – Part 1”
The laquer work is amazing – such patience and good eyesight needed for that – and the woman on the bike picture is lovely.
‘Inspiration and Design Opportunities’ photo is reminiscent of Ruth’s last post of simple watercolour landscapes.
Thank you for taking us on your travels through this post.
Yes, you have a lot of inspiration within your photos – what will you design first?
Thank you both.
Watching the various crafts, I was enthralled at their skill, ingenuity, patience and oft times dexterity particularly the inlaying in the lacquer work. We too loved the woman on the bike and came away with one as a souvenir!
I took soooo many photos in the month, all of different genre – general, humorous, culture, architecture, artistic, cultural, inspiration etc etc often with FFS in mind and yes Ruth could take even more inspiration from my dozens of landscape pix.
Wow Antje, what a fabulous trip this must have been! Obviously H&S is pretty low on their list of priorities when it comes to the transportation of people and goods! The number of scooters on the road is phenomenal.
The skill and time required for the lacquer work is something else and I love the lacquered picture of the woman on the bike.
It’s a part of the world I would like to visit one day but till then I’ll enjoy it through your eyes. Looking forward to the second instalment.
Hi Karen. Yes, H&S is very different from our experience! And bikes….the photos don’t do them justice.
It seems we are agreed about the woman on the bike….I need to find the right home for her.
You really must go, sooner rather than later before it all becomes westernised. It really is a wonderful country and the people are so friendly.
Thank you for the pictures and descriptions. Very interesting!!
I’m glad you liked them and I hope you will tune into Part 2.
It certainly is an interesting country with so much for us to learn and yet many ambiguities, particularly between the urban and rural.
Wow Antje, fantastic photos and stories from what was obviously a phenomenal trip. I enjoyed all of it but am especially taking away your thoughts about potential designs and visuals for future work. That’s the stuff I find the most invigorating and inspiring – the ‘what next’. Very much looking forward to seeing part 2.
You said it correctly Lindsay….it was certainly a phenomenal trip.
I’m always fascinated with what I see everywhere and my mind simply races away with design possibilities. Sadly, that is as far as they get these days 🤪
What a wonderful trip and I’m so glad you shared your thoughts on inspiration and future design. It’s always so interesting to see a different culture, their landscapes and their methods of using what they have to create works of art. The lacquer process is amazing and so detailed.
I’m looking forward to reading Part 2 and seeing more photos of your adventures.
Ooops see below Ruth.
X
Thank you for sharing the photos of your wonderful trip. So glad that you had such a good time.
Totally fabulous, definitely a trip of a lifetime. I can fully recommend it to anyone.
Thank you Ruth.
The long trip, especially into the deep rural parts, definitely immersed us fully in the culture. What really hit home was how industrious people are and how they use and repurpose so much. Much more than we do in our society….we could learn so much.
The lacquer process was definitely detailed, but so much of their artwork is, particularly their intricately designed and decorated temples.
Just so much inspiration.
Just so delighted that you are sharing these experiences with us Antje. A million thanks. Looking at all the motorbikes reminded me of China in the 80s. Looks like chaos but there is a definite order there.
The laquer work is fabulous, were you tempted to purchase some? I imagine carting it around for the four weeks probably came top of the decision making. It is good that tourists get to appreciate the magnificance of these little works of art. Really puts mass manufacture in the shade.
Loved all the photos and I predict that you will soon be sharing your own works of art. But first I hope you will share more photos from your travels.
Helene x
Thanks Heléne.
The only difference in 23 years for us was the increase in cars. It used to be you just stepped out and walked across the road with the bikes going either in front or behind depending on your speed of walking….can’t step out so easily in front of cars 🙁
Tempted? Oh yes, we loved the lady on the bike and succumbed. It will work beautifully with a silk picture I bought in the Far East a few years ago!
The lacquer work was fascinating, I was the last ‘man’ standing watching and marvelling at their skill.
We saw and witnessed so much in terms of skills whether related directly to crafting or the amazing work both architecturally & decoratively to all their temples (to be seen in every village) etc etc.
It has been hard deciding which ‘few’ photos to present….in four weeks I took over 3000! Ooops, did I really admit that? Needless to say they need serious thinning 🤪
Xx
WOW, Antje! You’ve taken me back in time… Although in my days it was more bicycles than motorcycles 🙂
I’m so glad the traditional trades are still being used (sold?) I remember going to the factories in China and seeing all the mother-of-pearl crafters creating superb designs. It’s mesmerising.
I’m glad you and EPH had a lovely time and took a mountain of photos! Looking forward to the next instalment 😀
Thank you L. As you know it is a totally different culture but immersing oneself into it, is so rewarding. We can learn so much.
With, of course, one exception….we have to wait to cross the road 🤪
A wonderful trip. I love the lacquer work too and the lady on the bike is amazing. the weaving is cool too. They have such a great variety of styles and sizes. I can’t wait to see part 2.
Ann, you would have been in your element. When we saw anything arts & crafts-wise I was always one of the last to leave. If our little group here had been together, I think they would have been kicking us all out & totally exhausted from all our questions!
X