Sunday, 18 March 2007

Trip to Galway-Part 1

We have a major market in Trivandrum, palayam market. It’s called so because its situated in ‘Palayam’, the heart of Trivandrum city. But if you look upwards at the entrance of the market, you can see the name ‘Connemara Market’, inscribed on top of the Victorian style red colour arch. We never knew from where this name came. But my grandfather who was in British police,( before India’s Independence )told me that the market was opened by the British government and they named it that way.

And after more than 25 yrs, I came to know from where that name came.

Yesterday we went to one of the most beautiful places in Ireland.

Guess what? It was Connemara, in Co. Galway. I know now all Trivandrians who read this blog must have got enlightenment just like I did! That townplanner who was in charge of our own palayam market, more than 100 yrs ago, must have been descended from Connemara, may be?

Here in midlands we don’t have beaches. Our nearest is the west coast at Co.Galway (92 kms from Athlone). Another thing is that this county still has some areas, where people speak only Gaelic (Irish). Usually here the road signs are in both English and Irish. But there everything was in Gaelic. We felt as though we are in a foreign land. And we could see even some 18th century Irish cottages, in good condition.

Some pictures…

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looks like Guinness,flowing!
note:Those black substance under water are peat bogs,main source of fuel in Ireland.Acres of land are rich in peat,here.




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South Connemara Landscape. (that's the fisherman's hut)



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It was raining, so all creeks were over flowing.
note: Here in Ireland we have only 3 climates:


Its going to rain, It is raining or It has just been raining.





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This was a small waterfall on the way to Connemara.


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An 18th century Irish cottage, still in good condition, surrounded by stone walls.
note:there is no sand, mud or mortar in b/w these stones. I dont know how they dont fall apart.



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Thru the wet coach-window! (a fluke photo,which turned out good!)

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Me on top of a slippery stone wall...to get a good view of the creek below...can you see water dripping from my face, giving me a wet-chicken look!

Part 2, in next blog!

30 comments:

  1. ahha ... nice landsacpes....
    well i like the last 2 pic very much especially 2nd last one...

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  2. Hei Swathi.

    I absolutely love Connemara for it is my very favourite area in Ireland to holiday
    - not to live as it is far too remote for my liking.

    Great photos and really find that quote on the weather types of Ireland priceless! That is so true, though. Rainy season that has no end... Take care n keep dry. Rii xx

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  3. Wow nice photographs. Such a cute cottage. How i wish to go there and stay atleast for a day :-D The creek also looks fab. hehe ure enjoyin the rain eh? U dont look like a wet chicken... u look quite natural like a naughty child that runs out in the rain without obeying its mom :-)) hehe juz kiddin babe. Awesome pics and lovely description. Thanks for sharing this daalin. Take care and btw did ya kick out that migraine? I guess u did... hehe. lub ya. (((((huggyyyyy)))))

    Bubs!

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  4. appadi so that is palayam market all about...n those land scape look like kerala..eh..lolz:)

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  5. Its a really Beautiful place Swathi and beautiful pic as well...Hey its raining here too...well i hope u r all fine now....looks like!!!!

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  6. Nice pics. I liked the 2nd last one and yes I CAN SEE the water dripping :-)

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  7. We felt as though we are in a foreign land. ...Ente daivame ...ippozhano ithu thonniyathu **winks**

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  8. absolutely loved the second last pic ..my new wallpaper !

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  9. Wonderful photos! I still haven`t visited Ireland - it is high on my list.

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  10. Wow... pics came out very well! And thanks for the enlightening about the palayam market name (Connemara)... funny thing was, I never noticed whats written on that arch till now! *laughs*

    As for pics, the water drizzled window pic was amazing!And you look cute with the vast landscape behind... nice pic.

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  11. That possibly expalins the name of the market, eh! There is a Connemara Hotel in Chennai, that also probably has the same etymological origin... Anyway, something I'd wondered for many years, is now cleared...

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  12. wow lovely photography Swathi! gREAT JOB! LOVED THEM ALL...SPECIALLY THE LANDSCAPES!

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  13. kollamaallo snaps.... the snps re too good... what is the climate out there???

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  14. hey i liked da last 3 pics.. they r really awsoooooomee....
    u must hav been excited like a kid wen u discoverd da coincidence of da names:p
    !!!

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  15. Nice pics... as always.

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  16. That was great indeed. and I loved the way you found trivandrum connections in Ireland. Interesting facts.

    Beautiful pics, loved the fluke one the most...

    waiting for part-2 now.

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  17. note: Here in Ireland we have only 3 climates:
    Its going to rain, It is raining or It has just been raining. :) :) :)
    Thank you very much for taking us to this wonderful place......
    Hope one day we too go their :)

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  18. Ginglee's World....19 March 2007 at 01:35

    Beautiful pictures...AZAD

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  19. nice travelogue and fotos....
    part-2...when it will come??

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  20. today i had a good look around the palayam market because of this blog.... yes finally i saw ‘Connemara Market’ written on the arch....

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  21. I liked the ictures. The ones that stood out for me were the cottage one, and that rain on the glass one... They are amazing!

    Sabiha

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  22. Excellent Photographs.
    Liked the depth of the colors in the photos - Good climatic conditions.

    Hope to see more in next blog.

    Especially the fisherman's hut photogarph is a nice composition. Genly, composing wires will not give a nice feeling but this photograph gave a village look. Kudos to you and your hubby!!!

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  23. Lovely snaps, da..! Especially the 18th century Irish Cottage, and the wet coach-window..! They convey a mood that goes way beyond expression..!

    ~Devi~

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  24. Lovely snaps... Lovely place.... Lovely Girl.... and Lovely weather!!

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  25. rinku: thanks alot!

    Rii: keeping dry, is really though here, isnt it? (hugs)))

    babs: i was naughty dear..i didnt care the ice cold rain, at all..and thanks alot!! did kick out migraine, for the time being.

    manz: yes...i am sure...

    anu: ye, we are fine....didnt catch cold/fever!

    amrita: :-))

    cheesy: honestly..jaada alla....i have accepted Ireland as my own home that now I dont even think it is a foreign land...that last pic was a fluke one!

    anne: you must visit..its absltly beautiful, here.

    ash: no one notices that dear..for me its cos of achachan, that i saw it! :-)) and thanks alot!

    sankaran: yes...it was an enlightnment for me too...to find history on ur own!

    tanvi: thanks dear (((hugs)))

    anooj: climate--its just been raining...

    deyyam: yes, i was excited like archimedes, but didnt ran arnd naked, though!

    lisa: thanks alot...dear

    pinx: yes, it was great! and indeed the fluke one, surprised me too...

    rohit: thanks **smiles**

    azad: thanks!

    rohit: :-))

    anooj: so, you found it! GOOD! its there on top!

    sab: thanks dear (hugs)

    diwakar: dont give kudos to my hubby...all pics he took in our camcorder was very bad,except for 2! and then i realised..u need more than a steady hand for a good snap!!!

    devi: thanks dear **hugs**

    arffs: ***ummma** come here and get frozen! u will feel fridge warmer!!!

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  26. Very nice pictures Swathi, I really like the ones where the water is gushing down, (first and third) I can almost hear it.
    Sophia

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  27. Beautiful Swathi!! Angu odi vannaalo ennoru chintha! Entha??

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  28. Just lovely Swathi....Thank you for taking us along!!

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