Jakarta and London - the Ciliwung and the Thames

The Ciliwung ('chiliwoong') rises in the hills near Bogor to the south of Jakarta - the major river to pass through the Indonesian capital, opening into the Java Sea. In colonial Batavia, the Dutch diverted this river through a series of canals, a feature of the city today.

The Thames ('tems') rises in the countryside of Gloucestershire to the west of London - the major river to pass through the English capital, opening into the North Sea. In 1984 the Thames Barrier was built between the city and the sea, to prevent flooding.

Old Dutch bridge - the Ciliwung, Jakarta

Old Dutch bridge - the Ciliwung, Jakarta

From Royal Festival Hall

From Royal Festival Hall

Inside Margate Harbour Arm

Inside Margate Harbour Arm

Covered barge at Waterloo Bridge

Covered barge at Waterloo Bridge

Thames Barrier, Thames haze

Thames Barrier, Thames haze

Barge in the currents

Barge in the currents

Canada Goose off Kew Palace

Canada Goose off Kew Palace

Navigating the shallows, Canary Wharf

Navigating the shallows, Canary Wharf

Near Hampton Court

Near Hampton Court

Pottering about below the Tate

Pottering about below the Tate

Outlook from Battersea Park to Chelsea

Outlook from Battersea Park to Chelsea

Exams are over - the Royal Academy Summer Show is on

Exams are over - the Royal Academy Summer Show is on

Buoy at Billingsgate

Buoy at Billingsgate

Duck in Dusk Tide, Canary Wharf

Duck in Dusk Tide, Canary Wharf

Boom at Canary Wharf

Boom at Canary Wharf

Timber and Tide

Timber and Tide

Waves at the edge of Blackfriars Embankment

Waves at the edge of Blackfriars Embankment

Beneath Waterloo Bridge

Beneath Waterloo Bridge

Bells between Southwark Cathedral and St Magnus the Martyr

Bells between Southwark Cathedral and St Magnus the Martyr

Red sky at night - at Canary Wharf

Red sky at night - at Canary Wharf

Fisher in the shallows at Putney Bridge

Fisher in the shallows at Putney Bridge

Tidal flow between Chelsea Bridge and Grosvenor Bridge

Tidal flow between Chelsea Bridge and Grosvenor Bridge

Moving water meets still water - Canary Wharf

Moving water meets still water - Canary Wharf

Sun, wind and water near Wood Wharf

Sun, wind and water near Wood Wharf

Storm sky over the Thames

Storm sky over the Thames

Bus near Queen Elizabeth Hall on Waterloo Bridge

Bus near Queen Elizabeth Hall on Waterloo Bridge

Greenwich littoral

Greenwich littoral

Beside Canary Wharf

Beside Canary Wharf

Cold afternoon below Tower Bridge

Cold afternoon below Tower Bridge

Moored barge in afternoon sun near Millennium Bridge

Moored barge in afternoon sun near Millennium Bridge

From Greenwich to the City - motoring back in glinting sun

From Greenwich to the City - motoring back in glinting sun

Dark afternoon - reflections from The Embankment at Millbank

Dark afternoon - reflections from The Embankment at Millbank

Cormorant on an ice-topped bollard in crisp air

Cormorant on an ice-topped bollard in crisp air

Sun through a break in the clouds - late afternoon near Waterloo Bridge

Sun through a break in the clouds - late afternoon near Waterloo Bridge

Looking into the sun under Westminster Bridge

Looking into the sun under Westminster Bridge

Afternoon shades into evening - The Narrow near Limehouse DLR

Afternoon shades into evening - The Narrow near Limehouse DLR

Buoys near old Billingsgate Market and London Bridge

Buoys near old Billingsgate Market and London Bridge

Buoy near Brentford Gate, Kew Gardens at ebb tide

Buoy near Brentford Gate, Kew Gardens at ebb tide

Lights from Albert Embankment - seen from Millbank Millenium Pier

Lights from Albert Embankment - seen from Millbank Millenium Pier

Facing up river after sunset, from Jubilee Bridge to Westminster Bridge

Facing up river after sunset, from Jubilee Bridge to Westminster Bridge

Lighter passing culverts at Lambeth Bridge

Lighter passing culverts at Lambeth Bridge

Double decker crossing Lambeth Bridge at dusk

Double decker crossing Lambeth Bridge at dusk

Surface of the Thames at sunset - blue light from an emergency van on Waterloo Bridge

Surface of the Thames at sunset - blue light from an emergency van on Waterloo Bridge

Buoy under the Blackfriars Rail Bridge - Tide Going Out

Buoy under the Blackfriars Rail Bridge - Tide Going Out

Sunday, 31 October 2010

The National Gallery once more...

In the Gallery I stayed with Peter Paul Rubens - classical and Biblical scenes, vigorous movement and voluptuous figures in glowing colour.
Outside, daylight saving was gone.  The Hindu Festival of Lights - Diwali - was celebrated with electrifying dance in Trafalgar Square.  I looked on from the steps of the National Gallery - more vigorous movement and voluptuous figures in glowing colour.
Jakarta doesn't have daylight saving, being closer to the Equator.  Wet season or dry season, all year round, it's light by about 6.00 am and dark by about 6.00 pm.  I waited for the long days of summer, but they never came.  But if there are differences, there are similarities.  Now, east of Jakarta on the island of Bali, Indonesians also celebrate the Festival of Lights.
As I walked down to Jubilee Bridge the sounds of Diwali faded.  On the Bridge I made a drawing, steering clear of Halloween revellers in Edvard Munch 'Scream' masks, while carousel music from South Bank mingled with the tooting and shouting from Thames party cruises.
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