Good travel engages all of the senses, combining to create a heady and unforgettable experience. I will never forget the sight and fragrance of wall to wall hyacinths one summer at Hampton Court Palace; the sounds, smells and sticky humidity of the Guatemalan jungle at night or the aroma and taste of my first trip inside a Parisian bakery. Photographs can only go so far in conjuring up the sensory elements of travel, but here are a few attempts. starting with a visual assault in the car graveyard that is Cadillac Ranch just outside of Amarillo Texas. No two visits will ever be the same as the graffiti is constantly changing.
Then there was the roar of eerily green, thundering waters, and the almost oily humidity of the air surrounding Niagara Falls.
Next the sights and smells of street markets, sun-warmed berries…
… and exotic spices…
…the pleasure of encountering music in unexpected places…
…walking in a rain-soaked garden…
…and the feel of the neolithic inscriptions of Loughcrew under my fingertips.
So are you ready to take leave of your senses to create your own interpretation of this week’s theme? If you would like to join in (everyone’s welcome!) here’s what to do:
- Create your own post and title it Travel theme: Sensory
- Include a link to this page in your post so others can find it too
- Get your post in by next Thursday, as the new travel theme comes out on Friday
- Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes. Sign up via the email subscription link in the sidebar or RSS.
xxx Ailsa
I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order. – John Burroughs
The amount of sensory material stored up or stored down in the brain’s and the body’s systems is inestimable. It’s like a culture at the bottom of a jar, although it doesn’t grow, I think, or help anything else to grow unless you find a way to reach it and touch it.- Seamus Heaney
Where's my backpack? 
Oily humidity… now there’s a thing! 😉
Yeah, you know that greasy feel on your skin? And air so thick you seem to have to slide your way through it? Good times. 🙂
I know the feeling… back in SA the humidity is at it’s peak at the height of summer… 35 deg C plus and 90% humidity… now, that’s oily!!
I just love your description… I know here in Ireland it’s “close”… I’ve heard” balmy” being used but a few days ago I heard the good old SA term… muggy!! I reckon yours is best!! Oily humidity!!
I never minded it in the jungle because it seemed to belong there, but I could never get my head around the humidity in NYC; it killed me. Pushing through dense leafy walls of jungle was a million times nicer than pushing through a subway car full of sweaty commuters. 🙂
Rather you than me!! 😉
https://chava61.wordpress.com/2016/03/26/travel-theme-sensory/
Looks intriguing, did you figure it out?
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Hi Ailsa,
Too much fun! Travel and “sensory” go hand inland. Here is a bunch of my recent sensory travels. Regards Peet
https://pdjpix.wordpress.com/2016/03/26/sensory-travel/
Oh wow, Peet, what a feast for the senses, I can almost hear the rustling of those dried leaves in front of that church 🙂
Love all these photos, but the cellist is stunning.
So was his music, Judy 🙂
Great prompt, Ailsa! I managed to miss posting for your challenge last week, so will trawl the archives for this one!
I’m there with you through the photos. They are alive!
Here’s my take on sensory: https://drieskewrites.wordpress.com/2016/03/26/travel-theme-sensory/
Have a warm weekend, dear xxx
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Always great to view. Hope you’ll stop by soon:)
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Here’s my reply to the sensory photo challenge. Thanks for the fun prompt! http://beyondpaisley.net/2016/03/26/travel-theme-sensory/
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I have to return to Tibet!
http://wp.me/p1hCI2-5VH
Pingback: Travel Theme – Sensory | Julie Powell – Photographer & Graphic Artist
Great theme Ailsa, and great pics, enjoed all of them very much. Here is mine post for this week https://juliepowell2014.wordpress.com/2016/03/27/travel-theme-sensory/
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This week’s contribution at https://travelrat.wordpress.com/2016/03/27/travel-theme-sensory/
Wonderful collection, very well captured… 🙂
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Great prompt! I took a little break from posting these on my blog (getting used to a new work schedule!). But I’m back and hopefully will be able to follow them along weekly again. I really enjoy looking at what you and other come up with every week.
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HI Ailsa, I’ve enjoyed thinking about this theme, reading your post and those of others. Sensory experiences anchor things in our memory and my vist to the largest book in the world was no exception to that. Because of the heat, yes, there was that. But the size of it also meant that walking through it, it was a bit like being within the pages of the book.
https://jillscene.com/2016/03/31/the-largest-book-in-the-world/
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Newborn twins – definitely a sensory experience! https://beautyalongtheroad.wordpress.com/2016/03/31/little-ones-bring-the-greatest-pleasures/
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These pictures do indeed appeal to my senses. They are also soothing.