Travel theme: Transformation

Friday 13th is a day that can strike terror into the hearts of superstitious folk, but seeing as we have not one but three of them in 2015 (February, March and November) perhaps it is time to embrace a more positive side of the day. While theories abound as to why people believe it to be unlucky, none of them are conclusive and there is plenty of evidence to the contrary. In the Hebrides off the coast of Scotland, Friday is considered the luckiest day to sow seeds and in ancient Egypt the number 13 symbolized change and transformation. So to honour the day in a less than usual way, here are a few photos I have taken on my travels that suggest transformation or change of some sort. First up, a dashingly yellow butterfly, the ex-caterpillar epitome of transformation, in the jungles of Tikal.

tikal, guatemala, jungle butterfly, travel, travelogue, ailsa prideaux-mooney

Staying in Tikal, I was struck by the transformative power of nature and the passage of time. Once a thriving, ancient metropolis; all that remains now are a few scattered temple tops peeping out above the jungle canopy. I wonder how long it will take for our modern skyscraper-filled cities to be consumed by nature when we finally succeed in making our planet uninhabitable.

tikal national park

One of my favourite transformations of all takes place each year when winter comes around and soft white snow coats the countryside, making everything sparkle and glow. The last two winters have been tragically snow free and I must be honest, I feel a little cheated. I had to rummage back through three winters of photos to find this snowy shot of Big Four Mountains in the North Cascades.

big four mountain travel washington ice caves

I hope you’ll join me in saying good luck to unlucky Friday 13th and ushering in change with 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: Transformation
  • 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
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xxx Ailsa

Some painters transform the sun into a yellow spot, others transform a yellow spot into the sun. – Pablo Picasso

Every man can transform the world from one of monotony and drabness to one of excitement and adventure. – Irving Wallace

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