Stupa

Swaymbhunath Stupa (also known as ‘Monkey Temple’)

“The stupa (“stupa” is Sanskrit for heap) is an important form of Buddhist architecture… At its simplest, a stupa is a dirt burial mound faced with stone.” (source) The Swaymbhunath Stupa in Kathmandu, Nepal, is far from a simple mound! In the photo above, the textured curved white base is the stupa itself; atop it is the “yasti, or spire, which symbolizes the axis mundi (a line through the earth’s center around which the universe is thought to revolve)”.

You can get a better idea of the scale of the Swaymbhunath Stupa complex in the photo below. For more information on Swaymbhunath Stupa, and a more comprehensive photo, go here.

The complex seen from a distance.

Posted for Becky’s SquareUp challenge. I’ve gone with “playing around with the word up”.

Two uppers and a scupper

The upper mess on Tenacious is where the permanent crew and the ongoing watch eat. (The ‘lower mess’ is where everyone else eats.)

Time for some nautical ups!

Taken from the platform above the upper topsail on the mainmast of Tenacious, this photo is a view looking forward (and down!). The whiter sail at the top of the photo is the upper topsail on the foremast.

A scupper is an opening in a ship’s side that allows water to run off the deck. In a big sea, when a ship is rolling, it also allows water to run onto the deck!

Tenacious, Atlantic Ocean

Posted for Becky’s SquareUp challenge. I’ve gone with “playing around with the word up”.

Monarch butterfly pupa

Pupa (also known as chrysalis) tucked away out of danger. You can see the wing markings through the thin pupa.

When my parents wintered in south Texas, they grew butterfly-friendly plants to help the Monarch butterflies, which are in danger in North America. The butterflies would head north from Mexico and lay eggs in my parents’ garden. The eggs would hatch, the caterpillars would gorge themselves, and then they’d crawl off to what they considered to be a safe location (including under lawn chairs!). Then the magic would happen inside the pupa.

“Chrysalis is a Greek word for gold. Scientists are unsure about why the gold band and spots appear on the chrysalis. … After about 10 days, the final moult reveals an adult butterfly. The enlarged abdomen is full of fluid. The butterfly pumps the fluid into its crumpled wings until they become full and stiff.” (source)

How did something so large fit into that small container?

Posted for Becky’s SquareUp challenge. I’ve gone with “playing around with the word up”.

Surf’s up!

Surfers at Shelly Head, Manly

Surf’s up: A phrase used in surfing when a nearby wave is passing.
Like the ibuprofen post, I took these photos specifically for the ‘up’ theme — but I enjoyed this ‘photo shoot’ more! 😉

Surfers at Shelly Head, Manly

Posted for Becky’s SquareUp challenge. I’ve gone with “playing around with the word up”.

Ducks, upended

Keen foraging, or synchronised swimming?

Posted for Becky’s SquareUp challenge. I’ve gone with “playing around with the word up”.

(Also sneaking this one is for Birds with butts in the air)

Cupcakes

A friend hosted a baby shower for a mutual friend, and made these cupcakes.

I think we all need a sweet treat about now! 🙂

Posted for Becky’s SquareUp challenge. I’ve gone with “playing around with the word up”.

The Old Swan Uppers

A welcome stop on the Thames Path.

This pub is located in Cookham on the River Thames, not far from London. It makes a good place to relax and recharge if you’re walking a section of the Thames Path. It was particularly welcome on the day we stopped, as the weather turned from threatening to rain to bucketing down with rain! (Curious about what a ‘swan upper’ is? Read more here.)

Posted for Becky’s SquareUp challenge. I’ve gone with “playing around with the word up”.

Ibuprofen

I can’t believe I took a photo of ibuprofen tablets to get another ‘up’ shot.

You may have to resort to a couple of these if the search for UP photos has given you a headache. 😉

Posted for Becky’s SquareUp challenge. I’ve gone with “playing around with the word up”.

Upside-down cake

Apple Pecan Spiced Upside-Down Cake

I was so inspired by the memory of this cake that I bought some tinned pineapple yesterday to make a more traditional pineapple upside-down cake. But the sun came out after days of rain, so I went to the beach instead. 🙂

Posted for Becky’s SquareUp challenge. I’ve gone with “playing around with the word up”.

Puppet buskers

I came across this pair of puppet buskers in Amsterdam — in 1992! I wonder if the buskers and the puppets are still going now?

Posted for Becky’s SquareUp challenge. I’ve gone with “playing around with the word up”.