Clearify how the alpha theme interferes with Drupal paths

Scenario:

- I create an Omega subtheme
- I place a file zone--postscript.tpl.php in the templates folder;

content of that file:

<?php 
/**
 * @file
 * Adding an image to the postscript zone
 */
?>
<div class="decoratie"><img src="<?php print $base_path . $directory; ?>/images/opleuken.jpg" /></div>
<?php if ($wrapper): ?><div<?php print $attributes; ?>><?php endif; ?>  
  <div<?php print $content_attributes; ?>>
    <?php print $content; ?>
  </div>
<?php if ($wrapper): ?></div><?php endif; ?>

- in the html rendered I get:

<img src="sites/**.****.nl/themes/omega/alpha/images/opleuken.jpg">

So <?php print $base_path . $directory; ?> refers to ../themes/omega/alpha??