Red Dao, Sa Pa

 Asia, People, Travel, Vietnam  2 Responses »
Jan 312017
 

My Vietnam trip was capped off by two nights in Sa Pa. We took an overnight bus to get here, which provided me with a “bed” about 1 foot too short for me to be comfortable. The first day we spent there it was so foggy you couldn’t see more than five feet in front of you. As a result we found a small bar that was occupied by other travelers in a similar predicament. We spent the whole day there.

The next day we decided to go for a hike regardless and, thankfully, the fog lifted a bit. We were accompanied on our walk by two Red Dao women and one Black Hmong lady. They were members of the ethnic tribal minorities that live in the area.

At the end of our walk we bought a few trinkets from the ladies and I asked to take a picture. One of the red Tsao ladies was happy to pose. Here she is below:

red dao lady with head scarf in sa pa vietnam

Berliner Dom, Berlin, Germany

 Europe, Germany, Travel  3 Responses »
Jan 292017
 

I’m in Berlin and it’s really cold so am spending most of my time inside. Yesterday I took a hop on hop off tour bus and got as far as museum island. My first stop was the Berlin Cathedral which I ducked into really to warm up but quickly discovered it’s incredible. I spent about an hour there before moving onto the Altes Museum and then the Neues Museum. I wanted to go to the Pergmon museum but the line was too long and I didn’t want to stand still that long outside!

the inside of the berliner dome looking up from a corner below

 

 

Moroccan Bakery, Marrakesh

 Africa, Morocco, People, Travel  2 Responses »
Jan 282017
 

I had a great time in Marrakesh last weekend, including a camel ride in the foothills of the Atlas mountains and a return to the food tour I went on two years ago. The picture below is actually from that tour two years ago. Unfortunately, the bakery was closed this time.

What you see below is the local oven where bread is baked. The locals don’t have ovens in their own homes. Instead, they prepare their meals for the oven and drop them at the bakery. While we were there we saw all sorts going in, most of all rows of sardines. The oven is effectively a huge clay room where wood is burned on one side. The operator spends the whole time in that small space in front of the oven entrance, being handed items to place in the oven.

baker in marrakech baking bread

Nightfall on Manarola, Cinque Terre Italy

 Europe, Italy, Travel  2 Responses »
Jan 272017
 

On my first night in Manarola I was provided with a complimentary bottle of prosecco. I promptly plopped down on my balcony to enjoy it while the sun set. I took this photo just as the last light disappeared behind the horizon.

view of manarola from the hill at night

Tailor at Work in Hoi An

 Asia, People, Travel, Vietnam  1 Response »
Jan 262017
 

Hoi An, in Vietnam, is known for its tailors. Everywhere you look there are shops offering custom made suits. I decided I wanted to get a couple and proceeded to struggle to pick a place. Eventually I gave up and walked into the one I was closest to. Before I knew it I was measured up and had picked out a blue pinstripe material and a light grey. I was only in town for two more days so they’d have to work fast.

I went back for a fitting the next morning and once I was marked up for further adjustments I went to the beach. I returned the next night for the final fitting. There were still a couple of issues so the girl in the store grabbed me by the hand and guided me to a shop full of sewing machines.

There, I met the tailor who quickly marked the suit up in chalk and set to work. While I waited for him to finish I asked one of his assistants if I could take a picture of him working. He agreed and here’s the result.

tailor at work in hoi an, vietnam

The Theater at Delphi, Greece

 Europe, Greece, Travel  No Responses »
Jan 242017
 

I had heard from friends who had visited Delphi that it’s far hillier than you’d expected. Sure enough, it’s built on a steep slope, with the stadium at the top. On the way up to the stadium you get this view back over the theater, giving me a good excuse to stop and catch my breath.

delphi theater greece blue sky

Iconic Cinque Terre, Riomaggiore

 Europe, Italy, Travel  2 Responses »
Jan 232017
 

If you google Riomaggiore you’ll find photos taken from this spot numerous times. It’s one of the viewpoints that first got me to notice the Cinque Terre and eventually decide to give the area a visit.  While I try not to take the same photos taken by everyone else, I don’t think anyone can disembark from the ferry to Riomaggiore and not stop to take this picture.

riomaggiorie harbour with boats and dramatic sky cinque terre italy

 

A friendly (?) Lion, Zambia

 Africa, Animals, Travel, Zambia  3 Responses »
Jan 222017
 

This is the last of my photos from sub Saharan Africa. I’d like to say that I stalked this fellow in the wild to get up good and close before taking this picture, but that’s not the case. I was on a walking tour with two lions. Shortly before arriving we were told that they were on the verge of being too old to walk with people as they were reaching maturity and would become aggressive. They were going to be released into the wild in an effort to repopulate the area at the end of the season.

adolescent white lion on lion walk in zambia

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