Private IslandSmall tropical island view from Dragon Pearl Beach Resort, Koda Belud. Sabah, Malaysia.

I took a shower and then did some laundry. This place is about 2 notches up from camping. Instead of “resort”, it should be called “camp”. I have vacated my room, but am hanging out on my hilltop perch enjoying the breeze and the view. There is a large group here with a DJ making some noise. I’m not sure of their plans for tonight, but that’s not my problem.

Mountain in the MorningMount Kinabalu (4,095M), Kundastang. Sabah, Malaysia.

I went back out before breakfast and took a few photos, but there were a lot of shadows. I tried some HDR. Breakfast was either noodles, rice, or toast. I did the noodles and toast. The coffee was good.

The Tropical Day BeginsSepilok Forest Edge Resort, Sepilok. Sabah, Malaysia.

This is an HDR, or High Dynamic Range, photo. I took 3 frames at different exposures. In the computer I combined those to capture the entire range of light that the human eye can see but the camera’s sensor can’t. I boosted the sharpness, contrast, and saturation then smoothed it out again to give it a more painterly look.

Paddling Back in TimeA gentle mist hovers in the morning, Kinabatangan River, Bilit. Sabah, Malaysia.

Back for breakfast, then had a short break to get ready for our 9:30 jungle walk. I am glad that it is not the wet season, so no need to traipse through the mud or deal with leeches. Again, worked up a sweat with very little activity.

Island RetreatMabul Beach Resort, Mabul Island. Sabah, Malaysia.

We had four nice dives there, with breaks (food and coffee) between each. The diving is interesting because of the 600M drop off to open ocean. You never know what critters you might find. We found a bunch, all of which I can remember are in my dive log. Another good day of diving with great dive masters and new friends. 

It would be in my top 3 sites, but in my opinion is not as good as Bunaken. Still, I’m glad to have had the opportunity to dive here to see for myself.

Peaceful MorningTemple Top and Palms, Shwe Taung Za Paya, Dawei. Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar (Burma).

I walked back, to the room, happy to be hit with AC as I entered. After a few minutes I went up for breakfast on the fourth floor terrace. The view was okay, but I chose a seat out of the sun. Myo soon joined me. She was trying to convince me to join them on a pagoda run in a public van, but I declined. It sounds like a longer trip just to see one more pagoda. Apparently this is one of nine special pagodas in the Dawei area that if you visit all nine you get special merit. We’ve already been to a couple, but they aren’t going to get to all nine.

Take a BreakRiverside restaurant at Kyaing Lakoiw Paya, Kyaing Ywar. Mon State, Myanmar (Burma).

We hired a boat here and headed upriver for about 15 minutes. For most of the way the water wasn’t deeper than chest-deep for me, and it was fairly clear. We arrived at Kyaing Lakoiw Paya, which, in addition to more snack stalls and some tables in the river, had a tower with a Buddha image on it that is joined to land by a high bridge. It served as a good vantage point for some pix. 

After about an hour of hanging out and exploring, be boarded the boat for the return trip. It was starting to get warm.

Magical MorningMorning at Ye Lake, Ye. Mon State, Myanmar (Burma).

Of course I had to grab my camera to capture the scene. I shot 3 frames at different exposures and combined them in my computer to be able to show the wide range of contrast that our eyes can see, but the sensor can’t.

Farm SceneFarm scene on train ride to Mawlamyine, Myanmar (Burma).

We rode through more beautiful countryside, first with mountains way in the distance, then getting closer. Plenty of farm fields and small villages. 

There was no shortage of food on the train, and Myo stopped almost every vendor to sample their goods. There were some tasty surprises like a fried coconut, jaggery and peanut crispy cake. Lunch was chicken and rice served in a banana leaf. 

We arrived in Mawlamyine at 5:45 and discovered that there was a bus leaving for ye at 6. We took a taxi to the bus station and got tickets. I was pleased that we could move on to our destination without having to spend the night in Mawlamyine.

Yes, It's FreshProduce for sale in 5-Day Market, Nampan. Shan State, Myanmar (Burma).

This shot was enhanced in post production to give it a painterly effect. I increased the saturation, sharpness, and contrast, then toned it down again.

Need Enlightenment?Buddha images for sale in 5-Day Market, Nampan. Shan State, Myanmar (Burma).

We then went among the extensive floating gardens and houses on stilts. From then it was on to the 5-Day Market at Nampan. This was much larger than I expected, but from disembarking the boat we had to run the gauntlet of souvenir dealers.

Working the WatersSunrise silhouette of traditional fisherman on Inle Lake. Shan State, Myanmar (Burma).

It was chilly out on the lake, but the PFDs and blankets provided helped a lot. We found fisherman soon—I had been asked if I wanted real fIsherman or models who would want t be paid. I went for the model because that is the traditional style, even though it isn’t used so much these days. This guy was a pro and knew all the poses. Just when I thought we were set, he came up with another pose. I got front and back light.

Day Slips into NightSunset Silhouette of U Yen Gin Temple. Bagan, Myanmar (Burma).

I rode on for a little way and ended up at the U Yen Gyi Temple for sunset pix. I was pleased with the results. I enjoyed the freedom and flexibility the bike gave me and wish I had more time to explore.

Golden SunriseSunrise Silhouette of Minnanthu Paya. Bagan, Myanmar (Burma).

We moved slightly up the road and were hanging around waiting for the sun to rise. It was at this point that many hot air balloons were drifting overhead. I got the sun coming up between a couple of stupas, and just as I finished my shot a couple of cars pulled up and parked right in front of those stupas.

Buledi SunsetSunset Silhouette of Buledi Paya. Bagan, Myanmar (Burma).

We dropped our stuff off and quickly regrouped for a sunset photo expedition. After a bit of searching I found an acceptable stupa that would provide a mostly unobstructed silhouette view. As usual, the best light happened about 20 minutes after sunset, and I was rewarded with some good shots.

Riverbank SceneView of Sagaing from Ayerwaddy River, Myanmar (Burma).

It was a nice ride, and felt good to be on the Ayerwaddy again. It was chilly with the lower temperatures, shade, and wind. I dug out my fleece and put that under my Gore-Tex parka. I got some nice shots of Saigang soon after we departed. The rest of the journey was spent looking at the countryside and enjoying the fresh air.

Jade PagodaJade Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma).

We stopped at a newly-built jade stupa on the way back from Sagaing. We had lunch at a restaurant in town, then we were dropped off at the hotel for a siesta. 

We didn’t get out again until 4:30. The goal this trip was to check out 7 hotels that might sell my book or that we might want to use for our photo tour next year. I think the most promising for the latter would be the Ayerwaddy River View Hotel at the western edge of the city, right by the river. 

We got dropped off at a slightly different part of the night market, near food stalls, but actually at a proper restaurant. I had a hot pot that was very good, apparently a Mandalay specialty. We were all beat when we got back to the hotel and went to bed at 9.

Many ChoicesU Min Thonze Caves, Sagaing, Myanmar (Burma).

Our next stop was Soon U Pon Nya Shin Paya. It had some beautiful views of the surrounding temples on hills and there was Buddhist chanting drifting up fro one of them. The Ayerwaddy River was in the background. It was very peaceful and would have been good to photograph in early morning light. Now the light was too harsh and there was a lot of haze or pollution. We couldn’t even see Mandalay, which was only a half hour away across the river. 

We then went to U Min Thonze Caves, which had interesting entrance that needed to be photographed.

Evening Settles InCatedral de San Cristóbal de la Habana, Plaza de la Catedral. Havana, Cuba.

I took a couple of shots in the Plaza de la Catedral at dusk, then wandered over to the Plaza de Armas for a few more pix. I walked down Mercaderes and planted myself in Plaza Vieja, listening to music and admiring the colonial architecture of the entire square. I shifted position a couple of times, changing bands or dodging raindrops. Yes, again. Very unsettled weather today. I figured I should head home just in case it might rain harder.

My Ridec. 1960 Cadilac wagon used as a shared taxi, Colón. Matanzas, Cuba.

When I returned, I sat in the park and waited for about 45 minutes. Another guy had approached me before, and said that his taxi was now ready. I would be the eleventh and final passenger. I walked across the park with him, and within five minutes the 1954 Cadillac (I think) pulled up. My pack and I were put in the back, and off we went. I sat with a young couple from Austria, and a third woman who was from their same small town joined in the conversation. 

I got dropped off at the traffic circle outside Varadero, and found another colectivo towards Matanzas and was off within 15 minutes. This one was a well-maintained Chevy BelAir with 

AC! The ride was quick, but I was pissed off when he dropped me off just outside town, despite having said he would go to the casa. He wanted to charge me an additional 2 CUC, when the entire ride from Varadero only cost 3 CUC.

Final RoundCockfights, south of Baracoa. Guantánamo, Cuba.

Dignatario led us on a trail along the river's edge. I could hear shouting and roosters crowing, so I knew it was close. It was a chaotic scene, with small groups of men all over the place, prepping their roosters, gambling, selling food, and of course, gathered around a big ring to watch the cockfights. We found a spot where Dignatario could sit and I could stand so as to be able to move around. It was overcast, and that really helped me tame what could have been a contrasty scene. 

I got a bunch of shots of the fights and of people's reactions. They do this every Sunday, and it is definitely Guys Day Out. Of the 800-1000 people gathered in these clearings, about 99% were men. There were a few women staffing the concession stands, but I only saw 2 women actually watching the fights. It's a bloody business, with fights lasting from 10-45 minutes, until one of the cocks is down. Fascinating to watch and see how wrapped-up so many guys get in this, especially when they have bet on a fight. It was my first time attending one. I am glad I did to see what goes on, but I won't be in a hurry to go again.

Private ConcertPortrait of 84-year-old musician, Dignatario Mato with his guitar in his home, Baracoa. Guantánamo, Cuba.

I went for a short walk along the Malecón, watching the waves crash over in a couple of places. Since my casa is exposed to the wind, it feels cooler, but as soon as I have buildings blocking the wind, I can feel the warmth. There is a market of sorts by the Malecón with a few people selling things from their trucks or a couple of booths. There are crowds around these vendors, who are selling tomatoes, onions, some kind of huge sausage, and other stuff I couldn't see because the lines were too deep. //

I met Dignatario (my new musician friend whom I had met last night) at 10 as planned, and we walked to his house. I was going to ask him if I could take his photo, but he beat me to it. He sat down on his couch, I opened the front door to get a bit more light, and it was perfect. It didn't take long at all to get shots I was happy with. He played and sang for a while, philosophized a bit, then played some more. After about an hour it dawned on me that I should get this on video as well, so I recorded a couple of songs. He is extremely talented. 

He suggested we go for a walk around town. We kept bumping into his friends and he was introducing me to everybody. We ended up by the Malecón and he asked me to photograph him with the water in the background (he had carried his guitar with him). Of course I was happy to oblige. We walked to the Dorado Cafe and I invited him for lunch. What a morning it has been!

Guarding the HarborCastillo de San Pedro de la Roca del Morro. Santiago de Cuba, Cuba.

We left in his car around 8:30 and headed for Castillo San Pedro de la Roca. It is a fort with a strong defensive position and awesome views at the narrow entrance to the Bahia Santiago. I shot some pix, and quickly got hot in the sun. There were some shady spots with great breezes coming through, and I enjoyed those. 

He drove along the bay, and we stopped briefly across from Cayó Granma. We continued on to San Juan Hill, where there is only 1 brief mention of T.R. The Cubans are quick to point out that their army provided great assistance to the American forces to win this battle against Spain. (Only to become a colony of the US instead of Spain.) Right next to the monument is an amusement park. I am very glad that I did not attempt to walk here, because it is about 1.5 miles from my casa and very hot.

La Boca SunsetSunset silhouette of tree, La Boca. Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.

Matilda, the casa owner, cooked up a very tasty lobster dinner for me soon after I got back. Afterwards I went out to look for some music. I sat by the Casa de Música for a bit, but wasn't inspired to go in. All 3 of my other music sources were dark..I was tired, so I came back and showered. I have an early start tomorrow.

Making MusicStreet musicians perform in Trinidad. Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.

I went down to the Cubatours office to enquire about the local minibus, but the line was long and I didn't bother to wait. I walked up the block to investigate the Cafe Dulcinea. It looked promising for the future, but they didn't have iced coffee, so I passed for now. I ended up back at yesterday's cafe for an iced coffee and a chance to read some of the National Geographic magazine i have on my iPad. 

Finally, on my third attempt in Cuba, I found a good massage! He worked for 30 minutes on just my back, getting in moderately deep and into the right points. I felt very much loosened up afterwards. 

It was almost sunset time when I finished, so I went on photo patrol. The best I could do were the palms in Plaza Mayor. I got some okay shots before sunset and the post-sunset colors just fizzled away.

HUV--Horse Utility VehicleTrinidad. Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.

Breakfast at 7:30 under clear skies. I was tempted to just hang out on the terrace for a while, but I figured I should do some work and reward myself later. I started walking the streets behind my casa looking for activity to shoot, and ended up climbing the hill towards the radio tower. It was already warm at 9:30. I changed directions and ended up at the entrance to a cave discotheque, much to my surprise. (I discovered in reading LP that there is also a cave hotel.)

A Seat in the SunResaurant patio, Trinidad. Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.

This inviting little courtyard is part of a restaurant that also has bands performing at times. It is one of those hidden gems that requires poking my nose into the gate to discover.

Painted PalmCasa Padrón, Plaza Mayor, Trinidad. Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.

During a break in the rain I walked down to a cafe I had seen this morning. It started raining lightly, but I got here before I got too wet. The only problem is that there is a power outage in town, so they can't make coffee for me! I started talking to a retired Dutch couple who asked if they could share my table, one of 3 in the cafe.

Museo de Arquitectura ColonialTrinidad. Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.

I walked to the interesting cafe that I had seen yesterday for lunch. It is a peaceful place under a large tree. I had a grilled ham and cheese sandwich.

The View OutsidePalacio Ortiz, Trinidad. Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.

Nearby, the Art Gallery was free, had some interesting work, and more importantly provided me with views looking out over the Plaza. I used some of the latticework on the windows as framing devices. It was nice to have the luxury of time to wait for the right moments.

Old But ElegantMuseo Histórico Municipal, Trinidad. Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.

Roosters starting early, then a very pleasant breakfast on the terrace this morning.//

My first stop was the bus station to buy a ticket to Santiago de Cuba for Monday. It was already sold out, so I bought one for Tuesday. I really like this town, so staying an extra day shouldn't be a hardship. 

I went to the Museo Histórico Municipal, a mansion a bit south of the Plaza Mayor. It was nice inside with the courtyard, and I took some pix, including HDR. I climbed to the top of the tower and got views (and photos) in all directions.

The Afternoon GameTrinidad. Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.

I walked back up the hill to the Cas de la Música and sat on the wall at the bottom of the steps. There was a band playing nice music and a good internet connection, so I spent about 50 minutes deleting most of the 450 emails waiting for me, and responding to the few that required my attention. A new and more lively band came on and turned up the energy a couple of notches. Loads of people were coming in to this open air area, and many were dancing near the band. When they finished at 10 I decided to leave.

Wash DayView from terrace of casa, Trinidad. Sancti Spíritus, Cuba.

I walked out to the street and found a colectivo leaving soon at only a bit more than the bus charges. While looking for a bathroom in the bus station I found an Etecsa office without a line, and they had wi-if cards. It was an agonizingly slow transaction while she had to enter my passport number! into the computer and the codes of each of the two cards I was buying. 

The colectivo soon got underway, and it was 1.5 hours to Trinidad. My main concern for the delay was knowing that the casa owner was going to be waiting for me in the bus station. Fortunately the timing worked out, and she found me before I even had a chance to enter the station. 

Matilda guided me through the cobblestone streets up the hill to her house--good exercise. I had a choice of two rooms, so I took the larger suite upstairs so as to have the terrace directly outside my room. It is a large airy room with great ventilation, and there was a nice strong breeze. The shaded terrace is extremely pleasant, and I was served coffee here, so ended up taking my siesta here. Also, there is a rooftop terrace with a small shaded area with a couple of chairs and a hammock in which I had a nice little nap.

Old FaithfulOld car, Caletón, Playa Larga. Matanzas, Cuba. When we returned around 1:30 my first task was to change money. I grabbed a tiny sandwich thinking that I didn't want to take to much time so that I could find a colectivo to Cienfuegos.  After a bit of waiting and asking around I realized that wasn't going to happen. I went back to the casa and left a note for my Italian friends suggesting we meet at the casa to go out for dinner. 

I walked back in the heat to the Kiki restaurant with the idea of having a coffee and relaxing for the afternoon. Much to my surprise, I found Giovanni and Delphina. I had my coffee while they had lunch. We spent a while there because it was very pleasant and they were enjoying the food. 

As we were leaving we made a reservation at the restaurant across the street for grilled lobster for dinner. We then walked down towards the end of the Caletón beach to relax. I found a guy doing massages on the beach, so I did 45 minutes for my back. Despite him telling me before we started that I want a strong massage, once he got me on the table he said that a strong massage was not good for the neck. I said I would prefer strong, and he attempted, but it was not very good and he didn't know his trigger points. 

We went around the corner from the beach to find piña coladas and discovered that the sand flies were just starting to bite, so we relocated into the restaurant. Giovanni is very inquisitive and talkative, and started talking to the chef, stuck his nose in the kitchen, and discovered some amazing lobsters. We were told that it would only cost 15 CUCs for a complete lobster dinner. We placed an order and Giovanni walked back to he other place to cancel. 

We were enjoying our drinks and talking, and eventually dinner was served. The lobster was prepared a la mariposa, split and spread out like a butterfly. They said it was 1 kilo for the tail, and it was huge, taking up ⅔ of the plate. I've never seen so much meat from one lobster! The only problem was that it was a bit tough and the natural flavor wasn't quite enough. Apparently it was cooked in butter, but I didn't taste much. 

As we were working our way through our lobsters, a group of musicians walked in and started to set up. After a few minutes they started playing, opening with Chang Chang. They did salsa cubana, son, and gurumba, or that's what I think the waiter told me. It was a lot of fun, and they were so enthusiastic. I shot some video, and realized as I was panning that the waiter was dancing with the customers and having a great time and was eventually joined by the chef. I took some stills as well. It was an awesome evening that I would have missed if I had found a ride to Cienfuegos. I love Cuba!

The Road HomeFields and countryside, Viñales, Pinar del Río, Cuba.

On the way back we stopped at a small cafe and had a tiny discussion of the coffee harvesting process. The beans smelled very good, so I ordered a cup. Surprisingly, it was not impressive.

Cuban CountrysideFields and countryside, Viñales, Pinar del Río, Cuba.

I had a nice breakfast at the casa, then was picked up promptly at 9 by my guide and his horse. It was a very relaxing morning riding the trails around the farms, seeing people at work in the fields, and admiring the beautiful scenery in the background. The mogotes are karst outcrops the size of small mountains. 

Our first stop was at a drying house for a tobacco farm. I had a private explanation of the cultivation of tobacco and a demo of rolling a cigar. I got some good pix. When I turned down his offer to purchase some cigars, I did not get the heavy sales pitch I was expecting.

Heads Up!Ceiling, Museo de la Revolución, Havana, Cuba.

The museum is in the former presidential mansion that is currently having some renovation done. It is a thorough presentation of the revolution, going into depth on almost every battle, it seems. It definitely helps in understanding what makes Cuba tick. 

Zaria couldn't believe that I didn't have a casa reservation in Viñales, nor a bus ticket purchased but I just made my decision yesterday. I walked to the Hotel Seville to find a taxi to the bus station and it cost $15! The bus ticket for the 4-hour ride costs $12. The taxi driver set me up with a colectivo driver who was asking for $20 for sharing the ride with 2 other people. He said it would only take 2 hours instead of 4, and that we would arrive about the time the bus was departing.

Inviting CourtyardMuseo de la Ciudad in the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, Havana, Cuba.

I went in to the City Museum in a beautiful historic building and took some photos there. I headed towards the tunnel to find a local bus to take me to the forts. It was along wait for a short ride. I walked some more to the Castillo de 3 Moros de las Cabañas. 

After a walk to the fort, I explored around, then met an American couple from Alaska, Aaron and MaryAnn. I had dinner in the fort, and am waiting for the ceremony of the canon firing, a tradition that goes back a few centuries.

Arches and CourtyardMuseo de la Ciudad in the Palacio de los Capitanes Generales, Havana, Cuba.

I slept through until 8. They still served me a large breakfast, but I didn't eat it all, and instead made a sandwich for later. I had a nice talk with Zaria and got some sightseeing suggestions from her. 

My first order of business was to find a room for myself for the last 2 nights of my trip. It took a little while, but I think I am all set. I then went looking for a guy named Eduardo who does massage, but couldn't find him. 

More walking, some interesting places and some not. The Alexander Humboldt Museum is now closed. I stumbled on to a lecture by a Cuban photographer at the Fototeca.

Resting in the ShadeCars in the shade, Agramonte, Havana, Cuba.

It was a long walk home with tired legs and a very full stomach. When I returned to he casa around 7:30, I was too tired to do any laundry or write in my journal. I showered and read LP until I crashed at 9:30.

Cruisin' in My AutomobileEl Morro with boats in foreground in morning, Havana, Cuba.

The taxi driver who drove me the 30 minutes into town told me everything here is tranquilo, and it does seem to be. I arrived earlier than expected and my room was not ready. Zaria, the hostess, was very apologetic, but I wasn't too bothered. I sat and looked at LP for a bit to map out plans for my visit. Zaria offered me a delicious cup of coffee while I waited. 

Once I got into my room, I got my stuff sorted out and went out for a walk. I started by the fort and then went along the Malecón for a few blocks. The waves were crashing over the wall. 

I cut back towards Havana Vieja and walked down Paseo Jose Martí. There are tons of really worn and crumbling buildings here, as well as some nicely restored ones. I took some photos and felt totally comfortable with my camera out. There are tourists here, but not in crazy numbers. There are lots of locals out, sitting and shooting the breeze, playing chess, etc.

Lilies and SkylineView of lily pond outside ArtScience Museum, Marina Bay, Singapore.

I took the MRT to Bayfront with the idea of scouting around for a sunset shot tonight around Marina Bay. I took a short nap underneath the Helix Bridge in the shade. After a short walk down to the Esplanade Theatres by the Bay, I am enjoying an iced coffee and the AC. I like the motto here in the food court of the theatres: "Art Meets Life. Diverse tastes from the East to the West. Life, like art, can be a journey.”

Singapore SunsetSunset view of Marina Bay and CBD from deck of Marina Bay Sands, Singapore.

It is an awesome view from up top, just as I imagined it would be. I took some pix of Gardens by the Bay and the ships in the harbor. There was a great view up the entire East Coast Park, so I could see where we had just biked today. I then turned my sights on the city, and staked out a place by the railing for pix. No tripods allowed, so I was counting on bracing the camera on the top of the glass that goes around the edge.

Watery CommutePeople in boat on Sangker River, Battambang, Cambodia.

There were several times when they were out pushing the boat. Two of the British guys on board hopped in the water to help. I didn't expect to be on the boat so long, but we were there for the nice afternoon light. We arrived at 6:00 and shared a tuk tuk to the center of town. 

I had been applying sunscreen 4 or 5 times during the day, and had been using my umbrella for shade since 12:30, but I got burned and was red and a bit sore at the end of the day. I was really dehydrated as well, so as soon as I checked into the 333 Guest House, I headed out looking for drinks and food. I ended up at the noodle shop recommended by LP. I had fried dumplings which were very good.

Taking a BreakMan rests in bow of his boat on the Sangker River. Battambang, Cambodia.

We followed the river out to the Tonlé Sap. Even though it is just the narrower northern section, we could still not see all the way across. Suddenly our boat felt small. There were a bunch of floating houses and businesses, but we soon had passed them and were by ourselves. 

We eventually entered the mouth of the Sangker River, which we would be following for the rest of the day. We passed a settlement of floating houses, and I took some pix even though the light was fairly intense by then. We got seriously bogged down by the fields of floating green plants, which is cultivated but got out of control in some places.

The Jungle is WinningThe jungle takes over the ruins of Ta Prohm. Angkor, Cambodia.

I moved on to Ta Keo, but it was quite hot there and the light was harsh. Nevertheless, I climbed a good part of the way up for a look around. My last temple was Banteay Kdei. I took a couple of pix of the big trees growing into the stone walls. I called it quits at noon and drove my Scoopy motorbike back to town.

Fading Into the PastThe jungle takes over the ruins of Ta Prohm. Angkor, Cambodia.

I had breakfast there after the sky did its thing, then moved on. I made brief stops at the South and Victory gates of Angkor Thom and the Bayon for pix. My main destination was Ta Phrom, the site where the trees have taken over.

Bayon GuardiansFaes in the stones, Angkor Thom. Angkor, Cambodia.

I was quite hot and ready for an iced coffee and lunch when I got back to town at 1:00. Now I am just finishing up a siesta and will head out again.

Grazing HorsesHorses grazing on the bank of the Mekong River, with Bamboo Bridge in background. Kampong Cham, Cambodia.

From what I have seen so far, I'm not really impressed by this town. If I can avoid an overnight when I pass through in a day or two, I will.

Bamboo BridgeA seasonally-built bamboo bridge across the Mekong River connects an island to Kampong Cham, Cambodia.

After checking in, I went to the nearby Destiny Cafe for an overpriced iced coffee. (It had been recommended by LP. After that if went for a walk along the roadside park overlooking the Mekong. Again, plenty of families out enjoying the holiday. I took a few pix by the area near the Bamboo Bridge to Koh Paen island.

Riverside Wharehouse 2Colorful plants line the dock of a wharehouse on the Kâmpôt River. Kâmpôt, Cambodia.

This was early in my morning cruise. I did a couple of variations using Nik software, and like the colors in this one.

Sunset CruiseSunset reflected in the Kâmpôt River. Kâmpôt, Cambodia.

I boosted the contrast and saturation, then smoothed everything out. I added a texture screen to this photo.

Kâmpôt SunsetPalms along the Kâmpôt River at sunset. Kâmpôt, Cambodia.

By chance I took a seat next to a talkative and opinionated American woman from the west coast. It was a pleasant cruise, but I only took a couple of pix. The wind picked up, and it was a bit chilly on the way back.

Peace in the GardenBuddha image in shady garden of the Silver Pagoda. Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

I used a texture screen on this image in post-production to give it a little more age and character.

The Morning RoundsMonks collect alms in Pasar Kandal Market, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

I bumped up the contrast and saturation in this image in post production.

ScallopsClose-up of scallops in Pasar Kandal Market. Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

I found these scallops in the market. It’s fun to stick my lens up close to something to see it from a different perspective. It gets me to notice the small details and patterns that might otherwise get overlooked.

WeaverWeaver spinning on the porch of his home, Châu Dôc. An Giang, Vietnam.

We stopped for lunch supplies including iced coffee and took them back to the hotel to consume in our air-conditioned room. A very productive morning!

Weaver BWWeaver spinning on the porch of his home, Châu Dôc. An Giang, Vietnam. On the way back up this road we stopped to photograph an older couple spinning and weaving. Again, we just invited ourselves in and started shooting. Here also, we got some good material. (Minh did pay these folks a little something for putting up with us.) 

We stopped for lunch supplies including iced coffee and took them back to the hotel to consume in our air-conditioned room. A very productive morning!

The Morning HarvestWoman harvests water lilies growing in pond, Châu Dôc. An Giang Province, Vietnam.

We spent the next hour shooting this woman "harvesting" water lily flowers. It was all staged for us--she was using flowers she had cut earlier. We really worked the scene and shot from different directions using different backgrounds. I was a sweaty mess and my glasses were fogging up. I thought I overshot at almost 200 pix, but Minh got over 500 shots! I told him he better learn Lightroom to help him get through the his edit.

Gone Fishin'Fisherman quietly paddles boat in canal, Châu Dôc. An Giang, Vietnam.

We dropped off our cameras at the hotel, then Minh and I (his friend took off) drove the motorbike into town to find some dinner. More noodle soup.

Wessman_160127-7168Eric and friends at dinner in Cà Mau, Vietnam.

We met him in a very large and nice beer garden type restaurant where he apparently is a frequent customer. It was a fun dinner and the food was great. Minh did all the translating because none of the others spoke English. 

I am still dealing with jet lag and early starts, so I crashed at 8:30.

Mending the NetsWoman mending fish net, Rach Tàu. Mekong River Delta, Vietnam.

After that we got back on our boat to start the return journey. The wind had picked up by this point and the wider stretch of the river was a bit rough. I really enjoyed the day and feel that I got a sense of the delta and how the people live on the river.

Roman Bridge 1Córdoba, Spain.

Although it was the middle of the day and the light was strong, a time usually not best for photography, I liked the strength of the stone and the contrast of the clouds and sky.

Niagara FallsAmerican Falls, facing Goat Island. Niagara Falls, New York.

I was camped nearby, and spent a couple of chilly days exploring the falls. The falls are an impressive site, made more enjoyable because the weather kept away the hordes of tourists.

Mezquita Cathedral 1Mezquita Cathedral 1, Córdoba, Spain.

A stunning example of Mudejar architecture that was originally a mosque, this incredible structure was spared when the Catholic Monarchs took over southern Spain. Instead, a Catholic cathedral was added on to the existing building and is in use to this day.

Alleyway 2Alley, Córdoba, Spain.

This alley kept me entertained for a while. I played with different lenses and compositions, and ended up with several that I liked. For the version here, I brought up Clarity in Lightroom to bring out the texture in the stones.

The City That Never SleepsTimes Square at Dusk, New York, New York, USA.

I tried some different exposures dragging the shutter to get some blur. I also tried some HDR photography, or High Dynamic Range, to try to capture the full range of light in the scene. This requires multiple exposures, some of them as slow as ½ second. These are then combined in the computer and refined from there. Not only did they capture the light, but there is some ghosting as people were walking by. I like it because it shows the motion I was after that gives the sense of activity.

Autumn Abstract 2First snowfall on autumn leaves, Twin Lakes Nature Study Reserve. New Rochelle, New York, USA.

As I was looking out the window, the light rain changed to light snow--the first of the year. The dusting of snow on the colorful leaves was beautiful, and I knew I needed to move quickly if I wanted to capture it.

I walked a couple of blocks down my street and entered the Twin Lakes Nature Study Reserve. There were interesting compositions all around, so I got to work. The snow on otherwise normal Fall scenes added that extra something. 

As one of my photographic heroes, Galen Rowell, pointed out, the edges, or transitions, are places to watch for interesting things to happen. Water and land, meadow and forest, storm and calm. Here the edge is between seasons and there was indeed plenty to see.

I did some serious post-production work to this image to make it look more like a painting. How do you like it?

New Day, New Year, New YorkLower New York City Skyline just before sunrise. New York, USA.

This was 30 minutes before sunrise, and was more interesting than sunrise. It’s always a gamble with this weather situation. Sometimes the clouds are lit up beautifully by the sun at the horizon, sometimes clouds at the horizon block the sun from getting through, as was the case today.

City SunsetSkyline of Lower Manhattan featuring Freedom Tower at sunset. New York City, New York, USA.

As I had hoped, the sun broke through the clouds on the horizon just before it set behind me. This provided a stronger and more directional light, which is just what I needed.

Bumpy RideGirl sits in back of bicycle rickshaw. Bago, Myanmar (Burma).

On the way over there I saw this young passenger in another bicycle rickshaw. I had to time my capture in between the bumps on the road to get a sharp image.

Palm Trees at SunsetSunset silhouette of palm trees, Puerto Vallarta. Jalisco, Mexico.

As an escape from the cold New York winter and a self-assigned stock photography project, I was working my way down the Pacific coast of Mexico. My goal was to explore and photograph beaches and small towns along the way.

Strolling around the waterfront at sunset I came across these palms, and they looked very inviting, the antithesis of winter back home. Colorful skies and palm trees—life is good!

Temple of InscriptionsTemple of Inscriptions, from Palace, Ruins at Palenque. Chiapas, Mexico.

I arrived at the ruins around 2, and spent the next 3 hours exploring, climbing, resting, shooting, and sweating profusely. It smells and feels like being inside a greenhouse. Running  around in this humidity is almost enough to make me think about a desk job in an air-conditioned office. Almost…

At 7:30 I went out for dinner. I’m healthy again! I found a taqueria right around the corner, opposite the zócalo. I filled up on tostadas and a taco, and rehydrated myself with water, lemonade, and a pineapple shake. Good deal.

I sat in the zócalo for a few minutes listening to the marimba music from the hotel across the street.

Gate and CourtyardCourtyard, Museo de Bellas Artes, Seville, Spain.

The image posted here is from the Palacio de Bellas Artes, or the Fine Art Museum, in Sevilla. This is the site of a former monastery that now houses a collection of religious art. It seems the Church was not lacking in funds when this was built. 

I did some HDR, or high dynamic range, photography. I took several frames at different exposures and combined them in post production, allowing me to capture the entire range of brightness in the scene. (Our eyes can see it, but the camera sensor can’t capture the full range in 1 frame.)

Friendly AlleyCórdoba, Spain.

I had a great time exploring this city. Not only are the must-see attractions worth visiting, but there is so much more. As I walked around town, I had a great time accidentally stumbling on to cool things and visual tidbits. After photographically experimenting with a scene, I would move on to the next. Every so often I would rediscover the same scene in different light, and would have to work it a bit more with my camera.

This shot captures a cute little alley leading up to a restaurant. I really liked all the potted plants hanging from the walls. I increased the clarity and structure to bring out all the details.

Papyrus in Garden 2Sonnenberg Gardens and Mansion. Canandaigua, New York.

The fun stuff came afterwards, as I had a chance to apply some of the post-production techniques we had been learning. In this one, I bumped up the saturation and structure, or sharpness.

Marine Iguana on RockMarine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) on rock, Isla Espanola. Galapagos National Park, Ecuador.

A very productive walk on Isla Española’s Punta Suárez this morning. A “wet landing” (barely wet) and sea lions on the beach. Galapagos hawk, marine iguanas, blue-footed boobies, masked boobies, waved albatross. We finished up at a blow hole before returning to the beach. I shot 8 or 9 rolls--cloudy bright at first, turning in to full sun. This investment might even pay off. And, I’m having a good time. I just wish my throat wasn’t sore.

Ancient TemplesAncient temples, Bagan, Myanmar.

I found a place and set up. I got some okay pre-dawn sky, but then some much better shots with the rising sun just behind the temple.

I continued north to explore a bit, but the soft sand was too difficult to pedal in. I went back to the hotel for breakfast.

When I got back to the hotel after my morning shoot, Myo Myo was just waking up and eventually joined me at breakfast. She was feeling lazy so we hired a horse cart to take me around for a couple of hours.

It was too late for good light (about 9:15 am) and the scenery was not interesting. It was a bit of a ride up to the temples. Some okay stuff, but nothing of photographic merit. It was hot when I got back at noon.

Arch DetailNasrid Palaces, La Alhambra. Granada, Spain.

This was the interior of the Nasrid Palaces, and because of the volume of people that want to see it, we are required to have a ticket and report at the precise hour to visit. It is challenging trying to photograph and get good angles while amongst a crowd of people being herded along. (And to keep people out of my compositions.) Anyway, it was definitely worth seeing.

Garden WallGarden Wall, Granada, Spain.

I played with this image in post-production, adding saturation, contrast, and sharpness, then I smoothed it out to give it a painterly look.

Castle Wall B&WAlcázar de los Reyes Católicos. Córdoba, Spain.

Alas, I am not the King, so I had to wait patiently until my various compositions were mostly free of people. (Photoshop helped me remove a few troublemakers!) I was inspired to experiment that day, both in-camera and with my post production.

Raising Rice ReflectionSunrise and reflection in rice paddy (field) at dawn, Ubud. Bali, Indonesia.

I took a spin through town, and explored some different roads. The bike is good for increasing the distance covered. Unfortunately even the maximum seat height wasn’t high enough, so uphills were a challenge. The camera bag didn’t make it any easier.

Mezquita WindowStained glass window in the Mezquita, Córdoba, Spain.

This is a stained-glass window in the Mezquita. A stunning example of Mudejar architecture that was originally a mosque, this incredible structure was spared when the Catholic Monarchs took over southern Spain. Instead, a Catholic cathedral was added on to the existing building and is in use to this day.

PeanutsPeanuts for sale in market. Bhamo, Myanmar (Burma).

When I got back they were waiting at the hotel. It took some time for him to switch motorbikes, but then he took me on a ride west to a monastery. We walked around some farm fields and crossed a long bamboo bridge across the Tarpein river.

Quiet Moment at the TempleEnormous Buddha Images. Bodhi Tataung, Myanmar (Burma).

We went out to Thanboddhay Paya and then to Bodhi Tataung. The standing and reclining Buddha images are huge and very impressive.

Buddha Images 2Close-up of Buddha image. Shewdagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar.

It is the most revered Buddhist temple in the country, and attracts worshippers from all over. It is a beautiful place that always has plenty going on.

This morning started at a very pleasant 75℉ and we wandered around slowly, taking it all in. My camera was shooting away, and I was shocked that I actually filled a 2GB memory card--about 150 pix.

Produce Vendor in MarketProduce vendor in market. Hsipaw, Shan State, Myanmar (Burma).

We walked to the morning market and I was able to get some good pix of people and products. I liked the light created by the fog slowly burning off. We also spent a little time at the park next door.

Golden Rock NightGolden Rock at night. Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar (Burma).

Too many people and too fast—not safe and not comfortable. It was a narrow, windy road with lots of ups and downs. We stopped after about 10 minutes when they took our fares, and then waited. Nobody told us, but it’s a one-way road and we had to wait until the trucks coming down got through. Very uncomfortable and not the way to treat tourists. No option for a more expensive but less crowded vehicle…

It’s a great setting on the mountain ridge, with views in all directions. In the distance to the west we could see an orange sliver of the river we had crossed. The initial views of the Golden Rock were not that impressive, perhaps due to my state of mind after the truck ride.

I started shooting from a distance and then changed lenses as I got closer. It is more impressive upon closer view, and I walked around and got all angles as the light changed during sunset. I think I got some good pix.

Man on Ox CartMan on ox cart. Shwesandaw Paya, Bagan, Myanmar.

I try to be flexible and open to opportunities that present themselves, even if they weren’t what I had planned. Such was the case with this ox cart that happened to come along at the right time and place. Go with the flow!

In an attempt to portray the timelessness of this scene, I gave this image a sepia treatment. It could have been taken ten years ago, or one hundred.

Washing ProduceTwo women wash produce in baskets in Perfume River. Hue, Vietnam.

Feeling very rushed on trip in general—trying to fit too much into a short trip.

Up at 6:20, then breakfast. Walked to bank. Bank moved. Cyclo to new bank location because we need money. Back to hotel at 7:55 to ask if we can stay until 4:00. Okay. Run to room, brush teeth and grab cameras. Get to Sinh office at 8:01 for 8:00 tour. Not a good way to start the day.

Very hot and humid and no breeze as I write this on the boat waiting for others to return from pagoda.

I know I’m part of the problem, but I don’t like the huge crowds of tourists. Busloads and boatloads being herded to the same places to see the “must see” sights. There is a lot going on outside these places—daily life can be interesting to observe.

CourtyardCourtyard, Real Alcázar, Seville, Spain.

This photo utilizes a technique called HDR, or High Dynamic Range photography, which allows a very  wide range of light values from the darkest darks to the lightest lights to be compressed into a single image which makes the final photo appear closer to what our eyes actually see. I took several different images and then merged them together using software.

They Don't Make 'em Like They Used ToCarved wood ceiling detail, Museo de Bellas Artes. Sevilla, Spain.

This is the site of a former monastery and it seems the Church was not lacking in funds when this was built. It is a beautiful design with several courtyards, and some very impressive ceilings.

I was playing with a few images as I was trying out some new software. Macphun’s Intensify Pro let me really bring out the details like I didn’t know was possible. What do you think?

Man in MarketVendor in market. Pindaya, Shan State, Myanmar (Burma).

It was a one-and-a-half hour taxi ride from Kalaw to Pindaya. When we arrived we explored and photographed the roving 5th day market. (Every 5 days the market sets up in a nearby town.) I was using the long lens for variety. I had competition from a couple of other tourists.

We then headed up the hill (via taxi) to the Pindaya Caves. It is a very impressive temple inside a cave system. There are over 8000 Buddha images inside. Great for photography! We looked around for about 2 hours.

Chrome ReflectionShewdagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar.

It is the most revered Buddhist temple in the country, and attracts worshippers from all over. It is a beautiful place that always has plenty going on.

This morning started at a very pleasant 75℉ and we wandered around slowly, taking it all in. My camera was shooting away, and I was shocked that I actually filled a 2GB memory card--about 150 pix.

Giant Tortise Head 2Giant Tortise (Geochelone elephantopus) rests head on ground, Isla Santa Cruz. Galapagos National Park, Ecuador.

Up at 6:30, breakfast at 7. We left for the Charles Darwin Station at 8. We had a look at the museum first, and then at some of the pens for the young tortise hatchlings.

Then we went to some of the pens for larger giant tortises, and they were big. They can live for 150-200 years, and weigh up to 500 pounds. Despite their reputations, those things can move quickly. They are constantly moving their heads, and often walking around.

I got some shots with an overcast sky, and then hung around until the weather got better. I shot 4 or 5 rolls, so I was happy. We viewed “Solitary George” from a distance.

Bryce Point Sunrise 3Rock formations at sunset from Bryce Point. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA.

After driving from New York to Las Vegas with my brother on a drive-away mission, we rented a car for a few days to explore some of the awesome parks in this part of the country. We were able to enjoy the sunset here in all its glory. This is a bizarre landscape that I really enjoyed.

The following morning we hiked a trail in the park called Wall Street, which couldn’t have been more different from the New York version! It was fascinating to be inside this park and to see some of these rock formations up close.

Hall of the AbencerrajesHall of the Abencerrajes, La Alhambra, Granada, Spain.

I played with this image in post-production, adding saturation, contrast, and sharpness, then I smoothed it out to give it a painterly look.

Twilight 2Córdoba, Spain.

I scouted for a good location, then set up my tripod and waited. There were some interesting cloud formations drifting over the city. I think this dark cloud, balanced with twilight and the lights on the bridge, makes for a dramatic image.

In The MarketWoman sells produce at morning market. Mawlamyine, Myanmar (Burma).

Okay, so the new routine will be up at 6 and out on the street by 6:30 to prowl for photo ops. Breakfast will have to wait.

This image was worked on in post-production. I added texture and saturation, then smoothed it all out.

Hpan Pu ViewView from Hpan Pu Mountain in morning haze. Hpa-an, Kayin State, Myanmar (Burma).

I explained what I was doing, and he offered to take me on his motorbike to the waterfront at no charge. It would save me about 10 minutes walking, so I said yes. He helped me negotiate a fare with a boat man to cross the river, and then we said goodbye.

Two minutes later he was back with an idea. Since he had never been to Hpan Pu Mountain, and since he didn’t have to be at work until 10, could he join me on my trip? I said “sure.”

It was a quick ride across the river, and we started walking at 8. It was already hot and humid, and I started sweating right away. We had nice talks at our rest stops and reached the top in about 25 minutes. The views are really nice, but it was very hazy.

In fact it was so hazy that when I was working on this photo, I had forgotten that the mountains were in the background until they popped out while I was using Nik Software to make some contrast adjustments.

View from Shwesandaw Paya.View from Shwesandaw Paya. Bagan, Myanmar.

Buses had brought a couple hundred people here, and everyone with a camera (which is just about everyone) was jockeying for position. It was not fun, but it was a good sunset and I got some worthwhile pix.

Bullock Cart on the BankAyeyarwady River, Myanmar.

This is a typical scene of farming along the banks of the river.

Temple at TwilightYe Kyaung Buddhist Temple at twighlight. Hpa-An, Myanmar (Burma).

On the walk back, I came across the Ye Kyaung pagoda. The light was fading and flat by this time, so during post processing I added some contrast, sharpness, and saturation, then smoothed it out again.

Back at the hotel balcony, everybody was hanging out and swapping stories. It is an interesting international group here, ranging in age from mid-20’s to mid-60’s. Everybody here seems to be a veteran traveler. And here we are, just thrown together by chance. Part of the fun of travel for me is meeting cool, like-minded people.

View from North Guni TempleView from North Guni Temple. Bagan, Myanmar.

I try to be flexible and open to opportunities that present themselves, even if they weren’t what I had planned. Such was the case with this image. As I was waiting for sunset, I tried to take advantage of the late afternoon light and play with different compositions.

We were a bit too far for stupa silhouettes, and sunset fizzled out, so this was all I got. Anyway, it was a  fun and interesting afternoon exploring this temple.

Blue and Gold SkyscrapersBond Center glass skyscrapers. Central Hong Kong Island. Hong Kong, China.

There is a lot going on in this city. Lots of old, traditional things, and plenty of modern things. I like the contrast of the blue and gold in this image of some contemporary architecture.

Manhattan MorningThe Brooklyn Bridge and lower Manhattan skyline at dawn. New York City, New York, USA.

I got my camera and tripod set up and waited until Mother Nature started to turn on the lights. I find that some of the best light happens just before sunrise, so I was using longer exposures to capture this lower level of light.

I walked a couple of blocks down my street and entered the Twin Lakes Nature Study Reserve. There were interesting compositions all around, so I got to work. The snow on otherwise normal Fall scenes added that extra something. 

As one of my photographic heroes, Galen Rowell, pointed out, the edges, or transitions, are places to watch for interesting things to happen. Water and land, meadow and forest, storm and calm. Here the edge is between seasons and there was indeed plenty to see.

Beans in MarketBeans for sale in market. Kalaw, Shan State, Myanmar (Burma).

I went for a walk, camera in hand. I walked a short distance away from town, then circled back into the central market and took a few pix.

I found a decent spot to sit down and capture the action with a long lens, but there was not much action. I left after about 30 minutes.

Woman in MarketWoman in market. Pindaya, Shan State, Myanmar (Burma).

We then headed up the hill (via taxi) to the Pindaya Caves. It is a very impressive temple inside a cave system. There are over 8000 Buddha images inside. Great for photography! We looked around for about 2 hours.

Painted GongDecorations on a gong, Kakku Pagoda. Kakku, Shan State, Myanmar.

I had the impression that it was a large place, like a town. It is just a large temple complex. It is interesting and I think I got a few good pix.

At Myo Myo’s (my wife) insistence some workers let me climb on a stupa they were repairing. It’s a good angle from up there.

Temple SunsetYinmana Paya, Bagan, Myanmar.

On the way back, Myo Myo suggested we stop at Swezigon Paya. It’s an actively used pagoda in Nyaung U. I got some pix of the gold dome at night.

We had dinner at a tourist restaurant near the hotel. Everything was reasonably priced. I even had a whisky sour to celebrate the successful. day.

Skyline at NightSeville, Spain.

This is an impressive architectural work that has undulating pathways on top that are open to the public. There are views in every direction, but I was most interested in the downtown area featuring the Cathedral and the Giralda.

Misty Morning Boat-YellowBoat in morning mist. Ayeyarwady River, Myanmar (Burma).

Once we got underway, I had some coffee and cake for breakfast. I was watching the scenery for most of the trip, some from up by the bridge, and some at the lower level by the bow. We went through a couple of gorges that were a dramatic change from most of the flat riverbed we had seen most of the way up.

Shiny Buddha Image HeadGold head of Buddha image. Shewdagon Pagoda, Yangon, Myanmar.

It is the most revered Buddhist temple in the country, and attracts worshippers from all over. It is a beautiful place that always has plenty going on.

This morning started at a very pleasant 75℉ and we wandered around slowly, taking it all in. My camera was shooting away, and I was shocked that I actually filled a 2GB memory card--about 150 pix.

Hot Stuff 2Peppers for sale in market. Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma).

She was feeling lazy, so I went on my own to the nearby Zeigyo Market, a sprawling place over many blocks. Lots of stuff for sale. I took some pix of people, and also of various items offered for sale.

I don’t know what it is, but there is a growing collection of peppers in my image library. I’m not a fan of extremely hot food, but I do find peppers to be visually interesting. Maybe it’s the color, maybe the repetition of shapes.

Family on Bicycle RickshawFamily on bicycle rickshaw. Mandalay, Myanmar (Burma).

On a nearby street, I came across this typical scene. Bicycle rickshaws share the roads with cars, and definitely add to a sense of what life was like before the automobile became so prevalent.

B&W, Palace of Charles V, La Alhambra.B&W, Palace of Charles V, La Alhambra. Granada, Spain.

This is the Palace of Charles V. I thought the architecture was very interesting, but had to wait a long time until the area was clear of visitors. I played with this image in Nik Silver Effects Pro to bring out some of the detail and texture in the stonework of the building.

Purple Flowers, Blue Pots, White WallPurple Flowers, Blue Pots, White Wall. Córdoba, Spain.

I liked the simplicity of this composition and the contrast of the colors against the clean, white wall. There were more pots on the wall, but I cropped in to keep it simple.

Worshippers 3B&W, Worshippers in prayer service, Caodai Great Temple. East of Tay Ninh, Vietnam.

We got to the Cao Dai temple in Tay Ninh at 11:20, and had an hour to look around and observe their celebration of mass, 1 of 4 per day. Very interesting, and I think I got some great shots in color and B&W.

Woman Carrying BasketsModel Released. B&W , Woman carrying baskets (don ganh) on sand dunes, Mui Ne. Phan Thiet, Vietnam

We drove back to the dunes, and spent a few minutes waiting for our home-grown models to appear. I was surprised that the souvenir and cold drink stalls were already setting up at 5:20 am.

We got tired of waiting , and set off before they caught up with us. We basically had 4 set-ups, the first of which had the 2 models (with conical hats and carrying baskets) on a dune, silhouetted by the pre-dawn sky. Then we moved to the others which, due to lighting or too many tourists in the background, weren’t as strong. All in all, it was quite successful. We took a coffee break at 7:30, and I was even able to get releases from our subjects, a mother and daughter, I think.

We drove to Mui Ne, the fishing village, and got shots of the very active beach, where the morning’s catch was being brought in and sorted. Minh (my photographer friend who had been introduced to me by my agent) was at times the center of attention, getting people to do certain things, even paying 1 girl after she held a dripping basket of shrimp over her head.

A very productive morning--I shot about 7-1/2 rolls! We returned to the hotel after 9, and had a shower and breakfast, before departing at 10:15.

Follow the LeaderChildren play and walk on sand dunes, Mui Ne. Phan Thiet, Vietnam.

We sat and waited to see if we wanted to direct some models into position for silhouette shots. The sky was looking okay, but the wind was fairly strong, blowing sand around and potentially causing camera shake on a long exposure, so we gave up.

Drying IncenseBundles of Incense Sticks Drying, Binh Duc Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Next came a short (10 minute) trip to Sam Mountain, which we drove up and walked down. We were able to see the Cambodian border from here.

A 45 minute drive to lunch, on a circular restaurant above a fish pond. A brief drive to a small village where incense is made by hand. It’s getting hot!

Gold Buddha ImageCarving of Buddha image painted gold, Wat Dok Ueng. Chiang Mai, Thailand

Lunch at Aroon Rai again. Khao soi, and a delicious mango with sweet sticky rice for dessert.

Seat With a ViewOuthouse, Manang, Nepal

I think this outhouse is one of the most dramatically located outhouses I have seen. There is an impressive view of the Annapurna massif on the other side of the valley. 

While there is just a dusting of snow in this image, about a week later we had 3’ of snow. That made for a lot of effort trudging through with a case of the trots!

Ndebele ColorsPainted Designs on Ndebele Buildings, Botshabelo Village, Mpumalanga, South Africa After our homemade breakfast, we bought spare car keys and a new battery for the truck’s remote. We then went to Botshabelo for a display of Ndebele culture. Not much of a display, but perhaps got some good pix of 1 woman in traditional dress.

Another long day of driving south, then north again towards Ndumo. Some beautiful terrain around Lake Jozini. Made it into camp just as it was getting dark.

Gondola DecorationsClose-up of decorations on a gondola. Venice, Italy. This trip came up as a last-minute courier flight to Milano. I had my sights set on Venice, and I was able to spend 10 days there. It was the off-season, but there were still a good number of tourists. I had the luxury of time and was able to explore many nooks and crannies of the old city.

I didn’t have the best weather during my time there, but there were some moments. The sun broke through the clouds briefly for this one. I wanted to get a detail shot of one of the icons of this beautiful city, and a gondola certainly falls into the icon category.

Mountain Sunset 1Mountains and orange/red clouds at sunset, Route 67. North of Shafter, Texas. I drove out via Study Butte, along Route 170 west to Presidio. A very beautiful road, with lots of ups and downs, and quick turns Some nice views of the Rio Grande, and plenty of mountains.

Headed north on Route 67 to Marfa, stopping enroute for mountain sunset pix. I just finished a mediocre Mexican dinner at Carmen’s Cafe. I didn’t feel like cooking.

Stopped for the night at a roadside picnic area east of Alpine.

Shiprock Sunrise 2Shiprock Peak (7178') silhouette at sunrise, New Mexico. I was exploring around this fascinating part of our country for a couple of weeks, poking my camera into all kinds of interesting places. I saw Shiprock in the evening, but the light wasn’t great. I calculated where the sun would rise in the morning, then looked for an interesting angle to determine where I needed to be.

I camped nearby, then got myself up very early and drove to that spot. All it required from that point was some waiting and some luck. Mother Nature did her thing and provided me with nice light and nice clouds.

Palm Trees at SunsetSunset silhouette of palm trees, Puerto Vallarta. Jalisco, Mexico. As an escape from the cold New York winter and a self-assigned stock photography project, I was working my way down the Pacific coast of Mexico. My goal was to explore and photograph beaches and small towns along the way.

Strolling around the waterfront at sunset I came across these palms, and they looked very inviting, the antithesis of winter back home. Colorful skies and palm trees—life is good!

Church PlazaPlaza de los Laureles, Guadalajara, Mexico After a scenic drive through the chilly mountains in my rented VW Beetle (during which I learned that not all cars are equipped with heaters), I arrived in Guadalajara. I did some exploration on foot, then came to the Cathedral. 

This is the Plaza de los Laureles in front of the Cathedral. I liked the fountain and was working that a bit, then this man stepped in to my frame to give it some scale and sense of place.

The PalaceThe Palace, from Temple of Inscriptions, Ruins at Palenque. Chiapas, Mexico. I arrived at the ruins around 2, and spent the next 3 hours exploring, climbing, resting, shooting, and sweating profusely. It smells and feels like being inside a greenhouse. Running  around in this humidity is almost enough to make me think about a desk job in an air-conditioned office. Almost…

At 7:30 I went out for dinner. I’m healthy again! I found a taqueria right around the corner, opposite the zócalo. I filled up on tostadas and a taco, and rehydrated myself with water, lemonade, and a pineapple shake. Good deal.

I sat in the zócalo for a few minutes listening to the marimba music from the hotel across the street.

Bryce Point Sunset 2Rock formations at sunset from Bryce Point. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA. After driving from New York to Las Vegas with my brother on a drive-away mission, we rented a car for a few days to explore some of the awesome parks in this part of the country. We were able to enjoy the sunset here in all its glory. This is a bizarre landscape that I really enjoyed.

The following morning we hiked a trail in the park called Wall Street, which couldn’t have been more different from the New York version! It was fascinating to be inside this park and to see some of these rock formations up close.

Brooklyn Bridge SunriseSunrise silhouette of the Brooklyn Bridge with the Manhattan Bridge in background. New York City, New York, USA. I felt it was time to update my NYC skyline photos, so I hauled myself out of bed at a very early hour and drove down to the base of the Brooklyn Bridge. It was rather chilly that morning! 

I got some shots of the lower Manhattan skyline, then turned around to see this. I love the colors in the pre-sunrise sky and the juxtaposition of the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges.

Red Geraniums, Red HouseSeneca Falls, New York. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I try to attend the Professional Photographers Society of New York State Workshop each summer. One of the destinations used by classes and individuals for subject matter is the nearby historic town of Seneca Falls. 

Each time I go I try to find something new, or apply a new technique I have learned. This year I was playing around with enhancing saturation and sharpness, then smoothing it all out to create a painterly effect. I thought the colors of this house would be just right for this technique.

Golden Rock AfternoonGolden Rock in the afternoon. Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar (Burma). We got herded into a cattle truck is the best way to describe it. Slats of wood for seats, so close together there was no room for my knees and nowhere to put my daypack where it wasn’t bothering me or others. I had to pay for 2 seats because I took up too much space, and the driver’s assistant was still complaining.

Too many people and too fast—not safe and not comfortable. It was a narrow, windy road with lots of ups and downs. We stopped after about 10 minutes when they took our fares, and then waited. Nobody told us, but it’s a one-way road and we had to wait until the trucks coming down got through. Very uncomfortable and not the way to treat tourists. No option for a more expensive but less crowded vehicle…

It’s a great setting on the mountain ridge, with views in all directions. In the distance to the west we could see an orange sliver of the river we had crossed. The initial views of the Golden Rock were not that impressive, perhaps due to my state of mind after the truck ride.

I started shooting from a distance and then changed lenses as I got closer. It is more impressive upon closer view, and I walked around and got all angles as the light changed during sunset. I think I got some good pix.

Interior Hall with Teak PillarsWat Phra Tat Lampang Luang. Lampang, Thailand I got a songthew to Wat Phra Tat Lampang Luang. It was okay, but not as good as I thought from the description in Lonely Planet. I took a few pix, but decided it wasn’t a candidate for sunset shots as I had hoped.

I took a songthew back to Lampang, and had dinner by my hotel, at the Heuan Chom Wang. It was okay. Coconut shrimp with oyster sauce.

I’m in the lobby of the hotel writing this because the light in my room isn’t bright enough. Teak buildings are dark!

Figurine at ShrineWat Pra Phai Luang. Sukhothai, Thailand I had a second round of breakfast, then rented a bike and rode to Wat Si Chum, in the northern section of the park. I took a few pix, checked out another wat (with a friendly resident cat), then went back to the central section of the park.

I don’t think the light was any better than yesterday, so perhaps it’s just that I’m in a better frame of mind, but I have been taking lots of pix this morning. I’m finding good compositions (and fewer tourists in the way). It’s 11:10, and I’m in the same shady spot as yesterday, enjoying and iced tea.

Architectural Detail of RooftopsWat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand. We took a ferry across the river to do a walking tour centered around the Grand Palace. We wandered into Wat Pho, and had a look around. We went to their off-site massage school, and had an aromatherapy massage. It was pleasant, but I don’t know that the aromatic herbs add any benefit.

As we walked north, we did a lot of grazing for lunch. There were all kinds of goodies including pork buns, coconut sweets, fried veggie something, dumplings, mangosteens, and rambutans. 

Better DaysAbandoned Senceca Knitting Mills. Seneca Falls, New York. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I try to attend the Professional Photographers Society of New York State Workshop each summer. One of the destinations used by classes and individuals for subject matter is the nearby historic town of Seneca Falls. 

I have photographed this abandoned factory several times. Each time I go I try to find something new, or apply a new technique I have learned. This year I was playing around with Nik filters, and the photos here were worked on with Nik HDR Effects Pro.

Bryce Point Sunset 3Rock formations at sunset from Bryce Point. Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA. After driving from New York to Las Vegas with my brother on a drive-away mission, we rented a car for a few days to explore some of the awesome parks in this part of the country. We were able to enjoy the sunset here in all its glory. This is a bizarre landscape that I really enjoyed.

The following morning we hiked a trail in the park called Wall Street, which couldn’t have been more different from the New York version! It was fascinating to be inside this park and to see some of these rock formations up close.

El CastilloEl Castillo pyramid, Ruins at Chichen Itza. Yucatán, Mexico. I got up shortly after 6, and had breakfast at the bus station. I packed my stuff and stored it in the hotel office. I walked the 2 kilometers to the ruins in under 20 minutes, arriving 10 minutes before it opened.

I got in right away and grabbed a few shots of El Castillo before climbing it for a good view of the site. While more extensive than other sites, it isn’t that impressive aesthetically, but quite an achievement when size and scientific knowledge are considered. I wandered all around and took some pix, finishing close to noon.

Quebec City SunsetSilhouette of Chateau Frontenac and Quebec City skyline at dusk, from Lewis. Quebec, Canada. On this solo road trip I was visiting our neighbors to the north. Although I liked Montreal, I felt there was something very special about Quebec City. It is so different from other cities in North America. It felt like I was in Europe—the language, architecture, and food all contributed to that.

I wanted to capture the iconic Chateau Frontenac hotel. I scouted out where my best angle to get a silhouette at sunset would be. I got myself situated early, set up the camera and waited. I was bracketing my exposures to make sure I got the perfect color in the sky. The camera was on a tripod, and this was probably an 8- or 15-second exposure.

Mosque Below MountainsGreen minarets of mosque, Koh Panyi fishing village. Phang Nga Bay, Thailand. I disembarked from the boat at Koh Panyi, the Muslim fishing/tourist village. It was hot as I was lead to my “hotel” room. I am the only one who is doing the overnight tour. 

I took a break for a bit, then walked around in the heat looking for pix in the late afternoon light. I didn’t get much as everything is quite confined. All of the homes are built on stilts on basically 1 large dock which is connected at one end to an island consisting of an imposing vertical karst formation, with no flat land for homes or fields.

I sat on the pier for an hour, just observing life around me, and keeping an eye on sunset conditions. People seem to have plenty of time to sit around and talk. It’s a totally different lifestyle. There are probably only a couple hundred families here, all within the equivalent of two football fields. Everybody knows everybody, and I already recognize certain individuals.

Mezquita Interior 9 ArchesMezquita Interior 9 Arches, Córdoba, Spain. I had a great time exploring this city. Not only are the must-see attractions worth visiting, but there is so much more. As I walked around town, I had a great time accidentally stumbling on to cool things and visual tidbits. After photographically experimenting with a scene, I would move on to the next. Every so often I would rediscover the same scene in different light, and would have to work it a bit more with my camera.

This is the Mezquita. A stunning example of Mudejar architecture that was originally a mosque, this incredible structure was spared when the Catholic Monarchs took over southern Spain. Instead, a Catholic cathedral was added on to the existing building and is in use to this day.

This is an HDR, or high dynamic range photo, meaning that there is a wide range of light values from very dark to very bright. I used specialized software, NIK HDR Effects Pro, to tame these light values and bring them together to enable our eyes to see details in those light and dark areas. I also brought out some of the structure to make it appear very sharp.

Clipper ShipClipper ship in harbor at sunset, houses in background. Bergen, Norway. A nice day today. The usual breakfast of museli, with the addition of bread and honey. I went with some new-found friends from the YMCA dorm on the funicular up Mount Fløyen. We got a nice overview of the city, and I got a few pix.

We walked down to the center of town and took care of our banking business and some shopping for bread and cheese for lunch. We were heading to Nordnes Park to eat, but we were too hungry, so we sat down in front of a church and ate in the sun.

Burano HouseArchitectural detail of facade of house. Burano, Italy. This trip came up as a last-minute courier flight to Milano. I had my sights set on Venice, and I was able to spend 10 days there. It was the off-season, but there were still a good number of tourists. I had the luxury of time and was able to explore many nooks and crannies of the old city.

I didn’t have the best weather during my time there, but there were some moments. The sun broke through the clouds briefly for this one as I was exploring the nearby island of Burano.

Big BenBig Ben clock tower, Palace of Westminster. London, England Another sunny day, but not as mild as yesterday. In fact, rather cool in the shade. Because of the weather, I figured I should work instead of play today. 

The light was good—I got shots of Big Ben from Victoria Street, and then had some lunch. Kept on shooting in the afternoon in the same area. I just walked around, hopped on a bus, and got off and walked some more. Went back to river to get shots of Big Ben and Houses of Parliament at dusk.

Shwedagon Entrance GateGold and green temple rooftop, Shwedagon Paya (Pagoda). Yangon, Myanmar. Although the plan was to go to the Shwedagon Paya before breakfast while it was still cool, and although we woke up on time (I finally slept through 7 hours), this did not happen. A view from our rooftop told us that it was hazy, and the sun was being filtered through clouds.

We had breakfast first, and then took a taxi to Shwedagon. It’s a large and interesting place. Despite all the people milling around, it is peaceful. Very colorful as well. Like the city, it was full of people of all races who seem to get along. I took some photos.

Desert PlantsKalahari-Gemsbok National Park, South Africa Up at 6, and on the road at 6:30.Saw lots of fresh lion tracks in the sand on the road, but no lions. Saw ostriches, gemsbok, black-backed jackal cubs, bat-eared foxes, tawny eagle, many weaver nests, etc. Pix of springbok.

The road alone the Nossob River had been partially reopened, so we took that. A couple of challenging sections. Finally saw the red dunes I had been expecting along the road crossing back to the Auob River.

Had lunch back at Twee Rivieren Camp at 1:30. Now in car en route to Uppington.

Tempting GardenWood slats for windows, flowers in background. Rantepao, Toraja. Sulawesi, Indonesia. At 6 am, right on schedule, Semuel picked me up with his motorbike for a ride in the countryside. We first headed for Batu Tumonga, the highest “village” on the mountain northwest of Rantepao.

It took about 1 hour, with beautiful scenery on the way. We rode through a layer of clouds, and by the time we got to Batu Tumonga, we were above them, looking down over the valley.

I had breakfast at a restaurant on the hillside, enjoying the view. Semuel and I were briefly joined by 2 Indonesian women, one of whom is a photographer in Jakarta.

Our ride continued through plenty of terraced rice paddies as we contoured along the mountain. We stopped a number of times for photos, and I probably shot 3 or 4 rolls. It was great scenery, and fun to be on the bike.

We came back through Rantepao, and I used the opportunity to get more film and eat lunch at Manbo.

At 11:30 we headed out again, first south on the main road, then west through Mandandon. We rode past the airport, down into another pretty valley, and then up over a hairy rocky road at a steep angle. I was impressed with Semuel’s driving, but my butt was still sore. It was good to be back on pavement. We took the road less traveled to get back.

Details, Details, Details!Tiled ceiling detail, Museo de Bellas Artes. Sevilla, Spain. As much as I liked the patios and the courtyards in Andalucía, looking up to the ceiling also showed some impressive architecture. Many of the ceilings were intricate works of art in themselves.

The image posted here is from the Palacio de Bellas Artes, or the Fine Art Museum, in Sevilla. This is the site of a former monastery that now houses a collection of religious art. It seems the Church was not lacking in funds when this was built. 

Wall and Window Reflection.Palace of Charles V, La Alhambra. Granada, Spain. Although my reservation to tour the palaces was for tomorrow, I took advantage of the good weather today and was able to explore the grounds of the Alhambra. It is a beautiful place with great views from its perch on the mountain ridge.

This is the Palace of Charles V. I thought the architecture was very interesting, and I really liked the reflections in the windows as a counterpoint to the textured stones.

La Alhambra Palace ComplexLa Alhambra Palace Complex, Granada, Spain.

Upon arriving in Granada, one of my first objectives was to get an overview of the entire palace complex of La Alhambra. This is a large and beautiful area set in the foothills of the mountains.

I found a bus going up to the top of the hill on the opposite side of the valley. I was not the only person with this idea—there were many others gathered in the plaza enjoying the view. This was a great way to whet my appetite for my visits to the complex in the following days.

Alleyway 3Alley, Córdoba, Spain.

I had a great time exploring this city. Not only are the must-see attractions worth visiting, but there is so much more. As I walked around town, I had a great time accidentally stumbling on to cool things and visual tidbits. After photographically experimenting with a scene, I would move on to the next. Every so often I would rediscover the same scene in different light, and would have to work it a bit more with my camera.

This alley kept me entertained for a while. I played with different lenses and compositions, and ended up with several that I liked. For the version here, I brought up Clarity in Lightroom to bring out the texture in the stones.

Oxen with Ceremonial DecorationsOxen with ceremonial decorations. Bagan, Myanmar (Burma). We went to the temple of North Guni for sunset photos. There were only 2 other tourists there. We were a bit too far for stupa silhouettes, and sunset fizzled out, so I didn’t get any great pix. 

I try to be flexible and open to opportunities that present themselves, even if they weren’t what I had planned. Such was the case with these oxen, who happened to come along at the right time and place. Go with the flow!

Golden Rock DuskGolden Rock at dusk. Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar (Burma). We got herded into a cattle truck is the best way to describe it. Slats of wood for seats, so close together there was no room for my knees and nowhere to put my daypack where it wasn’t bothering me or others. I had to pay for 2 seats because I took up too much space, and the driver’s assistant was still complaining.

Too many people and too fast—not safe and not comfortable. It was a narrow, windy road with lots of ups and downs. We stopped after about 10 minutes when they took our fares, and then waited. Nobody told us, but it’s a one-way road and we had to wait until the trucks coming down got through. Very uncomfortable and not the way to treat tourists. No option for a more expensive but less crowded vehicle…

It’s a great setting on the mountain ridge, with views in all directions. In the distance to the west we could see an orange sliver of the river we had crossed. The initial views of the Golden Rock were not that impressive, perhaps due to my state of mind after the truck ride.

I started shooting from a distance and then changed lenses as I got closer. It is more impressive upon closer view, and I walked around and got all angles as the light changed during sunset. I think I got some good pix.

Shallots, Garlic, Ginger in MarketShallots, garlic, ginger, and peppers in market. Hsipaw, Shan State, Myanmar (Burma). After breakfast at the hotel, Myo Myo (my wife) and I finally got going about 8:30. It was cool and there was still a fair amount of fog. I was walking along the main road north of town and observing all the activities of daily life.

We walked to the morning market and I was able to get some good pix of people and products. We also spent a little time at the park next door.

Rice PaddyYoung, green rice shoots grow in paddy (field), Ubud. Bali, Indonesia. I was out at 6:00 am on a rented bike, and headed east to search for rice paddies and good photo ops. It was an impressive sunrise, with the clouds all red and gold, but I didn’t have my tripod. Those same clouds then blocked the early sun, so I only had a few good minutes of light.

I took a spin through town, and explored some different roads. The bike is good for increasing the distance covered. Unfortunately even the maximum seat height wasn’t high enough, so uphills were a challenge. The camera bad didn’t make it any easier.

Buddha Images for Sale in MarketBuddha images for sale in market, Kalaw, Shan State, Myanmar. I slept in today—until 7:00! No bus or taxi to catch, no sight to see, no sunrise pix. I had breakfast downstairs.

I went for a walk, camera in hand. I walked a short distance away from town, then circled back into the central market and took a few pix.

I found a decent spot to sit down and capture the action with a long lens, but there was not much action. I left after about 30 minutes.

Kakku PagodaKakku Pagoda. Kakku, Shan State, Myanmar. I was up just after 6. The hotel owner had found us a taxi driver. We had a quick breakfast across from the hotel, then headed for Kakku.

I had the impression that it was a large place, like a town. It is just a large temple complex. It is interesting and I think I got a few good pix.

At Myo Myo’s (my wife) insistence some workers let me climb on a stupa they were repairing. It’s a good angle from up there.

Twilight 1Roman Bridge at dusk, Córdoba, Spain. It seemed that wherever I was looking I was finding photographic possibilities in this fascinating historic city. I wandered across to the other side of the river, and was intrigued by the Roman Bridge from this view.

I scouted for a good location, then set up my tripod and waited. There were some interesting cloud formations drifting over the city. I think this dark cloud, balanced with twilight and the lights on the bridge, makes for a dramatic image.

Prebends Footbridge ReflectionRiver Wear, Durham, England. Durham is a nice place, and I had an enjoyable time there. I was able to leave my pack at the tourist information office, so that was a big help. 

I went for a walk along the banks of the River Wear. I probably would have taken more pix, but the light wasn’t too good. The cathedral was good for walking around in (and also it was free). I could help but wonder why all the time and money was put into building the cathedral rather than to feed the peasants—I’m sure there were some back then. What a waste.

Lotus Blossoms and StupaWat Chanasongkham. Sukhothai, Thailand It has been a nice day so far. I rented a bike and drove around, getting off to view the temples. I had an early lunch of pad Thai, and am now sitting in the shade writing this. It is 12:30.//

I did a little more exploring, then went for a second round of pad Thai. I visited the museum, then rode up to the northern section of the park. It was getting hot, so at about 2:45 I decided to call it a day.

Mountain FarmSmall farm in mountains. Above Chame, Nepal. It was a leisurely morning, with many rest stops and photo stops. Excellent views of Annapurna II and Manaslu to the rear. We took a tea break at 10, and at 11 or so we stopped for pix and lunch at Lattermarang. I pigged out on tomato soup, veg and cheese chowmein, and Tibetan bread. Maybe a bit too much— walking afterwards was a chore. The terrain changed—less open farmland and more heavily forested. We walked through a nice pine forest along the Marsyangdi Khola and saw a couple of yaks.

I walked into Chame at 3:30 or so with Maggie and Steve and found the others at the Shangri La Hotel. There’s even hydroelectric power here, so I have a light in my single room. 

We’re at 8,900’ elevation, and it is noticeably cooler here. I got a bit chilled-off this afternoon, and sat around the fire for a while with hot chocolate and chicken soup. I asked for boiled water for my bottle, and now have that shoved under my jacket. I’ve got my Gore-Tex pants on. It’s 6:30, and I hear dinner cooking. Hopefully I’ll get plenty of rest tonight.

Mountain ValleyFacing north to valley and village in background, mountains in distance. Tal, Nepal. I left at 10:10 after saying goodbye to Roy, my hiking partner who was turning back because of serious blister problems. I had a really good day, going at my own pace. When I arrived at Chamje, I had a second breakfast. My appetite has definitely increased. I hiked to Tal in 2 hours, again right at the book’s pace. I heard that a party of 5 or 6 had just left as I arrived. I was encouraged, thinking it was probably the Danes and the Australians. I will feel better if I am closer to them.

At 2:13 I headed out of Tal. The basin is fascinating, and the sun came out a little to make it more interesting. It’s the widest and most mellow bit of the Marsyangdi Khola. It  was a good 2-hour walk  to Dharapanai, where i discovered my prospective hiking partners at a hotel.

Giant Tortise Head 1Giant Tortise (Geochelone elephantopus) head, front view, Isla Santa Cruz. Galapagos National Park, Ecuador. Up at 6:30, breakfast at 7. We left for the Charles Darwin Station at 8. We had a look at the museum first, and then at some of the pens for the young tortise hatchlings.

Then we went to some of the pens for larger giant tortises, and they were big. They can live for 150-200 years, and weigh up to 500 pounds. Despite their reputations, those things can move quickly. They are constantly moving their heads, and often walking around.

I got some shots with an overcast sky, and then hung around until the weather got better. I shot 4 or 5 rolls, so I was happy. We viewed “Solitary George” from a distance.

Grand Canyon Winter SunriseWinter sunrise with snow, Bright Angel, South Rim. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Poor planning on this one! I thought I would do a trip to the southwestern US to avoid the cold of a New York winter. What I didn’t take into consideration was that one needs to go very far south to find warmth. I was also traveling through some mountainous areas in New Mexico and Arizona. Higher elevations mean lower temperatures. At the South Rim the elevation is around 7,000’.

Oh yes, I was car camping for this trip. I think I was the only car in the campground at the Grand Canyon--there were a couple of RVs, but they have heating. I had one cloudy and overcast day, so I couldn’t shoot much. The next morning I woke up to a foot of fresh snow on the ground and clearing skies. I reluctantly got out of my warm sleeping bag and got to work.

It was a beautiful sunrise and the snow gave a unique counterpoint to the red rocks. There were interesting compositions everywhere, so I had a lot of fun running around trying to photograph them. This image is one of my favorites.

White Church, Blue SkyExterior of San Marcos Cathedral, Tuxtla Gutierrez. Chiapas, Mexico. I walked to the Parque Madero complex, and had a look at the Chiapas Regional Museum, which was okay. After that I took a walk through the botanical garden, which was pleasant, but not that exciting.

On the way back, I stopped in the market and bought a cantelope. At the bakery I bought pastries, and that was my lunch, consumed in the hotel courtyard.

Raising RiceSunrise and reflection in rice paddy (field) at dawn, Ubud. Bali, Indonesia. My alarm went off at 5:15, but it was still dark out, so I stayed in bed a bit. Too tired from a late night and 1 hour time change.

Took some predawn pix across the street from the Green Fields Bungalows, then went walking through rice paddies south of there. By the time I returned to my room, I was in need of a shower. It’s really humid around here.

Sunset SilhouetteSilhouette at sunset of palm trees, with beach and ocean, Hauru. Moorea, French Polynesia. We returned to camp, and the ground had dried sufficiently after the rain to set up the tent. Our first choice, we discovered as we were almost done, was right next to an ant nest, and I was getting bitten. We moved it back, and are probably 20 meters from the beach.

We were sweating profusely during this easy activity, as the humidity is so high. The mountainside behind camp is so green. We were going to go for a swim, but the sun on the clouds was screaming to be photographed, so I had to do that first.

Terracotta TilesTerracotta roof tiles, Alcázar de los Reyes Católicos. Córdoba, Spain. It’s good to be the king. That’s what I was thinking when I was visiting the Alcázar de los Reyes Catôlicos (Fortress of the Christian Monarchs) on a beautiful spring day. There were interesting buildings, lovely gardens, and plenty of fountains. The King would have been able to enjoy it without crowds.

Alas, I am not the King, so I had to wait patiently until my various compositions were mostly free of people. (Photoshop helped me remove a few troublemakers!) I was inspired to experiment that day, both in-camera and with my post production. I love patterns and textures, and was able to capture both in this shot of terracotta roof tiles.In this image I cranked up sharpness and saturation, then eased them back down a bit to get this painterly effect.

Mezquita ExteriorMezquita Exterior, Córdoba, Spain. I had a great time exploring this city. Not only are the must-see attractions worth visiting, but there is so much more. As I walked around town, I had a great time accidentally stumbling on to cool things and visual tidbits. After photographically experimenting with a scene, I would move on to the next. Every so often I would rediscover the same scene in different light, and would have to work it a bit more with my camera.

This is the Mezquita. A stunning example of Mudejar architecture that was originally a mosque, this incredible structure was spared when the Catholic Monarchs took over southern Spain. Instead, a Catholic cathedral was added on to the existing building and is in use to this day.

This is an HDR, or high dynamic range photo, meaning that there is a wide range of light values from very dark to very bright. I used specialized software, NIK HDR Effects Pro, to tame these light values and bring them together to enable our eyes to see details in those light and dark areas. I also brought out some of the structure to make it appear very sharp.

Old WallWindow in doorframe arch with flower boxes, Campiello Barbaro. Venice, Italy. This trip came up as a last-minute courier flight to Milano. I had my sights set on Venice, and I was able to spend 10 days there. It was the off-season, but there were still a good number of tourists. I had the luxury of time and was able to explore many nooks and crannies of the old city.

I was drawn to this doorway partly because of the color palette, and partly because of the story told by the various layers of bricks, plaster, paint, and water stains.

Construction CranesConstruction cranes silhouetted at dusk. Oslo, Norway. I took the subway back to the Y and had pickled herring for dinner. I saw a few familiar faces of fellow travelers. I guess we’re doing the same circuit.

I went out looking for the grocery store and ended up taking pix of silhouettes of some construction cranes. I wandered back via Karl Johans Gate and saw a crowd of people gathered around non other than my fellow hosteler Michael doing his street performance routine.

Alcázar TowerLooking up to tower of Alcázar (castle). Segovia, Spain.

The Alcázar of Segovia is a dramatic structure, and it captured my attention as soon as I saw it. I challenged myself to photograph it in as many different ways as I could during my few days in Segovia. 

I was up before dawn a couple of times to see what the morning light had to offer. I did some work in the late afternoon from the top of the hill at the entrance to to building. I caught it with moody clouds drifting across the sky after sunset.