GlobeRovers

LATEST NEWS

2011-12-31T12:45:00.002+08:00

November 2, 2011:
My 8th book, "Incredible Destinations" is now available. It is a compilation of the 120 most incredible destinations across 80 countries, including countries such as Yemen, Jordan, Oman, Iran, Azerbaijan, Romania, Ukraine, Finland, Argentina, Guatemala, Laos, Borneo Island, Japan, and many more.

LIST OF ALL MY BOOKS

January 10, 2012:

Soon I will reach a very special birthday milestone and I must celebrate it in a special way. After much consideration, I have decided to spend it at my favourite spot - Mount Everest. I have been to the south side in Nepal (a 16-day hike), so this time I will photograph Everest from the north side - from Tibet. Will start the trip in Lhasa (3,490m), through the Yulong Pass (4,520m), the Lhaka La Pass (5,220m) and up to Everest Base Camp (5,545m). It will be mid-winter and a challenging trip. However, nothing can beat the cold I endued near the north pole.

Hill tribes and rice terraces of northern Vietnam

2011-12-29T10:10:00.010+08:00

Posted December 30, 2011

Located in the far north of Vietnam, the area around the town of Sapa, located high in the mountains, is known for their spectacular rice terraces. The colorful hill tribes such as the Black Hmong, Red Dzao and the Zai, will make your visit a very memorable experience. Fog often covers Sapa but when it lifts, views of the rice terraces in the shadows of Fansipan mountain, the highest in Indochina (3,142 m / 10,308 ft), is magnificent. Read more....

Lapland - Arctic Norway, Sweden, Finland

2011-10-10T13:47:00.000+08:00

Coming soon.

Sunny Canary Islands

2011-08-14T12:18:00.001+08:00

Posted August 14, 2011

The Canary Islands (legally recognized as a nationality of Spain and referred to as Islas Canarias) lie just 100 km west of the border between Morocco and the Western Sahara in western Africa. It includes the larger islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Palma, as well as several smaller islands. Easily reached by plane from some European cities, in particular Spanish cities such as Madrid and Barcelona, these islands are gems worth exploring. Read more...

Swiss Alps

2011-06-13T10:38:00.005+08:00

Posted June 16, 2011

Not surprisingly, the Swiss Alps is one of the places you must visit before you die. There are many places where you can base yourself to explore by train, bus, car and even on foot. Best is to go during the mid winter season to explore the snowy Alps in all their glory. Along the Montreux to Interlaken route which winds around the mountains are small villages such as Château-d'Oex, Gstaad, Zweisimmen, and Saanen where you can get off and stay for a few days - or never ever leave again. Read more...

Svalbard - Gateway to the North Pole

2011-05-11T20:41:00.004+08:00

Posted May 14, 2011

Even if you don't have the guts to hike the remaining 850 km to the North Pole, a few days in Svalbard will be an unforgettable experience. There are at least 500 polar bears on the main islands of Svalbard. In winter their roaming area is very large and you may not see any. In summer, when there is much less ice and snow, there is a bigger chance to see them. Read more...

Orangutans of Sumatra and Borneo

2011-04-11T19:56:00.007+08:00

Posted April 11, 2011

Two of the best places to see Orangutans in their natural habitat is the Gunung Leuser National Park in northern Sumatra Island of Indonesia, and Borneo Island of Eastern Malaysia. In both locations is best to go on a few days trip through the jungle. In Indonesia, head for the city of Medan, and then a long trip to Bukit Lawang, a small village on the banks of Bahorok River. In Borneo, fly into Sandakan. Read more...

Russia's Golden Ring

2011-03-03T17:42:00.008+08:00

Posted March 3, 2011

The so-called "Golden Ring" area of eastern Russia lies towards the east / north east direction of Moscow. It's aptly named after the many golden domed cathedrals spread out across several towns and villages in a circular route. Many of the ancient towns along this route played a significant role in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church. Read more...

Greenland - Its not green, its ice!

2009-11-14T19:16:00.016+08:00

Posted, September 30, 2009

In September 2009 I took a smallish twin prop plane from Reykjavik, Iceland, for the 2-hour flight to Kulusuk, one of the tiny settlements on the eastern side of Greenland. (Un)fortunately Greenland is not ready for tourists. While there is so much to see, its almost impossible to reach these places with your own (legs) transport. You need a helicopter, boat, and Greenlandic dogs (a type of husky). Read more...

Iceland - Island of Fire and Ice

2009-08-23T10:43:00.016+08:00

Posted August 25, 2009

The Republic of Iceland, located in the North Atlantic Ocean, has a population of almost 320,000 with Reykjavík as its largest city where approximately two thirds of the population live. Reykjavík is a modern town with a well advanced infrastructure and when you're here in this town, it sure doesn't feel like some far-off tiny island known for its fire and ice. Read more...

Qashqai People of southern Iran

2009-07-31T10:49:00.001+08:00

Posted June 30, 2009

Head down to southern Iran to the town of Shiraz, in search of something special. This area is apparently the origin of Shiraz wine (where the Shirazi wine was produced). However, wine has long been outlawed since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, so no more Shiraz wine here! The area of Firuz is where you will find the nomadic people referred to as the Qashqai. These people are nomadic pastoralists. Read more...

Hiking the Himalayas to Everest Base Camp

2009-07-30T20:25:00.008+08:00

Posted May 30, 2009

Hikers in the Nepalese Himalayas have two serious choices: The Khumbu (Everest) region in the west, or the Annapurna region in the east. I have done both but spent more time in the Everest region. I liked both and my advice is to do both. They are different and they are both spectacular. This is a photographers paradise and an experience of a life time! Read more...

Sweden's Ice Hotel

2009-04-30T20:23:00.007+08:00

Posted April 30, 2009

Sweden's Ice Hotel is a few hours north of the Arctic Circle in the Swedish Lapland. Here you can roam around the 73 rooms (between 10am and about 5pm) and be amazed about how artists have carved sculptures for the 50 or so themed rooms. Fancy staying over night? No problem. A standard square room costs US$350 and if you want one of the many themed rooms, be prepared to pay from $400 to $900. Spend time in the Ice Chapel and the Ice Bar for Vodka on the ice. Read more....

Winter wonderland of north eastern Hokkaido, Japan

2009-02-15T21:18:00.026+08:00

Posted February 16, 2009

Tancho Cranes and Hooper Swans migrate from the upper Russian Siberia to the relatively less harsh winters of eastern Hokkaido. Watch as these cranes do their love dances in the snow and feel free to join the swans in the lake. When bird spotting in the deep freeze gets too tiring, soak in one of the many romantic outdoors natural thermal springs while your surroundings get covered up in soft falling snow. End off the day with creatively prepared Japanese cuisine around the fire place, and sleep on your tatami after sipping on a cup of green tea. Read more...

Life along the Mekong Delta - Southern Vietnam

2009-01-15T21:02:00.016+08:00

Posted January 15, 2009

I recently had a good talk with John Pilkington who explored the Mekong River in 2003 and with two Tibetans reached and mapped its source at over 17,000 feet in northern Tibet. They followed the Mekong from it's sprawling Delta in Vietnam through China's Qinghai Province right to its source! His stories and photos inspired me to take a new look at the amazing lives of the people of Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Read more...

Most southern town in the world - Ushuaia, Argentina

2008-12-18T21:24:00.014+08:00

Posted December 20, 2008
Ushuaia (pronounced [u'swaia]) is the capital of the province of Tierra del Fuego in southern Argentina. While this is not the most southern settlement, it is generally labeled as the "southernmost town" in the world. Slightly further south on the Chilean islands are a few tiny settlements before the open sea leads to Antarctica. Puerto Williams, on the Chilean island of Navarino is further south and has only 2800 inhabitants.
Read more...

Hong Kong - The City of Life

2008-10-19T10:56:00.005+08:00

Posted October 18, 2008

I have been living in Hong Kong for 12 years and decided to take a new fresh look at this amazing city. I still have not explored all of this city with its labyrinth of streets and alleys. Around every corner is another surprise and once you start with experimental photography, the city gets an entire new and refreshed meaning. I just love my city - Hong Kong, China. Read more...

Want to see More?

2008-10-10T00:59:00.004+08:00

For more travel reports, see left column under "On Special Assignment" and "On Location".

Wildlife South Africa

2008-03-31T20:04:00.001+08:00

Just a few pics of wildlife around my brother's and sister's houses in South Africa

South Africa Living

2008-03-31T19:39:00.007+08:00

A few pics of my brother and sister's houses in South Africa
For more pictures, see HERE

Life elsewhere in South Africa

For more pictures of my family's homes in South Africa, see HERE

Global ShowCase

2007-08-18T10:54:00.000+08:00

This is a selection of just a few of my favourite photos.

Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii's Big Island, USA

Salar de Chiguana, Southern Bolivia

Wadi Dhahr (Rock Palace), Northern Yemen

Near Al-Mahwit, Northern Yemen

Marine Iguanas, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Shibam (Manhattan of the Desert),
Hadramawt Valley, Central Yemen

Sandstorm, Shibam, Hadramawt Valley, Central Yemen

Houses of Sana'a, Yemen

Traditional wedding in Thula, northern Yemen

Village of Tarim, Hadramawt Valley, Central Yemen

Veggie market, Hoi An, Vietnam

Colonia Del Sacramento, Uruguay

Streets of Hoi An, Vietnam

Hue, Vietnam

Sunset over Dubai Creek, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Burj Al Arab, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Desert, United Arab Emirates (UAE)

St. Vladimir's Cathedral, Kiev, Ukraine

Ukrainian kharkiv bandura, Kiev, Ukraine

Monastery of the Caves, Kiev, Ukraine

Bernardine Church and Monastery, Lviv, Ukraine

Love Valley, Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey

Roman Theatre, Hierapolis, Turkey

Travertines of Pamukkale, Turkey

Textiles at Grand Bazaar, Istanbul, Turkey

"Long neck Karen" people of northern Thailand

Sala Kaew Ku Sculpture Park, Nong Khai, Northeast Thailand

Silver Pheasant, Northern Thailand

Wat Lokmoli, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Temple of Bel, Palmyra, Syria

Warden's Tower and Green Moat, Crac des Chevaliers, Syria

One of the Four Norias of Bechriyyat, Hama, Syria

Skansen Swedish Village, Stockholm, Sweden

Beehive Houses, Village of Twalid Dabaghein, Syria

Village of Twalid Dabaghein, Syria

Qala'at Ibn Maan, Palmyra, Syria

Great Colonnade and Qala'at Ibn Maan, Palmyra, Syria

Slow train ride from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Udawalawe National Park, Sri Lanka

Tea Plantations, Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka

Zulu woman, Kwa-Zulu Natal South Coast, South Africa

Zebras, Leeupoort, Northern South Africa

Rhino, Thabazimbi, Northern South Africa

Cape Agulhas, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Church of St. Sava, Belgrade, Serbia

Bratislava Castle, Bratislava, Slovakia

Church of the Assumption on
Lake Bled, Slovenia

Prešernov Trg, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Balito, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

Balito, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa

General Staff Building, St. Petersburg, Russia

St. Basil's Cathedral, Red Square, Moscow, Russia

Cathedral of the Assumption / Church of St. Ioann Lestvichnik

Kremlin, Moscowm Russia

Church of Our Savior on the Spilled Blood,
St. Petersburg, Russia

Krakow, Poland

Rynek Starego Miasta, Old Town Square, Warsaw, Poland

View from Tampa Mountain, Brasov, Romania

Bran Castle / Dracula Castle, Bran, Romania

Sucevita Monastery, Bucovina, Romania

Machu Picchu at the end of the Inka Trail, Peru

Sacred Valley, Peru

Village market in Sacred Valley, Peru

Panama City, Panama

Kuna Indigenous Lady, Panama City, Panama

At the Nizwa Souq (market), Nizwa, Oman

Grand Mosque (Al Ghubrah) outside MuscatMuscat, Oman

Iglesia y Convento de San Francisco, Granada, Nicaragua

Iglesia La Merced, Granada, Nicaragua

Reine, Lofoten Islands, far north of the
Arctic Circle, Norway

Along harbour, Bergen, western Norway

Around the Sultan's Palace, Muscat, Oman

Sadhus (holy man), Pashupatinath, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

Mount Everest, Gokyo Ri, Himalayas, Nepal

Village of Khumjung, Everest area, Himalayas, Nepal

Cho La Pass (5,330m), east of Gokyo Ri, Himalayas, Nepal

Between Dzonglha and Lobuche, Himalayas, Nepal

Mount Ama Dablam from Dingboche, Himalayas, Nepal

Inle Lake, Myanmar

Indein, Inle Lake, Myanmar

Nyaungshwe, Inle Lake, Myanmar

Shwezigon Temple, Bagan, Myanmar

Katha, Northern Myanmar

Cave Monastery of Orheiul Vechi, Moldova

Orthodox Church, Chisinau, Moldova

Koro Fjord, Kotor, Montenegro

Sveti Stefan, Montenegro

Thatbyinnyu Pahto, Bagan, Myanmar/Burma

Zocalo and Catedral, Puebla, Mexico

Zipolite, Oaxaca, Mexico

Iglesia de Santo Domingo, Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, Mexico

Chaman (healer), Mexico City, Mexico

Templo de las Inscripciones, Palenque, Southern Mexico

Turaida Castle, Sigulda, Latvia

Tyre (Sour), Lebanon

Temple of Bacchus, Baalbek, Lebanon

Cathedral and Belfry, Vilnius, Lithuania

Church of Sto. Domingo, Macau, China

Seokguram Grotto (Mt. Tohamsan),
Bulguksa Temple complex, Gyeongju, Korea

Gyeongju, Korea

Luang Prabang, Laos

Vang Vieng, Laos

Luang Prabang, Laos

Bubbling Mud Pools, Oniisibouzu Jigoku, Beppu, Kyushu Island, Japan

Sukushima Shrine, Miyajima Island, Japan

The Treasury (Al-Khazneh), Petra, Jordan

Desert Mushroom, Wadi Rum, Jordan

Gazing over Wadi Rum, Jordan

Gate of Xerxes, Persepolis, Iran

Si-o-Seh Pol (Bridge), Isfahan, Iran

Salt lakes, North of Garmeh, Central Iran

Nomadic Ghashghai (Qashqai) people, Firuz, Iran

Chak Chak, Central Iran

Village of Tarim, Hadramawt Valley, Central Yemen

Berlin, Germany

Mayan Temple of the Great Jaguar, Tikal, Guatemala

Stela 1 (Camp de Pelotta III), Copas, Honduras

Chain-Bridge, Budapest, Hungary

Amir Chakhmagh Mosque, Yazd, Iran

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Tallinn, Estonia

Parliament House, Helsinki, Finland

Sveti-Tskhoveli Cathedral, Mtskheta, Georgia

Tsminda Sameba Church near Kazbegi, Northern Georgia

Tbilisi Holy Trinity Cathedral, Tbilisi, Georgia

Basilica, Quito, Ecuador

Sally Lightfoot Crab, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Land Iguana, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Nazca Booby, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Libertad, El Salvador

Valparaiso, Chile

Volcan de Lodo Totumo, Northern Colombia

Catedral Primada, Bogota, Colombia

Scarlet Macaws, Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Dubrovnik, Croatia

Arraial D´Ajuda, Northern Brazil

Pelourinho, Salvador da Bahia, Northern Brazil

Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria

Ankor Wat, Cambodia

Toronto, Canada

Holy Spirit Cathedral, Minsk, Belarus

Minsk, Belarus

Laguna Village near Punta Gorda, Belize

Laguna Canapa, Southern Bolivia

Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Surp Grigor Lusavorich Cathedral, Yerevan, Armenia

Shirvanshah Palace, Baku, Azerbaijan

Al-Fatih Mosque, Manama, Bahrain

Ship breaking-yards, Chittagong, Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh

Surp Gevorg, Village of Mughni, Armenia

Hovhannavank Monastery, Ohanavank Village, Armenia

Hagpat Monastery, Alaverdi, Northern Armenia

Portage Lake, Alaska

Southern Bangladesh

Horned Puffin, Seward, Alaska

Bald Eagle, Whittier, Alaska

Holgate Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park , Seward, Alaska

Red-eyed Leaf Frog,
Monteverde Cloud Forests, Costa Rica

Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

Galapagos Sea Lion and Swallow-tailed Gulls,

Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Southern Bangladesh

Corcovado Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Snowy Owl, Alaska, USA

Southern Right Whale, Golfo Nuevo, Peninsula Valdez, Argentina

Perito Moreno Glacier, Patagonia, Argentina

Salar de Uyuni, Southern Bolivia

A L A S K A

2007-08-04T12:27:00.004+08:00

GlobeRovers Rating: 10 / 10
Buzz Line: "On top of the Americas in splendid natural beauty"
Eagle Eye: Snow capped mountains, glaciers, wildlife, islands, isolated communities.
Hot Spots: Kenai Peninsula down to Homer with several Glaciers along the way, The far north and all remote places - which is most of Alaska
The Low-down: Book local flights long in advance otherwise they are prohibitively expensive. Anyhow, bring lots of money!
GlobeRovers Blog: Report 1, Report 2, Report 3

Glacier near Near Whittier

Bald Eagle near Whittier

Kachemak Bay, Homer

Mt. Redoubt Volcano & Cook Inlet, Ninilchik

Holgate Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park
near Seward

Stellar Seals, Kenai Fjords National Park

Holgate Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park
near Seward

Horned Puffin, Seward

Portage Glacier and Portage Lake

A L A S K A

2007-08-04T02:18:00.005+08:00

GlobeRovers Rating: 10 / 10
Buzz Line: "On top of the Americas in splendid natural beauty"
Eagle Eye: Snow capped mountains, glaciers, wildlife, islands, isolated communities.
Hot Spots: Kenai Peninsula down to Homer with several Glaciers along the way, The far north and all remote places - which is most of Alaska
The Low-down: Book local flights long in advance otherwise they are prohibitively expensive. Anyhow, bring lots of money!
GlobeRovers Blog: Report 1, Report 2, Report 3

Bald Eagle near Whittier, Alaska

Stellar sea lions, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Holgate Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park
near Seward, Alaska

Snowy Owl, Anchorage Zoo, Alaska

Mt. Redoubt Volcano & Cook Inlet, Ninilchik, Alaska

Sunset over Cook Inlet from Ninilchik, Alaska

Moose near Homer, Alaska

Bald Eagle, Ninilchik, Alaska

Russian Church, Ninilchik, Alaska

Glacier near Near Whittier, Alaska

Horned Puffin, Seward, Alaska

Portage Glacier and Portage Lake, Alaska

Duck, Homer, Alaska

Moose near Homer, Alaska

Black-footed Kittiwakes (front), Common Murre (back)
Kachemak Bay, Homer, Alaska

Bird Rookery, Black-footed Kittiwakes (front),
Common Murre (back), Kachemak Bay
Homer, Alaska

Stellar Seals, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Russian Church, Ninilchik, Alaska

Bald Eagle, Ninilchik, Alaska

Orcas in Aialik Bay, Holgate Arm,
Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

Holgate Glacier, Kenai Fjords National Park
near Seward, Alaska

Stellar Seals, Kenai Fjords National Park, Alaska

King Eider, Seward, Alaska

Tufted Puffin, Seward, Alaska

Across Kachemak Bay, near Homer, Alaska

Glacier near Near Whittier, Alaska

Alaska from the air, flying Seattle to Tokyo

Sea Otters in Kachemak Bay near Seldovia, Alaska

A L B A N I A

2007-08-01T12:50:00.007+08:00

GlobeRovers: Rating: 4 / 10
Buzz Line: "The land of Mother Theresa"
Eagle Eye: Ruled until 1985 by hard line Communist Enver Hoxha (died April '85), Albania's dark days are long gone. Its a lovely country and capital Tirana has more Mercedes Benz cars per capita I have ever seen....though Albania remains one of the poorest countries in Europe. Go figure!
Hot Spots: Funky Tirana with lots of restaurants and late night entertainment. Mountains and coastline in the south.
The Low-down: Good value for money but not an overly exciting destination.
GlobeRovers Blog: Report 1

Colourful apartment buildings, Tirana

Around Sheshi Skenderbej (Skanderbeg Square)

Tirana

Around Sheshi Skenderbej (Skanderbeg Square)

Tirana

Council of ministers building, Tirana

Colourful apartment buildings, Tirana

Statue of Mother Teresa, Tirana

(she was born in Albania)

Further reading and photos:
Wiki Travel
Tirana Blog
Tirana Map
Albania Map

A R G E N T I N A

2007-07-30T13:06:00.007+08:00

GlobeRovers Rating: 9 / 10
Buzz Line: "A long way - Ushuaia to Bolivia border - 5171 km"
Eagle Eye: Everything you could ask for - value for money, great food and wine, mountains, coast, animals, lovely people, everything!
Hot Spots: BA - cool city! Ushuaia - most southern town in the world, El Calafate for the glaciers, dry north, and Puerto Madryn for whales, elephant seals, penguins, guanaco, etc
The Low-down: Take two months and travel everywhere - you'll be glad you did!
GlobeRovers Blog: Report 1, Report 2, Report 3, Report 4, Report 5, Report 6, Report 7, Report 8

Icebergs from Upsala Glacier, El Calafate, Patagonia

Perito Moreno Glacier.

This wall of ice is about 60 meter high (above the surface of the water). The background appears black even though this picture was taken during the day. The reason: the light reflected by the glacier is so bright that I had to set my camera lens on an extremely fast shutter (1/8000 of a second). It was so fast that the glacier looks great, but the background sky turned out totally black because the sunlight is so much lower than the brightness (lux) of the glacier.

Southern Elephant Seal, Peninsula Valdez

Sea lions on La Isla de Los Lobos, Beagle Channel

Ushuaia at the most southern point of South America

Ushuaia, the most southern town in the world

Sea lions on La Isla de Los Lobos, Beagle Channel

Ushuaia at the most southern point of South America

Upsala Glacier, El Calafate, Patagonia

Southern Elephant Seal, Peninsula Valdez

Southern Right Whale, Golfo Nuevo, Peninsula Valdez

Magellan Penguins, Peninsula Valdez