C. H. Photography

Paris With Family

2018-03-13T08:58:00.002-07:00

There is nothing in this world I love more than to travel to fascinating places with friends and family. What could be better than to share the experience of travel with people who you care about and who can make that trip so much more memorable? Im off to Paris to meet up with my sister Breanna and my aunt Lisa! This trip will be special even for a European adventure with family as . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Continued

Seville - The Golden Age of Spain

2018-02-15T10:14:00.001-08:00

Throughout the world there are various types of capitals cities. They can be financial capitals, centres of government, sports capitals, cultural capitals and many more. They can be all in one but in many cases the biggest or most important cities in each country are not the most culturally representative of the countries they are at the centre of. In The United States the . . . . . . . . . . . . . Continued

ITALIA

2018-02-04T10:06:00.001-08:00

Everybody who knows me knows I love Italy. Well why not? Everybody loves Italy and for good reason. This country is world renowned for being the place to be for romantic getaways, history adventures, art lovers, fashionistas, adrenalin junkies and so many more. We all have our thing and for me Italy has it in a big way! Italy apparently has more . . . . . . . . . continued

Grand Architecture

2018-01-31T04:08:00.003-08:00

I've always had a fascination with architecture. Something about it drives my creative side and makes my imagination accelerate. Its the perfect mix of form meets function. It can be a small simple stricture to cover people from mild weather or the grand structures we see most commonly in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Continued

All The Colours of Mexico

2018-01-19T06:03:00.000-08:00

When I think of a country a certain variety of colours come to mind. For many people memories of places are often associated with a group of smells or sounds or any mixture of things that stimulate the senses. For me it . . . . . . . . Continued

Travel Interiors + Architecture

2018-01-18T05:15:00.001-08:00

Ive stayed in a wide variety of accommodations over the years. They have varied from hotels to houses. From boats to trains, tents to palaces and even parks and ship docks. There are many I wish I had taken the time to photograph, but . . . . . . . . . . . Continued

December In New Zealand

2018-01-17T04:14:00.001-08:00

This past November/December I had two dreams come true. The first was an opportunity to dance with The Royal New Zealand Ballet in one of my all time favourite ballets. The second was taking advantage of being in New Zealand and venturing off to explore the South Island. New Zealand is world renowned for . . . . . Continued

Best of 2017 | Happy New Year

2017-12-31T08:33:00.005-08:00

What a year! 2017 started off slow but picked up fast and by the end I had checked off a few of the most incredible places on our planet. Starting off on one of three trips to Barcelona, I had the privilege to experience Spain's famous . . . . . . . . . Best of 2017

www.caseyhphoto.com

2017-10-12T11:28:00.001-07:00

Eights years ago I took a trip that changed my life. In the spring of 2009 I discovered the city of Venice and it was clear I would never be the same. I have been traveling for many years but never really took many pictures until after moving to Amsterdam the previous summer. On that Venetian getaway I found my self consumed by the beauty and ambiance like never before. I simply couldn’t put my camera down as I felt I had to capture every moment. After arriving back home I quickly started going through the thousands of images, expecting to share a small selection with my friends and family back in The US. I was very disappoint as I felt none of them could capture the feelings I wanted to portray. I decided I wanted to buy a new camera and learn photography. Later that fall I began to start working on all my travel photos and I thought one day it would be really fun to gather all my best images and make a portfolio. I had no idea how long it would take but now that my ballet career is in its final years and I am freelancing full-time, I wanted to devote some time to my passion that is traveling and photographing it it all. Of course this is only the beginning but it is time to share with everybody my little project. Here is my 8 years of traveling. Thank you all so much for being with me in person and in spirit. Hope you enjoy!

www.caseyhphoto.com

Time-lapse Movies

2017-01-24T08:42:00.000-08:00

- A still photograph taken while filming Amsterdam Skies -

For years I have been dreaming of making a time-lapse video. Having tested it out several years ago with my friend James, I finally took the opportunity this past fall to do it. I was out doing my usual fall photography when I decided to put my new GoPro to use. I put it down below my main tripod as I was shooting long exposures. After checking the results sever times I found my self picking locations based on doing time-lapse clips rather than stills. I also started putting the little GoPro on the big tripod and the DSLR down below. After learning a few tricks in Imovie it was time to put it all together. Mt first movie was done and I was so happy with the results I employed it as my main strategy to capture my subsequent trip to Mexico, The US, and Spain. On the second video I included a lot of stills to try something a bit different. Hope you enjoy and thanks for watching!

Amsterdam Skies

Still photos from filming of Amsterdam Skies

Fall Trip - Mexico - The US - Spain

- Visit My Website -

Amsterdam - A City On Glass

2016-05-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago this summer I purchased a camera and began to study the art of photography. I had been living in Amsterdam for almost a year at that point and the urge to illustrate to my friends and family outside of Europe how beautiful this city is lead me on a mission. Now after 8 years I still love living here. The idea that I will one day make the perfect picture of this city is “mission impossible” but like many great quests I have enjoyed the journey and rarely thought much of the destination. I’m look forward to continuing for many years to come. One thing in particular that I find interesting to photograph is reflections in the canals. The idea is an obvious one as there is water everywhere; it's difficult to take a picture without a canal in it. I wanted to try something a little less common that would highlight the city in a subtle way. There are a number of ways to get unique images of the city but the most accessible wasn’t to change location, it was to look at it differently.

- Kloveniersbugwal -

Oudezijds Voorburgwal + Oudezijds Achterburgwal

I have written a few posts on the usage of ND filters on this blog. Capturing Amsterdam in a unique way was one of the leading motivation for me to go get one in the first place. The city really began to shine for me. After a lot experimentation I am finally starting to get some of the results I was looking for. I love the way the filter makes colors rich and darkens the contrast almost like an old dutch painting. Of course the glassy reflections on the water is the first thing that catches the eye but I’m still just beginning to learn what these filters can do. A number of the images involve clouds, which I would like to do more of but I also want to capture crowds of people at some point as well as traffic patterns like these images in Light Trails. There are never enough hours in the day when you are having fun. Here is a slice of my time here in Amsterdam shown through my favourite toy. As always, hope you enjoy.

- Casey

Herengracht

Singel

Keizersgracht

Oosterdok

Oudezijds Voorburgwal

Brouwersgracht

Damrak

Herengracht

Oudezijds Voorburgwal

Lijnbaansgracht

Leidsegracht + Keizersgracht

Keizersgracht

Waalseilandgracht

Rokin

Keizersgracht + Leidsegracht

View this album on flickr

Andalusía - Seville to Malaga

2016-05-10T08:00:00.000-07:00

After years of planning and 3 previous attempts, I finally made it back to Andalusia! My first trip to the region was a quick stop in Seville with Nadia in 2010. We were on our way from Madrid to The Canary Islands and I have been dreaming of returning ever since. While Nadia was busy with other obligations I decided it was time to go for a fairy tale road trip through one of Europe's most famed regions for history, culture, architecture and landscapes. Renowned for its medieval history Andalusia is bursting with sights, sounds and flavours of one of Spain's most influential periods, The Reconquista.

- Puente Nuevo - Ronda -

~ La Riconquista ~

Mudéjar Tiles - Ronda

This period of Spanish history, called The Reconquest in English, starts at the beginning of the 8th Century and ended in 1492 with the fall of Granada to Christian forces under Ferdinand and Isabella. After a Muslim Army crossed the straights of Gibraltar into Europe in 711 AD they quickly took control of modern day Spain and Portugal as well as parts of Southwestern France. To most people the Reconquest begins when the Muslim army suffered their first defeat at The Battle of Covadonga in the modern day region of Asturias and marked a turning point in the Muslim advance into Western Europe. Although it's widely thought that the Reconquista was a battle between Islam and Christianity, most scholars believe that this was an ideology that didn't come into play until some time in the 10th century. Throughout most of the period of Muslim rule, kingdoms were at war with each other for numerous reasons other than religion. It was not unusual for Christians to join forces with Muslims against other Christians and vice versa. Spain's most famous knight, El Cid Campeador fought for both Muslim and Christian kings. This period was also a time of relative peace between religions. While most of Europe was entrenched in the dark ages the Iberian peninsula was enjoying a time of prosperity as the Muslims were advancing quickly in fields such as science, literature, medicine, and more. It was a time of great prosperity as well as great upheaval and it left the Iberian peninsula with a unique blend of Islamic and Christian culture that is still very clear today.

~ The Idea ~

Plaza de Toros - Seville

I have always wanted to do a "Best of Andalusia" trip but like always time is just too short. I had a choice of taking the time to indulge in the details or hit the road hard. In the end it turned out to be a balance but I wanted to lean slightly to the slow side so I could take the time to compose my shots. This of course meant I would miss a number of the most important sights, like Granada and Córdoba. Without those two important cities "The Best of" would have to wait but there will be a next time. The trip was also based on where the cheapest flights were so it began in Seville. I have been to Seville before and as much as I love it time was short. I picked up my car at the airport and headed to Cadiz.

~ Cadiz ~

The Cathedral of Cadiz - Cadiz

Cadiz is a major port about an hour drive directly south of Seville. The modern cranes offloading cargo are visible from most points around the area but once I entered the historic center things turned quickly. The old beautiful architecture and traditional ambiance took over and I was in love. The cathedral is one of the more impressive cathedrals in a region with some of the best in Europe. There are also nice beaches for those who like to take a dip between time traveling.

~ Los Pueblos Blancos ~

Wall of Houses - Casares

After Cadiz I headed to the city that first sparked my interest in doing an Andalusian road trip, Arcos de la Frontera. Arcos was the first of my two main objectives and is one of the highlights of Spain's famous White Villages, The Pueblos Blancos. After seeing a video on Youtube I was mesmerised and discovered there were tons of these little villages all across the area. The Pueblos Blancos help make Andalusia one of the best regions in Europe for road trips and I was concentrating my time on the southernmost area between the Atlantic port of Cadiz and the Mediterranean port of Malaga.

Narrow Alley - Arcos de la Frontera

~ Arcos de la Frontera ~

Arcos Reflection

Arcos is perched high on a cliff offering impressive views and an ideal place from which the original inhabitants could defend them selves. The narrow streets and authentic architecture provided a spectacular atmosphere to get swept away in an Andalusian adventure.

Basílica de Santa María de la Asunción

Cascade of Houses

Blue Hour

Narrow Alley

City Lights

~ Grazalema & Zahara ~

Zahara de la Sierra

My last morning in Arcos I woke up to do some sunrise shots and then it was time to get out into the country on my way to Ronda. I left the city early that day also to leave time for lots of stops and detours. There were 2 main sights of the day besides the spectacular mountains and beautiful nature. Grazalema, a beautiful little village high in the mountains that has largely been spared from any modern developments and Zahara de la Sierra, a village perched way up top of a large hill dominating the lake and valley below.

Grazalema

~ Arriving in Ronda ~

Puente Nuevo

I arrived in Ronda just in time to take a walk to the Puente Nuevo for sunset. On a trip that had so far proven to meet or exceed my high expectations, the New Bridge and the canyon it spans were the unexpected surprise of the trip. It has looked impressive to me since the first picture I ever saw but to see it in reality clearly illustrates the limitations of photography and any digital media experience. It was truly a sight to see and despite spending days there photographing it from all angles, at all times of day and with an arsenal of lenses, the images just don't do it justice.

~ The Puente Nuevo ~

Dark Clouds

Ronda is a wonderful "medieval city," but like all historic places around the world, updates are frequent. The biggest example in Ronda is the main attraction, The Puente Nuevo or New Bridge. It’s a spectacularly beautiful sight and is still historic but was built between 1750 and 1800. It’s fun to imagine a structure like this being built 800 years earlier and the impression it might have made on someone seeing it for the first time. It’s still an impressive sight today and well worth spending a day or two viewing it from all sides.

Morning Light

~ The City of Ronda ~

Medieval Wall

The city it's self is also impressive with a variety of attractions equally as interesting as the bridge. From the typical stone streets to the old medieval wall to the cathedral there is enough to keep you entertained and filled with intrigue for weeks.

Cathedral Ceiling

White Buildings

Small Fountain

The Old Bridge

Iron Cross

Deep Canyon

~ Casares ~

Dangerous Cliff

From Ronda it was time to go south to a cliffside town that looked impressive but seems to be off the tourist rout as there wasn't a lot of hype or great images on the Internet. Casares is really a "cliffside town.” It clings precariously to the side of a rocky mountain and it was as scary as it was romantic. Not just from far either, the little stone streets and quintessential centre were rustic but well-kept and preserved the ambiance one would hope and expect from a little town in the mountains of Southern Spain.

Wall of Houses

Green Canyon Below

~ Malaga ~

Blue Hour

The final stop on the trip was Malaga. Malaga is a relatively large city and is the main airport for most people coming in or out of the Costa del Sol. The city looks impressive and it was clear from where I was staying that there is a lot to see and do. I only gave myself one day to be there so there is much to see when I return. The cathedral looks beautiful and as well as the castle that will be high on my list of things to see in the future.

~ Till Next Time ~

Hotel Convento - Cadiz

Next time I’m in the region will focus on Granada and Cordoba but there are a few other little sights like Antequera, Vejer, Setenil, Carmona and more that I would try to see as well. It was an amazing trip that was everything I was expecting and more. Muchas Gracias Andalucia! Me Encanta España!

Blue Hour - Malaga

View this album on flickr

Light Trails

2016-04-20T09:32:00.000-07:00

After learning about long exposures we quickly realised how much fun it can be to capture light from objects traveling through the frame. As we briefly touched on in Motion In Stillness and Night Photography; with the shutter open any movement passing through the frame will leave in imprint on the film or sensor. If the camera is still and the objects passing through the frame are emitting light and moving in a repetitive motion they will look like rivers of light.

- The I-5 Mercer St Exit - Seattle, USA -

Bus from Groningen to Amsterdam - The Netherlands

In this case it's not any object that is moving, its me. Since the camera is secured to the bus and the bus is in motion it comes out sharp while everything outside is blurred.

Bus lights in front of St Paul's Cathedral - London, UK

The Victory Monument - Bangkok, Thailand

Car lights on Tower Bridge - London, UK

Radio City Music Hall - New York City, USA

Chinatown light - Bangkok, Thailand

I-5 lights and city skyline - Seattle, USA

Bicycle lights - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Car lights on Fleet Street - London, UK

Red lights on I-5 - Seattle, USA

View this album on flickr

Details

2016-02-17T09:20:00.000-08:00

When we observe the details of any subject we are better informed as to how to deal with its challenges or take advantage of its opportunities. "Men who wish to know about the world must learn about it in its particular details" - Heraclitus. It would be good for each of us to have our eyes on the big picture, but it is frequently small things that add up to big things. “The details are not the details. They make the design” - Charles Eames.

- Venetian Bust - Venice, Italy -

Cathedral Ornamentation - Salamanca, Spain

Swayambhunath Dragons - Kathmandu, Nepal

Geometric Wall Tiles - Lisbon, Portugal

Holocaust Memorial - Berlin, Germany

"By looking into more details of [American] history, we can make more sense of what's happening today."

Christoph Waltz

Goblin Snake - Goblin Valley SP, Utah, USA

Casa de los Azulejos - Mexico City, Mexico

Gothic Sculptures - Amiens, France

Chinese Dragon Sculpture - Beijing, China

"Success is the sum of details."

Harvey S. Firestone

Sicilian Baroque - Scicli, Sicily, Italy

Madrasa Wall - Marrakech, Morocco

"It's the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen."

John Wooden

Temple Sculptures - Bangkok, Thailand

Rain Forest Mushrooms - Olympic National Park, USA

Plaza de España - Seville, Spain

Ankor Wat Entrance - Ankor Wat, Cambodia

Lantern Roof - Seoul, South Korea

Light & Salt - Dead Sea, Israel

View this album on flickr

Sacred Architecture

2016-01-31T10:57:00.001-08:00

The history of architecture is very much the history of sacred structures. The importance of religion in most historic cultures made the church or temple or mosque, etc, the most influential building in any community. Religious and sacred buildings are amongst the most impressive, expressive, and enduring ever created.

Sacred, religious and holy structures often evolved over centuries and were the largest buildings in the world, prior to the modern skyscraper. "Few people who worked on them expected to see them finished during their lifetimes. Being involved in the construction of a cathedral, even as the building patron, required a willingness to be part of a process that was larger than oneself."
(durhamworldheritagesite.com)

- Cathedral Nave - Amiens, France -

Cathedral at Night - Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Brunelleschi's Dome - Florence, Italy

The Grand Palace - Bangkok, Thailand

The Cathedral of Vilnius - Vilnius, Lithuania

The Church of The Holy Sepulchre - Jerusalem, Israel/Palestine

Angkor Wat - Siem Reap, Cambodia

Inside The Cathedral - Salamanca, Spain

Savior on the Spilled Blood - St Petersburg, Russia

St Giles' Facade - Edinburgh, Scotland

Greek Temple Ruins - Agrigento, Sicily, Italy

The Temple of Heaven - Beijing, China

Madrasa Wall - Marrakech, Morocco

Borgund Stavkyrkje - Borgund, Norway

Santa Maria de Montserrat - Montserrat, Spain

Boudhanath Stupa - Kathmandu, Nepal

St Mary le Strand - London, England

View this album on flickr

Night Photography

2016-01-25T10:00:00.001-08:00

Our love affair with night photography started almost from the beginning. As we traveled around, snapping pictures of amazing places, it quickly became clear that low light photography required a new set of skills and some new tools. Many places around the world offer a type of beauty in the day light but quickly turn into something completely different once the sun goes down. The beauty of the city lights and the mysteries hiding in the shadows were too tempting to capture in images. After purchasing a couple of tripods and learning the art of the long exposure we were off to capture the world after sunset.

- Cochem Reflection - Mosel River, Germany -

Church Lights - Vilnius, Lithuania

Foggy Prinsengracht - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Goblin Valley Lightning - Utah, USA

Shichahai Lake - Beijing, China

Medieval City - Siena, Italy

Phang Nga Night - Koh Yao, Thailand

Lisbon Blue Hour - Lisbon, Portugal

Quiet Street - Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Dead Sea Resorts - Dead Sea, Israel

Aurland by Night - Aurland, Norway

Museum Skating - London, England

Seoul skyline - Seoul, South Korea

View this album on flickr

Vast Spaces

2015-10-21T10:38:00.000-07:00

There is nothing like standing directly in front a vast open space that is so big it's hard to comprehend. It can be humbling and frightening and it can be inspiring and profound. It seems to give you a choice to either think big and realize your place in all of it or to step away and find a place that is within your realm of understanding. To us its all about thinking of something greater than yourself; your family, your life's work, your friends, your community, your country, your way of living. These vast open spaces remind us to think outside ourselves. They remind us to have big dreams, but also to remember who we are in all of it.

- Shadow of Masada and The Dead Sea - Masada, Israel -

The Great Wall of China - Beijing, China

Urban Landscape - Tokyo, Japan

Desert Erosion - Dead Horse Point State Park, USA

Fjord Reflection - Flam, Norway

Dark Skyline - Seoul, South Korea

Distant Mountain - Lanzarote, Spain

Greek Fort - Enna, Italy

Sahara Moon - Zagora, Morocco

Pristine Lake - Lake Hallstatt, Austria

Never Ending Urban - Mexico City, Mexico

Sunset Valley - Salt Lake City, USA

View this album on flickr

Motion In Stillness

2015-10-12T08:36:00.000-07:00

We often think of a still image as a fraction of a second frozen in time, as that is most often the case. There are images though, that are much longer than a fraction of a second and can reach lengths of sometimes hours. These long exposure lengths are most often done at night or in dark places as a means of making still images with very little light. As a consequence of leaving the shutter open for so long any movement in the frame becomes blurred. Water can look misty or glassy, lights streak across the frame like lazers, and objects take the shape of their movement rather than their still form. What is interesting is to use this same affect, but in a well lit environment. To do this you must darken the light coming through the lens using a Neutral Density Filter or ND Filter. This is basically like putting a pair of sunglasses on your camera. The end result is a drawn out splice of time that not only gives you an image of an object or scene, but records patters of movement. The image takes on a mood that feels as if time has stood still for all but a few. Waves crashing against rocks near an old village in Sicily gives you the impression that the water of the Mediterranean rushes on as the village stands still against history. Clouds fly past Big Ben in London as the tower stands firm through the ages as a monument to the British Empire. Trees sway in the wind back and forth again and again as an old bridge stands firm. Time becomes motion in stillness.

- Cefalu Waves - Sicily, Italy -

Palace Bridge - Beijing, China

Interstate 5 + Skyline - Seattle, USA

The Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood - St Petersburg, Russia

The Mosel River - Cochem, Germany

Big Ben - London, England

The Colorado River - Arches National Park, USA

The Prinsengracht - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Mediterranean Rocks - Javea, Spain

The Amstel River - Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Isola Bella - Taormina, Italy

View this album on flickr

NEPAL

2015-04-25T14:55:00.002-07:00

We are deeply saddened by the devastating loss of life and the destruction of cultural monuments in Nepal today. It is always hard to see such forces unleashed at the cost of humanity, but Nepal holds a special place in our hearts as it is one of many places we have witnessed first hand the hospitality and kind nature of Nepalese people, as well as their fascinating history. Nepal is truly a wonderful place and full of wonders, people, sights and more. Our thought and prayers go out to all who are affected by the earthquakes of 2015.

On April 25th a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit Nepal and at least 2,500 people were confirmed dead after the first day, and more in surrounding areas. That number jumped to over 4,400 after the 3rd day and by the 30th of April the death toll had risen to 6,130 with 13,827 injured. By now that number has risen to more than 8,200 people. It was followed by another magnitude-7.3 quake on 12 May that killed 117 people and injured 2,800.

Numerous historically significant buildings have collapsed around the region, including centuries-old temples and towers.

- Nepalese Woman - Bhaktapur, Nepal -

At this time we are looking into various was we can help.

Action Against Hunger

World Food Programme

WaterAid

International Medical Corps

Global Giving

Direct Relief

Convoy of Hope, Inc.

UNICEF

Save the Children

Oxfam

Care

Back to China

2014-11-04T03:54:00.000-08:00

After four long years we have returned to China! This time was a much tighter schedule so there was very little time to shoot but we managed to get a few fun one as always. On this trip we not only revisited Beijing but also had some time in Shanghai. Here is just a little peak at what we absolutely love about this amazing country.

- Modern Skyline - Shanghai, China -

Bridge + Pagoda - Summer Palace, China

The National Center for The Performing Arts - Beijing China

The National Center for The Performing Arts + The Great Hall of the People - Beijing China

Night in Shichahai - Beijing, China

Tall Bridge - Summer Palace, China

Forbidden City Sculpture - Beijing, China

Windy Island - Summer Palace, China

Forbidden City Gate - Beijing, China

The Marble Boat - Summer Palace, China

Tiananmen Square - Beijing, China

Shanghai Pano - Shanghai, China

In 2010 we managed to get some really interesting photos due to us finally starting to get familiar with photography and our cameras. Its also due to the fact that the places we visited are really amazing and anything you point the camera at looks like the next cover of National Geographic. This time it was great to try a few new things as well as retry some old ones. As the majority of our time, on some travels, is spent in and around theaters, Beijing provides us with easy access to a great photo op. The National Center for The Performing Arts is an architectural photographers dream! Often refereed to as The Egg it looks more to us like an alien ship coming to invade Earth. Its clean simple lines and massive size are elegantly enhanced by its reflection on the water surrounding it and makes it look as if it's floating on air. We loved photographing it on our first trip and this trip was even better.

2010

Handheld : Nikon D300 : Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 : Lightroom2

11mm : f/2.8 : 0.05 sec (1/20) : ISO 640

2014

Tripod : Nikon D800 : Nikkor 14-24mm 2.8G : Lightroom3
14mm : f/11 : 10 sec : ISO 100

2010

Tripod : Nikon D300 : Tokina 11-16mm 2.8 : Lightroom2 : Photoshop CS5 HDR
12mm : f/4.5 : 4 sec : ISO 200

2014

Tripod: Nikon D800 : Nikkor 14-24mm 2.8G : Lightroom3
14mm : f/11 : 30 sec : ISO 50

2010

The Great Wall of China - Beijing, China

A Restaurant Doorman - Beijing, China

The National Center for The Performing Arts - Beijing China

The Forbidden City - Beijing, China

Long Bridge - Summer Palace, Beijing, China

Sunset Over The Capital City - Beijing, China

Smog Over The Forbidden City - Beijing, China

A Section of The Great wall of China - Beijing, China

Blue Hour at The Temple of heaven - Beijing, China

A Scene at The Night Market - Beijing, China

A Fisherman at The Summer Palace - Beijing, China

The Great Wall of China - Beijing, China

Walking Through a Hutong at Night - Beijing, China

View this album on flickr

The Fatal Charm of Florence

2014-06-08T12:45:00.001-07:00

We are captivated by what Luigi Barzini in his book, "The Italians", calls the fatal charm of Italy. Barzini writes that the allure of Italy is that people are attracted to a certain quality in Italian life, whether they know what it is or not. He explains that we visit some places and try to re-create in our minds a life of long ago, of royal splendor, furnished palaces, knights, liveries, servants, and good cooks. We see shadows of distant characters out of novels and crusades. "Sunny Italy" is written into songs and poetry and to the average tourist the Italians seem happy, therefore we are drawn to the illusion that Italy is always sunny and happy and we want to go and relax in la dolce vita, (the good life).

"The pleasure of Italy comes from living in a world made by man, for man, on man's measurements."
(Luigi Barzini)

- Sunset Cityscape - Florence, Italy -

There are many regions in Italy, each with their own unique attractions and flavors, but the trips we want to cover in our next few posts are about Tuscany. On our first trip to Tuscany we visited Genoa and then took a train to Cinque Terre for a couple of days, and on to Pisa in the Morning and ended that day in Florence. We then traveled by car to San Gimignano and Volterra, Siena and on to Rome. On the second trip we started in Florence for a day, then spent the next day photographing Siena. The following couple of days we traveled through Monteriggioni and Colle di Val d'Elsa, Volterra. and San Gimignano, and then back to Florence.

We are going to start our photographic visit in Florence because it is the capital city of Tuscany and is often the entry point for many who will visit the region.

~ Florence ~

Florence Skyline

Florence is ranked by Forbes as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. We think it is the ultimate attraction for city-lovers whose interests lay in urban-life-culture with a renaissance feel.

Viewing Florence from the top of Brunelleschi's Dome.

Florence was politically, economically, and culturally one of the most important cities in the world during the 14th to 16th centuries. It originated as a Roman city, then later flourished as a medieval city of European trade and finance, and was one of the wealthiest cities of the time. It is still noted for its culture, art, architecture, monuments, art galleries and some of the best museums in the world.

Uffizi Gallery

One of the greatest art galleries in the world is The Uffizi gallery. The original reason for its construction is interesting. Granduca Francisco de' Medici was in constant fear of attempts on his life, so in 1581, he had enclosed walkways and buildings built so he wouldn't have to walk outside amongst those who could take aim at him.

"The original design was that of Giorgio Vasari, one of the leading painters and architects during the 15th century. His plan for this museum was quite a strategically planned building as it was constructed adjacent to the Medici Palace and extended until the Arno river, over the Ponte Vecchio bridge. The space was originally intended for offices and to host bureaucratic meetings for various magistrates."
http://www.uffizi.com/

Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge)

A medieval stone bridge over the Arno River, in Florence, Italy, noted for shops built along it, as was once common. Butchers initially occupied the shops; the present tenants are jewelers, art dealers and souvenir sellers.

Palazzo Vecchio

The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries in Italy are frequently called, "the Golden Age", one of the most brilliant periods in world art history, and at its heart is Florence with its writers, painters, architects, and philosophers. It is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance. There are many famous men we think of when we think of the Renaissance, like DaVinci, Michelangelo, and Botticelli, however it was the The House of Medici, a rich, powerful, and influential banking family with a passion for culture, that gave us the Renaissance. The late 14th century was a time of rebirth in the appreciation of the classical past "that changed the face of western culture and left no doubt that the Medici were the patrons, the catalyst of genius."
PBS.org Medici/Renaissance
education-portal.com

Lion of Florence

The Medici family did not start out as a wealthy or powerful family. Giovanni de' Medici was one of five sons of a poor widow and went to work for the family business, the Medici Bank. He became a shrewd businessman bolstering the family business through behind-the-scenes transactions that benefited his bank and ruined his competitive enemies, eventually becoming the "Capo" (head) of the Medici family... and he took the power of the Medici all the way to Rome. Giovanni supported his friend and ex-pirate, Baldassare Cossa's bid to become Pope. It was a risk, but in 1410 Cossa was elected Pope John XXIII, and Cossa handed over the entire Papal account to the Medici bank. Papal connections brought them immense power. Everyone wanted to bank where the church banked and the Medici ended up managing the wealth of Europe's highest ranking and richest families, including Royalty. As the Papal bank they collected 10% of your earnings for the Church, and if you couldn't pay, you faced excommunication.... and Giovanni de Medici became "God's Banker."

It was, however, Giovanni's son, Cosimo who further set up family alliances, creating and exploiting a vast social network of “amici degli amici" (friends of friends), sometimes through bribery, corruption and violence, that eventually won their powerful status through wealth, not by war or birthright. It was Cosimo who began turning their wealth into political capital... the descendants of Giovanni would become Popes, Cardinals, Archbishops, and Dukes, and it was Cosimo that made them the unofficial, yet undisputed, rulers of Florence."

Aeneas Sylvius, Bishop of Siena and later Pope Pius II, said of him, "Political questions are settled in [Cosimo's] house. The man he chooses holds office... He it is who decides peace and war... He is king in all but name."
(wiki)

Cosimo was noted for his patronage of culture and the arts, and encouraged his father to invest their wealth in civic patronage. He sustained his family's power by using art as their personal propaganda machine to promote their family image.

The Medici family would sponsor and protect the greatest artists, architects and thinkers of their time. (Masaccio, Brunelleschi, Donatello, Fra Angelico, Botticelli, Michelangelo, DaVinci, and more. The family was also the patron of the famous scientist Galileo.)

They were the "Godfathers of the Renaissance."

San Miniato al Monte
Basilica of Saint Minias on the Hill

A church that was built on the grave of the Christian Martyr Saint Minas. Around 250 A.D. when a Roman Emperor issued an edict for the suppression of Christianity, Minias was decapitated and buried on a hill across the river from the center of Florence. A church on the site was probably built not long after his death, but the current church was built starting in 1018. This is one of the more interesting churches in Florence that pre-date the Cathedral of Florence by about 300 years.

San Minato al Monte II

~ Duomo di Firenze (Cathedral of Florence) ~

Il Duomo di Firenze

Il Duomo di Firenze is the main attraction in Florence and in our opinion could be one of the top five most interesting religious structures on earth.

The cathedral, Santa Maria del Fiore, whose construction was designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, is the third largest church in the world and was the largest in Europe at the time of its completion. It was built on the site of an earlier cathedral; an ancient building founded in the early 5th century, and having undergone many repairs, was crumbling with age, and was no longer large enough to serve the growing population of the city.

The new church was approved by city council in 1294, and the first stone was laid on September 9, 1296. The building of this vast project was to last 140 years, the collective efforts of several generations.
(wiki)

Brunelleschi's Sunset

Work on the cathedral was halted in 1348 due to the Black Death and resumed in 1349 under a series of architects until it was finished, with the exception of the facade and the dome, around 1367.

Sometime during the planning a decision was made to have an enormous cupola (dome) at the east end of the new cathedral. No one knew how Arnulfo di Cambio planned to build the cupola and its construction had never begun because building a self-supporting structure the size of the Duomo's cupola was considered impossible without using flying buttresses, which were not popular in Italy. Having the dome uncompleted was an embarrassment because "the cathedral was a symbol of the identity of the community, and without a dome you don't have a sacred building."
(PBS.org)

Duomo Door Front

Filippo Brunelleschi, was a goldsmith's apprentice, and one of the competitors for the bronze gates of the cathedral. But when his competitor Lorenzo Ghiberti won the commission, possibly because Brunelleschi refused to share the commission, Brunelleschi left for Rome in 1403 "in order to study ancient buildings, as he intended to pursue the study of architecture. He devoted himself to perspective, geometry, and study of antiquity, with such an intensity that, when he returned to Florence, no more accomplished master could be found."
Renaissance-Spell.com

And when Filippo Brunelleschi returned to Florence the Cathedral still needed a dome.

Under the Duomo Facade

In 1418 the Arte della Lana (the wool guild, patronized by wool manufacturers and merchants, rose to 3rd in precedence and took charge of Santa Maria del Fiore in 1282) announced a structural design competition in the search for a solution for erecting the dome. Giovanni and Cosimo de Medici wanted to lend their efforts to the problem and perhaps in the process bring power and glory to the Medici family.

Duomo Tower Side II

"In 1419, the Silk Merchants Guild - which included the Medici - commissioned the construction of a state orphanage. Brunelleschi worked hard to win the tender. He had already worked for the Medici, redesigning their parish church, San Lorenzo, along classical lines. Now, with these new buildings, a revolution began. Soon enormous Roman capitals and pillars, monumental windows and carved stones appeared, making this the first time true pillars were used for structural support since Ancient Roman times."
(PBS.org)

Despite his other accomplishments, Brunelleschi wanted the greatest prize of all, the Cathedral dome. His plan was eventually accepted and though Brunelleschi had no formal training, if he was to succeed in building the dome he would have to re-write the rules of Western architecture.

Duomo Tower Side

With the backing of the Medici, Brunelleschi had the opportunity to bring new ideas to the building site. "Every day, he ensured workers remained sober by providing their lunch and watering down the wine. A safety net prevented workers from falling to their deaths, a chiming clock regulated their working hours and Brunelleschi had a canteen half way up the dome. His methods seemed to work. Only three deaths were recorded during a 16-year construction period." (1420-1436)
(PBS.org)

Also, it was Brunelleschi, (and perhaps could be argued his greatest achievement) who in 1434 invented linear perspective.

Inside the Dome

"With the dome complete, Cosimo de'Medici invited the Pope himself to consecrate the finished Cathedral on Easter Sunday, 1436. The dome towered majestically over the city of Florence, a triumph for the Florentine people and the city's most powerful family.

Weighing 37,000 tons and using more than 4,000,000 bricks, Brunelleschi's dome was the greatest architectural feat in the Western world."
(PBS.org)

Looking Up At Brunelleschi

Brunelleschi died in 1446 and was buried beneath his towering achievement, where he remains to this day. He was the first engineer of the Renaisssance.

Duomo Floor

The church is particularly notable for its 44 stained glass windows, the largest undertaking of this kind in Italy in the 14th and 15th century. The windows in the aisles and in the transept depict saints from the Old and the New Testament, while the circular windows in the drum of the dome or above the entrance depict Christ and Mary. They are the work of the greatest Florentine artists of their times, such as Donatello, Lorenzo Ghiberti, Paolo Uccello and Andrea del Castagno.

Looking Down The Dome

Florence Baptistery

The Baptistery is one of the oldest buildings in Florence. It is a religious building also known as the Baptistry of Saint John and has the status of a minor basilica. Its construction started between 1059 and 1128 in the Florentine Romanesque style. Its influence formed the basis from which Brunelleschi and other architects created Renaissance architecture.

Arno Lights

The renaissance marked a great cultural change. It was a period that exploded with free thinking that spread to artists and architects throughout Europe. Cities became politically and economically successful with institutions such as banking, workshops and universities that produced ideal conditions for the emergence of Humanism, and gave rise to many innovations in art, architecture, medicine, science, and literature, among others. Beginning with the Italian Renaissance new thinking eventually spread to the rest of Europe and changed the world.

Italian-Renaissance-art.com

View this album on flickr

Galicia - The Edge of Europe

2013-11-10T11:40:00.000-08:00

Tucked away in the Northwest corner of the Iberian Peninsula is one of Europe's best kept secrets. Galicia's culinary delights, green landscapes, fantastic architecture, rich history and culture is well known to the people of Spain, but when most outsiders think of the riches of European travel, Galicia hardly receives a word. Even when people think of Spain, more often than not they think of places like Andalucia or Barcelona. In all aspects of travel Galicia can hold its own and delight even the most seasoned traveler. Galicia is a very unique region of Spain known for its wet climate and fantastic seafood, and it shares a number of cultural similarities with the British Isles. The Celtic origins of Galicia are evident in many aspects of traditional life, and combined with the rain and green countryside, one might think it's geographically closer to Dublin than to Madrid.

One of the many things that make Galicia so wonderful and very unique is that even though there are hints of its Celtic past, the mix of both Spanish and Portuguese life is on full display. One of many places where the Iberian culture and history takes center stage is the incredible city of Santiago de Compostela. This city can rival any of Europe's best when it comes to beautiful medieval architecture and little stone-paved streets. The Cathedral is among the most inspiring man-made structures we have ever had the fortune to visit, and for the few days we had to be there it was like living in a dream.

- Hercules Tower - A Coruña, Spain -

~ Galicia ~

Galicia Shells

A Coruña, Spain

Galicia sits above Portugal and faces the Atlantic Ocean, giving it a more temperate climate, making it suitable to base its economy on agriculture and fishing. Most of the local fishing consists of shellfish and crustaceans, for which the region is internationally renowned. It is also culturally defined by its abundant and interesting history and traditions, and when all is considered, this is a place that gives you the opportunity to be away from the commercialism that so heavily affects so many other European holiday destinations, giving you a "real" taste of Spain.

Percebes

Goose Barnacles are filter-feeding crustaceans that live attached to hard surfaces of rocks in the ocean. They are a widely consumed in Portugal and Spain as an expensive delicacy known as percebes. Percebes are harvested commercially in the northern coast, mainly in Galicia.
(wiki)

~ A Coruña ~

A Coruña Main Street Daytime

The city is famous for its glazed windows, of which there are so many that it is sometimes referred to as a glass city.

Main Street A Coruña

The Tower of Hercules

A Coruña is a city in Galicia and home to the Tower of Hercules, an ancient Roman lighthouse said to be modeled after the lighthouse in Alexandria. It is the oldest Roman lighthouse in use today and is known to have existed by the 2nd century and given a restoration in 1788.

"A legend embodied in the 11th-century Irish compilation Lebor Gabála Érenn— the "Book of Invasions"— King Breogán, the founding father of the Galician Celtic nation, constructed here a massive tower of such a grand height that his sons could see a distant green shore from its top. The glimpse of that distant green land lured them to sail north to Ireland. According to the legend, these Breogán's descendants who stayed in Ireland and their followers are the Celtic ancestors of the current Irish people. A colossal statue of Breogán has been erected near the Tower."
(wiki)

City Hall in the Maria Pita Square, A Coruña

~ Santiago de Compostela ~

The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela

The city of Santiago de Compostela is unquestionable one of Europe's most fantastic cities. We quickly became fascinated with its culture, history and architectural style, which is a mix of Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque, combined with local influences that are both Spanish and modern urban-ism.

Praza do Obradoiro
Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Quiet Street

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

A long street at night.

Looking Up a Santiago Street

Santiago Fountain

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

From the Roof of the Cathedral

Hospedería San Martín Pinario

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

~ The Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela ~

Cathedral Facade

The most impressive piece of architecture is the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Cathedral Rear

In order to fully appreciate the city one has to understand a little of its history.

The Apostle James (Santiago) went to the north-western part of Spain to preach and convert people to Christianity. When he returned to Palestine in 44 A.D., he was taken prisoner, tortured, and beheaded by King Herod, which made him one of Christianity's first martyrs.

The legend is that after his death some of his disciples stole his body and sailed across the Mediterranean Sea, through the Strait of Gibraltar and arrived in Galicia. Once there they buried him in a wood called, in Latin, "Campus Stellae", field of the star or Compostela.

It is believed that his remains were found by the hermit Pelagius in 814 and a chapel was built on the burial site. The recognition of the discovery was first made by the King Alfonso II of Asturias and Galicia, who also declared Saint James the patron of his empire, which gave the small church further notoriety and prominence. Soon building and expansions replaced the small church, Pilgrims began to follow the footsteps of Santiago and eventually the original chapel became a cathedral.

Thus began the first pilgrimages to Santiago de Compostela in the 9th and 10th centuries and their paths came to be known as El Camino de Santiago the "Way of Saint James." It is claimed that Pope Alexander III (1061-1073) declared it a Holy Town, and further that in 1122, Pope Calixtus II declared that the pilgrims who went to Santiago in a Holy Year (the years when the saint's day of the 25th of July fell on a Sunday) should be free of all their sins, which considerably increased the number of pilgrims to Santiago. Another benefit for pilgrims during a holy year is that they could enter the Cathedral by a door designated as the “Holy Door”, which is only opened during that year.

The paths today are famous tourist routes that can be walked or biked and planned from great distance or near Santiago. The Camino de Santiago is the third most important pilgrimage site in Christianity after Jerusalem and Rome.

(The holy door is the gated door under the statue of St. James.)

Pilgrim Pillar

This small "pillar" set in a corner of the exterior of the cathedral, is shaped and placed (perhaps coincidentally) in such a way that it casts a shadow that looks like a pilgrim. On the bottom left you can see the placement of this pillar in the previous photo of the Holy Door.

Tree of Jesse

Adding even more significance to the cathedral is that it is the final destination of the medieval pilgrimage, the Camino de Santiago, and a highlight of the pilgrimage is that one of the three rites that most pilgrims perform when they finally arrive, is to touch the column known as the Tree of Jesse.

The column is "the central pillar known as the Tree of Jesse, topped with a seated figure of a benign St James, carrying a pilgrim’s staff and a scroll which reads, “The Lord Sent Me”. Pilgrims over the last 1000 years have placed the fingers of their right hand into five indentations worn in the marble of this pillar, and said a silent prayer of thanks, or five Hail Marys for their safe arrival."
(Quote from Wendy Craig at caminoways.com)

Tree of Jesse II

Romanesque Arches

These are the original Romanesque arches of the cathedral that was built starting in 1075, which was to replace the chapel that had been built over St. James burial site. Today most of the Baroque style you see on the facade and exterior of the cathedral is the result of several upgrades, most notable being the Facade of the Obradoiro completed in 1740.

The upper levels from where this photo was taken was used by medieval pilgrims as a place to sleep after their long journey.

Courtyard Corner

Cathedral Courtyard

Bells & Tower

Courtyard Hall

Above Cathedral Side Square

Cathedral Statue

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

~ The Botafumeiro ~

Botafumeiro incense

Santiago de Compostela, Spain

The Botafumeiro is a famous thurible (which is a censer used in some ecclesiastical ceremonies) in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. This metal devise is suspended from chains, in which incense is burned and then this "incensory" is swung during a worship service. The name "Botafumeiro" means "smoke expeller" in Galician. It is carried and swung by eight men in red robes, called tiraboleiros and is believed by some that the use of a swinging censer in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral began in the 11th century with arriving pilgrims who went straight to the Cathedral before washing from their journey. It was also believed that incense smoke had a preventative or protective effect from the plagues and epidemics during those eras.

Most cathedrals discontinued the use of their swinging censers over the years; one reasons being the fear of accidents. A famous accident took place in the Santiago de Compostela Botafumeiro while Princess Catherine of Aragon was visiting. In 1499, while on her way to be married to the heir of the English throne, she stopped at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. While it was being swung, the Botafumeiro flew out of the cathedral through the window. There are no reports of anyone being injured from that incident.

We had heard that Santiago de Compostela is very interesting and many people we had spoken to recommended that we visit. We didn't know much about it other than what we knew about the Camino de Santiago and that the Cathedral is impressive, but upon our arrival we quickly realized how wonderful this city is.

We started off in Madrid and drove North through Salamanca. Two days after that we went to A Coruña where we only spent one night. Then we took the coastline west, wrapping around the corner of the peninsula, before heading inland at Muros. We arrived late at night in Santiago and spend 2 days there. On the way back we spent the night in Avila. Avila and Salamanca are in Castile y León we will get to that later. We only had a week in Spain because we had to get ready for our trip to Southeast Asia, so we missed much of Galicia. All the more reason to go back.

Something you will see often in the countryside of the northwestern Iberian peninsula are the traditional granaries known as hórreos. We didn't get a chance to photograph them because of time constraints, but if you visit you'll see many of them and they are worth checking out.

This photograph was taken in Soajo, Portugal by Marc Baertsch (© Marc Baertsch / All rights reserved), a wonderful photographer we met on flickr. You can view more of his superb work on his website.

Instants Figes - Marc Baertsch Photographies

You can also see a large collection of photos of the hórreos here.

Kuriositas.com

If you're thinking about traveling to Spain and you want to see something that is a little out of the way, but rivals any region in Europe that we've seen to date, consider making a trip to Galicia.

Galicia Guide.com

Camino Adventures.com

World come to my home.blogspot.com Spain, Galicia

Camino Pilgrimages.com

The Edge of Europe

A Coruña, Spain

The most north-western part of Spain was called "Finis Terrae" by the Romans, the "end of the world."

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Thailand

2013-10-18T14:39:00.001-07:00

Thailand is the fulfillment of dreams of far off places, full of vibrant cities, culture, history, relaxing beaches, and exotic jungles. It's difficult to see a country that is so beautiful in so little time so we were only able to visit three places. We went first to Bangkok, and on the last day there we went on a trip to Ayutthaya Historical Park, the ruins of the former capital of the Kingdom of Siam. Then we went to Cambodia to visit Angkor Wat Our post about Angkor Wat. And lastly we stayed in Railay Beach and Koh Yao Noi in Phang Nga Bay.

- Thai Long Tail Boat - Krabi, Thailand -

Bangkok

Bangkok is a modern, vibrant city, and is a traveler's delight.

Buddha Toes
Bangkok, Thailand

Sit.....Good Boy
Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok Clouds
Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok Night
Bangkok, Thailand

Salty Fish
Bangkok, Thailand

Although this market didn't smell the best, Thai food IS fantastic.

Phang Nga Bay

Railay Beach is a small peninsula in Krabi. It is accessible only by boat due to the high limestone cliffs cutting off mainland access. The cliffs not only attract rock climbers from all over the world, but is also popular because of its beautiful beaches.

Tree In The Light
Railay Beach, Thailand

Railay Rocks
Railay Beach, Thailand

(Our hotel is over where the tiny people are.)

Green Lights
Railay Beach, Thailand

Railay Clouds
Railay Beach, Thailand

Railay East
Krabi, Thailand

Above Railay
Krabi, Thailand

Rubber Collection

Koh Yao, Thailand

Thailand is the world's largest producer of natural rubber.

Ayutthaya

"Historic City of Ayutthaya Founded c. 1350, Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. It was destroyed by the Burmese in the 18th century. Its remains, characterized by the prang (reliquary towers) and gigantic monasteries, give an idea of its past splendour."

(From unesco.org)

Face of Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya, Thailand

Ayutthaya Towers

Ayutthaya, Thailand

Inside Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya, Thailand

"Ayutthaya flourished from the 14th to the 18th centuries.

The city was ideally situated at the head of the Gulf of Siam, equi-distant between India and China and well upstream to be protected from Arab and European powers who were expanding their influence in the region even as Ayutthaya was itself consolidating and extending its own power to fill the vacuum left by the fall of Angkor. As a result, Ayutthaya became a center of economics and trade at the regional and global levels, and an important connecting point between the East and the West.

The Royal Court of Ayutthaya exchanged ambassadors far and wide, including with the French Court at Versailles and the Mughal Court in Delhi, as well as with imperial courts of Japan and China. Foreigners served in the employ of the government and also lived in the city as private individuals.

Downstream from the Ayutthaya Royal Palace there were enclaves of foreign traders and missionaries, each building in their own architectural style. Foreign influences were many in the city and can still be seen in the surviving art and in the architectural ruins."

(unesco.org)

Ayutthaya Sky
Ayutthaya, Thailand

Buddha Door
Ayutthaya, Thailand

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Angkor Wat

2013-10-05T20:17:00.000-07:00

Most of you know that Thailand was one of our summer destinations. While we were there we took some time to go to Cambodia to see the 7th Wonder of the World.... Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is all part of the "Angkor Archaeological Park" that is situated all around the town of Siem Reap, Cambodia. One word.... FANTASTIC. There is so much history and so much symbolism... we are relying on some internet research to fill you in on just a fraction of it in the description of our photos.
Angkor Archaeological Park, located in northern Cambodia, is one of the most important archaeological sites in Southeast Asia and reflects themes from both the Hindu and Buddhist religions.

- Bayon Temple - Angkor Wat, Cambodia -

Ancient Temple

Temple Roots

A banyan is a fig that starts its life as a plant growing on another plant when its seeds germinate in the cracks and crevices on a host tree (or on structures like buildings and bridges). In Hinduism, the leaf of the banyan tree is said to be the resting place for the god Krishna.

Ta Prohm in the Angkor Wat temple complex is well known for the giant banyans that grow up, around and through its walls.

Door In The Tree

Ta Prohm, left predominantly in much the same condition in which it was found in dense jungle. Ta Prohm was constructed during the 12th and 13th century by king Jayavarman VII and served as a monastery and university during the mighty Khmer Empire, but was abandoned soon after the Khmer Empire fell. It is said that on the peak of the Khmer Empire, more than 12,500 people lived in Ta Prohm and more than 80.000 people lived outside the city walls.

Holding the Line

There are four entrances into Angkor Wat. The western entrance (Ta Reach) was built with five doorways. These five doorways are the main entrance of Angkor Wat. To cross the moat at the main entrance, there is a stone causeway which is symbolic of making a connection from one world to another. The moat surrounding the temple is symbolic of the ocean, and the enclosing soil (Laterite) wall is symbolic of the mountains range at the edge of the universe, and represents protection for Mt. Meru. (A mythical mountain to serve as a home for the Hindu Gods, located in the center of the universe.

A Ride to the Gate

Temple Gate

Angkor Thom Wall Statues

The ancient temples of Angkor Wat exist as the remaining relics of a historically rich city. The temples of Angkor Wat use architectural features to represent various ideas of Hindu Cosmology to represent the recreation of the heavenly world on Earth. By recreating this, Earth and the heavenly world are entwined, therefore constructing Angkor Wat to represent religious beliefs, the Khmer people literally built heaven on Earth.

Temple in the Trees

Temple Steps

Temple Columns

Temple Alter

Looking Up

Temple Ruins

Inside A Temple

Temple Doors

Banteay Srei Reflecion

Banteay Srei is a temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva and is built largely of red sandstone, a medium that lends itself to the elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable today. The buildings themselves are miniature in scale, unusually so when measured by the standards of Angkorian construction.

Ancient Rice Field?

Stone Statues

Monkey soldier statues are part of Hanuman's (a Hindu deity) army, guarding a (prasat) chapel at Banteay Srei Temple.

Red Temple

Bayon

The most famous and richly decorated Khmer temple of Angkor Wat is the Bayon Temple with its countless sculptural decorations. It is located at the physical center of Angkor Thom, the nine square kilometer or (three and a half square) mile city complex. Bayon was built as a Mahayana Buddhist shrine dedicated to the Buddha, and the official state temple of the Mahayana Buddhist King Jayavarman VII.

Temple Relief

Bas-Relief Apsaras

"Apsaras are figures of Hindu mythology: beautiful dancing girls who are the wives of the Ghandarvas. The Ghandarvas are the court servants of Indra, king of the demi-gods, and make the music to which their wives dance in the celestial palaces.

According to Hindu legend the “elixir of immortality” was lost in the mythological Ocean of Milk and the gods went looking for it. It is said that these goddesses were born from the ocean of milk; water nymphs that were pulled from the ocean by the Hindu Devas (gods); Visuki, the god of serpents and a group of morally corrupt demons, the Asuras.

The sultry adventures of the nymphs are recounted in the Mahabharata, in which they are described as having ultimate power over both mortal and immortal males due to their unsurpassed beauty and elegance.

These divine creatures are said to have the ability to change their forms and as the willing servants of Indra they used their seductive charms and beauty to seduce mortals, kings and wise men who may have threatened Indra’s power. The goddesses would appear to men with their torsos bare and their wrists and ankles adorned with gold."
(Holiday in Angkor Wat.com)

Crowning Tops

Temple View

Two Faces

The upper terrace of the Bayon is home to the famous "face towers", each of which supports two, three or (most commonly) four gigantic smiling faces. The similarity of the 216 gigantic faces on the temple’s towers to other statues of the king and the meaning of the faces is still under debate by scholars.

Temple Profile

Crowning View

Angkor Archaeological Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. At the same time, it was also placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger due to looting, a declining water table, and unsustainable tourism. UNESCO has now set up a wide-ranging program to safeguard this symbolic site and its surroundings.

Angkor Sunrise

The foremost Hindu concept is the temple-mountain, where the temple is built as a representation of the mythical Mount Meru: this is why so many temples, including Angkor Wat itself, are surrounded by moats, built in a mountain-like pyramidal shape and topped by precisely five towers, representing the five peaks of Mount Meru.

There are several documentaries on YouTube about Angkor Wat. You can find one:
HERE

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Keukenhof

2013-06-01T19:47:00.000-07:00

After a good number of years living in The Netherlands, we finally made it to Keukenhof. It's one of those things you don't think about much because it's "right there." It was a warm and sunny weekend in Amsterdam so we got a car and brought out a couple of under-used lenses. As many of you know we love to get large structures and wide open spaces so the 35mm f/1.4 and the 105mm Micro f/2.8 don't come out of the bag much. Keukenhof and the Tulip fields made for a great opportunity to see what these toys can do.

- Keukenhof Tulips -The Netherlands -

Keukenhof is among the world's most photographed gardens. It covers over 32-hectares and has over 7 million hand-planted flower bulbs making it the largest bulb park in the world. It attracts over 800,000 visitors each year. That's a lot of tourists considering that the gardens are only open from mid-March to mid- May.

Springtime flowers are some of the most photographed flowers in the world, including the tulip. Tulips are easy to grow, they come in an incredible variety of colours, heights, and flower shapes, and some are even fragrant and there are now over 3,000 different registered varieties.

Originally cultivated in the Ottoman Empire (present-day Turkey), tulips were imported into Holland in the sixteenth century. In the mid-seventeenth century, tulips were so popular and expensive that they were used as money until the market in them crashed.

Their vibrancy of color and shape makes them great subjects for photography.

Link to Keukenhof's website if you'd like information to plan a future visit:
http://www.keukenhof.nl/

View this album on flickr