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Post by MartinT on Jan 17, 2015 13:37:14 GMT
One of my abiding memories from travelling the world is the statue of Mother Russia at Volgograd (Stalingrad). Together with the soldier and the eternal flame, not to mention the largest cemetery I have ever seen, the statue is immense and I've never forgotten it.
Not my photo (they're on slides and await scanning one day), this is what I saw.
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Post by John on Jan 18, 2015 13:20:57 GMT
One of my favourite places is Chocolate Hills I keep thinking be good to see this sight every day |
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Post by MartinT on Jan 18, 2015 20:58:54 GMT
This is my son Simon in the Namib Desert in 2003. It was taken on an early digital camera so the resolution isn't great. On that intensely hot day, we saw the Welwitschia plant which flowers once every century, a variety of cactus so insanely poisonous that we weren't allowed within 20m of it, and the Mountains of the Moon, which were pretty spectacular in their own right. However, the photo below best captured the vastness of the driest desert in the world. I would love to return to Namibia one day, one of my all-time favourite countries to visit.
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Post by Chris on Jan 19, 2015 20:43:12 GMT
I'm pretty sure Bendict Allen wrote a good account of Namibia in his skeleton coast book. His writing(and ethos) is usually quite good. Looks like a fantastic place.
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Post by Chris on Jan 20, 2015 22:28:33 GMT
Heading for Mordor...  |
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Post by MartinT on Jan 20, 2015 22:38:11 GMT
I'm pretty sure Bendict Allen wrote a good account of Namibia in his skeleton coast book. His writing(and ethos) is usually quite good. Looks like a fantastic place. Namibia is fantastic! The Etosha Pan in the north is also a must-see. It's huge, you can drive across its 75 miles to see all manner of wildlife in its natural habitat. I saw a different kind of Zebra crossing there: one crossed the road in front of me!
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Post by MartinT on Jan 21, 2015 17:33:54 GMT
Seattle and Washington State
Seattle is another memorable place for me. The photo below is of Cape Flattery, the north-westernmost tip of the contiguous USA. However, there is so much more worth visiting: the Hoh Rainforest, Hurricane Ridge, Mount Rainier, the Space Needle, the Experience Music Project, the Boeing factory (an absolute must-see), Museum of Flight, Orcas Islands (a great visit by seaplane), Alder Dam and, of course, Pike Place Market.
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Post by John on Jan 21, 2015 17:54:04 GMT
Here is another place I love in Bohol |
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Post by MartinT on Jan 21, 2015 18:09:05 GMT
Looks great, John.
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Post by John on Jan 21, 2015 18:31:38 GMT
It sure is
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Post by ChrisB on Jan 21, 2015 19:36:39 GMT
Seattle is another memorable place for me. The photo below is of Cape Flattery, the north-westernmost tip of the contiguous USA. However, there is so much more worth visiting: the Hoh Rainforest, Hurricane Ridge, Mount Rainier, the Space Needle, the Experience Music Project, the Boeing factory (an absolute must-see), Museum of Flight, Orcas Islands (a great visit by seaplane), Alder Dam and, of course, Pike Place Market.
Is that Ruby Beach in that photo Martin? A few years ago, we flew to Vancouver and drove down to the top end of California, doing all the volcanoes and forests on the way, then back up the coast road. We didn't go into Seattle though, I don't go much for cities when I'm in the US! We had Mount Rainier National Park almost entirely to ourselves, as the date was 11th Sept. 2001 - one of the weirdest days of my life for all sorts of reasons. |
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Post by MartinT on Jan 21, 2015 19:56:06 GMT
Amazingly, we were there in August 2001! Yes, I believe that was Ruby Beach. This photo was taken at La Push, also near Forks, another fantastic, barren, amazing place. I remember just taking it all in and thinking how wonderful to have it close by if you live in Seattle. The object in the foreground is my son, aged 9 
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Post by ChrisB on Jan 21, 2015 20:15:30 GMT
What a coincidence!
We stayed in a hostel near Forks. We were the only people there, as there was nothing flying during that week, so everyone had cancelled. We asked the owner where we could go to see a great sunset. He said "I'm so glad you asked me that" and gave us directions to Ruby Beach. Here's another weird coincidence - I've just discovered that the guy who built the hostel's website was staying there on 8th Sept. 2001, which means he was probably the last guest to leave before we arrived!
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Post by MartinT on Jan 24, 2015 14:51:33 GMT
Istanbul - The Spice Bazaar
There is so much to see in Istanbul that it would be tempting to post one of many photos that I took of the mosques or Topkapi, for instance. However, I think the Spice Bazaar (Mısır Çarşısı) in Eminönü encapsulated all that is wonderful about the city, better even than the Grand Bazaar. Slightly smaller, more intimate, with smells to die for and some very friendly vendors. We bought loads of Turkish Delight from this one, and I still have a stock of spice for making delicious lamb kofte.
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Post by Chris on Jan 26, 2015 15:33:08 GMT
I can feel myself drooling over that pic and the idea of lamb kofte.
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Post by MartinT on Jan 26, 2015 17:55:52 GMT
There's stall after stall of it, Chris. The kofte spice is perfect for lamb.
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Post by ChrisB on Jan 26, 2015 18:53:59 GMT
I remember that Martin's trip to Istanbul was the same year as my trip to Marrakech and that many of our photos were of similar things! I loved the fantastically atmospheric sunset one evening at the souk and the square at Djemaa el Fna.  Fancy an olive?  Dried fruit sellers  |
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Post by MartinT on Jan 26, 2015 20:26:28 GMT
Wonderful, Chris. I really like interesting cities like that. Bangkok is another one.
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Post by ChrisB on Jan 26, 2015 20:34:19 GMT
Marrakech was absolutely fantastic. Istanbul is a place I've missed out on going to several times.
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