Photographs of places around the world
First built between 220–206 BC by the first Emperor of China, Qin Shi Huang, the great walls main construction was during the Ming Dynasty. Stretching across China for over 8,851.8 km ( or 5,500.3 miles) the Great Wall was used as defensive tool.
A popular myth is that the great wall is visible from the moon, it is not. From low orbit it is, barely visible, as are many other man made objects.
The Alhambra in Spain is of breathtaking beauty. Built as a palace and fortress during the mid 14th century by Moorish rulers who occupied this region of Spain at the time.
Left in a state of disrepair until the 19th century the Alhambra is now fully restored and a beautiful example of architecture and relief work.
It’s now a UNESCO heritage site as well. Meaning it is flooded with tourists on a year round basis. Giant car parks included. Spending a few days in Granada, Spain and getting to the Alhambra early in the day in probably the best way to see it.
The Khyber pass is synonymous with the word legend and travel. From Alexander The Great to Gengis Khan, they have all traveled this pass that links Europe / Central Asia with East Asia.
It is, and still is one of the worlds greatest trading routes. Though, today it’s no longer spices and gold that are transported through it. It’s guns, drugs and people.
Bronze Imperial guardian lions guard entrance ways into the Forbidden city in Beijing China. Based on myth these creatures are said to have powers of protection.
Not every sunset photograph needs to have the sun there. Here a local restaurant along an underdeveloped sea-line makes a stunning foreground to a wonderful sunset.
Still water and a tripod helps!
Today is Blog Action Day 2010, the subject is water. In aid of supporting a cause that makes up most of our bodies and the planet we live on here is post about protecting out water based tourism locations. You can check out their website here blogactionday.change.org
I really don’t know what the sunken cemetery in Camiguin Island in The Philippines is not more popular? In fact, it’s actually endangered as the local government wishes to build a new ferry terminal nearby.
The sunken cemetery is located on the small island of Camiguin off the north coast of Mindanao. You can hire a small boat man to paddle you over (4 mins). Or, you can swim over. Though again, here confusion rocks tourism as some people say you are not allowed to swim here.
All around the giant white cross are tombs that are under water. An earthquake stemming form a volcanic eruption sunk the cemetery. While most are now covered in coral. You can still make out the odd cross or two.
If anything, this place, in my view, should be protected, and not endangered by a new ferry terminal. Get there, before it’s too late!
If you visit the legendary site of Persepolis in Iran you better take some sun screen. Dry desert heat will beat down on you for the day. But, the end result is seeing ancient wonders like these columns that are thousands of years old.
Nasir ud-din Muhammad Humayun was a Mughal Emperor who ruled present day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and parts of northern India from 1530–1540 only to loose it and regain it again from 1555–1556.
Humayun died in 1556 when during the call to prayer he knelt down, tripped on his robes and hit his head. Injuries sustained left him near death, and three days later he died.
Looking more like a palace than tomb, Humayun’s wife built this tomb for him. Built in the style of the Taj Mahal in style it is one of the finest Mughal monuments in India today.
Travel Photography from Pakistan:
A bright yellow baby chicken is not an uncommon sight. But what about a neon pink or orange? In Pakistan this is also quite normal!
In many markets you will see brightly colored chicks waiting to be sold. Even brightly painted eggs. It’s not a way of marking them out either.
The answer is quite simple. To make them more attractive to buyers. Brightly colored chickens are more likely to sell than ordinary chickens. So says the market seller.
I’ve seen this in a few places, but not to the extent of neon glowing colors being used. That said, it must work!
Photo credit with permission from: www.thelongestwayhome.com
In the woods behind the concentration camp in Auschwitz-Birkenau is something very ominous. Black marble headstones are places in various areas around the area. They mark the spots where the Nazi’s tried to dump the ash from all the bodies they where incinerating.
Used as fertilizer much of it was shipped away to farms. The rest dumped in to fields around the camp. Here ash from human remains was dumped into ponds of water.