Today we headed north to Inle Lake, an area full of small fishing villages. While visiting one of the villages on the lake, we saw a procession of children. School had just let out and they walked across the bridge to the dock where they waited to be picked up by boat to go home. Like children everywhere, these kids were quite happy to be done with school for the day.
On our second day we headed to downtown Yangon where you will see countless old colonial buildings in the historical wards. As a result of the country’s isolation for many years, some parts of Myanmar have remained much like they were a century ago. While the buildings look like they have stood still in time, the streets below are bustling with modern day activity. The store fronts are open for business while cars and people jostle to pass through the narrow roads.
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After flying for two days, we finally made it to Yangon. We’ve only been here for a day and we’re already head over heels in love with this country. As my mom likes to point out “you like everywhere you go”, which is true, but there is also something special about this place. At first glance, it reminds me a lot of Thailand, especially the golden pagoda and temples. “Same same but different,” as they say. Here at Shwedagon Pagoda, instead of hoards of tourists, you’ll see Burmese people in their colorful longyi. Visiting the pagoda as a family affair. Even though it’s a sacred religious place, people bring their food and have a family picnic in the temples after praying.
[photo credit: Wikipedia]
Blue Lagoon, Iceland
Recently a friend came back from Iceland and it reminded me how much I miss this country . I missed the savage beauty of the desolate landscape. I missed the magnificent waterfall. I missed the time we spent at the Blue Lagoon. We were there when the fog came rolling in over the thermal water creating a nice effect with the sunset.
Every Monday of each week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing. If you would like to see more, please click the ‘Follow’ button.
[photo credit: Visit Norway]
Red Hook, NY
On a photography excursion to Red Hook, I saw this old abandoned train. I had to climb in and take a picture of the inside. There was bright sunlight filtering through the windows creating a nice contrast against the grimy interior. Sometimes old broken things are full of character and beauty.
Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing. If you would like to see more, please click the Follow button.
I am not going to lie, I waited a long time to visit Prague. I had heard so many good things about the city that it was a big disappointment when my first impression did not meet my expectations. It is true that everything there is as beautiful as the photographs, but something felt off. The thing was, I didn’t think I was the only one who felt conflicted by the city’s beauty and frustrated by the hoards of tourists that seem to be everywhere. I was overwhelmed by the vendors trying to make a few bucks off of a gullible visitor. I remembered being on the phone with Fausto on the first night telling him how let down I felt considering how excited I was about going there. The whole thing just didn’t feel authentic.
Galway, Ireland
We came across this idyllic scene of an abbey nestled in the surrounding greenery that looked like something out of a painting on our drive across Ireland. Kylemore Castle in County Galway is a Benedictine monastery, home to a community of nuns who came here in 1920 after their abbey was destroyed in World War I. But before it became a monastery, it was the backdrop to an intriguing love story.
The year was 1849, Mitchell Henry and his new bride Margaret visited the wild Connemara on their honeymoon and fell in love with the place. Mitchell promised his wife that he would build their dream home there. The construction of the castle overlooking the lake took thirteen years to complete. The happy couple lived there with their nine children until 1875 when Margaret suddenly passed away from an illness contracted on their holiday in Egypt. She was only 45 at the time. Mitchell brought Margaret’s body back to Kylemore and laid her to rest in a mausoleum built on the abbey’s ground, but he was heartbroken and couldn’t bear to stay in their home any longer. When Mitchell Henry died in 1910, his ashes was brought back to Kylemore to be laid next to his love, in the place where they built their dream home and spent many happy years together.
Every week, I’ll share a photo with you from my adventures around the world and at home. Most of my photos have little or no post processing. If you would like to see more, please click the Follow button.
Prague is known as “the city of 100 spires” with its iconic skyline. While visiting, we fell in love with the cityscape and took every chance we could to climb to the top of those towers. I will admit, we climbed what you might call an excessive number of towers, but the view from each spire was unique and special in its own way. Below are a look at each one we climbed, and some of the pros and cons of each location. Also, as a bonus they are quite effective as Stairmasters, especially if you want to digest the giant plate of meat and beer that you have just consumed.
life after 9to5 
