Good Food and Views are Worth the Journey
I visited Tasmania in November 2010, which was then Spring for them. It’s a big island with stunning natural beauty ranging from the surf to craggy mountains, and poppy fields. Well worth a visit or two, especially for those of us who live closer. Lots to do, and well set up for families with kids.
Katsura Imperial Villa is evidence that good design lasts forever. Designated a cultural treasure by the Japanese, this garden - said to be the most beautiful in Japan according to the Imperial Household Agency - and its buildings were completed in 1645 and used as a royal residence. The design of the villas and its tea houses are simple, due to the influence of zen buddhism, and look as modern now as they may have done more than four hundred years ago. Its garden is also said to be...
I did a trek (part of the Annapurna circuit) in Nepal in Nov. 1995 and also visited Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Chitwan. It was breathtaking in beauty and also due to my lack of fitness. And it was also quite an adventure, which included an overturned bus. I do hope they rebuild much of what was devastated and that tourism, which is such a large part of their economy, recovers. Donations are likely to remain needed for years to come.
I wish I had better photo skills and equipment back then. The colour in my negatives have started to fade so I’ve converted most of the photos into black & white except for a couple where you can sort of tell that the original colours would have been stunning.
Ever wonder why you feel sleepy as the plane takes off or crave a tomato juice in the air? It may be because the air in the cabin gets thinner. Cabin air pressure is set normally to around 7,000 ft above sea level so it’s not noticeable if you live in Denver but sea level residents may feel fatigue. The good news is that most of us can cope with this level of air pressure and we shouldn’t feel a prolonged weariness although for some others with respiratory issues, there could be more...
With the Monaco Grand Prix occurring this weekend, I was reminded of my trip there in September 2013. I have to admit that the principality has never been one of my favourite destinations – but this is partly because I generally end up here after some spots along the Cote d’Azure with less cement and fewer people. I took this picture of docked boats during an early morning walk around the town. Shot at focal length 190 mm.
