sunset - ilivetotravel's travel log

Sunset over Tonlé Sap Lake | Off the Beaten Path Cambodia

4 January 2017 by Raul 1 Comment

As I mentioned in an earlier post about arriving in and exploring Siem Reap, we had asked the hotel to organize a drive that took us out of the town and into the countryside. We were looking to experience off the beaten path Cambodia. We were hoping to see more than seeing the fantastic and majestic temples that are the main reason for one to go to Siem Reap and Cambodia to begin with. The idea was to get away from the tourist beat (nothing wrong with doing the tourist beat!). Cambodia was new to us. At least, through a brief outing, we hoped to see something not likely to be found in a tourist guide. Something beyond the typical tourist agenda (though we WERE tourists).

The answer for off the beaten path Cambodia in Siem Reap

The hotel did well. They arranged a car to take us to see the the sun set over the Tonlé Sap lake. That was a great suggestion. I don’t know how long it took us to drive out. But was far enough to the part of the lake that looked west. Was it 45 minutes? Can’t recall. In any case, there were small boats on the lake, I assume for tourists but not sure. However, we had a private car take us around because we just felt like taking it very easy.

Siem Reap, Cambodia, Cambodge, sunset, Tonle Sap, drive, countryside, Samsung Galaxy, S7, photo, travel, Asia, explore

Driving past the local market intown along the river

Beginning to leave the town, nice area for sure

Sights around the outskirts of Siem Reap

Having our own transport allowed us to go into areas that I would guess tourists do not visit – our driver did really well (I thought he had said his name was Seagull – we found out a little too late it was Sygold – lol).

Siem Reap, Tonle Sap, Cambodia, Cambodge, travel, adventure, outdoors, sunset, travel, photo, Samsung Galaxy, S7, tuk tuk

A real tuk tuk: cart attached to motorcycle

We got to walk around the humble homes of folks who live by the lake. This not only afforded us great opportunities for sunset photos but also to see more of local life, even if for too short an experience. Seeing kids return from school, or play football (soccer) by the road, or just having fun on a bicycle made Cambodia more than just mere ancient and magnificent temples.

Off the beaten path Cambodia and my world connect through a sunset

And the combination of the setting sun with the lake, the vegetation, and the local homes certainly made for a beautiful sunset.

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My poor attempt at a subtle photo of a family picnicking…

It was a GREAT first day in Cambodia. Getting to see the sun set over this lake, and also witnessing a different reality than ours at home was a memory I will not forget. But some of the reality we saw was not -really- unlike a reality anywhere else, just a little of the circumstances were different. Seeing the children play and laugh was all the evidence I needed to confirm, yet anew, how much more alike we are, than different. If you have the chance to catch this sunset while visiting Angkor Wat, I recommend it!

What to Know

Going to the lake is pretty easy and does not take long. If you can take a little picnic, it may be enjoyed while watching the sunset!
As sunset is when mosquitoes (those tropical beasts!) get more active and seek to bite us humans, be sure to put on some bug spray. I did not feel mosquitoes bite me, and I had forgotten to put on bug spray. But Cambodia has malaria risk so I was glad I was on anti-malarial, at least…
Bring water. And there were no nearby facilities that I could see – but plenty of bushes! Hand sanitizer anyone?
Be ready to kick a football/soccer ball if the opportunity arises!

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Save this to your travel board for an off the beaten path Cambodia image. And a phenomenal sunset!

Filed Under: Asia, Cambodia, Travel Journal Tagged With: Cambodge, Cambodia, lake near Siem Reap, off the beaten path Cambodia, Siem Reap, sunset, sunset in Cambodia, Tonle Sap lake

2016 – A Year in Review

1 January 2017 by Raul 2 Comments

To say 2016 was a strange year is understating it. It started right off the bat with a scary family health issue (which, mercifully, is much much better by now) that took us all quite by surprise. The year also had other small ‘hiccups,’ which is just life on any given year. Nevertheless, and as is often the case, God certainly brings good out of the bad, and provides other great things to keep us balanced (or, sane!).

I want to share some of those great things, at least the ones that related to travel, exploring, hiking, relaxing, or enjoying food/wine to wrap up this year. While I did not get to write as much this year as I normally do, I certainly never stopped dreaming of travel or of sharing the experiences. Here is to a great 2017 for all!

Elton, Sir Elton

A work trip in early January resulted in getting invited to a private concert with Sir Elton John. I got to stand close to the stage and enjoyed his music and showmanship (and the complimentary drinks with two great co-workers)! While the year started with Elton John’s music, I can say that the song of the year (in my head, anyway) is “One Night in Bangkok,” if nothing else because I heard it too many times in anticipation of a trip that happened much later in the year.

Brunswick in coastal Georgia

A brief work trip in February took me to coastal Georgia, to the sleepy-ish town of Brunswick. I took some time to drive around the old part of town and caught a great sunset as I hunted for a place to sit down and eat. Not bad!

Oldest church in Atlanta

The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in downtown Atlanta is the oldest church in Atlanta. I got to work at the homeless shelter in the basement overnight a night in winter. I loved the reflection of the church on the modern building across from it…

Shrine, Immaculate Conception, downtown, Atlanta, reflection, glass, photo, Samsung Galaxy

The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception – or its reflection

Hiking in north Georgia

Spring brought many opportunities to go hiking around and north of Atlanta. Whether with my regular hiking buddy, Phil; or with my friend Troy and his two oldest children, Rehm and Caitlyn; or with a group from church that included my friends Chris and Wendy, springtime was full of hiking. Here are photos from my hikes around Vickery Creek, up Pine Mountain, up to the top of Stone Mountain, or to and back from the awesome Hike Inn in north Georgia!

Vickery Creek, hiking, Georgia, waterfall, dam, nature, outdoors, photo, Samsung Galaxy

Around the Vickery Creek trails

Around the Vickery Creek trails – the dam

Pine Mountain, hiking, Georgia, waterfall, dam, nature, outdoors, photo, Samsung Galaxy

Trails around Pine Mountain

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View of sunrise from the Hike Inn

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The group at the starting point to get to the Hike Inn

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No kids were harmed in this photo on the rail line in Stone Mountain

Around Stone Mountain

Again, no kids were harmed… really…

Colorado spring!

In June, I got to visit my friends Annette, Kent and Austin to celebrate two great events in their lives. It also gave me the opportunity to tour the Stanley Hotel which inspired Stephen King, and to finally hike around the table mountain right west of Arvada. Oh, and I got to see a few other friends that I had not seen in a few years!

Stanley Hotel, Estes Park, flower, Stephen King, Colorado, table mountain, explore, photo, Samsung Galaxy

The Stanley Hotel

Celebrating with my Mom and sister

In July, my Mom, sister and I made a long weekend getaway to the Ritz-Carlton in Sarasota. We got to relax, laugh, and -of course- eat a lot of delicious food!

With my Mom and sister!

Sarasota, sunset, purple, orange, palm tree, travel, rest

Great colors as the sun sets west of Sarasota

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Mmm!!!!

Creme brulee

Wine in California

I was fortunate to be able to go to California for work which allowed me to visit ex-Atlanta residents Jenny, Jason, Phoebe and Zoe. While the kids were in school, my hostess and I escaped for a wine tasting at Testarossa – great locale and great wine! Among the best things to do in Cali – wine tasting!

Testarossa, California, winery, wine tasting, fun

Entrance to the tasting room

Awesome setting for a winery!

Cheap fare to Stockholm

John, a college friend who knows how to find a good airfare, suggested a long weekend ‘jump’ to Stockholm. A little bit mad, perhaps, but I could not say no to have another opportunity to explore this great city. And then we drove away from the city to see what we’d run into. Good stuff for another post!

Stamla Gan, Stockholm, Sweden, travel, explore, tourism, Samsung Galaxy

Great view of the heart of Stockholm

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Sweden’s countryside

food, mussels, Stockholm, Sweden, travel, explore

A great dinner on the first night in Stockholm

red ivy, Stockholm, Sweden, travel, explore, tourism, Samsung Galaxy

Beautiful Stockholm!

My travel capstone in 2016 – Asia

Great stuff up to this point but my trip to Southeast Asia certainly took the cake – not just for the long distance to get there (37 hours!). I got to explore and sample Bali, Singapore, Bangkok and the countryside near it, and amazing Cambodia. Wish I had had two more weeks to include Laos and Vietnam – and/or just for more time in these places. Leaving something unseen for a future trip hopefully and grateful for the opportunity to see what I saw!

Bali, Indonesia, Asia, Seminyak, pool, W Resort, W hotel, awesome, Samsung Galaxy S7

The view from my room included a great view of the pool area

Our Lady Help, Mae Klong, church, Catholic ,Bangkok, Thailand

Cycling around the countryside outside of Bangkok

Bangkok, Thailand, tuk tuk, ilivetotravel, travel, adventure, explore

Tuk tuk adventures…

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Standing Buddha with the reclining Buddha

Cambodia, Cambodge, sunset, lake, travel, explore, adventure, Samsung Galaxy

Sunset in Cambodia

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Looking haggard after an early early wake-up to see Angkor Wat at sunrise

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Ta Phrom and its banyan trees!

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Atop the Marina Bay Sands! (Thanks Phil I. for the photo!)

Have a happy and blessed 2017, everyone!!!

Filed Under: Travel Journal, Year in Review Tagged With: Bali, Bangkok, Brunswick, California, Cambodia, Colorado, Elton John, hiking, north Georgia, Sarasota, Singapore, Stanley Hotel, Stockholm, sunset, Testarossa

A Trip around Southeast Asia Is Born

26 November 2016 by Raul Leave a Comment

This month I was able to spend two weeks on vacation traveling to Southeast Asia. Clearly, two weeks far from enough time in an area as diverse and rich in experiences as Southeast Asia but if I waited until I had ALL the time it merits, I may never get started. An opportunity arose a few months ago to travel there in November with a good friend, anchored on a wedding that was to take place in Bali. I had not taken a real vacation this year yet so I had the needed time off from work to go do it. It also happened to be a good moment at work to take the time off. As I discussed the possibility with my friend, it became clear we had similar interests whether it be in the things to explore, the way to travel (hotels, flights, etc.), and what we were hoping to get out of a vacation like this (R and R!).

travel, Bali, resort, beach, relax, W hotel, Seminyak, photo, sunset, clouds, sky, Samsung Galaxy S7, makestic

This is the picture of R&R!!

As usual, I opened a map to envision all the possible destinations outside of Bali. We opted to spend the bulk of the vacation in Bali since there were going to be pre- and post- wedding events but then the balance of the vacation had to be solved. I figured that if I never got to go back, there were two places I had to see: the Angkor Wat temple complex in Cambodia, and Bangkok (made famous by Murray Head with his one hit wonder in the 1980s!). We ended up doing those and adding Phnom Penh (Cambodia’s capital) and Singapore (our Asian entry/exit point in our travels) to the trip. We were flying around a bit so Phnom Penh we chose because we could just take a car and avoid a plane; but then also seeing the infamous killing fields of Pol Pot and the Genocide Museum were a strong draw as we felt they were memorials that we had to see to grasp better Cambodia’s past.

Thanks to websites like TripAdvisor and Kayak, doing research and planning was not too hard (this is not a sponsored post, lol!). The information in TripAdvisor was key in choosing hotels that fit what we were looking for (for example, a great property in Bali by the beach with a cool pool area). Kayak I find easiest to use to compare and contrast not just airfares but routes – I had to solve the sequence of our destinations by ensuring I could find direct flights at the time of the day we wanted to leave or arrive at a given destination. It all seems to have worked out well though at least one morning the departure was earlier than I really would have wanted – hindsight is 20-20, isn’t it?

The itinerary:

Bali: 5 days
Bangkok: 2 nights, 1 day (a FULL day!)
Cambodia: 3 nights, 3 days
Singapore: 2 nights, 1 day, and a few hours overnight at the airport
Delta airplane seat: tons of hours!

So, in the next few weeks, I will be writing about each of these destinations and my favorite things. A lot may have been on-the-beaten-path but there was some off-the-beaten-path that was spectacular and I can’t wait to write about it!

Save

Filed Under: Asia, Bali, Indonesia, Special Photos Tagged With: Asia, Bali, beach, Indonesia, photo, pool, resort, sunset, travel

In-and-Out: Brunswick in Coastal Georgia

1 April 2016 by Raul 1 Comment

While many of my travels allow me to spend time in a city or country for a long enough time, sometimes that is not the case. And that is usually when I go on business trips. It has been quite common for me to travel for long periods of time with work but, especially in the case of domestic travel, trips can be quite short. That means either the ability to explore is limited to off work hours or to just one evening. In the spirit of still sharing what I see, it makes sense to do an “in-and-out” series where I can share the small windows I get to see a place with you. My hope is that it may show glimpses of places, however limited in scope. So here goes the inaugural post – and please let me know if you like the idea.

Coastal Georgia – Historical… at least for Georgia

The state of Georgia does have a coastline, on the east along the Atlantic Ocean. That coast is dotted with many islands like Jekyll, Cumberland, St. Simons, etc. South of the middle of that coastline is the town and port of Brunswick. Now, I know it may not be much to be excited about given Boston, Philly, Paris, London or Athens but in this part of the Southeast, Brunswick goes “far” back as 1738, depending on how you count. Supposedly, around that time, the British set up something in the peninsula where Brunswick sits to almost face the Spanish who were in nearby Florida (credit Oglethorpe) AND who had laid claim to lands in this area too (the boundary between modern-day Florida and Georgia not existing back then). In the end, it is funny to think about that this all would have ended up being Florida has the Brits not initially colonized the area… Brunswick as a town did not get founded until the 1850s but still, its history goes back to colonial times and that fascinates me. It was designed, though, in the late 18th century in a layout similar to Savannah with many squares (14 of them, large and small) almost mathematically laid out in a grid of streets.

Brunswick, Georgia, parks, squares, layout, map

Map of downtown and its squares and parks

One of the smallest squares

Downtown , square, Hanover, Brunswick, Georgia

One of the larger squares: Hanover Square

I wonder if Savannah won some battle against Brunswick to become the premier coastal Georgia city. Brunswick certainly is gifted in terms of its setting. Perhaps Savannah had some edge with the river and better fit for a port? But Brunswick was a very important port in the shipping of lumber abroad. England, Cuba and Brazil were among the destinations for lumber that made it out of the continental U.S. through this port. It is also incredible to learn that the largest blimp base during WW II was located in Brunswick since there was threat of German U-boats along the southeastern U.S. coast.

Approaching Brunswick – Golden Isles Airport

I had a choice to drive for 5 hours or take a short flight. Because of the short duration of the visit, a 10-hr round-trip did not make sense. Now, if the plane had been a larger plane, the flight may have been 30 minutes but it took about 50. That’s OK. On my flight in, I got some good views of the land around, with rivers or creeks and perhaps marshes. I never got to see the ocean as the approach did not require to go past Brunswick towards St. Simons and a turn back.

Brunswick, Georgia, coast, window view, airplane, travel, South, trees, final approach

Lots of tree farms near Brunswick

Downtown Brunswick

I did not have much time in the area and, because of closing hours, I could not visit places like Fort Frederica. But I decided to, at least, make the short drive from my hotel near the tiny airport to the downtown area. The town proper is quite small but it was very charming. And the time of day for visiting, right before sunset was just perfect for the best light.

Old homes in downtown Brunswick

I loved seeing old homes not immaculately restored but kept up. Clearly, Brunswick is not a ‘happening’ place that pulls visitors in left and right but that, perhaps, has kept it more authentic or reflective of how places ‘used to be’ since it is not corrupted by out-of-control development nor by anti-septic ordinances that force artificial curbs, sidewalks, etc.

Coastal sunset in Georgia

The skies were a little dark because it had just rained. You may appreciate in a couple of photos the rainbow coming out. But the best was left for my drive out of Brunswick: a beautiful sunset as a backdrop.

Filed Under: Georgia, Travel Journal, US & Canada Tagged With: architecture, Atlantic coast, Brunswick, clouds, Georgia, river, sky, sunset

Essaouira: A Surprise on the Atlantic Coast of Morocco

20 January 2015 by Raul Leave a Comment

When I decided to go to Morocco, my images of the country were more of what I encountered when I got to Marrakesh (though Marrakesh was so pretty that I didn’t expect every town in the country to look like that). But, after an overnight in Marrakesh, we left the next morning to the coastal town of Essaouira (once known as Mogador a long time ago and pronounced something like “Ah swear” as the final vowel sounds silent to English speakers). I had signed up to do my third trek with Trekking for Kids to help improve the lives of orphaned or at-risk children around the world and the center where we were going to work was located in this seaside town. (Check out the work done at Bayti Centre here.)

The town of Essaouira – not the Morocco I expected

Upon arriving in Essaouira, it felt different. That was likely due to it being a coastal town with nice beaches and the accompanying tourism infrastructure (I suspect the main source of tourists is domestic followed perhaps by those from neighboring Arab or European countries). It looked clean and was not too crowded. The town, currently with about 70,000 inhabitants, was a fort originally established by the Portuguese centuries ago and was coveted by all major European powers. The town proper was begun to be built in the 18th century by Mohammed III. I learned after leaving that scenes of the movie “Othello” by Orson Wells were filmed in the streets of the city.

Essaouira, Morocco, beach, palm tree, Star Wars, travel, photo

No, those are not Star Wars characters but palm trees held while they grow so they don’t blow away

We got to our hotel, the Riad Zahra Morgador, and I was very pleased. It was beautiful and the staff very friendly. I enjoyed our stay there in every way, except the wifi only really worked in the lobby.

fruits, watermelon, grapes, photo, Morocco, Riad Zahra Morgador, hotel

A welcome treat!

Riad Zahra Morgador, Essaouira, Morocco, room, hotel, travel, photo

The room I stayed at, spacious and comfortable

The staircase at the Riad

Did I mention the pool guest?

Among the many surprises was the climate. Of course, I expected being on the coast meant sea breezes and slightly cooler temperatures than Marrakesh (which had hovered round 100 F when I was there). But they were much cooler, like in the low 70s for THE HIGH! A strong sea breeze contributed to actually feeling a little cold even before the sun set as we walked along the beaches one day. And on the beaches for the visitors, there are camels… for the ride. Some of my fellow trekkers decided to try their hand at riding a camel but first… one must successfully get on one!

Essaouira’s Old Medina

Another big surprise was the general personality, if you will, of the town. People were not all over you like in Marrakesh. They were more relaxed, I’d say. Even in the market (or “souk”), I didn’t feel hounded. People would certainly invite you to look at their wares, etc. but once you stepped way or said no, they were very respectful. Given my temperament, this was more conducive for me to actually engage in more meaningful dialogue with store clerks than I would otherwise be inclined to be. It led to a more enjoyable experience for sure. It also led to me buying more as I normally shy away from aggressive sales tactics (which I understand are normal in some places).

Old Medina, Hats, souk, Essaouira, Morocco, market, goods, colorful, travel, photo, Olympus

Colorful wares!

Old Medina, pottery, earthenware,, souk, Essaouira, Morocco, market, goods, colorful, travel, photo, Olympus

And more color and patterns

I found it fascinating to see guys pushing these massive carts loaded with fruit through the throngs of people – masters of their craft! I enjoyed walking around the Old Medina where I felt very safe so I could admire the details of the architecture around.

pharmacie, pharmacy, Essaouira, Old Medina, Morocco, travel, photo, blue door, Samsung Galaxy

Pharmacy near the land-side gate into the Old Medina

A sweet tooth is always one in the U.S. or in Morocco!

However, all is not architecture and fruit carts. A stop at a local patisserie on the edge of the Old Medina towards the beach (Pátisserie Driss) delivers delicious sweets and coffee!

coffee, Old Medina, souk, Essaouira, Morocco, market, goods, colorful, travel, photo, Samsung Galaxy

Ahhhh!!!

sweets, elephant ears, Old Medina, souk, Essaouira, Morocco, market, goods, colorful, travel, photo, Samsung Galaxy

Mmm…

sweets, Old Medina, souk, Essaouira, Morocco, market, goods, colorful, travel, photo, Samsung Galaxy

Double mmm…!

Essaouira’s old walls

On my first day, we explored the North Bastion with its old Portuguese cannons and the sea walls. On another day, we got to spend time along the South Bastion next to Bab Marrakesh (the gate to Marrakesh from the walled Old Medina) where I took some of the sunset pictures shown later in this post.

ramparts, Essaouira, North Bastion, Old Medina, Morocco, travel, photo, Olympus

The Old Medina sea wall (ramparts) are now the perfect setting for shops

cannon, Essaouira, North Bastion, Old Medina, Morocco, travel, photo, Olympus

Cannons along the sea wall

Trekking for Kids, Essaouira, North Bastion, Old Medina, Morocco, travel, photo, Olympus

The group of Trekking for Kids trekkers at the North Bastion

And the sunset photos…

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Approaching the Old Medina at dusk

Old Medina, city walls, sunset, Essaouira, Morocco, market, goods, colorful, travel, photo, Olympus

City walls and the Old Medina as seen at sunset from the South Bastion

Old Medina, city walls, sunset, Essaouira, Morocco, market, goods, colorful, travel, photo, Canon EOS Rebel

Sunset over the Old Medina from the South Bastion

sunset, Essaouira, Morocco, ocean, Atlantic Ocean, travel, photo, Samsung Galaxy

Sunset along the beach – and me

seagull, bird, sun, sunset, Essaouira, Morocco, ocean, Atlantic Ocean, travel, photo, Samsung Galaxy

Photobombing my sunset picture…

So, all around, Essaouira was a pleasant surprise; different than the Morocco I expected. Here is to good surprises!!!

Filed Under: Africa, Morocco, Travel Journal Tagged With: bastion, blue door, camel, Essaouira, market, Morocco, Old Medina, photo, ramparts, riad zahra, souk, sunset, sweets, travel

Photo of the Week: Sunset over Santa Barbara, California

5 August 2014 by Raul 1 Comment

Nothing like a beautiful sunset. And even better: one in California! So I will celebrate that with TWO, not one, of my favorite sunset pictures I took while visiting Santa Barbara!

Filed Under: California, Travel Journal, US & Canada Tagged With: beach, California, Olympus, photo, Santa Barbara, sunset, travel

Photo of the Week – Sunset over Alta

27 January 2014 by Raul 7 Comments

A decade or so ago, I tried skiing in Alta, Utah for the first and only time. But it is not only because I did not like it: I LOVED it. But the friends I ski with live in Colorado and when I’ve gone to visit and go ski, they have chosen ski areas closer to them (and I am not complaining: I’ve discovered many a place I like there too).

Among the many things I loved about my time in Alta was the time we went up in a cat to a ridge to watch the sun set. A relative of my friends worked grooming slopes so he got special permission to take us up on a fun ride to the ridge.

Nothing like a beautiful sunset!

Filed Under: Special Photos, US & Canada, Utah Tagged With: Alta, mountain, ski, sky, sunset, Utah

The Foshay Tower: A View from Above in Minneapolis

22 January 2014 by Raul 2 Comments

Whenever I go to a new town, I seek to take a peek at it from a good vantage point. That usually means a climb or a ride up somewhere (read about my favorite “climbs” in Europe). When I recently went to Minneapolis, I asked where could I go for a view from above. The Foshay Tower was the answer.

Foshay Tower, Minneapolis, architecture, art deco, travel, photo, Canon EOS Rebel, Minnesota

Meet the Foshay Tower!

Foshay Tower, Minneapolis, architecture, art deco, travel, photo, Olympus, Minnesota

Poster depicting the tower – neat!

The tower, completed in 1929 and inspired on the Washington Monument, was converted from an office building into a W Hotel in 2008. To go up to the museum and the observation deck, one buys a ticket for a nominal fee at the front desk of the hotel. The interior of that area of the hotel is of the period when the hotel was built (art deco) but updated for a hotel lobby. I really liked the elevators as they made me feel I was going back to the time when the hotel was built.

The museum at the top provides the history of the tower and was small enough to check it out before stepping outside for the views. Newer buildings have been erected close to the tower so the views are not completely open all around but, as the photos may show, these buildings can provide interesting targets for photos or even help frame photos.

View of Target Field and Target Center

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My activities in Minneapolis were facilitated by its Convention and Visitors’ Bureau.

Filed Under: Minnesota, Travel Journal, US & Canada Tagged With: architecture, Canon EOS Rebel, Foshay Tower, Minneapolis, Minnesota, Olympus, photo, skyline, sunset

Top 16 Memorable Moments from 2013 in Photos

3 January 2014 by Raul 16 Comments

As I think of 2013, I recall the many neat experiences at home and away. Looking through my photos is a great way to bring back the memories. I’d thought I’d share with you some of my most memorable moments from 2013 via photos – some of which have been shared before in other posts and some have not – in no particular order. Hope you like them!

#1 When I first saw Mt. Kilimanjaro

Not necessarily a great photo from a technique standpoint but pretty “momentous”. I landed at Kilimanjaro International Airport around midnight. When I woke up the next day at my hotel, someone told me that if I went outside to the local road, I could see Kilimanjaro, which I was about to climb. Neat to see it but even neater to run into two little locals on their way to school! A moment I will always treasure.

#2 At Uhuru Peak in Mt. Kilimanjaro

I have shared a lot of pictures I love through my prior posts about hiking Kilimanjaro (start with the Day 1 summary if you want to see them all!). So to keep this post manageable, to go along with my first sighting of the mountain in #1, I’d thought I’d then include me by the new sign at Uhuru Peak (the highest point in Mt. Kilimanjaro). This photo is special as I brought my family along for this once-in-a-lifetime adventure!

#3 Ancient ruins

I shared this photo in an earlier post about my visit to Jerash, Jordan but it remains one of my favorite pictures for the year so it deserves inclusion here. Seeing Jerash – a complete unknown to me until that point – was a great discovery in 2013.

Columns, temple, artemis, jerash, jordan, history, roman ruins, travel, photo

Beautiful columns in the Temple of Artemis

#4 Monumental Petra

Everyone has seen the same picture of the Treasury in Petra and that is because there is not much space to back away from it. But there are plenty of other angles to photograph this incredible “carving”. This is one of my favorites. I had been to Petra before but seeing how well this photo turned out back at home made me happy!

#5 Twins?

While touring Jordan, after a long day at Petra, the group went out for dinner. Yes, we were all a little tired. One of our fellow travelers pointed out how our guide and I were not only dressed alike but were in the same pose – and snap! the picture was taken. We were laughing when we realized this was all true and the photo captured that moment so well!

#6 Kid in Mt. Nebo

Exploring Jordan was incredible: lots of history, incredible nature, etc. But the people is what really made the difference: warm and friendly and the smile on this kid’s face captures well how we were made to feel welcome by everyone.

#7 Food, food, food

I summarized my year in food and drinks in an earlier post but this plate deserves inclusion here. It is from a lunch I had in Mardaba, Jordan but I’ve enjoyed great food this year from Manila to Miami, from Jordan to Minneapolis, from Washington, D.C. to Mt. Kilimanjaro! Oh, and don’t forget Tampa and Atlanta!

#8 DragonCon’s parade in Atlanta

DragonCon is an interesting event held in Atlanta every year. I went with friends to see the parade and enjoyed seeing all the characters that walked along. This is one of my favorite pictures from that parade (others here).

#9, 10 and 11 Africa and the great outdoors!

In addition to hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro, my Tanzania experience included doing a safari the right way (4 days, not just a one drive in-and-out as I had done a few years before due to limited time while on a business trip). These images capture well my favorite moments from that experience!

#12 An amazing construction scene

Driving around the neighborhood next to mine in Atlanta, I ran into this scene! What an incredible sight. The house was being lifted so it can sit higher on the ground due to being in a flood plain.

#13 Stormy sky in Atlanta

My hometown provided another of the most memorable photos I took on 2013: stormy skies over Buckhead.

#14 and 15 Pictures of this traveler

During my trip to Jordan, a few pictures of me were taken by fellow travelers. I like these two (which clearly were taken on the same day…) in particular because they show how happy I was at the time. The second one has me with my faithful companion: no, not the donkey but my camera!

#16 Sunset over the Dead Sea with a couple of love birds

To close this post, I will re-share one of my favorite photos ever from 2013 taken by me as the sun set over the Dead Sea from our hotel in Jordan (the Movenpick resort – awesome). I was lucky these two birds were waiting for me on that palm tree to capture the moment!

sunset, Jordan, Dead Sea, birds, palm tree, golden, travel, photo, Olympus

Is this a sunset scene or what??!!

I hope 2014 brings you many memorable moments, whether you capture them on a photo or not!

Filed Under: Special Photos, Travel Journal Tagged With: Africa, Atlanta, bird, columns, Dead Sea, elephant, Jerash, Jordan, kids, Kilimanjaro, memorable, photos, serengeti, sunset, Tanzania, travel

From Suite to Tent: What Made Accommodations Memorable in Jordan

19 July 2013 by Raul 17 Comments

Throughout all my travels, I have experienced different types of accommodations. A rented apartment in Tuscany, Krakow, Paris and Sofia. No-frills basic hotels in Stone Town, Moshi, Aswan and Brasov. Bed & breakfasts in Sonoma, the Dordogne, and Tavistock. Middle-of-the-road hotels in Reston, Stellenbosch and Venice. Top-of-the-line in Santiago de Chile, Mykonos, Boca Raton, and Washington D.C. And a camping tent in Mt. Kilimanjaro.

The type of place I stay at is not happenstance – though staying at a youth hostel in my very late 30s in Oslo was due to no hotels being available for my business trip… quite the experience! I select the type of place I stay at based on many factors, such as:

am I going solo or with others
nature of the trip (business or personal)
am I staying in one place for the most part or roaming
what I want to spend,
what am I looking to experience in this vacation (I may only need a bed or I may want to enjoy a royal experience in my lodging).

But seldom do I experience many types of lodging in one trip. And that’s exactly what I did in my recent trip to Jordan. My trip to Jordan confirmed for me that that special something is what makes accommodations truly enjoyable and memorable (which is just as important as enjoying them at the moment!) regardless of the type of accommodation.

Here are the places I stayed at and why they each became as memorable a part of my trip as the many of the sights and sites I got to see in awesome Jordan.

Standard nice hotel

I got to continue my Marriott stays quite accidentally (as I did not have a hand in choosing this time), in both Amman and Petra. Marriotts give you that standard feel that provides continuity for the very frequent traveler who moves around towns and hotels. I can count on standard amenities, service and comfort in these.

The Amman Marriott first surprises because it feels like it is in the middle of a neighborhood. Then you have to go through security – and odd thing but one that I am sure they do to keep me safe and unconcerned. I felt both. The restaurant offers a great breakfast buffet. The outdoor pool area is spacious enough but there is ALSO an indoor pool and and jacuzzi so something for everyone’s water preferences. The hallways in the room floors feel very luxurious and the rooms are nicer than the regular Marriott I have experienced and I separate this from the room I actually got which was an upgrade due to my Platinum Elite status with the chain: I got quite a nice suite!!!

Marriott Amman Jordan lobby photo Canon EOS Rebel

Amman Marriott: A great lobby to hang out and read your paper

The Petra Marriott is a smaller hotel than the one in Amman – but what it lacks in size (no executive lounge, for example) it makes up for in the view. The hotel faces the mountains around Petra from a high vantage point which makes it a great place to watch sunset as well! The breakfast buffet was also smaller when compared to the Amman one and the staff not as “going out of their way” but it was still a good breakfast.

Lobby area

Atrium

Beautiful sunset looking towards the mountains by Petra

Sunset view towards Petra and the hotel’s pool area

Clearly the view from the Petra Marriott made it most memorable but that feeling of arriving at a “second home”-type of place was also pretty darn cool.

Roughing it in a camp

One night we actually “roughed” it at Camp Rummana in the Dana Biosphere Reserve where one can see nature at its best is this part of Jordan. I put rough in quote because, though sleeping in a tent and using a common bathroom facility are not high-styling it, these tents beat the tent I slept in while climbing Kilimanjaro for sure. The tents were spacious and they had mattresses on the ground. There was a common bathroom facility (a hike away if you woke up in the middle of the night and “had to go”) with showers and also a dining area where we had our meals. Closer to the sleeping tents, was a set of large tents to hang out after dinner before bedtime – true to the Bedouin way.

Inside of a tent in Camp Rummana in the Dana Biosphere Reserve Olympus

A mattress and the basics

tents, Rummana camp, Jordan, Dana Biosphere Reserve

The sleeping tent area of the Rummana camp

Dining area in Camp Rummana in Dana Biosphere Reserve, Jordan

The dining area. No, he is not a giant.

Nothing like being so close to nature to make a place memorable and the Rummana Camp definitely connected me with the great setting.

An ecolodge

After the hike through the Dana-Feynan canyon, we arrived exhausted at the Feynan Ecolodge, right in the heart of the Dana Biosphere Reserve. It has been rated one of the world’s top 50 ecolodges by National Geographic’s Adventure magazine. A partnership between the Royal Conservation Society of Jordan and EcoHotels, this lodge seeks to fit in not only with the terrain but also by respecting the local traditions and culture and providing the opportunity for an economic livelihood for the locals of the area. There is a LOT that is done right by this ecolodge, so remote from main roads and anything urban yet surrounded by some incredible landscapes and skies as well as by the welcoming Bedouins of the area.

The ecolodge as one approaches it – unassuming!

Feynan is an ecolodge which means little or no electricity available (you can re-charge your device on one of two power outlets in the lobby) which is tough but, at the same time, we are too connected some times so maybe this is a good break? It also means it only offers vegetarian fare as meat would require refrigeration. But the food was delicious and quite diverse much to my surprise! The rooms are very nice; no frills but nice. Each has its own bathroom. Oh and water is free – straight from a mineral spring so it is safe to drink! Now, if it is a hot time of the year, know that the rooms have no fans or A/C (of course) – but you are here for the adventure, right? Finally, it also has a rooftop telescope – a great place to explore the skies at night.

Room at Feynan Ecolodge in Jordan's Dana Biosphere Reserve Olympus

Room at the ecolodge

Earthen jar or pitcher in the Feynan Ecolodge - mineral watier

Earthen pitcher of mineral water awaits in the room

The ability to get close to the locals without being taken to a “shop” definitely made the Feynan Ecolodge quite memorable to me as was the interesting sunset I got to watch.

A place with an experience

After exploring the Wadi Rum by pick-up truck well into the evening, we arrived at a Captain’s Desert Private Camp to spend the night. But it was not just to have dinner and spend the night. There was to be music and more of a soirée experience. The tents were different than the Rummana Camp‘s but no worse, no better. There was a nice area to have dinner and hang out, and, in fact, some folks opted to sleep there under the stars. What was really cool about this place was that it was nested in canyon walls and it was beautiful in the morning.

Captain desert camp in the Wadi Rum, Jordan

Tents in Captain’s Desert Camp

Hanging out at the camp

The Bedouin experience and the setting made the Captain’s Desert Camp quite a memorable place to stay. I wish I had been feeling 100% that night to enjoy it more!

A hideaway

We got to stay at this hideaway two times each for one night. The Evason Ma’in Six Senses hotel may have some details to work out, mainly in its managerial/front office efforts, but the place is in an idyllic and very secluded setting. Further, it provides great comfort in its rooms, offers great views, and is around hot springs that offer great relaxation.

Room at the Evason Ma'in Six Senses hotel in Jordan

Room. Really like the wooden shutter doors and spacious comfort

Lobby of the Evason Ma'in Six Senses hotel in Jordan

Lobby area

Detail of the lobby area

The uniqueness of the setting and the proximity and relative isolation of the hot springs as well as the inviting rooms made this place a memorable part of my trip.

And the “living-it-up” resort

My last night in Jordan was by the Dead Sea, where great resorts are located. I stayed at the Mövenpick, a 5-star resort with a great view, a great offering in terms of food and fun, and an interesting design whether in architectural details or in the concept itself.

Movepick resort Dead Sea Jordan luxury comfort

Incredible details in the decorations at the main entrance

The room was not as luxurious as I would have expected but it was comfortable and spacious for sure.

The hotel grounds had several pools including one only for adults (closest to the Dead Sea).

Pools Movenpick hotel resort Dead Sea Jordan Olympus

One of the all-ages pool overlooking the Dead Sea

The main hotel building had many different areas to lounge in with very nice decorations and details. The restaurant was outstanding in the diversity and quality of the buffet it offered for dinner and breakfast.

Room

Lounge Movenpick resort by the Dead Sea in Jordan Olympus

One of the many sitting areas

At night there was an area that offered music and belly dancing without the corniness typically associated with belly dancing in the U.S. (where there HAS to be audience participation); you could just really appreciate the art form here without worrying you were going to be called upon to make a fool of yourself…

Movenpick Dead Sea Jordan resort outdoor Olympus

Outdoor area for drinks and entertainment in the evening

What made this place the most memorable was the amazing sunset I got to live through and watch…

Sunset Dead Sea pool Movenpick resort Jordan amazing awesome infinity Olympus photo

The lowest of the pools, closest to the Dead Sea during a GREAT sunset

Glorious, eh?

Sunset Dead Sea birds tree Jordan Canon EOS Rebel, photo

Is this a sunset scene or what??!!

Nuff said!

During this trip, I was a guest of the Jordan Tourism Board. That notwithstanding, the stories I share were my real experiences and nothing else. As they always are!

Filed Under: Asia, Jordan, Travel Journal Tagged With: accommodations, Amman, camp, Canon EOS Rebel, ecolodge, evason, Feynan, hotel, Jordan, lodging, luxury, Marriott, movenpick, Petra, photos, resort, rummana, six senses, spa, sunset

Photo of the Week – Sunset over the Serengeti

12 May 2013 by Raul 2 Comments

Right after my hike of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, I went on safari to Lake Manyara, the Serengeti, and the Ngorongoro Crater. One of the best views during the safari was seeing the sunset… Magnificent!

Sunset over the Serengeti in Tanzania while on safari - a fiery sky

One beautiful sunset!

Filed Under: Africa, Tanzania Tagged With: beauty, magnificent, orange, rays, safari, serengeti, sky, sun, sunset, Tanzania

Photo Essay – Colors of Jordan

9 May 2013 by Raul 46 Comments

Before my trip to Jordan, I had this mental image that Jordan was mostly a desert. I knew Jordan faced the Gulf of Aqaba and the Dead Sea and I recalled from my quick visit to Petra (on a day trip from Sharm-el-Sheikh, Egypt), that Petra would have some reddish color to it. But it’s like, if I thought how Jordan would look like, I would have said “fairly mono-chromatic”.

OK, I exaggerate a little. But the range of vivid colors I encountered during my visit became quite apparent once I was home walking through each of the 3,000+ pictures I took during my 9 days there (yes, quite a few were duplicates as I tried different settings and angles for a given “scene”; so far I am down to around 2,000). What I found out is that that desert color was a perfect background for all the others colors to pop. And pop they did!

So, I have decided to share where I found color that caught my eye that will, hopefully, give you a glimpse into Jordan! When you are done, I would love to hear back from you on which of these photos you like the most (photos are numbered for ease of reference!).

I found color in the landscapes in Jordan…

Much as I had experienced back in 1998, I got to see the colors typically associated with deserts. But on this trip, I also saw the color of canyons and gorges. White, sand, red – all colors represented in the landscape around me as I hope the following pictures show…