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The 15 Best Markets For Taking Stunning Pictures

By on 11. January 2016 in Bolivia, China, Colombia, Ethiopia, India, Ladakh, Mali, Myanmar, Oman, Senegal, Vietnam

A Personal Selection of Markets in Africa, Asia, the Middle-East and South America

Woman smoking at the 5-Day Market on Inle Lake, Myanmar - The five villages on the shore of Lake Inle take turns, so there is actually a market each day of the week.

Woman smoking at the 5-Day Market on Inle Lake, Myanmar – The five villages on the shore of Lake Inle take turns, so there is actually a market each day of the week.

No matter where I travel, I immensely enjoy visiting markets. Many of them, especially in Africa & in Asia, but also in the Middle East & in South America, are an assault on your senses: colorful and at times disorientating, aromatic or even intoxicating, vibrant and eventually hectic places… But this is where “the real life” can be found, so different from touristic highlights (though some markets have turned extremely popular in the last years, also amongst tour groups…) Continue Reading →

China – A Selection Of 54 Pictures

By on 1. November 2015 in Asia – Photos, China, Photo Galleries

In Chengyang, a Dong Village near Sanjiang, Guilin region, China

We traveled the 30 days our visa permitted throughout China’s southwestern provinces in Mai 2008: Guangxi (Guilin, Yangshuo), Sichuan (Chengdu, Leshan, Emei Shan), Yunnan (Lijiang, Dali, Kunming, Yuanyang) & Xishuangbanna (Jingling). This was definitely not enough! Nevertheless, we now know it can be easily done without a common language. This introduction to China also was an immense eye opener and some of the negative concepts we had of this country we corrected or simply vanished! Continue Reading →

The Rice Terraces Of Yuanyang

By on 31. October 2015 in China

Photo Essay

Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang (here in Duoyishu), Yunnan, China

Rice Terrasses of Yuanyang (here in Duoyishu), Yunnan, China

At 05:00 am, we set off and arrived at the village of Duoyishu, long before the sun peeked around the mountain edge. We listened to the village coming to life and gasped at the unreal scenery, an enormous area of terraces carved from the mountain slopes, still sitting there in the semi-darkness. Even the chilly temperatures could not distract us from this most impressive scenery. It was just the six of us enjoying this magic awakening. Continue Reading →

Feeling 7.9 on the Richter scale!

By on 30. October 2015 in China

Monday, May 12th 2008 – 02.28 pm

Earthquake in Chengdu, on May 12th, 2008, at 14:28 - 7.9 on Richter Scale!

Earthquake in Chengdu, on May 12th, 2008, at 14:28 – 7.9 on Richter Scale!

We were in Chengdu / Sichuan, 92 kilometres from the epicentre when the earthquake hit with full force Monday afternoon at 02:28 pm, with an incredible strength of 7.9 on the Richter Scale (max. is 9.0). We needed a few seconds to realize what was happening. We then rushed into a doorway to look for shelter. Continue Reading →

Chengdu – Giant Panda Breeding Research Base

By on 29. October 2015 in China

 

Giant Pandas, Giant Pandas Breeding Research Base, Chengdu, China

Giant Pandas, Giant Pandas Breeding Research Base, Chengdu, China

No tourist leaves this city without visiting the Giant Panda Breeding Research Base, with its 50 giant and red pandas. May is the end of the “falling in love period”, so in September we would have seen the very young ones. Nevertheless, they are not a pretty sight right after they are born. Continue Reading →

Travel Guide To China

By on 27. May 2008 in China
Chengyang Wind & Rain Bridge, Dong Village near Sanjiang, Guilin region, China

Chengyang Wind & Rain Bridge, Dong Village near Sanjiang, Guilin region, China

We traveled the 30 days our visa permitted throughout China’s southwestern provinces in Mai 2008: Guangxi (Guilin, Yangshuo), Sichuan (Chengdu, Leshan, Emei Shan), Yunnan (Lijiang, Dali, Kunming, Yuanyang) & Xishuangbanna (Jingling). This was definitely not enough! Nevertheless, we now know it can be easily done without a common language. This introduction to China also was an immense eye opener and some of the negative concepts we had of this country we corrected or simply vanished! Continue Reading →

China – Budget

By on 26. May 2008 in China, Country Budget Guide
Leshan, the Biggest Bhudda, near Chengdu, China

Leshan, the Biggest Bhudda, near Chengdu, China

China’s Southwest is unbelievably cheap to travel for western tourists: even though we significantly upgraded our standard of living and traveling, no longer really taking care of what we spent, we spent about 35 Euros a person per day. This could have been cut by at least one third, of course if we wanted to! Continue Reading →

Eating Out In China

By on 25. May 2008 in China
Of course, we tried many different eateries ... Some of them very simple!

Of course, we tried many different eateries … Some of them very simple!

Eating was heaven! Even though we never consulted the Lonely Plant when it came to choosing restaurants in the last 10 months, because the places recommended are always far more expensive, in China we have come to appreciate those recommendations: the places mentioned in the guide usually have an English menu! Continue Reading →

Xishuangbanna – The Southwestern Most Part Of China

By on 24. May 2008 in China
Jinghong, the capital of the Xishuangbanna province, seems like the Chinese Riviera, China

Jinghong, the capital of the Xishuangbanna province, seems like the Chinese Riviera, China

When we visited Yuanyang, we were rather close to Jinghong, the capital of the Xishuangbanna province. However, the bus trip would have taken two full days on very bumpy roads. So we took the bus back to Kunming and flew the 40 minutes from there to Jinghong, where we were in for another surprise. Continue Reading →

Different Ways To Explore China

By on 23. May 2008 in China

 

From left to right: Gilles, Murielle, Martin, a German biking around the world, Camille, Michael - Yuanyang, Yunnan, China

From left to right: Gilles, Murielle, Martin, a German biking around the world, Camille, Michael – Yuanyang, Yunnan, China

Our fellow travelers in Yuanyang were, as usually, most interesting! Martin has traveled to China 11 times since 1992 (!) and knows every corner of Northwest & Southwest of China. He had lots to tell about how the country has transformed in a positive way. Especially the attitude towards foreigners has changed dramatically, reflecting the official government policy. Continue Reading →