Grand Escapades
Travel Photography & Travel Experiences of Africa, South America, the Middle-East & Asia
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 →
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 →
Steaming oceans accompanied us going further north towards Westport, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand
Of the 40 days in New Zealand, we spent 4 weeks on the South Island and a little less than two weeks on the North Island. If the start was not the most pleasant one, we slowly got caught from the unique landscape of both Islands, which couldn’t be more different… Continue Reading →
Ranginui´s Retreat, Aitutaki Atoll, Cook Islands
We spent three weeks on the Cook Islands in February 2008 during our Round The World Trip: altogether 9 days on Rarotonga, 7 on Aitutaki and 5 on Atiu. The Cook Islands were definitely a highlight in our trip and finally we discovered some of those Pacific Islands that matched our ideas of the “South Seas”. Continue Reading →
Rano Raraku, the quarry where all the Moais were carved from the volcanic stone, Rapa Nui or Easter Island, Pacific
I spent one week on Easter Island in February 2008 and had the immense chance to witness the Tapati Rapa Nui or Rapa Nui Festival, as well as to discover the mysterious Moai… Continue Reading →
Ahu Tongariki, the largest Ahu ever built with 15 Moais
There are many places on Rapa Nui / Easter Island where the Moai, these amazing statues that seem to stare into the distance, can be found, but five locations are truly spectacular:
View of Rio de Janeiro & the Pao de Acucar from Morro de Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Itinerary And Time Of The Visit
In 2007, I spent 4 weeks in Brazil and entered the country from Venezuela, discovering Manaus, Recife & Olinda, Fernando de Noronha, Salvador de Bahia & Morro de Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo. In 2015, I spent 6 weeks there and visited Salvador de Bahia & Morro de Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto & Tiradentes), Rio de Janeiro & Ilha Grande, Iguazu (both Brazilian & Argentinian sides), Bonito, the Northern Pantanal (entering from Cuiaba and going to Porto Jofre), Brasilia & last but not least Sao Paulo. Continue Reading →
Sunset over the Pantanal, Porto Jofre, Brazil
Type Of Travel
My two visits to Brazil couldn’t be more different: in 2007, I was on a Round The World Trip and hence traveling on a budget. In 2015, I was on a 6 week trip to Brazil, and was actually Flashpacking: mostly pleasant Pousadas instead of Hostels, indulging quite a few activities and local tours, usually flying instead of long bus drives and also going to less traveled areas like Brasilia, Bonito & the Northern Pantanal, which turned out to be very expensive. Continue Reading →
Jaguar, Porto Jofre, Northern Pantanal, Brazil
In 2007, I spent 4 weeks in Brazil and entered the country from Venezuela, discovering Manaus, Recife & Olinda, Fernando de Noronha, Salvador de Bahia & Morro de Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro & Sao Paulo. In 2015, I spent 6 weeks there and visited Salvador de Bahia & Morro de Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte, Ouro Preto & Tiradentes), Rio de Janeiro & Ilha Grande, Iguazu (both Brazilean & Argentinian sides), Bonito, the Northern Pantanal (entering from Cuiaba and going to Porto Jofre), Brasilia & last but not least Sao Paulo.
Continue Reading →
Capoeira dancers performing with their class on the street, Salvador de Bahia, Brazil
More than 4.5 million African slaves where stolen from Africa and brought to Brazil, mostly to work under inhumane conditions in plantations & mines for the Portuguese Conquistadores. They were forced to assimilate and to turn to Christianity (partly adapting this new religion to their own culture, creating for instance the Codomblé) and forbidden to practice anything that would look like self-defence or Martial Arts.