Grand Escapades
Travel Photography & Travel Experiences of Africa, South America, the Middle-East & Asia
Fishermen on Inle Lake, Myanmar
Travel Photography is as diverse as Travel Experiences can be, and this very diversity is probably its main specificity. You actually have to cover almost all possible fields of Photography: Portraits / People; Landscapes; Architecture; Wild Life; and maybe Sport in some countries. Continue Reading →
Treasury or Al-Khazneh at sunrise, Petra, Jordan
Jordan was the first “real” trip / road-trip we undertook with our 3 kids (aged 4, 4 & 6 at the time of travel in April 2024). So clearly, photography was no priority, for obvious reason. Nonetheless, there are so many photo opportunities in Jordan that I could shoot quite a few nice pictures.
With more time, especially early morning and late afternoon, opportunities can be countless. What helped us a lot, though, was the fact that with the war in Gaza, tourists simply avoid the region. Imagine being alone in front of “The Monastery” in Petra… Unique! Continue Reading →
Jal Mahal, the “Water Palace”, Jaipur
Rajasthan has immensely changed since my first trip back in April 2012! The first thing that immediately stroke me was the mere fact that now tourism is mainly local. The most surprising fact was maybe how well organized & clean the major spots of Rajasthan now are. Only once we were back to Delhi had we the impression we had escaped this “sanitized experience”. Then, what were hidden gems 10 years back are now surrounded with 5 stars resorts full of SUVs, catering for the new middle / upper class of India discovering their own country. All in all? Rajasthan is far easier to travel than it once was, and quicker! Better infrastructure and improved organization make your life so much easier. Of course, it will appear less confusing and more “On the main touristic tracks” than it was 10 years ago. Continue Reading →
Common dolphins (Delphinus delphis), Fjords or Khor of Musandam
Oman is special. Where else on the Arabic Peninsula has some of the “Sinbad the Sailor” feeling survived? Besides this 1001 Nights flair, we were stunned by lush oases, ancient fortresses, sandy beaches, dramatic mountain scenery, rolling desert dunes, picturesque wadis, deep Fjords and overly friendly people. All in one country! – Here you find a selection of 62 pictures from Oman.
Forallac and Santa Cristina d’Aro
We spent 4 weeks in Catalonia and the Costa Brava, Spain, in August 2021. This was our first trip abroad since the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, and our first trip abroad since the twins had been born.
The Costa Brava and Catalonia were definitely not high on my travel list, especially in the summer and the heart of the tourist season. Nonetheless, I was very pleased to discover that it was indeed quite easy to partly escape the crowds, and that some parts at least were not completely built and turned into mass-tourism hotspots: beautiful Medieval Villages, a Wild Coast that really deserves its name, and of course Barcelona, which I discovered for the first time.
Of course, with 3 kids between 16 months and 3 years old, we were somewhat limited in our activities, and with photography – So here you go: my first Photo Essay solely shot with an iPhone 11.
The Fortified Walls of Taroudant
Morocco took me by surprise, honestly! It had never been somehow on my radar in the past, and I didn’t really know what to expect – Though I must admit I was surely biased about a country I considered mass-tourism orientated.
True, you will not be the only tourist in Marrakech… By far not! But as soon as we left Marrakech, we could enjoy a beautiful country with most of the time surprisingly few other foreign visitors, even though we covered a very classic route: Marrakech – Essaouira – Taroudant – Agdz in the Draa Valley – Ait Ben Haddou – Marrakech. Continue Reading →
Dornoch Firth, Scotland
Northern Scotland is definitely one of the very scenic areas in Europe, offering majestic sceneries & ever-changing landscapes, especially along the NC 500 and the Northwest of the country.
Driving along those wee, windy roads, soaking in the windswept landscape, is probably one of the most spectacular road-trips I ever took.
Taking pictures there is about chasing the light, and this very light is what will make it so special… Or so dull!
If we had a few really beautiful days, we also were rained in for 3 long days and else experience 4 seasons in a day…
But this is exactly when the landscape turns majestic, with a unique mix of dark skies and sporadic sunlight on the horizon. Truly magic!
Continue Reading →
Popular Swing on the Beach at Sunset in Gili Air
Bali is a popular destination, deservedly! Stunning beaches, evergreen rice terraces, high volcanoes, spiritual and nonesuch temples, colorful markets, overloaded motorbikes, … This on an island incredibly easy to travel, catering for all budget, and offering pleasant experiences for high-end honey-mooners and hardcore backpackers, first-time Asia tourists and experienced travelers, beach-bums and culture-avid discoverers alike. Continue Reading →
Statue of Icarus and the Temple of Concordia, Valle dei Templi, Agrigento
We spent 9 days in Sicily, and with only that much at hand, we decided to focus on some of the highlights on the eastern part of the island: we spent 2 nights in Cefalù, 1 night in Taormina, 3 nights in Syracuse, 1 night in Ragusa and last but not least 2 nights in Agrigento.
Nazarenos, in the streets of Cordoba
Andalusia is surely one of the cultural highlights when visiting Spain, if not Europe! A crossroad between Christianity & Islam during centuries, it is a subtle blend of both European & Arabic cultures. The Alhambra in Granada, the Mezquita in Cordoba & the Alcazar in Sevilla, only to name the most famous highlights, belong to the most magnificent buildings in Europe and in the world.
But experiencing this region during the Semana Santa, the Holy Week before Easter, was an even greater experience, something profoundly intriguing, disturbing, and fascinating. The numerous Processions we witnessed were absolutely bewildering. I honestly did not expect to experience something so stunning and so immensely different within Europe! Continue Reading →