Longing For Sun-Rays.

Springtime, longing for sun-rays and a long weekend at the beginning of May meant that we needed to fly somewhere South. Trapani in Sicily made the cut.

Unless you fly with a European budget airline, getting to Sicily from Vienna is impossible without a stop-over in Rome. But since Bratislava is less than an hour away from our capital city, we booked a Ryan Air flight from here directly to Trapani. Less than two hours after take off, we landed smoothly on the west coast of Sicily.

Ciao Regione Siciliana.

A short walk around the area after checking into the apartment and a glass of red wine at one of the open bars brought the real holiday feeling, which was exactly what we were after.

Trapani begins where the sea ends. The city is an important fishing port, being set on a low peninsula stretching in an arc. The fish market is one of the top spots in the city and the place where the people of Trapani meet every morning. You’ll find all sorts of fresh fish here, from tuna (the largest tuna fishery in Sicily is here), swordfish, shrimps, sardines, squids to other sea creatures. Since we had an apartment with a nice kitchen, it was clear that one of these fresh fish would land on our dinner plate. You really can’t visit Trapani without trying the local cuisine. It’s influenced by Trapani’s role as a marine town, therefore menus are dominated by fish, especially recipes including tuna, which is prepared in many different ways: fried, grilled, baked, boiled or used in the preparation for sauces.

Gateway to the Aegadian Islands.

Apart from the salt and fish production, Trapani is also the main gateway to the nearby Aegadian Islands. We took the Hydrofoil to Favignana, the largest of three islands. This fairly easy access hasn’t spoiled the island (yet), because it’s a pretty low-key destination. Visitors are mostly Italians.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with the lovely smell of flowers. The entire vegetation was blooming this time of the year and the scent of lavender, thyme and many other flowers will accompany you throughout your stay here.

Travellers who come here are happy to fit in with the leisurely island way of life. Simply rent a scooter and you’re good to go. Small bars and typical Italian restaurants are the perfect spot to stop by after a long day out in the sun. One of the charms of this island is that it has never been populated with villas, nor frequented by high society, so compared to the crowded tourist island of Capri for example, Favignana has a refreshing simple authenticity.

Locking the harbour where Peter III of Aragon landed in 1282, Trapani still gives the impression of simple Sicilian authenticity. .

When walking along the Admiral Stati in Trapani, you will notice the ancient castle “Castello della Colombaia”. Hannibal’s father, built the tower around 260 B.C. called “Peliade” at the same spot where the castle lies today.

The fish at Trapani’s fish market is as fresh as you can get it. We highly enjoyed watching the locals barter for their fish and visit with each other during this morning ritual.

The real action happens at around 5.00am in the morning when the fisherman come in with their catch, while most of the locals go and do their shopping after 8.00am.

The fish market in Trapani has all kinds of shellfish and other sea creatures besides just fish.

Trapani’s fish market is colourful and noisy and a great possibility to get to know a bit of Trapani’s daily life. You will get to see some really bizarre fish – and also human – examples.

Favignana is a great place to absorb the islands idyllic atmosphere.

Even though life on the island of Favignana, the younger generation knows how to have fun – here in a cute little Piaggio.

Cala Rossa beach on Favignana island lies a pretty bay with turquoise sea and is one of the most visited beaches of the island.

It’s quite a scramble to get down the rocks of Cala Rossa beach, but determined holiday-makers don’t this obstacle keep them from it.

February.

Oman: The year started off with a visit to a country new to us. We only had 8 full days in Oman, yet we managed quite well: We spent a few days in Muscat and then we were off on a 4×4 road trip through Jebel Akhdar. Our travel here made such an impression that we’ll return again in February 2015.

Sabres in Muscat, Oman.

Australia: Australia is my second home. I don’t know how many times I’ve been Down Under, but two hands are definitely not enough to count. Part of our family lives in the most amazing city Sydney, which makes things a lot easier. It’s been almost 5 years since my last visit, so it was long overdue. Plus it was my starting point for my two months time-out.

Sydney, Wellington and Vienna – my three favourite cities (to live in), with Sydney on top.

March.

United Arab Emirates: Due to a personal matter, I had to interrupt my time-out for a few days and fly back home. After only 48 hours in Vienna, my journey started again with a 3 day stop-over in Dubai.

The Dubai Marina is is an artificial canal city, built along a stretch of the Persian Gulf shoreline.

New Zealand: A visit to New Zealand has been a dream of mine since I listened to my uncle’s stories. He travelled through NZ for more than 4 months many years ago. And ever since I saw the first part of the LOTR trilogy, it was clear that I had to see this beautiful country for myself. It only took 12 years for me to finally do so. And it was the most amazing one-month road trip I could ever imagine…

Every single stop on my New Zealand road trip was a highlight, yet Milford Track – with a cruise at Milford Sound at the end – was an adventure I will never forget.

May.

Italy: Trapani in Sicily is an important fishing port and the main gateway to the nearby Aegadian Islands. And it was our travel destination last May.

Much of Trapani’s economy still depends on the sea. Fishing and canning are the main local industries.

June.

Italy: Austria lies in the Central Europe, which is very convenient – especially if you’re a travel addict and have 4 days to spare. South Tyrol (the area around Antholzer Lake to be exact) was on our agenda for a long weekend. This meant that we’d go on a road trip through the Austrian Alps, which was something we’ve wanted to do for a long time as well.

The landscape around Austria’s highest mountain – the Grossglockner – even blew us Austrians away…

July.

Bangladesh: Bangladesh is definitely one of the most intriguing places one could ever visit. And also one of the most adventurous! It was our second trip within three years and we can honestly say that Bangladesh has become one of our favourite travel destinations, with Dhaka as an exciting city as a gateway.

Our human hands are unique. Only we can grasp, hold, move, and manipulate objects with them. Hands are essential for any kind of work. Here you can see the hands of a blind woman begging in the streets of Dhaka. It almost feels like she knows how much money has just been given her…

Thailand: Bangkok was just a stop-over point, but if it’s on the list, then we spend at least a couple of days here. Thailand’s capital city is one of our favourite for exploring markets … and as you know, markets are our favourite shooting place, therefore it was a real paradise.

Khlong Toei Market is Bangkok’s biggest fresh market and you will find almost anything you need here.

August.

China: Good old China is a must at least once every year. Visiting the Honghe Hani rice terraces in Yunnan and the Guoliang Tunnel Road in Henan were two travel highlights of the year.

A local Chinese smoking a pipe in the old town of Xinjie, Henan Province.

The Netherlands: Travelling to Amsterdam for the Canal Pride was something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. And therefore, it was yet another first in 2014. The spirit and energy you could feel in the city – not only during Pride week – is something I’ll think about for many years to come.

The Prinsengracht in Amsterdam is one of the most well-known Gracht’s and the heart of the Canal Pride Parade.

October.

Hong Kong: Futuristic architecture, a breathtaking skyline, amazing cuisine combined with traditional Chinese culture is what describes Hong Kong best. To name just a few of the things we did here: By accident stepping into the centre of the Umbrella Movement, drinking a few cocktails at one of Hong Kong’s most well-known rooftop bars, exploring the several wet markets around the city and finding the balance between tradition and modernity. Loved it!

Hong Kong is a colourful city full of culture, tradition and trendiness.

China: Three days in Guangzhou are definitely not enough, since we’re talking about the third largest city in China, yet time was limited and therefore we made the most out of it.

Chinese men playing a game of Mahjong in the streets of Guangzhou.

December.

France: It was yet again a long weekend that brought us to Paris at the beginning of December. One might think that 36 hours is not a long time, but if you’re on a mission and know where to go, you’ll see more than you thought you could.

Paris is a city for every season. Here with its landmark the Eiffel Tower.

Wellington is no sleepy layover town where you catch the ferry across the Cook Strait. I immediately fell in love with New Zealand’s capital. It’s one of those cities I could actually live in. Who knows, maybe some day… Before I got to Wellington, I spent a couple of very lonely days on Cape Palliser, so a little city life didn’t turn me off. I decided to stay for two full days.

I spent most of my days strolling the city along the beautiful bay, sitting on one of the side walks along the way with a good cup of strong coffee.; no visit to the city is complete without a walk along the waterfront.

Up from Mount Victoria Lookout you have get a panoramic view of city and harbour. You can watch the ferries sailing in through the harbour and aircraft taking off from Wellington Airport. It’s also one of the city’s most popular visitor sites. And for LOTR fans, it’s also quite a special place; some of the very first footage for The Lord of the Rings Trilogy was filmed here. “We found a really good, spooky-looking road for the scene where the four Hobbits run and hide under the tree roots as the Black Rider approaches” Sir Peter Jackson says of the site on Mount Victoria, which was used in the famous ‘Get off the road’ scene. Unfortunately I came across this only after I left Wellington, so I have to return some day – which is on my agenda for 2015 anyway.

The view of Wellington from Mount Victoria Lookout.

Walking along the waterfront of Wellington is an absolute must for every visitor.

Paddling along the waterfront in a Kayak is also a good way to experience Wellington a different way.

Mount Victoria in Wellington is a well known spot for visitors and looks like a nice area to live in.

Downtown Wellington viewed from the top of Mount Victoria.

Street artist have done some amazing graffiti work in the centre of Wellington.

Exploring Downtown Wellington was a real highlight.

I love street art because it’s available for everyone at any time of the day.

Take off at the ferry terminal if the Interislander in Wellington.

The ferry ride across Cook Strait was a real highlight. Especially when reaching the South Island.

The world’s largest permanent light and sound show.

There are many “Must See” sights in Hong Kong. The world’s largest permanent light and sound show is one of them. If you thought Victoria Harbour was a dazzling sight on its own, hang around for “A Symphony of Lights”, the multimedia show which takes place daily at 8.00pm and involves more than 40 buildings on both sides of the harbour. Whether you’re up at The Peak, at one of the many rooftop bars (like for example Wooloomooloo rooftop bar), The Avenue of the Stars or the Star Ferry across the harbour, you’ll be impressed by all the lasers, skylights, searchlights, LED effects and sometimes even fireworks.

Hong Kong Skyline view up from the Wooloomooloo rooftop bar in Wan Chai.

The skyline of Hong Kong is one of the most spectacular in the world.

Walking across the over-path towards Hong Kong Central.

The “Symphony of Lights” laser show is one of the major attractions in Hong Kong.

40 building participate in the “Symphony of Lights” laser show in Hong Kong every day at 8.00pm.

If you take the main road from Muscat via Nizwa it’s a smooth 4 hour drive to Jebel Shams Plateau, also known as the Mountain of the Sun. Jebel Shams is actually the highest mountain of the country and part of the Jebel Akhdar Mountain range, which is one of Oman’s most spectacular areas. The trip up here can easily be expanded if you have the time for some detours through the mountains; then it can take up to 2 or 3 days to get there. If you decide to go for this, definitely bring your camp gear since you won’t come across many rest houses, plus a night under the stars is an unforgettable experience. Depending on the season, it can get quite chilly at night in higher regions, so be prepared to bring some warm clothes.

The area here is absolutely stunning, with abandoned villages as well as small oasis’ where fruits and vegetables are grown, with sophisticated hundred years old watering systems. You won’t come across too many people on your trip here, apart from some few trekkers and mountain bikers. For us, it was an amazing experience into a world we have not been to before. The Arabian Peninsular was never high on our bucket list, but Oman clearly changed our views. Our tickets are booked for Muscat in February 2015 already…

The landscape of Jebel Akhdar in Oman, with Jebel Shams as its highest point.

The region of Jebel Akhdar in Oman will take your breath away.

The mountains of Jebel Akhdar in Oman make quite an impression – especially during sunset.

Driving through the mountainous landscape of Jebel Akhdar in Oman definitely required a 4×4 drive.

The mountains of Jebel Akhdar in Oman make you feel like you’re a million miles away from civilisation … partly also because this actually is the case.

It’s a deal.

Ulli and I made a deal not too long ago, to drive somewhere new at least once every second month. After all, we live in the centre of Europe and have neighbouring countries pretty much in front of our doorstep. This time, South Tyrol was on our list. We’ve been here before, but never in the area around the Antholzer See. For a travel photographer, this area offers truly great photo opportunities!

Crystal clear turquoise water.

After driving along for a while, we checked into a small farmhouse B&B and were ready to explore the area further. Accommodation can easily be found in the surrounding villages, either on the Austrian or the Italian side, so there’s no need for pre-booking.

Anyway, as a good start, we decided to walk around the crystal clear Antholzer See. The turquoise water is in fact out of this world! Combine this with the amazing mountain range - still with some snow on the top - as well as the thick forests surrounding the lake, and you’ll get the most enduring impression ever!

It was a long weekend and therefore we were not the only ones, but the good thing is that this location is pretty much a dead end, so not too many people come here. There is only one road that continues to the Austrian border up to the pass, as a one way system regulated with a traffic light. The road is pretty narrow and winding, so only cyclists can get along fast.

In this area it seems like time has stood still. Sure, there’s (limited) internet and phone access, but the way of living hasn’t changed all that much. I felt like the mountains radiate some sort of energy that automatically makes you feel more at ease. Exactly what you need after a busy week in the city…

The village of Bruneck.

A visit to the largest town of the area followed. Bruneck is a great place for real authentic Italian food, which was what we were after. But it has more to offer: It’s a cute little town with a neat pedestrian area, cosy cafés, pubs, restaurants and shops. Bruneck’s picturesque streets bustle with life. Nearby await the Dolomites where walkers, hikers and climbers can set out for some of South Tyrol’s most striking beauty and variety.

This short weekend trip again reminded us of the fact, that Europe has some of the most stunning landscapes you can find!

The water of the Antholzer See, South Tyrol, is so clear that reflections can be seen pretty much any given day (if the weather is on your side).

Walking around the Antholzer See, South Tyrol, will give you some of the most stunning impressions in the area…

The best time to visit the area around the Antholzer See, South Tyrol, is definitely summer and the beginning of autumn.

Living away from all the hassle of a city has it’s advantages: Not only do you get a stunning view every time you look out the window, but if feels like the way of living is more relaxed…

The striking mountains in the area around the Antholzer See, South Tyrol, are really amazing!

For a travel photographer, the area around the Antholzer See, South Tyrol, offers great photo opportunities.

How we got there.

We were on a 7-week long journey with China as our final destination. Travelling around in Asia is pretty easy and convenient thanks to Air Asia, because the airlines covers so many points of interest for a traveller around the continent. And it’s also one of the most reliable ones… Anyway, so from Bangkok, we headed to Kunming, which is the starting point for the Honghe Hani rice terraces. After an overnight stay, we hopped onto one of the buses to Xinjie, departing from the southern station. It’s a long drive, so calculate at least 6 to 7 hours. Make sure you clarify which Yuanyang you are going to when you hop on a bus, since Xinjie is also knows as Old/New Yuangyang, depending on where you are… yes, it’s pretty confusing.

The village of Xinjie.

The closer you get to Xinjie, the more interesting the landscape becomes. Xinjie itself is a neat town with a very interesting local market and community gatherings in the evenings on the main plaza.

Once a week every larger surrounding village has its market day and then the area gets really busy. Ethnic groups can be seen in their traditional costumes, since western clothing isn’t very common here; locals simply love their traditions, which also includes men smoking strange looking pipes that seem to be unique to this area…

Xinjie village – aka Old Yuanyang – is the traditional heart of the county.

Xinjie, Old Yuanyang or New Yuanyang?! To make things complicated, if you are in Nansha, then you are in Yuanyang, and Yuangyang Old Town is Xinjie, and if you are in Xinjie, then you are in Yuanyang, and Yuangyang New City is Nansha. Got it?!

An old woman of the Hani minority at the market in Xinjie, Yunnan Province, China.

Men smoking a pipe in Xinjie, Yunnan Province, China.

The market hall in Xinjie is pretty impressing.

Shopping for chicken at the market in Xinjie, Yunnan Province, China.

The Honghe Hani Rice Terraces.

The Honghe Hani rice terraces are the largest landscaped area in the world made entirely by hand. Carved on the mountains by the Hani people, they have a history of over 1.200 years. In between those steep walls of rice terraces are little villages where time seems to stand still. Community gatherings are very common; people cook together and share the food. Ethnic tribes live in harmony, while maintaining the rice paddies, farming vegetables, taking care of fish-ponds with ducks living between the rice fields and the occasional buffalo or cow herder walking along the road with their cattle.

There are viewing points near each of these villages, but walking along the road will give you amazing views as well. Some roads lead to even smaller villages situated between the rice paddies. This is especially helpful during the main season to avoid the masses of (mainly local) tourist.

Guesthouse tip: Belinda Backpackers Guesthouse in Xinjie is not far from the bus station and is a nice place to stay at. It’s reasonable priced with good Wi-Fi connection. Belinda herself speaks English very well and this is the biggest bonus! She can always be reached by phone if a problem occurs.

There’s some great atmosphere in the region and we could have spend many more days exploring it. So our tip would be to simply base yourself in one of the many guesthouses and take it from there…

Honghe Hani Rice Terraces in Yunnan, China.

Honghe Hani Rice Terraces in Yunnan, China.

In between the Honghe Hani rice terraces, you will come across farmers with buffaloes or cows.

Honghe Hani Rice Terraces in Yunnan, China.

Honghe Hani Rice Terraces in Yunnan, China.

Hidden Treasures.

This mountain road has been carved into stone by the local villagers not too long ago. They were simply fed up with having to climb steep & dangerous stairs and bamboo ladders to reach their homes. So, in 1972 thirteen villagers decided to start building this man-made wonder. Other villages in the area followed – some died along the way – and now, there quite a few tunnel roads to be found high up in the Taihang mountains of the Henan Province. Villagers worked for 15 years (while the major tunnel road only took 5 years), digging the roads along steep mountainside cliffs, carving tunnels and disposing the material through huge window-like openings.

Today, the area is a major tourist attraction (especially for Chinese tourists). From the early morning onwards, buses drive up the main tunnel road to a tiny village called Guoliang. Thanks to the well preserved old houses and the breathtaking scenery, this village is also a famous film location for the Chinese film industry. Apart from the famous mountain tunnel road, there is another one not too far from Guoliang that is even more spectacular…

Thank God For Binoculars.

We walked along the winding road, continuing upwards while scanning the area through our binoculars. It was actually the first time since our travels through Africa in the 70s & 80s, that we took along a pair of binoculars. You have to understand, travelling with a super heavy, bulky and unhandy gadget on our trips is not on our main agenda – we have about 20kg of camera equipment as it is. And after all, this is how we remembered binoculars.

Well, a lot has changed since those days. Thanks to Swarovski Optik, we had the opportunity to try out the CL Pocket 10 x 25. It took us a while to get used to the new feeling (compared to the old bulky pair), but that changed pretty quickly. This pair of binoculars is super light-weight, contrasts and colours are brilliant and the viewing comfort is truly amazing. No, we’re not trying to persuade you, but it really made our trip to the Guoliang Tunnel Roads even more worth while.

Swarovski CL Pocket 10 x 25 Binoculars.

Ulli has everything in sight with her Swarovski CL Pocket 10 x 25 binoculars.

Surprise, Surprise.

It was foggy up in the Taihang mountains and it wasn’t easy to recognize the far-away scenery easily. We continued scanning the area, when in the distance, we saw lots of holes in the centre of the mountain. Even further away we also spotted a cable car and some strange looking buildings built into the mountain. We would have needed at least two more days to check it out, but unfortunately our time was limited. When planning this trip, we had no idea that the area was packed with these many surprises. Therefore, we’re already counting the months until we re-visit for at least 10 days or longer…

Handy Information.

Since in Guoliang (& its surrounding villages) almost nothing is written in English, we’d quickly like to give you some hints if you decide to visit the Guoliang Tunnel Road any time soon:

• Bring a Chinese dictionary and be prepared to be very patient with transport and accommodation.
• How to get there (it’s a bit of an Odysseé): From Xinxijang East train station (high speed train station), take bus number 66 to the city/old train station. From here, take the bus to Huixian. At Huixian bus station you have to take another bus directly to Guoliang or to Nanping. Allow at least 5 to 6 hours to reach this place from Xinxijang with public transport. And make sure to have every destination written down in Chinese, otherwise who knows where you’ll end up…
• Sometimes you don’t have to go all the way to the last stop, so do try to ask some of the locals. Not all Chinese will ignore you…
• The advantage of travelling by bus? Almost no costs, so it’s a good option for a single traveller with patience and time.

Guoliang Tunnel Road | This is a real man-made wonder; it took 15 years and lots of energy to carve this road up the mountains to get an easier access to the village of Guoliang.

Guoliang Tunnel Road | One can feel the energy that these villagers needed to built this road. There are a few examples of these carved mountain roads in the area and we were speechless by this fascinating achievement.

Guoliang Tunnel Road | The “Road that does not tolerate any mistakes.”

Guoliang Tunnel Road | When villagers took matters into their own hands and started carving a road through the mountain rocks, they didn’t know that it would become such a tourist attraction…

Guoliang Tunnel Road | Tourists love the thrill of standing close to the edge…

Guoliang Tunnel Road | It’s a tight squeeze for vehicles, twisting past the tunnel’s “windows” which provide stunning views hundreds of feet below.

Guoliang Tunnel Road | Guoliang is nestled in a valley surrounded by great mountains, so the village was cut off from outside civilization until the tunnel was built.

Guoliang Tunnel Road | One can say: “They had a dream” when some initiative villagers took matters into their own hands and started to dig this road through Taihang mountains for better access to their village.

The village of Guoliang in the Henen Province is well worth too.

Strolling through the village of Guoliang will give you a great impression of the local way of living, which hasn’t changed all that much in the last years…

Just before flying across the Tasman Sea, I spent two weeks in and around Sydney, which pretty much meant “beach, more beach, and even more beach”. This would give me the rest that would be needed before completing treks like the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Milford Track or Rangitata Valley trip.

But, before I started my hiking adventures across New Zealand, Cathedral Cove (also known as Te Whanganui-A-Hei) was on my agenda – yes, I saw the movie Narnia. That large pinnacle that looked like the sail from a boat made quite the impression on me. So after two days in Auckland, I drove off to the Coromandel Peninsula.

I passed the beautiful Hot Water beach before arriving at the car park near Hahei beach. From there it was a nice walk down to the Cove. It took me 40 minutes, but I was pretty fast since I needed to continue to Matamata on the same day. It usually takes about 1 – 1 1/2 hours. The walk itself is nice and should be enjoyed, but due to heaps of people, I’d rather recommend to just get down to the Cove. Here you won’t be alone, since Cathedral Cove is one of the most visited places in the area. Yet is was still a real highlight and if I return there (which I will for sure), I’ll give myself more time to explore the region even more…

The striking rock is known as ‘Te Hoho’. It’s a large pinnacle at Cathedral Cove. Over centuries this has been sculpted by wind and water.

From Hahei Beach you can walk to Cathedral Cove, where a naturally formed archway are a real eye-catcher.

The famous Cathedral Cove. The cathedral-like arch makes quite an impression…

Cathedral Cove is one of the most picturesque spots on the Coromandel Peninsula.

A one-hour walking track leads through forest along the cliff top and then descends to the Cove.

So in the end we arrived safely but still a bit shaken at Cox’s Bazar, ready to settle in at one of the few waterfront hotels. The name is actually a bit strange for a town … its origin comes from Captain Hiram Cox; an officer serving in the British East India Company who defeated the Burmese Governour, Warren Hastings, and set up a Bazar (market) here and therefore was named after him.

We immediately hired a tuk-tuk and were on the way South to check out the area. We passed Himchari National Park from which you have an amazing view of the beach – which by the way is the longest beach in the world (approx. 120 km of pure sand) and continued to Inani beach, which is one of the very few spots with rocks.

Apart from the beautiful beach itself (not to be compared to paradise beaches in Indonesia though), the sight of the day were definitely the fishing boats along waters of southern Bangladesh. Every single boat can be described as a piece of art! You immediately recognize the great craftsmanship involved in building such boats. They protect the fishermen from any weather weather, storms and high waves.

It takes about two months to build one boat and it costs approximately 5.000 €. There are even bigger fishing boats along the beach, also with a very unique shape (photos will follow soon) that cost about 8.000 € (including an engine and the nets).

We spent the entire day here, watching & waiting for the next boats to arrive with the catch of the day…

For Bangladeshi’s it doesn’t get much better than Cox’s Bazar, the country’s most popular beach town.

Cox’s Bazar is an important fishing port in Bangladesh.

The fishing boats at Cox’s Bazar look really different and you can see that a lot of work has gone into their building.

Fishing boats at Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh.

Cox’s Bazar sea beach is the longest sea beach in the world, 120 km long. The wavy water of Bay-of-Bengal touches the beach throughout these 120 km.