Anchorage
For many people it’s the easiest way to travel above the 60th parallel, by simply visiting Alaska’s largest city (with about 300,000 residents). At higher latitudes, the summer days are longer – just like the winter nights. However, the scenic beauty of this state is somewhat larger than life – especially for anyone who hasn’t had much time in the great-outdoors. The mountains are big, the sky is big, the wildlife is big, pretty much everything is big … except the population.
The ‘Anchorage Bowl’ at sunset – from the vantage of my hotel room.
For some, a cruise is the preferred way to visit Alaska – just like my parents did some years ago. For me, I like to get out on the road and drive out past the city limits, past the semi-rural homes and lifestyle farms, to see what the country really looks like. I have spent lots of time out in remote mountains, and was truly invigorated by mysterious lure of the Alaskan mountains … and warrants a much longer visit than what I was able to tack onto my work trip.
Mysterious mountains cloaked in translucent clouds
Winters are cold but manageable for the well prepared. The spring brings new life after the dark winter, but almost certainly is noted by snowmelt runoff and resultant mud. Summers are very pleasant, with long days to enjoy to the full. However, I visited when the autumn leaves were turning, and the snow capped mountains were adorned with green and yellow.
Geographic layers can be clearly seen on the side of this waterfront mountain
Dad’s Recommendation:
Alaska is too big to adequately capture in a few photos. I suggest that you go and see it for yourself – and take a drive out into the truly great outdoors.
Spring Daffodils
Just a short time ago, I took my family to a park for some annual photos in the daffodils. While the seasons are reversed between the northern and southern hemispheres … it’s still a great thing to make a tradition of something as simple as taking photos during the relatively short daffodil season. It’s handy to have annual photos of the kids growing up, and while birthdays, Christmas or school photos are great, sometimes it’s good to have something scenic in the frame as well.
This is a photo of my youngest two children. While travel may be lots of fun, it’s much better with those you love.
As noted in the photo caption, it’s much better to travel with those you love. So, while sometimes it may be easier to travel through challenging foreign environments by yourself, it is better and safer to travel with someone else …. however, it’s much more fun to travel anywhere with your loved ones (especially once the kids are a little older).
Dad’s Recommendation:
Make some simple annual family traditions, and capture them on film. (To kids – a tradition is anything they liked, and which we’ve done at least once.)
Cairo Street
As I recently looked through some travel photos, I spotted this one which captured life on a regular Cairo Street. It made me realise that I don’t have street photos from many other places that I’ve been … which is a shame. While we often take photos of scenic beauty and architectural or engineering marvels, we often miss taking photos of common everyday life. The streets of any city are usually the place that we experience local culture the most – and while I highly recommend that we make the most of those opportunities, perhaps a few photos are also in order.
Ordinary life on a street in Cairo, where all manner of transport is used.
Dad’s Recommendation:
Simple … take some street life photos on your travels. While you may take it all for granted at the time, it’s worth snapping a few pictures to help you remember later (or to share with others).
Ancient Wonders
With recent events unfolding in Egypt, I am thankful that I took the time to check out the pyramids when I was there a couple of years ago. I guess it’s important to take the time to visit places like this when you have the opportunity, as you may not get another chance.
The last surviving member of the Seven Wonders of the World, the Great Pyramid of Giza.
These ancient wonders look very different in real life – not like anything you see in a book or on a screen. While the Great Pyramid of Giza is the most famous, there are in fact three main pyramids; the Great Pyramid of Khufu, The Pyramid of Kafhre and the smaller Pyramid of Menkaura. In front of the pyramids lies the Sphinx, carved out of a single block of stone.
My favourite photo from Egypt, iconic in so many ways.
Most people don’t know that there are actually pyramids everywhere in Egypt. Certainly the main ones get lots of attention, for very good reason, however, some of the earlier versions were not nearly so long lived or successful.
Saqqara (Sakkara) ‘Step’ pyramid in the background, an important leap forward in technology – and part of an extensive site that includes remnants of earlier tomb construction.
While I visited these sites by car over a couple of days, I was also able to go out into the desert and get a view from a local’s perspective. If you want to be a ‘tourist’, there are lots of guided tours to choose from … however, if you want to be a ‘traveller’ it’s often best to take the path less travelled – and the local inside information (and help) will often yield spectacular and surprising results.
The view from a local perspective … unfortunately you can’t see the vast expanse of desert surrounding this spot.
The difficult part of writing a blog entry about this subject, is that there are so many things to say, so many things to see, and so little time and space – it doesn’t do justice to an incredible place, which you should visit if you can.
Dad’s Recommendation:
If you ever have the chance to visit somewhere noteworthy, always go … just in case you never get the opportunity to go back.
Jet Boating the Rakaia Gorge
With a special thanks to my family for a great birthday present, I was given the chance to go jet-boating up the Rakaia Gorge recently with my brother. However there is no photo that can adequately show the thrilling adventure of speeding through the beautiful scenery … although I’m very glad that we stopped several times to soak it in (and take some photos).
Looking up the Rakaia River
Although winter has just started, it was a gorgeous day for jet-boating. The wind was very strong, enough to where I took my hat off so that it wouldn’t get blown off! I also put my good camera in my coat pocket once I discovered that the memory card hadn’t been returned to the camera after downloading the last batch of photos. These pictures were taken from a mobile device, so I’m thankful that new devices have such decent camera’s.
Jet boating these rivers is a blast, and the scenery isn’t too bad either.
Dad’s Recommendation:
Take a river jet boat trip if you ever have the chance. Especially when visiting the South Island of New Zealand. However, check your camera for a memory card first!