Favorite Travel Photos – My 7 Super Shots

One of the things that led me to start this blog some years back is my hobby of taking photos. A few years on and I am still an amateur photographer by any sense of the word, but the interest sure lives on!

I have taken thousands of photos over the years, thanks to digital cameras but I never got to share my favorite ones all in one place. Because of this, I am really happy that Aleah of Solitary Wanderer tagged me in Hostelbookers 7 Shots. This is like a mini lookback of sorts, at some of the places I have been to over the years and my favorite shots – at least those fitting a certain theme – from these trips.  The idea is to choose 7 travel photos that fit a certain theme and then to tag five other travel bloggers to do the same. So here goes!

#1 – Takes my breath away

in Coron, Philippines

This comes from one of my trips this year to Palawan, Philippines. I am a sucker for limestone rock formations, and I have seen quite a few elsewhere, but none left me in as much awe as this particular scene, on the way to Kayangan Lake in Coron Island. The island is believed to be sacred by the native tribe that inhabits it and only a small portion of it is actually open to visitors.

#2 – Makes me dream

in New Zealand

As cliche as it may sound, whenever I think of New Zealand, the song “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House (natives of NZ) come into my head. Musical tastes aside, there’s something dreamlike about New Zealand in general – the unbelievable and otherworldly landscapes, the spectacular scenery and mind-boggling adventure activities – that constantly leaves me pinching myself to see if I’m really awake. The picture above perhaps epitomizes the dreamlike qualities that I find in New Zealand. It’s a shot of the Remarkables Mountain Range against the absurdly clean Lake Wakatipu.

#3- Makes me think

in Yazd, Iran

This is a picture taken of the main bazaar in Yazd, Iran. It left me wondering how the Persians of yore managed to craft such fine measurements and symmetries to everyday, seemingly mundane structures such as a bazaar ceiling. The obsession with geometry and mathematics are very obvious from my vantage point. How could they have done it?

#4- Makes me laugh or smile

in Akaroa, New Zealand

Chanced upon this kid having his fill out of a large ice cream cone in Akaroa, New Zealand. No doubt, he was enjoying himself immensely.

#5- Makes my mouth water

in Hanoi, Vietnam

I normally do not take many food shots in my journeys but my Hanoi trip last year seemed to be an exception. While I found the constant honking and overwhelming number of motorbikes a bit daunting, I thought the food was great and this would be my primary reason for returning to the city in the future. This shot was actually taken at Green Tangerine, one of the well-known fine dining restaurants in Hanoi. I ordered a 3-course set lunch for only US$10 per person and this was my sumptuous appetizer.

#6- Tells a story

in Vientiane, Laos

We were walking by the Mekong River in Vientiane, Laos when I chanced upon this scene. The sun was about to set. Many people were walking past us, but there was something about this lady, with her head slightly tipped downwards, that seemed to echo of something more. I leave that to your imagination!

#7- My most proud of (aka most worthy of National Geographic shot)

in Bhutan

This is probably the most tiring shot for me, hands down. At 3,100 meters above sea level, I had to endure an arduous 2-hour trek to get to this place – the Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Western Bhutan. Legend has it that a flying tiger chose the site. It could be true since it seems humanly impossible for anyone to carry construction materials all the way up there to build this grand monastery.

It sure wasn’t easy choosing this shot. I had a lot of contenders for some of the categories, while it was hard for me to find potential photos for some! Anyway, I would like to get your feedback on the photos I chose. Let me know what you think of them!

I am now tagging a few fellow travel bloggers to share their own super shots. Looking forward to see your photos!

1. Bino of Framelessworld
2. John Marx of Marxtermind
3. R.a.W of Ramble and Wander
4. Red of The Furious Panda
5. Drew of Random Trippings ni Drew