fiesta in Ciudad de Mexico

Posted on May 24, 2010 by Andrei

Sometimes people look at me somewhat strange when I tell them I have no particular plan when I start traveling. I have a general idea what I want to see, and at one point (morning coffee) I read the guide and make a draft.

And unfortunately this means that a lot of times I do not make an optimized circuit in the city. I might arrive in the same place 2 or 3 times in the same day – and even more if I stay a whole week for example. On the other hand this means that if I do not feel particularly keen on visiting a certain area, I don’t. And it also means that every new place I see I find very interesting and enchanting – after all I had no expectations and sometimes it wasn’t even on the plan.

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lost in translation – again

Posted on May 19, 2010 by Andrei

Last weekend I went to Otaku 2010. Looking extremely confused at the different activities – from cosplay, drawing, console gaming – I tried to think for a reason why I am going to these events. The only reason I found is it’s for some of the funny / nostalgic moments I have from time to time. Playing some ancient Mortal Kombat, leafing through mangas, recognizing one or two of the different action figures or characters there (from lots!) – I suppose these should be reason enough.

Also – I find the talent of some of the people (either drawing, preparing costumes for cosplay, …) amazing.

Here are some pictures from this year Otaku.

village life near Bran castle

Posted on May 7, 2010 by Andrei

2 weeks ago I went to a trip near Bran Castle with some work colleagues.

Fun experience, and some photographic opportunities presented themselves. Almost everyone had already seen the castle, so we skipped it (however for someone who is in the area it is worth a visit!).

Here are a few pictures from that weekend.

lost in translation

Posted on April 14, 2010 by Andrei

I found these photos I took last year at a manga / gaming convention. It was a really eerie experience – I could not recognize even one anime playing, nor console games played.

The only familiar things were Warhammer 40k and WoW figurines. A very interesting experience, that shows how many subcultures are around. You just have to look around for them. Oh, and of course – great photo opportunities.

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Tonle Sap – the lake village

Posted on April 3, 2010 by Andrei

Tonle Sap is the largest freshwater lake in South-East Asia. As it sustains a lot of wildlife and small communities it’s a great place to visit once you get “templed out”. After the amazing temples of Angkor a change feels good.

I visited the submerged forest and one of the villages on Tonle Sap on my third day in Siem Reap. It is pretty easy to arrive to the lake – and all the villages nearby gladly provide you with a motorboat and skipper.

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Banteay Srei – photo gallery

Posted on March 22, 2010 by Andrei

While Angkor Wat is the most famous temple complex in Cambodia, there is a huge diversity of temples in the area. I think a whole week would not be enough to visit every little temple – so everybody has to pick some of the main attractions in the area.
I will start with some photos taken at Banteay Srei, one of the more remote temples near Siem Reap. The amazing level of detail, the beautiful statues and the surrounding areas made the agonizing tuk-tuk drive completely worth it.

northern Thailand – Chiang Mai

Posted on February 17, 2010 by Andrei

Chiang Mai is small town in northern Thailand, famous for the many activities one can do. From elephant riding, trekking, rafting, visiting the tiger zoo to enjoying the many markets and strolling the old town.

And of course you cannot skip the many temples in the old town. When I left for Asia I was thinking that all the temples will look mostly similar. Yet I couldn’t be further away from the truth! It’s such an amazing variety, that I never suffered from “temple fatigue”.

The days I spent in Chiang Mai were split between a short trek to an elephant camp – were I enjoyed riding the huge beasts (great fun), visiting the main city and going to Doi Suthep (one of the larger temples in Thailand and definitely a sight to behold). Today’s photos are from the Chiang Mai proper, with elephant pictures and Doi Suthep coming the next days.

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leaving Laos

Posted on February 15, 2010 by Andrei

This is the last photo gallery from Laos – images from Luang Prabang street life, temples and life on the river. The last pictures are taken from the airplane, leaving for Siem Reap. Previous galleries from laos can be found here and here.

Enjoy the photos. Laos is an amazing destination, with friendly people, beautiful places and a certain French air. Also some of the best coffee I ever drank (second only to Vietnam’s finest).

Laos is one of the smaller countries in the region, yet it managed to really amaze me. Luang Prabang has a relaxed rhythm and the best night market I found. A real pleasure to stroll around stalls with handicrafts, even if not buying. The old colonial French buildings, and the large number of French signs, give an air of unassuming sophistication. I have never seen so many beautiful guesthouses, cafes and restaurants in such a small town. It’s no wonder that Luang Prabang is on the UNESCO heritage list. Last but not least, walking on unpaved roads, exchanging ‘goodmornings’ with young monks and schoolchildren, and enjoying fruit juice in a plastic bag (delicious by the way) has a certain charm, lacking in the larger cities of the region.

For a holiday away from holiday place, Laos is a wonderful choice.

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Luang Prabang – Laos

Posted on February 9, 2010 by Andrei

alms giving to monks

For some Laos is the “real” Asia. Of course, every country is very real. From the BTS in Bangkok to the hill tribes to relaxed Laos to crazy traffic in Hanoi. Looking for the “real” Asia (re: rice fields, fastest vehicles being bicycles and a very slow life) means ignoring the places and people in-front of you. And enjoying the differences between the countries and peoples is a whole part of my (great) experience I had In Asia.

Having said that, once you step out of the plane in Luang Prabang you feel that time slows down a bit. Life gets a bit more sluggish, the traffic IS made up mostly of bicycles and life seems more relaxed (at least for the tourists).

At one point I got scared by a car horn. One gets used to quietness, and starts to appreciate it (more-so in retrospect as after Laos I went to Cambodia with crazy Phnom Penh).

Enjoy some of the photos I took in Luang Prabang.

night market in Luang Prabang

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Hanoi

Posted on February 4, 2010 by Andrei

Following the last post – and as a sign of my re-found travel itch – here are some photos took last year in Vietnam. I spent only about 5 days in Vietnam, of which 3 were in Halong Bay (I put some pictures on my blog). The remaining 2 days were spent in Hanoi – a big yet beautiful city. With a crazy traffic (a bit more crazy than the rest of SE Asia).

I was lucky to spend the weekend there, so all the parks were full with people enjoying the late autumn. Lots of photo opportunities!

Here are some of the photos, and as I process more I will continue to upload. Enjoy!