Travel Photo Tuesday (Eps. 1-54)

Welcome to my “Travel Photo Tuesday” series. Its a place for me to share my favorite travel photographs – and feature some of your best shots – from Instagram each week that have been tagged with @maketimetoseetheworld.

If you have ever checked out my Instagram feed you will have noticed that I absolutely love travel photos. I have hundreds to share from years of traveling but I also see so many beautiful photographs from my followers which inspire wanderlust and showcase destinations I could only dream of.

I’ve decided to share my favorites with you as a feature here on the blog & across all social media platforms each Tuesday in the hope of inspiring you all to maketimetoseetheworld.

Want to get involved? Check out the instructions below.

Travel Photo Tuesday

This week’s photo was taken whilst I was camping across the USA in October 2008 at Sam Houston Jones State Park. After visiting the beautiful national parks of the South West, complete with their picturesque sandstone cliffs and stunning rock formations, a pretty forest was just what the doctor ordered.

The contrast and changes in the landscape over only a few short days was remarkable, the increase in water/swamplands the further south you get facilitates the grown of lush green vegetation not witnessed further north. The arrival of autumn and the changing  colour of the leaves only made the landscape more picturesque and the sign served as a friendly reminder that native gators inhabit the water should be enough to put anyone off taking a quick dip!

Travel Photo Tuesday (Ep.2)

This week’s photo was taken whilst in the Angkor Complex just outside Siem Reap in Cambodia. The official name of the temple is Rajavihara and was built in the Bayon style in the late 12 and early 13th century. Today is it known as Ta Prohm – or (one of) the trees from tomb raider!

The Angkor complex is absolutely amazing. You could spend days and days, rolls of film/battery packs or sim cards – whatever your preference – and still never properly capture the natural beauty of nature reclaiming its territory in the abandoned Khmer empire complex. Quite rightly a UNESCO heritage site – it still astonishes me that it isn’t one of the 7 wonders. If you make one trip if your life – make it a trip to Angkor.

Travel Photo Tuesday (Ep.3)

This week’s photo was taken on the way out of the Vatican Museum in Italy. If you have ever visited you will know that the museum is filled with beautiful artwork and sculptures – along with the Sistine Chapel – so much so that you may think there is nothing else to see on the way out. But you would be wrong.  Created by Guiseppe Momo in 1932 it is an amazing piece of architecture whereby two staircases overlap to produce a double helix effect so that traffic can proceed in both directions unimpeded.

Momo took great influence from the first double helix stairway cast and designed by Donato Bramante in 1505 at the request of Pope Julius II – who requested a link between Villa Belvedere (his living quarters) and the Apostolic Palace (near St Peter’s Bascillica) as well a link between his quarters and the city below. The original staircase still stands within the Vatican but is mostly off limits to visitors – unless you take a private tour – and so we must be content with only being able to view Momo’s Staircase. But if you only make an effort to visit a staircase – this one must certainly be at the top of your list.

Travel Photo Tuesday (Ep.4)

This week’s photo was taken at Australia’s Eastern most point, the Cape Byron Lighthouse. Located 3km from the hippie beach side town of Byron, the lighthouse is still active today and submits a flash of light every 15 seconds when operational.

The lighthouse is a must visit site for anyone on their trip to Byron, with the rugged headland walk to the top being a highlight in itself. As you walk up through sheltered rain-forest canopies, the green of the trees is breathtaking. Once at the top – and as well as admiring the lighthouse – make sure to take a look over the side and into the water below – there are often dolphins and turtles swimming around – and if you time it right you might see the humpback wales on their annual migration!

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.5)

This week’s photo was taken at the iconic Piazza San Marco, outside the Basillica San Marco in Venice, Italy.

This side view is the first part of the Basilica you see upon entering St Marks Square. It is one of the best examples of Italo-Byzantine architecture and is famous for its opulent design and gilded interior mosaics which cover over 8500sq meters. Although only part of the Basilica is now open to the public (the rest closed to the public for preservation) – what you can see is still incredible!

And on a side note, one of my favorite things about Venice – are the pink glass streetlights – they are just so beautiful, both in daylight and lit up at night!

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.6)

This week’s photo needs no introduction and is one of the new 7 wonders of the world.

Christ the Redeemer or Christo Redentor is the 32m high statue built at the top of Corcovador Mountain in the middle of the Tijuca Forest National Park in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

It’s impressive. From whichever angle you look at it – and is worth the 220 step climb to get to the viewing platform! It is one of the worlds best known monuments and is said to be a symbol of the warmth of the Brazilian people in that they welcome everyone with open arms. When you’re not staring in awe up at the statue, the view of Rio beneath you is stunning – and as I love it as much as I love the picture above – this week you get a double helping of travel photos! You’ll have to agree – it’s a pretty spectacular view!

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.7)

One of the most iconic Melbourne CBD photographs you can take – right after Flinders Street Station – is the very impressive Shot Tower at Melbourne Central.

On a perfect day (like the one I took this shot) the blue sky illuminates the shot tower and the glass dome frame punctuates its 50m high structure with straight-line shadows. I took this photograph on my first visit to Melbourne – a few years before I lived here – and although I go through Melbourne Central frequently – have never again been able to capture the light the way I did this day. I think it must have been Melbourne welcoming me!

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.10)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s feature artist/blogger:

Laura @ Laura Lou

My photos always remind me of how lucky I am to have the opportunity to travel ? #Dubai

Check out Laura’s Instagram for more great pics – and head on over to her YouTube Chanel to follow her adventures on the your screen!

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.15)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s feature artist/blogger:

Adonis @ WANDERLUSTAV

“The Quebrada de las Conchas is a 100km stretch of highway that connects Salta to Cafayate. The scenery is out of this world. It’s reminiscent of the American Southwest, only it’s in South America. Argentina specifically. I biked it with a crappy rental bike. It was quite an adventure!”

Check out Adonis’s Instagram for more great pics! and you can find him all over the web at these addresses:

• Blog: Always Wanderlust
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/alwayswanderlust
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/wanderlustAV

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.18)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s feature artist/blogger:

Erika @ erikastravels

“Night sky at Joshua Tree National Park” #NP #findyourpark

 Check out Erika’s Instagram for more great pics! And you can find her all over the web at the following links:

• Blog: ErikasTravels
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/erikastravels1
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/erikastravels

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.19)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s feature artist/blogger:

Steph @ big world small pockets

“Tropical North Queensland – Did someone say paradise?!

 Check out Stephs Instagram for more great pics! And you can find her all over the web at the following links:

• Blog: BigWorldSmallPockets
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/bigworldsmallpockets
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/bigwsmallp

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.20)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s feature artist/blogger:

Leah @ The Kid bucketlist

“This was the hardest bloody climb of my life. I thought I was going to die. I really learned how unfit I was and that everyone else in the family had super stamina. If you climb up with your kids be mindful that it’s single file only and only goes up! But the view. Oh my, the view makes the struggle totally worth it”

Check out Leahs Instagram for more great pics! And you can find her all over the web at the following links:

• Blog: TheKidBucketList
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/kidbucketlist
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/kidbucketlist

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.21)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s feature artist/blogger:

Christine @ Adventure, Baby!

“The sky tonight ?? I chased the sun down to the point to catch the last rays over the water. ?”

Check out Christines Instagram for more great pics! And you can find her all over the web at the following links:

• Blog: Adventure, Baby!
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/christineknightwriter
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/christineknight

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.25)

THIS WEEKS FEATURED ARTISTs:

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s feature artists/bloggers:

Kanika & Shayan @ Dose of Life!

“Really didn’t expect clear skies and a sunny #beach day after weeks of crazy downpour in #Phuket – #beachlife #vitaminsea”

Check out Kanika & Shayan’s Instagram for more great pics! And you can find them all over the web at the following links:

• Blog: Dose of Life
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/doseoflifecom
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/doseoflifecom

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.27)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s feature artists/bloggers:

Alyssa @ she went to spain!

“Hello New York! Amazing 360° views from One World Observatory. The only thing better is grabbing a beer at 1/4 mile in the air with planes going by at eye level! #oneworldobservatory  #worldtradecenter  #newyork”

Check out Alyssa’s Instagram for more great pics! And you can find her all over the web at the following links:

• Blog: She Went To Spain
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/shewenttospain
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/shewenttospain

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.39)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Natalie @ Cosmos Mariners: Destination Unknown

https://www.instagram.com/p/BLZ7w2xgmWo/?taken-by=cosmosmariners

Location: Hohenschwangau Castle, Schwangau, Germany 

What Made it Great: On the day that we’d planned to visit Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau in Bavaria, the weather didn’t cooperate at all. It hovered around freezing all day, and the rain kept coming in waves. It was miserable, but we were determined to see these two incredible castles at any cost. I’d wanted to get a good shot of Hohenschwangau and tried before and after our tour, but the fog was so thick that I couldn’t get what I was hoping for. I gave up and went onto our tour of Neuschwanstein; just as we finished that tour and were heading back to the bus, the fog lifted and I could see Hohenschwangau on the opposite mountain. I got this picture, which turned out to be my favorite from our entire Germany trip. When visiting Schwangau, most people go straight for Neuschwanstein–don’t forget to go to Hohenschwangau, too! It’s where King Ludwig grew up, and a tour of Hohenschwangau gives great perspective on the man who grew up to build nearby Neuschwanstein.

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Natalie’s adventures on her blog @ Cosmos Mariners or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

 

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.40)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Marinel de Jesus @ Brown Gal Trekker

https://www.instagram.com/p/BFxnvJbiQL3/

Location: Yading Reserve in Sichuan Province, China

What Made it Great: Of all the travels I have done, nothing will ever compare to Yading. The photo depicts Milk Lake in Yading Nature Reserve in the Sichuan Province of China. For an avid hiker, this place is pure heaven. Yading has yet to be discovered by trekkers from the west. For now, it is an off the beaten path trekking destination as getting there requires significant time and effort. The place is situated in the Tibetan Autonomous Region of China. Chengdu is the biggest city nearby but from the city it would still require at least two days to get to Yading by public bus. One quick option is to fly to Daocheng Yading Airport which happens to be the highest airport in the world at 4411 meters.

Upon arrival, one can easily see and feel the influence of Buddhism as prayer flags abound in the nature reserve. Within the park, there are ancient temples that to this day are still open for monks to utilize. In the small village of Yading, there are a number of guesthouses that are solely run by the local Tibetans. Han Chinese locals are prohibited from owning and running any kind of business in the area to preserve the local Tibetan culture.

Apart from the remoteness of it, Yading is also special because of the three holy mountain peaks within the reserve. Tibetans come yearly to do the 30 kilometer kora or holy pilgrimage trek that circumnavigates the three holy peaks. This trek never goes below 4000 meters in height and requires trekking over two high passes. Milk lake is just one of the many highlights along with a few other lakes and gorgeous mountain scenery to be seen along the way. Visiting the area in the autumn season is ideal as you get to experience the added beauty of the leaves changing colors. You do have to make sure to book your stay ahead of time as autumn is a popular time for the Chinese tourists to visit.

Be forewarned that Yading can be a cold place if you do visit outside the summer season. Hence, you have to be prepared for cold nights and snow during your hikes. You will also need to be prepared to handle the high altitude. Luckily, besides the 30 kilometer kora trek, one can also take it easy and do sightseeing within the park as inside you’ll find golf carts that will transport you to various viewpoints to see the holy peaks and the surrounding landscapes. For any visitor, you have the option to do the more advanced pilgrimage trek or opt for easier day hikes.

Overall, this is a trip for an adventurous traveler who is willing to make the effort to travel to such an off the beaten path destination where you’ll then have to deal with the altitude and the sometimes below freezing weather. However, once there, you’ll be rewarded with world-class trekking experience and a spiritual journey that are guaranteed to last with you for a lifetime.

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Marinel’s adventures on her blog @ Brown Gal Trekker or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

 

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.41)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Amanda @ AmandaKendle

Location: Osaka, Japan

What Made it Great: Back in my twenties, I lived in Japan’s second city, Osaka, for a couple of years, and loved every minute of it. When I returned to visit Osaka again recently I fell head over heels in love with it all over again – it was even better than I remembered! Osaka is a fun, buzzing city full of incredible food, friendly people and intriguing pieces of Japanese culture wherever you look.

For me, the centre of Osaka is Osaka Castle, and the park which surrounds it. Apart from visiting the museum within the castle and looking over Osaka from its observation deck, there’s always something happening within the grounds of the park. I’ve been to sumo wrestling tournaments there, joined thousands of locals on blue tarpaulins under the trees to picnic during cherry blossom season, and taken the Aqualiner cruise from the edge of the park to see Osaka from the water.

From Osaka Castle Park it’s a short train trip to downtown Osaka, and although it’s spread across a large area, my favourite spot is Namba and the Dotonbori Bridge. If you’re a foodie then this is the best area to find Japanese meals of every kind. There’s a famous chain of restaurants named Kani Doraku which feature crab in every form possible, and it’s easy to spot them because they have giant crabs above the entrances. My other top tip is to find anywhere which sells okonomiyaki, easily my favourite Japanese meal and rarely found outside Japan. It’s an Osaka specialty but you can find it everywhere in Japan these days, and it’s often badly translated as being a “cabbage pizza” – trust me, it’s massively better than it sounds and I’ve never met a Westerner who didn’t love okonomiyaki once they’d tried it. While you’re in Namba, you also need to do some shopping, because this area has everything: the upmarket department stores like Takashimaya, the stall-like shops of Shinsaibashi, and the fabulous 100-yen shops like Daiso; for bargain unique stuff you also need to try Don Quixote. I’m not much of a shopper but will very happily spend hours exploring the Japanese shops around Namba.

Before you leave Osaka, you also need to see it from up high, and there are a bunch of different options for that these days. Back when I lived there the default tourist spot was to go to the Umeda Sky Building, which has amazing architecture and a sky-high garden – and is still a great spot to gaze down over the endless buildings of Osaka. You might also like to try the new tallest building in Japan, Abenos Haruka, which is 300m high and has particularly impressive views and a cafe way up there in the sky too.

Last but not least, one of my favourite spots to spend a day in Osaka is at Universal Studios Japan. Lots of people tell me they didn’t even realise there was a Universal Studios in Japan, but I highly recommend it. It’s recently celebrated its 15th anniversary and is going crazy on Minions at the moment, but its Harry Potter World is one of the nicest with a long forest walk to enter and so much atmosphere.

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Amanda’s adventures on her blog @ Not A Ballerina or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.42)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Janet @ Janet Newenham (aka. Journalist On The Run)

Location: Hogsback, Eastern Cape – South Africa

What Made it Great:

Have you ever seen a bath with a better view? This photo was taken in the magical town of Hogsback, which is located in the Amathole mountains in South Africa. The bath is perched on a cliff at the end of a garden inside the Away With The Fairies hostel, one of my favourite backpacker hostels in South Africa. This isn’t just a photo shoot spot, the bath actually has running water which is heated up in a barrel using logs. You have to book your one hour time slot the day before, then you put up a tiny little sign saying it’s occupied so no other hostel guess will walk in on you!! I’ve been here 3 times now and can never leave without taking a hot bath overlooking the valley. You can also go hiking, get lost in a fairy realm or just chill out in the hostel tree house with a good book and leave all your worries drift away. We spent one afternoon in a place called The Fairy Realm, which is this mythical walk around a large forest that has been filled with hand made faith sculptures, small water features and inspiring quotes to make you either laugh or smile. There’s even a few wishing stones where you can make a (travel) wish!

Most people that backpack around South Africa just stick to the coast, be it Cape Town or The Garden Route, but I much prefer to get off the beaten track and discover some of the more unusual locations. The hostel lights a big camp fire each night and all the guests sit around chatting or even playing live music. While we were there this incredible traveling band performed for us and just as they were playing a song they had just written but not names, there was a shooting star right over them so they named their song after that. It’s places like this that have made me fall in love with South Africa again and again.

Hogsback is also a great starting point for exploring nearby Lesotho, which very few tourists travel to. The road to get their is a bit bumpy, and it’s near on impossible to buy fuel once you cross the border, but once you arrive it’s like another world. The fields and mountains are almost like a painting, red, orange, brown and other various colours of the rainbow. There is amazing horse trekking available, and you can even do multi day pony treks and stay in local villages in traditional mud huts. It really is the experience of a lifetime.

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Janet’s adventures on her blog @ Journalist On The Run or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.43)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Cory @ You Could Travel

Location: Kyoto, Japan

What Made it Great:

I was so excited to finally hike the famed Inari Mountain in Kyoto, Japan. In front of me was a path lines with vermillion torii gates which were about to take me on a journey up and down the forested mountain. Fushimi Inari Shrine is perhaps the most visited spiritual site in the whole of Japan. Home to over 10,000 torii gates, Mount Inari is seen as a pilgrimage by locals, with several smaller shrines along the way. What is impressive about this hike is that you will encounter many fox statues, kitsune as they are called in Japanese. These are God Inari’s messengers and the more intricate their are sculptured, the more important in ranking they are. There are many smaller statues along the path decorated with red bibs. These are meant to protect the spirit of early departed children from our world. They are also meant to save the souls of children lost through miscarriages as well as abortion.

Once you realise that Fushimi Inari is not your ordinary tourist attraction, but a spiritual site, a cemetery, a pilgrimage site, your perspective of taking selfies with this sacred place changes. As I continued my hike up and down the mountain, I realised that not many tourists go pass the Yotsutsuji intersection. This is a great place to admire a colourful and vibrant sunset over Kyoto, as well as sit down for a matcha ice cream and a cup of green tea. Further on, the gates become sparser from one another, yet in my opinion, more impressive. I couldn’t help but take a seat at the side of the path and admire the contrasting colours of the vermillion gates and green leaves, still incredibly vivid during December. This part of Fushimi Inari Shrine was dominated by nothing but silence. It was here, that I managed to finally find my zen and get in touch with my inner spirituality. It was here that I realise, I belong in Japan.

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Cory’s adventures on her blog @ You Could Travel or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.45)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Kathryn @ Boutique Travel Blog

Location: Sanyang, Western Gambia

What Made it Great:

The Gambia is the smallest country in mainland Africa, being little more than a sliver of land that snakes along either shore of the River Gambia. Other than its coastline, where the river flows into the Atlantic Ocean, it is totally surrounded by Senegal. By the sea, beautiful palm fringed sandy beaches attract a trickle of tourists from Europe seeking winter sunshine. Known as the smiling coast of Africa, its people are amongst the friendliest you could hope to meet anywhere in the world, and, with English being widely spoken, it is particularly popular with British tourists.There’s a great range of accommodation, from affordable guest houses to luxurious boutique hotels, as well as a number of fabulous eco resorts where you can discover the real Gambia.

Although animals such as elephants and giraffes are long since gone, hunted to extinction by the first European visitors over a century ago, The Gambia is still home to a wonderful variety of wildlife, including baboons, chimpanzees, hippos, crocodiles and, most notably, over 560 species of birds. My favourite way to enjoy the birdlife is by boat, either in a dugout canoe or a larger pirogue, while drifting through the mangrove swamps. But even a walk through a beachside hotel’s garden is likely to give you the chance to see a myriad of birds, as well as the cheeky Green Vervet Monkeys which are often seen playing on the lawns. Another great spot for incidental wildlife watching is under a thatched cabana in Calypso – one of my favorite beachside restaurants – where you are likely to see kingfishers, as well as crocodiles in the adjacent creek.

Reputedly the best restaurant in The Gambia is, however, found at the clifftop Ngala Lodge, a wonderfully quirky boutique hotel with a restaurant offering international cuisine as well as spicy local dishes, such as chicken yassa or fish benachin. While in nearby Kololi, the largest tourist resort in The Gambia, you’ll find a fabulous range of restaurants to suit any taste, with Italian, Mexican, Lebanese and Indian cuisines to choose from. However, if a week by the beach is not for you, check out Mandina Lodges. It is just an hour’s drive inland from the coastal resorts, yet it really feels like another world, deep in the heart of Makasutu Forest on a tributary of the River Gambia. On arrival you are warned not to leave any toiletries in your open air bathroom, as a troop of baboons regularly invades the hotel grounds and will whisk away your shampoo or toothpaste out of curiosity if given half a chance.

I have visited this magical little country many times over the years and have collected many thousands of photographs, but this is one of my favorites. I was walking along the sand of Sanyang Beach, having grown a little restless after relaxing under a palm tree – I can rarely sit still for long. I could see rows of brightly painted fishing boats in the distance, and thought they’d make a good subject for my camera. Before I knew it, not only was I getting some great photos, but I found myself deep in conversation with the local ladies about what types of fish their husbands caught, how they prepared the fish, smoked the fish, and even how to cook the fish. I’ve no idea how long I was there chatting, laughing and snapping away with my camera, but it was an afternoon I’ll never forget.

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Kathryn’s adventures on her Boutique Travel Blog or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.46)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Chiera @ Young & Undecided

Location: Glasgow, Scotland

What Made it Great:

This is my hometown. Glasgow, Scotland. Taken from the viewing platform of The Lighthouse, Scotlands Centre for Design and Architechture. The building itself was designed by Charles Rennie MacIntosh. Offering 360 degree views of the city, The Lighthouse is a must for anyone visiting Glasgow.

From this picture the main focal point would be the big pink building showing our city’s ‘new’ motto – People Make Glasgow. (The original motto which came from St Mungo is ‘Lord, let Glasgow Flourish by the preaching of the word.’ The more secular version of ‘Let Glasgow Flourish’ is still used today) This building is actually just a college and was decorated like this when Glasgow hosted the Commonwealth Games in 2014. These pink banners and poster can now be seen all over the city.

I particularly love this picture as it’s a memory of a lovely day exploring Glasgow with friends and also because it show my absolute favourite time of day. We were lucky enough to venture up The Lighthouse just as the sun was setting. It really was a beautiful sight. Glasgow is home to many museums, art galleries and country parks that, in my opinion, cannot be missed when visiting the city. My favourites are the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) – which can actually be seen in this picture right in the center just in front of the modern, glass office building. The exhibitions change quite frequently so there is more or less always something new to see. Another favorite is Kelvingrove Art Gallery. There is a popular myth in Glasgow, that the building was accidentally built back-to-front, and the architect jumped from one of the towers in despair when he realised his mistake. This is only an urban myth. The grand entrance was always intended to face into Kelvingrove Park. The center-peice of the main hall is the pipe organ, if you go on a Sunday Morning you will be treated to a performance. The sounds of the organ echoing around the hall is unforgettable.

While the city center does have some parks (Glasgow Green, which also is home to the Peoples Palace, and Kelvingrove Park) I much prefer the parks that are situated further out. Pollok Park in the Southside which is absolutely beautiful in the summer with Pollok House on the banks of the river. In the North you have Mugdock Park which is home to Mugdock castle – a former stronghold of Clan Graham from the 13th century. Also in the south you have Rouken Glen park, with a beautiful Boating Lake, and Linn Park which was my childhood park. This park I recently discovered goes on for much longer than I thought, covering a grand total of 200 acres – right in the middle of residential Glasgow.

Of course on top of the art culture and nature of Glasgow, you also have an abundance of cool cafes and bars to choose from. I feel the most touristy place is the west end – which is very ‘hisptery’ but still with some of the best coffee in the city. Check out Avenue Coffee on Byres Road, an independent specialty coffee roasting company – their cappuccinos are to die for! I hope anyone who is visiting or passing through Glasgow enjoys their stay and gets to experience the wonderful Glasgow culture while they are here.

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Chiera’s adventures on her blog Young & Undecided or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.47)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Dannielle @ While I’m Young

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

What Made it Great:

This picture was taken at Boulders Beach in Cape Town. A 2,000 strong colony of penguins live here! It’s a great place to see these magnificent animals in the wild and it’s not far outside of the city.

I spent three wonderful days exploring Cape Town and really fell in love with the city and its surrounds. One thing that really delighted me was how open and friendly the locals are. Everybody I met was so eager to ensure I had a great time in the ‘Mother City’ and I felt truly welcomed.

My short break was enough to squeeze in all of the top sights – including a scenic cruise across the bay to Robben Island, the prison where Nelson Mandela served his time. It was fascinating to learn about the lives of political prisoners of the past. What I wasn’t expecting was a tour from a local resident of the island, and we even saw more African penguins just chilling on the rocks there.

Back in Cape Town itself, highlights are Bo-Kaap, the multicoloured Cape Malay Quarter, as well as beautiful Table Mountain, historic District Six and also V&A Waterfront, which is an ideal place to wile away a quiet afternoon and eat some delicious sea food. The South African cuisine scene really is mouthwatering and of course you can’t visit Cape Town without sampling the local grape at a vineyard.

My stand-out memory from my time in Cape Town was rising before sunrise to hike Lion’s Head as the day broke around us. Many people claim that Lion’s Head offers a better view than Table Mountain, and the moderately strenuous climb works off all that yummy food you’ll be eating. Of course, you should still go to the top of Table Mountain if you have time. I recommend taking the cable car up. The ride revolves as you ascend up the mountain, meaning you get panoramic views of Cape Town.

If you can, hire a car when you visit Cape Town. The coastal drives will inspire you and you should drive to Cape of Good Hope National Park for more hiking – you might even spot some baboons! By night, I recommend hitting Long Street again. You’re sure to find a bar that plays you’re kind of music. but one of the most popular haunts among tourists and locals alike is Mama Africa. However you choose to spend your time in Cape Town, you’re guaranteed stunning views, amazing dining and a warm welcome!

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Dannielle’s adventures on her blog While I’m Young or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, and Twitter

 

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.48)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Lotte @ Phenomenal Globe

Location: Milford Sound, New Zealand

What Made it Great:

New Zealand is without a doubt the most beautiful country in the world! From the moment I stepped out of the plane, I completely and utterly fell in love with New Zealand. It’s just amazing, New Zealand has it all: lakes, mountains, ocean teaming with wildlife, tropical forest, huge trees, waterfalls, white beaches, black beaches, hills, cliffs and … the most amazing roads!

I drove some pretty spectacular roads in New Zealand: the Devil’s Stairway to Queenstown, the Crown Range Road to Wanaka, the Southern Scenic Route through the Catlins and the Great coast road on the wild west coast of the South Island.

However, the picture was taken on the phenomenal road to the Milford Sound. It’s a 120 kilometer long road across unbelievable scenery. In New Zealand traveling is every bit as much about the journey as it is about the destination! The road eventually leads to the Milford Sound, one of New Zealand’s natural marvels Fun fact: the Milford Sound is actually a fjord. I didn’t know this until then, but a fjord is gauged out by a glacier whereas a sound is created by a river.

One of the activities you shouldn’t skip when you are visiting the Milford Sound area is going on a cruise through the Milford Sound. During the cruise we passed a couple of rocks where young seals were relaxing, so cute… There were also so many waterfalls!

Another fun fact: did you know that the color of the water in the Milford Sound depends on the amount of rain that has fallen? The more rain, the darker the water. This is caused by the fact that the black rain water is lighter than the salty sea water and is therefore floating atop the green sea water. If there is less rain for a couple of day, the water in the Milford Sound slowly changes to the green color of the sea. Interesting right! Apparently it rains about 180 days a year in the Milford Sound so I was pretty lucky to get this shot with a vivid blue sky.

Other places you cannot skip in New Zealand are: –

• The Te Papa museum in Wellington (North Island): Te Papa means ‘container of treasures’ and that’s so true! I spent a day and a half in this museum and still hadn’t seen everything. More importantly, I wasn’t bored for one second, which is fairly unique for a museum!
• Whakarewarewa thermal village in Rotorua (North Island): a Maori village build around the hot pools and geysers. You are guided by a Maori woman who lives in the village, very interesting!
• The Pancake Rocks on New Zealand’s Wild West Coast (South Island): these strange layered rocks were shaped and sculpted by wind and ocean. I had never seen something like it before in my life. A really cool place to visit!
• Lake Tekapo: Lake Tekapo is just out of this world. The beautiful blue color is something that you cannot catch on a photo and the surroundings are breath-taking.

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Lotte’s adventures on her blog Phenomenal Globe or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.49)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Gabby @ Packs Light

Location: Niagara Falls, Canada

What Made it Great:

This photo is of Niagara Falls from the Canadian side, in Niagara, Canada. Millions of people flock to Niagara Falls each year, and it’s a staple tourist destination for both the United States and Canada. And for good reason! There is so much to do around (or even inside of!) the falls, it’s a great place for anyone to visit. I took this photo on my trip in May, when I went with my family. We got up close and person with the falls by doing a ride in the Horn Blower (which is the Canadian version of the Maid of the Mist), and as you can see by the photo you get pretty soaked by the mist! You can also get soaked by doing a little tour where you walk down the steep cliffside, and stand on a ledge next to falls. I’m sure that also makes for an incredible photo. We also ate at the sky restaurant in Niagara, which is a very tall, rotating restaurant with a birds-eye view of the entire falls. All in all Niagara Falls is a great way to get your fix of the glory of nature with these powerful waterfalls, and also have a great time in a small city.

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Gabby’s adventures on her blog Packs Light or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.50)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Claire @ Claire’s Itchy Feet

Location: Tignes, France

What Made it Great:

This image is from a drive we took while I was visiting family in Tignes in the French Alps. Tignes is a popular Ski destination, not somewhere a lot of people would think to visit in July! But when the snow melts this is what is underneath! My little sister has been living up in the French Alps for a few years now. We are chalk and cheese on a lot of things: She likes to Ski and be up in the mountains and is fine with the cold. I prefer the surf and love swimming in the sea, I hate the cold. So visiting her at winter was never going to happen. I finally went over in summer 2016 and I just couldn’t believe my eyes! Everywhere I looks was so beautiful. I hiked the mountains and wandered round the villages nestled in the valleys. There were a few times when we were driving around when I would shout to stop and this was one of them. I hopped out of the car and took this shot. I wrote a whole post about visiting Tignes (where she lives) during the summer months. I was really surprised at just how much there is to do there! If you love outdoor activities it has you covered! There are incredible Hikes, you can even get the ski lift up and then walk down. Kayaking, tennis, mountain biking, Stand Up Paddle boarding…I could go on and one. Its also a great base to visit other places, you are right by the Italian boarder so we popped over to Italy one day for Pizza and Gillette! If you ever visit and are flying in from Geneva airport make sure you stop at Annecy on the way there or back, its a beautiful little town and has a huge lake that you can take a walk by or even better rent a pedalo! I don’t think I will ever settle in the mountains like my sister but it made me appreciate this incredible place and realise that there is so much more to the alps than skiing! So this year I’m planning on climbing a few more mountains and taking in a few more views like this!

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Claire’s adventures on her blog Claire’s Itchy Feet or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.51)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Carol guttery @ Wayfaring Views

Location: Giant’s Causeway, Ireland

What Made it Great:

You can visit the Antrim coast as a day trip from Belfast or Dublin, but don’t. The coast’s historical sites, craggy coastline and Game of Thrones filming sites are plentiful enough to keep you busy for several days. So skip the bus tour, rent a car and take your time visiting the coast.

Start at the Giants Causeway – I was drawn to the Antrim coast after hearing about the funky geology at the Giant’s Causeway. Funny thing about the Giant’s Causeway, there are two competing theories about its origin and you have to choose which version you want to buy into.

You can choose to believe that the natural wonder comprised of 40,000 interlocking basalt stones was caused by a volcanic eruption 60 million years ago. Or, you can chose to believe that it was built by Irish giant Finn MacCool, as a way to bridge the North Sea for a fight with the Scots.

I’m choosing to believe the latter. And with that sense of wonder, I spent sunrise on the Causeway marveling at their perfect geometry.

Other Things to Do on the Antrim Coast – Other sites in the area that are usually on the 1-day bus tour include: Dunluce Castle, Bushmills Distillery and Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge. Do those, yes. But also take the time to explore the coastline. That’s the nice thing about a slow-paced road trip. It affords you the opportunity to stop whenever you see something interesting.

We did just that and had a delightful walk in Whitepark Bay. We parked at the top of the rocky cliffs and made our way down to the half moon shaped beach. We strolled the empty beach and watched the sun fight its way through the rain clouds. You don’t get that kind of view from a bus window.

Game of Thrones Filming Sites – With a car, you can also indulge your inner geek and take yourself on a tour of the many Games of Thrones filming sites on the Antrim Coast. The Northern Ireland tourist bureau has an awesome app that will guide you to iconic filming sites for the Kings Road, Dark Hedges, the Iron Islands and that cave where Melisendre birthed her scary murder baby. It was like a literary treasure hunt with each stop offering its own special treat.

My favorite was Balintoy Harbor. It’s just north of Giant’s Causeway. It’s a tiny little harbor surrounded by beautiful rocky cliffs. The rocky harbor offers the perfect place to perch at the edge of the Atlantic and watch the sun set.

If all of this sounds good to you, then check out this Antrim Coast road trip itinerary and this alternative itinerary to the Rick Steves guide for more details about how to plan a great trip to Northern Ireland. Finn McCool awaits you.

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Carol’s adventures on her blog Wayfaring Views or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.52)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Carly Wayward @ Flight of the Educator

Location: Reykjavik, Iceland

RELATED: Take a peek at the Ultimate Iceland Bucket List for more inspo, the Best Tours in Iceland to help you see everything, the best time to visit Iceland for your perfect weather and what to pack for Iceland for any season!

What Made it Great:

Reykjavik, Iceland was one of the most wild and exciting places I’ve ever been to. To be in a land with such tumultuous and changing weather was really incredible. Iceland has definitely been on the map recently and certainly doesn’t need my help to suggest that people go, but you SHOULD! Everyone knows about the Waterfalls, but what about all of the friendly horses, the Viking ship, the VIking Museum, or even, dare I say, Phallic Museum? I knew Iceland was famous for its horses, inasmuch as even not allowing any horses to come into the country and very strict guidelines for what you can wear if you ride them. But these friendly guys are all over the country! You just pull your car over, and they’ll come right up for a bit of a pat.

Maybe I’ve been watching Vikings on TV too much, but I really felt the “oldness” there. I could imagine the Vikings setting sail and not knowing where their adventures would take them. What bravery to launch from such a tiny island! The Sun Voyager is the Viking Ship that is displayed on the waterfront of Reykjavik. It’d be impressive at any time, but I managed this snapshot just before sleet and 50 mph wind rolled in. It was quite dramatic! Close your eyes, smell the salt, feel the wind in your hair, and imagine it’s a real ship. There’s also a VIking Museum which has unsettlingly realistic wax figurines depicting the history of Iceland. It’s a nice self-paced audio tour, but the real treat is when it’s over! That sounds bad like it’s boring (it’s not), it’s just the next part is so cool! They give you lots of props and costumes to dress up in! There are even weapons and a polar bear to pose with!

Just next door to the Viking Museum is the Aurora Borealis Museum. Gosh, how boring do I sound with all these museums? To be honest, I went to them because the weather was extremely bad my first few days there, but I’m so glad I did. At the time, I was severely disheartened because of my chances to see the Northern LIghts. I figured, if I couldn’t see them in person, I could at least see the professional shots. Not only do you get gorgeous pictures, but they also tell you the cool myths behind them for many countries! There’s a dark room where you can lay down and watch timelapses of lights on a LARGE screen, an area to check the forecast of the Lights, and a small dark room to check your camera settings! You certainly want to get them right before you’re out in the cold!

Since we’re on the museum vibe, there’s a pretty unique one to Reykjavik. That’s the Phallological Museum, and it has exactly what you think it does in there. Lots and lots of… well… penis. Penises? Peni? It’s the largest collection in the world. Hey, someone had to have it.

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Carly’s adventures on her blog Flight of the Educator or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

 

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.53)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured blogger:

Sher @ SherSheGoes

Location: Havana, Cuba (or if you have already been, why not consider visiting Santiago de Cuba?)

What Made it Great:

Cuba is a beautiful country filled with welcoming locals eager to share their history, food and culture with Americans now that the embargo has ended. I spent a week visiting Santiago, Cienfuegos and Havana and loved the beautiful light, pastel architecture and vintage vehicles theoughout the city. The best part about visiting was learning about history from a different perspective – by and large local Cubans loved and mourned Fidel Castro for giving education, healthcare and jobs to the people – a different birthright of freedoms if you will but no less precious.

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Sher’s adventures on her blog Sher She Goes or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

TRAVEL PHOTO TUESDAY (EP.54)

Please join me in welcoming MakeTimeToSeeTheWorld’s featured bloggers:

Yasha + Juergen @ Dare2Go

Location: Colca Canyon

What Made it Great:

The Colca Canyon in Peru is the second deepest canyon in the world. It’s main attraction are the condors gliding along its edge. But it’s also a lush valley where every piece of arable land is used. These terraced fields, outside Chivay, are centuries old. If you’re fit enough you can hike along the canyon. There are plenty of villages which offer basic accommodation. A little known fact is that you can also explore several Inca ruins along the canyon.

Love this shot? Love this story? You can follow more of Yasha + Juergen‘s adventures on their blog Dare2Go or if you’re feeling social you can follow along on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

 

Please note, #travelphototuesday is now a discontinued series.