@sharingtheglobe
Traditional mosque in Ende, Pays Dogon, Mali #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
@sharingtheglobe in April 2021
@sharingtheglobe
@sharingtheglobe
The ornate interior of the Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii / Blue Mosque) in Istanbul, Turkey #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
View of central Frankfurt from the Imperial Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew (Kaiserdom Sankt Bartholomäus) in Frankfurt am Main, Germany #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
View of Santiago de Chile and surrounding snow-covered mountains from the top of the Gran Torre Santiago #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
A photo I took in 2016 of the old city center and port of Bergen on the Byfjorden fjord. This was taken on a drive I took through what was then called Hordaland but what is now known as Vestland. Bergen is a major tourist destination in Norway and was one of the original capitals of Norway back in the 1100s. It is certainly one of the more pleasant Norwegian cities to visit. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
The Temple of Bacchus in Baalbek (ܒܥܠܒܟ,) Lebanon. This particular temple is one of the largest and best preserved Roman temples remaining in the world. I visited the Baalbek temple complex and took this photo in December 2019. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
The Belgrade Fortress (Београдска тврђава) at dawn in Belgrade, Serbia. I had a brief overnight layover in Belgrade back in November of 2019 and took a long walk through this beautiful city on the Danube. The fortress itself was strategically built where the Sava river meets the Danube. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
The ornate six-tiered Thean Hou Temple (乐圣岭天后宫/樂聖嶺天后宮) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I've visited this temple twice, the latest time in October, 2019. This temple is a must see on any visit to KL and is one of the more eye-popping temples I've ever visited. If you look closely you can see a couple taking their wedding photographs at the temple while wearing traditional ceremonial clothing. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
Inside the Catholic church on the island of Betio in the nation of Kiribati. Unlike many churches with pews, this one was structured for praying on the knees. The holy water font in this church was made out of a conch shell, a nice local touch. I visited Kiribati (Pronounced Kee-Ree-Bas) back in September of 2019. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
Salt camel herder on the shores of Lake Assal (بحيرة عسل,) in Djibouti, 155m below sea level and the lowest point in Africa. Similar to the Dead Sea but saltier, camel herders such as this one collect the salt and sell it in the markets. I had a broken conversation with this gentleman in French and found him fascinating. He in turn had never seen a smartphone before but was able to take my photo after some coaching. I visited Djibouti in November of 2018. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
The peaceful grounds of the Kigali Genocide Memorial in Rwanda from my visit there in October, 2018. Over 250,000 victims of the 1994 Rwandan genocide are buried here. It's a beautiful place but also utterly sobering spot to visit. The visitor center includes stories about children who were murdered; what their favorite foods were, funny things they used to do, and exactly how they were killed. It's emotionally difficult to visit but it's also important to understand our…
@sharingtheglobe
Traditional Polynesian dance of the Rapa Nui people at the Ahu Tahai archeological site on the island of Rapa Nui (Easter Island.) Visible is the "Ko Te Riku" Moai, one of the famous stone statues of the island, with a pukao (topknot) on its head and restored coral eyes. Rapa Nui marks the southeast corner of what is commonly referred to as the "Polynesian triangle," with Hawaii and New Zealand forming the other two points. The language of Rapa Nui is similar to the native…
@sharingtheglobe
Courtyard of the Po-i-Kalan Islamic religious complex (Poi Kalon/پای کلان ) in Bukhara, Uzbekistan. The Kalyan Minaret shown dates back to 1127, and was the only structure spared by Genghis Khan during his conquest of the region as he found it so impressive. The city of Bukhara is one of the most impressive cities of Central Asia and is worth going out of your way to visit. I visited Uzbekistan and took this photo on a trip across Central Asia in May, 2014. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
The 16 meter (52 ft) tall Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, near Moab in Grand County, Utah. The arch is easily accessible via a 5km (3 mile) roundtrip trail though its best to hike this either early in the day or later depending on the season as you are exposed to the sun for most of the trail. I visited this Arch back in June of 2014 on my way to visit the ancient cliff ruins in Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
Haitian Carnival (Kanaval) revelers stopping traffic while dressed up in costumes. They perform dances/skits and hold the vehicles in place until a donation is made to the festival-goers. I experienced the Haitian Carnival in Kap Ayisyen (Cap-Haïtien) Haiti in the spring of 2015. Haiti has a bad reputation but is a fascinating country to visit. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
The famous mud volcanoes of Gobustan (Qobustan) near the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan. Unlike 'normal' volcanoes, the mud that flows from these volcanoes is cool to the touch and it's fascinating to watch these volcanoes bubble up close. Nearby to the mud volcanoes are some ancient stone carvings as well, all in all a very worthwhile diversion from the capital, Baku. I visited Azerbaijan and the mud volcanoes of Gobustan in September of 2014. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
Mongolian herder family with twin daughters outside of their traditional ger (yurt) house. This photo was taken on the Mongolian steppe near Argalant (Аргалант) during my visit there in September 2016. I was able to enjoy a fresh-roasted lamb with the family the night before and spent the night there as well. Mongolians are incredibly hospitable and friendly people and experiencing their nomadic lifestyles which have been mostly unchanged since the time of Genghis Khan was…
@sharingtheglobe
Breaking the Tourist Barrier; Experiencing the World of Travel Like a Local Introduction; Breaking the Tourist Barrier Traveling abroad can be an intimidating and tedious affair. Lost baggage, stolen passports, scam artists and expensive package tours can sour a traveler’s experience and make them reluctant to travel again. At the same time, a typical tourist will rarely get to fully experience what a local culture is really like and will instead be deliberately cordoned off…
@sharingtheglobe
Breaking the Tourist Barrier; Chapter 1: Planning Your Journey Avoiding Tourist Companies and Services To successfully break the tourist barrier, you must start with the planning for your trip. Many people tend to get overwhelmed with the logistics of travel and contract with travel services and companies to help them plan where to stay, how to get around, and even sometimes what they will eat. This is the first mistake many people make, as these tourist companies very…
@sharingtheglobe
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault (Svalbard globale frøhvelv,) aka the "Doomsday Vault." Over 400,000 seeds are stored in the vault on the island of Spitsbergen for safe-keeping in the event of a global catastrophe. Back in September of 2015 I visited the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, which is about as close as you can get to the North Pole without getting your feet wet (or frozen.) In addition to the seed vault, Svalbard has some fascinating sights to see such as the…
@sharingtheglobe
The Pura Batu Bolong temple at Tanah Lot in Bali, Indonesia. This temple complex is one of the most important Balinese sea temples founded in the 16th century to honor the gods of the sea. It's very popular to come here at sunset and take photos of the sun setting below the natural rock arch of the temple, which is what I did when I visited here back in May of 2011. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
Sunset at the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque (Masjid Omar Ali Saifuddien/مسجد عمر علي سيف الدين) in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. A replica of the 16th century Sultan Bolkiah Mahligai Barge floats in the lagoon outside of the mosque. The mosque itself sits at the edge of the Kampong Ayer, a 'floating village' of houses built on stilts over the Brunei River and a fascinating place to explore. I visited Brunei twice, the first time in 2011 when I took this photo and then again in…
@sharingtheglobe
Close up of part of Uluru (Ayers Rock) in the Northern Territory of Australia. Uluru is an inselberg, or "island mountain" that juts up out of the Australian Outback and is one of the signature sights of the country. I visited the site back in 2011 on a drive that took me from Darwin all the way down to Uluru, a 2000km journey across the Outback. I actually expected it to be something like a massive dessert but instead I found that it is some truly lovely terrain. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
An actual 100 Trillion Zimbabwean dollar note that I picked up from my visit to Zimbabwe back in 2011. Worth less than 10 cents by the time they completely gave up on the currency, they started using worn-out USD for all transactions by the time of my visit. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
A look across the Moscow river at the fortified Moscow Kremlin (Московский Кремль.) I took this shot around 4:30am on a summer morning back in 2010. It was early enough that I had the entire Red Square to myself aside from one lonely policeman guarding Lenin's tomb. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
Grinding food in the traditional way near Ponta Acoilo on the shores of the Banta Sea in Timor-Leste. I visited this tiny nation in 2011 shortly after it achieved its independence and toured the capital of Dili as well as a few spots nearby. The primary language here is Portuguese, which gives it a culture unique in the area. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
The elaborate and impressive Batu Caves (பத்து மலை) temple complex in Gombak, Selangor, Malaysia. I visited this Hindu shrine dedicated to Lord Murugan twice, once in 2011 and then again in 2019. The most striking difference between the two visits was that they now have vividly painted the 272 steps that lead up to the temple cave. The Batu caves are a short drive from Kuala Lumpur and a must on any visit to the area. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
The iconic road leading up from the holy city of Mecca (مكة المكرمة) to the pleasant and historic town of Ta'if (اَلطَّائِفُ) in the Hejaz Mountains of Saudi Arabia. As a non-Muslim, I wasn't allowed in the city of Mecca but I was able to take the bypass around the city on my way from Jeddah to Ta'if. The views on the way up the pass are simply gorgeous and there are wild baboons along the side of the road. I visited Saudi Arabia in late 2019 after they simplified tourist…
@sharingtheglobe
Colorful houses along the 'Caminito' alley in La Boca, an historic neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina. I visited Argentina in 2012 and made a stop in this Italian-influenced barrio during my stay. The Italian influence in Argentina is quite strong and even the dialect of Spanish spoken in the country sounds similar to Italian. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
The Pula Arena (Pulska Arena,) a nearly 2000 year old Roman amphitheater in Pula, Croatia. This is one of the best preserved of all of the Roman amphitheaters and is actually quite functional as well; they sometimes hold concerts and plays within the grounds. The entire Istrian peninsula of Croatia is a hidden gem of well-preserved Venetian cities, gorgeous beaches, wineries, and some of the best food you can imagine. I took this photo when I visited the region back in 2012.…
@sharingtheglobe
The Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic (ශ්රී දළදා මාළිගාව) in Kandy, Sri Lanka, which houses the Buddhist religious relic of the tooth of the Buddha. The city of Kandy is a major religious pilgrimage spot in Sri Lanka and is worth the trip inland if you are in Colombo. I visited here in 2011 and have returned again once a few years later. #Travel
@sharingtheglobe
The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral (Храм-паметник "Свети Александър Невски",) a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia, Bulgaria. This massive cathedral which can hold 5000 people is one of the 50 biggest in the world and is beautiful both on the inside and the outside. I visited Bulgaria on a tour across the region back in 2012 and was intrigued by the architecture, the culture, and the cuisine. The vegetables in particular were some of the tastiest I've ever had and I most…
@sharingtheglobe
The ancient temple of Beng Mealea (ប្រាសាទបឹងមាលា,) deep in the Cambodian jungle. I visited this temple in 2011 on a trip to the famous temples near Siem Reap and found Beng Mealea to be incredibly interesting. It is a temple nearly identical in design to the more famous Angkor Wat, but it sits mostly unrestored so has a very different feel to it as the jungle grows around it and the temple itself is in greater disarray. Very little is known about this temple and why it was…