The mountains are calling, and I must go…
It is summer again, and it is time once again to go explore the alpine mountains, time to take a stroll on country lanes into the refreshing woods, time to wander into charming mountain villages and grab a refreshing drink, time to lose oneself in nature…
Austria
“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life—and travel—leaves marks on you.”
- Anthony Bourdain
Iceland certainly left its mark on me. Witnessing the raw power of earth's forces transform the landscape before my very eyes, from glaciers gouging vast canyons, waterfalls cutting through the soft earth, laval flows creating new land, and rivers, lakes and oceans shaping the harsh terrain all around, was an indelible experience.
I hope to see this magic once again
Skaftafell National Park
Iceland
The castles of Potsdam set in the placid Park Sancoucci set the historic tone of my trip, taking me from the middle ages to the modern era
The beautiful 14th century Church of the Holy Spirit standing in the heart of the marketplace of beautiful town of Heidelberg formed a beautiful foreground for the even older Heidelberg castle, one of the most important Renaissance structure north of the Alps
The medieval fortifications of Burg Etlz stands out in the forested green hills near the Rhine river, and is still lived in by 33 generations of same family since construction
The modern opulence of 19th century Schloss Hohenschwangau stands in stark contrast to the verdant surroundings of southwestern Bavaria, very close to the even more famous Neuschwanstein
Probably one of the most famous castles of Germany, Neuschwanstein stands out not just for its location atop a rocky outcrop and its colorful and stylistic architecture, but also for the eccentricities of it's creator, King Ludwig II of Bavaria
Historic town centers, spellbinding castles, placid countryside and a rich cultural heritage were the upsides of visiting a country not particularly known as a tourist destination or as a foodie haven. One of the most underrated tourist destinations proved to be one of my most memorable trips.
Germany (Various)
... and the sun finally peeks out in the Pacific Northwest....
If this tree were a person, it would be a supermodel appearing on the cover of Vogue or Cosmopolitan. This non-descript oak, planted on the edge between two fields, transforms into a model every evening, with the sinuous curves exaggerated by the low sunlight close to sunset. And every spring day, dozens of photographers train their cameras and long lenses to get up close and personal with this supermodel of the Palouse.
Palouse
WA USA
I chose to spend the longest day of 2017 exploring the multitude of canyons that dissect the pockmarked terrain of Cappadocia. It was an ambitious though, but reality proved to be a tougher opponent, as navigation here was an exercise in frustration. Having been used to well-marked trails with plenty of maps typically, I was forced to rely on faded trail signs, blurry satellite view images and pure gut instinct to navigate multiple unnamed forks and deep slot canyons. The amount of backtracking easily added an hour to my meanderings in that area.
But there was nothing to complain about - I had an amazingly long day hiking through breath-taking scenery, visiting dozens of centuries-old historical ruins, and consuming plenty of delicious local treats.
After all, exploration is the essence of human spirit.
Happy Solstice Day
Goreme
Turkey
It was a lonely piece of driftwood that I spotted on the smooth sandy shores of Shi Shi beach a few weeks ago. It's life probably began as a tree deep in the temperate rainforests along the wet coastline of the Pacific Northwest.
The deluge of water from a strong summer storm would have probably yanked away the tree, or probably it's branch, and carried it down its rocky cascades leaving it somewhere in the Pacific. It would have floated for months on the turbulent foamy waters, with time slowly hewing away all the leaves and rough branches, leaving behind a gnarly yet smooth piece of driftwood. It would have taken another storm, or few, for it to finally get deposited on this beach in the high tide, never to be disturbed from its final grave. That is, until humans moved it around for photographic pleasure to this very location.
Olympic National Park
WA USA
After a mere four hours of sleep, I trudged myself on that freezing morning to the knife's edge at Inspiration point. The dawn skies were still dark, save for a sliver of light on the eastern horizon. Below me, the vast amphitheater of hoodoos were cold and pale, awaiting the morning light.
And as the sun broke through the clouds, the warm light lit the amphitheater aglow. The steep slopes down below were a bright orange, while the maze of hoodoos turned a deep red from the afterglow. It was a scene I could not take my eyes off.
Bryce Canyon National Park
UT USA
Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity - John Muir
Two years ago, to the day, I found myself staring at the end of a long dirt road weaving by a gushing creek of ice-cold melt-water. Silver-capped mountains gleamed in the distance. My destination for that night was somewhere there, deep amidst the towering peaks in a beautiful valley pine forests, vast open meadows and lush green hills.
That excitement and giddiness of hauling all my clothing and gear up into the mountains apart, it made me wonder why I made the decision of heading to this mountainous heartland of Central Asia. I already knew the answer: I love being amidst the mountains. And that was why I was relocating back to the west coast after that trip, where mountains are not just a dot on a landscape, but a region with innumerable nooks and crannies waiting to be explored and photographed.
I could not think of a better place to enjoy my last few days in this amazing country, for in going to the mountains, I was going home.
Altyn Arashan
Kyrgyzstan
The joys of exploring Palouse remain in getting lost in it's vast hinterlands, and finding an abandoned shack amidst the rolling hills and pastoral landscape. This joy is extra special when the clouds, the light, and the landscape come together for a beautiful visual symphony.
Palouse
WA
