Posts Tagged With: photography

H-Bomb’s Sunday photo, week 46: a space shuttle in Los Angeles

Posted on September 14, 2014 by H-Bomb

As I write this, I’m on a plane from Cancun to Chicago, on my way back to New York. I just spent the weekend at TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange), an amazing conference where travel bloggers connect with the travel industry and with each other. But that long weekend in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula was only one of several fun journeys I’ve been on in recent months. For example, a couple of weekends earlier, I made my seventh visit to Los Angeles.

A highlight of this particular trip to Southern California was seeing the Space Shuttle Endeavour. One of three surviving space shuttles that have flown into space, it is now on display at the California Science Center:

endeavour

The other space shuttles (Discovery and Atlantis) are on display in Chantilly, Virginia and Cape Canaveral, Florida, respectively. In addition, the Space Shuttle Enterprise, a prototype that did not actually slip the surly bonds of Earth’s atmosphere, can be visited in New York City. I previously checked out the Enterprise in August 2012.

Would you like to go into outer space?

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H-Bomb’s Friday Photo, week 44: the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery in Hong Kong

Posted on March 14, 2014 by H-Bomb

Happy Friday, and happy Pi Day! I leave for India just one week from tonight! Anyhoo, our featured image this week comes from Hong Kong, and a Buddhist temple called the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery (also known as Man Fat Tsz). Despite its name, the temple is not an actual monastery as no monks reside on the premises. On the grounds of the temple you can find a total of 12,800 statues of Buddha in various styles, sizes, colours, and poses. Some of the statues stand outdoors, while others are installed in various temples, halls, and pavilions. Here are just a few dozen of the statues that you can gaze upon at the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery:

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One of the highlights of a visit to this place is the walk that you take to get from the entrance to the buildings of the monastery: an uphill stroll along a winding path lined with golden Buddhas. Continue reading →

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H-Bomb’s Friday Photo, week 43: magnificent columns in an Egyptian temple

Posted on March 7, 2014 by H-Bomb

I hope you’re all having a great Friday. Earlier this week I celebrated my birthday, and I’m looking forward to another year filled with adventure!

This week’s featured image comes from a country that’s synonymous with adventure: Egypt. Specifically, it’s a photograph taken at the Temple of Hathor — a Greco-Roman temple complex in Dendera. The portion of that temple known as the Large Hypostyle Hall contains columns that are approximately 50 feet high:

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Although parts of the temple date back to the third century B.C., the Large Hypostyle Hall was added during the reign of the Roman Emperor Tiberius, who ruled from 14 A.D. to 37 A.D. (It’s believed that earlier temples also dedicated to Hathor were built on the same site as early as 4,000 years ago.) Hathor was a deity worshipped by the ancient Egyptians who was typically depicted with bovine features. She was the goddess of love, joy, and motherhood.

This photo was taken during my trip to Egypt in September 2012. Dendera, the location of the temple, is about 50 miles from Luxor.

Are you awed by grand structures like this that were built thousands of years ago?

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H-Bomb’s Friday Photo, week 42: a Russian palace to rival Versailles

Posted on February 28, 2014 by H-Bomb

Hello everyone, and another happy Friday to you! This weekend I’ll be attending the New York Times Travel Show right here in New York City. I’m excited to learn more about potential future destinations for my World Karaoke Tour, and to reconnect with some of my favourite people from the travel world!

While I look forward to the travel show and related festivities, it’s time for me to share with you a photograph from travels gone by. Today’s featured image comes from the Russian Federation. Peterhof Palace is a spectacular complex of palaces and gardens on the Gulf of Finland, 19 miles from St. Petersburg. This is what its main building looks like:

Peterhof Palace

Peterhof was laid out in the 18th century by Peter the Great, who used it as his summer home. In its opulence it’s been compared to the great French palace at Versailles. An easy day-trip from St. Petersburg, Peterhof can be reached from that city via a 40-minute hydrofoil ride down the Neva River. The reason everyone’s back is to the camera in this image is that the folks in attendance were all watching a show marking what the palace’s website described as the “celebration of opening fountains.” (In front of the main palace is a cascading series of fountains.) That celebration included fireworks and martial music. When I set out for Peterhof on the day of my visit, I had no idea that such an event would be taking place; it was really nice to stumble into it and experience such a festive atmosphere.

This photo was taken during my trip to Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova in May 2013.

Do you enjoy visiting grand palaces like this one?

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Touring the Panama Canal

Posted on February 25, 2014 by H-Bomb

This year marks the centennial of the Panama Canal. With its opening in 1914, seagoing transit between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans was radically transformed. Before “the trench” was dug, ships seeking to cross the Americas needed to circumnavigate South America — a time-consuming journey of 8,000 or so miles that included the rounding of that continent at the treacherous Cape Horn. The canal, however, is just 48.2 miles long and can be traversed in complete safety in 10 hours or less. It was a stupendous achievement, and in 1994 the American Society of Civil Engineers recognized it as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. (The other works named to that list include the Channel Tunnel; the CN Tower; the Empire State Building; the Golden Gate Bridge; the Itaipu Dam; and the Netherlands North Sea Protection Work.) In November 2013, I experienced this modern wonder firsthand. Continue reading →

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H-Bomb’s Friday Photo, week 40: a llama at Machu Picchu

Posted on November 29, 2013 by H-Bomb

Happy Black Friday! I just checked in to my hotel in Panama City. Tonight I aim to find a place to sing karaoke in this town, and tomorrow I will tour the Panama Canal. But before I get to those things, I would like to share with you an image from earlier in this trip, when I was in Peru. One of the highlights of my Peruvian journey was my visit to Machu Picchu, a 15th-century Incan city that was carved into hilly terrain in the jungle. After the Spaniards conquered the Incas, the city was abandoned, and became lost to the world until it was discovered by the American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911.

When you go to Machu Picchu, it’s common to see llamas; along with their close relative the alpaca, llamas are iconic animals in Peru. Here’s a llama that definitely wanted me to document her while I was photographing the ruins below her:

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This photo was taken just a few days ago. Have a great weekend everyone!

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H-Bomb’s Friday Photo, week 39: the view of the Pacific Ocean from Lima

Posted on November 22, 2013 by H-Bomb

Feliz Viernes! I’m now in Lima, Peru, having arrived here late last night. Things were a little cray cray the last few weeks before my trip; work was extremely busy. But now I’m traveling and having fun! This week’s featured image comes from right here in Lima. It’s a view of the Pacific Ocean, seen from Lima’s Miraflores district:

Pacific pride

Miraflores is a pleasant area filled with beaches and public parks; it’s a nice section to walk around in.

This photo was taken today! Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go get ready to make my Peruvian karaoke debut this evening! Peru is about to become the 31st country on my World Karaoke Tour!

Would you like to visit Peru?

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H-Bomb’s Friday Photo, week 38: the view from Table Mountain in Cape Town

Posted on November 1, 2013 by H-Bomb

Happy November! Today is just another Friday as I count down to my departure for Peru and Panama, now less than three weeks away. I’m getting pretty excited about those impending additions to my World Karaoke Tour! I still have no idea what songs I’m going to perform in those countries; but I’m confident that my journey will feature some unforgettable nights of singing. Seeing Machu Picchu and the Panama Canal, among other sights, will be pretty awesome too.

It’s time for another photograph of the week that memorializes one of my favourite destinations from the past! Today’s featured image comes from Cape Town, South Africa. That city’s signature landmark is not man-made; it’s the natural wonder of Table Mountain. A flat-topped promontory overlooking the city, Table Mountain boasts breathtaking views from its approximately 3,500-foot elevation. Here’s one of them:

Cape Town view

In this view, you can see the rotating cylindrical cable car that ferries visitors to the summit. (You can also choose to hike up the mountain.) Visible in the background are the smaller peak known as Lion’s Head; and, beyond it, the Atlantic Ocean. Cape Town’s city centre is just to the right of the frame.

This photo was taken during my visit to South Africa in September 2011. To see what Table Mountain looks like from ground level, go here.

Would you like to go to the top of Table Mountain?

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H-Bomb’s Friday Photo, Week 37: the Monument of the Discoveries in Lisbon

Posted on October 25, 2013 by H-Bomb

Happy happy Friday! Yesterday I visited my travel doctor and got a typhoid vaccine. I’m now fully immunized for my upcoming trip to Peru and Panama. That vacation is less than four weeks away!

It’s time for me to share with you my newest featured photograph. This week’s chosen image comes from the Portugese capital of Lisbon. The PadrΓ£o dos Descobrimentos (Monument of the Discoveries) is a marble sculpture that commemorates the Age of Exploration in which Portugese mariners played such a huge role.

Monument of the Discoveries

Also known as the Age of Discovery, the Age of Exploration occurred during the 15th and 16th centuries. This monument includes statues of leading Portugese contributors to the achievements of that era: monarchs as well as explorers, cartographers, artists, scientists and missionaries. Among the 33 luminaries depicted are Ferdinand Magellan (the organiser of the first expedition to circumnavigate the globe); Vasco da Gama (the commander of the first expedition to sail directly from Europe to India); Bartolomeu Dias (the first person to round the Cape of Good Hope); Pedro Álvares Cabral (the discoverer of Brazil); and the great poet Luís de Camáes

Standing 164 feet in height, the Monument of the Discoveries was completed in 1960 and stands on the north bank of the Tagus River. This photo of it was taken during my trip to Lisbon that took place from December 2011 to January 2012. During that visit, Portugal became the 24th country on my World Karaoke Tour.

Are you interested in the Age of Exploration?

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H-Bomb’s Friday Photo, week 35: a gilded temple in Kyoto

Posted on October 11, 2013 by H-Bomb

Happy Friday, friends. I was preoccupied this week, as I was preparing for my latest game show audition, which took place yesterday evening. But now I can turn my attention back to this blog — and just in time for a new Friday photo!

This week’s featured image comes from Kyoto, a former imperial capital of Japan. It’s a temple called Kinkaku-ji, also known as the Gold Pavilion.

gilded temple

The two upper stories of this magnificent structure are covered in pure gold leaf. The temple is situated on the Kyoko-Chi, meaning “Mirror Pond.”

This photo was taken during my visit to Japan in April 2008.

Incidentally, the game show I was trying out for last night was “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?”. I was told that I’ll find out within a week or two whether I’ve been chosen for the pool of potential contestants for the show. The tryout was a lot of fun, and the producer who interviewed me seemed to like me, but there are never any guarantees in this situation. So I need to keep my fingers crossed; and while I’m waiting to hear back, I will distract myself with thoughts of future destinations on my World Karaoke Tour. πŸ™‚

Would you like to visit Japan?

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H-Bomb’s Friday Photo, week 34: a Greek lighthouse at sunset

Posted on October 4, 2013 by H-Bomb

Hellooooooooooo! Another Friday is upon us. Yesterday was a pretty good Thursday for me; I got my passport back, with 48 blank pages inserted. Now I’ll be able to continue to travel internationally, for years to come, without running out of pages for passport stamps. And I can turn my attention to my next passport-related errand: applying for a tourist visa for my March 2014 trip to India!

But first I must turn my attention to the fact that it’s time for a new photo of the week! Today’s featured image comes from Crete, the largest of the Greek islands. Specifically, it comes from Chania (spelled “Χανιά” in Greek), a charming harbour town that features Venetian-style architecture. In Chania’s harbour stands a lighthouse. One of the oldest lighthouses in the Mediterranean, the structure was first built around 1600, and assumed its present form circa 1839. Here’s what the lighthouse looks like at sunset:

sunset lighthouse

This photo was taken during my visit to Greece in August 2004. During that trip, Greece became the fifth country on my World Karaoke Tour. It’s hard to believe there was a time when I’d sung in so few countries. πŸ™‚

Would you like to visit a Greek island?

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H-Bomb’s Friday Photo, week 33: a riotous marketplace in Marrakesh

Posted on September 27, 2013 by H-Bomb

Welcome to what, in the Northern Hemisphere, is the first Friday of autumn! (And if you’re reading this from below the equator, happy first Friday of the spring!) Fresh off my appearance this month as a quiz show contestant, I’ve registered to audition in early October for another game show: “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” Wish me luck with that!

As that audition approaches, I’ll have to fill out the written application and brush up on my trivia. But I’ll get to that stuff later. Right now, it’s time for another featured image from my travels. Our newest photo of the week comes from Morocco, and specifically from the city of Marrakesh. With a population of just over 900,000, Marrakesh is the fourth-largest city in Morocco; historically it often served as the capital of the Moroccan Kingdom. (Today, the capital city of Morocco is Rabat.)

The focal point of Marrakech’s medina (old city) is its vast central square and open-air marketplace that’s called the Jemaa el Fna. That square is well-known as a symbol of the city. Most notably perhaps, it appeared in several scenes in the great Alfred Hitchcock movie, The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956).Β Here’s a view looking towards the Jemaa el Fna at dusk:

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Rising up in the background is the minaret of the Koutoubia mosque. As you can see, the marketplace pulses with activity after the sun goes down; at that time it fills with stalls peddling street food and produce. If you look closely, you can see steam rising up from some of those stalls.

This photo was taken during my visit to Morocco in February 2011.

Would you like to visit Morocco?

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H-Bomb’s Friday Photo, week 28: an abandoned amusement park near Chernobyl

Posted on August 23, 2013 by H-Bomb

Happy Friday, people! This week I decided that in the spring of 2014, I will finally make it to India. A visit to the Taj Mahal, is, of course, an entry on many bucket lists; and I know that the mausoleum that Shah Jahan built for his wife is just one of many unforgettable sights that await me in that exotic land. Naturally, I’m also looking forward to checking out the Indian karaoke scene! πŸ™‚

Now that this blog is up and running again, the end of the work week means it’s time for another weekly photo from the travels that I’ve already completed. Today’s featured image comes from Pripyat, a ghost town near Chernobyl in the Ukraine. In Pripyat there’s a small amusement park that was supposed to open on May Day (May 1), 1986. Due to the catastrophic accident at Chernobyl’s nuclear plant on April 26, 1986, Pripyat was permanently evacuated and the amusement park never opened.

One of the attractions at the park was to have been a bumper car ride. Those bumper cars never carried a single paying passenger, and have been decaying for over 27 years:

decaying bumper cars

This scene is a reminder that in the end, nature always reclaims her own. This photo was taken during my visit to the Russian Federation, the Ukraine, and Moldova in May 2013; and it’s easily my favorite photo from that trip.

Oh, and one other thing: Ben Affleck??? I mean, really?

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