Photo Tour: My Favorite Travel Photos 2012

December 27, 2012 By 6 Comments

I did a lot of traveling this year.  When I broke it all down; it turns out in 2012 I was living out of a suitcase 7 out of the 12 months.  Which is better (or worse, depending on your perspective) than 2011 where I lived out of a suitcase for 9 months.

My trajectory this year started in January with me leaving Saudi Arabia and hitting up the following:

DMM > AMS > SEA > LAX > SAN > ATL > SAN > SEA >  SAN > LAS > Road Trip > SAN > SEA > AMS > DMM. All this, with a few day trips to LA and Portland, Oregon thrown in.

I rested up for  2 months then I was at it again:  JED > DMM > AMS > SEA > SAN > JFK > Amtrak to DC > SAN > SEA > AMS > DMM; with a few trips to Bahrain thrown in.  Whew!!  I’m exhausted just trying to remember it all…and the thing is, I’m about to hit the road again in a couple of weeks.  So I thought I would share some of my favorite photos before the year is out.

Each photo is a favorite for its own reason, which is typically related to how I felt when I took the photo or when I reminisced over that event.  And, some are my favorites because I liked the look once I got it out of the camera. :)

Following are my favorite photos from my travel adventures in 2012:

*To enlarge the image, click on it; then click again.

Enjoy!!

The following photo is my all time favorite from 2012.  It’s not the best from a technical standpoint.  However, its become my favorite because these guys are the coolest guys I’ve ever met in Saudi Arabia.  I was in Jeddah, taking tourist photos, and these guys invited me over to take a photo.  This just does not happen in Saudi Arabia, most people don’t want to you get them in your photos so for these guys to be so open, was just awesome.  I felt so grateful, and thankful that every time I see this photo and think of the encounter, I smile.  People this is how you live forever, by touching peoples lives.

Guys Playing Dominoes next to the Upper Jadeed Gate Al-Balad Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Though I didn’t take the following photos they made the list because it captures the pure exhilaration that I felt after I did my first skydive.  I say my first because I loved it so much, that I plan to do it again.  This really was a milestone.  I’ve always thought I was brave, but now I know it.  And, when I find myself fearful over little things I remember, “Girl, please!  You’ve jumped out of a plane and loved it.” :)

Skydiving The Most Exhilarating Feeling Ever

My First Skydiving – Soaring Like An Eagle

I took a few photography workshops this year.  One of them was a workshop on Night Photography.  It was the best $75 I could have spent.  It improved my skills in this area so much that two of those photos made my Best of 2012 cut:

The San Diego Skyline from Coronado

Seattle Skyline from Beacon Hill At the merge of Interstate 5 & Interstate 90

Seeing the Grand Canyon truly is an awesome experience, and I took a ton of photos.  However the best photos are the ones you capture right when the sun is rising.  Yes…that means getting up early.  In our case,we I had to get up at 4:30AM to make it to the park in time.  It was painfully cold and windy, but totally worth it.

Sunrise at the Grand Canyon

Seattle always makes the cut when it comes to great photos.  Why?  Simply put, this city is beautiful.  I’ve said it before, but I’m saying it again, I love Seattle.  Though I’m from San Diego, I’ve adopted Seattle as my hometown.  Yes, it rains a lot.  But, the plants need to eat and the payoff is those spring and summer months when it’s just gorgeous.

Seattle from Lower Queen Anne Kerry Park

I spent four days in Amsterdam while the Gay Pride Festival was in full swing.  OMG!!  The best daytime outdoor party I think I’ve ever been to.  The whole city gets involved in this event; gays, straights, young, old, public service personnel, the whole nine.  The lanes along the canals were packed with people watching the Naughty Boat Parade.  The people watching itself was spectacular; locals were hanging out their windows or chilling on the roof tops with drinks in hand.  This photo, though not the best, when I saw it later I smiled because it captures the fabulous vibe of the that afternoon.

Fabulous Queen On Her Boat Cruising The Canal Along Prinsengracht.

I’ve been to San Francisco more times than I can remember but when I went in August it was probably one of my favorites.  I was staying with friends, who are awesome and showed me a good time.  And, the fog was just the right amount of perfect for me to get this great photo of the Golden Gate Bridge.

Golden Gate Bridge – San Francisco

Last by not least is this Black and White at the Lincoln Memorial.  I don’t know what was going on with me on this trip.  This was a double city tour.  We went to NYC then took the train to DC.  I LOVE DC!!  However, I don’t really like any of the photos.  When in NYC I took a ton of photos in Harlem that promised to be grand, but I accidentally deleted them (Argh!!!!!!!).  Then I got to DC and the photos I took during the day weren’t as vibrant as the could have been do to the filter I had on my lens.  And, I didn’t notice it until it was pretty much too late.  So, I’m not thoroughly satisfied with any of the photos I took on this trip.  But…the quick fix was making some of them Black & White, which lead to my Washington DC Black and White Series.

The Lincoln Memorial in Black & White – Washington DC

So…there you have it, the best I have to offer of 2012.  2013 is around the corner with promises of more favorite photos from my travel adventures.

Wishing you Health, Happiness, and Prosperity in the New Year.  Happy New Year!!

 

 

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Amsterdam and Porcelain Houses

August 27, 2012 By 2 Comments

One of my travel collections consists of KLM Delft Blue miniature houses. They come out with new house every year, and each one is numbered.   Some might say that the coolest thing about them is that they come filled with Bois Jenever (dutch gin).  What I find most cool is that they are replicas of houses that still stand today in Amsterdam or some other city in Holland.    This collection was building slowly, however, over the past year it’s grown quite a bit.  I’ve gone from less than 10 houses to close almost 40 houses.   Roland added eight to my collection this past July.  Eight!!  I don’t know how he got so many when he should have just come home with four, but I’m gonna guess he was scheming and asking people for theirs. (Thanks Baby!! :D )

About a year ago, I came up with the grand idea to search out these houses and photograph them.  I don’t know how I’m going to display the two together, but I thought it was a fun idea.  That is what motivated me to purchase some of the houses when an expat leaving Saudi Arabia advertised her collection for sale at 20 Riyals (about $5.30) per house.  So, I purchased 18 houses.

Well…I was in Amsterdam earlier this month for 4 days and I checked out some of the houses.   It was so cool!!  Based on the proximity to my hotel, I narrowed it down to 5 houses.  I mapped them and went on my search.   I was so excited when I found the first one.  I was surprised that they were so easy to find and I think I expected them to “stand out” in some way.  But, they look like the other surrounding canal houses, with the exception that this one has a porcelain replica reproduced by KLM.

I spent one afternoon walking a nice route that took me to five of the houses in my collection.  This is just the beginning.  The next time I’m in Amsterdam, I will select 5 – 6 more houses and do another walking tour of a new neighborhood. Following are the photos of the houses that I took.  The photos of the porcelain house is courtesy of KLM.

*To enlarge the photos, click to bring up its own page, then click again. :) *

Keizersgracht 140 – KLM House #45:
Unlike the facade of many old buildings in Amsterdam that lean slightly outward towards the street, the facade of the house at Keizersgracht 140 was erected in 1896 and stands straight up.  Until the first half of the 19th century the house was in uses as a meeting for English Quakers.

KLM House 45

Keizersgracht 140 – KLM House #45

Herengracht 203 – KLM House #53:
The house at Herengracht 203 was built during the early period in which the ring of canals was being constructed and is one of he original buildings.  It was build in 1618 following the allocation of the land.  A restoration was conducted in 1920.

KLM House 53

Herengracht 203 – KLM House #53

Herengracht 64 – KLM House #56:
Herengracht 64 was built by Jan van Alderwerelt (1585-1636).  This merchant’s house was rebuilt around 1700.  An historic drawing shows that the house was once crowned by a globe with a cross on top but this ornament has since disappeared.

KLM House 56

Herengracht 64 – KLM House #56

Herengracht 163 – KLM House #59:
A wine merchant named Jan Willemson commissioned the building of this house.  The beautiful neck gable crowning the building at Herengracht 163 dates from 1721.

KLM House 59

Herengracht 163 – KLM House #59

Singel 87 – KLM House #72:
This building dates back to 1730.  The top is crowned with a bust of mercury, the god of commerce.  This symbol was in common uses during the time when Amsterdam was one of the world’s most important centers of trade.

KLM House 72

Singel 87 – KLM House #72

 

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[VIDEO] Amsterdam Gay Pride Parade 2012

August 5, 2012 By 3 Comments

Dutch people overwhelmingly support equal rights for gays, and the country became the world’s first to fully sanction gay marriages in April 2001.  So when I found out it was Gay Pride week the weekend I was going to Amsterdam, there was no way I was going to miss the parade.  I expected something fabulous, and I was not disappointed.  This was one big canal side party.

The Gay Pride “Naughty Boat” Parade is the high point of Gay Pride week.  The boat-floats feature gay, lesbian, and transgender people, some of them “dang near naked.” :)   The streets along side Prinsengracht canal were lined with hundreds of thousands of gay right supporters.  When I say this was one big party, I’m telling you, house music blasting everywhere; people hanging out on balconies, and windowsills of canal side houses.  Oh yea…and pink, pink, and mo pink everywhere.

The video is below.  The video and editing is rough; I’m on the road, and I’m slightly lazy. LOL  But, this gives you an idea as to what I saw and experienced.

Enjoy!!

YouTube Preview Image

 

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Photo Tour: Amsterdam City Center

November 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The City Center Photo Tour are photos from my wanderings around Amsterdam.  I was practicing with low light conditions (early morning hours), night time conditions (just after dusk), and trying to get cool reflections.

Enjoy!!

 

 


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Photo Tour: Amsterdam Country Bike Tour

November 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The one thing you can’t ignore in Amsterdam are the bicycles.  They are everywhere.  When you cross the street you have to watch out for people on bikes, not automobiles.  This is a biking culture and you will see people pedaling rain or shine.  Bike paths connect the entire country.  So, you know that means I had to do a bike tour.   Since we were staying in the city center and was pounding the heck out of the pavement on foot, I decided we should go out into the countryside.

After checking out the various companies that offered bike tours I settled on Joy Ride Tour’s Countryside Tour.   We met our tour guide at Museumplein, directly behind the Rijksmuseum at 10:15AM for what would be a 4 hour tour.

The ride began with a leisurely pedal through Vondelpark, which among other things has the only outdoor sculpture by Picasso.  Then we were off to one of the outer neighborhoods to explore a floating house boat community. The houseboat community is protected from flooding by modern working sluice gates that border a giant freshwater lake. After passing over the freshwater lock system, we rode through Amsterdam’s forest to see a 364 year old windmill.

After the windmill, we were off to a 400 year old working farm. There we discovered the secrets of how Dutch cheese and clogs are made.  They had free cheese samples.  Which basically were a hook to get you do purchase some cheese.  And, it worked, because their smoked cheese was just to yummy to pedal away from.

We re-entered the city riding next to the gently flowing Amstel River through the lovely Queen Beatrix Park eventually ending up back at our starting point near Museumsplein.

If you want to get out of the city and see a different side to Amsterdam, then this tour is a must.  Get out, breath the fresh air and take in the scenic beauty that their countryside has to offer.

 

 

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Amsterdam: Coffeeshop Tour

November 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It’s been several years since my first visit to Amsterdam.  And this trip, I was back with a vengence.  I fly through Schilphol about 2 – 3 times a year.  So lately I’ve only been able to go into Amsterdam’s city center during my 6 hour layover (6 hours in Amsterdam).  Not wanting to waste any time, immediately upon getting settled into my room I was out the door to go to Barney’s for an espresso and some coffee ;-) .  It was 8:30AM.

I did my research before I left home and knew which coffeeshops I wanted to hit up.  Along with the couple of new one’s I wanted to check out, I went by two old favoirties.  Here’s what I found:

Barney’s Coffeeshop: I like Barney’s.  Their selection contained award winning varieties and the employees were knowledgeable. They made a few excellent recommendations.  The atmosphere is clean (including the restrooms), with a nice decor, and modern wood paneled walls.  The seating was several bar type tables up against the wall, each with 4 bar stools, and a television in the wall next to the bar.  The music is slamming through the speakers.  Food isn’t served in the coffeeshop, just beverages.  My drink of choice is always a double espresso, which they promptly served up.  However, if you want to eat, Barney’s has a restaurant across the street from the Coffeeshop that serves up both food, and alcohol.  With the exception of cigars and cigarettes, smoking is allowed in the restaurant.  Barney’s is now my favorite coffeeshop in Amsterdam.

Baba’s: Located on Warmoesstraat in the Red-light district, Baba’s was at one time, my go to spot (until I discovered Barney’s).  The staff is friendly, the selection good, and the Indian inspired decor creates a relaxed chilled vibe.  My only complaint is that this place gets packed, and the seating arrangements can make it feel cramped.  The upshot is that they’re located on the outskirts of the Red-Light district and is a quick easy walk from Centraal Station should you be in Amsterdam on an extended layover.

Sheeba’s: This was the first coffeeshop I visited when I first came to Amsterdam in 2001.  During that trip it became my go to spot.  I went back to Sheeba’s for the first time during this trip. Wow.  What a difference 9 years make.  Same name, different owners maybe?  I don’t know but before it was set up like a nice chill coffee lounge, and now it has the appearance of a low end dive bar, that’s dark, with hard wooden black painted planks as benches.  The selection wasn’t bad.  But, with coffeshops in abundance, a lot of time it’s about the vibe a place has, and I wasn’t feeling the vibe at Sheeba’s.   This was a disappointment and it has been knocked off my go to list.

The Greenhouse: The Greenhouse is one of the most popular coffeeshops in Amsterdam.  Besides the fact that they’ve won numerous Cannibis Cup awards, they’ve had the celebrity clientele, and the photos are on the wall to prove it, with Snoop Dogg’s photo almost front and center.  It goes without saying that the product is top quality.  The biggest drawback for me was that it’s located in the heart of the red light district.  The red light district attracts the bachelor party, college backpackers, and weekend party crowd.   Unless you want to be around that kind of energy, I would avoid this place in the evening hours, especially in the summer.

So…that’s my take on my Coffeeshop Tour.  There were two other coffeeshops I wanted to check out but I was busy  and just didn’t get around to it.  Amsterdam is more than just the coffeeshops ;)  Until next time…..

Safe Travels!!

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Amsterdam Hotel Review: Hotel Pulitzer

October 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Our stay at the Hotel Pulitzer was met with both anticipation and expectation.  I had read a lot of good things about this

Hotel Pulitzer Aerial View

hotel and the idea of staying in a hotel comprised of 25 restored 17th and 18th century historical canal houses appealed to me.  I mean really, in Amsterdam, you have to stay in a canal house at least once.  Right?

Located  between the Prinsengraat and Keizergraat canals, in what is a residential neighborhood, we made the Hotel Pulitzer our home for three days in late August.  It’s away from the hubbub of the stag parties, the young “get high party crowd”, yet close enough to walk to most of the sites and attractions that Amsterdam has to offer.  For those who aren’t up to the walking there are four tram routes near the hotel that will take you towards Centraal Station and Dam Square; the famous Centrum area.

Front Entrance on Prinsengraat

Front Entrance on Prinsengraat (Click to Enlarge)

We arrived at the hotel at 8:00AM, after a 6.5 hour flight.  We knew there was an extra charge (50 Euro) to check in early (before 9:00AM), so our plan was to check in, check our luggage with the bellhop, and then go enjoy a cup of coffee and fresh orange juice at Barney’s Coffeeshop.  We figured by the time we got back our room would be ready.  So, you can imagine we were pleasantly surprised when not only was our room ready, but they also waived the fee. Since they let us check in early, and our room came with breakfast, they invited us to go to the restaurant that, “breakfast was being served”.  Oh yea, things were starting out pretty good.

The breakfast was satisfying and pancakes were the best I’ve ever tasted.  I paired them up with fresh berries, and a double espresso.  That became a staple for our three day stay.  As much as I enjoyed my stay at the Pulitzer, if the breakfast wasn’t included in the room rate, then I would have eaten elsewhere.  It’s not worth the 30 Euro per person that they charge for it.

We stayed in a Junior Suite which occupied the entire top floor of one of the canal houses.  Getting to our room was like

Our Room - Junior Suite

Our Room - Junior Suite

going through a maze. Up six stairs, then down three stairs, then get on the elevator, then go up six more stairs; that’s when we reached our room.  This may seem cumbersome, but it’s wasn’t.  Our room overlooked the courtyard and had an entrance hall, a kitchenette, dining area, living area, a modern and nice sized bathroom, and the most comfortable bed I have ever slept on in a hotel.  Sleeping in this bed was like being enveloped in soft cotton and feathers, and gently rocked to sleep.  We both slept like babies.  Because our room was on the top floor, the ceiling was low and the beams exposed, which added a feeling of authenticity to our experience. In the past the rooms on the higher floors and those facing the courtyard served as bedrooms and kitchens.  The lower ceilings kept these rooms warm in the winter.

Needless to say, I loved my stay at the Hotel Pulitzer and would consider staying there again when I return to Amsterdam.

 

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How To-Do a Layover in Amsterdam

September 21, 2009 By 3 Comments

You look at your travel itinerary and you see that you have a 6 hour layover in Amsterdam.  You’ve heard all about Amsterdam…and would love to check it out, but you only have 6 hours.  Think you got time?  You bet you have time.  A six hour layover in Amsterdam is just enough time to make you wish you could stay, but enough time to get over it…and enjoy the time you had while there.  6 hours in an airport lounge area, or 6 hours stretching your legs on the streets of Amsterdam.

If you’ve decided to stretch your legs and do some mini sightseeing, you’ve made the right choice.  It’s easy, and completely doable.

My typically layover looks something like this:

Arrive Schiphol (Amsterdam Airport) at 7:45AM
Depart Schiphol (Amsterdam Airport) at 2:15PM
This is a 6 hour and 30 minute layover.

Let’s do this.

8:00AM: Exit off of the plane.

8:15AM: Store carry on luggage in lockers near passport control.  This will cost you 6 Euro.

8:40AM: Follow the signs through Passport Control/to Train Station.  To your right will be the ticket window.  Purchase (6.50 Euro) round trip train tickets to Centraal Station and you’re on your way.  Please Note:  They do not accept Mastercard or American Express.

The train ride to Centraal Station take about an average of 17 minutes.

9:10AM: Exiting Centraal Station and looking out on the beautiful city which is Amsterdam.

Right outside in front of the Eastern Entry, located in a traditional wooden white Dutch house, there is the main Amsterdam Tourist Office of the state run VVV (Dutch: Vereniging voor Vreemdelingenverkeer – Association for the Foreign Visitors; open daily: 9 am – 6 pm). To the left in the same building you may find an Information Service of the public transport GVB (open: Monday through Friday 7 am – 9 pm, Saturday-Sunday 10 am 6 pm; they also sell public transport tickets.  Within a 10 – 15 minute walk from Centraal Station are numerous sites.  You can stop here if you’re not quite sure what you want to see, and/or what you have time to see, during your time in the city.

However…being who I am I’ve come into town to get legally baked.  Where else in the world can you do that..and on a freakin’ layover?   U Gotta Luv It!!  But, Amsterdam is a wonderful city with many sites to see. Yes, that is right…there is more to Amsterdam besides the Coffeeshops and the Red-Light District.

 

9:15AM: Seated at Baba’s Coffeeshop on the corner of Oudebrugsteog & Warmoesstraat.  I also like Sheeba’s Coffeeshop, a few doors down, on the other side of the street.  BTW:  Warmoesstraat is a nice street to walk along as well…and good pedestrian street for people watching.  I typically take a walk along this street after my stop by the Coffeeshop.

10:00AM: Walking around the city…cruising towards Dam Square (about a 5 – 10 minute walk from Centraal Station).  This is a cool spot for chillin’ and people watching.  You can grab something to eat; there are food stalls and restaurants galore.  Not the best quality…but good for pizza slices, french fries, middle eastern food, etc.  And, this always comes in handy since the munchies may be kickin’ in right about now.

11:00AM: Cruising the streets (and this is especially good for your legs after sitting for so long), since we have about an hour before we need to start heading back.  May go into one to the “low-end” museums (i.e. The Sex Museum, The Marijuana and Hash Museum), or walk along the canals (I love this, especially in the summer), maybe stop into Baba’s for one last one ;-)

Noon: Head back to the Airport.

Local trains to the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, during the day, depart every ten minutes from platform 14a or platform 15 (This can change.  Make sure to verify).

12:45PMish: Back at the airport, collecting my luggage, and going to see which gate my flight is departing from.

That is my 6-hours in Amsterdam.  And, you know what?  No one can’t tell me that this isn’t better than sitting up in the airport.

I must say, A-GAIN…Amsterdam is SOoooooooo much more than just the Coffeeshops.  This is a city worthy of at least a 5 – 7 day stay.   There is lots to see and do, the people are friendly…and it’s just an easy city to “chill out” in, while you see some interesting sites.  But…if you don’t have days to spend in Amsterdam…6 hours will do you good.

Check out this cool Amsterdam Airport Layover Guide.  It has lots of good information, more details on sites, and a downloadable Miniature Amsterdam pdf Travel Guide.

 

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