Pacific Island Wonders - Palau
Prepare to see some of the most intense blue and green colours your eyes have ever feasted on in this post! The unknown Republic of Palau in the Pacific about 700km eastwards from the coast of the Philippines is truly home to some of the most beautiful island formations I’ve ever seen…
Prepare to see some of the most intense blue and green colours your eyes have ever feasted on in this post! The unknown Republic of Palau in the Pacific about 700km eastwards from the coast of the Philippines is truly home to some of the most beautiful island formations I’ve ever seen, but it also has an interesting colonial history and a few obscure sights - read on!
Start here - a short clip of some of the most beautiful locations of the Rock Islands in the southern lagoon of the country , starting with the nature reserve of Ngerukewid… more on that below!
What I came for
My hero shot, and what I wanted to document during this trip: The incredible islands of Ngerukewid are definitely one of the most beautiful island formations I’ve ever seen and have been declared a nature reserve as far back as 1956, owing to their amazing biodiversity.
The southern lagoon is full of amazing places, often best seen from the air. Virtually unpopulated, the whole 42 sqkm site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2012.
Underwater Wonders
Of course, an ocean paradise like this offers a whole different view when looking underwater - which admittedly wasn’t such a big focus for me on this trip (I have yet to do my PADI, but on the other hand I finally got an underwater camera case - these photos are shot on iPhone though). Nevertheless, some snorkeling is always on the cards.
Blacktip reef sharks frequent some of the beach areas in the rock lagoon, allowing you to swim among them. A school of fish found some shelter below our boat, letting me capture these photos.
Lunch spot
This wreck was just a few meters from a small beach where we had our lunch that day - with the backdrop of this beautiful tree slowly shedding some of its orange leaves, creating a beautiful kaleidoscope of colours.
More evidence of the fierce battles that took place here in form of a sunken transport ship, and cannons that were abandoned in small limestone caves on the lagoon entrances. The largest battle that took place here was the US - Japan encounters on Peleliu, which reshaped the geography of the island significantly.
Back on Land
Palau does have more to offer than its oceanic beauty - the country consists of over 300 islands, while its population of less than 20,000 (!) lives spread out on just a few of them. Koror is the largest city and used to be the capital until 2006, when it was replaced by Ngerulmud on the largest island of Babeldaob in a somewhat odd government plan - more on that below.
While the last few hundred years of the country have been shaped by Spanish, German, Japanese, and then US colonialism and influences, traces of the native population go back much further than that, and some of it is preserved around the main island of Babeldaob. The most significant evidence dates back over 2000 years ago in form of the Stone Monoliths of Ngarchelong, a collection of stones in the north of the island, not far from the shoreline.
Airai is also home to the oldest Bai ai in Palau, which is still maintained and in use by the local villages, seen on the left here. The right one is located at (interesting) Belau National Museum (Belau is the historic name of the country). Although the Bai is a meeting place for men, Palau’s culture is highly dominated by matrilineal tendencies, evident in practices such as inheritance.
Although there remains a traditional government structure that still influences the country's affairs through its federation of clans, Palau today has a federal government structure that takes the form of a democratic republic. It’s an independent country, but still holds close ties to the US, which provides funding and military support in exchange for its own military rights. The US dollar is the country’s currency and English is widely spoken, although there are still Palauan and other official traditional languages, even Japanese remains an official language in one of the districts.
On the way to Airai lies this abandoned World War II Japanese Communications Center. While there’s a small signboard outside (and an entrance fee to be paid), it is more suitable for an abandoned places exploration than a tourist attraction, offering a few cannons and not much in terms of narrative, but a good chance of getting buried under a crumbling ceiling.
Capital Strangeness
While Koror is the commercial centre (and deserves to be called a city), Palau’s capital Ngerulmud is anything but that - in fact, it is the least-populous capital city of a sovereign nation in the world. Arguably, not one person actually lives in the city boundaries, although the surrounding state is home to a total of just over 300 people. It was created on the basis of the constitution established in 1979, which called for a capital to be established on the main island to avoid concentration of power in Koror. That took way longer than outlined in the constitution, and finally was completed in 2006 at a cost of $45m, through the help of a $20m loan by the Taiwanese government. Brace yourself for what these funds were used for, keeping in mind that the whole country has a population of less than 20,000…
The parliament is called Olbiil Era Kelulau, which means “House of Whispered Decisions.” It derives from the aforementioned Bais, where the traditional chiefs met to discuss critical topics. During those meetings, no communication that is louder than a whisper is permitted, instead quiet messages are used to negotiate on important topics. Smart approach, although I don’t know if congress functions the same.
The building is in fact not made of massive stone and concrete - it’s publicly accessible and you can walk around in many of the buildings, where I noticed a lot of hollow walls and pillars. It’s also not really suitable for the local tropical climate, mould and ventilation issues have been plaguing it since opening.
Palau’s environmental governance is extremely strong, it created the world’s first shark sanctuary, and makes visitors sign a “pledge” into the passport stamp upon arrival, vowing to protect the environment during their time in the country. It shows - the beaches and rock island areas are one of the least polluted ocean patches I’ve ever seen. Some top down photos from my flight, showcasing the incredible green and blue hues that make up most of the landscape in the country.
A different kind of galaxy
The turquoise waters above show another one of Palau’s attractions: the so-called Milky Way lagoon. It’s a shallow lagoon where limestone mud has settled on the ground, which can be retrieved with a small dive. The locals use this paste for skincare.
More images of the underwater world, taken on iPhone while snorkeling among some of the reefs in the rock lagoon during a kayak trip.
One of the many limestone caves that get carved into the rock formations.
Also came across this incredibly tiny jellyfish, the species of which I cannot determine, with an even tinier fish companion.
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Palawan - Gem of the Philippines
Earlier this year I spent a few weeks in the Philippines, exploring Manila, Siargao, Cebu, Bohol, and what was once voted the most beautiful island in the world: Palawan.
Earlier this year I spent a few weeks in the Philippines, exploring Manila, Siargao, Cebu, Bohol, and what was once voted the most beautiful island in the world: Palawan. This large island is home to around 1m people and lies on the very western border of the country.
Start with this short clip for an overview of some of the amazing spots around Palawan!
On the way to El Nido
I arrived from Cebu, landing at the airport of Puerta Princesa, which is also the capital and largest city on the island. The plan was to go north towards El Nido, the most well-known area. On the way, a visit to the island’s famous underground river was on the cards - which was cancelled by the coast guard due to high waves. This is not uncommon, keep it in mind and allow enough time to try again - which I managed to do, more on that later. Instead, we stopped in Barton Bay, on the western coast, for a small boat excursion, and got to witness an interesting local event: Racing homemade speed boats.
The Shame
One of the contestants had to be pulled back by the coast guard. From what I observed, this is the biggest shame a participant might possibly have to endure...
Serious Business
The boats are highly tuned, super light, and teams work until the last minute to adjust them according to the current water conditions.
Port Barton is also home to a small sandbank that frequently sees starfish washed on shore, making for some picturesque scenes, especially if - like me - you’re patient enough to await the right moment with no boats and people around.
Star Fish
These are called horned sea star or - my preferred name - chocolate chip sea star. They don't survive outside the water for very long, so generally it's not advisable to pick them up. This one made it back into the waters when the next wave of the rising tide arrived.
Beach Life
Another specimen getting washed onto the sand bank. They are often seen in the tourist trade, where they are sold as dried curio.
Beach Beach Beach
One of the longest beaches on the island is not too far from here - a small hilltop provides views along the coastline. The totel extent of the white sand here is almost 15km, and it's said to be the second longest in Asia. Your definitions may vary.
Bato ni Ningning
The hill is also home to this little stone, which was made famous by a TV show.
Palawan's landscape is famous for the almost 1800 islands scattered along the coast of the 450km long main island.
El Nido
A local Bankga boat on the shores of Barangay Corong Corong on a cloudy (as were most days when I visited unfortunately) morning.
The private custom tours paid off (and were super well organized), because we reached many of the best spots around Bacuit Bay, such as the Big Lagoon and its beaches pictured above, before any other boats.
Creative Naming
The so-called small lagoon, just across from the big lagoon to the left.
Quiet Times
On a late afternoon after everyone else had gone back to the shores. This place is usually filled with boats and kayaks.
The Hidden Lagoon
Joining the Small and Big Lagoons in the creative naming scheme is this gem - only reachable through a very narrow cave entrance.
Shimizu Island
Another of the beautiful limestone cliff islands with their white sandy beaches. Who wouldn't want to set up their umbrella here?
The Shrine
While this is a catholic site, its architecture looks more like a greek temple.
Island Statues
A small cave became the Shrine of Santo Nino (the man child) and one is asked to avoid speaking ongodly in its presence, for fear of divine justice coming down on you...
The scale of the limestone formations here is truly amazing, spot the kayak in the second shot!
Flora
The cliffs are home to a variety of plant life, such as these beautiful false yucca.
A Lonely Mushroom
Sometimes sitting in the wide open sea, with not much around.
Seven Commandos Beach
One of the many small beaches dotted along the islands.
Another One
It's difficult to get bored of these places...
Another place I was able to enjoy by myself was the Hidden Beach (again part of the creative naming scheme...) on the east side of Matinloc island.
Out of View
This beach is protected by large limestone formations, and the only way to reach it is with a small kayak.
Stormy
Another reason why I was alone here for a while may have been the somewhat wavy conditions, not ideal for taking a kayak along sharp limestone rocks...
Forests and Mountains
After all these photos, you’d be forgiven to think Palawan is mainly small karst islands, but in fact its main island is covered in hills with thick forests, reaching up to 2000m in height. As it happens, there is evidence the island was once home to tigers.
River Entrance
The entry point to the river lies directly on the beach with just a short walk through the forest, as the river itself flows into the sea.
The inside of the cave river becomes completely dark once you go a few hundred meters beyond the entrance, with only the light of the boat captain shining onto the amazing limestone formations. It’s over 8km long, although only the first few kilometers are navigable by boat. The cave network itself reaches even further at 24km length.
Formations
One of the many limestone formations - the river caves are home to dozens of incredible shapes, all more or less aptly named by the locals and researchers.
Life
It is also home to large populations of nine different species of bats, often hanging above you. Keep your mouth closed when you look up ;)
Wonder of the World
The sign board celebrating the attraction's inclusion in the 7 New Wonders of the World in a public voting process (that wasn't free of criticism...), while the other one describes the geological history of the area.
Sicily - Island of Etna
Another beautiful wedding gave me the opportunity to visit Sicily, exploring Catania, hiking Mount Etna, and wandering through Acireale. Unfortunately three days are definitely not enough for the largest island in the Mediterranean, nevertheless you get a taste for the life across the Strait of Messina.
Another beautiful wedding gave me the opportunity to visit Sicily, exploring Catania, hiking Mount Etna, and wandering through Acireale. Unfortunately three days are definitely not enough for the largest island in the Mediterranean, nevertheless you get a taste for the life across the Strait of Messina.
Sicily from Above
The island is characterised by a tendency of overfarming, and by the clouds hanging over the Etna, often accompanied by a thin layer of dark smoke from the volcano.
For Sale
A salesman with his goods near the main Piazza in Catania.
Piazza San Francesco d'Assisi
A man sitting in front of the Monumento al Cardinale Dusmet in Catania.
Roman Theatre of Catania
The theatre and Odeon were built on a pre-existing Greek structure. The lower part has sunk due to various eruptions and earthquakes, resulting in the city's underground Amenano river running through part of the center area.
Above History
This photo shows how modern houses had been built on top of the structure of the Roman Theatre in the last few hundred years.
Layers
This aerial capture illustrates how the site looked before excavations began and the houses built on top of the amphiteatre were removed. Even today, archeologists still discover additional sections and artifacts below and around the site.
Street Views
The Cathedral of Saint Agatha at the end of Via Giuseppe Garibaldi.
18th Century Violine
On display at the Castello Ursino.
Artifacts
The 13th-century castle features objects from monastery & painted crafts.
Scenery
A street corner in Catania.
Closing Up
The market street after the activities of the day have ceased.
Church of the Abbey of Saint Agatha
The interior of the church with its baroque style, common in Sicily's churches.
Porta Uzeda
The gate from 1695 built in typical Catanian baroque style acts as the entrance to the main Piazza.
Fontana dell'Elefant
The fountain with a Roman statue of an elephant carved from basalt, now the symbol of the city. The origins of the symbolism aren't clearly defined, with several tales competing for the truth...
Roof Structures
The domed roof of the Cathedral of Saint Agatha seen from Church of the Abbey of Saint Agatha's roof.
Fragile
A behind the scene view of the decorative elements of the church shows how intricate some of the work is.
Catania Views
The church allows visitors to climb the roof level, providing a view over Catania with the Etna in the background.
Facade
A woman looking at front of the Basilica della Collegiata from 1768.
Roman Amphiteatre
The 2nd century AD arena was one of the largest in the Roman empire, but only a tenth or so is visible and excavated today.
Via Etna
One of Catania's central roads.
Downwards
A narrow angled street in Catania lined with blossoming trees.
Sunset Skies
The front of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.
Business
A group of Indian sales men and their starry balloons in front of the Cathedral of St Agatha.
Birds Eye
People walking below the umbrellas hanging above the market street in Catania.
Musical
A singer in Catania's main square.
On the Crater's Edge
A group of people walking at the edge of the 2003 craters.
Landscapes
The base of the Etna features a hilly and relatively barren terrain.
Cold
It was about 20 degrees less than on the ground up at 2800m.
Panorama
The drive up the Etna transitions to an increasingly brown, reddish and black landscape as you come closer to the end of the main road.
2001
The Southern flank of Mount Etna showing lateral cones and flow from the eruption of 2001.
Craters Silvestri of Mount Etna
The two smaller craters near the end of the main road, seen from the third and larger one, are from 1892.
Patches
The only greenery you can find on the lava covered mountainscape as the cable car ascends.
Flora
On the lower craters, there are still occassional bushes of colourful flowers, which slowly disappear as you go higher.
Evidence
Etna is one of the most active volcano's in the world, with plenty of recent evidence.
Transport
The cable car station isn't your last mode of transport - these vehicles take you up another few hundred metres.
In the Clouds
It's rare to have a clear sky around the summit of the Etna.
To the Top
A group on the path to the top summit, which is another 2-3h hike from the end of the 4x4 road. While this is where the active craters are, luck is needed catch a clear day for this hike.
The Summit
The top of mount Etna, engulfed by clouds at 3300 metres. Usually, the early morning (this was around 10:30am) is the best time to catch a clearer glimpse. Note the yellow tone of the sulfur filled sediments.
Cloudy
Patches of clouds also touch the lower summits of the 4x4 landing area, at around 2900m.
Colours
While from afar things appear of a more uniform blackish colour, looking closer at the ground reveals traces of sulfur, iron and more.
Warmth
Even the craters below the summit still have warm soil, once you dig a few centimetres.
A Bumpy Road
The way up is not exactly a highway, and the fine lava sand means the road needs to be flattened regularly.
Entertainment
An old cinema and comedy club in Acireale.
The Real Secrets...
...often lie below the floor of the churches of today, hidden from view unless you spot them through a drain hole, like in the case of this grave.
Ceiling Paintings
The illustrations on the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Announcement.
Back Views
The roofline of the Cathedral and the Basilica of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul on the right just behind.
Church Bells
You can climb up a few stairs to the Cathedral of Acireale's bell towers. While they both look identical, the one on the south is from 1655, while the one to the north, is from 1890.
Acireale
The view from the bell tower is unfortunately obstructed by a fence to keep birds out, but you can still see the majestic Etna in the background.
Triumvirat
The third major church in the centre of Acireale is the Basilica Collegiata San Sebastiano.
Procession
A wedding took place in the afternoon at Acireale's main square.
Just Chilling
The obligatory cat photo for this album.
Conversations
Problems with the Mafia or the wife, who knows what the topic may be?
Clarity
The clear waters of the Mediterranean sea engulfe the island.
Coastal Views
The town of Santa Maria La Scala lies at the foot of the cliffs on which Acireale sits.
Meridian
In the Cathedral of Maria Santissima Annunziata is a meridian noon mark designed and built in 1843 by the Danish astronomer Frederik Christian Peters, which I was lucky enough to observe at the exact time it was meant to illustrate.
The Unfinished Church of San Nicol
Just attached to the Monastero dei Benedettini di San Nicolò l'Arena.
Raw
The church feels as raw on the inside as it does from the outside.
Entrance
The staircases for the monastery may as well be host to a Harry Potter movie.
No Passage
Some doors are closed more permanently than others.
Courtyard
The monastery is one of the largest monasteries in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but today houses the Department of Humanities of the University of Catania
Bridge
The bridge acting as entrance into the monastery from the back is one of the oldest parts of the building, with lava remains from the 1669 eruption that destroyed a big part of the complex still visible on the left side.
Malta - The Intriguing Island
On the way back to Dubai from a wedding in Puglia, I took the chance to stop over on the island of Malta. The small nation in the Mediterranean Sea features rich history, amazing nature, cute cityscapes and more things to see and do than I had expected. Having walked over 50km in just over 3 days, I took a few hundred photos, a short selection is below.
On the way back to Dubai from a wedding in Puglia, I took the chance to stop over on the island of Malta. The small nation in the Mediterranean Sea features rich history, amazing nature, cute cityscapes and more things to see and do than I had expected. Having walked over 50km in just over 3 days, I took a few hundred photos, a short selection is below.
Coastline
The country consists of three major inhabitated islands: Malta. Gozo and Comino.
Courtyard
The interior of the hotel I stayed in, a renovated building in central Valletta.
St John's Co-Cathedral
The nave of one of the most famous cathedrals in Malta, completed in 1577.
Steps
The Steps near the Valletta city gate, designed by Renzo Piano.
Walls
A tree growing in one of the many trenches around Malta's fortified walls.
Cat Cafe
There seems to be a special place for cats in Maltese hearts, as I found a few spots for shelter and food.
Unusual Parking Lot
A parking lot inside the walls remaining of this building.
Contrasts
Huge moden cruise liners, fortified walls, churches, and port cranes all come together. Special mention to whoever came up with the idea of painting this crane like a giraffe.
Mein Schiff
One of the ships of the Mein Schiff fleet from tour operator Tui. The Valletta waterfront is regularly home to large cruise liners.
Cabins
With a capacity of 2500 people, this one is not quite yet up there with the largest in the world.
Feline Friend
One of the beneficiaries of the cat cafe.
Pride
Unusual street crossing.
Judging You
Since 1951 or so...
Backstreets
Malta has an unusual charme - it's clearly old and parts feel run down, but yet not dirty or unsafe.
Waterfront
Looking westwards from Valetta into the harbour. There's quite a lot of cranes in the skyline, the economy is doing well and the government invests in infrastructure.
City Views
The north eastern side of Valetta, with the dome of Our Lady of Mount Carmel church.
Walls
The typical building walls with colorful offset balconies.
Looking out
He did have binoculars just a moment ago.
Street Views
You'll climb and descend a lot of streets in Valletta.
Auberge de Castille
The prime ministers office..
Singers
Amazing guitarist in the streets of Valletta.
Nightlife
While Malta's entertainment district is elsewhere, Valletta's streets were still busy in the evenings.
Chatting
Two girls discussing life's ideosyncracies on the city walls.
Entrance
As with many mediterranean cities, people like to keep plants outside the doors, windows and balconies.
Patterns
A cafe near the Upper Barrakka Gardens.
Stairs
Looking down the stairs of the Barrakka lift, connecing the waterfront with the streets of Valletta.
Yacht
A large yacht passing Senglea and Birgu, two of the cities opposite Valletta.
Senglea
One of the "three cities" on the other side of the harbour, largely unknown, yet equally interesting as Valletta.
Barraka Lift
The aforementioned lift and its stairs, seen from the bottom.
Cul de Sac
A small side street in Senglea.
Game On
Although this football field had a peculiar trapez like shape, it's location on the waterfront is unbeatable.
Lookout
The little tower in Gardjola Gardens provides good views of Valletta - and usually some large cruise liners.
Navigation
This boat is parked high up in the city, with narrow twisting roads - I do wonder how it got up here.
Downwards
Looking from Senglea to the Birgu waterfront.
The Saluting Battery
Up in the Barrakka Gardens.
Fire
At 12 noon and 4pm, one of the cannons is fired daily out of tradition. Having said that, I have a feeling the Maltese like their historic guns and batteries, I did hear regular shots all around. Sidenote: Loving 60 fps high speed mode on the Olympus OMD-EM-1.
Piano
Another great musician playing in the Valletta streets.
Justice
Unfortunately these are not love locks, but a cry for justice for the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, one of Malta's leading investigative journalists, assassinated in 2017.
Narrow
While cities built before the 1900s were not made for cars, people adapt - it's rare to see large SUVs in places like Malta.
Finding a Way
A tree growing through a concrete hole in the ground.
Dusk
The bustling city life in the evening.
Vertigo
Roaming around empty side streets in the blue hour.
Exploring
A group of young people discovering the city.
The only light
This taxi took me out to the coast on the south western side of the island, on my hunt for the Milky Way.
Milky Way
Shot about 40min drive outside Valetta at Miġra l-Ferħa.
Moonset
Yes - this is the moon setting, not the sun.
Nightscapes
Probably my favourite shot of the trip, with the moon just disappearing on the horizon, casting a faint light over the landscape, while not overpowering the Milky Way.
Watching the Cosmos
Couldn't quite keep myself still enough on the windy (and steep and tall) coastline. The glow from the left is the airport I believe.
Nighttime
Not so bustling anymore at 2am.
Filfla
The island of Fifla is the southern most point of Malta.
Blue Grotto
One of the most famous attractions in Malta, this is actually a combination of multiple sea caves where water, light and rocks create colourful patterns.
Light & Water.
One such pattern.
Blue Hand
Our boat captain showing us why this cave is said to turn divers blue.
Colours
The spectrum of shades you can spot here is amazing.
Cave Swim
It's possible to swim and dive in the caves.
Radiating
Probably the most intense blue I've seen in the sea.
Downwards
There's a great viewpoint on the road leading towards the small harbour used for the excursions to the Blue Grotto.
Blue Wall
The so called blue wall is one of the most spectacular features of the Maltese coastline.
Framed
Filfla seen through two trees.
Falconry
Surprisingly, Malta has a falconry centre - although this is an Eagle I believe.
Prehistoric
Ħaġar Qim and Mnajdra are among the most ancient religious sites on Earth and over 5000 years old. Protective tents were built over them a few years ago to minise impact of sun, wind and rains.
Chair
I doubt anyone has sat here for a while. The tent over Ħaġar Qim in the background.
Coastal Features
Another beautiful arch on the Maltese coast, not far from the ancient sites.
Mdina
One of my highlights of the visit was Mdina, the former capital, almost 3000 years old.
St. Paul's Cathedral Mdina
The frescoed interior was covered by red clothes - unsure of this is permanet or for a special occasion.
Church of the Annunciation of Our Lady
The dome of the second major church in Mdina.
The Lady in Blue
The streets of Mdina leant themselves for some Instagram snaps...
Domvs Romana
The ruins of this 1st century BCE Roman theatre with the background of Mdina.
Pastizzi
One of the most famous Maltese specialties - indeed, it's delicious.
Inconspicious
Local man enjoying an evening drink in a place serving what is said to be the best Pastizzi in Malta, and doing so 24/7, located in Rabat just outside Mdina.
Mdina
Mdina seen from a distance shows its elevated position.
Family Happiness
Or dinner?
Parade
Officers practicing on St George's square.
Restauration
Stumbled into this little workshop. restoring figures and other parts of the nearby Our Lady of Mount Carmel church.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel church
The interior of the aforementioned church.
Hidden Spot
On my last morning, I discovered this gem - the Teatru Manoel.
Manoel Theatre
Said ot be Europe's third-oldest working theatre, it isn’t as big as it looks here, with only 623 seats.
Work in Progress
This view gives away that the theatre is actually quite small. Note the woman on the bottom right, doing restoration on one of the decorative paintings on the wall.
Sir Bani Yas Island - Greening the Desert
Bani Yas Island has always been on my UAE To Do List. The island is about a 3,5 hour drive and 30min boat ride from Dubai and lies off the coast of Abu Dhabi in the western region. It’s the largest natural island in the UAE. Its rich history, incredible flora and fauna and the story of how it evolved into a major conservation project truly makes it a globally unique destination.
Bani Yas Island has always been on my UAE To Do List. The island is about a 3,5 hour drive and 30min boat ride from Dubai and lies off the coast of Abu Dhabi in the western region. It’s the largest natural island in the UAE. Its rich history, incredible flora and fauna and the story of how it evolved into a major conservation project truly makes it a globally unique destination.
Peacock Central
One of the more common animals on the island are peacocks - in fact, a ranger told us they are considering to introduce some desert foxes to control the population, as culling is not allowed by law.
Bird Life
Some might say this one could be straight out of Angry Birds.
Gazelle
Probably the second most common animal on the island, after the Peacocks.
Turkey
I guess this is a female turkey, who didn't end up on a Christmas plate.
Desert Rose
With only a few days of rainfall per year, a huge irrigation system taking desalinated water from the shore was implemented over the last decades.
Peacock
Both green and blue types can be found.
Hyraxes
Believe it or not, these animals are closely related to Elephants.
Horns
Of an Arabian Oryx, if I recall correctly. Having seen them in the wild in the desert, these have become some of my favourite animals.
Show Off
Proud of its horns.
Ostrich
A male ostrich, with its pink legs signalling the mating season.
Battles
Two Barbary Sheep (if I am not wrong) measuring their strength.
Resting Deer
Several kind of deer can also be spotted on the island, although we heard they are Cheetah favourites...
Tribute
Workers are said to have planted the UAE's national tree, the Ghaf tree, on top of the mountain in honor of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan who started the initiative on the island in 1977.
Hungry
There are only 8500 of the Somali Giraffe in the wild. The island is home to about 30.
Encounters
They are free roaming in the reserve.
Nom Nom
The cheetah had just made a kill before we spotted them.
Rest time
So of course it was time to rest after the meal.
Leftovers
This was what was left of the Gazelle after they were done.
Morning Walk
A guided walking tour through the nature park is the best way to truly get a feeling for the animals.
Conservation
The island is home to many critically endangered or vulnerable species, such as Barbary sheep, and Arabian tahr.
Sunrise Views
Many thousands of animals have been released back into the wild to help local and international conservation efforts.
Giraffe Family
After the last young has been born, male and female giraffes have been seperated on the island to avoid further population growth, as giraffes eat a lot...
Wildlife
More than half the island is made up of the Arabian Wildlife Park, which is home to more than 10,000 free roaming animals.
Under Observation
As we came closer during the walking tour, we were monitored quite intensely...
Car Tracks?
Actually - these are tracks from gazelles walking towards one of the feeding stations, they like to keep in line...
Greenery
Over 3 million trees have been planted on the island over the last 40 years.
Full Moon
Staying during full moon meant nights were bright.
Desert Islands Hotel
The first hotel on the island opened in 2008 and used to be Sheikh Zayed's guest house.
Dinner Time
It's getting cold in the Winter out in the sea, but a fire on the beach and some arabic food makes it more than bearable.
Wadi
The rugged mountain area features some beautiful Wadis which fill with water during (rare) rainy times.
Cemetary
Many animals are said to come here for their last hours.
Oxidized Iron
Haematite I believe?
Colourful
Gypsum mixed with iron turn into brown and red colour shades across the rocks.
Barren
The central part of the island has not been planted much, and shows the barren yet beautiful mountainous landscapes.
Nature & Culture
Aside from beautiful nature, the island is also home to the UAE's only discovered Christian monastery from around 600 AD - it is currently being renovated and can't be visited though.
The First Rays
Salt and sediments squeezed their way to the surface, creating the patterns in the rock.
Shadow Selfie
Sunrise always makes for the best light.
Green Dot.
Even in this landscape, some plants survive, although very few are naturally occuring.
Exploring
You can explore the island with a 4x4 or also by foot - although at 87sqm it was a lot bigger than I had thought.
Beach Life
The natural variety of the island is amazing.
Hotel Views
The island now has three hotels run by Anantara, with a total of less than 150 rooms. Al Yamm is located on the eastern shores in the mangrove area.
Fattie
Unsure of what kind.
Terrace Viewpoints
The Al Sahel hotel is located towards the centre of the island surrounded by greenery, with gazelles and other animals regularly passing by.
Seychelles - Island Beauty
After my first visit to the Seychelles in 2010, it was time go back for another trip to the Indian Ocean archipelago, this time staying on Praslin island and visiting La Digue, after having seen Mahe and the capital Victoria during my last visit.
After my first visit to the Seychelles in 2010, it was time go back for another trip to the Indian Ocean archipelago, this time staying on Praslin island and visiting La Digue, after having seen Mahe and the capital Victoria during my last visit.
Island Paradise
The Seychelles probably represent some of the most stereotypical island beauty features there are.
Island Transport
The best way to get around! We took the trip from Mahe's airport straight to the hotel.
Praslin Island
We stayed on Praslin, the second biggest island of the Seychelles. Its most famous beach - Anse Lazio - in the foreground, seemingly voted one of the Top 5 beaches in the world.
The Raffles
The hotel is located on the north eastern side of Praslin, with its close to 100 villas nestled along the hillside.
Room Views
The Raffles has some gorgeous ocean view villas.
Night Views
The clear skies and lack of light pollution make for good stargazing, but no Milky Way this time of the year.
Tastes Good
Someone must have spilled something here...
Kiln
An old furnace from the early 1900s, now serving as Tortoise home at Raffles hotel.
Giant Tortoise
The Seychelles giant tortoise is clost to extinct in the wild; there is only one large population of more than 100000 in the Aldabra Atoll.
Climbing
Giant tortoises are not made for climbing obstacles, but they can find their way around.
Orientation Issues
Can't say I observed any effort by this misguided tortoise's colleagues to correct the situation.
Warning
The roads aren't in the best condition, but at least there are attempts to make drivers aware.
Out of Order
Temporarily or permanently?
Green Roads
The Seychelles are full of greenery - and not so full of proper roads like this one.
Private
Not sure what the Teddy on top of this sign is meant to represent.
Souvenirs
Didn't manage to visit this souvenir shop.
Anse Lazio
Referred to as one of the Top 5 beaches in the world (don't ask me for sources), I took the 30min walk from the hotel. Worth it? Yes. Top 5? Maybe...
Sunset
The beach doesn't get to see the actual sunset as the sun disappears behind the peninsula to the west, but the view is nice enough.
Fame
Owing to its Top 5 fame, there are always a few boats in the bay and a few dozen people on Anze Lazio.
Inlet
Like many beaches on the island, some water inlets run into the forests from the beach - tides and waves generate some beautiful colours in the process.
Sunset Colors
The typical granite stones in the water make for beautiful scenery on Anse Lazio.
Moon
I was lucky to see the moon rising as the sun was setting, just peaking through the red and purple clouds.
Bat Attack
As sunset approaches, you start to see the large Seychelles fruit bat in the sky - at least half a metre in width.
MS Europa
This cruise ship anchored between Praslin and Curieuse islands for a day.
Islands and Islands
The Seychelles consist of around 115 islands, 45 of which are the typical granite islands the country is known for.
Le Digue Island
We visited Le Digue, which is the third largest of the country's islands with a population of just over 3000. This is the local pizza and burger joint.
Beach Bar
The famous beaches are frequented by quite a number of tourists, and the locals surely have found ways to monetize their presence.
Beach Bliss
Postcard material around every corner.
More Beach Bliss
Did I already meniton the postcard material?
Greenery
The hot and humid climate classifies the island nation as tropical rain forest.
Granite
The country is famous for its granite rocks sprinkled around the beaches, but less than half of its islands actually feature them, the others are coral islands.
Old Cemetary
The old cemetary is an eerie location with the dying tree in the back. Watch for the new (and more colourful) version a few photos down...
Origins
The group of Granitic Seychelles are fragments of the ancient supercontinent Gondwana.
Rocky Religion
90% of the population are Christian, the majority of which roman-catholic.
The Elusive Flycatcher
Sadly, less than 300 are still in existence in the wild, and the island of Le Digue houses most of them, except a few pairs which were moved to another island to preserve the species. It took half an hour of wandering in the nature reserve to spot this male.
Houses
The island features some beautiful houses of different styles.
Phone Booth
Showing off the lack of football taste that is or was once present on the island...
New Cemetary
More colorful for sure, although its worth mentioning these flowers aren't real.
Houses
More of the local architecture.
Island Lifestyle
Stress didn't seem too common.
Fishing Circle
Marine life is abundant and fishing is the largest export of the country.
Transport
Given that I have just completed my up to 12m skipper license, I thought it would be a good idea to bring the new boat along.
Yacht
Just kidding, this is mine.
Baby Shark
Small reef sharks live around the rocks until they grow into adults.
Ray
And occasionally, smaller rays also pass by.
Leaping Blenny
Funny little creatures that live on the rocks perching out from the water, walking and jumping with help of their fins if danger approaches. They are able to breath outside of water.
Leaping Blenny - Large version
It's bigger cousin, captured under water with an iPhone XS (as are the few other underwater photographs).
Coral
Some snorkeling around the beach was enough to spot a few beautiful corals.
Coral World
A variety of stony coral colonies.
Marine Flora
I think this is some type of Gorgonian or Sea Fan.
Smile
The most common fish roaming the shallow waters on the beach.
Unknown Fish
Anyone knows the species?
A point of view.
A crystal ball can't always predict the future, but it can give you a different perspective of the present.
Toys
Glass balls are an interesting tool for photography... if you don't overuse them.
Physics
One point to note - be very careful when using a crystal ball in direct strong sunlight, the refraction can immeditely burn whatever you put the ball on, including your hand...
Home in a Hole
A crab village.
Snails
An early morning rain triggered this guy to come out from hiding.
Sunrise
Worth getting up for at 5am.
The Red Fody
A common bird in the Indian Ocean, this one took a bath in the pool.
Feline Friends
Cat photo can't be missing. This mum was hanging out in the hotel grounds with her two kitten.
The iPhone X and the Maldives Underwater World
A week of relaxing in the Maldives with some snorkeling and the iPhone X resulted in the shots below - took the phone under water without a case, around 1-2m deep.
A week of relaxing in the Maldives with some snorkeling and the iPhone X resulted in the shots below - took the phone under water without a case, around 1-2m deep. These photos were taken at Jumeirah Vittaveli.
Zanzibar - Island Bliss
The last trip for 2016 took me to Tanzania, more specifically the islands of Zanzibar. This beautiful archipelago just off the east cost of Africa offers a unique mix of Swahili roots, island lifestyle, arabic influences and a rich, albeit troubled history.
The last trip for 2016 took me to Tanzania, more specifically the islands of Zanzibar. This beautiful archipelago just off the east cost of Africa offers a unique mix of Swahili roots, island lifestyle, arabic influences and a rich, albeit troubled history.
The Red Colobus
This species of red colobus monkey is endemic to Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago.
Peaceful Ants
While large for European standards, these ants don't bite.
Mangroves
Mangroves are an important part of Zanzibar's ecosystem, protecting the island from erosion. This is south of the Jozani national park - while a few km from the sea, the water reaches during high tide.
Slow!
Cows in Germany, Camels in the UAE, Monkeys in Zanzibar.
Deep in the Forests
Walking into the Jozani forest with our guide, with its truly impressive trees. This is the only National Park in Zanzibar.
Up
Looking up into the trees at Jozani forest.
Lunch Transportation
A local taking home his lunch on the south-west coast of Zanzibar.
Promised Land
Our place of residence near the village of Kizimkazi in the south-west of the island.
"Hotel"
A different kind of room.
A walk
Two local women walking on the shore near Kizimkazi.
Boats
Local fishing boats on the shores, with a traditional dhow on the left side.
Shorelines
Fishermen's boats on the shores of Kizimkazi.
Kizimkazi Beach
This beach is crowded in the mornings when the local go out for fishing.
Sunset Time
The locals enjoying the sunset at the main square of Kizimkazi.
The Rock
Probably Zanzibar's most famous restaurant.
The Rock
At high tide you can only reach the restaurant by boat, at low tide you can just walk over.
The Inside
While very expensive for Zanzibari standards, the location is indeed special and the experience and food was excellent.
Star Trails
Seen from The Rock island. Unfortunately the Winter isn't the right time for the Milky Way.
Clear Skies
Darkness and clear skies make for amazing views into the universe.
Stars over the Sea
The bright area on the horizon is Dar Es Salaam on the Tanzanian coast.
On the Lookout
A local looking for fish just off the coast of the south eastern side of the island.
Humpback Dolphin
One of the two species of dolphins you can find in Zanzibar.
Local Dhow
A traditional dhow sailing on the coast of Unguja island.
Crystal Clear
The waters of Zanzibar do feel have a special colour to them.
Some Lessons
Our guide during a visit to Uzi Island explains us the location of the various features. Iss was very proud of the conservation and community efforts on his island and pleased to hear we were from Germany - it seems many of his initiatives are supported by German organizations.
Visitors
He often has visitors staying on the island for volunteer work and ensures they all leave a legacy in some shape or form.
Turtle Shells
While closed during our visit, Uzi island is also home to a Turtle recovery centre for the various species of turtles in Zanzibar.
Chicks
A chicken family on Uzi island.
Baobab
A Baobab tree if I'm not mistaken. Legend has it these trees had some kind of devilish powers and hence were cut down - in Uzi this perception was reversed by using them as carriers for bee nests to produce honey.
Inside the Baobab
You can walk inside this tree - bushbabies often use it to find a hole to sleep in.
Hanging with the Gang
Yo yo!
Local Smiles
He was particularly entertained by the name of Frank-Walter Steinmeier, German Minister for Foreign Affairs. They knew more about German politics than me.
Up the Trees
A local girl climbing up a palm tree on Uzi island.
Road to the mainland
Which turns into a river later on during high tide.
Mangroves on Uzi lsland
The plastic bottles mark the location of seaweed patches being grown by the locals of the island.
Bushbaby
Some local kids picked this up and showed it to us during lunch in our guide's house.
Bottlenose Dolphins
Zanzibar's south-east coast is a great spot for dolphins. Unfortunately this also resulted in many questionable tours where the animals are surrounded to allow tourists to swim with them. This wasn't the case here luckily, so pick the right tour guide.
Promised Land Bar
The bar in our Lodge, not a bad place to hang, regardless of your drink preference.
Fire
While evenings don't get particularly chilly, the nightly fire was very pleasant.
Lodge Rooms
All good as long as there's a mosquito net.
Bathroom
Talk about feeling exposed.
Bartender!
What does one have to do to get a drink around here?
Colours
Low tide makes for this view towards the sea.
Lodge Houses
The outside view of the aforementioned lodge rooms.
The Old Dispensary
One of the nicer buildings in Stonetown.
Green Room
This strange room in the Dispensary was dipped in green light with tinted window glass.
Stone Town Restaurant
One of the many small restaurants in Stone Town.
Dark Alleys
Most parts of Stone Town aren't particularly beautiful.
Beit el Sahel
Others have a certain charm though.
Viewpoint
Local kids looking out the sea from the Stone Town waterfront.
Old Fort
Views from the Old Fort with Baital Ajaib in the background.
Mercury House
Stone Town is the birth place of Freddy Mercury - or Farrokh Bulsara as his original name was - and this is said to be the house where he was born.
St Joseph's Cathedral
The Roman Catholic church built in the late 1800s.
A dip of color
Stone Town is quite colorful, owing to the reddish tone of the coral stones large parts of the city are built of.
Try, anyway...
... because this doesn't really work and is a trick to make the tourists climb up the tree.
Indian Door
With spikes - said to be added to fend of elephants knocking their heads against the door.
Arab Door
With the verse from the Quran and without the round arc at the top.
Tour Guide
We spent an hour with him walking through Stone Town. As with many Zanzibari's, he spoke pretty fluent German.
House of Wonders Clock Tower
A view of the clock tower of the House of Wonders, built in the late 1800s as a palace for the second Sultan of Zanzibar.
Boa
Love this board game.
View over Stone Town
Taken from the amazing Swahili House roof top restaurant.
Religions
While largely muslim, there are several churches and cathedrals in Stone Town, living peacefully side by side.
Slave Monument
Zanzibar was one of the capitals of East African slave trade until the early 1900s.
Slave Chamber
One of the two restored slave chambers at the old market in the city, where these poor souls were put into until it was time for the sale.
Look At Me
The population of Zanzibar seemed relatively young. The life expectancy sits around 60 years.
Support
Many parts of the city looked like they could do with this kind of support structure.
In the Sunshine
Two locals taking a rest on one of the side streets in Stone Town.
Time for a Swim
The south western corner of the Stone Town was filled with locals enjoying the beach on this Friday afternoon.
Organized Chaos
Power and water supply are still a major issue for the island. Many buildings get running water with flexible pipes like these running alongside buildings.
Kitten
No album without a cat.
Door Fame
Stone Town is famous for its decorative doors.
Bartending
At the Emerson at Hurumzi with its amazing tea house roof top restaurant.
Views
From the Emerson at Hurumzi.
Westwards
Looking over the city towards the old Dhow harbour.
Tea House
Probably one of the coolest locations for a restaurant - the rooftop of the Emerson, one of the highest buildings in Stone Town.
Hakuna Matata
Probably the most any of us know in Swahili.
Dancing
Seemed to be a big part of the culture. This was at a weekly market on Friday evening at the Forodhani Gardens.
Zanzibari Pizza
Tasty.