Lens-Artists Challenge #27 – My Travels

“The world is full of beautiful places. Let your heart be one of them.”

Jenim Debie

AUSTRALIA’S GREAT OCEAN ROAD – THE NO-LONGER-12 APOSTLES

Those who follow me know I love my island home and its beautiful flora and fauna. But my husband and I also share a love of travel and adventure, and we are doing our best to see as much of this beautiful world as possible. Since our first major trip to Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti in 2001 we have made an effort to do one major trip each year, and with a few exceptions have succeeded. With her challenge this week, Amy has given us a perfect opportunity to talk about some of our favorite travel adventures.

BEAUTIFUL BEAST, BOTSWANA

“Bizarre travel plans are dancing lessons from God.”

Kurt Vonnegut

We are often asked which has been our favorite journey. Although I’ve loved them all, for me our South Africa and Botswana safaris have always held the number one place. Seeing magnificent creatures in the wild, in their natural environment, is a life-changing experience. For a photographer, I am convinced there is nothing that compares. 

RED ROOFS OF DUBROVNIK, CENTRAL EUROPE

“Travel teaches toleration.”

Benjamin Disraeli

To travel is to experience the incredible beauty of our world. The natural wonders of places like Patagonia in Chile and Argentina….

TORRES DEL PAINE, PATAGONIA

“I am not the same having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.”

Mary Anne Radmacher

Or man-made splendors like China’s Great Wall …

CHINA’S GREAT WALL

“A wise man travels to discover himself.”

James Russell Lowell

or Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, 

DAWN, ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA

“I haven’t been everywhere but it’s on my list.”

Susan Sontag

leave one in jaw-dropping wonder at the world around us. 

THREE MONKS, SE ASIA

“Whenever you visit foreign lands or distant places, remember they are all someone’s home.”

Vera Nazarian

I firmly believe that travel expands the mind and opens the hearts of those who experience other cultures. While our ability to see the world has expanded significantly through online and modern-day media resources, there is nothing quite like viewing it first-hand. Interacting with our world’s other citizens helps us to better understand how very much we have in common.

GLACIER BAY, ALASKA

“Every journey makes its own map across your heart.”

Sharon Sinn

Having visited many of the countries of Africa, North/South American, Australia/Oceania, and Europe, it was time this year to make our first trip to the Middle East.  Since several of my recent posts have included images from our journey to Israel and Jordan (as does today’s header), I’ve closed this week’s post with something a bit different. As fascinating as we may find other parts of the world, we should also remember that our own countries have much to offer as well. As an example, the image above is from an adventure several years ago in Alaska.  Glacier Bay is but one of the many incredible US National Parks. Bryce Canyon in Utah (below) is another. We count them and several others among our favorite trips. As always, there are more to be seen.

HOODOOS, BRYCE CANYON, UTAH

“More than the destination, it is the journey that makes a traveller.”

Salma Farook

Long ago I was introduced to the idea that there was an amazing world beyond my own little corner of it. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined how much of it I would one day see. Sincere thanks to Amy for her beautiful travel challenge which is posted here. I hope you’ll join me next week for Challenge #28. In the meanwhile I leave you with this thought from Akiane Kramarik:

“If we experienced life through the eyes of a child, everything would be magical and extraordinary. Let our curiosity, adventure and wonder never end.”

May 2019 be a year of adventure and wonder for us all.

 

 

 

 

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• January 5, 2019
• LENS-ARTISTS, Photo Essay, Photography, Travel
• 165 Comments