One of the most pristine and panoramic beaches in kannur- India. We stayed here to attend the Theyyam rituals particular to North Kerela. The bonus was the stunning Beach reached by the backwater pool left by the tide which was out.
This was one of our most unexpected highlights of the trip which I did on 2015, but also one of the most welcome, it is fast becoming a popular place to go as more and more people discover it, I would highly recommend it before it gets overrun with holiday makers, oblivious to it’s deeper beauty!
One of the hardest things when photographing this was because of the unstinting sunlight, getting the colour of the sand right and trying to get it the correct colour. A near impossible task!
In 2015 I spent four months travelling round the Southern half on India after having already visited much of the North in previous Years. One of my favourite places was Thiruvananthapuram or more commonly called Trivandrum.
In this slideshow you will see a number of well trodden locations visited by many. You will see some of the amazing street art along with the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, which is built in an intricate fusion of the indigenous Kerala style and the Tamil style of architecture associated with the temples located in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu, featuring high walls, and a 16th-century Gopuram
Then you will see the Napier Museum-named after Lord Napier, then Governor of Madras, in 1880 it contains 550 exhibits, including many Bronze Images,Wood Carvings,Ivory Carvings,Stone Sculptures, and Coins. Oh and lets not forget the stunning architectural building it’s all housed in!
Then we move onto the Kuthira Malika (also known as the Mansion of Horses)- a palace built by Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma on the south-eastern side of Padmanabhaswamy temple. In fact you literally go out the entrance and turn left and the Temple is right on your doorstep! Constructed in 1840, it is made from teakwood, rosewood, marble, and granite. The place got its name from 122 horses that are carved into the wooden wall brackets that support the southern roof.
And last but not least one of my favourite places is the College of Fine Arts, Thiruvananthapuram, wher eI was able to walk around the grounds and view the finished sculptures and wall paintings of the students. Info from: https://www.keralatourism.org/kerala-… The present College of Fine Arts has a history of more than 100 years even though it changed its name and belonging many times. Founded in1881 by the then king of Travancore His Highness Visakham Thirunal Rama Varma as His Highness Maharajas School of Arts.
So my Journey in 2013 took me to Thailand, and Kanchanburi, one of the stops for the Death Valley railway. In this slideshow you will see;
HellFire Pass
Wampo Viaduct (Wang Po) and Buddha Cave
Tham Kra Sae Sation
Bridge over the River Kwai
Just a point to note the river Kwai wasn’t/isn’t the river Kwai, its the river Mae Khlung. Because of the book that was written, people really wanted to see the Bridge over the river Kwai, so i 1960 it was renamed the Kwae Yai.
I know the music to this slideshow is a little upbeat, and to be fair I didn’t want something mournful (not that I am in any way irreverent) but I think i wanted to give a feel of a better place now, after all it does attract some 5 million tourists every year. Kanchan is a thriving and busy town.
I hope you enjoy having a look around
Music credit to : Arp Bounce by Geographer Free under creative commons licence from You tube music Library
One of the most magical, cooling, relaxing, fun places in Thailand and deservedly so. I only made it up to the third waterfall, but that was enough for me.
Erawan National Park is another significant national park in Thailand. Located in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, it has received many awards, with the most prodigious being the award in the natural attractions category at the 6th Thailand Tourism Industry Awards in 2006.
Here lies the biggest and most beautiful waterfall of Kanchanaburi, Erawan Waterfall, which runs from the Huai Mong Lai River down a 2100 meters tall mountain.
The waterfall is 1500 meters long and has seven tiers, each of which is a great and safe swimming area. Moreover, you can take a 30 minute walk around Erawan nature trail to savor the beauty of hill evergreen forest and deciduous forest.
Music credits to : Trap Juice by RalphReal- erewan waterfalls Free under creative commons licence from You Tube Music Library
During my road trip down to the South of Thailand in December 2018, our first really southerly stop was at Pak Meng, here almost devoid of western tourists I was witness to a most spectacular sunset.
Pak Meng is Trang’s most developed beach. It’s a long narrow strip of sand with beautiful views over a flat calm ocean and across to the islands of Koh Ngai and Koh Muk. No wonder there are numerous beach shack bars and restaurants cheek by jowl, designed for predominantly Thai tourists to enjoy the view while sipping a cold one in the shade of the numerous trees that line the beach.
Directly behind the trees runs Pak Meng’s road, parallel to the beach and shoreline. There’s a second strip of more sturdy looking restaurants on the other side of the road, around 20 to 30 in total, so you’re spoilt for choice.
Pak Meng beach is long – all the action is up at the northern end and the restaurants and beach bars extend for about a kilometre down the beach.
Pai and it’s district has a wealth of places to visit and experience, it fast became one of my favourite places up in the North of Thailand whilst I was driving round the Mae hon son loop.
From the spectacular viewpoints and the stunningly refreshing waterfalls, to the beautiful forests and the Historical Memorial bridge, and some…. you will never see everything, which is why Pai is firmly on my “go back to” place.
Yun Lai Viewpoint;the Yun Lai Viewpoint situated in the Yunnan Chinese village about 4.5 kilometers from central Pai.
Pai Memorial Bridge is establish in World War II ( 1942 ) when Japan is powerful in Thailand. Japan solider use Pai for is transportation route from Chiang Mai to Burma. This bridge is the route for transport the forces and weapon to Burma like River Kwai in Kanchanaburi province. Then World War II Memorial Bridge become the building be left over after the war.
Huai Nam Dang Viewpoint at Doi Kiew Lom to overlook a stunning scene when the peak of Doi Chiang Dao emerges from the sea of fog in the morning hours.
Mae Sa Waterfall Arguably one of the most photogenic waterfalls around Chiang Mai. This multi-tier waterfall consists of 10 levels that you can even climb up carefully. Alternatively, you can take a narrow and slightly demanding trail next to the waterfall that leads up to the top. Each level is different in size but just shallow enough to stay inside. It’s a popular weekend spots for locals and expats, therefore come in the morning and during the week to avoid the hordes of visitors.
The Tha Pai Hot Spring is located in the area of Huai Nam Dang National Park in Pai. It has an average temperature of 80C. Steam from the spring permeates the site in the morning, creating fascinating sights.
Today brought to you from the Island of Koh Mook in Thailand, Somewhere I loved so much when I stayed and had such amazing uplifting experience, it was then I think I realised there was more to life.
I am an avid shell seeker when on beaches; I always put them back, but photograph them before leaving. My thoughts are that shells are a little like humans, “how so?” I may hear you ask.
Well like us they come in all different shapes and sizes, all colours and styles. They have their imperfections, just like we do… They can be discarded when the creature inside them is dead and become the continuing part of the Earth. They are a vessel in which some living creature may survive. Maybe you will look at shells a little differently from now on, after all, is that not what all of us are? Shells?
