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[In Explore 29 April 2021]
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
Schweiz / Berner Oberland - Schreckhorn
seen on the way from Bachalpsee to First
gesehen auf dem Weg vom Bachalpsee zum First
The Schreckhorn (4,078 m) is a mountain in the Bernese Alps. It is the highest peak located entirely in the canton of Bern. The Schreckhorn is the northernmost Alpine four-thousander and the northernmost summit rising above 4,000 metres in Europe.
Geography
The Schreckhorn is located 10 km south-east of Grindelwald between the Upper and Lower Grindelwald Glacier. The region is made up of uninhabited glacial valleys, the great Aar Glaciers and the Fiescher Glacier. The summit of the Lauteraarhorn is located very close and reaches almost the same altitude. The highest peak of the Bernese Alps, the Finsteraarhorn, lies 6 km to the south.
Geologically the Schreckhorn is part of the Aarmassif.
Climbing history
The first ascent was on 16 August 1861 by Leslie Stephen, Ulrich Kaufmann, Christian Michel and Peter Michel. Their route of ascent, via the upper Schreck Couloir to the Schrecksattel and then by the south-east ridge, was the normal route for the following fifty years, but is now seldom used.
The peak had been attempted several times before this, most notably by the Swiss naturalist Joseph Hugi in 1828 and the guided party of Pierre Jean Édouard Desor (a Swiss geologist) in 1842. 'The ambition of hoisting the first flag on the Schreckhorn, the one big Bernese summit which was untrodden, was far too obvious for us to resist', Desor later wrote, but they climbed a secondary summit of the Lauteraarhorn by mistake.
The first ascent by the south-west ridge (AD+) – the normal route by which the Schreckhorn is climbed – was made by John Wicks, Edward Branby and Claude Wilson on 26 July 1902. They decided to climb the very steep ridge without the help of local guides and succeeded in reaching the summit. The north-west ridge (the Andersongrat, D) was first climbed by John Stafford Anderson and George Percival Baker, with guides Ulrich Almer and Aloys Pollinger on 7 August 1883.
The Strahlegg Hut, destroyed by an avalanche, has been replaced by the Schreckhorn Hut (2,520 m). The Schreckhorn may also be ascended from the Gleckstein Hut (2,317 m) and the Lauteraar Hut (2,392 m).
(Wikipedia)
Das Schreckhorn ist mit einer Höhe von 4078 m ü. M. der nördlichste Viertausender Europas. Es befindet sich in den Berner Alpen im Kanton Bern in der Schweiz. Geologisch gehört das Schreckhorn zum Aarmassiv und besteht aus Erstfeldergneis.
Besteigung
Erstbesteigung
Das Schreckhorn ist der bergsteigerisch anspruchsvollste Viertausender in den Berner Alpen. Die Erstbesteigung erfolgte am 16. August 1861 durch Peter und Christian Michel, Leslie Stephen und Ulrich Kaufmann.
Routen
Ausgangspunkt
Ausgangspunkt für alle Routen ist die Schreckhornhütte (2529 m ü. M.), erreichbar von Grindelwald (1034 m ü. M.).
Südwestgrat (Normalroute)
Schwierigkeit: ZS+, mit III. UIAA-Grad Felskletterei
Zeitaufwand: 6–7 Stunden
Nordwestgrat (Andersongrat)
Schwierigkeit: S
Zeitaufwand: 6–8 Stunden
Südpfeiler
Schwierigkeit: SS, mit V−. UIAA-Grad Felskletterei
Zeitaufwand: 8½–9½ Stunden
Albrecht von Haller
Das Schreckhorn ist einer der wenigen Berge, die bereits vor dem klassischen Zeitalter des Alpinismus europaweit, zumindest dem Namen nach, bekannt waren und auch Eingang in die klassische Literatur fanden: Wohl erstmals findet es, und zwar als einziger Alpengipfel, Erwähnung in Albrecht von Hallers Gedicht Die Alpen von 1729 (Kapitel 1, sechstletzter Gesang).
Bei Haller ist das Schreckhorn ein idealisiertes Zentrum der Alpen, von welchem aus die Ströme Europas nach Norden und nach Süden in die Meere abfliessen. In Wirklichkeit trennt es lediglich die Aare von der Lütschine. Die Wasserscheide zum Mittelmeer liegt fünf Kilometer weiter südwestlich, und jene zum Rhein und zum Inn liegen 40 beziehungsweise 120 Kilometer weiter östlich. Haller stammte aus Bern und bereiste die Alpen im Jahr vor der Verfassung des Gedichts selbst.
Erwähnung bei Kleist und Schiller
Etwa 1803 erscheint das Schreckhorn in einem Brief Heinrich von Kleists aus Thun an seine Schwester.
1804 erscheint das Schreckhorn in Friedrich Schillers Wilhelm Tell (Vers 628), neben der namentlichen Erwähnung von Jungfrau, Glärnisch sowie dem Haggenspitz, einem Nebengipfel des Kleinen Mythen. Allerdings war Schiller nie in der Schweiz, und so ist fraglich, ob er vom Schreckhorn mehr kannte als bloss den Namen.
Kartografie
1755 erscheint es in dem Panorama der Schneeberge des Jacques-Barthélemy Micheli du Crest. Es ist dort neben Pilatus und Wetterhorn der einzige Gipfel, der zutreffend beschriftet ist.
(Wikipedia)
(Rynchops flavirostris)
Nyumba ya Mungu Dam
Tanzânia
(Versão portuguesa, mais abaixo)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Skimmers, Thorns and an Imbecile: Our first Tanzanian Misadventure
The road out of Usariver was surprisingly smooth in most parts, freshly patched in places, but any comfort it might have offered was quickly erased by the guide’s aggressive driving. He weaved through the traffic like he was late for his own wedding, cutting corners, overtaking dangerously, and making poor Ana flinch every few minutes in the passenger seat.
And then, of course, there was the talking.
“You see, the problem is that the judge was completely corrupt,” he was saying. “I even paid the lawyer to talk to the judge—off the record, of course—but still, I lost the house.”
I glanced at Ana, who was gripping the door handle with one hand and wincing as he narrowly dodged a lorry. Her other hand was pressed to her temple, as if trying to block out the noise.
“So… what do you do, professionally?” he asked me, abruptly.
I hesitated. “Software development.”
“Oh! I studied that too,” he said, delighted. “But the smart ones go into sales. That’s where the money is.”
I nodded vaguely. He didn’t need encouragement—he was already back to listing his personal misfortunes in unfiltered detail.
Two hours of this. Two long hours of his monologue bouncing around the dusty interior of the vehicle, which, by the way, was filthy. It had clearly never been cleaned. Bits of old napkins fluttered in the breeze every time we opened a window, and more trash appeared each day, none of it ours.
We finally reached Kisangara, where we were supposed to pick up the local guide. Naturally, he wasn’t ready. We waited for what must have been half an hour.
“They’re just buying some chapatis,” we were told.
Chapatis, as we soon discovered, would be our staple food for nearly a week. That and samosas. With very few exceptions.
That day’s target, suggested entirely by the guide (not by us—we didn’t yet realize he had his own agenda), was the African Skimmer. A lifer for us, so we didn’t object. We had no reason to. Yet.
As we approached the dam area, my concern grew. Neither our guide nor the local seemed to know exactly which path to take. A few locals gestured and shouted that we should go another way.
He ignored them.
We ended up at the top of an impassable ravine. Dead end.
After a mix of blind guesses and backtracking, we finally found a small village. On the other side, the dam reservoir stretched into the morning haze. But the skimmers weren’t there.
We followed the shoreline for a while, encountering more obstructions. The landscape was stunning—rich with birds—but most were species we had already photographed elsewhere.
Still, the light was magical.
Then began the real madness. We went full off-road. No track, no path, just pure improvisation. We drove straight through acacia thickets, the thorny branches scraping the sides of the car and jabbing through the windows.
“Close them,” Ana muttered, shielding her arm from another jab.
We lurched over gullies and mounds, at times nearly tipping over. And strangely, I caught myself thinking: This is why you travel like this. No glossy eco-tour would bring you here.
Then another thought: And this is exactly the kind of beat-up car you want for it—scratches don’t matter when it’s already a wreck.
We finally emerged into a clearing with perfect visibility of the lake—alive with birds in every direction.
“Wait, wait,” I called out, pointing. “Malachite Kingfisher! Perfect light!”
“You already got that one earlier,” he said, without stopping.
“Yes, but this one is...”
“You need to focus,” he cut in, stepping on the gas.
I clenched my jaw. He drove another 50 meters and pointed toward the lake.
“Great White Pelican!”
I scanned. “Where?”
“There!” he insisted.
I eventually spotted it, 300 meters out at least.
“It’s too far,” I said. “Not worth a shot.”
“Take it as a record photo.”
“I don’t take record photos.”
He snorted and drove forward again, then stopped next to another pelican, this one closer.
“Is this close enough for you?” he barked.
“It’s better,” I replied carefully. It wasn’t ideal, but I didn’t want to argue.
Then we saw them—a group of 10 to 15 African Skimmers, some perched near the water, others gliding in elegant arcs before landing again. Finally.
We started photographing from a distance, hoping to get closer without disturbing them.
Suddenly, both guides got animated. “White-winged Tern!” they cried.
“We’ve got that one,” I said. “Photographed it in Australia.”
“No, no,” said our guide. “This one only occurs in Africa.”
“But isn't Chlidonias leucopterus?” I asked.
Blank stares.
To avoid seem hostile, I added, “We’ve only seen them in winter plumage. This one’s... spectacular.”
By now, the guide was out of the vehicle, camera in hand, fully focused—ironically—not on the skimmers we had come for, but on this tern. Meanwhile, the entire skimmer group took off and disappeared.
When he finally returned, he was glowing.
“Got some great shots!” he said.
“Of dots,” Ana murmured under her breath.
We drove on, passing dozens of birds that, while not new to us, would’ve made beautiful photos. He didn’t stop.
Eventually, we spotted three more skimmers resting. We managed to get a few decent shots—not quite the dramatic images I’d imagined of them skimming the water’s surface, but still, a win.
After we’d taken what we could, I asked if we could keep looking.
He drove a bit more, then veered off-track again, plowing through acacias like a man with a death wish.
I got the feeling the session was over.
“Couldn’t we keep searching for the skimmers?” I asked.
“They’ve flown. They don’t come back,” he replied, dismissively.
Just like that.
As we bounced away through the thorns once more, I stared out the window, the morning's golden light slowly turning harsh.
Disappointment settled in.
“So much for focus,” I muttered.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Skimmers, Espinhos e um Imbecil: A nossa primeira desaventura na Tanzânia
A estrada desde Usariver até Kisangara estava, na verdade, em razoável estado — com algumas secções em obras, mas longe de ser má. O pior mesmo era a condução do nosso guia. Agressiva, impaciente, cheia de ultrapassagens perigosas e travagens bruscas que transformaram a viagem num verdadeiro teste aos nervos.
A Ana ia no banco da frente, coitada, sorte a minha. Não bastava ter de se agarrar ao puxador da porta cada vez que ele decidia jogar à roleta russa com camiões em sentido contrário, como ainda tinha de o ouvir. Durante duas horas.
“O juiz foi completamente corrupto,” dizia ele, indignado. “Até paguei ao advogado para ele comprar o juiz. Mesmo assim, tiraram-me a casa!”
Troquei olhares com a Ana, que cerrava os dentes a cada guinada.
“E tu? O que fazes profissionalmente?” — perguntou, de repente.
“Desenvolvimento de software,” respondi, meio contrariado.
“Ah, também estudei isso. Mas os inteligentes vão para vendas. É aí que está o dinheiro.”
E lá continuou, imperturbável, a contar-nos todos os detalhes dos seus problemas pessoais, do despejo à corrupção no sistema judicial, passando pelas oportunidades que achava que o mundo lhe devia.
Chegámos finalmente a Kisangara, onde devíamos apanhar o guia local. Claro que não estava pronto. Esperámos meia hora, talvez mais.
“Falta comprar os chapatis,” disseram-nos.
Chapatis — como haveríamos de descobrir, seriam a base da nossa alimentação nos cinco ou seis dias seguintes. Isso e chamuças, com raras excepções.
O objetivo do dia — proposto por ele, não por nós — era fotografar os African Skimmer. Uma espécie que ainda não tínhamos, por isso não nos opusemos. Não havia razão para isso. Ainda.
Quando nos aproximámos da barragem, comecei a ficar preocupado. Nenhum dos dois guias parecia saber exatamente qual o caminho a seguir. Alguns locais acenaram e disseram que devíamos virar noutro sentido.
Ele ignorou.
Acabámos num desnível intransponível, de onde não se via sequer o lago.
Após várias tentativas e erros, lá encontrámos uma aldeia. Ao passarmos por ela, avistámos finalmente a albufeira da barragem. Mas os skimmers não estavam lá.
Fomos seguindo a linha de água, contornando mais obstáculos. A paisagem era deslumbrante e havia aves por todo o lado, embora quase nenhuma fosse novidade para nós. Ainda assim, a luz matinal era magnífica.
E então começou o verdadeiro disparate. Entrámos em completo corta-mato, sem trilha, sem direção clara, a abrir caminho por entre acácias espinhosas que riscavam a carroçaria e entravam pelas janelas, obrigando-nos a fechá-las rapidamente. Passámos por valas, buracos e terrenos inclinados, por vezes a um triz de capotar.
E, no meio da loucura, tive um pensamento curioso: É por isto que não se vem com uma agência de turismo. Nenhum operador convencional nos traria aqui.
Logo seguido por outro: E é bom que o carro seja velho — tal como o meu — assim ninguém se preocupa com os riscos na chapa.
Finalmente, saímos das acácias para uma zona aberta, com vista magnífica sobre o lago, repleta de aves.
“Espera, espera!” — exclamei. “Malachite Kingfisher! E com luz perfeita!”
“Já fotografaste um ali atrás,” respondeu, sem sequer abrandar.
“Sim, mas este está muito melhor...”
“Precisas de te focar,” interrompeu, como se estivesse a ensinar um novato.
Contive-me no que me apetecia dizer. Passou mais uns metros e apontou para o meio do lago.
“Great White Pelican!”
Procurei e não via nada.
“Aonde?”
“Ali, ao centro!”
Finalmente identifiquei a silhueta, muito ao longe.
“Está demasiado longe para uma boa fotografia,” comentei.
“Tira como foto de registo.”
“Eu não tiro fotos de registo.”
Fez uma careta, arrancou de novo e parou ao lado de outro pelicano, este bem mais próximo.
“Agora está suficientemente perto?” disse, num tom que beirava o agressivo.
“Está melhor,” respondi sem entusiamo. Não estava, mas não valia a pena acirrar mais.
Momentos depois, vimos um grupo de 10 a 15 skimmers, pousados junto à água. Alguns esvoaçavam brevemente antes de voltar a pousar. Finalmente!
Começámos a fotografar ainda à distância, para não os afugentar.
Entretanto, o guia e o guia local começaram a exclamar entusiasmados. “White-winged Tern!”
“Já temos,” respondi. “Fotografámos na Austrália.”
“Impossível. Esta espécie só existe em África.”
Questionei. “Mas não é a Chlidonias leucopterus?”
Nenhuma reação.
Como não queria hostilizá-lo, disse: “Só as tínhamos visto em plumagem de inverno. Esta está muito mais bonita.”
Quando dei por ela, o guia já estava fora do carro, a fotografar a gaivina. Ignorou por completo os skimmers. Resultado: desapareceram. O bando tinha voado.
Quando finalmente regressou ao carro, vinha radiante.
“Tirei umas grandes fotos!” disse.
“De pontos,” murmurou a Ana.
Continuámos a avançar, passando por inúmeras espécies comuns, mas lindíssimas. Nada de parar. Até que vimos outro pequeno grupo de skimmers, pousados. Fotografámos o que conseguimos — não era a imagem sonhada, com eles a deslizar sobre a água, mas era o que havia.
Depois de algum tempo, sugeri continuar a procurar.
Ele arrancou, mas, passado pouco tempo, já ia de novo em corta-mato por entre as acácias.
Ficou claro: para ele, a sessão tinha terminado.
“Não podemos continuar a procurar os skimmers?”
“Já voaram. Não voltam mais,” disse, secamente.
E pronto. Estava decidido.
Enquanto nos afastávamos, entre ramos e espinhos, o sol começava a subir e a luz perdia a sua doçura.
Fiquei a olhar pela janela, a paisagem a fugir por entre os riscos da carroçaria.
Desilusão.
“Pois... tanto foco, e nem uma foto decente,” murmurei.
==================***==================
All my photos are now organized into sets by the country where they were taken, by taxonomic order, by family, by species (often with just one photo for the rarer ones), and by the date they were taken.
So, you may find:
- All the photos for this trip Tanzânia (2025)
- All the photos for this order CHARADRIIFORMES
- All the photos for this family Laridae
- All the photos for this species Rynchops flavirostris
- All the photos taken this day 2025/04/23
==================***==================
Namorona is a river in Vatovavy, eastern Madagascar. It flows down from the central highlands, runs along the Ranomafana National Park, forms the Andriamamovoka Falls, to flow into the Indian Ocean. It empties near Namorona.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namorona_River
El Namorona es un río de Vatovavy, al este de Madagascar. Desciende de las tierras altas centrales, recorre el Parque Nacional de Ranomafana, forma las cataratas de Andriamamovoka y desemboca en el océano Índico. Desemboca cerca de Namorona.
La Namorona est une rivière située à Vatovavy, dans l'est de Madagascar. Elle descend des hautes terres centrales, longe le parc national de Ranomafana, forme les chutes d'Andriamamovoka et se jette dans l'océan Indien. Elle se jette près de Namorona.
El parque nacional de Ranomafana se localiza al sudeste de Madagascar en la provincia de Fianarantsoa. Tiene más de 41 600 ha de bosque húmedo, el parque es el hábitat de un buen número de especies raras de flora y fauna como los lémures. El parque fue establecido en 1991 con el propósito conservar la diversidad única del ecosistema local y reducir la presión humana sobre las áreas protegidas.
El parque nacional de Ranomafana forma parte de la denominación Pluviselvas de Atsinanana elegida como Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la Unesco en 2007. Desde 2010 también se incluye en la lista Patrimonio de la Humanidad en peligro.
La flora y fauna de este parque nacional se han sometido a estudios científicos intensivos. Varios estudios científicos se han publicado
es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parque_nacional_de_Ranomafana
Ranomafana National Park is a national park in southeastern Madagascar, in the Haute Matsiatra and Vatovavy regions. It was established as Madagascar's fourth national park in 1991 following the rediscovery of the greater bamboo lemur (Hapalemur simus) and the discovery of the golden bamboo lemur (Hapalemur aureus) by the primatologist Dr. Patricia Wright.
The park protects more than 41,600 hectares (161 square miles) of tropical rainforest at elevations ranging from 800 to 1,200 m (2,645 to 3,937 ft) and is home to several rare species of plants and animals. It was later integrated into the UNESCO World Heritage Site Rainforests of the Atsinanana. The Centre ValBio research station is adjacent to the park and was created in 2003 by Stony Brook University for biodiversity research, community health and education, environmental arts, and reforestation.
The park's name is derived from the Malagasy words rano mafana ("hot water") due to the hot springs in the nearby town of Ranomafana.
The range of altitudes in the park produces a variety of forest types, including lowland rainforest and cloud forest. These forests support high levels of biodiversity. The park hosts 90 species of butterflies, 112 species of frogs, 22 species of lizards, 22 species of snake, and 118 species of birds, 30 of which are endemic to the park. Notable birds include ground rollers, blue vangas, short-legged ground rollers and brown mesites.
As with all national parks in Madagascar, a local guide is required for visitors entering the park. It has seven hiking trails that vary in length from 10 to 20 km (6.2 to 12.4 mi) and offer opportunities for birdwatching, viewing lemurs, and seeing waterfalls.
Talatakely has well-defined paths and stairs, although sturdy shoes should be worn as the path can be slippery when wet. Specialist guides can be arranged through Centre ValBio for excursions.
Kayaking or canoeing can also be arranged and a hot springs pool is located in Ranomafana.
[In explore 23 September 2021]
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
[In Explore 28 January 2022]
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
Ifaty-Mangily is a village about 30 km north of Toliara (Tuléar) in southwest Madagascar. Ifaty was originally a pure fishing village, but due to its favourable location directly in front of a coral reef and its proximity to Toliara, the first tourist infrastructure developed in the 1970s: the beginning of Mangily. Today, both terms are often used synonymously, although they are actually still two independent but very close villages.
On the sandy beaches of the bay of Ranobe (translated “big water”) on the canal of Mozambique, travellers have a good opportunity to relax and unwind. The water is warm and the sun shines here more than 300 days a year. Ifaty has a number of well-equipped hotels and lodges for excursions with the zebu carts (Charettes), crayfish dinners, pirogue excursions or visits to the nearby Reniala reserve and the turtle village. Due to the unfortunately unfavourable security situation in the south of Madagascar, the spiny forests of the surrounding area should not be explored alone, and it is also advisable to always be on the road with local guides.
Diving schools in Ifaty offer guided dives along various parts of the coral reef, equipment can be hired on site. For beginners to experienced divers there are many possibilities to explore the sea and its colourful inhabitants. In some places, travellers even have the unique opportunity to get in touch with sharks under water. If you are not quite so brave or simply not a diver, you will find just as good opportunities for snorkeling. In August, with a bit of luck, you might even see whales passing the coast. The road to Ifaty was paved in 2016, it now takes just 20 minutes via the Route Nationale (RN9) from Toliara to Ifaty-Mangily.
www.madamagazine.com/en/strande-von-ifaty/
Ifaty-Mangily es un pueblo a unos 30 km al norte de Toliara (Tuléar), en el suroeste de Madagascar. Originariamente, Ifaty era un pueblo puramente pesquero, pero debido a su favorable ubicación directamente frente a un arrecife de coral y su proximidad a Toliara, en los años 70 se desarrolló la primera infraestructura turística: el comienzo de Mangily. Hoy en día ambos términos suelen utilizarse como sinónimos, aunque en realidad siguen siendo dos pueblos independientes pero muy cercanos.
En las playas de arena de la bahía de Ranobe (traducida como "agua grande") en el canal de Mozambique, los viajeros tienen una buena oportunidad para relajarse y descansar. El agua es cálida y el sol brilla aquí más de 300 días al año. Ifaty cuenta con varios hoteles y albergues bien equipados para excursiones con carros de cebú (Charettes), cenas con cangrejos de río, excursiones en piragua o visitas a la cercana reserva de Reniala y al pueblo de las tortugas. Debido a la desgraciadamente desfavorable situación de seguridad en el sur de Madagascar, los bosques espinosos de los alrededores no se deben explorar solo, y también es recomendable estar siempre de viaje con guías locales.
Las escuelas de buceo en Ifaty ofrecen inmersiones guiadas a lo largo de varias partes del arrecife de coral y se puede alquilar el equipo en el lugar. Desde principiantes hasta buceadores experimentados hay muchas posibilidades de explorar el mar y sus coloridos habitantes. En algunos lugares, los viajeros incluso tienen la oportunidad única de entrar en contacto con tiburones bajo el agua. Si no eres tan valiente o simplemente no eres buceador, encontrarás oportunidades igualmente buenas para hacer snorkel. En agosto, con un poco de suerte, es posible que incluso veas ballenas pasando por la costa. La carretera a Ifaty se pavimentó en 2016 y ahora se tarda solo 20 minutos por la Ruta Nacional (RN9) desde Toliara hasta Ifaty-Mangily.
Le Paradisier
This beautiful ruin is located just on the border between the states of Yucatan and Campeche.
Getting to Xkipche was quite an adventure. In the days before I could meet up with my friend Balta, I hired an American who lives in Mexico, Dan Griffin, to take me around. I requested to go to Xkipche one of the days we were together. To do that, we hired a local guide who knew the site and could get us permission (and keys) to go through the 7 or 8 gates we'd have to go through to get across the properties (mostly cattle ranches) in the 4 or 5 kilometres between the main road and the site. We got through the gates without problem, but found the dirt road close to the site a washed out, muddy mess. We had to leave the truck and walk the last couple of kilometres. The site is heavily overgrown, so Oswaldo (our local guide) cleared paths for us with his machete. I remember photographing here when the only sounds were the wind in the trees, the birds and Oswaldo's machete as he cleared paths around this building. It was an amazing experience - a site truly buried in the jungle.
At the end of November, I took my third trip to Mexico since 2014 to photograph Mayan ruins. I visited a number of ruins not open to the public, overgrown and hidden in the jungle, in order to continue working on my series of infrared images of Mayan Ruins. Many people think that the large ruins (Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Labna, Sayil, etc.) comprise the totality of Mayan civilization in the Yucatan, but there are literally hundreds of smaller or satellite cities spread throughout Yucatan and Campeche. I am so drawn to these beautiful, sometimes remote, ruins, partially overgrown, but still standing after more than a thousand years.
If you'd like to read about this trip, I have a blog post about it that you might enjoy.
[In Explore 06 January 2023]
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
Island Number three.. St Lucia.
The Pitons.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Pitons
The Pitons are two mountainous volcanic plugs, volcanic spires, located in Saint Lucia. Petit Piton is 743 m (2,438 ft) high and Gros Piton is 798.25 m (2,618.9 ft) high; they are linked by the Piton Mitan ridge. The Pitons are a World Heritage Site, 2,909 ha (7,190 acres) in size, and located near the town of Soufrière.[1]
Geography
The Pitons are located between the towns of Soufrière and Choiseul on the southwestern coast of the island. They are in the electoral districts of three and ten. The Pitons are located on either side of Jalousie Bay.
Flora and fauna
Coral reefs cover almost 60% of the site's marine area. A survey has revealed 168 species of finfish, 60 species of cnidaria, including corals, eight mollusks, 14 sponges, 11 echinoderms, 15 arthropods, and eight annelid worms. The dominant terrestrial vegetation is tropical moist forest grading to subtropical wet forest, with small areas of dry forest and wet elfin woodland on the summits. At least 148 plant species have been recorded on Gros Piton, 97 on Petit Piton, and the intervening ridge, among them eight rare tree species. The Gros Piton is home to some 27 bird species (five of them endemic), three indigenous rodents, one opossum, three bats, eight reptiles, and three amphibians.[1]
Geology
The volcanic complex includes a geothermal field with sulphurous fumaroles and hot springs.[1]
Gros Piton
Gros Piton is at the southern end of Pitons Bay. It is the second-highest peak on Saint Lucia, after Mount Gimie.[1]
Gros Piton can be climbed without ropes or mountaineering experience. One can hike to the summit and come back down to sea level within several hours. Local guides are provided by the National Park and are included with your entry fee. They are trained by the government to have basic knowledge of the languages common among tourists and of the medical procedures required in case of common accidents.[1]
Petit Piton
Petit Piton lies towards the middle of Soufrière Bay, south of Soufrière and north of Gros Piton.[1]
Petit Piton was first climbed in 1878 by Abdome Deligny. The islands of Dominica, Martinique, Barbados, and St. Vincent can be seen from its peak.[2]
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Women's clothing store. Local guides say; "This is one of my favorite stores in Toronto. It's quirky and funky and stuffed with rare designer duds and baubles". "This store is literally the QUEEN of Queen Street. It's a MUST-VISIT for anyone who appreciates cutting-edge fashion with a distinctly curated twist".
Obviously not found by me!
Brufut Woods is a community project near the Gambian coast and one of the main reasons for visiting is the opportunity to see these birds surprisingly close to. After an inauspicious start (the local rubbish tip), our local guide led us to some attractive savannah where this bird, a male, had been located by the guides roosting under a bush.
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
Dhaka Shipyard
Keraniganj, Bangladesh
The shipyards along the outskirts of the Bangladesh capital are a flurry dangerous boat breaking and rebuilding.
TOWERING NEAR THE BANKS OF BURIGANGA River on the outskirts of Dhaka, the crude shipyards are a frighteningly dangerous if, fascinating, hive of industrial activity.
While it is not the largest shipyard in the country (that honor belongs to the Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard), the Dhaka yard in the town of Keraniganj shares the seeming disregard for worker safety that can be found in simialr industrial sites around the country. The facilities, which employ around 15,000 workers at around $5 a day, work to both break down massive shipping vessels as well as create new ships from the parts. Workers can be seen torches and welding equipment to tears huge pieces of metal from the vessels, sans eye, hand, or face protection. Other workers will be found scaling the tall ships on ramshackle ladders or strolling along the high edges of the ship decks, the only thing to keep them from falling is their own balance. Injuries are common on the site, but the buzz of activity doesn’t stop.
The ships being worked on are propped up on crude chalks creating the appearance that the river simply receded and left these hulks stranded on dry land. The space is tight so many of the boats are right up to small homes and other structures.
This is clearly a worksite that is dangerous to its employees, and even more so to careless visitors. However local guides can be found who will assist anyone curious about the industrial dangers that still plague the world.
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My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
This is one of several Antpitta species we found, actually that very local guides found and called out for us. They are mostly ground dwellers in the thick jungle and typically shy and secretive.
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Here's a shot from one of the first outing we had over the weekend, a random mission to a private property. Don't worry, we weren't trespassing, we had some local guides/helpers who took us to some amazing places for the autumn colours. but as far as mornings go, this one was pretty awesome. I do have better photos with more awesome reflections and a better composition, but I'm trying to whet your appetite, entice and tease you a little bit.
Please come back.
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
my fav pic of that tour.. that camel head on the RHS was the one i was sitting on. I named him "peanut butter". coz while i was in morocco, i really missed peanut butter. lolol
ok I wanna clarify sth..some ppl might wonder why the color of the sanddune is so orange. the local guide told me it rained in the desert for 3 days before(WOWOWOW). outside the desert it was flooded, coz the ground didnt absorb water so fast. When we arrived there and were abt to get on the camels, I saw a huge pond of water, looked like a lake, thats fr the rain. I also saw some toilet seats and other stuffs scattered around, they said coz of the heavy rain, a hotel there was completely destroyed. all those stuffs were fr the hotel. thats just amazing to see the sand, still moisty and got wrinkles.
here's another pic www.flickr.com/photos/weideng/2167733137/in/set-721576036...
on camel back..but I still prefer this one more.
***Thanks ppl...for all the comments and invites~ cheers
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
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Some of you may already have seen pictures from last winter's ice cave: it's the cave with the distinctive "window" to the right above the entrance. This year the cave was completely different: the entrance is now from the other side, the former end of the cave. The guides have struck for steps into the ice, which are secured with a hand rope. It follows a passage of still considerable length. Then the ceiling has collapsed, ice blocks of considerable size blocking the way to the earlier entrance, which no longer exists in this form.
Even harder it has hit the neighboring Lightroom Ice Cave: only an arch of ice is left from that cave, that arch lies in the area of the former end of the cave. The last year's entrance was about 50 to 60 meters below this point - in between the glacier has completely disappeared over the summer!
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My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
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The guy on the left in the cap, in the manner of the Jamaican beach boys, offered to give me a black baby care of his sexual services. Apparently a lot of white women my age go to Jamaica for just this. After I declined his very romantic gesture, he followed me around the market taking it upon himself to be my guide. My work shy local guide/bodyguard had buggered off in the typical manner I'd been accustomed to from him, even though he was being paid very generously for his time, hence why I had these other guys leech onto me in the meantime.
Anyway, it was really annoying as this fellow would not go away, seeing me as an obvious meal ticket (then again I am too Englishly polite) even when I said I did not want either a black baby or a guide. He kept nudging me to his friends' stalls to buy stuff I guess he gets a commission on but I was unusually not there to buy anything. The bonus of the story is he showed me parts of the market I would not have seen otherwise - hence my "Grandma" shot at the back of it, the negative is I couldn't get candids in the market as planned because of his big mouth. "She is a photographer from England documenting..."
Anyway... after a short time, I decided to leave the market so I could shoot candids. This is when he demanded money from me for being my tour guide Something extortionate like 20 US dollars for 20 minutes. Luckily, there were enough people around that I felt safe to be less polite and tell him to sling his hook. Ochy is also a tourist place so much less dicey than Kingston where I would have been wise to pay up if in that situation. I suspect he waits outside the market (this shot is when he first saw me) and pounces on other unsuspecting tourists. I know the country is poor but....
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Small, plump bird with stout bill. Male mostly lime green with contrasting yellow belly and thin blue collar on nape and blue rump; some populations entirely blue above. Female similar but duller, with greener belly. Usually seen in pairs or small flocks, often in association with a fruiting tree. Forages at all levels, most frequently in the canopy.
This one was photographed in Northern Peru led by Neotropic Photo Tours and our Peruvian local guide for this portion of the trip; Fisher Chávez of Perú Nature Photography.
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
Just back from an African safari and I miss Africa already. This may be my favorite shot of the trip, a female leopard lying on a tree limb as only a cat can do, with just enough light to illuminate her, particularly her eyes. (Panthera pardus) (Sony a1M2, 400mm lens, f/2.8, ISO 640) (Taken in Zambia, South Luangwa National Park. Special Thanks to our wonderful C4 guide, Darren Donovan, Patrick our local guide, and my good friend, David M, and new friend, David H. We were staying at Kaingo Camp where we were well taken care of. )
As promised, we are off to explore the rest of Oman. We will see forts, castles, canyons, deserts, wadis, rock formations, beaches and the sea.
Oman has an interesting history of a trading and sea faring country. A country that has tried to keep a peaceful history by protecting its borders even though they changed through out the years.
I always travel by myself, but with a local guide or driver. It is always a risk because one can be given a driver who doesn't really care about his client.
In Oman, I was lucky. The driver who was with me for most of the trip was well educated, well travelled, polite and fun.
If any of you decide to venture to Oman for a trip of your own his name is Faisal Al Kindi and you can contact him @ +96898777999 or by email: jetstang96@yahoo.com.
A reminder that all of my images are copyrighted and are not for your use in any way unless you contact me. Thank you so much for your visits and comments. Each one is appreciated.
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Europe - Serbia - Republika Srbija - Dinaric Alps - Mount Zlatibor - Stopica cave - Stopića Pećina - Стопића пећина - Limestone cave with travertine terraces near Sirogojno
The weather was not working in in our favor during this particular part of the trip, so we decided to visit this cave instead as caves should be bad weather resistant. This theory didn't prove just right as when we finally got there through some snowy parts of the road and very slippery walkway we found out that the snow cut off all power to the cave. Luckily the local guide had large torch that we used for light-paining, which is never easy as you never know what result you get. I'm rather pleased with the result considering the circumstances and the visit to the cave was more fun this way after all !
Camera Model: Canon EOS 5D Mark II; Lens: EF17-40mm f/4L USM; Focal length: 17.00 mm; Aperture: 4.0; Exposure time: 30.0 s; ISO: 200
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