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My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
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This was a very special find. The Brown-banded Antpitta (Grallaria milleri) is endemic to Colombia and vulnerable due to loss of suitable habitat as a result of human activity. In 1992 it was suspected that the species was extinct, but it was rediscovered in 1994. Its range is limited to a small area between 1800 and 3100 meters above sea level in the forests of the central Colombian Andes. As of today the only known locations are in the neighboring Departments of Quindio, Risarada and Caldas on the western slope of the central Colombian Andes and on the eastern slope in the nearby Department of Tolima.
Antpittas are secretive, wary and shy birds that inhabit the dark understory of mountain forests. They never stray far from cover. They feed on insects on or near the ground. Ants are a diet favorite. They are small round bodied birds with short tails and relatively long legs.
For us this was not a lucky find because we had the help of an extremely professional and knowledgeable local guide, Mr. Albeiro Uribe, at Reserva Ecologica Rio Blanco in Manizales, Caldas, Colombia.
Albeiro led us to this bird and three other species of Antpitta.
These monkeys are very cheeky because they where throwing sticks at me when I passed by. My local guide warned me not to walk underneath the trees because they will also pee or shit on my head.
Andrew, a local guide, is friends with Scar, a 10-year old sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in Dominica. Photo taken under permit. echeng100129_0248132
Schweiz / Wallis - Gsponer Höhenweg
Weissmies
Why Hike Gspon to Kreuzboden (Gspon Hohenweg)
The panoramic Gspon Hohenweg traverses high above the east side of the Saastal (Saas Valley) with splendid views of the Mischabel Range. The range, separating the Saas Valley from the Mattertal – with Zermatt at it head, is a magnificent wall of mountains with twelve peaks over 13,000-ft. (4,000-meters) high including the Dom – the highest mountain entirely in Switzerland.
Starting in Gspon, a sun-drenched hamlet on the high slopes near the foot of the Saas Valley, the trail travels south/southeast through meadows and forest high above the valley floor with ever evolving views of the Mischabel Range. Initially the Seetalhorn, Bigerhorn and Balfrin dominate the view. Halfway along the route the jagged profiles of the Taschhorn, Dom and Lenzspitze join the stunning scene.
Soon views open to the southwest where the massive Fee Glacier spills down the slopes between the Allalinhorn and Alphubel. These peaks, along with the Taschhorn, Dom and Lenzspitze, form an amazing cirque of 4,000-meter summits surrounding Saas Fee. Huge glaciers cling to the flanks of the peaks while waterfalls, fed by glacial meltwater, gush down the mountainsides.
The trail ends at Kreuzboden where a scenic gondola whisks hikers down to the Saas Gund for a bus ride back to Saas Fee. Purists can walk down to Saas Grund along a very steep trail plunging over 2,700-ft. to the valley floor.
This walk is a slightly easier and shorter alternative to the challenging Saas Fee Hohenweg across the valley, making it a good option for parties looking for a great hike with lovely views. Please note: Due to the up and down nature of the trail, the elevation gain and loss is much greater than it appears by simply looking at the trailhead elevation and the high point on the hike. Total elevation gain for the hike is 2,485-ft and the loss is 2,780-ft.
The trail can be walked in either direction, I recommend walking up valley, from Gspon to Kreuzboden, for the best views.
(hikingwalking.com)
The Weissmies 4,017 m (13,179 ft) is a mountain in the Pennine Alps in the canton of Valais in Switzerland near the village of Saas-Fee. It is the easternmost four-thousander of its range.
Geography
The Weissmies is located on the main Alpine chain, on a massif separating the Saastal valley on the west and Simplon valley on the east. The massif consists of two other main summits lying to the north at almost the same altitude, the Lagginhorn and Fletschhorn. The mountain lies between the Lagginjoch (3,500 m) to the north and the Zwischbergen Pass (3,260 m) to the south.
The Weissmies is one of the 10 four-thousanders surrounding the Saastal, facing the Dom on the west, the third highest summit of the Alps.
Climbing
It was first climbed by Jakob Christian Häusser and Peter Josef Zurbriggen in 1855 via the Triftgrat. The ascent was mired in some controversy as the local guides did not believe that the peak could be ascended without their help; when they themselves ascended to the summit by following Häusser and Zurbriggen's footprints, they found that the highest point had indeed been reached.
The east face was climbed first by J. A. Peebles, Mr E. P. Jackson and Margaret Jackson with guides P. Schlegel, U. Rubi and J. Martin on 17 October 1876. The more difficult south face was climbed in 1884 by C. H. Wilson, A. Burgener, J. Furrer. Two weeks later, W. H. and E. Paine with T. Andenmatten and P. Zurbriggen opened a route on the northern ridge.[3]
The approach to the Trift Glacier/south-west ridge (Triftgrat) route can now be made via lift to Hohsaas (3,100 m), which is located virtually at the edge of the glacier. The ascent from Hohsaas takes about 4 hours and involves slopes to 40 degrees and crevasses. Another route starts from the Zwischbergen Pass (above Almageller Hut) at the foot of the southern ridge.
(Wikipedia)
Der Gsponer Höhenweg ist ein Bergwanderweg am Osthang – somit orographisch rechts – des Saastals im Schweizer Kanton Wallis.
Er startet in Gspon (1892 m ü. M.) und führt auf aussichtsreicher Strecke zum 14 Kilometer weiter südlich liegenden Kreuzboden (2398 m ü. M.). In dieser Gehrichtung sind 740 Höhenmeter im Auf- und 236 im Abstieg zu überwinden, wofür man fünf Stunden Gehzeit einplanen sollte. Der Kulminationspunkt liegt bei 2470 m ü. M. kurz vor dem Ziel (Flurname Chrizbode).
Der Ausgangspunkt ist mit einer Luftseilbahn von Stalden erreichbar und vom Ziel kann man ebenfalls mit einer Seilbahn nach Saas-Grund gelangen. Zwischen beiden Talstationen gibt es eine Busverbindung; Stalden ist zudem mit der Bahn erreichbar. Es wird ein Kombi-Ticket angeboten, welches Berg- und Talfahrt mit den Seilbahnen sowie die PostAuto-Fahrt zwischen den Talstationen in beliebiger Richtung enthält.
Weitere Wanderwege
Zunächst verläuft der Weg zusammen mit der nationalen Route 6 – Alpenpässe-Weg – bis Linde Bode (Wegweiser 2229 m ü. M.), wo dieser ins Tal abzweigt, um jenseits mit der regionalen Route 27 – Swiss Tour Monte Rosa – wieder talaus zu führen.
Vom Kreuzboden führt die lokale Route 159 – Höhenweg Almagelleralp – hinab nach Saas-Almagell, wo ebenfalls eine Busanbindung besteht.
Auf der Karte zeigt die rote Linie noch die Verlängerung bis zur Weissmieshütte, zu der weitere 328 Höhenmeter zu steigen wären. Alternativ kann man vom Kreuzboden auch die Luftseilbahn nach Hohsaas nehmen und 416 Hm bis zur Hütte absteigen. Der Zeitaufwand dürfte etwa gleich sein, nur wäre man mit der Seilbahn auf 3142 m ü. M. gestiegen und dem Triftgletscher sehr nahegekommen.
(Wikipedia)
Das Weissmies ist ein 4013 m ü. M. hoher Berg der Walliser Alpen in der Schweiz. Auf der dem Saastal zugewandten Seite ist der Berg vergletschert, während auf der Ost- und Südseite Felsflanken das Bild dominieren. Talorte sind Saas-Grund sowie Saas-Almagell.
Die Erstbesteigung wurde Ende August 1855 durch den Zürcher Jakob Christian Heusser und den Notar Peter Joseph Zurbriggen aus dem Kanton Wallis unternommen. Ausgangspunkt war die Almageller Alp.
Das Weissmies hat seinen Namen von der Dialektform «Mies», was so viel bedeutet wie «Moos». Weissmies heisst also «weisses Moos» und ist ein Neutrum.
Die Mehrzahl der Besteigungen erfolgt über die beiden Normalwege: Von Hohsaas (3140 m) oder den Weissmieshütten (2726 m) oberhalb des Saastals über den spaltenreichen Triftgletscher, die Nordwestflanke und den oberen Westgrat (Triftgrat) in 3½–4 Stunden oder von der Almagellerhütte (2896 m) über den Zwischbergenpass (3271 m) und den Südgrat mit einem Zeitaufwand von 4–5 Stunden.
(Wikipedia)
In 2008 I visited the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard for a photograph & sailingtrip. An absolute must for nature lovers who are not afraid of the cold! Svalbard has always been seen as one of the most accessible polar bear populations on the world. Back then the local guide showed us that climate change poses a major threat to the Arctic. Like photographer Kerstin Langenberger Photography has captured the consequences of global warming for polar bears. Or not? Even now scientists discuss whether the consequences of global warming causes this bear to die. Let’s get on with this discussion and analysis, and take action! Read more: www.ibtimes.co.uk/svalbard-shocking-picture-shows-emaciat...
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 old male had recently been in a fight to defend his territory against a youinger tiger. Although he won that fight it left him him with a nasty wound on his nose. Unfortunately our local guide thought it would only be a matter of time before the younger tiger defeated him and he was ousted from his territory..
This was our first of 7 different tiger sightings in Tadoba Tiger Reserve.
Horse-riding has been an integral part of Hacienda Zuleta for over a century. The ranch is home to 200 horses, 100 bred for polo and the rest for guests and farm-use.
The Zuletenos breed, a cross between Andalusian, Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse bred at Hacienda Zuleta, is also a wonderful dressage horse.
The horses are so well-mannered, obedient and eager-to-please, very responsive to the rider. Just a dream.
"Almost nothing can spook them," said José Ñoquez, local guide and master horseman, "They have a perfect disposition for trail-riding."
Riders can explore the stunning Andean countryside on a number of trails that climb to nearly 4000m above sea level.
© 2010 | Rodel Joselito Manabat | All Rights Reserved
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Camiguin is a volcanic island that was formed because of the volcanic eruptions and land movements which have created this spectacular and beautiful island. Camiguin is pear shaped in form and has a total land area of 238 square kilometers. Camiguin offers a beautiful scenic view which has spectacular natural wonders with historical and cultural heritage.
Kibila Beach is a white sand beach maintained by a community co-op. The co-op's main goal is the reproduction and preservation of the giant clams. Different displays about the co-op's work are shown.
One can snorkel with a local guide and see thousands of giant clams scattered on the reef fronting the beach. There is a shallow area where about 2 thousand baby clams are. The deep area is the best part. Giant clams, some as large as my outstretched arms, dot the seascape among equally gigantic coral reef. They're the most beautiful sight.
See more of Camiguin
Gear
Canon 40D + Sigma 10-20mm f/4-5.6 EX DC
Exposure
Standard Bracketed 3-EV's , f/8, ISO 100
See my 16-BIT HDR Workflow here
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 ©
Car 3060 is on a service to Ashton under Lyne as it passes a local guide giving a talk on the events of the Peterloo Massacre.
Thinking of my April /13 trip to South Africa today, because of Mandela's birthday...here are some photos of a strenuous ( for me, and some others ) climb to a spot where we were rewarded with the sight of some ancient rock paintings ..( about 1400 years old, if I remember correctly ).
The climb was in the Drakensburg Mountains...we went from about 5000 feet to 6000 feet....mostly having to watch where we put every footstep...and if I had not had the help of the two young men pictured below in the comment photos, I would not have made it...I was about the last person to get there...hence my photos in the overhang area were pretty skimpy.
Of course I was carrying my heavy camera, and food and water...and I DID want to take more pics of the surroundings... ( which included some wildflowers that looked like strawflowers...and at least one baboon... and a waterfall, where a very few of our group waited who did not wish to climb all the way up. )
After an excellent sleep in the center of Edinburgh, we enjoyed a guided tour by Helen, a charming local guide. With her, we learned about the historical significance of Scotland's capital city as we made our way up to Edinburgh Castle, situated atop Castle Rock. From there, we were treated to stunning panoramic views of the city. We were told that in Scotland, you shouldn’t bother too much about the weather, and right they are… In one day, we enjoyed sunshine - actually, we got a little sunburned - hail, rain, and heavy overcast weather. Actually, on this panoramic view from the castle, you can see the rain falling down on the other side of the river Firth of Forth – Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
A build for the continuation of the Mokolei collaboration on Eurobricks Brethren of the Brick Seas.
After surviving the storm, the Corlander expedition was running low on fresh water, and the local guide Rashid, had told them of a small oasis not far away from which they could resupply. So while the main body of the party investigated some ruins uncovered by the storm, Lieutenant Williams had been assigned a small party to find the oasis and bring back water to the main body. Guided by Rashid, finding the oasis had been easy. Now Lieutenant Williams watched Sergeant Doyle and his men fill barrels with water from the oasis.
We visited ruins near Ollantaytambo, Peru. This is a sample of the more commonly observed pre-inca stone work.
This image was photographed in Southern Peru led by Neotropic Photo Tours and our Peruvian local guide for this portion of the trip; Fisher Chávez of Perú Nature Photography.
The title of each photo in this series is a translated line from a poem found in the Chapel of Bones. See the full poem in the original language here en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capela_dos_Ossos#Poem .
From our tour guide - the Franciscan monks who used the bones of approximately 5000 corpses, built this to send a message to the nobles that in death, no one can tell the difference between the rich and the poor, royal or common.
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 ©
At low tide, it is possible to walk around Mont Saint Michel (only with local guide due to quick sand!). This enables to shoot some different views of this iconic place. The light was not the best (late morning, but you have to adapt your schedule to the tide). I still like the focus on the foreground feather and the background just enough in focus to recognize the unique shape of the monument.
We had so much fun hiking on glaciers our first time in Iceland that we had to make sure we could do it again on our second trip. We went out with Aron from Öræfaferðir / Local Guide Travel Service again, this time for a glacier hike on the Fjallsjökull Outlet of the Vatnajökull Glacier. We would highly recommend their services! Please feel free to check out the link below for more information.
This shot was taken near the top of the glacier. To add some perspective, we asked a nearby ice climbing guide to post at the top of a formation he was having his clients climb.
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 ©
But the adventure even begins when our local guide takes a compass from his pocket and begins to talk about the energization of the sacred stones in the place. Follow the video and pay attention to the compass.
Just do not ask me how they energized this stone, or how it's still energized after thousands and thousands of years.
After having an idea of the Tiwanaku's domain of acoustics and magnetism, I could see that in Puma Punku, near there, perhaps the source of all this knowledge is found. It's really amazing. In this place there is proof and evidence that this people, much older than the Incas or the Egyptians, possessed a technique and wisdom with extremely high standards. It would not be an exaggeration to say that their mastery over astronomy and magnetism might have been more advanced than the present.
***
The area within the kilometer separating the Pumapunku and Kalasasaya complexes has been surveyed using ground-penetrating radar, magnetometry, induced electrical conductivity, and magnetic susceptibility. The geophysical data collected from these surveys and excavations have revealed the presence of numerous man-made structures in the area between the Pumapunku and Kalasasaya complexes.
It's a tour for a specific audience. In fact, Bolivia is not for anyone. Not in the sense of income, but in the sense of "mindset."
"Saat Number walli" this is what the local guides and drivers have named her as her territory is the link 7 road. She killed a Elephant fodder cutter last year and charged a few others. As such her area is now restricted till her cubs are independent. In spite of all this she is not a man eater tigress. She is a mother of two cubs, and is just following the natural instincts of a protective mother. The unfortunate mahout just happened to be in between the place where she kept her cubs and herself and at the very time when she was out for a quick hunt before she returned to her babies.
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 ©
We were told by our local guide that these walls at Abaiké in Ennedi were the ruins of ancient houses. I don't know how old they are, but I presume they date from the African Humid Period when this area would have been lush and green, now it is arid desert, the AHP ended some 4000 years ago. The people of this area today are nomads, moving around with their herds of camels, sheep and goats in search of grazing and water, people leading such a lifestyle are unlikely to have built houses from stone.
ENGLISH :
We pass by minibus, with our local guide, near to miserable buildings that rise under the highway without authorization.
This morning we set out early from Heliconia in a canoe, led by our local guide through tangles of submerged trees. Our target was a remote area that was suffciently large and above the Amazonian water level to be home to larger fauna. The water by the bank was shallow and from the point where we secured the boat we had some way to walk in ankle/calf high water. Even on the 'dry' land, the terrain remained damp and squelched underfoot as my boots sank through leaves into the earth or mud beneath. Among the fauna on our wish list were anacondas - ideally to be found resting in the pools. Otherwise they might be hiding under the fallen leaves waiting to catch a passing meal. I saw none in the pools. Nor was I attacked. The main fauna we encountered were monkeys, high up in the canopy. At ground level it was the flora that was interesting - curling lianas, red palm roots, weird fungus, and local fruit, often the discarded shells of fruit popular with the monkeys above. It was a hot, sweaty walk and we relished the air current on the canoe back.
---
In 2022, I returned to Colombia. The main purpose of this trip was to explore the Amazonian rainforest areas near Leticia and then on the Rio Negro. In 2007 I was in the Leticia area on a volunteering project and the 2022 trip gave me the chance to see more of the area.
As these are border areas, with the rivers travelled actually being the borders, I also visited / transitted through Brazil, Peru and Venezuela. I will create one master set / album for the entire six week trip, plus separate country albums to help viewers who are interested only in a specific country.
I also spent time in Bogota and in the Boyaca region. Overall intinerary: London - Leticia - Bogota - Villavincenzio - Rio Negro - Puerto Inirida - Bogota (incl Nemocon) - Villa de Leyva - Tunja - Bogota - London.
Carsten ten Brink is also a writer of fiction and nonfiction - for further information see www.carstentenbrink.com/Writing.html. 'The Nicotine Solution,' a piece relating to his time in the Amazon in 2022, has appeared in the US publication The Write Launch - see thewritelaunch.com/2024/12/the-nicotine-solution/. It also features several of his photos.
I got tagged. I mean... I assume *we* did. The multiple me(s) that is. We're not just one person, or rarely... so I felt I had -out of honesty to my Flickr friends- to invite a few of my avatars here. It was tough and long, but well... I put my Bombay series between brackets, the time of one single (multiple?) shot, for better or for worse.
I would have preferred to stay in hiding (I don't do self portraits) but I love street photography and enjoy displaying others... it was not really fair to do so while staying hidden behind a camera. So here are a few random facts about me, listed by emotional relevance.
My 10 y/o daughter shot the pictures.
A. As a Man of Adventures...
1. At the age of seven (in 1976), my parents decided to spend a full year in India. We travelled all over the country while they taught me the school's curriculum. Soon after, they created a travel agency here, along with a partner from Kashmir. This brought us to India for 3 months every year (particularly to Kashmir and Ladakh). I have been going to India each year without fail since then, until 1994 when I permanently settled in New Delhi. I got married in 1995 with a girl from Bengal, we're separated since 2010 and have one daughter.
2. At the age of 13, I started working as a local guide in Kashmir and Ladakh during my summer holidays. I loved the job and the extra pocket money I earned.
3. I nearly got arrested by the Pakistani police in Peshawar for transporting a gun-pen that I had purchased in Dara, last village before the Khyber Pass. I was 19, working as a group leader and in those days (long before 9/11) tourists were made to visit this picturesque village, so they could admire its thriving weapons market and try their hands on kalashnikovs and rocket launchers. I had left the gun (purchased for the equivalent of 7 Euros) in my suitcase, without realising it would be (quite) visible in the x-ray machine. Local policemen finally let me go, thinking I was probably too dumb to be a threat to national security.
4. I acted as an extra in a Japanese movie, shot in India. I met the crew at the nepalese border and travelled with them by train to Patna and Benares. While shooting in Patna, I was waiting for my minute of glory when a man walked up to me and asked: "Hello, are you Mel Gibson?"... (as you can see from the picture, I still look a lot like Mel...). To which I -of course- answered "yes", not knowing whether I'd ever get the chance again...
5. At the age of 7 or 8, trying to emulate my daredevil cousin (who was much older), I attempted to perform a summersault while jumping from a height of around 3 metres, into a (rather thinish) haystack. Believing (wrongly) that my body would rotate on its own, I neglected to give the required impulse and landed squarely on my head. Though I appeared unscathed, some say this event explains a few things about me...
6. In spite of having spent most of my life traveling and facing challenging situations, I am wholeheartedly sedentary. I crave a peaceful and repetitive life but, somehow, never seem to be getting any closer to it...
So I must now confess to whomsoever gives a damn... that I definitely am not a Man of Adventures. Quite the contrary in fact...
B. As a Corporate Man
7. I graduated from a French Business School in 1993. I read economic newspapers and I often wear a tie (no cufflinks, sorry).
8. I work as a corporate adviser, helping foreign and local companies develop their business in India and abroad. My core competence is India, with a specific focus on strategic advisory, mergers and acquisitions and market research.
9. I like being on the field, meeting people and finding practical solutions that work in the real world. I don't play golf, I dislike coffee-machine-politics, lengthy power point presentations, neverending strings of meetings and abstract models that look good and lead nowhere.
So actually... I'm not much of a Corporate Man.
C. As a Photographer
10. As you probably guessed, I love photography but... am not a photographer either.
...go figure...