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My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
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South Iceland is such a treat for anyone who loves rugged landscapes. Every few kilometres there's another "wow" vista.
Our local guides told us - and I'm sure it may be true - that Led Zeppelin came to Iceland as part of a tour in the late 60s - and were inspired to write "The Immigrant Song".
"We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun, where the hot springs flow.." etc
If its not true , it should be.
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 ©
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THANKS to all VIEWERS and to those who FAVORED this image.
PINK WILD DESERT FLOWERS growing in PETRA.
In the background appears the beautiful Nabateaen Amphitheater carved right from the mountain rock. It's a little different from the other ancient theaters in Jordan because of its (grand) setting and the pinkish-red color. It was surrounded by many small Nabataean tombs, affirming that it was a part of Petra. The panoramic views of this place from the trek to the Treasury viewpoint are also spectacular.
Description influenced by (Ankur Panchbudhe, a Google Maps local guide)
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 ©
Taken Corte Brique, Portugal. Discovering this nest on a local guided walk was one of the highlights of my last visit to Paradise in Portugal. Many guests had excellent views and images of the parents feeding their chicks, hope they use the same nest site next year. Will be guiding out in Portugal again in April / May 2019.
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 ©
As the legs began to complain and the body began to beg for water (a priceless asset in a climb with no selling point), I came across Huayna Picchu.
From where I could see tiny people in the background (260 meters higher), appearing and disappearing under the steep woods.
***
Huayna Picchu, Quechua: Wayna Pikchu, is a mountain in Peru around which the Urubamba River bends. It is located in the Cusco Region, Urubamba Province, Machupicchu District. It rises over Machu Picchu, the so-called lost city of the Incas. The Incas built a trail up the side of the Huayna Picchu and built temples and terraces on its top. The peak of Huayna Picchu is 2,693 metres (8,835 ft) above sea level, or about 260 metres (850 ft) higher than Machu Picchu.
According to local guides, the top of the mountain was the residence for the high priest and the local virgins. Every morning before sunrise, the high priest with a small group would walk to Machu Picchu to signal the coming of the new day. The Temple of the Moon, one of the three major temples in the Machu Picchu area, is nestled on the side of the mountain and is situated at an elevation lower than Machu Picchu. Adjacent to the Temple of the Moon is the Great Cavern, another sacred temple with fine masonry. The other major local temples in Machu Picchu are the Temple of the Condor, Temple of Three Windows, Principal Temple, "Unfinished Temple", and the Temple of the Sun, also called the Torreon.
Its name is Hispanicized, possibly from the Quechua, alternative spelling Wayna Pikchu; wayna young, young man, pikchu pyramid, mountain or prominence with a broad base which ends in sharp peaks, "young peak".
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.
Lets kick it back to summer 2019, and my first time ever chasing the New Haven FL9's on Cape Cod. After a beautiful summer day, the weather took a turn, and we wound up in the middle of some WILD thunderstorms. They moved by mercifully quick, and after the rain we were treated to some unbelievable lighting, some of the best I've ever had. Thanks to John Kittredge being my trusted local guide, we were able to make the best of what we had to work with, and get a series of seriously unreal images. I didn't know 2019 was going to be my last full summer in New England before moving to Virginia, life is funny that way, but I like to think I took full opportunity of it with shots like this.
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 ©
A squacco heron ( Ardeola ralloides, üstökösgém) hunting for small fishes .
@Tiszafüred, Tisza-tó, Hungary.
If you like this photo, your faves, comments and observations are more than welcome!
But NO AWARDS, NO BANNERS, NO IMAGES, NO GROUP REFERENCES where you saw it, please.
Enlarge image to see more details and visit my 'Birds' album for more images! :)
The story behind the image:
On vacation today! Decided to travel to the Great Plains of Hungary (less than 1.5h to drive) for birding. Spent 3 hours on a boat ride with a local guide in a protected area of the lake called Tisza-tó. A real paradise for birds, different heron species, seagulls, terns everywhere. I was very happy that we could approach birds within 10 metres...and unlike whole July, thunderstorms did not evolve, either.
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 11-07-2015
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 ©
Taken Corte Brique, Portugal. Discovering this nest on a local guided walk was one of the highlights of my last visit to Paradise in Portugal. Many guests had excellent views and images of the parents feeding their chicks, hope they use the same nest site next year. Will be guiding out in Portugal again in April / May 2019.
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 ©
Taken Corte Brique, Portugal. Discovering this nest on a local guided walk was one of the highlights of my last visit to Paradise in Portugal. Many guests had excellent views and images of the parents feeding their chicks, hope they use the same nest site next year. Will be guiding out in Portugal again in April / May 2019.
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 ©
Hammond Castle
Gloucester, MA
06-10-23
On my recent trip to Boston, I didn't "visit" a lot of places, by paying a fee and entering. The Museum of Fine Art, The Boston Aquarium, and this interesting attraction were really the only three. Most of my time was spent taking photos of either the natural or architectural beauty around town, as usual.
Here on the west coast, I've visited and photographed Hearst Castle, in San Simeon, CA, numerous times. I'd never heard of Hammond Castle in Gloucester until a few hours before I visited. My guidebook was for Boston, not the whole state, but I used the internet and local guides to find places I wanted to photograph. As soon as I saw this smaller east coast "castle", I was intrigued. (Entrance fee was $20, $15 for seniors)
I asked if I could take drone photos, and was told I couldn't. However, I should have dispensed with the question, and just shot the drone up for a few photos out here on the lawn. Nobody would have been the wiser. The castle isn't as large as Hearst's. It was constructed from 1926 to 1929 and was the home, laboratory, and museum of inventor and art collector John Hays Hammond Jr, known as "the father or radio control."
Perched on a cliff over the ocean, this would have been a perfect opportunity for my drone shots, but at least I have the super wide 10mm setting on my wide angle lens.
An evocative and eerie sight, the world’s largest salt flat (12,106 sq km) sits at 3653m (11,984ft). When the surface is dry, the salar is a pure white expanse of the greatest nothing imaginable – just blue sky, white ground and you. When there’s a little water, the surface perfectly reflects the clouds and the blue altiplano sky, and the horizon disappears. If you’re driving across the surface at such times, the effect is surreal; it’s hard to believe that you’re not flying through the clouds.
Salar de Uyuni is now a center of salt extraction and processing, particularly around the settlement of Colchani. The estimated annual output of the Colchani operation is nearly 20,000 tons, 18,000 tons of which is for human consumption while the rest is for livestock. And beneath the surface, massive lithium deposits should fuel Bolivia’s economy for the next 100 years.
The three tours:
With its seemingly endless sea of salt and perception-altering landscape, the Salar de Uyuni is truly a once-in-a-lifetime place to experience. On this Salar de Uyuni sunrise tour, we met your guide and made the drive out toward the expansive salt flat, to watch as the Milk Way at 2:30 am. and sun illuminates a setting that borders on the surreal at 6:15.
Photograph yourself in optical illusions as the sun rises higher in the sky and hotel pick-up are all included with the tour.
Covering 4,085 square miles (10,582 square kilometers), the magnificent, mind-bending Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat.
Our sunrise session began at 02:30 a.m. and lasted until 08:30 a.m. when our local guide picked us up from your Uyuni accommodations. The air can be cool there , but the brisk temperatures were worth it for the chance to watch as the sun illuminates the salt field and ignites the sky with color. After the pre-dawn drive and magical sunrise, grabbed my cameras to shoot optical illusions created by the distant horizon. Throughout the tour our guide provided commentary and informative info on the salt flats, and the tour finished back in the town of Uyuni when you were dropped at the front of your hotel.
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 ©
"Us, with our driver in North Maluku (he's on the right) and our local guide.
Halmahera - North Moluccas - Indonesia
Taquile (Spanish: Isla de Taquile; Quechua: Intika) is an island on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca 45 km offshore from the city of Puno.
The inhabitants, known as Taquileños, speak Puno Quechua.
Taquileños are known for their fine handwoven textiles and clothing, which are regarded as among the highest-quality handicrafts in Peru. Knitting is exclusively performed by males, beginning in early boyhood. Women spin wool and use vegetables and minerals to dye the wool to be used by the community. Women are also the weavers of the Chumpis, the wide belts with woven designs worn by everyone in the community of Taquile.
Taquileans are known for having created an innovative, community-controlled sustainable tourism model, offering home stays, transportation, lodging for groups, cultural activities, local guides and restaurants.
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 ©
One thing I have learned from my travels. One of the most important ingredients is a good local guide.
His name was Duc. He was 28 years old and passionate about his country and, in particular, Halong Bay. He got more excited than we did (which means he got very excited indeed!)
Let me describe the day………….
After breakfast on deck aboard the junk, we spent the morning kayaking. We visited grottoes, sea caves and watched monkies watching us from the rocks.
Then we kayaked to a secluded beach for a bit of swimming and sunbathing. Lunch was a delicious seafood barbecue right there on the beach beneath white sunshades.
After an après lunch swim we kayaked back to the boat where it was all hands to the sundeck as we cruised across the bay to ………..
One of the many islands. Here we were taken by a small boat to a tiny jetty with steps leading up to a large and beautiful cave.
We spent maybe an hour in the cave then Duc led us out of another exit about 100 feet above a tiny beach …………………
………………….. just as the sun was setting.
Thanks Duc.
Listening to …….
[In Explore 29 January 2017]
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 ©
Burghead Scotland
There had been reports of rafts of auks being washed inshore due to lack of food / illness ?Pleased to say I did not see much evidence of this in the Moray Firth area, in fact local guides said there were no more than normal. The guillemots sheltering in the harbour seemed healthy and were diving and feeding regularly. I did report a couple of seemingly poorly birds to SSPCA and understand they were collected and taken to hospital !
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 ©
Abandoned Montana homestead.
It's been almost exactly ten years since I found myself roaming the backroads of Montana, with fellow photographer and host, Juan De Santa Ana. I've lost track of him, but I owe him a huge debt for taking me to places that I never would have found without a local guide. In just a few days, I got a number of images that are still among my best. Also froze my ass off, but that's another story.
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 05 May 2016]
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 14 August 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 ©
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 ©
Yucatan, MX May 2021
I recently returned from a brief trip to Mexico. I took a one day birding tour with a local guide and managed to get 46 new species on my life list, which now totals 1,202. I carried my camera but photography was difficult and most shots were from a great distance and kept for documentation. I will post a few each day. Just great to be traveling again!!