The Final Photo of the Week: Perigee Super Moon, Australia 2014
Perigee supermoon – Australia 2014
The 52nd and Final Photo of the Week, how time flies. We started these posts this time last year and they have been a great way of sharing not only the most recent photos but also those from the archives. We have decided to put a halt to these and go dark for now as we continue to concentrate on our visa process here in Australia and tying up the loose ends of our main blog posts from 2013. We may well bring these back in the future so please leave a comment if you have enjoyed them, thanks.
Photo of the Week: Palais de l’Isle, Annecy, 2009
After two weeks driving around the French and Italian Alps, we stopped in Annecy for a spot of sightseeing and relaxation. Annecy was perfect for both, being on the serene shores of Lake Annecy and full of historic architecture. One such historic icon is the Palais de l’Isle, a castle in the middle of the Thiou Canal. It was built in the 12th Century as the residence for the Lord of Annecy, but has since been used as a court house, a mint, and lastly a prison, most recently in WWII. Now it is a museum hosting historical displays. Huge wooden doors with ironwork and small crooked steps leading up to the turrets set you back in time, and history oozes out of the old stone walls.
Photo of the Week: Khongoryn Els, Mongolia – July 2013
Khongoryn Els, the Singing Sand Dunes, are some of the largest dunes in Mongolia. No trip to the Gobi is complete without a visit to them, and a picture from the top of course! The dunes really do make a sound like a low chanting or hum, an eery sound in the middle of nowhere at night!
Photo of the Week: Komodo National Park, Indonesia, November 2013
The best way to see Komodo National Park is by boat, no doubt about it! There are about 30 tropical islands located in between the east and west mainlands of Nusa Tenggara, and many are unpopulated. These gems are accessed by boat and snorkelling among them is paradise. Komodo NP is part of the Coral Triangle, a marine biodiversity hotspot containing the highest diversity of marine species on Earth, and is even more species-rich than the Amazon rainforest.
Photo of the Week: Siberian river – September 2013
This was a typical view for much of our journey from Yakutsk to Magadan; crystal clear rivers, beautiful autumnal forest and piercing blue skies. Camping here was a dream come true. The only thing missing from the picture? We never glimpsed a single wild bear, so synonymous with Siberian wilderness.
Photo of the Week: Kyrgyz horses – June 2013
Within hours of crossing into Kyrgyzstan, we came across this brilliant sight. A herd of Kyrgyz horses, galloping across the road, with the stunning Alay mountains in the background. What better introduction to a beautiful country?
Photo of the Week: Landshut in the snow, Germany – February 2013
I rejoined Griff in Munich after a week in the UK, but camp sites are hard to find in the Bavarian capital, especially in winter. He had discovered the town of Landshut just outside Munich, and it had everything we needed – an open campsite, good pubs and good beer! We had fantastic food in front of a cosy fire before walking home through the snow. The peaceful walk back to our tent was just what I needed after a busy day’s travel.
Photo of the Week: Kyrgyz farm life, Kyrgyzstan – June 2013
On our way to Bishkek from Osh, we pulled over on a disused road to set up camp for the night. Just as we were about to start dinner, a man appeared seemingly from nowhere. He invited us to join him and his wife for dinner, so we followed him back to his small farm, tucked away in a dip on the hill. His wife appeared from a small hut, no more than a wooden frame covered in cloth and plastic. She was unfazed by her unexpected dinner guests; she just cleared a space for us in the hut and laid out tender cooked beef, homemade yoghurt, bread and honey. After food and lots of tea, it was time to milk the cows. It was fascinating to watch, having never witnessed it before. The milk was warm, and didn’t taste like the pasteurised stuff we get in the shop, but I was glad to try some. It would be left in the roof overnight to settle, and the cream would be skimmed off in the morning and made into yoghurt, which was just amazing with honey and warm bread! We camped in their yard overnight, soothed by the sounds of thunder and murmuring cattle. Simple pleasures with a lovely family.
Photo of the Week: – West Africa 2011
240 Litres please!
A quick snap from the archives. Filling up with fuel isn’t too much trouble in the western world or even where there is electricity but out here in Burkina Faso there was none of that so the pumps were done by hand! As with all things in Africa you never know what is around the next corner so it is best to fill everything you have. Having all ready nearly run out of petrol less than a week in to the trip we asked them to fill everything. 140 litres later with a puddle of sweat on the red dirt, they didn’t know wether to laugh or cry when we started to take the four jerry cans off the roof. I offered to help but after 2 cans I was knackered!
We handed over a fistful of Francs, shook hands and were back on the road.
Photo of the Week: Blue Flame, Kawah Ijen, Java, November 2013
Kawah Ijen on the east coast of Java is one of a complex of volcanoes, overlooking a turquoise lake full of hydrochloric acid and the location of the phenomenon “Blue Flame”. This is actually the (more…)
Photo of the Week: Komodo Dragon, Indonesia, November 2013
While in Indonesia, we chartered a boat with a small group of friends so we could take a trip to the Komodo National Park, home of the infamous dragon! We wandered around Rinca with a guide, looking carefully in the forest to find any of the world’s largest (more…)
Photo of the Week: Permafrost Institute, Yakutsk, Russia – August 2013
Yakutsk in Russia has the coldest winter climate of any city in the world, and is built on ground that is permanently frozen all year round. It is the biggest city to be built on permafrost which obviously (more…)
Photo of the Week: Camping 4000m up in the Pamirs – June 2013
4000m up in the Pamir Mountains
What was to be the last night camping with Adam Lewis in Tajikistan, in a narrow valley near Rang Kul, approximately 50km from the Chinese border sheltering from the wind behind a rocky outcrop. Crystal clear sky gave way to a star filled night hundreds of kilometres from any source of light pollution. A top place to camp and take photos of the night sky.
If you want to know where in the world this is, click here: 38°26’10.0″N 74°10’52.6″E
Lisa
Griff
Sirocco Overland | Сирокко Оверленд 