Not many have heard of a place called Seceda. However, the moment one looks at this photo of this jagged peaks, they can immediately recognize this iconic formation. I was fortunately to arrive and witness this amazing scene just in the nick of time. The valley was socked in clouds until the late afternoon, and it wasn't until 3pm did the fog descend revealing this amazing landscape.
Alpine Meadows
The Italian Dolomit hold a special place in my heart. Its combination of rugged mountain landscape comprised of jagged peaks arising in subgroups without a pattern, interspersed by beautiful alpine meadows with cows still ringing about, and cute Tyrolean villages villages linked by scenic byways make it a haven for the hiker in me seeking better creature comforts.
And this scene from the Seceda area of the Dolomiti highlights the amazing landscape of the UNESCO World Heritage site. And this is one of the 13 photos featured in my 2023 calendar available to purchase at this link.
Val Gardena
South Tirol, Italy
Dolomiti in Moonlight
A whirlwind of a trip to Italy took me to 3 diverse destinations. But throughout the trip, there was one constant, a bright moon, that proved to be a focal point for various photos I took during the trip. Here in the Dolomiti, the near full moon rose to prominence over the jagged peaks at twilight.
Dolomiti
Alto Adige, Italy
Nostalgia
Every couple of years, I get pangs of nostalgia for India, and the yearning to visit my home town and see family increases. The cold days of winter, when work slows down, serves as an excellent opportunity to go back home, especially with its mild weather and pleasant temperatures.
I also use this time to indulge in the rich history of this country. This has been something I took for granted while growing up as I never had the appreciation for it. Now, my travels over the past decade have wisened my world view, and has provided me a better appreciation for the rich history and cultural heritage.
On one such visit, I got to explore the richly decorated cave complexes of Ajanta and Ellora, a UNESCO world heritage site located in western India. With sculptures and paintings dating to 480 - 1000CE, these cave complexes were an in-depth study of the ancient Indian art forms. I couldn't get enough of this destination, and I hope to go there again when times are better
Ajanta and Ellora Caves
Maharashtra India
Light and Dark
The clouds lapped above me, carried by the cool yet constant breeze sweeping over the valleys and mountaintops. With the clouds came the dynamic interplay of shadow and light, constantly changing over the canvas that was the rugged landscape all around - dozens of canyons, hundreds of peaks, and an endless moving panorama of breathtaking alpine scenery.
I could spend an eternity at top of this rifugio, but I had to move on to the next amazing destination in the heart of the Italian Dolomites
Cortina d'Ampezzo
Italy
The Village Life
The bus took it's own sweet time, winding through and around the forested mountain ranges in the eastern part of Honshu island. Through the wide windows, the life and landscape of rural Japan sped by: snow-capped peaks waiting for the summer sun with glacial blue waters heading down from them, terraced farms in every available piece of arable land in the valleys below, and bright green buds of the deciduous woodlands standing side by side with the evergreen conifers in the hills above. And in-between were tiny farmhouses with the vestiges of cherry blossoms, the perfect epitome of village life in Japan.
My destination was the village of Shirakawa-go, an old village in the Gifu Prefecture of Japan, that was so set back in time that it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site, partily due to the unique farmhouse style called the gassho-zukuri. And while the day, with gentle spring sun and mild temperatures, was perfect for visiting a place like this, it also drew in a thousand other tourists who all had the very same idea. I wandered through the village, transported back to a simpler era of feudal farming and sericulture. And were it not for the contrivances of modern civilization, I most certainly would have been. To be fair, that is the main draw of this picturesque village set amidst snow-capped peaks.
Here is a sampling of that beautiful timeless village, replete with cherry blossoms and modern selfie-stick carrying tourists...
Shirakawa-go
Gifu Prefecture, Japan
Magical Galapagos
The vista stretched endlessly. The blue calm waters of the Pacific wrapped around the tiny island I was atop, while in front, right below the setting sun, lay volcanic cones of various shapes and sizes. The landscape was barren, almost a moonscape, save a few pieces of vegetation: the volcanic soil with its poor nutrients and the harsh windy weather aren't kind to flora and fauna.
And yet, Galapagos is one of the best wildlife hotspots. Phytoplankton thrive at this unique confluence of warm and cold ocean currents, resulting in a region rich in biodiversity. Between the unique avian dwellers and visitors, including the blue and red-footed boobies, the magnificent frigatebirds, albatross, and even penguins, the lush and colorful aquatic life swimming everywhere, the giant iguanas and tortoises, and so many more, you can easily lose track of how amazing this destination is.
The Bartelome island, home to this amazing vista, wasn't originally in my itinerary, but due to scheduling issue, I ended up at the top, and enjoyed this expansive view during the afternoon, with the warm sunlight setting aglow the landscape around. And I was glad I made it
Galapagos
Ecuador