Cityscapes

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Responsibility in the Outdoors

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We seek the great outdoors not to escape life, but for life not to escape us...

As the nations start opening up, there is a yearning in all of us to escape to the great outdoors, and gain a little bit of sanity that we may have lost over the last few weeks. But as you do spread out to wilderness areas all over, make sure you enjoy the outdoors responsibly. WTA, one of my favorite outdoor stewards, has compiled a helpful list here:

  1. While passing people on trail, give space to others, and give way to the opposite direction

  2. Pack in and pack out: trailheads are likely not serviced so avoid using the restrooms if you can. And if you really need to attend nature's calls, carry a small shovel and be prepared

  3. Leave no trace: take only memories and leave only footprints

  4. Avoid crowded trailheads: there is more of the outdoors to explore.

  5. And if you are sick, please stay away from where people might congregate

When I traveled around in Germany a few years earlier, I was struck by how quickly I could get from the busy urban areas to the beautiful outdoors. Having that balance of nature and nurture certainly improves mental well-being, and increases appreciation of what life is all about.

Germany

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Seeking Nature

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The last few months have left their mark on this planet, in more ways than one. It is certainly a stressful time for many, especially when stress relief is not easy to come by.

My stress relief has been to go out in nature, smell the fresh scent of a morning forest, see the majesty of the mountains from a bird's eye view, and hear the rustle of trees, the gurgle of brooks and the chirp of birds. Being outside, and maybe photographing these scenes, were the ways to warm my soul and clear my mind. And it is exactly these that I have striven not to do for the last few months.

It hasn't been easy, but it is necessary. These scenes will be waiting when I get back to nature.

Seattle
WA USA

Life on a May Day

4 May Days ago, I found myself in Kreuzberg in Berlin, amidst masses of people protesting for workers rights. Despite the worker movement being strong in Germany in general and Berlin in particular, apart from a few hastily scribbled signs, this "protest" carried a celebratory atmosphere. Humanity greeted me whichever direction I turned and whichever street I took. People were certainly enjoying the "Punk Life"

I can only imagine how the situation right now is. Social distancing protests certainly doesn't carry the same carnival atmosphere as what I had witnessed in Berlin in 2016

Berlin
Germany

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Sleepless in Seattle

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As the boundaries between work and home are erased (for some), the lines between the days of the week are also getting blurred. In the past years, I'd look forward to traveling as the spring season rolled around into the Pacific Northwest. They'd be the delightful breaks that motivated me to complete work early and plan for my next sojourn. These set the boundaries that defined my year in perspective

But in this new era, that is no longer the case, and as the days roll on, I have to find new mile markers to define my life.

I am blessed that I can continue to work remotely, which is not the case for many in this beautiful city. My heart goes out to those who keep this city (and others) running like a well-oiled machine despite the sever restrictions we face now.

Seattle
WA USA

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Heart of the Isles

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I had never expected a country filled with beautiful scenery, with windswept mountains alternating with blissfulyl green hills, with rugged coastlines interspersed by petite towns, to be also so culturally rich and full of character and passion. It was a study in contrast going from the capital city of Dublin, where tradition and modernity wove a tangled web of commerce and industry, to the pastoral countryside replete with old castles, charming town centers, delightful bed-and-breakfasts, and the ever-ubiquitous Irish pubs with lively folk music.

It wasn't a country that wowed me with grand spectacle the likes of Iceland and Chile, but it was the hidden charm of the little things that I got to discover exploring around. I wish I could return there under better conditions. Meanwhile, here is a sampling from the heart of the isles

Ireland

Resting Places

We hardly think of where we go when we die. And even if we build elaborate structures to allow our mortal remains to decay, we will never get to experience it. And yet, all around the world, humans have built grand mausoleums, cemeteries and burial grounds to allow the dead to pass on to afterlife. Whether it be the mighty Pyramids of Gizeh, elaborately decorated structures of Recoleta and Pere Lachaise, or the grand mausoleums like Taj Mahal, they all strive to glorify their silent inhabitants to an exalted status.

Dating back to the 12th century, the Shah-i-Zinda necropolis in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, belongs to this exclusive club of grand final resting places. Walking through metropolis replete with mausoleums and ritual buildings was a walk back in time. I made my way through sunlit passageways lined by pain-stakingly-restored blue shrines with exquisite architecture, admiring the intricate decorations and opulent tombstones.

I hope I get to see similar treasures around the world.

Shah-i-Zinda
Samarkand Uzbekistan

A Vessel of Art

The concrete jungle of Manhattan seems a world away from the lush rainforests of the Pacific Northwest to the concrete jungle of Manhattan was a sea of change. Towering mountainscapes with volcanic peaks and snow-capped summits were replaced by steel and glass skylines, mist-shrouded trees by towering concrete edifices lining narrow avenues and boulevards, and the peace and solace one can find along the tiny creeks and placid lakes by the chaos of an urban life teeming with the vibrancy of human energy.

And yet, there is beauty to appreciate here too, in the graceful spires of the Oculus or in the staircases to nowhere in the Vessel. I arrived here just in time for sunset, but couldn't stay long enough to capture twilight setting over the city that never sleeps.

New York City
NY

A gentle reminder that my 2020 calendars are up for sale at http://www.lulu.com/shop/sathish-jothikumar/2020-photography-calendar/calendar/product-24355024.html. Order now to receive by the New Year

Bustling Istanbul

It took a while to soak it all in.

A brightly lit restaurant thoroughfare below an arterial bridge was bustling with a dinner crowd savoring on freshly-caught seafood. Restauranteurs and shop owners shouted their wares loudly, hoping to make a few last minute sales on that thoroughfare, while hundreds of fishing lines dangled from above, hoping to strike luck in the crowded waters of the Golden Horn in the heart of Istanbul.

It was the eve of Eid, the last day of fasting of the Holy month of Ramadan observed in the Islamic world. As is tradition during this month, the locals are out everywhere at sundown, feasting on local specialities to break the fast. The mosques all around had a festive atmosphere celebrating the Holy month. The promenade facing the waterfront was buzzing like a beehive, a veritable smorgasbord of restaurants, sweet shops, shopping malls, boat docks and travel agencies catering to locals and tourists alike. It took a while to absorb it all in, but I knew I had to hurry to capture the blue hour on the eve of Eid.

Istanbul

Turkey

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Old World Germany

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Historic town centers, spellbinding castles, placid countryside and a rich cultural heritage were the upsides of visiting a country not particularly known as a tourist destination or as a foodie haven. One of the most underrated tourist destinations proved to be one of my most memorable trips.

Germany (Various)

Throwback to the Past

Two years ago, to the day, I was wrapping up the last few days on a guided tour through the island of Honshu in Japan. I am not normally a fan of guided tours that feel like a roller coaster ride, especially in a country like Japan where you can barely peel the surface of the complex subcultures of this diverse country. Between language barriers, the lack of any planning effort, or large mob mentality, I could never grasp the history and origins of a particular culture or place and thereby immerse myself as I normally try to do. It may not have been the right way to travel in Japan, but considering it was also one last goodbye to many friends whom I have known dearly for two years, it was worth the tradeoff.

Despite these barriers, I still felt a sensory overload: visual, aural, and oral. There was just so much happening on this whirlwind of a trip through different places, and the smells, the sights, and the sounds have taken quite a bit of time for my brain to process. My camera managed to preserve certain moments of time while the journal managed to capture some of the memories and emotions I felt as I traveled through very diverse locales and cities. And yet, I feel that I have barely scratched the surface of the experiences I have had.

Tokyo

Japan