Our Water World in 30 Travel Photographs

“You’re going the wrong way” An endangered green turtle rises to the surface for air, while a SCUBA diver descends upon entry into the water

The calendar has turned to October, and if the crisp air in New York is any indication, autumn has kicked summer to the curb. I want to say thanks for a very busy September here at The Gentleman Backpacker, where you visited us more than ever before. It’s a nice feeling to see people viewing what we put out. I’d like to encourage you to please leave us comments and ask plenty of questions. I want to help make traveling as enjoyable for you as it is for me. I’ve been busy the past few weeks as some big changes are coming in my life (stay tuned), but I’ve also been swamped with selecting entries for some photography contests. “Water” was the topic of one of these contests, and as broad as that one word is, there are so many meanings. If we take the frozen kind, for example, the Inuit People of the Arctic are famously known to have 50 words for snow. So I took to thinking about water from different perspectives as I sorted through some 30,000 photographs to weed out perhaps 5,000 water photographs, before culling my list down to 30. For the contest, I finally submitted just a handful from that penultimate list of 30, but I thought I would share these with you in the form of a post. I was surprised at just how many different places these photos came from, and they made for a very interesting look at our world. I’ve included a few lines about each photo to describe to you the place and time, and what I felt as I captured the scene. If you had to enter a contest and submit only five photos, which ones would you pick? Please let me know in the comments section below! Please note I worked really hard and traveled to many places at great personal expense to capture these photos. If you want to use one, please contact me at gentlemanbackpacker@gmail.com and we can discuss the matter. Please don’t just download them for your own commercial use. They are copyrighted and all rights are reserved.

“The Landing”: The Reifel Migratory Bird Sanctuary in Delta, BC, Canada is one of the most important urban sanctuaries in the world, protecting migratory birds from 22 countries (3 continents). August 2014

“Hungarian Pool Party”: Budapest is known for its gorgeous pool facilities, where it’s a big family activity for all to share. June 2008

“Spiny creatures”: I was shooting this old, broken bridge in the Florida Keys when this iguana crawled up the embankment. His spines perfectly matched the “spines” left on the bridge. Memorial Day Weekend, May 2012.

“Follow the light” : A diver swims into a school of jackfish, seeking to get a photo. Sipadan, Malaysia. July 2013. A few years back, a group of tourists was kidnapped by armed Philippine rebels, prompting the Malaysian Government to close all the resorts on the island itself.

“The Pipe”: Surfers welcome the start of the winter swell at Banzai Pipeline, North Shore of Oahu, October 2012.

“The Angel’s Hair” Iguazu Falls, Argentina, May 2008.

“School’s canceled!”: A major snow day in February 2013 in New York brings out the kids and their sleds. Central Park, NY

“Portuguese Colours”: Net floats are hung in festive fashion for Portugal Day at the Tower of Belem, a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its importance in Portuguese (and global) maritime history. June, 2008

“Jimbaran Tradition”:Tourists sit down to dine at one of the many restaurants that line Jimbaran Bay in Bali, Indonesia. Locals play around in the water and hawk their wares, such as fruit, live music, and balloons. June, 2011.

“Longing for Louise”: I felt transported to another era, at the Cheateau Lake Louise, August 2009.

“Dramatic Entrance” Iguazu Falls, May 2008.

“Blue Lagoons and White Sands”: Lencois Maranhenses, Brazil. Rivers deposit fine sand at the Atlantic, while ocean winds whip the sands into moving dunes, meaning this particular view will never exist again. June, 2010.

“The Land of Hanalei”: People enjoy the sunset in this land made famous by “Puff the Magic Dragon,” on their boats, on the pier, in the water, and on the sand. Kauai, April 2013.

“No place to hide”: An endangered green turtle swims in a school of yellow-tailed fusiliers, Sipadan, Malaysia. Conservationists and divers weigh the balances of tourism vs. preservation by using a daily quota of dive permits. July 2013.

“Columns of Water” : Columns from the cloisters of St. Guilhem de Desert, near Montpellier, France were carved in the late 1200s to resemble water. The Hudson River flows by in the background at the Cloisters Museum, NY, September 2014.

“Paradise Lost”: A desperately poor shantytown sits in an idyllic setting on Mabul Island, Malaysia. July, 2013.

“That feeling you’re being watched”: A giant school of jackfish at Barracuda Point, Pulau Sipadan, Malaysia, July 2013.

“Beauty Overlooked”:The cherubs at the base of the Bethesda Fountain in Central Park are overlooked because of the more famous angel above them. August, 2014.

“The Blue Yonder”: A lone turtle swims in the deep blue sea off Sipadan Sea Mount, Malaysia, July 2013. The daily limit for divers is 120, which seems like a lot, but isn’t when they are spread among more than a dozen beautiful diving spots.

“Purity”: White sand and still waters. Lencois Maranhenses, Brazil, June, 2010.

“In Search of Sipadan”: At dusk, dive boats sit in the bay at Pulau Mabul, gateway to Sipadan, the holy grail of SCUBA diving off the coast of Borneo, Malaysia, while the sun, already below the horizon lights up the clouds.

“Barracuda!”: Ironically, not at Barracuda Point, Sipadan, Malaysia.

“To be or not to be”: Spotted Lake, BC. The First Nations Group that owns the land battled with the question of turning this unusual alkaline deposit into a spa facility to attract tourist dollars. August, 2014.

“Creation of Life”: A storm rolls in over the sand dunes of Lencois Maranhenses, Brazil. The rainy season creates temporary fresh water lagoons and locals farm fish in them in order to survive.

“Two Worlds Collide”: Colorful boats at sunset float between a destitute shanty town and an ultra-luxurious floating villa resort on Pulau Mabul, Malaysia. Villagers live on $1 a day, while tourists spend as much as $400 a night.

“Peering into the abyss”: What does the future hold for sea turtles and other endangered species in our oceans? The sea wall at Sipadan falls 6,000 feet to the ocean floor below.

“Mosi Oa Tunya (The Smoke that Thunders): Ghostly figures emerge from the mist from Victoria Falls, Zambia. They are revealed to be children, using the bridge as a water slide on which to play. Zambia, May 2010.

“Abiquiu Waters”: A summer thunder and lightning storm rolls in over Abiquiu Lake, a manmade reservoir in New Mexico. July, 2014.

“The vortex”: A giant school of jackfish at Barracuda Point, Sipadan. Divers look on, just before a white-tip reef shark emerges from beyond the school. Sipadan, Malaysia.

“A Day at Bloubergstrand”: Windsurfers and kite surfers enjoy the choppy seas at Bloubergstrand, Cape Town, South Africa, which is rebranding itself as a world-renowned sport-tourism destination in the post-Apartheid era, capped by the World Cup hosted in 2010. April, 2010.

Top 10 Travel Stories #9: Iguazu Falls – Where It All Began

Dramatic, magnificent Iguazu: the Garganta del Diablo in the distance, with zodiac boats in the foreground

It is either ironic, or a higher power’s intention, that I should be faced with writing this entry with a heavy heart because it is about a time I felt such great joy—joy that is the last thing on my mind at the moment. So if I succeed in conveying to you a mere fraction of my highs at the time I experienced the majesty of Iguazu Falls, I will consider it a victory.

 

I had originally planned a day trip from Buenos Aires: going early in the morning and returning in the evening. Instead I missed my morning flight after a night out on the town with my hosts Michael and Natalia. I would have made it had I not forgotten my wallet on my bedside table and stepped out the auto-lock apartment door and shut it behind me. I knew what I had done the instant I heard the click, but it was too late. To steal a cliche, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

 

The Wildlife of Iguazu Falls

Wildlife spotting at Iguazu

As promised, I continue with my posts about my first Around-the-World trip. Iguazu Falls has a special place in my heart for the reason I listed here. As part of my series of posts on Buenos Aires, I suggested day trips to Tigre and Colonia if you have a couple of extra days to spare on your trip to Argentina. If you have a week in the area, however, there is no reason why you can’t hop aboard the short flight from the conveniently located domestic airport in Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazu. You can, of course, also go from Brazil, but for some of us that means obtaining a visa.

Of course, the main attraction here is the some 270+ waterfalls set in a beautiful jungle setting which we will get to, but the area is also a great place for wildlife watching, especially for ornithologists, amateur or professional. Early morning or early evening are the best times to see the animals, but it’s really a matter of luck and patience. You can see tropical birds, mammals such as the raccoon-like coatis, or monkeys, vultures, exotic butterflies, and the like. I spent but 24 hours in the area yet here is a sampling of some of the wildlife I encountered during my brief stay.

Don’t feed the coati, as the sign says

Don’t leave your backpack unattended around these coati

A bird patrols the grounds of the Sheraton Iguazu

The biggest poinsettia I have ever seen. Full of butterflies if you get up close

Butterfly feeding on a flower

Early one morning, a toucan (probably toco toucan?) flies high above the trees

A plush-crested jay

I’m not sure what this colorful bird is, possibly a green headed tanager

A lone vulture soars over the falls

More vultures flying above the jungle

Vultures soaring on drafts of warm air

A peephole to the falls as vultures roost in the trees above the rocks

A vulture up close

My favorite owl friend sleeping.

Oh, hey! And goodbye!

I’m not an ornithologist by trade. For more on bird-watching in Iguazu, this post by Harold Stiver I found seems like a good starting point. I have more photos of the falls themselves here, and my story of visiting this magical place here

Day Trip from Buenos Aires #1: Tigre

If you have an extra day in Buenos Aires, why not visit Tigre?

If you are fortunate enough that your 3-day weekend in Buenos Aires turns into a 4-day weekend, I recommend a short excursion north by train to the quaint community of Tigre. The train from Retiro Station in Buenos Aires covers the 30km trip north in just under an hour.

 

Despite the appearance of the run-down house in the cover photo to this post, Tigre is a beautiful town that in appearance is not unlike parts of the Northeast United States. Quaint picket fences and manicured lawns encircle pretty houses, each with their own pier. Why is a pier necessary? Well,  a significant portion of the town is networked not by roads but by canals and so the way to get around is by boat–either your own or by using the ferry service. Fortunately for visitors, the ferry service is a great way to get around the area and have a pleasant cruise among the waterways and nice houses. Below is a brief cruising tour via photography.

At first glance, Tigre may seem like just another river mouth port.

The white picket fences and quaint houses with individual piers recalls parts of New England

Instead of tree-lined side streets, Tigre boasts tree-lined canals

Not all the houses are “quaint,” some have unique character.

This historic house is encased in a jewel box to preserve it; the sunlight does magical things to it.

Rowing is a big sport here as one might expect, and the Regata Club seen here looks beautiful

As I visited in mid-May, the fall leaves added colorful charm to the entire town

Tigre, named for the panthers (“tigers”) that used to be seen in this Rio Parana delta town, is very much worth your spending an afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of Buenos Aires.

A 3-Day Weekend in Buenos Aires, Part 3

Sunday charm in Buenos Aires

Part Three: Day Two Continued…

This is part three of my series on Buenos Aires. I’ve chosen to publish my photos here in black and white to reflect the charm of the city. Each thumbnail has been cropped, but will expand to full size with a click.

The next morning I enjoy a bit of a sleep-in. I’ve chosen to stay at the OWN Hotel Palermo location this time, where I have a large studio on the top floor of the hotel, with an ample wrap-around private balcony with commanding views of the parks and apartment buildings nearby (no views of the beautiful, historic downtown core from here). When I last stayed there in 2010, my room rate was around $160 a night. My latest check shows that this room is now $230 a night, with junior suites with no balcony running around $160. Not as cheap as it once was, but still more affordable than many big cities, and there are more than a few options from which to choose.

Top floor suite at the OWN Palermo Hollywood

Top floor suite and balcony at the OWN Hotel, Palermo Hollywood

 

A 3-Day Weekend in Buenos Aires, Part 2

Historic buildings in Centro, Buenos Aires

Part Two: Day One Continued…

A little classic Old World-style charm at Cafe Tortoni

Upon wrapping up a quiet hour at the Recoleta, I head for the Centro District for a late lunch. Here, I might opt for a visit to Cafe Tortoni, a bit of a cliche perhaps, but it ticks a tourism box if you have never been. It’s the most famous old cafe in Buenos Aires, and it has a nice classic feel to it with high ceilings and old posters and photographs. The food is okay, but you aren’t really visiting here for a gourmet experience anyway.

 After lunch, I stroll along the grand, Parisian-style avenues of Centro, including Buenos Aires’ own obelisk on Av. 9 de Julio (one of the world’s broadest avenues, incidentally), and looping in the Evita theme, I pause to snap a few pics of the Casa Rosada (Pink House), and the balcony where Perron once stood to speak to her people. The streets nearby are covered with the sky-blue-and-white flags of Argentina while many signs of protest are posted next to them. Political and economic protest is very common here. I spend a couple of hours walking around and admiring the architecture  I head back to my hotel in Palermo Hollywood in the late afternoon to shower again, change, and prepare for the evening.

A 3-Day Weekend in Buenos Aires, Part 1

Stretch your travel legs a little bit further next long weekend by heading south to Buenos Aires.

I have admired the melancholic charm of Buenos Aires from the first time I set foot in the magnificent cemetery at Recoleta. In stark contrast to the vibrance of its neighbor Brazil, modern day Argentina seems to yearn for days gone by—days before the collapse of the peso and before striking graffiti and broken glass marred the pot-holed streets of the grand capital they once referred to as the Paris of the Americas.  The recent run to the World Cup final by the famed Albiceleste shifted a positive limelight back on to Argentina for the first time in a while on the global stage. The capital city also makes for a compelling setting for photography in the black-and-white mode.

It was the first new country that I visited on my round-the-world journey six years ago. Because it is in a similar time zone to the US and Canada and leaves the traveler from these areas less susceptible to jet lag, it is a viable location to visit on a long weekend, especially if you are able to sleep on flights and take advantage of the red-eye offerings in both directions.

Around the World in 58 Days: An Intro to the Round-the-World Ticket

Driving through the Sacred Valley of Peru

It was May of 2008. I zipped my plasticky waterproof shell up to my chin, leaned over the edge of the little zodiac boat, raised both arms in the air, and yelled at the top of my lungs while the waterfall plunged down on me with such force that my voice was inaudible, and my eyelids immovable. I felt so alive at that instant: it was a singular moment, not only in my traveling career, but in my life in general. And experiencing the majestic power and beauty of Iguazu Falls in Argentina was just the beginning of the life-changing experiences on my first solo round-the-world trip.