HAVE CAMERA WILL TRAVEL

Ones's destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things"- Henry Miller

    For today's post, I have asked my daughter if she would share some of her favourite photographs from her travels. As a family we love both travel and photography, so nothing gives us greater pleasure than heading off to destinations new, with camera in tow. Ashley has an amazing eye and first picked up a camera aged three. You can check out her blog here at Pearl Wanderings.

Kefalonia, Greece

This photo always brings me great joy, it was such a marvelous holiday and as an island Kefalonia literally is bursting from the seams with beauty in every direction you look. The island is basically small mountainous roads, this was taken crawling back up one of them on our way back from the beach. 

Cape Town, South Africa

These photos were taken  when I was young, just before my transition into digital. I have always loved Cape Town, half of my family are South African and I have travelled to the country on many occasions. As anyone who has visited Cape Town will testify, it can be a lengthy affair to get up Table Mountain. This was taken near sunset giving an incredible view over the city and ocean. Soon after though, alarms were sounded to leave due to adverse weather conditions and we had to all be rushed back down, literally walking through clouds, or the near constant 'table cloth'

Another year, another visit to  Cape Town.This was taken from the divine infinity pool at the Radisson Blu Waterfront Hotel, the pool literally goes straight into the ocean. You get some remarkable views over the ocean. 

Villefranche-sur-Mer, France

I have been lucky to frequent the South of France on numerous occasions. In summertime few places on earth can beat it.This was taken on the road from Nice heading towards Monaco and Menton. It is overlooking the beautiful bay of Villefrance-sur-Mer. As well as being visually stunning, it brings back rather comical memories. A few years later my Grandmother nearly got us all killed by the Russian Mafia in a restaurant in Villefranche!

Hakone, Japan

This photo was taken in the glorious gardens of the Fujiya hotel in Hakone, Japan. The gardens were spectacular and gave such an essence of zen and escape. The landscape of Japan is so alien and different in contrast to that of Western Europe that I was just obsessed with it. Particularly since it was cherry blossom season!

Tokyo, Japan

This was taken up Tokyo Tower, before my father asked us what we thought would happen if the impending earthquake hit whilst we were at the top. The view from the top of Tokyo tower is incredible, and so unique. In contrast to the Eiffel tower, where you can see the beautiful architecture and perfectly carved and laid out Parisian streets. From the top of Tokyo tower you can gain an insight into how truly insanely vast the metropolis it! Buildings upon buildings, all skyscrapers fill the vista for as far as you can see. 

Monte Carlo, Monaco

Monaco is naturally always associated with luxury, I find it a bit crammed for my personal taste. (If I was tax-dodging I would pick Switzerland every time). But, it is an unrivalled experience of wealth and excess. This is the interior of a shopping centre, not what one would typically associate with Monte Carlo, but Le Métropole shopping centre is situated right next to the casino and is marbled lined with only gaps for ridiculously inappropriately oversized chandeliers. Everything is beautiful! And the shops really are amazing, I always left heavier laden then when I entered. 

Alnwick Garden, Northumberland, England

I chose this shot, not only because I loved this holiday and loved Northumberland in general. (It is true people are so friendly and lovely 'up north'). Alnwick is home to Hogwarts, which as an avid Harry Potter fan it's safe to say I was rather excited over. But there is the Alnwick Garden beside the castle. It is probably the time period when I first started to experiment a bit with photography. But I love the shot, and it reminds me of a lovely holiday spent in Northumberland. 

Kinsale, Ireland

Finally, I thought I would conclude my selection of travel photographs with another close to home shot, this time in Kinsale, which is in County Cork, Ireland. It is a lovely little place, filled with picture perfect multicoloured streets, more pubs per head then you could ever imagine, and also home to a rather impressive gastro reputation. 

It was very difficult for me to narrow down my selection, and only pick 10 photos. I've been very lucky and blessed to have travelled a reasonable amount, and experience a lot for my age. Most  these photos were picked either for their beauty, or sentimentality, or a blend of both in the case of the South of France and Cape Town. (Both of which I refer to as one of my many homes haha). But as my mother mentioned in the introduction I have had a camera in hand since the age of 3, so I have loved being able to document my travels, experiences, and moments over the years around the world.