Chateau d’If and Frioul Islands, Marseille. FRANCE

A corner of paradise just in front of Marseille’s harbor, an archipelago of small islands, including a small one, called If. On that island lays the castle where Montecristo was held prisoner in the famous novel by Dumas. Photos taken in 2010 and 2012.

People from MOROCCO

Photos from November 2012

1. Nomad family near Bou Taghrar, Roses Valley

2. Camel driver in Erg Chebbi

3. Woman cleaning clothes in Ouarzazate

4. Kid running out of his house, playing and screaming theatrically. Ourzazate.

5. Fisherman selling his merchandise right after fishing it on Essaouira’s harbor.

6. Woman from Hassilabied

7. Students coming out of school near Erfoud.

8./9./10./11. Everyday life in the medina of Marrakech

Piazza San Marco, Venice. ITALY

It was worth to wake up at 5 am even if there were already many people at the very morning on the Piazza San Marco. Afterwards it was just overcrowded with tourists… Here you can see pictures at both periods of time, taken during my second visit in 1999.

Cliffs of Moher. IRELAND

Probably the most visited part of the Irish coast, the cliffs are located on the Burren region in County Clare and they rise between 100 and 200 meters above the Atlantic Ocean. I would have liked to be there in early morning or late afternoon, but we can’t have it all. Photos taken in summer 2012.

Celestun Biosphere Reserve, Yucatan. MEXICO

A wetland reserve that is home to vast flocks of flamingos, as well as many herons, thousands of pelicans and other bird species. Photos from 1996

AZAFRAN en ANGKOR

Monjes Budistas en Angkor. CAMBOYA  

Muchos varones camboyanos mayores de 16 años sirven como monjes por un período determinado. La mayoría de los jóvenes no pretenden convertirse en bonzos de por vida (bhikkhu) y participan en la comunidad (sangha) por menos de un año. Para las familias es todo un mérito tener un hijo monje, aunque sea temporario.

Los monjes no tienen gastos de alquiler ni de impuestos, ya que viven en el monasterio budista que es mantenido por las donaciones. Tampoco tienen gastos de comida; todos los días salen con su cuenco a la calle a pedir la limosna de los fieles, que generalmente consiste en arroz y vegetales. El monje recibe su ración diaria y los fieles ganan méritos por su ayuda.

Dedican gran parte de su día a la meditación pero también efectuan peregrinaciones y son fáciles de encontrar visitando los sitios mas conocidos de Angkor, confundiéndose entre los turistas.

Fotos realizadas en Angkor Vat, durante el viaje que efectuamos con Ambar Viajes en Abril 2012. Si deseas obtener información sobre aventuras de Ambar Viajes en  Camboya o en otros rincones del mundo, clica aquí o aquí. 

Buddist Monks in Angkor. CAMBODIA







Many Cambodian men over sixteen become monks for a certain amount of time. Most of the young men don’t have the aim to become a lifetime monk (Bhikku) and they participate in the community (sangha) for less than a year. For the families, it’s an honor to have a child monk, even if temporary.

Monks pay no charges, rents or tax fees, because they live in the Buddhist Monastery, which is maintained by donations. They don’t have to pay for food either; every day they go out with their bowl and ask for alms from the believers, which normally consists of rice and vegetables. The monk receives his daily portion and the believers achieve recognition for their help.

They spend most of their day meditating, but they also go on pilgrimage and are easy to find visiting the most known Angkor sites, blending among the tourists.

Photos taken in Angkor Vat, during the travel with Ambar Viajes in April 2012. If you wish to have more information about Ambar Viajes adventures in Cambodia or elsewhere in the world, click here or here.

Doors and windows from Castilla. SPAIN

Photos from 2003

1. Santa Maria la Real, Aranda de Duero

2. Casa del Cordon, Burgos

3. Cartuja de Miraflores, Burgos

4. Santo Domingo, Soria

Etosha National Park. NAMIBIA

El Parque toma su nombre del gigantesco lago seco Etosha que se extiende a lo largo de una cuarta parte del territorio del parque. Durante nuestra visita en 2011 con Kananga y debido a la excepcionalmente lluviosa temporada, el lago no estaba seco y miles de flamencos estaban allí (Ver foto 5). Pero lo que captó toda nuestra atencion fueron los grandes mamíferos. 
Para mas información de la ruta del Okavango y otras aventuras africanas con Kananga, clica aquí y aquí. 

The park gets its name from the huge Etosha Pan (Meaning “Great White Place”) that expands for almost ¼ of the territory of the park. During our visit in 2011 with Kananga and due to the exceptional rainy season, the Pan wasn’t dry and thousands of flamingos were there (See photo 5). But what gathered all the attention was the big mammals.

For more information about the Okavango route and other African adventures with Kananga, click here and here.