We were recently asked by our friends at HostelBookers.com to participate in a fun travel photo meme that showcases 7 of our photos that fall within the categories below.

We had fun putting together our Best of Travel in 2011 and Travels & Adventures from A to Z a few weeks ago, so we jumped on the opportunity to share some of our travel photos (all we need is an excuse!).

To follow along on twitter, check out the hashtag #7SuperShots

1. A photo that…takes our breath away

It’s difficult to accurately describe the feelings and emotion that we felt when we crossed over the Sun Gate and witnessed the magic of Machu Picchu for the very first time. We had just finished 3 days of hiking the Inca Trail, we were exhausted and damp from the morning rain. Months of planning, preparation and anticipation came to fruition as the clouds began to part over this treasured lost city. Our dream had finally become a reality.

This moment did much more than take our breath away – it taught us that dreams are meant to be chased, fulfilled and celebrated!

2. A photo that…makes us laugh or smile

If you’ve been following our blog for a while you know Japan is one of our favourite countries. We love the quirky and bizarre oddities that can be found throughout the country.

Case in point – this statue in front of a restaurant in Kyoto. Now, is it really necessary to show the boy’s penis? And why are there two completely different baby dogs positioned under this attacking dog? What does any of this have to do with dining at a restaurant?

Nevertheless, we had a good laugh and felt it was photo worthy.

3. A photo that…makes us dream

We had always dreamed of one day sitting in the presence of the mysterious Moai statues of Easter Island. We captured this fiery sunset and collection of Moai statues just outside the town of Hanga Roa.

To this day, we still get a slight chill down our spines when we look back at our photos. We know that we were once there, walking amongst these peculiar works of art. Although the images will forever be burned in our minds, at times we still feel like it was all just a dream.

4. A photo that…makes us think

This photo paints a chilling picture of life at the notorious Security Prison 21 (S-21) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The high school was converted into a horrifying prison shortly after the Khmer Rouge communist regime came into power in 1975. An estimated 17,000 people were unjustly imprisoned at Tuol Sleng, most victims were tortured and killed.

This photo makes us think and it makes us very sad. But it’s also a reminder to the world that we must do everything in our power to prevent such terrible atrocities from repeating.

5. A photo that…makes our mouth water

Turkey is a foodies dream destination. Virtually every mega-city in the world has restaurants that serve Turkish cuisine, but few can compete with the food that is served in Turkey – often imitated, never duplicated!

This tasty doner kebab and cold Efes beer was enjoyed in Ankara, the capital city of Turkey and final resting place of Father Turkey. Mmmm…is it lunch time yet?!

6. A photo that…tells a story

This photo is supposed to do the storytelling, but here is some background info to help – Peru, Lake Titicaca, floating reed islands, tourism, cute children selling local crafts, money, boredom.

7. A photo that…we are most proud of (aka my National Geographic shot)

Wow – there’s a lot of pressure that comes with this category!

We bounced around dozens of photos that were all worthy of such a title (like this one or this one), but this photo stood out because it’s the kind of photo we would expect to see in National Geographic.

We felt that a “National Geographic photo” needed to include nature and it needed to be a landscape that was “out of this world beautiful”. We think this photo satisfies both prerequisites.

~~~~~~~~

Because we are taking part in HostelBookers 7 Super Shots, we now we get to nominate 5 travel bloggers to complete their 7 Super Shots. For rules and guidelines click here.

We nominate:

Norbert from GloboTreks

Mark from Migrationology

Matt from Expert Vagabond

Craig and Caz from yTravel Blog

Michael from StruxTravel

Tag! You’re it!

7 Super Shots from Our Travels is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Related posts:

1. Our Travels & Adventures from A to Z
2. 13 Awesome Miniature Photos from Around the World
3. 19 Epic Adventures by Travel Bloggers in 2011
4. Photo Essay: The Backstreets of Jaipur, India

Traveling Canucks

Our Travels and Adventures from A to Z

We have been nominated by our friends Sam of Nomadic Samuel and Ayngelina of Bacon is Magic to participate in a travel blogger meme that walks us through a series of questions, highlighting our travels from A-Z.

So let’s get going!

A: Age you went on your first international trip

Nicole – Puerto Vallarta, Mexico at age 15
Cameron – Nairobi, Kenya at age 11

B: Best (foreign) beer you’ve had and where

This is a tough one. We love to sample beer when we travel and have put together a series on our favourite beer drinking moments from around the world. But, if we must choose just one…

Nicole – Belgium. Can’t recall the specific name of the beer because it was a small brewery in Brussels
Cameron – 2-litre blend of Gosser Beer in Vienna, Austria (pictured below)

Drinking Beer in Vienna, Austria

C: Cuisine (favorite)

Nicole – Fresh seafood grilled on the beach in the Philippines
Cameron – Street food in Thailand, all of it!

D: Destinations – favourite and least favourite

Nicole – Favourite destination is Easter Island because of its mysterious moai statues. Least favourite is Vietnam for a variety of reasons
Cameron – Favourite destination is Peru because there is so much more to Peru than Machu Picchu. Least favourite is also Vietnam

E: Event you experienced abroad that made you say “wow”

Nicole – Sleeping under the desert stars at a Bedouin camp in the Wadi Rum, Jordan
Cameron – Witnessing a Buddhist prayer session in Bangkok, Thailand (pictured below)

Buddhist Temple in Bangkok, Thailand

F: Favorite mode of transportation

Nicole – Horseback. Whenever possible!
Cameron – I love train travel. It’s the best way to see the countryside and travel slow. And let’s not forget about the Asian tuk tuk (auto rickshaw). Read about our tuk tuk experience in India

G: Greatest feeling while traveling

Nicole – That feeling of excitement and anticipation you get at the airport just before boarding the plane, knowing that you are about to discover a new destination.
Cameron – Swinging in a hammock on a lazy tropical beach with a cold beer in hand

H: Hottest place you’ve traveled to

Nicole – Dubai, UAE
Cameron – Luxor, Egypt (Udaipur in Rajasthan is a close second)

Sunrise views from Mount Sinai, Egypt

I: Incredible service you’ve experienced and where

Nicole – Victoria House on Ambergris Caye in Belize
Cameron -Ka’ana Boutique Resort in the Cayo District of Belize. Find out why here

J: Journey that took the longest

Nicole – Traveling from Chitwan Park in Nepal to Varanasi, India. In the end, we took two jeeps, 2 tuk tuks, 1 rickshaw, 2 buses and 1 overnight train for a total of 17 hours – not fun!
Cameron – Overnight bus trip from Luxor to Dahab, Egypt. The ticket agent said 12-14 hours but it actually took 22 hours with all of the stops and check points – terrible experience we hope to never repeat

K: Keepsake from your travels

Nicole – Photos. Lots and lots of photos!
Cameron – We collect masks from most countries we visit. We have a wall in our house that is filled with over40 different masks, each with their own unique story and personality

L: Let-down sight, why and where

Nicole – Halong Bay in Vietnam. Totally over-rated. But we live in British Columbia and are surrounded by natural beauty, so perhaps our standards are too high. It didn’t help that our trip was cut short because of a fast approaching typhoon.
Cameron – Scuba-diving the Great Barrier Reef in northeast Australia. Too many divers, super long travel time to dive spot and a severely damaged reef. Definitely not worth the 0 per person. Go to the Red Sea instead!

M: Moment where you fell in love with travel

Nicole – Backpacking around Europe in the summer of 1999
Cameron – Wildlife safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara in 1989

Pool at Victoria House in Belize

N: Nicest hotel you’ve stayed in

Nicole – Victoria House on Ambergris Caye in Belize. Private white sandy beaches, swaying palm trees, infinity pools and fantastic food.
Cameron – Iberostar del Mar in the Mayan Riviera. Although we are somewhat biased because we got married there in 2008 and received a beachfront upgrade and 5-star treatment from arrival until departure

O: Obsession – what are you obsessed with taking pictures of while traveling?

Nicole – Underwater photos of fish and reef (view photos of the Belize Barrier Reef here)
Cameron – Beer (see our beer photos here)

P: Passport stamps, how many and from where?

We both have hundreds of stamps from our travels. We even had to get a new passport issued because we ran out of space well before our passports expired

Q: Quirkiest attraction you’ve visited and where

Nicole – We were recently on Galiano Island and visited a place called Stone World. The photos made it look intriguing but when we got there it was literally just a bunch of stones placed upright on a hillside
Cameron – We recently published a guest post on “quirky things to see in Canada”. Read the post here

R: Recommended sight, event or experience

Nicole – Snorkeling or scuba diving the Red Sea in Egypt. Watch a short video here
Cameron – Hiking the Inca Trial to Machu Picchu in Peru. Read our story here

S: Splurge – something you have no problem forking over money for while traveling

We both pick beer. Regardless of the cost, we will enjoy a few beers while traveling. We even had a cold beer deep in the Amazon jungle!

T: Touristy thing you’ve done

Nicole – Camel surfing at the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt. See the photo here
Cameron – Heineken Brewery in Amsterdam (pictured below)

U: Unforgettable travel memory

Nicole – Swimming with sea lions and penguins in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
Cameron – Night trekking to the summit of Mount Sinai to watch the sunrise over the rugged Egyptian peninsula (see the photo of Cameron above)

V: Visas, how many and for where?

India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Egypt, Turkey, Australia, Nepal, Laos and probably more that I am forgetting

W: Wine, best glass of wine while traveling and where?

Nicole – Riesling in Riel, a village in the Mosel region of southwest Germany
Cameron – Malbec in Medoza, Argentina

X: eXcellent view and from where?

Nicole – The majestic views of Moraine Lake in Banff National Park, located in the Canadian Rockies
Cameron – Views of Ahu Tongariki from Rano Raraku volcano on Easter Island. See photo above

Y: Years spent traveling?

We’ve done most of our traveling as a couple in the past 7 years, when we first lived in Malaysia in 2004. But we were both exposed to travel at a young age.

Z: Zealous sports fans and where?

Nicole – Soccer fans in Santiago, Chile. There’s a reason why alcohol is not served at the games!
Cameron – Hockey fans in Canada. Did you catch Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals in Vancouver earlier this year?! Check out the street celebrations after the Vancouver Canucks won game 5 at home (pictured above).

Congratulations! You made it to the end of our travels from A to Z

~~~~~~~~~~

Now we get to nominate 5 travel bloggers to complete their Travels from A-Z. Because we are a little late to the party, many bloggers have already completed this exercise or declined participation. So if you do not wish to participate, let us know and we can nominate someone else.

We nominate:

Earl from Wandering Earl

Mark from Migrationology

JoAnna from Kaleidoscope Wandering

Matt from Expert Vagabond

Deb and Dave from The Planet D

Tag! You’re it!

Our Travels & Adventures from A to Z is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Related posts:

1. 19 Epic Adventures by Travel Bloggers in 2011
2. Jungle Adventures in Belize’s Private Nature Reserve
3. Our Greatest Adventure has Finally Started!

Traveling Canucks

Pictures of the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt

 Jumping over the Pyramids

The Legends!
The Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Giza

Camel ride around the pyramids – cheesy, but recommended if you like being silly

Does this photo look familiar?
(Hint – look up at our header graphic!)

Nicole getting ready for some camel surfing

Hows that for a photo backdrop!

Mission accomplished!

The people in front shows the enormity of the Great Pyramid of Giza

Reflections

Camel merchant

Sense of scale

Exploring the desert plains by horseback

Nicole and her pony

Riding through history

Galloping through the desert

Exploration

Postcard Picture

Playing with the Pyramids

One of our favourite photos

Just another day at the office

In the presence of history

Bad camel

Camel merchants hungry for the tourist dollar

Fulfilling a life dream in Egypt!

~~~~~~~~

Have you visited the legendary Pyramids of Giza? Did it live up to your expectations?
Share your experience in the comments section below, we’d love to hear about it!

Pictures from the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Related posts:

1. Camel Surfing at the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt
2. Pick-Pocket Caught Red-Handed at the Great Pyramids
3. Pictures of Mayan Pyramids in Tikal National Park, Guatemala
4. 13 Awesome Miniature Photos from Around the World

Traveling Canucks

13 Awesome Miniature Photos from Around the World

Camel safari at the Great Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

With the popularity of our latest photo of the week from Prague, we decided to share a few more of our favourite ‘miniature photos’ from around the world.

The effect is achieved by combining heavy saturation and sharpness with “over blurring” to the areas that are out of focus. In photography circles, this fun technique is called ’tilt-shift photography’, although we created the effect using photo editing software, not with our actual camera and lens.

Baseball game in Yokohama, Japan

Grazing Llamas at Machu Picchu, Peru

Amber Fort in Jaipur, India

Moai Statues on Easter Island, Chile

Santorini in the Greek Islands, Greece

The Monastery in Petra, Jordan

Széchenyi Chain Bridge and Danube River in Budapest, Hungary

Fairy Chimneys in Cappadocia, Turkey

Canals of Venice, Italy

Mausoleum of Ataturk in Ankara, Turkey

 
Ancient Rice Terraces of Batad, the Philippines

Plaza de Armas in Cusco, Peru

What do you think of the Miniature Effect in these photos?
Share your feedback in the comments section below!

13 Awesome Miniature Photos from Around the World is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Related posts:

1. Photo of the Week: Miniature of the Prague Skyline
2. Drinking Beer Around the World – Part Ten
3. Drinking Beer Around the World – Part Eight
4. Photo of the Week: The World’s Most Unusual City?

Traveling Canucks

British Airways has announced that all flights to and from Australia will feature their new First Class cabin by March next year.



Click the heading to view the full story or visit www.skyclub.com/news

SkyClub Latest News | First and Business Class Travel

France has a wealth of choices with regards to properties for sale for those who are trying to get away from the drudgery of life in England these days. It may appear to be a world away, yet it is only across the Channel and it’s remarkable that every one of the 26 regions contained in France seems to have its very own distinctive style of life and appeal. You can't truly say the same thing about the different counties in England or Wales, am I right?

Where do you start if you are trying to find property in France? Many know of the attractive homes available for purchase in Normandy or Brittany, but why don't you look at property in Limousin? Here you will find three distinct regional departments called Creuse, Haute-Vienne as well as the Correze. Limoges is the administrative capital of this region and it is the largest and most historical city here. If you think about the word Limousin you may picture in your mind a herd of cattle by the very same name, for these are a very unique hue of red and form a part of some of the finest beef farming herds found anywhere in the world. As you might imagine, consequently, Limousin is really a rural region.

Because not many people consider this area it's still, by French criteria, comparatively under populated. In fact, the only region of the country that claims fewer people is the island of Corsica. If you love drinking wine you'll be well catered for here. The French Oak orchards afford the wine from this region a very distinctive taste. If you're searching for sunshine, a number of areas here boast more than two thousand hours annually which is equal to a few of the cities in the French Riviera.

Thus, you don't need to be predictable and settle for the Paris suburbs or Normandy, when you are able to get an extremely exceptional flavour of life and property in France by going just a little further afield to Limousin.

Tours of Europe

This is a guest post by Chris Rowlands-Barber, a travel writer based in the UK

From Bangkok to Chiang Mai: A Quick Guide to Thailand

It’s easy to fall in love with Thailand; a country packed with culture, history, exotic scenery and white sandy beaches, the list is endless. Whether you’re just looking for somewhere to spend your annual vacation, or are planning to go backpacking, the country has something to offer every appetite and budget.

The best time to visit the county is during the “cool season” between November and February when humidity levels are lower and temperatures range from the late 20′s to the early 30′s (you can imagine how hot and humid the rest of the year is if this is the cool season).

Beware; this is also the peak tourist season so major attractions such as Bangkok and the islands of Ko Samui and Ko Pha Ngan will be very busy.

Thailand is the ideal destination if you’re on a shoestring budget, it might cost a little more to get there due to the distances involved, but the cost of living is very low so you’ll find food and accommodation very affordable (you might even find you can extend your stay).

Why should you visit Thailand?

For starters, the country’s capital Bangkok. No trip to the country is complete without experiencing this bustling city with its amazing mix of modern metropolis, ancient temples and western influence.

With its world famous floating markets, a large China Town (giving you the opportunity to experience the infamous Bird’s Nest) and the excellent traditional Thai cuisine served at the many street stalls, you’ll be instantly hooked.

Bangkok is definitely a city of contrasts. You’ll be able to step seamlessly from the chic 5 star hotels and fancy eateries of the modern world into the traditional core with its ancient architecture, sense of spirituality and vibrant and busy markets (just be careful not to let this happen to you!).

Once you’ve had your fill of all that this amazing city has to offer, why not travel to Thailand’s more bohemian city, Chiang Mai. This is another must see if you intend to travel to Thailand. Around 700km northwest of Bangkok, Chiang Mai has an abundance of temples (over 300 within and around the city and 121 within its centre) and still has examples of the original moat and walls that once surrounded the old city.

Don’t be fooled by its history though, as with Bangkok, beneath the skin of this ancient beast there beats the heart of a thoroughly modern city. If you want to purchase the latest fashion, stay in a boutique hotel or sip coffee with friends, you’ll find all of this too.

If you fancy a change of scenery and want to experience the beautiful white sandy beaches I promised at the beginning of the article, then head over to Ko Samui, Thailand’s 3^rd largest island.

If you want tourist focused beaches with a variety of facilities (we all need a Starbucks from time to time) then you’ll find these on Ko Samui. You’ll also find the quieter more secluded beaches if you want to escape from the other tourists. The island has its own micro-climate so the best time to stay is between February and June when it’s hot and dry.

If all you really want to do is party the night away, you’ll need to head to the island of Ko Pha-Ngan; home of the original full moon party and still the place to be if you want to party into the early hours of the morning.

Hopefully I’ve inspired you to add Thailand to your itinerary if you haven’t already considered it. One thing’s for sure, once you’ve had a taste of what the country has to offer, you won’t want to leave…

~~~~~~~~

Author Bio: Chris Rowlands-Barber is a travel writer working at the price comparison website moneysupermarket.com based in the UK

~~~~~~~~
Disclosure: Some links on our website make us money, but we only promote items we think might interest our readers

From Bangkok to Chiang Mai: A Quick Guide to Thailand is a post from: Traveling Canucks

Related posts:

1. The Time I got Robbed by a Thai Prostitute in Bangkok
2. Preliminary Guide to Food and Sleep in Prague, Czech Republic
3. My 7 Links – A Quick Look Back at our Travel Blog
4. The Sprouting State and Sustenance of Zimbabwe

New Post from Traveling Canucks

France features a wealth of alternatives with regards to properties for sale if you are seeking to escape the boredom of life in England nowadays. It can seem to be a world away, yet it's just across the Channel and it’s amazing that each one of the 26 regions found within France appears to have its own distinctive type of life and appeal. You cannot truly say the same thing about the numerous counties in England or Wales, am I right?

Where do you start when you are trying to find property in France? Many people have heard of the beautiful houses available for sale in Normandy or Brittany, but why not think about property in Limousin? Here you will discover 3 distinct regional departments called Creuse, Haute-Vienne and the Correze. Limoges is the administrative capital of the region and is also the biggest and most historical city here. If you think of the word Limousin you may imagine in your mind a herd of cattle by the same name, because these certainly are a really unique shade of red and form part of some of the finest beef farming herds to be found at any place in the world. As you may expect, therefore, Limousin is basically a rural region.

Since not too many individuals think about this area it is still, by French criteria, comparatively under populated. In reality, the only region of the country that boasts fewer people is the isle of Corsica. If you love drinking wine you will be well catered for here. The French Oak orchards give the wine from the region a very distinctive taste. If you're searching for sunshine, certain areas here boast more than two thousand hours annually and that is comparable to a few of the cities in the French Riviera.

Therefore, you don't need to go with the flow and be satisfied with the Paris suburbs or Normandy, when you can get a really special flavour of life and property in France by venturing just a little further afield to Limousin.

Tours of Europe

The German airline, Lufthansa, winner of numerous awards for their multiple achievements in the aviation industry, have been named as the number one airline from Europe to succeed in the Asian-pacific area.



Click the heading to view the full story or visit www.skyclub.com/news

SkyClub Latest News | First and Business Class Travel

Celebrated Los Angeles chef Suzanne Goin has designed a series of gourmet meals for Singapore Airlines.



Click the heading to view the full story or visit www.skyclub.com/news

SkyClub Latest News | First and Business Class Travel