In 2009 I spent 4 months travelling through Europe, including participating in photography workshops in Spain, France and Iceland. I am travelling to the United States and Australia for a month over christmas and the new year and returning in 2011 to travel again to Iceland and Africa. My photography site is www.furberphotography.com and my travel blog is www.uksfu08.wordpress.com.
Contributions
Visit The Well-Preserved Ancient Chinese Town of Huang Yao
Created on June 03, 2010 by Susan Furber, WriterHuang Yao in the North East of Zhaoping in South China has a thousand years of potent history. To experience a Chinese town untouched by development and embracing the traditions of the past, spend a few hours to explore Huang Yao. The family names of the townspeople were mainly Huang and Yao, so the place became known as “Huangyao Town.” Today, Huang Yao covers 36 hectares and holds more than 2,800 residents belonging to 500 households. Most of its streets and distinctive structures took shape during the reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty. The isolated location shielded the town from the impact of modern civilization and helped to preserve the ancient dwellings and historic landmarks. A visit to the ancient town of Huang ...
Become a Better Photographer while Exploring China
Created on June 03, 2010 by Susan Furber, WriterEarly morning wake-up calls to beat the rising sun. Forty minute hikes up steep and slippery steps, with camera bag and tripod, to reach a vantage point over the terraced rice fields, as well as the hotel stop for the night. Constantly thinking about what aperture, angle, what light the day has to offer for the potential ‘money shot’. The rewards can be unbelievable. A single moment of calm, the perfect symmetry of a mountain, the glassy glaze on the river in the early morning light. A photo adventure tour can and will provide all this and more. China is a stunning country, especially in the desirably photographic and often complimented province of Guanxi, along the Li River. As a solo amateur photographer, without local ...
Try One of China's National Foods - Beijing's Famous Peking Duck
Created on May 24, 2010 by Susan Furber, WriterThe history of roasted duck in China dates back to the Southern and Northern dynasties when this delicacy, originally named “Shaoyazi” was traditionally only available to the emperor. What is now known as Peking Duck was fully developed during the Ming Dynasty and remains today both a delicacy and a tradition in China. Many renowned chefs, including British Chef Jamie Oliver have put their own spin on this recipe, but the opportunity to try Peking Duck in its country of origin really should not be missed. “You have to try Peking Duck in Beijing” were the words resonating in my mind as I stepped into one of the many fine restaurants in Beijing offering this cuisine. The distant memory of a previous ‘bad duck dining’ ...
Toboggan the Great Wall of China
Created on May 24, 2010 by Susan Furber, WriterThe toboggans are lined up and released in groups of four or five. The road ahead is a smooth metallic ride of twists and turns with occasional straights for momentum gaining speed. The air is crisp, the view is hilly and like any downward ride, the end comes about way too quickly and you just want to go back up and go again. The difference is, there is no snow capped peaks or even ski resort landscape, in fact the location is China and I am tobogganing down the Great Wall. Well not literally, but close enough. The Mutianyu Great Wall crosses the mountain ridges connecting Juyongguan Pass to the west and Gubeikou to the east. It is located in the Huairou County northeast of ...
Catch Your Dinner Cormorant Fishing Along the Li River
Created on May 21, 2010 by Susan Furber, WriterMany traditions are changed or lost over time. Hunting and gathering cultures have long been replaced by online, fast paced and immediate. China a country of contrast, is a busy metropolis around many corners, but in some regions of Guangxi like Guilin and Yangshuo, it still hangs on to some of its traditional conventions. The Cormorant fishermen of China are a small example of this. Once a successful industry in both China and Japan, more efficient fishing techniques have subsequently been developed so that Cormorant fishing is now primarily sustained by the tourism industry. Thankfully foraging forward, it provides visitors with a glimpse into this ancient ritual and leaves us in wonder of such a process. Dressed in traditional costume, the fishermen ride on small ...
Las Bardenas Reales Natural Park: The Photographer's Landscape!
Created on February 09, 2010 by Susan Furber, WriterOur environment is extremely precious, and whether you are a global warming advocate or a cynic, there seems to be no doubt that our planet is undergoing many changes. The intriguing Las Bardenas Reales, in Navarra Spain, is one of Spain’s natural parks protected for its biology, geology or landscape, which also has an ecological, aesthetic, educational or scientific value. As a “landscape photographer in training” I like to take the opportunity to explore new landscapes whenever it arises, and had never previously heard of a “natural park.” Enter: Las Bardenas Reales Natural Park and Biosphere Reserve. It ticks all the boxes for any photographer—environmental, tourist, or adventurer, and covers 42,500 hectares of fascinating semi-desert vegetation, with rocky formations of an eerie lunar quality, regarded ...
Behold the Gemstone in the Crown of Prague Castle: St. Vitus Cathedral
Created on October 20, 2009 by Susan Furber, WriterWithin the grounds of Prague Castle, there are many opportunities to explore magnificent architecture and stunning buildings. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Prague Castle is the largest “coherent castle complex” in the world, and holds the exquisite St. Vitus Cathedral within its grounds of almost 70,000 m². After a decent walk up a steep hill, the Castle grounds unfold before you, and on a sunny winter’s day you can enjoy loads of Gothic architecture, the changing of the guards, and the gemstone in the Castle’s crown: St. Vitus Cathedral. Saint Vitus is a Roman Catholic cathedral, also known by its full name of St. Vitus, St. Wenceslas and St. Adalbert Cathedral. The present-day Gothic cathedral was founded in 1344, and has undergone many ...
Hunt for Viking Gold Behind Skogafoss Waterfall in Iceland
Created on July 12, 2009 by Susan Furber, WriterThe Skogafoss (pronounced “skou.a fos”) waterfall suddenly appeared from the road as we drove through the barren but illuminated landscape of southern Iceland. At 60 metres high and 25 metres wide, it is easily visible from the road; and audible too. Due to the amount of spray that the Skogafoss waterfall produces, a single or double rainbow is often visible on sunny days. Even on an overcast winter’s day, when the sun is hiding, the misty powerful white sheets of glass are just as impressive, and make for a great waterfall photo. According to legend, the first Viking settler in the area, Þrasi Þórólfsson, buried a chest filled with gold coins in a cave behind the Skogafoss waterfall. A local boy found the chest years ...
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Location
Ilford, United Kingdom Experience Map
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