As I walked on my slippers shuffling across the road from our hotel in Agra towards the Taj Mahal

As I walked on my slippers shuffling across the road from our hotel in Agra towards the Taj Mahal. On most days it is a coming and going of tourists here. But on Monday, when the Taj is closed, the locals take over the streets. Annoying street vendors are suddenly in the minority and even the ubiquitous cows seem to avoid the noise. With my camera in my hand, I noticed right away that it sometimes could be a nice day to photograph the street life here. In the morning I took quite a few nice pictures, but as the sun came up higher in the sky and the light was brighter, the chance to take beautiful pictures gradually decreased. Personally, I find light, next choice, namely one of the most important things that can make a photo or break.

Then tonight just try, I thought. So, no sooner said than done. I knew from previous days when the red walls around the buildings on this side of the Taj at the end of the afternoon, very nice activate, or darken. And then you sometimes just have a little luck. I turned the corner from our hotel and immediately saw three little old man sitting on a bench. Press Office discussion about cricket or politics. I think ;-) . What makes this picture so great is the simplicity of the composition, the colors stand out against each other and the shoes that stand for the bench so neat. It gives the viewer an idea of ​​the daily lives of these men. Something not always have to be as bad as we sometimes here sometimes thinking. They have here and there holes in their clothes sitting does not mean that they are less fortunate than you and me. Though that is a lesson that you often pick up an experienced traveler.

Meanwhile, there are quite a few countries that I travel from my list down to stripes, but trust me; there still remain much more are 8-). And with every travel book I read or program that I look out there at new destinations. There's just see so much beauty in the world! There are a number of trips that I really dream that they are:


With a ship to Antarctica.
What seems to me very cool say! With a large cargo ship with trips to Antarctica and the Falkland Islands. Besides that of course would be a special kind of journey, it seems so special to live 24 hours a day on a ship with nothing but silence around you. Well, almost then ;-). Just water, ice and large groups of penguins. Unfortunately, you must dig deep into their pockets for such a trip, so I think that in the short term will not be in ...


Swimming monkeys in Japan.
Several months a year you can in northern Japan monkeys admiring herself warming up in the hot springs there. I have sometimes seen photos; looks really hilarious off. It is a special kind of macaques which occurs only in Japan. Furthermore, Japan'm not quite particular actually looks, but for those monkeys I'd make an exception!


Annapurna trail.
I have often written about my love for Nepal . Super Nice and authentic country. What I have not yet done there is the Annapurna trail. Or one of those other gift treks of several weeks walking in the Himalayas. It seems very heavy and I think I myself would encounter several times, but I hope not ever do it once. The immense mountains around you; which must surely feel great?


Tea drinking in Iran.
Iran has long been high on my list. Last year 's came almost. It is probably no country where you think; hey, cozy J! Snap I only really make Iran an image problem. Everyone I hear about it and everything I read about it in the same direction: warm, hospitable people and a special historical culture. Fascinates me 't huge; of the role that women in Iran to the old Persian culture and delicious food :-).


Visit to St. Petersburg.
A somewhat 'smaller' travel dream, but no less popular: Saint Petersburg. I would love a time the dead of winter to travel to this fairytale city. It will determine its freezing cold and maybe I curse myself then, but continues to draw the image of small Amsterdam in Russia with snow on the roofs. We still live an acquaintance in St. Petersburg, so actually it would just coming winter should be ;-).