If you think that riding a camel is the same as riding an elephant in Thailand and Cambodia, think again. Though I felt the camels were very sweet and gentle, like this one. Notice its friendly face!

Taking the shorter desert trip was the better option. It was such a drama to hear how the long trip was too hard. People were crying as they plunged in, camel head first, into the dunes. People can blog about this moment in a very emotionally romantic way. But hearing it firsthand is not the same. They’ve lost their sunglasses and scarves. They came back with aching bodies and the need to finish a full bottle of shampoo to remove the sand off their hair. They said if they had to do it all over again, they will surely not do it again! They are not even buying any souvenirs that will remind them of any camels. That’s how bad their experience was. I did get sand inside my camera on this short trip so the long trip could be really worst. Probably even losing the whole camera!

Arriving at the campsite, there was tea, music and a dinner of traditional Berber meal. But it was the breathtaking sunset that got me. Won’t you?

And of course, there was that majestic sunrise. Such an amazing feeling waking up to this, I tell you…

Have you ever heard someone say to skip the Eiffel Tower because it is overrated and a total waste of time? That is true, I tell you. Skip the tower! What is there anyway?

But I also tell you, the Eiffel Tower was all around me. The more I walked further from it, the more I saw it. It is such a magnificent and domineering structure too hard to avoid. A structure so old yet too modern. It was hard to comprehend its arrogance.

And you won’t really like going up the tower and to see the magnitude of Paris and all its city lights. That would be too boring. For me, it was only about standing at the same place where John Taylor stood many, many years ago for the View to a Kill music video. So yes, skip it! Because really, there is nothing romantic about it.

And while you are at it, skip Musée d’Orsay too…

I find taking night shots a challenge especially when the camera is handheld and it is windy but I really enjoy this challenge. Paris is one of the best places to take night shots. These photos were taken on top and around Eiffel Tower and at the Montparnasse Tower. It felt so amazing taking these photos and one of the reasons why I wanted to visit Paris in Winter. And of course, I love Paris and there is really not much to say about it.

I found it interesting that I haven’t written about Cambodia, a country that I call my first country love and where I’ve lived for almost 9 years. Cambodia has never been a place for holiday for me. It was always about work – meeting, workshops, consultancies. But let me get over it and share a bit of my after workshop and before meetings visit to Angkor Wat.

I’ve been to Angkot Wat many times before. Those times when you can actually climb the stone steps and you can wander around. I even remember driving the truck inside. It was that Tom Rider like kind of feeling which is not there anymore.

It was a long day after the workshop. But I didn’t really mind arriving in Angkor Wat a little bit just before the sunset. It was already closed but the sunset is always there to experience.

So this was the plan. On Saturday before heading to Phnom Penh was the time to go inside. I had to wake up at 04:30. But guess what, my alarm don’t go off on a Saturday! Happy for friends who knocked my door. Arriving in Angkor Wat, I saw this many people. Here you would never feel alone! If you can count how many people there were, then you are a counting expert. If you can count how many cameras, then you are a super counting expert with super sharp eyesight! People were waiting for the sun to rise behind Angkor Wat.

Even this pig was taking its chance!

But what can I say, the sunrise is beautiful!

This girl is my favourite model.

And a trip is never complete without the roadside shopping.

There was no other way but to stay at the Van Gogh Hotel. Of course, where else? This hotel is located, where else, but across the Van Gogh Museum! The wall has the Red Vineyards near Arles 1888. I saw the real one in March at the Pushkin Museum in Moscow.

But no, that was not the most important for the first evening in Amsterdam. It was the 10 kilometres walk in the rain, looking for Jaime’s Fifteen. The entrée was so worth the walk. So you can imagine how the main course and the dessert went. It was glorious. Jaime, you never fail to deliver! But it was not cheap. And no, it was not this meal. This is a painting of a photo I took at Rijksmuseum, painted by Willem Claesz Heda.

And guess if I didn’t gasp for air at Rijksmuseum? I didn’t know that The Night Watch by Rembrandt is huge.

There were many things I loved about Amsterdam. I did lots of sketching and lettering by the canals and at the park. The houses by the canals are pretty.  I had a try at sketching them. Now I know that I don’t have to draw them straight because they are not. Some are worst than the others like in the verge of collapse. But not really. They are just a bit too tilted. One time, an old man politely approached me and asked if he can see my drawings. Well…

And of course, there was Van Gogh. I love his Japanese inspired paintings.

Here are some of the night shots that I love to take.

And lastly, I met Super Dog. Of course, I have to meet Super Dog. probably his name is Cal!

There are countries that I have been ignoring. I don’t know why. Maybe there is not enough attraction within me to imagine visiting them. But when I arrived in Prague, I immediately overcame this feeling. I was charmed. I was captivated, to be honest. Here are some of the reasons why:

Also went to see Don Giovanni at the theatre where Mozart himself conducted the same opera in 1787. Can’t help but imagine the historical times while sat on the front row. I have been to a number of theatres but I think this one is the most beautiful.

There were many other enjoyable things in Prague. It was lovely to dine by the river and try the local food. Walking up the hill soaked in the rain was memorable too. The trip ended by being upgraded to Business Class on the way home.

It was never enough to stay in Firenze. Other cities are easily accessible by train from Firenze. Poggibonsi, Siena, Livorno, San Gimignano and Pisa are beautiful places to see. Siena is pretty. Livorno is by the seaside. San Gimignano is a medieval city with skyscrapers. And Pisa, you know Pisa!

Of course, one morning was spent looking for tickets to see David, Venus and Primavera. When they told me that there were no more tickets available for the days I was there, that reality could never surpassed me. I had and got the tickets that I wanted. I was awestruck to see Venus!

But one frustrating thing though was to see shops after shops of leather goods and none selling leather jeans except those they made in the 80’s. You can imagine how they look like! I also have a new favourite word – Arrivederci. I also love saying Poggibonsi and Nocciola. Nocciola Gelato!

I thought I was going to the zoo but I ended up in another country! But this is how it is. It is very easy to get on a cruise ship from Helsinki and go to Tallinn. I am not sure what I like about going to Tallinn. Maybe just the idea of being in the open sea. And when I get to Tallinn, I get to walk. I’m the walking type!

And of course, there was the nice lunch and the obligary coffee break at the oldest cafe in Tallinn built in 1864.

I also love the sunset departures at 22:30 and arriving past midnight in Helsinki.

The cruise terminal is only some 25 minutes walk from the flat. So I get to walk again…

I must say that one of the reasons I decided to visit New York in April was to take night shots. I really didn’t mind the cold and the wind on these April nights. I was determined to shoot these amazing views. Aren’t they stunning? Can you name some of these famous landmarks?

It was in New York where I stayed in the tiniest hotel room ever. And yet, it was the most expensive room that I’ve ever stayed in. The hotel was located in Times Square by the Broadway and along Wall Street.