From All Stories

Wet-feet-hiker with curious little fishes.
[ITALY.LIGURIA 10.011]
'Wet-feet-hiker with curious little fishes.'

A great way to explore untouched nature is 'wet feet hiking'; following a river. This hiker, getting not only his feet wet, is accompanied by a whirl of curious little fishes, in the Bevera river south of Olivetta (Liguria, Italy). Photo Paul Smit.
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From Southern France: River walks
[FRANCE.ALPSSOUTH 9978]
’Gorges de Daluis.’

There are spots where hardly any light reaches the bottom of the steep and narrow Gorges de Daluis (Alpes-Maritimes, France). Carved in red slate, with its shades of purple and violet, it is one of the most beautiful and spectacular canyons in Europe. At just 1,5 hours from Nice and the Côte d'Azur it is more accessible then its famous counterparts in the American Southwest. If you don't mind getting wet feet you can walk its complete length. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
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From Southern France: River walks
[FRANCE. ATLANTIC 30068] ’Kayaking in Old Harbour of La Rochelle.’
[FRANCE. ATLANTIC 30068]
’Kayaking in Old Harbour of La Rochelle.’

Kayaking in the Old Harbour (Vieux Port) of La Rochelle can be a magical experience, especially during the early morning. The mouth to the harbour is guarded by two medieval fortified towers, both built in the 14th century. On the left we see the Tour St.-Nicolas, which served as a prison for many centuries. On the other side stands the Tour de la Chaîne (Tower of the Chain) which could be connected with a chain to the Tour St.-Nicolas, thus closing the entrance to the harbour. Photo Mick Palarczyk and Paul Smit.
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From France: Marais Poitevin and coast Charente-Maritime by Kayak
[FRANCE. ATLANTIC 30019] ’Small canal in Irleau.’
[FRANCE. ATLANTIC 30019]
’Small canal in Irleau.’

Most of the villages in the Marais Poitevin were once dependent on transport by water. This small canal (named “Bief d’Irleau) serviced the village of Irleau. The houses are on the left hand bank and gardens on the other bank can be reached via footbridges. This lush environment, which is justly described as “Venise Vert” (Green Venice), is a paradise for kayakers. Photo Paul Smit.
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From France: Marais Poitevin and coast Charente-Maritime by Kayak
[FRANCE.ILEDEFRANCE 11095]
'Frogs at the Latona fountain, Palace Gardens, Versailles.'

During the Fountains Night Show (Grands Eaux Nocturnes) every single fountain comes to life in a balanced lighting. Inspired by Ovid’s Metamorphoses, the Latona Fountain tells the story of Latona, mother of Apollo and Diana, protecting her children against the insults of the peasants of Lycia and calling on Jupiter to avenge them. He heard her plea and transformed them into frogs and lizards. The initial sculptures were made by Gaspard and Bathasar Marsy in 1670. The arrangement of the fountain was changed and finished by Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1689. Photo Paul Smit.
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From France: White Picnic of Versailles on Bastille Day
[FRANCE.ILEDEFRANCE 11038]
'Children at the White Picnic of Versailles.'

On Bastille Day, the 14th of July, a wonderful "Déjeuner sur l'Herbe" is organized in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles. Thousands of people come together with their picnic baskets and have a festive meal on the banks of the Grand Canal. In English it is known as the Picnic of Versailles or the White Picnic ("pique-nique en blanc"), since white is the dress code. Many people enjoy to dress up for the occasion. Photo Paul Smit.
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From France: White Picnic of Versailles on Bastille Day
[FRANCE.ILEDEFRANCE 11035]
'Girls at the White Picnic of Versailles.'

On Bastille Day, the 14th of July, a wonderful "Déjeuner sur l'Herbe" is organized in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles. Thousands of people come together with their picnic baskets and have a festive meal on the banks of the Grand Canal. In English it is known as the Picnic of Versailles or the White Picnic ("pique-nique en blanc"), since white is the dress code. Many people enjoy to dress up for the occasion. Photo Paul Smit.
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From France: White Picnic of Versailles on Bastille Day
[FRANCE.LOIRE 10865]
’Evening sky above Saumur.’

Admiring a wonderful evening sky above Saumur, a kayaker embarks on a late trip on the Loire. Photo Paul Smit.
france saumur loire river people canoeing leisure watersport people at water man 1 person sky cloud reflection around sunset landscape amazing landscape calm sense of wonder horizontal photo outdoors departement maine et loire region pays de la loire main portfolio
From France: River Loire by kayak
[FRANCE.LOIRE 10810]
’Paddling in a wavy maze of flowers.’

When you paddle down the Loire, soon after Orléans you will be in for a surprise. What looked like banks of white gravel in the distance, happen to be tapestries of flowering River Water-crowfoot (Ranunculus fluitans; NL: Vlottende waterranonkel), seen here at Beaugency. Rooted in the riverbed, the plants produce strands of up to 6 meters in length, stretched out in the current and waving. Let the flow enter you into these floating gardens, flowering from june till august. Watch the bees come and go to the white flowers with their yellow hearts. But mind you, you can get stuck! Photo Mick Palarczyk & Paul Smit.
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From France: River Loire by kayak
[Egypt 29855] ’Second Hypostyle Hall of Seti I Temple at Abydos.’
[EGYPT 29855]
’Second Hypostyle Hall of Seti I Temple at Abydos.’

Sun beams piercing through a clerestory window illuminate the Second Hypostyle Hall of the Seti I Temple at Abydos. Below the window we see the entrance to the Chapel of Isis. The hieroglyphs on the right and left adorn the gate which gives access from the First into the Second Hypostyle Hall. The Seti Temple at Abydos was begun by Seti I and completed by his son Ramses II in the 13th century BC. Photo Paul Smit.
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From Egypt: Temples of Abydos
[Egypt 29960] ‘Horus in Ptah-Sokar Chapel at Abydos.’
[EGYPT 29960]
‘Horus in Ptah-Sokar Chapel at Abydos.’

In this relief detail a falcon-headed Horus is assisting at the resurrection of his father Osiris (who is outside the frame of the picture).
The relief can be found on the south wall of the Ptah-Sokar Chapel in the Seti I Temple at Abydos. The temple was begun by Seti I and completed by his son Ramses II in the 13th century BC. Photo Paul Smit.
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From Egypt: Temples of Abydos
22-egypt-edfu

What does the future hold for Egypt? Is a storm brewing? A new era of military dictatorship, this time under Sisi instead of Mubarak? Or is the wind of democracy still blowing? Nobody knows what lies ahead, waiting at the other side of the gate.

The pylon of the Horus Temple at Edfu. Photo Paul Smit.
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From Calendar photos: Ancient Egypt
[NEPAL.KATHMANDUVALLEY 27199]
’Whitewashing Swayambhu stupa.’

Watched over by the all-seeing eyes of Adi-Buddha (primordial Buddha) a boy is whitewashing the central stupa of Swayambhu, at the western outskirts of Kathmandu. The eyes are attached to the gold gilded cube (harmika) that surmounts the stupa. Photo Paul Smit.
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From Nepal: Kathmandu Valley
[VIETNAM.NORTH 21.533]
’It's about the baby.’

Like everywhere else in the world, the baby gets most of the attention, cradled on a basket in the market of Bac Hà. Being a Flower H’mong baby, he will grow up in a world of psychedelic colours, created in textile by his mother, aunts and sisters. Photo Mick Palarczyk
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From Mountain tribes of North Vietnam
[BURMA 24.748]
’Girl with brooms.’

On a Burmese road north of Taungoo, this girl is surprised and somewhat shy when she is photographed. She has a bundle of brooms on her head, to be sold at the market where she is heading. Her cheeks are enlivened by thanaka, a yellow paste made of pulverized tree-bark, used by many Burmese women and some men as well as a combination of sun block and make-up. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
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From Myanmar: The Rebirth of Burma
[BURMA 25.036]
’Young monk at Sagaing.’

This young monk is standing in front of a slab that records the names of people that have donated money to local temples at the foot of Sagaing Hill. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
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From Myanmar: The Rebirth of Burma
[BURMA 24.899]
’Resting under a bougainvillea.’

In the courtyard of Bagan’s Ananda Temple a gardener is taking a rest under a bougainvillea. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
burma myanmar religion bagan buddhism temple architecture architecture with people arch people 1 person man mid adult having a break bougainvillea violet flower local people ethnicity asian horizontal photo outdoors asia zenlike main portfolio
From Myanmar: The Rebirth of Burma
[NEPAL 27611]
'Prayer flags over the Tribhuwan Highway.'

Between Daman and the Simbhanjyang Pass the Tribhuwan Rajpath (highway) snakes its way up past the Shri Rikheshwar Temple. The switchback near the temple passes under a multitude of prayer flags. Photo Mick Palarczyk.
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From Nepal/India: Kathmandu Valley, Terai and Ganges Plain by bicycle