In August 2014, Toronto Travel Massive, a community I’ve been a part of since May 2013, celebrated its 4th anniversary. It was an India inspired event with Intrepid Travel and India Tourism as co-sponsors. Intrepid Travel gave away a 15-day tour and I was the lucky winner! I journeyed my way through India with an iPhone in hand and have compiled my 20 favourite iPhone photos.
In February 2015, I went to India for the first time and travelled through Madya Pradesh and Uttah Pradesh on the Unforgettable India tour
Some of my favourite iPhone photos from the trip:
An auto rickshaw and a street ‘barber shop’ in New Delhi, India.Fellow ‘Intrepid’ travellers enjoy fresh vegetable juice in Old Delhi, India.In the kitchen of a Sikh temple in Old Delhi, India where 10, 000 meals are prepared daily and offered to anyone that visits, for free.Street Art on the wall of a ghat in Varanasi, India.Sunrise on Ganga (Ganges River) in Varanasi, India.A flower and candle ceremony as the sun sets on the Ganges River in Varanasi, India.Camping overnight by the Ganges River after ‘sailing’ for 4.5 hours.Waiting at a waterhole in Bandhavgarh National Park hoping to catch a glimpse of a Bengal tiger or leopard.A 19th century temple in Khajuraho, India, though most of the Western temples of Khajuraho are 1000 years old.1000 year old temple in Khajuraho, India. Some depict carvings from the Kama Sutra.An auto rickshaw drives through the Second Old Gate in Orchha, India. Took this shot through the window of the auto rickshaw that I was in.The Raj Mahal Palace in Orchha, IndiaTARAgram: Tribal women make recycled paper products in Orchha, India.A cow wanders through a market in Chanderi, IndiaThis 15th century Badal Mahal Darwaza gate stands in Chanderi. It is said to have been built as a triumphant gate.A view of the open court of the15th century Jama Masjid mosque in Chanderi, India. The foundation for this mosque, still in operation today, was laid in 1251. There are many monuments in Chanderi. We enjoyed a 2 hour walk through the town.A clothesline in Chanderi, India. Enjoyed a 2 hour walk through this off the beaten path town.A man passes through a doorway at Agra Fort in Agra, India.First glimpse of the Taj Mahal in Agra, India.An unusually rainy day in March at the Taj Mahal in Agra, India. Photo taken March 2015.
It was a last minute decision to Visit Florida over March Break. Orlando is landlocked but within a reasonable driving distance to either coast. We chose to visit the Gulf of Mexico side for a Day Trip to Clearwater from Orlando, Florida because of the warm calm waters of the Gulf.
March Break (middle of March) is a notoriously busy time to visit Florida as many families from Ontario and other parts of Canada venture south in search of warmer temperatures, sunny skies and family fun.
Orlando wasn’t our first choice, but due to the last-minute decision, it was the best place to go in terms of a quick trip and costs.
My sons at 4.5 & 5 weeks old in 2010, our 1st family visit to Florida.
Our plan for the 5 days/nights was to enjoy as much swimming as possible and to go on a day trip to Clearwater. The goal was to visit Winter, the dolphin made famous in the movies Dolphin Tale and Dolphin Tale 2 at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium (CMA). We based ourselves in the Orlando area because we were still able to find a house with a swimming pool last minute on Homeaway.
I love to connect with nature and wildlife and support initiatives that help them, learn about things that are more unique to a destination and visit lesser known and unusual attractions. I was able to connect with Leroy of Visit St. Petersburg Clearwaterwhooffered some great ideas for our day trip to Clearwater:
We had hoped to visit Caladesi Island State Parkas recommended by Leroy, but we had a late start and spent so much time at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. We booked the sunset trip on Captain Memo’s Pirate Cruise as a surprise for our boys so it didn’t leave us enough time for a beach trip. Caladesi looks stunning with its white sandy beaches, shelling and nature. We will have to return.
I was thrilled to find out about the non profit Clearwater Marine Aquarium and their mission of rescue, rehab, and release. Unfortunately, some of the marine life such as dolphins like Winter and some sea turtles are too injured or lack the skills to survive and cannot return to the wild. In this case, I believe CMA is a perfect home to care for them as they are also a working animal hospital. You might even have the opportunity to see the professionals at work in the surgical suite in the lower part of the aquarium.
Winter is a female dolphin that was injured by a crab trap line when she was just a few months old. She unfortunately lost 2 vertebrae and had to have her tail amputated. She learned a new way of swimming and has a prosthetic tail that she wears at times. She is an inspiration to many.
Winter of Dolphin Tale & Dolphin Tale 2
My boys enjoyed seeing Winter and other dolphins Hope and Nicholas as well as sea turtles, otters, nurse sharks and stingrays. CMA boasts an impressive list of rescue and releases. It is certainly not your regular large aquarium filled with colourful fish and marine life and we like it that way! We admire the work being done at CMA by the caring team of staff and volunteers. It was an educational and inspiring afternoon.
I believe this is Stubby, a green sea turtle with a buoyancy disorder.
After spending a few hours at CMA we drove to the Clearwater Marina for the pirate cruise as we weren’t sure about traffic. We arrived early so we picked up a quick dinner to go, drove around the area, ate dinner by the beach and did a little shopping.
With an hour to go, I checked in and picked up a parking pass at the Pirate cruise kiosk for the marina as the pass extends past the 2 hour limit on the coin meters, the pass is $3. The popular Pier 60 and Clearwater Beach are across the street and many shops including Ron Jon Surf Shop are nearby. It was only after checking in that my sons learned that we were going on a pirate cruise.
We boarded Captain Memo’s pirate ship and the boys were immediately outfitted with a pirate hat and wooden gun. As we stepped on board we were shown to the bar area where we were offered a complimentary drink right away – water, soda, beer and wine and could return for refills throughout the night. Shortly after leaving the dock, the children were whisked off to the lower part of the ship.
Little did we know that the wooden pistol was actually a water gun until all the kids appeared again with smiles on their faces from ear to ear and the water guns pointed at us. They could barely contain their laughter and excitement, a ship-wide water fight ensued.
The pirates were fantastic at entertaining the children for the whole cruise with stories, a treasure hunt, games, face painting and a dance party. We got to sit back and enjoy the cruise, beverages and scenery. My youngest son’s birthday was only a few days after the cruise so he was given a special birthday button and the pirates sang Happy Birthday to him and the others who also celebrated their birthdays.
The sunset on the Gulf of Mexico was stunning and the cruise was full of smiles not only on the faces of the kids, but the adults too. We had a truly wonderful day and night in Clearwater.
Until next time,
Andrea… and my wandering iPhone
While I learned about these activities through Visit St Petersburg Clearwater, tickets were paid for by us and opinions are entirely my own.
In February 2015 I went on the Unforgettable India tour with Intrepid Travel. I won the tour at the 4th anniversary of Toronto Travel Massive, a travel community I’ve been a part of since May 2013.Part of the tour took us on a 2 hour drive from Varanasi where our group climbed into boats and “set sail” down river for a leisurely and calming 4.5 hours to where we would camp for the night.
When we awoke in the morning we saw the elusive bottlenose dolphins of the Ganges River. I had no idea there were dolphins in the Ganges so it was a wonderful surprise. We climbed into the boats once more and as we rowed to our departure point we saw several more of the dolphins. Here is our closest encounter with them.
In Orchha, India, waste cotton becomes beautiful recycled paper products. I had the opportunity to travel on the Unforgettable India tourwith Intrepid TraveI. We visited Delhi, Varanasi, Bandhavgarh National Park, Orchha, Khajuraho, Chanderi and Agra.
We stopped at TARAgram, one of Intrepid’s responsible tourism projects. TARA is short for Technology & Action for Rural Advancement and is a social enterprise based on a “waste to wealth” model. It employs more than 40 women, including Sahraiya tribal women; who earlier had no source of income. We toured the facility and learned the process of recycled paper making from cotton products such as used clothing.
One ton of TARAgram recycled rag paper saves 3 tons of wood and 100 cubic metres of water. Products such as notebooks, frames, pen holders, gift bags, paper and lanterns are sold on-site, in shops in India and on the web.
Women working with waste cotton and paper to make recycled paper products.
Adding colour to the waste cotton and paper
Loved this — a human press
Some of the products I purchased in the on-site shop.
The first time I visited Cape Town, South Africa in December 2012 I heard about a street art tour in Woodstock while staying at The Backpack. Unfortunately I didn’t find time on my schedule for a visit.
Over the last 2 years I’ve seen some of the amazing street art pop up on my Instagram feed by some of my Cape Town Instagrammer friends. Fast forward to my 4th visit to the Mother City this past November (2014) and I just had to get there and see it for myself.
While you can certainly visit Woodstock yourself as I did, I highly recommend taking a street art tour especially if it’s your first time to the city to learn more about the history and the art. You can plan for a visit to the nearby Old Biscuit Mill and make a day of it in this interesting neighbourhood.
Here are some of my favourite murals in Woodstock that I captured with my iPhone.
Woodstock Street Art, a Cape Town, South Africa neighbourhood.
Save Our Rhinos – Woodstock Street Art, a Cape Town, South Africa neighbourhood.
When I was in Senegal, I took Djembe (African drumming) lessons. I learned from a master Djembefola that the djembe was used to communicate between villages in Senegal and West Africa where it is said the djembe originated. It would signal illness, death and celebrations such as marriage and birth. This is my ode to the tradition and a way to celebrate the upcoming birth of the woman’s baby.
Woodstock Street Art, a Cape Town, South Africa neighbourhood.
Street Art in the Woodstock area of Cape Town, South Africa.
Street Art in the Woodstock area of Cape Town, South Africa.Street Art in the Woodstock area of Cape Town, South Africa.
Street Art in the Woodstock area of Cape Town, South Africa.Street Art in the Woodstock area of Cape Town, South Africa.
Street Art in the Woodstock area of Cape Town, South Africa.
Street Art in the Woodstock area of Cape Town, South Africa.
It’s been a great travel year for me and I am grateful for the opportunities, new friends, old friends and for a family that supports me.
In 2014 I returned to a country I love – South Africa, not once but twice! I visited in May and my dad came along. I also returned in November and my family (husband, 4yo & 9yo sons) came with! My dad joined us a week later. My visits to South Africa are always so inspiring and wonderful and never long enough.
St. James Beach – Cape Town, South Africa May 2014. This image was chosen to appear in Pocket Vistas, a Mobile Photography exhibition of Landscape, Nature & Wildlife.My sons & penguins at Boulder’s Beach in Cape Town, South Africa November 2014.My son checking out the view at Boulder’s Beach May 2014. Both my boys enjoyed seeing the penguins and playing in the water. Cape Town, South Africa.Street art in Woodstock. Cape Town, South Africa November 2014.Zebra in Black and White. Taken with my Olympus em1 mirrorless camera & M.Zuiko 40-150mm 2.8 pro lens while on safari in South Africa with Naledi Enkoveni December 2014.Bird silhouettes against a South African sunset. Taken with my Olympus em1 & 40-150mm 2.8 pro lens while on safari with Naledi Enkoveni December 2014.
The reason for my return to South Africa was because of a women’s mobile photography development initiative I founded and started there in November 2013, The Heart of a Woman Project. I visited in May to launch phase 2 and my father came with to meet the ladies and offer some help. I returned once more in November to celebrate our 1st anniversary with an exhibition and cultural celebration and was very happy to have my husband & 2 sons (9 & 4) with me.
The Heart of a Woman Project South Africa #thoawSA May 2014.An inaugural #instameetEKASI in Khayelitsha with Instagramers Cape Town and the ladies from thoawSA June 1, 2014. Photo by Ockie Fourie.A collage of the women’s work over the last year on display at eKhaya eKasi, The Heart of a Woman Project. Debuted at the 1st anniversary exhibition & cultural celebration November 2014.My 4 yo son learning isiXhosa games from the kids in the eKhaya eKasi community. We spent 6 days there in November 2014. They played with the kids while I taught the ladies and they can’t wait to return.
On the way to South Africa, we had an overnight layover in London, England. Mostly we stayed near the airport in hopes that my sons would adjust a bit to the time difference so they could handle the further 2 hour difference between GMT and SAST. It seemed to work and they adjusted well. It also helped to avoid 2 back to back overnight flights. We took off to Windsor before checking in for our flight. Windsor was about 25 minutes from Heathrow, it’s a quaint town and a good layover visit. We saw Windsor Castle from the outside only and had lunch in a local pub. It was my son’s 1st visit to Europe, we’ll have to go back for a proper one.
My sons in front of Windsor Castle, a layover stop before our flight to South Africa November 2014.
Gemma, Andrea, Kelly & Mariellen of WeGoSolo at Women’s Travel Fest in New York, NY March 2014.
I went to New York City in March for the Women’s Travel Fest and again in October for National Geographic Traveler’s seminar on Storytelling Photography with Ami Vitale and Melissa Farlow, two well respected National Geographic photographers. I’ve been a professional photographer since 2003 and have been following Ami’s incredible work since that time. It was great to meet her in person and to learn from her.
New York is a great city for solo travel and I love to see a show on broadway, discover a restaurant and observe what’s happening around the city. While walking back to my hotel after seeing a show on Broadway, I came across this scene in Times Square. At first it was just this young man with his sign and then this half dressed man came by and started dancing, things got interesting.
Only in New York City? October 2014.
I am also grateful to have been able to get in a short visit but with quality time with dear friends in Vancouver (my home away from home) and Saskatoon in Canada in April.
Dundarave Beach in West Vancouver April 2014Saskatoon, Canada April 2014.
Between all the travel both solo and with family, I also managed to visit some our family favourites nearer to home – Niagara Falls in February and June and the Kawartha Lakes in August.
The American Falls as seen from the Canadian side. Visited Niagara Falls with the family on Family Day February 2014.My oldest son enjoying the view in Kawartha Lakes, Ontario at a cottage we rented for a week August 2014.Sons enjoying a ride on the Skywheel in Niagara Falls June 2014. We had an overnight there shortly after I returned from South Africa.
Lastly, I added 2 new cities to my travels, Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico in July. I was in Santa Fe for the International Folk Art Market that hosts artisans from around the world. From their website – “Celebrates the humanity of the handmade that empowers communities through monumental earnings.”
There were so many talented artists with their incredible handmade work. It was like travelling around the world in a day. The highlights were visiting the artists and learning more about the work from Myanmar (Burma), South Africa and Haiti. I met a man and his family that represents the last 30 puppeteers of Myanmar. It’s a dying tradition that dates back 600 years. You can read about it here.
Fabrics from Myanmar at IFAM July 2014 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.Baskets made of telephone wire in South Africa at IFAM July 2014 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.Art from Haiti, with a strong belief in voodoo at IFAM July 2014 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.Puppeteer from Myanmar, a 600 year tradition at IFAM July 2014 in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
I also got a chance to drive a bit of Route 66 in Albuquerque.
Route 66 – Albuquerque, New Mexico July 2014.Route 66 – Albuquerque, New Mexico July 2014.
It’s been great to go through my photos of the last year and relive some memories. I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing some images from the destinations I visited in 2014.
Sharing 2 quotes I love and perfect for starting the new year –
Wishing you new beginnings, magic, dreams and safe travels in 2015, the best is yet to come!
