GORM TEPERCon Dao Island
Posted on March 17, 2018
I haven’t posted anything in a while – very sorry. Has been a very busy end to 2017 and a busy start in 2018. I have also changed jobs in that time which was a little intense. The good news, and also a cause to the lack of posts is that Vanessa and I had a good long trip to Vietnam (again). So there should be plenty of new material coming up. As we are also on the brink of spring, I hope to grab some nice spring shots too soon.
The beach in front of our resort. 5D Mark III and 24mm 1.4 lens.
So I have decided to break down our trip is sections, and this part is about Con Dao. These are remote islands about an hours flight south of Saigon. The islands are known for their prisons during the Vietnam War, which is a bit depressing. However, they are also home to Vietnam’s best beaches, nice wilderness, and six senses resort.
We took a flight from Saigon with Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO). It was a windy landing and one to remember, but the airline is fine and ATRs are always bumpy. We stayed at a Vietnamese 3 start resort just out of town. Con Dao Resort is walking distance from the main town. But the best way to get around is by motorbike. We rented a bike for a couple of days.
VASCO flies regular flights from Saigon to Con Dao with ATR-72s. 5D Mark III with 35mm 1.4 lens.
The islands are pretty quiet, and the people are surprisingly laid back for the Vietnamese. There are not that many roads, and not that much to see, but the place is very relaxing. We checked out the local temples, beaches and the main town the first day.
Roads are pretty quiet on the island. 5D Mark III with 85mm 1.2L II lens.
Local shrine was very picturesque. 5D Mark III with 24mm 1.4 Art lens
The markets in Con Dao are well worth a visit. 5D Mark III with 85mm 1.2L II lens.
The beach just in front of the airport is also quite nice. Its also a good place to see incoming flights which go right overhead. Taken with a 5D Mark III and 12mm 2.8 fisheye lens.
The second day we looked at a lot of the prisons from the war period. Some were built by the French for political prisoners, and some were later built by the Americans. All offer horrific conditions. It was hard to understand why such measures were needed, but good to see them.
Walking above the cells in the French built prison. An incredible place which asks many questions. 5D Mark III with 24mm 1.4 Art lens.
To prevent the prisoners from climbing up the walls and escaping, the guards would break arms and legs. 5D Mark III with 24mm 1.4 Art lens.
The American prison was obviously made on a tight budget with no concern for human life. The clammy, dark, and cramped interior is just a disgusting place to be. 5D Mark III with 24mm 1.4 lens.
The next day we rode up to the start of the national park. You need a special permit to enter the park, but it’s easy to get at the park office. We then took a hike to the other side of the island. On the way we traveled through dense jungle, and encountered a bit of wild life including monkeys. Finally we made it to a very remote little beach. It was quite rocky, but very nice in general. There are coral reefs just off shore.
One of the locals, Con Dao National Park. 5D Mark III with 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS II lens.
Somewhere in the national park. 5D Mark III with 24mm 1.4 lens. Polariser.
An interesting fellow, a couple of kilometers from the water. 5D Mark III with 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS II lens.
Nice to be off the beaten track. It did not look like there were many visitors to the park. 5D Mark III with 24mm 1.4 Art lens.
The rest of the time, we just hang around town. There are some nice cafes and restaurants. I would recommend Con Dao to anyone visiting Vietnam. It’s a welcome change from the usual rush. I think it has Vietnam’s best beaches, and easy access to nature. There is still not too many tourists there, and the remote parts are very authentic.
Same old fantastic Vietnamese food. 5D Mark III with 35mm 1.4 Art lens.
Sitting on the sidewalk, waiting for our dinner. 5D Mark III with 35mm 1.4 lens.
The mandatory beach photos! Con Dao. 5D Mark III with 85mm 1.2L II lens.
Location:
Gallery:
Plitvice Lakes National Park – Croatia
Posted on November 11, 2017
Plitvice Lakes National Park was one of the biggest highlights on my recent trip to Croatia. It is simply the most amazing aquatic ecosystem I have ever seen. The scale of the place, and the way that you can traverse this park leaves visitors with a memorable experience.
The park is some 295 square kilometers, and comprises some 16 lakes, all chained together by incredible terraces. There are countless waterfalls, limestone caves, and endless walking tracks. The lakes are all in pristine condition, and the blue green water is amazing.
View down on the amazing network of wooden paths which crisscross the park. Plitvice Lakes National Park, G7X with waterproof case.
The park is located a little inland in northern Croatia, near the border with Bosnia & Herzegovina. It is easy to get to, and there is a lot of parking for all types of vehicles. A day ticket at the park costs 55 – 180 Kuna depending on the season.
Location:
Official Website: http://www.np-plitvicka-jezera.hr/en/
When we were there, it was hard rain. In fact we thought about cancelling our visit, but decided to brave the elements. The rain meant that I had to abandon my 5D Mark III. Luckily I have a waterproof case form my smaller camera, a Canon G7X. It turned out to be a blessing, I could not have taken the images I did if I hadn’t had the waterproof case. The waterfalls were full due to the rain, and also the crowds were light.
Others braving the rain to experience this amazing place. Plitvice Lakes National Park, G7X w/ waterproof case.
One of the many waterfalls in the park, Plitvice Lakes National Park, G7X w/ waterproof case.
Advantage of using a waterproof case, I was able to get a unique partly submerged image from a single exposure. Plitvice Lakes National Park, G7X w/ waterproof case.
We followed one of the standard routes around the park, which included board walks, hiking tracks through forests, a boat ride and finally a bus back to where we started. All in all it took us most of the day. We did stop of lunch at one of the café locations in the park.
National park map. Credit: http://www.croatiatraveller.com
Tips for visiting:
- The park is open all year round, but the famous colours of the water and forests is in Summer.
- Allow a full day for visiting. Best to visit on your own, and not in a group as you would likely miss much of the park.
- Arrive as early as possible to miss most of the crowds and to give yourself as much time as possible.
- Plan for a lot of walking, bring water and snacks, as the cafes are few and far between.
- Bring sturdy footwear, and also a raincoat. There is mud, splashes, flooded paths and mist from the waterfalls to contend with.
- There is plenty of cheap accommodation in the nearby fruit plantations. We had a house for ourselves for 35 Euros per night.
- It is possible to visit in winter when everything is frozen solid. I would like to try this!
Knocking umbrellas at Plitvice Lakes National Park, G7X w/ waterproof case. Tripod.
Photographing underwater shows the world beneath, Plitvice Lakes National Park, G7X w/ waterproof case.
Tips on photography at Plitvice Lakes National Park:
- It is easy to capture amazing photos from one of the world’s most beautiful places.
- Priority should go to protecting your equipment, as it will be exposed to the elements.
- Bring a few lenses, polarizer, neutral density filters and a tripod.
- Note that it might be impractical to use a tripod if there is a lot of people. You will block the path, and get shaky images from the vibration of people walking by.
- If you have a waterproof case for your camera, bring it!
- Use a polarizer to bring out the colour, and an ND filter to allow longer exposures and create motion.
- Don’t drop your camera in the water…
Gallery
Here are my keepers from the day. Due to the conditions, I had to improvise a little, and use a point and shoot camera. All images taken with a Canon G7X and Canon waterproof housing.
GORM TEPER 