Travels in the Riel World

Crater Lake, Oregon

A picturesque view of Crater Lake in Oregon. This is the deepest lake in the United States and it was formed when water collected in the caldera of a collapsed volcano.

Painted Desert, Arizona.

A view of the Painted Desert in Arizona. This is one of several places where you can see the North American badlands, a distinctive landscape that can be found in Arizona, South Dakota, Nebraska and western Canada, among other destinations. If you’d like to see other photos of badlands in the Painted Desert and in South Dakota’s Badlands National Park, then check out my recently published photo essay on Examiner.com.

Chang Mai, Thailand

A woman from the Kayan tribe (popularly known as the “Long Necks”). This is a Burmese tribe, some of whose members now live in northern Thailand. The females wear neck rings that push down the collar bone and gives the appearance of a long neck.

Krakow, Poland

Cobblestoned lane and outdoor cafe just off Market Square in the center of Krakow’s Old Town.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

In this photo are two of the most famous sites related to American independence. In the foreground is the Liberty Bell, silhouetted against a background that includes Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were both signed.

Salzburg, Austria

Do you like The Sound of Music? Then you may recognize the Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg, Austria, where a famous musical scene was filmed for the movie.

Mesa Verde, Colorado

Cliff Palace in Mesa Verde National Park. The largest known cliff dwelling in North America, with 150 rooms, it was occupied during the 12th and 13th centuries by the Ancient Pueblo Indians.

Siem Reap, Cambodia.

The Ta Prohm temple in the Angkor Archaeological Park near Siem Reap, Cambodia. An 800-year-old temple, not far from the more famous Angkor Wat, that has merged with the jungle. It’s an eerie but strangely beautiful sight.

Agra, India.

Everyone has seen the classic front view of the Taj Mahal. But it’s just as interesting and spectacular from the side. This particular view is framed by the entrance to a mosque that is set just to the left of the Taj Mahal.

Monument Valley, Utah

The stunning red buttes and mesas of Monument Valley, in a Navajo Nation tribal park on the Utah-Arizona border. To see a few more of these photos, check out a photo essay on Monument Valley that I recently published.

Boston, Massachusetts

A street lamp in the shadow of the Hancock Tower in Boston’s Back Bay district. If you’d like to see a few more Boston photos, check out my nine-picture photo essay of Boston.

Last Monday, I had a post about Old Towns around the world, and one of the districts featured in the Sydney Herald article that I wrote about was in Hoi An, Vietnam. As a follow-up, here are a few photos that I took in Hoi An during my own visit there:

The architecture of Hoi An’s Old Town

More architecture

View of a local street from a pedestrian bridge

And, a woman carts around produce in a shoulder basket.

Sedona, Arizona

Wildflowers and red rocks at dawn. If you’d like to see more photos, check out my 10-picture photo essay of the red rocks of Sedona.

Halong Bay, Vietnam

The stunning limestone islands of Halong Bay, off the northern coast of Vietnam, just before sunset.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

Three Buddhist monks and their umbrellas, walking down the street in Cambodia.

Paris, France

The Eiffel Tower at sunset.

Arizona, USA

Sunset in southern Arizona, just south of Tucson.

Machu Picchu, Peru

The classic view of Machu Picchu, taken from a hill above the Inca ruins. Still one of the most incredible places I’ve visited.