Travel Photography Feature

A Work In Progress…to come: Palawan, Philippines, Kobe Luminarie, Sapporo, Hong Kong and more…

4 – Hanoi, Vietnam

A few shots from my time in Hanoi.

3 – Tsukiji Fish Market, Tokyo

Tsukiji Market is located in the heart of Tokyo, and is quite simply the most frantic place I have been to. Miniturised fork lift trucks whizz around, sellers shout out their prices and the whole places operates under some form of organised chaos that is incomprehensible to the visitor. Although sleepy eyed when I got there at 6am, I was quickly awake and on my toes, dodging the machinery and snapping away while attempted not to get scolded too much by the merchants. Here are some of the results

2 – Seoraksan, South Korea

From the sea to mountains- and the place I’ve probably been most impressed with while being in S.K. Seoraksan is a beautiful mountain range in the north east of S.K., and goes up to the border with the North. I was lucky to visit during winter- a picturesque time.

1 – Abashiri, Hokkaido

This view looking back towards the Japanese mainland was taken from an icebreaker ship in the Sea of Ohkotsk. Hokkaido is a beautiful place, largely removed from the industry and crowding of the rest of Japan. Its meant to be equally beautiful in summer, but I was there in winter, during the time of the Sapporo Snow Festival. Staying with a friend of mine, we first visited the festival then drove up to the second largest city, Asahikawa, before setting off on the three or four hour journey up to the north-eastern town of Abashiri. Journeys like this were common for my friend, as his friends lived in disparate regions of the large northern island. Yet for me it was something very unfamiliar. The views on the way to the town of Abashiri were stark and stunning, yet it was this view out back toward the town, as well as the views looking out from the cliffs of the mainland at the ice-coated sea, that remain in my mind. Truly a most astonishing place.

What I love about this shot is the deep blue of the sky, a perfect example of the purity in nature when unpolluted by modern living. The sky is so clear, and you can literally feel the air quality in a place like this- quite unlike my current home Seoul!

The final shot shown is of the 流氷, or “drift ice” that surrounds the town in the winter months.

These photos have shown the drift ice itself, but the town would make an interesting subject in its own right- remote, and very aware of the closeness of Russia to the north, the Abashirians who I met were largely unfriendly and suspicious of us! I’d love to go back one day though- its an extraordinary place.