Commissioned by Peter the Great, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is located inside the Peter and Paul Fortress in Saint Petersburg, Russia.



► Day 27: January 27th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

Peter and Paul Cathedral

Built on Zayachy Island, between 1712 and 1733, the cathedral's bell tower is the world's tallest Orthodox bell tower. It also acts as a lightning rod protecting the cathedral.

The cathedral houses the remains of most of the Russian emperors and empresses from Peter the Great to Nicholas II; including Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia for 34 years.

The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Young novice monk in maroon robe meditates beside candles in the afternoon sun at Mahabodhi Temple, India.



► Day 26: January 26th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

Boy Buddhist in Bodh Gaya

Bodh Gaya's Mahabodhi Temple gained its UNESCO World Heritage Listing in 2002.

A religious site and place of pilgrimage, Bodh Gaya (in Bihar State) is where Gautama Buddha is said to have obtained enlightenment; after meditating under the Bodhi tree, for 49 days.

For Buddhists, Bodh Gaya is the most important of the main four pilgrimage sites related to the life of Gautama Buddha; something akin to Mecca for Muslims.

Bodh Gaya is about 12km from Gaya City, where overnight trains connect with Kolkata (Calcutta).

The best time to visit is November to March; with December and January considered the high season.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Romantic couple enjoying a glass of champagne under a Darwin palm tree, during sunset at the Top End of Australia.



► Day 25: January 25th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

Champagne Sunset in Darwin

What better way to enjoy nature's lightshow than clinking a glass of sparkly with the one you love.

The bubbles rise as the sun sets and the colour of romance reflects in the loving couple's eyes.

Sunsets in Darwin are big business; from sunset cruises to the food and craft Sunset Market at Mindil Beach.

Of course you can catch a glorious sunset for free just about anywhere along Darwin's shoreline; East Point, Fannie Bay, along The Esplanade and down at the wharf.

For palm trees, head out to Nightcliff. 

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Located in the centre of New Zealand's South Island, Mount Cook (Aoraki) is New Zealand's highest peak.



► Day 24: January 24th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
 ✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

New Zealand Mt Cook

For many, an image of New Zealand might include the snow-capped mountain of Mt Cook, or sheep.

And they wouldn't be far wrong.

One might have to be really lucky to be presented with a picture of both in the same frame though.

While hitch-hiking through the Mackenzie region, I couldn't believe the scene in front of me when our car was held up by sheep on the road to Mt Cook.

The once in a lifetime view just cried out to be framed.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Once a traditional way of life on the numerous waterways in and around Bangkok, the floating market is now popular with leisure seekers at weekends; something of a cultural spectacle for Thai tourists and foreigners alike.




► Day 23: January 23rd, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos. Bangkok Floating Market

There are so many floating markets that travel bloggers devote pages to listing their favourites and a number of reasons why you should visit them; Damnoen Saduak, Amphawa, Khlong Lat Mayom, Taling Chan, and Bang Nam Pheung are just some of the floating market suggestions.

When I was in Thailand's capital, we didn't have smart phones and Google Maps, so I asked a 'tourist policeman' where the nearest floating market was.

He stopped a young man on a moped, told him where to take me and gestured that I was not to pay him.


http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Guatemala is a country of volcanoes, Mayans and colourful markets.




► Day 22: January 22nd, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

Guatemala

This picture of two Mayan women strolling through an Indian market, with volcan San Pedro in the background, is a good representation of many a traveller's favourite destination in Central America.

Framed by three volcanoes, Aldous Huxley described Lake Atitlan as 'the most beautiful lake in the world'.

The tourist village of Panajachel is situated on the northern coast of the lake.

Another famous market town in Guatemala is Chichicastenango.

Mayan Tikal and colonial Antigua are also very popular with foreign tourists. 

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

The Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque dominates the skyline of Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of the Sultanate of Brunei.



► Day 21: January 21st, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

Brunei Mosque

Built in 1958, the mosque is named after the 28th Sultan of Brunei. If you can't remember his name though, most people will know what you mean if you say the 'Brunei Mosque'.

Surrounded by an artificial lagoon the mosque's most distinguishable feature is its golden dome; which reflects nicely in the pool of water.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Victoria Falls in full flow; as seen from the Zimbabwean side of the Zambezi River, in southern Africa.



Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

► Day 20: January 20th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

With a width of 1,708 metres and height of 108 metres Victoria Falls is the world's largest sheet of falling water and forms the natural border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The spray from the falls can be seen for miles around and the constant roar of water crashing down a series of basalt gorges is truly thunderous; so much so that the Kololo tribe living in the area referred to this natural wonder as 'Mosi-oa-Tunya', or 'Smoke that Thunders'.

When David Livingstone explored this part of Africa on 16th November, 1855, he chose to name the majestic falls in honour of the British Queen, Victoria.

Both names are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List although there have been some concerns in UN corridors about the rapid rise of tourist development in a national park area near the Zambian town of Livingstone.

Most Western tourists used to visit from the Zimbabwean side, while staying as guests at the Victoria Falls and Elephant Hills hotels.

The falls can be reached from Livingstone in Zambia, or Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.

http://pics.travelnotes.org

A young boy watches an old Uzbek woman, probably his grandmother, put a steaming hot glass of tea to her lips; in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.



Tea in Tashkent

► Day 19: January 19th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

The youngster holds a pot aloft and offers the woman, with a red woolen scarf over her head, another refill.

It is a sunny April day, in Central Asia, but far from warm.

Open-air Uzbek tea houses can be found in many of Tashkent's parks. Although it isn't grown or produced in Uzbekistan, tea is considered the country's national drink. 

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Located in Wiltshire, about eight miles north of Salisbury and two miles west of Amesbury, Stonehenge was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1986.



Stonehenge

► Day 18: January 18th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

One of the most famous landmarks in the world, we usually see these ancient monumental stones photographed in a circle; and often appearing relatively small in the frame.

When Stonehenge was first opened to the public, it was possible to get up close to the stones and even walk around them as I did, before ropes and a visitor's centre were introduced.

In this picture I wanted to give a true feel of the stones; a sense of their great size, perceived weight, awesome power, and possible healing energy.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Visitors to Lake Titicaca can take boat trips out to the totora reed islands, where the Uros people live.



Lake Titicaca

► Day 17: January 17th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

Boats leave from Puno, on the Peruvian side of the lake.

Of the forty small islands on Lake Titicaca, tourists are ferried to the main island of of Santa Maria, where they can hire reed boats to get a closer look at the fish.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Skiing Ruthie's Run in Aspen, Colorado; one of the classic Downhill runs in North America.




Skiing in Aspen, Colorado

► Day 16: January 16th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

Aspen Mountain, known locally as Ajax, was founded in 1946; as the first ski area venture of the Aspen Skiing Company.

Ruthie Humphries made the initial $5,000 donation that enabled Aspen to host the first major international alpine ski championship held in North America; the 1950 FIS World Alpine Ski Championships.

In 1987, on a warm, sunny spring day in the mountains of Colorado, Switzerland's Pirmin Zurbriggen (already the overall winner for the Ski World Cup series) made history in Aspen; by winning both the men's downhill and the giant slalom.

He was followed in second and third places by Swiss teammates Daniel Mahrer and Karl Alpiger.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Overview of shoppers and market vendors at the colourful indoor vegetable market in Kota Bahru, Malaysia; some in traditional Malay dress.

 

Kota Bahru Indoor Market

► Day 15: January 15th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

Muslim woman sell fresh vegetables from a seated position on the floor; while others watch the rituals of Kelanten daily life, from above.

Visiting a food market on our travels is a great way to gain an insight into the local culture and a taste for the main ingredients that go into the regional dishes.

For the photographer, there's plenty of colour on display and an array of opportunities for candid photography.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

One of the largest and oldest museums in the world, the State Hermitage in Saint Petersburg was founded by Catherine the Great, in 1764, and has been open to the public since 1852.



Hermitage Staircase

► Day 14: January 14th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

The Jordan Staircase of the Winter Palace leads up to the exhibition rooms.

Although badly damaged by fire in 1837, the original plans from architect Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli were used for the reconstruction of this grand state entrance.

I waited for the small child to move up the marble stairs to help illustrate the grand scale of the elaborate detail before our eyes.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Old man in contemplation by the Domes at the Avenue of Mausoleums (Shah-i-Zinda) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan; one of the oldest inhabited cities in Central Asia, along with Bukhara



Samarkand, Uzbekistan

► Day 13: January 13th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

An Islamic centre for scholarly study, Samarkand prospered from its position on the Old Silk Road; described in 'The Travels of Marco Polo' as 'a very large and splendid city'.

UNESCO added the city to its World Heritage List, in 2001; as Samarkand - Crossroads of Cultures.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Famous for its alpaca wool textiles, the Plaza de Ponchos in Otavalo is one of the largest Indian markets in Ecuador.

 

Plaza de Ponchos - Otavalo, Ecuador

► Day 12: January 12th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

A weaver in the traditional costume of Otavaleño men - white pants, poncho, and black felt hat - proudly displays his Ecuadorian textile art.

Otavalo was originally a market town for the region's farming communities, but with the growth of tourism, the Saturday market is now supplies foreign tourists with handicraft souvenirs of their visit to Ecuador. 

 http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Mother and daughter strolling home from the market in Maputo, Mozambique with tins of Lion Lager on their head.

 

Helping Mum in Mozambique

► Day 11: January 11th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

It is not uncommon to see women carrying things on their head, but this is the first time I saw a little girl help her mother take the beer home, presumably for her father.

Usually the children carry water, or firewood.

Once this little girl gets better at carrying loads on her head, she'll be able to walk upright with her hands free; like mum.

 http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Guilin is flat enough to cycle around and then these magnificent limestone peaks rise up in front of you.



Guilin Limestone Peaks

► Day 10: January 10th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

A cruise down the river, from Guilin to Yangshuo, passes through some of China's most magnificent scenery.

Nature has spent 70 million years perfecting the sculptures around this part of the Li River; revealing a landscape that is truly awesome.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

On a photo walk in Armenia's capital, Yerevan, this beautiful display of art in the park caught my eye.

 

Armenian Art in the Park

► Day 9: January 9th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

Yerevan is not an attractive city by any means, but some its surroundings are; Armenia's ancient monasteries and the views across to Mount Ararat.

At weekends, much of Armenia's beauty is displayed through works of art by local artists in Saryan park; elegantly arranged around the statue of one of the country's most famous masters of colour on canvas.

Martiros Saryan (1880-1972) was a Russian-Armenian painter and founder of the Armenian national school of painting.

The site of Saryan's house in Yerevan was extended into a house-museum during the artist's lifetime.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Travel in Ecuador often means making the effort to arrive in certain towns on market day; or the night before.




Piggy Went to Market

► Day 8: January 8th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

Visiting Ecuador's indigenous markets is so popular with Gringo tourists that day tours even depart from Quito; to Otavalo (Plaza de Ponchos), and Saquisili (baskets).

Riobamba and Cuenca (flowers) are further away and will most likely mean staying the night; maybe on the way south to Guayaquil.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

When I travelled by rail from Moscow to Saint Petersburg in April, 1992 I was glad to see the Soviet State Railway Emblem still on the train.



Soviet Railway Emblem

► Day 7: January 7th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

The dissolution of the Soviet Union had taken place in December 1991 and Russia was now briefly a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States, or CIS.

The State Emblem of the Soviet Union (some call it a coat of arms) shows a five-pointed red star above the traditional hammer and sickle over a globe, with ears of wheat around it.

There is a rising sun under the globe, and a red ribbon around the two wreaths of wheat with 'Proletarians of the world, unite!' written in the official languages of the fifteen (former) Soviet Republics.

If you're interested, the languages are Turkmen, Tajik, Latvian, Lithuanian, Georgian, Uzbek, and Ukrainian on the left; Estonian, Armenian, Kyrgyz, Moldovan, Azerbaijani, Kazak and Belarusian on the right; with Russian joining them all together at the base.

Between July 1956 and September 1991, there were fifteen union republics: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. 

 http://tnot.es/TravelPics

The Forbidden City (Imperial Palace) was home to fourteen emperors of the Ming dynasty (1368-1644) and ten emperors of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).



Forbidden City, Beijing

► Day 6: January 6th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

Listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987, the Palace Museum is located in the centre of Beijing, on the northern side of Tiananmen Square.

Probably photographed by every tourist visiting the Chinese capital, but few will get down on their hands and knees to find an angle like this; then wait for people walking through the frame to create a balance.

 http://tnot.es/TravelPics

The Harbour Bridge is as classic a symbol of Sydney as the shells of the Opera House itself.




Sydney Harbour Bridge

► Day 5: January 5th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

Sydney Harbour Bridge, seen here at sunset, connects the Sydney central business district with the North Shore commercial and residential areas.

When completed, in 1932, the bridge Down Under was the widest bridge on the planet and the world's largest single-arch bridge; but was not the longest.

The single arch design was built from both ends (using cable supports) and joined in the middle.

Built to carry motor vehicles, trains, trams (until 1958), pedestrians and bicycles, the bridge's span of 1,650 feet allows unobstructed passage for ships in Sydney Harbour. 

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

Located about 100km west of Shanghai, Suzhou is famous for its canals, bridges and classical gardens; collectively an UNESCO World Heritage Site.



Suzhou Canals, China

► Day 4: January 4th, 2016 - One Photo Upload a Day.
✈ Project 366 - Daily Travel Photos.

With the Yangtze River Delta to the north-east and surrounded by lakes, it's not surprising Suzhou is often called 'Venice of the East'.

There's even a Grand Canal running through Suzhou, north to south, connecting Beijing with Hangzhou.

While many tourists might choose the easy option and take a boat tour on the Weichang River, it's easy enough to walk around on foot and discover the quiet backwaters of this 2,500 year-old city; founded in 514 BC as Helü, in the Kingdom of Wu.

An old Chinese proverb says, "In heaven there is paradise, on earth there are Hangzhou and Suzhou."

http://tnot.es/TravelPics

On New Year's Day it was suggested we share one piece of work a day for a year; a Project 365, if you like.

As 2016 is a Leap Year, this has become a Project 366.

My aim is to upload one photo a day to my Travel Pics Gallery.

Here's what I chose to upload to get the project started.

January 1st, 2016

Although it was already January 2nd in Europe, I managed to upload this photo before midnight on January 1st, Eastern United States time.



Romantic reunion between a Russian Soldier and his girlfriend in Moscow's Red Square with The Cathedral of Vasily the Blessed (Saint Basil's Cathedral) in the background.

January 2nd, 2016



Two Cuban ladies walking down Cuba Calle in Havana, Republic of Cuba. Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean, and the second-most populous after Hispaniola (Dominican Republic and Haiti).

Havana features some wonderful Spanish colonial architecture within its 16th-century core, Old Havana.

Paint may be peeling off the walls and street lights don't always work but there are plenty of photo opportunities for street photographers with an eye for the candid shot.

January 3rd, 2016

 

Saint Petersburg is located on the Neva River, at the head of the Gulf of Finland; the easternmost arm of the Baltic.

On a photo walk in Russia's second largest city I chose to frame the golden dome of Saint Isaac's Cathedral within an anchor; to emphasize Saint Petersburg's connection with the sea.

Founded by Peter the Great in 1703, Saint Petersburg became the imperial capital of Russia until 1918. The Baltic port was also known as Petrograd in 1914, then Leningrad in 1924, before reverting back to Saint Petersburg in 1991.

http://tnot.es/TravelPics