Cambodia

We visited Siem Reap in Cambodia last summer, to visit the extraordinary temples and to see a bit of the country and its people.

 

Ta Nei, an atmospheric jungle temple.

 

 

 

 

Monks bathing in the Sacred Waterfall in the Kulen mountains.

 

 

 

 

 

The Bayon Temple in the rain.

 

 

 

 

 

A face on the Bayon Temple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Cambodian family.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Spung tree growing out of the walls of a jungle temple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A lady making sticky rice at the side of the road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The moat around Angkor Thom.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Cambodian chicken.  Very different to our pampered girls at home.

La Pedriza, Spain

Walking in the hills above Madrid is always wonderful, especially in Autumn when the days are clear and crisp.  La Pedriza is a national park around 40 mins northwest of the city which is known for its amazing rock formations and challenging walks and rock climbing.  You need to get there by 9am at the weekend to have any chance of getting in as they operate a strict quota system for entry.  It seems brutal to get up so early for a walk but totally worth it when you get there!

 

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The view from the carpark.

 

 

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The leaves were just turning when we visited the park.

 

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After two hours of hiking we found this view looking down towards Madrid.  To the left of the horizon you can just see the skyscrapers of the city.

 

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Some of the wonderful rock formations.

Summer in the Alps

We have just returned from two weeks hiking and biking in the french alps.  Who knew that summer in the mountains is just as good as winter?   The perfect day out is definitely a hard walk or ride followed by a gourmet picnic or an outstanding meal at a local restaurant.  Or as our friend Richard Hamshire calls it   “Pain and fine dining”.

Path to Le Monal. Sainte Foy Tarentaise.

The path to Le Monal, Sainte Foy Tarentaise.

 

Plateau de la Sassier.

Plateau de la Sassiere

 

Above Lac de Verdet

Little lake above Lac de Longet

 

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A view of Mont Pourri from Lac de Verdet

 

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Rock pool at Le Crot

Cantabria, Northern Spain

We visited Cantabria in the North of Spain this weekend.  What a beautiful region.  With endless deserted beaches, beautifully preserved medieval buildings and green hills, it is not the Spain that generally comes to mind.

 

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Playa de Merón.

 

 

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Hermitage of Saint Justa.

 

 

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View from El Soplao

 

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Santillana del Mar.  El Albergue

 

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Santillana del Mar.  A harpist in the main square.

 

 

 

The Land of Ice and Fire, Iceland July 2015

Our five day trip took us from the beautiful little port of Keflavic near the airport, to the brooding Snaefellsnes Peninsular and the stunning waterfalls of the southeast corner of the island.

Keflavic, Iceland at 10pm in July 2015

Keflavic, Iceland at 10pm in July 2015

Fissure between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

Fissure between the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates.

 

The Snaefellsnes Peninsular.

The Snaefellsnes Peninsular.

The Church at Budir.

The Church at Budir.

A Geysir in action.

A Geysir in action.

Archway to the Sea

Archway to the Sea

Waterfall at Rjukandi

Waterfall at Rjukandi