China is one of these destinations we just can’t get enough. Plus there are so many beautiful places, one life would not be enough to see them all. In 2018 we managed to visit some of Chinas most notorious sights, like Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Tianmen Fairy Mountain, Leshan Giant Buddha, Fenghuang Ancient Town and the mysterious hanging coffins of Luobiao.
Greece 2018
Spending your summer vacation in Greece is no longer an insiders’ tip. The over 3.000 islands attract millions of visitors every year, simply because the Greek islands are and always will be uniquely fascinating. Our last journey here has been over a decade ago, so it was about time to re-visit history. Crete, Rhodes, Zakynthos or Corfu are familiar faces, but we were on the lookout for something less popular, yet of the same beauty. Only by coincidence did we come across a real gem in the southern Aegean Sea: Milos.
Sadhus Of Varanasi
Varanasi is the most holy city in Hinduism and the spiritual home of India’s Sadhus, or holy men who have renounced the worldly life. They are revered by Hindus as representatives of the Gods and sometimes worshiped as Gods themselves. They are ascetics and wanderers and are often displayed as private, dignified, selfless people, respected for their Holiness and feared for their curses.
Morocco 2017
We are lucky enough to having visited Morocco twice in 2017. We went on an epic road trip in January from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and further on to the sand dunes of Merzouga. Quad biking through the dunes was one of the most memorable and fun things we’ve ever done. Driving through several gorges, such as Gorge du Dades and across the High Atlas Mountains round off this adventure. And in November we were here again during our adventure road trip from Vienna to Nouakchott in Mauritania.
Scotland 2017
Scotland might just be one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been to. Whether you’re young or old, sporty or relaxed, easy going or an adventure seeker, everyone will get what they’re looking for. During our road trip, we managed to travel all across the norther tip of England.
Kolkata 2017
No one would call noisy Kolkata a peaceful city, but it will definitely leave you speechless nevertheless. We had the pleasure of visiting Kolkata again in December 2017. With only two days to spare (due to a very delayed overnight train from Varanasi), we decided to stick to the wonderful markets in the North of Kolkata. After all, they’re our favourite photo spot anyway. Great photo opportunities can be found at markets around the world, but what you’ll come across in Kolkata truly can’t be compared. The City of Joy once again was worth the trip and left us with exceptional memories that will last a lifetime.
Cambodia 2016
There’s a magic about this charming yet confounding Kingdom that casts a spell on visitors. In Cambodia, ancient and modern worlds collide to create an authentic adventure.
Tough Life
Not everyone lives on the sunny side of life. Within seconds, circumstances can turn ones life upside down. While in some countries treatment is available straight away, simple things like sheer luck decides between life and death or permanent disability in other countries. In the end, it’s all down to FATE.
In our modern and fast-moving world, even small mishaps can riddle someone off the track and make lives miserable: the loss of a smartphone, a missed flight, a partying neighbour or a broken car. And if something actually bad happens? Well, then we have the luxury of institutions, insurances or savings. Help will eventually come.
Keep in mind through that there are millions of people in these so called third-world-countries who are the backbone of our comfort zone. They do jobs we wouldn’t dare to work in and most often under hazardous conditions that endanger health and well-being. Still, these people bear their fate with the greatest dignity since moaning or groaning will not bring them any further.
Street Life
Probably most people reading this are born into a well situated society, meaning a roof over the head, proper school education and if ambitious, a job with a fair wage. Very often, people don’t realise that they were born on the sunny side of life. But don’t forget that approximately 1.6 billion people lack adequate housing and their homes are the streets and alleys of more or less every country in the world.
India 2016
One lifetime wouldn’t be enough to explore all of India. We’re trying to see as much as we can. In 2016, we travelled from Mumbai all the way to the Pakistani border to a town called Bhuj and back across the country to Visakhapatnam. India has been in our heart for over two decades and it’s one of those places we can never get enough of.
Kolkata Market Life
There are some countries, where the expression “Man Power” is still literally in use; countries where machines haven’t taken over yet and where human labour is still essential. One can only admire these people for their strength, power, endurance and willingness.
Prague 2016
Prague was the capital site of the Habsburger Empire under Rudolf II. The city once was so tightly bound to what we call Western Europe today, that in the 17th century it was enough to through two catholic town councils and a secretary out of Prague’s castle to start a war; a war that would last 30 years and seized almost all of Europe.
Brilliant directors and writers like Antonin Dvorak and Franz Kafka have emerged here and until today it almost seems like, history has been captured behind the castles walls.
During the four days I’ve spent in Czech Republic’s capital, I have not only refreshed my history skills but I started appreciating all of the wonderful parts and impressions. I’ll be honest: Prague has made the top of my all-time favourite European cities! It’s clean, it’s beautiful, it’s full of history yet for some reason it’s still so underestimated … and that’s what makes it even more charming!
Oman 2015
After our trip through the mountainous region of Jebel Shams in northern Oman in February 2014, we decided to give the southern part a go on this year’s trip. What we had definitely underestimated a little bit was the sheer distance – 1.023 kilometres from Muscat to Salalah (with the shortest connection).
Kashmir 2015
Getting to Kashmir involves one of the most adventurous trips in the world: a journey across the fantastic Leh-Manali Highway. We were up for this adventure and after a two day trip (479 kilometres from Manali) across the Himalayas, we arrived in the beautiful town of Leh – exhausted, tired and with a headache.
Leh lies at an altitude of 3.524 metres and due to the strong influence of Tibetan Buddhism, the city is also known as Little Tibet or the Land of Lamas. Although not as high as some of the passes across the Leh-Manali Highway, the atmosphere and especially the sky is exceptional. You’re closer to heaven and not only can you see, but feel it! Leh radiates something I can’t quite nail down. Something peaceful and mysterious at the same time. We felt like staying in an old western town with a gold-rush mood… the next three days would let us explore this amazing town and the beautiful surrounding Gompas.
Varanasi 2015
Once in every lifetime an observant Hindu hopes to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Varanasi. Some come to wash away sickness and sin in the Ganges River. Others bring their dead to be burned. Still some come to live their last days here, for to die and be cremated in Varanasi guarantees eternal release from the cycle of birth and death.
Turkey 2015
Turkey is one of the most diverse and beautiful countries. In 2015 we managed to go on an epic road trip across this beautiful nation. From Antalya to the world famous fairy chimneys in Cappadocia, further on to the hot springs of Pamukkale and to Bodrum on the Aegean coast. From here our road trip back to Antalya lead us across the stunningly beautiful Turkish Riviera.
China 2014
China might not be the most charming nation at times, yet the countryside and bustling cities make up for the lack of hospitality. For many years China as been one of our favourite travel destinations.
China is home to one of the world’s oldest and most complex civilizations covering a history of over 5.000 years. The nation covers a large geographical region with customs and traditions varying greatly between towns, cities and provinces.
Hong Kong 2014
Hong Kong offers culture, flair, lifestyle, luxury & adventure. For us, it’s one of the coolest cities in the world. It’s renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour. With a land mass of only 1.104 km2, it’s home to a population of more than seven million people, therefore Hong Kong is one of the most densely populated areas in the world.
Hands
Hands are those very useful things at the ends of your arms.
I have always been fascinated with hands as a photo subject because they give you an insight on the persons life story: how old they are, where they come from, what they do, what their living situation looks like. Our human hands are truly unique. The appearance of your hands can reveal whether you perform extremely gentle and precise actions such as playing the violin, or heavy labor, such as digging. Only we can grasp, hold, move, and manipulate objects with them. We use our hands to feel whether something is rough or smooth, hot or cold, sharp or dull.
Now take a moment to hold them out in front of you. Look at them. They are the only two you will ever have.
Sadarghat Port | Dhaka
The minute we arrived at Sadarghat Port, we were surrounded by ferrymen who were all eager to row us up and down the river in one of the the many Sampan ferries – the small wooden boats, powered and steered by one person. They wait in a cue to pick up passengers. Watching & documenting the daily life at this very busy port has already fascinated us during our visit in 2012 and we were eager to experience it all over again.
Once we settled the price (roughly 150 Taka per hour – excluding tips), the journey took its course. Rush hour in the Dhaka mean that thousands of people have to cross the busy waters of the Buriganga river. It’s said that this is one of the most dangerous waterways on Earth … and most dangerous for the ferrymen.
These men are really talented and fast with their boats; they navigate them like the cycle Rickshaw drivers maneuver their through the chaotic traffic in the city. It’s hard physical work too with temperatures of up to 40° Celsius (and very often the ferrymen are over 70 years old). Very impressive! It’s not a comfortable ride tough, because you have to sit cross-legged on the wooden boat deck, so cramps are a certain factor if you’re not used to sit in such a position (and of course this was the case for us).
Traffic along the Buriganga river is most common and happening at almost any given hour of the day: big boats and small boats filled with all sorts of different goods make their way up or down the river stream, launches (this is what ferries are called in Bangladesh) come and go, cargo-ships that need a repair job are parked along the waterway…all is normal here at Sadarghat port. As you can imagine with all these boats, several movements of these ferrymen are clearly not for the faint-hearted, but somehow it works out most of the times. Still, every day one or two boats capsize. And sometimes people die.
Sadarghat port is an experience itself and a must for every Bangladesh visitor – the daily chaos with all these boats on the river will stay with you for a long time.
Italy 2014
From North to South, Italy offers some of the most stunning landscapes one could ever find. And luckily, it’s also Austria’s neighbouring country, which makes visiting often quite simple.
Bangladesh 2014
Bangladesh is a stunning country located in the Indian-subcontinent. Formerly known as East Pakistan, it became independent in 1971 after 9 months of bloody war and brutal killings of 3 million people, mostly students and intellectuals.
Bangladesh is renowned for its Cox’s Bazaar beach which is the longest in the world, the beautiful and world’s largest mangrove forest, the Sunderbans, as well as the second largest ship breaking yard in Chittagong or Sadarghat Port, one of the toughest waterway crossings.
Despite being a poor country and devastated by natural disasters and periodic floods every year, Bangladesh is growing strong, gradually developing and is a country with the most welcoming people you’ll ever come across.
Sydney 2014
Australia is the sixth-largest country and dazzlingly diverse: a sing-along medley of mountains, deserts, reefs, forests, beaches and multicultural melting-pot cities. And with Sydney, one of the coolest places to visit. Day or night, Sydney sure is good-looking!
Indonesia 2013
When travelling through Indonesia, welcoming people, tropical beaches, active volcanoes, deep jungles, and rough seas (at times) will be part of your journey. Indonesia is a country that we’ve fallen in love with a long time ago during our first trip in 1994, and every visit holds new impressions and experiences for us. It’s almost like coming home.
New Zealand | South
A while ago, I decided to book a ticket to Australia & New Zealand in February and March 2014, without having a clue if I would even be able to travel during that period (I do have a job you know)… But, I needed something big to look forward to, so nothing stopped me from drawing my credit card.
I had 28 full days in New Zealand. This meant that I was on a pretty tight schedule. After all, the distance between Vienna and Auckland is 17.841 kilometres/11.086 miles (!) so who knew when I’d fly down there again. Usually this kind of tight planning is not what suits, but not this time…
Here are some impressions from the South Island.
New Zealand | North
A while ago, I decided to book a ticket to Australia & New Zealand in February and March 2014, without having a clue if I would even be able to travel during that period (I do have a job you know)… But, I needed something big to look forward to, so nothing stopped me from drawing my credit card.
I had 28 full days in New Zealand. This meant that I was on a pretty tight schedule. After all, the distance between Vienna and Auckland is 17.841 kilometres/11.086 miles (!) so who knew when I’d fly down there again. Usually this kind of tight planning is not what suits, but not this time…
Here are some impressions from the North Island.
Berlin 2013
Berlin is one of the world’s great capitals. Since the Wall’s collapse in1989, it’s been exciting to see Berlin shed its Cold War-era blossom into a vibrant, hip and relaxed capital city. The nightlife, the people, the museums, the landmarks – Berlin offers a great variety for everyone to enjoy.
Cambodia 2013
Cambodia is one of these countries in Asia, we always love returning to. With magical Angkor Wat in the North and the bustling capital city Phnom Penh in the South, it’s a great place to relax, explore and learn.
Istanbul 2013
Although Istanbul isn’t the capital, it’s the largest city in Turkey and the leading industrial, commercial, historical, and cultural center. Not only because of the diversity of people, but also geologically; Istanbul is the only major city world-wide that lies on two continents, Asia & Europe. It’s one of the most fascinating places and therefore the “Soul of Turkey” should be visited at least once in a lifetime.
Paris 2013
When most people think about Paris, historical & gigantic buildings, large streets, great distances and lots of people come to mind … right after “The City of Love” of course. In Paris, there are lots of opportunities to see a whole new aspect of the city. Some of the spots are pretty obvious, others not so well-known.
Today, Paris is one of the world’s leading business and cultural centres and its influences in politics, education, entertainment, media, science, and the arts all contribute to its status as one of the world’s major global cities.
China 2012
For thousands of years, China managed to keep its traditions and way of living isolates from the Western world. Only few travellers manage to experience the “real deal” mainly due to language barriers and the reservation of the local people against foreigners. Still, China is one of the most fascinating countries world-wide.
Surfing Teahupoo
Teahupoo itself is a black beach place with many local rent out rooms and the vibes are really good – as they usually are around surf spots. We were lucky to stay with a few surfers from Brazil (including the pro-surfer Dennis Tiahara). When the guys went our for a surf the next day, they asked if we’d dare to go out with them to take some photos. This was a great opportunity and we followed their request immediately. Some local guy they knew, took us out to the massive waves on his jet-ski and we spent the next two days taking heaps of shots right near this world-famous break. It was an unforgettable experience to be so close to the action.
Dragon’s Backbone
The Dragon’s Backbone rice terraces – also known as the Longji rice terraces – are the most famous in China. They were mostly built during the Ming Dynasty, about 500 years ago but construction actually began in the Yuan Dynasty over 700 years ago. Neatly planted with a very sophisticated watering system, this is farming since many hundred years in this fertile area. The walking trails are abundant and it’s easy to spend a week without going the same way and with every step you take you get another view.
Market Life
For many people, life revolves around the market. It’s the place in every city (at least where supermarkets haven’t taken over yet), where people go to buy their daily needs. From dawn until dusk, markets are a bustling melting pot where all social classed collide.
Bangladesh 2012
Bangladesh is a country that usually doesn’t cross a travellers path. The country faces a number of major challenges, including poverty, corruption, overpopulation and vulnerability to climate change. Still, Bangladesh is one of the most fascinating places with the most wonderful & welcoming people, rich culture and fantastic photo opportunities. Hopefully we can return again soon!
Portrait / Men
Portrait / Women
Africa in the 70s
Since I have been travelling from the early 70’s, when all those modern gadgets were not yet invented, travelling overland through remote and unexplored regions of the black continent was a privilege for only a hand full of people. Today a lot of regions that I explored by 4×4 truck with the simple method of a compass and map, are no longer accessible, at least not without an unease feeling. Back then, with Nisa in tow, the little white girl opened doors to the grimmest police officer just with her smile.
Ship Breaking Yard
Research through the internet taught us, that the beginning of the ship breaking industry in Bangladesh came by “accident”. After a severe cyclone in 1960, a Greek ship was stranded on the beach of Chittagong and could not be re-floated for some years. Then it was scrapped and this was the birth of the Bangladesh ship breaking industry – which is the second largest in the world.
Burkina Faso 2012
Burkina Faso is one of these countries, of which most people have never heard of. “Burkina Faso” is thus meant to be understood as “Land of upright people” – and it definitely hold up to this saying. Though a land-locked country, it has much more to offer than one would ever expect.