Feet without faces

People waiting, sitting around. Usually one tends to look at people’s faces, this photographer focused on their feet.

Pictures by David du Toit

 

Friends forever in Rosendal

A beautiful picture of friends showing affection.

Photo by David du Toit

Love in Italy

A cute elderly couple spotted in Venice.

Photo by David du Toit

Two fabulous old ladies in Venice

Spotted at a café in Venice, two friends having an espresso. Wearing fur, naturally…Photo by David du Toit

The world’s most impressive sinkholes

A sinkhole is basically a natural depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer – they can form very suddenly or over time. Ranging in size from just one metre wide to 600m in size, and can be incredibly impressive in person.

Here are three of the world’s most spectacular sinkholes:

Bimmah Sinkhole in Oman

This jaw-dropping natural wonder is set in Oman. The stunning limestone hollow was turned into a tourist attraction because of its magnificent impact. Surrounded by beautifully crystal clear waters, it is picture perfect – almost resembling a postcard.  Here tourists can not only experience the beauty of this spot, but they can also take a dip in the  20m deep emerald-tinted waters.

Great Blue Hole in Belize

A perfect circle of deep blue, it is hauntingly beautiful. This spot is rated as one of the best diving spots in the world year after year. And I can certainly see why! Deepsea explorer Jacques Cousteau was a great fan of the Great Blue Hole. Its depths are so great that some of the caves and tunnels are still undiscovered. Wow.

Dos Ojos in Mexico

Discovered in the Eighties, this now-famous sinkhole continues to expand year after year. It is so impactful as it comprises of two round, humongous cenotes that are connected by an even bigger cave system. Consisting of various rooms and cavernous hallways, one can go from room to room to explore. A huge variety of fish species (including freshwater shrimp) live in this cave – most over 10cm long. This naturally makes Dos Ojos a very popular snorkeling destination for tourists.

Have you visited any of these lately? Let us know.

All images via Wikipedia

Originally posted on Travelstart

The Labassin Waterfall Restaurant, Philippines

Enjoy cascading clear spring water on a hot summer’s day while munching on some delicious food. This has to be one of the most amazing dining experiences in the world. The Labassin Waterfall Restaurant is a truly extraordinary bamboo dining table eatery located at the stunning Villa Escudero Resort in the Philippines. The region was formerly occupied by a farm and coconut plantations and is now a massive tourist hot spot.

Watch the above video for more info or visit their website.

Originally posted on Travelstart. 

Paris early in the morning

My friend David recently visited Paris – on six hour layover en route to Italy. It was very early in the morning when he reached the city of lights. The cafés were still closed, the streets empty and most were sleeping. It was beautiful.

Photos by David du Toit

The Bund, learning Shanghainese and Xiao Long Bao in Shanghai, China

One of my friends lives permanently in Shanghai, China. Here she tells us a bit more about this beautiful metropolis:

Which is your favourite area of the town/city. Why?

Shanghai basically consists of two parts, Pudong and Puxi. I used to stay in the area of 7 Pudong near Century Avenue, which is a bustling place that is also great for tourists. 

This is a relatively newly developed area featuring futuristic looking high-rise buildings. So, head here if you’re looking to be inspired by the new and innovative. Yet, I recently moved to Puxi where you’ll find most of the historical and scenic sites – ideal for tourists.

Must-see sights? 

The Bund (Waitan) is an absolute must-see sight – a breathtaking architectural structure of Shanghai. From here you can see so much. You will also see the Lujiazui skyscrapers across the Huangpu River, the Yu Garden, Tian Zi Fang and the East Nan Jing Lu. All worth your while for sure.

You simply must do…

You must learn at least three or more Shanghainese sentences in order to feel like you fit in (if only a little bit) with the locals. Using these sentences always make for a lot of fun.

Be sure to eat this…

You must eat Xiao Long Bao and many different Shanghai Dianxin – basically Chinese dumplings. So many varieties and flavours are available, it’s incredible.

Are people friendly/ helpful to tourists?

People are very friendly for the most part, but  most of the older people struggle to  speak any English.

How many days do you need in the city?

You need just 2-3 days to see the main sights in the city. But it’s worth it to stay for longer to explore the ancient towns like Qibao and Zhujiajiao.

Originally posted on Travelstart