This timelapse video, One Day in Life, was created by professional photographer and Minsk native, Artem Sergeevich. It shows the country of Belarus in a way that will put any negative eastern Europe stereotypes out of your head and have you booking a one-way plane ticket there. Vibrant colors wash over a mix of countrysides and cityscapes, making the factories look just as beautiful and exciting as the lakes and fountains. It isn’t easy to capture images like these, and Sergeevich used a range of different cameras, some of which included a Canon 5D Mark II, Canon 60D, Tokina 11-16mm, and a Sigma 14mm, among others.
To see more videos by Artem Sergeevich, click here.
Articles tagged “budget travel”
Check out our best Budget Travel Tips by destination:
Albuquerque, Amsterdam, Austin, Baltimore, Boston, Boulder, Butte, Chicago, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, The "Lake Effect" Wine Trail, Liverpool, Mexico, Minneapolis, Montreal, Toronto, San Juan, San Francisco, Seattle
Check out some other Budget Travel Tips and learn how to get cheaper ...
Airplane tickets, Car rentals, Use a low-cost carrier, Vacation apartments, Hostel stays, Hotwire deals, Priceline bargains, StudentUniverse.com rates, European Spring Breaks, Rail tickets, Bus seats
How to visit the birthplace of humanity
When visiting Columbia in South America, there are many interesting national parks to explore. Amacayacu National Park, Cocuy National Park, and Tayrona National Park are all natural points of interest in the country. Iguaque National Park, however, has one very unique feature that makes it a must-see stop on any trip to Columbia, as it is said to be the birthplace of humanity.
Iguaque National Park is located in Boyacá, about 142 miles away from Bogota. Having an elevation that ranges from 7,874 to 12,467 feet above sea level while covering 16,679 acres, you can imagine there is a lot to see. Whatever areas you decide to stop at, however, make sure to visit Iguaque Lake, located in the highest part of the mountain. According to the indigenous Muisca people, the sacred site is said to be the place where “mother Earth” (Bachué) emerged from the water carrying a baby boy in her arms. When the boy became a man, he populated the Earth before disappearing back into the lake as a snake. It is believed that a visit to Iguaque Lake cleanses the soul and purifies the spirit.
Want to make the pilgrimage yourself? To get to Iguaque National Park, you can go from Bogota to Villa de Leyva via Tunja. Once in Villa de Leyva, you can catch a bus to the park, and from there you will walk about a mile to the entrance to pay the fee. Because there is so much flora and fauna to discover, as well as hiking trails, there is an interpretative path in the beginning of the trek to help visitors understand the area. Keep following the path and you will to be taken to spiritual and historical site of Iguaque Lake.
Note: One thing visitors must be aware of is how important it is to leave early, as weather changes frequently in the area, posing the risk of hypothermia if the temperatures drop too low.
Australia’s tallest external building walk opens January in the Gold Coast
Adventurous visitors to Australia‘s Gold Coast will be happy to hear about the area’s newest thrill: the SkyPoint Climb. Participants will walk the 298 external stairs of the residential Q1 tower and make their ascent 886 feet above sea level.
The SkyPoint Climb will be Australia’s highest external building walk and will feature the country’s only beachside Observation Deck. With 360 degree views of the city, beaches, and nearby mountains, this is one beautiful adventure.
Afraid of heights? Don’t worry, as climbers are equipped with a harness and static fall arrest line. There is also an inner hand rail and specially trained staff to help deal with any cases of Acrophobia.
Right now, you can purchase tickets for the SkyPoint Climb through their website for January 15, 2012, and on. An adult ticket is $21 while a children’s ticket is $12.50. Family tickets can also be purchased at $54.50.
Travel the world through the photography of Kyle Marquardt
While there are a lot of beautiful travel photos out there, the images of Kyle Marquardt have a way of capturing those quick, often missed moments while helping people to discover places not often seen by tourists, like a penguin the first second he goes to jump out of the water, a cheetah in hot pursuit of a gazelle, or an iceberg half underwater and half above. So how does he capture such moving shots?
“A certain amount of planning and expectations are required to go traveling, but when I’m finally out there in the wild, I have to respect that mother nature is in full control of the itinerary,” he explains. “I might expect that I want to get to see certain things, but you just can’t ask a group of penguins to jump into the water or a cheetah to sprint after a gazelle in front of you minutes after the sun rises in the Serengeti. You just have to show up and see what you get this time.”
Marquardt is also a photography guide, leading groups into the wild and helping them to enhance their picture taking skills while capturing images they never thought possible. When possible, Marquardt also tries to help the communities he visits. For example, on a guided photography tour in Tanzania, Africa, the group visited LOHADA, a local organization providing care, education, and shelter to young children and adults. After pooling donations, the photography group went out and bought the locals in need supplies like food, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toiletries, vitamins, paper, and pens.
Notes Marquardt, “We came to Africa for travel, luxury photography and excitement and could have forgone a visit to an orphanage. In doing what we did we left with an entirely different kind of fulfillment.”
Interested in taking a Photo Safari with Marquardt? Click here. And, if you’d like to immerse yourself in foreign cultures and landscapes without leaving your chair, check out the gallery below, which contains both published as well as never-before-seen photographs by Marquardt.
%Gallery-142017%
8 must-see temples in London, United Kingdom
London, United Kingdom, probably isn’t the first city that comes to mind when you think of visiting temples. In reality, London is home to many beautiful temples of different faiths. To help you plan out your itinerary, here is a list of eight must-see temples in London, United Kingdom.
Sree Ganapathy Temple, Wimbledon
The Sree Ganapathy Temple, Wimbledon, opened its doors in 1981 as the first consecrated Hindu temple in Europe. While the temple performs all of the traditional functions of a Hindu Temple, from religious services to birth, wedding, and death ceremonies, the site also adopts an expanded holistic approach. Visitors can partake in discussions by religious experts, philosophy talks, yoga and meditation classes, and health seminars.Shree Swaminarayan Temple Willesden
The Shree Swaminarayan Temple Willesden is a sect of Hinduism with the founder being Lord Shree Swaminarayan. In the 1960’s, there was a group of people who emigrated to Great Britain that followed Lord Shree Swaminarayan’s teachings and wanted a place to come together to pray and celebrate. The building of a temple was discussed and officially opened in 1975. Today the temple hosts many activities, from group prayer to teachings to English classes to yoga.
Also known as the Neasden Temple, the Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is the first traditional Hindu Mandir in all of Europe. This temple has impressive architecture, made of 2,820 tons of Bulgarian limestone and 2,000 tons of Italian Carrara that were shipped to India for carving then re-shipped to London to create the temple. The building of the structure is pretty amazing, as it took less than three years to put 26,300 pieces together, essentially like a giant puzzle. Inside, visitors can learn more about Hindu culture through the “Understanding Hinduism” exhibit, as well as grab some Indian cuisine at the Shayona Restaurant and Shop. Moreover, seminars, workshops, and performances for children through senior citizens are provided on a regular basis.
ISKCON-Soho London Temple
While Oxford Street in London may be filled with shopping, nightclubs, and crowds of people, a quick turn onto Soho Street will bring you to an orange and sand colored structure that you might miss if you don’t look closely. This is the ISKCON-Soho London Temple. Upon entering the temple, visitors are asked to take off their shoes and approach the alter in front of them, which features the Deities of Sri Sri Radha-Londonisvara. Upstairs in the temple is the community shop, where you can find spiritual books, chanting beads, incense sticks, herbal medicine, vegan cosmetics, and more. And if you’re hungry, an on-site vegetarian restaurant, Govinda’s, prepares fresh meals throughout the day.
London England (LDS) Temple
While the temples mentioned thus far have all practiced forms of Hinduism, the London (LDS) Temple is actually a Mormon temple. The building was the first temple to be constructed in the British Isles and the second to be built in Europe. The temple is not exactly in London but about 25 miles south in the peaceful English countryside. There are multiple buildings to explore on the 32 acres the temple occupies, the most popular of which includes a 3-story, 40-room Elizabethian-style mansion. Outside, visitors can stroll around the well-manicured lawns, tall Oak Trees, and reflective pond. At night, the temple takes on a new mood as it seems to glow bright white against a black backdrop.
Temple Church
Most people will recognize the Temple Church from the famous Dan Brown novel, “The Da Vinci Code“. This site, which is usually referred to as “The Temple”, is actually a Christian temple, with beautiful medieval architecture and a unique circular nave that mimicks the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the site where Jesus is said to be buried. The temple was named after the Knights Templar, the “order of crusading monks founded to protect pilgrims on their way to and from Jerusalem in the 12th century”. Temple Church has seen a lot of history, for example, being badly damaged during WWII and surviving the Great Fire of London. Today, visitors today flock to not only see the famous site of a book turned movie, but also to see the knightly effigies (once believed to be tombs), the beautiful wooden alter, and the many gargoyles.
The London Sri Murugan Temple is a Hindu temple with a highly detailed facade, an impressive 52-foot tower outside, and polished granite tiles from India inside. Shrines carved from black granite give tribute to the deities that are decorated with flowers and fruits. Those who attend this temple hold Lord Muruga as the only supreme being, with his many faces manifested in the deities housed in the shrines. Whether you go to the London Sri Murugan Temple to attend service, learn about the Hindu faith, or explore the beautiful building design, a visit to this temple is religious space is a unique experience.
Wat Buddhapadipa
Wat Buddhapadipa was the first Buddhist temple ever to be built in London. The building, which was first opened at its present location in Wimbledon in 1976, is designed in a Thai style and used for monastic ceremonies. According to the temple’s website, they are the only traditional Thai temple ever to be built in Europe. While the structures consist of the monk’s house and a cottage, the 4 acres Wat Buddhapadipa resides on features a lake, small grove, orchard, and flower garden.