John Bek: Recently Added Galleries and Collections

Yiwu 义乌

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 23:52:20 GMT

I spent several days here for a work trip and had little time to get out and see the city properly. Check my blog for food related photo's

Hong Kong 香港

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 22:50:58 GMT

A brief visit August 2007

Street Art

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:02:03 GMT

Look around any urban precinct and you'll find a mural painted by brush, a graffitti tag sprayed with a can or glazed hand-painted tiles forming a scene. Here's a growing collection of such art I've come across in my wanderings & travels

Rome - 2009

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 02:00:26 GMT

Four days in Rome. This time 'round we stayed in the buzzing area of Trastevere, abundant with wine bars, cafes and trattorias

Assisi

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:49:40 GMT

Umbria's spiritual capital, Assisi is visited by millions of pilgrims and tourists year round. As the story goes, St Francis of Assisi was born here in 1182 and preached his heart out to Umbria until his death 44 years later. The old city hasn't changed much since then, apart from the camera-weilding tourists slapping down on a gelato.

Not the most interesting of Umbria's cities, in my opinion, but if you want to add a statue of St Francis, Mary or a crucifix to your collection, this is THE place to find it. Religious paraphernalia everywhere. The Basilica di San Francesco is damn impressive internally, though. Shame you can't take photo's

Spello

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:48:41 GMT

One of Umbria's prettier medieval hillside villages, Spello is much less touristy, easy to see in a couple of hours and it seems every local has a green thumb. Flowering pots and gardens are everywhere. Not too much to do here other than drop into one or two medieval churches, sit under a tree with a macchiatto overlooking the rolling Umbrian hills, explore the winding cobbled laneways or sit and chow down on local food coupled with local vino.

Gubbio

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:04:47 GMT

Gubbio is perched on the steep slope of Monte Ingino in the beautiful Umbrian countryside. It's reasonably small and can be walked extensively over a few hours, exploring the steep narrow streets stopping in at handicraft stores, palaces & museums, food providores and some great little restaurants offering tasty local specialities. The white and black truffles here are inexpensive and plentiful and damn delicious!

Design + Decor

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:40:00 GMT

Some beautiful details that have caught my eye in my travels

Architecture

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:34:04 GMT

Photo's I've taken of timeless older buildings and dynamic new ones

Backstreet

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:32:21 GMT

From big cities to medieval medinas

Sunrise~Sunset

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:28:15 GMT

The day begins. The day ends.

Bridge

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 22:27:34 GMT

Perugia

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:34:14 GMT

This ancient Umbrian city, located on two hills and surrounded by massive walls, is rich in monuments and palaces, Etruscan and Roman heritage and chocolate and jazz music

Modena

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:06:42 GMT

With two hours to spare en-route to Perugia, we stopped here and had some coffee and brunch. This city is prides itself on producing the worlds best balsamic vinegar and its medieval town centre has a nice collection of palaces & cathedrals

Verona

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 00:26:24 GMT

Home of Romeo & Juliette's balcony, Verona is a beautifully preserved city gracing the Adige River. The narrow cobbled streets are lined with designer boutiques, restaurants offering amazing regional fare (including donkey, deer & horse are on most menu's!) and some fab wine bars to sample the local tipple

Paris - 2009

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:44:35 GMT

Milan - 2009

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 12:31:53 GMT

We spent less than 24 hrs here and only visited the Duomo, canal area and Da Vinci's 'The Last Supper'

Sydney

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Sun, 10 May 2009 06:56:21 GMT

The Emerald City, my hometown

Varanasi वाराणसी

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Sat, 02 May 2009 11:51:41 GMT

People

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Sat, 02 May 2009 07:10:16 GMT

The colourful people of India

Delhi दहली

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Fri, 01 May 2009 00:52:36 GMT

This is an amazingly dynamic metropolis congested with people and traffic, yet softened with green parks and wide planned streets. There's a lot to see and do and taste here.

Agra आगरा

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 11:38:58 GMT

Interiors

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 03:55:36 GMT

A collection of interiors of places we stayed at and visited

Ranthambore NP

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 03:27:29 GMT

Once the hunting grounds of the maharaja's, this beautiful national park is the only place you can spot wild tigers in the state of Rajasthan. That's if you're lucky enough to come across one, as there are only around 20 in the 1334 sq km park.
The 10th century Ranthambore Fort straddles a steep, rocky ridge and several man-made lakes are scattered throughout as well as ancient temples and mosques and cenotaphs.
A large number of animals live in the park other than the tiger. Some of them include leopards, hyenas, deer, wildboar, crocodiles, peacocks, monkeys and caracals

Jaipur जयपुर

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 02:20:09 GMT

Popularly known as the Pink City and the City of Victory, Jaipur is the capital of Rajasthan state. It was founded in 1727 by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II, when he shifted his capital from nearby Amber Fort, to Jaipur's current planned and designed location. It is India's first planned city.
In 1876, Maharaja Ram Singh had the entire Old City painted pink, a colour associated with hospitality, to welcome the Prince of Wales.
Many forts, palaces and temples are found throughout the chaotic and congested city.

Jaisalmer - Vyas Chhatri

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:09:59 GMT

Also referred to as Sunset Point, these royal chhatri's give a wonderful view of Jaisalmer and the fort

Jaisalmer जैसलमेर

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 22:24:04 GMT

Also known as the "Golden City", Jaisalmer is a breathtaking city located in the barren Thar Desert. It was founded in 1156, and being on the strategic camel-train route to Central Asia, much wealth accumulated here. The giant Jaisalmer Fort rises from Trikuta Hill and its 80m high walls and 99 bastions encompass narrow alleyways which are home to hotels, temples, the Maharaja's Palace, shops and multi-national restaurants, all of which have been constructed using the local golden sandstone.

Osiya - Shri Osiya Mataji

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 23:34:18 GMT

Located 65km north of Jodhpur, this temple was originally built in the 8th century. The complex that now stands dates back to the 12th century. It is one of the largest worshipped Jain temples in western India

Jodhpur जोधपुर

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 05:59:48 GMT

Also known as the Blue City and the Sun City, Jodhpur is the second largest city in Rajasthan. Nestled on the edge of the Thar Desert, it was established in 1459 by Rao Jodha. The old city is surrounded by a 10km wall which was constructed 100 years after foundation. Magnificent palaces, temples and havelis can be found throughout the city, however the spectacular Meherangarh fort dominates the landscape, sitting high on cliffs 150 metres above the old town.

Jodhpur - Meherangarh Fort

john_bek@hotmail.com (John Bek) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:20:42 GMT

The 15th century "Citadel of the Sun", the jewel in Jodhpur's crown