Yazd, Iran

One of my favourite town stays in my trip to Iran has to be Yazd. While Esfahan attracts with its beauty, Yazd attracts with its simple authenticity.

Yazd is a stop in many typical Iran itineraries, although for shorter trips, it seemed to be left out for the more convenient Tehran-Esfahan-Shiraz route. Being one of the oldest towns in the world, it has its fair share of historical and cultural attractions, including quite abit of pre-Islamic Zoroastrian religion/culture. All these, like the Fire Temple and the Towers of Silence etc is easily found in guidebooks/online etc.

Admiring the interior of the Jame Mosque

For me, the highlight is the old town itself, which of course, is one of the attractions as well. I love wandering in the alleys and discovering unique encounters within the uniform coloured adobe maze. There is a historical air about the place, and everything you see is probably as is since the olden days. Unfortunately, this also means you do see parts or sections that has crumbled and nothing has been done to it. The people in Iran are also among the friendliest in the world, and chatting with the local residents can sometimes be as gratifying as gazing upon an expansive landscape. And capturing the expressions of the kids are also quite a delight!

Yes, you could cycle too!

The wind towers of Yazd

Life within the old town

Joys of travel encounters

Travel portraits!

For those souvenir shopoholic, Yazd's textiles and silk weavings are of good regard and even Marco Polo noted its quality when he visited the town on his journey. And you could get yourself Persian carpets too, and make it fly! (of course, current day carpets gotta fly by plane within some cargo hold or something.... ;) ). And to make any stay complete, alot of the accommodation options in Yazd are converted/renovated from old traditional houses which seemed to retain alot of charm, especially the beautiful courtyards for you to rest after a good day out.

Do include Yazd in your Iran itinerary!

Respite after a hard day's "work"

Český Krumlov

Český Krumlov, a town in the Bohemian region of the Czech Republic, and also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is definitely a destination worth stopping a couple of days for, especially if you are traveling in winter.

From the bus terminal, as you walked to the old town in Český Krumlov, you will walk over a hill overlooking it, and the view you get is like a page off a fantasy story book. Draped in white, over a mixture of architecture styles (Baroque, Renaissance etc), the scene is postcard perfect. In winter, Český Krumlov is arguably the prettiest town in the Czech Republic. Despite its touristic popularity, Český Krumlov has a charming, easy-going and laidback feel about it.
Within the old town, the narrow cobblestone streets coupled with various cafes, art galleries, exhibits and cute little shops makes for a really enjoyable stroll around town. And lording above everything else, the Český Krumlov Castle watches over the town. Climbing the castle tower (you need a ticket though) yields a birds eye view of the surrounds, and on a good day, it provides an extremely pictureque panoramic. As for accommodation, pretty pensions are scattered all over town and would be the recommended option if you are not alone. Of course, hostels are available too for the independent traveler.
Just 3-4 hrs by bus from Prague, it is a convenient and recommended stop in the Czech itinerary. Especially in winter!

Kashgar Old Town

When I covered Kashgar 2 years back, I mentioned that the highlight for me was the Old Town. Last year, there were news that Kashgar's Old Town will be razed. The Chinese government of course had various reasons for it, but whatever the case or reasons, the news saddened me greatly.

Wandering through the streets of the Old Town epitomises the magic of travel. Admiring old historic buildings, witnessing ancient cultures and lifestyle, getting lost around mazy streets, uncovering little surprises, getting stares from locals, friendly children giggling at you, the experience is unforgetable. Unfortunately, I didn't take that many photos, but the ones I have gave me fond memories....

Sighişoara

Sighişoara may not ring a bell. A town in Transylvania, it retains a medieval feel to it, esp in the old town. The old town is known as the Citadel, mainly because it was a citadel in the days of old. So what is so special about Sighişoara? It was the birthplace of Dracula.

Well, technically, it's the birthplace of Vlad Ţepeș - whom which Bram Stoker's vampiric Dracula is loosely based. Vlad Ţepeș, also known as Vlad the Impaler, was a cruel prince of Wallachia. Not only were his practises cruel, his punishments were terrifying and brutal, one of which is how he got the name of Impaler... Today, the fact that this was his birthplace has generated many marketing gimmicks in the Citadel, it seems to me equally scary....
What is really special to me is that the old town contains a dreamy charm to it, so much so that I do feel brought back in time. The old cobbled streets, the street lamps, the peeling paint on old doorways, it was really enjoyable walking around the alleys. In fact, it gave me a feeling like what I had when I was walking in the old town of Lijiang in China! (The western medieval version!)



The highlight of the Citadel is the Clock Tower. Now housing a museum, it also provides a superb view of the new town below. The clockwork mechanism and the seven revolving figurines that represent the different days of the week is also very interestng, and well worth looking into. Guesthouses are aplenty here, so Sighişoara is certainly worth a stopover if you're going Romania!

Kashgar

Kashgar, or Kashi in Chinese, is an important city along the silk roads during the days of old. Inevitably, today, it is now one of the major stops for tourists/backpackers travelling the Silk Road route. However, most people on a tour package would only have a day or two here, which is a shame really, as I think here is place which you should savour at a slower pace.




Two widely known attractions in Kashgar would be its Sunday Market and Abakh Khoja's Tomb. The latter, one of the holiest place in Xinjiang, houses the remains of Abakh Khoja, who was a powerful ruler of Kashgar, and the leader of the White Hat Sect of Islam. However, it is his grand-daughter, who was also entombed here (as was 71 other relatives/descendants), that has gained more fame than him today. She is supposed to be the Fragrance Concubine of the Qing emperor QianLong, and so most people know this attraction as Xiang Fei Mu (tomb)!

As for the Sunday Market, it is indeed an eye opener for many. However, certain parts of the market have succumbed to the tourist boom, and there is now a huge mall-like structure that houses scores of stalls selling the same stuff. Better to stick to the stalls outside, where you see all kinds of foodstuff and services being marketed. In particular, the livestock market should not be missed. Apparently, it has been moved further away and separated from the main market (possibly for hygiene reasons?). But it sure is far more interesting, as you can literally see the locals selecting/haggling over sheep, horses, cows and the like! Definitely one of the highlights of Kashgar!

The other highlight for me, is a walk into the Old Town of Kashgar. Here, away from the bustle of commerce and other tourists, you can see the real daily life of the locals. What's more, if you wander around at the right time, you can catch a glimpse of the children going/leaving school, and they are a delight to capture! They just love to have their pictures taken (and shown to them)! I could spend a day walking around just like that!



It certainly helps that Kashgar is also the start/end point of the Karakoram Highway, which attracts lots of travellers. But even if it's not, this city is worth a visit in its own right.

Hoi An, Vietnam

For those making a trip to Vietnam, esp when you're flying in to Danang, here's a recommendation. Visit Hoi An.

Hoi An is a lovely town north of Danang. Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old town has a charming ambience with a more relaxed feel than the bigger towns like Hue. The section by the Thu Bon river is very nice and is my favourite part of the town. 

Hoi An is also home to many art galleries and tailors. So, besides just relaxing in town, you can have your shopping fix. Guesthouses are plentiful, and if you have the budget, there're more upmarket "boutique hotels" being built as well. Besides spending a couple of days here to chill out, you could also arrange day tours out to another UNESCO site : My Son (pronounced Mee Sawn). It is basically a site containing Cham ruins dating back to the 7th century. The Cham are a race that inhabited these areas then. If you're into historical and cultural stuff, this should be interesting.

In Hoi An itself, my favourite  part be the morning wet market. Here, it is a true local market, and nobody bothered a tourist like me. So it's great to see and experience a true authentic scene. 

Overall, Hoi An is an excellent place to just relax and enjoy a slow pace break from work/citylife. Well, before it gets overrun by tourists!

Lijiang

Of Yunnan's popular tour circuit of Kunming, Dali, Lijiang and sometimes, Shangrila or Xiang-ge-li-la, Lijiang's Old Town is probably one of the best destinations for a nice photographic outing.

Lijiang is often part of the tour itinerary for many of the tour packages from Singapore. I've heard many people say that Lijiang is very touristy, and judging by how most of the tours are run, I have to agree. They bring you to SiFangJie, the main town square, and drop you there for an hour or two. Here, the whole place is lined with shops, shops and more shops. Of course, shopping is a favourite activity for many Singaporeans, but for some great photography, all is not lost!

Firstly, you have to wander off the main tourist square. All you need is possibly 10min of legwork, and you'll start to see the quieter parts of town. Without the bustle of the commerce and tourists, you'll start to appreciate the charming ambience and beautiful architecture of the old town.
Do take note that the old Naxi women (and men) do not like their photos taken. It's always good to ask their permission 1st, but if a picture screams to be taken, please do it discreetly and unobtrusively.


Another tip is, wake up early in the morning and take a walk in the town. Before the tourists crowd arrive, and before most of the shops are open, even SiFangJie is delightfully photogenic! With the morning light streaming down, it's street photography nirvana!

Some of my Lijiang images were featured in Asian Geographic magazine, when they had an article on Lijiang.
http://www.asiangeo.com/index_issue0407.html

There are also a number of resources on the Net on Naxi history and culture.
I stayed 2-3 nights in Lijiang and enjoyed my photography sojourn there. However, being an easily accessed destination, and a popular tour stop, I believe anyone can have great experience there.