Ik werd gewekt door gepraat. “Mensenkinderen, waarom zo’n herrie?” gromde ik van onder het laken, en draaide me geërgerd om. “Sommigen hier proberen te slapen!”
Toen realiseerde ik me dat het al licht werd. Haastig kleren aanschieten en naar buiten, voor een van de mooiste zonsopkomsten die ik ooit heb gezien. Dankzij die luide praters…
De beelden spreken voor zich…
Zonsopkomst in de steenwoestijn van Tillougui – met precies één zandduin als voorbode van wat gaat komen
Op naar het oosten. En dan opeens een lekke band. Geen probleem; wordt gewoon in een dorpje ter plekke gerepareerd. Verder gaat het weer, naar Rissani voor de lunch
De steden liggen op de grens van het bewoonbare gebied en de meedogenloze leegte van de Sahara. Handelssteden zijn het, met een grote rol voor de markt
De eindbestemming voor vandaag: zandduinen van Merzouga – het beeld van de Sahara zoals wij dat kennen
De foto’s van de waanzinige zonsondergang bewaar ik voor morgen. Te mooi om hier zomaar achteraan te plakken
It’s too much!
It´s been a while since I’ve been there, but I just have to share some more pictures of this beautiful, intriguing island in the Indian ocean.
First part was in the south. Tulear with fishermen, water taxis and birds like the beautiful tropicbird.
Then up to Antsokay an Anakao with birds lik the olive bee-eater and magpie-robin.
Further to the Mangily spiny forest, and from there to Zombitse
Yes, it was a birding trip to Madagascar. So it’s about time to show some of the beautiful birds that live there. Almost all of them endemic to the island as well, just as the lemurs. First the Madagascar Pygmy kingfisher Corythornis madagascariensis. An amazing success of our guide ‘Jacana’, who was able to spot this tiny bird in the trees of the rainforest
There is another kingfisher that looks a lot like our Eurasian kingfisher. At first glance they appear to be the same. But look closely: there is no blue cheek and less white on the chin. It’s a Madagascar malachite kingfisher Corythornis vintsioides
Incredibly graceful these Madagascar paradise flycatchers (Terpsiphone mutata mutata). Same species, white and brown morph
The Madagascar crested ibis Lophotibis cristata; quite shy and difficult to find. It took several days of searching before he showed up. “It has always been an endangered species,” the guide said, “but when the Covid pandemic broke out and tourists didn’t come anymore, lots of them were eaten…”
The hoopoe! And again an endemic: the Madagascar hoopoe Upupa marginata. I’m afraid I don’t see the difference with the Eurasian hoopoe
Souimanga sunbird – Cinnyris souimanga. That reflection of light on the feathers!
Another colourful bird: the Pitta-like ground-roller Atelornis pittiodes. Also very difficult to find, as he is walking in dense dark forests. So many colours: Green wings, ruby breast, blue spotted head… truly amazing
The family of rollers is one of my favourites. This is a Broad-billed roller Eurystomus glaucurus, mostly brown but it has beautiful blue feathers in the wings and tail
Last one for now: two Madagascar scops owls Otus rutilus happy together
Allright. Back on track again. Corniglia, Cinque Terre, Italy
You cannot not become a romantic artist in Cinque Terre. It´s inevitable
Now I understand why all those painters came here, to Cinque Terre
Waves crash on the rocks at Lovers´ lane, Riomaggiore
Did I say I love waterfalls? Plenty of them here in Iceland
Gulfoss
Skogarfoss
Seljalandsfoss
Oxararfoss
Away from the paved roads into an alien world. Desolate. Windy. And once again bloody cold
The target is Katla glacier in Iceland. Cold winds have covered the icecap during many centuries in volcanic dust
A hostile but beautiful environment
I’m glad we came in these specially prepared ‘super jeeps’ that are able to drive over rocks and ice and through small glacier rivers
De Portrettenmaker 