What a beautiful photo! I’ve been following your photography for awhile now and have noted that you have “the eye for the shot”. I find myself spending a lot of my time while traveling, looking for that “shot”. Back in the days of film, you had to pick your shots and make sure you had everything just right. Now, with digital, I just click away and cull later. It’s a whole new way to go about taking pictures.
I know, I’m off on a tangent. I thought you might need a break from all the “serious excitement” that may be overwhelming you of late. Sometimes it’s nice to take a break, let your mind rest from all the stress. I’m not trying to minimize your situation, just provide a little fresh air for the mind. I can qualify my ability to empathize with you being in dangerous situations with my year in Vietnam, many years ago. You’ll have to excuse me as today is Memorial Day, and my mind has been flashing in many directions. Now I’m sorry I even brought this up. Maybe Nepal will someday establish a day of memorial for these days of strife.
If you don’t mind me asking, what type of camera and lens are you using? It appears you have chosen good equipment. I’m in my planning stage to take off again in a couple years, (final retirement), to resume seeing the world. And as every time I take off, I buy a new camera. May even travel with a laptop too, depending where I’m going. Do you ever feel like a target? Traveling anywhere in Asia is one thing, but I’m thinking minimalist on my venture to Timbuktu, Mali. Boy, now I’m really off on a tangent!
Hi Steve: Thanks so much for your comment and I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog. I am a firm proponent that the camera body is not nearly as important as the lenses. I use a Canon EOS Rebel T3i, but bought the body only, as the kit lens is not great quality. I use a Canon EFS 10-24 wide angle zoom lens for my walk around, then add a Tamron 75-300 telephoto and a 50mm fixed lens for shooting night video. No, I never feel like a target, however I don’t flaunt the fact that I have a laptop, taking it out only in the hostel or in cafes where I feel safe. The camera, of course, has to be visible, but I make it a point to watch whatever is going on around me at all times. Pretty much these days, nice cameras and laptops are standard gear and for what I do, the equipment is a necessity, so I have no choice. Having said that, I couldn’t imagine traveling without a laptop, especially since the computers in internet cafes are usually loaded with malware, and it’s not uncommom for unsavory owners to have installed keyboard trackers to capture username and passwords.
Hi Barbara, Thanks for the feedback on equipment. I knew you had a DSLR by the quality of the photos you’ve been producing. I’ve gone through many SLRs during my many travels over the last 4 decades. My last purchase was a Nikon P100. I got it because of the long zoom range, but quickly found the quality was not the same. I gave my daughter a Nikon 3100 for her High School graduation last year, but now it’s my turn to reward myself. I’ve never owned a Cannon, but prefer a Nikon, as I’ve had several over the years, and they’ve served me well. Cannons have always been much heavier and God knows, I always travel with too much weight. I’m tending toward the Tamron 18-270 zoom to go with a Nikon 7000 body. I’ve always traveled with two lenses, and I think it’s time to cut down on gear. I agree with you in that it’s the lens, not the body. There are so many good cameras and lenses out there, you really can’t go wrong in the DSLR department. But, even with good equipment, if you don’t know how to take a picture, you might as well have a point and shoot!
Also, the laptop situation; I really haven’t done my homework in this area. Do you depend on getting on line through local WiFi hot spots? Can’t unsavory characters capture usernames and passwords there too? Is it possible to connect to the internet using a connection similar to how a cell phone does it? My understanding is that it works, but it is way too slow. Have you investigated that? I suspect that in another couple years, when I finally hit the road again, technology will have advanced to a point unimaginable now.
Travel has become much more technical nowadays. As I read several Travel Blogs, it appears that these travelers spend most of their time on their laptops. It’s almost like being a couch potato while at home, watching way too much TV. I hope I don’t fall prey to my gadgets while I’m traveling. I’m not complaining, just trying to be aware of myself and what I really want to do while on the road. Like the saying goes: “Everything in moderation”. (Except traveling, that’s Full Speed Ahead!)
Hi Steve:
I use both a cell phone and a laptop, but rely entirely on wifi hot spots. I choose only hotels and hostels that have wifi available in the rooms so I can work at night. I use only secured networks ( with a password) and when doing sensitive things like banking, I activate a virtual private network, for which I pay $60 per year. I can assure you that those of us who travel for a living are anything but couch potatoes. It’s not an easy life. I spend my days touring and interviewing people and seeking out local secret spots. The evenings are for downloading, sorting, and labeling the hundreds of photos I take each day; managing the advertising on my site; doing my social media tasks, researching my articles – all before I write the first word. And then there is the time required to research accommodations and transportation for my upcoming destinations Many times I exist on four hours of sleep per night. I am definitely WAY too tied to my laptop, but that is just part of the life. I love what I do but this is my only source of revenue, so it is also a business. But like you, when I find myself too tied to technology I force myself to put it down. As you say, all things in moderation – except for travel.
Good morning Barbara,
We both agree: Life should be doing what you love doing! After reading your reply last night, I thought I’d better think/sleep on it and reply the next day. I realize now that using the term “couch potato” wasn’t a smooth move and not what I intended to imply. I am fully aware that what you are doing does not include being a couch potato! Far from it.
I’ll qualify my perspective by admitting that I’m not a very good multi-tasker. Accommodating this handicap, I’ve pretty much separated my work life from my travel life. I learned at an early age with manual labor type jobs, that It would be way better for me to earn a living with my head than with my body. Also, with my travel addiction, I found it better to do what I do best working, getting paid the most per hour, than trying to find jobs while traveling that paid little (in comparison) and also took away from my time living life as a traveler.
That said, my vision of travel in a couple years will not be “traveling for a living”. I highly respect those of you that have figured out how to do it and are doing it. To get back to the “do what you love”; I did what I loved for many years. I built projects in my head and on paper as an estimator/ project manager for a general engineering contractor. And, in between, I’d do trips all over the world. Actually, I’ve already retired once in my life by traveling around the world for four years without working. Now, I’m looking forward to doing it again. But this time with a laptop, cell phone and digital camera. Very much different than 25 years ago!
My couch potato statement was referring more to myself, fearing I’d lose site of what I like doing best. I don’t want to be a slave to my laptop. This is all just food for thought, as I plan the “Big Trip”. As a former estimator, I find myself getting as much enjoyment out of the planning stage, as I will in the actual trip.
Thanks again for the technical information. I appreciate hearing it from someone who is actually doing it. I can see you put in a lot of work with your Blog. With your 4 hours of sleep per night, I hope you aren’t done-in with your own passion. I have to disagree with you in that it shouldn’t be “just part of the life”. Your health is your life! Be careful! You are very good at what you’re doing, except maybe over-doing.
Steve: I couldn’t agree more. I am too much a slave to my laptop and am trying to change that, at least a little bit. I don’t ever want my traveling life/career to become something I hate, like my previous corporate life was.
And with all that said, I promise to quit writing short stories so you can get more sleep!
One day, I hope to meet up with you at some outdoor Thamel restaurant for a cold drink and some travel talk, in moderation of course.
this snap it quite sharp and nice… I wonder which camera you used to take it.
wow you got snap of my dad’s shop :p
That’s pretty cool, pemba! But I guess that must happen a lot – Boudhanath is such a photogenic place.
Beautiful photo, Barbara!
What a beautiful photo! I’ve been following your photography for awhile now and have noted that you have “the eye for the shot”. I find myself spending a lot of my time while traveling, looking for that “shot”. Back in the days of film, you had to pick your shots and make sure you had everything just right. Now, with digital, I just click away and cull later. It’s a whole new way to go about taking pictures.
I know, I’m off on a tangent. I thought you might need a break from all the “serious excitement” that may be overwhelming you of late. Sometimes it’s nice to take a break, let your mind rest from all the stress. I’m not trying to minimize your situation, just provide a little fresh air for the mind. I can qualify my ability to empathize with you being in dangerous situations with my year in Vietnam, many years ago. You’ll have to excuse me as today is Memorial Day, and my mind has been flashing in many directions. Now I’m sorry I even brought this up. Maybe Nepal will someday establish a day of memorial for these days of strife.
If you don’t mind me asking, what type of camera and lens are you using? It appears you have chosen good equipment. I’m in my planning stage to take off again in a couple years, (final retirement), to resume seeing the world. And as every time I take off, I buy a new camera. May even travel with a laptop too, depending where I’m going. Do you ever feel like a target? Traveling anywhere in Asia is one thing, but I’m thinking minimalist on my venture to Timbuktu, Mali. Boy, now I’m really off on a tangent!
Hope all is remaining calm.
Hi Steve: Thanks so much for your comment and I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog. I am a firm proponent that the camera body is not nearly as important as the lenses. I use a Canon EOS Rebel T3i, but bought the body only, as the kit lens is not great quality. I use a Canon EFS 10-24 wide angle zoom lens for my walk around, then add a Tamron 75-300 telephoto and a 50mm fixed lens for shooting night video. No, I never feel like a target, however I don’t flaunt the fact that I have a laptop, taking it out only in the hostel or in cafes where I feel safe. The camera, of course, has to be visible, but I make it a point to watch whatever is going on around me at all times. Pretty much these days, nice cameras and laptops are standard gear and for what I do, the equipment is a necessity, so I have no choice. Having said that, I couldn’t imagine traveling without a laptop, especially since the computers in internet cafes are usually loaded with malware, and it’s not uncommom for unsavory owners to have installed keyboard trackers to capture username and passwords.
Hi Barbara, Thanks for the feedback on equipment. I knew you had a DSLR by the quality of the photos you’ve been producing. I’ve gone through many SLRs during my many travels over the last 4 decades. My last purchase was a Nikon P100. I got it because of the long zoom range, but quickly found the quality was not the same. I gave my daughter a Nikon 3100 for her High School graduation last year, but now it’s my turn to reward myself. I’ve never owned a Cannon, but prefer a Nikon, as I’ve had several over the years, and they’ve served me well. Cannons have always been much heavier and God knows, I always travel with too much weight. I’m tending toward the Tamron 18-270 zoom to go with a Nikon 7000 body. I’ve always traveled with two lenses, and I think it’s time to cut down on gear. I agree with you in that it’s the lens, not the body. There are so many good cameras and lenses out there, you really can’t go wrong in the DSLR department. But, even with good equipment, if you don’t know how to take a picture, you might as well have a point and shoot!
Also, the laptop situation; I really haven’t done my homework in this area. Do you depend on getting on line through local WiFi hot spots? Can’t unsavory characters capture usernames and passwords there too? Is it possible to connect to the internet using a connection similar to how a cell phone does it? My understanding is that it works, but it is way too slow. Have you investigated that? I suspect that in another couple years, when I finally hit the road again, technology will have advanced to a point unimaginable now.
Travel has become much more technical nowadays. As I read several Travel Blogs, it appears that these travelers spend most of their time on their laptops. It’s almost like being a couch potato while at home, watching way too much TV. I hope I don’t fall prey to my gadgets while I’m traveling. I’m not complaining, just trying to be aware of myself and what I really want to do while on the road. Like the saying goes: “Everything in moderation”. (Except traveling, that’s Full Speed Ahead!)
Happy Trails to You
Hi Steve:
I use both a cell phone and a laptop, but rely entirely on wifi hot spots. I choose only hotels and hostels that have wifi available in the rooms so I can work at night. I use only secured networks ( with a password) and when doing sensitive things like banking, I activate a virtual private network, for which I pay $60 per year. I can assure you that those of us who travel for a living are anything but couch potatoes. It’s not an easy life. I spend my days touring and interviewing people and seeking out local secret spots. The evenings are for downloading, sorting, and labeling the hundreds of photos I take each day; managing the advertising on my site; doing my social media tasks, researching my articles – all before I write the first word. And then there is the time required to research accommodations and transportation for my upcoming destinations Many times I exist on four hours of sleep per night. I am definitely WAY too tied to my laptop, but that is just part of the life. I love what I do but this is my only source of revenue, so it is also a business. But like you, when I find myself too tied to technology I force myself to put it down. As you say, all things in moderation – except for travel.
Good morning Barbara,
We both agree: Life should be doing what you love doing! After reading your reply last night, I thought I’d better think/sleep on it and reply the next day. I realize now that using the term “couch potato” wasn’t a smooth move and not what I intended to imply. I am fully aware that what you are doing does not include being a couch potato! Far from it.
I’ll qualify my perspective by admitting that I’m not a very good multi-tasker. Accommodating this handicap, I’ve pretty much separated my work life from my travel life. I learned at an early age with manual labor type jobs, that It would be way better for me to earn a living with my head than with my body. Also, with my travel addiction, I found it better to do what I do best working, getting paid the most per hour, than trying to find jobs while traveling that paid little (in comparison) and also took away from my time living life as a traveler.
That said, my vision of travel in a couple years will not be “traveling for a living”. I highly respect those of you that have figured out how to do it and are doing it. To get back to the “do what you love”; I did what I loved for many years. I built projects in my head and on paper as an estimator/ project manager for a general engineering contractor. And, in between, I’d do trips all over the world. Actually, I’ve already retired once in my life by traveling around the world for four years without working. Now, I’m looking forward to doing it again. But this time with a laptop, cell phone and digital camera. Very much different than 25 years ago!
My couch potato statement was referring more to myself, fearing I’d lose site of what I like doing best. I don’t want to be a slave to my laptop. This is all just food for thought, as I plan the “Big Trip”. As a former estimator, I find myself getting as much enjoyment out of the planning stage, as I will in the actual trip.
Thanks again for the technical information. I appreciate hearing it from someone who is actually doing it. I can see you put in a lot of work with your Blog. With your 4 hours of sleep per night, I hope you aren’t done-in with your own passion. I have to disagree with you in that it shouldn’t be “just part of the life”. Your health is your life! Be careful! You are very good at what you’re doing, except maybe over-doing.
Steve: I couldn’t agree more. I am too much a slave to my laptop and am trying to change that, at least a little bit. I don’t ever want my traveling life/career to become something I hate, like my previous corporate life was.
And with all that said, I promise to quit writing short stories so you can get more sleep!
One day, I hope to meet up with you at some outdoor Thamel restaurant for a cold drink and some travel talk, in moderation of course.
Love to, Steve 🙂