Persongalleriet #632: Beijing, Day 2

But I'll start with a quick recap of how I got here. Wrote a blog about my troubles with the Scandinavian Airlines pilots' strike a couple of days ago, but that was i Swedish, so here'a a short version in English:
* About 10 hours of telephone queing, spread over 2 days,  before I could adjust my travel plan after my flight was canceled.
* A 37 hour trip incuding an overnight train journey, instead of a 17 hour trip.
* Upon arrival my suitcase was lost. Luckily I got it after 11 hours. So, that was 48+ hours in the same clothes... That shower and change of clothes was sweet!

So, day 1 was mostly tiredness and worry about the suitcase. Day 2 was something else entirely! I woke early, about 6 a.m., and went for a morning stroll. Couldn't resist some breakfast:

Chinese breakfast on the street! Mild and aromatic by themselves, but dip them in a mix of Chinese vinegar and chili paste and there's a wake-up call for ya!  :-) And as you see, I couldn't resist eating one before I took the shot.

Scene from right outside my hostel's front door!

I did three photo-walks this day. Morning, mid-day and evening.Here's a shot from the mid-day walk:

China-America.

Ice Cream with Tenderness on the Side.

Pics from the evening walk will have to wait, can't spend all day in front of the laptop!  ;-)

Be well, everybody!

/Niklas

Persongalleriet #586: Istanbul Up Close, Pt 1

March 12th, 2016.
On my last day of this trip  I was back at the spot with the amazingly dramatic light at the spice market. It was a Saturday and it was crazy how many people passed! Here are just a few of my shots:

Be well, everybody!

/Niklas

Persongalleriet #582: More Istanbul Ramblings

March 10th, 2016.
On my own again yesterday, I rambled, after blogging etcetera for the better part of the morning. After a few minutes in "my" neighborhood, I took the tram west to Yusufpaşa to retrace some steps from last year. Couldn't really find the inspiration. Had two cups of çay in an alley and decided to go ride the ferries instead. Walked to Aksaray tram stop and found this:

Rode the tram to Eminönu to catch a ferry. When I got there I felt a hunger pang already, since I had such a late start to the day. I remembered seeing the fish sandwich seller from last year close to Karaköy and decided to walk across Galata bridge to try some! Saw my own shadow as I was walking down the stairs and waited a little while to get something interesting:

At least interesting to me!  :-)

The fish sandwich guy wasn't there today, but I found a simple little restaurant which made a damn good one! Shooting didn't stop just because I was having lunch:

Here's another shot from 50 meters away:

Beyoğlu is the part of central Istanbul where I have found the most graffiti. Here's a shot where I found a "Blue" theme:

Got on the Kadıköy ferry at Karaköy (finally getting the hang of which is which!!!) Walked around for a while getting som quick shots of the passengers. Sat down with the camera in my lap to enjoy the sea view. Looked down at my tiltscreen and found something to shoot a little bit closer than that:

Getting off at Kadıköy there were some police with uzi-like machine guns. Finger on the trigger and all, so I decided to go straight back with the ferry, now to Eminönu. I don't mind police with holstered pistols, but when carrying guns like this, it seems to me a shot could go off at any moment, by mistake or otherwise.

After resting my legs for a while I took the tour of the ferry. A small band was playing the most beautiful music you can imagine!

I talked to them after. Their name is Ateş Band and HERE is their facebook page. They didn't have any record to sell at the moment, but there are some mobile phone videos on there that will give you an idea, although the super talented girl singing and playing flute is not featured in any of them. I also always love a mandolin played so well as this! I shot a short video and will post it later, but I'll first need to convert it to a format youtube accepts.

Found some more geometry I liked on this ferry:

As I was getting off the ferry I saw the people waiting to get on behind closed doors. Then I saw the reflection.

As I was buying some simit for a simple dinner in my room, these two young women started chatting me up. Of course I asked to get a picture, with simit and all!

This was turning out to be a it of a geometry day and I found one more shot like that before calling it a day:

Be well, everybody!

/Niklas

Persongalleriet #575: Live Blog from Istanbul, Day 2

Today was a nice warm day with some sun, mostly the hazy kind. I spent the morning lightrooming and writing the previous blog post. I didn't get out on the streets until about noon. As I was closing the window before leaving the hotel room, I noticed two men arguing in the street right outside. Walking down the stairs I made my camera ready and shot this as I stepped out of the hotel:

Off to a decent start, I think!  :-)

I didn't really have a plan and walked randomly in some favourite blocks near the hotel. I got some shots of dogs yesterday, but today was more of a cat day.

The Beggar.

I walked downhill through some deserted alleys near the Grand Bazaar, but as I got nearer the Spice Market the streets began to fill up.

Daddy & His Girls.

I followed a street I hadn't walked before and ended up outside Sirkeci train station. I went in to see if "my" cats from last year were still there. Saw this one residing over the old engine outside.

Top Cat.

Of course, there were more cats inside. Here's one:

The Cigarette (II).

Walking down the Quai, I decided on a whim to go to Kadıköy with the ferry. Last year I only went on one return ferry ride and thinking about this trip, I had made up my mind to do it more this time around.

Yellow Love.

Arrived at Kadıköy.

Took a long walk along the waterfront, an aspect of Kadıköy I hadn't realized before. But this was a Sunday and lots of people were enjoying the sea views.

Balloons.

Back at the Ferry Terminal.

Ferry to Eminönu.

Once at Eminönu it is of course impossible not too shoot some more, even though the body aches and the belly is empty.

Galata Selfie.

Dinner was a chicken dürüm wrap and a banana.

Be well, everybody!

/Niklas

Persongalleriet #552: London B&W

Börjar närma mig sluttampen på bilderna från min första dag i London i somras, den 2/7. Dagens bilder är från tågstationen Liverpool Street och från stadens tunnelbanesystem.

Ha det gott, alla!

/Niklas