Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 7 - About taking Photos

This blog continues the previous Part 6,

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/07/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_27.html

   My 'very own' road movie continued to Brussels. It might be a strange way to walk during holidays when we could move so much faster and see much more. For me travel is an experience and should never be a rush; we should never be controlled by a long list of to-do's but rather follow our own instincts.

Belgians at work... 

   My way to travel is about discoveries and for them you only a little more than you eyes, your nose and ears. I need my legs to move and my fingers to take photos which are, without doubt, an extension of my mind; a result of all the impressions around me. When I came back from this tour i experienced the for the first time that my daughter looked at each and every picture I took with real interest which was easily seen by different expression, sometimes asking questions, sometimes even laughing. For me it was a strange thing but finally she said: "You've changed, I can see it from your photos".

   For this trip I bought a new compact & lightweight 4/3 mirror-less camera with a flip-up screen.

Compact: I could easily store it in my messenger bag with enough place for a shirt or a light jacket on the top to close it.

Lightweight: A joy to handle and even handheld shots in darker surroundings were possible; I barely noticed the few grams around my neck. I could even take my lightweight tripod in my messenger bag and still beat the total weight of camera & lenses & tripod of my old SLR camera.

The Flip-Up Screen let me experiment with different angles shooting photos. This screen let me shoot from the center of my body, low shots and of course selfies which I did seldom before. I even put the camera on the cobbles and could control the photo easily with the flip-up screen. I made this shots to show how uneven the surface is.

   My aim was to record what I see or think what is interesting for me. I took photos of people around me doing all kind of things like sweeping the street, painters of fences, workers on houses etc. The camera was very capable and a great support for everything I wanted to visualize.

   In this regard I had only good experiences except once during the whole three weeks in Belgium. Preparing to take photos of the train station a young man from the Middle East indicated with a gesture and by covering his head with a hoodie that he did not like to be in the photo. I replied with a gesture from my side that I understood and put the cover back on my lens for him to see. 

   I do not stick my camera in people's faces but ask before taking a photo if possible. Entering a museum or private property I also inquire politely if it is possible to take photos. Maybe also because of my 'unprofessional' equipment I have never heard a 'no'. On the contrary, museums like the Hergé (creator of the Tin Tin comics) Museum in Louvain-la-Neuve or the the Chocolate World in Belgium rather encouraged me to take photos.

Man starting his Harley in front of Comic Pictures covering Road Work

   Walking on a boulevard it was impossible to overhear a Harley Davidson riding along the road. Just when I prepared to take a photo of two large comic pictures covering road work the rider stopped and parked his bike exactly on the same sport I focused my camera. I thought this is nice and pressed the button after the rider left the scene. But he returned immediately and discovered me and my camera, made some funny poses and I continued shooting. He sat on his motorcycle and rode away. After he left I continued my way and suddenly the rider appeared in front of me.

   "Did you take photos of me?" He asked. 
   "Yes, I did!" I nodded. 
Some people might think a lot in this awkward moment and even possibly get threatened being approached by a man in a leather jacket with a helmet in his hand but I stayed calm. 

   "Could you send me copies?" he asked me politely.

   "Of course, if you would give me your email?"
   He wrote it on my map and after my return I've send him the photos. This is just one example how easy-going the Belgians are and how photos could serve as an ice breaker between humans.

   I had opposite experiences in Japan. While Japanese travelers can visit castles in Germany freely, most parts of the Kyoto palace are off limits for foreign tourists. Just to see some gardens it is not worthy to spend time and money for the trip. Not only people do not want to be photographed but even taking pictures of temples and temple workers are off limits. 
   Once I set up my tripod in an empty 'famous' temple yard on gravel because the weather was terrible on that day in Kyoto. A female employee came to me explaining that "this is not allowed because I would' hinder other (non-existent!) visitors'. Needless to say I traveled to Japan twice: the 1st and last time!   
   Because I had the time and took it easy in Belgium I can remember each and every photo very clearly; the story behind it which made the trip so much more valuable and enjoyable. Especially I would like to encourage my Taiwanese friends not only to run to famous destinations but take the time and their own God-given senses to experience this beautiful world. This let us not to see destinations like on TV but let us create our own impressions which should be shared and lived out. It is senseless to travel but stay the same after your return.

(to be continued @ 

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/08/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in.html) 

Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! If not convenient to subscribe on Blogger.com, I've started my own homepage @ https://gerhardwanninger.wixsite.com/travel

Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 1

Sunday, Sep 09, 2007

On the Streets of Los Angeles

Route: Hollywood-Santa Monica-Hollywood

Distance: 74.21km, Time: 5hours:54minutes:58seconds, Total: 74.21km

   “The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” 

– Sir Richard Burton

   When I left my hotel (on Hollywood Boulevard)  the 8th annual Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon, according to the organizers “one of the largest and most prestigious  triathlon in the world" already was on its way. As I've heard the competition started  with the swim at the beach of Venice Beach, went through Hollywood by bike and ended with the run at the Staple Center, the home of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon

   Directly in front of the Hotel gate flew the first triathletes by; for a lower wind resistance crouched in their typical position. As I walked along the Boulevard the triathletes become more and more, the professional athletes were replaced by amateurs, families with their children and even groups like firefighters and policemen joined the challenge. It would be another 10 years until I did my first triathlon.

   On the side of the road were policemen stationed in regular distances, securing the scenes demonstratively sitting on their white Harleys. Everyone was at least 1.80 m tall, muscles could be seen over their much too small and maybe even tailored shirts. They wore motor biker slacks, wide on the thigh and tight on the calf in high polished leather boots. At temperatures at around 30 degrees surely not an amusing job but, hey, this is Hollywood!

Harley on Stars

   As I walked by the obviously boring police I’ve noticed a Mexican looking officer reaching in his side pocket and grabbing a sun lotion. I’ve heard him clearly asking his colleague: “Do you want?” As he negated the first offices squirted some in his hand and creamed appreciatively his face with it.

Hello Delicious

  On the crossing to the N. Highland Avenue I’ve notice an African-American female Policewomen controlling the traffic arguing with another female African-American wearing a heavy makeup sitting in her car.

“I want to cross the road, why does the competition take so long?”

“You are an adult therefore you should know that you are not allowed talking on the phone while driving and that you have to follow my instructions.”

After these words the driver become quiet and while she had to wait she slipped seemingly annoyed on her seat forward and backwards.

   Not far away I saw a city cowboy sitting on the side of the road feeding his horse with carrots. “Curious”, I’ve thought to myself and took a picture.

City Cowboy

   I’ve realized that many European Americans in neat Sunday clothes were strolling to Ivar Avenue while others in full bags came from there. I followed them and they led me to the Hollywood Farmers Market. In this certified (!) market around 90 farmers and 30 bakers sell their organic products, around 30 artists their crafts. As I’ve heard later organic products are the hot items in high society, accordingly is the demand and the many people. I personally found the prices astronomically, for a cup of juice with much ice cubes I've paid US$5.00/cup.

    The many people let me recognize that there is a trend away from the in-‘famous’ genetically engineered mass crops to organically produced vegetables and fruits even in the U.S. Visiting the farmer’s market let me experience the ‘alternative’ America which indeed exists.  

(to be continued)