Our Best Travel Photos of 2011

We’ve compiled 25 of our favourite pictures of 2011 from our Travel Photography section for you to enjoy. It was hard not to include more, but these are our absolute favourites. Taken mainly through Asia, they sum-up our first year of travelling nicely. We hope you like them as much as we do!

We haven’t ordered them in any way. We’d love to know which is your favourite and why.

Oh and let me know if you want any technical information on the shots!

Semi-Gobi desert, Western Mongolia


During a stay with a nomadic family, a mountain loomed over us in the near-distance. Deciding, “Lets climb it!”, we got to the summit and enjoyed the unspoilt view for hundreds of miles around. Stu couldn’t resist throwing a rock!

Near the Thorong La summit – Annapurna Circuit Trek, Nepal


We took nearly a thousand shots on our 12 day Annapurna Circuit trek in the Nepalese Himalayas. It was hard to choose one over hundreds of equally good shots taken in Nepal!(Not bragging at all!).

Chinatown – Bangkok, Thailand

Saw this guy at a festival in Bangkok’s China-town in Thailand. It was so manic and he had machine like efficiency with his wok, frying up a local delicacy.

Bokor Hill Station – Kampot, Cambodia


Taken at a working Buddhist temple in Cambodia, tucked behind a major construction site up at the ex French colonial Bokor Hill Station. We saw this cheeky monkey with his pals being fed biscuits and cake (as seen all over his face) by the monks who lived there.

Sauraha – Chitwan National Park, Nepal


We kept visiting the same local restaurant while we visited the Chitwan National Park. As it turned out we saw more wildlife at the restaurant than we did at the park itself! We couldn’t sit for one meal without this cat or the local dogs joining us. She wouldn’t take no for an answer!

On route to Da Lat, Vietnam


On our motor bike adventure through Vietnam we stopped to admire this beautiful lake outside Da Lat. We saw these boys looking out across the water and it presented an excellent photo opportunity.

Don Det – 4000 Islands (Si Phan Don), Laos


Perfect for hammock swinging and (more) sunset shots in beautiful Laos, our bungalow on the mighty Mekong River faced the sunset. It was monsoon season during our stay in Laos and rained at the same time every day like clockwork. After a particularly bad storm as the sun was going down, the sky was transformed into a multitude of colours.

Emei Shan – China


2 or 3 hours south of Chengdu in central China, we stayed at a monastery on the Emei Shan mountain. During breakfast, the monks started calling something out…Then suddenly monkeys came swinging down from the rooftops to get in on the breakfast action!

Halong Bay Cave – Vietnam


Taken in a lit cave during a boat tour of Halong Bay, the people leaving the caves look like ghosts with the light shining on them from the caves entrance.
Quite a long exposure shot, luckily I had my tripod for this one.

Halong Bay (Bai Chay) Bridge, Vietnam


Linking Bai Chay and Hon Gay, the Halong bridge looked stunning at night. We rode our scooter onto the bridge to get a closer shot of the main column lit with all the passing traffic. It took a few attempts to get the shot right because locals kept pulling up right in front of us to check out what we were doing!

Hoi An Beach, Vietnam


Stuart took forever trying to get a fancy photo of this stunning sunset with the SLR camera. I managed to take a better picture on my compact while relaxing on the empty beach sipping a beer!

Hue, Vietnam


Another long exposure shot, taken by a busy junction outside the Hue Citadel walls. What felt like a hundred bikes raced off down the street when the lights turned green.

Koh Rong Island, Cambodia


A perfect postcard image taken during our stay in paradise on Koh Rong Island. Clear water, white sand, blue sky and (best of all) right next to Tree House Bungalows! They made possibly the best pizza in S.E Asia.

Koh Rong Island, Cambodia


A rather bizarre photo, a 10 minute exposure of the Koh Rong coastline near our beach shack. Some strange lighting going on here, but striking none the less. Can you see the rotation of the earth in the trail of the stars…?

Krabi, Thailand


During an unscheduled visit to a fish farm on a little island near Krabi, we were introduced to this spiky fellow. Handled by a worker, he doesn’t look too happy.

Mongolian Plains – Western Mongolia somewhere, 500km from Ulaanbaatar


Taken from our ‘support’ truck during an 8 day horse trek to the Orkon Vally, west Mongolia. Our Aussie travel buddy, Greg riding on his trusty steed through the wilderness plains.

Koh Rong Island, Cambodia


Another perfect postcard image from this paradise island. This dog lived at Tree House Bungalows and kept us entertained with his pals whilst we scoffed delicious pizza.

Repulse Bay, Hong Kong


A bit of deserved luxury during a stay with our friends in Hong Kong. The man-made beaches had amazing views across Repulse Bay. The apartments in the distance make for an amazing night-scape.

Siem Reap, Cambodia


Local dancers perform traditional routines at a venue in Siem Reap. The choreography and costumes were outstanding.

Angkor Wat – Siem Reap, Cambodia


A fellow photographer enjoying the view at the sunset gathering at the famous Angkor Wat temple. The huge moat surrounding the temple is as picturesque as Angkor Wat itself.

Trans-Siberian train, Russia


Rolling through the tundra of Siberia, the beautiful landscape didn’t change for hours, sometimes days. This is the ultimate train journey.

Don Det – 4000 Islands (Si Phan Don), Laos


A water buffalo taking a dip in the Mekong River. There’s a body under there somewhere we think.

City Walls – Xi’an, China


The ultimate depiction of modern China. The traditional red lanterns, bicycles, and pagodas in the distance. But with booming heavy construction, and the thick, visible blanket of pollution.

Sihanoukville, Cambodia


Another sunset shot. Beer in hand, wind brushing the palm trees, water rolling in over the pristine sand. A distant reggae rhythm. Does it get any better?

Big Goose Pagoda – Xi’an, China


The nightly light and water show in Xi’an is the largest in Asia. Huge geysers shoot up into the night sky. Laser and flood lighting dancing off the reflective water to the sound of dramatic classical music.

Which one is your favourite?!

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