nature – Seite 2 – rene bauer photography

Taiwan: The Prison Island (Lü Dao)

There is also a dark side in the history of Green Island. For the period of so called „White Terror“, from 1949 until late 1980’s, many political prisoners were held on a prison on Green Island, which got the name Prison Island back then. Nowadays it’s converted to a museum and memorial.

There are more places outside the prison walls, which played a role in those times. Most obvious the cementery, but also a cave, in which the prisons were forced to play and watch scenes and plays in order to get the right mindset for the Taiwanese society.

März 17, 2024März 17, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, history, landscape, nature, reportage, travelTags: Asia, cave, coast, greenisland, history, island, landscape, lèdao, memorial, museum, nature, people, prison, prisonisland, renebauerphotography, reportage, taiwan, Travel, whiteterror Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: The Unique Hot Springs On Lü Dao

Why should I take a trip to the Island of Lü Dao, also known as ‚Green Island‘, just for a bath in the ‚Zahori Hot Springs‘? The answer is simple: because this place is one of only three saltwater hot springs in the world! Learned this, i just had to go, if just for a day trip and short dip there.

The idea of a day trip ended up to a five day vacancy on the beautiful Green Island. But later more about it. On my first visit in the pool area i expected the place full of people, but ended up alone there. At least for almost an half hour or so. It’s a public bath, that’s why i couldn’t run around with my Nikon camera. But i grabbed my cell phone for a few pictures, whilst i’m pretty on my own in the pool.

My blue baseball cap replaced with a blue swimming cap i dived in the warm water. And while i’m floating in the different pools with water temperatures up to around 42°C, one of the staff member was willing to explain me, where the water comes from and how it get pumped up from the sea into the pools. The hottest pool is at the top, and its water flows down terrace like pools, mixed with colder water to reach the specific temperature of each pool.

He was also telling me with a proud tone, that there was only three saltwater hot springs on the world, but that one in Japan isn’t accessible anymore due an earthquake. Now there are only one left in Italy, and this one on Lü Dao.

März 15, 2024März 15, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, landscape, nature, portrait, reportage, tradition, travelTags: Asia, bath, fareast, greenisland, hotsprings, island, landscape, lüdao, nature, pool, portraits, renebauerphotography, reportage, sea, selfies, swimming, taiwan, tauting, Travel, zahori, zahorihotsprings Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: Along The Coast Of Lü Dao (Green Island)

Fascinated from the cliffs at the sea i spent hours to watch the waves rolling over those sharp rocks when the tides came in. Just some impressions from these hours.

März 13, 2024März 13, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, landscape, nature, travelTags: Asia, bay, cliffs, coast, fareast, greenisland, landscape, landscapephotography, lüdao, longeexposure, nature, naturephotography, pacific, phillipinsea, renebauerphotography, rocks, sea, seaview, smooth, splash, sunset, taitung, taiwan, tides, Travel, waves Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Taiwan: Road Trip To Taroko Gorge

One of the most beautiful place on Taiwan, is Taroko Gorge at the East Coast, i read.

So, i took a direct train to Hualien, rented a car, grabbed a coffee early next morning and went off to see the landscape. And what a landscape i saw. Deep in the gorge, the walls went high on my sides when i drove in the narrow gaps of the mountains. Started at sea level, the road went higher and higher, got almost 2500 m.a.s.l. before i turned back. Many stops for photos or just taking a deep breath or resting on a quite place while was stunned about the old trees, the forest covering the high mountains and the river cutting its way down to the sea.

A fairly long hiking trail goes all the way up, but was closed due a typhoon earlier. Unfortunately i didn’t get to the hot springs there neither. At least another shorter, but still nice trail was open, as i found out on my way back. But this is another story for my next post. Stay tuned!

März 8, 2024März 8, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, travelTags: Asia, forest, gorge, hiking, hualien, landscape, mountains, nature, renebauerphotography, river, taiwan, taroko, tarokogorge, Travel, trees, tunnel, valley, view Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Start Into New Asia Trip: Jomtien, Pattaya, Bangkok

Just before i checked in my flight to Bangkok i decided not to see the hustling city but go to the nearest beach from the airport first. Since there was a direct bus link from the airport to Jomtien Beach, just next to Pattaya, it was a good decicion.

A few days on relaxing beaches, nice walks trough forest hills nearby, visiting temples and lookouts, eating at local night markets and having a beer in the street of bustling nightlife.

Bangkok with its skyscrapers, the green lush parks, but busy, noisy traffic, is a whole different story. I ended up in the famous-infamous Khao San Road, a backpacker area even long since my first visit here 30 years ago. When i went for a stroll there among the nightly, crazy party folks i thought literally: ‚New generation, same shit!‘, but enjoyed it.

März 1, 2024März 1, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: Asia, culture, history, landscape, nature, portrait, reportage, tradition, travel, urbanlife, waterTags: Asia, bangkok, beach, beachlife, beer, bigbuddha, bkk, buddhism, cappuccino, city, citylife, coffee, landscape, nightlife, nightmarket, pattaya, people, renebauerphotography, skyscraper, southeastasia, temple, thailand, Travel, urbanlife, walkingstreet Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Iceland: Hunt For Polar Lights

More spectacular landscapes on our way trough the south of Iceland. Even some reindeers crossed our path. But still no polar lights until we reached Reykjavik. So, we decided to have a night out with some beer and live music.

To our surprise, we got a notice about sightings of northern lights just outside the city. A few moments later we’ve been on our search for a dark spot with less light pollution, and witnessed a wonderful heavenly light show. A last amazing impression of Iceland before returning home.

Februar 18, 2024Februar 13, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: europe, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, travel, urbanlife, wildlifeTags: auroraborealis, coffee, glacier, hotspring, iceland, landscape, mountains, nature, nightsky, northerneurope, northernlights, overland, polarlights, reindeer, renebauerphotography, reykjavik, roadtrip, sky, Travel, winter, winteriniceland Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Iceland: Ice Cave, Glacier Lagoon and Diamond Beach

From the Vatnajökull Glacier breaks icebergs into the lagoon Jökulsàrlon. That’s also the starting point for tours into ice caves. The weather wasn’t ideal at all due the rain and dark clouds. So i was missing the colors on both, the ice cave experience and on the lagoon itself too. However, there was a nice group i joined and despite i didn’t bring home the pictures i expected, it was worth the experience.

Februar 16, 2024Februar 12, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: europe, landscape, nature, travelTags: beach, blue, cave, diamondbeach, glacier, glacierlagoon, ice, icecave, iceland, jökulsarlon, landscape, nature, renebauerphotography, sea, tour, Travel, vatnajökull, waves, winteriniceland Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Iceland: Golden Circle (part 2/2)

Out of a spontaneous idea, a good friend followed me to Iceland. So i picked him up the other day and went again with him to the area of Golden Circle.

Starting with a nice breakfast at bakery, while the locals roaring with their big trucks into the weekend. Some waterfalls on our way, as well more Iceland horses and of course also geysirs.

End of day we found a nice thermal bath to relax after a day driving.

Februar 11, 2024Februar 10, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: animal, culture, europe, nature, reportage, roadtrip, travelTags: 4x4, geysir, goldencircle, gullfoss, horse, hotspring, iceland, icelandhorse, landscape, mountains, nature, Offroad, overland, renebauerphotography, reportage, selfoss, snow, thermal, thermalbath, Travel, volcano, waterfall, winter, winteriniceland Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Iceland: Along the roads (Golden Circle, part1/2)

Just got into my car and drove along the road. It’s a popular circuit route called the ‚Golden Cirlcle‘.

I stopped along the way, where the landscape was beautiful, the place had to offer some points of interests or also just for the Iceland horses.

At the Kerid crater, a strong, icy wind reminded me on the country i’m in. It kept this way all day. But maybe it was the reason not seeing many tourists around. Most of them just jumped out of their big, comfortable busses for a quick photo snap. Also at Skalholt Cathedral i was completely on myself.

More highlights are the icy Gullfoss waterfall and the hot geysir, as well the Thingvellir Nationalpark, where two continents drifts apart. Literally.

Februar 9, 2024Februar 9, 2024 by Rene Bauer Categories: europe, history, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, travelTags: church, continentaldrift, crater, geysir, goldencircle, gullfoss, iceland, kerid, keridcrater, landscape, nature, overland, renebauerphotography, reportage, selfoss, skalholt, skalholtvcathedral, snow, thingvellir, Travel, waterfall, winter, winteriniceland Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Iceland: Lava Tunnel and Aurora Borealis

Volcanic activity with lava flows belongs to one of the impressive nature phenomena of Iceland. Despite the recent eruption of a volcanic fissur on the Reykjanes Peninsula, there’s currently no lava flow. The area is closed to public for safety reason anyway. But i heard of that lava tunnel, which is accessible by a tour…

Another natural spectacle are the northern lights. The night i left the capital city for more remote and dark place wasn’t to expect any sightings of Aurora Borealis. But often, when you expect it least, luck crawls into your life.

From my warm, beautiful and cosy place i stepped out into the dark, cold and windy backyard. I noticed the clear sky with shiny stars and decided to give it a go. I learned before, Aurora Borealis not always appears in strong, bright colors, but often starts with a rather dull grey area on the sky, easily mistaken as mist. I pointed my camera by chance to such a fog-like area, and got surprised by a greenish band of light hovering over the city of Selfoss in my back.

After the excitement of this first sight and capture, i changed my location. Outside of town and near a small mountain i observed the sky for more light phenomenas. I didn’t get disappointed. That foggy looking sky turned greenish, got stronger and ghostly lights from strong green to soft reddish was dancing over the sky…

(sorry for the many northern light photos. i was too excited)