river – rene bauer photography

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

Norway – Trolls at Trollstigen?

Traveling further south i had to climb up the famous pass route of Trollstigen.

Just before the climb i stopped to get some photos and took a small hike in the nearby forest. No trolls to see. But even here some tourists tried desperately to get in front of my camera.

On the top of the pass the crowd grew even bigger. Despite the rain started to pour down. I just took some pictures to collect memories, but been happy to find calmer places in the fjords again.

Unexpectedly i heard some trolls calling me on my way. They showed me a nice spot to sleep under their watch.

Dezember 4, 2023Dezember 2, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, history, landscape, nature, tinatortuga, travelTags: europe, fjord, landscape, landscapephotography, mountain, nature, northerneurope, norway, overland, pass, rain, renebauerphotography, river, scandinavia, tinatortuga, Travel, troll, trollstigen Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Norway – Trondheim With Olavsfest

I was expecting a crowd in Trondheim, but little knew about the Olavsfest, what was held on that particular weekend. The famous Nidaros Cathedral was overrun by spectators and entry tickets were sold out for the day. But there was still a lively market place to visit.

Not far from the cathedral flows the river Nidelva, which divides the city in two parts. The old city bridge ‚Gamle Bybro‘ connects them and leads to the neighborhood Bakklandet, what’s certainly worth a visit.

After a long day strolling around, enjoying street life and drinking coffee with sweets, i was longing for a calm place again. Luckily i found a nice hike in the hilly forest just outside of the city. The gentle rain that started to fall didn’t even bother me, but it also gave me a beautiful rainbow.

Dezember 3, 2023November 30, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, landscape, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travel, urbanlifeTags: bakklandet, bridge, cafe, cathedral, church, coffee, europe, forest, gamlebybro, hiking, landscape, nature, nidaros, nidaroscathedral, nidelva, northerneurope, norway, olavsfest, oldcitybridge, overland, people, portraits, rainbow, renebauerphotography, reportage, river, scandinavia, tinatortuga, Travel, trondheim Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Norway – The Northern Cape

Another long drive trough beautiful landscape of northern Norway. Even the sun comes out for awhile, just when i was on a hike at Silfar Canyon. Another traveler approached me for a chat. So we went together along the the canyon, shared travel stories and enjoyed the nature around.

Due maintenance the North Cape Tunnel was closed for a couple hours. This roughly 6.9 kilometer long tunnel dives 212 meter underneath the sea and connect the mainland with the island Mageroya.

Just to make it clear: The North Cape is not the most northern spot, neither from mainland Europe (what is at Sletness Fyr), nor from Europe as in general (what is on Svalbard ). It’s simply the most northern point one can reach on road from mainland Europe. When i arrived there unfortunately strong winds brought dense fog too. With that the midnight sun was hidden behind clouds. Just for a minute there was some sun rays pushing through the thick mist, slittering over the surface of the Barents Sea and reached the foot of the cliffs.

A nice surprise to meet my old traveler friend Paolo, who i met before in Africa. He’s traveling for years around the world with his motorcycle. There’s a lot to catch up, and so we spent hours in the cold to share stories.

November 27, 2023November 21, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travelTags: barentssea, canyon, fishfarm, friends, island, landscape, mageroya, midnightsun, nature, northcape, northcapetunnel, northerneurope, norway, overland, people, reindeer, renebauerphotography, river, roadtrip, sea, silfarcanyon, tinatortuga, Travel, tunnel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Latvia – Riga

I played tourist in Riga.

Just strolling trough the old town, looked at historical building, visited churches and parks and learned a bit from its history.

Not going to bore you with many details about Riga, what you could find in a better way online, but post some impressions on my walk trough the city, before i found a quite place for the night just at the bank of the river Daugava.

November 21, 2023November 19, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, europe, food, gastronomy, history, landscape, reportage, roadtrip, tinatortuga, travel, urbanlifeTags: balticstates, buildings, cafe, camping, cathedral, church, coffee, coffeetime, daugava, easteurope, historical, history, Landrover, landroverdefender, latvia, market, markethall, northerneurope, oldtown, overland, parks, people, rainbow, renebauerphotography, reportage, riga, river, roadtrip, skyline, sunset, tinatortuga, tram, Travel, urbanlife, vanlife, ww2 Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Palestine – Jordan River, where Jesus got baptized, maybe.

A big crowd was gathered at the small, brown muddy river. It’s supposed to be the place, where Jesus got baptized in the Jordan river. These groups of believers obviously want follow their religion idol by get also blessed in that dirty water.

There’s a singing, praying and even screaming all over the crowd. A few standing in the water, all in white clothes, and holding the believers. Some seemed to hesitate, but loud prayers demanding to the supposing daemons to leave. Then, in a quick move, the priest dived the believer backwards into the river. A guy with a horn blows a deep tone to announce the new baptized, while the crowd was cheering and the singing is swelling in excitement.

The Jordan river is the border to the state of Jordan too. At the other side there’s also a small access to the river. The wooden platform is smaller and much less crowded. The few tourists from Jordan side was watching and filming the event. In between, there was a lonely guy, a bit off the crowd dipping himself into the river. When he reappeared he looked around, seemed to be almost a bit lost.

März 24, 2023März 24, 2023 by Rene Bauer Categories: culture, history, HOPE, humansofplanetearth, landscape, nature, portrait, reportage, tradition, travel, UncategorizedTags: baptism, baptized, believers, bible, biblestory, border, crowd, history, jesus, jordan, jordanriver, middleeast, palestine, priest, renebauerphotography, river, Travel Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

The Sipi Falls

From Kampala leads a wide, tarred road to the Kenyan border, but on my way i decided to drive a detour to the Sipi Falls. The camp was settled opposite the falls with stunning view to the scenery. Even a sprinkling rainbow appeared with the setting sun. Unfortunately it’s a typically ran down campsite, as many others in Uganda and in Africa in general. The staff tell me from a owner living far away, not interested to invest in facilities, nor seems the employers really keen on keeping it nice and tidy. they only count on customers coming (and paying) for the scenery up here. Probably i would had stayed longer if the campsite would been better maintained. However, that one beautiful night i enjoyed the place.

Juli 22, 2017Juli 22, 2017 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, gastronomy, landscape, nature, reportage, travel, uganda, UncategorizedTags: Africa, africaoverland, camp, camping, eastafrica, kampala, Landrover, landscape, locals, mood, night, nile, overland, overlandafrica, overlander, people, peoplephotography, rainbow, renebauerphotography, river, sipi, sipifalls, source, sunset, Travel, uganda, villagepeople, water, waterfall Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

The Source Of River Nile

I felt the privilege to camp on a grassy site overlooking the River Nile. One site called „The Haven“ became easily a base of tranquility and peace, inviting me to stop by for awhile and do nothing than watch the river flow, the eagles fly and fishermen boats float. It was both, inspiring and meditative. The village nearby couldn’t offer much but laughters and friendly talks when i got to the only little shop around. It was actually just a shack with a weird calendar showing the Ugandian president in truly Rambo style. The ‚roll-eggs‘ they made was delicious, though.

Another camp i found was just above the spot where the Lake Victoria giving birth to the River Nile. A humble monument shows the place where the first European, a certain Mr. John Hanning Speke, spotted the source of the river on 28th July 1862.

Juli 21, 2017Juli 21, 2017 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, animal, culture, HOPE, humansofplanetearth, landscape, nature, portrait, reportage, travel, uganda, Uncategorized, urbanlife, water, wildlifeTags: Africa, bonfire, eastafrica, fire, food, jinja, kampala, landscape, localfood, locals, mood, night, nile, people, peoplephotography, renebauerphotography, river, rivernile, source, sourceofrivernile, Travel, uganda, Village, villagepeople, water, wildlife Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

At The Banks Of River Nile

At the other side of the Nile a fishing lodge offers boat trips even into South Sudan, i heard. Fishing lodge sounds posh, but when i arrived it was a run-down lodge with basic facilities. Yet still the charm of better times stays in the air. A small group of locals arrived just after me. They came for a little party under friends, brought a living goat in the car trunk and let them to the butcher to slaughter it in the backyard. There were more animals waiting to get eaten up, but having a peacefully live till then. A pig with a bunch of small ones, chicken, more goats. Eagles circling over the river when i walked along the banks and gave the scenery a peaceful touch of freedom.

März 11, 2017März 11, 2017 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, animal, food, gastronomy, landscape, nature, reportage, travel, uganda, Uncategorized, wildlifeTags: Africa, animal, boat, chicken, eagle, eastafrica, ferry, fisherman, goat, landscape, mountains, nature, nile, people, renebauerphotography, river, sunset, Travel, uganda Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Murchison Safari Camp

Crossing the Victoria Nile over a bridge with the view of Karuma Falls, i got to the north of Uganda now. I noticed a Camp, just at the northern gate of Murchison Falls Nationalpark, where wildlife seems to cross. At that remote and quite camp is a waterhole. The manager, a young, smart lady, confirmed sometimes elephants, giraffes and more wildlife are to observe here. Despite my patience to watch out for them, the recently rain didn’t gave them the urge to come to the waterhole. Instead big animals i found big spiders, cats, chicken …and then yes, some antelopes came shyly closer. However, some relaxed days in peaceful nature.