What did 2015 look like? 2015 marked yet another change in my life. After moving to the US following ~10 years on and off in Asia, I moved to the Netherlands in Europe to start yet another adventure. The time spent in the US provided me with some significant challenges, also on the travel side, but I somehow managed to pull through and do some interesting things this year.
So, here’s a quick summary of my 2015 in travel.
January 2015
I spent most of January freezing my ass off in the mid-west, and at some point just had to take off to go warm up in Mexico a bit.
Guadalajara & Taquilla – Mexico
- Visions of Guadalajara : Mexico
- Tequila Daytrip Tour from Guadalajara : Mexico
- Instituto Cultural Cabanas : Guadalajara
- Liberation Square & Teatro Degollado Concert : Guadalajara
- Guadalajara historic center walking tour
February 2015
Aside from the freezing mid-west and visits to Chicago, I had a warming up conference in Long Beach, next to L.A.
Los Angeles – US
- Visions of Los Angeles : California
- UCLA campus : Los Angeles – California
- Long Beach and Seal Beach : Los Angeles California
- Venice Beach : Los Angeles California
- Griffith Observatory : Scenic views of Los Angeles from above
March 2015
During March I had the opportunity to go see a bit of Europe. I visited my sister in Rome, attended a conference in Amsterdam, and toured down south-east through Germany visiting Cologne, Frankfurt, and Munich.
Rome – Italy
- Visions of Rome: Italy
- Trajan’s Forum : Rome Italy
- Visions of Tivoli : Italy
- The Colosseum : Rome Italy
- Gardens of Villa d’Este : Tivoli
- Parco Villa Gregoriana & around Tivoli
Cologne – Germany
- Visions of Cologne: Germany
- Monasteries and Churches walk through Cologne Old Town
- The grand Cologne Cathedral
- Churches and Monasteries : Cologne Germany
- Historic Old Town of Cologne : Germany
Frankfurt – Germany
- Visions of Frankfurt : Germany
- Main Tower Observation Deck : Frankfurt
- Goethe University campus, Grüneburg Park, and Korean Garden : Frankfurt
Munich – Germany
- Visions of Munich : Germany
- BMW World : Munich Germany
- Lake Starnberg : Munich Germany
- Nymphenburg Palace Park : Munich Germany
- Walking tour around Munich Old Town : Germany
April 2015
After a very short visit to Israel for a holiday, I came back to the states with a stopover in NYC.
New York City – US
- Visions of New York City #2
- Central Park revisited in Spring : New York City
- Staten Island ferry ride: New York City
- Brooklyn Bridge : New York City
- Wall street NYC : New York
May 2015
Back again to New York to attend a conference, and this time ventured out to see Princeton and UPenn in Philadelphia.
Princeton & Philadelphia – US
- Princeton University campus : New Jersey
- Visions of Philadelphia : Pennsylvania
- Visiting the University of Pennsylvania : Philadelphia
- Eastern State Penitentiary : Philadelphia
- Philadelphia city walking tour
June 2015
Had to go see more of Central America before leaving the region, so went for a few days to see a bit of Panama. Later that month I took a road-trip towards to revisit long lost Topeka-Kansas, where I lived for a year as a kid.
Panama
- Visions of Panama City
- The Panama Canal : Panama City
- Visions of Panama : Island and mountain life
- Local versus tourist life at Isla Carenero : Panama
- Beaches & boat houses at Isla Carenero : Panama
- Isla Zapatilla unspoiled beaches : Bocas del Toro Panama
- Casco Viejo : Panama City
- Horseback riding and hotsprings : Boquete Panama
- Finca La Milagrosa Coffee Plantation Tour : Boquete
- Dolphin Bay Preserve from Bocas del Toro : Panama
Hannibal, Kansas City, Topeka – US
- Following Tom Sawyer into Mark Twain Cave : Hannibal Missouri
- Visions of Topeka and Kansas City
- Bingham-Waggoner Estate : Independence Missouri
- Chevrolet Museum Hall of Fame Museum : Decatur Illinois
- Combat Air Museum : Topeka Kansas
- Capitol building : Topeka Kansas
July 2015
July was my last month in the United State before moving to a new adventure in Europe.
Champaign – US
- Visions of UIUC : Farewell to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
- Japan House @UIUC : Champaign Illinois
- Matthiessen State Park Hiking Trail : Illinois
August 2015
On the way to my new base in Europe I made a few quick stops along the way. Mexico, then Canada for a conference, and finally Russia.
Cancun – Mexico
- Visions of Cancun Mexico : Beaches
- Visions of Cancun Mexico : Pyramids
- Mayan Pyramids Ruins at Tulum Archeological Site : Cancun Mexico
- Cancun gorgeous white-sand beaches : Mexico
- Chichen Itza Mayan pyramid ruins : Yucatan Mexico
Vancouver – Canada
- Visions of Vancouver : Canada
- Vancouver Lookout Tower Observatory
- Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden : China Town Vancouver
- Capilano Suspension Bridge : Vancouver Canada
- Grouse Mountain breathtaking scenic views : Vancouver
- Vancouver Harbour
- Stanley Park and Granville Island Public Market : Vancouver
- Simon Fraser campus : Vancouver
Moscow & Saint Petersburg – Russia
- Visions of Moscow : Russia
- Museum of Soviet Arcade Machines : Moscow
- Visions of Saint Petersburg : Russia
- Scenic views of Saint Petersburg from Saint Isaac’s Cathedral
- Peter and Paul Fortress & Cathedral : Saint Petersburg
- Gorky Central Park of Culture and Leisure : Moscow
- Tour of the Kremlin : Moscow
- Winter Palace State Hermitage Museum : Saint Petersburg
- Krestovsky Island & Norway Park : Saint Petersburg
- Novodevichy Convent : Moscow
- Cathedral of Christ the Saviour : Moscow
- The Red Square : Moscow
- Botanical gardens : Moscow Russia
September 2015
September introduced a few European adventures. First, a short visit to Budapest, and then a couple of weeks roaming around Italy.
Budapest – Hungary
- Visions of Budapest : Hungary
- Castles and Hot Springs at City Park : Budapest Hungary
- Fisherman’s Bastion : Budapest Hungary
- Citadella at Gellert Hill : Budapest
- Hungarian Parliament Building : Budapest Hungary
Milan & Florence – Italy
- Visions of Milan : Northern Italy
- Milan Cathedral : Italy
- Visions of Florence : Northern Italy
- World Fair Expo 2015 : Milan Italy
- Boboli Gardens & open air museum : Florence
- Elixir of Love Opera at Teatro alla Scala : Milan Italy
- Piazza della Signoria : Florence Italy
- Sempione Park & Sforza Castle : Milan
- Giardino Bardini : Florence
Abruzzo – Italy
- Visions of Abruzzo : Italy
- Celano Castello Piccolomini : Abruzzo Italy
- Stunning scenery from gorgeous Pacentro: Abruzzo Italy
- Monte Solaro Cable Car : Anacapri Island Italy
Pompei & Amalfi – Italy
- Visions of Pompeii : Italy
- Visions of Amalfi : Southern Italy
- Visions of Capri Island : Italy
- Gardens of Augustus : Capri Island Italy
- Ruins of Pompei : Southern Italy
- Foof dog museum : Naples Italy
- Villa Rufolo Gardens : Ravello Italy
- Amalfi coast drive : Italy
Rome – Italy
- Terrace of the Chariots views of Altare della Patria & Rome
- Roman Forum & Palatine Hill : Ancient Rome
October 2015
In October I arrived at my new base in the Netherlands, and on the way had a chance to visit the Turkish riviera in Antalya.
Antalya – Turkey
- Visions of Kaleici Old City : Antalya – Turkey
- Visions of Antalya Province : Turkey
- Kaleiçi The old city quarter : Antalya Turkey
- Yoruk Nomad Theme Park : Kemer Antalya
- Olympos Teleferik Sky High Scenic Views : Antalya Turkey
- Phaselis ancient city : Kemer Antalya Turkey
- Perge ancient city : Antalya Turkey
Israel
- Breaking the Silence Hebron Tour 2015 : West Bank
- Jerusalem northern city walls walk
- Herzliya marina and beach : Israel
Maastricht – Netherlands
November 2015
In November & Decemebr, from my base in the Netherlands I visited Eindhoven, London, Antwerp, Amsterdam & Frankfurt, with planned visits to Spain for Christmas and Newyears.
Antwerp
London:
- Visions of London : United Kingdom
- Camden Lock Markets : London
- Central London walk : United Kingdom
Frankfurt:
December 2015
Alicante Spain
- Visions of Alicante : Spain
- Santa Barbara Castle : Alicante City – Spain
- Museu de Fogueres & Museo de Belenes : Alicante Spain
- Beaches Volvo Challenge and Marina : Alicante
Valencia Spain
- Visions of Valencia : Spain
- City of Arts and Sciences : Valencia Spain
- Jardines de Monforte & del Real : Valencia
- Museo Fallero de Valencia
- Torres de Serranos : Valencia
Figueres Spain
- Visions of Figueres : Spain
- Dali Theatre and Museum : Figueres Spain
- Sant Ferran Castle : Figueres Spain
Barcelona Spain
- Visions of Barcelona : Spain
- Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus : Barcelona
- Gothic quarter : Barcelona
- Font Magica de Montjuic & Olympic Village : Barcelona Spain
- Ancient synagogue : Barcelona
- Park Güell & La Sagrada Familia : Barcelona
- Auditori Forum & Agbar Tower : Barcelona
- Montjuïc Castle Teleferic de Montjuic : Barcelona
Girona Spain
Netherlands
Overall
Overall, this year I’ve been to various parts of the US (Los Angeles, Kansas, New York City, Philadelphia), Canada, Mexico, Hungary, Panama, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, United Kindgom, Belgium, Russia, Turkey, and Israel. Not a bad year (compare that with 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009), though it’s probably the first year in a long time I have not visited Asia. I hope 2016 will bring lots of new adventures and interesting places.
What to expect in 2016?
After living in Asia and the US, I’m looking forward to adventures in in Europe. Also hoping for a visit or two to Asia, but it’s hard to tell at this point. Either way, new adventures coming up, definitely something to look forward to.
Have a great 2016!