Travel changes you and for me that is one of the many reasons that I love it. "Many a times" I feel myself craving a travel adventure when my day to day life becomes too routine, or when I find that I need to challenge my own thoughts and behaviours. 
Travel challenges you to think differently, to embrace diversity and to cherish the little details that have a tendency to get overlooked when you are going from one day to the next. 
The world really is a small place and once you begin to travel and see all the beauty it offers, the countries you visit seem to stay with you - their people, culture, landscapes and unique personalities. With respect to my recent trip to Morocco, it is the artisans and their work that will always resonate with me.
This past weekend, Morocco held their "Day of Dignity" - calling for the end of poverty, illiteracy and the abuses of human rights. The Arab world is seeking change and freedoms that many of us in the west take for granted. It is both exciting and saddening at times to watch as individual citizens are harnessing their individual and collective powers. Having only been in Morocco 2 months ago, the streets that I walked and the people I met and photographed are permanently in my thoughts and well wishes. 
When it comes to photography, there are specific times of the day, and certain weather conditions that make a photographer excited. In Amsterdam, I was so excited when I woke up to a misty morning when the water in the canals were as smooth as glass and the narrow streets were silent! It was like the mist just seemed to hang onto every thing it touched.
When it comes to traveling, there are certain times which make the adventure extra special. In Amsterdam, I was able to enjoy this fantastic city with a great friend. Clara and I share a love for all things travel, and this trip did not disappoint. Together we enjoyed enthusiastic shopping days, phenomenal food, inspiring galleries, sensational wines, and of course a lot of laughter!
Amsterdam is a city not to be missed. While this was my second time, it definitely won't be my last! The architecture and the general city scape just make this city a pure pleasure to be in.
I am counting down the days until my next travel adventure. In a month I will be off to exotic Morocco and Spain. This time I won't be the only photographer....very exciting!!
I was originally in Vienna over 15 years ago, however, this past visit felt like I was seeing the city again for the first time. One of the best memories that I had of Vienna was of the KunstHausWien and the Hundertwasser House, created by the contemporary painter and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser. 
His work encapsulates environmentalism, philosophy, and design through his boldly-coloured paintings and irregular formed architecture projects. Today's reality was as good as my memory remembered it to be!
Cafe Hawelka is a gem! It exemplifies a warm and peaceful coffee retreat practically untouched since the mid-sixties. As a phd student, I find myself spending many hours in coffee shops working away and the historic vibe of this place just felt like a little slice of academic familiarity. 
It has often been said that coffee is the Viennese drink of choice, and with the many types to choose from you soon realize that the coffee ritual in Vienna is much more than coffee with a bit of milk or sugar. 
The Stephansdom is a stunning Gothic cathedral in the heart of the city centre. During my travels I have been to many places of worship, and the interior of this church was truly breathtaking with its intricate interior structure and artistry.
Vienna is such a walkable city and as you explore on foot you stroll past the Karlskirche church, many museums and can easily imagine what it must have been like hundreds of years ago.
After my time in Vienna, it was off to Amsterdam....more on that part of the trip soon!
