nature Archives - Page 3 of 3

Jun 19

by Nicola in Beach, Dubai, Nature, Swimming 0 comments tags: beach, BeanOn Photography, Dubai, Dubai Sailing Club, Early morning, Exploring, free beach, Jumeirah open beach, nature, running track, Umm Suqeim

Dubai Diary: A Free Beach

My Dubai Diary: A Free Beach, a total of 4 days experiencing Dubai, that’s too hot to handle. We explored Jumeirah open beach, the free stretch of sand running the length of Umm Suqeim (known as Kite Beach due to its popularity with the city’s kite-surfers) to Dubai Sailing Club. At 8am, with the temperature a mere 35 degrees Celsius and stifling humidity, we walked for about 9kms along the wooden walk way and soft, spongy running track, awash with joggers. If I were even to attempt a run along the track I’d definitely start before the sun rises at 5:30am. As the searing heat drained the last drop of moisture from my body, we caught an air-conditioned taxi back to where we’d started. I’ve never in all my life appreciated air-conditioning. Even during Durban’s summers I’d refrain from sleeping in air-conditioning and settle for a fan. But not here… Not even if one paid me. Should I ever visit again it shall be during their winter, which is around 25 degrees Celsius, a more comfortable temperature indeed! The rules of the beach included no wearing of swimming gear beyond the sand; male and female changing huts […]

Jun 16

by Nicola in 4x4, Adventure, Dubai, Nature, Off-Road, Safari, Sunset 4 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, bbq, BeanOn Photography, camel riding, Desert Safari, Dubai Desert, Dubai Diary, dune bashing, Exploring, Marsh Fun Travel & Tours, nature, Off-road, quad-biking, Sunset

Dubai Diary: Dubai-Desert-Safari

My Dubai Diary, a total of 4 days experiencing Dubai, a thrill-seeking 4×4 dune bashing during a Dubai-Desert-Safari. Just after 3:30pm a driver from Marsh Fun Travel & Tours picked us up and drove us, just over an hour to the desert. As they offer tailor-made itineraries, we opted to hire a 4×4 vehicle and driver for just the two of us (ooh there’s a song in that somewhere…) to avoid sharing with other tourists. Just before the 4-wheel-drive safari started, we were able to freshen up, drink tea or water while the tyres on the vehicle were deflated. A hot wind didn’t provide any relief from the 40 degree Celsius heat and 69% humidity. Durban’s mild, cool even, in comparison to Dubai. Almost 20 minutes of already dune bashing, the driver asked if we wanted to experience speed. “Yes,” I shouted excitedly. Oh how I wished I had my Suzuki Jimny – it made me ache with nostalgia, and especially crave off-roading in KwaZulu-Natal. The driver sped up to a high ridge of a dune and the vehicle had to be counter steered so as not to flip and roll down the other side. Oh so […]

Jun 07

St Ives in Cornwall

End of April (for my birthday), I ventured down to St Ives in Cornwall and explored the seaside town, on the coast of the Celtic Sea, and its surrounding areas (St Just, Lands End, Mousehole – don’t get me started on the pronunciation of such place – and St Michael’s Mount) for a few days. The moment the sea filled my vision when arriving at St Ives I felt my jaw drop – the stunning colours of the water caused awe to wash over me. “Is this really England?” I’d asked my friend. I’d never known England to present such exquisite beauty before. About 12 years ago I first visited Cornwall and I did not recall it to be as vividly pleasing. Unless it’s taken my eyes and mind thus long to be fully open and aware and appreciative… Another delight took place while dining at the Porthmeor Beach Café, less than a 5 minute walk from St Ives’ harbour. The heated booths outside on the balcony overlooked the beach without any interruption, and the tapas of fresh fish couldn’t have been cooked better elsewhere. The dramatic sky added to the ambiance of the place, to the […]

Mar 08

by Nicola in Beach, Nature, Sunset, Umdloti beach 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Blue Bottles, crabs, Indian Ocean, KwaZulu-Natal, nature, South Africa, Sunset, Umdloti, Umdloti beach, Umdloti South Beach

Umdloti crabs

What a spectacular sighting: the Umdloti crabs doing their thing at twilight; every time I’ve enjoyed a run or walk along south beach, a third of the way towards Umhlanga, they’d caught my attention. I’ve never seen these types of crabs along the north beach, and I wonder why… Last evening, with the perfect weather, I couldn’t resist taking along my camera and doing my best to capture them running in to the water, burying themselves as deep as possible in the sand when the flow of the water hits them (be prepared to get drenched in the process), and some are still in the exact same place as the water ebbs, while others tumble into the next flow of the wave. A few of them had Portuguese man o wars (aka blue bottles) wrapped around their claws and appeared to be munching on them. It proved a challenge, hence the not so sharp photos, trying to capture the little critters as they kept dancing around as if on a stage, performing for each other. The setting sun turned the sky over the ocean pink and orange and made for stunning moments worth holding on to… […]

Nov 30

by Nicola in Black & White, Nature 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Black & White Photography, Exploring, Flowers, Garden, KwaZulu-Natal, nature, Plants, South Africa

Colour-less

I enjoyed a stroll through a garden with my camera in hand, poised, ready for action; inspired by everything around me, I couldn’t resist shooting black and white – a colour-less world – to capture the dull, wet day… ANON: These are beautiful images, I have always personally thought that “Black and White” photography shows the true character and nature of things. Somehow light and shadow seem to intensify and define themselves much better. I enjoy these images, and hope to see more on your website soon. BeanOn: Thank you for enjoying these images. Some things definitely demand to be captured in black and white, as you mentioned, highlight (excuse the pun) shadows and definition and turn something ordinary into something that’s worth appreciating.

Oct 29

by Nicola in Adventure, Nature 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Exploring, Getaway Magazine, Giba Gorge, Hi-Tec, Hiking, KwaZulu-Natal, nature, Pinetown, Quarry, Rugged Terrain, South Africa

Getaway Magazine and Hi-Tec at Giba Gorge

About 50 of us joined Getaway magazine and the Hi-Tec crew for a half-day hike at Giba Gorge on Sunday, 27 October. What a stunning trail through the peaceful new and old-growth forests with spraying waterfalls and inspiring vistas – to the top, high above the N3 freeway where it suddenly turned dangerous climbing in the pouring rain; not for the fainthearted!

Oct 03

Lions Valley Lodge

Lions Valley Lodge, http://www.lionsvalley.co.za/, a stunning five-star experience enveloped in virgin bushveld of 21,000 acres within the Nambiti Conservancy, Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal. The lodge is built true African chic with an infinity pool and decking and main boma-style restaurant that all overlook the spectacular view across the valley, where herds of impala and zebra quench their thirsts. Immersed in history, there are two memorial sites on the reserve commemorating the Boer and English troops that did not make it through the Battle of Elandslaagte, 21st October 1899. The one and only thing I disliked about the luxury experience was thinking about the lioness mating with her offspring after photographing the pair close up, as close as possible… Of course there was no end to snapping away with my camera, almost like a video, and feeling in awe of being so close to lions in the “semi” wild…

Jul 20

by Nicola in Beach, Nature 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Exploring, Indian Ocean, KwaZulu-Natal, nature, Scottburgh, South Africa, South Coast, Wild Beach

Wild winds

After a leisurely breakfast at Scottburgh, we strolled along the beach where the wild winds brought in vicious waves that had reached up to 9 meters only moments earlier. About 4 brave surfers did their best just trying to stay alive out there… Allow yourself to be touched by nature; the power of nature will teach you more than any book you could ever read.