Howard’s Favourite Photos From 2023

Photography has always been my hobby, and I’ve enjoyed partaking in it while we enjoy our nomadic lifestyle. One of my favourite things is to roam the streets of a foreign land during the blue hour just after sunset when the sky is still slightly lit but the lights are on and enhancing the foreign cityscape.

The following are my personal favourite photos from our travels in 2023, in chronological order. Each group of photos is preceded by a link to our original blog post with even more photos!

Cameras:

  • Sony a7iii with Sony 24-105mm G-master lens, or 14mm Laowa lens
  • Samsung S21 Ultra
  • GoPro Hero 9 Black (Borneo and Bali diving shots)

Coachella Valley, California (January, 2023)

Sculpture at Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea, California

Tokyo: 9 Days in the Largest MegaCity in the World  (February, 2023)

Sunset seen from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building
Night lights of Shinjuku, with Godzilla making appearance in the background
Night lights of Shinjuku
Cherry blossoms

Kyoto: The Cultural Capital of Japan (March 2023)

Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, Japan
Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto, Japan
Kiyomizu-dera Temple, Kyoto
Zuigudō in front of Kiyomizu-dera Temple
Dotonbori District in Osaka
Dotonbori District in Osaka
Osaka Castle
Byōdō-in temple in Uji

Western Japan – 5 Cities in 10 Days (March 2023)

Cherry blossom at Tsurugatayama Park in the Kurashiki area near Okayama, Japan
Stairs up to Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine
At Kamishikimi Kumanoimasu Shrine
Nagasaki harbour with Megami Bridge
The Naka River at night in Fukuoka

5 Nights Gangnam Style in Seoul, South Korea (March 2023)

Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul, South Korea
Fence at the Peace Park between North and South Korea
One of the last trains to get out of North Korea during the war, full of bullet holes and a bent wheel

A Month in Vietnam – Hanoi, Da Nang, Hoi An April 2023)

The Golden Bridge at Ba Na Hills, Vietnam
At Marble Mountain, Da Nang
Cave at Marble Mountain
Dragon Bridge fire show in Da Nang
Hoi An riverfront at sunset
The Japanese Covered Bridge in Hoi An
Woman selling floating candles from the main bridge in Hoi An (the basket with a long handle she’s holding was for you to lower the candle into the river)
Ancient Hindu temple complex of My Son

Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur & the island of Langkawi (April 2023)

Kuala Lumpur at sunset
Young macaque under the Tugu Dewa Murugga statue at Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur
Eagle Square on the island of Langkawi, Malaysia at sunset

Penang – Malaysia’s Expat & Nomad Haven (May 2023)

Lightning viewed from our Airbnb balcony in Penang, Malaysia (single image taken with a 10 second exposure)
Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple
A resident of Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple deep in thought, with George Town in the background
Street art in George Town, Malaysia: Boy on Motorbike

24 Hours in Singapore (June 2023)

Supertree Grove with the Marina Bay Sands Hotel in the background – Singapore
Supertree Grove with the Cloud Forest elevated walkway
Singapore Bay waterfront, with Apple store in the dome on the left
The Rain Vortex at the Jewel Changi Airport
Iron Man exhibit at the Rain Vortex

Borneo – The Wild Side of Malaysia (June 2023)

Sunset in Kuching, Malaysia and the Sarawak River with the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly on the right

KK sunset
The KK waterfront makes for a good place for photos
Touring the Klias River on the island of Borneo, Malaysia
Hawkbill turtle from below – Diving from KK

Bali – A month on the Island of the Gods (June 2023)

Sunset on Candidasa Beach, Bali
There were lots of turtles at the USAT Liberty wreck
Returning from scuba diving
Hiking through the valley to Aan Secret Waterfall, Bali

Laos – Luang Prabang, Waterfalls, & the Mekong (July 2023)

The Mekong River in Laos
Haw Pha Bang Buddhist temple in Luang Prabang
Pools below Kuang Si Waterfall
Whitney swimming in a pool below Kuang Si Waterfall
There are over 4,000 Buddha statues in Pak Ou Caves
View from the bow of our slow-boat up the Mekong in Laos

Chiang Mai – A month in northern Thailand (July 2023)

Wat Sri Suphan (the Silver Temple) in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Wat Lok Moli
The spires on the top of “Stupas” at Wat Ban Den
Whitney climbing the Sticky Waterfalls at Nam Phu Chet Si National Park

Hong Kong 3-Day Visit (August 2023)

Hong Kong waterfront at sunset

Pier on the Hong Kong waterfront
Whitney admiring the Hong Kong waterfront
At Tai O village
Street art in Tai O

Bangkok & Hua Hin: Beatles, Boxing & Beaches (August 2023)

Muay Thai at Rajadamnern Stadium, Bangkok

A fishing boat on Hua Hin beach

Discovering Stockholm and Hunting Runestones (September 2023)

A platform at a subway station in Stockholm, Sweden
One of the many escalators in the Stockholm Central Station
The Royal Palace changing of the guard ceremony

Parliament Building
The Sun Singer statue in Stockholm

Helsinki: a week in the Finnish capital (September 2023)

Sunset on the overnight ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki
Helsinki Cathedral with Senate Square in front
Street at sunset near Helsinki Cathedral
The Canadian Embassy in Helsinki
Seagull on Helsinki waterfront
One of the entrances through the walls on Suomenlinna island

Tallinn: Estonia’s Fairy Tale Capital (September 2023)

Kadriorg Palace – Tallinn, Estonia
Flower shops line the street leading to the Viru Gate in Tallinn
V.I. Lenin Palace of Culture and Sports (Linnahall)
The honeybees in the Home Garden – Victims of Communism Memorial

Russalka Memorial
Viru Gate

Riga, Latvia: The Heart of the Baltics (October 2023)

Changing of the guards at the Freedom Monument in Riga, Latvia
House of the Blackheads at night
Evening in the Old Quarter of Riga

Vilnius, Lithuania: Baltic Finale and a Hospital Visit (October 2023)

Above the entrance to the Lithuanian National Drama Theater in Vilnius
A side room inside Vilnius Cathedral
Whitney walking through the Basilian Gate

Andorra: The Little Country That Could (October 2023)

Hiking around Tristaina lake in Andorra – One of the few times this year where I found a good place to get us both into a shot
Plaça de la Rotonda in the evening
Looking down on Les Escaldes and Andorra la Vella at sunset

Benicàssim & Barcelona: Beautiful Beaches & Buildings (November 2023)

Panoramic view of the main interior of La Sagrada Familia
Panoramic view of the main interior of La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona
One of the many stained glass windows in La Sagrada Familia
One of the many stained glass windows in La Sagrada Familia
Pigeons at Plaça de Catalunya
Pigeons at Plaça de Catalunya, Barcelona

Homeward Bound on a Transatlantic Cruise – Yay or Nay? (November 2023)

Hermitage of the Mother of God on a hill overlooking Ponta Delgada, Portugal
Hermitage of the Mother of God on a hill overlooking Ponta Delgada, Portugal in the Azores islands
In the main dining room
Relaxing on the lower walking deck

I’m always curious which shots resonate with people, so if you have a favourite feel free to leave a comment below. Thanks for visiting!

3 thoughts on “Howard’s Favourite Photos From 2023

  • Robb December 17, 2023 at 9:12 am Reply

    Wow, you’ve got so many great shots here, you have quite the eye for composition. If I had to pick one I’d say the lightning shot from Malaysia really stuck out for me, but some of the ones from Japan are also quite stunning. Great work, thanks for sharing!

  • Francesca Pearson December 17, 2023 at 10:19 am Reply

    Literally, photos full of wonder! All of them are wonderful! I’m a softy for animals, so the one that made me gasp was “Young macaque under the Tugu Dewa Murugga statue at Batu Caves near Kuala Lumpur.” Also, love the portraits and selfies that capture the joy of the moment. Thanks for sharing!

  • Darlene White December 17, 2023 at 7:01 pm Reply

    Loved so many of the pics, but that hawksbill turtle from underneath is stunning!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *