Travel Photos and Travel

“I think a photography class should be a requirement in all educational programs because it makes you see the world rather than just look at it.” ~ Author Unknown

Often the world looks very different through a lens – a camera has an uncanny ability to point out aspects you would never have noticed ordinarily. The way the light plays on the water of the harbour, the beauty of a cobbled street, crowds of people dancing their way across the road at a crossing. When you are on the lookout for a great photo, you see things differently, in sharper focus, and you think about them far more. As a visitor to another city, a photography tour is therefore not only a great way to hone your photography skills but also a way of learning about that city and understanding it with greater insight that you might have otherwise.

With iconic landmarks such as the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, Sydney offers a plethora of great photo opportunities. The difference between an ordinary tourist and one armed with a camera is that photographers aren’t just looking to see the sights, they want the best light, angle, mood and that little bit of magic. Just before sunrise and just after sunset are the best times to set up your tripod to take treasured snaps of the illuminated skyline, with the bridge and Opera House silhouetted in the foreground.

However, some of the best photographs of Sydney can be taken away from the crowds around the popular sights. Wander up into the city’s historic Rocks district and you’ll find narrow, atmospheric cobbled laneways, 18th century buildings and tiny terraced houses. Head over to bohemian Pott’s Point to point your lens at coffee houses, art deco apartment buildings. Take the bus to Bondi to capture the action in the ocean, stunning rock faces and bare-footed surfers. There are a multitude of faces to this dynamic city and you can see them all through your lens.

To learn the history behind the subjects of your photography, booking a photography tour can be incredibly rewarding. Not only will a professional photographer take you to their favourite spots, they will advise you on technique and tell you about what you are snapping. There are a number of companies that offer photography tours, one of the best for a great mixture of technical tutorial and local knowledge being Alfonso Calero’s, who also runs tours in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane. For a tour that focuses more specifically on where to find the best spot and technique, Mark Gray is the go-to guy.

Even more so than any other tourist, keen photographers want to leap out of their Sydney hotel and explore, constantly on the lookout for shots that show the city in a different light. Rise early, pack your camera, lenses, extra batteries, memory cards and tripod, don some sturdy walking shoes and see Sydney in the best way possible – through a lens.

A stag do offers the perfect chance for you and your mates to get away and here are five of the best destinations for this kind of holiday.

Dublin
You’ll certainly be able to enjoy the craic on short breaks in Dublin. The Leopardstown Racecourse, which is about six miles south of the city centre, puts on top-quality horse-racing events throughout the year, so you and your friends can have a flutter in the hopes of winning big!

Alternatively, you may want to spend a day at one of the many championship-level golf courses in the Dublin County region, such as St Margaret’s, which has hosted prestigious events such as the Irish Senior’s Open and the Ladies Irish Open.

Make sure you stop by the Guinness Storehouse on your stag do. Here you can go on a guided tour of the factory where the famous stout is made and you’ll be able to see the world’s largest pint glass, as well as get the chance to sample the drink for yourself.

Once you’ve been taken around the brewery, head up to the Gravity Bar where you can relax with a few drinks and enjoy fantastic views of the Irish capital before heading to the city’s top nightclubs such as RiRa and Club M.

Amsterdam
A trip to Amsterdam can certainly make for a great stag do and if you’re interested in having a few beers head to the Dutch capital’s Heineken Experience, where you can learn more about the 150-year history of the premium lager. You can also take part in a cocktail-making class or go on a beer bike tour, where a group of you pedal through the city on a specially-crafted bicycle that comes with its own keg!

But there’s much more to do in the city than just drink. If you and the lads love football, a guided tour of the Amsterdam Arena – the home of top Dutch side Ajax – is sure to go down well and you may even want to take in a game and witness the passion of the Eredivisie league first hand.

When the sun sets, head to one of the city’s top restaurants – such as Brasserie Harkem or Restaurant Los Argentinos – before playing poker or blackjack at the Holland Casino.

Prague
Visiting Prague for a stag do is bound to offer a great night out. Make sure you stop by the Karlovy Lazne nightclub in the old town district. Set across five levels you’ll find each floor specialises in a different type of music so you and your boys can easily dance into the early hours.

For a slightly different night out, visit the Reduta Jazz Club to take in some live music or the Hawaiian-themed Aloha bar. But you should make sure you also visit the city’s sights during the day, such as the amazing Prague Castle.

Other activities your group can take part in while in the Czech capital include clay pigeon shooting and go-karting so you can be sure that there’s a lot to do.

Bratislava
There’s no shortage of great places to go drinking during stag holidays in Bratislava, as a range of bars and clubs – including Duplex, Infinity and Kartell – can be found within a short distance of the Presidential Palace.

Of course, you ought to have a full stomach before heading to the Slovakian capital’s various nightspots so stop by one of the several restaurants in the old town district such as Butterfly and Modra Gula, the latter of which has a rooftop terrace offering spectacular views of the city.

And there’s certainly a range of things to do during the day, including paintballing and 4×4 off-road driving, both of which can be booked through activities company Predators.

Glasgow
Closer to home, Glasgow is also a great stag weekend destination. If you’re into sport, you can watch either of the city’s football teams – Celtic and Rangers – in action.

If you want something more hands-on, race around the track at Scotkart – the largest indoor go-karting centre in Scotland – or go paintballing.

Once you’ve finished, head to the Red Onion Restaurant for something to eat – Calvin Harris and George Clooney are among the stars to have dined here – before heading to the city’s top clubs and bars.

Bamboo, on West Regent Street, is certainly one of the best nightspots and as it’s open to 03:00 GMT six nights a week there’s plenty of chance to have the stag holiday of a lifetime.

I’m usually someone who books everything separately. I go to one website for my hotel, another for my airline, another for my tours. Part of it is force of habit. This is the way I have always done it and I am a big creature of habit. But recently a friend of mine suggested I try to do an all inclusive holiday. She was saying that sometimes that you can get cheap all inclusive holidays because companies offer bulk discounts and deals to entice travelers to visit as well as get rid of inventory. Airlines and hotels often work together to combine offers as a way to upsell customers and get them over. I’ve seen a few articles about this before too but have never give it much thought.

However, I changed my mind after my friend recommended it. I was still skeptical but she kept prodding me so I finally told her I would look into it for my upcoming trip to Hawaii. Hawaii is known for its resorts and vacations so if there was any place that I could go get a good deal on something that was “all inclusive” I figured Hawaii would be it.

I thought about what I wanted in my inclusive holiday package and I wanted hotel, airfare, food, drinks – all the basics. I wasn’t too concerned about activities or spa treatments to be included. I wanted a cheap deal and if I just stuff to the basics, I would have a better chance at getting my trip at a good price.

So I followed my friend’s advice and waited until the last minute to try to get a cheap holiday deal. And it worked! I found a great last minute deal online and saved myself about 300 dollars by getting a package. After my experience, I am a full convert to getting last minute holiday packages before I go travel.