Temples and shrines – religion in Japan

Japan is a country with a very rich history and the religion was a big part of it. Traditional religion is shinto  which differs from region to region and praise many gods. There is also a considerable number od buddhists. Teachings of Buddha arrived to Japan from China as early as in V century.

• Shrines are places of worship of shinto gods – Kami. The important part of the religion is trying to establish a connection between present times and your ancestors. It is more a set of native belifes and mythology than a unified religion.
• Temples are central places of japanese buddhism. Most of them consist of a main hall, teachings hall and five-storied pagoda. Considerable number of them are also monasteries where monks devote their live to meditation and studying teachings of Buddha.

Entry to Japanese shrine

During our visit in the Country of Cherry Blossom we visited numerous shrines and temples. In every town and community you can find a place of worship. Just in historic old capital Kyoto are hundreds of them! Just like castles they are an extraordinary example of local architecture. Therefore, it was really hard to pick just 5 of them to create this list. If you have some more time in Japan consider visiting other destinations famous for their tamples like Nikko, Koyasan or Kamakura. These places are not in the top because we did not have enough time to explore them, but we heard some really good things about them.

Top 5 The most beautiful Temples and Shrines

5.  Todaiji, Nara

Nara was the first, aincient capital of Japan. It is full of historical tresures. The city is located lass than an hour train ride away from Kyoto and Osaka and you can easy get here with your JR Pass. We walked throug a neat park toward the largest wooden construction on the planet. On our way we were enjoying countless flowering trees and a company of friendly, yet greedy deers. There were hundreds of them just casualy walking around the park. According to the Shinto beliefs they are the messangers of the gods, but to us it seemed that they are always hungry and constantly asking for more snacks. In the center of the park there is Todaiji Temple. Inside it you can find 15 meter tall Buddha statue. The building itself is the largest structure made of lumber in the world. It was reconstructed in XVII centure after the original temple was destroyed by fire.

Spring in Nara

Buddha from Todaiji Temple, Nara

Blossom in Todaiji

Nara Park

Entering largest wooden structure on the Earth

4. Kinkakuji, The Golden Pavillon, Kyoto

The Golden Pavillon is a shrine in the northern Kyoto. Two stories of it are covered in gold leaves. The building is set in the middle of a well maintained park, just by the pond. The shinning walls mirror in the calm waters creating some fantastic reflections. Even though the shrine is stunning the complex is not very big, but it is extremly crowded. 

The Golden Pavilon

Sightseeing Kyoto

Closer look on Golden Pavilon, Kyoto

3. Itsukushima, Miyajima

There is an island close to Hiroshima called Miyajima which literally means a “Shrine Island“. To get there we travelled by train and a ferry and all was included in our JR Pass – super happy with this investment. Among many temples and shrines on the island one is the most famous – Itsukushima. This one was build in a uniqe way. The entire shrines stands on piers and bridges stretched over the sea. Depending on the tide while sightseeing you can be walking above sandy shore or choppy sea water.  The most recognizable part of the complex is the giant Torii Gate standing alone in the sea guarding the entry to the shrine. This iconic view is so famous, that we just had to travel all the way here to see it. There are friendly deers all over the island. Visitors can also enjoy hiking to the mountain top for panoramic views of the island and the bay. Unluckyly for us it was the most rainy and cloudy day during our entire trip to Japan, so we decided to skip hiking and indulge in hot tea instead.

Traditional weddding ceremony, Miyajima

The floating Torii

deers of Miyajima

Low tide at the shrine

The shrine at high tide

2. Fushimi Inari, Kyoto

Fushimi Inari is the biggest and the most important shinto shrine dedicated to the Kami of rice – Inari. Right behind the complex there are trails leading to the top of Inari Mountain (233 masl). Hiking one of those is a popular attraction. The paths leads uphill in the shade of the forest and thousands of vermilion Torii Gates.  All of them were fund from donations and each has a name of the donator and date painted on its back. The size of the gate depends on the generosity of the donation. On your way up you will pass by literally piles of the miniature ones. You can even buy one of your own and hope that it will bring good fortune. The hike to the top of the hill and back took us around 2 hours. The further we went the fewer people we  saw. Walking through the endless tunnel of thousands of Torii Gates is one of the best memories from Japan.

Hiking in the shade of thousands of Torii

Trail in Fushimi Inari Shrine

Piles of Torii Gates

1000s & 1000s of Torii

Torii Gates price list

Hiking to the Inari summit

Fushimi Inari

Thousands Torii Gates

In the tunnel

Fushimi Inari, Kyoto

1. Chureito Pagoda, Fujiyoshida

A visit to Japan would not be complete for us without seeing the highest peak of the country, a famous Fuji volcanoe. Shortly after our arrival to Tokyo we decided to go to Five Lakes District on the northern slopes of Mt Fuji. It turned out that the highland areas had not heard about spring yet. What is even worse during our visit to Arakura Sengen shrine and Chureito Pagoda we could not see the peak of Fuji at all. It was all covered in clouds! We were a bit disappointed and we promised to ourselves that if time allows we will come back in 10 days at a very end of our trip.

Fuji Five Lakes

Not always lucky with the weather

Chureito Pagoda

Mt Fuji and cherry blossom

On our last day in Japan we were flying back to Australia at 6:30 pm. Previous evening we made it back to Tokyo and decided that we use all the time that we have left ( it wasn’t much of it!) to visit Five Lakes District again. We left our luggage in a locker on Tokyo station and took a train to Otsuki. From there we hopped on Fujikyu Rail which is designed for tourists willing to travel to Mt Fuji (it was not included in JR Pass and costed us 960 JPY per person). It took 35 minutes to get to   Shimo-Yoshida station. From there it was 10 minute walk to the entry of the shrine. 400 steps higher was the goal of our time pressured excursion – the most picturesquely located pagoda in entire Japan. We only had an hour for sightseeing and we still had to rush to make it on time for return train , but it was definitly worth it.

10 days had passed from our last visit and the landscape was completly transformed. Thousand of cherry blossom decorated the slopes and symetric, majestic Mt Fuji was the most stunning background to it.

Maybe Chuerito Pagoda is not the oldest, the biggest or the richest shrine in Japan, but its postcard-worthy location secured its win in our TOP 5 countdown. This is the view that we hopped for while we were planning our trip months before. Seeing it with our own eyes gave us a feeling of fulfillment and pure joy. This moment will last in our memories forever.

Mt Fuji and Pagoda

Yet another great angle

Matcha Ice creams and Mt Fuji

Postcard from Japan

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The celebration of Spring

Every spring in Japan people follow the Sakura Zensen – the cherry blossom forecast. Every local and many, many tourists as well carefully plan those few magical days when flowers are in full bloom. The goal is to see it in the most charming corners of the country. This moment is very elusive as it takes only a week from the appearance of the flowers till the petals start to fall. If you are planning your “Sakura Chase” it is worth considering a visit to one of the famous Japanese castles. This structures are very intriguing, especially to us – Europeans who are used to a very different look of historical defensive structures. Most of the castles were built during the chaotic era of Warring States. The typical castle consists of main, multi-leveled keep, a labyrinth of walls and alleys, and a moat.

Unfortunately, only as few as a dozen original castles built before 1868 remained to the present days. Therefore, most of the castles that you can see are modern reconstructions, often made with steel and concrete, instead of traditional materials.

You can see these reconstructions in Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuyama, among others. Many of the originals were destroyed during the earthquakes and World War II. Just like the castle in Hiroshima which was wiped off the face of the Earth with the entire city by the nuclear bomb in 1945.

The Castle in Hiroshima

The reconstruction of the castle began 13 years after the city was turned into dust. Today, people can see five-storied keep resembling the historical building from XVI century. It is surrounded by walls and moat and, around all this, there is plenty of cherry trees blooming picturesquely in the spring time. Another place to visit is the nearby Memorial Park, where you can learn more about the doom of the city. When you plan your trip to Hiroshima, bear in mind that the cherries bloom here faster than in Kyoto and Tokyo. It is convenient to get here with the Shinkansen bullet train.

Hiroshima Castle

Cherry Blossom

Under the cherry trees

Peace Park in Hiroshima

Original Japanese Castles

Traditionally, a castle is surrounded by the 3 rings of walls. The smallest one, in the middle was called honmuaru and surrounded the main keep. Most of these castle towers have two to five stories on the outside, but there might be more on the inside. Four out of twelve original castles still standing today were listed as the National Treasure of Japan and on UNESCO World Heritage List. These are castles in Himeji, Matsumoto, Inuyama and Hikone. We were fortunate enough to visit two of them,  known as the White Heron and the Black Crow.

Himeji Castle

The Himeji Castle

The structure is known as the White Heron Castle due to its elegant, white appearance. It is considered the most beautiful and best preserved castle in Japan. We could not agree more. This was one of the most spectacular spots that we visited in this country. What is more, we got there at the perfect time to see the cherry blossoms in full swing. It could not be better. The castle is located in historically strategic place on the west approach to former capital – Kyoto. Himeji is definitely worth stopping by ,for day or two. It is easily accessible and you can do it on your way to Hiroshima using JR Pass. From the train platform you can already see the Castle towering above the city. You can get pass the moat and within the first ring of walls for free. There is the huge open space with hundreds of blooming cherry trees around. The view is magical and incredibly photogenic.

The White Heron Castle

Moat surrounding Himeji Castle

The White Heron Castle inside

After paying 1000-yen admission fee (9,5 USD), we walked towards the main keep. As the path was getting narrower and narrower we were getting closer and closer to the main tower. The inside of the tower is made from wood and….completely empty. We expected it to be a sort of a museum but there were no artifacts to see. Together with a thick crowd of both tourists and locals celebrating sakura, we were pushed all the way up to the top floor.

It was an exhausting experience as it was very busy, quite cold and you had to take your shoes off. There was not enough time to marvel at the view from the top because everybody was trying to force their way to one of the few windows. In the end, we think that the Himeji Castle is best viewed from the outside, where you can fully enjoy its architecture, blooming flowers and fresh air.

UNESCO listed site

The city of Himeji

Inside the Stronghold

Heading to the main keep

Dusk in Himeji

Full Bloom

The Matsumoto Castle

On our way from Kyoto to Nagano, we stopped in Matsumoto. An original, well preserved castle is just  a 15-minute walk away from the Japan Rail station. We decided to visit it and even though we had to carry our luggage it was not far, at all. The outside of the castle is painted black and because of that it was nicknamed – the Black Crow Castle. On a clear day, you can see the mountain peaks around the valley. The main keep is surrounded by the wide moat and the cherry trees. It is worth knowing that the further north you go, the later the spring arrives. We found the red bridge leading to the castle especially neat, as its red color stood out from the calm waters of the moat.

Sakura in Matsumoto

Matsumoto Castle

Sakura

Bridge to the Matsumoto Castle

Castles and city parks are not the only great places to go to see Sakura. The mountain landscapes, temples and shrines are just as great.

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Work and Holiday Visa

In November 2016 the regulations for visa 462 holders changed. As a result, the holders of Work and Holiday Visa can apply for prolonging their stay for another year if they meet the certain criteria. The most important one is working for the minimum of 3 Months in a remote part of the Northern Australia. We were lucky enough to had been already employed in a remote Curtin Springs roadhouse in the middle of the desert of Northern Territory. By working there, we were able to not only apply for the second year visa but also save money for our future adventures. In addition, we could visit the famous Australian landmark, located nearby – aboriginal monolith Uluru.

Ningaloo Reef

Waters of Ningaloo Reef

The return to Australia

In the beginning of 2018 we came back to the Land Down Under after a year full of traveling and amazing adventures. This time we wanted to look for a job by the sea, close to the incredible beaches. We chose to look for a job in a remote corner of Western Australia as this region is famous for its beauty and it is far away from the big city’s hustle and bustle. Before our arrival we had sent out some emails with our resumes, but we did not hope for much. The plan was to buy a car in Perth and head North looking for a job on the way. Working in remote locations have some advantages. One of  them is that most of the employers provide food and accommodation for the employees at a discounted price. That makes saving money so much easier. Our online job hunting turned out to be more effective than we assumed and we got a job offer in Coral Bay. After just few days in Perth, we booked our flights North to the Learmouth Airport, where we were picked up by our new employer.

Amazing shoreline

Coral Bay

Coral Bay is a small settlement inhabited by only about 300 people. It is located by the picturesque bay. In the high season a lot of tourist flock here to enjoy the scenery. They can chose from variety of accommodation. There are 2 hotels, backpackers hostel and 2 camping grounds/caravan parks. There is a small supermarket, a bakery, 2 cafes and 2 restaurants. We are working in one of them called Bill’s Bar. There is quite a few young travelers working here with the similar mindset to ours. Right after our arrival, we participated in the staff party. It took place on a boat and swimming with manta rays and snorkeling with sharks was a part of it. So incredible! The busy season is linked with the presence of marine life which seasonally visit local waters.

Panoramic view of Coral Bay

Ningaloo Reef

We have been to Coral Bay in Ningaloo Reef during our honeymoon road trip, 2 years ago. We had a time of our lives back then when we swam with the biggest fish in the sea – the whale shark. They come here every year between February and August. In addition, from June to September humpback whales migrate along the shore. So we knew that we won’t be bored in our free time.  The Ningaloo reef is accessible straight from the beach. When it comes to the Great Barrier Reef in the East which is 15-30 km away from the mainland and you need a boat or an expensive boat trip. In Coral Bay, you can marvel at the underwater wonders everyday. All you need is a mask and a snorkel. In the shallow waters of the bay you can see a lot of fish in different colors and sizes. Near the beach we can often spot a blue dotted sting ray.

Two worlds of Coral Bay

Underwater highway

Snorkeling Ningaloo reef

Underwater life

Bluespotted stingray

Fish of Ningaloo

Amazing snorkeling

Stingray in the shallows

The Circle of Live

Visiting Coral Bay at a particular part of the year brings some extra wildlife spotting opportunities. From September to February at nearby beaches accessible by 4wd track  you can spot turtles hatching. Little ones rush towards the sea to avoid predators lurking on land and in the air. If you walk North along the shore from Coral Bay after more or less 700 meaters you will make it to the next bay known as the Skeleton Bay. Over there young reef sharks spend their juvenile months. They grow up in the shallow waters of the bay and venture towards the ocean once they adult. You can spot them from the shore from October to March. If somebody enters the waters they tend to run away, so by staying dry-footed you secure the best view. The best time to go is during low tide and when the water is calm. It guarantees the best possible visibility of the young carnivores.

Small Turtle, Five fingers Reef, Coral Bay

Shark highway

Baby Sharks

Chilling with Baby Sharks

Skeleton Bay

Beyond the reef…

Coral Bay is a place where Australian Outback meets the Coral Reef. You can not only enjoy underwater activities, but there is also a fair bit to do on land. You can enjoy the company of kangaroos which come to the beach in search of the food. In the evenings the sky is ablazed when the sun drops under the Indian Ocean. Sunset is not the end of photography opportunities, because the night sky is illuminated by billions of stars. The dry ecosystem and no light pollution creates a perfect viewing conditions for star gazing. You can easily spot our home galaxy – the Mily Way. In conclusion we are very lucky and greatful to be here. It is yet another proof that if a person sets his mind on a goal it eventually becomes reachable.

Beach time everybody!

Golden Sunset

Galactic Core

Amazing clouds on humid day

Milkyway and Magellan Clouds

Meet the locals

Time for little romance

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Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia

Whale shark snorkelling in Exmouth

4 whale sharks spotted!

With this little introduction we can finally say that we saw 4 different whale sharks and swam with them, following their gentle moves at the back of their tails! This was a beautiful time filled with grace and melody provided by the elegant giants. They have an unique white dot pattern characterising every single one of them. They seem to be the absolute bosses of the ocean crew.  Since they are wild animals the interaction with them is restricted by the australian law, which aims to minimalize the human impact on their daily rutines and mantain freedom.

Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Whaleshark, Exmouth, WA

Whale shark snorkelling

Are the whale sharks going to be there?

What are the chances of spotting the whale shark while on the boat?

In Australia, Ningaloo reef, it’s all directed from the sky! Every morning the plane takes off and starts to search for the shadows of the majestic creatures. As soon as they are located, the boat gets the updated directions of the whale sharks as well as the number of the animals present at the moment close to surface.

The whale shark rules

One of them can be interrupted by one boat only at a time, with a small group of people. When turists get their snorkel gear ready for the whaleshark fun, they jump into water asap and follow the animal.

It’s super important to stay behing its the side fins and no closer then 3 meters. It allows the whale shark to swim gently and do its own thing without disturbing it. If irritated, the fish can dive 500m deep and disappear.

The time with the boss of the ocean is limited. An hour would be the max! It’s enough though as the creature moves pretty quickly so you need to work hard to catch up! Experience of the lifetime guatanteed with the minimum risk! We highly recommed it! Our honemoon goal has just been fulfilled!

A selfie with the gentle giant

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Beautiful South Perth

Just like 1,5 years ago, when we first came to Australia, we arrived to Perth again. The capital of Western Australia is a big city with its downtown filled with skyscrapers, but it still has this charming, cosy, little town-like atmosphere. We spent most of our time in South Perth. As usual, we were very lucky with couch surfing. We were staying on the edge of the park witch covers the entire South Bank of the Swan River. We could see the downtown towering in the distance at any time of the day. It is perfect spot to relax and marvel at the downtown. We did that while we had our morning coffee, when we went for a sunset walk and even when the big city lights illuminated the night. Whenever we wanted to go to CBD we just hopped on the ferry and after 5 minutes we were already in the downtown. The South Perth neighborhood was trully charming and if we ever visit this city again, we would love to stay there one more time.

Morning coffee time!

Sunset over downtown

Parks of South Perth

Beach by the Swan River

View from Kings Park

CBD at night

Oceanfront relax

Perth is well communicated with the nearby beaches. This time we chose to visit the famous Scarborough Beach. It is a long stretch of white sand at the coast of the Indian Ocean. Perfect! It turned out to be a windy day, but the local kitesurfer could not be more happy about it. There were a lot of them speeding across the choppy waters, everywhere we looked.

Back in the Land Down Under

We are full of hopes and very excited about being back in the Land Down Under for the second year. We are planning to visit Broome and the Kimberley Region. It is the only region we did not visit during our grand road trip because it is very remote. First things first ,we need to repair our budget a little bit, therefore we are heading to the Coral Bay by the Ningaloo Reef. You will hear more about it soon!

Western Australia Coastline

Kitesurfing time

Seaside relax

Scarborough Beach

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Bolivia – te Espera

The Altiplano Plateau is covering the west part of Bolivia with an average altitude of 3750 masl. The name itself comes from Spanish and means “the high plain”. Our 3-day adventure, which we started in Uyuni, also included visiting deserts, lagoons, gaysers and volcanoes.

After the day full of wonders at Salar de Uyuni, the biggest salt flat in the world, we thought that the highlight of the trip is already behind us. Were we right?

Martian landscape and local flora

After a breakfast in the salt hotel, we had to put our luggage on the roof of the car. Than, we set off for a ride across the spectacular, bolivian deserts. The ladscapes behind the window reminded us a bit of NASA pictures from the latest mission to Mars. Volcanoes were towering in the distance and the vast, red plains were covering the area all the way to the horizont. Our guide/driver was well prepared and told us some stories about the difficulties of the living in such harsh conditions and how animals and plants try to overcome them. The moss, for example, stood out brightly green among the redish sand. It grows very slowly and resembles a rock more than a plant.

Bolivian Volcanoes

Flora of the Altiplano

Altiplano Plateau

Hundreds of flamingos and colourful lagoons

Later, we arrived to the area where we could find numerous lakes inhabited by flamingos. It was our first time to see these birds in their natural environment and we were impressed by their beauty. First, at the Laguna Cañapa, we could not stop taking pictures. The water was coloured with different shades as well. It was the first lake out of the four in the area. After a short drive, we arrived to Laguna Hedionda. There were even more flamingos there! While we were walking along the shore we could not believe how lucky we were to be in such a marvelous place. We had a lunch just by the lake as well, prepared by the guide.

Flamingo Paradise

Landscapes of Altiplano

Cañapa lagoon

3 2 1 Fly!

Laguna Hedionda

Such a joyful moment!

Wild flamingos up close

Home to the flamingos

Flamingos searching for food

Andean fox and viscachas up close

Further South, we stopped at Laguna Honada, which had a particular, very pale colour. This day on our way across Altiplano Plateau we were driving as high as 5000 m masl! We came across some of the local mammals. We saw the andean fox and some viscachas – a sweet, furry rabbit-like creatures. We passed through some spectacular landscapes, colourful rocks and also visited the Siloli desert.

jumping up the rocks

Andean Fox

Sweet Viscacha

Laguna Honda

Siloli Desert

The Rock Tree

There’s this one spot, where the sand and the water carved the rock to create an extraordinary fomation known as the Rock Tree. It stands in the middle of the dry plains and looks unearthly.

The Stone Tree

Laguna Colorada

Finally, we made it to the Eduardo Alvaroa National Park, where we had to pay 160 BOB each for the entry, which is around 22 USD. That is very expensive for Bolivia. Right before the entry, we stopped at the most beautiful view point that we saw this day. Who knows, maybe the view was even better then the ones we saw at Salar de Uyuni. I leave it up to you to decide. Down below, we could see Laguna Colorada – The Red Lake in its full glory. It is located at 4278 masl and covers 60 square kilometers.

What makes the lake so picturesque are algies feasting on rich mineral waters, full of sodium and magnesium. As a result, the water is coloured in various shades of red. It is a magnificent thing to see.

We just froze with our mouths wide open staring at the sensational view in front of us. Finally, we overcame the spell and started taking some pictures. Than we drove straight to the second-night acommodation. The evening was very cold with temperatures dropping below 0° celcius. There was no heating in the building, so it is worth it to take your own, warm sleeping-bag with you.

Such an impressive landscape

Busy street crossing

Fluffy Alpacas

Laguna Colorada

Morning full of gaysers

The third day started very early for us. The wake up call and breakfast were before the dusk and at 5:00 am we departured towards the geothermal area. For the sunrise, we made it to the “Sol de Mañana” (Morning Sun) geysers. The mud pools were bubbling and the steam was comming from the cracks in the ground. There was a strong sulphur smell around and the sun was rising slowly bringing us a little bit of long awaited warmth. Then, we headed to the hot springs, where we could finally warm ourselves up. The pools were not big and there were quite a few cars around. Anyways, it was great to jump into 45° C water when the air around was 40° C cooler.

Thermal pools

Geyser sunrise

Geothermal activity fun

So worm and so nice

Hot Spring in Bolivia

One step away from Chile

Next, we drove across Salvador Dali‘s desert. The artist himself had never been to the area at all, but the landscapes resembles his surrealistic paintings.The last stop of our 3-day tour was the Laguna Verde. Unfortunatelly, it turned out that you can see the green colour only in the afternoon sun. Behind the lak,e we could see the Licancabu volcano, 5960 masl high and on its other side there was a new country – Chile waiting for us.

Licancabur Volcano and Laguna Verde

You can finish the tour by the chilean border

At 9:00 am we were dropped at the borde where after the passport check and paying the small fee for the stamp we boarded the shuttlebus. It took us directly to San Pedro de Atacama. It was all arranged back in Uyuni while we did the booking for the tour. Three day trip turned out to last less than 48 hours because ot started at 11:00 am the 1st day and finished at 9 am, on 3rd day. If we chose to come back to Uyuni we would be back in town  around 5:00 pm.

But first, coffee!

Luckily for us, at 1:00 pm were were sipping iced coffe at the main square of San Pedro recalling the incredible trip that had just finished. Here, more than 1500m lower than Altiplano, it was pleasantly warm. The sunny weather, after the harsh mountain-climat, remided us of Huacachina Oasis in Peru where we had been relaxing 3 weeks earlier.

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Uyuni – the small town in the middle of nowhere

We got to the small town of Uyuni at around 6:00 am.  The nights on the Altipiano plateau are incredibly cold so we felt very happy we could check in to our hostel that early in the morning. We even got to eat breakfast altough we had a reservation only for one night. That day we decided to rest and look for the best agency to set off with on a 3-day tour around Salar de Uyuni and to the Eduardo Avaroa National Park.

Andes Salt Expeditions

We checked every agency that was well-rated on tripadvisor. All of them had the availability to join the tour the very next day. You could always ask for an English-guided tour, but the cost was automatically much higher, by 80-100USD, so we decided to take a tour with a Spanish guide. After careful consideration, we booked our tour with the Andes Salt Expeditions for 700 BOB which would be around 100$.

We made sure our agency had a guide that would be willing to help us take some really good photographs with the forced perspective. It was also important that he would have some funny items with him in the car, like a dinosaur or a pringles box. We checked if we could finish the tour by the border with Chile, next to the Atamaca desert. The price was an important aspect, as well.

Salt Expeditions Tour

Just a few tips

Don’t forget to take with you:

• some warm layers of clothing,
• sunglasses,
• lip balm.

Although the sun is very strong, shining not only from the top but also reflecting from the salt, the temperature drops drastically at night, below 0° C. Your lips get dry very quickly and you’re more likely to get sunburnt.

Bolivian Sun

Let the bolivian adventure begin

The next day, at 11:00 am, we met the rest of our group in front of the agency we chose. We had a really lovely team, a couple from England and Denmark and two ladies, one from France and the other from Switzerland. Our luggage was put on the roof of the car and we were ready to set off for a new adventure. We were pleasantly surprised how spacious our jeep was. Very comfortable!

The visit to the train cemetery

The train cemetery was the first stop of our escapade. This region was an important mining area in the past but nowadays it’s mostly living off the tourist industry so the rusting trains are now useless. We were able to climb to the top of the locomotives and the wagons and we felt like we were on a set of an postapocalyptic movie. Quite an interesting place!

Train cemetery

Straight from MadMAx

This train won't get you anywhere Mike!

Wiola is on her way to the Salar

Train graveyard

World’s biggest salt flat

Next, we drove towards Salar the Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat located at 3653m asl with the acreage of 10,582 square kilometers. Undoubtedly, it’s the most popular tourist attraction in Bolivia. We felt extremely excited about visitig this white, salty paradise and having the possibility to play with some interesting photohraphs.

The Salar was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes. It is covered by a few meters of salt crust, which has an extraordinary flatness with the average elevation variations within one meter over the entire area of the Salar.

Salar the Uyuni, in the wet season, changes into one big water pond that creates an amazing mirror-effect. In dry season, for a change, you can notice the hexagonal pattern covering the whole area. Bolivia is also a place where the Dakar Race takes place. Because of that, there’s a huge logo of the race carved in the stone just outside of the Hotel made from salt, where we stopped for a lunch break.

Vicuñas roaming around Altiplano

Dakar Race, Bolivia

Yay Salar de Uyuni!

Dakar Race Flags

Ready for Bolivian off-road!

Foreced perspective Photoshoot

Finally, our driver took us to the remote area where we could take some fun photos with the forced perspective. Fortunately, our driver not only had a plastic dinosaur with him in the car, but also many more items we could use in our shots. He was our main Photographer and he took some group shots, as well. One of our favourite idea was to use a pot, so it looks like Wiola is ready to do some serious cooking. We also had to escape from the huge dinosaur or keep the pringles box so it would’t smash us. Later on, we still had some time to use our own imagination to create some intersting snaps. The optical illusion was also used on the set of Lord of the Rings Movie and we could learn about it while visiting Hobbiton. It’s a bit easier to take such pictures with the wide angle cameras, then you don’t have to walk away so far to have the same effect. We were happy with the results of our GoPro 5 yet our guide said the best photos come with the use of Iphones, because you can put the lense really close to the ground.

Having fun at Salar de Uyuni

Forced perspective Salar de Uyuni

Biggest saltflat on the planet

Look what I cooked up!

Escaping from the dinosaur

Cactus Island

Our next stop and a scheduled destination was the island full of cactus. We had about an hour there so we decided to use it for some more Photography fun. The landscape was truly breathtaking. It was hard to say if we were still on earth! At least the one we knew so well before visiting the world’s largest salt flat!

Fight Night at Salar de Uyuni

Cactus island

Relaxing on the Salar de Uyuni

Goodbye Salar de Uyuni

At the end of the day, we stopped to marvel at a sunset, somewhere on the egde of the desert. Then, we checked in a hotel that was made entirely from the salt. The beds, chairs, tables were all salt blocks. After waiting for our dinner we could feel we are sitting on a rock. We all fell asleep pretty fast, ready for some more adventures in the next 2 days.

Sunset on salt flat

Salt Hotel

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