Sunrise in Heaven - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

By now, I hope you've all met the beautiful red fox that we had the fortune to meet by Lake Kussharo.  As if the encounter with her was not enough, our streak of luck continued. 

Lake Kussharo is a caldera lake in eastern Hokkaido.  It is the largest lake in Japan to completely freeze over in winter.  When we arrived the day before, the lake water was dark and choppy. However, later that day, it started snowing and the temperature dropped.  We took a risk and drove over before sunrise the next morning and was greeted by an amazing scenery.

Lake-Kussharo-Sunrise-Hokkaido-Japan-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

It was so cold that the steam from my breath froze on the screen of my camera.  But I was totally immersed in the beauty of the pink glow, frost flowers on ice, mist arising from the surface of the water and the reflection of the snow covered mountain.   

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Lost and Found in Kerlingarfjöll, Iceland - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

Traveling in Iceland reminds me a lot about life.  Not all that you've learned (or you think you know) is helpful in surviving the expansive land that throws what defines nature any moment of the trip.  It takes a lot of embracing the challenges and having faith.  

In a life where there may have been roads built and traveled by our predecessors, the question of whether following the obvious path or to trek where it will be called a road by people after you remains relevant.  

At the highland area of Kerlingarfjöll where the highest peak is at some 4,800 feet, I found these two doing exactly that - evaluating the options.  Eventually, they turned around and talked to us.  Nonetheless, I thought they provided perfect colors to this volcanic land.

If you happen to run into them in your summer wondering, would you please show them this post as I promised?  Thanks to Apple, all my contacts disappeared one day and I lost contact with them.  They are from Austria.  The lady speaks perfect English and the gentleman's name is George.

Couple-in-Kerlingafjoll-Highlight-Iceland-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

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Love Story in Cuenca, Spain (Part 2) - Los Angeles Travel Photographer

In the last post, Julián was enlisted to fight the Italian Wars in order to improve his outlook with Inés, the girl that he was in love with.  In the weeks and months that follow, news from Julián was sporadic. 

Two years later, when the war ended, Julián, now loaded with laurels, took the shortest roads and paths to go back home.  Nothing was communicated to Inés as he wanted to make his appearance a pleasant surprise.  Finally, on one night, he showed up at their usual time to meet in front of Inés' door, intending to thank the Christ of the Passage (el Cristo del Pasadizo, in Spanish) for his safe return and a bright future.  Only this time, he found his position being occupied by a young Lesmes. 

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Infuriated and jealous, Julián pulled out his sword and threw himself at Lesmes who instantly unsheathed his sword to defend.  The quiet night was broken by the sharp clash of swords, until Julián lost his footing on one of the steps and fell.  Lesmes took advantage and push his sword through Julián's already shattered heart.  The silence returned.

Soon, the guard came.  In an effort to escape the chase, Lesmes tried to jump from a path hid in the leafy forest in the upper city, unraveled a stone and went down to the bottom of the valley.

Inés, guilty of causing two lives, confined herself in the Convento de las Petras for the rest of her life.  To this day, people say her sad spirit still wanders the Convento.

In a UNESCO town that was built by the Moors and later conquered by the Castilians in the 12th century, there's bound to be a lot of stories.  And this is one of them.

Convento-de-las-Petras-Cuenca-Spain-Copyright-Jean-Huang-Photography

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