We set off early, the sun had just started to rise when we took off for Wales. The drive from the south coast of England to the west coast of Wales would take an entire day because of the planned stops: a few hours in Windsor for lunch, and a couple of hours in Stratford-upon-Avon for a mid-afternoon break.

Going from coast to coast like this meant spending hours in the countryside without signs of other people, enduring narrow and windy dirt roads that often made me feel nauseous, and driving through towns so small that if you blink, you might miss it.

But I loved all of it.

I drifted in and out of sleep for most of the morning drive before waking up in Windsor - a city of contemporary lifestyle and historical attractions. The Windsor Castle was a key attraction for many people, but I was more excited about visiting Eton College - one of England's top "private" schools. I couldn't help gawking at the boys' uniforms, which consisted of tuxedo jackets and pin-stripped pants. But I was with a group of girls wandering through an all boy high school - they stared at us as much as we stared at them.

After a giggle-fest at Eton, we headed for Stratford, Shakespeare's hometown. An old small town, Stratford had cute pedestrian shopping streets with historical sites like Shakespeare's home and birthplace sprinkled throughout. I consumed my time in Stratford-upon-Avon by walking around the outskirts of town and sampling fudge from the local sweet shops.

When we resumed driving, I fell back asleep. When I woke up again, we were no longer in England but driving through the beautiful countryside in Wales...I'll save that for part 2 of the coast to coast road trip.=)

 

When the St. Patrick’s Day festivities began to simmer down, I eventually got to experience the rest of the city. Dublin is yet another young and energetic European capital. Its beautiful city centre is paved with red cobblestone and very pedestrian friendly. It also offers some gorgeous parks and museums. Within just a few hours, Dublin had won me over and topped my list as one of the most livable places in Europe. The city is fun and lively. The locals are friendly and passionate. The beer is cheap and smooth. What more could you ask for?

Sara's entry found its way to my inbox in early January, reading it made me laugh, reflect, and nod in agreement. It also convinced me that she was one of the coolest photographers that I've yet to meet. Here's her wittily truthful post, I hope you'll enjoy and be inspired by it.



Photography is a language.

To most of us it's a foreign language we are learning how to speak, but even if you are fluent in shutter speed and aperture, even if you know everything about bouncing flash and own the best camera on the market, the thing is if you don't have something to say, then you're pretty screwed.

I have been taking pictures for the last 10 years and I think the single most important advice I could give is that at some point you'll have to invest some time in finding your voice, in making sure you're not actually wasting time narrating someone else's story.



I wrote this manifesto back in 2005 and I guess it is the most honest thing I could actually share with you. Every time something went wrong for me I can track it back to ignoring one of these points.

I'm not saying you should actually subscribe to it, you don't even have to agree with anything I say. But if there is one thing I've learnt so far it's that you need to find a set of rules that is true to you and stick to them. Even when every cool kid on the Internet is doing something entirely different.

Here it goes:

MANIFESTO

1. You don't need to tell the truth in a picture, but you need to be true to yourself when you shoot it.



2. Take pictures because you have something to say and not because you want others to say something to you.

3. Technique is just a tool. Everything that floats the boat is valid.

4. Never publish a picture you'd be ashamed to show your family.



5. Don't let bad critiques take you down, but be lucid enough to see the truth in them.

6. You are allowed to make mistakes.

7. No bullshit. Dig deeper.



8. Take your time. Rome wasn't built in a day and all that stuff. This doesn't mean you're allowed to stop when things get difficult.



9. Learn something new every day.

10. Don't be scared to start something you don't know how to do (yet).

11. Don't sell your work to someone you have no respect for.



12. Stay independent. What you do is meant to keep you sane, not to make you rich.



13. Learn from other people's work.

14. Have fun. You always find a way, even when you think you won't.



15. Remember to laugh.



16. Help those who are starting out. Nothing you do is precious enough to be kept hidden: the real value is in the way you do it.



17. Don't kill yourself. Might look good in a biography, but it's not very clever.

In early 2010, I embarked on a two-week trip through Central Europe. To date, it is one of my most memorable trips. This post is a part of a series of posts from that backpacking trip through Central Europe. 

After having such an amazing time in Budapest, Vienna, and my impromptu detour to Bratislava, I was ready for Prague - the last stop on my Central Europe trip. And after hearing raging reviews from friends about the Czech capital, the city had big shoes to fill.

Prague wowed me with its stunning architecture and natural beauty. From the Atomic Clock to the Prague castle, the Lennon Wall to the Jewish synagogues, the city offers a variety of different districts and sceneries, all against the backdrop of the beautiful Vltava River. Between drinking cheap Czech beer and enjoying the panorama view from the top of the Charles Bridge Tower, my stay in Prague felt far too short.

Prague, like Budapest, is distinctly different from Western European countries; in fact, it is probably where most of Western Europe was 20 years ago. Although the Communist Era ended around the same time in both the Czech Republic and Hungary, it surprised me how different the two have become. In contrast with Budapest, Prague is a capital thriving on its new-found freedom. Even in the middle of winter, Prague is full of energy and life.