Serene Japan

March 8, 2020October 26, 2020 / mikeosbornphoto / 4 Comments

Japan is a rich and complicated country. On my first visit, I discovered it has two faces.

It’s a dynamic, advanced, crowded urban society which functions at dizzying speed. But it’s also a serene nation deeply rooted in spirituality and belief. Japanese people cherish spaces to gather their thoughts.

Big cities including Tokyo, Kyoto and Nagano are bristling with Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, venerated sanctuaries from the stress of modern life.

Some revered spots, including the Instagrammable red torii gates of Fushimi Inari-taisha, have become incredibly popular with tourists which means you may have to look harder to find your inner peace.

Nature and the countryside are also rooted in the Japanese psyche, although I’ll have to visit again to see more of the country’s wild spaces. But I still found a sprinkling of Zen and captured these meditative moments from Japan…

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Desert sea

March 12, 2017January 11, 2020 / mikeosbornphoto / 15 Comments

Qatar isn’t all about its ultra-modern, glittering capital city Doha. In fact, you don’t have to travel far to explore the desert wilderness of this Arabian country. A popular excursion is taking a jeep to the wastes for some exhilarating ‘dune bashing’, a spot of camel riding and to see this small country’s hidden gem.

The Khor al Adaid – or Inland Sea – is a channel of the Arabian Gulf which cuts deep into the desert. It’s a sparkling blue body of water separating Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Aside from the odd jeep, it’s calm, quiet and mostly unspoilt. There are no high-rise resorts here. You’re likely to be offered this trip in Qatar – my advice is to go and take your camera with you.

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Winter sunshine

January 22, 2017January 11, 2020 / mikeosbornphoto / 12 Comments

The British winter can be long and unrelenting. Sunlight is often in scant supply, the days are short – and it’s cold. If you’re prepared to travel, you can find guaranteed sunshine and summer temperatures. This country is a six-hour flight away, and about the closest place to find surefire fine weather.

Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is now established as a winter getaway, but further north in the Arabian Gulf is the small emirate of Qatar. Daytime temperatures in January are around 25C and the skies remain largely blue. Its showpiece capital city Doha sits on the water, offering beaches and terraces for enjoying the favourable climate.

There’s plenty more to share from this dynamic nation, but this could be the winter destination you simply haven’t considered yet…