May 20 2013

Ailsa’s Travel Theme: Four Elements


This week, Ailsa has asked us to post photos which pay homage to the four elements, earth, air, water and fire.

My earth photo is a view over La Paz, the capital city of Bolivia, and was taken on our drive from El Alto airport. La Paz is 3,650 m (11,975 ft) above sea level, and that night, the extremely high altitude affected me quite badly. A few glasses of Andean Coca Tea, given to me at the hotel, seemed to relieve my altitude sickness, and the next morning I was fine.

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My air pic  is of the cloud above one of the many volcanoes in Ecuador, and was taken as our vehicle bounced along the Pan American Highway.

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The most sparkling stretch of water I’ve ever travelled across, has to be Lake Titicaca in the Andes. It’s the highest navigable lake in the world, with a surface elevation of 3,812 m (12,507 ft).

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I hope this qualifies for the fire element; a fiery sunset snapped as we cruised the World Heritage Great Barrier Reef off the north-east coast of Australia.

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If not, I’ll just have to make do with this paltry bit of fire in a 16th century English pub/restaurant. Of course the sherry did create a bit of fire in the belly. 🙂

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To see Ailsa’s wonderful photos, and links to more bloggers’ contribution to the theme, just click here.

109 comments on “Ailsa’s Travel Theme: Four Elements”

  2. Thanks so much for liking my post Made In India. I am so glad you enjoyed it. Do come back frequently. Your photos are amazing! Namaste. . . . .Anne

  5. How do you know which pics to choose for each post? Do you dig until you find the right one or do you have something in mind by the time you’re ready to post them? As always AP, an amazing selection of pictures. Not sure why but the 1st picture of that city grabs my attention most…haunted? Must be.

    • I do have photos in my memory, and I sometimes have to dig around to find them, and while I’m doing that, I sometimes find ones for other challenges. 🙂 I also love the first pic. It does have quite an eerie look about it, almost as though it’s devoid of people.

  7. Dear Sylvia, these sights and photos are simply breathtaking… I would love to visit Titicaca lake, and I would love to get my own year-long supply of coca tea 😀

  9. Brilliant response to the theme (again!) And I thought I struggled with the altitude in Utah at a mere 6,400 ft (nearly half that of La Paz). Got together with an old friend and kept running out of breath so she could get a word in edgewise. 😀

  13. I instantly feel a sense of admiration to people with stories that mentions ‘altitude sickness,’ I believe you guys are the tough ones who dared, tried and survived real adventures! 🙂 The legit adventurers 😉

  15. Stunning gallery Sylvia. Particularly the Ecuador shot. The Coca tea had a miraculous effect on me too. I wondered whether it was all in my head,, obviously not 🙂

    • Thanks, Madhu. I’m sure the ancients were right when they latched onto the Coca tea. I could get the tea bags here at our local pharmacy chain for a few years, but now they’ve been banned. 😕

  23. Beautiful, Sylvia. We might be going to La Paz and Lake Titicaca this summer, so I looked with special interest! Do you have any recommendations for activities or places to see?

  25. Wide ranging shots in all senses AD ! Like the Volcano hiding under cloud .
    Ooh His and Hers Schooners of sherry … I trust you were the one savouring yours there AD 😉

  27. An absolutely stunning selection AD. I just love it! Thanks for the lovely tour and for sharing hon. 🙂 *big hugs*

  32. You always give the very best of life to us! Coming to your blog is a refreshing dream. Thank you!

    “Dreams are not without meaning wherever they may come from-from fantasy, from the elements, or from other inspiration” Paracelsus

  33. Took me years and many headaches to realised I suffered from altitude sickness (skiing). Always put it down to too much of a good time on the first night – interested in the tea!
    I did a sunset too, ssssh 🙂
    Looks like a wonderful trip.

  39. Airplanes and boats can give us some great shots. I’ve always wanted to go to Bolivia. Still on the list.A toast of sherry to your sunset.

  43. Great choice of gallery … great shots, have been to London and the Great Barrier Reef. Enjoyed this post very much. Love the little story telling that goes with the stunning photos.

  49. Oh you are so good at this… and seem to have an endless library of photos from all over that just smack of amazement… beautiful…

  50. As always, beautiful shots AD 😉
    I actually had a shot of sherry last night – slept like a log, but had the headache in the morning!!

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