Featured Location: Singapore

The English name of Singapore is derived from its Malay name, Singapura or "Lion City", a term commonly used when referred to city state. According to studies have lions probably never lived on the island; the beast seen by Sang Nila Utama, founder of ancient Singapore, who gave the city its name, was probably a tiger. Despite this another lion, the “Merlion” a imaginary creature with the head of a lion and the body of a fish, became the mascot of Singapore. Its name combines "mer" meaning the “sea” and "lion".

Even Singapore is just a city state, it has quite a few tourist attractions and beaches, such as Sentosa Island or its southern islands.

Famous is Singapore for its Skyline and shopping, some call it “the largest shopping mall in the world”. The heaviest shopping mall concentration is in Orchard Road, while skyscrapers are clustered around the Singapore River, but also check out Bugis to see where Singaporeans shop.

Go and see the ethnic quarters Chinatown for Chinese treats, Little India for Indian flavours, Kampong Glam (Arab St) for a Malay/Arab experience or the East Coast for delicious seafood, including the famous chilli and black pepper crab.

Nature and wildlife attractions include the world famous Singapore Zoo, with the Night Safari and Jurong Bird Park. Finding "real" nature is a little harder, but the Bukit Timah Nature Reserve in the same area is Singapore's largest. Pulau Ubin, an island off the Changi Village in the east, is a flashback to the rural Singapore of yesteryear. City parks full of locals jogging or doing tai chi can be found everywhere.

Since Singapore is a multicultural and religious country, it has many different interesting, as well as historical places of worship. In Singapore Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Sikhism, Baha'i faith, Christianity, Islam and even Judaism all exist in sizeable numbers. Religious sites can be easily visited and welcome non-followers outside of service times. Particularly worth visiting include: the vast Kong Meng San Phor Kark See Monastery near Ang Mo Kio, the colorful Sri Mariamman Hindu temple in Chinatown, the psychedelic Burmese Buddhist Temple in Balestier and the stately Masjid Sultan in Arab Street.

The new star attraction is the recently opened Marina Bay Sands Casino and Hotel and Sky Parks, with three interconnected 200 meter high towers that impressively compliment the skyline of the business district. This and the second of the "Integrated Resorts" on Sentosa Island, are part of Singapore's new Fun and Entertainment drive, with the aim to double the number of tourists visiting and increasing the length of time they stay within the country.

Watch out for more attractions in the future!

I travel to Singapore from April 12th for 4-6 weeks to upgrade my stock photo portfolio and will be free to shoot any assignments in and around the Lion City, as well as Malaysia or Indonesia. Please contact me olaf@travelbild.com for further information.





Winter in St. Moritz, Switzerland

Winter im Engadin, Switzerland - Images by Olaf Protze

For anyone who needs Winter images, I will work over the winter season until beginning April in St.Moritz, Switzerland and will be free to shoot any assignments in and around the Swiss Engadin region.

Please contact me olaf@travelbild.com for further details.

Featured Location: Mindelo, Sao Vicente Island, Cape Verde

Mindelo, is a harbour city in the northern part of the island of São Vicente and the second largest city in Cape Verde. The city is with almost 80000 people home to 96% of the entire island's population

Mindelo Bay is part of a mighty underwater volcanic crater which is about 200m below sea level and is used for cruise ships and other commercial traffic.

Mindelo, Sao Vicente Island, Cape Verde - Images by Olaf Protze 

For a few hundred years was the natural harbour a famous hideout for pirates which was stopped by the Portuguese by building a castle in the 18th century. The building was later used as a prison and offers great views across the harbour and the Bay of Mindelo.

The well preserved historical town centre has many old colonial buildings, including the governor’s palace and some memorials. Right at the waterfront near the fish market is the odd replica of the Lisbon 'Torre de Belem'. It has many small shops and it is recommend to visit the historical market hall 'Mercado Municipal' in the city centre, built in 1874, that has been renovated with Swedish help 10 years ago. There you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as fish, meat and souvenirs. The market is not far away from the Centro National de Artesanato, where you can watch local crafts man at work and buy nice souvenirs. 

Mindelo became the cultural capital of the Portuguese-speaking country/state along with the Lusophone capital in 2003. Mindelo is also considered as the cultural capital of Cape Verde. The town is also known for its colourful and animated carnival celebrations. Carnival has its roots in Portuguese traditions and has also absorbed some Brazilian characteristics.

Feel free to search the complete

Travelbild Stock Photo Collection

New Images of England

Image updates

I have continued uploading new images of South East England and the British Midlands to my England image collection that is getting close to 1000 images now with plenty of more, particulary North England pictures to process within the next few weeks, before I continue processing my Italy images. 

London in Spring 2011 

Since the London region has not been part of my portfolio yet, and in anticipation of future image requests before the Olympics in 2012, I am planning a 4 weeks photo trip to London next spring to take fresh and up-to-date images of the region. For picture requests please contact me olaf@travelbild.com 

                                                                                            
Feel free to search the complete
Travelbild Stock Photo Collection

New Page for Circle Stock Images

We have just launched a brand new website for the travel photography agency Circle Stock Images.

The site contains a host of new features including the ability to request images to be photographed from destinations around the world and is packed with information and updates from the team of photographers at Circle Stock Images.

You can now use our new contact photographer service, simply click the contact button next to your selected photo to discuss your exact image needs and requests with the photographer before you purchase. All this means it is now easy to find your perfect travel image that fits you exact needs all in one place.

Take a look at the new site now on www.circlestockimages.com and should you require any further information please contact me olaf@travelbild.com or use our contact page where one of our team will be happy to help.

Stock Photos Swabian-Alemannic-Fastnacht

I recently created a new gallery of stock photos of the Swabian-Alemannic-Fastnacht (Carneval) in Lucerne. The image gallery includes portraits and close up's of traditional masks and costumes during the Fastnacht celebrations.
Fastnacht or also called Fasnacht, is a old tradition in Southern Germany and Switzerland when the reign of bad spirits of the cold and grim winter period is over and these spirits are symbolically being hunted down and expelled. By the end of winter, each year around January and February, people dress up as demons, witches, earthly spirits and dreadful animals to enact this scene of symbolic expulsion. What happens in fact is an expulsion of the winter season that symbolises death, silence and destruction.

Traditional Swiss Swabian-Alemannic Fasnacht Masks

Feel free to search the complete
Travelbild Stock Photo Collection

New Images of Montreux and Lausanne

I have just uploaded some new Spring images I made this year in Montreux and the Old Town and Parc Olympique in Lausanne at Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Next in line will be more images of towns and sightseeing spots around Lake Lucerne.

Feel free to search the complete
Travelbild Stock Photo Collection