Say hello to the Red Crab of Christmas Island. Around this time every year, Christmas Island - an Australian territory in the Indian Ocean - sees the annual migration of about 100 million Red Crabs from the forests to the sea to breed. This phenomenon has been called one of the wonders of the natural world. If you're keen to see it with your own eyes, the best spots to watch are said to be Flying Fish Cove, Ethel Beach and Greta Beach.

And onto the less fortunate Hairy Crab or Chinese Mitten Crab ("before" shot above, "after" shot below). Revered in Shanghai as the pinnacle of all culinary delicacies, especially for the female's roe, Hairy Crab Season is now in full swing. Chinese spend hundreds of yuan on this annual treat and restaurants in Shanghai and Hong Kong go into Hairy Crab menu overdrive.

Have you tried Hairy Crab or seen the Red Crab Migration on Christmas Island? We've love to hear about your experiences, please leave us a comment.

Photo Credits: "Red crab Christmas Island" by Peter from Perth; "A Crab Close-up" by triin; "Chinese Mitten Crab" by 囧-WQ-囧. Via Flickr (Creative Commons).

Angela Plumb, a tourist from the UK, captured this rare shot of a seven-month-old polar bear cub riding on its mother's back from a ship in the Svalbard archipelago - midway between mainland Norway and the North Pole.

The polar bear mother is wearing a radio collar, which prompted Mrs Plumb to contact Dr Jon Aars, from the Norwegian Polar Institute in Tromso, to ask whether this was a common sighting.

"I hadn't seen this behaviour before or heard about it so I asked other researchers and found out it is something that has been observed but not frequently at all," Dr Aars says.

Via the BBC website.

The Kruger National Park is home to around 145 species of mammal, which includes an estimated 1,500 lion, 12,000 elephant, 2,500 buffalo, 1,000 leopards and 5,000 rhino (black and white). So, spotting the "big five" is a big possibility.

With all its flora and fauna, the Kruger offers some of the most stunning photographic moments. Here we pick a few of our favourites.

Leopards are usually so shy, and primarily nocturnal, so this shot taken in the Kruger National Park captures a rarely seen leopard moment.

You probably don't immediately associate Ground Hornbills with South African safaris, but this bird is gorgeous, and looks like she's all dolled up for a night on the town. Loving the yawning hippo - incredible colours, reflections and light. A lioness flirts with the camera.

A zebra rolls in the dust, and although the zebra would disagree, we think this little lion cub is almost too gorgeous to be true...

Adult elephants in the Kruger National Park protecting their young.

A Kruger elephant stands alone.

A Nile crocodile offers a look at the more sinister side to the Kruger National Park.

Two giraffe silhouetted against the South African sunrise.

Red Billed Oxpeckers get to work on a giraffe hide - they feed exclusively on the backs of large mammals.

In a rare moment, a male lion shows a cub some lion love.

Two endangered Black Rhinoceros stand and deliver.

Photo Credits: All Kruger National Park photographs by Arno & Louise via Flickr (Creative Commons).

Hong Kong is full of extraordinary photo opportunities for travellers. It is a region of marked contrasts: slick vertiginous skyscrapers, ramshackle traditional Chinese buildings, bustling markets, breathtaking mountains and gorgeous beaches. Travellers with an interest in photography will be richly rewarded by a visit to Hong Kong. Here are our top spots for hot Hong Kong shots.

Top Hong Kong Views:

• City skyline from Kowloon
  This just never fails to impress. Hong Kong is a seriously photogenic city!

• Hong Kong from The Peak

Again, a classic spot to get a fab Hong Kong shot, and one that won't let you down (unless the weather is miserable). If you want the city by night shot prepare to jostle with other photographers at dusk for a prime spot along Lugard Road.

• Neon Signs on Nathan Road

In many respects Hong Kong comes to life after dark. The city is full of neon signs like this one, especially around Nathan Road, Mongkok, Causeway Bay and Wanchai.

• Pristine Beaches in Sai Kung Country Park
  In a city as hectic and (often) as polluted as Hong Kong, the beaches in Sai Kung - such as Tai Long Wan - have got to be seen to be believed. Deserted, unspoiled and tranquil are the three words that spring immediately to mind.

• Sea and mountain views along The Dragon's Back trail, Shek O
  Dubbed "Best Urban Hike" by Time Magazine, The Dragon's Back Trail is an 8.5km trail (with a 5km get out option!) through lush forests, across gurgling waterfalls and along the Dragon's Back ridge. It offers fantastic views of Hong Kong island's mountains and southern coast line. On a good day you can see out to some of the outlying islands.

Hong Kong History & Culture

• Man Mo Temple, Hollywood Road

Built in 1847, the Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road is dedicated to two gods, Man the god of literature and Mo the god of war. The centre of the temple is filled with hundreds of burning incense sticks and coils. Watch a video of the Man Mo Temple.

• Mahjong
  You'll hear the clicking and clacking of the tiles before you see the players. Mahjong matches take place in shops and cafes across the city.

• Fortune Tellers, Temple Street Market (near Tin Hau temple)
  You can have your fortune told by a man or a bird (no joke); whatever you choose you're guaranteed great photos.

• Tian Tan Buddha (aka The Big Buddha), Lantau Island
  This imposing statue makes a great photographic subject. The 110 ft tall Buddha sits serenely near the Po Lin Monastery at Ngong Ping on Lantau Island.

• World War II bunkers
  There are masses of deserted World War II bunkers across Hong Kong. They serve as a reminder of what happened before and after the Battle of Hong Kong, which began on 8 December 1941 and ended on Christmas Day with Hong Kong surrendering to Japan.

• Junks
  There are very few traditional junks (Chinese sailboats) left in Hong Kong, but there are certainly some to snap. The most obvious is the reproduction Aqua Luna, with its distinctive red sails, which crosses between Hong Kong island and Tsim Sha Tsui daily and nightly. The second one that springs to mind is the Duk Ling junk.

Hong Kong's Architecture

• Bank of China Tower
  Criticised by some practitioners of Feng Shui, but praised by most others, The Bank of China Tower is one of the most recognisable buildings in Hong Kong. The design is said to resemble growing bamboo shoots, symbolising livelihood and prosperity.

• International Finance Centre (IFC)
  So photogenic that it featured in the recent Batman film, The Dark Knight. The IFC was the city's tallest building until 2008, but has now been usurped by the ICC.

• The Center
  Another location used in The Dark Knight, The Center is best viewed at night when the building's neon lights change colours.

• Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wanchai
  Whether you think it looks like a turtle of a strange armadillo, this building definitely got some interesting curves!

• Statue Square
  The 19th century Statue Square, with its colonial architecture, makes a great place to photograph the old against the new. Nearby buildings include the impressive HSBC headquarters building, and the IFC.

• Traditional Shop Fronts, Central and Wanchai
  Dotted amongst the ultra-modern buildings of Central and Wanchai are pockets of traditional shop fronts that have (so far) survived demolition. Where you do find them you can get a sense of what Hong Kong must have looked like until reclamation began on a large scale.
  
  

Hong Kong Icons

• Star Ferry
  As well as being a Hong Kong icon in its own right, the Star Ferry is also a brilliant place to photograph the famous view of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline.

• Peak Tram
  The Peak Tram has been running from Central to Victoria Peak since 1888. It covers 1.4km up a staggering gradient, and offers impressively vertiginous photo opps over the harbour and skyscrapers of Hong Kong.

• Happy Valley Racecourse
  From September to early July Hong Kong's horse races at Happy Valley are not to be missed. Jockeys in colourful silks, gleaming race horses, and a very vibrant crowd make this a hot spot for photographers. Watch a video of the racing at Happy Valley.

• Trams

Hong Kong has the only tram network in the world that exclusively runs double decker trams. The trams have been running since 1904 and still serve 240,000 commuters every day. They trundle between Shau Kei Wan and Kennedy Town, with a branch connecting to Happy Valley. A trip costs just HK$2 per adult, which is amazing photographic value-for-money.

The Quieter Side of Hong Kong

• Seafood restaurants and villages, Lamma Island
  See a fish, pick a fish, eat that fish. The seafood restaurants on laid-back Lamma are legendary. Let your lens go into overdrive as you capture village life and seafood feasts.

• Hiking trails, New Territories
  Dramatic views, seclusion and a whole lot of green. These trails offer photographers fantastic shots of Hong Kong's wild side.

• Tai O village, Lantau Island

Visit Tai O to shoot the scenic Pang Uks (stilt houses), that reach out right over the water. The traditional salted fish and shrimp paste shop fronts also make good photographic fodder.

• Tai Chi
  In the early morning people all over Hong Kong head to their nearest outdoor space to practise Tai Chi. The Zoological and Botanical Garden is a great place to shoot if you're willing to get up early (Tai Chi kicks off at about 6:30am).

Hong Kong Festivals

• Chinese New Year
  Chinese New Year is a great time to photograph heaving temples, bustling flower markets, Lai See packets, and the city's biggest celebrations.

• Autumn Festival

After Chinese New Year, this is Hong Kong's biggest celebration and makes for great photographs. Shops, restaurants and outdoor spaces are decorated with lanterns and ribbons. Mooncakes are exchanged, and dragon dances take place across the city. One of the best places to celebrate the Autumn Festival is Victoria Park in Causeway Bay.

Hong Kong Markets

• The Wet Markets
  More death, decapitation and de-scaling than you can imagine, but the wet markets are a brilliant place to get interesting, vibrant shots of Hong Kongers buying their fresh fish, meat and vegetables. Check out the market on Graham Street in Central. Watch a video of a Hong Kong market.

• Bird Market, Mong Kok
  The Yuen Po Street Bird Market is where Hong Kong's songbird owners gather to show off and sell birds in intricately carved cages. Open daily from 7am - 8pm.

• Flower Market, Mong Kok
  The Flower Market's exotic blooms make for some great photographs. Come before Chinese New Year to see families buying auspicious plants to celebrate the new Lunar year. Open daily from 7am - 7pm.

• Goldfish Market, Mong Kok

Goldfish and exotic species of every size, shape and colour are on display here in aquariums and bags. Head to Tung Choi Street to shoot the spectacle. Open daily from 10:30am - 10pm.

We hope you have a brilliant photo tour of Hong Kong and a fantastic time capturing this amazing city on film. To see more photos of Hong Kong from iloho.com click here.

Photo Credits: 'Hong Kong from The Peak' by Emma Torry; 'Nathan road, Kowloon' by JoopDorresteijn; 'Prayers...' by Hina :-); 'Traditional shop in Central' by Emma Torry; 'Blue House in Wanchai' by Taekwonweirdo; 'Apocalypse Now' by .mushi_king; 'Lantern Festival Bird' by timlam18; 'Goldfish Market' by sebr.

By Kate Harris

Motorbikes, motorbikes, motorbikes. If a single image can represent a city, for Saigon it is the motorbike. It would be possible to fill an entire photo album with pictures of them alone; a motorbike as a school bus, a motorbike as a grocer's cart, a motorbike as a removal van. On the roads they flow like water through the city, churning like rapids at busy intersections. On the pavements they stand in endless metal rows of makeshift parking lots.

Motorbikes, however, are not the only things to capture the eye, or the imagination, in this city. Spectacular structures and scenes are woven together to reveal vivid impressions of Saigon past and present. Remnants of the Chinese and French occupations form the backdrop to the energetic hurly burly of this modern metropolis.

Two birds with one stone

The square at the top of Dong Khoi, one of District 1's most prominent streets, is an ideal place to get photographing. A central location, it includes two of the most notable architectural legacies of the French colonial era. The Notre Dame Cathedral, built towards the end of the 19th Century using bricks transported from Marseilles, stands at the north-east side of the square. In a city where open space is at a premium, make the most of the plot of grass in front the church to capture an image of this imposing structure.

Rotating ninety degrees to the right, is a similarly beautiful French structure, which at first glance appears to be a railway station but is in fact Ho Chi Minh City's Central Post Office. Under a dome shaped roof, individual wooden phone booths, adorned with clocks displaying times across the world, evoke the feeling of a black and white movie played out on cine reel. If you venture to the back of the post office, you will see a painting of Ho Chi Minh.

Located at the top of Dong Khoi. Notre Dame Cathedral: Han Thuyen. (The front gate may be locked. Also try the entrance on the south west side of the basilica.) Central Post Office: 2 Cong Xa Paris. Open 7am – 9.30pm.

Hard to miss

You won't be the only person photographing the People's Committee Building. This central landmark is right at the heart of downtown Saigon and hard to avoid. The building was originally constructed at the beginning of the 20th Century as the Hôtel de Ville (city hall) and it maintains its ornate colonial edifice. The interior, however, is off limits, so keep your snaps to the outside only.

People's Committee Building, located at the north-west end of Nguyen Hue.

Art's fine by me

Only a few hundred yards from the hectic Ben Thanh Market, the Fine Arts Museum is cloaked in an aura of calm and instantly transports you to colonial Saigon. Shuttered windows adorn a faded yellow façade, contrasted with blue ceramic detailing. The museum itself is not particularly notable for its art, but the interior does offer some interesting shots of its wrought iron staircase, tiled floors and the courtyard that the building encircles. Alternatively, you can wander around to the back of the museum (where you can stroll through some contemporary art galleries) and walk into the courtyard through the back entrance.

Fine Arts Museum, 97A Pho Duc Chinh. Open 9am – 4.30pm.

Gilded glory

Cholon, Saigon's Chinatown, straddles districts 5 and 6. It has the highest concentration of pagodas in the city and is well worth a visit with your camera. Quan Am Pagoda is one of the most notable and is popular with both Vietnamese and Chinese Buddhists. Arrays of colours greet you at the gatehouse, and inside, shafts of sunlight bounce off the heavily gilded altar, statues and wall decorations. Look out for the ornate panels just next to the entrance door, fashioned in gold and lacquer and be sure to walk behind the main altar to the rear courtyard where there is a statue to Quan Am, the goddess of mercy.

Cholon has a different feel to the rest of the city, and the best way to explore it is on foot, absorbing the sights and smells and unearthing the vast array of items on sale from fabric (see below) and handmade scissors to Chinese herbs and lion masks.

Quan Am Pagoda, 12 Lao Tu, Cholon.

The story lies within

Cha Tam Church, built at the turn of the 19th Century, stands in a courtyard so languid and picturesque that it feels a world away from hectic downtown Saigon. In fact, it played an integral part to the city's history when President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu fled to it for refuge from an attempted coup on 2 November 1963. Upon surrendering, they were escorted from the church under orders of the coup leaders but the soldiers executed the brothers before arrival back in central Saigon.

Cha Tam Church, 25 Hoc Lac, at the western end of Tran Hung Dao, Cholon.

In a city teaming with commerce, almost every street offers an array of wares appealing to the shutterfly. Here's a selection to seek out:

Well heeled

Le Thi Hong Gam, the street adjacent to the Fine Arts Museum, displays a sea of shoes, from sandals to trainers, work shoes to flip-flops. Other leather goods such as belts and wallets lie nestled in between these knock-offs of well known brands. This street doesn't have the bustle of the market, but is impressive for its sheer quantity of goods.

I want to ride my bicycle

If the road isn't full of motorbikes, then it's full of motorbike parts. Pham Huu Chi in the Cholon district of Ho Chi Minh City is a grease monkey's and photographer's dream. The street is covered with everything you could need to build or repair a bike. Wing mirrors dangle from shop ceilings, lights are heaped in piles by the doorway, spare tyres stack up on the pavement and there is a constant racket of clanging metal.

Like the cut of your cloth

The rolls of fabric on sale in Saigon offer myriad photo opportunities. In Tan Dinh Market, cloth merchants sit atop of mountains of material, or perch on small stools eating noodles in the tiny gangways between each stall. The colourful silks in Ben Thanh Market brighten the dimness of this vast covered market built in 1914. But beware, by far the most tourist savvy of the markets, you may want to think twice before taking your camera out. Pop outside to see the main entrance with its belfry and clock, which has become a symbol of Saigon. To view the fabrics in the natural light, journey to Nguyen Trai and Do Ngoc Thanh streets in Cholon. Wait for a store-owner to unravel a spool and you can capture an unending parade of shapes and colours.

Tan Dinh Market: Hai Ba Trung, Walk 200 yards north-west along Hai Ba Trung from the intersection with Vo Thi Sau; Ben Thanh Market: intersection of Le Loi, Ham Nghi, Tran Hung Dao and Le Lai.

Knick Knack anyone?

War memorabilia abounds in Saigon and there are a variety of places to go to peruse for GI Zippos and combat boots. Dan Sinh Market, also known as The War Memorabilia Market, houses all of this and more and you have to fight through the busy networks of hardware stalls to track down your goods. The more photogenic option is the nearby street, Le Cong Kieu. This street has a large number of shops opening onto the road, offering an eclectic mix of artefacts and bric a brac. Old money, ceramic vases, gramophone players all jostle for space. If you switch from taking pictures to taking pieces, be careful, as not all of what is for sale is authentic.

Dan Sinh Market, 104 Yersin.

We like it fresh

The mountains of fresh food piled high on carts, or transported on motorbikes make excellent photo opportunities and there's no shortage of markets and street restaurants to snap away at. Most central is Ben Thanh Market, which is also surrounded by a hubbub of food stalls. For some more open-air markets, take a wander along the streets leading off Nguyen Trai in Cholon. Down here, you can also weave in and out of the stalls selling traditional Chinese herbs around Trieu Quang Phuc Street.

And finally... time to unwind

Ho Chi Minh City does not have many parks to boast of, and yet there is an unmistakeable feeling of tropical greenery in some areas of the city, most notably along the banks of the Saigon River. Perhaps the most relaxing way to record the river, and tune your zoom lens onto the vibrant pink bougainvillea leaves, is to take a taxi out to District 2, known as An Phu. Visit the waterside bar and restaurant The Deck for a sundowner and snap away in peaceful seclusion.

The Deck Restaurant, 38 Nguyen U Di, An Phu, District 2, HCMC; Tel: +84 (0) 8344 6632.

Photo Credits: Photos by Kate Harris, apart from 'The Notre Dame Cathedral in Saigon' by Quang Minh (YILKA) and 'Hotel de Ville de Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam' by yeowatzup.

By Helena Iveson

Beijing must rank as one of the world's best cities for shutterbugs. From world-famous sights like the Forbidden City, with its vermilion walls and brocade-like golden eaves, to the grey muted tones of the city's hutong alleys where locals sit and watch the world cycle by, Beijing's colours and contrasts are there for the taking.

But while travel photographers seek to capture the essence of traditional Beijing – and watching the sun set on the Forbidden City from the summit of Jingshan Park is unbeatable – don't overlook the best of the new, from the Egg - the futuristic and austere looking National Centre for the Performing Arts near Tiananmen Square - to the quirky and twisted CCTV Building, now bordered by the burnt out remains of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel which was set on fire by fireworks in February. The burnt out shell might not be pretty, but photographic? Definitely.

These tips aim to help photography loving travellers and travel loving photographers come home armed with the best Beijing shots possible. If a picture can paint a thousand words, imagine what a really good picture can do…

THE TRADITIONAL

The Lama Temple: The Lama Temple is the Beijing's biggest Buddhist temple and it is splendidly atmospheric. The complex, which is made up of brightly coloured courtyards, prayer halls and statues, is experiencing a resurgence in popularity, and the contrast between mini-skirted women with Louis Vuitton bags burning incense watched by chanting shaven-haired monks is worth a few shots. The best time to head here is first thing in the morning or just before it shuts at 4.30pm.

12 Yonghegong Dajie, Dongcheng district. Tel: +86 10 6404 4499; Open daily 9 – 4.30pm; Nearest subway: Lama Temple.

Confucius Temple: About 50 metres north of the Lama Temple is this quiet but impressive temple which commemorates Confucius, China's best-known philosopher. First built in 1302, the complex has been knocked down and renovated throughout its history and while there are plenty of un-renovated gently fading buildings, the newly painted buildings are bright and inviting. The temple's courtyard is full of stele, commemorating the scholars that passed the imperial exam during the Qing, Ming and part of the Yuan dynasties: unfortunately you cannot read the characters on the stele anymore because of weathering. This temple receives relatively few visitors, so if you need a break from the crowds but want some shots of imperial architecture, head here.

13 Guozijian Jie, Dongcheng district. Tel: +86 10 8402 7224; Open daily 9 -5pm; Nearest Subway: Lama Temple.

Beijing's Hutongs (around the Drum and Bell Towers): Just north of the square between these two towers is a maze of historic Qing dynasty alleys where you're near guaranteed to get that hutong money shot. Think peeling paint, old men playing checkers, people bicycling by... Look out for Doufuchi Hutong where Mao Zedong used to live, before taking a left onto Baochao Hutong. The charm of the area is finding it: you have to navigate yourself round winding lanes and will probably encounter more than one dead-end, but who cares? Just watch out for the rickshaw riders who power round corners at speed just as you're focusing your shot.

North of Drum and Bell Towers, Gulou Dajie, Dongcheng district; Nearest Subway: Gulou.

THE NEW

The Egg: Ahead of the 2008 Olympics, Beijing's authorities added some architectural spice with the unveiling of the National Centre for Performing Arts mere metres from Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Some absolutely hate the building, and it certainly stands out in the area for being more space-age than Stalinist. Designed by French architect Paul Andreu, the building steals the limelight from the two historical and political symbols of the capital and while few seem to actually go into the building to see a performance, there are always lots of photographers capturing the place through their viewfinders.

Xi Chang'an Jie, Xicheng district; Nearest Subway: Tiananmen West.

The Watercube: The Beijing Olympic Games served as a catalyst for one of the most dramatic reinventions ever seen by a city, and every keen travel photographer should catch the subway to the Olympic Park to see the twisted pylons of the National Stadium, popularly known as the Bird's Nest, and the dramatic over-sized bubbles of the National Aquatics Centre, aka the Watercube. I prefer the latter for its eye-catching exterior that looks good close-up or from a distance. You can even go for a swim there, and act out those Michael Phelps fantasies, after you've got your shots.

Olympic Green, Haidian district; Nearest Subway: Olympic Green.

THE QUIRKY

The Workers' Stadium: If Soviet-style art gets your heart racing but a trip to Russia isn't on the agenda, rest assured that there are plenty of throwbacks to a bygone era dotted around Beijing. The Workers' Stadium, which was the venue for the football competitions at the Olympics in 2008, was built in 1959 when relations between China and Russia were warm and comradely. At the entrance look out for the huge statue of a suspiciously western looking couple, with the muscle-bound man holding a flag aloft, and a woman raising her right arm in triumph. They don't make them like this anymore…

Workers' Stadium, Gongti Bei Lu, Chaoyang district; Nearest subway: Dongsishitiao.

Beach life, Beijing style: The city may be land-locked, but that doesn't stop Beijing's millions of residents – sometimes it seems all at the same time – from wanting to cool down with a swim and descending on Tuanjiehu Park in the centre of the city. It's a people-watching, travel photographer's paradise: tattooed young dudes on the prowl ogling high heeled wearing bikini-clad babes mix in with young kids splashing around watched by eagle-eyed parents and grandparents who sit sedately on the artificial beach.

Tuanjiehu Park, Dongsanhuan, Chaoyang district. Tel: +81 10 8597 4677; Nearest subway: Tuanjiehu.

For more travel information about Beijing, click here.

Photo Credits: confucius prayers by latigi. All other images by Helena Iveson.

By themanwithsalthair

Taking place in Cusco this week (24 June) is the festival of Inti Raymi, the Festival of the Sun. Inti Raymi pays homage to the Inca sun god, Inti, and marks the winter solstice.

Around 100,000 visitors flood into Cusco to mark the festival. To find out more about travelling to Cusco click here.

Today, the people of Pisa will honour their patron saint, Saint Ranieri, by lighting some 70,000 lumini (small glass lanterns) in the city's palazzi, along its bridges, and in the towers, as well as floating thousands of candles on the River Arno. The candles and lanterns create an incredible spectacle of light.

The Luminara di San Ranieri happens every year on 16th June.

Photo Credit: Luminara di San Ranieri by fcaboni via Flickr (Creative Commons).

This shot by frederic.salein depicts a scene that travellers to Botswana dream about encountering. Amazing light plus a stunning animal.

Check out AliceAfrica's two week African adventure travel itinerary here. For more information about the Chobe National Park click here.

This stunning shot by Ivan Makarov certainly offers a fresh perspective across Dead Horse Point State Park in Utah.

Ivan says: "This is by far the craziest and the most dangerous photo I have ever taken in my life. Brandon is sitting on the edge of the Dead Horse Point in Moab, Utah, and if he was to fall, he was to fly about 2,000 feet down."

This shot, "Winter Seagull at Lighthouse Beach - Chatham, MA", by Chris Seufert won the the 2008 Cape Cod Creative Arts Center Juried Photography Contest, and it's not hard to see why.

Chris says: "A female seagull flies over the bluff from a snowy beach on Cape Cod. Winter's now bringing some normal cold and snow here and my fingerless photo gloves did nothing to protect against the below zero winds. It's a very exposed strip of sand and you can draw a straight line out into the Atlantic to Portugal. The car tracks in the background are from Harbor Patrol vehicles which now travel down from Chatham to the new connection to the island of Monomoy, which is no longer an island for the first time in 45 years.

I'm amazed at the response this photo has gotten. It really was an opportunistic quick snap as the gull flew off. Street photography, but on the beach. If you look in the lower left you can see another gull coming behind."

To share your travel photos, click here.

It's -2 degrees in London today. Although it's not snowing (yet) this shot of Big Ben under a dusting of snow seems both apt and festive!

Photo by Andifeelfine via Flickr (Creative Commons).

Stunning photography of landmarks across Asia taken by iloho.coms members. See more and share your travel photos at http://www.iloho.com/landmarks.

Yunnan Province, China, is featured in Lonely Planet's "Best in Travel 2009" book, and the famed Tiger Leaping Gorge epitomises the region's beauty.

This shot, "Heavy Traffic" by Kiwi Mikex, highlights the Tiger Leaping Gorge's stunning views and serenity.

For more travel photography and world landmarks visit http://www.iloho.com/landmarks.

This shot, taken by Nature Explorer has got me wide-eyed and frantically trying to plan a holiday to Lombok.

Nature Explorer says the image was shot at Kuta Beach at "a unique moment" when the sea water level was so low you could "see the seaweed, all coral and small fish in the bottom of the sea". Apparently this happens on only 6 days per year.

Wow.

Boxing kangaroos 2 by aaardvaark is today's hottest shot. Why? Well because Captain Kangaroo premiered on this day in 1955.

Kind of tentative, we know, but we thought this picture was great!

Doesn't this shot by solea20 make you want to pack your bags straight away and jump on the next plane to Morocco?

I'm dying to know what's behind those doors. When I was on a train from Tangiers to Fez in 2001 a teacher told me that all doors in Morocco - whether they lead to a riad or a ruin - look the same. This is because Islamic culture frowns on the showing off of wealth.

So, in Marrakesh the most stunning palaces are hidden behind unassuming doors. I wonder what lies behind these.

As there is yet another typhoon over Hong Kong at the moment we're in a stormy, rainy mood. We liked this shot, taken by Mainephotonut, called "Stormy Day at Pemequid"

Where is Pemequid you might ask... Well, it's here:

View Larger Map

You may have seen yesterday's iloho newsletter, which featured the stunning Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, India. The park is home to one of the largest populations of India's wild tigers.

Today, we came across this photo of "Scuba Tiger" by digitalART2 on Flickr and thought it fit nicely with the tiger theme in the newsletter.

It's a great shot, it's just a shame the photographer doesn't note where it was taken. If you're reading this, please let us know!

I'm afraid that after two very recent posts about BA I'm not going to go into their crash yesterday at Heathrow. I'm just very, very glad that no-one was seriously injured.

Instead I want to think about amazing travel photography. Where better to start on this subject than the fantastic blog Stuck in Customs. Trey Ratcliff is winning awards all over the place for the great work he's producing and blogging about online. His shots are proving popular with iloho users too and, thanks to the fact that Trey backs Creative Commons, are springing up in our own image gallery on a pretty regular basis.

We rate great travel photography so much that we've just set up a Flickr group for iloho users to share shots there too. We're always looking for brilliant images to use here on the blog and also in our weekly newsletter (you can subscribe for this on the iloho homepage). So, if you've got inspiring travel photography up your sleeve that you’re happy for us to use please share it on Flickr and in our Landmarks gallery.

One Night in Bangkok by Trey Ratcliff

The winners of the Travel Photographer of the Year competition have just been announced. Cat Vinton takes the overall crown this year with her stunning portfolios of Norway and Nomadic life. You can check out her winning pictures here.

The 2008 awards launch in the spring.