Instagram: 13 best travel photos of 2013

Apart from sharing moments from our travels right here on Backpack ME, we love being able to do so too in real-time via our social media profiles. When it comes to photos, Instagram has been a great tool to share photos of what we are doing on a given moment with everyone across the globe, no matter where we are. Our Instagram feed is full of inspiring landscapes, yummy food, funny situations and photos of simple things that makes us pause and think.

These are our 13 most liked photos this year. They are “the best” according to you, our followers – so thank you for being on the other side and inspire us to keep traveling and sharing what we do, see and learn. It’s such a pleasure to be in touch with you all!

 

13. Another beautiful day in Vietnam!

Our latest destination of 2013 had to be included in this photo compilation. Vietnam is an extremely picturesque country: from the crazy busy cities to the peaceful green of the many rice fields.

This photo was taken in Hoi An: the city center is a UNESCO World Heritage sight and, as such, filled with never-ending groups of tourists. But the moment you enter a secondary street, a back alley or walk 2 minutes away from the crowds, you come across down-to-earth scenes of daily life and get to smile at Vietnamese people that will flood you with their warmth and hospitality.

Read and see more about Vietnam.

 

12. A lovely breakfast view in Siem Reap

Good food tastes better with a view! Or when your toes are dipped in the sand.. or with good company! We are lovers of good food and good moments… but then again, who isn’t?! :)

 

11. Phnom Penh: a busy day in the city

Cambodia’s capital city contrasts with everything else we saw around the country. For every green field we enjoyed in the countryside, Phnom Penh presented us with busy streets lined up with buildings. For every serene scene we enjoyed in the villages elsewhere, the capital had a dense amount of traffic to keep us distracted. But there were some things in common between both countryside and city, typically Cambodian details: the street markets stocked with fresh produce, ladies wearing pajama sets as day clothing, the religious landmarks and, of course, the ever-present Buddhist monks dressed in their iconic orange gowns.

You can travel with us further in Cambodia here…

 

10. Photographing Ko Phi Phi Island

Oh, the island life-style! As a white person, I have a love for beaches, white sands and warm waters that has almost been there ever since. Maybe it’s something in the blood, or maybe it’s just that us, white people, tend to come from cool countries and, therefore, appreciate the exotic warmth of places like Ko Phi Phi.

This island became famous after being one of the sets of the movie The Beach, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, and we just had to go and see what the fuss was all about. Some people love it, while others hate the fact that it is full of sun-seeking people like me. I think it’s not half as bad as they say, and here is why.

 

09. Noodle Soup in Koh Lanta

If there is a country that has sponsored incredibly memorable foodie moments for us, while on a budget, that is hands down Thailand. With the equivalent of $1 (and sometimes even a few cents less) you can enjoy amazingly tasty, fulfilling and nutritious meals such as this one in Koh Lanta.

 

08. The Dancing House of Prague

This is one of the most famous architectonic landmarks in Czech Republic‘s capital city and it was definitely one of our favorite sights. We visited it extremely briefly, as a storm was coming down upon Prague. Things started flying around, people where looking for shelter (including us!) but, luckily, we still had time to snap this photograph:

 

07. Sarojni Market in New Delhi

So you like adventure? Try hitting a market in India! Like everywhere else in India, markets are full of people, colors, buzz, smells and interesting sights. Even if you’re not in the mood for shopping, a visit to Sarojni Market in New Delhi gives you a great chance for people watching!

 

06. Street Art in Lisbon

This one is my personal favorite photo of the year, choosing from our Instagram feed.

I really like walking around neighborhoods with a lot of street art examples but this one in Alcantara, Lisbon, is like no one I had ever seen before. It takes a certain kind of talent to look at an old crumbling building and turn it into something so appealing. Thumbs up for this one, Alexandre Farto!

 

05. Exotic Fruits in Thailand

If you like fresh fruits, you’d know by now that whatever is in season always tastes best. In Thailand, thanks to the warm climate, you can enjoy a bunch of exotic fruits pretty much all year long and they always taste delicious. Good luck finding such sweet pineapple in the USA or flavorful dragon fruit in Europe.

In Thailand (and other warm regions around the world) these fruits are plentiful, always available in street markets and shops, delicious, healthy and very affordable!

 

04. Aerial view of New Delhi

If something like the Delhi Museum of Rarities existed, this photo could one day end up being there. We have landed in India’s capital city time and time again and such a green, clear sight is so rare! Normally, specially during cooler months, you barely see the runaway just before landing: between fog and smog, the visibility is terrible. On a given day earlier this year, we were lucky enough to come across this view of New Delhi… and something tells me it’s going to be a while until we see something like it again!

 

03. Captivated in Etretat

Summer of 2013. France. A bunch of Indian friends and a Portuguese girl travel from Paris to one of the most touristic spots in Normandy: Etretat. A great summer day, surrounded by fun friends and impressive views!

See a video from that day too!

 

02. It’s raining lights in Bangkok!

It’s easy to get lost roaming around the street markets of Bangkok: there are so many cute things to look at! Colorful lights are a very popular item on display and one of the most picturesque too!

 

01. End of day by Cape Panwa, Phuket

A photo of the end of the day for the end of this post, sounds just right!

This is a dramatic sunset enjoyed by the sea, in Phuket (Thailand), where local men where fishing, couples where walking hand in hand and kids where playing and laughing.

It’s the simple things in life my friends, the simple things…

 

Have a look at more photos on Backpack ME’s Instagram and check out our section Photo of the Day too, if you are into photography. While our Instagram photos are all taken with the iPhone 4S, the ones posted directly here on Backpack ME are usually taken with a Nikon D90 and no filters are involved.
 
 

Follow us on Instagram
and leave us a comment with your Instagram username below, so that we can also have a look at your pics!