Tibet, Himalayas
The Tibetan Plateau lies deep within The Himalaya. A vast expanse of rock and ice — the terrain skips upwards into shimmering white peaks, and plunges deeply into earthy red troughs — tumbling towards the horizon and crashing into a colossal, cobalt sky.
The ground here is some 5,400m above sea level. As you observe these ancient giants, you are standing higher than Base Camp on Everest. At this altitude, headaches are common and the thin-air whisks your breath away, and so does the view.
Delhi, India
Rising out of the cluttered remains left by often violent bouts of Indian history, the Qutb Minar is a shock-pillar of scorched orange, streaking skywards from a jumble of ancient stones. Located within the walls of Delhi, the world’s tallest minaret is a striking victory symbol of the Afghan conquests made here 800 years ago. Its fluted design is covered in Kufic calligraphy; a wild cocktail of Hindu and Muslim culture.
Chitwan, Nepal
Sauraha village sits to the north east of Chitwan National Park; a region of untamed jungle, and the stalking ground of some of nature’s most majestic wildlife. By canoe, Jeep and on foot, it is possible to observe Bengal Tigers, elephants, rhinoceros and ‘mugger’ crocodiles, who all inhabit the banks of the snaking Rapti river. In the late evening, a cool silence descends at the water’s edge and the golden disc of the sun slips away behind the canopy of the jungle.
Hong Kong
From The Peak, the mount that rises up behind its financial district and the harbour, you can gape down into the bowl of activity that is the formerly-colonial metropolis of Hong Kong city. Spiritually Cantonese, yet culturally a mix of Western, Asian, African and oriental ideas, this sprawling city claws at the steep slopes that surround it, climbing ever-upwards to escape the cramped warren of streets below.
Daschi, Taiwan
The thin string-village of Daschi rests on the eastern coast of Taiwan, and idly gazes out into the Pacific. A few hundred metres down from the harbour is a hotel built upon the beach, just an abandoned concrete shell left to rot. The part-finished, empty hulk dozes on the sand, watching the ocean ebb back and forth. We arrived at 4am on a fleet of beat-up motorbikes. We strung-up net hammocks between the old pillared window frames, and lit a fire, just in time to watch the sun rise from the blue horizon.
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
The growing of tea is carried out in the curious landscapes of the highlands of Malaysia. Bulbous swellings of the landscape provide ideal terraces on which to cultivate the lush crops, and from which large quantities of the leaves are plucked. The temperate Cameron Highlands lie north-east of urban Kuala Lumpur, and you can sit in the local open-fronted tandoris, and watch the tropical rain beat down for an hour or so, starting at 3pm sharp, every day.
Space Houses, Taiwan
My cousin Nick pulls over on the motorbike and stops. It’s eerily quiet on the northern coastal roads of Taiwan; and the only manmade structure around is a several metres high slab of grey stone wall, broken only by a towering set of timber doors and guarded by two crumbling Chinese lions. We heave the doors apart just enough to squeeze through into the courtyard. It’s taken years to get this overgrown; the space abandoned long ago by the people who once lived here. These pod-shaped homes have become entirely reclaimed by nature.
Agra, India
Standing back from this glowing monument, its monumental proportions make it hard to comprehend the dimensions of each inlaid precious and semi-precious stone which encrust the glowing white faces of the Taj Mahal. Don’t let your familiarity deceive you. Until you witness the diffusion of the dawn light through its translucent marble façade, it’s not possible to understand the warm halo that radiates from this 400-year-old masterpiece.
Phewa Tal, Nepal
Pokhara village nestles on the edge of Phewa Tal, a lake that gathers in the foothills of the Annapurna mountains. This sleepy location is a tonic to the hustle of Kathmandu, and it’s just an eight-hour bus ride through the terraced Nepalese countryside. Sam was ill, so while she rested, I found a local guide who could lead me through the hills to the elevated Peace Pagoda overlooking the lake.
Tokyo, Japan
Tokyo by night is the most spectacular city. Emerging from the subway of Shibuya district, young hipster crowds throng in every available space on busy, sultry evenings. All you can see is a swarm of brightly-coloured, wild-haired youths, then behind the bustle, soaring towers and lights, electric banners and glowing skyscrapers.
Sydney, Australia
Thread-like roads and beaches of hot red and golden sands link the chain of cities along the eastern Australian seaboard. Wild kangaroos, cockatoos and the clearest of night skies — the Blue Mountains, Fraser Island, the Memorial Road and the Great Barrier Reef — individually are all the perfect reason why it’s easy to love this incredible landscape.
About this collection
In 2009, I published these photographs together as a partial collection from trips I’d made until that date. This selection misses images from a number of important trips, and I never felt I completed the project. Maybe one day I’ll get around to updating the collection. For the time being though it remains an incomplete window into some of my favourite travels between 2004–2009.
My name is Andy Higgs; I am a business founder, designer and travel enthusiast based in the UK.
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