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Benjamin Ying

Be curious, not judgmental
  • Travels
    • travels through europe
    • asia
    • the New World
    • out of africa
    • my year in china
  • Visual Diary
  • Thoughts
  • About
  • Book Recommendations
  • Contact
Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Berlin

Berlin

Mallorca, Spain

Mallorca, Spain

Biarritz, France

Biarritz, France

San Sebastian, Spain

San Sebastian, Spain

San Sebastian, Spain

San Sebastian, Spain

Hondelea

San Sebastian, Spain

San Sebastian, Spain

Bilbao, Spain

Bilbao, Spain

Azkuna Zentroa

Bilbao, Spain

Bilbao, Spain

Azkuna Zentroa

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Enjoying the visitors enjoying the art

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

A river, yet not

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Perfect curves in space always catch my eye

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Guggenheim Bilbao, Spain

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

Yellow fields

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

Macallan Distillery needs rest

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

Father and Son

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

Spey Hunter

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

Plockton and its tides

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

Old Man of Storr

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

Old Man of Storr

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

The lochs and sea

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

The fairy pools

Scotland, United Kingdom

Scotland, United Kingdom

Eilean Donan Castle

Madeira, Portugal

Madeira, Portugal

A game of years

Madeira, Portugal

Madeira, Portugal

580 meters above sea level

Mongolia Grasslands, Mongolia

Mongolia Grasslands, Mongolia

Sunrise over horses

Siberia, Russia

Siberia, Russia

Siberia, Russia

Siberia, Russia

The seemingly unending line

Lake Baikal, Russia

Lake Baikal, Russia

Framed

Lake Baikal, Russia

Lake Baikal, Russia

...row your boat

Siberia, Russia

Siberia, Russia

Laughter is a laughter

Siberia, Moscow

Siberia, Moscow

The heart of Russia

Siberia, Russia

Siberia, Russia

Ghosting

Siberia, Russia

Siberia, Russia

In the middle of nowhere starts with trees.

Moscow, Russia

Moscow, Russia

The beauty of the subway

Moscow, Russia

Moscow, Russia

Garage Museum. Green Walls.

Moscow, Russia

Moscow, Russia

The freedom of skateboarding

Moscow, Russia

Moscow, Russia

Karlsruhe, Germany

Karlsruhe, Germany

Granada, Spain

Granada, Spain

Passion in movement

Granada, Spain

Granada, Spain

Granada, Spain

Granada, Spain

Basílica de San Juan de Dios

Granada, Spain

Granada, Spain

Ceiling of the Monastery of San Jerónimo de Granada

Granada, Spain

Granada, Spain

Granada, Spain

Granada, Spain

The Red One

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest, Hungary

Symmetric and Organic

Budapest, Hungary

Budapest, Hungary

Just a switch

Szeged, Hungary

Szeged, Hungary

Mont Saint Michel, France

Mont Saint Michel, France

Mont Saint Michel, France

Mont Saint Michel, France

A walk out on the floodplains

Normandy, France

Normandy, France

Paris, France

Paris, France

Passion in an inanimate object

London, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

London, United Kingdom

The detailing on this artifact at the British Museum was amazing.

München, Germany

München, Germany

München, Germany

München, Germany

Pinakothek der Moderne

Norway

Norway

The reflection of this fjord and how still the water is was amazing

Asti, Italy

Asti, Italy

The palio. Ran every year since the 13th century with the exception of a period in the 1870s and a 30 year interruption in the 20th century.

Stuttgart, Germany

Stuttgart, Germany

The Mercedes Benz museum

The colors of Istanbul

The colors of Istanbul

Blue Mosque

Blue Mosque

Hagia Sophia

Hagia Sophia

Istanbul truly was the confluence of cultures and history. This was a Christian cathedral that was converted to a Mosque before its current incarnation as a museum.

Simonopetra

Simonopetra

I've been fortunate enough to go to some very spiritual places in the world. Mt Athos felt like another world.

French Countryside

French Countryside

I took this picture while taking a train from Paris to Marsailles in 2009.  I realize that we rarely get the opportunity to really sit and reflect on whats around you for hours on end.  This was probably one of the most memorable train rides I've ever had.

Nicosia

Nicosia

This is the last divided capital in Europe with Turkey and Greece vying for power in this tiny nation.

Valetta, Malta

Valetta, Malta

This picture has inspired me to sail.​

Valetta, Malta

Valetta, Malta

One of the most beautiful ports I've ever seen.  Passing through the breakwaters was like going back in time.​

Grasse

Grasse

I visited my perfumery friend here in Grasse while he was studying.  It was awesome exploring a small French town.  This emblem was everywhere and these details in the town made discovery such an interesting part of my stay.

Nice, France

Nice, France

Such a beautiful city with a mix of French and Italian influence.  ​

Nice, France

Nice, France

​Spices

Nice, France

Nice, France

A market in Nice.​

La Boqeria, Barcelona

La Boqeria, Barcelona

​The patrons sitting next to us immediately knew we were Americans when we asked them how we should tip.

La Boqeria, Barcelona

La Boqeria, Barcelona

An awesome market where there's such a variety of colors and foods available.​

Parc Guell

Parc Guell

​This park was intended to be commercial development for housing.  It would have been amazing if we could've seen Gaudi's vision be completed.

Sagrada Familia

Sagrada Familia

Gaudi took inspiration from nature to create much of his architecture and ​this is reflected in the interior of the cathedral.  Many of the supporting pillars are in the same of trees.

La Sagrada Familia

La Sagrada Familia

I've seen plenty of cathedrals in Europe but this one stands as the most unique one.   This cathedral has been in construction since the 19th century.

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Athens

Athens

It's surreal to see Greek ruins in person and to think that these were built thousands of years ago. 

Budapest

Budapest

The Parliament building actually consists of three different architectural designs.​

Dogs in Germany

Dogs in Germany

Probably some of the most obedient dog are from Germany.  This one was playing fetch with his owner in the lake overlooking Neuschwanstein

Neuschwanstein Castle

Neuschwanstein Castle

​This was purportedly the inspiration for Disney's castle.  Unfortunately it was never completed but the scope of the castle was a true fairytale.

St. Stephan's Cathedral, Vienna

St. Stephan's Cathedral, Vienna

Vienna was one of the most beautiful cities we visited.  Everyone was extremely nice and the wine bars were amazing.  Definitely overdosed on falafel and Weiner schnitzel her

Bruges, Belgium

Bruges, Belgium

​This was a quaint European city that truly felt like one.  Things moved a little slower there and the city closes down at like 10 pm.  In Brugges was a movie that came out shortly after we visited and I strongly recommend anyone to go there if they have time.

Berlin

Berlin

The Brandenburger Tor. Prior to actually visiting this, I've only seen this in World War II photos with soldiers marching through the gate.​

Lucerne - Lion Monument

Lucerne - Lion Monument

This was at one of the most serene places in Lucerne.​

Skydiving Plane

Skydiving Plane

Skydiving over Interlaken

Skydiving over Interlaken

The view was amazin

The valleys of Switzerland

The valleys of Switzerland

There's nothing that can really describe the sense of awe you get as the train winds through the Swiss lakes only to open up to these enormous valleys.  Waterfalls would come in hundreds of feet above you only to come to a mist.  To a certain extent, it seems as if time has stopped 

Dutch Windmill

Dutch Windmill

An obligatory shot of a Dutch windmill.  We took a bicycle ride out to the Dutch countryside to explore cheese farms and clog makers.

The Heineken Experience

The Heineken Experience

There would be more peace in the world if there were more beer tours.

The houses of Amsterdam

The houses of Amsterdam

One of the first things you notice about the houses here are all the hooks near the top of the roofs.  I found out that they were used to haul furniture up to the different floors of the apartments.  Kind of an ingenious yet beautiful design.

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The Gardens at Vaux le Vicomte

The Gardens at Vaux le Vicomte

Vaux le Vicomte

Vaux le Vicomte

The inspiration for Versailles.  It was truly a unique experience to be at French gardens that had little tourists.

Les Invalides

Les Invalides

Napoleon's tomb was amazing.  It reminds me that - at the end, everyone ends up as dust in the wind.

Gates of Hell

Gates of Hell

What's amazing about this piece is that an identical one exists at Stanford University.  It was only years later when I realized the significance of this piece and all the symbolism it contains. 

The catacombs

The catacombs

I thought this would be a macabre experience but actually found that it was definitely interesting to see another side of Paris.

Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

I really enjoyed this picture because people rarely took pictures of the Eiffel Tower from this point of view.

Random fact: I always thought the tower was black.  I was definitely surprised to find out that it's brown.

Arc de Triomphe

Arc de Triomphe

A trip to Paris just wouldn't be complete with an obligatory visit to the Arc