setikeyvan's VirtualTourist Home Page
| Page Views: 51,982 | Hello by setikeyvan - last update: Apr 10, 2009 |
LEARNING BY EXPLORING
I consider myself a world citizen with a deep attachment to my country of origin -- Switzerland -- and a true appreciation for California - especially its beaches and the SoCal-easy going spirit.
My life's passion is to see, hear, smell and touch the world. I am all about engaging in immersive travel experiences and integrating myself with the locals, temporarily, to get a better understanding of their culture. Never have I learned more and grown more intellectually and emotionally than when I've traveled. There is no better way to truly understand and retain historical facts and cultural traditions than to see, hear, smell and touch them for yourself.
If I could buy anything...I would buy world adventures because those memories, unlike anything material, will last me a lifetime and will bring me endless pleasure and conversations. |
|  | My motto My motto is to talk to strangers. Growing up I was always told, "Don't speak to strangers," and if I ever have kids I'll tell them the same thing. However, when it comes to travel, I think the exact opposite. Every time I speak to strangers while traveling, my experience is improved immensely. So when it comes to travel, I say "Talk to strangers!" |
Travel Photography The two things I enjoy most happen at the exact same time, multiple times a year, every year. Those two things are traveling and photography. When I am home and going about my day-to-day business, my camera and my TEVA rough sandals are packed away in a wooden chest. However, the moment I wear my TEVA sandals, my camera becomes my third, most used limb. Traveling inspires my photography and photography inspires my travels. When I travel my eyes are more open and aware of the world, and so I photograph things that in the end make me want to travel again -- It’s like a 360 degree process. I can’t have one without the other. | | | Pretty leaf on the cobble stones of Fribourg |
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| Red roof-tops from my homeland - Fribourg |
| | Rain Why is it that rain feels a bit gloomy in California, but feels lovely in Switzerland? Is it the architecture? Is it that rain compliments gothic architecture much more than 70's beach architecture? I think Europeans did a great job building hybrid cities – cities where both rainy and shiny weather compliment the environment. If you think about it...some of these old European cities look like they just grew from the ground up...like trees of stone. |
Tea I love tea. Tea is a unifying pass time amongst cultures panning every continent. From Japan to Morocco to England! I love tea and look forward to having a cup every where I go! | | |
| Lovely grassy knoll in the Swiss Alps |
| | Beautiful world We really live in a beautiful world. And we should pay attention to the little things and the big things. I mean what about the Edelweiss. That's as much a landmark of Switzerland or Austria as the Matterhorn or Mozart’s house, but it doesn't get the same exposure. So when I travel...that's why I like to photograph the little things too. |
Taking a nap Taking a nap on a public bench is a wonderfully liberating experience. I've taken my best naps on park benches in various cities in Europe. I have yet to experience that in other parts of the world :-). | | |
| | Cows People...cats and dogs are the most popular animals. I'd like to add cows to that list. Cows are a staple of Switzerland and an icon in Spain and a spiritual figure in India. So come on! Also, without cows Swiss Chocolate would not exist and we know that would be detrimental to just about every woman on Earth. |
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 Comments for setikeyvan | | | | |
fayegray Wed Apr 22, 2009 20:22 UTC
your travels seem wonderful... you must have a really wonderful mother... i bet your mother real one misses you very much and loves you... elda faye viator gray widow....louisiana... thanks for the beautiful pictures | janetanne Sat Apr 4, 2009 08:34 UTC
Sophie! Sad to see that the Real Deal is going to Disappear! You have done a fantastic job. Hope you have bigger and better plans coming up and lots of Great Deal for your own travels. Janet | danilee Wed Apr 1, 2009 09:44 UTC
HI Dear, am so thrilled, by your homepage. Its lovely thanks. | Haidertajik Mon Mar 30, 2009 16:22 UTC
hello,, how r u,, i visited your site,, very nice ......... thank you |
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