Same but different

Originally, I planned to structure this blog by following the sequence of the album pages. But I realized that approach disrupts the natural flow of the trip—after all, we didn't move in a straight line either. So instead, here's a glimpse of one of the many places I found along the way.

Despite the mountains seeming timeless, with their slower pace of change compared to cities, the landscape had altered in ways I hadn’t expected. The most striking difference was the overwhelming presence of cars. Roads that were once peaceful now buzzed with traffic, making it impossible—and unsafe—to capture the same images from Hannie & Billo’s time. Another change was the impact of climate change. Landslides, extreme weather, and flooding meant that large parts of our route were no longer accessible. At least for this year.

In my determination to find their exact shots, I sometimes lost myself in the search, forgetting to look around me. But in one moment of reflection, I turned around after taking this image and realised I was now looking at them, just 85 years apart.

It’s strange how a seemingly insignificant place, a spot that once held no meaning to me, can become so special.

First image is Billo’s (1939)
Second one is mine (2024)
Third is where he/they must have been standing (2024)

p.s. spot our little car with the rooftop tent