Holiday spots
Luminous light
The Northern Lights (aurora borealis) are a spectacular solar show, seen here in the skies above Traena in Norway.
When: The lights are brightest from September to April, at around midnight.
Serene green
The terraced ricefields of Indonesia offer some of the lushest greens seen in nature, like this image from Bali, Indonesia.
When: The fields are greenest (and wettest) during the rainy season (October to April).
Autumnal auburn
Autumn (or fall) in New England, north-eastern United States, releases a kaleidoscope of golds, browns, and yellows that’s perhaps unmatched anywhere on earth.
When: Late September to mid-November.
Dusky rouge
This mountain of sand is in the Namib-Naukluft National Park in southern Namibia, which covers part of the Namib desert, thought to be the oldest in the world. The orange colour is a sign of the dune’s age – colour develops as iron in the sand is oxidised, like rusty metal.
When: April and September tend to bring the best combination of light, temperature and lack of rain.
Ice blue
The continent of Antarctica may offer the purest blues and whites seen anywhere on earth. Some 98% of it is ice, which averages 1.6km in thickness.
When: Antarctica is, of course, pretty chilly in the winter. Most tours visit between November and March, for the southern hemisphere’s summer.
Blooming pink
When the cherry blossoms bloom, Japan becomes a riot of floating fuchsia and tradition dictates large picnics are had beneath the trees, to enjoy hanami, or flower viewing.
When: In the far south of Japan cherry blossoms open as early as January, and in the north, as late as May. In Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, early April is generally best.
