In the Middle Ages, it seemed rather unlikely that a small village in Holland would one day become a trade capital of Europe, a seat of colonial power, and establish the world’s first stock exchange. Still today, with it’s short and skinny townhouses along scenic canals, it’s a bit surprising to learn that Amsterdam was in the 17th century the wealthiest city in Europe.

Relative to other European cities, Amsterdam is young, and still quite small. It has a population about 1/8th that of say, Paris, and was quite a modest town up until the end of the 16th century. In the 17th century, with the spread of international trade, intelligent Dutch entrepreneurs established the first ever multinational corporations, bringing boatloads (both literally and figuratively) of wealth to Amsterdam and the Netherlands. What began as a small town with a moat, became a bustling trade center with kilometers of navigable canals.

Amsterdam is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, and still has the bustle and entrepreneurial sprit of its golden age. It remains a modest in many ways, with more charm than grandeur. It’s a progressive city of personal freedom amongst the art, tulips, and cyclists.

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San Francisco is a storied West Coast city perhaps best known for its architectural landmarks, cable cars and hilly streets, but it’s also been a focal point throughout modern history for several social and economic movements that have helped shape the world. Liberal attitudes in the city fostered “hippie” and counterculture groups, as well as the gay rights movement.

With the intellectual and technical curiosity taking place at Berkeley and Stanford, came the tech and internet revolutions: companies like Hewlett-Packard and Apple early on, and later virtually all the big players in the field: Facebook, Twitter, Google, Uber, Ebay, Youtube – you name it, all founded and headquartered in the Bay Area.

Historically, San Francisco is a place where people don’t simply follow the way the rest of the world does things. It’s a place of innovation and experimentation. It shows up in the eclectic neighborhoods and forward-thinking city planning. It’s the land of the “startup” – and you’ll likely have more than one stranger tell you with a straight face that they are starting their own company. It’s a city that swings for the fences but somehow still feels humble and friendly. So while it’s a place known for rolling fog, painted bridges, and a famous old prison, it’s really a mecca of the unconventional, a city outside the box.

It’s been 11 years since I’ve been to this city. We were lucky enough to get crisp sunny days – and none of that trademark Bay Area fog this time.

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I’ve added an updated Gallery for Los Angeles, the misunderstood mega-city of America’s West Coast.

I had the chance to photograph some new spots; Long Beach was a hidden gem, but of course there’s just so much to see across the many cities and neighborhoods of the LA metro. Here’s the best representation of the conglomerate that I have, thus far. Click here for the Gallery. 

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A small island with big waves, Nusa Lembongan is thankfully still a bit off the beaten path in Bali. It’s about half hour boat ride from the south end of Bali  – close enough for a day trip for some people, but staying a few nights in a villa with a view is well worth it. There is surfing and scuba diving for those that are interested, but Lembongan is also a great place to come and relax. There are long , walkable,  strips of beach, shanty restaurants with great food, and a village with typical Balinese friendliness.

Click here for the gallery.

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