Ache - A Short Story

The sudden jerk of the train made Meera wake up from her dreams to realize that the coach was  completely empty.

The path she had traveled was not often tread, the route of her travel not often taken, the feelings that drained in her heart, not often felt.

For the first time, since she had begun her journey for souls, she would meet Heena, her confidante, amid the stalking overcast sky and thudding winter chill.

She stepped out, her heart beats missing aloud, the engine whistling rather suggestively, of the ashes that were left behind from the coal, burnt or alive, or rather both, the smoke that existed there within the coal, albeit in the latent form in the same black coal.

Heena was standing there, right there, Meera wanted to meet her eye to eye, through form to form, by matter to matter, Heena had no eyes and  Meera had a heart attache.

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This post has been written and shared for the series 'Five Sentence Fiction'.

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Looking forward to your comments.

Patrick de Wilde | Faces

Alessandra Meniconzi, a friend and herself a fabulous photographer, introduced me to the photography of Patrick de Wilde...whose work she liked very much, and one whose type of photography counterbalanced the recent commercialism in the realm of travel and cultural photography.

Naturally, I checked the website out...and in its gallery simply titled Faces, I found brilliant portraiture of ethnic groups ranging from Omo Valley's Mursi tribals, to Kyoto's geishas, to Brazil's Amazonians, to Malian Tuaregs, and to Vietnam's Caodaists...and of course, Sadhus from India and Nagaland tribes people.

Simple ethnic portraiture has been, in some sense, maligned recently and described by some as too simple. However, portrait photographs have been made since virtually the invention of the camera, and will continue to be one of the most sought after photographic styles. Lighting, of course, is one of the main techniques in portrait photography, and these portraits have all made in the same way.

All the 265 portraits are vertical...none are in my favored landscape format, as the photographer sought to focus on nothing but the faces of his subjects. Simple, no stagecraft, and powerful.

Patrick de Wilde is a French photojournalist, and has served as editor-in-chief of several French travel photography magazines. He has contributed to international travel and wildlife publications including BBC Wildlife and Géo for over twenty years, and has photographed thousands of men and women on five continents over the past decades. He started his professional life as a photojournalist in Asia, and focused on the Buddhist and Jain religious traditions, and shared the life ways of Buddhist monks in Thailand and Burma.

Cameron Karsten | The Vodou Trail

Photo © Cameron Karsten-All Rights Reserved

"The Engungun spirit enters the body and becomes a direct translation of God".

Readers of this blog will know of my interest in documenting vodou or voodoo for quite a while, and until I'm able to finalize my research, and allocate some time to do so, I have to content myself with the work of others...often magnificent work...about this age-old, and misunderstood,  religious practice.

Both Cameron Karsten and Constantine Savvides produced a multimedia project that documents the origins of this belief system in West Africa to the shores of the New World. Cameron's website has a ton of still images of vodou practitioners in West Africa.

Voodoo, or Orisha, as it is practiced today, originated many hundred years ago among the Yoruba people who live in the region of modern-day Togo, Benin and parts of Nigeria. Followers of voodoo believe in an unapproachable god and an array of spirits who serve as intermediaries. Slaves, forced to leave Benin's sandy shores in their millions, took such beliefs to the U.S. and the islands of the West Indies, where they spread and formed the basis of religions like Candomblé, Macumba, Santería and Umbanda.

The Vodou Trail is the dedicated website for Cameron's and Constantine's documentary work on vodou, exploring the misconceptions about the practice, and about its clandestine aspects.

Fuji's Full Frame VS "Full Size" APS-C

"It is the photographer, not the camera, that is the instrument." -Eve Arnold

The internet lit up (well, almost) the other day when eagle-eyed Fuji aficionados and others read the Fuji Press Release for Photokina 2014 to read this:

"We will be unveiling our latest lineup of X-series digital cameras along with interchangeable lenses and peripheral accessories at this year's Photokina. At the Touch and Try Corner of the Fujifilm booth, visitors will be able to experience the outstandingly high image quality with a full size sensor and high resolution images taken with the new lineup of cameras that feature FUJINON XF interchangeable lenses."

Reading the words "a full size sensor" led many to believe that Fuji would be announcing a new full frame sensor in a couple of weeks. Not reading it carefully left me, having just acquired the new X-T1 and the 18-135mm lens, with the taste of sawdust in my mouth, and using the English equivalent of "merde!", I started calculating the costs (if any) of returning the X-T1 and the lens to the retailer I bought it from...cursing the day I decided to buy it in the first place...less than week or so.

On my Facebook page, I expressed my view that I didn't think the difference between a full frame and a cropped one was of such critical importance with technological advances in the APS-C sensors. There's certainly differences, but as many other photographers attested to, these differences have to balanced against the many positives of using an excellent mirrorless system such as Fuji X-Series.

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved (XT-1/Fujinon 18mm)

I also expressed my surprise that Fuji would go full frame (or full size) as it had no lens line-up that would work with a full frame camera. It actually referred to its existing XF interchangeable lens system. 

So somewhat relieved...I concluded -after reading the paragraph in question- that it had to be a copy writer error, and that I didn't have to return my X-T1 after all. This was confirmed a day or two later when Fuji re-issued its Press Release and corrected it to say "the emphasis will be on the high resolution of the APS-C sensor, which rivals that of a full frame sensor.”

My initial knee-jerk reaction was a silly one. The X-T1 is an exceptionally good tool, and while I've discovered over the past few days that it has some quirks (and I will probably find more), it's certainly a worthy replacement for my aging (and super heavy) Canon 5DII and the 7D...along with their back-breaking glass.

I'm not a tech-head and I'm not saying (or even thinking) that APS-C is as good as a full frame. Bigger is better in this case...but the difference is smaller than what many photographer think...but sometimes, we are wedded to notions that are past their prime, and with the technological advancements in sensor manufacturing, this is no longer the case.

My view is simply this: I am delighted to be able to rely on a smaller and lighter system than what I used for the past 14 years. I'm not yet ready to get rid of my DSLRs just yet, but I'll have to decide really soon. In the meantime, Vietnam beckons and leaving my DSLRs behind will be the real test.

Fuji X-T1/Zeiss Touit 12mm/Grip

Speaking of Vietnam, the X-Pro1 served me extremely well during my Photo Expedition-Workshop of 2012. I used it for street/candid photography and although it's auto-focus capabilities weren't ideal, it allowed me to photograph discreetly in situations where my Canon 5D Mark II would've been too intimidating, and the quality of its images were up to my expectations. The new Fuji X-T1 will hopefully surpass my expectations that it will generally outperform (or perform as well as) my DSLRs.

Novotel SaiGon Centre - Hotel in VietNam

Offering quality facilities in the games, religious hobbies, nightlife region of Ho Chi Minh City, Novotel Saigon Center Hotel is a prevalent pick for both business and recreation voyagers. Just 6.0 Km away, this 4.5-star lodging can be effortlessly gotten to from the air terminal. With the city's fundamental attractions, for example, Consulate of German, Consulate of India, Consulate of Ukraine inside close achieve, guests to the lodging will simply love its area.

At Novotel Saigon Center Hotel, the superb administration and predominant offices are the explanations behind a remarkable remain. To name a couple of the inn's offices, there are club, restaurant, official carpet, visits, room administration for visitor's full accommodation.

Inn facilities have been deliberately designated to the most elevated level of solace and comfort, with little bar, portable computer safe box, non smoking rooms, work area, wraparounds in each one room. Furthermore, the inn's host of recreational offerings guarantee visitors have bounty to do amid their sit tight. Find a captivating mix of expert administration and a wide show of gimmicks at Novotel Saigon Center Hotel.

Novotel Saigon Center gimmicks 247 contemporary rooms, a worldwide smorgasbord restaurant – The Square, an anteroom relax, a health focus including swimming pool, wellness, sauna and spa.

Unrivaled room: With advanced décor, our Superior rooms give ergonomic solace and top of the line offices. Offering solace with present day civilities, snappy embellishment perfect for both recreation and business explorers. Headed TV, free WIFI, Free get to wellness focus sauna and swimming pool

Select room: Embrace opportunity and smooth. Our special room is at home and extensive. It offers top of the line solace and accommodation for a vital occasion. Headed TV, free WIFI, free get to wellness focus, sauna and swimming pool

Official room: An interesting knowledge consolidating unwinding and center, the official rooms treat you like a vip with extra in-room pleasantries. Extra courtesies coffee machine, Mp3 docking station, free WIFI, comprehensive Premier parlor profits. Up to 2 grown-ups and 2 youngsters.

Related post: Vietnam travel

Official Suite: A remarkable experience, overall outlined, the suite incorporates a different contemporary front room, at home room, and vast restroom. Extra enhancements coffee machine, Mp3 docking station, free WIFI, comprehensive Premier parlor profits Up to 2 grown-ups and 2 youngsters.

*the SQUARE RESTAURANT: International smorgasbord restaurant, The Square serves the best of Asian and Western food which is brimming with flavors and with solid, adjusted cooking. Revel in a minute of delight and euphoria in an intelligent kitchen.

*167 FAUBOURG BAR: Enjoy a wide determination of espresso, tea, mixed drinks and light snacks at 167 Faubourg Bar for the duration of the day. Sit inside in a present day and loose climate or outside on the patio viewing the city life passing

VietNam Culinary Delights - 12 day

What better approach to encounter a society than through its nourishment. Entice your taste buds on this 12-day visit that takes you through Vietnam, discovering culinary enthusiasm in the rich history, energetic society and lovely scenes. The outing begins in Hanoi and finishes in Ho Chi Minh City or the other way around ..

Welcome to Hanoi: Vietnam's clamoring provincial capital. Your driver and aide will reach you outside the stuff case of Noi Bai Airport and take you to your lodging in the downtown area. Toward the evening appreciate a cyclo visit through the Old Quarter's tight lanes lined with French frontier structures – emulated by a conventional Water Puppet Performance – an extraordinary Vietnamese work of art hailing from Southeast Asia's wet-rice society. Appreciate a welcome supper at one of Hanoi's finest restaurants.

At the beginning of today, your visit aide will take you to the cooking class. Find a neighborhood advertise and research fixings, flavors and perceive how the nearby get ready for suppers. Next is a short chat on the craft of Hanoian gastronomy, vegetables, herbs & flavors & figure out how to get ready & use them. The Chef will impart to you her pride of Vietnamese foods and the mysteries how to make it great. Revel in the neighborhood sustenance in Hanoi style.

Related post: travel Vietnam

Toward the evening you will investigate Vietnam's enchanting capital. With its wide tree-lined roads, French pioneer structural planning, quiet lakes and old oriental pagodas, Hanoi is a mixed blend that offers something for everybody.

Use 24 hours on a conventional Junk Cruise in the stunning narrows: a characteristic wonderland made out of bulging limestone islands and shimmering turquoise waters. 

Relish a gourmet lunch of crisp fish installed as you cruise out into the enchanted inlet. Toward the evening, journey around some of Halong's various islands. Along the way visit one of the inlet's 3 biggest hollows (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island bay with a shielded white sanded shoreline and take a dunk in the warm waters of the Gulf of Tonkin (if the climate will be suitable). Pass the night on your garbage, quieted to rest by the delicate shaking of smooth waters.

Wakeful early and take part in Tai Chi on the top deck or just unwind viewing the first light over the narrows' towering islands. Appreciate a morning mug of espresso or tea, before embarking to investigate the close-by islands by dinghy. Come back to the garbage for brunch then exploit the sundeck and appreciate the astonishing rock developments of Bai Tu Long Bay as you explore again to Halong City, where your driver will reach you at the dock and take you to Noi Bai Airport to get your short flight to Danang. Your visit aide and driver will exchange you to inn in Hoian, an objective with two confronts: the enchanting, old-world exchanging port of restricted roads and conventional houses, and the shoreline with its extravagant resorts and long extend of clean white sand.

Toward the beginning of today appreciate a cooking class at the Red Bridge Cooking School. From that point we will head to Hoian's brilliant business. Investigate the business and associate with neighborhood sellers to buy some crisp elements throughout today's cooking class. Next, board the Red Bridge vessel for a restful 25min voyage along the Hoian River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. Find the school's herb and vegetable arrangement before beginning your cooking lesson. The class runs for 60 minutes and 15min and incorporates exhibits from the school's gourmet experts and in addition time to help get ready conventional dishes. At the end of class, delight in an early on lesson in the craft of Vietnamese sustenance cutting (plate embellishment). 

Toward the evening, take a mobile visit through the limited slowing down of the antiquated town focus, going by Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tam Ky tribal house and the well known Japanese Bridge.

Delight in a stop at the beautiful Lang Co Beach for a beverage before proceeding to Hue – an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Use the evening on a recreation visit through Vietnam's antiquated capital city, going to the Royal Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda and the Mausoleum of King Tu Duc – a reproduction of the lord's royal residence constructed for the following resurrection of the ruler.

Use a whole day visiting Vietnam's previous old capital. The Imperial City was made in the nineteenth century and demonstrated on the Forbidden City in Beijing. The Imperial Enclosure houses numerous castles and sanctuaries inside its dividers. Toward the evening, proceed your visit ceasing at the Imperial Museum, Tu Hieu Pagoda and the energetic Dong Ba riverside market.

Sa Pa | Report Four | The People of Tay Bac

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

It took us far longer than expected to drive from Hanoi to Sa Pa, the famous hill station in the north of Viet Nam. The brand new highway is supposed to cut the journey time from approximately 10-12 hours to a mere 4 or so, but because a section was closed for repairs, we had to take the back roads, and reconnect into it not too far from Lao Cai....so we did it in about 8 hours.

Sa Pa is still humid (in comparison to two years ago, when it was really cool at the same time of the year), but it's tolerable. Accompanied by our Hanoi minder Huyen, and now Lan...our new Hmong guide in Sa Pa (and beyond), we explored the market area. The vendors have quieted down from what I recall, and there are less of them hassling the newcomers.

At one point, I heard unmistakable religious music emanating from a nondescript building, and asking around, I was told it was a temple. I walked in and encountered a handful of women dressed in red traditional clothes who, through sign language, told me that a ceremony would start at 9:00 am.

Religious music and ceremonies are like catnip to me...and I decided to forgo the street photography morning in its favor.

Rustling up the rest of the group wasn't an easy matter as they had dispersed around the area, but we finally found ourselves welcomed to the temple by around 15-18 women wearing these red outfits.

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

It appeared that it was a rehearsal for a much larger ceremony which was to occur tomorrow. Naturally, we will be on our way to Bac Ha by that time, so we thanked our stars to be able to catch it.

Despite our being occasionally in the way,  the congregants were extremely gracious and didn't seem to mind us at all...quite the opposite. In short, this photo shoot (once again, serendipitous) was an enormous success for all of us.

Technical porn snippet: The Fuji X-T1 performed flawlessly. The X Pro-1 showed its age.

In contrast, our afternoon photo shoot to the village of Cat Cat, described as an age-old village of H’Mong ethnic group, was an immense flop of monumental proportions. If you fancy walking (actually quite an arduous trek) in the company of busloads of tourists, then go....but this was an epic fail. I'm not going to waste one sentence on it.

Mattia Passarini | Remote People

Photo © Mattia Passarini-All Rights Reserved

Here's photographic work that will gladden the hearts of many of photographers (and many that I know well) who relish portraiture of remote indigenous cultures. There are some that are environmental portraits, but the majority are just facial portraits...some posed and others not.

Mattia Passarini's portraits are from China's Sichuan, Yunnan, Pakistan's Northern regios, India's Chhatisgarh, Orissa, Gujarat, the Democratic Republic of Congo, from Baka and Bambuti Pygmies, Rabaris, Jats (notoriously difficult to photograph), Ahirs, the Ramnami, China's Miao, Myanmar's Dai and Muun, and Indonesia's Mentawai...they're all there.

And for those who agree with Survival International that British photographer Jimmy Nelson’s stylised pictures of African, Asian and Amazon Indian groups are “wrong”and “false and damaging”, this cornucopia of imagery doesn't have a whiff of artificiality. This is "what you see is what you get" ethnophotography.

Mattia Passarini's biography is sparse, but he started on his global photographic endeavors on moving to the United Kingdom. Over the course of 11 years of travel, he visited more than 35 countries across four continents, capturing images of the world’s tribal people, and of lives and places that exist in relative obscurity.

He currently lives in China completing a project on a local ethnic group.

Five amazing places to experience - Vietnam Travel

Researching the society and traditions of other individuals is one of the extraordinary encounters of travel. Investigate the planet's differences with one of these by regional standards claimed and legitimate tribal experiences.

Arrange eras old mountain tracks and falls of rice paddies to the towns of the H'mong individuals, an ethnic minority in Vietnam. Trek with Sapa O'chau – the name signifies 'Hi Sapa' in the H'mong dialect – and you'll be boosting the training and reading proficiency of adolescent H'mong visit guides. Sapa O'chau is going by Shu Tan, a vigorous H'mong lady having a true effect for her kin, and in case you're excited about a more extended stay in Sapa, she's continually searching for volunteer educators at Sapa O'chau's group school.

Scattered over the 400 or more islands of Panama's San Blas Archipelago is the self-ruling Kuna Yala country, where you can invest time getting to know the Kuna individuals. Fly from Panama City to the minor island of Mamirupu and stay at the natural and generally claimed Dolphin Lodge. The snorkeling and angling are radiant, and boatmen can take guests to adjacent islands to research the Kuna's pleased history of freedom and safety. The Kuna's famous nearby handiworks incorporate molas, finely created and bright appliqué materials.

Trip to the familial terrains of the indigenous Adjahdura and Ngadjuri people groups on South Australia's tough Yorke Peninsula. Customary narrating incorporates Adjahdura 'Envisioning Stories', relating the legend of creation and the time when megafauna meandered this old scene (fossil confirmation of megafauna, including goliath kangaroos, strengthens the realities behind Adjahdura's imparted myths and memories). Visit administrator Quenten Agius is broadly viewed as one of Australia's heading indigenous travel identities.

See more: Vietnam travel

New Zealand's indigenous Maori individuals are thoroughly incorporated into advanced society, however tribal traditions and qualities are still imperative in the 21st century. Sharpen Mihaka, of the Ngapuhi tribe of northern New Zealand, invites guests to his lineal marae (gathering spot) after an imparted paddling trip in a Maori waka (kayak). Inside a rural gathering house trimmed with raupo (hurry stems), Hone and his family direct a profoundly compelling powhiri (welcome) in the interest of their predecessors.

Il Ngwesi is Kenya's just extravagance safari hotel to be entirely claimed and worked by the nearby Maasai group; this economical and eco-mindful extend north of Mt Kenya is likewise one of the nation's best untamed life withdraws. Past the grand creature seeing open doors, stays incorporate training in Maasai society, and your cash helps help Il Ngwesi's rhinoceros asylum and additionally neighborhood schools and area preserva

La Antigua | The 'Multimedia For Photographers' Class of 2014

Photos © Cheryl Nemazie-All Rights Reserved

Well, the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop 2014 ended last Saturday, after a week long of grueling work from instructors, assistants and class participants (aka students).

I'm not getting into the daily details of what the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop was all about in La Antigua, but I will certainly say is that this class exerted their very utmost to produce individual projects that included still imagery, text and ambient audio over the course of what is in reality only 4 full working days.

The above collection of "mug shots" was the brainchild of Cheryl Nemazie. She thought our group photograph should consist of individual mug shots, wearing my eyeglasses, a Cambodian krama scarf and holding a Leica M9...creating a Tewfic "tribe" or "team".

Despite the well publicized travel warnings about La Antigua, none of my class participants experienced any difficulties or issues (at least that I'm aware of) during the Foundry week-long event. The classes were held at one of the town's most prestigious hotel, with conference rooms allocated to each class, and the venue generally worked very well.

The Multimedia for Photographers Class 2014 Hard at Work

The class projects included an intimate look at Guatemala's chocolate-making process, Pollo Loco (the 'chicken' buses of Guatemala), two stories on traditional Mayan-Indian weavers, the art of making typical Guatemalan bread, a teacher of reading/literacy for Mayan Indian women, and a light hearted canine love story. Except for one, all the stories were in color.

Taste of VietNam travel

Join Vietnamese cooking classes in Hanoi, Hoian & Ho Chi Minh City; float crosswise over Halong Bay, a World Heritage Site, on a garbage pontoon; unwind on the sentimental shorelines of Nhatrang; stop at the interminable Dalat City; research Vietnam history by going to Cu Chi Tunnels and experience the every day life of local people in Hoian on this 11-day travel that takes you from North to South. It gives you a chance to eat your direction, reveling all your faculties in heavenly tastes and tempting fragrances, while going in solace and style.

Welcome to Hanoi: Vietnam's clamoring pilgrim capital. Your visit aide and a driver will reach you outside the stuff case of Noi Bai International Airport and take you to your inn in the downtown area. After check-in and refreshment leave on one hour cyclo voyage through Hanoi's climatic Old Quarter, a clamoring territory of restricted lanes home to actually a great many little organizations, retailers and road sellers, offering everything from bananas to books. Flavor table treats for supper at one of the finest restaurants around the local area.

See more: Vietnam travel deal

At the beginning of today, your visit aide will take you to the cooking class. Find the a neighborhood advertise and look into fixings, flavors and perceive how the nearby get ready for dinners. Next is a short chat on the craft of Hanoian gastronomy, vegetables, herbs & flavors & figure out how to plan & use them. The Chef will impart to you her pride of Vietnamese cooking styles and the insider facts how to make it great. Delight in the nearby sustenance in Hanoi style.

Toward the evening take a city voyage through Vietnam's enchanting capital. With its wide tree-lined roads, French pioneer structural planning, serene lakes and aged oriental pagodas, Hanoi is a mixed blend that offers something for everybody. Your city visit takes you to Hanoi's key locales: the Temple of Literature, West Lake (counting Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple) & Hoa Loa Prison (in the past known as the "Hanoi Hilton" amid the Vietnam war).

Evening's highlight is Water Puppet Performance - an interesting Vietnamese artistic expression hailing from Southeast Asia's wet-rice society.

Use 24 hours on a conventional Junk Cruise in the astounding inlet: a common wonderland made out of extending limestone islands and shining turquoise waters.

Relish a gourmet lunch of crisp fish locally available as you cruise out into the mysterious narrows. Toward the evening, voyage around some of Halong's various islands. Along the way visit one of the sound's 3 biggest hollows (Thien Cung, Dau Go or Sung Sot). Stop at an island bay with a protected white sanded shoreline and take a dunk in the warm waters of the Gulf of Tonkin (if the climate will be suitable). Pass the night on your garbage, quieted to rest by the tender shaking of smooth waters.

Astir early and take an interest in Tai Chi on the top deck or essentially unwind viewing the first light over the cove's towering islands. Revel in a morning mug of espresso or tea, before embarking to investigate the close-by islands by skiff. Come back to the garbage for brunch then exploit the sundeck and respect the astounding rock establishments of Bai Tu Long Bay as you explore once again to Halong City, where your driver will reach you at the dock and take you to Noi Bai Airport to get your short flight to Danang. Your visit aide and driver will exchange you  to lodging in Hoian, an objective with two confronts: the enchanting, old-world exchanging port of tight boulevards and customary houses, and the shoreline with its extravagant resorts and long extend of clean white sand.

Today appreciate a half day cooking class in Hoian. From that point you will head to Hoian's bright market. Investigate the business and associate with nearby sellers to buy some new elements throughout today's cooking class.

Toward the evening, take a mobile visit through the thin slowing down of the antiquated town focus, going by Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tam Ky familial house and the acclaimed Japanese Bridge.

After breakfast, your driver will exchange you to Danang Airport for a southwards flight to the shoreline city of Nhatrang. Upon landing in Cam Ranh Airport, meet your visit aide and a driver, then visit the antiquated Po Nagar Cham Tower, Long Son Pagoda and Dam Market on the path to your inn. Rest of the day, invest your extra time on the shoreline.

Day 7: Nhatrang – Free at recreation.

With its turquoise ocean, brilliant extends of sand and charming islands, Nhatrang is enticing to use your days simply unwinding on the shoreline.

Toward the beginning of today, you will drive up-slopes to Dalat with a stopover of country Nhatrang on out for a look of what field living in Vietnam is about. You will achieve the mountain town of Dalat, known as the "City of Eternal Spring", following four hours out and about. An evening of touring takes in the workmanship deco previous summer habitation of Bao Dai – the last Emperor of Vietnam, the old Dalat Railways Station, the Central Market and popular XQ weaving workshop. There will be the chance for a short stroll around the Lake to get a feel for

Scott Irvine & Kim Meinelt | Vietnam

The cover of Scott Irvine & Kim Meinelt's book had me fooled for a moment because I thought it was an ancient collodion processed photograph; but then I noticed the modern plastic chairs.

I chanced on Vietnam, the self-published book by this husband-wife team, on my Facebook feed and because of its wonderful aesthetics, I wanted to have it featured on my blog. Although I've been to Vietnam leading my photo expedition-workshop just this past September, I still miss it and this book eased the itch a little bit.

Vietnam consists of over 90 photographs in that country and neighboring Laos, and these are made entirely with an iPhone.

I settled back, adjusted my monitor and "flipped" through the book's pages, savoring each one...a combination of street photography as well as travel photographs (markets, ethnic markets, etc), and tried to pinpoint where they were made. Perhaps my imagination is on overdrive but I thought I recognized one of the two young women in white on the book's page 6. I photographed her -or someone like her- wearing an identical outfit in a coffee shop in Ha Noi's Old Quarter.

Scott Irvine and Kim Meinelt live in Brooklyn, and have been photographing as a husband wife team for about 4 years under the name "Waxenvine". Both photographers for over 20 years, they've been using film cameras and traditional darkroom techniques. They have both recently been featured on Instagram,  on The Selby, and have self published 3 photography books together from past trips.

Scott graduated with a BFA in photography and sculpture from RIT in Rochester NY. He currently works as a freelance photographer in NYC.

Kim attended the North Carolina School of Arts with a degree in set design, scenic painting and photography. She works at Eileen Fisher and holds the tittle of Creative Concept Director in NYC.

Cedric Arnold | Phuket Vegetarian Festival

Photo © Cedric Arnold-All Rights Reserved

Here's a festival with religious connotations that I ought to add to my list of to do events.

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival is an annual event held in Thailand during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar, and was held  from 24 September - 02 October 2014. It celebrated the Chinese community's belief that abstinence from meat and various stimulants during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calendar will help them obtain good health, peace of mind, and will also offer spiritual cleansing. Its accompanying sacred rituals grant good fortune on those who observe this rite.

It is thought that the festival was introduced to Phuket by a wandering Chinese opera group who fell ill with malaria while performing on the island.

One of the most exciting aspects of the festival are the ceremonies held to invoke the gods. Firewalking, body piercing and other acts of self mortification undertaken by participants acting as mediums of the gods, have become more spectacular and daring as each year goes by. Men and women puncture their cheeks with various items including knives, skewers and other household items. It is believed that the Chinese gods will protect such persons from harm, and little blood or scarring results from such mutilation acts.

Cedric Arnold's Phuket Vegetarian Festival brings us spectacular monochromatic photographs of this event. Very reminiscent of Thaipusam, the festival includes acts of self mortification that are shocking and gruesome.

Cedric Arnold is a photographer specializing in portraiture, travel, documentary & corporate photography, as well as movie stills. In his personal work, he is often drawn towards exploring the markings of time, this can be in the subject matter itself or expressed with the medium he uses: out of date film, old instant film, or even through chemically altering prints and emulsion.

This is the fourth time that I feature Cedric Arnold's work on this blog. Previous posts can be found here.

Anthony Pappone | Ethiopia's Omo Valley

Photo © Anthony Pappone-All Rights Reserved

"If you take a picture of a human that does not make him noble, there is no reason to take this picture. That is my way of seeing things." - Sebastiao Salgado 

Readers and followers of my blog know of my distaste for the current spate of photographs that depict indigenous people who are encouraged (monetarily or otherwise) to wear decorative accessories that are not natural to them. Photographers who travel to the Omo Valley are particular susceptible to this 'disease', and are insensitive (but rarely unaware) to the impact transforming members of the various Omo Valley tribes into fashion models with outlandish headgear and accessories.

The exploitation of these tribes by some photographers, travelers and tourists, who view them as nothing but beautiful displays, continues despite the effort of well-intentioned travel companies.

Anthony Pappone's Portraits in The Omo Valley is certainly not one of these insensitive exploitative photographs. His photographs of Omo Valley tribal members are beautiful and simple. There is no artificiality in his portraits, nor is there accessories intended to dupe the viewers. The Omo Valley people are beautiful in their simplicity, and Anthony's photographs prove to us that there is no need for deceit in the representation of these people.

Anthony Pappone is an Italian photographer specializing in travel, festival, portrait, tribes and ceremony photography around the world. Just a traveler before becoming a photographer, he caught the bug during a festival in Ladakh, and he started on a career of following festivals and religious ceremonies wherever these occurred. From Ethiopia to Nagaland, from West Africa's Benin, Ghana, Mali to Yemen...he documented festivals and everyday life with his wide angle lenses.

A Great escape - the East Sea in Vietnam.

The composite inn incorporates a bluff side Central Pavilion which houses a restaurant, bar, swimming pool and patio with incredible perspectives of the encompassing field. Adrift level down underneath, the Beach Club offers relaxing and feasting regions, a cooling edge stream pool and the pack to set out for some snorkeling or kayaking.

Related post: Vietnam travel

Inside the properties, visitor can expect extra large bunks, a consolidated living and dozing region with wifi, LCD TV and a sound docking framework - in addition to timber sundecks with comfortable sunloungers. Estates incorporate a live-in maid.

Somewhere else, set adjacent to a lotus-filled lake, Amano'i's spa has five twofold treatment rooms with twofold bathtubs, two hydrotherapy suites, various unwinding parlors with serene perspectives, and an extensive variety of medications utilizing Aman's concoction free items. Adjacent is a lakeside yoga structure, two outside tennis courts, in addition to various strolling, running and trekking courses around the property.

Ride o­n today’s Ho Chi Minh trail from Hanoi pass Mai Chau

Offer examinations with an aide who was some piece of the war and invested much time battling and recouping from wounds along the trail. This is an excursion like no other – part o­n another thruway, part o­n an earth street, part in towns, and part in slope tribe towns (Thai, Muong, Bru, Paco, and others), part in the present, and part recorded always in history..if you wish to take the Motorcycling this outing, please illuminate our Travel Consultant, The expansion fuel charge will be added to the expense.

Land at Hanoi airplane terminal and be me by our aide, exchange to your inn. Subject to your flight, we can take a discretionary guided walk around Hanoi's clamoring Old Quarter. At night, appreciate some customary Vietnamese food at one of the city's finest restaurants. Overnight in Hanoi.

We leave Hanoi right on time for Mai Chau town. An early lunch will be served at Poom Coong town before we bounce on our bicycles and cycle on a mixture of great single-track ways and undulating unpleasant jeep trails to the Thai Village of Cun Pheo. The perspectives are amazing as we pass through town, hot springs, suspension spans and crosswise over rice paddies.

Our initial morning voyage detracts us from the stream and through the scope of mountains that extend from Mai Chau to Cuc Phuong to Hoa Lu. In spite of the fact that we have landing area the distance, the riding can get a bit extreme because of the undulating territory. At Ngoc Lac, we get on a transport and exchange our exhausted legs to Nhu Xuan. Overnight at a neighborhood inn in Nhu Xuan.

Today the ride will be on the recently assembled two-path Ho Chi Minh Highway. There is not a ton of activity be that as it may, and the street makes for smooth quick riding. An absolute necessity see enroute is the origination of Uncle Ho at Kim Lien town. From Kim Lien, we'll no doubt exchange by transport or auto to Vinh City. (Note because of the aggregate separation a few areas you will be exchanged by vehicle, contingent upon the quality of the gathering and cycling conditions).

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We land at Pho Chau, where our cycling starts. The streets today wind their path through rich wilderness and lovely towns settled in the shadow of the noteworthy Truong Son Mountain range.

After breakfast, we keep riding on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. From Huong Khe, the scene is astounding, the street quiet. We ride up to 80km and after that exchange to Phong Nha National Park.

Direct After breakfast we'll vist the staggering Phong Nha give in by vessel and after that meander through the sinkhole. Investigating the hollow by and large takes a couple of hours and afterward we come back to the inn. Here we get once more on the bicycles and go around the residential area of Dong Hoi.

Stretching incidentally from the Ho Chi Minh thruway, we visit the Vinh Moc Tunnels; a 2.8km maze where the Vietnamese avoided American troops amid the War. 30km from Dong Ha we begin cycling again over the DMZ. The street is level and makes for good cruising! Enroute we will ignore relics left from the war and wind up in the Vietnam/Laos bordertown of Khe Sanh, where a portion of the bloodiest fights occurred.

In the wake of investigating the previous marine base of Khe Sanh, we begin to pedal to the Dakrong Bridge and after that transform off into the Southern area of the HCM Trail. We start our climb go into the mountains along an extaordinary remote street to the minor town of A Luoi. The course passes through thick woods and some wild scenes. A Luoi is home to a huge number of ethnic minorities and the notorious Hamburger Hill.

The ride is generally simple as the landscape is level. The scene is dabbed with interesting towns, wildernesses and streams. We complete our ride at the Bach Ho Bridge and jump on a transport to exchange the last.

Today cycle through Lang Co shoreline before hitting the delightful seaside streets and ascension the Hai Van Pass on the best approach to Hoi An. The focal point of Hoi A remaining parts much the same as it was in its prime. We take a mobile visit to see the wooden-fronted houses that had a place with the town's prosperous vendors, the Japanese-secured Bridge and the sublime business sector. Five kilometers from the inside of town is Cua Dai Beach, mainstream with both local people and guests indistinguishable for its warm ocean and beachfront fish restaurants. Dinners: Breakfast, Lunch.

Take a half-day strolling visit through the limited slowing down of the aged quarter, going to Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tam Ky inborn house and the popular Japanese Bridge. Revel in whatever is left of the day at relaxation or your own particular shopping.

Troi Anderson | Songs of the Spirits

Photo © Troi Anderson-All Rights Reserved

I'm fascinated by the rituals of voodoo ( or voudou), and lament the fact that I haven't been able (yet) to document this interesting religious tradition either in Haiti or the Dominican Republic. Readers that know my style of blogging will have noticed the added (yet) in the previous sentence, which means that something is being thought of or is under discussion.

According to Wikipedia, Haitian Vodou, also written as Voodoo, is a syncretic religion practiced chiefly in Haiti and the Haitian diaspora. Practitioners are called "vodouists" or "servants of the spirits".
Voodoo was created by African slaves brought to Haiti in the 16th century who, when forced by their enslavers to adopt the Christian religion, still followed their traditional beliefs by merging them with the beliefs and practices associated with Roman Catholic Christianity. It was declared the official religion of Haiti in 2003.

Troi Anderson's Songs of the Spirits is a gallery of compelling color photographs of the Haitian religious tradition including some that were made in Saut d'Eau; waterfalls in Haiti that hold special significance to both Catholics and Voudou practitioners, as it is believed that the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel appeared on a palm tree there in the nineteenth century.

Troi Anderson is a fine art, documentary and commercial photographer based in Portland, Oregon. His career started in film working for Magnolia Pictures, and later as a merchant marine sailing throughout Asia and the South Pacific. He is the author of two books, Shadows of Time and Decay (Mark Batty Publishers) along with numerous photographic essays. His work has been published in Geo France, The Oregonian, Communication Arts, Eyemazing, as well as being profiled and featured twice in Black and White Magazine. His commercial clients include Apple, Nike, HP, and T-Mobile. He worked for the humanitarian organization CARE in Haiti.

Jeremy Suyker | House of Strength

Photo © Jeremy Suyker - All Rights Reserved

I was introduced to this extremely interesting work recently featured as Editor's Choice on Maptia, and it's from a region I have rarely covered on this blog: Iran.

House of Strength is the body of monochromatic work by photographer Jeremy Suyker, and is about the pahlevani; the traditional Persian system of athletics originally used to train warriors that combines martial arts, calisthenics, strength training and music.

Wikipedia describes it as also merging elements of pre-Islamic Persian culture (particularly Zoroastrianism, Mithraism and Gnosticism) with the spirituality of Shia Islam and Sufism. The traditional gymnasium in which this type of wrestling is practiced is known as the zurkhaneh, or house of strength.

The implements used by the pahlevani are a pair of wooden clubs, a bow, a shield and a bar.

The Persian pahlevani influenced the virtual identical traditional wrestling practiced in India known as Pehlwani or Kusti. This wrestling style was developed during the Mughal Empire by combining native wrestling techniques and the Persian pahlevani. I've photographed the pehlwan wrestlers in Delhi, Varanasi and Kolkata, and the styles seem very similar.

Jeremy Suyker is a French photographer and reporter specialized in sociocultural issues. He reported on the aftermath of the Sri Lankan civil war, and on the historical changes in Myanmar.

He has been to Iran on several occasions since 2013, and is pursuing personal projects around the Black Sea region, Central Asia and Istanbul. His works can be found in publications like Geo, Washington Post, Newsweek Japan, Der Spiegel, L’Equipe magazine, Le Temps, Figaro, 6Mois, l’Actualité, A/R magazine and Vice.

Transport in Vietnam - VietNam travel

on the other hand all types of neighborhood transport in Vietnam its actual to say that a daring and adaptable disposition is essential. Concerning dependability and sought after luxuries, the vehicle in Vietnam can't be contrasted with that of European nations. At the point when making your Vietnam Travel Plan, our travel masters will utilize a mixof choices, providing for you a dauntless and changed trek.

There are numerous diverse types of transport in Vietnam, and assuredly you'll get to encounter the vast majority of them amid your time there. We'll organize the more extended exchanges between urban areas for you, joining the modules together with transport choices we feel best suit your individual trek. We earnestly sway individuals to go by nearby transport in Vietnam, as we feel this makes your trek a more real encounter. It additionally has the included profit of being an extremely financially savvy method for voyaging.

Taxis, motorbikes & bicycle rickshaws 

For the shorter exchanges, for instance from your inn to the airplane terminal/route station or the other way around, its best to take a taxi. These more diminutive exchanges are simple for you to orchestrate yourself, providing for you much more adaptability with your time. We discovered it much more conservative (and fun) to book these exchanges by regional standards. You'll find that the staff at your inns will be more than glad to call a taxi or tuk-tuk for your sake. When you're staying in the towns and urban areas, we prescribe utilizing bicycle rickshaws or motorbikes. These short excursions will cost as a rule $2-5 US dollars, contingent upon your wrangling aptitudes!

Trains

Taking the train in Vietnam is an incredible approach to get a genuine taste of neighborhood life. Invest time viewing the wonderful farmland pass you by, whilst tenderly shaking to the cadence of the tracks.

There is a track line running from North to South which stops at almost the majority of the principle locates along the way. For overnight excursions we book aerated and cooled delicate sleepers in imparted 4 compartment compartments. In the event that you would favor a little security, simply solicit one from our go pros to book the entire couchette for you.

Kindly remember that Vietnam is still a creating nation and its prepare framework can't yet be contrasted with that of Thailand, and offices are very essential. The bunks are wide enough, yet for tall westerners they're a part on the short side.

Inner flights 

To boost your time in Vietnam it may be essential for us to orchestrate one or more inward flights inside your Travel Plan.

As the streets in Vietnam are not as created in different regions of South East Asia, it can take quite a while to cover generally little separations by street. Flight transport in Vietnam offers you the opportunity to do in one hour what may take the best piece of a day by a transport or auto. So where time is element, a speedy and great quality inside flight is the best choice.

Flight calendar progressions are a lamentable event, and happen every once in a while and which we have no influence over. We'll stay up with the latest before you leave, however once there our nearby executors will try their hardest to tackle any issues you encounter.

Neighborhood Transport 

We heartily sway individuals to go by nearby transport in the towns and urban communities, as we feel this makes your outing a more genuine experience. It additionally has the included profit of being an extremely financially savvy method for voyaging and provides for you the chance to get up close and individual with your surroundings, meet well disposed local people and its fun as well. The gathering staff at your convenience can give a guide of the neighborhood transport arrange and prompt on the most ideal route for you to go around in each of the diverse areas.

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Obviously by a long shot the most feasible approach to go in each one spot is by walking as you'll see such a great deal more and can drench up the extraordinary neighborhood air. At times for shorter exchanges not effectively included, for example, from your inn to the airplane terminal/track/transport station, the main conceivable way may be to take a Tuk-Tuk or taxi. These are not difficult to organize generally through your inn and its more conservative (and fun) for you to book them by regional standards particularly on the off chance that you are any great at wrangling

Voyaging Sustainably 

While you go through Vietnam we very prescribe doing as local people do and go by foot or by rickshaw. Going by Rickshaw is an incredible approach to encounter the sights and qualities of the city with no carbon foot shaped impression, and also putting your cash straight once more to the neighborhood group (recall to arrange the expense of the excursion before you get in) In littler towns, for example, Hoi A cycling is the route forward. Are they extraordinary fun, as well as bicycle rentals are modest, they have no fuel or sound emanations, and the towns are sheltered and simple to explore, win!

35 Cows And A Kalashnikov | An African Journey

"No boy soldiers. No hunger. No safaris."

Here's a beautifully produced trailer of a movie titled 35 Cows And A Kalshasnikov by Oswald Von Reicththoven.

It's in three parts: a tribute to the stick-fighting Surma tribe of Southern Ethiopia, the dandy movement of Brazzaville and the voodoo wrestlers in Kinshasa.

Stick fighting is a sport and ritual the Surma people take extremely seriously. In most cases, stick fighting is done so young men can find wives, and is a way for young men to prove themselves to the eligible young women.

The "dandy" movement of Brazzaville involves young men who love to wear meticulously in sartorially fashionable dress, and these are known as "sapeurs". Pastel-colored three-piece suits in designer labels are a staple of the Sapeurs' fastidiously assembled ensembles. They stand out among the widespread poverty, strutting the streets like walking works of art.

In the Congo, wrestling is extremely popular, but the main difference between the way it's practiced here is that the Congolese like to introduce a mystical, magical “voodoo” element to the theatrics. So apart from the obvious play-acting, there are also “magical traditions” involving powders, spells and zombie-like transformations of wrestlers.

Oswald von Richthofen is a producer and director, known for 10000 BC (2008), 35 Cows and a Kalashnikov (2014) and Franzmann (1979).