Safe Roads can lead to Safe India - Perspective

"Vroom...... Now here I go past that car...FIRST !!! ", I boasted triumphly !!

"Stop that here and NOW !!. Do you get that ". A voice came from no where.

"Who's that ? " Surprised, Amused and confessedly horrified, I slowed my car.

A snook on the left, a snook on the right and realized that it was the panel !

A SPEAKING AUDIO PANEL ??? 

The Audio Panel, that had played the Pacy beats all through, had just come to LIFE !

Central Locked. Middle of Highway.

Pity dear. Dear me !!

"You head slow, you get that. and Listen to what I say....", The car's audio panel instructed further.

"List...en..., I mean ok.. But even if you are some Aladdin, I am for sure not your Jin..". That's what I had thought.

What I said, instead, was..''Oh .. Yeah..Sure !!''

"You need to have some senses , look how you overtook that car ??  Wrong Side. Without Dippers!"

" Need for Senses. How does that boot? and Memory space ??  Version : Underground or Most wanted ?..Like me, for many in my generation, motor cars were meant only for racing ".

"But after reading an article (of course for the exam...) on how badly India was affected from road accidents, I'd realized that real driving is not as forgiving as the gaming console.

No rebirths for the Driver. None for the pedestrians. Period."

"Yes, it's need for reflexes, and not need for speed on the real road." The voice whispered.

"That's not fair. You are spying on my thoughts too !!" I protested.

"At times, loud thoughts are as irritating as loud horns !!". The voice giggled.

Damn... My Breath got struck in the traffic jam of the horror, reprimand and that feeling of being convicted. But, the question still was .... Alright, some voice was talking to me. But ,Why Me ??

"The reason for your Why me answers are not on the Page 3 dear.

Fatalities. Accidents. Innocents losing their lives. All because of unsafe driving. "

Importantly. Almost all of them, avoidable. 

These news are not on Page 3 and that precisely the reason you don't get your answers." The Voice from the Panel summoned.

Prophecy Personified. Rather, Prophecy Panelized.

And suddenly the series of flat pitch horns of obscure intensities started banging me to dizziness. It later occurred that the Panel had played them all along to make me understand the reason for minimal usage of horn.

"A horn is a lot more than just the bullets from the pistol. And....Newspapers are a lot more than the Page3 stuff."

As I thought those lines,

Horns subsided. Sanity Prevailed.Lessons learnt.

Realization through a Lamborgini (the way I used to call my car), if not Lumbini, I Echoed.

"Right, but have you ever thought that the safety of the fellow motorists and pedestrians lay on you as much as on themselves.". The guiding voice's riding comments hit pillion.

"I did", I said, "When I read that many young kids lose their lives due to lack of child restraint and unsafe driving."

Recounting on a news item in the TV last night.

"I like your empathetic approach . But what's your take on the fact that around 5 lakh road accidents happen annually, and the reported death toll is 1.4 lakh in our country, mostly because of casual drivers like you." The Voice cautioned.

"The government is planning to legislate a bill on Road Transport and Safety soon." I contested, " and that, would take care of lot of  issues like..Drunk and Rash Driving, Imposition of Penalties harmonization of licenses etc.".  Taking forward the conversation I had heard in a news item.

"Indeed, but have you ever realized that safe habits have to begin from you." . The voice chimed.

"Yes, For a moment during this 'empanelled' discussion, I did". Thoughts prevailed. This panel thing was making me think that cars were beyond racing, and pedestrians beyond bots.

"..And that your endeavours for nation building can also begin through safe driving...".

"Nation Building... and .... Safe Driving... But how? " I blurted.

"According to a WHO report, India loses 3% of GDP because of road traffic crashes. If that minimizes , with our economic base, this would translate into an astonishing amount !. " The  voice prevailed. It was prevailing all the way !

"Ok...Now I get the point that for inculcating safe habits of driving. I indeed am the starting point." (My driving or the sibling fights as a child alike!!) Reflections came upon, almost concurrently.

"Yes, and the state plays a role too." I added.

"...Role yes.. Role through progressive laws, strict execution, Infrastructure, Public Transport, Accountability." They set the framework, concluded the mythical voice.

"Public Policy and Road Safety.. Lots of similarities.. " Last exam,  Chapterrrrrr....

"Forget the Chapter number of your course book !...  A LOT of initiatives also need to come from the private entities, like customer education, technology enhancements."

"That means an extension to the already 3PPP that becomes PPPP : Personal Public Private Partnership" I said.

"Good Going... But this model begins with your own safe habits." Suddenly a sense of realization began flowing through me.

This conversation had transformed me. My imagination too.

Perspectives and Importance of Safe driving in India. The Economic impact. This all was relevant and particular to me. The latent responsibility to drive safe was ignited by the fictitious Panel Discussion. May be the news item last night was playing through me. May be, it was incessant guilt of selfish driving, that seemed like a divine intervention.

Importantly, it was appropriate too.

"Out of respect for our conversation, I vowed to drive with lowered beam lights, seat belt on and setting aside my cell phones while driving in future."

"Thanks. Hope you'd remember the importance attached to defensive driving as well." The voice added, almost as I had thought that it was over.

"Yes , I do..", I said

And as I was about to hallucinate someone speaking, Now you can kiss the panel, that my eyes were laid on the mile-stone ahead that read :
.
.
.

***

PS: The Author gained immensely on the subjects of severity and magnitude of road accidents in India while researching for this post.

Additional Resources:

• Status Report on Road Safety - WHO
• Draft Bill, Road Transport and Safety, 2014
• Nissan NSDF 2013 video - NSDF 2013

What's your take on the road safety in India ? Do you think we citizens can collectively improve road 
safety in India? Please send your feedback/comments through the tab below. Would love to see your footprints.

Fredrik Ericsson: Skiing the Three Highest Peaks in the World

Both ExWeb and Everest News posted stories on Fredrik Ericsson this week, highlighting the Swedish skiers plans to become the first person to ski down the three highest mountains in the world - Everest, K2, and Kangchenjunga.

Ericsson, along with Italian Michele Fait, will head to K2 this June, with the Karakorum peak expected to be the most challenging of the three. Following a successful summit, the descent will feature five hours of skiing, covering more than 3600 meters, with angles as much as 50º at times, eventually coming to an end in base camp itself. If successful, Fredrik will then turn his attention to the other two mountains on his list.

As one of the premiere high altitude skiers in the world, Ericsson has already conquered Shisha Pangma, Gasherbrum 2, and Dhaulagiri. Last year, he reached as high as 7000m on Kangchenjunga before aborting his attempt on the mountain, and skiing back down from that point. If all goes as planned, he'll give that mountain another try this Fall, before turning his sights on Everest in the Spring of 2010.

Some of the numbers tossed about in these two stories on Fredrik's attempt to ski these mountains are mind boggling. Five hours of skiing in one descent? 50º angles? Scary and fun at the same time. Dangerous of course as well, especially following a long, arduous climb. I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more about this in the months ahead.

Spring Issue of JPFreek Magazine Now Available!

My friends over at JPFreek Magazine have passed along word that the Spring Issue is now available online. The issue is available in both a Flash Flipbook version and a downloadable PDF version as well, and it's crammed cover to cover with some excellent adventure stories.

I've mentioned JPFreek before. It's an online adventure magazine aimed at Jeep owners and enthusiasts who also happen to love outdoor adventure. In this current issue for instance, there is a great photo-story that is the second part of a transcontinental drive from Paris to New York that has some cool photos from the journey thus far. There is also an excellent story on hiking up Mt. Huashan in China, as well as another on off-roading in the French Alps. A little closer to home, well my home anyway, the JPFreek crew got together for a day to hit up Guadalupe Mountains National Park, here in Texas too.

I've had an association with the JPFreek team for awhile now, and I have to say that I honestly think the magazine just keeps getting better. Flipping through the virtual pages of this issue I was very much impressed with the great photographs that are on par with some of the much more well known adventure magazines out there. There are some great shots to go along with the interesting articles, and whether you're a Jeep enthusiast or not, I think you'll find something to enjoy here.

Great work guys! :)

Man Rescued From Snowdon For Second Time in 5 Months

I saw this story yesterday on Grough, but had to stop and think about it some before I posted. It's about an unnamed 42 year-old man who has now been rescued off of Snowdon, the tallest mountain in Wales, for the second time in five months.

Standing 1085 meters (3560 feet) in height, what it lacks in altitude, Snowdon makes up for in challenge. The rocky cliffs have been a favorite amongst climbers in the U.K. for decades, and the mountain is notoriously dangerous in the winter months. In fact, as the article notes, 4 people died on the mountain over the course of 11 days last month alone.

In the case of this person, he was first found unconscious in the doorway of a building at the summit last October after spending a night out in the cold. At first he was mistaken for a pile of garbage, but then other climbers recognized that it was indeed a person, and proceeded with a rescue operation. He suffered hypothermia and could have died had he not been found. This more recent incident saw the same man falling more than 50 feet, and ending up in a pile of snow, where two trekkers found him and once again came to his aid.

Now, of course I'm all for everyone adding a little outdoor adventure to their life. But perhaps this guy should just stay inside and pick up a safer hobby. Something like Checkers or Battleship. At the very least, maybe he should stick to paved trails in an urban park or something. Getting rescued off the same mountain twice in the span of five months time is pretty impressive, and not easily accomplished.

This is just the kind of story that would typically rekindle the debate about mountain rescues and who should pay for them. Those seem to flair up every now and again when you hear stories like this one. Of course, I'm aware that many search and rescue operations are conducted by volunteers and often don't cost the tax payer much of anything at all, but I'm in favor of charing this guy something, anything, for his rescues. I hope he bought the SAR team a pint or two at least.

Andrea Orioli | Thaipusam

Photo © Andrea Orioli-All Rights Reserved

The Thaipusam ritualistic event occurs 13 kilometres outside the Malaysian capital city, Kuala Lumpur in a sacred Hindu shrine called the Batu Caves.

The festival of Thaipusam was brought to Malaysia in the 1800s, when Indian immigrants started to work on the Malaysian rubber estates and the government offices. The festival is celebrated mostly by the Tamil community, and commemorates the occasion when Parvati gave Murugan a spear to vanquish the evil demon Soorapadam.

On the day of the festival, devotees shave their heads and undertake a pilgrimage along a set route while engaging in various acts of devotion, notably carrying various types of heavy burdens, while others may carry out acts of self mortification by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with skewers and sharp hooks.  The devotees perform “Kavadi”, an act of faith where they suffer the pain of dozens of hooks and spears piercing their body during the 272 steps that bring them to the cave temple.

Andrea Orioli photographed Thaipusam, and provides us with yet another view of these not-for-the-faint-of-heart rituals. He is  a biologist working in Switzerland, and has had the good fortune of traveling widely and making photographs. Far more interested in people and cultures than anything else, he's passionate about documenting endangered cultures before they disappear.

He also has featured interesting galleries on his website, including one in Sumba (Indonesia) and another in Kyrgyzstan.

Vietnam travel tips

- It's to your greatest advantage not to drink the faucet water, particularly in the wake of flooding!

- Maintain a strategic distance from cyclo rides after dim.

- Dress humbly and fittingly when going by neighborhood homes and religious destinations, and so forth.

- Abandon your resources before a night out on the town, or setting off to the shoreline.

- At the point when crossing the street – particularly in HCMC – dependably continue looking to the left and right and walk gradually!

- Don't offer cash straightforwardly to minority individuals – rather give to a neighborhood philanthropy or offer a little blessing, for example, pens.

- By all methods, examine the scrumptious road sustenance yet for cleanliness' purpose just at venues that are occupied with an enormous turnover.

- Continuously ask consent first before taking photos, particularly in minority territories.

See more: Vietnam travel packages

- Organize therapeutic protection (counting the procurement for crisis departure) before their flight, as there is no free restorative treatment accessible in Vietnam and the standard of nearby wellbeing offices is underneath global guidelines.

- While most Vietnamese are fair and used to sightseers mishandling for the right cash values, a couple will earnestly attempt to bamboozle you. Take as much time as required to check the zeroes or you'll unintentionally fulfill somebody extremely

- On the off chance that you decide to go to halong Bay , stay 2 nights in light of the street excursion, poor streets, it far to strive for 1 night, and you see a considerable measure all the more in the 2 days

- stay far from the taxis and cyclos. use orchestrated transportation to the extent that you can

- On the off chance that you decide to go to halong Bay , stay 2 nights due to the street outing, poor streets, it is far to strive for 1 night, and you see a considerable measure all the more in the

Discovery Channel Airs Disaster on K2 Tonight

The Discovery Channel has added another mountaineering special to it's library and will be airing a show entitled Disaster on K2 tonight at 10 PM EDT/9 PM CDT. I haven't been able to find a whole lot about the specifics of the show itself, nor can I find a link to a page dedicated to it on the Discovery website, but their TV listings give the following description:

When enormous ice walls collapse, seven climbers are trapped near the summit of the most dangerous mountain on earth: K2. With footage and interviews with the few who lived to tell the story, we follow this tale of heroism, survival, and hearbreak.

Obviously the show will take a look at the events that went down last August on K2, and hopefully it'll put everything together for us in a solid timeline, laying out exactly what happened and when. It'll be interesting to see who they got on camera to give interviews about the event, as some of the survivors have been tight lipped about the incident.

Anyway, if you're looking for something to watch tonight, definitely tune in. Discovery has a good reputation when it comes to handling these types of shows, and I expect that this should be solid as well. And if anyone has more information or a link to another page, send it my way.

Kurt William Kamka | Plain Manila

Photo © Kurt William Kamka - All Rights Reserved

There are some photographers who espouse the notion that they must be invisible when shooting in the streets for their images to be successful, candid and "in the moment"...but there are also others who have no such compunctions. To me, I've got my feet firmly planted on both sides of the "aisle" provided the photograph tells a story.

Plain Manila is a collection of over 50 monochromes of the daily life in this gigantic Asian metropolis by Kurt William Kamka who, through these images, shows the people and provides us with a sense of the place, as if we roamed its back streets. As the photographer himself puts it, he sought to document "the day-to-day complexities of community life in the barrios of Manila".

Despite my frequent travels in Southeast Asia, I confess not knowing much of Manila, other than it's one of the most high-density cities in the world; even denser than Kolkata...which is a surprise. Perhaps I ought to remedy this shortcoming, and extend the trajectory of my travels to include the Philippines.

Kurt William Kamka is a commercial, documentary, street, non-profit and NGO photographer who relocated to Asia in 2011. Currently based in Manila, he document his view on the human condition.
His photos have been shown in the Leica gallery in Singapore, multiple locations in Manila and in Chicago. He has worked in advertising for some of the largest global brands including P&G, US Bank, Firestone, Bayer, McDonalds, Nikon, Samsung, UCB, Delta Airlines and others. 

North Pole 2009: Teams Underway!

The 2009 Arctic Season is now officially underway with teams already underway or departing very soon. Looks like it's going to be a very busy season at the top of the world.

The Catlin Arctic Survey team set off on Saturday, and after a short haul of just a few miles, promptly set up camp to take their first measurements of the ice. According to the Ice Team's dispatch, the weather is very cold, -40ºC during the day, which at this stage is a good thing, as it means more solid, stable ice. The three person crew will be using ground penetrating radar to measure the health of that ice all the way to the North Pole. It should also be noted that the team is currently not navigating by compass, thanks to their close proximity to the Magnetic North Pole. Instead, they are finding their way through the use of more traditional methods, such as the positioning of the sun and the stars. It just goes to show you, on these expeditions, the more things change... :)

Meanwhile, Christina Franco sends word that she'll be setting off at 6 AM tomorrow. Her gear is packed and loaded on one of the Twin Otter planes that operate out of Resolute Bay, and her course has been plotted. She's eager to get started and ready to go, and tomorrow her solo journey to the Pole will begin. Good luck Christina.

Joining them out on the ice is John Huston and Tyler Fish who begin the Victorinox North Pole 09 expedition. They were hoping to get underway yesterday, but delayed the start until today, when they'll begin his quest to become the first American team to go unsupported to the North Pole. They're hoping to promote the lofty ideals of "Optimism, Humility and Responsible Action" along the way. We could all use a little of those things right about now.

The Peary Centennial Expedition also planned to get underway today. The three man team of Lonnie Dupre, Max Chaya, and Stuart Smith are celebrating the 100 years since Robert Peary and his team reached the Pole. The boys were expected to depart Resolute Bay today, en route to Eureka Weather Station, before heading on to Ward Hunt Island, where the journey will begin in earnest.

That's all for now. Expect more updates soon as the Baffin Babes get underway on Baffin Island and several other high profile teams begin their expeditions as well.

Frédéric Lagrange | The Wakhan Corridor

Photo © Frederic Lagrange-All Rights Reserved

"You get older faster in the Wakhan Corridor."

The Wakhan Corridor, the region known locally as Bam-e Dunya (or roof of the world), is the narrow strip of territory in northeastern Afghanistan that extends to China and separates Tajikistan from Pakistan. The corridor is wedged between the Pamirs to the north and the Hindu Kush to the south. Sparsely populated due to its harsh climate, the region has about 12,000 people and is a political creation of the Great Game, the strategic rivalry and conflict between the British Empire and the Russian Empire for supremacy in Central Asia.

It took many years for French photographer Frédéric Lagrange to plan and organize his month-long trek to the region, taking with him local porters, an Afghan guide, donkeys and 100 rolls of film. 

During his trek, Lagrange photographed and produced film footage that eventually became a 20-minute film, Lost on the Roof of the World.

Frédéric Lagrange started his career in 2001, focusing mainly on travel photography, then widening his work to include fashion and portraiture. His photographs have been featured in numerous magazines and ad campaigns around the world such as: Vanity Fair US, The New York Times magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue (Japanese, German, Spanish, Indian), The New Yorker, Louis Vuitton, Condé Nast Traveler, GQ (US, Japan), Anthropologie, Free People, and W hotels, among others.

Currently living in Brooklyn, he was chosen as Photo District News’s “30 under 30 Photographers to watch in 2003”, and was the recipient of many photography awards and his work is also featured in The American Photography Annual, The Society of Publication Designers Annual, and the PDN Photography Annual. He is also one of 30 photographers sponsored by Kodak worldwide.

 

Fenced - A Short Story

Manas would not witness the heaps of white paper flying across the fenced Desert Dunes on his routine trip.

Yet, for some strange reason, this time he took out his Binoculars hurriedly, rattling the water bottle and story book in the backpack on its way.

With a longer vision and a shorter breath, he could catch hold of one of the many letters and a glimpse of the old man in streaking dead white and a crown of red turban over.

‘For the bread and the barter, my owed loans against the daughter;

There is an oasis so deep, in my heart when I weep;

If you could forgive me hence, and just for once travel across the fence;

The eyes die to see you flesh, and relieve the fenced soul of this mesh;

Your father is an old man now, suddenly life can betray, you know how;

My moustache no more black, but your doll still on the rack;

Stubborn I wouldn’t die in this life, for won’t forever live in death’s strife;

If you could Travel for my soul, and boundaries with no role;

To see the tears that roll often and the wrinkles that they soften;

Had this front not been  fenced, my death would not be chanced; 

Being sand, to become the sand, the body’s matter till its end,

Can’t the sand of its portion, flow me across and live this notion;

Pity our sights that share the glance, but am jealous for this air with no fence;  

For the men they apart, there are souls that cannot depart,  

For the men they apart, there are a few souls that could not depart.... ’,

as Manas read this through the white paper, he glanced that Hasrat, a young woman, perhaps the daughter, was on her knees and in tears on the other side of fence.

There were men, and well..... there are fences, Manas thought.

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

***

Looking forward to your comments and feedback.

Mark Hartman | Bole So Nihal...

Photo © Mark Hartman-All Rights Reserved

You must be wondering what does 'Bole So Nihal..." mean? Well, it's part of the traditional greeting used by the followers of the Sikh religion, and a call to action or duty. In Punjabi it essentially means "Whoever utters, shall be fulfilled.")

According to Wikipedia, it's a popular mode of expressing ebullient religious fervor and an integral part of Sikh liturgy. It is said at the end of Sikh prayers and holy congregations.

I was pleased to have been referred by PDN to photographer Mark Hartman's Bole So Nihal wonderful photo essay, consisting of over 30 square color photographs of Nihang Sikhs. He spent most of March and April 2014 in India working on personal projects, which include these terrific photographs.

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion founded during the 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, by Guru Nanak. Sikhs do not have a gender for God, nor do they believe God takes a human form. All human beings are considered equal regardless of their religion, sex or race.

The Nihang are an armed Sikh order, and their distinctive dress consists of blue robes, bracelets of iron, and steel rings tied in their lofty conical blue turbans, along with the traditional sword carried by all baptized Sikhs.

Mark tells us in the PDN article that he was granted access to the Nihang while traveling in Amirtsar and Anandpursahib in Punjab, and that he decided to photograph them is a posed formal way because he hadn't seen anyone set up on-location portraits of the Nihang Sikhs before.

Mark Hartman is a New York City based photographer. He studied photography at Rochester Institute of Technology. He has shown work his work internationally. His work has been featured and published in Esquire, Monocle, Communication Arts, PDN, CNN, British Journal of Photography and others. In 2012, he was named a photographer to watch by Photo District News.

Travel Forum or Travel Blog : WHAT works and WHEN ?

Glancing through my travel folder on the laptop, I suddenly realized that there had been a lot of background research that had undergone in my trip to Italy and later to Prague. As a corollary, it was realized that the sources for these information could either be classified in those collected from travel forums like Wikitravel, Tripadvisor, Fodors etc. and the others those from the travel blogs.  Just a few days back, one of my readers had queried about the perennial questions travelers across  the world face !

When it comes to planning a trip,

what works ?

Travel Forum or a Travel Blog

and importantly, 

When  to use a Travel Forum and when a Travel Blog?

I'm sure many readers would jump the gun the moment the thoughts boil down to planning. They'd opine, that there is no need for planning for the travel anyways ! So, this post is about them who would assign a sense of priority to planning beforehand.

The maverick in the hamlet may be rested for now.

Photo Courtesy : Here

The post is for those who care to plan and would like to plan.

The crux : DO plan, it helps!

First things first, this post is not about endorsing any particular travel forum. Well, I do have my set of favorites, but then that list could figure in some other post. Secondly, there are certain niche blogs. that are more informative than the travel forums, so the thin grey line is overstepped.

We begin with keeping those niche blogs away.

When planning a trip, Begin with a Travel Forum add on with a Travel Blog and then close it again with a Travel Forum !

That's the short part of the long story. When it comes to doing research for the trip, the broader information, like which airports to chose, the classic itinerary to build, the days to accommodate, the hotels in a particular price band and a service quality are all best sourced from the Travel Forums. Add to them many to one reviews etc. are really helpful. There may be discussions within the group members who wish to answer. They are more like the FAQs. They have the answers for questions like the cities to cover in the 10 day Italy trip or when in Rome, what would be the best airport etc.. But then their weakness lay exactly in their strength.

Travel Forums contain many posts that are very generic in nature. If you wish to seek specific answers for things to do in a 3 Day trip to Rome, then head on to a Travel Blog. There are again phenomenal travel blogs that would capture the minute details with useful information. So travel blogs would connect those dots left open by the forums in the first place.

Once done with the specific information, you may head back to a forum for unique queries like getting a cab in the particular hour of the day. Which stop to alight from the train, Is there a construction activity around the hotel you plan  to stay, When does a mall open etc..

Both of them works and in the order as below.

Travel Forums --> Travel Blogs --> Travel Forums

The final brushings and the planning for the picture perfect travel is complete !

Photo Courtesy : Here

A Life With Leica | Thorsten von Overgaard

ZITE has introduced me to a multitude of interesting articles on photography and otherwise, including this short documentary featuring a Danish photographer named Thorsten von Overgaard.

As a preamble, let me say that although I own a Leica M9 and have the utmost regard for its capabilities as a tool, I'm far from being a Leica fanboy, realizing (and grudgingly accepting) its shortcomings, and periodically ranting at Leica's blatant ostentatious marketing and pricing.

Nonetheless, I have just returned from leading a photographic expedition-workshop to Viet Nam where I used the M9 (with a Voigtlander 40mm) on a number of occasions during street photography jaunts in Ha Noi and Hoi An, and readily confirm that (1) its images (whether monochrome or color) have a distinct 'feel' to them, and (2) its ergonomics are just right.

This is a lovely documentary filmed in Rome with Thorsten who shares his photographic 'philosphy' with us. I found myself in full agreement with him on most of his points of view...which ranged from "there's always stuff happening" in the streets, that each one of us has a unique visual viewpoint, that cameras (whether Leica or otherwise) are just tools and that he never photographs people unless to show them off in the best of lights. The latter also echos Sebastião Salgado's philosophy.

A minor point: I was surprised to see Thorsten resting his Leicas on their lenses instead of on their bottom plates. I do that as well. Weird.

Blog's 2nd Anniversary - And The Second Year Sailed By !

Just as effortless as it could be, the second year for the Blog simply sailed by !

As new learnings await their share, some golden moments of the second year also hold their virtue.

The feeling of having a loving audience as you is simply wonderful. Thanks !

The Year In Vignettes !

Some blog contests won, (check the Accolades section) !, An affiliate program was approved and loads of motivating responses from the readers.

Keep Dropping By.

This Blog is all about your affection !

Travel For Soul. Simply Travel !!

Ueli Steck and Simon Anthamatten Claim 2009 Piolet d'Or

The Hardwear Sessions, official blog of Mountain Hardwear, is reporting that that Ueli Steck and Simon Anthamatten have won one of three 2009 Piolet d'Or awards, given out annually for outstanding accomplishments in mountaineering. The amazing duo took home their prize for their first ascent, in Alpine Style, of the North Face of Tengkampoche, a 6500m peak in the Khumbu Valley.

Upon winning the award, Ueli released the following statement:

I

t is a great honour for me to receive the "Piolets d'Or 2009" award. This award is given away by mountaineers who know what alpinism is all about. This prize should also be trendsetting. Therefore it is a great confirmation that Simon and I are on the right track. Alpinism is not comparable. First of all it is a matter of personal experience and personal challenge. That's why it is important to be able to follow some rules. With today's modern technique everything is achievable. Every mountain can be climbed. But the mountain is no longer the determining link between success and failure. Personally this is exactly what most matters: that the alpinist is the most important element between success and failure and not primarily the technical means. Thanks to all my sponsors, which have been supporting me during all these years and who give me the opportunity to realise such idealistic goals.

Thank you also to Simon: this was one of the most beautiful expeditions I could experience.

Although this prize was for 2009 I am proud of all my ascents. And we do not have to forget: it's not over yet, it will go on. I am totally consumed by my projects. And the next one is closer than we might think."

Ueli and Simon are a class act both on the mountain and off, and everyone already knows their part in the Inaki Ochoa incident last year on Annapurna. Obviously this award is well deserved, as they exemplify everything that the spirit of mountaineering is all about.

The other two winners of the Piolet d'Or include Japanese climbers Kazuya Hiraide and Kei Taniguchi completing the first ascent of the South-West face of Kamet and Fumitaka Ichimura, Yusuke Sato and Kazuki Amano, also of Japan, opening a new route on the North Face of Kalanka. Both climbs were completed in Alpine Style.

Congrats to all the winners.

POV: Street Photography | Should It Be Furtive?

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

“Of course it’s all luck.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

This POV is prompted by a number of recent posts expressing soul-searching angst from various quarters, as well as various photographers expressing some discomfort in utilizing 'guerrilla' (their term...not mine) tactics to get candid photographs of the street.

It seems that a hands-on review of the Fuji X-T1 by the photographer Zack Arias in Marrakech included some of his tips and tricks in capturing unguarded moments of street life, and a number of photographers questioned the ethics of furtive street photography.

I don't have this issue. To me, street photography is furtive in its very essence...and there is no presumption of privacy for individuals in a public place. By definition, street photography is making photographs on the sly.

When I'm pounding the New York City pavements with a M9 or a X Pro-1, I shoot from the hip about 90% of the time. This technique -if you can call it that- ensures that the people I photograph are totally unaware that I am making a photograph of them...and frequently, unaware that I'm even there.

Street photography is -to my mind- synonymous with candid photography. The latter "...is achieved by avoiding prior preparation of the subject and by either surprising the subject or by not distracting the subject during the process of taking photos". (Source: Candid Photography:Wikipedia).

We all know the father of candid photography was the iconic Henri Cartier-Bresson, whose book Images à la Sauvette was published in 1952, was the master of candid photography. Setting aside that his photographs were mostly of unguarded moments, the very title of his book is French for 'furtively'...and not The Decisive Moment as his publisher translated it.

I recall Costa Manos exhorting us in a Havana workshop that successful street photographs ought to have no one looking at the photographer or noticing the camera. It may not have been accurate, since there are many examples of terrific street photography images in which the subjects look directly -and even pose- for the photographer.

When I photograph in religious spaces such as Sufi dargahs or Hindu temples in India...or wherever I am mingling with people going about their daily life, I much prefer photographing furtively and shooting from the hip. This is to capture candid expressions, unposed body language and unplanned layers.

It's impossible for me to avoid attention wherever I travel. A foreigner with a camera is always a focus of attention, and I have to use all sorts of stratagems and 'techniques' to grab frames as I can...ranging from the "I'm a lost tourist in NYC...and I'm looking for street names/landmarks/addresses" while shooting my iPhone...to the gazing in another direction or pretending to be talking on my iPhone whilst shooting my rangefinder from the hip...yes, there are myriads of ways to play the dumb tourist, sightseer or a disinterested photographer.

The iPhone image of the two musicians going for a hug was made by (1) anticipating what they were about to do, and (2) holding the device in my hand as if I was looking at a map. The other image of the Indian men having a snack near the shrine of Nizzam Uddin was made by shooting my X Pro-1 from the hip whilst pretending to be talking on the iPhone. Had I planted myself in front of them with a camera to my eye, they would've stopped eating and awkwardly froze to pose for the picture.

Remember, I'm not photographing to capture people in awkward or embarrassing moments...that's not my interest. My interest is capturing scenes where people are at their most unguarded, at their most normal and candid moments. If one of my frames accidentally depicts someone picking his/her nose...or a man scratching his crotch, the frame gets deleted.

To those who take that as being furtive, sneaky or sly...I say to each his own.

10 tips when travel VietNam

Hanoi is an unquestionable requirement see place, on the off chance that you wish to get doused in a social encounter that is rich and astounding. Hanoi packs everything from old landmarks to recorded artful culminations to rich, green parks and an overall selected zoo. It's a spot where you can be kept occupied for a considerable length of time together without having whenever to get exhausted. This current one's essentially a French-frontier city with lakes, beautiful area and considerably more, which can be accomplished just when here in-individual.

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Escape at the Hoan Kiem Lake 

Frequently alluded as the Lake of the Restored Sword, its a magnum opus of Hanoi's society and history which individuals simply rush around to feel flabbergasted.

Initially built as a college in 1070, it portrays genuine Vietnamese style in a customarily created structural planning. Going to this spot will help you see various locales including the Well of Heavenly Clarity, structures, turtle steles, paths, yards and the sky is the limit from there. Likewise, here numerous recorded structures can be found and the spot has now turned into a dedication to writing and instruction.

The spot is a compositional impression of the Old Hanoi. One can have nearby cooking styles strengths here and there is even a night advertise in the heart of this place that can help you look for garments, nourishment, trinkets and then some.

Additionally renowned as the Hanoi Opera House, here you can see French impact in outline and development which got done with building in 1911. It's a spot which remains as a witness to the Revolution of Hanoi and can take you away to very nearly 100 years back's, to observer compositional brilliance taking care of business.

Most seasoned Pagoda in Vietnam, it goes again to 1842 and is an image of Buddhism in the nation. This is a place that offers astonishing perspectives and an incredible feeling to each guest.

Hanoi Hilton: an exhibition hall that cover Hanoi's past

Hanoi Hilton is an everyday term signifying an infamous place that was utilized by French and afterward by North Vietnamese to torment and keep the detainees. John Mccain was a prominent, long-term detainee here and today a piece of this serves as a gallery for vacationers.

See a spot connected with numerous legends: West Lake 

The legend of Golden Buffalo is the most prevalent legend connected with the West Lake, which is the biggest lake in Hanoi. It's otherwise called Ho Tay and is arranged in the northwest piece of Hanoi.

This Granite building holds an extraordinary hugeness for every one of those individuals who wish their adored pioneer to live on until the end of time. The remaining parts of Uncle Ho here are kept exceptionally safeguarded and overall sorted out, security here is tight and suitable dressing is an absolute necessity so as to show regard for this extraordinary individual. The remaining parts are sent to Russia for support, its consequently encouraged to recheck before going by to guarantee that the Mausoleum is interested in visitors.

Today this demonstrations like a legislature house and a little expense is charged to stroll through the grounds here.

Look for good fortunes at the Perfume Pagoda 

Additionally, alluded as the internal sanctuary or Chua Huong, here you can see not few however numerous pagodas, each one offering an alternate sanctum basically Buddhist. The Perfume Pagoda is for guests searching for good fortunes from the stalactites and stalagmites inside the cavern.

How the money adds up 

Along these lines, see history, society and get splashed in excellence that is unexplored when at Hanoi and bear in mind to incorporate this city on your agenda at whatever point arranging Vietnam visits

12 day travel VietNam insught - Travel to VietNam

Experience the best Vietnam brings to the table on this 12 day visit that takes you from South to North. Begin in Saigon then investigate the rich scenes of the Mekong River Delta. Unwind under the whispering palms in Hoian and find Hue's antiquated history. Close your visit with a visit to Vietnam's diverse capital and a pontoon voyage along the shockingly lovely Halong Bay...

Welcome to Vietnam's advanced city: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Land in the late morning and delight in an introduction visit through Saigon's clamoring lanes on the way to the inn. Revel in whatever remains of the day at your relaxation to recuperate from plane slack and investigate the city all alone.

Appreciate a full day to visit Saigon's different attractions. Begin with a visit to Saigon's China Town, then research conventional Vietnamese solution at the FITO Museum and search through the astonishing show of products at Ben Thanh Market. Stop for lunch then proceed the city visit with a visit to the War Remnants exhibition hall and previous Presidential Palace. You close the day investigating the city's French provincial structural engineering, halting at the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Post Office.

Today you leave Saigon and make a trip to the Mekong River Delta. Appreciate an early breakfast at the inn before heading to the riverside town, Cai Be. Along the path, stop at a sweet plant and plantation enclosure, where you have a chance to listen to conventional music. Appreciate an unwinding lunch at a riverside restaurant, then cross the waterway by mechanized vessel to visit some fluvial islands and investigate the farmland by bike. Your driver will reach you at Vinh Long wharf and take you to Can Tho City for the night.

Wake early and leave the lodging to visit the acclaimed Cai Rang skimming market by speedboat. Proceed with the pontoon ride to visit the Mekong Delta's popular plantations and specimen the new, extraordinary apples and oranges. At that point wander deeper into the farmland, passing customary houses made of wood and palm leaves as you watch the exercises of the neighborhood individuals. Come back to Can Tho for lunch then drive once more to Saigon, touching base in the late evening.

After breakfast, you are exchanged to the air terminal for your inside flight to Danang. Your aide and driver will reach you at the airplane terminal and undertake the short drive to the languid riverside town, Hoian. Take a half-day strolling visit through the thin slowing down of the antiquated quarter, going by Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tan Ky inborn house and the renowned Japanese Bridge. End the day with an unwinding dusk pontoon trek.

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Today you set out on a family run "angler eco-visit". Investigate Hoian's encompassing farmland and wide open then attempt your hand at nearby angling systems as you figure out how to explore a wicker bin vessel through thin conduits. Come back to Hoian toward the evening for a private cooking class.

Delight in breakfast at the inn then check-out and roll over the 500m-high Hai Van go to Hue. Revel in a stop at the grand Lang Co Beach for a beverage before proceeding to Hue - an UNESCO World Heritage Site and Vietnam's previous capital. Use the evening on a lackadaisical strolling visit through the antiquated city. Visit the Royal Citadel, the Imperial Museum, and the Mausoleum of King tu Duc (an imitation of the ruler's royal residence assembled for the following rebirth of the lord).

Use the morning on a private watercraft journey down the sentimental Perfume River to visit the Lady Pagoda (Thien Mu Pagoda), Dong Ba Market and the elaborate Minh Mang's tomb. Drive to the air terminal toward the evening to get your short flight to Vietnam's capital city, Hanoi. Upon landing, get exchanged to your lodging in the downtown area. Free at your recreation.

Today you have a full day to investigate Vietnam's beguiling capital. With its wide tree-lined roads, French frontier construction modeling, tranquil lakes and antiquated oriental pagodas, Hanoi is a mixed blend that offers something for everybody. Your city visit will take you to Hanoi's key locales: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house), the Presidential Palace, the close-by One Pillar Pagoda; the Temple of Literature; West Lake including the steady Tran Quoc Pagoda & Quan Thanh Temple; and one of the city's exhibition halls (a decision between the History Museum and the Ethnology Museum). Later toward the evening, delight in a conventional Water Puppet Performance – a novel Vietnamese fine art hailing from Southeast Asia 's wet-rice society.

Use 24 hours on a customary Junk Cruise in the astounding narrows: a regular wonderland made out of bulging limestone islands and shining turquoise waters. Land at the dock around twelve and board your garbage. Appreciate a gourmet lunch of crisp fish installed as you cruise out into the magical straight. Toward the evening, voyage around so

Everest 2009: Alan Arnette Interviews Russell Brice

I've mentioned Alan Arnette and his Everest 2009 page a number of times already this year, but it really is one of the best resources for news and information on climbing Everest leading up to, during, and following the season. Alan, who has been no Everest three times in the past, has his fingers on the pulse of the mountaineering community, and is very knowledgeable about this mountain and what it takes to get up and down it.

Today's update to the page is an interview with Russell Brice, the sometimes controversial owner of the Himalayan Experience (or Himex), who has become well known from his appearances on Everest: Beyond the Limit on the Discovery Channel. Brice, and his Himex team, will be returning to Everest this year after getting shutout last year thanks to the Chinese closing down the North Side. Hedging his bets this season, Brice has moved the expedition to the South Side, which is proving to be quite astute considering access to the Tibetan side of the mountain is in jeopardy once again this year.

In the interview, Russell talks about his thoughts on climbing on the South Side, after dominating the North for a decade. He touches on the differences in logistics, and what it will be like to be climbing with Tigress Productions once again, who will be filming the expedition for Discovery.

All in all, a good interview from the man, and I commend Alan for being able to get Russell to comment. Brice is a man of few words, who doesn't really look for the spotlight, so it's quite rare to hear directly from him like this. Great work Alan, and welcome to the South Side Russell.