Travel Photography ASIA: In stark contrast to Sri Lanka & Bhutan, the Journey continuous through Nepal
I love contrast... and this was certainly an extreme
if you compare Nepal with Sri Lanka and Bhutan
A Sadhu during the Hindu bathing festival. Balaju Mela or
Lhuti Punhi, Kathmandu, Nepal
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We sadly left Colombo in Sri Lanka and took the flight to Delhi en-route to Kathmandu, Nepal our second stop before leaving for Bhutan.
I love contrast and this was certainly an extreme if you compare Nepal with Sri Lanka (my next post) and Bhutan. I visited Nepal many times before, but every time I find something more unique or bizarre, I just love this place, its mix religion, people, culture, tradition and of course awesome colors.
Sadhu at the Pashupatinath Temple, the oldest Hindu
temple in Kathmandu, Nepal
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In the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal
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Oh…those Eyes, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Boy selling sugar candy Durban Square, Kathamndu, Nepal,
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Durban Square, Kathmandu, Nepal,
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Yes, it can be a bit chaotic at times, and the traffic especially during festival times is a nightmare, but it is also very rewarding for photography a constant challenge isolating subjects amongst the crowd.
We made another stop over for a few more days on our way back from Bhutan and intercepted two festivals before hitting back home, this was a welcome change after the higher altitude from Bhutan, a sort of R&R.
The cool one...In the streets of Kathmandu, Nepal
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Child playing with large Prayer Wheel at one of the
Monasteries, in "Little Tibet" Boudhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal
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A pilgrim during a Chaktsal prostration, a powerful way of
showing devotion at the Boudhanath Stupa, Kathmandu Nepal
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One of my favorite places I keep returning to when visiting Nepal is the Buddhist stupa of Boudhanath, and my recent visit here coincided with the full moon festival. This ancient Stupa is one of the largest in the world. The influx of large populations of refugees from Tibet has seen the construction of over 50 Tibetan Compas (Monasteries) around Boudhanath. It is a UNESCO World heritage Site since 1979, the Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha. This area is also know as little Tibet.
Right next to the Boudhanath Stupa, this is where the Butter lamps
are kept during the full moon festival, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Movement… start of the full moon festival at the Boudhanath
Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
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This is only a small selection of images on todays post, there will be a lot more once I am done with my editing and have uploaded them on to my PhotoShelter site, I keep you posted when that is ll done. I hope within the next few days, cross my fingers.
I might add Aperture 3 performed absolutely flawless, all photos have been processed using only Aperture 3 and only basic and RAW adjustments have been applied.
The ancient Swayambunath Stupa (also known as the Monkey Temple)
is Kathmandu's most important Buddhist shrine.
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Above: I waited a long time to get this shot, standing in one corner for ages, trying to capture a Monkey just in between those Eyes, the original image is only cropped, with no other adjustments except for the basic RAW conversion and a tweak on the color temperature.(Aperture 3)
Perched atop a hill on the western edge of the Kathmandu Valley, the ancient Swayambunath Stupa (also known as the Monkey Temple) is Kathmandu's most important Buddhist shrine. The sleepy, all-seeing Buddha eyes that stare out from the top have become the quintessential symbol of Nepal.
When this temple was founded about 2,000 years ago, Kathmandu Valley was filled with a great lake. According to Buddhist legend, a single perfect lotus grew in the center of the lake. When the bodhisattva Manjusri drained the lake with a slash of his sword, the lotus flower settled on top of the hill and magically transformed into the stupa. Thus it is known as the Self-Created (swayambhu) Stupa.
The earliest written record of the Swayambunath Stupa's existence is a 5th-century stone inscription, but scholars believe there was probably a shrine here as early as the 1st century. Even before that, it is likely that animist rites took place on this hill. Swayambunath is one of Nepal's oldest Buddhist temples and it has an ancient atmosphere, especially when one approaches on foot with the pilgrims.
Bizarre and strange faces…Kathmandu, Nepal
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No explanation needed…street scene Kathmandu, Nepal.
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Hard working…Kathmandu, Nepal
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Carrying heavy loads in the streets near Durban Square, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Carrying heavy loads in the streets near Durban Square, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Women with her heavy load in the streets
of Kathmandu, Nepal
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Sadhu at the Pashupatinath Temple,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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Sadhu at the Pashupatinath Temple,
Kathmandu, Nepal
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The Pashupatinath Temple the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. It is not known for certain when Pashupatinath Temple was founded. But according to Nepal Mahatmaya and Himvatkhanda, The deity here gained great fame there as Pashupati, the Lord of the Animals. Pashupatinath Temple's existence dates back to 400 A.D.
The richly-ornamented pagoda houses the sacred linga or holy symbol of Lord Shiva. Thousands of pilgrims from all over the world come to pay homage to this temple, that is also known as 'The Temple of Living Beings'.
Wicks are mixed with butter and then set alight, burning for hours during animal offering at the Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana Animal sacrifice Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Worshiping at the Dakshinkall Bungamati, Khokana Animal sacrifice Temple, Kathmandu, Nepal
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The full moon day of April, Lhuti Punhi, is important for both Hindus and Buddhists the full moon festival took place in the evening at the Boudhanath stupa the other festival on the same day but in the morning was the Balaju Mela or Lhuti Punhi
Hindu worshiper during the bathing festival. Balaju Mela or
Lhuti Punhi, Kathmandu, Nepal
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Here Devotees celebrate the festival by visiting Balaju (or Lhuti), about 3 km north of downtown Kathmandu, to take holy baths under the 22 dragon-headed stone water spouts and pay homage to the reclining image of the Hindu deity Budhanilkantha. People also climb the nearby Jamacho hill to worship the Buddhist stupa located at the top.
The hill is held sacred because ages ago, when the Kathmandu Valley was a lake, it was from this summit the the Bipaswa Buddha had cast a lotus seed into the water which blossomed into the flaming holy lotus over which the Swoyambhu stupa now stands.
Near the Nepal traditional vilages of Bugmati/Khokana, Lolitpur
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Did I say in my first sentence…We sadly left Colombo in Sri Lanka… yes that is correct, but I was also extremely happy when I arrived in Nepal…the contrast was just awesome.
Please stay tuned for the next and last part…amazing Sri Lanka featuring some awesome landscapes and wildlife, another very contrasty piece.
Also as a reminder we still have a few spots available for our next Journey with the GD Photo Workshops into Myanmar starting June 29, 2012, book now this workshop is filling up very fast and final bookings have to be made by latest May 20th, 2012.
I am going to announce once I have updated my main website and my PhotoShelter with the latest, more images from Sri Lanka - Nepal and Bhutan.
I hope you enjoy the images from Nepal today, until soon from Sri Lanka…and the contrast continues…
GD
Travel Photography: Destination tips, Island Portraits from Chuuk - Pohnpei - Yap & Palau, Micronesia.
It can be fun going back in time & digging through your archives…
I found some cool Island Portraits from Micronesia in the process.
High school student Chuuk, Micronesia
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A short break from Asia; traveling back in time to some other amazing places like Chuuk, Pohnpei, Yap and Palau in Micronesia.
While going through my archives the other day I thought hey why not share some images from the past, some taken on Kodachrome Film and others digital.
Traditional Chuukese blowing the shell as a welcome, Micronesia
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Young girl on a rusty Landing Craft, remnants from the IIWW,
Chuuk or also know as Truk Lagoon, Micronesia
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These are some of my favorite Portraits of people in Micronesia from the remote Island of Pohnpei with its mysterious ruins of Nan Madol (also called the Venice of the Pacific) or to Chuuk know better as Truk Lagoon where a whole Japanese fleet was sunk during WWII.
Of course then there is the charming and ever so traditional island of Yap with its still intact culture and tradition, very little has changed here over the years.
Traditional Palauan Girl during a ceremony,
Palau, Micronesia
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Late afternoon sun on this Palauan Boy near the waters edge
where he is playing, he is holding a large rock then jumping
into the water to dive, the rock is his ballast for easier diving.
Palau Micronesia
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Palau the magical Islands of the pacific needs no introduction…
a sheer paradise above and below the waves, natures awesome creation and for sure a highlight in the pacific.
I have written articles on all those remote destinations before but when I flipped through my archives the other day I decided to select some portraits of people I encountered during my visits.
Traditional Palauan, Palau Micronesia
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See below also some useful information and excerpts from Wikipedia and Palautours.com which by the way has a very nice Photo Gallery on Palau.
Yap Village Chief resting against Yap Money,
Island of Yap Micronesia
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A young boy during the Yap day festival, the culture
in Yap is thriving and very much alive
Island of Yap Micronesia
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Excepts from Wikipedia:
Yap, also known as Wa'ab by locals, is an island in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. Yap's indigenous cultures and traditions are still strong compared to other neighboring islands. The island of Yap actually consists of four continental islands (hence the alternative name of the Yap Islands). The four are very close together and joined within a common coral reef and entirely formed from an uplift of the Philippine Sea Plate.
Yap is notable for its stone money, known as Rai: large shaped, carved disks of up to 4 m (12 ft) in diameter.
Many of them were brought from other islands, as far as New Guinea, but most came in ancient times from Palau. Their value is based on both the stone's size and its history. Historically the Yapese valued the disks because the material looks like quartz, and these were the shiniest objects around. Eventually the stones became legal tender and were even mandatory in some payments.
Women young and old are topless not only during ceremonies and festivals but all year around, you even get greeted at the arrival at the airport by traditional dressed women, for the women being topless is a very normal and cultural part of this island. Island of Yap Micronesia
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Chuuk — formerly Truk, Ruk, Hogoleu, Torres, Ugulat, and Lugulus — is an island group in the southwestern part of the Pacific Ocean. It comprises one of the four states of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), along with Kosrae, Pohnpei, and Yap. Chuuk is the most populous of the FSM's states. Geographically, Chuuk is also part of the larger Caroline Islands group. Chuuk means mountain in the Chuukese language and was known mainly as Truk (a mispronunciation of Ruk), until 1990.
It is not known when the islands of Chuuk were first settled, but, based on archaeological evidence, these islands had originally been settled more than 2000 years ago. Based on archaeological evidence, it seems that, after about 200 AD, there was no continuous settlement until about 1300 AD.
Pohnpei "upon (pohn) a stone altar (pei)" (formerly known as Ponape) is the name of one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), situated among the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group. Palikir, the FSM's capital, is located on Pohnpei Island.
Pohnpei Island is the largest, highest, most populous, and most developed single island in the FSM. The islanders of Pohnpei have a reputation as being the most welcoming of outsiders among residents of the island group.
Pohnpei is also one of the wettest places on earth with annual recorded rainfall exceeding 300 inches (7,600 mm) each year in certain mountainous locations. Pohnpeian historic society was highly structured into five tribes, various clans and sub-clans; each tribe headed by two principal chiefs.
Young girl playing with yellow price tags along
the road on Pohnpei Island, Micronesia
Excerpts from Palautours.com
The magnificent islands of the Republic of Palau, fondly called Belau by its friendly inhabitants, were named by early explorers and have been known to the outside world at one time or another as West Caroline Islands, the Palaos, the New Philippines, Panlog, and the Pelew Islands.
Notwithstanding Palau's intriguing variety of names, in 1696 survivors of two canoes full of seafaring natives from the Micronesian island of Yap told Spanish priests about the islands' existence after they washed up on the shores of Samar Island in the Philippines. What followed were several determined attempts to reach them, but only in 1710 did Capitan Francisco Padilla – in command of the Santissima Trinidad galleon – finally discover and land on the Palau island of Sonsorol, where they were met with open arms by friendly natives.
The Republic of Palau comprises the westernmost group of the West Caroline Islands, an integral part of Micronesia. The country's local language remains Palauan, despite the many foreign influences ranging from Spanish to Japanese, German and English. Palauan is spoken throughout the island, except in the Southwest Islands where inhabitants speak a Yapese dialect.
Palauan is primarily a spoken language, with much confusion on correct spelling in its written form. In many cases words are “Americanized” so they become easier to pronounce. With an approximate 20,000 inhabitants, the islands are sparsely populated.
Within its composition the populace has a rather big “generation” gap. The older generation, mostly raised during the prewar Japanese era still speaks fluent Japanese, while the younger generation, mostly raised under American influence, speaks English.
Families who can afford to do so send their children to the United States mainland or to Hawaii for their education. Many who finish do not return primarily because of more lucrative job opportunities abroad, resulting in a serious shortage of young Palauans to fill pertinent vacancies.
Thus outside workers have to be hired, and they are conspicuously present among the population in the form of a large foreign workforce, mainly Filipinos. In terms of the public versus private sectors, about 45 percent of the population works for the local government, with the balance involved in either the tourism or fishing industries.
Travel Tip:
If you like to visit some of these amazing places and you happen to be at the Duesseldorf Boot Show in January then you have to check out the Booth of Sam's Tours and the Palau Visitors Authority.
Duesseldorf, Germany - Boot Show -
21st - 29th January 2012
Pls. Note: All images have been processed with Aperture 3 and no manipulation.
Check out also the GD Photo Workshop Calendar for 2012 & 2013.
For more info please Click this LINK.
GD
Travel Photography: Twelve Asian faces from 2011; thoughtful, bizarre, happy and sad plus one sleepy. See you soon at the ONE ASIA Festival Singapore.
Twelve Asian faces from 2011…
thoughtful, bizarre, happy, sad + one sleepy.
India 2011
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In a few more days 2011 is coming to an end and I am now preparing for my last trip this year to Singapore, leaving in a couple of days.
I am part again of the ONE ASIA Festival - Celebrate the Images of Asia as a Speaker and Judge for the Asia Without Borders Photo Competition.
I am really looking forward to catch up again with Michael Yamashita who was there also last year, and get together with Steve McCurry, Michael Freeman and Manuel Librodo plus many others, and of course with some good old friends.
Hope to see some of you there; for detailed information on the ONE ASIA FESTIVAL please click the LINKS.
But before I report from Singapore (I know the connection will be fine this time) I like to share with you some images taken in 2011, people from Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Myanmar.
“The bizarre, happy and sad.” People of all walks of life; their culture, tradition and every day life.
Nepal 2011
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India 2011
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India 2011
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Sri Lanka 2011
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Myanmar 2011
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Sri Lanka 2011
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Cambodia 2011
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Myanmar 2011
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Myanmar 2011
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Myanmar 2011
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THINK! Nepal 2011
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Just one more…and sleepy.
Myanmar 2011
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PLEASE NOTE:
Check our updated GD PhotoWorkshop Calendar for 2012, with exciting and new destinations throughout ASIA.
http://www.deichmann-photo.com/gdphotoworkshop/page1/calendar.html
