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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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
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 ASIA: Amazing faces & places discovering Yangon, Myanmar.
Exploring and discovering Yangon, Myanmar…
the faces and places.
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© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com
Photo above: This old Buddhist Monk in the market of Yangon is probably suffering from a skin condition called Vitiligo, a condition in which white patches develop on the skin, due to destruction of pigment-forming cells known as melanocytes.
Yangon also known as Rangoon, is a former capital of Burma, Yangon as it is called now has a population of over four million and continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial center.
Interesting to note is that Yangon has the largest number of colonial buildings in Southeast Asia today, a Photographers haven with its busy markets and very interesting Dock/Harbor area.
But most impressive is the Shwedagon Pagoda that has existed for more than 2,500 years, making it the oldest historical pagoda in Burma and the world.
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At the Shwedagon Pagoda, the stupas during a full moon, Yangon, Myanmar
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At the Shwedagon Pagoda, Buddhist Monk meditating near very large Bell, Yangon Myanmar
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At the Shwedagon Pagoda, gathering of visiting Buddhist Monks
Yangon Myanmar
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A teenage girl worshipping at the Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon Myanmar
According to some historians and archaeologists, the pagoda was built by the Mon people between the 6th and 10th centuries CE.
The gold seen on the stupa is made of genuine gold plates, covering the brick structure and attached by traditional rivets and the crown or umbrella is tipped with some 5,448 diamonds and 2,317 rubies.
But if you like action and watch hard working-man then a trip to the Port of Yangon situated on the Yangon River is a must. Here is where the real hustle and bustle takes place, dock-workers unloading small and large boats with all types of goods.
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Hard at work, Port of Yangon situated on the Yangon River, Myanmar
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Hard at work, Port of Yangon situated on the Yangon River, Myanmar
Another interesting place for a visit is the Yangon Circular Railway the local commuter rail network that serves the Yangon metropolitan area. The 39-station loop system connects satellite towns and suburban areas to the city. The railway has about 200 coaches, runs 20 times and sells 100,000 to 150,000 tickets daily.
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Boy playing inside the Railway Carriage, Yangon
Circular Railway, Myanmar
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Railway station in Yangon, Circular Railway, Myanmar
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On the way to Insein inside the Railway Carriage,
Yangon Circular Railway, Myanmar
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On the way to Insein inside the Railway Carriage,
Yangon Circular Railway, Myanmar
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Young child on the Yangon Railway station platform
During our last GD Photo Workshop we took a short but memorable trip for about an hour, passing by villages and observing the lively and colorful life of the rural Burmese people en route.
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At the Insein station about 45 min from Yangon,
Yangon Circular Railway, Myanmar
We disembarked at the small town of Insein, meet with the friendly locals before returning to Yangon to explore the amazing downtown of Yangon exploring Chinatown and Little India.
But Yangon has so much more to offer besides the sights mention above, an amazing city, with its Buddhist monasteries, shrines and temples, I continue soon and talk about this another day.
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Sisters at their small store in Little India, Yangon, Myanmar
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Red teeth from chewing Beetle nut, shoe vendor in Little India,
Yangon, Myanmar
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Muslim Boy in downtown Yangon, Myanmar
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Street scene in down town Yangon, Myanmar
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Street scene in down town Yangon, Myanmar
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Chicken feet…market in downtown Yangon, Myanmar
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Slippers in the down town market area, Yangon, Myanmar
So why you don’t join us in June 2012 for an incredible Journey to Myanmar where we discover the undiscovered and explore other unique places seldom visited by others.
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A very happy Nun at a Monastery, Yangon, Myanmar
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Amazing faces…Yangon, Myanmar!
Our June 2012 GD Photo Workshop is very special indeed, we’re not only cover the know areas but venture to more remote and seldom visited places in this amazing Country.
For all the details and Itinerary please follow the LINKS.
http://www.exotissimo.com/travel/myanmar/tours/myanamar-through-the-lens/
