It was early – not even 6 am yet, but the streets of Kathmandu were very much alive. Food vendors were firing up their stoves, small-time merchants began to arrange their goods on the sidewalk, and in general, the people (and an odd cow) were starting to go about their business. Yes, Nepal’s capital, as…
Category: The Story of a Photo
The Story of a Photo – A Deer in the Bus Station (Sri Lanka)
The place was Trincomalee, a Tamil town in northeastern Sri Lanka. It’s got a good beach, and a small tourist cluster on it. There’s snorkelling with small sharks, and some scuba diving, and even a surprisingly authentic Italian restaurant. But I was on my way back to Colombo, and while waiting for the bus, I…
The Story of a Photo – Hail Rider (Kyrgyzstan)
The hike to the mountain valley of Jety Oguz was supposed to be a beautiful one. A short taxi ride from Karakol, and you are in the foothills of Tian Shan, steadily ascending along the dirt road, bypassing the turnoff to the Girl’s Braids Waterfall and continuing forward till you pass lush pastures and face…
The Story of a Photo – Despair (Cebu)
When I think of real poverty, anywhere in the world, there are a few places that immediately come to mind. Some of them I never visited, such as some of the poorest countries in Africa, others I have seen but not really explored much, such as slums in Indian cities. Then there is poverty that…
The Story or a Photo: Into the Vortex (Chicago)
Cloud Gate, better know as The Bean, is one of the most popular sights in Chicago, the city that’s not short of picturesque spots. Despite being only 13 years old, it’s one of the top locations for photographers form around the world. The way its mirror-like surface bends and twists the surrounding Millenial Park and…
The Story of a Photo – Butterfly (Armenia)
Winter started early – I entered Armenia overland in late October and the next day it started snowing. When I reached Tatev, high in the mountains, it was freezing cold. I secured accommodation at a nearby guesthouse and went to visit the nearby monastery complex, one of the best-known in Armenia. The medieval cathedral stood…
The Story of a Photo – Exhale! (Georgia)
I am still not quite sure why Dezerter’s Bazaar in Tbilisi is called that. The version I heard that made more sense than not was that it had something to do with the soldiers in one of the old wars decided to ditch their arms here. Regardless of the name’s origin, it’s a cool place…
The Story of a Photo – Sunshine After Rain (San Fransicso)
Sometimes, you just have to be in the right place at the right time. Ocean Beach in San Francisco is one of the places that is almost always “right”. It’s a wide, sandy beach, facing west. Sometimes, it gets foggy, especially in those late August days. Sometimes, during low tide, the film of water after…
The Story of a Photo – Flying in the Rain (Philippines)
I ended up in Tacloban, perhaps one of the least touristy cities in the Philippines, as the southern gateway to the island of Samar, which in itself is not exactly on the main traveler circuit of the country. Suffice to say, this is a gritty city, the one that endured a tragic fate back in…
The Story of a Photo – Going Home (Vietnam)
The main cave of Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam is a spectacular underground river, meandering through gorgeous stalactites and stalagmites. The main pathway to the cave is on a boat, and in the local tradition, all the boats are rowed by women. It’s not an easy job – the boats are quite…