I visited Myanmar well before its recent tourist boom – in 2008, to be exact. Only a trickle of foreigners were to be seen in the then capital of Yangon, and apart from the already touristy Inle Lake, Mandalay and Bagan, the rest of the country was either devoid of visitors or actually closed to…
Category: The Story of a Photo
The Story of a Photo – Titian (China)
My trip to the Chinese province of Yunnan deserves its own post, which is forthcoming. But the main reason I wanted to visit it was the Yuanyang rice terraces, a UNESCO listed site, known locally as “titian”. Getting there wasn’t easy, but when I finally arrived, I realized I’m up for a big disappointment: the…
The Story of a Photo – Picking at the Sun (Philippines)
In travelling, and in travel photography, sometimes you encounter those “perfect” moments of light, place and atmosphere. You know, when everything kind of just feels perfectly balanced, perfectly calm, and all set for some good pictures. I felt exactly like that when I, completely by accident, “discovered” Barangay Seawall, the waterfront neighbourhood in the city…
The Story of a Photo – Three Monks (Laos)
Tham Pha, also known as Buddha Cave, is one of the few attractions around the town of Thakhek on the Mekong River in Laos. It was said to have been discovered just 15 years ago by a farmer, which is hard to believe because its access isn’t really obstructed by anything; in fact, it is…
The Story of a Photo – Bagan Sunrise (Myanmar)
As I wrote before, Bagan is one of my favourite sites in the world. Of course, I visited it when Myanmar was just opening up to tourism after years of military rule. That meant it was not yet overrun by tour groups and weekend trippers from Singapore and Hong Kong. In fact, you could have…
The Story of a Photo – Together (Nepal)
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…
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…