Tadashi Tsuchida Photography: Asia

Showing posts with label Asia. Show all posts

Friday, April 10, 2009

Timeout in Thailand

I had promised Katrina a little beach time before the end of our travels, so before she went home we took a break from our project and spent a little time just relaxing somewhere nice. So, this is what we were doing in Ko Samui while Bangkok spiraled into riots and chaos. Decadent, huh?

Thai Dancer

Fisherwomen - Ko Samui

Fisherwoman

Postcard

I'm now in the Himalayan region of Nepal doing research on the schools that Sir Edmund Hillary helped to build for the Sherpa people. More on that later...

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Patan, Nepal

Durbar Square

Patan is only about 2 Kilometers from Kathmandu, but it is a world apart. I'm sad to say that K-K-K-K-K-K-Kathmandu is not what one envisions when listening to Bob Seger's song. I'm told that it was a paradise, but that was 30+ years ago. These days, Kathmandu is a noisy, dirty, polluted and rather charmless sprawl that nobody is too fond of.

By contrast, Patan is more relaxed, less touristy and has preserved many of its amazing buildings, thanks in part to UNESCO support. Happily, we skipped Kathmandu and went straight to Patan from the airport.

We stayed in a beautifully restored, traditional Newari house (not pictured here). A great place run by lovely people - the same family that has owned the building for over 200 years! The only drawback is that the ceilings are about 5'8" tall (oh, my back!) and the doorways are much lower (oh, my head!).

Pigeons of Patan

You talkin' to me?

Gentlemen of Patan

Street sweeper and trainee

Girl and Prayer Wheel, Golden Temple

Monkey Statue and Chain, Golden Temple

The origins of ayurvedic massage?

During the dry season people must carry water from the well

Patan Palace Courtyard

Dogs: Sacred and Otherwise

Durbar Square "Skyline"

Colorful Rituals of Nepal:

Novice and Monk, Golden Temple

Usually, photographs are not allowed of this ritual. For some reason the monk took a shine to me and gave me permission. He also sprinkled holy water on me and gave me a flower which is meant to bring good fortune. My "guide," an entertaining itinerant man named Vishnu, was very surprised at all of this and kept telling me how lucky I was.

Examples of Newari Architecture:

Time to say namaste

Friday, February 13, 2009

Kerala, India

Man in the Kollam Bazaar

We have spent the past week-and-a-half in Kerala, near the far southern tip of India on the Arabian sea. Kerala has a centuries-long history as a spice trading center, having done trade with the Romans, Chinese, Arabs, Dutch and Portugese. Good luck trying to haggle with these people!

Cigarette Break in the Spice Bazaar

One of the visual icons here is the Chinese fishing net. The basic design of these nets was learned from Chinese traders hundreds of years ago, but the nets are still in use all over Kerala.

Chinese Fishing Net, Fort Cochin

Kerala is a friendly, laid-back state. It is also home to a successful, freely-elected communist government, which seems to be doing a very good job of taking care of its citizens. Things are not all roses, but we are told that unemployment is low, there is good support for poorer citizens, and even menial laborers earn a far better living than they do in other states.

Porter Unloading Bags of Rice

Literacy and education in Kerala are the best in India, and as a whole, the children seem genuinely happy. While there are not many jobs here, many Keralans find good jobs abroad and bring money back home.

Running along the Waterway

Still Smiling

Many people attribute the outstanding level of education here to the foundations laid by Portugese missionaries hundreds of years ago. I believe that much of Kerala's current educational success is due to the fact that, unlike much of India, Kerala strictly enforces India's anti-child-labor laws. You do not see children begging here, because for the purpose of this law even begging is considered work.