The Faces of Travel
I find the true sense of a place in the faces of its locals.
7 Makara St, Krong Siem Reap 17254, Cambodia
The Old Market area in Siem Reap constantly surprises you. I wandered into the clothes section and then stumbled, unexpectedly, into the food area, which you can smell before you see! It's absolutely packed with locals buying their daily...
South East Asia
The Indonesian smiles never end. We arrived in this small village to surf and stayed in a tiny three room losmen for a week. We were celebrities as we were the first tourists they had seen in over eight months. A cacophony of "hello misters!"...
La Savane, St Martin
Kali's a character and his rum infusions left to bake in the punishing West Indian sun are not to be missed! Try from a selection including guavaberry (maybe not what you're thinking), passion fruit, papaya, banana and more. Don't forget to order...
Bonto Bahari, Bulukumba Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Bira beach is located about 5 hours drive from Makassar in South Sulawesi. On the sheltered east side of the Tanjung Bira peninsula is Timur Beach occupied by local fishing villages and boat builders. The highlight during a morning stroll along...
Uttarakhand, India
There are things that cannot be put in words. For example one cannot define beauty even with the best vocabulary in mind. One cannot define what one sees with his/her eyes. So is the case with Bhakti Bhava. I cannot define my love for God and...
Madurai Main, Madurai, Tamil Nadu 625001, India
Visiting the huge Hindu religious complex in the temple city of Madurai in South India if one of the most fascinating experiences I've ever had. Hinduism's thousands of gods and stories are brought to life in this complex with shrines, prayer,...
tt. Sa Pa, Sa Pa, Lào Cai, Vietnam
We had spent more than three weeks in Vietnam by the time we arrived in the mountains of Sapa. We started in the southern tip in the Mekong Delta and made our way north. Vietnam is full of great travel experiences but my favorite place was Sapa...
Pulau Masalembu Besar, Ambulung, Sukajeruk, Masalembu, Sumenep, Jawa Timur, Indonesia
The 10-day cruise aboard the Orion II was billed as "Faces in Forest," and much of the focus was on orangutans and monkeys. But every time we stopped into a rarely visited village, such as the one Pulau Maselembo, an island in the Java Sea off the...
Krong Siem Reap, Cambodia
Last fall many villages in Siem Reap suffered damage from severe floods. Hôtel de la Paix, a boutique property in the city, supports community projects such as the Life and Hope Association (LHA), a nonprofit run by the monks of Wat Damnak, and...
Milagiriya, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Artist Barbara Sansoni launched the brand Barefoot 40 years ago to showcase the island's master textile weavers. Stop by the Galle Road store (it's also a gallery and café) to browse colorful sarongs, scarves, table linens, and shoes. 706 Galle...
Deep Ellum, Dallas, TX, USA
One of Dallas’s earliest neighborhoods, this formerly industrial area just east of downtown has a long history as an entertainment hub, from its days as a hotbed of blues and jazz clubs in the 1920s, to the 1980s, when local bands like the...
East Africa
I went to Kenya with a friend and her family and we stayed in a small town near Kisii. One of our days was spent at the ordination of 4 priests. There were over 1,000 people attending, and this woman (who is a sister/nun) and I made eye contact...
Highridge Village, Kenya
Kenya will change your life. I took my first trip to Africa with in 2009 with a service organization, Heart for Africa. We worked with AIDS widows and street kids who have been placed in a home. It will break your heart and open your eyes. I have...
Maghreb
We were near the border of Algeria in Morocco, at the Gateway to the Sahara. We did an overnight camel trek (proper name is a dromedary, camels have two humps, dromedaries have one). Our hosts shared a cigarette around the fire.
Sahara, California 92262, USA
While taking a morning hike thru the Sahara dunes, I came across a nomad girl (9 years old) selling trinkets to help support her family.
Airport Rd, Kochi, Kerala 683111, India
On my plane from Hyderabad to Cochin I met these pilgrims going to Sabarimala. For 41 days they abstain from meat, sex, shaving... On their heads they carry a sheet which is their only bedding on the journey, wrapped around a coconut filled with...
Nauta, Peru
On an afternoon spotting pink dolphins in the Hatum Posa area of the Peruvian Amazon, these girls offered rides in their canoe. The rain is about to fall, gently first, then hard. I declined their offer in lieu of a swim, as this was the one spot...
Ferroviaria Baja, Quito, Ecuador
The Feast of Epiphany – Three Kings Day – is an important celebration in many Catholic countries in Central and South America. This is especially true in Ecuador, where the celebration of the arrival of the three kings also served as an...
Apollo Bandar, Colaba, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400001, India
In the afternoons the Gateway of India is pretty crowded but in the mornings visitors are scarce, i watched this young girl chase pigeons for about 15 minutes (until I felt I had contracted Histoplamosis) until she gave up. This monument in...
Although a relatively small medina, it is still quite easy to escape the crowds and journey into the unspoiled parts of Essaouira. Getting a little lost down a quiet alley will inevitably have you running into a group of kids playing, peaking into...
Ohara, Isumi, Chiba Prefecture 298-0004, Japan
Ohara is a small town known for its fishing port (in fact, roughly 60 percent of all of the ise-ebi, or Japanese spiny lobster, caught in Japan comes from Ohara Port). It is about a 1 1/2 hour train ride from Tokyo Station on the Wakashio express....
3 Hufang Rd, Xicheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China
While visiting Beijing on a Fulbright over the summer, we were given the opportunity to attend a traditional Peking Opera. Though the show was entirely in Mandarin, it was highly entertaining and lively. The vibrant colors of the venue, coupled...
Sala Dan, Ko Lanta District, Krabi, Thailand
Here's a novel concept; markets that pop up around the island in different locations each day of the week. I shot this while wandering the Monday Market near Saladan Village (the main settlement) on the northern tip of Koh Lanta. Despite the...
Sangkhla Buri District, Kanchanaburi, Thailand
I volunteered with DREAM Project Foundation for 4 months earlier in 2012, and without a doubt it was one of the most rewarding, emotional and fun experiences of my life so far. Most of my time was spent at DREAM House, a children's home in...
Anjuna Beach, Goa 403519
The raw relaxed vibe of Anjuna beach and those who inhabit it were, in many ways, a great contrast to wedding party I had just spent the last 3 days with. The splendor of an Indian wedding is breathtaking- women wear silken saris interwoven with...
French Polynesia
After you’ve canoed, sailed, scuba dived, and visited the resort’s sanctuary for the critically endangered hawksbill turtle, you’ll be ready to recline on your patio for a view of the extinct 2,300-foot Mount Otemanu volcano....
17/1 ถนน คชสาร ตำบล ช้างคลาน อำเภอ เมืองเชียงใหม่ เชียงใหม่ 50100, Thailand
The great thing about visiting Chiang Mai during the Loi Krathong Festival is that there are things going on all over the city at all hours of the day - activities are not just confined to the lantern release near the river. Plenty of activity...
El-Tahrir Square, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
kind of unreal to be in the location where history was made just a year ago
Munnar, Kerala 685612, India
We hired a driver to take us from Fort Cochin to Munnar to visit the majestic tea plantations. After spending the day driving the long and windy roads, we decided to pull over to see the evening fog roll in. As I took photos to capture what rivals...
Udaipur, Rajasthan, India
In the Spring of 2011, we spent an incredible afternoon with a local shopkeeper from Udaipur, India. He brought us to the mountains near the city, where we visited several temples, including this Shiva Temple. The kids there were absolutely...
Porto Seguro - State of Bahia, 45810-000, Brazil
Sometimes you discover a place so wonderfully unique that upon departure you are not entirely sure that it actually existed...or if it was all just a lovely dream. Pousada Lagoa in Caraiva, Bahia, Brazil, is one of those places, and I can assure...
Budapest, Hess András tér 1-3, 1014 Hungary
Sometimes the ordinary rises to extraordinary heights. This picture, taken in the Buda part of Buda-Pest, was such an event. A young woman, relaxing in her window, with a mysterious figure behind her, conjured up an endless speculation about her...
Brahma Temple Rd, Ganahera, Pushkar, Rajasthan 305022, India
One of the things I love about India is the faces, there are so many interesting people, intense eyes, fascinating facial hair etc. they wear evidence of life on their faces and its fun to imagine what the stories behind those eyes must be.
Historic District, Luang Prabang, Laos
Old man weaving a straw hat in a small weaving village called Ban Xang Khong on the Mekong River near Luang Prabang, Laos. The village is located about 5km east of Luang Prabang and the inhabitants are noted in particular for their arts and...
Kyauktada, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)
I visited Myanmar in April, during the Burmese New Year festivities. As I wandered through downtown Rangoon, I saw these kids playing. Their smiles warmed my heart. They are wearing thanaka on their faces, which is a natural sunscreen.
Central Asia
It took us two days to arrive in China from Kyrgyzstan. We partnered up with three other people: two Finnish travelers from a very small town in southeastern Finland, and Mr. Pilkington, an elderly gentleman who was a dead ringer for John...
Boquete, Panama
While touring the Kotowa coffee farm in Boquete, we came upon some Ngobe children playing in a nearby stream and waved at them as they splashed around. Later on the tour, we came upon our new, curious friends following us. We had fun taking...
Adorable little girls who tried to sell me flowers at first and then gave up when I indicated I wasn't interested, after which they followed me around playing hide and seek at Shwenandaw Kyaung temple in Mandalay, Myanmar.
One of the most important celebrations in Bali is Galungan. Beginning in or around late March, the festival symbolizes the victory of virtue (dharma) over evil (adharma). Hear the mysterious clangs of gamelan music; see women and girls in...
Gadna, Rajasthan 342307, India
At the end of a dusty day, we turned from the smooth comfort of good pavement and paused beneath a lone shade tree in the Gadna village of India. The sound of strangers stirred the Banjaras to leave their boiling curry pots and stolen treasures...
There’s a reason there are no McDonalds in Saigon- they can’t compete with this lady. Her product is simple; fried and scrambled eggs, jerky, cilantro, cucumber and Chin Su chili sauce in a hot French baguette that was made just hours prior. Douse...
Koggala Lake, Sri Lanka
This older gentleman was carving cinnamon sticks out of the branches of a cinnamon tree in his hut on a small island in the middle of Koggala Lake, which we traveled to by motorboat. It was an absolutely amazing process to watch especially because...
Panchavati, Nashik, Maharashtra, India
Happiest flowers vendor on Earth. This is actually true, he just looked way too serious when it was time to take his portrait. This guy, from what we could communicate to each other, makes some huge and elaborate flower "wreaths" for the religious...
South Korea, 서울특별시 Gangnam-gu, Cheongdam-dong, 학동로 지하 508
The Korean holiday called Chuseok is a celebration honoring the major harvest in autumn. The celebration is on the 15th day of the 8th month of the lunar calender and is celebrated for three days. The celebration typically consists of going to...
Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)
Monk enraptured by bliss at Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Myanmar. The Burmese are arguably the most devout Buddhists in all of Southeast Asia and scenes of monks like this in deep meditation abound throughout the country.
Inside Hilton, 2500 Kūhiō Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
Meet Jose. As of my first trip to Oahu in 2009, Jose had worked at a diner in downtown Waikiki for 29 years. He was our server that morning - a soothing elixir to our hungover and woozy spirits. All we wanted when we plopped ourselves into the...
Xuyen Trung, Cam Nam, Cẩm Nam, Hội An, Quảng Nam, Vietnam
Hoi An is one of my favorite travel destinations in all of Asia. Sure, it's undeniably touristy, but it's also quite laid back and relaxed - nothing like other South East Asia tourist hotspots like Chiang Mai, for instance. Hoi An has a wonderful...
Zafer Mahallesi, Radovıs Cd. No:15, 35925 Selçuk/İzmir, Turkey
One of the best ways to learn about a location is to go shopping. Head to the local markets to get a feel for what life is really like in a location. As I was visiting Ephesus ruins in Turkey, I made a stop at the Saturday Selcuk Market and was...
Pokhara Valley, Pokhara 33700, Nepal
We rented a motorcycle with the intent of getting out of town and into the hills. Our plan was to find a random trail head, and spirit away into the mountains for a day or two. The range didn't matter much - we knew the views would be spectacular...
Nyaung-U, Myanmar (Burma)
The Burmese ladies paint their faces with this tree pulp for sun protection as well as decoration. The children make small paper butterflies, which they give you, and expect a gift in return. They prefer lipstick or perfume, which they don't seem...
Namibia
Inside a traditional hut, we visited a Himba tribewoman's home. There was barely a crack of light coming in from the doorway, the hut was low to the ground and smoky at times. I was able to play with my camera just enough to take one great natural...
Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
If you are in Delhi India, a trip to the Taj Mahal is a must! You could take a train (http://www.shatabdiexpresstours.com/delhi-agra-overnight-tour.html) which is only a few hours. However, I suggest hiring a driver and enjoy the sites, sounds...
Cité Brourmet, Tataouine, Tunisia
one of the best things to do on any trip is to meet local people. one morning near the town of Tataouine, Tunisia we hiked up to a mountain top berber village. no running water, it was carried up from a well down near the road. no electricity, her...
Darsing Dahathum, Nepal
I don't care for maps, and I don't often ask for directions. Suffice to say, I get lost a lot. As a travel photographer, getting lost serves me well. I got quite lost along Nepal's Hyangja Kot hiking trail, a fantastic track some 40km from the...
Simanindo, Samosir Regency, North Sumatra, Indonesia
We visited Huta Bolon to watch a traditional Batak dance show, and were awfully glad we did, despite the scorching temperatures. The dancers are entertaining, the wooden puppets look like something out of a Tim Burton film, and the Huta Bolon...
Inle Lake, Myanmar (Burma)
I arrive at Nyaung Shwe, Inle Lake’s main development, in the dead of night and immediately book myself into a boat tour of the lake, wondering aloud if the notorious Nayar, a mythical dragon with four legs, still patrols the waters. An old man...
Long Street, Trinidad and Tobago
For a tiny island like Tobago (overshadowed as it is by its sister island and Caribbean culture juggernaut, Trinidad) there are a surprising number of annual events that draw travelers to its shores from far and wide. The biggest are the Tobago...
From the Highlands to the Sepik River... this is where I had the fortunate experience of seeing a country & culture that rarely is seen by Western eyes. It took about 2 years in the planning to ensure my safety as this is not one of the most...
Paro, Bhutan
For a very long time, the empire of Bhutan has been closed off to tourism, and as a result, a lot of its rich history can still be seem everywhere, even in it's second largest city Paro. Though the Taktsang temple is the highlight of that area,...
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, India
Varanasi is India's most holy city. It is not only the ultimate pilgrimage for devout Hindus, but seekers of peace also make it a point to visit Varanasi to de-stress, relax and recharge their souls. It is a city of temples, of age-old rituals and...
I flew into Tari from Port Moresby. The landing field was small and remote. After we landed I noticed that there were many people waiting for our plane to arrive. I wasn't sure if this was the way it was with every plane or if somehow our plane...
Luang Prabang, Laos
Bugger off, Dos Equis. This here is the most interesting man in the world. This is the groundskeeper at utterly unpronounceable Wat Siphoutthabath in central Luang Prabang - in and of itself one of the most impressive temples in a city known for,...
10% of the world's tea comes from Sri Lanka - a big number for such a tiny place. Nuwara Eliya is at the center of Sri Lanka's tea economy, but this former English hill station is also known for stunning landscapes, Pidurutalagala, the country's...
Nyaungshwe, Myanmar (Burma)
There's something calming about the mere presence of monks. When one comes floating towards you in a hollowed out canoe, sporting killer sunglasses ... well, that's a moment for sure. It's classic Burma. If you head to the country, don't miss Inle...
Enterprise Coast Road, Oistins, Barbados, Barbados
One of the best spots in the Caribbean for surfing is Barbados. And if you're not one of the best surfers in the world (like me), one of the best breaks on the island to catch some waves has got to be Freights Bay. The added bonus is that most...
Madhuban, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India
Charming stages throughout Jodhpur and Jaisalmer (Rajasthan, India) are dancers known as Kalbelia gypsies. Their captivating dance mimics the movements of the black cobra, the animal whom many in this group charm as a profession. I had the great...
Mae Chaem District, Chiang Mai, Thailand
During time in a rural village in Northern Thailand, spending four days as a part of this family put into perspective the gift of simplicity and independence. Living off everything in the backyard and collectively relying on other villagers to...
Kampung Selayang Permai, 68100 Batu Caves, Selangor, Malaysia
Landing in heat-soaked Kuala Lumpur after being on the road for 24 hours can be disorienting. Incessant chanting (“vei vel shakti vel”), monkeys screeching, wafting incense, a glorious moon, and a million people. Thaipusam falls on a full moon and...
Hodka, Gujarat 370510, India
I never dreamed I would ever visit Gujarat. I had no inclination until my cousin moved for work and I ended up visiting her. I discovered small villages, talented award winning weavers, and NGOs working to resurrect a dying art - weaving. Hodka is...
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
I watched as the streets flooded rapidly and the Vietnamese locals didn’t skip a beat. Rain doesn’t stop them – and it shouldn’t stop you. I often get people who tell me they are skipping a country in Southeast Asia because...
Hili, West Bengal, India
Visiting orphans might not be on the top of your travel plans, but I believe it is most definitely worth mentioning. Bangladesh is an incredibly poor and dirty country. I had the unique opportunity to travel here to film a series of promotional...
1 Tiantan E Rd, Dongcheng Qu, Beijing Shi, China
This complex of Taoist religious buildings was constructed in the early 15th century under the Yongle Emperor, who also commissioned the Forbidden City, just to the north. The temple's central building is the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvests, a...
Joaquín Zetina Gasca, Puerto Morelos, Q.R., Mexico
I parked at OXXO, got out of my car, and walked. The pueblo is poor, but the people are a joy. The babies are fat and happy and the kids ride refurbished bicycles and the dogs sleep in the street and the parents walk home from work dressed in all...
