David Hagerman: The Ferry Boats of Istanbul

Photo © David Hagerman-All Rights Reserved

David Hagerman attended The Foundry Photojournalism Workshop in Istanbul and produced an evocative audio slideshow titled The Ferry Boats of Istanbul, which he just published on his blog.

Yes, Istanbul is the city of Sultanahmet Camii, the Aya Sofya, the Kapalı Çarşı, but it's also the Bosphorus ferries that characterize it. These ferries provide vital links between different areas of that magnificent city, connecting the European and the Asian coastline. The first steam ferries appeared on the Bosphorus in 1837, were operated by private sector companies and currently carry approximately 61 million passengers yearly.

It is these that Dave decided to document. The audio slideshow with its glowing images and ambient sound will transport you in such ferries...the sound of the turnstiles, the sirens, the voices of the passengers, and even the clink of the spoon in tea glasses that are served on ferries...all ambient sound intelligently selected to provide a complete visual and aural experience of these Istanbuli fixtures.

David Hagerman is a photographer based in Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia, whose work has appeared in publications such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal Asia, Saveur, Budget Travel, Travel & Leisure SEA, The Chicago Tribune, South China Morning Post, Time Out KL, and Lonely Planet guidebooks. His work is also featured on the very popular Eating Asia blog.

Medhufushi Island Resort - Maldives

Medhufushi Island Resort Maldives Hotel gives more to the Maldives, the sun sand and sea. This beautiful resort is located on the atoll and Meemu Atoll Maldives intact. This five-star resort offers first class comfort in complete harmony with its exclusive tropical surroundings

This complex Medhufushi Maldives has a total of 105 rooms beautifully finished with thatched villas, scattered over the island, some of them built in part by the crystalline waters of the lagoon. All rooms have air conditioning and ceiling fan and hot water desalinated in the bathrooms.

This beautiful and stunning beautiful beach of five Medhufushi resort can be reached at 40 minutes by sea plane (plus about 10 minutes by boat). The island is only 890metres in total length and only 105metres wide. If you want an island holiday in the Maldives, which guarantees the white sands, clear lagoon, sandy beach and Medhufushi beauty is one of the most beautiful resort islands of the Maldives. Sorounded lagoon with crystal clear and nice white sand beach, which does not have to waste time looking for a good place to relax with your partner.

In Medhufushi make our lives and offer modern accommodation in different facets, all of a very high standard and in traditional Maldivian design.

Accommodation / Rooms / Suites & Services:  

6 types of villas to choose from: Beach Villas, Beach Villa Suites, Family Villas, Villas de Water, Water Villa Suites, Honeymoon water environment Villas, Experience Maldives: thatched roofs, a traditional swing and fourth outdoor bathing. A large wooden deck or porch promises total privacy amidst tropical surroundings player. A CD player, mini bar and satellite TV make you feel at home .All Villas have air conditioning and IDD telephone. Families are always welcome and our family have been designed with your needs Villas in mind. Waking and falling asleep while listening to the sound of the waves below you - a special feeling you can experience daily in our elegant Water Villas "Honeymoon": 2. Villas of water in a world of their own, completely separate from the rest of the island, the only link with the outside world is a small boat ready at your service - the romance itself.

44 Beach Villas have king or twin beds, sofa, hairdryer, satellite TV, direct telephone Dail and a wooden roof and side bathroom with bathtub outdoor toilets and outdoor showers.

08 Beach Villa Suites have mini bar hairdryer, satellite TV, direct phone, 02 bedrooms, one with king size bed and one with twin beds, a meeting area, a change in the Maldives, an illegal hunting and the bathroom part outdoor bathtub and outdoor showers. 

07 Family Villas are similar to the Suite Villa, but no living room (adjoining doors) 

40 Water Villas are built on stilts in the crystal waters of the lagoon. They are detached and have mini bar, hairdryer, satellite TV, direct telephone private wooden deck area with chairs and a Maldivian swing.  

04 Water Villas Suites are built on stilts in the crystal waters of the lagoon each has two bedrooms, one with king size bed and one with twin beds 2 bathrooms with bath wc private wooden deck area with sun beds, chairs and a swing of Maldives.  

02 Water Villas Honeymoon are built on stilts in the crystal waters of the lagoon. Each has a king size bed, bathroom with jacuzzi toilets, wooden deck area with chairs. These two villas are built with spring water. A small boat (dirty) will be at the customer deposit at all times.  

Resort Facilities Recreational Facilities:

Boat rentals for recreational activities and excursions, banana trunks, fun and drag toys, water skiing, wakeboarding, knee Board, etc. Catamaran special courses, kite surfing courses, canoe / kayak, catamaran rental, special catamaran sailing excursions, windsurfing courses, programs weekly excursions, fishing, Island Fishing at sunset from island to island to nearby local island, dolphin watching tours, snorkeling excursions, 24 hour Gymnasium library, which offers a variety of DVDs and novels, beach volleyball and table tennis, Surf Reef, Wreck diving trips, pool, gift shop, tourist info / tour service, Currency Exchange, Dry Cleaning, porters, laundry service, check in, boat rentals, Beach Volleyball, Diving Center, Spa, diving.

POV: Moises Saman And Cairo Undone

Photo © Moises Saman-All Rights Reserved  

How wrong I was! I always dismissed the idea of photographing street life in Cairo by saying that there was nothing to photograph there...not much color, no vibrancy....but that began to change after the January Revolution. Was it a subconscious rejection of the then-prevailing environment? Or simply because I was blase about photographing in my own backyard...albeit one that I left for more than 30 years? Was it both? Perhaps.

That admission being made, I have to clarify that I speak only of street life rather than particular cultural subject matters, such as documenting Sufi rituals such as those I photographed a few years ago.

What changed my mind is the brilliant photo essay in The New York Times titled Cairo Undone by Moises Saman.  The photo essay (it's really a gallery as there's no storyline nor timeline) is of snapshots (I use this term very respectfully) of daily life in Cairo...the gritty, the edgy, the incomprehensible, the political and the anachronisms that dominate this teeming city.

I intended to post this as soon as I saw the photographs, but I was in Siem Reap and just couldn't find the time. I have viewed and re-viewed this work many times, and it revived in me a hunger to document facets of this city. Is it a nostalgic yearning? I doubt it...I don't think that way. It's similar to my documenting the Sufi rituals in various countries...that is nothing more than an intellectual and aesthetic pursuit.

It's the same for Cairo...nothing more nothing less. But time will tell.

Miguel Ángel Sánchez: Portraits Of Egyptians

Photo ©  Miguel Ángel Sánchez-All Rights Reserved

Since elections are going full steam ahead in Egypt, The New York Times' Lens blog has featured Portraits of Egyptians, a series of wonderful photographs by the talented Miguel Ángel Sánchez.

I absolutely love seeing photographic work of that nature...ethnographic to a large extent, and produced by borrowing the techniques of the Old Masters. Miguel Ángel Sánchez photographed 110 residents of Cairo in his studio; these included musicians, painters, politicians, writers, bloggers, shoeshiners, doormen, and the vendor of flowers above, which is absolutely my favorite amongst all of them. My least favorite is that of Zahi Hawass, the ex-Minister of Antiquities, not because of the image but because of the man himself. I don't know the man, but I developed an antipathy for his brash behavior and loudness in National Geographic television specials (as an example).

You will not find the photograph of the flower vendor on the Lens blog, but rather it's on Miguel Ángel Sánchez website. The flowers she's seen selling are jasmine, which are popular in Egypt for the powerful sweet smell. I believe the jasmine flowers sold on string strands are called "fol", and are popular in Egypt to deodorize one's car or to gift to one's sweetheart while strolling the city's gardens.

But back to the LENS blog...a comment was rather critical of the photographer for choosing to depict the Egyptians in Renaissance settings. I disagree. In choosing the lighting and poses similar to those we have seen so many times in museums and galleries the photographer creates acceptability for his subjects to the Western eye.

Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa Maldives

Anantara Dhigu Maldives Resort & Spa welcomes you to a tropical island paradise. Dhigu Anantara Resort & Spa is one of the best Resort in the Maldives. Wake up with calming views of the endless blue ocean Indian. Take a morning dip in the calm waters of a turquoise lagoon villa directly from the water more. Guli Fushi island kayak on the shore of the lake for diving.

Accommodation

Dhigu Anantara offers the Maldives resort experience of your dreams, an idyllic island paradise that feels like home away from home, and a dazzling playground, natural for you to enjoy the company of their loved ones.

Anantara Dhigu features 110 homes on the beach and water suites and 68 beach villas located on a stretch of private beach, with the only bathroom Rainshowers outdoors. Our two beachfront Pool Villas are more spacious and have their own private swimming pool in a tropical garden.

Enjoy the endless views of the coast of Dhigu. The terrazzo tub for two overlooking the changing hues of the seas of the Maldives. After a day full of sun, cool off in the outdoor Rainshower and unwind on your own terrace, just steps from the lagoon brilliant. Your own piece of waterfront paradise awaits you.

Hotel & Recreational Facilities

Every day, Anantara features a range of activities organized and do it yourself. You can take a cooking class, visit a market, interact with local history, and even pick up a few phrases in another language, all in one day.

• Spa

Mima. Animate. Release. Relax. Enjoy your body, soul and mind with a selection of Anantara Spa treatments from world-renowned firm, attractive bath and steam rituals and holistic therapies. Dhigu Anantara Spa is an oasis of tranquility with treatment suites on the water, located in one of the world's most remarkable tropical island. The perfect end - or beginning - to a perfect day. Anantara Spa is a highlight of every Anantara experience.

• PADI Dive Courses

With a variety of sites that offer, and our full range of PADI certification courses, our guests are spoiled with choice to meet the needs of all diving levels - from beginners to avid diver’s complete record books! Anantara's instructors always try to match the ability to dive to local dive conditions to ensure their safety and enjoyment. In the course of our discovery more beginner to advanced Nitrox, deep water diving and rescue, the Center has a wide range of programs to satisfy even the most experienced divers.

• Orientation Dives

There is more lively capital of the Maldives than just the airport. Malé offers distinctive architecture, local markets, tranquil mosques and the presidential palace. Immerse yourself in local culture at the National Museum and partake of some of the authentic local delicacies of the country.

Activities

The activities are taking place from island to island, Picnic Island, Maldives Tours, Sunset Cruise, Sunset Fishing in, full and half day diving safaris.

Dining room

Among the temptations offered at Anantara Dhigu and his sister resort Anantara Veli, a variety of casual and fine dining destinations unmatched by any other Maldives resort is yours to enjoy at the Anantara. Specialties are Fushi Café, Fusion Grill Fudd, terrazzo, Aqua, chair design, Baan Huraa, 73 Degrees, Dhoni, Geckos

Siem Reap Journal: Issue #5

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

Well, all good things have to come to an end. The Angkor Photo Festival's closing night included an intriguing photo talk by Roger Ballen, and the results of the 2011 Angkor Photo Workshops.

The award for the best photo story produced during the workshop was given to Carrie Lam*, a Singaporean photographer, for Cure...an ethereal collection of images. Her workshop tutor was Magnum photographer Antoine d'Agata.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Francoise Callier and Jean-Yves Navel, who overwhelmed me (and many others) with their cordiality, and gracious hospitality during every night of the Festival, as well as the hard work of both Camille Plante and Jessica Lim which made a success of this Festival.

So thank you very much for a great event!

*I didn't find a website for Carrie Lam.

Global Post: Egypt's Women Of Revolution

Photo © Elizabeth D. Herman-All Rights Reserved

While I'm here in Siem Reap, I am following the events in Cairo with mixed feelings...feelings of pride and anxiety. The outcome of the 'rebooted' Egyptian revolution is impossible to predict, but some pundits have describe the current events in Tahrir Square as Egyptians trying to reclaim their January 25 revolution from the military.

There are a number of recent photo essays from Tahrir Square, but I thought I'd feature the work of Global Post's Elizabeth D. Herman titled Egypt: Women of the Revolution.

This is a compelling gallery of 18 photographs along with captions that tell us the back stories of each photograph. Last month, Elizabeth Herman spoke to 13 Egyptian women about the media’s coverage of women’s involvement in the Egyptian revolution. Their roles were varied, as were their experiences and reactions to the revolution, with some having actively joined the movement and others forced to do so by circumstance. All have much to say about how it has affected their lives, and how their experiences are similar to — and different from —those of other Egyptian women.

As is customary whenever readers' comments on the news of the Egyptian revolution appear in The New York Times, Islamophobia and political agendas raise their ugly heads. Comments describing the Egyptian revolutionaries as 'savages', and others hoping that the upheaval would not harm Israel (presumably this being much more important than Egyptians having basic human rights) are sent to the newspaper and published without consideration.

And, of course...we have some of the US press indulging the American proclivity for inward introspection, narcissism, and insularity. Just take a look at TIME's cover for its US edition as compared to the rest of the world's.

Both hilarious and sad at the same time.

Siem Reap Journal:Issue #4

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

The Angkor Photo Festival is continuing its momentum, with today's penultimate night including a slideshow of the 5 finalists and the result of the inaugural Reminders Project Asian Photographers Grant. One of my favorite photographers, Shiho Fukada, is one of these five.

Since it's Friday, I dropped by the Siem Reap solitary mosque to explore whether there's anything worthwhile to document. Each Muslim community in Cambodia has a hakem who leads the community and the mosque, an imam who leads the prayers, and a bilal (as in Bilal, the Prophet Muhammad's muezzin) who calls the faithful to the daily prayers.

I met a few of the community members, one of whom spoke a reasonably fluent Arabic. While some of the Cham go to study the Qur'an at Kelantan in Malaysia, he learned it in Phnom Penh.

The two children were running around in the mosque, and the boy in particular was a bundle of energy.

Siem Reap Journal: Issue #3

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

I've got a few things to talk about in this post, so here goes:

The opening of the Angkor Photo Festival was covered in yesterday's The Phnom Post which marveled that the front lawn of the Foreign Correspondent Club was packed with photographers, photojournalists and guests.

I was happy that Rahman Roslan, a photojournalist from Malaysia, who told the story of Nur, a young Indonesian woman returning home after suffering five years of abuse as a domestic worker in Malaysia, was quoted to say that Angkor workshops hadn’t just improved his style, but had changed his entire life.

I was also thrilled that Francoise Callier, the festival program director and curator, was quoted as saying “I wanted to focus on young photographers for this show, although there are some more established shooters in there too, like Tewfic El-Sawy."


I have also used my new iPhone to snap (and snap is the exact word for it) pictures of whatever takes my visual fancy, and I must say I find this to be very gratifying and entertaining, especially when using Instagram and Hipstamatic filters. That being said, I found it very useful when photographing people here. I can show these images to whoever I snapped, and it's an instant icebreaker. The iPhone is not threatening....everybody recognizes it's a phone, and the young and old take delight in choosing which filter to apply to their portrait, and in flipping from one image to the other.  At that point, they are ready to be photographed and photographed and re-photographed!

I'll be writing about this when I have more time.

Soneva Gili by Six Senses in Maldives

Soneva Gili by Six Senses:
Soneva Gili is located in one of the largest lagoons in the Maldives, with jetties threading across the crystal clear waters of large spacious villas offer a spectacular view of sea water from every room. Apart from the clear waters, the tiny island provides an intimate atmosphere merger with the luxuries of the highest international level to create a wonderfully serene and natural experience - continuing the Soneva philosophy of Intelligent Luxury.

Accommodation:
Soneva Gili offers just 45 sumptuous over-water villas, including 7 Crusoe Residences and The Private Reserve reached by boat. Each villa has not only been designed and built with the utmost attention to detail, but also the environment and reflect the harmony of life by the water's edge. Each has its own private garden and terraces, water, and the bathrooms have a separate shower accessed by an outdoor walkway.

Eat and drink:
Dining experiences include a romantic dinner in the moonlight on the terrace of your villa, a sunset champagne cruise on a traditional dhoni, or dinners in the underground cellar Gourmet - the setting is as memorable as the cuisine. From the fine wines of excellent malts, we have a reputation for offering our guests a unique experience

No News - No Shoes:
Soneva Gili is relaxed and informal. The year-round, pleasant temperatures, tropical fabrics requires only daylight and as Polo style shirts, summer dresses and sarongs are ideal. If desired, a jacket or coat in the winter when temperatures can be as low as 23 degrees Celsius, Fahrenheit or 73. The shoes are not practical in the soft sand, so wear sandals or just enjoy the freedom of bare feet.

Services and leisure activities - Soneva Gili, Maldives
Travel Arrival Refreshments and drinks, a cold bottle of Soneva Cuvée in the Villa on arrival, 20 minutes from Six Senses Spa experience with the treatment per person (minimum 3 nights), Arenal Beach or Sunset Cocktail Party (Tuesdays only ), selection of teas and fresh coffee making facilities in the villa, complimentary mineral water in the village Soneva, non-motorized water sports activities (windsurfing, sailing and canoeing Hobicat), yoga and tai chi sessions scheduled for balance of body and mind, Sauna and Steam at the Six Senses Spa

Siem Reap Journal: Issue #2

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

I recently switched over from Blackberry to the iPhone 4s just for it's camera capabilities, and where else to put it through its paces than in Siem Reap?

Here are a few of photographs made on the iPhone using Instagram and Hipstamatic filters of young monks at the old temples of Roluos, Preah Ko and Lolei.

And one of Angkor Wat itself and the reflecting pond.

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

Siem Reap Journal

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

It was a good move to arrive early at the opening of the Angkor Photo Festival last night. Held at the Foreign Correspondents Club (known locally by its acronym FCC), it quickly filled up with almost 400 people to watch the projected slideshows of some 21 photographers. The slideshows included The Mercy Project/Inochi by James Whitlow Delano, Nishant Ratnakar's Fistful of Dreams, Nur by Rahman Roslan, Kauser Haider's A Hall Full of Cinema and my own The Possessed of Hazrat Mira Datar.

I introduced myself to Francoise Callier, the indefatigable energy behind the festival and its curator. I also met Jean-Yves Navel, the co-founder and director of the festival, as well as Camille Plante and Jessica Lin, both indispensable to the success of the festival for a number of years. The photo slideshows were all highly impressive, and the large audience was held in rapt attention.

Tonight saw the second installment of the slideshow program of about 13 photographers which included Whale Hunting In Lamalera by Ardiles Rante, Wendy Marijnissen's Dr Musarat, and ended with the lengthy Exodus by Sebastiao Salgado.

The photograph above is of one of the caretakers at Wat Bo, and has nothing to do with Angkor Photo Festival...but I thought it would be appropriate to feature it for a post on Siem Reap.

Another bit of information: I have yet to use my Canon 5D2. All I carried and used since my arrival in Siem Reap is the M9 and a couple of lenses.

In Focus: Bhutan

Photo © Paula Bronstein-All Rights Reserved

In Focus, the photo blog of The Atlantic, is always a must-see for me. This week, it features the photographs of Adrees Latif, Paula Bronstein, Singye Wangchuk, Kevin Frayer and others of the Kingdom of Bhutan.

As most know, Bhutan is a small Himalayan country east of Nepal, nestled between China and India, with an estimated population of 700,000. It's one of my favored destination for my photo-expeditions, and for many good reasons. It's a gorgeous country, with incredible religious and cultural traditions that are both mesmerizing and extremely photogenic. Its people are some of the most gracious and hospitable I've ever met, and I've never been disappointed in the image inventory I return with from my trips there.

If viewing the photographs on the In Focus photo-blog whets your appetite from more imagery of Bhutan, you can visit some of my own galleries and audio slideshow.

These are The Dancing Monks of Bhutan, Buddha's Apprentices and Cham!...but be warned, you might well decide to book your flights to Bhutan soon afterward.

Siem Reap For The Angkor Photo Festival

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy- All Rights Reserved

I'm thrilled to be in Siem Reap to attend the 7th Angkor Photo Festival. Posters of the event can be seen in many places of the town, as this one in Pub Street. I duly bought kramas (the traditional Cambodian scarf) and already have a tuk-tuk driver who claims he's the 'best' in Siem Reap. We'll see about that in due course.

More news on the festival will be posted soon. Its opening night is tomorrow evening, when my own work will be shown.

Ron Mayhew: Durga Puja

Ron Mayhew is one of the participants in my Kolkata's Cult of Durga Photo Expedition/Workshop, and also produced a wonderful documentary of the Durga Puja festival. Ron managed to complete his audio slideshow the quickest amongst the other group members...not that it was a race by any means, but it highlights his commitment.

He also uploaded the audio slideshow on his own blog. I recommend you watch it here as it's better quality/higher resolution than on Vimeo.

In his own words: "Durga Puja, the Hindu festival honoring the Goddess Durga in Calcutta, India, is a kaleidoscopic series of events spread over many days that tends to overwhelm ones senses with its sights and sounds. Thousands of idols of Durga and her entourage are created, worshiped, and ultimately immersed in the Ganges River. Millions of people celebrate what has been compared to Mardi Gas in New Orleans or Carnival in Rio."

Ron Mayhew has been a professional wood sculptor for over twenty years, and it’s this artistic background which has helped him achieve recognition regionally and internationally in photo competitions. He received Best of Show in the 2010 and 2011 Photo Expo sponsored by the Photo Arts Group of Charlotte County, Florida, recognized in a British Worldwide Photography contest for portrait & people, received a gold award for his image of African Eyes, a photo taken in a Tanzanian school, and was awarded a first place in the Art League of Fort Myers Art of Photography Show. He is a member of the NAPP, National Association of Photoshop Professionals and NPPA, National Press Photographers Association.

Book: Eric de Vries: STREET

By the time this post is published, I should be flying to Siem Reap (via Abu Dhabi then Bangkok) arriving on the 17th November around midday. So it appears timely to introduce a photo book on Cambodia by Dutch photographer Eric de Vries. Perhaps he'll be attending the Angkor Photo Festival as well.

STREET is all about street photography. All pictures were taken during Eric's courses, private tours and workshops in 2011. The photographs are mostly in black and white except for the complete series 'Darkness of the White Building'. This is Eric's fifth book (220 pages, landscape) and is part one of the trilogy THE WORKS OF ERIC DE VRIES.

Eric de Vries lives and works in Cambodia, the country he’s been travelling to since 2000. He is currently working on two long-term projects called ‘Still Life in Khmer Style’ that covers landscapes, temple scenes and buddha statues and ‘Hello Darling’, which is about the girlbars in the towns of Cambodia.

Interestingly, Eric's website lists Hanuman Tourism Cambodia, which is affiliated to the hotel I am staying at in Siem Reap. It also organized some of my photo shoots when I led a photo expedition to Siem Reap in February 2006.

Kishor K. Sharma: The Rautes of Nepal

Photos © Kishor K. Sharma - All Rights Reserved

Seeing this on my Facebook page made me break my traveling 'omerta'...it's a gallery titled Living In The Mist: The Last Nomads of Nepal by photographer Kishor Sharma.

According to an entry in Wikipedia, the Raute people are a nomadic ethnic group of Nepal. They are known especially for their hunting of langur and macaque monkeys for subsistence, and gather wild forest tubers, fruits, and greens on a regular basis, but do no farming. For grain, they trade handmade wooden bowls and boxes to local farmers. It's estimated that the Raute nomads do not exceed 200.

The Rautes emphasize that they wish to remain full-time foragers and have no wish to assimilate into the surrounding farming population.

Kishor K. Sharma, is a self-taught photographer/photojournalist based in Kathmandu. He completed his studies in Business, and joined the College of Journalism and Mass Communication in Kathmandu to pursue Master’s degree in Mass Communication and Journalism. He was invited to attend the 2010 Angkor Photography Workshop and took workshops with Antoine d'Ágata, Philip Blenkinshop and Munem Wasif, among others.

Diamond Athuruga Beach & Water Villas

Welcome to the new water villas built and located in the exclusive crystal clear lagoon where the dance of fish and where the wind sings a song. Experience under the palms in front of a quiet beach bungalow, listening to the music of the waves and the sound of the breeze, their dance of the soul, this is pure paradise. Stroll through the open architecture of the station with natural wood and white curtains, look through the open lagoon and white sand, before the fresh breeze that caresses your skin and your imagination will float in a world of divine comfort.

The natural beauty of the island has been maintained and improved. Beach Bungalows with individual terraces and private beaches along the coast of coral and sand. Experience the diversity of the Maldives by pairing your visit with a stay at Diamond Beach & Villas Athuruga water, offering intimate charm.

Services and Facilities

The services and facilities in Diamond Athuruga Beach & Water Villas are 24 hours Coffee Shop, scuba diving, 24-hour room service, Laundry / valet, gift shop, spa, diving, fishing, table tennis, sightseeing, entertainment, hotel doctor, a cafe, Laboratory of Biology Marina Library.

Beach Bungalows

Facing the crystalline waters with direct beach access, 47 Beach Bungalows offer private covered terrace with armchairs coffee table and sun beds, all rooms have outdoor showers.

Room facilities include:
The specialty of bungalow on the beach are the king size bed, air conditioning, ceiling fan, IDD (International Direct Dialing) telephone, minibar, coffee and tea, Luggage Rack, iPod units, Digital Safe, Bidet, hair dryer, daily renovated beach, air conditioning, safe, minibar, coffee / tea maker, IDD telephone line, hairdryer, living room, hot / cold shower, sun deck, lounge chairs, Wi-Fi Internet connection iPod.

Water Villas
The island of 25 water villas hosting a large private terrace with direct access to water. The tasteful furnishings in the spacious living room villas include custom-made rattan, Italian contemporary lighting and handmade inlaid wooden parquet floors that make an environment where customers can make their fantasy of living life the maximum, while on vacation.

Room facilities include:
The specialty of the town of water are king bed, sofa bed, air conditioning, ceiling fan, IDD (International Direct Dialing) telephone, mini bar, coffee and tea, luggage facilities, Internet access, with the iMac Apple music and wide selection of international films, Digital Safe, spacious walk-in showers with dual showerheads and private access to the outdoor terrace, double sinks, vanity mirror, bathrobes, personal toiletries, bidet, hair dryer , beach towels renewed daily, air conditioning, satellite TV, safe, minibar, coffee / tea maker, IDD telephone line, hairdryer, living room, hot / cold shower, sun deck, lounge chairs, Wi-Fi Internet bathrobes and slippers, iPod connection.

Diamonds Athuruga Beach & Water Villas offers the following services all inclusive:
Free welcome drink to all newcomers, Breakfast, lunch and dinner, snacks, cocktails, soft drinks, fruit juices, beer, wine, tea and coffee, selected liquor, Mini-bar in room, Nursing, and resident physician health care (24 hours), laundry service, water sports activities: canoeing, sailing and windsurfing (for guests of experts), snorkeling equipment, scuba diving tours of the house reef, Fisherman Island tour (once per stay) , Beach towels, sunbeds and parasols.

Foundry Photojournalism Workshop 2012: Thailand!

Eric Beecroft, the co-founder of the Foundry Photojournalism Workshops, has just announced that it was ready to accept early registrations ($100 deposit, non refundable, and deducted from the total tuition amount) until January 15, 2012. Early registration guarantees a spot and precedence in the choice of instructor.

The 2012 Foundry Photojournalism Workshop will be held in North Thailand from July 29- August 4, 2012.

For regional students (South Asia-- India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Tibet and South East Asia-Thailand, Burma, Vietnam, Phillippines, Laos, Cambodia,Indonesia, Malaysia) the tuition is $475. For all others it is $975 US dollars. Payment is via Paypal.

So spread the word via social network sites, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

On The Way To The 7th Angkor Photo Festival

I'll be traveling tomorrow to London for a brief stopover before flying off to Siem Reap via Abu Dhabi and Bangkok. I chose to fly Etihad, the Abu Dhabi airline, from London to Bangkok after hearing it offered an impressive flying experience in terms of comfort and service.

The festival itself is to take place in Siem Reap from November 19 to November 26, 2011. This well established event is the first photography festival held in Southeast Asia and for 2011, will exhibit the work of 110 photographers, out of whom 60 are from Asia.

The 2011 list of exhibiting photographers includes Andrew Biraj, Pep Bonet, Paula Bronstein, Marco Di Lauro, Tewfic El-Sawy, Siddharth Jain, Yuri Koryzev, Liz Loh-Taylor, Wendy Marijnissen, Erica McDonald, Palani Mohan, and many more.



On the subject of Cambodia and Siem Reap, I thought I'd re-mention To Cambodia With Love, a book published by Things Asian, illustrated with my photographs of Siem Reap.

It's described as "With its unique insights into dining, shopping, sightseeing, and culture, To Cambodia With Love is a one-of-a-kind guide for the passionate traveler."

It can be purchased from various online bookstores, and I believe the Siem Reap bookstores have it in stock.

I expect my posts might be irregular whilst traveling, but I'll try my best to update my readers with my gallivanting during the Angkor Photo Festival.

Kolkata Masala!

I apologize.

I know I've overdone it with all these recent posts (my work and those of others) on Kolkata, but having returned with a few thousand images from my Kolkata's Cult of Durga Photo~Expedition & Workshop™, I was bound to produce a number of slideshows...audio slideshows and still galleries. And since I'll be on my way in a few days to Siem Reap to attend the Angkor Photo Festival, I want to upload as many of my Kolkata work as possible before I travel. Of course, I still haven't rejigged my Durga Puja audio slideshow, but it will have to wait my return. So there's still that one for you to contend with.

The Kolkata Masala audio slideshow (this link is better quality than its Vimeo iteration) is a collection of color stills accompanied by the musical talent of a Baul singer. It's just a collection of pure and colorful travel photographs...so there's no linear sequencing or storytelling timeline.

There's no question that my favorite photograph is of the mendicants in front of a Jain temple, with one of them gesturing me to stop photographing. This, despite me having given her some biscuits that another charitable gentleman had given me for her. She wanted money, and only money.

Alice Smeets: Voodoo

I thought I'd continue my posts on photographic essays that deal with religious syncretism and feature the compelling work by Alice Smeets on Haitian voodoo.

Every year, thousands of Haitian pilgrims converge into the basin of Saut D'Eau's sacred waterfall to pray. They throw their clothes into the cascading waterfall where the faithful believe the Virgin Mary (known as Erzulie in Haitian Voodoo), appeared in the 1800s.

Haitian Voodoo was created by African slaves who merged their ancestral religious traditions with Roman Catholic practices, allowing them to continue observing their ancient beliefs under the scrutiny of the French colonialists. Today, many move freely between the two beliefs...the very essence of syncretism.

Alice Smeets is a photographer based in Belgium. She's interested in documenting social and cultural issues, with a special focus on Haiti and modern witchcraft.

Her clients include Geo, The New York Times, Sunday Times magazine, Le Monde, Internazionale, Days Japan, PBS, De Morgen, Glamour Magazine, ZDF. She has worked for charities like the Kindermissionswerk and UNICEF.

via Erica McDonald's DevelopTube

Ruben Salvadori: Tales Of A Ritual

Warning: Some Brief Scenes Are Graphic.

A village in the Southern Italian region of the Calabria region is the backdrop for an ancient ritual that is claimed to represent a people’s identity; an identity that struggles to keep its tradition unaltered through time.

"Tradition is the pump that pushes the blood of identity".

During the Holy Week prior the Easter celebrations, the village experiences an intense spiritual and practical preparation for a weekend ritual. The statue of the Virgin Mary is taken out from its shrine to take part in the ritual of Vattienti. These are flagellants who beat their legs with two pieces of cork, one of which has 13 fragments of glass in it,  and represent the sufferings of Jesus, and who must endure the pain of religious mortification in the name of spiritual cleansing.

Ruben Salvadori is an Italian photographer, whose biography tells us that he's to graduate with dual majors for a BA in International Relations and Anthropology/Sociology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He uses photography as an academic aid for his anthropological research, and mixes his academic background with a visual documentary-style approach to gain in-depth, empirical research results through his images.

Further information on the Vattienti:

This sacred popular custom centres around two figures; the “Ecce Homo” and the “Vattiente”, barefoot and tied to one another with a rope about two and a half metres long. The first wraps a cloth around his hips and holds a cross made of wooden slats covered in red bandages, as a symbol of blood and martyrdom; the other wears a black shirt with black shorts and a crown of barbed thorns on his head. Once they are dressed, the “Vattienti” rub and slap their calves and thighs with the “rosa”, a cork disk soaked in a warm rosemary infusion, in order to make the blood rise to their capillaries. They then use the “cardo”, another cork disk with 13 glass shards embedded in it, to beat the reddened parts of their skin. Rivulets of blood run down their legs, while red wine is poured onto their wounds to disinfect them and prevent fast clotting. Once they have marked the door of their house and those of their friends and relatives, as a token of good luck, each Vattiente goes to meet the Madonna Addolorata. This is the final climax of the rite when the flagellation reaches its height and becomes even more agitated and dramatic. (From Tour Calabria).