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Rasha Yousif: The Vedic School




Rasha Yousif is a photographer from the island nation of Bahrain, and is only the second Middle Eastern participant in my photo expeditions-workshops since I started them 10 years or so ago. She is a portfolio manager, and has a Masters in Finance from DePaul University.

During my The Oracles Of Kerala Photo Expedition-Workshop, Rasha worked on a number of multimedia photo projects and is one of the first to publish her very first attempt at Soundslides with her Five Hundred Years Vedic School.

In most of her projects, Rasha has easily connected with people and used this ability to add personal voice clips to her sound tracks. You'll hear such a clip in her Vedic School project.

She is quite adept in using her iPhone for on-the-fly photography, and to record the progress of her work during the two weeks in Kerala.


Photo © Rasha Yousif- All Rights Reserved

I had arranged for a photo shoot at an ancient Vedic (or training/boarding school very similar to the Buddhist monasteries for novitiates, or a Muslim madrasa in Thrissur, where we were treated to a demonstration of this way of teaching the sacred Vedic scriptures.

Olhuveli beach & spa resort In Maldives




Nestled amid lush tropical vegetation and shaded by sleek palms. Encircled by stretches of powdery sandy beach and an enormous crystal clear lagoon, a really breathtaking island with lots of secluded sandbanks where paradise seekers escaping from the pressures of daily fashionable life will forget the skin world and dropping of all inhibitions.

Beautifully designed villas stand over turquoise waters, fusing fashionable aptitude with ancient design, white sandy beaches giving thanks to endless ocean views that stretch for miles. it's actually an area where mind and body will relax, the senses are often invigorated and spirit can feel soothed.
Be as active as you would like. Be as quiet as you want - now is all yours.

Location

Set within the turquoise heart of the Indian Ocean that's the Maldives, Olhuveli is situated at the tip of South Male Atoll, accessible by a 45-minute exhilarating speedboat transfer from the international airport.

Accomodation

Step into your new home for subsequent few blissful days. every of the 164 villas are crafted purely with comfort, relaxation and magnificence in mind, taking the classic materials of nature, mixing them with up to date stylish and open-air living, supposed to create the foremost of the Maldivian daylight and tranquil views. A selection of out of doors sunloungers is provided in all villa classes to make sure that guests will absorb the simplest of Maldives

Deluxe rooms sleep up to three with a four-poster bed, air-conditioning, minibar, telephone, satellite TV and a balcony or terrace with ocean views. Beach villas sleep up to three with the higher than facilities and open-air garden lavatory and beachfront location. Water villas sleep two with a four-poster king-size bed and facilities as per Beach villas and a CD player, tea/coffee facilities and are engineered on stilts higher than the ocean. Jacuzzi water villas conjointly accessible to sleep two with a four-poster king-size bed and facilities as per Deluxe water villas and a Jacuzzi on the sundeck. Rooms located over water don't enable guests below twelve years old-time.

All classes additionally to their distinctive options have the following:

Satellite TV, Stocked mini bar, Tea/Coffee facilities, Individually controlled air-conditioning, Ceiling fan, web access, IDD phonephone, In-villa safe, Bathrobes, Slippers (except in Deluxe Rooms), Hair dryer

Wine & Dine

One of the highlights of a keep at Olhuveli is that the outstanding cuisine, that has recent, delicious seafood at its heart. assume artistic, organic food with aptitude, ready by world-class chefs and served in enjoyably completely different and distinctive settings. From an unhurried lunch on the beach with friends or family, dining alfresco within the relaxing heat of the day, to a candle-lit dinner for 2 below the celebrities, all tastes are well-catered for.

Sun Spa

The Sun Spa, named once the life-giving sun, a continuous light-weight that extends through treatments to harmonise body, mind and soul. The spa has one ideal at its heart – to require a holistic approach to health and well-being using ancient Indian Ayurvedic techniques whereas encompassing the 5 components.

The main centre may be a pleasant place to relax with hydrotherapy pools, steam room, sauna, Jacuzzi, a spa boutique with signature merchandise, a hair and wonder salon and peaceful relaxation areas. For treatments, hidden away within the vegetation and connected by a series of intricate bridges are eight secluded and personal Spa Pavilions, that includes a courtyard garden, twin massage beds, a rain shower and an outside flower tub.

Diving

Submerge into a full new world of surprise and verify why this is often the dream destination of each diver with its inviting heat water, astonishing clarity and hidden bounties. As you descend, you're greeted by breathtaking species and a profusion of sentimental and onerous corals during a kaleidoscope of colors and shapes.

Swim along to find the back large moray eel, the elegant lion fish, the camouflaged stone fish and therefore the clever octopus among alternative superb species within the diversified house reef. The lucky few might encounter a inexperienced ocean Turtle, adult Reef Shark, hump-head Napoleon Wrasse or rise up shut with the majestic manta ray. Uncover the mysteries of the hidden caves, overhangs and sunken ship on your quest. a vacation is definitely never complete while not witnessing the spectacular underwater wonders of the Maldives.

POV: Is May 10 The Day For Leica?

Photo Courtesy GIZMODO

May 10th.

That's when Leica will announce a "whole range of product launches" in Berlin. Am I waiting with bated breath for these new products? Not at all. But having a M9 and very much aware of its strong points and shortcomings, I'm interested in seeing what will Leica come up with. It's more from a business side than from a photographic one since the German company is under assault from Fuji and others that are treading on its turf.

I was recently sent a heads up by Zeyad Gohary on a new all-white $31,770 M9-P model with a Noctilux f/0.95 50mm lens. Ridiculous of course, but perhaps it will sell well amongst the moneyed elites, celebrities and collectors. I had a chuckle imagining it in my grubby hands had I had one and used it during the recent festivals I was at in India. It would have turned black (with yellow turmeric and red stains) very quickly. Maybe the Kardashian sisters and their ilk would buy it, but Leica must've done its market research and concluded that it'll make money peddling this all-white model.

That said, I wonder what a "whole range of product launches" will mean. It's reported that the Fuji X-100 clobbered Leica's X1 model, and I predict that Fuji X-Pro 1 will become a favored tool for photographers who won't shell out $8000 or so to buy a M9 (or more in case of a successor). Leica is run by hard headed businessmen who look at the bottom line, and hopefully look into the future...and the future is for cameras that look, smell, cost and work like the Fuji X-Pro 1. Leica's investors know the future as well, and making white M9-P is a cute gimmick, but will not bring in the kind of cash inflow that satisfies these investors.

The range of new products may mean a successor to the M9, lenses and -if my gut feel is right- a new line of mirrorless cameras to directly compete with the Japanese products. A new M10 (improved focus, better LCD, better ISO, etc) and/or a new range of EVIL-like cameras.

That's my call.

Update: The Oracles Of Kerala

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
As I always do on completion of a trip, I shall be writing a comprehensive 'post-mortem' on The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™...what worked, what didn't, comparing my expectations to what was the reality, etc. in a few days. And for the Leica crowd, whether it was a good idea to take my M9 along with me.

In the meantime, I can very comfortably say that this two weeks expedition was, in many ways, one the best I ever led.

Whilst I generally preferred northern India to its south, this trip changed this view.

Kuramathi Blue Lagoon Island Resort Maldives


Kuramathi Blue Lagoon Island Resort Maldives is located in the island of Kuramathi and is a tropical island in a blue sea, with waving palms and cascades of beautiful exotic flowers. Kuramathi Island is a beautiful resort where seekers of paradise escaping the pressures and cares of the world can get away and forget the outside world. This lush green garden bursting with scented frangipanis, delicate hibiscus, bougainvillea and morning glory offers you a glimpse of the Garden of Eden. A gardener's dream and the ideal holiday retreat.

Kuramathi Blue Lagoon, one of three resorts located at the very Western tip of Kuramathi Island, is a wondrous holiday experience for the exclusive traveler. Kuramathi Blue Lagoon is a narrow sandbar, running far into the ocean, surrounded by crystal blue water with gentle waves constantly lapping at your feet. This isolated existence with nothing but the beach and the lagoon, as your sole company is the ultimate Robinson Crusoe experience you could have ever dreamed of.

Our Opinion

Kuramathi Blue Lagoon is a fantastic island which has something for everybody, it is a paradise for divers.The island is quite large for the maldives, the sunset is truly fantastic.

Kuramathi Blue Lagoon Room Types: Beach Bungalow, Water Bungalow

Water bungalows for relaxing in the lagoon - 20 water bungalows on stilts ensure the traveler exquisite peace and serenity, with only the sound of the surf to keep you company throughout your holiday. Amenities are Air Conditioning, Mini Bar, In-room Safe, IDD Telephone, Hair Dryer Balcony/Terrace, Shower, Pipe-in Music & Beach Towel.

Beach bungalows - Seclusion on the beach front - The 36 beach bungalows situated at the edge of the lagoon and surrounded by indigenous vegetation gives a scenic uplift to your heart, treading the thin line between reality and fantasy, though this eccentric nature trip does not stop you from enjoying all modern amenities such Air Conditioning, Mini Bar, In-room Safe, IDD Telephone, Hair Dryer Balcony/Terrace, Bath and Shower, Open Air Shower, Pipe-in Music & Beach Towel.

At the Kuramathi Spa, you can get a wide range of relaxation treatments in both European and Eastern tradition. Separated into open-air sections for women and men, the spa has a sauna, steam room, cold plunge pool, Jacuzzi and showers.

Facilities at Kuramathi Blue Lagoon 

A/C, hot & cold water, hair dryer, mini bar, IDD telephone, satellite television, laundry, swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, discotheque, spa, internet facility.

Recreation & Other Facilities at Kuramathi Blue Lagoon
 

Scuba diving, windsurfing, catamaran sailing, canoeing, water skiing, wake boarding, ringo riding, banana riding, submarine diving, aerobics, badminton, tennis, beach volley, excursions, big game fishing.

Fatimah Of Kodungallur Medresa

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

Well, the photo shoot at the Cheraman Juma Masjid was a dud.


I had expectations that the first Muslim mosque in the whole of India, would provide an interesting back drop for great imagery, but I was wrong. The mosque was renovated a few decades back, and its original artefacts "lost". The famed oil lamp supposedly continuously since the building of the mosque by Malik Bin Dinar, who's quite an interesting Islamic personality according to Wikipedia


In any event, having been to the Islamic medresa earlier gave us the opportunity to see Muslim children learning the Qur'anic texts and theology nearby the ancient mosque...probably in the same style as their forefathers/mothers did centuries ago.


One of the loveliest young girls was Fatimah, who was picked up from the school by her father on a scooter, who just loved the iPhone and Instagram.



Final Day: The Oracles Of Kodungallur

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

I must've traveled to India over 20 times since 1998, and criss-crossed in length and breadth reasonably thoroughly. However, I have never seen or attended a religious event of the emotional intensity and visual magnetism as the Bharani festival in Kodungallur.

It is here that once a year the so-called Oracles of Kodungallur meet to celebrate both Kali and Shiva. By the many hundreds, and perhaps thousands, these red-clad oracles arrive in this area of Kerala, and perform self mortification acts by banging on their heads with ceremonial swords repeatedly until blood trickle down their foreheads, and daub the wounds with turmeric. The Bharani festival lasts for three days.

The festival was attended by many thousands, and (in my view) surpassed the 2001 Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad in intensity and religious fervor. We all marveled at how everyone at the festival, most of whom were from small villages of the area, were so welcoming, protective and friendly.

I was perfectly placed near the local royal (or maharaja) who was mobbed by attendees, eager for his blessings. While a couple of policemen protected me from the rush of the mobs, I stayed long enough to get a couple of shots of the royal, and left that area which was becoming very risky.

An incredible close to a thrilling photo workshop.

Tomorrow the group is having a final class in multimedia, with only one photo shoot planned at the Cheraman Juma Masjid; the first Muslim mosque in the whole of India, built in 629 AD. Having experienced a short photo shoot at its medrasa this morning, we are all eager to add an Islamic flavor to our photo expedition.

The Oracles of Kerala Workshop & Ambika Temple


The pressure was on yesterday, as I asked the participants in my The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™ to complete a full multimedia project in about 4 hours. While they had worked for many hours on longer photo essays and putting those in a multimedia format, yesterday's exercise was designed to ensure they could complete a simple multimedia project within a time limit.

They were all successful.

From the left (going clockwise) is Charlotte Rush-Bailey (with a visor), Rasha Yousif, Kristine Bailey, Victoria Alexander, Sandy Chandler, John Spillane and Tony Pond.


After the hard work, we attended the rituals at the Ambika Temple. The rituals included the arrival of elephants from the Thirunakkara Festival, the cleansing of the deity after covering it with turmeric, and a dazzling display of oil-lit lamps on the streets of Udala, where these young girls were lined up carrying small trays of flowers and candles.

Update: Thirunakkara Festival

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy

Yesterday saw the penultimate day of the Thirunakkara Festival in Kottayam, which was attended by thousands of worshippers, and is known as Pullivetta. It was a spectacular spectacular event with phenomenal pageantry including a parade of caparisoned elephants and the exchange of parasols.

Getting some of us through the throngs of people was made possible by extremely helpful policemen, who wanted us to get to the best vantage points, and as close to the elephants as possible.

The drumming and sound of cymbals were so loud that I risked rupturing my ear-drums!!!

Asdu Sun Island Resort In Maldives


At a distance of 32kms North of the airport, a lush tropical paradise in North Male' Atoll, ASDU is legendary for its live house reef jealously guarded and guarded by it's management.With thirty bungalows facing the beach, it's one among the littlest, and possibly the foremost informally managed, resort island within the Maldives. The management endeavours to retain the normal simplicity and also the natural balance of the island, whereas providing varied services/facilities for a pleasurable and satisfying vacation.

The natural great thing about this little island is in its white sandy beach that recedes to crystal clear waters of the lagoon and in its exotic coral reef abundant in tropical fish of unimaginable colours. The fish literally swim with you and sometimes nudge you for brand new acquaintance. The reef, regarding twenty to thirty meters from the beach, is right for beginner-divers and for snorkeling. For the experienced diver there are the special off-shore reef diving spots moreover because the channels that open to the Indian Ocean to possess a rare glimpse of what life is with the undersea predators.

Asdu Sun Island Resort Facilities

At Asdu Sun Island, every one of the thirty bungalows has its own veranda facing the beach and its wonderful vegetation. every bungalow is supplied with all the wants together with telephones that permit international phone calls, a ceiling fan, non-public toilette with shower and desalinated water.

Asdu Sun Island offers a pickup service from the airport moreover as an emergency service at any time and underneath any weather condition with a fleet of contemporary motor boats that are out there all day long.

The cuisine at the Asdu Sun Island Resort are some things that incorporates a special price for the management. they provide delicious dishes starting from Italian food to Maldivian recipes. there's additionally a library, table games and a video hall with many films and documentaries for anybody to relish.

Asdu Sun Island within the Maldives - read from ancient Maldivian fishing boat

Asdu Sun Island Resort Activities

Activities at the Asdu Sun Island are intensive and are available in an exceedingly wide range. for instance there are several excursions that may take the guests fishing, to Fisherman Island and to the capital town of Male where one will relish the sightseeing and also the searching.

Sports on the resort also are a really massive a part of the Maldives expertise within the Asdu Sun Island Resort, that offers many water sports together with canoeing, water skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling and PADI-SSI diving centre for those scuba diving enthusiasts.  For folks the like the higher than water expertise there's additionally a ping-pong table and a volley ball court.

Update: Tolpavakoothu

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

As a surprise photo-shoot for the photographers participating in my The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™, I arranged for a private Tolpavakoothu performance yesterday evening. Despite having seen and photographing shadow puppetry (an ancient storytelling art form) in Bali, I had never doe so in India, where it is especially indigenous to southern Kerala.

The photo shoot took most of the early evening when we photographed the preparations, whilst the performance itself (the frenetic action of some half dozen puppet masters was something to behold) took just 45 minutes.

Tolpavakoothu traces its origins to more than 2000 years, and the Thrissur area claims a particular style of this art.

The above image is of one of the Tolpavakoothu puppets, and was made with my iPhone4s.

The actual photographs of the action will be incorporated in a future photo essay.

Update: Kathakali Photo Shoot

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
Last night saw one of the most intense Kathakali performances I have ever witnessed (and I have seen quite a few of those in the last few years of my traveling to India). As followers and readers of this blog know, I am leading my The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™, and a two day stop in Cheruthuruthy was planned for a photo shoot involving the performers of this ancient art form, as well as attending a private almost 2-1/2 hours performance.

The performance and the earlier 3 hours make-up session took place at the Kalatharangini Kathakali School, and I, for one, sweated so much at the intensity of it all that I had to wipe my hands continuously to be able to shoot. I almost filled 3 full 16gb CF cards during that one photo shoot which started at 3:00 pm and ended just before 9:00 pm. On top of that, I probably videoed some 20 minutes of the performance with my Canon Mark II.

We will spend most of today in class to work on our individual multimedia photo essays, since we need to catch up with that element of the workshop. With all the photography we do, we really need to set time aside to work on these projects.

I am also preparing an evening surprise for the group members, which I think they will find very interesting.

The above image is of one of the Kathakali performers, and was made with my iPhone4s.

Note: This post's actual date is March 20 as it's written in India.

Bolifushi Island Resort Maldives




The Bolifushi Island Resort Maldives is standard to scuba divers due to its house reef, in addition as various nearby dive sites. Even non-divers can realize many reasons to fall in love with this place. There’s one thing for each style of individual at the Bolifushi Island Resort in Maldives.

Bolifushi Island Resort Maldives Accommodations

Comfortable keep at Bolifushi Island Resort ensured by fifty five rooms .The rooms are classified into many classes and are priced to suit the budget of its guests. there's the Boli Rooms Superior with air condition facilities. Then there are Water Villas Deluxe and Beach Villas Delux rooms. space|the space|the area} charge includes tea and low facilities within the room in addition a fruit basket on the terribly initial day of keep at the resort. Couples on their honeymoon trip to the resort are presented with a honeymoon cake to savor these sweet moments of their new life.

The guest rooms in Bolifushi Island Resort Maldives are actually spacious and cozy. it's designed elegantly, while not compromising its natural surroundings. Beach bungalows and above-the-water villas are the 2 accommodation varieties in Bolifushi Island Resort in Maldives. every vacation house is equipped with fashionable amenities and options you’d expect in a very stylish resort like a private sunbathing deck, air-conditioning, personal safe, and minibar.

Bolifushi Island Resort Maldives Facilities

Wine and dine in lavish fashion at the low search in Bolifushi Island Resort Maldives and you’ll get an opportunity to feast on dozens of luxurious dishes. Serving a good vary of cuisines, from Western, Oriental, Asian, to the foremost exotic Maldivian dishes, the low search is situated on top of the lagoon, boasting an excellent panoramic read of the Indian Ocean.

The Bolifushi Island Resort in Maldives additionally has its own dive center, giving a spread of certification courses. A water sports facility provides many activities for you to get pleasure from on your vacation, like parasailing, catamaran sailing, canoeing, and windsurfing. people who need to be pampered will choose between a spread of massage and different treatments at the Bolifushi Island Resort Maldives’ spa.

Centara Spa at the Bolifushi offers varied treatments and massages to its guests. they will indulge and pamper themselves at the Spa. There are totally different packages out there to suit the various wants of their guests .Some of the packages embody Thai Tranquility, Total Rejuvenation, Afternoon Escape, flip Back Time , Designer Spa and Instant Calm.

The resort offers varied facilities to create the guests feel at home. there's bar and a low search together with a restaurant at the Bolifushi Resort. For the bunch of journey lovers the Resort makes arrangements for Scuba diving, Para Sailing, Snorkeling, Volley ball, Excursions,Wind Surfing, Canoeing and Fishing expeditions.

Vedic Gurukul

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved
Another quick post as to the progress of The Oracles Of Kerala Photo Expedition-Workshop. Yesterday saw us at a Vedic school in Thrissur. Despite the long dive from Kumarakom to Thrissur, the Vedic school's beauty and ancient learning tradition were well worth the trouble.

I was surprised to learn that the restaurant manager at our hotel was also an authority on all Keralite festivals....we're trying to convince him to join our workshop!!!