Books: Holy War

This is the kind of book that makes my pulse quicken.  It's about the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama who sailed from Lisbon in 1497 to lead an expedition to find a new route to India. I haven't read it yet, but will certainly do so before I set for my own expedition The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™ scheduled for March 2012.

There's a review of the book on The New York Times' Sunday Book Review, from which I quote this (and you'll understand why my pulse quickened):

As Cliff recounts, the “landing party had assumed that Hindu temples were Christian churches, they had misconstrued the Brahmins’ invocation of a local deity as veneration of the Virgin Mary and they had decided the Hindu figures on the temple walls were outlandish Christian saints.” True, “the temples were also crammed with animal gods and sacred phalluses,” but these surely reflected exotic local Christian practices. What mattered to the Portuguese was that these long-lost Indian Christians permitted images in their “churches.” Thus, whatever their idiosyncrasies, they could not be Muslims. The Portuguese joined in the chants and invocations with gusto. When the Hindu priests chanted “Krishna,” the Portuguese heard it as “Christ.”

As one of the underlying objectives of The Oracles of Kerala Photo Expedition/Workshop™, like some of my previous photo expeditions in India, is the visual documentation of its syncretic religious traditions, the publication of this book seems have been timed perfectly.

I will share my views as soon as I read it!!

Los Angeles Times; Mature Burlesque

Photo © Mel Melcon-All Rights Reserved

In order to break from the gloom of September 11 and its coverage, I thought I'd feature something both different and uplifting. From The Los Angeles Times, this audio slideshow seems perfect to do just that...it's about Monday Night Tease, which is the longest-running weekly burlesque show in Los Angeles. It's known as a venue for dancers of all shapes and shades, as well as for its cheeky humor.

The audio slideshow features Lili VonSchtupp, who draws crowds to bar in Hollywood every week to celebrate real women with real bodies. "One of the troupes taking the stage just before midnight at VonSchtupp’s weekly Monday Night Tease calls itself the Rubenesque Burlesque. For four minutes, the women shake, bounce and bump to a hip-hop song, eventually stripping down to black leather bras. When those come off, the crowd at Three Clubs erupts. They hoot approvingly at these dancers, each of whom weighs over 200 pounds."

According to Wikipedia, American burlesque shows were originally an offshoot of Victorian burlesque in Britain, and when those went out of favor at the end of the 19th centruy, the American style of burlesque flourished, but with increasing focus on female nudity. 

September 11, 2001: The Fringe

All Photos © 2011 Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

For those who have no press passes, access to Ground Zero was prohibited yesterday. Nonetheless, the areas around it did provide opportunities for good street photography.  Naturally, any event of such a magnitude brings along the fringe...the conspiracy theorists,  the government haters, the religious minded...and the Obama supporters.

Maldives Cocoa island Resort Hotel

Maldives Cocoa island Resort Hotel is one of the fantastic beach resort in the Maldives.The cocoa resort hotel is the best among the Maldives resort hotel.The other name for the cocoa island is known locally as Makunufushi, is situated in South Male’s coral atolls. Cocoa Island satisfy all your needs and keep you away from the stress and in relaxed mind . The cocoa resort hotel contains 33 over-water rooms are inspired by fishing dhoni boats .Each room gives you the gorgeous view of the sea and a chance to treat yourself in the warm clear waters of the Maldives.The place which give you the chance to enjoy the nature .
COCOA Island has a water sports centre, a library with an extensive collection of books, an all day lounge, a boutique, a fully equipped Dive Centre, gym with yoga facilities, and a COMO Shambhala Retreat offering a full range of treatments including massages, Ayurveda, facials and facilities such as massage pavilions, hydrotherapy pool, steam rooms and meditation area.

. As with all COMO Hotels and Resorts, cuisine is considered a crucial element of the guest experience. Menus display a well sourced, seasonal ingredients from nature’s larder – organic vegetables, the evening’s catch, supplied by local fishermen and farmers. Dishes also take inspiration from India’s Malabar Coast, and its traditions of spicing – coriander, ginger, tamarind, okra and green chilly–while the true flavors of fresh produce are finished off with light-handed, contemporary flourishes. This environment really guarantees relaxation and recreation.

Be here with your lover for honeymoon or just come with your travel partner and explore the true colours of Maldives.