These pictures were all taken about a month ago, on one of those days when everything just worked and pictures seemed to flow into my camera of their own accord. I love it when that happens, and I wish there was a switch I could click to make it happen at my command.
So, what first caught my eye in Mandalay? The historic citadel? The teak wood monasteries? The temples on Mandalay Hill? Nope. A fruit and vegetable market near my hotel, particularly the bananas and onions.
I’m still in the process of updating this site. If you have a moment, check out the new look galleries here, now showing as large-size slideshows.
Nyaung U is the nearest town to the Bagan temple complex. It’s a surprisingly low-key place, considering its location close to Myanmar’s biggest tourist attraction, but I suspect that in five or ten years time it will be as busy and built up as Siem Reap in Cambodia. For now though, the town’s hotels and restaurants haven’t yet completely taken over, and Nyaung U remains a fairly unassuming place, not spectacular by any means, but not without charm. I spent a morning taking a break from temple spotting to wander around the market and take a few portraits of living, breathing people, rather than buddha statues.
On another note, I’ve just given this site a bit of a makeover. After three and a half years with the same theme, I thought it was time for a change, so I’ve switched to the Photographer theme. The biggest difference is the colour scheme, now white, or white-ish, instead of black. The homepage slideshow is much improved too, with much bigger images. The widgets, those little buttons and menus that help readers to search and navigate the site, no longer appear at the bottom of very page, but can be found on the right hand side of the About page. I’ll probably be making a few more tweaks over the next couple of weeks, but I’m pleased with the new look. I was aiming for something simple, elegant and unpretentious, with the pictures centre-stage, and I think that’s what this theme provides. Let me know what you think – comments and suggestions are always much appreciated.
Long Bien night market is where Hanoi’s market traders come to buy their fruit, vegetables, fish and meat. Every night, trucks come in from the countryside, piled high with fresh produce. It’s a frenetic, chaotic place, full of energy and life, despite the hour (very early or very late, depending on your point of view). Purposeful merchants push carts and carry baskets laden with food; motorbikes and trucks plough through the narrow, muddy channels between makeshift stalls. In the midst of the frenzy, other traders take time out to play cards or nap in hammocks. Above it all, Long Bien bridge, built at the start of the last century and showing its age, but now one of the symbols of the city.
When I arrived, at around five this morning, the only light was from the bare bulbs hanging under coloured awnings or in the open back doors of the vendors’ lorries. By the time I left, this harsh artificial light had been replaced by hazy dawn sunshine.
Amulet market, Bangkok
My five day stay in Chau Doc in early August was one of the most rewarding periods I’ve had with my camera – everywhere I looked there seemed to be a picture waiting to be taken. Everything seemed so easy – the weather was perfect, the people were friendly and my mood was good. Looking back, I wonder why I didn’t stay there longer.
This is my final set of pictures from my summer Mekong trip: three and a half months of travelling from Yunnan province in China, through Laos, a tiny bit of Thailand, and eastern Cambodia, and then into the Mekong delta in Vietnam. I came back from the trip with some great memories, ruined sandals, the nearest thing I’ll ever get to a tan, and – I think – some of the best pictures I’ve taken. Just as I enjoyed the journey, which came to an end at the beginning of September, I’ve also enjoyed the process of going back through my photo catalog over the last few weeks and posting the pictures that didn’t make it onto the blog while I was travelling. At the same time, I’m glad that process is now finished, so that I can give more time and energy to taking pictures in Hanoi, where I’m living now. So this post is my way of drawing a line under the Mekong trip – for now at least – and moving on.
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Stung Treng was my first stop in Cambodia, after six weeks of travelling down the length of Laos. I only stayed in the town for one night, as I was keen to carry on down the river to Kratie, but I had time for a quick late afternoon wander around the market.
A few pictures from Phong Dien floating market, near Can Tho in the Mekong delta.
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I’ve written before that it sometimes seems as if the women in Vietnam do all the hard work while the men just laze about. Like most sweeping generalisations, it’s not entirely true – but there is some truth in it, as I think the picture above illustrates.
These pictures were taken in the Mekong delta town of Vinh Long, mostly in a narrow alleyway in between the market and the river where goods – mostly rice – are traded wholesale.
Public displays of affection between men and women are quite rare among Vietnamese people – in daylight at least – but it’s not unusual to see friends of the same sex, men or women, holding hands or being otherwise touchy-feely. I’m not sure if these two were laughing at me, at each other, or at something else entirely.
(Taken last month in Vinh Long, in the Mekong delta)
Without an H 