Galungan: when Balinese Ancestors Return to Earth
The Balinese festival of Galungan symbolises the victory of good (Dharma) over evil (Adharma). To Balinese Hindus, it is one of the most important events of the 210-day year, a time when they express their gratitude to the creator of the universe, Ida Sang Hyang Widhi. It is a time of feasting, when many return […]
Haute-Ville, Antananarivo, Madagascar
The Haute-Ville district of Antananarivo is a lively community located, as the name suggests, high above the centre of the city. The roads leading up the hill rise steeply; it takes almost half an hour to reach the top. After three days of this I noticed an improvement in fitness, although I was envious of […]
Ganesha Statues in Seminyak, Bali
Ganesha, together with Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga, comprise the five prime Hindu deities. Ganesha is easily recognisable with his elephant's head on a human body and large belly. He wears a sacred thread, or belt, in the form of a serpent. in his right hand he holds his broken tusk and in his left […]
Daily Life and Commerce in Timor Leste
It is now two years since I visited Timor Leste, though I often look back through the photographs I took of daily life. At that time the UN presence was very visible, though this ended on 31st December 2012. Here are a few selective photographs, chosen to give a feel of life in the capital, […]
Timor Leste: By the Shore at Dili
Timor Leste has had a very troubled history, up to its independence in 2002, following 24 years of Indonesian occupation and centuries of Portuguese rule. Prior to independence nearly 70 per cent of all buildings, homes and schools were destroyed, and an estimated 75 per cent of the population was displaced. Internal political tensions, which had […]
Temple Building Details, Seminyak, Bali
It is a special pleasure, when staying in Seminyak, to go out early and walk around the back streets to see everyday life, just minutes away from the designer shops, restaurants and bars on the main roads. All of the photographs displayed here are from the numerous temples, in daily use by local people, within […]
Summit Gardens, Port Vila, Vanuatu: 'The Largest Tropical Gardens in the South Pacific'
The Summit Gardens, just fifteen minutes outside Port Vila, Vanuatu, must be amongst the most colourful in the world. Not just for the variety of the tropical plants, but also the eclectic and disparate collection of artefacts on display. What creative mind thought of putting these objects together? (please click on images to enlarge) The […]
A Hidden Reaper in the Rice Fields of Ubud
I took this photograph of a man tending his rice field as a fairly wide shot, intending to resize it later to select the best proportions for framing the man and the shrine. When I came to the editing, I discovered an unwelcome visitor. To the right of the shrine, and above, the dead banana […]