Three days following the end of the Holi Festival is the Kwant Gair Fair held in the village of Kawant. The Rahtwa tribal fair is a wild and exhuberant celebration. Bhil and Koli tribes come together from the region to celebrate the harvest, and where matchmaking is sometimes formalized. The Rathwa Bhils are considered the […]
India 13 – Sasan-Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat
The wildlife sanctuary, San Gir, in Gir National Park in Gujarat is home to the last Asiatic Lions in the wild, with approximate 674 remaining as of March 2074. Less than 20% of the sanctuary is accessible to tourists, so many of the leopards and lions were still hidden deep in the jungle. There are […]
India 12 – Bhuj, Gujarat
There are approximately 162 tribal villages surrounding Bhuj in the state of Gujarat. There are various tribal people in the Bhuj area, including the nomadic Rabaris, who are constantly in search of better grazing ground. Bhuj is known as the textile hub of India and is famous for their embroidery and handicrafts. We visited tribal villages […]
India 11 – Poshina, Gujarat
Poshina is a quaint remote village in the state of Gujarat near the border of Rajasthan, and is not on many of India’s tourists maps. It is described as a place where time stands still. Surrounded by several colorful tribes, including the Bhil, Garasias and the nomadic Rabaris, the scenes in these tribal areas are […]
India 10 – Ahmedabad, Gujarat
When we heard the destination Gujarat, we were at a loss as to the significance of this region nor where it is located within India. We learned that it is bounded by the Arabian Sea, Pakistan and located just north of Mumbai. It turns out that this is where Mahatna Ghandi, The Father of the […]
India 9 – Varanasi 2 – City of Light
In addition to being known as the city of Death, Varanasi is also called the City of Light, and renowned as a city of learning for centuries. In ancient India, its name is derived from the Sanskrit verbal root Kashi, meaning “to shine”. The city has 8 universities imparting traditional religious education. Also, many come […]
India 8 – Varanasi 1 – City of Death
Varanasi is considered the religious capital of India and the mecca for Hindus. This is where many Hindus come to die and where they want to be cremated, since those who believe in reincarnation believe that it will free them from the cycle of rebirth and lead to salvation. Imagine not having to return in […]
New Zealand 3 – Landscape Photo Tour 3
Glen Howey, our local guide, kept bringing us to new photogenic places in rapid succession. One late afternoon he brought us to the Glenorchy jetty on Lake Wakatipu and suggested it would be a good location for dramatic images. I was skeptical at first, and captured a standard photograph of the pier (lower-left) in late […]
New Zealand 2 – Landscape Photo Tour 2
Sunrise on Aoraki/Mount Cook, which is home of the highest mountains and longest glaciers in the Southern Hemisphere. It is an impressive landmark in the Southern Alps at 12,218 feet. The mountain was formed by the collision of tetonic plates that uplifted to form the Alps. Aoraki is the Mäori name for Mount Cook, meaning […]
New Zealand 1 – Landscape Photo Tour 1
New Zealand is photographically best known for its stunning landscapes. Many of the best locations are well off the beaten track though, and difficult to find when traveling solo. We therefore decided to include one more organized photo tour to finish 2023, and to introduce us to the grander landscape scenes in New Zealand. Our […]