Here's a highly recommended 16-minute long movie documentary of Joey L.'s (and his team) excursion into the land of the Mentawai. It starts with the 10-hour crowded cargo ferry ride from Sumatra across the strait to the islands of the Mentawai, approximately 150 kilometers off the Sumatran coast.
The excursion took 2 years to plan and prepare, and we are treated to a behind the scenes look at the photo shoots along with snippets of the Mentawai's life. The amount of gear that Joey and his team had to carry was quite significant. This is not a destination where you show up with a couple of cameras and flashes. They had to lug heavy lighting equipment, large reflectors and lightboxes, cameras, lenses, video equipment, generators, food and so forth.
The most visible Mentawai tribesmen in the documentary are Bajak Tarason and Bajak Tolkot, who seem to have a pessimistic view of the Menatawai's future. They address the interference of the Indonesian government in their ancient tribal customs, and of the Christian missionaries who seek to change their belief system.
It's Bajak Tolkot who invites the world to visit the Menatawai islands, to witness their way of life before it's too late. I really hope very few people take him on this invitation. I realize that an influx of tourists could bring a much needed infusion of prosperity to the Mentawai, but it would also accelerate the demise of their way of life, or turn them into performers; wearing their loin cloths and brandishing their arrows for the tourists' cameras.
In the documentary, I've seen young Mentawai wearing graphic t-shirts, including one of Donald Duck, posing next to a traditional Mentawai tribesmen. So the infiltration has already started, and not before too long, the baseball caps will appear as well. It's a shame that similar cultures and traditional ways of life can so swiftly disappear.
My thanks to Cathy Scholl for the heads-up on this movie.
Joey L. : The Mentawai (The Movie)
In The Shadow of Everest At RMA
The Rubin Museum of Art in New York City is showing the photographs of Tom Wool in an exhibition In The Shadow of Everest, which runs until July 26, 2010.
Coming from a fashion photography background, Tom Wool has devoted himself to work for humanitarian organizations. Using a medium format Hasselblad, he photographed Tibet's Rongbuk Valley and its inhabitants in May 2001.
The valley stretches about 30 miles from the base of Mount Everest on the north side, and is home to some 3,000 Tibetans. It's considered sacred, with deep religious connotations to the Tibetans. The valley is home to the Rongbuk Monastery, the highest of any in the world at 17,000 feet above sea level.
Fons Rademakers: Haridwar Kumbh Mela
I've featured so much work from various photographers, and seen so many photographs of the Nagas and pilgrims here and elsewhere, it's as if I've been there myself. I'm pretty sure these photographers who were at the Kumbh will either recognize each others work, or recognize the subjects.
However, here's the work of Fons Rademakers who's a physicist working at CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research) in Geneva, where the largest particle accelerator is operated and where the World Wide Web began as a project. Fons leads a software project that provides programs for data processing and analysis, but started his connection with photography when 12 years old, and regards it as his passion next to physics and computing.
I would recommend to Fons that he ought to consider moving his many other photo galleries from SmugMug to his own website. They're certainly worth showing in a more professional medium.
John Batdorff II: Peru
It runs in the family, as they say.
John Batdorff II is the son of two avid photographers, and it was only natural that he was "infected by" the same passion. Based in Chicago and in Ennis (Montana), John developed his craft early on by photographing for his family's newspaper, and enhanced it by specializing in landscape and travel photography.
His work has been exhibited in museums and featured in various publications.
While John's galleries include one of India, I'm bucking my own trend this time and featuring his work of Peru.
Revamp: The Travel Photographer's Website
It took a while, but I completed setting up two websites based on the popular WordPress F.8 theme that will run in parallel to my current website.
The first WordPress-based website contains 15 photo galleries, which are also iTouch and iPad-compatible.
The second WordPress-based website contains 8 audio-slideshows.
The Travel Photographer's original HTML/Flash-based website still remains as is.
The Jetty of Malacca
The Jetty (N2 11.205 E102 14.870) of Malacca (Melaka) is located behind the Holiday Inn Hotel. You will notice the hotel while driving on Jalan Syed Abdul Aziz, but you can see The Jetty unless you drive to the back of the Hotel.
We visited the area on one Saturday night, and this place was actually a Night Life Entertainment area! Where you can see many youngsters hanging around...
The long jetty is occupied with Pubs, Clubs, Lounges, KTV and restaurants....it's about 400 meter from end to end. If you think it's too long to walk, there was a tram which carry visitors from start until the end of The Jetty.
But I prefer to walk and come back with the tram...
Along the way, you can see the 'Eye of Malaysia' on the other side (during our visit), but I'm not sure about now...too bad I didn't bring my tripod to take a few shots of the Wheel.
You will definitely LOVE this place if you like to hang around the Pubs!
Actually it's nothing much for us...or maybe I'm not suitable or maybe I'm too old...haha!
We left The Jetty of Malacca after we had some light food at the food court area...
The entrance of 'The Jetty'
We visited the area on one Saturday night, and this place was actually a Night Life Entertainment area! Where you can see many youngsters hanging around...
The long jetty is occupied with Pubs, Clubs, Lounges, KTV and restaurants....it's about 400 meter from end to end. If you think it's too long to walk, there was a tram which carry visitors from start until the end of The Jetty.
But I prefer to walk and come back with the tram...
Along the way, you can see the 'Eye of Malaysia' on the other side (during our visit), but I'm not sure about now...too bad I didn't bring my tripod to take a few shots of the Wheel.
Crowded within the main entrance during the weekend.
You will definitely LOVE this place if you like to hang around the Pubs!
Actually it's nothing much for us...or maybe I'm not suitable or maybe I'm too old...haha!
We left The Jetty of Malacca after we had some light food at the food court area...
One of the Bar at The Jetty, Malacca
Location map of The Jetty of Malacca
Another visit to Glutton Street of Muar town, Johor.
We came to this Glutton street (N2 02.811 E102 34.123) of Muar a few times but just didn't snap some photos of the foods we had until this trip...
The street was busy as usual every day when you pass by...we had to parked our car quite so distance from the street. Noted the first building (corner unit) was under renovation or maybe re-furnish, hope they will preserve the colonial architecture...(that was on November 2009) Wondering how's it's look like now?
Initially we wanted to dine in the corner kopitaim (which was my favorite shop) but there were not many stalls available during that time, because it was almost 3pm...
Therefore we decided to try on the second 'kopitiam' which selling the Duck rice/noodle.
I ordered the Stewed Duck noodle immediately, and it was serve on table in a minutes!
And my wife ordered the Fried Carrot cake (菜頭粿) from the stall in-front of the shop...
I'm satisfied with the Stewed Duck Noodle but Disappointed about the Fried Carrot Cake!
Anyway, I think it's all because of the Historical reason...where many peoples live and grow from the street (or maybe within the vincity), they are so familiar with the foods taste here! It doesn't matter how, that are their childhood taste! That will be same as myself...
We had a walked around the street after our meal. Found another back alley also full of hawker stalls, "We will be back again!" I told my wife. Haha!
Lastly, spotted this 'Traditional Barber shop' along the street...
The street was busy as usual every day when you pass by...we had to parked our car quite so distance from the street. Noted the first building (corner unit) was under renovation or maybe re-furnish, hope they will preserve the colonial architecture...(that was on November 2009) Wondering how's it's look like now?
The Glutton Street of Muar
The corner kopitiam at Glutton Street
The Famous Roasted Pork stall still operating...
Therefore we decided to try on the second 'kopitiam' which selling the Duck rice/noodle.
The Duck rice/noodle stall on the second shop
I ordered the Stewed Duck noodle immediately, and it was serve on table in a minutes!
Stewed Duck
The noodle (dry type)
And my wife ordered the Fried Carrot cake (菜頭粿) from the stall in-front of the shop...
The Fried Carrot Cake hawker along Glutton Street
The Fried Carrot Cake
I'm satisfied with the Stewed Duck Noodle but Disappointed about the Fried Carrot Cake!
Anyway, I think it's all because of the Historical reason...where many peoples live and grow from the street (or maybe within the vincity), they are so familiar with the foods taste here! It doesn't matter how, that are their childhood taste! That will be same as myself...
We had a walked around the street after our meal. Found another back alley also full of hawker stalls, "We will be back again!" I told my wife. Haha!
The back alley with full of hawkers
Lastly, spotted this 'Traditional Barber shop' along the street...
Traditional Barber Shop
Location map of Glutton Street of Muar Town
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