TRAVEL IDEAS

My Book: Bali Island of Gods Update 2

I've received the full version of my book Bali: Island of Gods from Blurb, and I'm happy with it. The variations in tone have been evened out, and the photographs are much better looking than in the sample I got last week. Phew!

I will have two versions of the book (82 pages of black & white photographs) on Blurb's bookstore. A large (13x11 inches) landscape hardcover version that'll be more expensive aimed at those who like me a lot, and a standard (10x8 inches) landscape hardcover version aimed at those who like me a little less. Those who are indifferent don't have to buy either...but wishing me luck with it would be nice.

Both versions will be available in a few days....and will be announced here.

Marc Riboud: Magnificent Traveler

Annick Cojean, journalist at Monde, says it well about Marc Riboud:

"This man is free. This man is passionate. He's a magnificent traveler which the world continues to amaze. He loves life and intensely photographs it", which underscores what Riboud says of himself: "Rather than a profession, photography has always been a passion for me, a passion closer to obsession."

Born in Lyon, Riboud takes his first photographs in 1937 at the Paris Exposition Universelle with a Vest-Pocket (I never heard of this camera?)**. Having fought in 1944, he studies engineering during the late 40s and works in a factory, but decides to take up photography full time in 1948. He's later on invited to Magnum by Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Capa.

In 1955, he travels by road to the Middle East, Afghanistan and finally India where he stays for a year, then on to China. He travels to the Soviet Union, covers the war of independence in Algeria and between 1968-1969 worked in North and South Vietnam.

Marc Riboud published a large number of books, and was awarded many prizes and recognitions from the Overseas Press Club, a Time-Life Achievement award, a Lucie Award and the ICP Infinity Award.

They certainly don't make them like Marc Riboud anymore.

** Gerald Beetham graciously emailed saying that the Kodak Vest-Camera was an older bellows roll film camera smaller than most contemporary cameras (hence the Vest Pocket name). Beginning around 1915, they were manufactured under many different models reaching popularity in the 30's and 40's.

POV: Face Covered, Women Only...Must Be Islamic!

Photo © Gali Tibbon/Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

But it's not. The caption as per the WSJ Photo Journal is this:

"A member of the religious group Women of the Wall wore the traditional Jewish prayer shawl of men called the tallit during a prayer service at the women’s section of the Western Wall in Jerusalem Monday."

So the traditional Jewish prayer procedures at the Western Wall call for the separation of women from the men, and for women to cover their heads and faces?

Huh? You mean like in traditional Islam?

Gosh.

Enrico Martino: Tango Soul

Here's a wonderful multimedia essay by the talented Enrico Martino on the ageless, eternal and graceful dance of Argentina, the tango. Originating in Spain or Morocco, the tango was introduced to the New World by the Spanish settlers, freed African slaves and gauchos in Buenos Aires around the 1880s.

Tango is not a dance, but a particular way of seeing and enjoying life...it's a way of life, where seduction by both sexes is disguised by dance moves and steps. But no one is fooled...in my view, tango is another word for seduction.

This multimedia will be one of the pieces that I shall use as examples for my future students at the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop...in Buenos Aires. I especially liked the man's voice-over...soulful, melancholic...and also virile and passionate. Perhaps the Ken Burns effect is used a little too much for my linking, but the sequencing of the black & white photographs is wonderful all the same.

At one point, the narrator tells us that no foreigner can write tango. Yes, I absolutely agree.

Enrico Martino is an editorial, geographic and documentary photojournalist specialized in travel and cultural assignments requiring in-depth research. He's a contributor to Italian and international magazines, to include Meridiani, "D"-Repubblica, Epoca, Espresso, Panorama, Focus, Gente Viaggi, In Viaggio, Airone, Panorama Travel, Sette, Traveller, Tuttoturismo, Elle, Marie Claire, Merian, Spiegel, Die Zeit, Jeune Afrique, Altair, Rutas del Mundo.

Wall Street The Restaurant & Bar at Taman Austin Perdana, Johor Bahru

Wall Street The Restaurant & Bar (N1 32.948 E103 47.165) is located at Jalan Austin Perdana 3/10, Taman Austin Perdana - Johor Bahru. This is the only Cocktail Bar at Johor Bahru for the moment.

The Colourful LED lighting decoration which made the place special and nice, probably the Only one at Johor Bahru too! At least I'm attracted! :)

The facade of Wall Street The Restaurant & Bar

The History of Wall Street & Bursa Malaysia

Read it if you are not sure what is 'Wall Street' or 'Bursa Malaysia'. :)

All the tables are light up with the Blue LED Lighting and the Bar Counter is decorated with the combination of Blue & Red LED.

The Bar Counter

It is a Nice environment to drinks and chat with friends. I Love the atmosphere!

The Feedback LCD is mounted before the Washroom

The owner of the Bar is accept every customers feedback, please do speak out your comments and you might be the lucky one to enjoy the Free drinks on the house! There is the poster of www.malfreemaps.com which is featured by the Bar hanging on the wall side-by-side with the screen.
Beside the indoor area, there's another outdoor session which is A Garden setting, many customers like this area, which is always full! :)

The Garden area of Wall Street Cocktail Bar

The Bar Counter, view from the Garden area

You will be Surprise when you go into the washroom...

There are 3 pretty ladies watching you when you pee....:) Haha!

There are many Nice posters hanging on the wall to make the environment more comfortable. I'm enjoyed reading each of them...

The poster on the wall...

Another Special of this Bar is, all the prices of the drinks are fluctuate like the Stock Market (operated by application software), where the name "Wall Street" came into the picture. There will be the max. and min. price and you can monitor it from most of the LCD screen in the Bar.

The LCD screen shows the current prices of the drinks.

Once you look at the screen, follow by Select your drinks...:)

Others than Brandy, Whiskey and Cocktail, they are also serve Beer, coffee and tea. I tasted the House Coffee which was very nice! We were invited by the Boss - Mr Freddy Tay for the soft opening, and he offered some Cocktails to us! Great! (But I'm not good in tasting the Cocktail...)
First, it was the B52 (Wow! On the flame!)

The B52 - Cocktail

Do you notice the Flame?

Then follow by the one jug of Long Island Tea...my goodness!

After tasted all the cocktail, I still went back to my favorite...Beer. :)

The Bar also provided Free internet service through Wi-Fi. It was pretty Fast! Try out yourself...

It was a Joyful night having our drinks at Wall Street The Restaurant & Bar.

Mr Freddy Tay (the owner) who busy setting up the computer during the Pre-market...

The Cocktail glass

This will be One Nice place for friend's gathering, business discussion with your clients or even celebrate your Birthday Party! Please visit the Wall Street Cocktail Bar with the Total New Concept of drinking place! (The restaurant at 1st floor will be operating somewhere in January 2011)

Wall Street The Restaurant & Bar

8, Jalan Austin Perdana 3/10,

Taman Austin Perdana, 81100 Johor Bahru.

Tel : +6016 722 5697

www.wallstreetjb.com

Location map of Wall Street The Restaurant & Bar at Johor Bahru.

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Dilla Djalil-Daniel: Kolkata's Durga Puja

Dilla Djalil-Daniel is a photographer currently living in Jakarta, and just returned from Kolkata where she photographed the city's exuberant festival of Durga Puja.

Although she travels around the world for her photography, especially in Asia and has a large portfolio that ought to be shown on her own personal website, Dilla has yet to have one. It's a shame really...but to make up for it, here's a selection of her Durga Puja work.

Durga Puja is the biggest festival in Bengal, and it's also known as Dussehra and Navaratri in other parts of India. Durga is the goddess of divine power against all evils. The festival traditionally starts when thousands offer prayers to their ancestors at the city's ghats, and drummers with ceremonial drums descend on the city. During the festival, thousands of pandals (structures to carry the religious icons and idols) are on display all over Kolkata, and are visited by throngs of people. On the final day of the festival, these pandals with the idols are carried in processions, and immersed in the Ganges.

In Support of Joao Silva

The New York Times contract photographer Joao Silva, one of the major conflict photojournalists of our time, stepped on a mine while on assignment in Afghanistan a couple of weeks ago, and as a consequence his legs have had to be amputated below the knees. He is now recovering at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC.

His friends have set up a new website to raise funds for him by selling some of his prints. So please consider helping him by buying a print, by making a donation, or by forwarding/tweeting this post.