Laos in infrared

While I was in Vang Vieng in Laos, I shot some photos in color infrared. Infrared doesn't capture "heat," but it changes color according to the amount of infrared reflection being given off by an object. Green leaves turn red, and the military used the film to spot camoflauged objects from real foliage.


Schoolboys


Schoolgirls

Deja Vu?

So you might be wondering why the photo above looks a lot alike the photo from one of my earliest post. Instead of moving out, I'm moved back in. Yep, that's right, my long trip ended exactly where it began... Berkeley, California (Go Bears!). I've actually been back in school for a couple of weeks now, but I'll be posting some new photos from time to time. I still have a couple of hundred more shots to scan still! And who knows where I'll end up next, there's always an international project waiting for my thesis, hah!

Farewell for now...

Scenes from Hanoi

Ah Hanoi, what a beautiful city. Great food, and fantastic scenery.

Huc Bridge to Ngoc Sam Temple


Old men playing chess at Ngoc Sam Temple. Have to love a place where people gather to play games and talk with friends.




The Temple of Literature was founded in 1070 as a Confucian temple. The first university of Vietnam was established within the temple, and it educated Mandarin scholars for over 700 years.

Woman fanning herself selling water and incense.



The gift shop inside sold these water puppets. Creeps me out with all these beady eyes staring at you.


There's something to be said for simple photographs.


Black and white entrance to the courtyard

Halong Bay part deux

What better way to appreciate the natural beauty of Halong Bay then go kayaking around? Beautiful scenery, plus I got the chance to work off all the bowls of pho.

We first had to take a boat like this...

... to stay in some island cabinas...

... and sleep under bednets...

... and getting a firsthand view of the rain.

When it poured, it poured!


The kayaking was spectacular, these photos do not do the scenery justice.



Did I mention it was raining? Can't imagine why BOTH my digital cameras no longer work now... can't imagine how they got wet.

Such a serene special place.

Hello to Halong

One of the most popular tourist sites in Vietnam is the wonderfully sublime Halong Bay. It was fantastic to see the more than 3000 prehistoric-looking rock outcroppings emerging from the emerald green water.




Even though the bay is a "protected" site, there are many floating fishing villages established in the bay. Unfortunately, that also means that there is a lot of floating trash as well.


The floating villages were completely analogous to their land counterparts, complete with a floating bar and pool table, a floating temple, and yes, there was even a floating boat hawking sundries and vegetables. Some huts had tv antennas as wide as they were attached to them.


People also lived their entire lives aboard their fishing boats. Can't be an easy life.

Colorful still-life in Hoi An

Hoi An was a very colorful town. I was lucky to get these shots before the humidity got to my camera and it went kaput, doh!

Lanterns being made, hung, and lit at night.







Door and window shutter

Hello Vietnam!

Well, after saying my sad farewells to the 'desh, I just couldn't bring myself to go home, at least not quite yet. Next stop Vietnam!

One of the first place I visited was the trading outpost of Hoi An, a coastal town that's been declard a world heritage site. At one point, it traded with the Chinese, Dutch, Japanese, and Indians, about 300-400 years ago was its hey-day. Now it's just a major tourist attraction in Vietnam, I can see why. It's beautifully preserved with it's building painted in vibrant colors, and I can easily spend a week just wandering around the narrow alleyways getting lost.




Of course, with the proximity to the ocean, water is a major part of the culture.
Floating basket maker



Pointing out the fish to scoop out


It actually rained quite a bit, so people did what they could to stay dry. Lots of plastic bags being worn, even those without airholes! People even wore a massive poncho that had a clear "window" for the headlight of the motorbike to shine through.

Farewell to the 'desh

Well, the time has come to say goodbye to Bangladesh. My STOP assignment is now over, and it'll be sad to leave it behind. I've made some good friends, and I have nothing but good memories. Despite Bangladesh being one of the most corrupt countries in the world, the people are genuinely warm and friendly- their government and public officials definitely are not representive of everyday Bangladeshis. I think I've been invited to drink so much tea with people, my blood type is now chai, hah.

Anyways, I couldn't possibly leave Bangladesh without taking some street photos one last time! Enjoy...

Street flooding


School bus


The mysterious floating umbrella


Pan seller


Cloth rider


Karen was doing her best trying to blend in with the locals. I guess it worked since shopkeepers addressed her as "sister," a term for muslim women. Personally, I thought it was a good Jackie O impression, hah!


I couldn't tell if this buggy ride was for pleasure or for work. The carriages kind of looked like the ones that take tourist around Central Park, but they were overloaded with people and cargo like the rickshaws are. Go figure...


Finishing up all his rice


Butcher and his wares


Street shave



Flowers for your memories?