Sparkle of the Old Souq

[Mutrah Souq, Oman]

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Latitude: 23.621125
Longitude: 58.562214

The Golden Contrast (& A New Journey!)

 

Yesterday, on my last day in Dubai, I took a little walk along the creek outside our compound to see what I could see as the sun went down. I personally may not see as much worth as others do in Architectural Photography (don’t ask me why), however I definitely noticed something this time.

Dubai is not just the opulent city of gold and money that many see it as. It’s not just the gateway to anywhere else in the world too. It’s a wide world in it’s own right. Walking along the creek I walked by many boats worked by people of all backgrounds; from Indians to Filipinos. Whilst they’re on deck they’re also catering to tourists from every destination imaginable; from the United States to China and Russia. It’s a world in itself.

Not only that, it’s not actually as urban as it may appear. It’s not all high-rises and skyscrapers, this part of Dubai is the old and historic part of the city. Just look at the photo: You may see just some boats on the river in front of some buildings, but I see contrast. Juxtaposition. I see the difference between the urban future and the developing past, in the present. These old fishing, tour, and cargo boats and dhows sitting in front of Bank headquarters in a cosmopolitan city represents just that.

In other news, this photo also marks the beginning of a new chapter in my life. As of tomorrow, I will officially be in University. Undoubtedly I will be in a financial hole, with travelling being very limited, however this will not stop me from doing what I love doing. I will be attending the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, and if that doesn’t present me new photographic experiences I don’t know what will. Not only that but I am constantly digging up old photos I’ve taken from across the world for you to see. So I will definitely keep going.

So farewell Dubai. I’ll be back soon. Hello London!

 

[Dubai Creek, Bur Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates]

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Latitude: 25.265071

Longitude: 55.302220

Golden Path

 

This is another old favourite of mine from back in Burma. This is a shot of one of the few paths up to the Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the most famous and sacred Pagodas in Burma. This shot is a perfect example of why Burma is titled: The Golden Land. Every year this Pagoda undergoes a ‘refurbishing’ where the coat of gold has to be restored. The sheer price of the pagoda itself is incredible, and it shines a beautiful light across the capital city of Rangoon.

Actually at the foot of the pagoda, there is a circle lined with statues of the 8 Burmese Zodiacs, each of which correspond to a certain day in the week. There is 8 because the Burmese have an extra day which we treat as Wednesday Morning and Wednesday Afternoon, represented as the White Elephant with it’s trunk raised and the White Elephant with the trunk down respectively.

I myself, being born on a Tuesday, am a Chinthe under the Burmese Zodiac. A Chinthe is a sacred Leonid creature which is revered in the Burmese culture; used as a sign of strength and protection. Giant Chinthe statues are often found outside many sacred Buddhist sites in Burma, as they are constructed to spiritually protect the site.

 

[Shwedagon Pagoda, Rangoon, Burma]

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Latitude: 16.798436

Longitude: 96.149464

Wasteland Queen

 

I found this little beauty in a small field that has not exactly been receiving the same dose of rain as the rest of Ethiopia. Makes you wonder about the various ways to survive in the world.

 

[Addis Ababa, Ethiopia]

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Latitude: 9.060620

Longitude: 38.775672

Silhouettes

 

There are many ways one can photograph a sunset. Sometimes however one must look for the less seen elements in the photo, to really capture something beautiful and mysterious.

 

[Zanzibar, Tanzania]

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Latitude: -5.909170

Longitude: 39.183960

Empire of the Dragon

Asia is a land full of mysteries, with incredible discoveries in each country and around every corner.
Vietnam is sometimes known as the land of the dragon, and its home to one of the most beautiful natural wonders of the world. Ha long Bay. Asia cannot be denied as one of the most beautiful lands on earth.

 

[Ha long Bay, Vietnam]

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Latitude: 20.813689

Longitude: 107.190170