Photos from the Shoebox: Thaipusam Festival, Singapore 1991

If you had a 35mm camera you probably have a shoebox full of pictures that you never got around to sorting and putting in an album. In this series “Photos from the Shoebox” I take them out of the closest and shine light on them once more.

You can’t live life without feeling some pain. It’s January in Singapore and thousands of devotees have come together to participate in the Hindu Festival of Thaipusam. Based on the legend of Lord Murugan, who slayed demons causing chaos on earth, the festival is a celebration of good over evil.

The walk of faith

Devotees prepare one month ahead by purifying their minds and bodies by eating a strict vegetarian diet and abstaining from sexual pleasures. Then on the day of the festival hundreds will be pierced with hooks, skewers or lances. Men will carry heavy structures called Kavadis while women and youth take part by carrying milk pots as offerings. Some will pierce their tongues.

Cleansing the soul through physical suffering

Some devotees pull chariots with hooks pierced in their backs. They put themselves into a trance like state which stops them from feeling pain.

The ultimate show of devotion

Some devotees carry spiked Kavadis that can reach three to four metres in height, and weigh at least 30kgs. They are decorated with peacock feathers and flowers.

Full moon festival

It’s a festival of blessings, fulfilling vows and offering thanks. Participants join the pilgrimage which starts at the Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple and stretches over 4 km to the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.

Hindu Temple

It’s not an easy festival to watch especially if you’re the least bit squeamish but it certainly shows how far one will go to express their devotion and faith. The event is held on the day of the full moon in the Tamil month of Thai. This year the festival falls on February 3, 2015.

Photos from the Shoebox: Overland From Kathmandu to Lhasa 1990

If you had a 35mm camera you probably have a shoebox full of pictures that you never got around to sorting and putting in an album. In this series “Photos from the Shoebox” I take them out of the closest and shine light on them once more.

Often the journey is as interesting as the destination. My best friend and I had been in Nepal for almost two months. We had done the obligatory mountain treks and explored the city and its surroundings to its extent. We started to get that feeling. You’ve probably felt it too, the feeling of itchy feet, the need to move. It was November in Kathmandu and winter would soon arrive.

The Friendship Highway

“Why not journey into Tibet?,” we mused. We found a tour operator who had one last overland trip to Lhasa before snow made the highway impassable. Back then in the 1990’s you had to join an approved tour. There was no opportunity for lone, off the beaten path type of travel.

Life along the highway

We spent days in line-ups getting our visas and cashing in some traveller’s cheques to join an eclectic group of geriatric Americans, mid-aged Brits, a pair of young Swedish female backpackers and a couple of mysterious lone travellers.

The pass

The best place to sit in a bus? Front seats. From this point of vantage the windshield becomes your big screen TV. On one leg of the journey we drove for about seven hours over stark scenery that was beautifully barren and monochromatic.

Curious nomad

What started out as a black dot on the horizon soon materialized into flesh and blood. A curious nomad left his herd to come and check us out. It was not often they came across foreigners.

The arid land looked like a moonscape

As hours and kilometres ticked by we had the luxury of immersing ourselves in personal reflection. It was the perfect condition for an introvert like myself.

On the road again

Every Tibetan we came across greeted us with an excited exuberance, always laughing and asking for the same thing. They all wanted a picture of the Dalai Lama, forbidden by the Chinese.

Curious Tibetan children

The locals were peculiarly the same colour as the landscape – mottled shades of brown, blue and grey and often covered with dirt.

Life passes by

I can’t imagine living in this environment. It may be a simple life but it’s a harsh existence.

Our bus took a beating

Our bus took a beating breaking two springs and putting up with a bunch of progressively cranky travellers confined inside its metal box.

Beautiful Yamdrok Lake

On the fourth day the browns and greys gave way to a beautiful turquoise. We’ve made it to sacred Yamdrok Lake, one of Tibet’s three holy lakes.

One last stop before Lhasa. Boiled eggs for lunch again.

Time always seems to pass slower as you get closer to your final destination. Patience is in short supply. Anxiousness takes its place. Finally, we reached Lhasa where a nice Holiday Inn greeted us with a hot shower, comfortable bed and decent food. After a long, tiring journey who doesn’t like a little pampering?

Photos from the Shoebox: Rafting on the Trisuli River, Nepal 1990

If you had a 35mm camera you probably have a shoebox full of pictures that you never got around to sorting and putting in an album. In this series “Photos from the Shoebox” I take them out of the closest and shine light on them once more.

My months long trip to Asia began with the desire to seek adventure. Back in the 90’s, without the influence of the internet, the world was still a huge mysterious place. The pages of the National Geographic, with its colourful, glossy photos sparked the imaginations of those seeking the exotic. And so, with my like-minded best friend, I left Canada to explore the far side of the world.

A broken axle gave us the opportunity to hike ahead

One of those exotic places was Nepal. We thought a nice and easy introduction would be to take a white water rafting trip down the Trisuli River. We would plunge into the unknown with the help of a guide and fellow travellers. Getting out of Kathmandu was easy. Traversing the chewed up, pot-holed dirt road was another thing.

Photos from the Shoebox: Kovalam Beach, India, 1991

If you had a 35mm camera you probably have a shoebox full of pictures that you never got around to sorting and putting in an album. In this series “Photos from the Shoebox” I take them out of the closest and shine light on them once more.

Sagara ’91

My shoebox of photos sits under my desk. Lately, it’s been calling me. I know I’ve neglected it so I guess it’s about time to let a few of the photos out again. Back in the 90’s it was easy to detach yourself from everyday life. You could traipse half way around the world and lose yourself in adventure without distraction of the internet, e-mail or text. 

Photos from the Shoebox: Philippines – June 12, 1998

If you had a 35mm camera you probably have a shoebox full of pictures that you never got around to sorting and putting in an album. In this series “Photos from the Shoebox” I take them out of the closest and shine light on them once more.

The Grandstand.

Today is Philippines Independence Day so I thought I’d share my photos from June 12, 1998 when the Philippines celebrated its 100th year of independence from Spain. There was a big celebration in Manila so we started the day early knowing we’d be competing with millions of people wanting to get a good spot for the parade.

Photos from the Shoebox: Annapurna Trek, Nepal 1990

If you had a 35mm camera you probably have a shoebox full of pictures that you never got around to sorting and putting in an album. In this series “Photos from the Shoebox” I take them out of the closest and shine light on them once more.

The Annapurna is a section of the Himalayas where many trekkers of all skill levels find their nirvana. They say about two-thirds of all trekkers who Nepal visit this region. My friend and I were no exception.

The sacred Mt. Machhapuchhare (Fish Tail in Nepali)

Before our trek we had gone on an rafting trip so this was our second time going to Pokhara from Kathmandu. The bus ride was as rough as ever but at least we didn’t break an axle. Along the way we picked up about 35 white water rafters and changed to a bigger bus. It gave me the opportunity to ride on top of the bus and is something I’ve always wanted to do. We still had about 100 km and three hours to go but I was excited. We rolled into camp around 6:30pm and the view from the top of the bus of the setting sun over the Annapurna range was so unbelievable I forgot how cold I was. 

Photos from the Shoebox: Hong Kong 1993

If you had a 35mm camera you probably have a shoebox full of pictures that you never got around to sorting and putting in an album. In this series “Photos from the Shoebox” I take them out of the closest and shine light on them once more.

Victoria Harbour

The great thing about living in a multi-cultural city like Toronto is that you have the opportunity to make friends with people of different nationalities.  I have friends that come from all over the world from Africa to Vietnam to Germany. It’s fascinating to learn about their cultures and if you’re lucky, when they take a trip back home, you might be able to tag along. I took advantage of this when I was still in university and one of my friends decided to work the summer in Hong Kong.