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Portraits 31 images Created 9 Mar 2009

From a Japanese child's face on 7-5-3 day, all decked out in kimono to an elderly Vietnamese granny doing Tai Chi in her pyjamas, the faces of Asia is one of my favorite collections as it requires a personal touch to get the shot right, rather than the paparazzi pot shot that rarely captures the essence of a human being. Travels throughout Asia puts me in contact with many types of people, from young novice monks in Laos or Cambodia to the Saddhu holy men of Kathmandu.
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  • Nepali Woman and her Child - The population of Nepal is a mosaic of diverse ethnic groups including the Thakali, Tamang, Newar, Sherpa, Tibetan and Gurung.  This is a meeting place of Indo-Aryan peoples from the Indian subcontinent as well as the Mongoloid people of the Himalaya regions.
    nepali-women-1.jpg
  • Herbalist at the Vientiane Morning Market,  a large collection of indoor and outdoor stalls selling pretty much anything.  This young lady has a fine selection of herbs for sale.  In the good old days, one major herb for sale was marijuana, used mostly as a cooking element with its well-known component for calming people.
    vientiane-morning-market-3.jpg
  • Mr. Duy Viet, a poet, orchid farmer, former mayor of Dalat, and owner of the Stop and Go cafe, lovingly caresses one of his orchids in his villa cafe. Female visitors to the cafe will receive an orchid placed behind their ear as a souvenir. All others will receive friendship.
    stop-and-go-cafe-4.jpg
  • Tokyo Street Fashion - A wide variety of costume play getups can be seen every Sunday in Harajuku - Tokyo's fashion quarter.  Since so many cos-plaers congregate near Tokyo headquarters of Fendi, Hanae Mori and Issey Miyake, some consider this phenomenon to be a reaction to high fashion. Others, such as these girls, appear to be making a statement on fashion itself.
    costume-play-2.jpg
  • One of the most endearing sights of Hanoi is that of its ubiquitous vendors peddling baskets of crackers, fruit or baguettes through the streets.  Whether sold from the back of a bicycle or baskets balanced on bamboo shoulder poles street vendors are a part of the Hanoi scene.
    vietnamese-cracker-vendor.jpg
  • Drinking Tea - Japanese green tea, or ocha is the most common drink in Japan.  Not only is it loaded with vitamin C and caffeine but its antioxidant and healthy properties are making this drink a hit all around the world.
    japanese-tea-drinkers.jpg
  • Food in the Philippines usually means fresh seafood.  Here a Filipino chef shows off his catch of the day - a giant yellowfin tuna caught by one of the local fishermen and delivered fresh to the door of the restaurant.
    yellowfin-tuna-1.jpg
  • In Hinduism, a sadhu is a common term for an ascetic or yogi who has given up pursuit of the first three Hindu goals of life: kama (enjoyment), artha (practical objectives), and dharma (duty). The sadhu is dedicated to achieving the fourth and final Hindu goal of life - liberation through meditation. Sadhus usually wear ochre colored clothing, symbolizing renunciation.
    sadhu-kathmandu-1.jpg
  • Young Japanese boy kitted out in samurai gear. Samurai is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. The samurai followed a set of written rules called the Bushido. Samurai teachings can still be found today in modern day society especially in the world of Japanese martial arts.  Various samurai re-enactments are held throughout Japan, with lots of attention to detail in  costumes and demeanor - not all that much changed since the 12th century.
    samurai-1.jpg
  • Japanese boy at Shichi-Go-San, literally seven-five-three, a traditional rite of passage in Japan held annually on November 15.  The event is not a national holiday, so it is often observed on the nearest weekend and these days througout November.  Boys who are aged three or five and girls who are aged three or seven are dressed in kimono, usually for the first time, for visits to shrines.
    shichi-go-san-3.jpg
  • Flower Hmong girls with a bouquet of yellow roses.  Hmong groups began a gradual southward migration from China due to unrest and to find more arable land - as a result  Hmong now live in several countries in Southeast Asia including Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Burma.  There are various types of Hmong throughout Southeast Asia, including the Flower Hmong shown here, named after the styles of their clothing and costumes.
    flower-hmong-2.jpg
  • Costume Play Diver with Accessories - A wide variety of "costume play" getups: goths, cartoon characters from Japanese manga, anime, the sweet & innocent frilly look of "maids" or combinations in between.  Every Sunday these cosplay characters converge on Harajuku, Tokyo's fashion district to strut their stuff. Most casual observers imagine that cosplay is a reaction to the rigid rules of Japanese society. But since so many cosplay girls congregate in Aoyama - Tokyo headquarters of high fashion designers, some consider this to be a some kind of reaction to orthodox fashion. Whatever the cause cosplay aficionados put a tremendous amount of effort into their costumes, making the phenomenon a hit all around the world.
    costume-play-1.jpg
  • Geisha, or geiko as they are called in Kyoto, are traditionally entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance. Apprentice geisha are called maiko literally "dance child". It is the maiko with her white make-up and elaborate kimono and hairstyle, that has become the stereotype of a geisha to Westerners.
    geisha-1.jpg
  • Nepalese Man in a Sherpa Hat  - The population of Nepal is made up of diverse ethnic groups lncluding the Newar, Sherpa, Thakali, Tamangs, Tibetans and the Gurung.  Nepal is meeting place of Indo-Aryan peoples from the Indian subcontinent as well as the Mongoloid people of the Himalaya regions.
    nepalese-man.jpg
  • Japanese service quality is light years ahead of the rest of the world. Almost everybody who visits Japan raves about it.  The Japanese style of service quality comes very much from their culture and upbringing. From young, kids in Japan were taught religiously - at home or in school - to observe being respectful to their elders and to think of others before themselves.  Delightful service encounters in Japan are fairly universal. You can get it not only in five star hotels, but also in the little family restaurants tucked away in the allies.
    japanese-server-01.jpg
  • Debating Monks at Sera Monastery - One of the striking features of Tibetan monk debates is that they are quite physical. They are marked by emphatic gestures such as the loud clapping of hands used by the questioner to punctuate each question.  These gestures have great symbolic value though debaters are rarely aware of such symbolic meanings, at the time. For them, the clapping and gestures  bring them a clarity that can help mobilize the intellectual capacities of the debaters and capture the attention of the audience.
    debating-tibetan-monks-3.jpg
  • A Japanese man relaxing at an open air hot spring called a "rotemburo" in Japan.  Bathing in a natural atmosphere, among the trees and under open skies is a favorite with Japanese.  Nowadays it is almost a requirement for any hot spring resort to have outdoor baths thanks to their popularity.
    rotemburo-3.jpg
  • Japanese Tempura Chef - Tempura is a popular Japanese dish of deep fried battered meats, seafood, or vegetables. Cooked pieces of tempura are eaten with dipping sauce and commonly served with grated daikon and eaten hot immediately after frying.
    tempura-chef.jpg
  • Rose Vendor - One of the most endearing images of Hanoi is that of its ubiquitous vendors peddling bushels of fresh roses and other items from the back of a bicycle or baskets balanced on bamboo shoulder poles, fresh fruit or flowers are popular items for Hanoi vendors.
    old-hanoi-2.jpg
  • Thai cook proudly displaying her beautifully carved vegetables.  As with most world-class cuisines, the presentation of the food is almost as important as its taste and preparation.  A beautiful Thai smile doesn't hurt in the presentation either.
    thai-smile.jpg
  • Japanese festivals are traditional festive occasions. Some festivals have their roots in Chinese festivals but have undergone dramatic changes as they mixed with local customs.  Matsuri is the Japanese word for a festival. In Japan, festivals are usually sponsored by a local shrine or temple, though they can be secular. There is no specific matsuri days for all of Japan; dates vary from area to area, and even within a specific area, but festival days do tend to cluster around traditional holidays such as Setsubun or Obon. Almost every locale has at least one matsuri in late summer or autumn, usually related to the harvests. Matsuri almost always feature processions which include elaborate floats and "mikoshi" or portable shrines which are paraded around the neighborhood.
    kamakura-matsuri-7.jpg
  • The Miura Peninsula, just south of Tokyo and Yokohama, is one of the most famous spots in Japan for growing bountiful and sweet watermelons.  In winter, the crop changes to daikon radishes, another product for which Miura is famous.
    miura-watermelons-4.jpg
  • The population of Nepal is a mosaic of diverse ethnic groups including the Thakali, Tamang, Newar, Sherpa, Tibetan and Gurung. In other words, the country is a meeting place of Indo-Aryan peoples from the Indian subcontinent and the Mongoliod people of the Himalaya regions.
    nepalese-boy.jpg
  • Costume Play Plastic Jewelry - A wide variety of costume play getups goths, cartoon characters from Japanese manga, anime or combinations in between meet up every Sunday in Harajuku, Tokyo's fashion quarter. Many casual observers suppose cosplay is a reaction to rigid rules in Japanese society but since so many cosplayers flock to Harajuku and Aoyama, Tokyo headquarters of Fendi, Hanae Mori and Issey Miyake, others consider that this may be a reaction to high fashion. Whatever the cause, cosplay aficionados put a tremendous amount of effort into their costumes. One can only wonder what they wear on Monday morning to the office or school...
    costume-play-12.jpg
  • The  population of Bali of three million live mostly on the island making up 90% of Bali's total.  Balinese culture is perhaps most known for its dance, dramas and frequent ceremonies related to their religions and traditions. Balinese culture is a mix of Balinese Hindu  religious custom and native Balinese customs.
    balinese-woman-01.jpg
  • Hoi An Market Vendor - most Vietnamese markets are very colorful and active humming with activity from morning till noon.  You'll find everything from herbs to fresh crabs and other produce.
    hoi-an-market-6.jpg
  • The Chinese drink tea all day long for good health and simple pleasure.   According to popular legend, tea was discovered by Chinese Emperor Shennong when a leaf from a Camellia  tree fell into water the emperor was boiling. Tea is deeply woven into the history and culture of China and is considered one of the seven necessities of life along with firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce and vinegar.
    chinese-teahouse-1.jpg
  • Costume Play Bloody Brunette Nurse - A wide variety of "costume play" getups from nurses, bloddy nurses,  goths, cartoon characters from Japanese manga and anime...Every Sunday cosplayers meet up in Harajuku, Tokyo's fashion quarter and show their latest creations. Casual observers think that cos-play is a reaction to the rigid rules of Japanese society. But since so many cosplay girls Tokyo's high fashion district HQ for Hanae Mori, Fendi and Issey Miyake, some pundits observe that it is rather a reaction to high fashion.  You can't help but imagine what they could possibly wear on Monday mornings though.
    costume-play-3.jpg
  • Lotus Street Vendor, Lotus roots are en edible if not delectable snack popular with Cambodians.
    lotus-roots.jpg
  • Thai man having a chat on his cellphone, showing his ornate dragon tattoo.  Though temporary tattoos are increasingly popular, the real thing e.g. permanent ones, can be works of art and a form of self-expression.
    thai-tatoo.jpg
  • Wearing traditional clothing and hats is the rule rather than the exception in Bali.  This is especially true at festivals and temple visits when wearing sarong is a must to enter.
    balinese-boy-01.jpg