They maybe loud, maybe bad taste, but surely fierce. These gang of mamas just hiked to this Icy Lake on 4100m, next to one of the most remote village Yubeng, in China, without a gasp.
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They maybe loud, maybe bad taste, but surely fierce. These gang of mamas just hiked to this Icy Lake on 4100m, next to one of the most remote village Yubeng, in China, without a gasp.
I met Keith in the New York South Ferry Terminal, the 45 years old man who came from Staten Island told me there’s nothing in Staten Island, including opportunity, that’s why he came to Manhattan for jobs. He pointed to the construction site next to the ferry terminal, which used to be an awesome fish market, he sighed about how Manhattan is losing its originality.
Many jobs he tried over the years, including go go dancer, and he’s still proud of his muscular figure.
Recently he became homeless cause his woman kicked him out, but the day I met him came a good news, that he just got a job that sells city tour to tourists on the street. March of 2015 was still very cold and windy in New York, that makes working outdoor pretty tough, I said “nothing comes easy, you gotta work for it hey.” Keith looking at the cold and cloudy Manhattan outside, nodding his head in agreement, replied “yes Sir yes Sir.”
Roger built this “pirate boat” entirely by himself, this is his third after the previous two were sold. Cubans are famous for their engineering talent in building something out of waste, Roger being an engineer and electrician, so he knows all the bolts and nuts. In 1999, he built a speed boat for bolseros (illegal immigrates from Cuba) out of oil tanks, the sealed air within made the boat shall never sank.
Two years ago his older daughter, together with other bolseros took a two days journey on a fishing boat to Miami, she succeed in landing USA and got a residency, she’s now working as an unlicensed dentist within the Cuban community in Miami meanwhile studying English, that gave Roger a great comfort.
The path going down the cliff to view Texolo Falls, at the entrance says please pay 5 pesos each formaintenance of the path, but there was no one collecting money. Later I saw these father and son couple fixing some steps with wood, then I handed them 5 pesos.
The whole path was securely constructed with wood and bamboo, no frills but blend in well with the nature. 5 pesos entrance is definitely cheap, same as using a public toilet in Mexico. Señor told me next year they are going to extend the path to the other side of the valley for different angle of the falls.
For such hard work with little income from the entrance, so I asked if the government subsidizes the construction. They said no, it’s actually their own land, and he thinks turning it into an official touristy spot doesn’t benefit visitor nor them, cause ticket will be much higher but much money will goes to administration and paper work, besides corruption.
Sometimes people comes from low income family or has difficulty to pay they will waive their entrance, on the other hand some visitors will put down more than they should, señor thinks it’s better stay that way, it’s all about trust, about humanity.
Texolo Falls is more beautiful than what your eyes can see.
Yubeng is the new Tiger Leaping Gorge in Northern Yunnan, China, many trekkers come here to get a closer look at Kawa Karpo, at 6740m, the highest peak of the mountain range that separate Tibet and Yunnan. For Tibetans, they don’t come here for the scenery, nor they are keen on mountain climbing, but they are here for the Sacred Falls, which its water comes from the ice below Kawa Karpo and it’s considered holy for them.
I ran into this Tibetan family of three generations on the way to the falls, they just walked 5 hours across the mountain to Yubeng (which I spent 7.5 hours the previous day), then immediately came to the Sacred Falls. The 80 years old grandma, who initiated this trip, perhaps a bit tired, was quiet and bland, until her prayer was made under the falls, she smiled so big that showed her dentures.
Flip-flop may spell home or beach to a lot of online readers, but in developing countries it is slippers, sneakers, cleats and hiking boots all in one. Here in Philippines, a father with two sons, one sat on his lap, were sitting tightly on a jeepney, from their worn out flip-flop I see practicality, adaptability, humbleness, and intimacy of a family.
A bunch of amateur photographers were chasing after this maiko, while she was walking back after a tea ceremony at a shrine. When she arrive her house, before entering, she politely and gracefully turned around and posed for us.
In one of my many snaps, I got this one while she was blinking, normally a picture to discard, but it seems so right here as if she closed her eyes deliberately, maybe praying, maybe thinking, maybe imagining something, it’s up to your interpretation, anyway it’s definitely more interesting.
If you like portraits and human interest, come visit my site http://www.eyesofchris.com You may see more you like.
It was Sumo wrestling season in Japan, and I knew that Sumo players will pray at Iseshingu, one of the three most important shrine in Japan, before the match. But I thought I missed them since I couldn’t get there as early as 7am. At almost midday, while I was leaving the shrine in rain along crazy gust, suddenly a path was cleared and Sumo players rushing down the bridge and get on taxis, their appearance surprised every shrine visitors.
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