Dharavi slum

My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

India | Sunday, January 13, 2013 | 5 photos

DESCRIPTION OF MY PICTURES :

Three weeks ago, I had been to one of the biggest slums in the world, called Dharavi, close to Mumbai. I had the feeling that the India was not only masala dosa, bollywood movies and hindou temples and I "needed" to walk on a district like this one.

There always is a difference between what you see (on the television) and what you feel, in real life. I disagree that documentaries about slums are sold with a box of tissue and almost always show negative or bad things. That's why I send you this five pictures, according to my own experience of a slum. Five pictures which are not sad. Because people are born on slum and die on slum, but between the both, they live, they work, they raise children and, as all places in this world, fortunately, they can be happy, they can smile, even if they are poor, even if they live in atrocious conditions. Money does not buy happiness and the part of the slum I have visited prove me again this proverb.

ABOUT ME :

I am a computer scientist without glasses or belly who travels alone for a year from Sri Lanka to Japan. And, during my spare time, I manage a documentary website in France (2500 visits a day).

My dream is to become a reporter / writer / photographer. I hope this year will bring me closer to this dream. Okay, I know, it's maybe a unachievable dream, but, why don't I try? I don't want to have any regrets when I will be 70 years old, sitting on a rocking chair, slippers in my feet, knitting an ugly wool sweater...

Currently, I am in India but for you (and only for you!), I can make some concessions and be available to stay in Oman 10 days (and more, if you need me more times) :D

You need to choose me as the winner of this competition, because... I always have a big smile on my face, and even if I speak english as a spanish cow [french expression...], I am a good company. I love taking pictures (just in case...), I love learning (an other dream would be to stay as a student all my life...), I love travelling and I am afraid of nothing (except spiders and lifts, brrr!).