Brazilian students change my perspective

Temples and High Tides

gypsytraveler — Mon, 11 May 2015 15:26:00 GMT

In Bali for my brother’s wedding I was keen on doing some sightseeing whilst I was in the country. I had seen a lot of posters and brochures about a temple on a small island just outside Denpasar. I was determined to see the island for myself and take some sunset photos.

The temple is a Hindu Tanah Lot means "Land and Sea". The temple sits on a large offshore rock which has been shaped continuously over the years by the ocean tide. Tanah Lot is claimed to be the work of the 15th century priest Nirartha and is one of the tourist must see in Bali.

I had been using a local taxi driver for my transport needs and was pretty cheap. I didn't want to use one of the local “transport" mopeds that tourists liked to use, as one had gotten lost for three hours trying to find where I was staying.

Calling my taxi contact I asked him to drive me to the temple. Passing through small villages with rice paddies rushing past the windows the journey takes round thirty minutes to reach the temple. There are markets in the car park that is full with tourists as a weave my way across past paintings, shoes and other various souvenirs.

A set of stairs leads down to a rocky beach with the temple across a small stretch of water sits the temple. Wave’s crash through a small inlet that bridges the gap between the island and the beach which looks a little bit rough but I decide to cross it whilst the light is still good as I have got the shots that I need.

I make my way across what I think is a shallow stretch of water towards the island in the fading light and it turns out that I have under estimated the depth and the current. The water rushes toward me but it is only knee deep so it's not so bad. At about half way through the waves come in a sudden wave rushes up and completely soaks me, including the mobile phone that I have left in my pocket. I make it across otherwise unscathed but dripping wet.

At the base of the temple there are monks dressed in Hindu finery greet people at the base. There is a natural spring of water and people are cupping their hands drinking from the spring. I turn and ask what it is all about and a monk informs me that they are offering blessings for good luck. I drink the Holy Water and the monks sprinkle me with some. They then place a few grains of rice on my forehead for posterity and luck and place a white frangipani behind my ear. I feel somewhat lighter as I cross the water back to the beach.

As I am about to cross back to the beach a small Indonesian family stops me to ask for photos with me as they have never seen someone so blonde. Pretty soon there is a small crowd around me all wanting photos and I am posing with the whole group. They humbly thanks me all wanting to shake my hand, touch my fair skin and I am sure that I will be a topic of discussion for some time.

I make my way back through the crowded markets and head back towards Denpasar quite glad that I have made the journey to this magical place.

The Mayan Salt Mines

gypsytraveler — Mon, 11 May 2015 15:25:42 GMT

As we disembarked our ship in the little town of Progreso, Mexico my friend Ivana and I were looking for something interesting to do to fill our short day in this sleepy yet cute little town. We wandered around and came upon some local markets where treasures of all kinds were up for sale. Fancy a hammock to a hat? What about a tour pretty lady, you look like a movie star? Or just something cool to drink whilst you have your photo taken with a tame iguana, dressed in all it's finery complete with red lips.
We settle on a tour that will set us back fifteen US dollars and promises that we will see Flamingos and a Mayan temple. It will commence in exactly twenty minutes and we pay up.
We board the bus to our tour and pull out of the little town towards the Mayan ruins and flamingo sighting. The Mayan guide informs us that first of all before we stop at the Mayan Temple that we will be experiencing an ancient Mayan Salt Mine. We disembark the bus and we are surrounded by bright orange pools of water, fenced off into perfect squares with ancient rotting wood. The mines were in use until recently and pink salt was mined here. The same chemicals that stain the salt pink also give the local flamingos the pink colour they are well - known for. The guide leans down and expertly plucks a chunk of salt from the glistening water handing it around for the small group to sample. We spend several more moments at this spectacular place and I am enamoured, taking as many photos as I can. It's like nothing on earth, red water juxtaposed against blue rocks, in natures perfect contrasting colours the surrounding ground shimmering like diamonds.
A large temple looks down on us imposingly and we decide to mount it to the summit. We stop along the way at intervals to take photos so that we can remember this day for years to come. Reaching the summit there is an unusual surprise of a crucifix at the top. It's old and has been bound together with twine. We take our photos and head down stopping to collect a few token souvenirs from the locals - some hand -made handkerchiefs.
On the way back the guide asks if anyone has any questions and I gingerly ask where are the flamingos that we were promised as I have neglected to see them. He asks the driver to stop the bus for us and we get out. No wonder we didn't notice them, they were several kilometres away not close up at all. We are a little let down, but the Mayan Salt Mine was such a wonderful surprise that we are not that upset.

Passport & Plate - Greek Souvlaki

gypsytraveler — Sat, 31 Jan 2015 09:00:56 GMT

Ingredients
1 chicken breast, cut into cubes
3 bacon rashers
1 tin pineapple pieces
rosemary
sea salt
Skewers ( soak in water for 20 min)

How to prepare this recipe
Cut chicken into cubes and roll the bacon around the chicken. Thread it onto a skewer. Next, thread a piece of pineapple. Alternate chicken with pineapple until the skewer is full.
Then sprinkle with dried rosemary and a little sea salt.
Grill for 20 min on hot grill until the chicken is cooked.

The story behind this recipe
I was in Corfu about 2 years ago and I stumbled on this little souvlaki shop in the main shopping area. I stepped in and there in the window were these souvlaki sticks. I had never seen souvlaki done this way, with the chicken wrapped in bacon. I was just after a quick snack and little did I know that the quick snack I was about to have would be a taste sensation.
I sat down and ate them and they were the most delicious souvlaki that I had ever tasted. The bacon perfectly married with the chicken and the pineapple just adding a hint of sweetness to balance the whole thing out. The rosemary and sea salt danced across my tongue just to tantalize me and awaken the senses. It was such a simple street food but it tasted so good. I examined the method in which it was made and have been making it ever since.
The Greeks have many Gods, but what is the name of the Greek God of food? Oh well, I guess I will just dedicate this find to Diyonisis, it was a heavenly dish after all.

Photos: My Scholarship entry - Just like Us.

gypsytraveler — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 11:11:00 GMT

As I have traveled I have noticed one thing that binds us as a people.That no matter where we are in the World, we all strive for one thing: happiness. As the current climate towards Muslims is one of fear and misunderstanding in this series I want to show that Muslims are just like us. In Turkey people go about daily business just as people in the West do. They are essentially just like us. There is no need for fear and hatred just because people study a different religion and so I want to break down these common misconceptions with my work. I have a passion for photography that is second to none other than my passion for travel. As a child I read National Geographic and it inspired me to become a photographer and travel the world. This would be the first step in achieving that dream. As I have traveled I have come to understand one concept, that we are all the same all over the world and I wish to bring this concept to the world with my images.

Photos: My Scholarship entry - A 'place' I have visited

gypsytraveler — Thu, 4 Jul 2013 10:03:00 GMT

From the time I can remember I wanted to be an actor. I was in every school play, I watched movies galore and loved the stage and screen. It was what I was going to be. However that all changed when at the age of fifteen I was selected to to a gifted and talented program in high school. It was here that I picked up a camera and fell in love with photography. One look at my image coming through in the developing tray and I was hooked. I no longer wanted to be an actor. It was then that my love affair with photography began. I used to gaze at National Geographic magazines and dream.. big dreams. It is a love affair that has seen me working on Cruise Ships, using any spare time I had to take images, to working on tropical islands. Squishing myself in crowds trying to get shots of bands. And still that thrill remains of knowing when I have captured that perfect shot. It has always been my dream to combine my love for travel with my love for photography. There is no greater rush for me knowing that I have a shot of an exotic place that not many people have had the chance to go to. I am ready to learn from the best, so that I can take my love of photography to new heights.

A lesson for us all.

gypsytraveler — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 21:51:00 GMT

My Brazilian Family
An Encounter that changed my perspective

A sea of expectant young, smiling faces looks out at me as I prepare to meet the class of Brazilian students that are learning English seated before me. The night before, Lucas my Brazilian friend and host in the small town of Barra do Pirai, Brazil had asked me to come as a guest to the school where his mother works to meet the local children. The English teacher is having difficulty motivating her students to learn English and figured that meeting me may be just the cure she needs.

Most of the children seated in the room come from Favelas - local slums and poor places in the surrounding town and have never set eyes on a foreign person. The town is so small locals can remember each foreign visitor the town has ever had over the years. None of the children have ever heard a foreigner speak to them in a class room. The children in this class range from fourteen to seventeen and I will be visiting two classes today, the older children and a group of young children.

So with a shaky start, I begin by telling them about my homeland - Australia. I have with me a flag and a stuffed koala, props I quickly grabbed as an after thought. I speak with them about our climate, our national sport, our flag and excited hands raise to inundate me with questions. They want to know if we dance, if we like soccer, if we eat food - concepts that seem so different to them but are some how the same. As each child asks me in English the teacher and Lucas translate for those that are having trouble keeping up. Smiles shine back at me as nervousness gives way to intrigue and excitement and with some of them the hope that one day they will be able to visit this far away land of Australia and come to meet a real koala.

Excited children offer me bracelets and trinkets as presents, one wants to teach me to Samba and a tall dark seventeen year old develops a teen crush on me, shyly asking for a hug as I leave to go to the next class room of students. All of them want to stay in contact with me and I leave them with the hope of a brighter future where learning English can lead to traveling to far off places that most of them have never dreamed of.

The next class room is full of children aged from seven to ten years old and like a group of little monkeys, they virtually jump out of their seats in excitement. Like the previous class they too have never met a foreigner and have no concept of this far away place called Australia. They all have gifts, drawings and trinkets to share with me as a sign of their appreciation and so I in turn will remember them when I leave.

I tell them of my homeland and as their English skills are not as developed as the older children in the previous class, we pause to translate for them my words into Portuguese. Their enthusiasm is infectious, many of them have never dreamed of meeting some one from Australia, and they will remember this encounter for years to come.

Towards the end of the visit a small shy child with dark skin and wide eyes like saucers approaches me and asks if I can write a personal message in English in his school book so that he might remember this day long after it has occurred, and have a small memento of my visit. I write for him a message that encourages him to study hard to learn English and visit far away places. My friend Lucas translates it to Portuguese for him and he beams a wide toothy grin at me in appreciation.

Soon there is a long line of children all requesting a message in their school books and I write a different personal message in each one, Lucas translating for me each child's message into Portuguese. A huge smile my reward for each note that I write. At times I feel like a rock star must feel, signing autographs for a legion of fans. Even Lucas is amazed by the enthusiasm of the children that surround us.

The time comes for us to depart as the school day has drawn to a close and the teacher and students thank me. I receive a drawing from one child as a thank you and hugs ensue. Small faces beam up at me in appreciation and touch my heart.

I am humbled by the excitement and generosity of the children before me and joy overwhelms me as I look into the smiling faces of children that previously could see no point in learning another language or the opportunities that await them in life. This encounter today has taught me that small deeds can mean so much to those that have little and that a group of small children can make me realise how lucky I am to live the life I do.

As I leave the class room and the excited children, I hear a small voice call out
" Good bye Amanda, we'll miss you, we'll never forget you" it is then that I realise that I will never forget them.