For this week’s Photo Challenge, I have chosen this photo I took whilst traveling Laos. It is the perfect photo not only because of the contrast of light and dark but also what I was feeling. It was really hot and humid when I took the trip and the coolness of the shade was very refreshing. And when I look at this photo, all I can think of is – Keep Calm and Travel On.
Something inside me changes every time I travel. A new experience makes me appreciate life’s beauty and I feel so lucky given the chance to experience a new culture. The curiosity in me is satisfied when I learn about the history of the place and how the people coped up with the challenges thrown their way. We may come from different countries, different religions, different beliefs and cultures but we are all the same in a way – trying to find that one thing that makes our world a better place.
Home is not a physical place. Home is not the house I grew up on. I left my childhood house at a tender age to study. Don’t get me wrong. I love my family. We often communicate and when we talk on the phone or video call on the internet, I am home. I have friends scattered all over the globe and we stay connected via social networking, I am home. We are all travelers in this so-called life. Like the couple on the photo, they have been traveling around Asia for a few months and kept in touch with family and friends through the internet. Thanks to the advancement of technology, distance is not an issue anymore. I may be miles away from family and friends but home is wherever my heart is.
The year 2012 was pretty exciting for me. I was able to finish my master’s degree, find work abroad and still get to squeeze in a bit of travel time. I had fun reminiscing on all the things that happened in my life for the past 12 months and choosing the pictures that best represent each month.
Here’s my 2012 in pictures. Enjoy!
I was walking around a village in Laos when I saw this lady sitting outside her house. She was busy removing the leaves from the stalk. She was oblivious of people passing by. I passed by three times and she didn’t look up once. This scenario caught my eyes because of her concentration on such a mundane task and doing it outside instead of inside the house. This is one of the charms of Laos, the simplicity and laid back atmosphere of the village. And this is exactly the reason why travelers from all around the globe are drawn to this country.
It is known as the window to the soul. It doesn’t lie. It will always show the real emotion that a person feels inside. The mere dilation and constriction of the pupil will show what you are feeling – happy, sad, anger, excitement and the list goes on. The photo posted above is an animal eye. Can you guess which animal?
To photographers, dusk and dawn are referred to as the time of magic. It is the time when everything ordinary looks magical because of the changing colors of the sky. In that short span of time, the naked eye can see different shades of color from yellow to pink to purple. The photo above was taken at dusk when the sun was hidden partially by the clouds and mountains. After a few minutes, the sky turned dark but the magic of sunset still lingers in my mind and in my heart.
Wandering Candy 