:: This Old Building ::
This old and dilapidated building has intrigued me since I arrived in Vientiane in 2004.. No-one seems to know much about it.. I believe it's post French colonial period.. Maybe once a grand hotel, possibly an apartment block..
It's situated on the banks of the Mekong River, an area prone to flooding during the wet season..It appears like the owners just walked away and left this grand old building to weather time..
If anyone has any information, please message me..
:: Patuxay Park At Night ::
Either love it or hate it, Patuxay makes an interesting subject..
:: Storm Clouds Over Pra That Luang ::
The icon of Lao PDR, That Luang, the Golden Temple..
I love shooting this time of the year,,the Wet Season when gigantic thunderheads climb over the horizon..
:: A Back Alley in Chengdu ::
I really enjoy prowling back alleys searching for subjects. Once the inhabitants get use to me they relax and subjects can be found in any doorway or cafe.
This alley was only a block away from our hotel in Chengdu,,a whole new fascinating world.
:: Western Sichuan and Sertar ::
Amanda and I are packing up and moving to The Tibetian Autonomous Region China on the 9th September 2007. We plan to be there for 12 months plus. Amanda has secured a posting with The Trace Foundation project managing an education project. We will be based in the Garze Prefecture of Western Sichuan Province China in the small town of Sertar not far from the Tibetan border. Sertar is at an altitude of about 4000 meters above sea level, isolated and with a population of around 5000 people mainly ethnic Tibetans. This region of China is politically very sensitive and we will be watched by the Han Chinese. Even taking photographs will be limited to "touristy" kind of images,,for the first few months anyway until the authorities get use to us and its going to be really difficult blending in with the locals,,ummmmmm Amanda and I are the only foreigners in town.
Our first task is to get permanent accommodation hopefully a Tibetan style house out of town to rent. I can see us pitching a yurt on the Tibetan Plateau herding yaks and goats. Sounds a tad drastic but we need to find something quickly before the snows in late October.
I will keep this gallery updated with images and info as we experience life in Sertar and Internet access availability. So keep checking it out. This gallery is our only means of communication with family and friends back home in Australia. By the way,,leave a message or two, it will be great to hear from you.
From time to time check out the weather in Sertar here
http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=sertar
NOTE--Amanda's project in North Western Sichuan Province has been cancelled and we are back in Laos. It appears The Trace Foundation had employed Amanda under false pretenses. In late September 2007 Amanda and I made our way to Sertar to start working on the project. We met with the Director of Education of the Sertar Prefecture. During our discussions with him it became clear he had never heard of the Trace Foundation and was unaware an education project had been designed for the ethnic Tibetans in his community. In short he sent us packing with our tail between our legs back to Chengdu. On return the project co-ordinator Mr Hendrick Bjorn assured Amanda she had fulltime employment with Trace. We were to mark time in Chengdu until the commencement of the project. Mid October 2007 Amanda's contract was terminated by Mr Bjorn with Trace leaving us high and dry without employment in China. Three other projects were also cancelled and contracts terminated.
:: Chengdu Sichuan Province China ::
Chengdu is the capital of Sichuan Province. With a population of over 5 million people it is a bustling and modern city. What struck us were amount of prestige European cars. Obviously there is a lot of wealth here. The streets are clean but the air quality has a lot to be desired. The Sertar Project has been put on hold for atleast six months. Amanda and I have secured an apartment in the Tibetan Quarter of Chengdu.
:: 'scapes ::
I have to admit I'm a shite landscape photographer!!
:: Editorial and Media ::
:: Regurgitator Hits Vientiane Lao PDR ::
Aussie band Regurgitator live at the Russian Circus Vientiane Lao PDR 14th October 2008.
Thanks Frederic..