Travel Galleries

Solomon Islands : Other than WWII veterans, some Australians and New Zealanders, the Solomon Islands is an unknown place. Part of the Melanesian group of Pacific islands (along with Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu), the Sollies, as they are affectionately known to those who visit regularly, boast some of the best diving in the South Pacific. The battle of Guadacanal took place on the main island and now houses an impressive American war memorial and cemetry. In recent years the country has been quite unstable as the Malaitans and the the people of Guadacanal have battled for control of the government. The economy has weakened considerably and the local Chinese minorty of shopkeepers has been targeted in wild rioting. The Australians and New Zealanders sent in a 'stability' force in 2004 which still remains in the country. The people of the Sollies love music and betel nut. These pictures were made during a trip for the Red Cross in November 2004.

Solomon Islands

Other than WWII veterans, some Australians and New Zealanders, the Solomon Islands is an unknown place. Part of the Melanesian group of Pacific islands (along with Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu), the Sollies, as they are affectionately known to those who visit regularly, boast some of the best diving in the South Pacific. The battle of Gua ...

Updated: Jul 19, 2007 10:19pm PST

Myanmar Daze : The name is obviously a spoof of Orwell's famous novel but somehow 'daze' seems appropriate. I visited Myanmar in 2004 on Red Cross business. I spent several days in Yangon (Rangoon) as well as up in the northern Shan State, in and around Kengtung (pronounced shan-tung). The entire time I felt as if I was in another 'zone'. The strongest feeling to remain with me was of a land and people cocooned in a weird time warp. It was as if some alien force had placed a bubble around Burma and then retreated back into space. Time hadn't exactly stopped in Myanmar but it barely moved. I was pleasantly surprised with the strong Indian flavor of the culture, from Hindu shrines on the street corner to a very syncretic curried cuisine and pockets of Nepalis and Bengalis that popped up in the most unexpected places. Like many African countries the land is rich with gems; unlike most African countries, they are still traded openly on the streets. In the middle of my trip there was an internal coup. Nothing happened. Traffic didn't stop. Tanks didn't appear. The nightly news showed the biggest of all Burmese generals visiting an animal husbandry project in the provinces. It was only on BBC that we learned the entire government and top layer of the bureaucracy was either out of work or behind bars. Nothing so much as a breeze rippled the Burmese political trees. Next to North Korea there is not a more weird, creepy, yet gorgeous and fascinating place than Myanmar.

Myanmar Daze

The name is obviously a spoof of Orwell's famous novel but somehow 'daze' seems appropriate. I visited Myanmar in 2004 on Red Cross business. I spent several days in Yangon (Rangoon) as well as up in the northern Shan State, in and around Kengtung (pronounced shan-tung). The entire time I felt as if I was in another 'zone'. The strongest ...

Updated: Jul 15, 2007 8:24pm PST

The Hindustan Way : The Hindustan Way, my first photo-book, was published in 2003. It is a collection of photographs made in Pakistan and India between 1980 and 2003. The book has been appreciated and lauded around the world. Most recently by the celebrated Indian author, thinker and humorist, Khushwant Singh, has called the photographs, 'lovely'. The book,comprising 85 full colour photographs with extended captions, is available for a special rate of USD 20 plus postage and handling directly from Ajnabi (ajnabi1957@yahoo.com). This gallery gives a taste of some of the photos included in the book.

The Hindustan Way

The Hindustan Way, my first photo-book, was published in 2003. It is a collection of photographs made in Pakistan and India between 1980 and 2003. The book has been appreciated and lauded around the world. Most recently by the celebrated Indian author, thinker and humorist, Khushwant Singh, has called the photographs, 'lovely'. The book,c ...

Updated: Jul 29, 2006 4:29am PST