Asia - Solo Overland Travel & Transit
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It doesn't matter how trodden down Asia has become with its endless impact of foreign visitors subduing it. There's plenty of space, and a ton of diversity for everyone traveling through the continent.
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Going To Asia? - Use A Camera!
On the road you mainly meet three types of foreign tourists. Those who have no interest in street photography lazing around on beaches soaking up sun on two week vacations, a larger second group, who only travel using smart phone camera junk grabbing narcissistic selfies, food snaps and the odd street snap, and a third group, who are more wise traveling with some form of photo gear utilizing their skill set capturing images of what's around them during their daily travel routines when out and about. There's no argument or discussion here, those who travel using cameras (excluding smart phone junk) will get the shots.
Whatever the outcome, don't arrive to Asia without a camera. Which make and model camera to travel with has been heavily debated for decades. I'm not promoting brand names, but personally, I've been using Nikon gear since the early '80s with no issues. Some friends are dedicated Canon users. It boils down to personal taste and choice, and above all, the price tag. Lens quality is more important than user friendly camera bodies. Some digital point and shoots have really good optics, but lack the reach when required for long distant shots.
Still Photography for most is a passion. It either remains as a hobby interest, or put to good use through the media world working as income. The images on this page should at least give some positive inspiration for those traveling through Asia. You don't require the latest camera gear, rather what can capture all kinds of subject matter without failing throughout the entire overland journey. KEH camera has a broad selection of used photo gear.
Many semi-pro DSLR bodies have had proven track records for years - no matter their brand name. Researching before purchasing and more importantly, getting familiar using new camera gear well before arriving in any continent is recommended - Choose wisely. Above, street images captured with full frame DSLR and prime lenses.
Random street portrait photography through most of Asia is simple enough. One only has to use their interaction skills with strangers to capture images like above. The still was captured with a D3 and 35mm AIS prime lens.
Overland transiting through a continent couldn't be easier onboard anything with wheels heading in any direction. Hong Kong to Turkey, or Mongolia to Indonesia are relatively straight forward transits without too much fuss. Asia's influence, and clash of cultures are unmatched for those who travel, and transit through the entire continent and rewarded with visions lasting a lifetime.
Asian overland travel hustle and bustle comes for free, it doesn't matter what country, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan all contain individual vibrant extremities i.e. traffic jams, street chaos and uncontrolled noise - lots of noise. There's literally no escape, and what reason is there to escape? This is the enjoyment, the journey, the opposite of what most Westerners are accustomed to - controlled living.
Below, stoking an open coal stove enhancing ambience of flint. The location and timing is as important of what kind of camera gear one uses for still street photography. The image was captured with a forty year old Nikkor 80-200 f/4 AIS lens attached to a full frame DSLR.
Overland Transit Routes - Asia
Asia - a continent of escape for some, and paradise of cheap shopping and beaches for others. It has everything beyond expectations that can literally drain a person's energy, and boost it at the same time. Those who overland transit doing the hard yards know who they are, and what to expect from this diverse mixed continent that can make or break some.
The timing of travel should be optimized with seasonal weather patterns. Hanging-out in pre-monsoon heat or in subzero temperatures are experiences to remember. What's what transit baggage stuff covers different items having a proven track record with my own approval rating. Deciding what photo gear to use is one's personal choice. The photo gear page has a variety of classic Nikon stuff and accessories I still use today.
There's four optional flight paths to the edge of Asia to begin overland travel journeys through the continent. Touching down in Jakarta transiting northward is one option. Landing in Hong Kong has a few overland routes reaching Nepal, Indonesia, and to Europe. Mumbai is an excellent arrival hub for travel in any direction. Open land borders through Asia makes it simple and uncomplicated. It takes time and energy to complete the entire north and southern circuits of Asia. India and Indonesia alone will absorb endless months of travel without even thinking about it. The northern overland route from Russia, into Mongolia, China, and Japan have been an optional path for decades. Ferry sailings from Vladivostok to Japan are every week. Traveling overland towards Europe can be done via Mongolia through Kazakhstan-Azerbaijan-Armenia-Georgia to Turkey, or the lower overland route through China-Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran to Turkey. Reaching Africa from Asia can be done by ferry boat from Gwadar port, Pakistan to Muscat, with ferry links on the Saudi Red Sea coast from Duba to Suez, Jeddah to Port Sudan, and Jizan to Massawah.
Several ferry boats sail each week to Busan-South Korea from Shimonasaki port in Japan. South Korea has good ferry boat connections from Incheon to China with 8 different locations in China to choose from.
There are also direct ferry boat sailings to Shanghai departing from Osaka port. The Okinawa-Keelung Taiwan route no longer exists, but boats do sail each week both ways from China to Taiwan. Cargo ships to the Philippines out of Taiwan taking passengers are infrequent, but possible. Reaching Malaysia from the Philippines can be done from Buliluyan port-Bataraza, Palawan by fast cat ferry sailing to Kudat Port, Malaysia.
Although, there are no direct ferry-lines operating between Indonesia and Australia, empty live export cattle ships do sail weekly both ways from Darwin to Kupang port and East Nusa Tenggara. Hitching on private yachts from Indonesia to Darwin is another option if you're lucky enough to find a yacht that will take you. Now, with the Indian-Myanmar borders open in both directions, it's possible to travel through to Europe with choices of using three overland transit routes (Middle East, central Asia and Trans Siberian) South Asian Terrorism Portal SATP : Interactive earthquake map.
Street still photography Asia - Myanmar 10/10 : Bangladesh 10/10 : India 10/10 : Nepal 10/10 : Laos 10/10 : Indonesia 10/10
If images through this page inspire others out there to use camera gear offshore, at least that's an accomplished positive. Those who insist traveling through Asia, or any other continent for months on end only using cell phone cameras probably have little or zero interest in street photography. As the saying goes, one can show the direction to somewhere or something, but it doesn't necessarily mean others will follow the same path.
Rugged barren Asian landscape is waiting for you through the highlands of Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal and the Tibetan plateau. Getting to these regions should be done during the dry season. Most overland routes are closed in midwinter due to snow drift. Check well in advance for fresh up to date information from locals before endeavoring overland journeys through the middle of nowhere.
Capturing the most simplest random snaps, like above, show enough ambience without to much detail — DSLR wide angle zoom.
Capturing good random street portraits through Asia isn't difficult. One only requires to be motivated to find local subjects who are usually spotted down side streets and lane ways. Small villages in remote regions are always great locations to capture portraits. Pointing any camera close-up at strangers without interacting with subjects first is outright rude and should be avoided. I've witnessed other western nationals through the decades, who ignore the most important rule in regards to close-up street portraits when photographing strangers. Always interact with subjects first, and keep cameras at waste level until positive dialogue with subjects is achieved. Below, a Nepali of Indian origin first required a small amount of positive interaction time before capturing this portrait. DSLR D3, AF28 f/1.4D lens
Solo Overland Transit Routes - Asia
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Spending 2+ years or more traveling through Asia clocks up fast. Long-term travel requires a healthy cash flow to cover costs. Doing Asia on the cheap can still be done, although this will depend on personal taste and choice of travel. Couch surfing, and a large list of Asian contacts will certainly go along way. Cycling and hitchhiking through Asia has always been a favorite way to slowly get through each country - fitness and patience required. The easy laid back lifestyle camping and beach crashing along the coasts, free-diving catching fish for daily meals can literally stop anyone in their tracks for months on end.
Running out of money becoming a Beg-packer in Asia should be avoided. There's literally millions of desperate Asians trying to survive without the need of westerners begging for "travel donations" on city streets. This has been an issue for years with western foreigners arriving into the continent surviving on the smell of an oily rag. Those not wanting to return to their home countries will try desperately finding ways to extend their stays as long as possible. Some do wake-up returning home to work begging their Embassy to take them home. Others become drug mules - more on that down the page.
Working in Asia with the right qualifications guarantees an income. One can always try the travel blogging addiction to earn a crust - good luck with that in the 2020s. Becoming a digital nomad is another option with many making Bali their home base, but factual data suggests only 20% of the digital nomad world make it past the threshold of survival. Creating a business in Asia is another alternative to remain in constant limbo, thus establishing a home away from home somewhere within the continent. For decades, foreigners have set-up trendy bars, meditation centers, pizzerias, and hotels catering for the tourism industry. Partnership scuba dive shops, hiking, trek mountaineering tour outlets are other options. Even photographic workshops have become hip. Finding that niche market to cater for short time periods to be free 9 months of each year is what everyone is looking for.
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Below, laid back rural village settings in the middle of nowhere are scattered throughout the continent. Shopping for food produce can't be easier. I've been capturing random street snaps like this since the early 1980s. A recently taken shot in 2023 using DSLR photo gear.
Wet Season - South East Asia
A typical evening street scene during the middle of the wet season in central Vietnam.
Getting soaked drenched during the wet season in southern Asia has one positive, the downpours feel just like taking a warm shower, certainly the opposite of the wintry rains in Europe and elsewhere. The severity of heavy flooding occurs through different regions of S.E. Asia, with Bangladesh and India receiving the full brunt with swollen rivers and delta flooding. Anyone who's been to Varanasi in winter probably wouldn't recognize the ghat district during full flood in July. Transiting through Asia during monsoon season can be slow, and at times detours are necessary, but it's certainly better than pre-monsoon weather when humidity is unbearable. Like locals, either take shelter till the downpours stop, or use an umbrella when out and about.
PNG - Jan-March : Indonesia - Oct-April : Thailand - May-Oct : Vietnam - May-Oct : Bangladesh - June-Oct : India - June-Sept
When it's raining cats and dogs, there's no better time heading outdoors grabbing snaps. Although street photography in the rain can be monotonous at times. Think about all those reflection shots and quick snap captures of locals, some half soaked, or totally drenched. When raining, I normally stroll around holding an umbrella in one hand, and a DSLR camera in the other. It takes some practice, but certainly not difficult.
When out and about doing street photography in rainy weather, it's advisable to carry a few dry cloths to wipe off rain spray landing on front lens elements, which at times is totally unavoidable. The majority of DSLR photo-gear sold on the market today is listed as weather sealed. This doesn't mean one can run around in the pouring rain not worrying about lenses becoming soaking wet. Believe me, water has a way of getting inside lenses in more ways than one can imagine. If you value your photo-gear, especially when photographing in the rain - keep lenses dry as possible, and change lenses if required indoors at nearby shops or restaurants.
Street activity during monsoon rains throughout southern Asia is flat out busy. Nothing stops rotating, it's a good time to capture images of whatever one sees worthwhile taking. These are a couple of examples of what can be captured during downpours. I use umbrellas over cameras keeping lenses spray free.
Below, one can be lucky enough to be at the right location just before thunder storms begin dishing out endless lightning bolts across the night sky. A tripod is required, including protecting the front lens glass from getting rain spray. Timers set at 30 seconds will normally give enough exposure capturing several or a multiple strikes. It's virtually impossible to set up photo gear on rooftops due to drizzle, and the possibility of being struck from lightning if thunderstorms are directly overhead. The image below was captured at 3am @30 seconds.
Below, catching a group of monks floating downstream on the Mekong river during monsoon season requires some luck and patience. It's not everyday one has the opportunity capturing random snaps like this. It all depends on location and timing.
Camera Gear - Avoiding Fungus In Lenses
If you've been out and about during monsoon rain dumps grabbing snaps, and don't intend using photo gear for a few days, its advisable to wipe and dry everything before packing any equipment in camera-bags. Many make the mistake within humid climates by placing wet lenses into camera-bags, zipping it shut for weeks on end and wonder why all of sudden fungus growth has developed inside their lenses. Silica gel packets in camera-bags will only absorb and protect lenses from small amounts of dampness. Wiping down soaked photo-gear before packing photo-gear will avoid a lot of screaming later.
No matter the brand design or quality, even the latest sealed lenses are vulnerable to fungus spores. It only takes a few specs of minute dust particles inside lenses to become damp for fungus to spread across internal optics.
Those who travel and transit in the Asian wet season using photo gear can lesson the risks by airing out camera bags in direct sunlight. It's best to replace silica gel packs every two weeks or so, and to avoid changing lenses on the go in the rain, or within wind blown dusty environments. Saturated wet lenses like below require a thorough wipe down first before placing them back in camera bags. Specks of dust on inner lens optics when becoming damp will show visible signs of fungus growth within a very short time period.
Street Still Photography - Asia
Using positive interaction with total strangers goes a long way anywhere throughout the planet. Asia is no different to Africa, the Middle East or South America. Since '82, I've learnt the importance of interacting with all kinds of different people no matter their ethnic background or religious belief system. Capturing random street portraits like above are easily accomplished by using the necessary interacting skills required. These are example street subjects captured with different DSLR lenses i.e. Nikon 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 85mm, 105mm primes and zoom lens with 12MP pro bodies.
Above portrait: overcast misty weather : market location : DSLR D3 : AFS 200-400 f/4G VRII lens @ 600mm
Eyes wide open random street shots only require subjects to suddenly turn around capturing images like above.
Capturing group street shots like above requires positive interaction with locals beforehand. It may take a few minutes, or half an hour. This solely depends how one uses their outward personality and interaction skills with strangers.
For many years, I've taken quick location snap shots at certain locations like above. We're not talking about dreaded narcissistic selfies here, but rather behind the scenes when photographing people and street scenes. I normally ask locals close by to take the shot with whatever other backup camera I may have at the time. Whatever your photographic interests are through the Asian continent - Asia will keep anyone busy, focused and motivated for all types of different street photography.
Taking closeup street portraits of strangers almost anywhere around the planet is simple enough. One only requires good interaction levels with subjects first, and any compatible camera and lens. These two street images are examples of using a closeup prime lens and a zoom lens. DSLR photo gear works for me, I certainly don't need fancy user friendly cameras with inbuilt wifi, bluetooth, location tracking, or any other creepy online stuff to capture street images. I usually leave my cell phones in the bag switched-off wrapped in thick tin foil - no joke.
It doesn't matter which side of the Asian continent one travels, random street photography becomes additive for anyone who pursues it. Good reliable photo-gear is a must have no-matter the brand. Lightweight point & shoot, mirrorless, or solid built DSLR cameras are all personal options. Smart phone cameras are good for snaps and location-snaps, but don't rely on smart phone cameras as a main camera through any continent. Many who solely travel using smart phone cameras have regretted this when visiting wildlife parks, bird sanctuaries, including long shot captures of anything. Even quality point & shoots have their limitations. DSLR photo-gear is still king when it comes to capturing long shots, Astro, and wilderness wildlife. Traveling with tripods may sound like overkill, but tripods are recommended, and necessary for all different types of still photography i.e. landscape, night captures, astro, time-lapse, distant wildlife.
A quick example when traveling using DSLR photo-gear, is when a series of image captures are taken from distance at any given location. With a tripod, and a reasonable quality zoom lens, taking multiple shots becomes much easier. This particular location only had this angle, which was higher in elevation than required, even if the tripod was lowered, it wouldn't of made much difference because of the 400+ meter distance. The image below shows a cropped full frame capture from this location using a Nikon 200-400mm f/4G VRII ED-IF lens mounted on a 12MP body.
Overland traveling through countries using DSLR photo gear, especially with reasonable quality lenses will give positive results with the majority of image captures showing sharpness when taken at long distance. You'll be surprised of the high count amount of long distance shots captured due to the numerous impossibilities of reaching certain subjects. I'm not into megapixel counting here like couch lounge clickbait camera blogger influencers, who rely on commissions without doing the hard yards of any real overland travel street photography.
If satisfaction is what you're looking for when arriving back to home base, wherever it may be with a collection of thousands of raw file captures, it's here where gratitude pays-off using quality lens optics. Those following the crowd who only using smart phone cameras on travel journeys - don't complain, it's entirely your own fault for not using DSLR photo-gear, or mirrorless equivalents. Cropped enlargements 4-6 times from the original file size shows the difference in quality comparisons between cell cameras and real camera gear.
Want image snaps like above? Using almost any brand semi-pro DSLR camera gear will do the job. Photography isn't that complicated. Quality lenses are more important than camera bodies. The times and seasons reaching certain isolated destinations can become a mission reaching them during midwinter.
Below, an SLR roll-film snap of the Potala captured during a slow solo overland journey through to Turkey. It was a time period in Tibet without restrictions or needed permits. Guides and drivers were unheard of. Hitching individual lifts freely passing through Tibet and Xinjiang to Pakistan is an almost impossible task to accomplish today on your own. The freedom of solo overland travel had reached its peak during the 1980s - mid '90s era. I've been lucky like many others who were born in the right decade accomplishing such journeys.
Above, mid 1980s blast from the past, when travel permits weren't required to freely travel throughout Tibet. It was the overland travel era when one could easily pass through Tibet to Xinjiang to Pakistan using any available transport without issues.
Free Tibet is almost unheard of today. Let's not dig too deep in political bias here, but there was a time when Western nations poked China in the ribs reminding the CCP of their 1950 invasion and destruction of Tibetan culture. How things have drastically changed within a short time period. Trade and profiteering is far more important in today's world for survival. Xinjiang, another hot spot where the West is told to shut up and mind their own business. China has succeeded to wrap all the Western nations around its little finger controlling them without firing a shot. A calculated plan from many decades ago that has successfully worked by influencing greedy Western politicians and industry - follow the money.
Picking off street snaps like above is simple enough, one just needs to be there, and to have some form of photo gear. Do I use smart phone cameras, or point and shoots to get shots like this? - No never, only full frame DSLR gear. My DSLR equipment has always worked every time without fail through the continents. It's not only about the optics, it's also the reliability of photo gear, that can handle all types of different environment without failing. Drop and abuse happens when least expected. Getting out and about within extreme sub-zero temps (-30C), sweltering heat (+51C), or capturing images in windblown dust or pouring rain will test any photo gear's weaknesses. Traveling for long periods at a time passing through different environments with small fiddly camera junk may or may not survive - choose wisely.
The above image was one of many captured at the same location just before sunrise, I had set up a tripod half way up on another pagoda. Dew with slight mist was still visible. The image was captured with a Nikon D3S 12MP body & AF-S Nikon 200-400mm f/4G VR II ED-IF lens.
The art of boat building can be seen throughout the Asian coastline. Hand constructed fishing boats built today still keep the same designs from centuries old. Completion from start to finish of an ocean sea vessel is approximately 3 months.
Below, I look rather dwarfish standing near these mahogany trees. One of the many highway road routes from India to Bangladesh. Busting traffic has passed through this same location since these trees were first planted more than two hundred years ago. It's certainly a great location for all different types of photographic activity.
Overland Asia - Street Snaps
Looking for everyday big city street action in Asia is easy. A short stroll to the nearest crossroads will capture endless snaps like these examples. The best time, is through the morning rush hour starting from 7am to 10am. A few cities worth mentioning containing their own individual roadside vibe are Jakarta, Manila, Bangkok, Hanoi, Dhaka, Calcutta, Mumbai and Karachi. Capturing impressive hustle and bustle street images are also found on the outskirts of big cities.
Image captures taken in color or in mono is an individual choice. It solely depends on personal preferences and taste.
The Nikon DSLR D3 has been my daylight go to workhorse camera capturing image snaps like these for years. Yes, the D3 is an old camera body in today's world of updated technology, but in saying that, the Nikon D3 will still be capturing random still shots through the 2020s.
If you're anything like myself, you'll be out and about wandering through streets at different locations capturing images. Random street photography offshore is a personal self-enjoyment differing from person to person. Asia has it all i.e. people shots, street portraits, street scenes, market snaps, festivals, tribal, wildlife and rugged wilderness.
Rush hour is always a good time catching images of locals on the go. This is normally found at busy intersections, crossroads, or nearby railway and bus stations. Personally, I've always found it less distracting to walk the streets solo without other foreigners to capture images, especially those who have no interest in street photography. If by chance one location contains more than expected, I'll return to that location with tripod gear and spend a few hours capturing shots. Some foreigners actually don't even bother capturing street snaps without themselves in them. I've seen this countless times. It's called the narcissistic mindset, and usually relates to those traveling only with smart phones directly linked to social media platforms. I call them smart phone travelers. Man, I'm glad I'm not one of them, and will never become one of them. When offshore, don't hesitate to travel and use real photo gear capturing your shots.
As it has always been when traveling through countries across continents, rivers are a focal meeting place for everyone. Asia has plenty of waterways, estuaries, and rivers to visit, with one river that especially stands out more than all the others - the Ganga/Ganges. It's here where Hindus congregate, and perform their religious rituals.
On the banks of the Ganges, one finds Sadhus along the Ghats from dawn to dusk, which is where this image was taken. Festivals are many through Asia with the continent topping the scales of diverse multi mixed celebrations, and endless open air events held annually. Some Asian festival celebrations run their course over a week attracting ten's of thousands of locals far and wide.
Three still images taken at three different locations in three different countries using the same reliable camera body, a Nikon DSLR 12MP D3.
As mentioned several times through this website, lenses are more important than camera bodies. Using the latest camera bodies with low budget lenses will be disappointing. It's all about the lenses one uses. Top quality lenses are more important than camera bodies. Budget lenses will always produce subpar results no matter what camera body they're attached to.
I capture my action shots using full frame DSLR bodies with prime and zoom lenses. Although DSLR bodies have been around for decades, some model designs are still good in the 2020s for still photography. Those wanting to capture images like these examples require to invest in a couple of quality prime lenses i.e. 24mm, 35mm, 85mm, 105mm, 200-400 zoom.
Where do you capture random street shots like above? Usually, in and around close to bustling markets through Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Coal fired burners and coal stoves are still used in the 2020s. Nikon DSLR D3 prime lens snap.
Captured shots using full frame DSLR bodies and zoom lens. Smart phone travelers will struggle capturing satisfying shots like this from distance. How do I know? I've tried numerous smart phone cameras, including up market point and shoots giving all the normal disappointing results. And these examples shown here are enlarged crops from the original files. There are three categories of street still photographers. The lightweight social media smart phone traveler, the point and shoot happy snapper blogger, and street photographers using real photo gear capturing still images.
Narco Drug Smuggling - Don't Even Think About It!
Foreigners purchasing drugs from other foreigners are just as guilty as those who smuggle selling drugs!
Are You Smuggling Drugs For Profit? Hot Sweaty Jail Cells Are Waiting For You!
So, you've been in Nepal, and now your cash supply is dry, or maybe just plain greedy to fund your lavish overseas lifestyle hanging out at moon beach parties in Bali or Goa? December is a favorite month to smuggle drugs into Bali and Goa. The influx of foreigners hanging out at beach parties during the silly season are typical beach drug selling cash banks. Swallowing a load of hash oil or cocaine in mini-capsules, and then flying to Bali, Goa, or Tokyo to earn quick fast cash is the incentive.
This classic smuggling trick has no match for airport X-ray scans. Today, in 2020, custom narcotics police are smart-savvy! Foreigners caught smuggling any types of narcotics throughout the Asian continent are severely dealt with - And without mercy. Hefty fines, jail time and death sentences await those ignoring the law.
Sometimes, one has to understand if there's any logic at all, for westerners flying off to "paradise blissfulness" to drug themselves out, and then returning to their own countries a few months later more brain dead than when they left.
Foreigners drug smuggling throughout the Asian continent has been an on-going issue for decades. Taking a quick visit to the jails in Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Bali, or Delhi is certainly enough proof of this. Foreigners from all walks of life serving lengthy prison terms - some having life sentences, and others receiving the death penalty. Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore issue death penalties no matter the nationality, gender or skin color. Immigration arrival forms clearly state this entering these countries. Indonesia implies the same rules to their own citizens.
Asian drug cartels are many. They do entice, and use docile western foreigners, by offering cash incentives couriering narcotics in or out of Asia. There are also the individual tourists who look for an easy way out when cash supplies run dry. There have been many methods through the decades to smuggle heroin, cocaine, and hashish, and now crystal meth, across and out of Asia. You'd think that the millennial/Gen Z generation would be more intelligent with enough IQ to understand any form of drug smuggling for profit gain simply doesn't payoff in the long term when offshore in countries with stiff drug laws!
The majority of drug smuggling tricks used past and present are well known by anti-drug border police. An example, which has been around since the 8o's, is using international couriers, or local postal services. India has recently clamped down on this classic method, by opening packages (no matter the size) and inspected. Foreign visitors caught can receive 5+ years jail-time - Ouch! Large fentanyl bust Myanmar 2020
Nepali land border crossings with India target foreigners upon leaving Nepal. Drug searches are intense. Drug dogs are used at certain border check points. Countless foreign tourists have been busted smuggling hashish across the border into India to resell to other foreigners along the beach enclaves in Goa.
Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, and Thailand are snare dens filled with foreign drug smugglers and drug mules. On the outside, Thailand, to some, may seem an easy country to purchase and smuggle narcotics - it's not. Snitches, the underworld, and undercover narcotics police work hand in hand together busting foreign tourists around the clock - non-stop!
Nothing has changed, For those wanting to remain in Asia, either have a healthy legal bank stash, or find an honest way to survive feeding your lifestyle. Suffering the consequences of slowly decaying in hot sweaty jail cells, or flying home inside body-bags is ignored by westerners who think it will never happen to them! Warning - Travelers offshore - Beware of drug narco scams
It's better to be stone broke & free rather than slowly rotting away in jail cells or executed!
: Penang, Malaysia - 1983 Classic - Chambers and Barlow - busted trafficking 142 grams of heroin - Death by hanging 1986
: China - June 2010 - Colombian male busted with 4KG cocaine - Executed in 2017
: Bali, Indonesia - May 2012 - British female narco courier busted with 4.5 Kilos of cocaine - Death by firing squad
: Bali, Indonesia - Nov 2014 - Kiwi female gets 10 months jail time for 1/2 used hashish joint
: Indonesia - April 2015 - Seven foreigners executed by firing squad
: Bali, Indonesia - June 2015 - New Zealand male busted trafficking 1.7 kilos of crystal meth - 15 years jail time
: Taiwan - Feb 2016 - New Zealand 22 year old drug mule busted with 2.7 kilos of heroin
: Nepal - March 2016 - Australian male busted smuggling hashish inside guitar
: China - July 2016 - Colombian female busted 15 years jail time smuggling cocaine inside laptop
: Australia - Aug 2016 - World cruise 2 Canadian females busted smuggling 95 kilos of heroin
: Borneo - April 2017 - New Zealand male busted with 29.7 grams of crystal meth - 11 years jail - died Aug 2021
: Bali - April 2017 - New Zealand female busted for 0.43 Grams of meth
: Hong Kong - Nov 2017 - Greek female busted smuggling 2.6 kilos of cocaine
: Koh Phayam, Thailand - March 2018 - 27 tourists busted for marijuana
: Thailand, Koh Samui - May 2018 - foreigner drug bust
: Hanoi, Vietnam - August 2018 - South African male busted for 1.5 Kilos of cocaine - Death Penalty
: Thailand - Nov 2018 - Australian accused of smuggling 500kg of crystal meth - novel story
: China - Nov 2018 - Canadian busted 222Kg meth - Pending Death Penalty
: Bali, Indonesia - Dec 2018 British male busted with 31 kilos of hash oil - 15 years jail or Death Penalty
: Bali, Indonesia - Dec 2018 Peruvian, Brit, German, Chinese, Malay busted - 4Kg cocaine, weed, ecstasy & ketamine - Pending Death Penalty
: Lahore, Pakistan - March 2019 - Czech Female eight years jail smuggling 8.5 kilos of heroin
: Nepal - March - 2019 - 41 tourists trans party drug bust - Pokhara
: Indonesia - April 2019 - Gili Trawangan Party Island - American busted - 1224 grams of Gunja, Meth, Mushrooms - Pending Death Penalty
: Indonesia - May 2019 - French male busted for 3 kilos of ecstasy - Death Penalty
: Indonesia - June 2019 - American, 2 Spanish, 2 Russians busted for drug smuggling
: China - July 2019 - 16 foreigners (7 teachers, 9 students) held on drug charges - administrative detention
: Bali, Indonesia - July 2019 - Two Australian males busted for cocaine trafficking at the resort village of Canggu
: Thailand - July 2019 - American & Thai wife busted with 1 kilo of Meth, hand gun, 205k cash in Thai Baht
: Bali, Indonesia - Sept 2019 - Swiss male busted smuggling 30 grams of marijuana - 6.5 years jail time
: Bali, Indonesia - Oct 2019 - Two Thai females busted for 1Kg of Meth - Pending Death Penalty
: Bali, Indonesia - Oct 2019 - French male busted for 22.5 Grams of cocaine - Pending Death Penalty
: Koh Phangan, Thailand - Oct. 2019 - Italian living the dream - busted for drug selling
: Bali, Indonesia - Oct 2019 - Russian female busted with 6.6 Grams of cocaine - pending up to 15 years jail time
: Taiwan - Nov 2019 - Canadian drug mule busted with 30 kilos of marijuana
: Thailand - Nov 2019 - Nigerian, 2 Australians busted with 1.2 kilos of Meth
: Transfer flight Nepal, India via Moscow - Nov 2019 - 9 grams of weed in "checked baggage" 7 years jail
: Nepal - Dec 2019 - 4 foreign nationals busted - 6 kilos of Cocaine
: Bali, Indonesia - Dec 2019 - 6 foreigners arrested caught smuggling various drugs into Bali
: Kathmandu, Nepal - Dec 2019 - Bolivian female busted with 3 kilos of cocaine
: Bali, Indonesia - Jan 2020 - Russian couple busted cultivating marijuana- Pending Long term Jail time
: Bali, Indonesia - Jan 2020 - American male 9.3 years jail time & 72k USD fine selling cocaine & marijuana
: Mumbai, India - March 2020 -Bolivian female busted with 13 condoms (312 grams) of liquid cocaine inside stomach
: Bali, Indonesia - Feb 2020 -New Zealand male busted for meth - Pending Long term Jail time
: Bali, Indonesia - May 2020 - American male busted selling meth - Pending Long term Jail time.
: China, Guangzhou - June 2020 - Australian male smuggling 7.5 kilos of crystal meth - Death Penalty
: China - August 2020 - 2 Canadian drug smugglers - Death Penalty
: Bali, Indonesia - Sept 2020 - Aussie & Brit nationals busted with 13 grams of meth - pending up to 20 years jail time
: Koh Samui - Thailand - OCT 2020 - South African female busted with 260 grams MDMA - 33 years jail time
: Bali, Indonesia - Nov 2020 - Australian male busted with 0.86 gram of meth - pending up to 12 years maximum jail time
: Bali, Indonesia - Dec 2020 - French national busted for trafficking meth & possesion of firearms - pending 20 years jail time
: Bali, Indonesia - May 2021 -Brit & Italian busted with 223 grams of marijuana & 94 grams of cocaine - pending long term jail time
: Bangkok, Thailand - June 2022 - Four foreigners busted with 17.5 kilos of cocaine - pending life jail time
: Bali, Indonesia - June 2022 - Brazilian busted arriving with 9 grams of marijuana - minimum 4 years jail time
: Bali, Indonesia - July 2022 - Brit, Brazilian & Mexican ring busted with 844 grams cocaine, MDMA & cannabis - pending death penalty
: Bali, Indonesia - August 2022 - American busted with inbound package containing 7 bottles of cannabis oil - maximum 12 years jail time
: Kolkata, India - August 2022 - Brazilian drug mule busted with 44 capsules (500 grams) of cocaine inside stomach
: Bali, Indonesia - August 2022 - American busted with inbound e-liquid cartridges of marijuana - minimum 5 years jail time
: Manila, Philippines - August 2022 - South African mule busted with 21 kilos of crystal meth pending death penalty
: Bali, Indonesia - Sept 2022 - Australian male busted with 8 grams of heroin & 0.34 grams of meth - 8 months rehab
: Bali, Indonesia - October 2022 - American busted on arrival with 26 grams of cannabis pills - maximum 12 years jail time
: Bangkok, Thailand - October 2022 - Kiwi drug lord extradited to USA - racketeering global drug trade
: Pattaya, Thailand - Dec 2022 - Swedish male busted with .38 cal pistol & meth - pending jail time
: Bali, Indonesia - Jan 2023 - Brazilian female busted with 3 kilos of cocaine - 11 years jail time
: Bali, Indonesia - Jan 2023 - Brazilian male busted with 2 liters of liquid cocaine - 5 years minimum jail time or death penalty
Drug Addiction Is Real - Kick The Habit : meth, opium, ice, crack, cocaine, LSD, speed, hashish, MDMA.
Gateway Hub - Singapore
Transiting across Asia overland from Singapore through to Turkey onward to Europe without boarding a flight hasn't been easier. Relaxing on beaches somewhere in southern Asia sounds inviting, but traveling through one continent to another is much more exhilarating and rewarding. I've done this road journey back and forth a few times with incredible travel-logs.
Singapore is one out of many hubs in southern Asia to begin or end long term journeys. Onward visas can be sourced en-route through the journey with Consulates being the easiest issuing them. Many doing this overland route will normally get their visas done in one go, this is not advisable, especially if one wants to spend maximum time in neighboring countries for a few months. Normally, issued visas require entering countries within short time periods between one month to three months. Applying for onward visas in India for many countries of late has become complicated, due to the processing procedure administered by Indians, instead of direct contact to Consulates. Iranian, Iraqi, and Pakistani visas should be done either online, or in neighboring countries at Consulates, definitely not at Embassies, unless there's no other choice. Forget about driving your own vehicle through to Turkey from Singapore, unless your bank account is overflowing, or have sourced willing able sponsors paying the overheads. Myanmar, Pakistan and Iran use different sets of rules for foreign private transport running freely around inside their countries. This can still be done, the red tape varies, including compulsory Carnet de passage.
Below, Singapore's impressive skyline of its financial district and Marina Bay at dusk. Singapore was once known as a tax free haven. It's the cleanest city in Asia, with spotless pavements and meticulous roadways. Singapore has a comprehensive street camera surveillance network that watches everything, and anything that moves, which makes it one of the safest cities in Asia. Drug smuggling still remains a mandatory death sentence, and chewing gum is still prohibited. Singapore is the easiest city in Asia to move around in to explore the different cultural lifestyles. It's the main gateway to Indonesia and north west bound overland through to Istanbul. Below image was captured on top of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel with a 1977-81 58mm AI NOCT lens & 12MP digital body.
The Other Side Of Travel Blissfulness
Nothing much has changed in rural regions of Asia. Kids are still looking after stock, feeding stock, and ride buffalo. Rural living standards solely depends on how much land families own. Land is usually put to good use earning an investment from stock herds, paddy, vegetables, or by leasing land. Asian children living in rural regions work their butt off from very young ages. It's difficult, almost rare to find spoilt brats in rural Asia.
You'll rarely see, if ever, travel images like above inside glossy airline flight magazines, or as wall posters inside travel agencies, and especially never from all those "international fluffy travel blogger influencers". Travel bloggers will only use images of what is required by their handlers who wouldn't dare pay them commission fees, if showing the opposite side of travel blissfulness - Follow the money, not true reality.
Over 500 million Asians live just above the poverty line. They are usually found on the outskirts of large cities, towns, and coastlines scattered across the continent. In real time overland travel, there's virtually little escape witnessing the extent of how many Asians, who live out their lives just surviving day to day. It's not only an Asian dilemma, a quick drive through downtown Los Angeles and San Fransisco vividly shows the utter decay of western world urban street living in your face. Living the American dream is well dead and buried for millions in USA - It's a done and dusted dream.
Westerners holidaying in tourist ghettos laying on sandy beaches, taking endless selfie snaps, and partying hard out through till dawn avoid visiting places like this. Maybe they can't handle the smell of polluted stagnant water, or locals peeing and dropping their loads just below their dwellings, or maybe they just really don't care, ignoring the real visions of reality that may spoil their holiday blissfulness within touristy hot spots.
Escape In Any Direction - Do It While You Can.
Tourist hot spot locations and attractions through Asia are plentiful. Some excellent, some good and others outright worn out from decades of constant publicity i.e. Angkor Wat, Taj Mahal, Grand Palace, Great wall of China, including coastal hangout locations like Goa and Bali.
There's excellent regions well worth the effort getting to during the off peak season. The above snap, taken @3700 meters in minus -28C is one of them. Kaza, a heavily promoted place to visit during the summer months, but certainly not in midwinter. With extreme subzero temps, lack of running water, power cuts, one way in and out, and no airport (as yet) turns Spiti Valley into an isolated Himalayan location. Just for reference, Kaza is 100 kilometers higher in latitude than Lhasa, Tibet. Even as a well seasoned overland traveler, the midwinter journey to and from Kaza was a good test of endurance. Coldest recorded temp — minus -33C (added chill factor minus -40C)
When onboard moving vessels, early morning image snaps like above are more difficult to take when not stationary. Grainy results can't be helped. Below, an enlarged cropped long shot captured upstream across the Mekong @450+ meters. Getting the same results with cell phone cameras is a waste of time. I've tried with numerous smart phones, all disappointing.
No matter what kind of environment you're in too, Asia has you covered in all directions. Diversity through a continent can't get any better than what Asia has to offer. Any comprehensive overland journey through Asia can literally take years of travel. India alone, will easily absorb 12 months to experience seasonal changes, festival events, highland wilderness, tribal culture and endless wildlife sanctuaries. Those traveling through Asia in a mad rush trying to cover as much ground as possible within a few weeks have no idea of what real overland travel is all about. Completing the Asian continent is the same as other continents requiring time and patience.
Through the years, I've bumped into some insane western yuppies through various continents, who really had no input of what they were doing, or why they were there in the first place, apart from lazing around doing drugs all day. Westerners coming to Asia having limited time on their hands are usually beach freak party goers mixing in with other foreigners having no interest outside those circles. Slowly moving across continents solo is the best advice for anyone looking for real world overland travel.
When weather is overcast, it is the perfect time to get out and about capturing images in black & white. The image example below was taken during cloudy conditions using DSLR photo gear.
When weather is overcast, it is the perfect time to get out and about capturing images in black & white. These example shots were taken during cloudy moist conditions. Images were taken with jeans rolled up, and bare feet using 2 different full frame DSLRs and prime lenses.
Night Snaps - Using Tripods
Capturing night snaps like these two samples are easily done using a tripod. By using tripods, this will eliminate camera shake to minimum levels. Not all tripods are the same, avoid cheap wing bling models constructed in China, unless they've had positive approval ratings from different users around the planet. The reliability of photo-gear is both dependent on quality and user. Bad baggage handlers loading other peoples baggage stuff at bush bus terminals through Asia is rough as guts. Load it yourself, and take fragile items on board. My trusty old Gitzo/Markins/Wimberley tripod hasn't let me down yet. The same setup has done some serious overland transit mileage through Asia and Africa. Above image - DSLR full frame AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G, five image stack. More in the tripod and photo-gear pages.
Petrona towers is like a dual metal magnet The towers architectural design is a feat in itself with the entire outer structures finished to perfection clade in stainless steel. Grabbing snaps of Petrona towers night glow can be easily accomplished from all directions and angles across the city skyline. The above image was captured at midnight using an AF-S Nikon f/2.8 14-24G lens @14mm on a tripod. Light pollution can be an issue photographing city skylines. The below snap shows large amounts of carbon pollution blanketing over Kuala Lumpur. More night snap captures further down the page. Ezilon Malaysian map
Below, lunar shot captured with a classic 1986-05 Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 AIS lens & 12MP D3S body - Himalaya
Image Captures - Endless Subjects
Strolling past simple subject matter like above can easily become ignored. As the saying goes, never let possible image captures go to waste.
Image captures are abundant everywhere through Asia. Street still photography is in your face as soon as you wake up heading out the door. When the hustle and bustle of street activity wears thin, just escape out of town to isolated temples, or nearby paddy fields for the day. Most short journeys out from large cities quickly changes from urban sprawl in to slow pace rural lifestyle atmosphere.
The fruits of hard labor carved out from hillsides transformed into rice terraces.
Early morning Alms giving snap captures through the streets in southeast Asia.
Locals are spotted during the early morning offering steamed rice and hot soup along the streets to Monks and novices through southeast Asia.
Typical inner suburban cityscape snap - southeast Asia.
Random street photography through Asia will keep you busy non-stop all day. It's simple to find chaotic bustling avenues, overflowing traffic, side streets full of vendors mixed amongst jostling open-air vegetable and meat markets. Any good point and shoot or full frame DSLR will do the job.
From the Himalaya to the Chinese coast, random street photography is endless. Actually, there's no excuse whatsoever to capture appealing subject matter through the lens.
Above, a cropped image using full frame DSLR photo gear. A tripod was used capturing this 150+ meter distant shot.
Capturing street snaps using 45+ year old 35mm f/1.4 AI lens mounted to a D3 body. I've owned and used both AI & AIS 35mm f/1.4 lenses. To be honest, the earlier 1977-81 AI is the lens to have. It's well constructed, and has 180 degree focus throw compared to the later AIS version with 105 degrees. The Nikon AI 35 works on most DSLRs.
A Burmese local street snap captured @50 meters with the D3 and AFS Nikon 200-400 f4 VRII mounted on a tripod.
Most enthusiastic street photographers use their own personal flair to capture their images. Carrying tripods overland through countries crossing the Asian continent is bulky and extra added weight. Tripods do alleviates soft, out of focus captures when slower than normal shutter speeds are used. Tripods are also put into good use at busy locations like crossroad junctions, markets, and along city streets. Through the decades, I've learnt to appreciate the positives of using tripods. Today, wherever my home-base is, most low light, wildlife and landscape photography is done with the aid of using a tripod.
This little local had spotted me from 30 meters away, he was probably intrigued by the tripod and camera gear.
Capturing random street portraits and group action shots of locals across Asia is difficult to ignore.
You'll notice that most street images of people through this website are looking directly into the lens. The only way of accomplishing this is by interacting with them first. This local below was flat out busy cooking up a brew and probably thought it was strange some weird looking westerner wanting a capture of her. Well, she's probably used to that awesome background view. The flames with heat vapor floating up from the clay cooker with her staring into the lens created a great image.
Solo Travel Asia - Street Photo Gear
Are you traveling through Asia without a camera? Most who do end up regretting it! Different opportunities arise everyday to capture candid snap shots on the go, whether it be at local markets, on the street, or during transit. DSLR photo gear will spend most of its time out of bags. Any up market point and shoot, M4/3, or full frame DSLR will guarantee satisfaction.
As mentioned previously, I use full frame DSLR photo gear. This doesn't mean smaller point & shoots can't do the same job, but I've been down that road several times trusting different branded mirrorless point and shoots, which have all failed in one way or another, and they all have various limitations. Personally, reliable camera gear always comes first, certainly not brand names, or from time wasting You Tube camera-gear bloggers, many who are a dime a dozen selling off click bait earning commissions on the "latest" must get stuff. Street photography only requires a few prime lenses and a dependable camera body without all those extra user friendly add-ons. Second hand full frame Pro DSLR Canon and Nikon camera bodies with low shutter counts are still good choices in the 2020s.
Is quality branded photo gear worth the price tag? If long-term overland travel is planned - Yes! Smart phone cameras can't match the quality of full frame lens optics. If they were, wildlife, sports and fashion photographers would be using them, but they don't. The optic quality in some older lenses are as good, or superior than many newer lenses. At the end of the day, it's all about affordability, and what can be found new or second-hand that produces good image quality. Those who were born into the smart phone era believing little gadgets with lenses can out smarten super grade DSLR lenses will probably disagree until they see the difference of image quality when their still images of almost anything captured from distance are enlarged hanging on the wall.
Using any type of photo-gear without knowing some basic interaction skills with strangers won't get your far. I've witnessed this dilemma with other foreigners who hadn't a clue how to interact with strangers. While some street subjects like children, are simple and effortless to photograph. Adults on the other hand require more effort to capture closeup street portraits of them.
Basic interaction skills begins by communicating with general chit-chat. Getting up-close with portrait lenses in the faces of subjects will require positive interaction and dialogue beforehand. Respect those who don't want to be photographed. This is immediately recognized by a person's facial expressions. Avoid crossing the grey area of any stranger that doesn't want to be photographed.
With still street photography the most important skill to have, is how to openly interact with total strangers. The majority of closeup random street portraits are with strangers young and old. Each person reacts differently. Knowing how to positively interact with individual subjects plays an important roll before cameras are raised. Foreigners traveling offshore suffering from introverted issues who find it difficult to interact with adults should begin dialogue with kids. The below street snap is an example of positive interaction with children.
Forget about camera brands, rather look at what is compatible that can fulfill your needs to constantly capture rewarding images. Up market point and shoots can easily match DSLR photo gear. Point & shoots will fail when hard dropped. They can have focus zoom failure caused by dust and grime buildup when switched on or off. Camera reliability is what counts when traveling and transiting through the middle of nowhere. The majority of semi or pro DSLR camera gear keeps on keeping on well past their recommended use-by date.
These recent rural snaps of a local were captured using good old classic photo gear. Choosing this particular subject was random. With positive interaction before pointing DSLRs at subjects one can easily capture shots of strangers without receiving negative blowback. Capturing images of strangers requires some form of interaction process first. I've been using the same interacting techniques for decades with great success.
We all have some form of shyness, especially when lenses are pointed in our faces. Most experienced street photographers already know when to avoid capturing images of total strangers. Recognizing subjects facial postures and body movement before raising cameras is priority. Isn't it ironic, that most of the planet's population is controlled by invasive cameras plastered down streets, railway stations, and airports without consent!
Street snaps randomly captured using full frame DSLR bodies with fixed prime lenses.
The majority of street photographers have their own techniques capturing people shots. Some will use zoom lenses keeping their distance from subjects, while others, like myself will interact beforehand and then capture shots up close using prime lenses.
Strolling through the streets of Asia capturing images of strangers, or wandering up in the Himalaya self-tracking and photographing snow leopards in sub-zero temps may sound easy enough. It boils down to how reliable your photo gear really is within all types of different climatic conditions. This includes the reach of various lenses to capture the intended shots. DSLR photo-gear works, no matter the region whether it be in blistering hot, humid environments or within sub-zero -30C locations. Actually, 99% of the images through this website have been taken using DSLR full frame camera gear.
DSLR Full Frame - Zoom Lens
At times, capturing people shots from distance rather than interacting with subjects can't be avoided. I normally use a full frame DSLR zoom lens to get those captures. I also find it easier using tripods at certain locations where there's enough room to rotate camera gear 360 degrees. By using tripods, one can remain at the same location for a few hours taking random snaps of locals without worrying about out of focus and blurry images. Tripod page : Photo Gear page
Highland Wilderness - Total Freedom
Looking for peace and solitude? The mountainous regions of the Himalaya will give it to you. In general, highland Himalayan landscape is rugged with endless formations of desolate barren terrain. Snow drift blizzards through the winter months are common occurrence with sub-zero temperatures dropping to minus -30C.
Looking for peace and solitude? The mountainous regions of the Himalaya will give it to you. In general, highland Himalayan landscape is rugged with endless formations of desolate barren terrain. Snow drift blizzards through the winter months are a common occurrence with sub-zero temperatures dropping to -30C. During the late spring and summer months, sheep and goat herders share the same road tracks in isolated regions moving their flocks. Highland herders constantly move stock in search for fresh grazing pastures through the Himalaya.
Heading to the hills escaping monsoon heat is common amongst foreigners. A few regions worth mentioning are Skardu, Nepal, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Khand, Ladakh, Sikkim, Bhutan. Warning - hiking and wildlife photography through the Himalaya is addictive.
Random Night Street Snaps - Asia
It doesn't matter which country or city, capturing night street snaps through Asia is endless. A few good locations are at busy crossroad junctions, within open air markets, down at harbors, and along bustling walkways.
Above, a full frame DSLR zoom lens capture. The original image was double the size - 2012 D800, AFS 14-24mm f/2.8, ISO 3600. 1/100 Sec.
Capturing random night snaps using DSLR photo gear has always worked for me. Both zoom and prime lenses work well after dark without the need of using flash. Using tripods for slow shutter shots is recommend. Tripod page.
Getting out on to the streets during monsoon rains using DSLR gear will get night shots like below. The snap was captured with a D3 and 85mm f/1.4 lens @ f/1.6. Some good locations are at main crossroad junctions and busy avenues.
Below, a random midnight snap through the streets of Tokyo. Yakuza owned vehicles are normally spotted parked up outside ultra flash clubs and bars they own and congregate in.
Below, I must of spotted at least a dozen smart phone travelers taking more selfie snaps in and around this location than the location itself. I set up my tripod, attached a 12 MP D3S and 1977-81 Nikkor Noct 58mm f/1,.2 AI lens capturing this shot. Using old school manual focus lenses coupled to DSLR full frame bodies is a rarely in 2022. One things for sure, I'll probably be still using some reliable photo gear offshore through the 2020s.
Tibetan Plateau - Blast From The Past
Today, solo overland travel and transit through Tibet is virtually impossible without appropriate permits, travel schedule, official paperwork with tour groups or official private drivers. The CCP red tape is an endless nightmare. There are official tourist operators in Kathmandu who run small tour groups in and out of Tibet. The above image was taken from the back of an open truck heading to Nyalam during mid-winter. It was during the time when one could go anywhere they wished before the 89 shutdown of individual travel through Tibet, I was one of the lucky ones. This particular route has been downgraded with a fresh highway further west at Saga since the Nepali 2015 quake. The lower image, a classic view of Gyantse, the crossroad township splitting overland transit routes towards Mount Kailash via Saga or to Lhasa. I've self banned my latest overland travel and transit images through PRC on this website - call it anti CCP. Ezilon Chinese map
Below, a Tibetan dressed appropriately during mid-winter wearing a thick rough yak skin coat. Yaks are used for everything and anything imaginable. A few examples, for ploughing fields, transporting goods. milking for butter, meat, hides and fur. Yak dung is commonly used as a fuel source for heat and cooking in isolated villages on the Tibetan plateau.
DSLR Full Frame Photo Gear - Works Anywhere!
Above, a group portrait showing some of the last surviving Konyak headhunters. Arranging this particular group portrait is more difficult than it looks. Headhunters aren't there just waiting for you to capture snaps of them. One requires a local interpreter, the offering of gifts, interaction time, including the necessary travel permits to reach this tribal location situated north of Mon.
Asian Wildlife - In The Wild
How many times have you browsed at wildlife images online only to find they were photographed at zoos? Avoid becoming one of them. Instead, when traveling offshore, use your own photo gear to capture wildlife, birdlife and marine within their habitats. All it takes, is researching the appropriate locations and knowing the seasonal time capturing different kinds of wildlife. For example, Himalayan snow leopards are best photographed during midwinter in subzero conditions under a blanket of snow. Photographing migratory birds are found in their thousands during the cold season, certainly not in the summer months, they've already left those locations. As for marine, one requires swimming and diving skills, and protective sealed underwater camera cases that can handle up to 30+ meters. The top ranking country in Asia for wildlife photography is without doubt India. As an amateur wildlife photographer myself, if I can capture these images in the wilderness - so can you.
Capturing images in the wild are done using DSLR photo gear. Cell phone cameras, point and shoot, and 4/3 cameras are unable to reach out at most locations no-matter the brand. DSLR camera gear has no trouble in any environment capturing wildlife with long range prime lenses.. This isn't really understood until trying to get up close to any wildlife. In most cases, bird and wildlife will move when approaching them to closely. Those who think DSLR's are history should take a quick look at global wildlife images captured with DSLR gear. Don't count on grabbing closeup wildlife images with anything else unless it's at zoos.
Getting amongst wildlife through south east and central Asia is relatively straight forward with most countries having numerous wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Indonesia, Borneo, Malaysia, and India are well known for their exotic wildlife parks which are easily accessible. Depending on the time and season, migratory birds can be seen each year arriving in the thousands from different regions of the planet. Both images above and below were captured from long distance within isolated regions using full frame DSLR photo gear.
How do you capture satisfactory images of migratory birds like this in wetland locations? By using real camera gear able to reach out across landmass. DSLR full frame bodies with prime lenses have a proven track record. Avoid arriving to wetland regions trying to capture images like above and below using smart phone junk or point and shoots. Images - Nikkor 800 5.6 AIS, full frame DSLR bodies.
If it's full on wildlife adventure you're looking for, the extreme subzero high altitude regions through the Himalaya will reward those who have the stamina and patience to capture images of Snow Leopards. Warm thermo clothing is required to sustain average sub minus temps from -10C to -35C @ altitudes of 4000+ meters. Just reaching these regions where Snow Leopards exist during midwinter, is a journey to remember. Many who do make it fail to capture images like above, due to weather conditions, and timing at any given location. This pair of Snow Leopards were self-tracked without the need or help from local spotters. All it took, was finding fresh cut paw pugs in snow and fresh droppings. Reliable photo gear required, including fully charged backup batteries. Cell phone cameras, point & shoots, and 4/3 cameras are useless for this type of wildlife photography. Other necessities are binoculars and tripod.
The land of big cats in Asia, is India. Capturing images of salt water swamp tigers requires time and patience. A recent 2023 four day journey through the Sundarban tiger reserve managed three sightings at three different locations onboard a bush boat. Call it pure luck. Avoid those one day tours to various watchtowers. Even if swamp tigers are spotted from watchtowers, the distance and angle capturing satisfied shots will be disappointing. Lenses with focal lengths of 400mm plus is required. Just for all those trendy nerds out there using mirrorless camera gear, the above snap was taken with a 1986 Nikkor 800 5.6 ED AIS manual prime lens and 2012 D800 body in manual mode.
When out in the wilderness or visiting wildlife sanctuaries, a pair of mini binoculars is recommended for spotting and viewing. distant wildlife. Photographing wildlife will normally require using DSLR photo gear with lenses of at least 400mm focal length and up. This also helps when rendering and enlarging images if cropping is required. Point and shoot and smart phone cameras may capture closeup shots, but definitely lack the power range, and quality optics of prime lenses. Many parks have their own guides who usually know where all the good locations are to get up as close as possible to wildlife. The below image for example, was taken from 75+ meters. The deer could hear the shutter of the camera even from this distance. If the deer had seen me, or if I had suddenly moved, they would have quickly bolted back into bush land.
Action captures of birdlife are best during migratory periods within wildlife parks and sanctuaries throughout Asia.
One can be fortunate to capture images of marshland jackals wading through swampland through the Asian continent.
Asian wetlands are plentiful full of migratory birds arriving in the cold season from November through to February. Long range prime lenses are a must. The below image was taken from 400+ meters using an 800mm 5.6 AIS manual focus lens, 12MP D3S mounted on a tripod.
Strolling through wetlands with heavy camera gear isn't at all an easy task. It first requires finding locations where birds are settled, moving, eating and relaxed. Getting to the right spot, is either by foot, dugouts and motorboat. Allowing up to a week or more gives enough time to capture similar images like above, of painted storks, pelican, herons and other species mingling together.
What's one of the many outdoor enjoyments offshore? Photographing bird life within their habitat — 1986 Nikkor 5.6 ED AIS manual lens.
Years ago, I had avoided traveling offshore with cumbersome tripods. In the 2020s, a camera tripod is the first item packed and ready heading out the door. Tripods are a necessity for bird and wildlife in the wilderness. It becomes normal procedure using binoculars scouting wildlife with cameras close by mounted on tripods ready to go. At times, one can be at the same location for hours on end patiently waiting to capture interesting shots. Hand holding camera gear capturing wildlife in subzero environments below minus -15C isn't enjoyment, it's torture. This is the same in hot sweltering locations when using lenses weighing above 3kgs. I've been using the same Gitzo, Markins, Wimberley rig since 2012 without a single issue. The tripod easily holds a full frame DSLR and 800 5.6 AIS lens totaling 7kg, including additional weight support attached under the tripod base mount eliminating vibration. At certain locations when tripods cannot be setup, a rest bag instead is used (my own design), which is filled with either rice or dry sawdust. More in the tripod and photo gear pages.
Below, an Egyptian vulture and heron busy feeding on fresh kill. Good long-range DSLR lenses are required to capture shots like this with camera bodies of 12MP up. This image was captured using a 12MP body. Lenses are more important than camera bodies.
Have you ever tried to get up close to deer in the wilderness? An impossible task for most. The shot below was captured approximately one hundred meters using full frame DSLR gear. The image was captured in DX mode with an 800mm lens. Like all deer, this critter snuck out from bushland in the late afternoon to nibble on grass patches. Because of the long distance between the deer and camera, there was no fear for the deer to remain calm. I waited for the deer to move in the right position and use whatever remaining light that was left to capture the shot.
Spending time out photographing within wetland and wilderness regions are perfect locations escaping the mad world we live in. Those having work related stress, unhappy lifestyles and personal issues can help cure their negativity, by simply taking a step back enjoying what nature has to offer.
Even with only a portion of the sun left before disappearing, capturing bird life silhouettes like below enhances a slither of warmth to the shot. I use older model DSLR photo gear to get my shots. This website avoids promoting camera brands against each other. Most cameras today offer quality camera gear giving the same results.
Faces Of Asia - DSLR Street Portraits
Where does one begin to capture random street portraits in Asia? Almost everywhere, a few locations worth mentioning, are within markets, rivers and estuaries, bus and train stations, parks, auto repair and machine shops, and along busy bustling streets. The faces of Asia are many. Roaming through city streets and isolated villages capturing close-up portraits is both relatively simple and rewarding. Having good open positive interaction levels - anything's possible. Never be shy, like many western foreigners are these days. Usually, most locals will be more than happy to pose for a second or two. It's always polite and recommended to show the images that have been taken to subjects before moving on.
The below image has tribal ambience scattered all through it. The basket above the fireplace is an old technique still used today for smoking fish, chicken and meat. Open fires set on mud floors positioned in the centre of rooms with a kettle brewing are basic mods inside tribal dwellings seen through Asia and Africa.
I was actually on my own wandering around this isolated village, and had spotted her from the corner of my eye, it then only took a little interaction with this elderly woman, a Konyak, who allowed me just enough time to grab a few snaps. If I had been with other foreigners, it wouldn't of been possible to photograph closeups of this particular local.
Using manual focus lenses may seem backward for some. The above image was taken with a 105mm f/1.8 Nikon AIS lens @ f/1.8. The sharpness and bokeh of this lens is outstanding for a lens that was available on the shelves at camera stores in 1981. The lens was superseded in 2005. The 105 when de-clicked performs well for street videography.
Strolling through side streets and alley-ways through Asian villages and cities will produce ample amounts of images. By habit, one becomes accustomed exploring areas on the outskirts of towns. This is where all types of different action is found. Everyday out on the streets, there's always someone interesting to photograph.
Random street snaps like the above - a Bihari woman, can catch you off guard down a side street with their colourful dress wear and aqua blue eyes. If tribal women are accompanied with their husbands, it's first advisable to ask permission before taking images. This applies especially to Muslim women anywhere in public.
Coal Stove Street Chai - Asia
If you enjoy sipping on fresh made street Chai, Asia is the perfect place to drink as much as you want to your heart's content. The continent is full of chai vendors, found on most street corners in bustling cities, and rural villages. Clay coal fired chulahs are still commonly used through India, although future regulations are brewing to shift towards gas.
Some of the top Asian coffee comes from the Dalat region, Vietnam. The aromatic blends of arabica, Moka, and Blue mountain will no doubt sooth the taste buds of coffee loving drinkers. I know, I'm one of them.
Chai vendors through Asia brew-up a variety of different blended flavors. Some worth trying are jet black, milky cream, green herb, lemon pepper, ginger spice, and cardamom. There's certainly no going back to teabags. Some of the best brews I've personally tasted are from India and through central Asia.
It's no hidden secret, the older and more stained street kettles and pots are, the better tasting the chai is.
Asia has you covered with coal burners and gas for hot brews of chai and coffee across the continent.
Below, nothing beats a hot brew of chai on cold winter mornings up in the Himalayan mountains.
No matter the region or season across Asia, coffee and chai break stops are satisfying anywhere across the continent. Below, a subzero chai break en-route overland from north Asia through to the Middle East.
Angle Perspective OK? - Take The Shot
Have you ever sat and watched others taking full street portraits of their subjects noticing the same mistakes many make? Smart phone users are the worst culprits, even though holding the lightest camera junk. There's a huge difference where cameras are positioned capturing people shots. Shots taken from above a subjects waistline compared to below the waistline makes a difference. Positioning cameras at lower levels will automatically give correct angles and overall view of subject and surroundings.
Quick examples of knee to ground level shots taken with full frame DSLR bodies and prime lenses.
Wildlife captures are the same. Imagine the shot above, if taken from a cliff top. It would have the incorrect perspective. Getting as low as possible inline with bird and wildlife makes all the difference between positive and poorly composed image captures.
Below, closeup snap using a classic Nikon D3 12MP body and prime lens. This 2007 body still captures great street snaps in the 2020s.
Khao San Road - Est. 1980s
Khoasan Road - Some love the location for its touristy ambience remaining for weeks on end, while others despise the place, and leave after a few days, never to return again - that's how Khoasan road was, has, and always will be. In the mid 80's, Khoasan road was a mecca for purchasing airline flights to Pakistan, India, Nepal, Burma, and Bangladesh. Back then, during the evenings, only a few small tables were seen scattered along the sidewalks of the entire street, and were mainly clustered with half bottles of Mekong whisky and buckets of melting ice. One could actually have conversations with others across tables without the need of screaming, not like now with modified disco rhythms blaring at 200 DB.
The 1/2 dozen guesthouses during the 80's era would gladly store luggage as long as you wanted for free - even for years on end. By the mid 90's, Khoasan road became a full on party street-strip that has never looked back with the endless influx of yuppie travelers, although covid has now made Khoasan empty and desolate for the time being. Khoasan road has always been a huge money making machine through the decades for Thai locals, and will probably continue to do so until the last plane lands. Mid 80's hit track Thailand Ezilon Thailand map.
There's a huge difference between lazing around on beaches scattered along the coasts of south east Asia compared to rugged overland travel. Those flying air mileage reaching south east Asia have different reasons for doing so, with most heading directly to warm coastal waters. For some, like myself, crossing north east Asia through midwinter season is a challenge, and will test anyone's patience and stamina. Getting through this part of Asia through midwinter is a mission, with only certain routes open before snow clogs highways and become impassable. Those looking for a challenge, and have plenty of time on their hands will no doubt crack open a few beers when reaching Indonesia if completing an overland journey originating from Europe - Try it, you may actually enjoy it.
Image - on board a truck, stuck in transit on ice through the devils crossing. Notice the other truck in the background. It had slid off the icy highway and will probably remain stuck for weeks on end until a dozer arrives to drag it back up on to the road. Five days held-up in sub-zero temps averaging minus -20C to -30C in the middle of nowhere has a few positives. A lifetime overland transit journey to remember, and certainly no Instagramers or blogger influencers in sight.
Hey Grubs Up - Bon Appetite
Like other continents, Asia has every available fetish food one desires. The bonus are locally grown spices, fruits and nuts readily available from country to country. Personally, Penang and India have the best tasting cuisine on offer i.e. veg, non veg, non spicy, spicy hot, curries, plain na'an, garlic na'an, tandoori, sweet cake etc.
Wandering through the streets, locals are seen hand rolling preparing chapati (roti) finished off on top of coal fired clay stoves.
Preparing steamed food is as easy as it looks. A strong woven basket resting on top of a boiling pot of water with whatever food substance chosen cooks in no time. A removable lid allows easy access to empty or refill the basket. Cafe food menu costs differ throughout Asia with affordable prices. Purchasing food produce from local markets preparing it yourself is the way to go no matter where one lives or travels.
Below, fresh pork meat for sale along an isolated dirt road. Some may ask if it's safe to eat? All I can say is, how old are all those meat dishes that one eats without questioning where it came from at restaurants and snack bars around the planet?
Below, dates and assorted dried fish found within most markets through Asia.
Imported Aussie and New Zealand lamb can be purchased in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, China and Iran. Purchasing a few kilos of lamb chops, and slowly grilling it over an open fire of hot amber becomes mouth watering for meat lovers. The price of imported lamb and beef is under half the price compared to consumer prices in Australian and NZ. This doesn't make no sense or add up especially when meat exports also require overhead shipping costs and importation taxes. My solo NZ road trip has more on this.
Food snacks are plentiful through the continent. Western influenced style food maybe ignored by westerners, but Asians in general enjoy pizza and sandwich fetishes from time to time.
Quick snacks, pizza, vegan, grilled meat cafe food, western fast food, bulk food - Asia has every type of food desired.
Asian fish markets can't be avoided, they're found everywhere through the continent. large king prawns can be bought for under half the price of what restaurants charge. Self-cooking your own food offshore saves a whole lot of cash.
Below, within isolated regions through Asia, traditional mud floor kitchens are still used. Typical smoke boxes hang above fires to slowly cook all types of meat. Traditional lifestyle living with the smell of food prepared on embers with billows of smoke slowly floating out kitchen entrances is difficult to beat.
Sunsets - Asia
Awesome sunsets are seen around the planet. As most probably already know, man made pollution together with natural dust elements from volcanic ash mixed in the atmosphere enhance colorful effects. Asia has its fair share of stunning sunsets scattered across the continent. Some of the most unbelievable sunsets are witnessed in Indonesia after large fire burn-offs. Bangladesh and India aren't too far behind. Both countries with their large populations and heavily developed industries add and enhance colorful sunsets.
Washy pastel sunset snaps are easily captured throughout Asia. A tripod was used with full frame DSLR camera gear.
Solo overland travel through Asia has more depth than lazing on the beaches of Bali and Goa. Under the surface, Asia still has that simplistic charm from decades ago if one looks for it. Even though tourist ghettos are many, the overland escape into regions across the continent avoiding tourist overflow hasn't changed. Capturing simple silhouettes like above only requires to drag oneself out of bed before predawn.
Capturing low light sun shots using tripods ensures minimal camera shake with DSLR cameras. Even the Nikon coolpix P1000 point & shoot requires a tripod. Setting up tripods and photo gear should be done well in advance capturing different levels of sun drop. More on my own tripod gear here
India has some of the most amazing sunsets in Asia. The above image was captured using a tripod over looking Bikaner city pointing directly into the Thar desert towards Pakistan. A 1986-2005 Nikon Nikkor 800mm f/5.6 AIS manual focus lens was used. It would have been impossible to capture the sun this large without using the magnification of a long range tele-lens. A cable release was used minimizing camera shake, including delayed timer mirror-up. Added weight was used to keep the tripod stable. Extra weight was also placed on top of the lens. A classic 12MP Nikon D3S body @ 1/13th of a second.
Below, while enjoying the sunset at a hilltop location in northern Thailand, I spun the lens around 180 degrees capturing a lunar eclipse.
Above, sunset lunar eclipse at the same location. After enjoying sunsets at certain locations, many foreign visitors rush-off missing the climax of beautiful dusk colours. I normally hang around the same location capturing images like below. The silhouette was captured using a classic 12MP Nikon D3S and AFS-200-400 f/4 VR II lens mounted on a tripod - 200mm f/16 @1/8th sec.
Clear Night Skies - Asian Highlands
Do you need pro-photo-gear to capture moon shots or Astro? No, not really, but forget about using smart phone cameras and point and shoots if you're looking for satisfaction. Semi-pro DSLR bodies with reasonable quality lenses and a sturdy tripod will do the job. The best region in Asia for astro captures is within the Himalaya with zero light pollution. Nepal, India, Tibet, Pakistan, and north east Afghanistan are excellent places for astro. Getting there, reaching some of the regions mentioned on the image are still grueling overland bone rattling road routes that may or may not be open during winter season, or from political red tape. The image above (a low res 60% for this webpage) was taken with a Nikon AF28mm f/1.4D lens @f/2.8, 25 seconds, ISO 1600. Astro images captured with longer exposures will end up having spiral effects. Lenses used for astro should be f/2.8 or faster (1.4, 1.8, 2, 2.8), and stopped down 2 f stops. For example, an AFS 14-24mm f/2.8G lens will have its aperture set at f/4.
Rooftop Himalaya - Buddhist Territory
Above, Langza on a 2nd visit during peak during mid-winter. Unfortunately, no astro captures were taken due to full moon phase. For astro, the pick of the bunch is the Nikon AFS 14-24mm f/2.8 lens. This lens attached to any of Nikons semi-pro, pro full frame bodies gives good results. Canon, Sony and Fuji are also right up there with quality optics. The brand of camera isn't important, it's the lens quality that counts.
Lunar Shots Asia - DSLR Full Frame Captures
Now and then one can accidentally capture moon tilt shifts without realizing it. Moon tilt shifts happen through the 24 hour cycle. The above shots are one of many sets captured in different regions through Asia. There are good reasons why NASA has lost all the original 1969 video feed and telemetry data, including original blueprints of the lunar lander and Apollo rockets. Nothing is what it appears — the world is a stage controlled behind the curtains. If the same tilt shift events happened on earth, oceans would move wiping out all coastal cities.
Traveling with a tripod certainly isn't on everyone's baggage list over-landing through Asia, but tripods are required for all different types of photography i.e. slow shutter shots, night captures, wildlife, dawn & dusk landscape. This ensures images are captured with minimal movement and vibration. Forget trying to capture quality night sky images using smart phones, unless it's attached to a telescope. DSLR's may be considered "clumsy" in today's world of snap happy street photography, but in most cases they do guarantee satisfactory results without too much fuss.
While still in Asia during the Chinese SARS C0V-2 virus, one can still get out and about grabbing street snaps. My reliable classic manual focus 800mm 5.6 lens captured this shot during mid-monsoon in India. I had spotted it the night before through the clouds @ 1.30am. With a stroke of luck, the sky was clear the following evening to grab this snap.
In Asia, there's numerous isolated regions well away from city light pollution to view the night sky. Capturing moon and astro shots can't be easier than heading being within the Himalaya region. The below moon shot image was taken in extreme sub-zero temps using DSLR photo-gear. My lens and photo gear survived that rugged overland journey with flying colors. The most laughable of all, these images were taken with a 1986 lens and 12 MP body. See the difference in clarity and sharpness of these shots compared to iPhone 12 Pro Max junk even with additional binoculars. If you're going to travel offshore — use real camera gear instead of capturing low quality disappointing distant subjects from smart phone cameras - Got it?
Below, the longest lunar eclipse of recent history in Asia wasn't fully visible. Instead, I took a few quick captures of the full moon using DSLR photo gear. A D780 body was coupled to a 800 5.6 AIS using some of the normal settings (F/8 - f/11-1/60- 1/125sec). My older D3S 12MP body actually captures better lunar images than the D780. The D780 is nothing more than a Z6 mirrorless sensor put inside a DSLR body.
Green Gold - Paddy Fields
Imagine Asians without rice. Paddy fields are scattered far and wide throughout Asia. Vast fields of paddy are usually established where there's a constant water supply, either from rivers, streams or artisan water bores. Plantations are normally owned by extended families, who share both the hard work planting, harvesting the crops, and profit gain when rice is sold off in bulk loads. Planting and harvesting periods are the best times enjoying action and activity.
South East Asia - Sapa Region
A great retreat staying for a week or two escaping Hanoi heat, is further north to the mountainous regions of Sapa.
The Sapa, are a mix of tribal communities with indigenous heritage of the Red Dzao, Phù Láwho, Black Hmong, Tay, and Giáy tribes. They share large portions of mountainous land who have carved out the hillsides creating endless layers of paddy terraces. The region has been well known for it's friendly tourism home-stays for many years and continues to grow with a positive vibe. Those wanting to learn the basic skills of terrace construction and paddy planting with a mix of tribal atmosphere, the Sapa region is the perfect place. Street and landscape photography here is rewarding. Using your own or hired wing bling moped getting around the countryside is recommended.
One of the first things noticeable in the Sapa region, is lots of happy chit-chat and plenty of laughter with locals. If you haven't had a good chuckle for a while, and need a fix, then I advise going to Sapa. This is also one hub to get through to Laos at the Dien Bien Phu (DBP) crossing. It's a 280 km scenic transit route heading north west near the Chinese border, and then back tracks southward to Dien Bien.
Getting That Shot - Ambience Is Everything
Why travel having cameras close-by ready to use? Because images like above suddenly materialize and vanish within seconds. You have to ask yourself how many times you've missed capturing shots, because of having nothing ready to use within a few seconds. The above two examples were taken while sipping on chai.
Sometimes image captures can materialize right in front of your face, and then disappear just as quickly into thin air. I was on foot strolling along a winding dirt track leading up to a road junction. It was here when I noticed a group of trees all bunched together with a rough looking bench seat nestled in the center of them. I thought to myself "wow, that would be a great image if only someone was sitting on the seat". Not even a few seconds later from out of nowhere, a blind man led by his helper appeared, and sat on the seat right in front of me. This allowed enough time to grab the above image before they left as quickly as they came.
Below, the clouds were forming in one area of the sky suggesting a release of fusion, and then it happened.
People Shots - Asia
Capturing people shots through Asia is best done alone well away from touristic locations. It involves walking time, strolling through streets having moderate activity. Using positive interaction with subjects guarantees all those closeup still shots we want to capture. One only requires to ask any street photographer, most will probably agree, depending on their own personal outlook and preferences. Above, street images taken with DSLR full frame bodies and prime lenses.
Street snaps involving moderate interaction with the subjects first. Without interaction, these image examples would be subpar.
Those having trouble capturing random street portraits through Asia have a problem. Taking close up images of subjects requires one on one interaction. Strolling through big cities and rural village communities opens up endless opportunities to photograph random subjects. I've been doing this for decades, using the same techniques I had learnt in the 1980's. Nothing changes, street interaction levels are still the same through any continent. Avoiding tourist ghettos traveling solo without other foreigners hanging around is a good start.
Although most shots were originally color captured, I personally prefer black & white with certain subjects. These locals were cruising down the street on a moped. A D3S & Nikon zoom captured the shot.
Anyone can capture random street subjects of total strangers if they put their mind to it. Interaction is above all else for people shots.
I'm still using a 2007 DSLR Nikon D3 in the 2020s for obvious reasons. It still works, it has zero issues operating in extreme subzero and blistering heat. The D3 fits perfectly in the hand, and has captured street portraits continuously like below without hesitation, no matter the subject. Why upgrade to a D4S, D5, or D6 when the D3 used with the right lens captures perfectly great still street portraits?
Below, capturing street images of children through Asia can't be avoided, kids are everywhere. It only takes a small amount of interaction time grabbing their attention. Avoid crossing the line taking images of naked children - Anywhere, even if innocently captured. This young lass was strolling through a busy tourist ghetto selling locally made woven wristbands instead of going to school. The Real World is harsh, it's all about survival day to day earning basic income for food. Without food we all die! The Globalists have hijacked this planet - Agenda 2030.
Vibrant Hustle & Bustle - Bangladesh
Dhaka still hasn't lost that "rush vibe" it was known for decades ago. You feel it as soon as you step out on to the street walking a few blocks within the old quarter of the city, or down at the port. Dhaka is probably one of the top Asian cities for random street photography. Dhaka and Chittagong will certainly give all the street images you've been looking for that the rest of Asia lost years ago. Nothing beats rush hour traffic through Dhaka. It matches or even surpasses the Indian rush one experiences in Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai.
Every city in Asia contains its own uniqueness with some that dazzle the visitor. Dhaka's colorful street displays of tangled rickshaws in amongst moving traffic and pedestrians is one of those cities. Dhaka's river estuary is also another vibrant bustling part of the old city region. A maze of rainbow water reflections from anchored boats and ferries are witnessed scattered along both sides of the port. A week is sufficient enough time exploring Dhaka at a slow pace. Overland travel and transiting through Bangladesh is relatively straight forward using numerous types of road and boat transportation. The preferred travel timeline is from November through to March.
Chatting with locals through Bangladesh can't be easier. One only requires a small amount of interaction time capturing close up street portraits. Bangladesh, like India, is a street photographer's paradise making it well worth visiting for at a month or two. Riding on top of the trains is only permissible through major festivals, and at your own risk.
Mystic Valley - Pagoda Paradise
Pagoda sunsets, the moment when people flock in droves to the most tallest pagodas enjoying the ambient views of Pagan valley. Getting to tall pagodas should be done early for a clear viewing well in advance before the sun begins to drop. For $500 dollars (gulp), one can float across the sky for an hour watching the sunrise. (500 bucks can get you through Burma for a month).
Taking random street portraits of Burmese locals is straight forward like anywhere else. Using one on one interaction with subjects always works. I've rarely had issues photographing close up shots of people through the decades. Using common sense and positive dialogue with strangers is key. Being polite with subjects works, being rude and rushy with people never works.
Street snap portrait quick examples, most probably wouldn't acknowledge the above top right image was taken with an SLR in the 1980s.
Myanmar, the land of Pagodas and random candid street portraits. Don't even think coming to this country without some type of camera gear. Certainly not just with junky smart phone cameras i.e. up market point and shoots, 4/3 cameras, DSLR full frame photo gear.
Using positive interaction with subjects first helps capture closeup street portraits - DSLR full frame.
Crawling out of deep sleep heading out the door in the dark becomes normal procedure in and around Pagan. Finding likely locations capturing images like these two examples are better done the day before.
Machine Workshops - Urban Outskirts
Most townships and cities through Asia have industrial zones. They're normally situated on the outskirts of urban complexes. Different kinds of manufacturing are usually mixed together with an abundance of machine and automotive workshops scattered in all directions. Entering some workshops may require permission to photograph. Wandering around through busy workshops is at your own risk. Safety in many machine shops is minimal or non-existent compared to Western safety standards. Like most other images on this website, they're auto- compressed by the platform loosing half the quality and sharpness of the original upload.
Automotive engine parts from bearings to crankshafts. Below, an engine getting a complete recondition overhaul, the re-builder is in the process of boring and honing worn out cylinder bores on this engine.
Night Captures - DSLR Photo Gear
Night street photography through Asia can be rewarding. There's always something of interest worth capturing after dark. Most Asian cities have issues with light pollution, so forget about astro photography within cities. Checking out good locations during daylight hours is recommended. The image above shows the quality optics with some DSLR lenses. There was no additional star burst filter or post-processing tricks for this shot. Smart phone cameras and point and shoots no matter the brand are notorious for producing white blobs of light instead of fine rays of light. An AFS Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G lens was used to capture this image.
Singapore central has a relaxed atmosphere after dark for any type of street photography. Singapore is one of the safest cities to stroll around after dark without any issues whatsoever. The most difficult task grabbing night snaps like above, are the endless amounts of locations to choose from.
Now and then tripods aren't required. Finding a power pole, the edge of a building wall, or a solid sign post pole are good substitutes for resting DSLR's minimizing vibration and shake. The above image was captured by resting the camera's weight on top of a concrete park bench. Below, silhouette captured in tribal territory in the backwaters of India.
Sadhus - India
There's no doubt whatsoever India has always been the number one country in Asia for capturing untold amounts of different random street images. Capturing street portraits through India will wear most out. Photographing strange mysterious sadhus can become an addictive attraction. India requires time, lot's of time getting through the country, and especially having patience without time schedules. Don't come to India if you're in a rush. Minimum overland travel experience for India is six months.
Sadhus are spotted during annual religious events, down at washing ghats, and within ancient cities like Varanasi and Haridwar, which are traditionally known as sadhu abodes. Don't become a typical western tourist, who grab quick snaps of sadhus, and then hurriedly run off doing repeating the same dismal action. Simple gestures, like offering chai, sitting for 10 minutes hanging out chit-chatting goes a long way. Some foreigners I've met in India haven't a clue of anything beyond the Taj, Manali, and Goa - How sick is that?
Location shots offshore behind the camera are worth more than smart phone selfies. The above image (including another) were chosen and used by a reputable US photography platform, including payment of $300 bucks per image - now that's a bonus.
Interacting with Sadhus won't just give you great image captures, it will also open the opportunity of socializing with them giving close-up views of their daily routine habits. Most Sadhus have out-going personalities with friendly open attitudes towards foreigners. Sadhus enjoy their daily fix of charas smoking. More on India in the Overland India page.
It doesn't matter what photo gear one uses, as long as it does the job - below, low light capture using DSLR full frame photo gear.
Reflections - Rivers & Estuaries
If you're into water reflections like myself, water canals and estuaries usually have numerous waterways with anchored and moving boats. Finding the right location will give mirror display colors through the water. Waiting for subjects passing by may take time at certain places, but generally worth the patience.
Water reflections are everywhere, it just takes a good lens and tripod to capture some great snaps.
Overland travel photography down at estuaries and harbors throughout Asia will capture images like this.
Early morning is a great time for river snaps, even this long shot above showing ebb tide currents.
The aid of using a tripod to capture water reflections makes it easier to get images like this.
Mid morning snap, a riverboat taxi slowly making headway across an estuary.
Below, colors mirrored from close-by vessels reflected on the surface of jet black water.
Angkor Wat - 4 Day Pass - Knock Yourself Out
Capturing morning silhouette snaps of Angkor Wat beside the moat can be difficult during peak season unless arriving early as possible to grab a place. By 5am, the front view location is literally packed out with no room to set up tripods.
Angkor Wat is a bucket list favorite for those passing through Cambodia. The four day pass is well worth its price tag allowing plenty of freedom to explore and go where you wish without rushing around like a manic. The best time visiting Angkor Wat is just after monsoon season replenishing the moats around the complex full of water.
Those who've been to Angkor Wat without capturing the above view will have to make a future visit.
The opportunity to capture images of novices and monks at Angkor Wat is relatively easy. Sleeping and kitchen quarters are good locations for activity. Monks permanently stationed at Angkor Wat for several years have been photographed thousands of times. Some novices on the other hand can be shy and evasive.
With 2 million + visitors passing through Angkor Wat yearly, the chances of peaceful serenity is almost impossible. The wet season may give some freedom to setup tripods at 5am capturing water reflections encompassed around the main temple complex. Bring an umbrella.
All those amazing hidden views through Angkor Wat my take time finding them, but it's worth it.
In Transit Mode - Asian Continent
When local public transport becomes non-existent, it's very normal to climb on board anything with wheels heading towards your intended direction. This becomes an automatic procedure in isolated regions throughout the Asian continent. Grabbing lifts on the back of trucks and pickups mingling with locals is a major part of what overland travel journeys are about. It's on these type of occasions where the ease of interacting with locals occurs. Crossing through countries and entire continents using basic transportation is just a normal occurrence for most long-term travelers. Overland Transit page.
Below, some back road overland transit crossings through Asia have remained the same for decades.
So, you've just arrived into Asia and looking for a place to hangout well away from tourist locations. The Himalayan highlands is where it's at in 2021. Forget about beaches , head to the hills, the mountains where things are at slow pace, and totally isolated through the winter season. Warm clothing and withstanding subzero temps is required.
Kayan Longneck
North western Thailand has always been a great place to relax and chill-out taking a break from the rest of Asia. After months slogging it out over-land transiting through the continent, many return to favorite places chilling out. The region has numerous locations worth visiting. This includes the small hill tribe of Kayan longnecks, a refugee village situated on the Thai-Myanmar border near Mae Hong Son.
Random Street Snaps - Every Day's Different
These portrait snaps were randomly taken at locations where most foreigners don't bother going to. Taking strolls to the edge of towns and villages will usually have small gatherings of intrigued locals with invitations of chit-chat offering coffee or chai. This gives ample opportunity taking closeup portraits without fuss or bother. I've never had issues through the continents wandering around the outskirts of cities and towns interacting with locals i.e. Lima, Caracas, Bogota, Lagos, JoBurg, Nairobi, Islamabad, Tehran, Damascus. Using positive interaction and dialogue with locals is all it takes.
At times, taking street images of subject matter can be bland, boring and outright uninteresting. Images like above may not look appealing at the time they were captured, but as time passes, still shots like this become part of the greater ambience of any particular overland travel journey. Best advice, take as many still images as you can at every location. Don't become like others who regretted not doing so.
Some locals are more interested in why you're traveling to their remote location. After taking this close up, I showed her the shot telling her this is why I'm here, to photograph people just like you.
It only takes a small amount of interaction time capturing random street snaps like above.
Carron is one of the most played board games spotted along the streets in southern Asia.
One has approximately two seconds grabbing moving images like above, before it's lost forever. The 3 second logic goes like this, 1st second is spotting the subject, 2nd second is taking the shot, 3rd second it's gone. Composition angle with any subject is also important. The above snap was captured at knee level at approx 10 meters distance.
Random street photography through Asia is like walking through a matrix of unlimited subjects to capture. Interacting with total strangers, who maybe stationary, or walking close-by, capturing images of them depends who they are. How many times have we all regretted not doing this? All those missed random people-shot captures that we don't want to remember. In the real world offshore, random still street photography, is up to the person holding the camera capturing those shots we all strive for.
A shallow DOF street portrait using a Nikon D3S with an AF 85mm 1.4D lens @f/1.6
Capturing random street portraits through countries across continents all have one thing in common - inspirational value by the person taking it. Distant, on the go, or close-up street portraits using DSLR photo gear works for me.
A typical random street portrait of locals happily gazing into the lens - Nikon DSLR D3 daylight workhorse, 28mm prime lens.
These street images of children are posted here on purpose for other street photographers, and for those who are unaware of how any innocent street snaps can be taken and viewed in a negative way. In western countries, strangers taking street snaps of children without permission could be thought as something sinister, even though there was no intent of sexual exploitation. In Asia, streets are bustling with children, all having different lifestyles and upbringing. The majority of children in public are usually with family members or a parent close-by. Foreigners traveling through Asia have endless opportunities to freely take candid street snaps of children without complications like in western countries. Capturing random street portraits of almost anyone has been a normal occurrence for decades without issues through Asia, and other continents. In saying this, crossing over the red line taking images of naked street children should be avoided - Period! Local authorities, including western immigration officials have the right to browse through image files, and may seize and even arrest those on suspicion of CSAM Ethiopia, South Sudan, Namibia, and other countries through Africa, there are no regulations to photograph semi-naked people of all age groups within their respected tribal zones. Cultural festivals like the Kumbh Mela in India do show full exposure male genitalia, and is at the discretion of those wanting to capture graphic images of nakedness. There is a grey area with a fine line - just avoid crossing it and you'll be OK.
A young girl staring directly into the lens showing no shyness whatsoever. Maybe she was thinking why a foreigner would capture a quick snap of her, instead of taking a selfie of myself? This is what was actually happening at this location close to an open river view point. Foreign tourists were busy taking selfies of themselves with many walking straight past this little local without even noticing her.
Young novices exiting out from a bush track short-cut from their temple was unexpected. Ezilon Laotian map
Limited light requires pushing ISO past normal settings, this snap was tuned in @3200 ISO on a D3 with a 28mm prime lens.
I had caught the attention grabbing this quick snap of these local passengers who were on a moving bus. I was positioned in the middle of a busy 6 lane expressway on top of a medium barrier. A DSLR mounted on a tripod was being used.
I use tripod gear positioned at certain locations when using heavy full frame lenses that weigh more than 3 kilos.
Interacting with locals capturing street portraits through Asia using full frame DSLR photo gear
Taking super closeup street portraits using small prime lenses first requires positive interaction with the subject. Each subject will react differently, especially elderly locals.
A retired headhunter from the Konyak tribe. His 1950's facial tattoo has slowly faded through the decades, but is certainly still visible. There aren't so many headhunters left due to their age. Most headhunters are above 8o years old. This low light shot was captured using a 1977-81 58mm NOCT lens. Below, using whatever available light in low light subject matter without using flash requires pushing ISO.
Cheroot Smokers - Myanmar
Cheroot smoking is witnessed far and wide throughout Myanmar. An age old tradition that is embedded deep in Burmese culture. Home made cigars are made from different types of ingredients, and varies from mileage to village. Normally, cheroot are a combination of dried flattened nat leaves with small wood chips, and tamarind mixed together with tobacco leaf. The more exotic slimline cigars use dried corn husks as filters with cotton or silk thread holding them together.
Earth Ovens - Asian Highlands
Creative handmade designed earth ovens are typically seen in the highlands of Nepal, India Tibet, Mongolia and Pakistan. Locals craft their own unique designs using mud mixed with straw. Some regions still have an abundance of firewood. Getting cooking gas to remotes mountain villages still remains impossible. Locals will resort to using dried dung for warmth and cooking. The above image was taken in a remote region in Nepal. Dried dung has been a natural dry fuel source for cooking and heating for centuries. Below, prepared yak dung slowly drying in the small isolated township of Samye, Tibet.
Below, a local preparing large quantities of cow dung on the rooftop of her dwelling — central India
Passage Of Time
The young generations of today look at elderly people as if they came from a different planet. I personally find conversations with older generations contain substance reeked with history. They also enjoy being photographed without fuss or bother. As many old folk say "we made it through life clocking up 80 years, good luck reaching that age, you've still got six decades to go."
Remote regions through Asia are excellent places capturing images like below. Antique wooden horse drawn carts are still used in areas well away from large hustle and bustle towns and cities. Elders in small isolated villages are seen relaxing in their favorite porch chairs, and spotted taking strolls down dusty lane ways. The passage of time within some outback communities still remain as they were a century ago.
Solo Overland Travel - Asia
There's no argument, Asia has more to offer than other continents, Since the first overland journey through Asia in the 80s, I've lost count how many times I've returned, somewhere around a dozen visits via central, north and south Asia. I'm certainly not alone here. As a street photographer's viewpoint, the Asian continent contains endless amounts of diversity. You name it, Asia has it i.e. street portraits, lowland highland landscape, vege fruit spice and fish markets, chaotic street scenes, wetland bird life, exotic wildlife, temples, festivals etc.
Street images captured traveling overland through south east Asia. An easy journey covering ten border crossings in total (Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam-Laos-Myanmar-India-Bangladesh-India)
Traveling to Asian wilderness regions (not sanctuaries) captures images like above. All one requires, is time, patience and reasonable quality camera gear. I'm just a street photographer, if I can capture images like above, anyone can reaching isolated wilderness locations.
Sometimes one has to return to the same location several times due to weather conditions. A long shot taken from approximately 15 kilometers across the valley.
Random street travel still photography is everywhere - Shoot your heart out!
Capturing great images in transit mode through Asia really depends how motivated you are. It begins with early morning walks, and late evening strolls. One never knows what maybe lurking around a corner, or further up river estuaries that may enable image captures worth hanging on walls in canvas.
Capturing night street snaps of glittering cityscapes is trendy amongst local residents. Using tripods will ensure vibration free captures with anything taking over one second exposures.
By chance, a captured motion snap using a DSLR full frame mounted to a tripod. Below, a hand held shot using a 43+ year old AI Noct Nikkor 58mm lens. The lens is still good today on DSLRs bodies, as it was when first produced for SLR roll film cameras in the 1980s.
Many of the millennial and Gen Z generation are smart phone travelers. Most of them wouldn't know, or even careless about image quality. They capture more narcissistic selfies than anything else, so no problem there. It's the most important subject that matters for them when offshore. In a way I feel sorry for them, but then, they are the entitled generation.
Random one shot street snaps suddenly appear, like above, and best captured wide open. This image was taken @f/1.8 with an 85m 1.4 prime lens with a 12 MP DSLR D3S. Although regarded as an old body in the 2020s, the D3S is still a superb street still camera.
During the 1980s, capturing street snaps like above were usually with 35mm SLR roll film bodies. The camera world back then was the same as it is today. Nikon, Canon, Minolta, Olympus, Pentax, and Ricoh were all in competition with one another releasing new cameras and lenses year in year out. Most traveling offshore, including myself used what was affordable. Relying on one body, one prime lens and a zoom was more than sufficient for street photography. Manually changing settings and manually focusing lenses capturing shots wasn't questioned, we had no choice, and certainly not regarded as a burden. We all suffered issues with subpar out of focus, blurry, and half cut shots of subjects, just like above. Today, the ease of capturing random street snaps can't be easier.
Out of the big four continents, Asia ranks number one for random street photography with Africa, the Mid East and South America trailing close behind. Asia has plenty of diversity to satisfy anyone who has an eye for street still photography.
Below, single handed riding mopeds through streets with babies on board in Asia is common practice.
One doesn't need to go far looking for soak-off dips through Asia. Almost every country has numerous watering holes. A few waterfalls worth mentioning are the Nohkalikai falls in Meghalaya state, and the Jog falls in Karnataka India, Mae Ya falls northern Thailand, the Kegon falls Tochigi Japan, and Kuang Si falls in Laos. Just ask locals where they go themselves to soak-off during pre monsoon season.
Street Humor - Asia
Asia certainly isn't lacking humor no matter what the country. Hanging out at any street corner, or along highways will give ample opportunities grabbing images just like these examples.
Strolling slowly around on the edge of towns will most definitely capture all kinds of different funny weird images. Early mornings and late afternoons are the best times avoiding midday heat. The only two things required is time, and fully charged camera batteries.
Like anywhere else around the planet taxicab meters through Asia have one thing in common. Meters click over at alarming speeds with no mercy. Jumping in cabs with rigged meters is probably something we've all encountered offshore. The best solution around this, is negotiating back and forth an agreed fare beforehand. Below, a recent snap from 2022 inside an Ambassdor classic cab, India.
Below, this tough little critter was out of control and needed his mother to intervene by any means necessary.
High voltage warning signage in public areas sometimes requires more than larger than life iconic symbolism. Yearly, thousands suffer and die from electrocution mishaps. Entering industrial machine workshops freely strolling around is at your own risk. Some Asian backstreet machine workshops can be outright dangerous having three phase wiring exposed dangling all over the place. One short zapp from three phase voltage is enough to enter into the next life.
Below, capturing images of overloaded mopeds delivering stacks of product is best done before midday.
Hanging out at various crossroad locations will eventually capture multiple images like these examples. I normally use long range DSLR zoom lenses to get these types of shots. Don't shoot to many images from the same spot. This avoids capturing the same backgrounds.
Wild Hemp - Asia
China is now the largest producer and supplier of cannabis in Asia with thousands of hectares of land used for cultivating legal cannabis. The global demand for cultivated hemp is used for textiles, and for treating various types of sickness such as Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy. Wild hemp in Asia has been around for centuries, and can be seen growing in or beside cultivated farm crops, or within mountainous regions in Nepal, India, and China. The lucrative business of illegal cultivated hemp processed into hash has had its own supply and demand throughout the continent - especially in India and Nepal. Since the hippie era of the 60's, there's been a grey area for foreign tourists smoking gunja and hashish in Asia.
Grey areas depend on the region, and the corruption level, which varies from country to country. Bribe payouts are common practice from underpaid police looking for quick cash. This can amount to expensive payoffs, if searched and caught - even for a single joint. Carrying surplus amounts of weed or hash is entirely at your own risk.
Worship Karma - Asia
An original classic snap taken on my 1st solo overland trip into Tibet before individual freedom travel was completely shut down by the CCP. The smell of incense with swirls of smoke billowing outside Jokhang temple with the sounds of gongs, chanting, and Tibetans prostrating is one powerful visual experience never forgotten. Western yuppie narcissistic travelers, including the many travel blogger influencers visiting Tibet today have the habit of not digging to deep in to Tibetan history, because it upsets the narrative of their blissful travel mindset, including the CCP, which will ban them for future travel to China if they blog and vlog about the real truth of Tibet.
In one factual sentence, the Chines invaded Tibet, massacred Tibetans, destroyed and demolished Tibetan monasteries and temples, and then imported millions of Han Chinese into Tibet to drastically change the demography of Tibetan Buddhist culture - Got It? The CCP are repeating the exact scenarios in Xinjiang eradicating the Uyghur's freedom and right of their religion - Islam. The CCP dislikes all forms of religious freedoms and values no matter what they are. The CCP completed their first one belt one road initiative through Tibet with Xinjiang their latest expansion of heavy handed communist rule.
Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar are saturated in Buddhist heritage and culture. Most temples are decorated and adorned with fine art abstracts and decoration.
A refreshing escape from Kuala Lumpur central district. Batu cave is reached by local metro to the last stop. The Hindu temple complex is situated within rural surroundings on the outskirts of the city. With a grand entrance leading up to a large cave entrance adorned with Hindu idols, buskers, and piles of monkeys reflects a small taste of India before going to India.
Young novices are shy at the best of times avoiding strangers pointing cameras at them. Spending time around kitchen and novice quarters inside temple grounds will eventually capture images like the above. Interacting skills required.
There's no other continent on the planet that can match the vast amount of temples of different belief systems per square kilometer than what Asia contains. If you're into temple splendor, there's more than enough elegant, strange and mystic temples to visit.
India has numerous erotic temples scattered through the country, with the Sun God temple in Konark, Odisha state being the most known, Demon designed goddesses like above are usually positioned on the sides of large Buddha statues.
Southern Asia is saturated in Buddhist heritage and culture. Some temples are decorated and adorned with fine art abstracts and decorations resembling 3D paintings viewed from certain angles.
Mosques like other religious temples have their own unique designs. A few grand mosques worth visiting are in Borneo, Malaysia and India. Conservative dress wear is required entering inside Mosques.
Above, one of many large preserved stained glass paintings inside a 19th century church in India constructed during the British colonial legacy. Personally, I'm not into temple photography, it's not that I completely avoid them, an impossible task through Asia, but they are places of worship, and prefer not clicking away inside busy religious establishments. Taking images of temples from the outside looking in is probably as far as it goes.
Now and then, there are moments of capturing locals inside temples when invited to do so. Historical ancient temples like Angkor Wat and Bagan are the opposite, and good examples of non-hassle photography. Below, pagoda paradise early morning at Bagan.
Photographing monks usually isn't an issue, although some monks and novices are camera shy. Taking images inside temples in Asia depends if photography is permitted. If you're into this type of photography, keeping distance and showing respect in temples should be considered during live prayer worship. This especially applies inside mosques. The below image was taken from approximately 40 meters distance at an opening at the side of a temple which had enough light capturing this shot.
Below, a group snap of an extended Laotian family who invited me to their neighborhood temple while staying in Laos.
Escaping up into the Himalayan highlands, one encounters numerous Buddhists enclaves, each containing their own colorful row of prayer wheels. If you hang around long enough, one can capture locals in the shot spinning the wheels.
Below, if in India at the end of September early October, the Durga Puju festival in West Bengal is well worth the effort to experience. Strolling through the streets of Kolkata, one can visualize endless displays of colorful decorated pandals.
Riverside Snaps - Asia
Local laborers carrying sacks of garlic and produce onto cargo boats. Capturing images like above are easily found at busy port jetties scattered through Asia. Early morning after sunrise is the best time for taking such shots down at rivers and estuaries.
Waking up on daylight heading down to the nearest river is never boring. Finding a rock to perch on sipping freshly brewed coffee or chai enjoying the view and atmosphere is part of the travel journey through Asia.
The mighty Mekong river during pre-monsoon season at its lowest level still gives lasting impressions.
Some of the best street photography through any continent are along riversides, lakes, and estuaries.
Where there's a water estuary - there's an untold amount of images to capture. Early morning before sunrise, most Asian river estuaries are already in full swing. Local fisherman, water taxis, and harbor markets are normally buzzing with sellers, and buyers purchasing fresh fish products. It doesn't matter which country, or what port or estuary location it is, they all have the same ambience - hectic and flat out with most locals on steroids.
Above captures like these can be found on the edge of rivers and estuaries early morning before sunrise.
Part of the overland travel experience capturing random images with DSLR photo gear is down at lake sides, rivers and estuaries. I've found the best time to photograph is at sunup through to 11am. This allows plenty of opportunities to capture the slow morning rush of different boat traffic continuously floating by. Moving to various locations is required to change different backdrops and angles at subjects.
One guarantee I've found when returning back to certain locations over numerous days is the reward of capturing subjects and boat traffic different from the day before. Some Asian rivers, and lakes are as busy and congested like street traffic. Bangladesh, Philippines, Indonesia, and India are good examples.
Ship Breaking Graveyard - Sitakunda
Large ocean freighters, cargo and passenger ships have been dismantled for decades in Bangladesh. The ship grave yard is scattered along a secluded bay along the mud flats situated south of Chittagong. Visiting inside ship yards are still permitted, but photo-gear, including cell phones, or anything that can take images is strictly prohibited and must be left with security guards at gate entrances. Early morning captures can be done outside the ship yards without much fuss, but there is a presence of invisible eyes watching. In the winter months (December-January) the sun rises in the correct position for light exposure.
Arriving either early in the morning or late afternoon will give the options to see local shipyard crews wading through the mudflats with wire strops that are manually dragged out and attached to cut-off sections of ship. This is done like clockwork everyday following low tide movements. On high tide, the cut-off sections of ship are then winched to shore. The possibilities of hiring a dugout to float outside the shipyard zones during high tide is permitted at your own risk.
There are also large ship breaking yards in India (Alang). Permission is granted only with an official permit. There are some who sneak a along a back road before the main security gate entrance. This is done at your own risk. If caught, all photo-gear will be seized, including fines, and possible deportation out from India. My advice - Get the permit!
Western funded NGO's have really created an anti negative atmosphere in and around the Chittagong region. I was followed by locals, who were watching and observing what I was photographing. I was questioned several times why I had photographed certain machine shops in the industrial area. The ship breaking yards have the same presence. The concern of safety for salvage workers has been an issue for ship wrecking companies. Foreign NGO's should look at their own countries before meddling in others. The majority of large container and cargo ships being dismantled at ship yards in Asia actually belonged to western ship companies, who pawn-off their used sea junk to Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.
An early morning salvage crew pulling an industrial steel winch strop cable through the mudflats on the low tide.
A partially dismantled cargo ship showing its exposed engine room compartment with salvage workers off-loading items.
Morning salvage workers wading through mudflats dragging a winch cable into position during low tide. Below, early morning gas axe crew cutting through sections of outer ship panel. Each cut off section is then winched back to shore by cable.
Interacting Works - Use It!
Those who've browsed through this website will notice the positive interaction levels with total strangers. Interacting with all different kinds of people has consistently worked for me capturing street portraits around the planet for more than four decades. By using positive interaction and dialogue with people anything's possible. The only other thing one requires is camera gear. No, not junky smart phone cameras - real cameras and prime lenses. The selection of street portraits above and below (low res only) were captured with prime lenses. You will also notice, not once have I ever mentioned I'm a professional photographer, because I'm not. I probably do travel with more photo gear stuff than most, it's all put to good use. If I can randomly interact capturing street subjects of total strangers with DSLR photo gear, so can you. Random closeup street portraiture begins by using various interaction skills with subjects. The theory that one should use unobtrusive photo gear photographing total strangers is ridiculed, because all closeup portraits on this website were captured using bulky DSLR camera bodies.
The selection of street portraits above and below (low res only) were captured with prime lenses. You will also notice, not once have I ever mentioned I'm a professional photographer, because I'm not. I probably do travel with more photo gear stuff than most, it's all put to good use. If I can randomly interact capturing street subjects of total strangers with DSLR photo gear, so can you. Random closeup street portraiture begins by using various interaction skills with subjects. The theory that one should rather use unobtrusive photo gear photographing strangers is ridiculed, because all closeup portraits on this website were captured using bulky DSLR camera bodies.
One never knows who they'll meet down side streets and along highways. Below, I met these two Sadhus in a remote Nepali village who were in transit on foot. With a few minutes of interaction time this street image was created.
Central Asia - Interaction
Taking random street portraits through Central Asia is no different to anywhere else. One only requires using positive interaction skills with strangers. You'll notice the majority of street portraits on this page were captured intentionally with subjects looking directly at the lens.
The only precautionary measure for western male street photographers through Central Asia, is to avoid photographing closeups of local Muslim women in public without prior consent to do so. Those ignoring this warning who cross the line will quickly discover what can happen. Western females on the other hand have a much better success rate capturing local women in public places in Muslim countries.
Below, I normally use full frame DSLR prime lenses like the 85mm for street portraits. The 85mm has worked consecutively taking random portraits since 2013. The lens serial number #225402 reveals it's the first AF version from 1995-05. It works well with the D3, my daylight 12MP workhorse that just keeps going. The same D3 body is still being used in the 2020s.
Custom Jewellery - Gold Silver Rubies Sapphires
Looking for gold? Asia is full of it. Gold shops are abundant through the continent. Gold prices vary from shop to shop.
Images of silver bling found through Asia. Certificate of authenticity is recommended when purchasing silver and gold. A quick acid test verifying the purity of silver and gold can also be requested if buying bulk lots.
Well made designer jewellery can be found throughout south east Asia for one 1/3rd of the cost compared to western prices. Silver bling is as cheap as it comes with many vendors offering personal custom designs made to order. Nepal, India, Laos, and Thailand are overflowing with different jeweler shops and boutiques found in trendy tourist spots. Rubies, sapphires and precious stones are also plentiful. Anything of value purchased, including gold should come with an authentication certificate to validate the purity of the item. Individual jewellery sellers who roam the streets pawning-off large sapphires and rubies are actually selling fake flame fusion glass replicas. Shopping around comparing prices and quality before purchasing is recommended. If you already know how to identify the quality of authentic uncut gem stones, Myanmar is the best place to purchase them. Purity of uncut stones vary which requires a magnifying glass to spot cracks and flaws.
Road Works - Asian Style
Women laborers manually crushing rocks by hand is witnessed in many countries throughout the Asian continent. Construction road repair maintenance off main highways is an ongoing yearly event. As soon as a new layer of crushed stone is laid and rolled, the new layer is then sealed together with hot tar extracted from close-by hot fiery 44 gallon drums. The tar is then spread evenly across the surface manually with a hand-held bucket. Below, a night shift worker preparing hot tar in 44 gallon drums.
Below, women road maintenance laborers with hand picks chiseling snow and frozen ice off the only road route in the region. The average midwinter daytime temperature when I captured this image was minus -15C and dropped to minus -35C during the night. So those out there unhappy about their workplace or employment - Don't complain!
Are You A Western Beg-Packer?
Westerners living the lifestyle offshore by beg-packing for cash handouts only has one theme - An off-shore western beggar! Get a working holiday visa or maybe try Beg Packing in your own country first! If you become stuck and hard out offshore, which does happen - Go to your Embassy and beg them to get you home. Avoid becoming a part of the Westerner beg packing culture. Leave street donations for down and out locals who need cash more than anyone Westerner living out their dream state fantasies surviving from free handouts.
Below, image snaps of different street art through south east Asia. Some art vendors may dislike their artwork being photographed, although purchasing a print or politely asking permission to do so usually works. Best rating black and white photographic art boutique is located in Hanoi. The owner has captured thousands of street and portrait images through the decades.
Why Follow The Herd? - It's Your Choice.
Travel Solo : Avoid Tourist Ghettos : Limit Narcissistic Selfies : Use Real Camera Gear
Do You Take More Images Of Yourself Rather Than Capturing Images Of Other People?
Traveling offshore only using smart phone camera junk for street photography is a Big Mistake! I call these people smart phone travelers. Don't follow the herd thinking smart phone cameras will do everything you've led to believe. Take some good advice, invest in a quality 4/3 mirrorless, or full frame DSLR, if street photography suddenly becomes a passion - which happens when traveling offshore! One of the biggest mistakes people make before planned travel journeys, is to save space and weight. Cell phone cameras become poor substitutes replacing cameras. After a few weeks, or a couple of months on the road, one finds out cell phone cameras have all types of problematic limitations - no matter the brand name, of what they're advertised to do. Even 50 MP cell cameras with 5 lenses struggle to do what real photo gear easily accomplishes. One thing cell cameras all have in common are auto-bugging, snooping apps, listening and tracking devices allowing zero privacy.
Above, randomly interacting with people on the street captures shots like this - Nikon DSLR D3, 28mm f/1.4 prime lens.
Running around shopping for cameras offshore may sound simple enough, but why waste time and energy? Half missed shots, and learning curve, to become familiar with new camera gear will become frustrating for many. Understanding the fundamentals to master anything begins by knowing how to use it first. Purchasing camera gear before any offshore travel at least a month in advance before departure is a wiser choice rather than during through any travel journey. In 2022, use camera gear to capture images of what the lens points at instead of at yourself - Try it, It works. Below, hand clutching a D3 DSLR with prime lens sharing time out with another street photographer.
