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 utilising their skillset 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 into brand names, but I've personally been using Nikon gear since the early '80s with no issues. Some friends of mine 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 also have really good optics, but lack the reach when required for long distant shots. Many semi-pro DSLR bodies have had proven track records for years - no matter their brand name. Researching, purchasing and most importantly getting familiar using newly purchased camera gear well before arriving in any continent is recommended - Choose wisely.
Overland transiting through a continent couldn't be easier with anything that has wheels on it 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 are well rewarded with visions lasting a lifetime.
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 optimised with seasonal weather patterns. Hanging-out in pre-monsoon heat or sub-zero temperatures are experiences to remember. What's what Transit Baggage 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 good optional flight paths into 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, although covid has made all forms of travel for the time being restricted. 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. Travelling 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 one. 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, north west Asia & Trans Siberian) South Asian Terrorism Portal (SATP) : Earthquake Map
Solo Overland Travel Routes - Asia
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Spending 2 or 3 years travelling 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 favourite 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.
Don't run out of money becoming a Beg-packer in Asia. 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 for the moment. 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-base somewhere within the continent. Many foreigners set-up trendy bars, meditation centres, pizzerias, or hotels catering for the tourism industry. Partnership scuba dive shops, or hiking and mountaineering tours are other options. 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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Wet Season - South East Asia
Getting soaked and 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 wintery rains in Europe or 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 recognise 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.
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 using a DSLR with prime lenses. The 85mm f/1.4 & 28mm f/1.4 are two favourites. Learning how to capture street images in the rain holding an umbrella in one hand, and a DSLR camera in the other takes some practise, but certainly isn't 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.
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 laneways. 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 close-up.
Fungus In Camera 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 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 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 interaction 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 in DX Mode : AFS 200-400 f/4 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 now, 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. Travelling 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 travelling 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.
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 todays 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.
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. This is 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.
Action Photography - Asia
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 Ganges. It's here where Hindus congregate, and perform their religious rituals. On the banks of the Ganges, one finds Sadhus along many different 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 festivals run their course over a week, and attract ten's of thousands of locals from far and wide.
Drug Smuggling Asia - Don't Even Think About It!
Foreigners purchasing narcotics from other foreigners are just as guilty as those who smuggle & supply hard drugs!
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 favourite 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, Manilla, 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 colour. 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. 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 a hot sweaty jail cell, or flying home inside a bodybag is ignored by westerners who think it will never happen to them!
Thailand drug penalties and laws : Indian drug penalties and laws : Laos tourism drug culture.
It's better to be stone broke free, rather than wasting years behind bars - Laziness and Greed never wins!
: Koh Phayam, Thailand 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 Kg's of cocaine - Death Penalty
: Bali, Indonesia - Dec 2018 British male busted with 31kg of hash oil - 15 years jail or Death Penalty
: Bali, Indonesia - Dec 2018 Peruvian, British German, Chinese, Malaysian busted 4 kg of cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy and ketamine - Pending Death Penalty
: Nepal March 2019 - 41 tourists Trans-Party drug bust - Pokhara
: Indonesia April 2019 - Gili Trawangan Party Island - US national busted with 1224 grams of Gunja, Meth, Magic
Mushrooms - Pending Death Penalty
: Bali, Indonesia July 2019 - Two Australian males busted for cocaine trafficking at the resort village of Canggu
: Lahore, Pakistan - Czech Female eight years jail smuggling 8.5 kg's of heroin
: Thailand - Australian couple busted for murder and 500kg of crystal meth - Pending Death Penalty
: Indonesia - Seven foreigners executed by firing squad
: Bali - New Zealand female busted for 0.43 Grams of meth
: Thailand July 2019 - American & Thai wife busted with 1Kg Meth, pistol, 205,000 Baht
: Hong Kong - Greek female busted smuggling 2.6 kg of cocaine
: Australia - World cruise 2 Canadian females busted smuggling 95kg of heroin
: China - Colombian female busted 15 years jail time smuggling cocaine inside laptop
: Nepal - Australian male busted smuggling hashish inside guitar
: Indonesia May 2019 - French male busted for 3Kg of ecstasy - Death Penalty
: Indonesia June 2019 - American, 2 Spanish, 2 Russians busted for drug smuggling
: Moscow transfer flights from Nepal or India carrying a small amount of gunja in "checked baggage" 7 years jail
: 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
: Bali, Indonesia Oct 2019 - Russian female busted with 6.6 Grams of cocaine - pending up to 15 years jail time
: Thailand Nov 2019 - Nigerian 2 Australians busted with 1.2Kg of Meth
: Nepal Dec 2019 - 4 foreign nationals busted - 6Kg's of Cocaine
: Bali, Indonesia Dec 2019 - 6 foreigners arrested caught smuggling various drugs into Bali
: Bali, Indonesia Jan 2020 - Russian couple busted cultivating marijuana- Pending Longterm Jail time
: Bali, Indonesia Feb 2020 -New Zealand male busted for meth - Pending Longterm Jail time
: Bali, Indonesia Jan 2020 - American male jailed 9.3 years & 72k USD fine selling cocaine & marijuana
: Bali, Indonesia May 2020 - American male busted selling meth - Pending Longterm Jail time.
: China, Guangzhou June 2020 - Australian male smuggling 7.5kg of crystal meth - Death Penalty
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 neighbouring 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 neighbouring 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, but the red tape varies, including Carnet de passage, which is compulsory.
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. Ezilon Maps - Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines
The Other Side Of 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
Tourist and local hot spot attractions through Asia are plenty, some excellent, some are good and others are outright worn out i.e. Angkor Wat, Taj Mahal, Grand Palace, Great wall of China, and Bali in general.
Below, this image is on the soft side, it was captured from across the Mekong river @450+ metres downstream cropped 40% from its original size, imagine doing the same with cell phone cameras.
No matter what you're in too - Asia has you covered in all directions. Diversity through a continent can't get any better than what Asia has on 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 passing through Asia in a mad rush trying to cover as much ground as possible in a few weeks have no idea of what real overland travel is all about.
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, who have no interest of real overland travel through continents.
During the wet season, or when the weather is overcast, it is the perfect time to get and about capturing images in black & white. A sample image below taken during cloudy conditions using good old reliable DSLR photo-gear.
Night Snaps
Capturing night snaps like these two samples are easily done by using a tripod. By using tripods, this will eliminate camera shake to a minimum. 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 dependant on quality, and the user. Bad baggage handlers loading other peoples stuff at bush bus terminals through Asia is rough as guts - load it yourself, or take fragile items on board. My trusty old Gitzo/Markins/Wimberley tripod hasn't let me down yet. It's done some serious overland transit milage through Asia and Africa. More in the transit baggage 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 cladded 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 closeup image was captured at midnight using an AF-S Nikon f/2.8 14-24G lens @14mm on a tripod. Light pollution is an issue photographing city skylines. The image below shows large amounts of light and carbon pollution blanketing over Kuala Lumpur after dark. More night snap captures down the page. Ezilon Malaysian map
Below, moon shot captured with an 800mm f/5.6 AIS lens & 12MP D3S body in the Himalaya - 2020
Image Captures - Endless Subjects
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Image captures are abundant everywhere where through Asia. Street 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 an isolated temple, or too nearby paddy fields for the day. Most short journeys out from large cities quickly change from urban sprawl in to slow pace rural lifestyle living.
The fruits of hard labour carved out from hillsides transformed into rice terraces
Random street photography 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 DSLR will do the job - don't leave your room without one.
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 heavily cropped image using full frame DSLR photo gear. A tripod was used capturing this 150+ metre distant shot.
Capturing street snaps using a 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 a 180 degree focus throw compared to the later AIS version with 105 degrees. The Nikon AI 35 works perfectly with the D3 in daylight.
A Burmese local street snap captured @50 metres 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 metres 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 was flat out busy cooking up a brew and probably thought it was strange some weird looking westerner wanted to capture her image.
Well, she's probably used to that awesome background view. The flames with heat vapour floating up from the clay cooker with her staring into the lens created a great image.
Solo Travel Asia - Street Photo Gear
Are you travelling 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 the bag. 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. For me, reliability 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 their click bait to earn commissions on the "latest" must get stuff.
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 lenses. The optic quality in some older lenses are as good, or superior than many wing bling lenses sold on the market even in 2020. 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 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 foreigners who hadn't a clue, of how to interact with strangers. While some street subjects like children, are simple to photograph, adults require more effort to capture close-up street-snaps of them.
Basic interaction skills begins by communicating with general chit-chat. Getting up-close with portrait lenses require positive interaction levels beforehand. Respect those who don't want to be photographed.
Forget about camera brands, rather look at what is compatible that can fulfil your needs and constantly capture rewarding images. Some point and shoots can easily match DSLR photo-gear until being dropped, or having focus zoom failure due to dust and grime buildup when they're switch on or off. Camera reliability is what counts when travelling and transiting through to the middle of nowhere. The majority of semi or pro DSLR photo-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. Recognising 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!
Capturing good street portraits of locals is by using whatever positive interaction one personally uses. The majority of street photographers have their own techniques. Some will use zoom lenses keeping their distance from subjects, while others, like myself will interact beforehand and then capture shots up close as possible 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.
Highland Wilderness
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.
Night Street Snaps - Asia
It doesn't matter the country or city, capturing night street snaps through Asia is endless. Some great locations are at busy crossroad junctions, inside markets, down at harbours, and along bustling walkways.
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 flash. Cell cameras even today still tend to give grainy finishes and blobs of light.
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.
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 a private driver. 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 ploughing fields, transporting goods, their meat, hides, fur, butter, and everything and anything else imaginable. Yak dung is commonly used as a fuel source for heat and cooking in isolated villages on the Tibetan plateau.
Get The Shots - Asian Wildlife
Capturing images like these shown were 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 photo-gear has no trouble in any environment capturing wildlife. This isn't understood until trying to get-up close to any wildlife. 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 close-up wildlife with anything else unless it's at zoos.
Getting amongst wildlife through south east Asia is relatively straight forward with most countries having plenty of mixed 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 travelling through Asia, migratory birds can be seen each year arriving in the thousands from around the planet.
If it's full on wildlife adventure you're looking for, the extreme sub-zero 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 mid-winter is a journey to remember. Many who do make it fail to capture images like the one shown above due to weather conditions, and timing at any given location. This pair of Snow Leopards were self-tracked without the aid or help from local spotters by finding fresh cut paw pugs in snow and fresh droppings. Reliable long range photo-gear is required. Cell phone cameras, point & shoots, and 4/3 cameras are useless for this type of wildlife photography. A surplus of extra batteries, tripod or rest-bag are other necessities.
When visiting any wildlife sanctuary, a pair of mini binoculars is recommended for spotting and viewing. Photographing wildlife will normally require using DSLR photo gear with a lens of at least 400mm focal length. This will also help when rendering and enlarging images if cropping is required. Point and shoot or cell phone cameras can capture close-up shots, but they definitely lack the power range, and quality optics of semi/pro photo gear. 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+ metres. 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 bushland. The overland travel and transit Photo Gear page covers camera equipment.
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.
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 and up. This image was captured using a 12MP body.
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.
Even with only a portion of the sun left before disappearing, capturing birdlife silhouettes like below enhances a slither of warmth to the finished image. I use DSLR photo gear to get my shots. The website avoids promoting camera brands against each other. Most cameras today using quality optics will yield almost the same results.
Street Portraits - Faces Of Asia
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.
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.
Chai vendors through Asia brew-up a variety of different blended flavours. 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.
Full Street Portraits
Have you ever watched others taking full street portraits of their subjects and notice the same mistakes they all make? Smart phone users are the worst culprits, even though they hold the lightest camera junk. There's a huge difference where cameras are positioned capturing the shot. Anything taken from above the subjects waistline will look disappointing. Positioning cameras as low as possible, like the image below, will automatically give the correct angle and overall view of the subject and surroundings. This image was captured using an 85mm prime lens just above ground level.
It really doesn't matter where I am, or the location or the subject, I use DSLR camera gear to get my shots. I would never recommend to anyone travelling offshore to rely solely on smart phone camera junk. I personally have multiple smart phones, and to be honest, they can't deliver or match still images captured with DSLR cameras using quality prime lenses. Those who disagree will normally be those who only use smart phone cameras. Proof is in the finished result, just look at the random street snap below capture with an "old" Nikon 12MP D3 body with a 1993 AF 28mm 1:4 prime lens.
Khao San Road
"Some love the place while others can't wait to leave"
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 travellers, 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 the beaches scattered along the coasts of south east Asia compared to rugged overland travel. Those flying air milage 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 mid-winter 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 like this 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
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. Below, Aussie lamb can be purchased throughout Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Purchasing a few kilos of lamb chops and slowly grilling them over an open fire of hot ambers becomes mouth watering for meat lovers. The price of lamb and beef is under half the price compared to NZ and Australia.
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 fire ambers 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, manmade pollution together with natural dust elements from volcanic ash mixed in the atmosphere enhance colourful 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 colourful sunsets. Bangladesh overland map, Ezilon Indian map.
Washy pastel sunset images can be captured throughout Asia. A tripod was used with full frame DSLR photo-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.
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 to minimise 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.
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 this 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.
Night Sky - Asia
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 gruelling 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
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.
Moon Shots - Asia
Now and then one can accidentally capture moon tilt shifts without realising it. These shots are one of three sets I've captured in different regions in Asia over a five year period.
Travelling with a tripod certainly isn't on everyones 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 todays 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 cant 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 colours. Images like this are the envy of those travelling to isolated locations around the planet of those who only use cell phone cameras to capture images. 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 Moon eclipse of recent history here in Asia wasn't fully visible. Instead, I took a few quick captures of the full moon using DSLR photo gear. The D780, Nikon's latest DSLR body was coupled to the 800 5.6 AIS using some of the normal settings (F/8 - f/11-1/60- 1/125sec).
Green Gold
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.
Sapa Region
A great retreat to stay for a week or two to escape the heat of Hanoi 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. If you want to learn the basic skills of terrace construction and paddy planting with a mix of tribal atmosphere, the Sapa region is the perfect place to do it. Street and landscape photography in this region is rewarding. Using your own or hired wing bling moped to get around the countryside is recommended.
One of the first things that's noticeable in the Sapa region, is lots of happy chit-chat and plenty of laughter. If you haven't had a chuckle with locals for a while, and need a fix, then I advise going to Sapa. This is also a hub to get through to Laos at the Dien Bien Phu (DBP) crossing. Its's a 280 km scenic transit route which heads north west near the Chinese border, and then back tracks southward to Dien Bien.
Get The Shot
Sometimes an image capture can materialise right in front of you, and disappear just as quickly into thin air. I was on foot in slow motion strolling along a winding dirt track that was leading up to a road junction. It was here when I had noticed a group of trees all bunched together with a rough looking bench seat nestled in the centre of them. I thought to myself "wow, that would be a great image if only someone was sitting on the bench 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, this capture was taken on a tripod, the clouds were forming in one area of the sky suggesting a release of fusion. It only took a few minutes setting up a camera, and within a short period I managed to grab this single frame snap.
Capturing street images of children through Asia can't be avoided, they're everywhere. It only takes a small amount of interaction to grab 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.
If you're having trouble grabbing street snaps throughout Asia - you have a problem. Capturing images of locals are in all directions. Strolling around within big cities or rural village communities opens up endless opportunities to photograph random subjects. I've been doing this for decades, using the same techniques from the 1980's.
Nothing changes, street interaction levels are still the same through any continent. Avoiding tourist ghettos, and being solo without other foreigners hanging around to capture local subjects is a good start.
These street images were taken from opposite sides of the Asian continent. The above was captured at distance using a tripod positioned near a busy cross road, while the below capture was taken with a 28mm f/1.4 DSLR prime lens.
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 and walk a few blocks within the old quarter of the city, or down at the port. Dhaka is probably one of the best Asian cities for random street photograph. Dhaka will give you all the street images you've been looking for that the rest of Asia lost years ago. Nothing beats rush hour traffic through Dhaka. Using DSLR photo-gear with quality lenses is a must.
Every city in Asia has its own uniqueness with some that dazzle the visitor. Dhaka's colourful 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 to explore Dhaka at a slow pace. Overland travel and transiting through Bangladesh is relatively straight forward with numerous types of road and boat transportation.
Meeting locals in Bangladesh can't be easier as a visitor. One only needs to use a little interaction time, this gives positive results with either young or old anywhere throughout the country. Bangladesh, like India, is a street photographer's paradise which makes it well worth visiting for at least a month or two. Riding on top of the trains is only permissible through major festivals.
Pagoda Paradise - Mystic Valley
Rising up early capturing pink dawn skyline pagoda silhouettes in Myanmar.
Pagoda sunsets, the moment when visitors flock in droves to the most tallest pagodas to enjoy the ambient views of Bagan valley. Getting to a tall pagoda should be done early for a clear viewing position 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 dollars can get you through Myanmar for a month)
For $500 dollars, one can float across the Bagan valley for an hour grabbing snaps at sunrise.
Machine Workshops - Rough Side Of Town
Every township and city throughout Asia has an industrial zone. They're usually situated on the outskirts of urban complexes. Different types of contract manufacturing for local and offshore markets are visibly seen with an abundance of machine workshops scattered in all directions. If it's graphic photography you're looking for, then most industrial areas will have more than enough disorderly chaotic out/indoor workshops to choose from.
On The Go - Asia
Old style hand pumps at rural filling stations for gasoline are still operating in parts of China and Myanmar. One positive with manual systems, is whenever there's a power cut gasoline can still be extracted. Below, an image capture of an automotive shop specialising in reground crankshafts and bearing supplies. One can easily find automotive shops in most major towns and cities from Pakistan through to Vietnam. Some of the best original workshops are seen in India, Pakistan and Indonesia.
Below, an engine getting a complete recondition overhaul, the rebuilder is in the process of boring and honing worn out cylinder bores on this engine.
Night Snap Captures
Night street photography through Asia can be rewarding. There's always something to capture after dark no matter what it is, or where it's located even in minimal light. Most large Asian cities have an issue with light pollution, so forget about astrophotography within cities. Checking out good locations during daylight hours for city skyline night snaps is what I do. The above image shows the quality of optics in some DSLR lenses. There was no additional attached star burst filter, or other tricks in post-processing. Smart phone cameras, no matter the brand, will only produce white blobs of light instead of flared rays of light. The same goes with most point and shoots. I've used the AFS Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G lens since it was first produced in 2009. The lens still captures amazing simple images whether hand held or on tripods.
Singapore central has a totally 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 the one 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 sign post pole are good substitutes for resting DSLR's against to minimise vibration and shake. The above image was captured by resting the camera's weight on top of a concrete park bench.
Action silhouettes are many through Asia, this one was captured in tribal territory in the backwaters of east India.
Sadhus - India
There's no doubt whatsoever that 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. Sadhus are easily spotted, and found during annual religious events, or 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 run off in a hurry. Simple gestures, like offering a chai, sitting for 10 minutes hanging out chit-chatting goes a long way.
Interacting with Sadhus won't just give you great image captures, it will also open the opportunity of socialising with them giving a close-up view of some 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 usually sharing a chillum. There's more on India in the Overland India section.
It doesn't matter what photo-gear one uses, as long as it does the job - below, low light capture using DSLR 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 colours 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 at estuaries and harbours throughout Asia will capture images like this.
Early morning is a great time for river snaps, reflections are longer with full colour in subdued light.
The aid of using a tripod to capture water reflections makes it easier to get images like this.
Below, pastel maze like colours mirrored from close-by ships on the surface of jet black water in an estuary.
Riverboat taxis in Asia come in all shapes and sizes, small dugouts, canoes, speed boats, longboats, and full size ferries.
Angkor Wat - 4 Day Pass - Knock Yourself Out
At Angkor Wat, clear blue skies are great, but overcast weather adds extra ambience to image captures like above.
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 favourite for those passing through Cambodia. The four day pass is well worth its price tag, because of the freedom to explore and go where you wish without rushing around like a manic.
The opportunity of capturing images of novices and monks at Angkor Wat is relatively easy. One locations is where their sleeping and kitchen quarters are located. Monks who are 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 every year the chances of peaceful serenity is almost impossible. The wet season may give some freedom to setup a tripod at 5am with a bonus of reflections from a full body of water in the moat encompassed around the main temple complex.
In Transit - Asia
When local public transport becomes non-existent, it's very normal to climb on board anything with wheels moving in the right direction. This becomes an automatic practice in any isolated region throughout the Asian continent. Grabbing lifts on the back of trucks or pickups, and mingling with locals is a major part of what overland travel and transit is all about. It's on these type of occasions during transit where the ease of interacting with locals occurs. Crossing through countries or entire continents using basic transportation is just a normal day. The Overland Transit section
Below, some backroad 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 when one needs a break from the rest of Asia. After months slogging it out over landing and transiting throughout the continent, many return to a favourite place for a few weeks of chilling. The region has numerous locations worth visiting, including the small hill tribe of Kayan longnecks, a refugee village situated on the Thai-Myanmar border near Mae Hong Son.
Random Street Snaps - Everyday's Different
It only takes a small amount of interaction to capture random street snaps like above.
Carron is probably one of the most played board games spotted along the streets in southern Asia.
One has approximately two seconds grabbing images like above, then it's lost forever
These portrait snaps were taken randomly within areas where most foreigners don't even bother to go. Taking a stroll to the edge of any town or village will usually create a small gathering of intrigued locals with invitations of chit-chat, and offers of coffee or chai. This gives the opportunity of easily taking close-up portraits without fuss or bother. I've never had any issues doing this through all the continents. Having positive interaction is all it takes.
Random street photography through Asia is like walking through a matrix of unlimited subjects to capture. It's an individual reaction to interact with locals, who maybe stationary, or walking close-by to randomly capture images of them. How many times have we all regretted not doing this? All those missed random captures of total strangers that we don't want to remember. In the real world of random street photography, one only has 3 seconds to decide, and act to capture any moving subject. The 1st second is thinking about it, with the 2nd second taking it. The last second the image is already gone, and becomes a faded memory lost forever. Another related issue are flat batteries failing when needed - it's always advisable to carry at least one spare charged battery.
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.
Simple street portraits like above are easily found if you look for them, all it takes is a little interaction to get the shot.
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 travelling 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.
In 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 stares 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 within this area 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
I had easily caught the attention grabbing a 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 dividing traffic flow. A tripod was used for this snap - sometimes location is everything.
The image above was captured along with 100's of other images in tribal territory using DSLR photo-gear and tripod
Interacting with locals will get street portraits like this within any small village environment away from tourist ghettos.
Taking super close-up street portraits using small prime lenses first requires positive interaction with the subject. Each subject will react differently, especially with elderly locals. The mama above had strolled close by where I was sitting near a cafe. I had invited her to my table, and offered her something to eat and drink, which she accepted. Before departing, she kindly allowed me to capture a few images of her without any fuss or bother. Don't expect all elderly woman to accept being randomly photographed, some can become very aggressive if ignoring to interact with them first.
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 with most headhunters above 8o years old. This low light shot was captured using a 1981 58mm lens.
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 milage 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 & Dried Dung
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 or use dried dung. Getting cooking gas to remotes mountain villages still remains virtually impossible. Locals in these regions will normally resort to using dried dung for warmth and cooking. The above image was taken in a remote region of Nepal. Using dried dung as a natural fuel for cooking and heating has been around for centuries in regions without wood. The image below shows prepared yak dung slowly drying out in the small isolated township of Samye in Tibet.
Passage of Time
Remote regions in Asia are excellent places to capture images like these two samples, Antique wooden carts drawn with horses are still being used in areas well away from the hustle and bustle of large towns and cities. Elders of small isolated villages can easily be seen relaxing in their favourite porch chair, or taking a stroll down dusty lane ways. The passage of time within some of these communities still remain as they were a century ago.
Street Photography - Asia Has It All
Random street portrait photography is everywhere through Asia - Shoot your heart out!
These on the go street images were captured traveling overland from Vietnam through to Nepal. An easy journey covering ten border crossings in total (Singapore-Malaysia-Thailand-Cambodia-Vietnam-Laos-Myanmar-India-Bangladesh-India)
Capturing great images in transit mode through Asia really depends how motivated you are. It begins withe early morning walks, and late evening strolls. One can never know what maybe lurking around a corner, or further up a river estuary that may become a shot worth hanging on the wall in canvas.
Capturing night street snaps of glittering cityscapes in Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai is trendy amongst local residents. Using a tripod will ensure vibration free captures with anything over one second exposures.
By chance, I captured the above snap using a DSLR mounted to a tripod. Below, a hand held snap using a 43+ year old AI Noct Nikkor 58mm lens. The lens is still good today as it was when first designed.
The millennial and Gen Z generation love their smart phone cameras. Most of them wouldn't know, or even careless about the quality of images they're taking. They capture more selfies of themselves than anything else. It's the most important thing that matters for them.
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 snap captures.
Below, single handedly riding mopeds through streets with babies on board in southern 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 to soak-off during the pre monsoon season.
Street Humour - Asia
Asia certainly isn't lacking humour no matter what the country. Hanging out at any street corner, or along highways will give ample opportunities grabbing snaps like these.
Below, this tough little critter was out of control and needed his mother to intervene by any means necessary.
Hemp - Asia
Gunja, Bhang, hemp, dope, weed, cannabis, marijuana, pot, buds, grass
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 practise 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 travellers, 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. Some westerners with wokeness syndrome may have to reread the above a few times to let it sink in.
Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar are saturated in Buddhist heritage and culture. Some 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 up to a large cave, with Hindu idols and buskers, including plenty of monkeys reflecting 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 kilometre than what Asia contains. If you're into temple splendour, there's more than enough elegant, strange and mystic designed 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 some 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. The above image was captured with a classic Nikon D3 12MP body and AF 85mm f/1.4D lens... those pushing the narrative that DSLR's are dead should come travel with me for a few months to find out they're completely mistaken.
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 just the opposite, and good examples of non-hassle photography capturing images all day non-stop. 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 will depend 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 metres distance at an opening at the side of a temple which had enough light capturing this image.
Below, a group snap of an extended Laotian family who invited me to their neighbourhood temple while staying in Laos.
Escaping up into the highlands of the Himalaya encounters numerous Buddhists enclaves, each containing their own colourful 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 visualise endless displays of colourful decorated pandals.
Riverside Snaps - Asia
The Mekong river during the 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 harbour 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 lakesides, 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, Phillipines, Indonesia, and India are good examples.
Ship Breaking Graveyard
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 crew salvage workers wading through mudflats dragging a winch cable into position during low tide.
Early morning, sparks from a gas cutter spraying billows of molten flint as a worker inside gas-axes his way through a section of outer ship panel. Each cutoff section is then winched back to the 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, but it's all put to good use. If I can randomly interact capturing street subjects 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.
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 through the planet. One only requires positive interaction skills with strangers. You'll notice through my website, the majority of street portraits 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 an 85mm f/1.4 prime Nikon lens to capture 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 and going.
Custom Jewellery - Gold Silver Rubies Sapphires
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 jeweller 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.
Top quality custom gold rings with authentic cut stones won't be found among the endless amount of bling street vendors through Asia. Instead, finding an emporium where one can browse through local gold gem shops is where it all happens. Having your own unique designed rings made with flawless gemstones can take a few weeks to complete.
One of the best emporiums globally is located in Bogota, Colombia. I've had positive success having custom rings and earrings made on previous visits to Colombia. Used gold jewellery in Colombia can also be purchased and battered for the weight price only without exaggerated costs for gems and design work. Myanmar, DRC and Afghanistan have various genuine gems that can be locally purchased. Kathmandu has an overflowing amount of side street silver craftsmen who can easily design, or finish one-off custom rings and earrings even if gemstones have been purchased elsewhere. The smuggling of gold or precious stones without official receipts should be avoided, unless it's jail time you're looking for. Fines, seized gems and gold, and deportation with lengthy black-bans does happen.
Road Works - Asian Style
Women labourers 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 labourers 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.
Why Follow The Herd?
Travel Solo : Limit Narcissistic Selfies : Use Real Camera Gear
