#onebigclan

If you don’t dress well for a day like Tabaski, when are you going to do it? Plus, it’s fun because you get gifts and you play with friends. I took this picture a few years ago, but I still vividly remember walking down the streets of Kamsar, being greeted by hordes of playful kids. What a great memory.

I remember taking this photo while visiting the suburbs of Luxor. This kid came out of nowhere. He looked like he was on a mission. I don’t know if he was working, going to school or something else, but it made me appreciate the comings and goings of the ‘real, undisturbed life’. 

“I work at the tennis courts and it’s not an easy job. I have to register every player that comes here and make sure they are listed in my log book. I’m the keeper of the book. I tell you... It’s tough... Lots of people use the courts.”

The distinctives characteristics of the Mursi people are know worldwide. Many older women proudly wear the traditional labial plate. The younger ones have a little more ‘latitude’ in terms of beauty enhancement. Just like tattoos or piercings, using your body as an art piece is for many people a way to singularize yourself. Most Mursis use scarification or ear lobe enlargement to do so. 

“I have been living and working with my husband for more than 30 years. Since the start, we have been creating traditional clothes to sell them at the market. Our technique is ancestral, and so is our choice of color and fabric. We take great pride in the quality of our work.” 

I remember visiting the villages in the hills of Sapa region. I remember trying their musical instrument and tasting their sun roasted hot chili peppers. I remember the smiles and the proudness of the people as they share a part of their culture and way of living. It may have been 10 years ago, some moments give you a lasting impression. Memories are everything. 

I was walking in the city, getting used to this new country I was visiting and being amazed by its wonders. Some might find this metropole chaotic and disorganized, but I don’t recall thinking that way. In a very peculiar way, all of the tuk-tuk noise, dense population, various smells and constant dust are part of a fast pace, evolving environment. Maybe I’m influenced in my thoughts by the kindness of the nepalese people, but nevertheless, my souvenirs are forever positive.

Working with your hands is not easy. Working with your hands AND having to be creative is even more difficult. This man is a cloth craftsman and creates outstanding patterns and figures that not only represent his moods and inspiration, but also respect the customs and craftsmanship of his ancestors. His work is truly remarkable.