Category Archives: Uncategorized

From Mexico to Guatemala by boat

How exciting are unusual border crossings… the one from Nepal into Tibet in a jeep driving through deep rivers I will never forget and from Thailand to Cambodia on a pleasure yacht with monks is very memorable but the one I have enjoyed the most is definitely from Mexico to Guatemala in een wooden speedboat on the rio Usumacinta.

With a party of people from all over the world randomly coming together at the Mexican border we embarked for an hour long boatride amidst the lush greenery watching crocodiles sunbathing on the banks of the river en enjoying the sun and the wind on our faces.

55 years of non-stop singing in Jamnagar temple

In the Bala Hanuman Temple in Jamnagar (Gujarat – India) people have been singing the name of lord Rama since august 1st 1964 without interruption (apart from changing singers).

The Guiness Book of Records cover is reproduced on the outside of the temple very proudly. The man in the pictures is Shri Prembhikshu Maharaj, a great devotee of the God Rama. After becoming sannyasin (someone who turned away from all material possessions and emotional ties), he started continious chanting of Rama in Jamnagar (amongst other places) Shri Bala Hanuman Sankirtan Mandir is the oldest temple established by Shri Prembhikshuji Maharaj in 1963-64.

Here’s a small impression of how it has sounded like all this time…

Jodhpur, the blue city in Rajasthan

Many a traveler on the tourist trail leading from the Taj Mahal into the desert state of Rajasthan goes to the ‘pink’ city of Jaipur and then very often is headed for Pushkar, Udaipur or Jaisalmer further west.

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What about the blue city of Jodhpur? What’s wrong with it?  I often wondered. Is it not recommended enough by guidebooks like the ‘lonely plant’? are people really rushing their way through this most beautiful part of india? it is probably a combination and it’s a pity anyway, i would say. More than once people told me they arrived in the morning and then take the train in the evening again. Those are the moments I praise myself for having all the time in the world (let’s not talk about the money)

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Contrary to Jaipur everything is in walking distance here and condensed around and under the Mehrangarh fort. It was easy to spend two weeks in this gorgeous atmosphere spinning between the blue houses, wandering around the tiny streets, photographing ‘the guard’ at the fort (among many other characters I stumbled upon in the alleys) and going to Ramesh (‘a real Bombay barber’) for my regular shave and face massage. (watch the video at the end)

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jodhpur_rajasthan_12Jodhpur_blue_city_2‘the tailor’

jodhpur_blue_city_3‘7.04 PM’

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Jodhpur_blue_city ‘Jamil’

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Enshrined‘Enshrined’

Jodhpur_Rajasthan‘the golden girl’

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 ‘the bush at the fort’ & ‘the guard at the fort’

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images available through mail@stinophoto.com

There is a crack in everything

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The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I seem to hear them say
Do not dwell on what
has passed away
or what is yet to be.
Ah the wars they will
be fought again
The holy dove
She will be caught again
bought and sold
and bought again
the dove is never free.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack
A crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
We asked for signs
and the signs were sent:
the birth betrayed
the marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
of every single government
signs for all to see
I can’t run no more
with that lawless crowd
Ah but they’ve summoned, they’ve summoned up
a thundercloud
and they’re going to hear from me.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack
A crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in
You can add up the parts
but you won’t have the sum
You can strike up the march
on your little broken drum
Every heart, every heart
to love will come
but like a refugee
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That’s how the light gets in
That’s how the light gets in
That’s how the light gets in

LEONARD COHEN