Varanasi is the most holy city in Hinduism and the spiritual home of India’s Sadhus, or holy men who have renounced the worldly life. They are revered by Hindus as representatives of the Gods and sometimes worshiped as Gods themselves. They are ascetics and wanderers and are often displayed as private, dignified, selfless people, respected for their Holiness and feared for their curses.
documentary
Morocco 2017
We are lucky enough to having visited Morocco twice in 2017. We went on an epic road trip in January from Marrakech to Ouarzazate and further on to the sand dunes of Merzouga. Quad biking through the dunes was one of the most memorable and fun things we’ve ever done. Driving through several gorges, such as Gorge du Dades and across the High Atlas Mountains round off this adventure. And in November we were here again during our adventure road trip from Vienna to Nouakchott in Mauritania.
Kolkata 2017
No one would call noisy Kolkata a peaceful city, but it will definitely leave you speechless nevertheless. We had the pleasure of visiting Kolkata again in December 2017. With only two days to spare (due to a very delayed overnight train from Varanasi), we decided to stick to the wonderful markets in the North of Kolkata. After all, they’re our favourite photo spot anyway. Great photo opportunities can be found at markets around the world, but what you’ll come across in Kolkata truly can’t be compared. The City of Joy once again was worth the trip and left us with exceptional memories that will last a lifetime.
Tough Life
Not everyone lives on the sunny side of life. Within seconds, circumstances can turn ones life upside down. While in some countries treatment is available straight away, simple things like sheer luck decides between life and death or permanent disability in other countries. In the end, it’s all down to FATE.
In our modern and fast-moving world, even small mishaps can riddle someone off the track and make lives miserable: the loss of a smartphone, a missed flight, a partying neighbour or a broken car. And if something actually bad happens? Well, then we have the luxury of institutions, insurances or savings. Help will eventually come.
Keep in mind through that there are millions of people in these so called third-world-countries who are the backbone of our comfort zone. They do jobs we wouldn’t dare to work in and most often under hazardous conditions that endanger health and well-being. Still, these people bear their fate with the greatest dignity since moaning or groaning will not bring them any further.
Street Life
Probably most people reading this are born into a well situated society, meaning a roof over the head, proper school education and if ambitious, a job with a fair wage. Very often, people don’t realise that they were born on the sunny side of life. But don’t forget that approximately 1.6 billion people lack adequate housing and their homes are the streets and alleys of more or less every country in the world.
Kolkata Market Life
There are some countries, where the expression “Man Power” is still literally in use; countries where machines haven’t taken over yet and where human labour is still essential. One can only admire these people for their strength, power, endurance and willingness.
Kashmir 2015
Getting to Kashmir involves one of the most adventurous trips in the world: a journey across the fantastic Leh-Manali Highway. We were up for this adventure and after a two day trip (479 kilometres from Manali) across the Himalayas, we arrived in the beautiful town of Leh – exhausted, tired and with a headache.
Leh lies at an altitude of 3.524 metres and due to the strong influence of Tibetan Buddhism, the city is also known as Little Tibet or the Land of Lamas. Although not as high as some of the passes across the Leh-Manali Highway, the atmosphere and especially the sky is exceptional. You’re closer to heaven and not only can you see, but feel it! Leh radiates something I can’t quite nail down. Something peaceful and mysterious at the same time. We felt like staying in an old western town with a gold-rush mood… the next three days would let us explore this amazing town and the beautiful surrounding Gompas.
Varanasi 2015
Once in every lifetime an observant Hindu hopes to make a pilgrimage to the holy city of Varanasi. Some come to wash away sickness and sin in the Ganges River. Others bring their dead to be burned. Still some come to live their last days here, for to die and be cremated in Varanasi guarantees eternal release from the cycle of birth and death.
Sadarghat Port | Dhaka
The minute we arrived at Sadarghat Port, we were surrounded by ferrymen who were all eager to row us up and down the river in one of the the many Sampan ferries – the small wooden boats, powered and steered by one person. They wait in a cue to pick up passengers. Watching & documenting the daily life at this very busy port has already fascinated us during our visit in 2012 and we were eager to experience it all over again.
Once we settled the price (roughly 150 Taka per hour – excluding tips), the journey took its course. Rush hour in the Dhaka mean that thousands of people have to cross the busy waters of the Buriganga river. It’s said that this is one of the most dangerous waterways on Earth … and most dangerous for the ferrymen.
These men are really talented and fast with their boats; they navigate them like the cycle Rickshaw drivers maneuver their through the chaotic traffic in the city. It’s hard physical work too with temperatures of up to 40° Celsius (and very often the ferrymen are over 70 years old). Very impressive! It’s not a comfortable ride tough, because you have to sit cross-legged on the wooden boat deck, so cramps are a certain factor if you’re not used to sit in such a position (and of course this was the case for us).
Traffic along the Buriganga river is most common and happening at almost any given hour of the day: big boats and small boats filled with all sorts of different goods make their way up or down the river stream, launches (this is what ferries are called in Bangladesh) come and go, cargo-ships that need a repair job are parked along the waterway…all is normal here at Sadarghat port. As you can imagine with all these boats, several movements of these ferrymen are clearly not for the faint-hearted, but somehow it works out most of the times. Still, every day one or two boats capsize. And sometimes people die.
Sadarghat port is an experience itself and a must for every Bangladesh visitor – the daily chaos with all these boats on the river will stay with you for a long time.
Barbers
If you’re travelling through India, you’ll notice that the hairdressers you’ll pass along the streets are barbers for men only. Lady hairdressers are mostly hidden behind closed doors or curtains. If you insist enough though, even a local barber will give you a nice wash and blow dry … and if you’re really lucky (and you’re up for it) even a haircut. Don’t worry, hair grows again… after all, no risk, no fun.