In Perspective, Planet: Each Place has a

[fahim mohammed]

soul.

To do the kind of photography I enjoy, I have to get to the soul of the place. The spirit of place, if you must.

That is what I do when I arrive in a new country or place. No camera. Just me. Walking, talking, eating and mixing amongst the crowd. To get a feel. To hear the vibes.

What is it that the people hold dear. That which governs their everyday life. Their very being. In many instances, I found it was commerce. Money. In other cities, it was the mining culture. While some others lived for sport.

I had read all I could about Bali. On the internet. Books. Seen the photos on various sites. I had researched the place. Knew its geography, regions, culture, religion, economics, parts of its history, its religion.

But nowhere, I knew, would I find Bali's soul. I had to be there. To experience it. I have gotten pretty adept at doing this. In the first two days, I knew what moved Bali's people. I knew Bali's soul.

So from the Soul of Bali, in the heart of Ubud..

 

[Asher Kelman]

soul.

To do the kind of photography I enjoy, I have to get to the soul of the place. The spirit of place, if you must.

That is what I do when I arrive in a new country or place. No camera. Just me. Walking, talking, eating and mixing amongst the crowd. To get a feel. To hear the vibes.

What is it that the people hold dear. That which governs their everyday life. Their very being. In many instances, I found it was commerce. Money. In other cities, it was the mining culture. While some others lived for sport.

I had read all I could about Bali. On the internet. Books. Seen the photos on various sites. I had researched the place. Knew its geography, regions, culture, religion, economics, parts of its history, its religion.

But nowhere, I knew, would I find Bali's soul. I had to be there. To experience it. I have gotten pretty adept at doing this. In the first two days, I knew what moved Bali's people. I knew Bali's soul.

So from the Soul of Bali, in the heart of Ubud..

And you show them a respect to that. It'd dignity that you foster.

The dignity of man is something folk need and we all should foster! That's even more important than democracy.

Asher

 

[Cem_Usakligil]

Hi Fahim,

Each Place has a soul.

And you do so well in finding it and sharing it with us. Thanks.

Cheers,

 

[fahim mohammed]

Asher, Cem...insert a ' salute ' here.

 

[Joachim Bolte]

Nice picture! I find the culture and people of Bali delightfull, and the inlanders are very much at peace with themselves and the surroundings. But I also found Ubud to be one of the places next to Kuta and Nusa Dua that is aimed primarily to tourist and commerce to these tourists. They made themselves into a bit of an attraction, and most of the 'ugly tourist' as you refer to them are drawn towards that.

If think the best way to connect to the real Bali, is by make friends with one of the servants, waiters or shop-holders, and be invited to their houses. Eat what and where they eat. Or rent a motorcycle and go inland, exploring not only temples and ceremonials, but also day to day life in the kampungs. My wife once even had the privilige to be invited to a cremation, that's a one-of-a-kind moment you wouldn't miss for the world.

 

[fahim mohammed]

Nice picture! I find the culture and people of Bali delightfull, and the inlanders are very much at peace with themselves and the surroundings. But I also found Ubud to be one of the places next to Kuta and Nusa Dua that is aimed primarily to tourist and commerce to these tourists. They made themselves into a bit of an attraction, and most of the 'ugly tourist' as you refer to them are drawn towards that.

If think the best way to connect to the real Bali, is by make friends with one of the servants, waiters or shop-holders, and be invited to their houses. Eat what and where they eat. Or rent a motorcycle and go inland, exploring not only temples and ceremonials, but also day to day life in the kampungs. My wife once even had the privilige to be invited to a cremation, that's a one-of-a-kind moment you wouldn't miss for the world.

Joachim, you are correct re: the ' touristy ' nature of the places you mention. I have, obviously, visited the South. I found it not to my liking, primarily due to the excessive humidity along the coast.

I do not necessarily find a place ' touristy ' in so far as the local population find tourists a source of income and try to earn ( or improve ) their income by catering for the tourists. Neither do I find tourists
to be necessarily ' ugly '.

One has to try to get away from the obvious, the superficial if one ( such as I ) need to understand a
culture. Even in the most ' touristy ' of places.

I took a rain check on a collective cremation ceremony, this time around. Yes, I did visit ' kampungs ', was honored to have been invited into various homes.

You see Mr.Bolte, I do not make friends with ' servants , waiters or shop holders '. I make friends with people. Usually I am lucky to be invited into their homes. I pray it is also into their hearts.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by my post.