kids - i should log off

Photo: Between the huts

September 2, 2011 By Jillian

We were hiking deep in a canyon in Lesotho. We had definitely wandered off the path, despite the lovely hand sketched map, although we didn’t know it yet. We followed a cow path down towards the river and when we got down there it was clear we were off track. That didn’t matter, everyone was very friendly and willing to help us. The adults pointed in all directions gesturing wildly with large smiles, but the children were more reserved.

I believe kids are the most honest people in the world. When we appeared in front of this hut the children were not only surprised, but a little bewildered. I’m sure they had seen other hikers come through the canyon, probably not too many, but they were certainly weary of us. Unlike other children we met along our journey, these kids were very shy. Although we waved and shouted “Lumela!” (hello) to them in Sesotho they never really warmed up and just followed us with their eyes.

Needless to say a wave and and a smile go along way, but they don’t work on everyone!

Faces of the World

June 28, 2011 By Jillian

We took over 20,000 pictures on our RTW. Honestly we’ll likely never go through them all (ahem, Danny took two full photo montages of a not to be named glacier in Argentina), but we do have some favorites.

Taking pictures of people can be tricky. We usually asked or motioned with our camera before taking a picture of people- especially if the subject matter was a woman or children. Besides being culturally sensitive, it’s also nice not to be akward when walking around with a camera. Most subjects wanted to see their picture afterwards and we were happy to show them. Sometimes they mugged for the camera, most often kids.

Here are some of our favorite shots of people:

Did I say mugging for a camera? Yea, I meant them.
Samarkand, Uzbekistan

These women greeted us on our hike and smiled for the camera, but I love the composition of this shot from behind so much better.
Colca Canyon, Peru

It’s certainly a work out. Can you imagine the calluses on his feet?
Ninh-Binh, Vietnam

These people politely obliged our request for a photo, but then again I’m not sure from the expression on their faces that they quite understood.
Lalibela, Ethiopia

This man was painting calligraphy with plain water on the sidewalks around Summer Palace. No idea what the characters mean- do you?
Summer Palace, Beijing, China

This man was thrilled to see us at the Meroe Pyramids at 7am, but less than thrilled when we didn’t want a camel ride.
Meroe, Sudan

I love this shot, its so classically bohemian.
Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic

Have you ever seen a happier farmer? The people of Lesotho loved getting in front of the camera.
Malealea, Lesotho

My favorite Cambodian kid. He took a coke from the cooler, threw it on the ground to open it, drank it, and then asked for an ice cream. Love it!
Siem Reap, Cambodia

These photos were taken on our RTW trip March 2009- December 2010. Don’t forget to check out our Photo of the Day. Tell us your favorites and we’ll feature them in an upcoming post!

Photo of the Day: Children on the River

February 8, 2011 By Danny

Dugout Canoes. Children padding along the river. Nice colors. Awesome photo. The best part was when those children got to our boats we saw that there were filled with all kinds of critters from bugs to turtles…we could touch them if we wanted, for a price!

Special thanks to Flickr user ShutterSparks for marking this photo as a favorite.

To see a few of our favorite photos from Guatemala click here.

Our PHOTO PAGE has links to all of our collections on Flickr. Be sure to mark some of your own favorites so that we can include them on this column. We’ll be highlighting a different photo every day.

Photo of the Day: Angkor Baby gets his Coke

February 7, 2011 By Jillian

This was one smart kid. His mom is working her butt off trying to get gringos into the shop to buy drinks on a hot day in Angkor Wat. He decides he wants both attention and a coke so he opens up the cooler, takes out a can, and slams it into the ground. With the can now dented and unable to be sold he graciously accepts his award. He later enjoyed an ice cream.

Special thanks to Flickr user beckamcknight for marking this photo as a favorite.

To see a few of our favorite photos from Cambodia click here.

Photo of the Day: On the banks of the Ganges

January 14, 2011 By Jillian

We had been in Rishikesh for a few days before I bumped into a Canadian girl we had met in Hardiwar. She invited me to join her at a river worshipping ceremony. Sitting on the steps we were invited to participate, but politely declined, embarrassed to be treading so closely to another’s religious ritual. As children from the Ashram filed in, they sat on the steps around us, cloaking us in their orange and yellow robes. For a moment we were the only Westerner’s in this sea of colorful boys. Shy, but curious this boy kept looking at me and smiling. Finally I gestured my camera at him and he nodded vigorously.

Visit our flickr page to explore our photos and mark some of your own favorites. We’ll be highlighting a different photo every day. Remember you have until the end of the month to mark your favorites and be entered in our photo contest!

Special thanks to flickr user Itinerantlondoner for marking this photo as a favorite.