MY FAVORITE PLACES VISITED
First Choice
Interior Papua New Guinea
Observing a "Sing-sing" where one village pays off a debt to another, is one of the delights that can still be observed in PNG. They gather kena shells, pigs, food of all kinds and walk to the other village in mass. As they meet most of the wealth gathered to pay off the debt is consumed in the feast. Highly adorned body costuming using palm leaves and paint makes the observation a visual delight.
Visited in 1985.
More Photos of Papua New Guinea
Second Choice
Asmat in Irian Jaya
The South shore of the Indonesian end of the island of New Guinea is a marshy, swampy area with people still living as they have for years. Arriving by Zodiac, our party was met by about 20 war canoes rowed by males wearing paint, grass and feathers. They surrounded our Zodiac and "captured" us and took us to their village. There was dancing, a mock battle concerning the capture of a woman, and some wood carving for sale. The interesting thing was that this "show" was arranged by the barter of a few pounds of tobacco.
Visited in 1993
Third Choice
Northern Burma
The Northern portion of Burma around Lake Inle was when I visited 10 years ago yet an unspoiled area. No paper bags or rubber bands. When you purchased boiled down sugar cane candy it was wrapped in leaves and tied with palm strips. The oarsmen on Lake Inle row standing to go to the many floating garden islands. A fantastic area to visit.
Visited in 1983
Forth Choice
Boat to Timbuktu
Because it was so inaccessible Timbuktu was considered the end of the world. It was a transfer station for the caravans from North Africa to boats on the Niger river reaching into Central Africa. Salt came South with the gold and other riches of Central Africa going north. My visit to Timbuktu was by native boat on the Niger river going North into the desert. Two days on the boat, with a camp stop on the bank, were required to reach the town. One of the adventures was a ride on camels to a Toureg encampment outside of town.
Visited in 1993
Fifth Choice
Central Bhutan
This remote mountain kingdom in the Himalayas is an alpine valley delight, the Switzerland of Asia. First roads were built only in 1958. Traditional costumes, building styles, and the way of life are strictly maintained by the conservative Buddhist government. I visited with a group interested in their distinctive weaving. In the Central valley, often beyond tourism, we stayed in the guest house of the district governor, while visiting local weavers and the annual religious festival.
Visited in 1994
Sixth Choice
Sand dunes in Namibia
In the remote Southern part of Namibia lie a
section of shifting sand dunes (the Sesriem canyon of the Namid desert)
Their colors change with the time of day and are a visual delight and a photographer's
dream.
Visited in 1992
Seventh Choice
South Georgia Islands and Antarctica
Penguins are the most interesting creatures of the Antarctic. The King Penguins are native to South Georgia islands, the Rock Hopper Penguins to the Falkland islands, and the Chin Strap and Adele penguins to the peninsula of Antarctica.
Visited in 1989
King Penguins on South Georgia Island
Eighth Choice
Marquesas Islands
Every two weeks a supply ship, the ARANUI, visits the principal islands of the Marquesas group. These remote Polynesian islands, home to descendants of an ancient Polynesian culture whose spiritual home is on Raiatea, where communication with other areas is often hampered by rocky coasts and often high seas, are a delight to visit.
Visited in 1995
More Photos of the ARANUI voyage to the Marquesas
Ninth Choice
Galapagos Islands
These islands provided some of the clues Darwin used in his evolution of the species theory. They are remote in the Pacific, and separated far enough so that the animal forms could evolve in their separate ways.
The islands, whose animals are largely unaccustomed to people, have a treasure of nature with many endemic species.
Visited in 1982
More photos of the Galapagos Islands
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