As social creatures, we humans are bound-up in the fate of our neighbours. And that network of neighbours grows as we become citizens of the world.
Although I've seen a handful of natural disasters in my time as a news watching adult, Typhoon Haiyan was the first time I witnessed devastation somewhere I'd visited. Somewhere I have friends! Does having travelled somewhere in the past affect the way you relate to a place and its people? Is my emphasized reaction to this particular disaster justified or is it simply a byproduct of hypothetical situations and circumstance?
I'm interest in hearing what other travellers and world citizens have to say. Have you had similar experiences?
I had a similar interaction while visiting the Vedda people in Sri Lanka this summer. The whole thing felt like an incredibly unsavoury spectacle - especially when they attempted to give us a 'traditional' bow and arrow demonstration, which made it apparent that few of them had shot in years, if ever. I'm on the fence when it comes to this type of cultural tourism. On one hand, I have no problem paying for an 'experience.' On the other, the idea of forcing other humans to pander to tourists - or worse, make a spectacle of their culture - feels incredibly wrong.
Lovely photos from a gorgeous country (paired, understandably, with some real concerns.) Some of my favourite portraits I've ever shot have been taken in Myanmar! Thanks for sharing!
I'm always on the fence with Vice. Often I find they gravitate too far toward shock-value and fail to give fair investigation into issues that demands consideration. I think Eddie does a great job of appealing to the Vice reader while continuing to give us a bit more substance. His conversation of cultural representation and exportation at 10:40 and absolutely fantastic.
As both an addendum and a counterpoint I'd like to share one of my experiences travelling and shooting portraits in Myanmar. Meeting up with a few young punk rockers in the throbbing metropolis of Yangon doesn't quite fit within the regular narrative you hear about Myanmar. It certainly challenged my assumptions.
http://keyboardandcompass.com/blog/2013/3/13/yangon-calling-myth-busting-and-the-punks-of-myanmar
"But this is just an excuse: any society as dominated by male leaders, and with as vast a chasm between the elite and the poor, sees the same exploitation of young women by powerful men."
This is a great piece, Jeannie! I appreciate the share and will definitely be keeping an eye on this magazine /journalist.
My only criticism is a few, perhaps unfortunately loaded terms: "As with western punters who seek the ‘girlfriend experience’ online, Chinese men want the illusion of intimacy," being the most obvious one.
That's always bound to happen in a 3,000 word general audience piece though.
Thanks for the resource, Matt! Amazing to see some new up-and-comers, like Ghana, heading down a path too few destinations seem willing to take.
Thanks for this, Sonja. Coffee is such a great lens through which to observe what's right (or wrong) in a country. It's easy to talk about, but just a step away from so many big issues... I appreciate the share!
An interesting, and at time disheartening, look at Hong Kong's increasing gender imbalance, the length at which women are going to attract a mate, and the effect it's having on certain industries, like media and plastic surgery.
Thanks Matt. Glad to hear everyone in your life was safe and sound! What did you think of the islands you visited? I still dream of going back.
There was a very interesting piece on the growing gender imbalance in Hong Kong in the Atlantic recently. I just submitted it to the site and think it makes for a great follow-up to this longer piece.
http://www.outbounding.org/articles/view/hong-kong-s-troubling-shortage-of-men
Sure, we see the effects of globalization most directly as travellers, but it also plays a huge role in our lives back home. From genetically modified cotton seeds in the Mississippi Delta, to the mechanical workforce of Indonesia, to the rock bottom manufacturing prices of Bangladesh, and back again -- these are how your clothes are made.
Not only is this feature super on-point in terms of modern story-telling techniques, it's an eye-opening exploration of something we take for granted and great microcosm for the way our global market works.
I agree with Matt, this format is amazing. I'd have loved to see a portrait or two thrown in there, but my guess is that that's a little easier said than done in North Korea
Thanks for discussing a very relevant topic, Jeannie. I'm in my early 20s, white, male, and this why-don't-you-settle-down-while-you're-still-young relationship shit still goes to my head. I can only imagine the additional stigma you must face as a older female.
PS: "Be confident, powerful, take lovers, laugh, dance, drink, make men feel special – engage her femininity and her intelligence..." was a lovely line.
That one line, "In Thai, there isn’t a word for street food." is worth a few laughs on it's own. I'd have loved a link to the original Bangkok Post article.
I find an uncomfortably colonial sentiment behind this project -- particularly the savior-esque way Jimmy and his goals are described on the book's official site. I can't argue with the beauty of his shots though (and am a huge Road & Kings fan.) Thanks for sharing.
This is a very interesting article in that it spurs thought (and debate.) However, I agree with Matt and Ellen, the conclusion is a little weak.
The right to leave a country -- to escape persecution, seek opportunity, or otherwise -- is, and should be, a right. Where one goes to seek refuge is a more difficult matter, however. To be a guest, regardless of your reasons for visiting, is -- in my mind -- a privilege.
This makes sense to me on many levels, but also has some tragic consequences. I have many friends that have been denied tourist visas in my country (Canada), despite having the appropriate funds and no alternative motives within the country. Yet I step of the plane and am embraced in theres (Nepal, Uganda, etc.)
A fascinating looks at a culture dependant upon, and possible responsible for, one of the world's most popular winter sports. “To be a hunter is to be a skier,” says one 77 year old subject in this photo-series. Photography courtesy of National Geographic's Jonas Bendiksen.
A longform personal essay about being a white Canadian expat in East Africa. The expectations of a place versus its reality (from a kid who grew up in love with The Lion King) and how our culture affects the way we interact with the world.
Not sure about the rape joke in the subtitle, but I definitely appreciated the read. Everyone deserves a good overnight in an international airport story.
Thanks Matt. This was my first time publishing on Medium and I was incredibly pleased with the layout. Hopefully this trend of creating beautiful online spaces for longform continues! Too often have us writers been short-changed by the Tumblr's of the world!
A Victoria (my hometown!) based photographer travels home for South Africa for the first time in three years. His arrival coincides with the celebrations of Nelson Mandela's life and results in some breath taking photographs of The Rainbow Nation.
Street portraiture has to be one of my favourite genres of photography. One of the best ways to capture the atmosphere of a new location is through the faces of its residents.
Unfortunately, I think too many travel writers focus on the exotic (or what might appear exotic to them) and not enough on the amazing things that happen close to home. In this series, a small town B.C. based photographers shoots images of his hometown of Williams Lakes. The result is a stunning snapshot of life in a rural Canadian town.
Sorry, the link didn't go through. Here it is: http://proof.nationalgeographic.com/2014/02/18/traveler-of-the-year-alison-wright-pays-it-forward/
I'm onboard with everyone else who loves Lauren's writing - both her strong descriptions and experimental methods of story telling. I agree with Justin, it was hard to get into, but I also agree with Matthew that, in the end, it was well worth it.
Plus, with all the noise out there on the internet a glorious failure that feels human is still more memorable that an par-for-the-course "food story."
Hanoi chewed me up and spat me out, infected and limping, so I can relate.
This was a beautiful, honest read Jeannie. I think that 2 years is long enough to say you've given something a fair shot. I've given up on places for far less. The comparison of a city, to a partner, was especially fitting.
I love the debate this article has generated. I also agree with Matt that it has many strong points that are, unfortunately, being swept under the rug due to a few flaws.
This passage, for instance, I found incredibly meaty and poignant:
"I am not a teacher, a doctor, a carpenter, a scientist, an engineer, or any other professional that could provide concrete support and long-term solutions to communities in developing countries [...] I don’t want a little girl in Ghana, or Sri Lanka, or Indonesia to think of me when she wakes up each morning. I don’t want her to thank me for her education or medical care or new clothes."
Yes, I think the opening bit on race is an issue, but it's relevance certainly isn't mute. One incredible detail in that paragraph involves Pippa's black friend being called white by sheer virtue of coming from a "Western" country. I think that anecdote has tremendous powder, and would advice the author to work from that angle if she were to republish or expand upon this piece.
Hey guys (author here!),
Thanks for both the original share and the great feedback on this. I thought I'd mention I'm on here in case anyone had any questions or points of debate.
After recently receiving Passion Passport's fourth "The Bucket List Initiative" grant I spent a month shooting portraits around Northern Peru. Despite having done this type of work before in the past I came upon many unexpected complications. I'm wondering if anyone's had a similar experience (and how they dealt with it) ?
Aside from some amazing images, I think a lot can be learned from Wright's willingness to drop everything to pursue a story. And some of the things that lurk in the shadows of the tourism giant.