
Unbroken dream
Bus driver made a sharp U-turn waking me up from slumbering. Warm, bright and sunny day; cloudless blue skies and emerald green waters; small fishing village with a temple on the shore and couple of shack shops selling colorful balloons and souvenir statues of the Hindu deities; few stray dogs and non-existing bus stop at the end of the sandy road appeared in the window as I got up.
I have reached another sea. That very sentence stuck in my head the minute this fascinating picture at the shore of the Arabian Sea revealed itself. The tranquility of the place felt magic and hypnotic. I was deeply enthralled by the charm of it and didn't learn the name of the village; later, realizing that, I decided to leave it that way.
Reaching another sea may seem like an ordinary event, however this time it felt different, a dream like. Even now, when I close my eyes, I still see and feel the alchemy of it. Perhaps I was dreaming…
On the bus from Junagadh to Dwarka (Gujarat, India)
November 3rd, 2015
Barber
Barbers' tent was at the edge of the field with no customers at the moment. I greeted him and gladly accepted his friendly offer to sit in the tent and a cup of milk chai, away from the harsh midday sun. After noticing my camera, he proudly showed me a few photographs hanging in the tent, of his young days in a beautiful Indian military uniform. Both of us unable to speak the same language, we just spoke human…
Rajasthan, India (2014)
Fair
Fair in Rajasthan is always an extraordinary and bustling event. With an unimaginable number of cattle in one place, farmers from all over the country set up their camps in the field few weeks before the fair starts. Life and daily activities are simply a pleasure to observe, taking the observer at least a hundred years back. Sales and trade of the cattle doesn't begin right away, it takes a few days for a farmers to observe the animals they are interested in. Hundreds of craftsmen set they shops and the whole field becomes more like a big village, than a fair.
Rajasthan, India (2014)
Shadows of the youth
It was a short and unplanned stop. Several houses were clustered about a hundred yards from the road. Ganesh knew people that lived there. He couldn't pass without stopping and saying hello, since he lived there for a few years himself. Chai was offered and before it was served I decided to look around this harsh environment. Kids and their long early evening shadows were following me. I walked around the houses and suddenly my mood changed once the whole picture came together- the desert full of the wind turbines, village without electricity and these kids, the future of India, that can't write, since they don't go to school.
Jaisalmer Wind Park is India's largest operational onshore wind farm. Electricity produced there is hauled away to the cities far away and people that live under these turbines are forgotten. Investing in renewable energy is great, but...
Rural Rajasthan, India
Changing desert
Walking on the sand is slow, heat makes it even slower. Even though the afternoon sun was not as harsh anymore, it felt more like a footslog than a walk. The only thing that would make it more pleasurable would be the breeze. However, hot air was standing still.
Small campground of somewhat scattered tents, outside the town was in a slightly different location since few years back. From time to time the dwellers have to move a little further away from the expanding town. That’s part of a Bhopa's life.
Joyful laughs of the playing children were heard from afar. Tall and unfamiliar figure was slowly approaching the camp. The second they saw the gora, their excitement doubled and all of them started to run to greet the adrift wanderer first.
Rural Rajasthan, India (2013)
We are all travelers
It was an ordinary summer day. Mercury on the thermometer was hitting 50°C (122°F). I’ve seen him several times that day aimlessly browsing streets of this ancient desert town…, just like me.
Rajasthan, India (2013)
Night sky
It never really cooled down much that night. Room had no A/C and the only ceiling fan was circulating hot air in the room. It is impossible to sleep in that heat. A small couch in the courtyard, just outside the room, seemed to be there for a reason. I didn’t hesitate, walked outside and lay down on it. Warm, but refreshing breeze helped. Dogs were still barking in the alleys, night sky full of stars… I was staring at them and thinking about the day that didn’t go as planned…
Taken in Jodhpur the next morning (2013)
Overnight train