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Published: July 25th 2013
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FACES OF VIETNAM...HCMC & the Mekong Delta Actually. When one visits the land of a zillion mopeds...I understand there are more mopeds in Vietnam than any other country in the World...it stands to reason you cannot ask the zillion riders for prior permission to take their photos.
And so I departed from usual practice when seeking portraits of those in helmets...those as pillions...those on mopeds...probably half the population.
When one visits the Mekong Delta...those not on mopeds...are cruising or zipping along in boats of every shape & size...or abiding in rumpled stilted dwellings by the river bank.
And so I departed from usual practice when seeking portraits of those on the Mekong...probably the other half of the population.
But fortunately for me there were some members of the population that at the time I passed...were not on their mopeds...or not in their boats...or not in their rumpled stilted dwellings...and so I of course sought their permission to grace my lens.
They were by the roadside, in restaurants, shopping, trading, touring, templeing, watching, waiting, whiling, working.
People everywhere...no excuse for me not to stop for a chat.
And when you are travelling with fellow
Travelbloggers...known for their photographs, their turn of phrase or ascerbic wit...travelling together for a bit of "Mischief on the Mekong"...it comes to reason they will come armed with cameras to capture the mischief...the landscapes...the portraits...recording the times together.
Trying to show their fancy SLRs...can outdo my fancy Point & Shoot.
I heard the technical clap trap of the merits of the SLRs...impressive indeed...making me wonder if I should upgrade.
But I'm happy with my Point & Shoot...never been one to grab the best & latest whizz bang thing...happy to watch the others doing their thing...happy to use my time searching for the next face to snap, show & tell.
It was really good fun taking photos with the others...enjoying each others company...delighting in being with people with similar interests...sharing passion for travelling, photographing & having a good time.
And I've gotta say we got on so well...we probably couldn't have had a better time in the time available...than we did together.
Nick (Cockle), his wife Quynh, Shane (The Travel Camel), Denise (Laila the Tuareg) & yours truly (Dancing Dave)...in these parts known by all sorts of names...the Cockles, a Camel & a Dancing Duo.
Dancing the Camel Towards the end of the trip I had a wander with Shane with the sole object of taking photos together.
Down the stairs of the Little Saigon Boutque Hotel...down the narrow alley past the entries of little shops & residences...old & young legs in doorways...the old lady selling cigarettes who always looked at us but never returned our smiles...into the main road...across this lane...dodging mopeds...joining the flow of pedestrians...heading this way.
Past buildings showing opulance in marble...hotels for the rich & famous...on our way to the cathedral.
And then I saw them...or maybe Shane saw them before me...let's just say we both saw them.
Pretty young models with a photographer.
Shane couldn't wait...snapping at distance.
Time to show the Camel...the Dancing way.
They posed for me...as Shane watched...then returned to their photo shoot...me wishing I had more time...probably lucky I got any time.
We approached the cathedral...past the old railway station...a couple in the middle of the road for their wedding photo shoot...a couple of policeman idly watching...making sure motorists did not run them down.
A young woman asking Shane for a photo with
her...phew...she wants me too...our hats that have been everywhere...shading our smiles.
Shane dallying at the Uncle Ho posters...carefully selecting his pick...me just taking the lot.
Then he saw her.
Yep...Shane saw her...whispering to me he had seen the prettiest girl he had seen in his life.
"Would you like me to ask her Shane...if you can take a photo of her?"
"Oh...she wouldn't agree...shouldn't...wouldn't...couldn't...too late...she's getting on that guy's bike."
*******
She sat on the wall of a garden bed...sort of indicated how did Shane want her to pose...he holding that substantial SLR...looking through the eyepiece...snapping away.
He turns and smiles at me...that look of a man consorting with an angel.
Then it was my turn...(My opening picture and others).
Shane presenting her with his Travel Camel business card...No...she's not a model...then watching her ride away on the back of a moped...showing me the photos he had of her...over & over.
*******
We dallyed photographing young children...sounds bad but it wasn't.
A school band playing across the road from the cathedral...having tug-a-war bouts between tunes...boys versus girls...the bigger kids grunting & determined...winners grinning...losers despondent...tourists gathering...snapping away.
Off to our favourite restaurant for a sumptuous lunch...meeting the Sapporo Girl...ordering my beer from her...lots of pretty girls in this country.
Love the food...love the people...love the vibe...love the faces...love Vietnam.
Relax & Enjoy,
Dancing Dave
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David
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Faces
One of your best. Delightful. David - brother of that famous travelblogger, Mike, of 'Keep Smiling' fame, and the rear end of the grey haired nomads.