Karoomba.....off season! Thanks for the history of the race. Always good having the back story. Spectacular country and you are great at those back roads. Just your kind of trip. Perfection. As always outstanding photography.
So cool The train cemetery is probably your sort of place Ake. So many picture opportunities and there are heaps for everyone! The Salar is out of this World...truly.
Beautiful! I see you have also been to Bolivia Emma...different time and space. Hope therefore that my photos can transport you back to the ethereal landscapes of that beautiful place.
Dont you love places without tourists? My favourite type of place. Learn something new every day thanks for the great run down on the history and now of the Dakar :)
Dont you love places without tourists? There's something about a beach to yourself Cindy, walking or riding a trail alone through spectacular country, a view to die for or an iconic site that at any other time would be crawling or speckled with people...the silence and ambience of being just you or sharing just with friends or loved ones. Ahhhh...it's the serenity!
A beautiful contrast Most TBers seem to do Bolivia when the salt flats are dry...stunning vista that drew us to go there. But when it's flooded it is out of this World...the contrasts of mud and water in arid landscapes...mirror lakes...coral reefs in the sky...and no tourists. Magic! (I suggest the white wedding dress against a rusty landscape pic is not this one!)
A vivid salty story of Dakar Panoramic pics: I loved them...touch of class!
Story: Certainly makes me want to visit. Bolivia is in my bucket list anyway. I like the descriptions "tan dirt plain that was flatter than flat", "the silence giving no hint of what was to come." As always, well researched piece with enough stats...really reflects your ability to bring history of a place so vividly that blows my mind. Another jewel in the crown, Dave. Enjoyed reading!
A vivid salty story of Dakar Thanks Tab. Bolivia was supposed to be an after dinner drink to close a sensational trip through the Americas. Knew it would be good...but 'twas a highlight that will live with us forever. Got some pics coming up that will raise the dead!!!
Sounds like an adventure! Interesting that they moved the race to a S. America and still called it Dakar!
This seems like quite an experience venturing out to places where you don't see any tourists for days! And the landscape is inviting to boot.
Sounds like an adventure! When Valerio followed one set of tyre tracks then turned back to follow another with no road in cooee we knew this was no usual meander, Hem. And the landscapes were out of this World. Kinda understood why the Dakar included Bolivia in their annual ultra endurance sojourn.
No judgment here Wow, what a blog with so many amazing and thoughtful questions. These are questions that we could ask every time we travel. How do we impact the world? How does our visit change the location? the people? us? Stories, myths, reality, dreams, investigation of facts.... Loved the inspired comments of the lovely Laila... :)
Worth the climb What a stunning view! I can see why this is one of your best highlights. Your blog is an interesting read and I think I am swimming more towards unethical but I can appreciate the positives that tourism brings to this city.
Worth the climb The hardest thing about the view from the roof Alan was culling the pics to just a few. Swimming more towards unethical I see...knowing of course in deep water one has to test the depth!
Who could resist the alluring name of "The Jaws of Hell"? It's great to see people asking good questions about the ethics of tourism.
I love your portraits of the miner and the soldier - they capture so much of their character and life in a single picture.
Another great blog Dave.
Who could resist the alluring name of "The Jaws of Hell"? What better way to introduce the topic than someone's email to me waving a big stick not to descend into the jaws of Hell. Invitation or dare? I reckon the soldier would look at the words behind him and point to "Moral" & "Justica" because when you are in command...you can! Thanks for commenting Richard.
One of many things to contemplate as I sip my fair trade coffee & nibble on my organic, carbon neutral, locally produced toast... As first world people we have the luxury of contemplating these issues of how to think & behave ethically, all from the comfort of our privileged & sanitised lives. Making the morally right, ethically thought through decision feels so good but is it just window dressing issues that essentially will never be changed, like a willy willy wind that moves around the surface of a mountain but does nothing to change the mountain itself? Is it a judgement that can only be made by people who experience these unimaginable lifestyles? As Tab has pointed out sometimes it is about just surviving, a whole new mindset for first worlders, but to do nothing is so wrong. Whether you take these type of tours or not is never that simple. Whilst I'm at it, when does taking a photo of a life that is different than our own move from recording for posterity to voyeurism? Just one of many things to contemplate as I sip my fair trade coffee & nibble on my organic, carbon neutral, locally produced toast. I'm not convinced that these ethical decisions that we make will change the present because you can't change what has already been laid down but can we collectively change the future? I guess that is the question for me.
One of many things to contemplate as I sip my fair trade coffee & nibble on my organic, carbon neutral, locally produced toast... A well thought response from one who has been there. The ugly tourist who conveys insensitivity and contempt is easy to condemn. But can we indeed judge tourism as unethical if we are not the ones at the coal face? Can we indeed judge from our First World high horse?
My wife Denise & I like to travel "on paths less travelled" that capture our imagination, inspire my photography & where we mix with locals & remain safe.
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Karoomba.....off season!
Thanks for the history of the race. Always good having the back story. Spectacular country and you are great at those back roads. Just your kind of trip. Perfection. As always outstanding photography.