This woman on horseback, with a child behind her, is travelling across the dramatic Anatolian landscapes, their faces partially veiled, a testament to a centuries-old way of life that is slowly fading in the modern world. The Yörük are a Turkish ethnic subgroup of Oghuz descent who have traditionally maintained a nomadic or semi-nomadic existence, primarily in the Taurus Mountains and other mountainous regions of Anatolia
This is Varanasi, or Banaras, in Uttar Pradesh, India. Here, washermen (dhobis) and locals use the ghats (steps) for washing and drying clothes, a centuries-old tradition in this religious Hindu city.
This was taken while I was trekking in the Nepalese foothills. A woman milking her yak. I was on my to Gosaikunda, where I would see my closest views of the Himalayas.
I saw many of these trucks as I travelled across what was then West Pakistan, in 1966. Drivers and owners lovingly referred to these adorned trucks as shehzada, meaning prince, reflecting the deep pride they took in their vehicles. The jingling sound of chains and coin-shaped metal hangings led to the affectionate nickname “jingle trucks,” a term popularised by foreign forces in Afghanistan. The decorations are far more than mere aesthetic choices; they are a profound form of personal and cultural expression, a mobile shrine of sorts, reflecting the driver’s personality, regional identity, faith, and connection to home while on long, solitary journeys. The artwork often includes religious imagery and calligraphy.
Mount Ararat, also known as Masis, or officially Mount Ar, is a snow-capped and dormant compound volcano in Eastern Turkey. It consists of two major volcanic cones: Greater Ararat and Little Arafat. Greater Ararat is the highest peak in Turkey with an elevation of 5,137 m. Little Ararat’s elevation is 3,896 m (12,782 ft).
This is me, on the right, beside Bob Hales, on a boat excursion on the Bosphorus before crossing later into Asian Turkey.
This is me in Arab clothing in Beirut, Lebanon. In 1966, Beirut was the glamorous “Paris of the Middle East,” the vibrant heart of Arab culture, finance, and tourism, known for its sophisticated nightlife, thriving arts scene, beautiful Mediterranean coast (like Raouche Rocks), jet-set visitors (stars, spies), and bustling commerce, representing a peaceful “golden age” before the civil war, a time of freedom, luxury, and modern identity, captured beautifully in its bustling streets, seaside resorts, and cultural dynamism.
