The Far East is dotted with monks, camels, Islamic architecture, religious pilgrims, unusual sports and festivals from India to Bhutan, China and…
The Far East is dotted with monks, camels, Islamic architecture, religious pilgrims, unusual sports and festivals from India to Bhutan, China and Japan. The perfect region to indulge in some photography.
- Jokhang Temple, Tibet, China
Everyday Buddhist pilgrims walk the kora around Tibet’s holiest temple prostrating before the temple doors, muttering mantras and turning prayer wheels. The matted, festy village people with their long braids and amazing jewelery are incredible to photograph.
- Kashgar market, Xinjiang, China
This weekly market in the remote town of Kashgar was established over 2000 years ago as part of the Silk Road route and today 100,000 traders still rumble in to town on their carts and camels to sell their wares. The market is huge – nuts, housewares, rugs, food and knives fill the massive indoor shopping area. Or you can bargain for sheep, donkeys or camels the livestock market. This is one of those markets where the people are just as interesting as the produce.
- Luang Prabang, Laos
Photographers will fall in love with Luang Prabang. The lapping waters of the mighty Mekong River, the mountains encircling the town, the saffron clothed monks and the traditionally dressed village people at local markets give it a timeless almost mystical quality perfect for photography. There are 32 historic temples here and orange sherbert monk cloth flapping in dappled sunlight from monastery balconies or monks themselves converging in wat courtyards everywhere.
- Paro Tsechu Festival, Bhutan
This is the biggest and most spectacular of the Buddhist festivals celebrated in Bhutan. People flock to the Paro Dzhong dressed in traditional finery to receive blessings and watch masked dances and colorful dramas. The elaborate costumes of silk brocade and incredible masks are fabulous images.
- Taj Mahal, India
The greatest monument to love is probably the most photographed building in the world. This brilliant white marble jewel is renowned for its stunning design balance and perfect symmetry, elegant domes, intricately carved screens and superb inlay work. The famed gardens and watercourses are also beautiful and help set the scene. Extend your tour of Agra to Fatehpur Sikri and the Red Fort.
- Yangshou, China
Nothing beats photographing these dreamy karst mountains that rise so dramatically from the flat plains around the Li River. The iridescent green paddies, the bamboo raft fishermen and the mist around more than 20,000 peaks makes perfect photography.
- Nadaam, Mongolia
It’s worth traveling to Mongolia just for this annual sports event in July. Three sports are celebrated over the three-day event including wrestling, archery and bareback horseback racing. All three events are both challenging and entertaining as the wrestlers perform an eagle dance, the bareback riders come in clouds of dust and the archery is undertaken in traditional costume.
- Pushkar Camel Fair, Rajasthan, India
This vibrant festival in the desert state of Rajasthan is all about rich color and perfect to capture on film. This large livestock fair attracts thousands of people who come to buy and sell camels and horses adorned with ribbons and headdresses. The highlight of the fair is the camel racing that takes place amidst much singing and dancing. Schedule some time aside at the end to visit the famed forts and palaces of Rajasthan for more photography opportunities.
- Hokkaido, Japan
Wildlife photographers will love Japan in winter and the opportunities to photograph elegant Japanese cranes dancing in the snow, Steller sea-eagles gathering on the sea-ice and the spectacle of white-naped and hooded cranes in their thousands.
- Cherry Blossoms, Japan
The gorgeous blossoms that bloom every March and April create wonderful, colorful photographs. It’s also fun to photograph the families and friends that congregate to celebrate Spring and have picnics in parks and gardens where the trees bloom.