"Edyk"

Almaty, Kazakhstan

2001

Edyk, the mountain man, the artist, the healer, the taxi driver. I've spent many hours with this man, and I'm still not sure whether I can trust him or not! He lives in Almaty, drives an old beat up Japanese car with the steering wheel on the right and he gives tours of the mountains to young ladies.

"Kazakh Woman"

Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan

2001

I met her on the street in Taldykorgan. I told her she was beautiful. She told me no one ever told her that before, and then smiled the prettiest smile. She's 70 years old.

"A Vendor"

Ganja, Azerbaijan

2001

A vender on the street in Ganja.

"Georgian Woman"

Alkhalkalaki, Georgia

2003

It was a bright Sunday morning as I roamed the streets of Alkhalkalaki by myself. She too was enjoying the lazy day.

"Babushki"

Moscow, Russia

2000

These lovely pensioners were sitting near Red Square enjoying each other's company as they watched people pass by. They were also trying to get a few rubles for bread as their pensions are not enough to live on. However, their camaradie seemed to keep them in good spirits!

"Dedushki"

Baku, Azerbaijan

2001

The midwinter sun shone upon these old boys as they sat on a bench in the park, jabbering the day away.

"Monastery"

Vardzia, Georgia

2003

Built in the 11th Century and made famous by Queen Tamara, Vardzia is a 13 floor maze of cave dwellings that once was the home to nearly 50,000 people. The Church of the Assumption remains the center of the complex and modern day monastics maintain the place as a tourist site.

"Thai and 2 Children"

Plum Village, France

2003

Thich Naht Hanh, or Thai as he's more familiarly called, led late morning walking meditations around the lotus pond. His peaceful, loving, and compassionate presence mesmerized young children and adults alike.

"A Walking Meditation"

Plum Village, France

2003

There are 4 hamlets at Plum Village and once a week, participants walk down a hill to the new hamlet for a picnic lunch together with the monks.

"A Kazakh Tandem"

Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan

2001

Cycling is a very popular form of transportation in small towns like Taldykorgan. In August, everyone seemed to be out, like these two boys playing around and making their own unique forms of tandems.

"Lance in Biscou"

Biscou, France

2003

I was a Tour de France groupie for 2 days last year and managed to catch Lance in action the last day in the Pyrenees. Go Lance!

"Drafting"

Manchester, U.K.

2000

Katy and her son see quite a bit of the countryside in England. However, they must navigate city traffic to get to safer pastures. I enjoyed watching Katy climb up this hill with her son in toe and the ubiquitous red double decker bus drafting slowly behind!

"The Red Door"

Tomsk, Siberia, Russia

2000

Who lives there? What kind of life do they lead? What's on the other side of the red door? Old wooden homes from the 19th century with the original handcrafted windows and doors make Tomsk look like a winter wonderland. Inside, most of these homes were converted into apartment blocks for multi-families during the Communist era.

"A Siberian Walk"

Tomsk, Siberia, Russia

2000

Imagine minus 30 degrees, snow and wind burning your eyes, and then take off your gloves to smoke a cigarette and drink a cold beer? Only in Siberia!

"Holy Water"

Vardzia, Georgia

2003

These two Georgian monks were making vodka to sell on the market to support the monastery. I never did find out if they were allowed to drink it themselves! I was too busy taste testing! I still have the bottle I bought and brought back home last year.

"Cell Phones at the Banya"

Moscow, Russia

2000

The Banya, or bathhouse, is one of the most exhilarating winter rituals in Russia. For 2-3 hours, you sweat, you plunge into cold water, you beat your friends with birch branches, you drink tea, you slather on lotions and potions and honey to deep clean your body AND you make dinner plans on a cell phone while you wait for a massage.

"Friends"

Taldykorgan, Kazakhstan

2001

I enjoyed the people of Kazakhstan very much. Warm, affectionate, mellow and familiar, they seemed to all be related somehow. The familiarity and gentleness with which they casually touched and embraced was refreshing.

"Tea for Two"

Ganja, Azerbaijan

2001

Oh, what fun to watch these men play badgammon! It's quite a game in Azerbaijan. I also watched how they drank their tea through a sugar cube between their teeth. Most of the cultures of the former Soviet Union enjoy very sweetened tea, but I think Azerbaijan is unique in this particular tradition.

"Ram"

Roadside, Georgia

2003

This lovely group of herbivores caused quite a traffic jam one afternoon as we were driving through the countryside.

"Plucking feathers"

Ganja, Azerbaijan

2001

This woman is a refugee from the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. She did not speak a word of Russian, and she stared at me as if she had never seen a camera before. Grilled wild turkey with spices and onion is a common dish in Azerbaijan. I do believe this bird may have been my lunch that day!

"A Lotus for You"

Plum Village, France

2003

It can be said that the lotus is a significant symbol in the Buddhist tradition. Clean, pure, growing up from the water with it's sweet fragrance, the lotus is considered to be the first cosmic flower and represents longevity and enlightenment. No true words can describe it's beauty.