I’ve just returned from a trip to Bolivia. In 2004 I had visited La Paz and its surroundings but promised myself to go back to visit the vast plateau that makes up to south-western part of the country. The plateau, most of which at altitudes above 4000 meters o.s.l., is a stunning land with variety and extremes I have never seen elsewhere. Canyons of all shapes, volcanos and geysers over lunar landscapes, infinite salt deserts, beautiful lagoons with impossible colors and… flamingos, hundreds of them with bright pink feathers. The photo above is the Laguna Colorada with a hot water spring in the foreground.

The exhibition presented some impressive black & white photographs the American photographer shot during his stay in Rome in the 1950s. However, I quickly noticed there was a second exhibition further down the complex called “6 miliardi di Altri” (6 billion Others) and soon understood it was yet another project by photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand and his GoodPlanet.org organization. The project, originally named “6 milliards d’Autres” and presented last year at the Grand Palais in Paris, is a collection of thousands of video interviews of people from all places on earth that explore key aspects of life, feelings and values, and build a shared and unifying view of the planet. Initially, I just wanted to take a peak but the interviews proved to be extremely interesting and intimate and soon found myself immersed in the flow of images and emotions. In the end, I spent more than a couple of hours in a state of involvement…

The exhibition in Rome lasts till September and if you have time I really suggest visitng it. Otherwise, simply head to http://www.6milliardsdautres.org/ and get involved yourself.

I am still working on photos from my trip to Himachal-Pradesh last summer. Memories are still strong, especially those of the stark landscapes in Spiti Valley. Bare mountain sides, streaky rock formations and that angry sky full of menacing clouds always looking down at you… The photo above is a view of the valley where the Spiti and Pin rivers join, just a few kilometers north of Dhankar.

I am currently in the Belum Valley, an area in the north of peninsular Malaysia at the border with Thailand. The valley features one of the last virgin rainforests in the peninsula and can be visited navigating Tasik Temenggor, a huge artificial lake created in the 1970s. Nature lovers come to this area to explore the forest and to watch the wide range of animals that gather in the salt licks scattered around the lake.

Belum is famous for the Rafflesia. Named after a Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, leader of the expedition who first discovered it in 1818, Rafflesia is a rare parasite plant which can be found only in Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. The plant has no stems, leaves or roots but grows on vines of specific trees in the form of buds that blossom into beautiful flowers with five petals. Rafflesia is also famed for the strong smell which resembles that of rotting flesh (hence local names which translate to “corpse flower” or “meat flower”).

Belum hosts three of the 27 species that exist in southeast Asia. Today I had the privilege of admiring a blossomed Rafflesia Cantleyi which takes about nine months to blossom and features beautifully shaped red petals (photo above). If you are wondering, I did not smell rotting flesh…

The old town, at first sight limited and unappealing, is in fact an intricate composition of different cultures and styles. A number of historic houses and temples are unveiled to the keen eye: they talk about a past of commerce, prosperity, colonialism and cultural tolerance but also conflicting families and hardship. The Khoo Kongsi Clan Complex includes a couple of temples (the main one is a jewel of elaborate decorations) and numerous houses built by an important Chinese family which settled in Penang (as in many other places of southeast Asia). The Chinese Goddess of Mercy, Hainan and Teochew Temples, the Indian Mahamariamman Temple, and the Kapitan Keling Mosque are also very interesting and a symbol of the religious tolerance which has always characterized the island. The Pinang Peranakan and Cheong Fatt Tze Mansions, although sometimes eclectic, are fascinating and allow you to appreciate many different facets of the past, in particular how the Chinese settlers within the straits lived. Finally, the Temple of the Reclining Buddha and the Dhammikarama Burmese Buddhist Temple, one in front of the other, are joyful places where to appreciate different facets of Buddhism.

Southwest of Goergetown, the Kek Lok Si temple raises from one of the hills that overlook the city. It’s the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and an elaborate ensemble of buildings and gardens connected by stairs going up and down the hill. The visit is pleasant (in spite of the many tourists that fill the temple from early morning) and allows you to have a deep look into the key elements of the Buddhist religion. Just outside the temple, the market of Air Itam is very interesting and colorful and you can appreciate the local life in one of the most populous neighborhoods of the island.

If you want to move away from mainstream attractions, head south the the two fishermen villages of Batu Maung and Teluk Kumbar. They are still a great example of the old kampung (villages) that once covered the island and where life went by sleepy and quiet. To experience a bit more the life of the local Penangites, apart from the market in Air Itam, try visiting Bukit Jambul or Sunshine Square shopping centers: once shiny and high-end, after the opening of huge centers such as Queensbay they are now the preferred buying place for low and middle class locals. Batu Maung also has a very nice night market on Friday evenings frequented only by locals.

However, the best way to really understand Penang and its people is to try the incredible variety of local food. Food is available everywhere and anytime in Penang. A number of culinary cultures from all parts of Asia mix playfully in a cornucopia of spices, flavors and cooking techniques. The topic is so vast and interesting that deserves a full post in the near future only for it. In the meanwhile enjoy this small gallery…

Last night I went to Georgetown to watch the Nine Emperor Gods Festival (Kew Ong Yeah). This Chinese festival is one of the most important in Penang and is celebrated on the 1st till the 9th day of the Nine month in the Lunar calendar. During these 9 days many devotees go on vegetarian diet and on the ninth day a big procession is held.

This year there were 20 floats, all richly decorated and full of colored lights, which slowly moved through the streets of Georgetown’s historic center to finally reach the Weld Quay on the eastern waterfront of the town (in the photo above one of the floats). Together with the floats a number of devotees processed along: some in a state of trance, some whipping the air with weaved whips, some with very long spears stuck into their cheeks. All around firecrackers, drums, singers, dragons and an immense crowd revering the procession. At the end, the procession arrived at the waterfront and in a surge of energy and loud noises the devotees were removed the spears and floats were sent off in the water.

Although I’m sure I missed most of the significance of what was going on, the energy and enthusiasm of the people were incredible and I watched in awe the procession with very strong emotions and involvement. A once in a lifetime experience really!

I’ve arrived yesterday on the island of Penang in northwestern Malaysia. The island is relatively small, with hills in the center and covered with deep green vegetation. The town is on the eastern side, with a lively city center and historic neighborhoods in the north (where the British initially settled in late 18th century) and a more modern and functional area to the south with the university and airport. I’m on a slow path of discovery but already like the place… in the photo above a rickshaw in Georgetown’s Little India.