the SZ bulletin board

[endersgame]

taco, i think her legs with the thigh-highs makes it extra special..


pottery barn trials..

[interest1]

A few abandoned love hotels in the middle of a string of still operational ones on the outskirts of Tokyo.

Great subject, Croatoan. Abandoned hotels!

In your Akasaka series, the 3rd one down is brilliant. Reminds me of a David LaChapelle backdrop. Posted solo, it would have even more impact.

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[genevieveryoko]

I like #1 & 2, very grey...

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thanks

not my photo but a sneak shot a friend took which i kind of like...

[interest1]

i'm particularly drawn to the dirt road on horse-drawn carriage photograph? the temple in the distance looks like it's older than jesus-it evokes the same emotions as if someone were to approach the pyramids for the very first time. the entire series as a collective can be regarded as a type of road-side ethnography of the familiar and the exotic.

interest, tell us more about your travels. were these trips personal or work related? is there a destination you feel closest to?

Formerly known as the country of Burma, Myanmar is pure magic. No other word for it. In Bagan (also spelled Pagan), known as the ancient city of temples–there are over 2,200, dating back to the 11th century. There are no modern buildings here. No cars. Nothing that would have you think you were in the 21st century. Just you & the temples.
It's surreal. Inside each one, whether massive or mini, you will find a statue of Buddha, for worship. It's very humbling. I've been to other countries in SE Asia: Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand–and nothing even comes close.

Tourism, at least when I was there 4 years ago, was virtually non-existent. Media coverage of political unrest since the military junta overthrew the government has unfortunately given Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) a reputation for being this dangerous place that Westerners should avoid (which, when you consider the treatment of political prisoner, Aung San Suu Kyi, or realize the streets are dotted with soldiers carrying machine guns, is a fair assumption). I remember worrying about being seen taking pictures, knowing that they detain anyone suspected of being a journalist. This scene of being thrown into some remote third-world prison for being caught taking a few innocuous pictures played on auto-repeat in my head.

Tourism here lacks for other reasons, too. Due to US sanctions, the country doesn't accept credit cards. Everything is cash-only. And internet use is prohibited. It's the least Westernized country in Asia, because nothing is allowed in. Even Cambodia has a Starbucks. You won't find one here. Finally, poor infrastructure makes it hard to move around the country, so you basically have to take commuter flights between cities. I think I took 4, total.

Myanmar has everything going against it on paper, yet ironically, it's the most rewarding kind of travel experience you can have if you're up for the adventure.

* Fuck Hawaii. Go to Burma.

I agree the Bagan, Myanmar photo is great. I don't know if it's something I should run towards or away from. I'm surprised I've never come across that building in my architectural history courses.

^
Really? You're perfectly safe, thehouseofdis–in these temples there are no priests

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[mortalveneer]

Those are amazing interest1...thanks for sharing...

[Faust]

seriously, some incredible photos, interest1.

[mortalveneer]

That second snow photo is entirely special in my opinion ledger...

glad to see this thread getting so much attention...

[thaiison]

first two is very nice ledger, might go out as well and photograph the snow that's been falling for 3 days this far.

[tomatous]

Breathtaking stuff interest, Thanks for sharing

[mortalveneer]

abandoned summer resort

An abandoned summer resort in central IL that I stumbled across in my usual countryside meanderings...I've revisited it a number of times since the first encounter.

[mortalveneer]

abandoned summer resort

[theetruscan]

interest1, those are amazing photos. As a tourist not nearly brave enough to travel to Burma any time soon they're something I couldn't go and see for myself.

[croatoan]

Wow. That great to see something in America obviously long abandoned but still untouched by vandals.