Snake charmer in Jaipur
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India. 1 June 1986
A king cobra “charmed” by the swaying instrument – snakes can’t hear.
The practice has come under criticism by animal rights groups and appears to be less prevalent in India now.
Cotswold Way
St Johns church, Old Sodbury, England. 18 April 1987
Day 2 of the Cotswold Way having left Bath in Somerset county and heading north.
Filled up with water at Old Sodbury and spoke to a lady cleaning graves in the churchyard. Up the hill one mile to the large fort site of 11 acres. There were two large outside walls of earth, the grass was nicely cut. Met four hikers in a group coming from Chipping Camden – the only other walkers I’ve met.
I’m camped on an Iron Age Hill Fort near Little Sodbury Manor, now twenty miles from Bath. Once more balloons are floating quite near. It’s 7.30pm and the sun is going down on another perfect day. I actually have a sunburnt face. Cooked myself a vegetable soup meal and feel content.
Pink City, Jaipur
Rajput Guard, City Palace, Jaipur. 1 June 1986
This guard at the City Palace was quite happy to pose. You can see a faint wisp of smoke from exhaling his beedi (Indian cigarette).
I did a search and found a photo of possibly the same guard taken in the 1990s.
My photo has deteriorated over time and those black dots on his uniform is unfortunately a fungus on my transparency slide film.
Darwin 1985
Lameroo Lodge, Darwin, NT. September 1985
This was the first place I stayed in when I arrived in Darwin on the 19th of September 1985. I’d been dropped off right outside it by my ride that I’d hitched from Katherine. It was in the heart of town whereas the youth hostel was 12kms out. I shared a room with three others for $6. Stayed there for about 10 days.
Larrakeyah Lodge, Darwin. October 1985
This was the former sisters or nurses quarters attached to the old Darwin Hospital on Lambell Terrace, not too far from the casino. I moved in with two Canadians – Andrew (pictured, with Helen from England) and Lenny. We rotated beds clockwise – someone got the uncomfy floor. Occasionally we had a couple of extras sleeping on the floor too. Fan overhead on full bore like a propellor, still too hot. Spent 2 weeks there before moving into our own flat in Smith St.
Botanic Gardens, Darwin. 29 September 1985
Lenny, Andrew & Stephanie (from Germany) flushed after throwing the frisbee around. We went up the hill to get inside the Amphitheatre where INXS and the Reels were playing. We crawled under two fences but were met by security guards. $15 was too much for us.
Harau Valley, Sumatra
Harau Valley, Sumatra, Indonesia. 7 January 1986
Met the others [Alain & Evi] near the clocktower [in Bukittingi] at 7.45am. A cloudy, misty morning, no rain. An oplet [shared taxi] to the bus terminal, then a bus to Payakumbu, 36kms away. From there an oplet to another terminal. Then we walked to another terminal for an oplet ride to the Harau Valley.
From there we walked 5ks through the valley, flanked by sheer rock-faces, quite high [~300m] with spectacular waterfalls. Some tranquil farm scenes, a lot of water buffalo. Ran the gauntlet of “hellos” yet again from everyone especially little kids. “Apa kabars” from us in return.
Got to the base of our first waterfall, then climbed a steep path for a panorama of the valley. A guy sold us drinks and peanuts up there.
Walked another 3ks to see 3 more waterfalls. The force of the water at the base created a lot of wind & spray. Men with rifles were shooting birds from the tree-tops.
We came back cutting across rice paddies for a short-cut. Most of the time there was light rain. Had soup, tea and some biscuits in a small shop. Hitched a ride in a truck to Payakumbu before bussing back arriving at 6pm.