Another post from our photographer Mira Zaki. Her final post will be coming soon! You can take another "community-focused sponsorship" to support her recent reporting trip. All photos from Mira Zaki
I love the travel me. She is much more adventurous than the at-home me. As I mentioned in my last post, my inner wanderlust is no longer inner but everywhere, and in the spirit of traveling, I generally end up out of my comfort zone... this seems to be something quite addictive, because I want to find a way to bottle that feeling or to have that feeling all the time. So far, the only solution I have found is to continue to travel. I am generally on a 2 week post-travel high upon returning home and inevitably settle into my routine of life. I am not complaining! I love my routine of life in New York City! But, there is truly something incredible about traveling.. my inhibitions are lowered if not gone completely (and this does not require any alcohol consumption ;) )my sense of adventure awakened, the blood pumping through my veins- palpable.. and so, I give this dramatic intro because this is just absolutely out of character for me to have HIKED a recently erupted VOLCANO!
The volcano erupted about 2 months ago and actually killed one reporter. I can't say that this made me feel afraid... I was much more worried about a) hiking, b) hiking a volcano and c)my right ankle that has still not fully healed from my accident 2 years ago (wow they were not kidding when they said feet heal slowly). We took a vote the night before to see who was interested in this optional activity. My first inclination was to say no, to be comfortable, and sit at the hotel warm in my bed, hanging out with the hotel poodle, and drinking hot chocolate. But, I am really glad I decided against chickening out.
Another reason this was so significant to me- I do NOT hike. And I don't hike because I don't enjoy it... I don't hike due to my injury, and honestly because I sort of don't understand hiking... walking on purpose? with a stick on uneven terrain just to go up and down???? Now, granted I am a photographer, and so ok, I get it. Hiking brings you to beautiful bird's eye views, or worm's eye views... or just beautiful views.
After the group vote, we were all in and for a mere $16 USD and 50 Quetzales entrance fee. The Quetzale exchange rate is about 8 to $1 so, I felt like a millionaire all through Guatemala :) So off we went, we met some dogs, we chatted with some kids trying to sell us walking sticks... we had our sugary goods ready to go.
I made it halfway up before I decided to use one of their "taxis", which was a lovely horse. I really like riding horses and honestly was attempting something extremely strenuous for my ankle's well-being (not just being lazy). It was a magnificent sight... from the destruction of the recent eruption, every single step we took was covered with volcanic ash and rock, but the air was as clear and clean as though it was the first day on Earth. Corn crops grow throughout the entire country it seems... everywhere we turned was something majestic to lay our eyes upon. Truly, Guatemala is one of the most beautiful countries I have ever been to.
Once we got to the top, we had a time limit- because they were uncertain of the volcano's safety.. it smoked a bit for us, which I just thought was amazing, and luckily, no eruptions. Hike up Pacaya Volcano with us below :)
Boy and horse :)
I love clothes hanging on lines blowing in the wind
Beautiful dog who lives at the base of the volcano
Beautiful dog #2- I love what a specific personality each animal has, namely dogs
Damage from the eruption- but somehow looks intriguing and interesting to me
Agave plant !
Dog who hiked up the Volcano with us!
Corn growing in the distance!!!
NO COLOUR CORRECTION! I love how moody this is...
The view opposite where we hiked up to
DANGER!
I love this- trip member Jody left her backpack there and it sort of felt like an ad to me :)
Hello to my dedicated readers :) Thank you for sticking with me on this blog journey- I am hoping to continue to post regularly. I've found this happens more freely when I am traveling or have just returned from traveling- and so I must continually find successful methods of feeding my inner wanderlust which incidentally has become so large it is no longer inner but everywhere :)
Current conditions: Raining
Location: The middle of the summertime in New York City
Verdict: The rain is absolutely cleansing, healing, and welcome
Mood based on the above parameters: Insert huge smiley face here
I was born in Seattle, and lived there until I was about 9 or 10, so the rain offers me a bit of nostalgia, and the wonderfully overwhelming sense of reflection, renewal, and refreshment. In this pensive mood and relatively quiet Monday, I thought it would be great to continue along my Guatemalan journey.
After a few days in Antigua, we headed to a small town called Nebaj. (but not so small that it didn't make it into Lonely Planet's Guatemala book!!!) En route to Nebaj we happened to make a few stops- namely a beautiful hotel in Chichicastenango- which remains my fav city name in all of Guatemala... where we had a delectable fish lunch and muy rico FLAN! We were very fortunate to have excellent guides and our styles of traveling and eating met by everyone we were traveling with.
Back to Nebaj....which is 1900 meters above sea level and "the Southern gateway to the Ixil region and one of three towns composing the Ixil Triangle." http://www.nebaj.com/aboutnebaj.html It seems that the Ixil region and its inhabitants are not very well known by Guatemalans themselves! (people in Guatemala city, anyway). There was a 36 year long Civil War that recently ended and was again unbeknownst to a large part of the Guatemalan population. SalaamGarage worked for 2 years to get access to the Ixil region and people by partnering with the local NGO Agros International which is truly doing phenomenal things to change people's lives.
Nebaj is the happy medium between rural Ixil villages and modern creature comforts... I was thrilled to find our hotel had a dryer, and I cannot remember the last time I had more enjoyable family style meals every single day. I am trying to sort out how the rest of the world seems to have it right regarding food and consumption- and yet we have it wrong? I am referring to the fact that I had the best tasting, farm fresh, preservative free food on my entire trip... these are easier sources to find than their processed counterparts, but before I go on that tangent I will reign myself in. :)
I quickly fell into a routine of breakfast, lunch, and dinner around the same time- sitting down while eating, chatting, laughing and enjoying our journey. Most shocking of all is that I would be exhausted at the end of each day and fall asleep generally by 10 pm. I fought to keep my eyes open to write in my journal, but, apparently I truly benefit from some sort of order in my life. I always feel like I am being pigeonholed by a "normal" routine or schedule..but I am learning to embrace it and realise that often these things exist in my mind only. Ah, the thoughts of a NY transplant- they never end :)
I thought this post was going to be about the first village we visited, but apparently that will be the next chapter. Enjoy a small taste of Nebaj!
It isn't really fair for me to post a blog because I am still traveling through Guatemala and have not had the proper time to digest and process my experience- but I can safely say this has been one of the most life changing trips I have ever been a privilege to be a part of thanks to SalaamGarage and the lovely Amanda Koster (who is the founder of SalaamGarage.)
I am currently overlooking one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen in the 21 countries I have visited. Lake Atitlan is lush, tropical, colourful, and has a primal natural energy. We have just arrived here after having completed our visit to the Ixil Triangle and three Mayan villages in Belen, La Esperanza, and Cahixay. Guatemala is mindblowing... I feel at a loss for words, but wanted to blog while I was here.
For several reasons, I decided that I wanted to approach this trip with a clear mind, with no preconceived notions, and I am glad for once that I did not research this country incessantly. I am not suggesting that research nor travel guides are wrong, I just felt that for the nature of this trip- the fundraising through Spot.us, the partnership with the extremely impressive NGO's Agros International and Global Visionaries, I wanted to approach this place and my first taste of photojournalism objectively. There was absolutely no way to remain objective upon arrival into this gorgeous land and country... and even less upon meeting the genuine, indigenous Mayans speaking my new favourite language Ixil (which incidentally made me feel like I was transported directly into the film Dances with Wolves)
The Ixil Triangle consists of several villages and with the help of Agros International- the dramatic improvement and impact on their lives is almost more than can be documented. There is something extremely special about impacting even one human life in a real way- and to see the work that has been done and the incredible spirit of a people unwilling to give up; I have been in tears, and at a loss for words for the past three days. I will always remember the new definition of poverty given to me by Agros International- that poverty is broken relationships, not merely the absence of objects or possessions.
The above photo are some children that I met in the village of La Esperanza which had a tangible vibration of love in the entire village, throughout the air, and in everything I touched and experienced.
I am still fundraising via Spot.us- and feel this is a new path, and yet the path I have been searching for my whole life- to show just how powerful photography can be- and that images can truly make a difference in the world.
WHAT A WEEK! I have never thought about one country quite this much before (exception perhaps Australia).
In my new endeavor to fundraise for Guatemala, I found that I was learning and growing personally... but truly feeling the power of photography and what a difference it can make in the world. My chosen profession was a choice in the sense that I decided to pursue it as a career; but it was never a question for me. There was never anything else that I wanted to do, that I could see myself doing, or that I truly considered doing. In a sense- it was a no-brainer for me and seemed like a true destiny. I have been quite taken aback by the power of the photos I have seen of Guatemala this week, and the timing couldn't be more perfect. As a visual society, I know that there is power in an image, and I feel the urgency of my trip to Guatemala in just over a month pulsing through my veins.
I am now offering gifts and prizes for donations- and the survey is also available to be taken. What better time to contribute to Guatemala than now?
Fill out the survey and browse my current offers if you are interested in more!
$25 donation gets a free set of 5 custom printed postcards
$50 donation gets free 8x10 of your choosing from Guatemala or other collections
$350 gets free portrait
$500 gets free family portrait or boudouir session including prints
My pitch: http://spot.us/pitches/440-poverty-in-guatemala
