In the Cebu prison we just shot a story on the "dancing inmates". It's a way they found for social rehabilitation and daily activity. The thing has become so popular in the Philippines that now they run a mass show once a month open to the public. Still is hard to describe the effort they put in this two hours dancing in a 38° open sun courtyard. And more difficult is to go beyond the joyful collective parade and see the hard, personal stories of the individuals imprisoned there.
As trouble is pouring over Mumbai, life seems to stand still in these remote islands... I wish I was there, not out of crazy masochism but for the wish of telling stories that will certainly unfold in this unique Indian reality. The city has such a strong, multiform vitality that will easily overcome these attacks. But people will keep living lives that would deserve to be told such is their unique strength among unique harshness..
Just entered Turkey from Syria, where excited people call Barak "Osama" the promise of the coming times...
We should always keep people in mind when we think to a Nation as a whole. Berlusconi is not Italy (well, maybe a large part), Bush was not the US. People are much better then their governments policy and we should search, know, photograph and write about them for a start..
This gentleman is a member of the Merwari caste in India. This caste used to live in beautiful haveli residences in the Shekawati region of Rajasthan. Then the economy crashed and they had to move out, most of them to Calcutta, starting a new life but still in the trading business.
I was walking in a tranquil area of Budapest today when I had one of my classic deja vu.. from a long, long time ago! I realized that I was in the city exactly 33 years ago this month, during my first ever trip abroad. Two months across Europe with my friend Sauro, traveling on Inter Rail, sleeping in trains and stations, occasionally in parks.. and here I was, the small garden where we slept a couple of nights. We were awaken in the middle of the first night by a police patrol (remember, this was before the Wall came down) that got very suspicious -and pointed their machine guns- when I reached for my passport at the bottom of the sleeping bag. But they were kind afterwards, and didn't bother us on the second night, even when they passed by. That was my countless star hotel in Budapest. Great service and security! The next time I would be staying at the Inter Continental, with only 5 stars available. I guess our personal history is so much part of what we are that we tend to forget what's in it.. Somewhere I still have a picture of my 18-years-old-self standing under this statue, rising a fist in the dream of socialism.. and now all the socialist statues of Budapest have been jailed into a cage outside the city..
Still is quite boring! August is devoted to past editing, relaxing in my garden, thinking and planning.. The next few months, and the longer term projects I have in mind.. I'll let you know new ideas as they become more definite: now relax yourself, and keep in touch...
