My first journey took me to Mongolia years ago, and now, I find myself in Kyrgyzstan, the land of the Celestial Mountains, often called the Switzerland of Central Asia.
It’s easy to see why.
Nearly 90% of the country is covered by mountains, from the mighty Tien Shan to the rugged Pamir range. In a place like this, anyone who travels here must surely come for the mountains.
The moment I stepped onto its soil, I felt a quiet stillness in the air.
Song Kol Lake during sunset
From afar, the mountain range stretched endlessly beneath the soft light, and in that instant, I knew that there was no rush here. The people of Kyrgyzstan seem to move at the same gentle rhythm as the land itself; calm, unhurried, and deeply connected to nature. I reminded myself to do the same here. To move slower, to listen deeper, and to simply be present in this moment.
As a photographer who loves photographing places and moments, I find this genre challenging. It is not about snapping random photos while walking on a busy street in Bangkok but you require more of the “art of seeing” skill here. Before, I had the impression any photo captured on the street could be categorised as a street photo. Of course, there is no right or wrong technique for capturing street moments. Some argue that a street photo needs to have distinguished criteria or techniques to qualify as a REAL street photo.
Whatever the technique is, the best street photo is the one that tells stories.
I have explored the area around Tasik Pedu for more than enough, and yet this is my first time visiting Mong Gajah, another beautiful part of Tasik Pedu.
Mong Gajah is a place with a gorgeous view of nature. If you prefer sleeping at night, wrapped in total darkness while watching thousands of stars (with no light pollution) and waking up facing the waterfront of Pedu Lake, with gorgeous sunset coming out from the mountain range of Banjaran Kedah-Singgora then you would absolutely love this camping spot.
A vlog about my street walk on the street of Dhaka, Bangladesh in December 2017.
Staying grounded here at home gave me more time to dig out my old travel videos and compile them into a story for my YouTube vlog. Looking back at these videos remind me of the joy of being surrounded by people, and strangers on the streets of the borderless world … human being are definitely social creatures.
Oh … I have been busy, much busier than you (competing which each other on who is busier).
For me, the word ‘busy’ is like an excuse … oh, I could not spend my precious time with you, as my dear you are not worth my time, I would rather spend it with someone else which is more important than you. That is why you are so busy.
Hmmm … me being grumpy at my introductory paragraph. Excuse me … lol.
A carrier horse in the middle of Peshawar market
Me? I have been busy too and like always I admit that I have been crazy busy catching up with I dunno, maybe work, life or just recuperating from my back-to-back trips. And … despite being busy, I make times for my loved ones. The 3-ones that I always cherish, my pets too and my mom.
But …always a satisfying feeling despite how tired I am right now … ‘do what you love, love what you do’. I guess that I love myself the most when I am wandering around the stranger’s land more than when I am at home worrying about my unpredictable future.
Kalash kids in front of their home
I was in Pakistan for the second time last July with my travel mates.
We wanted to visit the Kalash people of Pakistan. Took a domestic flight from Islamabad to Chitral and a jeep ride to the remote area of Kalash Valley, Northern Pakistan. Reside between the mountain of Hindu Kush, this place is geographically harsh but for a person who loves nature, ahhh this place is beautiful.
I am not sure what is going on with these 2 children from the Kalash valley
In a country dominated by Muslims, this mountain people of Kalash is still holding on to their ancestor’s belief. Estimated around only 3000 Kalash people who are still practising the culture and their ancient pagan religion. Some of the Kalash people converted to Muslim, abandoning their traditions and adopting the Muslim lifestyle but still staying together around the valley.
The Kalash girls and women dressed up in a thick embroidered black robes with matching head gears and heavy bead necklaces every day. While the man adopted the same Kurta shirt as the rest of the Pakistani man. They have a colourful lifestyle and I think it is interesting to explore more about their culture.
My article in NST on how to photograph other culture
Summer has just started when I touched down in Islamabad.
It was interesting as I always choose to travel to certain places either during the end of winter, spring or autumn and never in summer, as I prefer staying home in my hot and humid 24×7 country more than experiencing the heat of summer of another country.
Morning chai at a street in Peshawar
In Chitral and Kalash Valley, the summer heat is the same as at home but the air is drier and windy, which made it bearable. But in Peshawar during Summer is … wow! challenging, due to the greenhouse effect temperature during the daytime is very warm (38’C feels like 42’C). Walking along the small alleys in between markets with the heat is not something that I look forward too but well … I survived Peshawar.
Busy street of Peshawar’s old city market
I always wanted to visit Peshawar.
My late university professor was from Peshawar (he passed away from dengue a few years ago). He told me that tomatoes in Peshawar are as big as mangoes. It makes me curious. Where got such thing as tomatoes as big as mangoes. I told him that one day I would love to visit his hometown, Peshawar and check out the tomatoes. And he said, ‘Please don’t go to Peshawar, that place is a dangerous place to walk around’.
My curious mind will never listen to NO. Oh … and I checked out the tomatoes, the size is still the same size as our tomatoes back home in Malaysia.
Busy street of Peshawar old city market
Walking on the street of Peshawar as a woman with a camera is not easy as you need to adhere to the local custom. Proper dressing is required. I wore my favourite black abaya and yes, it helps with the heat. But my gender becomes a hindrance for me to walk alone on the street and yes, I need a male companion to be able me to walk around the market. Thank God my local companion is very helpful and friendly, so my wandering process went smoothly.
Morning crowd around my hotel in Peshawar, Pakistan
When I am at home now, recuperating, I asked myself … what do I remember the most about Peshawar?
Uhhhh … the food.
I tasted the best lamb stew ever (better than in Xinjiang). The food tastes different from Islamabad, Chitral or Skardu. I was told that food in Peshawar is delicious due to the influence of Afghanistan, as Peshawar is just 57km away from the Afganistan border. And now I wonder … about the food in Kabul. Is it good? Hmmm curious mind.
I overstuffed myself with lamb and chicken every day, 3 times per day in 11 days. Never in my life that I’ve been eaten overload of animals in a day … Masya Allah. A happy Masya Allah actually as I lurvvveee lamb. I need extra energy for the walking (aka wandering) and extra strength for me to carry my heavy camera bag, lol.
My breakfast … roti
What an experience.
I could see myself exploring Pakistan again and again. Maybe I should start strengthening my knee and my legs so that I could hike up on those beautiful mountains surrounding Skardu and enjoy the smell of the glaciers. I should start tomorrow … lol In Sha Allah.
A little lady from the Kalash valley
Time for bed. Catch you again on my next post. Bye for now …
MATSUDA MASHIMARU 