eleanormoseman

[eleanormoseman]

May 17, 2011 - Along the eastern coast of Fuxian Lake 抚仙湖，south of Kunming in the China province of Yunnan. When I had arrived at the north point, and had to decide which side, I had asked a local. He told me to go along the western coast, as there were beautiful things to see and the east coast had nothing. The maps showed no major thoroughfares along the east coast...so I decided to head to "nothing". I learned thousands of miles earlier that " nothing" and "nowhere" was exactly where I wanted to be...the path less traveled.

[eleanormoseman]

May 30, 2010 - 小雨点，"Little Rain Drop"，poses in front of a wall her mother has decorated with photos of her growing up. Little Rain Drop is 9 years old here and her mother, Lotus, is a teacher, cyclist, amateur photographer, and single parent in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. I spent a lot of time with this family and I haven't seen them in nearly 6 years. I'm going to be returning in 2 weeks to spend New Years with, now 14 year old, Little Rain Drop. I've made life long friends and family from that 2 year long solo bicycle tour around Asia.

[eleanormoseman]

May 19, 2010 - Portrait of a prostitute. I find a place to stay for the evening that turns out to be a clean, and safe, brothel. It wasn't my first time, or my last, and actually prefer the more "upscale" hotels as women are everywhere and very protective and curious of me. This women very quietly, and politely, asked to come in my room to look at and to talk with me. I always regret my Mandarin not being very good during the earlier part of the trip, as I missed out on a lot of conversation. Prostitution is pretty common in China and there really is no shock value anymore - as I have been desensitized from a lot things that are daily occurrences here. Based on a thesis written by Nick Doherty, there are 7 tiers of prostitution in China. (You can research further if interested. Second wives (ernai) Contracted wives (baopo) Escort girls (peinu) Hotel girls (dingdong xiaojie) Barbershop girls (falangmei) Street hookers (jienu) Down the work shack (xiagongpeng)

[eleanormoseman]

May 9, 2010 Three children of a shopkeeper along the Grand Canal of China, pose for the camera. Outside of cities, the one child policy is often ignored. I often kept loneliness at bay during a 2 year solo cycling trip by spending time with locals along my route.

[eleanormoseman]

May 9, 2010 - The alarm sounds from a canal block leading into the Grand Canal of Northeastern China. Barges begin to enter the main artery of the canal but there is a small tug boat that has meandered its way into the middle. The captain, the man of the family and crew, steer the ships as the women and children run about using bamboo to steer the ship from collision. I remember watching this event unfold before my eyes, for about an hour, in absolute awe and amazement. It's one of those memories from a 2 year long solo bicycle trip around Asia that loops like a filmstrip in my mind.

[eleanormoseman]

May 7, 2010 The son, and their dog, of ship breakers along the Grand Canal of China proudly poses in front of a commonly used barge along this ancient trade route . This marks the end of the first week of a solo bicycle tour around Asia spanning 2 years.

[eleanormoseman]

May 6, 2010 A man prepares the wood to be made into tubs for bathing and soaking feet. An ancient town a few hundred kilometers north of Shanghai - along the Grand Canal route. A brief moment captured along a two year solo cycling project around Asia, totaling over 26,000km.

[eleanormoseman]

34°40.802 N 99°40.171 E I hitchhiked from Dawu (Maqen) to my current location. I'm 3km north of the footpath that I plan to trek as the southern route of the kora around Amnye Machen. I'm deeply saddened to say that the landscape has changed drastically since July 2011. They are building a highway along the northern route. Of the 15,000 miles I cycled around Asia, this made it to the top 5 and I would of recommended it to every cyclist. Now I say, stay away...it's a mess. Fortunately, because of all the construction camps along the road, I've found a dorm for workers to stay dry from the rain and fed. There was a break in the rain today so I trekked up the hill to snap a few photos specifically angled to hide the construction...and played under some flags, turned some prayer wheels, and said a few ommanipadmehums.

[eleanormoseman]

The Imam at a Uyghur wedding in Kashgar performs the ceremony to a gathering of men. The groom's father wears the red flower corsage. The entire wedding experience surely goes into the history of amazing experiences on the wild western frontier of China.

[eleanormoseman]

Miyesser, a Uyghur bride, and her mother listen to the wedding ceremony conducted by an Imam. The Imam is in the main room with the groom and male family and friends. The bride and women will sit in another side room listening. This is the official part of the wedding ceremony and the very beginning to a long day. Kashgar Xinjiang

[eleanormoseman]

A mother embracing her sleeping son in the slums of Bangladesh. Maternal love is something most of us recognize or experienced. Whether from a biological mother, grandmother, elder sister, or any woman that has cared for us during our life. Perhaps its the purest form of love in existence; no boundaries, restrictions, or conditions. What would happen to the world if we all loved one another with this same infinite love?

[eleanormoseman]

Hope you’ll consider visiting http://kck.st/1yLiJ7j and drop in $25 to help afford a horse for this summer’s adventure.

[eleanormoseman]

A stunt motorbike rider reaches for his 10 Taka note as a financial reward for his daredevil talents, and as a performer in the Bangladeshi circus. This rider has been on the walls of the silodrome for over 15 years without one injury.

[eleanormoseman]

Men sneak a peak to avoid purchasing tickets to see the shows at a traveling circus in Bangladesh.

[eleanormoseman]

A circus performer in Bangladesh, after touching up her makeup inside a tent shared with other traveling entertainers (at www.eleanormoseman.com)

[eleanormoseman]

An exotic belly dancer performs under a tent with dozens of boys and men, at a traveling circus in Bangladesh. Some men taunt, reach for, and exhibit sexual advances towards her as others laugh and smile uncomfortably at the event. The few men to the right become part of the performance by their obvious crude behavior and objectifying towards this woman who works daily, spearated from her husband and children so she can earn money to support her family. The main culprit of the audience would later be found behind the performance tent in hopes to make contact with this woman, who will have nothing to do with him. (at www.eleanormoseman.com)

[eleanormoseman]

An exotic belly dancer takes time out from the hot Bangladesh sun and the eyes of the men, after a performance. A story behind the image. Even as a woman there was apprehension about letting me in the tent by the women, as a few trustful men played cards next to the colorful costumes and makeup inside. I had entered with the man intent to speak with this particular dancer that just performed. After translated small talk and sitting close to her she finally relaxed and posed. Showing her the images she looks at my local friend and says something along the translated lines of "thank you, no one has ever made me look beautiful"...I look at her then back to ky friend as tears fill my eyes because of her exploitation demanding him to tell her that she IS beautiful. As a photographer, that thanks has stayed with me everytime I'm working...capture their true beauty - what they may not know or realize. (at www.eleanormoseman.com)