During my travels I am always interested in the people of the places that I visit. Sometimes the culture of the people in a location make the location even more interesting. Other times I will visit a location during a celebration and the celebration reveals the spirit of the people in that location.
Occasionally, out of the hundreds of thousands of people that I have seen, I see someone that catches my eye. Sometimes I notice someone because of the things that they are doing or how they are dressed but other times it is something that I see in their eyes or their smile. No matter what it is that catch my attention, I always notice them because it creates an emotional reaction in me. Sometimes it is as simple as they make me smile but other emotions that I have experience are sadness, joy and wonder.
People have always captured my interest and I wanted to share my photos of the people that I have photographed in my travels. People are really the heart of “Our Planet” and this section is a collection of my posts that are dedicated to cultures, local events or a group of individuals from a location.
I hope that you will enjoy these my posts on the people, cultures and events of “Our Planet” and that you will share your comments with me.
The ceremony of the Voladores was an ancient ritual that was originally performed to appease the gods, asking for rainfall and ending the severe drought. Today, the ceremony of the Voladores (flying men) is a cultural heritage event that is performed by several groups in Mexico and Central America. The ceremony involves four men climbing…
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The changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace is undisputedly the most famous Changing of the Guard ceremony in the world. Permanent Royal Bodyguards have been responsible for guarding the King or Queen since 1656 but the changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace didn’t start until 1837 after Queen Victoria moved to…
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Where there are tourist, street performers will probably be nearby. The proper name for street performers is a “busker”. Busking is not a new profession, they date back to the medieval ages. Back then, local merchants would invite buskers to perform in front of their stores to attract new business. Now the tables have turned,…
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The historical roots of the Royal Life Guards dates back to 1658. The Royal Life Guards are stationed in two separate locations at Amalienborg Palace, the royal residence in Copenhagen. The guards are always present at their posts and the changing of the guard ceremony takes palace daily at noon. The replacement guards leave Rosenborg…
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Waterfire Providence is an event that you will remember forever! Waterfire Providence is an outdoor artistic presentation incorporating water, fire, dramatic music and fire performers. The event takes place at Waterplace Park in Providence, Rhode Island and the season schedule begins in the spring and will run through early November. The 2023 season opens on…
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The Amsterdam Tulip Festival is an event beyond imagination! The Netherlands is known as the land of flowers and every year Amsterdam celebrates the arrival of the tulip season with the Amsterdam tulip festival that begins at the end of March and lasts until the middle of May, which is the best period of time…
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The Monte Toboggan Ride is a 2 Kilometer downhill ride in a wicker basket on wooden skids powered and controlled by two sled drivers. This strange and unique mode of transportation has been happening for over 150 years on the Atlantic island of Madeira located about 450 miles west of Morocco. During the 1850’s the…
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Mahatma Gandhi’s house and museum is located in Mumbai, India. He was born October 2, 1869, and died January 30, 1948, in Delhi, India. He is known as one of the world’s most transformative and inspirational people. Throughout his life, Gandhi was a fearless campaigner for the rights and dignity of all people, whose constant…
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The Festival of the Iberian Mask began in 2006 and takes place each year on the first weekend of May in Lisbon, Portugal. During the weekend people in masks and costumes take to the streets of Lisbon to celebrate the historical and cultural ties that exists between Spain and Portugal. The four day event is…
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Cat Cat Village was founded in the middle of the 19th century by the local Mong ethnic people. The village is located in Northwestern Vietnam about 2 kilometers from Sapa Town and about 376 kilometers from Hanoi. Cat Cat Village consists of around 80 households that are located in the center of the village and…
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The Inti Raymi Festival is an incredible re-enactment of the 15th century event. Each year on June 24 (winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere) Cusco celebrates the Inca Festival of the Sun (Inti Raymi). The Inti Raymi was established in 1430 and lasted until 1572 when the Spanish prohibited it as they considered it a…
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The Acapulco cliff divers are Acapulco’s most iconic tourist attraction. The cliff divers jump off the jagged cliffs from different heights into a narrow inlet of shallow water at the base of the cliff. Some divers jump from a height of 115 feet and other from a height of 136 feet. The divers time their…
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