Category: Recollections
Stories about events that happened well before the time I wrote the story. Mainly recollections of earlier travels before I started posting on Facebook.
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A NIGHT WITH THE BEDOUIN
In May of 1992, I joined my ICARDA colleagues, including my mate Ben Wedman on a journey to visit a Bedouin group in the eastern Steppe of Syria. The Bedouin are known for their hospitality to strangers and our visit was no exception. In this photo Ben joins our Bedouin hosts for breakfast and has
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THE ALAWITE
Hafez al-Assad, the father of Syria’s current president, employed a cult of personality during his 30-year term as President to create a larger-than-life figure. His personal hero was Saladin who defeated the Crusaders in the 12th century and unified the Islamic Middle East. Al Assad was a member of the minority Alawite sect and a
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THE MAGICAL SOUK OF ALEPPO
The Al Madina souq is one of the most magical places I have ever visited. The bazaar is a labyrinth of covered markets in the heart of Aleppo’s old quarters which would stretch out 13 kilometres if the streets, alleys and paths were laid end to end. When you enter the souq you walk back
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LOST IN THE SOUK
I used to have a recurring dream of being lost forever while driving in the labyrinth of narrow streets which is the old quarter of Aleppo, Syria. It was one of those dreams where nothing would go right, and you’d wake up sweaty and in a panic. One day my worst nightmare came true. As
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GAINING RAPPORT
The rugged faces of the Syrian men present a photographer’s dream. I was always on the lookout for an interesting face. I don’t have a story to match each face as generally these would be men with whom I’d have a brief, chance encounter. My favourite portrait would have to be this man who I
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HUH? SHU? WAYN?
It helps to know the language when you’re travelling in a foreign country. Upon arrival to Syria in 1990, I enrolled in an Arabic class. After a while I was OK with a few basic pleasantries and could manage to communicate at the market. And I could ask for directions … but understanding the response
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THE CHILDREN OF IDLIB
Children were my favourite photographic subject. But not always the easiest. A photographer has to develop a rapport and trust with children and photograph them at their own level. I would break the ice by trying to speak Arabic. The children would always be amused when hearing a grown up speak Arabic worse than a
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A SHEPHERD’S COMFORT
It gets cold and lonely out in the steppe at night but a shepherd has his flock to keep himself company. I was on a road trip with some ICARDA scientists to check out a project in Al Qamishli in the far northeast of the country. It had been a long drive and we were
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THE COFFEE STOP
There was one certainty in the Syria of the 1990s. If you arrived at someone’s home or tent, no matter where it was and no matter what the time and no matter if they were rich or poor, you would be invited in and offered a coffee or tea or more likely than not, a
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