Picture # 19 - Cebu slumdogs

A rare moment of joy for the slumdogs of Cebu city, Philippines...

Probably they are beggars or vendors operating targeting tourists outside the Basilica in Cebu. The girl with the red candles are selling them to visitors entering the cathedral.

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Picture # 20 - Headshot!

The countdown continues...
Today I present a head shot.

I used a telephoto lens to create a blurry background. The model is placed in front of a lake. Finally I used a Photoshop filter to create a model touch up look. Hopefully I succeeded.

Picture # 21 - Great view from Sirocco

Great view from the Sirocco restaurant @ Lebua state tower in Bangkok, Thailand.

Photo by Anders Thorsell.

Picture # 22 - Boracay beach

A photo from my favourite beach, White beach in Boracay, Philippines.

Photo by: Anders Thorsell.

Picture # 23 - Tiger voice contest Bangkok

If I understood it correctly the Tiger Voice contest in Bangkok, Thailand is a competition among models. They compete to be a spokesperson for an organization working with the preservation of Tigers.

I happened to attend the semifinals on February 12. This model in the picture made it to the finals. Check out Thaicatwalk.com for more pictures.

Also note that this picture was made with the cheapest Canon flash, the 270 EX. Price is approx 150 USD.

Photo: Anders Thorsell. Contact information.

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Picture # 24 - Reading the newspaper in KL

Found this man reading a paper in a walking street in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Photo: Anders Thorsell

Picture # 25 - Monkey Bay

Where: New Years eve Ko Samui, Thailand 2009/2010.
What: Monkey bay - giant party!
Photo by: Anders Thorsell

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Picture # 26 - Happy landing

The captain of the airline company SEAIR is happy after landing in Caticlan, Philippines. This is the interior of a Dornier 328 aircraft, a German plane. Flying with SEAIR is the fastest way to get from Manila to Caticlan.

The runway of the Caticlan airport (Aka Godofredo P. Ramos Airport) is only 810 metres hence the landing is rather tough. For those of you afraid of flying you can choose the Kalibo airport instead. It is a far more modern airport.

SEAIR aircrafts has suffered five tire blowouts in Caticlan...

Environmentalists are preventing the very much needed extension of the runway.

Photo: Anders Thorsell

Picture # 27 - Parasailing during sunset

What's the story?
Well, someone is parasailing during the sunset in Goa, India.
Scenic!

Photo by Anders Thorsell

Picture # 28 - Sun rays

What? Sun rays in the evening.
Where? Boracay, Philippines.
Who took the picture? Anders Thorsell.

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Picture # 29 - Hanoi by night

From the balcony of the KFC (!) fast food restaurant I shot this photo. Hope u like it!
Location: Hanoi, Vietnam.
Photo by: Anders Thorsell

Picture # 30 - Vagator beach

This picture is from Vagator beach in Goa, India. Enjoy!

Date: December 21, 2009.
Photo by: Anders Thorsell.

Picture # 31 - Red flags and white guards

Another wide angle shot from Hanoi, Vietnam.
Date: February 3, 2010.
Photo: Anders Thorsell.

Picture # 32 - Hotel crew

On February 3, 2010 I took this photo of the photogenic receptionists of the Hanoi capital hotel in Vietnam.

A photogenic subject (generally a person) is a subject that usually appears physically attractive or striking in photographs. /Wikipedia

Photo: Anders Thorsell

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Picture # 33 - Sirocco

Located on the 63rd floor of The Dome at lebua, Sirocco is the world's highest al fresco restaurant and one of Bangkok's most coveted dining choices. It never fails to leave one mesmerized with a breathtaking view of Bangkok and the Chao Phraya river, an amazing Skybar and quality Mediterranean fare with ingredients from the world's best markets. Live jazz music featuring vocalists of international repute, adds to its captivating ambiance for a perfect evening.

My personal point of view
The view is breathtaking but the staff has paranoia since you are not allowed to shoot pictures or video. There is only a tiny dedicated area for pictures and it is very crowded there...

Read more about Sirocco.

Date: February 8, 2010.
Photo by: Anders Thorsell

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Picture # 34 - Ngọc Ánh

The Vietnamese artist Ngọc Ánh was recording a music video in Hanoi, Vietnam when I passed by on February 2, 2010.

Luckily the lightning was great thanks to the video crew.

Photo: Anders Thorsell

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Picture # 35 - Red shirts in Hanoi

February 1, 2010 I happened to tour Hanoi on foot. I was carrying my Canon eos 5d with the 70-200 lens mounted - ready to shoot! I suddenly spotted these girls wearing the Vietnamese star and colors. I was kind of trigger happy and I like the photographic result.

Location: Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi, Vietnam.

Photo by: Anders Thorsell.

Contact information.

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Picture # 36 - Basilica Minore del Santo Nino Cebu

I made this picture at on January 12, 2010, in Cebu city, just a few days before the annual Sinulog festival.

The spectators are using umbrellas for sun protection during a mass at the oldest Roman Catholic Church of the country, The Basilica Minore Del Santo Nino. It was built in 1565. Destroyed by fire it was rebuilt twice in 1602 and in 1735. Between 1735 and 1737 by the orders of Cebu Governor Fernando Valdes Y Tamon it was constructed out of hard stone materials.

Now the Church is known as the Basilica of Santo Nino because its conversion ordered by the Pope in 1965 in recognition of its importance and that of Cebu City as the cradle of Christianity in the East.

Inside of the Basilica del Santo Nino is the most famous religious icon in the Philippines, a statue of the Santo Nino.

The statue was given to Queen Juana of Cebu by the explorer Magellan.



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Photo: Anders Thorsell

Picture # 37 - Thai food, probably the best food in the world

Street food.
Location: Krabi, Thailand.
Date: December 27, 2009.
Photo: Anders Thorsell.

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Picture # 38 - Communist party

On February 3, 2010, the communist party in Vietnam turned 80. You can see the date printed on the poster. A street saleswoman was resting below the giant poster when I passed by in Hanoi.

Photo: Anders Thorsell.

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Picture # 39 - Burj Khalifa

The highest skyscraper of the world is Burj Khalifa. It was previously known as Burj Dubai but they changed the name when it was opened in January 2010.

Burj Khalifa was built primarily by workers from South Asia. Pictured here is one of them. This picture is from December 14, 2009.

Labour controversy
Press reports indicated in 2006 that skilled carpenters at the site earned UK£4.34 a day, and labourers earned UK£2.84. According to a BBC investigation and a Human Rights Watch report, the workers were housed in abysmal conditions, their pay was often withheld, their passports were confiscated by their employers, and they were working in hazardous conditions that resulted in an apparently high number of deaths and injuries on site.

On 21 March 2006, about 2,500 workers, who were upset over buses that were delayed for the end of their shifts, protested, damaging cars, offices, computers, and construction equipment. A Dubai Interior Ministry official said the rioters caused almost UK£500,000 in damage.[70] Most of the workers involved in the riot returned the following day but refused to work.

On 17 June 2008, there were 7,500 skilled workers employed in the construction of Burj Khalifa.


Source: Wikipedia.

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Photo: Anders Thorsell


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Picture # 40 - Cebu city youngsters

Cebu city is Philippines second city. On January 12 2010 I toured this city on foot. On the way I met these friendly youngsters and they were very happy to take part in the picture.

Photo by: Anders Thorsell. Contact information.

Facts about Cebu city.

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Picture # 41 - Paradiso grill

This picture is from Boracay, Philippines. I made this photo on January 27, 2010.
Paradiso grill is one of my favourite restaurants on Boracay. Prices are higher than the average but the the food and crew here are fantastic. See you next year!

Photo by Anders Thorsell.

Picture # 42 - Fun @ Merdaka square

The countdown continues. The picture of the day was made at Merdaka square in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I think it's a nice street photo. Only thing I don't like is the green garbage bin which is seen at the bottom right - apart from that I think the photo is great. You can even see the smoke from the cigarette if you look carefully.

About Merdaka Square
The Dataran Merdeka (or Merdeka Square) is located in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is situated in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building. It was here the Union Flag was lowered and the Malayan flag hoisted for the first time at midnight on August 31, 1957. Since then, Dataran Merdeka has been the usual venue for the annual Hari Merdeka Parade (National Day Parade).
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Photo: Anders Thorsell

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Picture # 43 - Juice bar

This picture was taken on my favourite island, Boracay, Philippines. Pictured are my favourite bartenders from my favourite bar: Juice.
Date: January 26.

About Juice
Juice Bar is located on the corner of the Plazoleta (near station 2), home of most of the arts and crafts in Boracay. It's in a pretty busy area so there's always something going on, and it attracts a lively crowd. There's a varied menu of cocktails, and the service is always superb. There are comfy cushions and beanbags outside to sit on, and a nice friendly mix of people.

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Photo by: Anders Thorsell. Contact information.

Picture # 44 - River Princess, Goa

This photo was taken on December 16, 2009. The ship is called River Princess and it was stranded on Candolim beach in 2000.

Tourism is one of the lifelines of the economy of the Indian state of Goa. This made the accident, in which a ship, the Merchant Vessel (MV) River Princess, a 240-meter (787 foot)-long ore carrier belonging to M/s Salgaocar Mining Industries Ltd, went aground off the Candolim-Sinquerim coast of North Goa in June, 2000, especially unfortunate. This coastal strip is one of the most frequented beaches in Goa.

This has also proved an environmental disaster, affecting the seabed, with shards of corroded steel being washed ashore, threatening bathers. The damage continues. Every passing day changes the topography of the beach. For the last seven years the hulk has been corroding, leaving rusted fragments, like shrapnel, on the shore. The amount of damage the abandoned River Princess has wreaked on the Candolim beach has long been apparent to the naked eye.

Read the full story about the River Princess.

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Photo: Anders Thorsell

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Picture # 45 - Big Bite Bangkok

A street vendor grabs a big bite at Thanon Ratchadamri in central Bangkok, Thailand.

Photo by: Anders Thorsell.
Date: February 9, 2010.
See more pictures from Thailand.

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