Fiona, just for you 🙂

The photo subjects, locations and my reasons for selecting them, in order from left to right, top to bottom, are:

– My hand picking the top off the pyramids of Giza, Egypt, February 2003.
Why: profound ancient construction; looking at things differently provides alternative perspectives (my hand is larger than the pyramids)

– Gypsies performing outside the Shrine of Data Sahib, Lahore, Pakistan, December 2006
Why: the power of music; all people, even those of the lowest caste can work hard to become admired and respected; human diversity

– Batu Caves, Malaysia, October 2007
Why: the power of belief; natural and human wonders combining

– The sun setting through the Colosseum, Rome, February 2000
Why: a wonderful end to a fantastic day in an amazing city (thanks Jen)

– The second class Shiraz-Yazd bus, Iran, September 2004 (photo credit: Karin)
Why: human kindness – a veiled passenger on this bus, with no knowledge of English, gave Karin and I gifts; the beauty (buty) of language

– Hani’s wedding reception, Karachi, Pakistan, December 2006
Why: memories of a special event; the contrast of tradition (henna tattoos) interacting with technology (the camera phone)

– Destination sign, Ceduna, Australia, February 2006
Why: where it all began; the town I was born in (Ceduna) pointing to the cities in which I attended high school (Port Lincoln) and university (Adelaide); Australia’s vast distances

– Spice mixture, Shiraz Bazaar, Iran, August 2004 (photo credit: Karin)
Why: I used this fabulous spice mix in everything from stir-fries to curries for years in Mersin until I ran out; the fun of ancient markets

– Bern, Switzerland, September 2006
Why: refined Central European beauty

– Mt Ararat, far eastern Turkey, December 2002
Why: an amazing sight; for a few minutes on this winter’s afternoon the clouds parted and allowing Turkey’s tallest mountain to display itself (no, I didn’t see Noah’s Ark :))

– Beirut, Lebanon, July 2007
Why: the divisiveness of religion: the city centre was cordoned off by military (note the razor wire in the photo’s foreground) due to the sectarian divisions that haunt Lebanon

– The green zone looking towards Nicosia, taken from Lefkosa, North Cyprus, July 2002
Why: the photo’s irony; the pointlessness of ethnic conflict and nationalism

– A farmer in the Taurus Mountains north of Mersin, Turkey, March 2007
Why: human diversity; joy

– Dogs sleeping outside a cave room in Goreme, Cappadocia, Turkey, September 2005
Why: memories of a great time in Cappadocia (thanks Cath); the unique nature of Cappadocia

– A peacock in front of Cardiff castle, November 1999
Why: the beauty

– Luna Park at night, Mersin, Turkey, August 2006
Why: Mersin, my former home of almost 6 years; I love reflections

– A Whirling Dervish performance, Istanbul, August 2007
Why: the things people can do if they put their minds to it; the benefits of meditation

– Camel, tricycle and Dad, Palmyra, Syria, November 2005
Why: Palmyra is a fabulous oasis; ancient and semi ancient forms of transport; the importance of family

– Birkenau Concentration Camp, Poland, January 2000
Why: a reminder of the horror; the importance of good leadership; the relative unimportance of one’s problems (the day I visited this camp I left my gloves at the bus stop in Krakow-seeing where many thousands of people were tortured and slaughtered there is no way in hell I was going to complain about not having gloves on a cold winter’s day)

Australia: 1 The sign Post
Egypt: 1 Pyramids
Iran: 2 ?
Italy: 1 ?
Lebanon: 1 ?
Malaysia: 1 Golden Monument
Northern Cyprus: 1 The Mosque (barbed wire in the foreground gave it away?)
Pakistan: 2 Men with Red Turbans, Hands holding camera
Poland: 1 ?
Switzerland: 1 Lake and Bridge (I have been there)
Syria: 1 ?
Turkey: 5 Swirling Dervishes, lady with herd of sheep, Taking photos is Prohibited sign,
United Kingdom: 1 ?

There were some shots with Arabic writing, but I did not know whether to catagorize them as Iran, Lebanon or Syria.

They were all lovely photos.