Mosse used Aerochrome, an obsolete technology, to create an alternative image of the complex social and political dynamics of the country.

In his Quick series, Mosse documents the conflicts in Congo using infra-red film, which make his images seem magical and serenely beautiful, but reality continuously lurks in the faces of refugees and the rifles brandished by purple-uniformed soldiers.

]]> http://www.travelvista.net/photos-eastern-congo-richard-mosse/feed/ 1 http://www.travelvista.net/in-kenya-reason-for-hope/ http://www.travelvista.net/in-kenya-reason-for-hope/#comments Mon, 04 Jan 2010 14:24:52 +0000 http://www.travelvista.net/?p=242 Reporting from Nairobi, Kenya — Rose is 17 months old. She weighs 15 pounds and looks the size of an American 5-month-old. She cannot sit up, walk or speak. She has the toothpick limbs and saucer eyes of the malnourished and the dull skin of dehydration.

In another corner is Caroline, a waifish 9-year-old who sleeps in a crib. She is a whispering, otherworldly child, pretty and fragile. Her parents are dead, and she is severely malnourished. I have just given her a teddy bear and accessories from a bag of toys we brought from the U.S. When I gave her the bear, she looked at me in disbelief. This, I realize, is probably the first time she has had a toy all her own. Now she sits in her crib slowly undressing and dressing the bear, over and over again.

Then there’s Benedict, a 2-year-old boy dressed in pink. He cannot walk by himself or talk, although he’s trying. A child his age should be running after a ball, but Benedict struggles to stay upright.

I look at my 11-year-old daughter, Indigo, and wonder whether this is just all too much for her. But she smiles back at me, happily playing with Claudia. Claudia is 18 months old. She arrived three weeks ago weighing 13 pounds, the size of the average American 2-month-old. Now she is 26 pounds, still not talking or walking, but a beautiful, happy child.

These children have HIV/AIDS and are orphans, or their parents are simply too poor to feed them sufficiently. But they are fortunate. Rose, who was staring death in the face, now has a feeding tube and a nurse to watch her 24 hours a day. Unlike 12% of Kenya’s children under age 5, she will live.

We are in the “respite wing” at Nyumbani, a home for abandoned, HIV-infected children located in a leafy suburb of Nairobi. After eight glorious days on safari, we are spending the next two days helping out in Nyumbani and New Life — both homes for HIV-positive babies, then visiting the Harambee Community Center in the Mukuru slum.

Before we left the U.S., Indigo collected school supplies, clothing and soccer balls. People gave generously, and we had brought four extra bags with us. And now, at Nyumbani, I am wishing that we had many more bags so the boys would not have to wear pink and every one of the 110 children would get their own toy. Later, Indigo, my wise child, chided me. “Wearing pink is the least of their problems, Mama, and we did our best.”

Morocco

Morocco is famous for its desert and any family willing to have an adventure in the deserts of Morocco like a nomad can definitely find this place interesting. You are not short of sumptuous food, good transport and comfort accommodation in Morocco. A camel ride in the Sahara is something everybody would like to have. Relaxing in the Essaouira beach and traveling to the Atlas Mountains can also be done.

Tanzania’s Wildlife Safari

An adventure with camping in the wild along with your family and tracking the leopards, buffalo, rhino, elephants and the lions would be a fun that you would remember for your lifetime. The wildlife safari has something for everyone in your family.

Uganda

The Bwindi National Park in Uganda is more popular among the tourists. Your family can meet another family viz. a Gorilla family in the mountains that have a lot of gorillas. It is said that half of the world’s gorilla population is in these mountains.

Kruger National Park’s Wildlife Safari

The Kruger National Park has about 147 species of mammals, 100 species of reptiles, 49 species of African fish, 300 species of trees, 34 types of amphibians, and 500 species of birds. And for the wild you have the lions, leopards, buffalo, elephants and the white rhino. With all these do you think the wildlife safari would be short of excitement?

Wetlands in Botswana

The wetlands in Botswana are more popular among the tourists for the canoe trip. In this trip you can watch the hippos, antelopes, and even the lions’ drinking water. A canoe trip will be such an exciting trip for your whole family. It is sure that the kids would enjoy this very much.

Egypt

Egypt brings the ancient history to the minds of the young people. The younger generation would love to know about the ancient history. It is also an adventurous destination with a lot of pharaoh’s tombs and pyramids available there. Exploring the desert in a camel, snorkel in Red Sea, shopping around the Khan al-Khalili market, and seeing the Karnak temple in the night with all the lights on are some of the exciting experiences that a family gets in Egypt.

Arabian Nights in Oman

Oman is another destination that brings you some exciting nights in the deserts under the star lit sky. The Arabian Nights experience is more popular among the tourists. The beautiful beaches of Ras Al Jinz gives you the experience of watching the turtles nest.

Abu Simbel Festival in Egypt

Want to have a taste of Indiana Jones for yourself and your kids? Then you have to attend the annual festival in Egypt on February 22nd and October 22nd. The Abu Simbel temple will be packed to the crowd on the Ramses II’s birthday. It is on this day that he rose to the throne.

Sand boarding in Namibia

Namibia has some of the largest sand dunes of the world in Swakopmund. Sand boarding down these sand dunes is one of the popular activities here. Horse riding and quad biking is also done in these deserts. Seafood in the coast of Cape Cross and visiting the rock arts in Twyfelfontein are some of the activities that your family would love to do.

Victoria Falls and the Upper Zambezi River in Zambia / Zimbabwe

Witness the largest curtain of water in the Victoria Falls. You could canoe in the waters above the falls in the Zambezi River and camp out along the way.

Beautiful Morocco Desert

It is sure that your senses get overloaded with the scents and the sounds in Morocco with stunning views of the landscape. For those who love mountains there are many such from the Rif to the Middle and High Atlas. Trekking in the quiet mountain trails is a good experience with the fields of flowers and the Berber villages coming in between. After this trial you suddenly see mud brick and earth and the setting sun in blood red color. With that you realize the presence of the Sahara desert which is a sea of sand.

The Sahara is an ideal place if you want to spend some time in solitude and Morocco is the destination you have to go for that.

See more:

Places to go in USA for the Adventure lovers

Incredible diving destinations you can’t miss

Adventure destinations you can’t miss in India