Maximum Respect. Porters of Kilimanjaro. Tanzania

Anyone who has climbed Kilimanjaro will know what a huge role the porters played in the climb. About 20,000 climbers attempt to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania each year, the highest peak in Africa. Around 70 % of them succeed. Climbing high peaks can make people famous and admired. They get their names and photo in media. It also makes them admired among friends and colleagues. But who are the really heroes in this story? In all of my travelling experiences around the world, I have never experienced such enormous support to fulfill the final goal like in Kilimanjaro. I’ve always been impressed by guides and carriers for their strength, endurance and dedication. I’ve been assisted in jungles, deserts, some very hot valleys but nothing when compared with the porters at Kilimanjaro. These are the real heroes of Kilimanjaro, the ones that makes the magic appear in the summit night. When I reach the top on the 30^th June 2011, I remember standing on top of Kilimanjaro in a sea of clouds and snow and watching curious but in a funny way the porters who had accompanied us to the top muscled in on summit photos, grabbing cameras to record our happy moment. These guys do this as a job. They spend six days on the mountain, climbing in ragged clothes and shoes with 25 kg on their head and back. After you set out in the morning they pack up your tent and all the other equipment, they race past you to set everything up again at the next camp (for lunch also), they help the cook, do the dishes, serve your dinner, carry all the water from the nearest stream, boil it so you can have a hot wash and fill your bottles for the next day. Each day on the mountain is a struggle for life. Porters also carry another big task: they take care of the climbers` life, the big responsibility among all. So, the thing is…If we get to top is because this guys are hard workers and are there to help us. Symbolically I pray here my best respect to them all and loudly I say: MAXIMUM RESPECT.

Hard lesson in traveling. Indonesia, Bali

Lombok is the main island of West Nusa Tenggara (Nusa Tenggara refers to the islands east of Bali) in Indonesia, offering a charming variety of landscapes, places of interest and activities for the tourist. When I left home in September 2001 this was my final destination. Firstly I should stop in, Singapore, then Indonesia, visiting Java, Sulawesi, Bali and finally Lombok. I left home with a bag of expectations and 26 days to enjoy the beauties of this group of islands laid down between the Indian and the Pacific Ocean. Singapore was great, as well as Java, where I fond unexpected treasures. But this trip end up being one of my most difficult one. After Java, I get back to Singapore for changing planes and go on to Sulawesi, the Toraja’s people island where the elaborate death rituals are really something, once the dead are treated like the living. I should trust my guide: “Be one of the the lucky few to visit our unspoiled tropical islands” it says. At the arrival desk my 30 days visa became invalid – they said - and the Sulawesi authorities didn’t allow me to get in the country again. My passport was taken, my luggage was set aside, and I was send back to Singapore in the same plane. This time, deported with my passport confiscate, with a stamp in bright red mentioning “entrance not allowed”. At the arriving at Singapore airport, I was escorted by the police until being out the international area. I receive my passport and just a few words: “You are now free to go”, they said at the door. That guide expression “the lucky few to visit our unspoiled tropical islands” made more sense and I understood that even in an implicit way, the message was…it is not easy to get in there. The fact that I’m a Portuguese citizen in a time that a conflict was in place between Indonesia and East Timor didn’t help, I guess. I stayed tree days in Singapore trying to find a new visa and rescheduling all my flights. I tried to get some help from the contacts given in my traveling package. I took a hard lesson in traveling, never trust anybody! The phone numbers I had weren’t correct and the most of the names doesn’t’ exist anymore. I was brave enough to resist and in the fourth day I had a new visa and I took a plane to Bali. I regret this incident but I still enjoyed the rest of my trip. Bali was amazing and Lombok even looks more exotic. If you have the chance to visit do not miss the small five tropical islands (The Gillis; Trawangan, Meno, Gilli Nanggu and Moyo Island) nearby. Coastlines lined with pristine beaches and fabulous waters for swimming, sun baking, sailing, surfing, fishing and underwater activities wait for you. I took this photo in the Balinese highlands where the rise fields are placed as small lakes in the slopes and the men are brave enough to cultivate here. Even with this incident I still remember it with the passion of an unforgettable trip.

Torres del Paine National Park. Chile.

Torres del Paine National Park is, without doubt, one of the most spectacular national parks in the country and one of the most astonish places I ever visited. It is a magical place. Snow-capped mountain peaks, cascading rivers and waterfalls, glaciers and mirrored lakes: in all respects Torres del Paine national park deserves its reputation. Declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 1978, the Torres del Paine national park (situated in the Magalhães) 12th region in Chile) is internationally recognized as one of the most beautiful, unique and uncontaminated places on the planet. It has a huge variety of plant and animal species which, with its incredibly beautiful setting has made it an almost unequalled destination for hikers and backpackers, ecology-lovers and adventure sportsmen alike. It is a place of lakes, rivers, waterfalls, glaciers, forests and incredible wildlife, all of which make it an exciting destination for wildlife observers and adventure sportsmen alike. Undoubtedly one of the main attractions of the park is the Macizo (Massif) of Paine, formed predominately from granite and whose origin dates back millions of years. The most famous peaks of the park are called the ‘Cuernos’ (horns) and ‘Torres’ (towers) of Paine. When I visited the place the weather was lousy but the place still has its mystic. I didn’t climb the horns, but I still have time to do it! I hope.

Sunset of hopes and dreams. Troia, Portugal.

Today was really a very lousy day. It is only the first day of September, but it is raining and colder that the expected for this time of the year. I don’t want to think about it, but I must admit that the winter is coming, faster than I would like. This is Troia. Surrounded by nature, the Troia Peninsula has a seemingly endless coastline of sandy beaches and still offers pristine beauty despite the recent growth of hotels and resort areas, just 40 km south Lisbon. I took this photo when the sun was getting warmer and the days where getting bigger, announcing the hope of an endless summer. This sunset at first days of summer was that moment when we are standing on the sand in the end of the afternoon watching the sun set and being overcome with all of your hopes and dreams at once. A few become true, a few we let them to the next summer.

The biggest smile. Karatu.Tanzania

"When we least expect it, life sets us a challenge to test our courage and willingness to change; at such a moment, there is no point in pretending that nothing has happened or in saying that we are not yet ready. The challenge will not wait." Paulo Coelho

The roof of Africa. Top of Kilimanjaro. Tanzania

I just I've done it! Mt Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain, is a magnet for trekkers and climbers the world over. This challenging trek took us along the beautiful Machame route that approaches Kilimanjaro from the south, through dense tropical rainforest all the way up to the snow capped summit at 5896m for simply breathtaking views. This is a tough but spectacularly rewarding route. On reaching the summit we felt a sense of overwhelming achievement, a truly unforgettable challenge. Taking part in the Climb Mt Kilimanjaro challenge we had also a direct impact on communities affected by poverty and hunger. The money raised will help the Concern Tanzanian office to continue their on going work and efforts in country by supporting existing programmes like Food Security and Water and Environmental Health.

The perfect spot to close our trip. Santiago, Galicia, Spain.

I spent a few days in Galicia, Spain. I took a few pictures from all that beautiful green landscape. The contrast between the green and the sea is amazing. We also visit Santiago, a place full of spirituality and devotion. After a few pictures more and already in the end of the day, even without trying, we get to the perfect spot and the golden light came up to finish our trip. This nice picture was the result of that moment. The perfect scenario to close our trip to Galicia.

In the track of Ara Güler. Istanbul, Turkey.

I just arrived from Istanbul, Turkey. Like always, lots of photos…really difficult to chose a few to publish. But this time I decided to start by the master of Istanbul photography - Ara Güler. Did you know, Ara Güler is known as one of the best 7 photographers in the world? Born in Istanbul in 1928 into an Armenian family, Ara Guler has taken pictures in many places around the world (Iran, Kazakhstan, India, Kenya, Borneo). Given the nickname the “eye of Istanbul,” he has documented both his country, looking in great depth at his home city of Istanbul. Exhibited around the world, he has published around 30 books. In 1999, he was recognized in Turkey as the Photographer of the Century. He worked for Time-Life, Paris-Match and Der Stern as Middle East correspondent. In the course of his career he won many national and international prizes, wrote books, published photo albums and held exhibitions. Most importantly, he did photo interviews with many famous people: Ismet Inonu, Winston Churchill, Indira Ghandi, John Berger, Bertrand Russell, Bill Brandt, Alfred Hitchcock, Ansel Adams, Imogen Cunningham, Salvador Dali, Maria Callas, Fikret Mualla and even Picasso, who always refused to be photographed. Because of his distinctive documentary style, Ara Güler holds a distinguished place in the history of photography. Despite his age, he continues his adventures in photography by continuing to show life through his pictures. Ara Güler’s Istanbul is a unique record of daily life in the cultural capital of Turkey from the 1940s to the 1980s, captured by the award-winning photographer and accompanied by an evocative foreword by Orhan Pamuk, the first Turkish recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. As the crossroads between Europe and Asia, Istanbul has lived through several empires and has a character that is as many layered as its history – something that Güler’s photographs convey with great sensitivity. In these remarkable black-and-white images, the city’s melancholy aesthetic oscillates between tradition and modernity. Today, Ara Güler stills a great inspiration for all travelers to Istanbul. Walking true the same streets and squares, hanging around the same markets, watching the boats crossing the Sea of Marmara, we these remarkable black-and-white images, capturing the city’s melancholy aesthetic oscillates between tradition and modernity. The track of Ara Güler is not complete without a visit to Ara Kafe, still onerd by Ara Güler. The cafe is located next to Yapı Kredi bookstore in Beyoğlu. The interior is really attractive with Güler's photos at the forefront In the afternoon everybody can go to the café and have a word with him. The place is full. Behind his table, you can sometime see a line. People are waiting just to shake his hand, or have a word with the icon of photojournalism. Ara Kafe breathes history and you can experience the authenticity of the place. Photos are real, Güler is real and the memory remains…Ara Güler and Ara Kafe are an obligation to the people who come to Istanbul, the best way to fall in love with the city. An obligation, but also an honor!

Dolphins at Sado River. Portugal

A broad, shallow estuary to the south of Lisboa, of international significance for its breeding and wintering waterbirds and also encompassing well-conserved sand-dune habitats with a rich endemic flora. Looking south from the heights of the Serra da Arrábida, the silver and blue tapestry of the Sado estuary lies glistening in the sun, its mudflats and sandbanks almost completely exposed at low tide, with the aquamarine current of the river Sado itself surging through the narrow gap between the Tróia peninsula and the fishing port of Setúbal. But, no visit to the Reserva Natural do Estuario do Sado is complete without going out to see the dolphins. For an hour and a half we followed the pod of dolphins as they swam slowly toward the mouth of the Sado, a mile-wide outlet to the sea. They spend the day in the open Atlantic and return at night. We went in a small boat, with an outboard motor to allow us to get closer than other boats without disturbing the animals. Seeing the dolphin in the open water was like an extraordinary dance. But the dolphin’s future is far from certain. A large paper factory spews a yellowish haze over the eastern horizon. Hand-lettered signs in the village protest the deadly paper-making biproduct, dioxin, in the local air and water. Some locals reported that these toxins had taken their toll on the golphina population. Each spring several babies are born, but all but one or two died. These are controversies of the modern world.

From the traditional to the very modern. Doha, Qatar.

Doha is the capital of Qatar. It is a modern and rapidly developing city and, considering the money being poured into construction. Doha looks set to become one of the premier cities in the Gulf within a few years. I visited Doha in my stop over to and from Maldives. Among the fact that part of the city looks like a construction site it is also a place of evident contrast between the modern and the traditional. The first photo shows the modern buildings in Doha along the Corniche. The Corniche is the visual highlight of Doha is Al-Corniche, a long seaside promenade that curves around Doha Bay and affords pretty views of Palm Tree Island and the city's skyscrapers. In the afternoons you will see plenty of locals strolling along the Corniche, often trying to get out of the way of the odd crazy Western ex-pat on rollerblades. It's also a good place for jogging. Cycling is prohibited! The second photo shows the traditional part of Doha. The famous Souqs and the typical Middle Eastern activity in the afternoons are the most precious thing and the best shopping experiences. Not far from the Corniche near an HSBC branch and a landmark spiral tower is the Souq Waqif (also referred to as the Iranian Souq or Old Souq), a good place to pick up souvenirs and to see falcons for sale with a pleasant ambience. Another souq worth visiting is the Omani Souq on Haloul St, parallel to Salwa Road. There you can buy things like spices, incense and woven baskets, where I took this photo.