Sent this email to some friends, thought I would share it:
Hi folks, am in Mae Sot Thailand now, I took the overnight bus here last night from Bangkok.
My first week in Bangkok, I continued photographing in the slum and at the Muay Thai boxing gym. I also found some new people to photograph in Bangkok. I found 4 Thai people living in appalling conditions under a freeway, even poorer than anything I saw in the slum. I spent 5 days with, gave them some money to help them out etc, made photos about their lives and tried to learn as much as I could about them. I also met and photographed some Burmese/Cambodian workers who live in temporary housing (cheap labor). The Cambodians were great, we talked, and I tried to learn some Khmer from them, I knew a bit from before but had forgotten most of it. One girl showed me her wedding photos from Phnom Penh and talked about her husband and family (she spoke fluent Thai).
Tomorrow I will go to the dump to spend time with the Burmese refugee families I met last trip. I made up over 100 color photos to give them. I hope I can get the photos to the people, not sure if they are still in the dump or not, I especially want to get wedding photos to 1 family.
The weather is not so bad this trip so far, its definitely cooler her in November, I am only sweating in the day time not at night. Having some great food, thou it makes me feel guilty to eat so well and have such wonderful accommodations ($18-22 a night) when so many have nothing here.
Anyway learning lots, experiencing lots and trying to communicate that in the photos. Hopefully I can eventually show this work in Canada and link those shows to aid organizations that work here, maybe people who view the photos will donate some money to help.
Gerry
Hi folks, am in Mae Sot Thailand now, I took the overnight bus here last night from Bangkok.
My first week in Bangkok, I continued photographing in the slum and at the Muay Thai boxing gym. I also found some new people to photograph in Bangkok. I found 4 Thai people living in appalling conditions under a freeway, even poorer than anything I saw in the slum. I spent 5 days with, gave them some money to help them out etc, made photos about their lives and tried to learn as much as I could about them. I also met and photographed some Burmese/Cambodian workers who live in temporary housing (cheap labor). The Cambodians were great, we talked, and I tried to learn some Khmer from them, I knew a bit from before but had forgotten most of it. One girl showed me her wedding photos from Phnom Penh and talked about her husband and family (she spoke fluent Thai).
Tomorrow I will go to the dump to spend time with the Burmese refugee families I met last trip. I made up over 100 color photos to give them. I hope I can get the photos to the people, not sure if they are still in the dump or not, I especially want to get wedding photos to 1 family.
The weather is not so bad this trip so far, its definitely cooler her in November, I am only sweating in the day time not at night. Having some great food, thou it makes me feel guilty to eat so well and have such wonderful accommodations ($18-22 a night) when so many have nothing here.
Anyway learning lots, experiencing lots and trying to communicate that in the photos. Hopefully I can eventually show this work in Canada and link those shows to aid organizations that work here, maybe people who view the photos will donate some money to help.
Gerry
