On many occasions we travel to know new things and discover wonderful places, landscapes and sensations. But there's something else, without which travel would make no sense. Something that vividly reflects all the above, the true essence of the place: local population.
Over our many years of experience we have travelled the world, crossing paths with men, women and children from every corner of the globe. Sometimes they greeted us with smiles; at other times with wise, innocent or curious looks. In every case, their faces have remained etched in our memories and those of our travellers, becoming part of us and ensuring we never forget them.
In their honour, we have put together a collection of images of people we have met on our travel. They are the faces of the human diversity.
Photographing encounters with local people while travelling
Nomadic man – Mongolia
Antakarana woman – Madagascar
Man smoking a pipe – Thailand
Himba boy - Namibia
Woman in formal dress – Indonesia
Woman with her daughter – Guatemala
Women in the market – Sri Lanka
Woman caring for her child – India
Thoughtful man – Uzbekistan
Woman smiling – Vietnam
Woman peeling fruit – Iran
Blue-eyed child – Tanzania
Child playing – Ethiopia
We stopped here, though we could continue. Images with soul that reflect our interactions with the local population, often free of words, which become unnecessary in the face of such revealing expressions.
At this point, we know that the people around us during the trip become a very important part of this. In Viajes Tuareg, we always favour the alternative routes that encourage these encounters, always respecting the surroundings and avoiding intrusion. This takes us to places where we meet nomads in Mongolia, meet the Antakarana in Madagascar, we experience local culture at the Esala Perahera of Sri Lanka, or what is even better, we stayed in local houses in Uzbekistan, Indonesia and of Vietnam (among other destinations), creating encounters that enrich both sides.
Because we know that, ultimately, the human value local people provide us are a vital part of adventure.