I love Hummus

Hummus (spelt many other ways) is a dip or an appetizer from the Middle East. Its loved by so many that you'll find ready made versions of it in major supermarkets across the world.  There's many many recipes for Hummus, whether is Hummus Beiruty (a spicy hummus), Hummus with Meat, or Hummus with red peppers. My favorite is this version... 

Hummus and crispy pita bread chips

 Coriander Hummus

• Tin Chick Peas (Wash and drain to get rid of the sticky residue)

•  Handful fresh coriander roughly chopped

• 1.5 Tsp heaped Paprika

• Juice of 2 limes (or more... you'll have to taste the mixture)

•  1-2 Cloves Garlic

• Salt to taste

• 1-2 Tbsp Quality Olive oil

• Tahini 1.5 Tbsp

• 1/2 C water

• Fresh Green Chilly (optional)

In a blender, add the chick peas, water, lemon juice, tahini, olive oil, salt, garlic and blend until the mixture is very smooth. Add more water if you are having trouble blending the mixture. 

Add the coriander (leave a few to garnish), paprika, green chilly and blend again to a smooth paste. Taste the Hummus at this stage to make sure the flavors are balanced.

In a medium sized bowl, dish out the Hummus, make a wall in the middle, add some olive oil, sprinkle some paprika and a few coriander leaves to garnish.

Service with warm pita bread. 

Ilha de Moçambique (Islands of Mozambique)

The islands of Mozambique (Ilha de Moçambique) lie 2000 km north of Maputo and are about 3.5km long and 500m wide. Ilha is accessed by an amazing bridge built by the Portuguese that links the main land to this historic island. Ilha was named after an Arab trader Musa Al Big (pronounced musae' biki), and then adopted by mainland Mozambique.

Ilha has about 14,000 inhabitants, the majority of whom replaced the old island inhabitants as refugee migrants fleeing decades of civil war on the mainland. The Macua people of African origin were first to occupy the island, but as a strategic location between Africa and Asia, Ilha soon became a meeting point for Persians, Turks, Chinese, Indians and Indonesians under the monopoly of Arab trade. Similar to Zanzibar, Lamu and Mombassa, the island developed a 'Swahili' culture (without the language) and bred new Ilha residents born from intermarrying of cultures where Islam was the way of life.

People of Ilha | Fans at a Football Match

In 1498 with the help of an Arab pilot, Vasco D' Gama was directed from India to Ilha and by the 16th and 17th century the Portuguese followed and took power by 1570; wiping out Muslim settlements. The Portuguese left behind a legacy of stunning architectural heritage, the Portuguese language, but were unable to convert the inhabitants to Christianity. Today, the islands mosques, some of which were built back in the 12th century, are filled with worshipers, yet its many Churches remain as mere reminders of its colonial past. 

Nampula Airport's Stunning Sunset

How to get there-

LAM flies twice a week from Dar Es Salaam to Nampula via Pemba. Kenya Airways has recently started flights into Nampula twice a week. You would then need a car from Nampula to Ilha, which takes about 2 hours. Depending on whom you book the car ride with, it can cost between $100-185 one-way.

Where to stay-

Accommodation on the island is limited to a few guesthouses depending on your budget. I recommend Terraco Das Quitandas (price $200 per night) an immaculately converted old house that attempts to recreate the islands historic charm, as well as giving a very comfortable and personal stay. 

Terraco Das Quitanda

What to do-

• Stroll through the stone town and immerse in its stunning architecture

• Go for a swim near the old fort or Museum (not all areas of the island have clean beaches)

 • Hire a motorbike for the day (appox $100) and check out the entire island, as well as Makuti Town.

• Eat the freshest seafood ever! Try the local grills for lunch on the beach for an authentic taste.

*** Highlight – Take a dhow cruise around the island. It’s the best way to experience what you’ll never see walking as well as getting a close up view of the bridge that links the island to the mainland (approx $100)

Views of Stone Town

Good – interesting history, unspoilt culture, amazing seafood, very safe for tourists, amazing bridge

Bad – most beaches are used as toilets, too many ‘wanna be guides’, extreme poverty, limited accommodation and dining

Photographing Faces

 Faces of Africa

Our faces are the most expressive parts of our bodies, and for me a favorite photography subject. There are a few technical options to consider when shooting faces:

(i) Using a telephoto lens (so you don't have to go close to your subject) or

(ii) Using a macro or portrait lens (24-70mm) where you are much closer to the subject.

Naturally the lens of choice will depend on your situation. For instance, when I shoot faces when traveling, I will not always have time to sit, chat and make someone comfortable for them to let me shoot them using a portrait or macro lens, where I would be standing close up to them. In this case, I would use a telephoto lens, allowing me to take close up faces without intruding. In a different scenario, such as shooting friends and family, using a portrait or macro lens works wonders as there is much more facial detail and expression caught in the final picture.

*Tips 

- Try to focus on the eyes

- Have the face cover as much of the frame as possible

- Using a shallow depth of field (i.e. a low f stop number) will allow you to blur background so the focus lies on the face. 

Here are some faces I enjoyed shooting using a 24-70mm lens...

Baby Coconut

Yumm!

If you pass by Oysterbay Beach in Dar Es Salaam on a Saturday or Sunday evening, you'll be amazed not only by the number people that flock here, but also the variety of street food that is available. I assure you, you'll never find similar street food with such a cultural mix sold any where in the world. One of my favorites is the Kitale. I don't know who though of this perfect combo, but i'm simply hooked!

How It's Made -

• Kitale (Baby coconut) - The shell is very soft so you can bite into it

• Boiled Potatoes - spiced with a bit of red chilly power and salt

• Chutney - Made from coconut, fresh chillies (pili pili mbuzi), its an extremely hot chilly, salt and red chilly power.

You start with drinking the coconut water (if you want to). When the shell is empty, layers of the potatoes and chutney are poured in and voila - you have your delish kitale!

Freshly Cut Kitale | The Final Layered Kitale

The Mumbai Local

School girls having a laugh

Mumbai's local trains are part of the state-run Indian Railways. The system transports around 7 million commuters each day and consists of half of the Railways capacity itself. If you've experienced these trains, or simply visited the stations, you'll know that the system has one of the highest passenger densities in the world. 

Mumbai's Suburban Railways were partly built by the British in India in 1853. They are apparently the oldest railways system in Asia (quite evidently). Due to Mumbai's size and spread of population, the local train is the mass mode of transportation in this mega city. As more and more people migrant to the city, the railways have become seriously overcrowded, unhygienic and quite dangerous for those who are not used to squeezing themselves in and out of the crowds.

It is quite unfortunate that despite being one of the fastest growing economies in the world, and hosting some of the worlds wealthiest people, the Indian government fails to not only improve but maintain a system that millions of its people are forced to use everyday.

As much as I enjoy traveling, I must admit I've been quite a wimp when it comes to train travel in India. Whenever I've mentioned it, someone always pushes the idea away or tells me I'm crazy. This time I was in Mumbai, I decided to make a trip to VT station and see what the big fuss was about?!

Mumbai, VT Station - On the Move

Mumbaittes on the go

 

Lost in the crowds

Callibrating Your Monitor Screen

There is no better tool for photographers and non photographers alike (who like to print their photos) than a Screen Calibrator. A lot of effort is put into photographing and editing photos, but if the prints are not what you are seeing on your monitor, then you seriously need to consider this tool.

Your monitor will display images that are smaller and less detailed, but when you print these images you realize the contrast and brightness issues that were not seen before on the image. Most people have never adjusted their screen and even less have calibrated their screens using a screen calibrator.  If you're serious about photography or graphic art, there is simply no better tool. Of course a screen calibrator does not come cheap ($70 upwards), but you'll only appreciate the difference once you have a try. 

Below are screen shots of Before & After calibrating my screen - 

As you can see, my monitor was displaying images slightly brighter than they should be.

Msasani Beach - Sunset

Most of Dar Es Salaam's well to do resident head to the Slipway or Yatch Club to experience the sunset. However as I discovered quite randomly, Msasani Beach (which isn't very safe), lying opposite the slipway offers a more local and raw backdrop. If you're brave enough to take your camera, lock your car and take a few shots - I'd say it's well worth it!

Dar Es Salaam - Sunset at Msasani Beach