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DIY slum

Ria — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 22:41:45 +0000

It might come as a shocking fact to learn that in the Netherlands hundreds of children, some as young as five years old, are living in the most primitive conditions, sheltering from the rain in makeshift huts made from disused wooden pallets and scraps of cloth they managed to scavenge from the piles of trash on

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Life imitates art

Ria — Sat, 01 May 2010 21:19:52 +0000

Last night’s news was dominated by coverage of the Dutch royal family’s visit to our proud little city on Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag). Security was ratcheted up to DEFCON 1 as a result of the car attack on the family during last year’s celebrations in Apeldoorn.

Mr B went into town with our oldest two, and had a

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View from the weiland

Ria — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:11:33 +0000

After living in sprawling, overcrowded capitals for most of my adult life, I am thoroughly enjoying life on a small island in the North Sea, living in a converted barn outside a village of 1300 souls. Or to be precise, 650 souls from the Dutch Reformed Church and 650 souls from the Restored Reformed Church.

They don’t

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One man’s fish is another man’s poisson

Ria — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 20:43:40 +0000

I posted the following image on Flickr recently and all the comments suggested cropping and eliminating distracting elements.

I tried to do what was suggested — I’m quite proud of the cloning, especially under the bridge — but it left me wondering about the differences in opinions regarding the two images.

I made the following comment in Flickr:

Nevertheless,

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Ria Bacon, Photographer

Ria — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 22:16:11 +0000

Another string to my fiddle, to add to those of editor, translator and trainer — marked by the first time I have been paid for one of my photos!

Here it is, a double half-page spread in the New York Magazine.

Regular readers of this blog may have already seen the picture gracing the header on this web

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Clean your teeth, purify your soul

Ria — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:15:31 +0000

Throughout the year in Senegal, but especially during Ramadan, the traditional toothpick, the sothiou, can be seen in almost every mouth. In addition to cleaning your teeth and freshening your breath, it is also seen as a sign of piety, distracting you from the evils of smoking, keeping your mouth pure for prayer time, and fooling

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Whiteout

Ria — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:22:04 +0000

The reaction anticipated in my previous post was swift and effective … actually it was glossy.

I had expected a different reaction — crude spray scribble, as had been done (by the PPK sprayers?) to the “NOUVEAU PARTI” graffiti, perhaps, or a riposte in words — but this whiteout is so … thorough and professional.

I wonder who

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Let them eat stats

Ria — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 01:29:21 +0000

Back in April, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade announced his latest new plan to revitalize the country’s agricultural sector, the largest sector of activity in terms of employment and production. It was the third plan in as many years. Previous plans, Jaxaay and Reva, were announced with similar fanfare yet failed to materialize into any actual activity,

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The Korité Kid

Ria — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 01:38:14 +0000

Those who imagine the Muslim world to be a single unified block of believers might be surprised that in just one West African country, Senegal, there are any number of different groups of Muslims, none of whom conform to the supposed hegemony of Saudi Wahhabism. In Senegal, as in many parts of Muslim Africa, Sufism dominates,

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Sidewalk scholar

Ria — Wed, 07 May 2008 23:00:07 +0000

I almost fell out of the taxi, holding baby J under one arm and dragging out her buggy behind me.

Source of great amusement to the devout beggars lining the sidewalk around the mosque. Baby J waved wildly at the old men and got big smiles in return.

Having broken the ice, I asked the nearest guy if

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