The riddle of the balanced rocks, Malta

Balanced rocks, Ghajnsielem, Malta ©Helen Jones-Florio
Balanced rocks, Ghajnsielem, Malta ©Helen Jones-Florio

 

Who is doing this? Is it the same person(s)?
Balanced rocks, Spinola Bay, Malta ©Jason Florio
Balanced rocks, Spinola Bay, Malta ©Jason Florio
Balanced rocks, Spinola Bay, Malta ©Jason Florio
Balanced rocks, Spinola Bay, Malta ©Jason Florio

 

Whoever it is, they are brilliant and beautiful!

HJF

International Women’s Day 2018

Silafando portraits - Female village chief, Fatou Dansu, of Kabba Kama, Gambia ©Jason Florio
The village chief (‘alkalo’), Fatou Dansu, of Kabba Kama, Gambia ©Jason Florio. We met and stayed with Fatou in 2009  (she was, at that time, one of only 5 female chiefs in the Gambia) – a strong advocate in the fight to eradicate FGM (female genital mutilation)

 

International Women’s Day 2018

Celebrating just a few of the incredibly inspiring women we have met, over the years, and photographed on our travels, and photography assignments.

 

Human rights lawyers, with their client, Jugana Suso: L-R: Hawa Sisay Sabally, Rachel Yvonne Mendy, Juguna Suso, Yassin Sanghor © Helen Jones-Florio (2nd Camera)
Human rights lawyers, with their client, Jugana Suso: L-R: Hawa Sisay Sabally, Rachel Yvonne Mendy, Juguna Suso, Yassin Sanghor © Helen Jones-Florio (2nd Camera on ‘We Never Gave Up – stories of courage in Gambia‘)

 

Selam Tsfay from Eritrea rescued from a wooden boat carrying 369 people - portrait ©Jason Florio
Selam Tsfay from Eritrea rescued from a wooden boat carrying 369 people ©Jason Florio – ‘Destination Europe: out at sea‘

 

A village soap production collective in Ghana helping local women support their families ©Jason Florio for United Purpose, NGO
A village soap production collective in Ghana helping local women support their families ©Jason Florio for United Purpose, NGO

 

Sonia Pierre -Executive Director of the human rights organization, the Movement for Dominico-Haitian Women (Movimiento de Mujeres Dominico-Haitianas, MUDHA) © Jason Florio
The late Sonia (Solange) Pierre –Executive Director of the human rights organization, the Movement for Dominico-Haitian Women (Movimiento de Mujeres Dominico-Haitians, MUDHA) © Jason Florio

 

Ladies from the Santa Yalla kaffo - a collective that harvests rice for a landowner near River Gambia at Kaur. The earn 30 dalasis a day - 80 US cents ©Jason Florio
Ladies from the Santa Yalla kaffo – in the rice fields, Kaur, Gambia ©Jason Florio

 

January 2013: Kaur, The Gambia, West Africa. Members of the Santa Yalla kaffo (group) take a moment between harvesting rice from the fields, which are irrigated by the River Gambia. They are paid 30 Gambian Dalasis a day (80 US cents). River Gambia Expedition

Interviewing ex-Mile2 prisoner, Ngoi Njie, The Gambia, West Africa ©Helen Jones-Florio
Interviewing ex-Mile2 prisoner, Ngoi Njie, The Gambia, West Africa ©Helen Jones-Florio

 

And, not forgetting, all those young girls who keep me company, and make us smile and, very often, laugh out loud wherever we go in the world…we salute you, too.

Our constant companions, during our walk around Jinack Island, Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio
Our constant companions, during our walk around Jinack Island, Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio

 

Girls just wanna have fun, Kemoto Point, Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio
Girls just wanna have fun, Kemoto Point, Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio

The art of walking, and the people you meet along the way…

 

‘Dawn over Kalaji Bridge’ © Jason Florio – from ‘A Short Walk in the Gambian Bush – 930km African Odyssey‘
‘Dawn over Kalaji Bridge’ – Helen Jones-Florio and the team © Jason Florio – from ‘A Short Walk in the Gambian Bush – 930km African Odyssey‘

 

Wherever we are in the world, we walk, a lot, Florio and myself. As far as I’m concerned, it’s one of the only ways to truly discover a place – and the people who live there. One time, in 2009, we decided to walk around the small West African country of The Gambia. A mere 930km, with three Gambian friends, two donkeys (‘Neil’ & ‘Paddy’.), and a cart to carry our camping and photography equipment. As one does.

Along the way, we met many people and photographed quite a few of them. Amongst them, around 43 village chiefs and elders, the photos of which are now award-winning portraits, ‘Silafando – a gift to you on behalf of my journey‘

‘Silafando’ The Gambia  © Jason Florio

 

Another time, we took it upon ourselves to take a stroll along the coastline of The Gambia – a much shorter walk of around 80km. Again, we met and made friends with many people along the way.

Our constant companions, during our walk around Jinack Island, Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio
Our constant companions, during our walk around Jinack Island, Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio

 

Making friends, Jinack Island, the Gambia © Jason Florio
Making friends, Jinack Island, the Gambia © Jason Florio

 

Historian and local fisherman, Modou Sonko, Jinack Island, Gambia-image © Jason Florio
Historian and local fisherman, Modou Sonko, Jinack Island, Gambia-image © Jason Florio

 

And, our walks in certain places always seem to attract a good deal of attention

'Any chance of a bit of privacy?' Camping in a the village chiefs compound comes at a price ©Jason Florio
‘Any chance of a bit of privacy around here?’ Camping in the village chiefs compound comes at a price ©Jason Florio
Image: ©Jason Florio-2009 Gambian boy on his horse & farmer, on his bicycle, near the town of Basse, The Gambia, West Africa
Gambian boy on his horse & farmer, on his bicycle, near the town of Basse, The Gambia, West Africa Image: ©Jason Florio-2009
For some reason, we seem to attract dogs, wherever we go! Jason Florio and ‘Seven’ (from Footsteps Eco Lodge) talking to the cockle collectors, Gambia – image © Helen Jones-Florio

 

Of late, we’ve taken to meandering – going off-piste whenever possible – discovering the clifftops, valleys, and crevices of Malta.

Graffiti - President Trump and broken wall, Malta ©Jason Florio
Graffiti – President Trump, Malta ©Jason Florio

 

And, just when you think that you’ve seen all it has to offer, the small island in the middle of the Mediterranean (sandwiched somewhere between Sicily and the North African coast) never fails to reveal something more of itself.

Scenes from Malta - photography by Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio
Scenes from Malta – photography by Jason Florio & Helen Jones-Florio/Instagram

 

Victoria Lines, with Jason Florio
Walking the Victoria Lines, with Jason Florio – image © Helen Jones-Florio

Are we in Texas?!

Are we in Texas? Wind turbine, Malta © Helen Jones-Florio
Are we in Texas? Wind turbine, Malta © Helen Jones-Florio

 

Valletta, through a window © Jason Florio, Malta
Valletta, through a window © Jason Florio, Malta
Follow us on Instagram for regular travel photo updates
@floriotravels / @jasonflorio
These boots, and Birkenstocks, are made for walking
These boots, and Birkenstocks, are made for walking

Images from inside Mile 2 Prison – The Gambia, West Africa

A prisoner shouts through the window from his cell, Mile 2 prison, The Gambia, West Africa © Jason Florio
A prisoner shouts through the window from his cell, Mile 2 prison, The Gambia, West Africa © Jason Florio

 

Images from inside ousted ex-president, Yahya Jammeh’s, ‘my 5 Star Hotel’ (as he frequently called it) – the notorious Mile 2 Prison, the Gambia, West Africa, Nov 2017. Taken whilst making the ‘We Never Gave Up – Stories of Courage in Gambia’ documentary for Amnesty International.

 

 

The exercise yard come laundry space, MILE 2 prison - image © Helen Jones-Florio
The exercise yard come laundry-drying area, MILE 2 prison – image © Helen Jones-Florio 

 

These, plus more images from Mile 2 are available for licensing – please contact Jason Florio/Helen Jones-Florio

 

Prisoners watch TV in their dorm-like cell block, MILE 2 prison, Gambia ©Jason Florio
Prisoners watch TV in their dorm-like cell block, MILE 2 prison, Gambia ©Jason Florio

 

A prisoner looks out from his locked cell, maximum security, Mile 2 prison, Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio
A prisoner looks out from his locked cell, maximum security, Mile 2 prison, Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio

 

Instagram @floriotravels / @jasonflorio