Postcards: Cameleer sleeping, Rajasthan, India ©Jason Florio

travelogue

Cameleer sleeping, Rajasthan, India ©Jason Florio
Cameleer sleeping, Rajasthan, India ©Jason Florio ‘Travelogue’

Postcards: Simplicity – Loch Lomond, The Trossachs, Scotland

Loch Lomond, The Trossachs, Scotland ©Helen Jones-Florio
Loch Lomond, The Trossachs, Scotland ©Helen Jones-Florio

 

Most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time and tranquility. Ask yourself at every moment, ‘Is this necessary?’ ~Marcus Aurelius

One year ago, today: 26th Jan, 2017 – The new president of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, returns home

Welcome home, Mr. President!

A new era for The Gambia, West Africa

President Adama Barrow, the Republic of The Gambia © Jason Florio
President Adama Barrow smiles at the camera during the four-hour cavalcade from Banjul International Airpor to his home, the Republic of The Gambia © Jason Florio

 

Jan 26th, 2017: A triumphant and momentous day for The Gambia, West Africa. Hundreds of thousands of euphoric Gambians lined the streets for miles – and miles! – to welcome home their new president, Adama Barrow. (Due to potential security risks, Barrow had exiled himself to neighbouring Senegal, where he was inaugurated at the Gambian Embassy, Dakar).

Gambia's new president, Adama Barrow, at Banjul Airport, The Gambia ©Jason Florio
Gambia’s new president, Adama Barrow, disembarks at Banjul Airport, The Gambia, after being sworn in in Dakar, Senegal, for security reasons ©Jason Florio

 

A new era for the Gambia - President Adama Barrow arrives at Banjul Airport, from Dakar, to a monumental reception! ©Helen Jones-Florio
A new era for the Gambia – President Adama Barrow arrives at Banjul Airport, from Dakar, to a monumental reception! ©Helen Jones-Florio

Gambians ware ready for change. Finally, a democracy, after 22-years of the dictatorial rule of Yayha Jammeh.

President Adama Barrow returns to The Gambia, after exile in Senegal - an estimated 100,000 people lined the main roads, to welcome him home © Jason Florio
President Adama Barrow returns to The Gambia, after exile in Senegal – an estimated 100,000 people lined the main roads, to welcome him home © Jason Florio

See more on floriophoto.com ‘#GambiaHasDecided’

#GambiaHasDecided - supporters of the new President Adama Barrow, The Gambia © Jason Florio
#GambiaHasDecided – supporters of the new President Adama Barrow, The Gambia © Jason Florio

 

A young Gambian man raises the Victory sign, in celebration of the new president, Adama Barrow, Westfields, The Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio
A young Gambian man, wearing a #GambiaHasDecided t-shirt, raises the Victory sign, in celebration of the new president, Adama Barrow, Westfields, The Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio

See the trailer for our new documentary, made for Amnesty International

 ‘We Never Gave Up – Stories of Courage in Gambia‘

Documentary for Amnesty International - press release
‘We Never Gave Up – stories of courage in Gambia’ Documentary for Amnesty International – press release
Instagram @floriotravels / @jasonflorio
Gambian celebrate the return home of their new president, Adama Barrow ©Helen Jones-Florio
Instagram – Gambian woman celebrate the return home of their new president, Adama Barrow ©Helen Jones-Florio
Gambian celebrate the return home of their new president, Adama Barrow ©Helen Jones-Florio
Instagram – Gambians celebrate the return home of their new president, Adama Barrow ©Helen Jones-Florio

#ThrowBackWednesday: ‘Wabi-Sabi’ the beauty in imperfection

 

Wabi Sabi - white Horse standing alone in a field , New Mexico © Helen Jones-Florio
Wabi Sabi – The white horse (with the scarred front leg) and barbed wire , New Mexico © Helen Jones-Florio

 

The Japanese philosophy of Wabi-Sabi is seeing the beauty in everyday life, particularly in its imperfections