
I was recently nominated by the Traveling Canucks to participate in Capture the Colour, a competition put on by TravelSupermarket.com.
The rules are to publish an article containing 5 photographs you’ve taken that creatively showcase the colours of blue, green, yellow, white and red. After browsing my files, I noticed I’ve also seen a lot of orange colours within my travels, so just like My Life’s a Trip, I decided to add a bonus photo – orange included.
Look around you. Colours really are a spice of life, without them everything would be drab and dull. So enjoy these colors!

1. Blue: Jaffna, Sri Lanka
7 am, Jaffna, Sri Lanka – beads of sweat were already pouring down my nose like a morning dew – the sun was low yet harsh, the humidity like a sauna.
Walking down the road was peaceful, the rhythmic wooshing sound of grass brooms from women sweeping their gravel lots, the occasional “baaahahaaa” of a goat, and the squeak of cheaply made bicycles. The angle of the sun made all yellows and oranges blend into the light while the blue shirt of the boy lit up like it was made from neon.
This is the Sri Lanka I love!

2. Green: Yangshuo, China
I was riding a bicycle through the majestic karst mountain landscape. My legs were jelly and my butt was starting to ache.
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“There’s a great place to sip on a refreshing lotus beverage,” my cousin had mentioned. We got off our bikes and ordered a round of icy cold sweet lotus water while relaxing on little stools within the patch. This guy was out amongst the sea of green, examining a freshly picked stem.

3. Yellow: Bangkok, Thailand
It was about a year ago when I first met Mona, a Burmese-Nepalese immigrant to Bangkok.
Winding my way through the confusing labyrinth of Bangkok’s Phra Khanong Market it was her inviting smile that urged me to sit down for a meal.
She was overjoyed that we chose to eat at her street stall, and when I decided to film the experience, she jumped in the video herself to explain some of the Burmese dishes she had prepared.
I won’t forget the bright yellow dish, something I first thought was either pieces of cheese or butter, but in reality were chunks of tofu made from yellow chickpeas (known as tofu thoke). Not only was her food exceptional, her ecstatic joy and her overwhelming kindness turned the meal into something truly memorable.

4. White: Southeast Asia
It would be horrible to visit southeast Asia and not take advantage of the fruit.
Tightly wrapped in an ugly bruised shell that bleeds red on your fingers when you open it, is flesh that’s whiter than a sheet and sweeter than nectar. During mangosteen season in southeast Asia, I often can’t resiste slurping down a few kilos each day.

5. Red: Xingping, China
Red in China is redder than anywhere else in the world.
I had just completed a 25 kilometer hike from Yangdi to Xingping; the entire trek felt like I was making my way through an ancient Chinese painting. The dramatic scenery was breathtaking.
Slowly walking through the ancient stone streets of Xingping a table full of bright red chillies caught my eye.

Bonus – Orange: Pusellawa, Sri Lanka
“Go to the market and buy whatever meat you want, and I will cook it,” said grandma.
I retuned from town with a chicken and she got started working her magic immediately. Little did I know, about 2 hours after watching grandma hand pluck this vibrantly orange turmeric root from her backyard, I would be savoring what is possibly the best chicken curry ever known to man.
Competition
Anyone is welcome to participate in the competition as well, just follow these guidelines. Thanks again to the Traveling Canucks for nominating me.
I would like to nominate these other great bloggers to take part in this competition:
- Heather from 2 Summers
- Paul from Walk Fly Pinoy
- Erica from Kizzling Around
- Christina from Jandal Road
- Zara from Backpack Me
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Mabaydar
11 years ago
wow… great photos. My first time seeing Turmeric roots. I have seen turmeric powder. Never thought it comes from roots. I wish I could shoot a great photos like you while traveling.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Thanks Mabaydar, glad you liked this photo. Turmeric is one of my favorite spices, so subtle yet flavorful and healthy as well!
Joel Bruner
11 years ago
guy polite bwana, the photography skills!
My favorite is the RED. those chillies just stand out man, what a beautiful shot.
🙂
nice.
sully86
11 years ago
mark: i am so fickle minded i am going to choose all alright? you won’t mind right?
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Haha, thanks!
Kieu
11 years ago
Mmm mangosteen!
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Such a wonderful fruit!
Christine
11 years ago
Great photos!
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Thank you very much Christine!
Susan
11 years ago
Just fed mangosteens to a fellow visiting from the states, and he summed up the taste as a “trip to a Blow Pop factory, but not shitty and maybe kind of good for you.” Accurate, I’d say. I mean, it does kind of taste like blue raspberry…
I think that turmeric picture is my favorite. Such a vivid orange, and so fresh-looking. I can taste it!
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Thanks for sharing Susan, that is a great description – doesn’t get any better that natural candy!
Ruth (Tanama Tales)
11 years ago
Beautiful photos!!! My favorite is red. Interesting your pick of blue since you have so many pictures of gorgeous beaches.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Thanks Ruth! Yah, I when I was searching through my photos, it was just the shot of blue of this boy’s shirt that I remembered so well, mainly because the entire scene was orange and then just his solo blue shirt!
Ava Apollo
11 years ago
I kind of wanted to post an orange too. I wish I had been crafty enough to think of a bonus photo! I like your selections. Very creative.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Thank Ava, after browsing all my photos I realized I had so many orange photos! I was going to substitue the yellow for an orange, but then just decided to add a bonus photo after seeing http://www.mylifesatrip.com/my-travels-in-full-colour-the-capture-the-colour-photoblogging-travel-competition-contest/
2summers
11 years ago
Thanks so much for the nomination, Mark. I will definitely participate. I love all of your choices, especially the mangosteen.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Great to hear that, looking forward to your post!
Daniel McBane
11 years ago
Great pictures. I especially like the red one too and I have to say the Burmese tofu salad (yellow) from Thailand looks better than pretty much everything I ate during my month in Myanmar.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Thanks a lot Daniel! I had this salad a few times in Myanmar as well, and this one I had in Bangkok was the tastiest – I think her tofu was just so silky smooth and fresh, as were the rest of her ingredients.
paul | walkflypinoy
11 years ago
great choices. i think you already know that my favorite is yellow. and thanks for the nom! definitely participating.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Cool to hear that Paul!
Cam
11 years ago
Great pics Mark! My fav is the Red.
Mark Wiens
11 years ago
Thanks Cam!