Shabbat impressions

Why they are in such hurry? Whenever I meet them, they always run. I went to Me'a She'arim - the Jewish orthodox neighbourhood in Jerusalem and asked about it. 'That's our code' - one of them told me. 


There are two things you do, if you are an orthodox Jew. Studying Torah and praying. So where to hurry?
Unless it is Friday afternoon and in few minutes starts the Shabbat. Then you run. Straight to the Western Wall.


© Mieszko Stanislawski / Babel Images

Never forget Srebrenica

750 newly identified victims from massive graves was burried last Sunday in Srebrenica (Bosna and Herzegovina), where fifteen years ago the biggest genocide in Europe since world war II took place. From 12th to 16th of July 1995 paramilitary troops of Bosnian Serbs leaded by Ratko Mladic killed over 8.000 Muslims protected by dutch UN soldiers. Fifteen years after the war relations between Muslims and Serbs in Bosna are still stained.

© Michal Kowalski / Babel Images

The Face of Belarus

Belarus - the last European dictatorship. Before coming here, I couldn't believe that I would find here even one hippie. Before coming here, Belarus had the face of its one and only sovereign - Aleksander Lukashenko.
But Belarussian hippies - yes, they exist! Being permanently watched by uniforms and plainclothes, they managed to find their own little zone of freedom.

The first Rainbow Gathering in Belarus, June 2010.

© Mieszko Stanislawski / Babel Images

High hopes (over and over again)

"... builds". An electoral poster of a candidate in the presidential campaign in Poland. Bochnia, 21.06.2010.

© Grzegorz Ostrega / Babel Images

Polish choice

After tragic death of  polish president Lech Kaczynski 10 of April, Poles are choosing the new President.
Poland, Rogoźnik, June 20, 2010
© Adam Kokot / Babel Images

Some normalcy, at last

After years of being a symbol of civil war, genocide, poverty and underdevelopment, Phnom Penh has gradually become a regular, cosmopolitan city again, with not much excitement other than intense nightlife, live concerts and visits of famous artists, Nobel Prize winners and world politicians. Recently revitalized, cleaned and paved riverside promenade is a spot which gives encouraging sight of normalcy and sound of people freely enjoying peaceful times.

© Grzegorz Ostrega / Babel Images

Rain, Romance and River

The banks of the river Hoogly is a favorite spot for lovers of Kolkata, India. A couple exchange sweet Nothings on a rainy day while a man passes by.

© Chhandak Pradhan / Babel Images

Monsoon

1 US Dollar - 50 Rupees

Average monthly wage of an uneducated worker in Kolkata - 2000 Rupees

1 liter of the local moonshine and the first monsoon shower after the sweltering summer - priceless

© Aleksander Bochenek / Babel Images

Flood in Poland

Following intensive rains in the south of Poland and in the Czech Republic, both the Vistula and Oder river systems (the biggest in Poland) are not able to deal with the amount of water. Poland is experiencing heaviest flood since years. Some experts worry that current situation might turned out to be worse than during the "Flood of the Millennium" in July 1997.
Rescue workers securing the Vistula river banks in Krakow. May 19, 2010

@ Aleksander Bochenek / Babel Images

Townships of Cape Town

View of Gugulethu, one of the townships in the suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa. The term township usually refers to the (often underdeveloped) urban living areas that, under Apartheid, were reserved for non-whites (principally black Africans and Coloureds, but also working-class Indians). Townships were usually built on the periphery of towns and cities.

© Jonathan González / Babel Images

Poland mourns air tragedy victims

Poland has launched a week of national mourning, following the devastating plane crash in Russia that killed Polish President Lech Kaczynski and his wife as well as several other top-ranking officials. Ninety-six people were killed after the aircraft crashed near the airport in the Russian city of Smolensk. The Polish officials were there to mark the 70th anniversary of a massacre of Polish officers in Katyn.

© Mieszko Stanislawski / Babel Images

Polish President Lech Kaczynski died in a plane crash

10 April 2010 - Polish President Lech Kaczynski died in a plane crash in Smolensk, Russia.

© Mieszko Stanislawski / Babel Images

The Liberty of Mandela

Cape Town, 11th of February 2010. This is one of the most important dates in South Africa. This day South Africans celebrate the liberty of Mandela after 27 years in prison. "Madiba" was free in 11th on february of 1990.

© Jonathan González / Babel Images

Resurrection of Jesus

Highlanders during procession for the worship of Jesus' resurrection. Poland, 2010

©  Adam Kokot / Babel Images

Mystery play at the Centre of mentally retarded children

Mary is crying over the tomb of her son Jesus. It is one of scenes of the lordly mystery play which was prepared at the centre for mentally retarded children. Poland, 2010

©  Adam Kokot / Babel Images

I am Jesus, the Son of God.

Since the beginning of XVII century pilgrims from all over Poland and Europe come to Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (30 km from Krakow, Poland) to take part in the most important Passion Play in the country. This year during Easter more than 150 000 pilgrims will come to see the last days of Jesus' life.
This year brother Kalikst will play Jesus, the Son of God. I wonder what does he feel when people pray to him...

© Mieszko Stanislawski / Babel Images

Recycling the history

Wearing a helmet while riding a motorbike seems to be mandatory in Myanmar. Some drivers don't even take them off when walking the streets. And, apparently, one of most popular head protection devices among Burmese people is WWII Wehrmacht helmet with Nazi emblems. They explain they love them so much because swastika - symbol used by Hitler - comes from the ancient (Indo-European) religious background most of them follow within Buddhism.

On the photograph: a young Burmese motorbike driver from Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) in Mandalay Division, Burma.

© Grzegorz Ostrega / Babel Images

En-Shan-ted

The Shan State was opened to foreigners not so long time ago, but in many parts remains nearly untouched and raw. It is enough to go just a few miles into the hills to find villages frozen in the Middle Ages. The Shan people - engaged in decades long civil conflict with the Burmese government - are said to be the biggest minority group in the Union of Myanmar and are famous for their hospitality, broad smiles and excellent food. On this picture: Shan children in the mountain area near Hsipaw, Myanmar, January 2010.

© Grzegorz Ostrega / Babel Images.

Ukrainians choose president

On 17th of January Ukrainians choose their president. Viktor Yanukovych, pro-Russian opposition leader leads in all surveys and in second round of elections he will probably face present prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Politicians accuse each other of buying votes, warn against counterfeiting and try to mobilize their supporters, but there is no chance for repeat from 2005. Five years after The Orange Revolution citizens of immersed in crisis Ukraine are bored with politics and mostly don't care who will become their next president. On the photo: Lviv on the eve of elections.

© Michal Kowalski / Babel Images

Stand up Cambodia!

A disabled German volleyball player before his team's game against Slovakia during WOVD World Cup in Cambodia, Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh, 14.12.2009. Read more

© Grzegorz Ostręga / Babel Images.