I love markets.  There is no better way to understand how people live than visiting a local market, especially in the morning.Fruits, vegetables, fish, flowers.  Eat a quick, fresh meal standing or while sitting on a stool.  And maybe have a haircut, a shave or a pedicure afterwards. These images were from my first trip to Vietnam.  It is an incredibly, beautiful, interesting country where I was welcomed more warmly than I ever anticipated.  And its markets are a photographer's paradise.

When I was visiting Peru last month, I had what I though was a strange request for the wonderful bed and breakfast at which I was staying.  Would it be possible to find someone to take me to Lima's slums?  Without pausing, Lilian Delfin of Second Home Peru told me of Haku Tours, a local tour company that uses the proceeds of its tours to help people who live in shantytowns.  In the central neighborhoods of Miraflores and Barranco, Lima looks one way.  Solidly built apartment buildings, lots of commercial activity and streets filled with cars. Go to the outskirts and high up on a hill in Pradera de Villa, and it looks another way.  Buildings half complete, dirt ...

Today is Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras and New Orleans is celebrating.  Ten years ago this August, Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast devastated New Orleans and the surrounding areas. I spent a lot of time in Louisiana in the months that followed. Despite the tragedy, Mardi Gras went on the next February.  Was there every any real question that it wouldn't?  It is such a strong part of the city's tradition. And it has kept going on. The pain came out through humor -- floats that made fun of FEMA, the country's emergency management agency, insurance companies, and the Mayor at that time, Ray Nagin, who was later convicted of corruption. I miss this city and have deep respect ...

Eight years ago, during one of my first trips to Bali, I was walking along a beautiful river gorge that runs from the outskirts of Ubud.  By accident or serendipity, I had the good fortune of meeting Ketut Karni. The sun was setting when, all of a sudden, I became violently ill.  I knew I could not make it back to Ubud before the sun was completely down and I saw a few houses up on a hill in the small village of Bangkiang Sidem.  I managed to make it along the dirt road to the village and saw a woman standing in an open area of a house that was filled with paintings.   I must have looked very pale because after she smiled and waved, a look of concern came over ...