Tori Vince, Single mother, Australia

Meet Tori. When I was still in high school I befriended myself with Tori. We studied together in the same high school. She became pregnant and decided at that time with her then boyfriend to keep her beautiful son. Sadly 6 month ago her partner and the father of her son had decided to take a step back from an active parenting role and left. Tori having had already a tough past has now to juggle between different struggles, but thanks to her son she is able to do so. A mothers love for her child is the strongest bond there is. I believe that you will never be loved as much as a mother loves you (given that she is not a psychopathic mother who abuses you...). I find it really strong and full of courage that Tori speaks up and shares the story of her current and past life. I am sure there are others out there who went through the same struggles as single parent. There is so much a mother would do for her child even if it means depleting her own resources.

Andre Maure, Teacher, Indonesia

I had come to meet Andre at a wedding couple of years ago and we are friends since. He teaches English as well as Indonesian. His passion is to teach and he does a great job at doing so which had taken him to Australia and around Indonesia with hopefully more destinations in the pipeline. I think in all the years that I know Andre he had never shown any negativity. He is always happy and positively minded, which is kind of contagious and therefore it is always great to be around him. As I am myself planning to go to Bali to study Indonesian and start an online business as luck might find it I might even get taught by my friend.

Eko G., Freelance Photographer, Indonesia

On one of the many days I have spent at my favourite café Anomali in Ubud I saw this really cute little girl being massaged and put to sleep by her lovely father. The next few days I kept seeing them and last night we finally stroke a conversation. Eko is from Sulawesi and is married to a Swiss lady who is from my city of Basel and together they have one little girl who is absolutely adorable and funny. It was great to speak with Eko as already before I met him I could sense that there was something about him that is very interesting and fascinating, maybe its the way he looks or the way he was so kind to his child. I think it was the positive aura he has, a centred and happy man that can give you an answer to any question, no matter how brain draining it is to get asked certain questions on the spot. Thank you Eko. 

Alex, Student, Australia

Alex is my good friend in Perth, Australia. I met Alex when I attended an english school for immigrants and refugees. We were in the same class at that time and our friendship dates back to 2009, the year I started being at the Intensive English Centre (IEC). Alex had always came across as a wise person. When there was a problem he always had some sort of advise. If you know Alex then you know that on the outside he is hard like a rock but on the inside he has a warm heart and is very kind. A man who had experienced a lot and endured much. Turning his life around coming to Australia from a war torn country, experiencing hardship and suffering and now he is  holding Australian citizenship, is happily married and studies at university. I truly respect this man! 

Adinda, Singer and Escort, Indonesia

First of all I would like to express my respect and gratitude to Adinda for giving me the opportunity to write about her story. It must be difficult to talk to a complete stranger about such personal things. I contacted Adinda and asked her if she would be willing to give an interview with me. To my great surprise when I saw late at night whilst lying in bed that she said yes I was super excited. I always found it interesting to speak with people you wouldn't be able to normally strike a conversation with. NO negative comments will be accepted on this post! Adinda never promised me to give me the answers to my questions and images, she said promises always get broken. She told me "I don't promise I prove you that I do it when I do it". I guess she had proven me that she keeps her word. Now I prove her that I keep my word and publish her story. Thank you Adinda.

( I purposely chose a provocative photo, no offence meant)

Hayma, Red Karen, Thailand

On my trip to the north of Thailand I came across a village of the native Kayan tribe (a subgroup of the Red Karen from Burma). One of the Kayan tribes traditionally at a young age start to use bronze rings to weigh their shoulders down in order for the perception of a long neck/throat. It was very interesting to see their lifestyle and hear some of the stories. There are a lot of subgroups in the Kaya with different backgrounds and clothing, not all have the long necks, but certainly those ladies stand out the most and are therefore most known. Given that this village was given as a refuge place to the Kayan tribes people I have to admit that it had a touristy feeling to it. The economy of the locals was based upon tourists purchasing products and coming through. However where else would you get in contact with some of these very interesting people? I know that these photos I will look upon and remember the Kayan tribe.

Puii, buddhist monk, Thailand

Whilst traveling around Thailand and being fascinated by the deep religious roots their culture holds I went to a lot of local temples. Trust me, there are A LOT! Each one has its own sacredness and beauty. Whilst on my travels I felt a deeper spiritual connection then at other times and so enjoyed the sacred temples a lot. On one of the occasions I befriended myself with a local Buddhist monk. We got talking because he saw that I already had a lot of temple bracelets and asked where I was headed in my travels and as a coincidence as it might should have been my next stop was his home town up north in Chiang Mai. I met him in the south of Thailand, near Phuket.

Wirat, Bangkok, Thailand

The next interesting personality I have met is Wirat. I met him watching his snake handling show in the Bangkok snake farm run by the thai red cross. He seems to have no fear of snakes and casually handles some of the worlds most venomous snakes including the king cobra. After the show I got the chance to talk to him...

Wayan, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia

This is Wayan. I met him when exploring the dirt roads that lead into nowhere in Ubud, Bali. Whilst driving on the smallest possible way between rice terrace and a unforeseeable drop into the nothing I reached a dead end. I was super thirsty when I spotted or should I saw when I was spotted by Wayan. He kindly introduced himself and offered me a coconut. Which to my surprise he climbed up the tree  and shared with me. See the photos below.

Cam, Sapa, Vietnam

This woman I met whilst traveling in Vietnam. I was trekking in Sapa which is in the north of Vietnam near the Chinese boarder. This mountain region is absolutely picture book worthy. You have rice terraces everywhere and in spring the flowers come out and give you a picture book scenery. The air is fresh and the streets are quiet. A pleasant change from busy Ho Chi Min (Saigon) and Hanoi. The traditional people in Sapa are called black hmong. They are famous for creating dresses out of hemp and dying it indigo blue hence their hands area always coloured. This particular lady offered to walk with me and protect me from the rain whilst trying to sell me one of her hand made purses. She walked alongside me with her baby on her back. After a while we crossed through her village which was down the mountain slope. That means she walks up every morning on the look out for some tourists. Tough lady. It was a absolute pleasure meeting her. A truly kind hearted and strong woman.