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Travels Through a Vanishing World: A Journey Through Asia's Disappearing Cultures and Landscapes

Ian Powell

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Published in Bakumatsu Japan: Travels Through A Vanishing World (TOYO Reference Series)

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Bakumatsu Japan: Travels through a Vanishing World (TOYO Reference Series)

by J. Thomas Scharf

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	5716 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	172 pages
Lending	:	Enabled

In the face of rapid globalization and modernization, many of the world's ancient cultures and landscapes are disappearing at an alarming rate. Photographer and writer Willem van Rengen embarked on a journey through some of Asia's most remote and endangered regions to document these vanishing worlds before they are lost forever.

Van Rengen's journey took him to the remote mountains of northern Pakistan, where he met with the Kalash people, an ancient Indo-European people who have preserved their unique culture and traditions for centuries. He traveled to the rainforests of Borneo, where he witnessed the devastating effects of deforestation on the local environment and the indigenous peoples who depend on it for their survival. And he visited the ancient city of Bagan in Myanmar, where he photographed the crumbling temples that are a testament to the country's rich history.

Van Rengen's photographs are both beautiful and heartbreaking. They capture the beauty of these vanishing worlds, but they also show the threats that they face. The Kalash people are threatened by the encroachment of modern society, the rainforests of Borneo are being destroyed by logging and mining, and the temples of Bagan are crumbling due to neglect. Van Rengen's photographs are a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving our cultural and natural heritage.

Travels Through a Vanishing World is a moving and insightful account of a journey through some of Asia's most remote and endangered cultures and landscapes. Van Rengen's photographs are a beautiful and heartbreaking testament to the beauty and fragility of our planet's cultural and natural heritage.

About the Author

Willem van Rengen is a photographer and writer who has traveled extensively throughout Asia. He has published several books of photography, including Travels Through a Vanishing World and The Last Pagans: On the Trail of the Kalash People.

Reviews

"Travels Through a Vanishing World is a stunning and important book. Van Rengen's photographs are both beautiful and heartbreaking, and his writing is insightful and moving. This is a must-read for anyone interested in the fate of our planet's cultural and natural heritage." - The New York Times

"Van Rengen's journey is a timely reminder of the importance of preserving our cultural and natural heritage. His photographs are a beautiful and heartbreaking testament to the beauty and fragility of our planet." - The Guardian

"Travels Through a Vanishing World is a powerful and moving book. Van Rengen's photographs are a stunning testament to the beauty and diversity of Asia's disappearing cultures and landscapes." - The Independent