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DSC03923 - Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence - Sister Tuna Noodle by Loupiote

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Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence

For more information, see description of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence set.

Photo taken at the Dore Alley - Up Your Alley Fair (San Francisco)

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DSC03058 - Tropical Fern Leaves - Gunung Gading National Park (Borneo) by Loupiote

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Pristine Tropical Fern with Beautiful Green Leaves.

If you can identify this plant, please post a comment or email me!

It was tentatively identified as some species of fern.

Photo taken at Gunung Gading National Park, about 60 Km W of Kuching (Borneo)

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2480-phsh - building exterior - Abandoned Hospital (Presidio, San Francisco) by Loupiote

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The Public Health Service Hospital (PHSH) is located in the Presidio of San Francisco. It has been rehabilitated into luxury condos housing in 2010, and it is now called "Presidio Landmark Apartments".

For more information about this place you can visit my PHSH page.

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DSC00076 - burning man 2007 - Crude Awakening by Loupiote

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Crude Awakening, by Dan Das Mann, Karen Cusolito, Black Rock FX, MarkPerez, Pyrokinetics, Nate Smith and MonkeyBoy - see www.headlesspoint.com/crude_awakening/

Photo taken at the Burning Man 2007 festival (Black Rock Desert, Nevada).

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DSC01017 - Hindu Pilgrims on River Boats - Varanasi (India) by Loupiote

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Hindu pilgrims boarding a large river boat at the Ghats of Varanasi (India).

Those boats are used for ferrying the Hindu pilgrims to a beach across the Ganges river, where they can take the Holy bath in cleaner water.

For more info about Varanasi, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi.

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DSC00059 - Mobile Ashram "Art Car" at Kumbh Mela 2013 by Loupiote

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Photo taken at the Kumbh Mela 2013 festival near Allahabad (India)

Kumbh Mela is the largest festival on Earth, taking place once every 12 years, with more than 50 million Hindu pilgrims gathering to pray and bathe in the holy Ganges river.

For more photos and info about the Kumbh Mela festival, read the album description.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC01875 - Leg Bones - Human Skeletal Remains in Ganges Flood Plain (India) by Loupiote

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Human skeletal remains (leg bones) in the Ganges flood plain near Allahabad (India).

The flood plain of the Ganges river is like a sandy desert during the dry season, but it is completely flooded during the monsoon (rainy season).

It is common to stumble upon human skeletons on the Ganges flood plain, as the Ganges is a Holy river for Hindu people. Hindu are normally cremated, but some categories of people are "buried" directly in the river. This includes pregnant women, young children, Sadhus / Hindu holy men, and people victims of contagious diseases or bitten by a Cobra snake.

Their remains end up scattered over the sandy flood plain during the dry season, when it becomes a desert, and disturbed or dug-up by wild animals or stray dogs.

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DSC06614 - Steam Locomotive - Darjeeling Train Depot (India) by Loupiote

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Steam Locomotive -#802 "Victor" undergoing maintenance at the Darjeeling Train Yard (India)

It will get new rods.

View more photos of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, locally known as the "Toy Train", is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway that runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling (India). It is still operated by vintage British-built B Class steam locomotives. Operations between Siliguri and Kurseong have been temporarily suspended since 2010 following a Landslide at Tindharia (view photos of the landslide).

For more info about the DHR steam locomotives, read en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DHR_778_(locomotive) and www.irfca.org/docs/locolists/dhr-locos-full.html.

For more information about the Darjeeling Steam-powered Train, read en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling_Himalayan_Railway.

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DSC06846 - Steam Locomotive Sharing Road with Cars - Darjeeling (India) by Loupiote

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Steam Locomotive -#788 "Tusker" sharing the street with cars in Darjeeling (India)

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway narrow gauge tracks are sharing the road with car traffic on the entire length of the tracks, along the narrow mountain road (National Highway 55) between Siliguri and Darjeeling (78 kilometres / 48 mi).

View more photos of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, locally known as the "Toy Train", is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway that runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling (India). It is still operated by vintage British-built B Class steam locomotives. Operations between Siliguri and Kurseong have been temporarily suspended since 2010 following a Landslide at Tindharia (view photos of the landslide).

For more info about the DHR steam locomotives, read en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DHR_778_(locomotive) and www.irfca.org/docs/locolists/dhr-locos-full.html.

For more information about the Darjeeling Steam-powered Train, read en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling_Himalayan_Railway.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

franko_speedometer by AddThis Inc

It is a competitive advantage for websites to be fast and responsive, so we made performance a priority when building Smart Layers. www.addthis.com/blog/2013/09/17/performance-optimizing-fo...

DSC03781 - Hermandad de la Macarena - Paso de la Virgen - Semana Santa en Sevilla by Loupiote

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Traditional processions during the Semana Santa (Holy Week) in Sevilla, Spain

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DSC03624 - Cross Swords - NYE 2009 Party at Somarts (San Francisco) by Loupiote

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NYE 2009 Party at Somarts (San Francisco)

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DSC08475 - Night Flight - Airbus A340 Passenger Cabin - Glowing Screens by Loupiote

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Glowing video screens in passenger cabin on night flight, in an Airbus A340.

This was SWISS flight LX-39 from San Francisco to Zurich, the first branch of my flight to Delhi (India).

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DSC05335 - Fire Sculpture - Nucleus by Kasia Danuta-Bilhartz by Loupiote

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This fire installation is called Nucleus, by kasia danuta-bilhartz (formerly wojnarski)

Photo taken at the Burning Man 2010 festival (Black Rock Desert, Nevada).

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8129 - Native American Shaman Drum by Loupiote

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Rainbow Gathering 2004 (California)

See the album description for more information about this event.

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2013-10-20_16-58-11_606 - Mobile Photo Sharing - Señor de los Milagros Procession (San Francisco) by Loupiote

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Crowd of Catholic Peruvians snapping photos of the holy image of Señor de los Milagros at the end of the procession, in front of Mission Dolores church.

Photo taken at the traditional Catholic procession of the "Señor de los Milagros" (Lord of Miracles) by the Peruvian community of San Francisco.

For more info about this event, read the album description.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC07469 - Arc Welding Repair on Bullet Motorbike Rack (India) by Loupiote

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Arc welding repair on my motorcycle rack (India)

Luggage racks on Royal Enfield Bullet motorbike have the tendency to crack and break frequently, due to weak brackets, poor design and vibrations.

This guy fixed my cracked brackets in a small village in Sikkim.

He is arc welding with no protection of any kind, not even welding glasses, which is quite common in poorer areas that only have the bear minimum supplies and equipment. Of course he did an excellent job, and charged me the normal price for the repair (a couple of dollars).

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DSC01303 - Alyssa - Catacombes de Paris - Catacombs of Paris (off-limit area) by Loupiote

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Alyssa - Catacombes de Paris - Catacombs of Paris (off-limit area)

Alyssa is a San Francisco video artist and musician. Check her video blog at www.iamfivestar.com.

Catacombs of Paris, about 20 meters (60 feet) underground, under Paris city center. This is a part of the 200 Km network of ancient tunnels not opened to the public, but regularly visited by trespassing urban cavers called "cataphiles". See more information in the album description.

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DSC03641 - Caterpillar CAT 385C Excavator by Loupiote

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Caterpillar CAT 385C Ultra High Demolition Excavator - PHSH - Abandoned Hospital (Presidio, San Francisco)

This development project is called Presidio PHSH Adaptive Reuse Housing.

The Public Health Service Hospital (PHSH) is located in the Presidio of San Francisco. It has been rehabilitated into luxury condos housing in 2010, and it is now called "Presidio Landmark Apartments".

For more information about this place you can visit my PHSH page.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC04147 - Carnaval - Carnival in Jujuy Capital (Argentina) by Loupiote

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First day of Carnival 2010 in Jujuy Capital (Argentina).

This was a great Carnival party in the old (disused) train station in San Salvador de Jujuy. Music, cheap red wine (often mixed with CocaCola) and a great crowd having a lot of fun.

During Carnival festivities in the Andes mountains, a local tradition consists in throwing white talk powder, spray foam and confettis to the face of others while drinking and dancing to the music of marching bands.

For more photos and information about the Carnival in Northern Argentina, read the album description.

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DSC06253 - Open Defecation Free - Sign (Nepal) by Loupiote

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Open Defecation Free Myagdi District sign (Nepal)

This rather funny sign means that it is forbidden to poop in the open.

They put this sign because this is the Annapurnas trekking Route, frequented by many tourists, and presumably they think tourists do not like when local Nepali people relieve themselves in nature. They also built basic toilets every couple of Km along the road, but those are already in disrepair and have no water.

There is of course no Nepali Poop Police (in fact, barely any Police at all!), and this regulation is not enforced. I had diarrhea when i was there, and I had no problem pooping in the open :)

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DSC00146 - Little Girl Rinsing Bucket at Water Hose by Loupiote

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This water hose is the only source of clean water in the area, and it is used by all the people living in shanty houses around the Daraganj road bridge.

The big concrete yellow thing is a pillar of the road bridge.

Photo taken in Daraganj during the Kumbh Mela 2013 festival near Allahabad (India)

Kumbh Mela is the largest festival on Earth, taking place once every 12 years, with more than 50 million Hindu pilgrims gathering to pray and bathe in the holy Ganges river.

For more photos and info about the Kumbh Mela festival, read the album description.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC09096 - Stacks of Leaflets in Print Shop Storage by Loupiote

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Stacks of printed leaflets in print shop storage. Those will be used to make Indian school books.

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DSC07536 - Firefighters on Fire Engine by Loupiote

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Firefighters on Fire Truck - Sparky

The Firefighters are going home after the "Man" sculpture burned.

Photo taken at the Burning Man 2010 festival (Black Rock Desert, Nevada).

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6440 - Bull Balls Close-up (Vietnam) by Loupiote

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Bull market (Mèo Vac, Vietnam)

Yes, it's a real bull!

This photo was taken in a real bull market (a place where you can buy live bulls) - nothing to do with Wall Street :)

Check my other photos of the Mèo Vac bull market.

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DSC08809 - Contact Juggling - Balls by Loupiote

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Mister Om - Contact Juggling

Mister Om is an internationally recognized contact-juggler.

For more information avout him, go to: www.misterom.com/.

Photo taken at the Burning Man 2009 festival (Black Rock Desert, Nevada).

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DSC08922 - Non-Muslim is Prohibited to Enter the Mosque - Sign - Lucknow (India) by Loupiote

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I don't recall ever seeing a sign that says "Non-Christian is prohibited to enter the church".

However, in India, Mosques and sacred Hindu shrines are often forbidden to people based on their faith or religion. This type of discrimination bothers me.

Spotted this sign near the Asfi Mosque in the Bara Imambara in Lucknow (India)

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DSC00811 - burning man 2007 - Pyronauts of Giza - Fire conclave by Loupiote

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If you have contact information for the people in this photo, please email me, i might need to get their model release, thanks!

Pyronauts of Giza - Fire conclave

Photo taken at the Burning Man 2007 festival (Black Rock Desert, Nevada).

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DSC01093 - Jot Dean Ice Cave by Loupiote

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Large block of ice in the Jot Dean ice cave (California).

It looks like in the past, the entire cave was filled with ice, and now, due to climate change, most of the ice has melted, but there is still a pretty large chunk on the side.

For more info about ice caves, read en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_cave.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC06860 - Steam Locomotive Pulling Passenger Train - Darjeeling Station (India) by Loupiote

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Steam locomotive -#782 "Mountaineer" pulling a passenger train at the Darjeeling station (India)

View more photos of the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway.

The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, locally known as the "Toy Train", is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge railway that runs between New Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling (India). It is still operated by vintage British-built B Class steam locomotives. Operations between Siliguri and Kurseong have been temporarily suspended since 2010 following a Landslide at Tindharia (view photos of the landslide).

For more info about the DHR steam locomotives, read en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DHR_778_(locomotive) and www.irfca.org/docs/locolists/dhr-locos-full.html.

For more information about the Darjeeling Steam-powered Train, read en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darjeeling_Himalayan_Railway.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC00113 - Batad Village - Rice Terraces near Banaue (Philippines) by Loupiote

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Small village of Batad, on rice terraces near Banaue (Luzon Island, Philippines)

For more information about Terrace Farming, read en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrace_(agriculture)

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DSC00317 - burning man 2007 - Inside Big Rig Jig by Loupiote

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Inside Big Rig Jig - see www.bigrigjig.com

Photo taken at the Burning Man 2007 festival (Black Rock Desert, Nevada).

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2013-10-20_16-37-23_558 - Paso del Señor de los Milagros - Catholic Procession at Mission Dolores (San Francisco) by Loupiote

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Traditional Catholic procession of the "Señor de los Milagros" (Lord of Miracles) by the Peruvian community of San Francisco.

For more info about this event, read the album description.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC08500 - Semi Truck Frontal Collision (India) by Loupiote

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Truck head-on collision (India)

This was a fatal accident (truck drivers do not wear safety belts in India).

The frontal collision was so violent that the truck cab was ripped from the chassis.

This happened on a divided highway, so I assume that another truck crossed the median.

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DSC08074 - Doosan Excavator DX225LC Ripping Up Old Asphalt (India) by Loupiote

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Doosan Excavator ripping up old asphalt on a road in West Bengal (India)

This paved road was poorly constructed with a very thin layer of poor quality asphalt (a lot of gravel with little bitumen). With all the heavy truck traffic, huge potholes formed everywhere. Hopefully they will build a better road.

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DSC00700 - Village and Terraced Fields in Chico Valley (Philippines) by Loupiote

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Village and terraced rice fields in a valley.

Photo taken on the road between Bontoc and Tuguegarao, in the Cordillera (mountainous region of Northern Luzon island).

For more information about Terrace Farming, read en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terrace_(agriculture)

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DSC01441 - Indian Family on Cycle Rickshaw (India) by Loupiote

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Indian family riding in the back of a cycle rickshaw, in Varanasi (India).

Cycle rickshaws are the cheapest mode of transportation in Indian cities that do not have a public transportation system.

For more info about Varanasi, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi.

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DSC02133 - Feathers at The Great San Francisco Pillow Fight 2007 by Loupiote

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This giant pillow fight is a flashmob-type event that takes place on Justin Herman Plaza (San Francisco) on Valentine's day (Feb 14) between 6 and 8pm.

For more photos and information about the Great San Francisco Pillow Fight, please read the album description.

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2071-burning-man-2005 - Lego Art Installation by Benjamin Jones by Loupiote

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Lego art installation by Benjamin Jones.

He made a mini Burning Man playa all in Lego, complete, with the Lego Burning Man figure in the center.

Photo taken at the Burning Man 2005 festival (Black Rock Desert, Nevada).

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

2013-10-20_16-33-23_890 - Women Holding Thuribles - Burning Incense by Loupiote

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Women with white lace veils, holding thuribles with smoking incense.

Thuribles are traditional Catholic censers. For more info about thuribles, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurible.

Photo taken at the traditional Catholic procession of the "Señor de los Milagros" (Lord of Miracles) by the Peruvian community of San Francisco.

For more info about this event, read the album description.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC00494 - Market Street - Kumbh Mela 2013 (India) by Loupiote

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One of the large streets at the Kumbh Mela 2013 festival near Allahabad (India).

Along this street, many small shops and street vendors were selling Hindu religious artifacts, food, clothing and cooking utensils.

Kumbh Mela is the largest festival on Earth, taking place once every 12 years, with more than 50 million Hindu pilgrims gathering to pray and bathe in the holy Ganges river.

For more photos and info about the Kumbh Mela festival, read the album description.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC07956 - SFPD Police using Flex Cuffs for Mass Arrests by Loupiote

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SFPD Police cracking-down and arresting many peaceful revelers during the Bay to Breakers footrace festival. It did not appear that the people they arrested were drunk or causing any trouble. They got arrested just because they were partying in the street. Police apparently had orders to crack-down on all festivities on city streets at the 2011 Bay to Breakers race.

SFPD Police did not arrest people that were partying on Park land (Pan handle and Golden Gate Park). I suppose that the rules for arresting people on Park property are a bit different.

Photo taken at the 2011 Bay to Breakers footrace and street festival (San Francisco).

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DSC00132 - Krishna riding Garuda Bird God - Hindu Deity Sculptures by Loupiote

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One of the very kitch Hindu God sculptures at the ISKCON (Hare Krishna) Ashram at Kumbh Mela 2013.

The bird is Garuda, and he's carrying Krishna in His four-handed (Vishnu) form.

Those metal sculptures were mechanically animated, like low-tech animatronics.

Photo taken at the Kumbh Mela 2013 festival near Allahabad (India)

Kumbh Mela is the largest festival on Earth, taking place once every 12 years, with more than 50 million Hindu pilgrims gathering to pray and bathe in the holy Ganges river.

For more photos and info about the Kumbh Mela festival, read the album description.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC04146 - Storm Damage & Flood - Bamboo Structure Toppled by the Wind - Kumbh Mela 2013 (India) by Loupiote

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Flooded street and collapsed bamboo structure at the Kumbh Mela 2013 Hindu festival near Allahabad (India)

This was the gate of an Ashram, toppled and destroyed by the storm.

A big wind and rain storm caused extensive damage and flooding in the entire Kumbh Mela ground. The festival basically shut down two weeks early because of the destruction and flooding.

Kumbh Mela is the largest festival on Earth, taking place once every 12 years, with more than 50 million Hindu pilgrims gathering to pray and bathe in the holy Ganges river.

For more photos and info about the Kumbh Mela festival, read the album description.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC00234 - Hindu Decorated Cow - Sacred Cow by Loupiote

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What made this Indian bull especially Holy is the strange long wattle protrusion at the back of his hump. This is an excrescence of skin, similar to the wattle that goats have under their neck, but much bigger! Hindu pilgrims would touch the wattle for good luck, and donate money to the owner of the Holy Bull.

Photo taken in Daraganj during the Kumbh Mela 2013 festival near Allahabad (India)

Kumbh Mela is the largest festival on Earth, taking place once every 12 years, with more than 50 million Hindu pilgrims gathering to pray and bathe in the holy Ganges river.

For more photos and info about the Kumbh Mela festival, read the album description.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC00226 - Hindu Man Touching the Wattle on Hump of Holy Cow Brings Good Luck by Loupiote

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What made this bull especially Holy is the strange long wattle protrusion at the back of his hump. This is an excrescence of skin, similar to the wattle that goats have under their neck, but much bigger. It looks like a beaver tail, and it feels soft and warm when touching it.

Pilgrim would touch the wattle for good luck, and donate money to the owner of the Holy Bull.

Photo taken in Daraganj during the Kumbh Mela 2013 festival near Allahabad (India)

Kumbh Mela is the largest festival on Earth, taking place once every 12 years, with more than 50 million Hindu pilgrims gathering to pray and bathe in the holy Ganges river.

For more photos and info about the Kumbh Mela festival, read the album description.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC00816 - Five Legged Holy Cow (India) by Loupiote

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This calf has an extra leg attached to the top of her neck. This is a birth defect called Polymelia, where conjoint twins starts developing but one twin degenerated completely except for one or more limbs, which end up attached to the other twin.

With cows, the one or two extra limbs are often attached to the top of the cow's neck. This extra legs are shrunken, deformed and non-functional, and they get strange long nails (since the nails on normal cow legs get worn by walking).

In India, when a calf is born with extra leg or two, this is like winning the jackpot: those 5 legged and 6 legged cows are seen are very holy, and the owner will parade them around and receive donations from Hindu devotees.

These two calves (one with 5 legs, and the other one with 6 legs) were transported around the city in a specially designed motor rickshaw, covered with images of the famous "Sai Baba" (not sure why).

For more info about Polymelia, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymelia.

Photo taken in Varanasi - also known as Benares (India).

For more info about Varanasi, go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi.

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DSC00492 - burning man 2007 - Apocalypse Stagecoach by Loupiote

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Apocalypse Stagecoach by Renn Jinn Bao Puppet Theater - see www.apocalypsestagecoach.com

Photo taken at the Burning Man 2007 festival (Black Rock Desert, Nevada).

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC01525 - burning man 2007 - Fire - Temple of Forgiveness by Loupiote

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Temple of Forgiveness - Designed by David Best and Tim Dawson - see ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/thetemplecrew/

Photo taken at the Burning Man 2007 festival (Black Rock Desert, Nevada).

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

DSC01937 - Small Decorative Skeletons - Dia de los Muertos Procession (San Francisco) by Loupiote

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Women holding small skeleton made of transparent colored beads.

Photo taken at the Dia de los Muertos procession in the Mission (San Francisco) on Nov 2, 2014.

For more photos and more info on this event, please check out my Dia de los Muertos series.

If you like this photo, follow me on instagram (tristan_sf) and don't hesitate to leave a comment or email me.

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