This book captures glimpses of sights and cuisines from my experiences around the country of New Zealand. The photographs that I have taken are completed with short captions that describe more about the pictures.

I hope this book has given you some insights into this country and what makes it a true paradise. For those of us that live in New Zealand, I hope it has been a reminder of appreciating how beautiful this place is that we call home.

�Why stand when you can sit?� Composer and bandleader Duke Ellington

�The Duke knew what he was talking about ‒ sitting around is one of life�s real pleasures.

The subjects of these photos, snapped at leisure in various parts of the world, are proof that despite the best efforts of technology, time management, deadlines and the pace of life generally, the ancient and noble art of sitting around is alive and well.

Apart from identifying their locations, I have left it up to you to imagine the backgrounds: the excitement, the pathos, the drama, the ennui ‒ even the wonder ‒ of each scene.

So sit back and relax. After all, that�s what this book is all about!

�Why stand when you can sit?� Composer and bandleader Duke Ellington

�The Duke knew what he was talking about ‒ sitting around is one of life�s real pleasures.

The subjects of these photos, snapped at leisure in various parts of the world, are proof that despite the best efforts of technology, time management, deadlines and the pace of life generally, the ancient and noble art of sitting around is alive and well.

Apart from identifying their locations, I have left it up to you to imagine the backgrounds: the excitement, the pathos, the drama, the ennui ‒ even the wonder ‒ of each scene.

So sit back and relax. After all, that�s what this book is all about!

�Why stand when you can sit?� Composer and bandleader Duke Ellington

�The Duke knew what he was talking about ‒ sitting around is one of life�s real pleasures.

The subjects of these photos, snapped at leisure in various parts of the world, are proof that despite the best efforts of technology, time management, deadlines and the pace of life generally, the ancient and noble art of sitting around is alive and well.

Apart from identifying their locations, I have left it up to you to imagine the backgrounds: the excitement, the pathos, the drama, the ennui ‒ even the wonder ‒ of each scene.

So sit back and relax. After all, that�s what this book is all about!

A longed desired trip to see Mount Everest in Nepal became the event of a lifetime for two Midwesterners whose mountain hiking preparation was minimal. This photographic memoir is compiled in homage to the inspiration that carried two neophytes to 17,000 feet on the slopes of the world�s tallest mountain.

A longed desired trip to see Mount Everest in Nepal became the event of a lifetime for two Midwesterners whose mountain hiking preparation was minimal. This photographic memoir is compiled in homage to the inspiration that carried two neophytes to 17,000 feet on the slopes of the world�s tallest mountain.

A longed desired trip to see Mount Everest in Nepal became the event of a lifetime for two Midwesterners whose mountain hiking preparation was minimal. This photographic memoir is compiled in homage to the inspiration that carried two neophytes to 17,000 feet on the slopes of the world�s tallest mountain.

Images in this book were shot in May 2006 during a journey the author took from Hong Kong to Guanxi, Guizhou and Yunnan. �Through this book the author wishes to share her observations and feelings as to how the achievement in economic advancement by China in the recent decades reflects in some remote areas.

With her camera, the author steered away from the known tourist trail and found her way into small villages where she captured through her lens images of people and landscape in the raw.� These images unfolded the life of the ethnic minority people at that moment in time.

Better known today, Guizhou is one of the most beautiful provinces in China. Situated in southwest China it is bordered by Yunnan to the west, Sichuan to the north, Hunan to the east and Guanxi to the south. Guizhou is a multicultural province with the fifth largest ethnic population in China.

There are 56 ethnic groups officially recognised by the People�s Republic of China. Over 90% of the population was classified as Han Chinese.� Guizhou has thirteen distinct ethnic groups living alongside the Han Chinese.�

This book portrays five of the groups: the Dong, the Miao, the Gejia, the Bouyei and the Long Horn Miao and provides a taste of China�s multiple peoples and landscapes that may be a beginning for readers to registering China as a reality instead of a myth in the world.

With the nation�s prodigious expansion, these villages of Guizhou appeared to have eluded the anomalies and upheavals witnessed in other towns and cities. Over 80% of the population live in rural area; there is clear evidence of hard living in this poor region of thin lime soil. With new liberal initiatives, life for the people has been improved.

Images in this book were shot in May 2006 during a journey the author took from Hong Kong to Guanxi, Guizhou and Yunnan. �Through this book the author wishes to share her observations and feelings as to how the achievement in economic advancement by China in the recent decades reflects in some remote areas.

With her camera, the author steered away from the known tourist trail and found her way into small villages where she captured through her lens images of people and landscape in the raw.� These images unfolded the life of the ethnic minority people at that moment in time.

Better known today, Guizhou is one of the most beautiful provinces in China. Situated in southwest China it is bordered by Yunnan to the west, Sichuan to the north, Hunan to the east and Guanxi to the south. Guizhou is a multicultural province with the fifth largest ethnic population in China.

There are 56 ethnic groups officially recognised by the People�s Republic of China. Over 90% of the population was classified as Han Chinese.� Guizhou has thirteen distinct ethnic groups living alongside the Han Chinese.�

This book portrays five of the groups: the Dong, the Miao, the Gejia, the Bouyei and the Long Horn Miao and provides a taste of China�s multiple peoples and landscapes that may be a beginning for readers to registering China as a reality instead of a myth in the world.

With the nation�s prodigious expansion, these villages of Guizhou appeared to have eluded the anomalies and upheavals witnessed in other towns and cities. Over 80% of the population live in rural area; there is clear evidence of hard living in this poor region of thin lime soil. With new liberal initiatives, life for the people has been improved.

A photographic journal of the Loess Plateau in the northern Shaanxi of China as seen by the author in 2008, this book is about one of the �Remote China� travels the author undertook in recent years when China has achieved high economic growth and set a new tone for Chinese Communism.

Contains over 330 images of the landscape, the people and its habitat, the book highlights the evolution of the modern day life from primitive villages of cave dwellings at ancient times and the remains of the traditional Ming and Ching dynasty architecture and craftsmanship during a period of prosperity in the 17th & 18th centuries. The ingenuity of adopting the traditional Chinese architecture to the difficult topography of the Loess Plateau is clearly demonstrated in the book.

Images of old family estates, small vanishing villages to larger towns and cities were shot from nine locations: Mizhi, Yangjiagou, Chang�s Fazenda. Gausigou, Jian Jia Da Yuan, Wubu, Qikou, Lijiashan and Yan�an. Some of these locations are particularly relevant to the communist Red Revolution during the period of 1934 to 1948 before the new People�s Republic of China was born. Mao Zedong and other Communist Party leaders lived in 37 of the cave dwellings in some of these villages until they crossed the Yellow River from Wubu in 1948 and won the revolution in 1949.

The images document the transformed Gousigou, a village on the plateau, from a harsh and barren environment to a thriving village. They also capture how life changes when links between town and country are available.

Sensitised by emotion, the images reflected the dramatic changes in some traditional culture and customs. The revolutionary Waist Drum Dance and the traditional Moon Festival celebration are disappearing. The images show that the practice of the modern Harvest Dance although departs from it�s original purpose, is enjoyed by the public at large.

Traces of the past hardships are left on the older faces despite improvement of their life in later years. They are seen to have discarded the little Red Book, but are still hanging on with their Mao suits. Embracing consumerism, just a few steps behind, the young appears not dissimilar with those of the western world. This book contains over 100 images of a wide range of ordinary people getting on with their life in September 2008.

The book gives an insight to the flux of change in China, specifically, the once remote area of the Loess Plateau.

A photographic journal of the Loess Plateau in the northern Shaanxi of China as seen by the author in 2008, this book is about one of the �Remote China� travels the author undertook in recent years when China has achieved high economic growth and set a new tone for Chinese Communism.

Contains over 330 images of the landscape, the people and its habitat, the book highlights the evolution of the modern day life from primitive villages of cave dwellings at ancient times and the remains of the traditional Ming and Ching dynasty architecture and craftsmanship during a period of prosperity in the 17th & 18th centuries. The ingenuity of adopting the traditional Chinese architecture to the difficult topography of the Loess Plateau is clearly demonstrated in the book.

Images of old family estates, small vanishing villages to larger towns and cities were shot from nine locations: Mizhi, Yangjiagou, Chang�s Fazenda. Gausigou, Jian Jia Da Yuan, Wubu, Qikou, Lijiashan and Yan�an. Some of these locations are particularly relevant to the communist Red Revolution during the period of 1934 to 1948 before the new People�s Republic of China was born. Mao Zedong and other Communist Party leaders lived in 37 of the cave dwellings in some of these villages until they crossed the Yellow River from Wubu in 1948 and won the revolution in 1949.

The images document the transformed Gousigou, a village on the plateau, from a harsh and barren environment to a thriving village. They also capture how life changes when links between town and country are available.

Sensitised by emotion, the images reflected the dramatic changes in some traditional culture and customs. The revolutionary Waist Drum Dance and the traditional Moon Festival celebration are disappearing. The images show that the practice of the modern Harvest Dance although departs from it�s original purpose, is enjoyed by the public at large.

Traces of the past hardships are left on the older faces despite improvement of their life in later years. They are seen to have discarded the little Red Book, but are still hanging on with their Mao suits. Embracing consumerism, just a few steps behind, the young appears not dissimilar with those of the western world. This book contains over 100 images of a wide range of ordinary people getting on with their life in September 2008.

The book gives an insight to the flux of change in China, specifically, the once remote area of the Loess Plateau.

"Bringing to you the Hellenic world through the encaptivating images of Banayiodis Nikos. From Kerkyra to Crete from churches to beaches, this is more than just a photography book. Packed with facts about the Hellenic world, this book is like a personal tour of Greece and Cyprus with your own personal local Greek man as your guide" * The Official Hellenic Dreams Book * A travel guide, fact and photography book all in one * Packed with over 70 unique facts about the Hellenic World * Written by and photography by one of the locals, Banayiodis Nikos * Enjoy 73 beautifully composed pictures

"Bringing to you the Hellenic world through the encaptivating images of Banayiodis Nikos. From Kerkyra to Crete from churches to beaches, this is more than just a photography book. Packed with facts about the Hellenic world, this book is like a personal tour of Greece and Cyprus with your own personal local Greek man as your guide" * The Official Hellenic Dreams Book * A travel guide, fact and photography book all in one * Packed with over 70 unique facts about the Hellenic World * Written by and photography by one of the locals, Banayiodis Nikos * Enjoy 73 beautifully composed pictures

"Bringing to you the Hellenic world through the encaptivating images of Banayiodis Nikos. From Kerkyra to Crete from churches to beaches, this is more than just a photography book. Packed with facts about the Hellenic world, this book is like a personal tour of Greece and Cyprus with your own personal local Greek man as your guide" * The Official Hellenic Dreams Book * A travel guide, fact and photography book all in one * Packed with over 70 unique facts about the Hellenic World * Written by and photography by one of the locals, Banayiodis Nikos * Enjoy 73 beautifully composed pictures

The AuthorsNina Carey Tassi was born inChicago and grew up in South Bend,Indiana. She received graduate degreesin English from Columbia Universityand Fordham University, then launchedher career in university administrationand teaching in Maryland and NewYork. As a professor of English, she hastaught literature, creative writing, andjournalism as well as designed a master’sdegree program in creative writing.During several years when she workedas a prize-winning journalist, her book,Urgency Addiction, was published andtranslated into Chinese. Now serving asa consultant on international programs inNew York City, she travels extensivelyand often fi nds poetic inspiration alongthe way. Her poetry appears regularly in The Penwood Review and other journals. Her new book,The Jeremiah Tree, is a collaborative work of poetry and painting.Pat Roach was born and raisedin Gahanna, Ohio. She received herbachelor’s degree from Ohio StateUniversity and her master’s degree inbusiness administration from WrightState University. She graduated fromthe New York Institute of Photography,and after serving in several professionalpositions in Dayton, Louisville, andNew York City, she now makes herhome in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Whilecontinuing to hone her photographyskills in workshops with Southwesternmasters, she has traveled to all sevencontinents and more than thirtycountries to photograph beautifullandscapes. A major new archeologicalproject is photographing petroglyphs,the ancient drawings and carvings on rocks discovered in the New Mexico hills, with the imagesrecorded in the state archeological data base. Pat’s photography was featured in a recent catalog ofPhotographer’s Edge.