Buddha bathing day

The He Hua temple on Zeedijk in Amsterdam celebrated Buddha’s birthday, or ‘bathing day‘ on Nieuwmarkt today. I went specifically to take photographs, but came back a little embarrassed. My fellow photographers (those carrying serious glass) didn’t seem to care this was a religious celebration. They were crawling all over the event, with little regard for altars and worshippers. But perhaps the worst of all was the guy with the tiny digital camera who first told other people to GET OUT OF HIS LINE OF VIEW and then walked right up to the main altar near the end of proceedings, NEVER TAKING THE HUGE CIGAR OUT OF HIS MOUTH. This is the rudest country in the world.

I came away with some good shots, wishing I’d got a few more of the green dragon on sticks.



Definitely some great pictures, I know exactly what you mean with the embarrassment. It’s usually the real rude, loud people who demand a certain respect for themselves but which they refuse to give to others.
Marcel (link) – 22 May 2005 – 13:36

Some nice and colourful photos there! That 85mm/f1.8 lens really seems be be worth looking out for.
Wilco – 23 May 2005 – 10:56