When 2 young children of Saw Kyi Lin’s friend were killed by Burma soldiers he decided to pick up the gun and join the armed Karen ethnic opposition. Saw Kyi Lin was fighting for freedom and peace of the Karen people in Burma, until the day when the land-mine he was going to plant exploded.

Fête Gede is the Haitian religious version of Day of the Dead, on the 2nd of November. Haiti, one of world’s poorest country,hit by a destructive earthquake on January 12 2010 which killed an estimate of 220,000 people. But Haitians don’t give up and walk through life as good and as bad as it comes. On 2 November the Gede festival is mainly concentrated around the main cemetery of country’s capital Port-au-Prince. In a scene of rituals the Haitian people honour the dead and the father of them all, Baron Samedi. People dressed in black, purple or white clothes dance wild, play music and drink alcohol. Some of them are believed to be possessed by the spirits. At the day of the festival of Gede, the Haitians move for one moment in happiness. At the day of the festival of Gede, the Haitians move for one moment in happiness.

I expected my stay would be very primitive, no electricity, bathing in the river, hunting or fishing for my own food. But things have changed a bit. Everyone has a mobile phone and almost every household has a huge satellitedish, they watch thai soaps every night. Hmong,originally meant people,but is now translated as free people, due to the pride they take with their success avoiding association or even contact with any particular government or external authority. But 30 years ago they had to start to work together with thai government, when the were forced to stop cultivating poppy fields. They are proud of their traditions. All Hmongs still believe in spirits living in the forest. But, the children and young people I met are talking about going to the big city and learning english. The daughter in law of the house where I was staying, works every day at home, making handicraft to sell to the tourists. I became quite close with her, because she wanted me to teach her english. Her biggest wish is to see the coast, and swim in the sea.