When you travel off the beaten path, you have to be prepared to stand out. People will stare, follow you, touch your hair; being a ‘minority’ is one of my favorite things about travel. I wandered into this village in the Hill Country of Sri Lanka and found these villagers celebrating a local festival. However when I showed up with my camera – I became the spectacle. Kids surrounded me, people tried to communicate with me, and they invited me to join in the celebration. Getting off the tourist trail is one of the most rewarding things you can do during your career break travels.

Photography Tip: Make sure that you ask people’s permission before taking photos like these, and if they say yes, then shoot away!

You can see more photos from this festival at Ottsworld – The Powers of Observation.

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