This year is about to end. I have chosen the best photographs captured during the year across the continents. Below are some of the best of the year 2022 photographs with a short piece of my impression of the places I have visited and lived for a while.
The year 2022 marked a new era in the world. It is for many reasons considered a paradigm shift in human lives. It is the continuum of what we all witnessed since 2019 till now. These years, no doubt, are sequential while testing human patience, limits, strengths, innovation, and beyond. Among all the oblivion and novel ways of coping with the developments in the world, I found myself on a journey of unlocking new ways of learning about history, geography, sustainability, and languages, and connecting with people across the continents.
In the past two and a half years, I was fortunate enough to meet people and travel in Europe and the USA. Finding myself in a new social, cultural, and geographical environment expanded my knowledge of diversity, and many ways the countries in Europe or states in the USA function and built on it.
Living in Italy was full of immersive experiences – stepping foot into Renaissance art and architecture, one of the oldest buildings on Earth, and museums full of artists’ imaginations that change human thought processes. Those artists made possible human knowledge expansion into science, cosmology, the body, and more. The magic and vibes these places transmitted around were surreal; I never had enough of it – each day walking in the city center revealed a different object, piece of art, music, or attraction. I am fascinated with Italian culture and the way they treat fellow humans; their food and craftsmanship were really what gave it a unique place in this world. We might underestimate saying “ good morning” or “ hello” to people – in Italy, everyone would say “ Ciao” at least a hundred times a day and “ Bongiorno” every morning – you will grow a huge love and appreciation for it.
Living in the Netherlands gave me an opportunity to realize that what I believe is good for this world and me is actually existing right there. Happiness is relative to me; however, I found people happy in the Netherlands – living life the way they want it. Bikes outnumber the Dutch population because they support and improve sustainable, healthy, and environmentally friendly living. Marijuana is legal, and happiness comes with a simple greeting: Hoi, Hoe gaat het? The Netherlands is a flat country, and people are straightforward – they do not settle for low, and the bars are highly positive. They will teach you what is standard but will never discourage any person.
Coming to the United States of America in July gave me sanctuary in a foreign land. I was welcomed by a beautiful person. She is an American mom with a Pakistani heart. Discovering life in America is a grand adventure. It is a huge country land-wise, with diversity in population, and almost everywhere in the world people have formed an opinion about America – no matter large or small. I came here in my adulthood, and it is an ongoing process. It will be part of the next piece and the new year 2023.
That’s all for this year.
You are here at the end of the blog; think about sharing. It takes a lot of effort to put together images and behind-the-scenes painstaking.
Happy New Year. Happy 2023!
Kashif Rustamani 