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Travel Mandalas
by Sean Whitehill
Travel Mandalas Logo
Travel Mandalas
by Sean Whitehill

Tourism and Landmarks
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The Papantla Flyers of Playa del Carmen, Mexico

20cm (W) x 20cm (H)
Ink and Pencil on 200gsm acid-free paper

$ 485.00 AU

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Buy as a print (from AU$85)

When I arrived in the eastern-most corner of Mexico, I’d never heard of this ritual. It wasn’t until I checked into Playa del Carmen and took a beach stroll that I stumbled upon it, in Fundadores Park. What a curiosity.

Five ornately dressed fellows climb to the top of a thirty metre pole, four of them attach themselves to rope by the waist, as a fifth literally dances on the top of the pole while playing a flute and beating a drum. The ‘flying bird men’ then launch themselves backwards like scuba divers off a boat, and gradually descend in a spiral as the rope uncoils itself from the pole. Apparently, this is essentially a 'rain dance' in the hopes of a good harvest. Amazing to see. 

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