It's Saturday. Time to crank this thing forward. It is the new year after all. Here's a photo from a recent Saturday in Thailand. This wasn't purely a Buddhist parade, but the students were in it along with marching bands and whatever. This is one on the many photos I've posted to flickr groups lately. It's fun growing the stats.
Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts
Showing posts with label photos. Show all posts
11/01/2014
Saturday parade
It's Saturday. Time to crank this thing forward. It is the new year after all. Here's a photo from a recent Saturday in Thailand. This wasn't purely a Buddhist parade, but the students were in it along with marching bands and whatever. This is one on the many photos I've posted to flickr groups lately. It's fun growing the stats.
22/12/2013
Buddha's lizards
Buddha and his lizards Sukhothai |
We leave for Hong Kong in the morning and, on the 26th, fly from there to the US, arriving in Oregon 40 minutes later. I'm going to miss Thailand and all the lovely Buddhas here but it's time to go, at least for now.
Buddha and his lizards Sukhothai |
Lately, I've been in a kind of emotional undertow. Sensory overload, I suppose. We've been traveling for the last nine months and, though I'm not all that excited about returning "home" I think, for a while anyway, it's where I need to be.
Labels:
note to self,
photos,
Thailand,
travel notes
21/12/2013
21/11/2013
Koh Kood, hello and good-bye
Breakfast with Swami, Mangrove Bungalow |
I'm sitting at a table in the open air restaurant at Mangrove Bungalow. It's got a lovely deck which extends out over the mangrove lined Klong Chao and is a great place to start the day. The river is high this morning but that varies with the tides. It's basically the Alligator Creek of Thailand only, instead of flowing into the Gulf of Mexico, the Chao moves through the mangroves and palm trees on its way to the Gulf of Thailand.
Coconut boat - Koh Kood Thailand |
The last 10 days we've been staying at a family run place on Koh Kood called Mangrove Bungalow. We're paying $30 (US) a night, breakfast included, which makes it all possible. There's one resort on the island where accommodations go for as much as $17,0000 (US) a night but I wouldn't even want to stay in a bubble like that. Our cabin is 10 feet from the river. And it's a nice place. So what if nobody speaks much English? It gets awkward at times, but everybody is low key and we’re about a quarter mile from the beach so really. What’s to complain about? We point and smile and otherwise they ignore us. Here, in the land of smiles, a smile goes a long way, even when they're fake.
View from the cabin, Mangrove Bungalow |
Thailand has a lot to recommend it. The people are nice and the country itself is warm, colorful, exotic, beautiful and as lively or quiet as you want it to be. We prefer quiet and, other than the ringing of the cicada, (which I love) Koh Kood is not one of the party islands. It's quiet here. It's the kind of place people come to relax. It's a family destination. Beyond that, the tourists seem to be mostly Russian or Scandinavian. We haven't seen any other Americans. My theory is that, other than tours, most Americans are convinced the world is far too dangerous to explore.
Swami and Buddha on Koh Kood |
The hard part for me is the food. There really is a food barrier and here in Koh Kood I hit it hard. It's like people have never even heard of anyone being a vegetarian. Forget about finding tofu. We haven't even been able to get beans. The other day we ordered kale at at restaurant and it came with huge chunks of pork. But we spend a good part of every day exploring the island and its beaches on a motorbike which, for me is kind of scary, but also a helluva lot of fun. The island doesn't have any wilderness but it's not overdeveloped ... yet.
Buddha looking over bay |
Nothing I say today, no photos I may post, guarantee Koh Kood will be the same even a year from now. Progress. Sometimes it sucks. But, for today, Koh Kood it still kind of sleepy and rural and clean. If this were Mexico, the rivers would be choked with plastic bottles and bags and foamy with soap and sewage. Not so here. They are all remarkably clean. And we’ve biked just about every road on the island and hiked a bit and there is no litter along the side of any road or in the forest. Some homes have litter around them but it's contained. Wake up, Mexico and Central America.
Swami and Buddha on Koh Kood |
In the morning we return to Bangkok for three days then we're going to Cambodia to visit the World Heritage Site, Angkor Wat. I have to clear some hard drive space before then. I'm nearly out of storage.
Labels:
photos,
Thailand,
travel notes
17/11/2013
27/10/2013
Beijing
Sunday is maid's day off in Hong Kong. It's the law. Mostly they hang out all day in the street as they have no where else to go. It's sad. But yesterday was special. Big international festival in Kowloon. Last night I posted some photos here but no time for words.
Okay. It's 5 AM. We're leaving for Beijing in a few minutes. M. Lee is giving me that look. Gotta go.
Star above the mid-levels. Hong Kong |
Labels:
China,
photos,
travel notes
24/10/2013
Hong Kong photo link
Hong Kong photos here. Yesterday we went to Macau so the ones I uploaded this morning are from there. You won't find much of the regular Macau. As usual, I am attracted by obscure corners. We started at a very popular temple, but I
didn't get one photo of the main alter. Instead I photographed the dieties I found tucked away in a closet in a courtyard were the workers store their tools, buckets and brooms.
Ok. Gotta go. Must meet M. Lee and his mom downtown.
Labels:
China,
photos,
travel notes
21/10/2013
Jackhammer morning
It's not as bad as it sounds. The jackhammers are not in my head. They are part of Hong Kong's eternal ambiance along with bamboo scaffolding and the sharp echos bouncing between the virus like residential spires rising up from the island rock of the South China Sea.
As usual, M. Lee has us on the run like rats so gotta go but here are a few photos for now. Have a great day.
As usual, M. Lee has us on the run like rats so gotta go but here are a few photos for now. Have a great day.
View from the "courtyard" |
Saddest street sign I ever saw |
Labels:
China,
Hong Kong,
photos,
travel notes
07/10/2013
One picture is worth
Ok. Time to roll this page forward.
I'm very distracted at the moment. We leave for China in just over a week and everyday I'm running around doing errands so tonight I have little tolerance for words although I have spent an absurd amount of time fussing over these few. It must end. Here are some photos instead.
I'm very distracted at the moment. We leave for China in just over a week and everyday I'm running around doing errands so tonight I have little tolerance for words although I have spent an absurd amount of time fussing over these few. It must end. Here are some photos instead.
Mr. Leo discovers Florida
and an egret in the Century Plant
Summer 2013
and an egret in the Century Plant
Summer 2013
Those are Frankie's feet in the lower right hand corner. |
Bird on the Century Plant |
Leo in the fronds |
Meeting the mammoth of long ago |
Father, son and the sea |
16/10/2012
LA outtakes for the last three days
Arrival
LA at night |
We didn't leave Nevada until nearly four in the afternoon
on Sunday. We drove so we got into LA pretty late.
Minerva loved it but we were pretty rummy by the time we arrived.
on Sunday. We drove so we got into LA pretty late.
Minerva loved it but we were pretty rummy by the time we arrived.
Home for the next week. |
The Piccadilly is right in the middle of downtown but
was built in 1928 and embodies the charm of old Hollywood.
We have a top (7th) floor, two bedroom apartment.
was built in 1928 and embodies the charm of old Hollywood.
We have a top (7th) floor, two bedroom apartment.
His mom joined us from Oregon. |
M. Lee found the place on AirBnB. It's way nicer and cheaper
than a motel would be, plus it's really interesting staying in a stranger's home.
than a motel would be, plus it's really interesting staying in a stranger's home.
Norton Simon Museum
The Mulberry Tree by Vincent van Gogh (1889) |
Van Gogh did this painting shortly after entering the asylum near Arles.
Less than eight months after completing it, he committed suicide.
Less than eight months after completing it, he committed suicide.
Venice Beach
The Green Doctors of Venice Beach |
Whatever anyone thinks about the "morality of marijuana",
growing pot and selling pot legally in the US is not only good medicine
and a good business, it castrates the cartels by gutting their profits.
growing pot and selling pot legally in the US is not only good medicine
and a good business, it castrates the cartels by gutting their profits.
Labels:
photos,
travel notes
15/08/2012
London dog
One thing I loved about London, dogs are permitted on public transportation.
There are some restrictions but, in general, if you can carry your dog up and down the escalators and they are well behaved, then they can ride.
This fellow was having a great time. I'm not sure all the passengers were amused but some were, including me.
That is all.
There are some restrictions but, in general, if you can carry your dog up and down the escalators and they are well behaved, then they can ride.
This fellow was having a great time. I'm not sure all the passengers were amused but some were, including me.
That is all.
Labels:
critters,
London,
photos,
travel notes,
UK
14/08/2012
Hemp Expo
I snapped this photo the other day from the bike trail near Central Point. Good old Oregon! In case you're wondering, I'm for legalizing all drugs. Legalize, tax and regulate.
It's not a moral issue although people who are unrealistic and/or uninformed and/or proud and/or churchy busybodies and/or flat out stupid still, against all evidence to the contrary, insist on thinking so. Drug use is not going away. Prohibition just does not work. Never has. Never will! It makes matters worse. Ask any prison guard. Corrupt governments (insert gov. of choice here), cartels, mafias, drug dealers and street gangs of every size and description FUCKING LOVE prohibition because guarantees astronomical profits. So, happy expo!
Good old Oregon. Always in the forefront. |
It's not a moral issue although people who are unrealistic and/or uninformed and/or proud and/or churchy busybodies and/or flat out stupid still, against all evidence to the contrary, insist on thinking so. Drug use is not going away. Prohibition just does not work. Never has. Never will! It makes matters worse. Ask any prison guard. Corrupt governments (insert gov. of choice here), cartels, mafias, drug dealers and street gangs of every size and description FUCKING LOVE prohibition because guarantees astronomical profits. So, happy expo!
Labels:
opinion,
photos,
rants,
reality checks,
sightings
19/07/2012
Photos du jour
PARIS STREET SCENES
Woman and flowers by Quai du Valmy |
Homeless guys watching TV under bridge over the Seine. |
Mimes along Quai de Valmy |
Father and son bazar on Boulevard Barbès. The son is out of sight but the father is seated inside. |
Mannequins on Boulevard Barbès |
Labels:
EU,
Paris,
photos,
travel notes
16/07/2012
Five-thousand six hundred and fifty-three
That's how many photos I've taken on this trip so far.
Honey, you've got a problem. |
Well, it's an estimate really because that number
Jesus! |
does not include the ones I've deleted.
Get some help. Vous êtes lunatique, ma chérie! |
Five thousand is not that many.
Home of forty to fifty-thousand books |
There are way more books at the Abbey in the Latin Quarter.
Labels:
note to self,
photos,
travel notes
01/07/2012
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