A Fisherman of Chennai, India

A Fisherman of Chennai, India, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

While in India near Mamallapuram, I walked along the beach to a fishing comunity. This community was hard hit by the 2004 tsunami but had recovered largely thanks to help from some German organisations who had provided new boats. The locals were quite friendly especially as they could speak some English and were only too happy to talk to me. This is one guy who caught my eye and was only too happy to have his photograph taken.

Incredible India

Krishna's Butterball, Mamallapuram, Chennai, India, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

This is Krishna's Butterball in Mamaalpuram near Chennai India. It is a huge rock which seems precariously balanced but I guess stronger men than I have failed to push it over. Still it is quite an amazing site.

The Udon Thani Tuk Tuk

P1080254, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Since living in Asia, I have discovered that tuk tuks come in all shapes and sizes other than the ubiquitous Bangkok tuk tuk. This one was seen outside the station in Udon Thani and seems to be pretty tyoical for the area. I am currently in India where they are different again and are predominently yellow in colour. But then I am in Chennai so they maybe a different colour elsewhere in India.

Cappuccino coffe Laos Style

Cappuccino coffe Laos Style, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

How about this for a work of art? This was a cappuccino coffee served in a small cafe in Vientiane, Laos.

The Sleeping Policeman

Caught asleep on duty, Grand Palace, Bangkok, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Caught asleep at the Grand Palace in Bankok or was he? Maybe he was just bored

The Tired Street Vendor

The Tired Street Vendor, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

This guy has obviously had enough of lugging around his baskets of fruit and fallen asleep. As he carries a small stool with him, he obviously makes a habit of it. I can't say that I blame him as the heat in Bangkok can be oppressive and those baskets look heavy.

This is taken at Chit Lom just opposite the Central department store.

bb

Street Food, Bangkok

Street Food, Bangkok

Street Food, Bangkok, Thailand, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Street food is everywhere in Bangkok. Vendors are seen all over the city pushing their carts loaded with fruit, curries, kebabs, fried insects etc. These kebabs look particularly appetising - meat, peppers and pineapple.

Standards of hygiene could be better it has to said but the food doesnt seem to do the Bangkokians much harm.

See more photos and travel stories at http://kevinhellon.googlepages.com

Roses in Chinatown

Flower/Vegetable market, Chinatown, Bangkok, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Close to Chinatown is the flower market where you can buy mnay different flowers and bouquets. This being Thailand, there are lots of orchids but also roses seem to very popular and very cheap. A large bunch of roses will set you back about 50 baht or about 70 pence.

See more photos and travel stories at http://kevinhellon.googlepages.com

Bar in Chatuchak

Bar in Chatuchak, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Chatuchak market other wise known as Jatujak or "JJ" to the locals is an enormous weekend market with thousands of stalls. In fact, much of it is open throughout the week. It is located in the north of Bangkok tends to be very hot and I have also noticed that it seems to get more than ots fair share of thunderstorms. As my wife likes to shop there, I inevitably getted dragged along from time to time but there is a little oasis in the midst of this shopping desert and this is the place in section 26/161 which is fairly close to the edge of the section. A great place to have a beer, it has a great atmosphere and I have seen many a weary tourist's eyes light up as they accidentally come across it. The staff are very pleasant, if not a bit strange. At least one is a katoey (or ladyboy) and another is obviously a Bob Marley freak with dreadlocks. They tend to make up large concoctions of whisly & soda or tequila and lime to sip in between serving their customers. Although the sale of beer is officially prohibited between 2 and 5 pm, it does not seem to be a big issue in this establishment.
Despite being a frequent visitor, I ave absolutely no idea what this bar is called. I must ask next time I go.

Bangkok, Skytrain Security Guard

Bangkok, Skytrain Security Guard, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

THis is the Skytrain in Bangkok which has been open since about 1999. When it first opened it was virtually empty and you could get a seat everytime. How things have changed. It is virtually impossible to get a seat anytime. Still very limited extensions are currently under way and there are more lines planned but this is Thailand so dont hold your breath in the hope that a new line will be appearing soon.

Chinese Temple

Chinese Temple, Bangkok, Thailand, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Bangkok has a large Chinatown and many of the Thais hail from Chinese descendants so it is not surprising that Chineses temples abound in Bangkok. They tend to be quite small and often somewhat hidden in contrast to the huge Wat's that are the temples of the more traditional Thai form of Bhuddhism.

This temple is on a road running parallel with Silom Road and just behind the Central department store. It is typically adorned with dragons.

See more photos and travel stories at http://kevinhellon.googlepages.com

The Robin Hood Tuk Tuk

P1070264, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Seen from Phrong Prom skytrain station on Sukhumvit Road, I presume that this tuk tuk is owned by the Robin Hood pub which is was just passing.

See more photos and travel stories at http://kevinhellon.googlepages.com

The Beggars of Bangkok

Child Begging, Bangkok, Thailand, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

There seems to have been an increase in the number of beggars in Bangkok just lately. The tourist high season is approaching and I am sure there are now more on the streets.

There are different categories of beggar. There are the disabled, some of whom have really grotesque injuries caused by fire, leprosy or other causes. Some have lost their limbs and these are probably refugees from Cambodia. The infirm receive money from tourists and Thais alike, but be careful as they are not always what they seem. I have seen an apparent armless man begging with a cup in his mouth get up and move aware revealing a pair of perfectly functioning arms!

There are women with babies and very young children most of whom must be drugged because they all appear lifeless. These almost always part of an organised crime syndicate aimed at extracting money from the tourists. They are also unlikely to be Thai but Burmese or Cambodian.

There are children begging alone such as this little chap, sometimes they sit with a puppy in an attempt to extract even more sympathy and of course money. They are also at the mercy of unscrupulous operators or even parents. I have sometimes seen them with mobile phones obviously in touch with their minders.

Then there are the genuine homeless or mentally disturbed people who can usually be recognised because they are so filthy. These too arouse my sympathy.

If you are in Bangkok you will have to make your own mind up as to who receives your charity, but I for one will not give money as a reward for exploiting children.

See more photos and travel stories at http://kevinhellon.googlepages.com

#3 for interestingness on Flickr

The Classic Thailand Photo - Phi Phi Don Island, Thailand, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

According to Flickr, this is the 3rd most interesting photo in my collection. Personally I like this photo as for me it epitomises Thailand as a holiday destination. This is taken on Phi Phi Don Island in a particularly beautiful spot. Most people do not see this part of Phi Phi as it is on the north east corner of the island and there are only 3 hotels there. It is very quiet and peaceful.

See more photos and travel stories at http://kevinhellon.googlepages.com

Bangkok Monsoon Season

Bangkok Monsoon Season, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

It is the end of the monsoon season and sunshine and blue skies are now with us. It has been a pretty dry monsoon season at least in Bangkok. Other areas have not fared quite so well. Last week, Koh Samui was getting drenched to the extent that over 1000 tourists got stuck there as all flights were cancelled due to the inclement weather.

See more photos and travel stories at http://kevinhellon.googlepages.com

Shwedagon Pagoda, Rangoon(Yangon), Burma (Myanmar)

Shwedagon Pagoda, Rangoon(Yangom), Burma (Myanmar), originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Buma (Myanmar) has been in the news again recently due to the democracy protests there. The monks started it all and this picture is of the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Rangoon (Yangon). The pagoda is truly amazing and I took many photos while I was there. This photo (although in my opinion not the best photo I have of the pagoda) received more hits on FLICKR than any other photo.

See more photos and travel stories at http://kevinhellon.googlepages.com

TIme to reflect

This photo is taken in Hanoi Vietnam. The lake is Hoan Kiem which translated means Lake of the Returned Sword and is named after a local myth. I recently read that the lake is only about one and a half metres deep but there is a layer of 5 to 6 metres of toxic sludge on the bottom. Efforts are underway to clean the lake up which reportedly holds a giant 200 kg turtle.

See more photos and travel stories at http://kevinhellon.googlepages.com

Sleeping in Hanoi

We were recently in Hanoi again and I spotted this woman in the vegetable market fast asleep. Even the flash going in did not arouse her but then again I guess she had been up early to the wholesale market. We once arrived back in Hanoi by train at something like 5am in the morning and saw the wholesale market. It was incredibly busy, with people running around everywhere buying vegetables presumably for sale in the local markets.

See more photos and travel stories at http://kevinhellon.googlepages.com

#1 for interestingness in FLICKR

FLICKR is a photo sharing site where I keep all my photos. The site has an algorithm that measures your photos in terms of "interestingness". Exactly how this works is a mystery to all but the boffin at FLICKR who developed it. "Interestingness" is another one of those words concocted by our American cousins who seem to have a great propensity for making up words. However, that is another story.
I have decided to post some of my most interesting photos here. This one is, and has been for some time, my most interesting photo according to FLICKR. It has appeared at one time or another as one of FLICKR's top 500 most interesting photos for the day that it was loaded. Hope you like it. It was taken near Mui Ne in Vietnam although it looks more like it was taken in the Sahara Desert! If you look carefully, you can see some people standing on the dune to the right.

CLICK ON THE PHOTO TO SEE AN ENLARGED VERSION

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellon_earth/

The Dangers of the Monsoon Season

This photo was taken in July during the south west monsoon that affects Thailand during this period. Signs and red flags indicate that it is not safe to swim during this time but you can see that people still ignore the warnings. In the week that this photo was taken at least 4 people drowned on Phuket - 2 on Patong Beach, 1 on Bang Tao Beach and 1 on Nai Harn Beach. PLEASE heed the warnings if you go to Phuket during this period.

Floating Market, Thailand

Floating Market, Thailand, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

We recently visited the floating market which is probably in the top 5 tourist spots for visitors to Thailand. This is the first time we have been in all the time we have spent in Thailand.. This time of year is good for fruits which tend to be a little more exotic than the fruits found in Europe. This picture is typical of the floating market. The fruits are from front to back Jackfruit, Mangosteens, Dragonfruit and Lychees. On the boat at the side there are also some Longans and some Rose Apples. There are more such as Durian, Mango and Rambutan, all of which are dleicious.

TIT (This is Thailand)

This perhaps does not seem like a very interesting photo. However, look at the traffic lights and you will see that the green arrow is on green for traffic to proceed.... but so is the pedestrian sign! This is Thailand!

Long Tailed Boats and the Kongs

One of our recommended trips for visitors to Bangkok is to take a boat around the klongs (canals) of Bangkok. This gives a fascinating insight into local life in Bangkok. The fact that people live alongside, on and in these klongs offers some fascinating sights. The trip usually starts on the Chao Phraya river vith a visit to Wat Arun ( The Temple of Dawn) and then you head of down the klongs in a long tailed boat which traditionally have there prows adorned with (now mostly plastic) garlands. These boats normally have huge, unenclosed V8 engines with a long propeller attached (hence the name long tailed!) and they are capable of blasting along the river at tremendous speeds. Fortunately, they tend to go rather slower around the klongs. Unless you pursuade the driver otherwise, you will generally get to see various “sights” such as a snake farm, fish feeding floating vendors etc. Whatever, it is a trip worth doing.

The Colourful Bangkok Taxi

 

The Bangkok taxi has become very colourful and can now be found in blue, red, yellow, green, bronze, purple and pink like this one. At one time, they seemed to be either red and blue or green and yellow but now they have turned to these much brighter colours. Unfortunately, it does not make them go any faster in the Bangkok traffic. To do that, you need to risk life and limb on a motorcycle taxi!

The Love Circle

 

I saw this pair of dragonflies seemingly having a lot of fun and while I wasn't quite sure as to what they were doing, I had my suspicions. A little bit of research on the internet revealed that they were indeed indulging in a little bit of copulation. It seems that this little position is known as a "mating wheel". The male attaches the end of his abdomen to a fixture at the back of his mate's head while the femail attaches her genitalia to the male's member. If dragonflies are at all romantic, I am sure that they would refer to this as a "love circle" instead of a "mating wheel"

 

We spotted this sign in Kuantan, Malaysia last year whilst on holiday. In actual fact, we found Kuantan to be only slightly more welcoming than this sign!

 

Often seen in Thailand is the Bodhi tree decorated with pieces of coloured cloth. These trees are sacred in the Buddhist culture and symbolically represent the environment where Buddha gave his sermons and eventually lay down to die. They are often found in the grounds of temples and are revered by the Thais who bring offerings in the hope of receiving good luck.

Interesting Bars - The Volk Bar, Bangkok

Volk Bar, Bangkok, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

There are mnay interesting bars in Bangkok for a variety of reasons. This one is very much a novelty bar that can be found in Sukhumvit Soi 7. It is known as the Volk bar for obvious reasons and the sticker on the door claims that it was established in 1999. As you can see the bar has a few bar stools but also a number of tables on the pavement. It makes for an interesting photo but it is hardly a bar where you would spend the evening.

It actually seems to be not such a bad idea to list my favourite bars in here so I may well add other "interesting bars" to the blog although I tend not to have photographs as I do not take my rather large camera out with me in the evenings as a general rule.

I guess this is number 1 in the series then. Number 2 coming up tomorrow.

 

Summer has arrived in Bangkok. This seems a little strange as it more or less seems like summer all year round to me as the temperature rarely drops below 20 degrees centigrade and that is at night! However, Summer in Thailand means remorseless heat with temperatures topping 40 degrees C and with humidity to match. The heat arrives with a vengeance in March and gets hotter into April before the onset of the rainy season.

The rainy season lasts until October during which time it can rain every day especially in the afternoons. On the other hand, it may not rain for a couple of months at all during this period. The chances are that there will be some spectacular thunderstorms and almost certainly flash floods during this time. The rains in the north of Thailand gradually swell Bangkok's main river the Chao Phraya until by November it is often the case that the river banks are being propped up by sandbags and parts of Chinatown are under water. Flood prevention measures such as damming the river have been put into place but this has only alleviated the problem and not cured it as the authorities eventually have to open the dam gates in any case.

This photo is, as you may have guessed, not Bangkok but is taken in Phuket during the rainy season. A heavy storm rolled in across the Andaman sea and dumped its load. As luck would have it, it was lunch time so we ate lunch, by which time the sun had reappeared and we were able to continue our stroll along the beach in beautiful sunshine.

Backpackers in Bangkok

 

Anyone who has spent time as a backpacker in Bangkok will instantly recognise this location as the Khao San Road which is home to many a backpacker in Bangkok. We recently spent a very hot Sunday afternoon sat drinking beer in a cafe on the Khao San Road watching all the weird and wonderful individuals troop up and down. I have to say that it never ceases to amaze us how many people both young and not so young resort to this method of touring the world. I am sure some of them really do get to see the world but it often looks like they are just trudging from place to place spending all their time trying to find a cheap place to stay.

We are just glad we are not backpackers.

 

Chinatown in Bangkok has been around for about 200 years. It is quite a big area and is always busy with buyers and sellers of just about anything you can think of. Different parts of CHinatown sell different things and there are several markets. Sampeng Lane is a "walking street" meaning that there is no traffic but in reality this means not very much traffic as you still get the odd motorbike or scooter winding its way down the lane not to mention all the food, fruit and ice cream sellers pushing their carts. A glance at this photo gives a good idea of how busy and crowded this very narrow lane is. At times, there are so many people going in each direction that the flow literally comes to halt. Unfortunately, this is a haven for opportunistic pickpockets so it is best to hold on toght to your wallet!

All good things come to an end

 

All good things come to an end. So was the case on a recent holiday to Phuket. We never tire of Phuket as it has so much to offer and these days the infrastructure has improved so much. Some people hark back to the days when Phuket was a virtually unknown tropical island. So much has changed and personally, the thought of being all alone on a tropical island sounds just wonderful - for a day. For a holiday though, I prefer to have my comforts and a certain amount of commercialism. Phuket is thriving and is just as beautiful as it ever was with one or two exceptions. This photo was taken on Bang Tao beach which is just 5 minutes from our villa. It was at the end of a beautiful day which, like all good things inclding our holiday, was coming to an end.

Bangkok Street and T.I.T.

Bangkok Street, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

Expatriates in Thailand have an expression which is very frequently used to quell certain exasperations about the way that Thailand works. It is T.I.T. or This Is Thailand. It is used on all manner of occasions and this photograph represents a case when it can be used with all sincerity.
This is really a case of wonderful planning. These stairs belong to a bridge so that you can cross the road safely. But as you can see thay have been built with barely any room to pass. I guess most Thais are small enough to fit through the small gap but it is tight. You cannot walk around because of the barrier. Not sure which came first - the stairs or the barrier but it really took some great planning!