I took this photo in Phuket at Layan beach. At the end of the beacj there is a small river estuary where this boat lay. I like the photo for some reason and decided to play around with it a little bit in Photoshop which is photo editing software. This is the effect that I liked.
It is best viewed large which can be done by double clicking the image and then selecting "all sizes" followed by "large".
Monday, June 30, 2008
Photoshop effects
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Express Boat, Chao Phraya River, Bangkok
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| Express Boat, Chao Phraya River, Bangkok |
There are some parts of Bangkok where it is better to get around by express boat. This is certainly true around Rattanakosin Island which is the old part of Bangkok. This is where most of the tourist sites are also. Tourists do use the express boats but so do the locals. They are often packed as they zooom up and down the Chao Phraya River. They are also very cheap. The Chao Phraya itself separates Bangkok from Thonburi and is always full of all kinds of boats - longt ailed tourist boats, express boats, river ferries, pleasure boats and tugs pulling heavily laden barges. It is a very busy river.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
The British Club Bangkok Pipe Band
The British Club Bangkok hosted a celebration of the Queen's official birthday recently. I went along for a short time but very quickly retired to a nearby Irish pub to watch the rugby. However, I did have time to snap the British Club Bangkok Pipe Band who were making a splendid noise. I have to say that none of them looked too happy but then again it cant be too uch fun huffing and puffing in 34 degrees of polluted Bangkok heat. It seems to me that wherever you go, they always seem to be able to dig up a piper or two on these occasions. The same went for Burns night back in February which was held in the same Irish pub where I watched the rugby.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Sunsets of Thailand - Ao Phrao Beach, Koh Samet
There are some beautiful sunset locations in Thailand and koh Samet is one of my favourites.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The Rainy Season Koh Samet
It is the rainy season here in Thailand but not so as you would notice. We spent the weekend in Koh Samet, that beautiful little island which is situated about 2 hours east of Bangkok and is a favourite weekend destination of Thais and expats alike. As you can see we experienced wall to wall sunshine with barely a cloud to be seen all weekend. Being low season, the beaches were empty too. I guess we were just lucky.
Friday, June 20, 2008
My Friend, the Policeman
There I was minding my business and taking a few photos over by the Assmebly Building in Bangkok, when all of a sudden a policecar appears at the side of me. "Good afternoon", said the officer to which I responded equally politely. "Nice camera", he said "You take picture of me". Naturally ,I said yes and he positioned his car so that I could get the statue in the shot as well. After a few photos including some he shot of me, he invited me to sit in his police car while he gave me his address. This took some time - about 20 minutes, as he apparently had difficulty translating the Thai script into roman characters. I will send him the photos but it is anyone's guess if he will get them as his address is not that clear. Hopefully they will reach him as he was very keen to have his photo taken. It was a totally bizarre experience fo rme however.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Garden of Yves Saint Laurent, Marrakech, Morocco
Yves Saint Laurent, that most famous of couturiers died recently. Marrakech was one of his favourite places and where he had a home, and a garden which is open to the public. The garden is particularly notable for the cactii but also for the stunning colours that are used everwhere. The very intense blues contrast with vivid yellow pots and a terracotta floor.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Reclining Buddha, Wat Po, Bangkok
I have lived in Bangkok for some two and a half years this time, for 6 months previously, and I have visited on numerous occasions in the past. During this time, I have never been to Wat Po which is one of the 3 most famous attractions in Bangkok. The other two are, of course, the Grand Palace and Wat Arun otherwise known as the temple of dawn. I finally made it there recently and took some photos including this one of the famous reclining Buddha. Gold plated and measuring some 46 metres long and 15 metres high, it is an impressive sight. Wat Po is Bangoks oldest temple as well as being its largest.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Beaches of Thailand - Hua Hin
Hu Hin is located on the Gulf coast about 3 hours drive from Bangkok. It is a favourite place of the Thai Royal Family who have a palace there and is a favourite place for Thais at weekends. A favourite pastime, when in Hua Hin, is to visit one of the many seafood restaurants that jut out into the sea on stilts. All manner of seafood is available which is deliciously presented.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Wat Suan Dok, Chiang Mai
No visit to Chiang Mai would be complete without seeing at least one of the many wats(buddhist temples) that the city is famous for. This one is situated outside of the moated city and dates back to the 14th century. It was built by King Keu Na of Lanna and there are numerous chedi in the grounds that contain the remains of members from the former Chiang Mai Royal Family.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Dancers at the Chiang Mai Inthakin (City Pillar) Festival
The Chiang Mai Intakin Festival (Festival of the City Pillar) is held annually to invoke blessings of peace, happiness and prosperity for the city and its residents. It is held at Wat Chedi Luang, which is one of the original wats in Chiang Mai. One of the main events is the parading of the Buddha image names "Fon Saan Haa" which means "One hundred thousand drops of rain". Following the parade, the image is sprinkled with water by the local people who believe that by taking part in the ceremony, they will be blessed with good health and that the rain will fall in the right amounts at the right time during the year. For 7 days, the local people "make merit" by offering flowers and lighting candles to the Buddha image.
The festival this year began on Saturday 1st June.
Monday, June 02, 2008
Samlor at Thapae Gate, Chiang Mai, Thailand
As I have been in Chiang Mai this weekend, it is time to post some photos. This one I took in the evening just outside Thapae Gate which used to be the main gate in to the walled city. Times have changed of course as the city has outgrown the confines of the (remaining) walls and moat to expand well beyond the original boundaries. The gate is still important in Chiang Mai as the immediate area is the scene of many events including a market on Sundays. Samlors are still used in Chiang Mai and this guy just looks as though he is waiting for some traveller to come up the road towards the city.
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