Bang Saphan

Bang Saphan, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province, Thailand

Bang Saphan is a small town located in Prachuap Khiri Khan province in Thailand. It is well off the tourist route, although there are several beaches nearby. It has a railway station and a couple of river estuaries of which this is one. Sleepy is the best way to describe the area. Fishing and coconuts would appear to be the main source of income for the inhabitants.

Fish Boats, Istanbul

Fish Boats, Istanbul, Turkey

Not fishing boats! Theses three boats rocked about in the wash created by the numerous ferries that go backwards and forwards. Nevertheless the boats mange to cook and serve fish to their eager customers. The boats are brightly painted and the servers are dressed in traditional costumes making the whole event of cooking and serving fish quite an event.

The China Inn, Phuket City

The China Inn, Phuket City

The China Inn is cafe/restaurant located on Thalang Road in Phuket City. It has been restored carefully to its present state and is a good example of what can be done with the many chinese shophouses that line several roads in Phuket City.

The shopkeeper and his wife, Chinatown, Bangkok

The shopkeeper and his wife, Chinatown, Bangkok

Chinatown in Bangkok is a fascinating area of the city. It is one of the oldest areas of the city and is a hubub of activity. It seems as though it is possible to by almost anything there and there are thousands of shops and businesses all of which spill out onto the streets. This shopkeeper and his wife were more than happy to pose for a photo.

Hua Lampong Railway Station, Bangkok

There is something about railway stations as with airports that always gives me a buzz. As someone who loves to travel it is not difficult to understand why. This is Hua Lampong, Bangkok's main railway station serving trains across Thailand and through Malaysia to Singapore.

Add captHua Lampong Railway Station, Bangkokion

Phuket People - Girls at the Annual Hungry Ghost Festival, Phuket City

Add captionGirls at the Annual Hungry Ghost Festival, Phuket City

Phuket People - Girls at the Annual Hungry Ghost Festival, Phuket City, originally uploaded by HellonEarth2006.

The Ghost Festival, also known as the Hungry Ghost Festival, or Yu Lan is a traditional Chinese festival and holiday celebrated by Chinese in many countries. In the Chinese calendar (a lunisolar calendar), the Ghost Festival is on the 15th night of the seventh lunar month (14th in southern China).

In Chinese tradition, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month (鬼月), in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm.
(Wikipedia)
Phuket City which has many people of Chinese descent celebrates this festival each year.

Sunset, Otago Harbour, South Island, New Zealand

Sunset, Otago Harbour, South Island, New Zealand

This photo was taken just after a storm at Otago Harbour on South Island in New Zealand. The colours were fantastic.

Phuket People - Smile Girls!

I was walking around one the local villages named Ban Don, when I came across a man and his wife. I asked if it was ok to take their photo which I did but they then shouted to the back of the house and these two girls, who were obviously their granddaughters came and posed for a photo also.

Phuket People - The Building Site Labourer

This girl was working on a building site loading concrete breeze blocks into a wheelbarrow. It is not unusual to see women acting as labourers on building sites in Thailand or elsewhere in Asia for that matter.

The Sleeper

Vegetable market stall holders get up very early normally in order to procure their vegetables from the wholesalers, which is probably why they often fall asleep on their stalls during the day. This lady was asleep on her stall in Denpasar, Bali

Phuket People - The Latex Roller

Phuket is well known for the production of rubber. The island is full of rubber trees. The latex is collected in cups every day and it is then rolled into sheets before being despatched to the factory for processing. This lady is engaged in the latex rolling process.

Old Woman, Denpasar, Bali

Denpasar is the major town in Bali  and has a bustling market. There is lots going on and there are many interesting characters to photograph. This lady was just one of them. She was looking rather pensive as I took this shot.

Mellow Yellow

Walking through Denpasar in Bali, I came across the guitar propped up against a wall. Something about it caught my eye and then when I processed the picture, I came to the conclusion that it would look better if it was in black and white except for the guitar.

Butterfly Kites, Bali

The Balinese love to fly kites. Wherever you go you will see kites flying. Some are quite large while others such as these are very colouful.

Market, Bang Tao, Phuket

 

Steampunk HQ, Oamaru, South Island, New Zealand

 

Nai Yang Beach, Phuket, Thailand

 

Nugget Point, Otago, South Island, New Zealand

Nugget Point is one of the most iconic landforms on the Otago coast. Located at the northern end of the Catlins coast down the road from Kaka Point, this steep headland has a lighthouse at its tip, surrounded by rocky islets (The Nuggets). The point is home to many seabirds, including penguins, gannets and spoonbills, and a large breeding colony of fur seals.

The lighthouse was built in 1869 and stands 76 m (250 ft) above the water. It was automated in 1980 and is operated by Maritime New Zealand.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nugget_Point

Hoopers Inlet, Otago Peninsular, South Island, New Zealand

Early morning at Hoopers Inlet, Otago Peninsular, South Island, New Zealand. Calm weather with beutiful reflections on the still water.

Thai Army in Ceremonial Dress at the Funeral of HRH Princess Bejaratana Rajasuda

 

Royal funerals are a big occasion in Thailand. There is usually a huge procession around the Grand Palce in Bangkok as the body is taken to a specially prepared site at Sanam Luang where the cremation takes place. This is one section of the Thai armed forces that took part in the procession.