Four days in (outer) London

June 25, 2016

A whirlwind trip to London, centered in Syon Park. Oh yeah, and did I mention Brexit?

Our plane for the 12-hour, 5-minute flight. Luckily, it's a new one!

View from my seat - that old guy is what flies me to Sydney.

Just south of Suvarnabhumi - you see the blue bike track that circles the airport perimeter.

Highway mayhem!

A good view of the BTS Sukhumvit Line extension.

Spotty clouds over Kanchanaburi.

And suddenly the ground below has turned into London countryside.

Approaching Heathrow from the east; here's Canary Wharf.

And the rail lines toward London Bridge station and the Shard.

The Shard, Tower Bridge, London Bridge, and all the other fun spots.

The London Eye, St. James Park, Westminster, Buckingham Palace, and the rest.

Kensington Gardens...

... Royal Albert Hall, and the Chelsea neighbourhood.

Remember this view - especially that large Art Deco building.

Heathrow cars!

Made it to Syon Park. The lovely view from my window.

The grand (former) entrance to Syon Park, home of the Duke and Duchess of Northumberland.

Remember that Art Deco building? It's the Gillette Building - former European HQ of the Gillette Company, from the early 1930s until 2003.

The grounds of Syon Park.

More Syon Park.

The Great Conservatory, designed by Charles Fowler and completed in 1827 (Wikipedia).

Massive leaves!

Inside the Great Conservatory for our "Welcome" Dinner.

Wednesday night on the town! Here's our sweet ride.

Looking south down the River Thames, from the Lambeth Bridge.

The veritable Palace of Westminster.

Looks great in this late-evening sunlight.

All the news stations were poised in position for the next day's Brexit vote.

Eurovision booth.

AP booth, right next to Westminster Abbey.

How grand!

Big Ben is fearing for his future!

A group of "Remain" activists sings a lovely chorus of unity.

The Old War Office Building, used by Churchill has HQ during WWII.

The Westminster entrance.

Horse Guards Parade.

And also, the site of the Beach Volleyball events in the London 2012 Olympics.

Looking up The Mall toward Admiralty Arch.

The sun has finally set over London, and New Bond Street.

Friday morning, we were in for a surprise. But The Times went to print before the news broke. See the subhead: "Farage concedes it looks like Remain will edge it".

And a few minutes later.

Letting the news sink in under the sun.

And some clouds. And planes.

A short walk into the town of Brentford nearby.

The River Brent meets the Thames in this town in the London Borough of Hounslow.

Finding my way back to Syon Park, through this labyrinth of brick walls and trees.

Follow the blue sky!

The British countryside is indeed lovely!

Finally the papers have caught up with the day's news!

Hmm. Not the same sentiment I witnessed.

Bye-bye, London! Til we meet again.

Back in Bangkok, we took a strange approach into the airport, ultimately backing in.

And then we overshot the gate. Well, who said the airport can't be a drive-in?

Bangkok Week 417

June 20, 2016

Tourists in Bangkok for the weekend!

Celebrating Friday night at Another Hound Cafe in Emporium.

Found the hound!

Customers #1 and 2 of Bangkok's new service, Tuk Tuk Hop (coming soon!)

Our first stop: the Giant Swing.

And a visit to Wat Suthat, across from the Giant Swing.

The Wat's entrances were guarded by giant axes.

One of these Buddhas looks cleaner than the other.

Posing with one of the skinny horses that guards the centre of the Wat.

The large Buddha image inside the Wat Suthat Thep Wararam (full name).

The entire interior of the building was covered with hand-painted images - but entire layers were peeling off.

Granny and her friend, the fan.

Next stop: Wat Loha Prasat, a geometrical, multi-tiered temple modelled after two others in India and Sri Lanka.

Cross-section of the castle-like Wat.

The detailing in the roof is made of metal.

The interior, however, looks more European.

For the first time ever, the black metal is being re-done with gold and colors. Work starting from the top down.

View of the rest of the temple grounds below. See all the pigeons in the red roof in the mid-ground?

At the top of the 7-storey spiral staircase is a Buddha relic.

There was an odd sort of interactive exhibit back on the ground floor.

Trying to figure out our next destination.

Back in the tuk tuk!

Next stop: the Bangkok National Museum - another first for us.

A large Buddha head discovered in Ayutthaya.

One of the museum buildings - looks like a Wat.

Who's this guarding the building?

The extremely ornate interior - with more Buddha relics on display inside the glass cases.

A very tall ladder to access the attic storage.

Golden shutters.

A bright red house containing many belongings of Queen.

An ornate Sala.

A really tall front door!

Going way back in time; urns used to be used as coffins.

Chasing down our earlier ancestors.

A very neat building, which showcases many of the royal "vehicles". This one is for the funeral procession of a royal family member.

This is what they use to raise up the remains for display in the parade.

Not sure who she is!

The ornate coffin of the King's Mother.

Penultimate stop on the tour: Khao San Road - our fave!

These 3 elephants stand guard at the southern end of Sanam Luang park.

The Bangkok City Pillar - which we have somehow not visited until now.

Final stop of the day (unfortunately not part of the tour) - Finding Dory!

But only in 3D IMAX, where we look super-cool.

Bangkok Week 416

June 16, 2016

From Sydney, to Bangkok, to Sydney, to Melbourne. Enjoying winter down-under!

Stumbled upon a wooden escalator at City Hall station in Sydney!

My heels got stuck in the wide gaps!

Gourmet (?) Indian meal on the 9.5-hr flight back to Bangkok.

First day back at the gym in 3 months!

Got a new backpack out of the new membership.

Modeling the new gym bag the next morning.

Monday morning in Sydney - looks like it'll be a nice winter day today!

Monday morning Sydney coffee fix at my favourite cafe - Workshop.

Meanwhile, in Bangkok, Ethel Quokka is ready to come home!

Thursday night, it's a direct flight from Sydney to Melbourne!

Qantas lets its guests check in their bags by themselves.

What a coincidence! There were 4 flights heading from Melbourne to Bangkok at 23:30 on Thursday night!

A rainy week in Sydney!

June 9, 2016

Our Vivid Sydney weekend turned into a waterlogged Sydney weekend. But it was fun nonetheless!

What better to do on a rainy Saturday in Sydney than tour the Opera House!

Tickets in hand and headphones on head - we're ready to go!

Touring in style!

The interior of one of the 3 smaller theatres in the Opera House, which has 5 theatres in total.

A Le Corbusier tapestry commissioned by architect Jørn Utzon in 1960, but only on display since 2 weeks ago!

The exterior of the main concert hall.

The glass separating inside and outside of the shell.

The shells are made of poured concrete; it took 6 years and 12 iterations of the sail design to find one that worked structurally.

Glass, shell, and theatre wall. (The interior theatre building was designed by a different architect, after the shell was finalised.)

View from the main staircase inside.

This one!

Not too shabby a view - at least on nicer days!

The foyer behind the concert hall - with a special photography exhibit for Vivid Sydney.

Bridge from the foyer.

In the foyer of the Joan Sutherland Theatre, beds were set up from a sleepover the night before - another special Vivid Sydney event.

Exterior of the second, smaller shell.

Crossing from one shell to the other - during a temporary pause in the rain.

The lobby of the Joan Sutherland Theatre.

More lobby.

Photo books were available for purchase - no thank you. But this does show what the interior of the Concert Hall looks like.

A very cool elevator - with no ceiling!

A twister of a tunnel trying to exit the Opera House.

Enjoying the lull in the rain.

Not a bad group shot this time.

That poor seagull was bobbing up and down with the waves, stuck against the wall.

CBD, and storm clouds.

Did we mention that it was windy, too?

Something tells me more rain is coming!

Let's push our luck and go for a walk in the Botanical Gardens anyway. These lights are part of Vivid Sydney too.

Tucked away at the back of the garden is the Government House, the official residence of the Governor of New South Wales.

Uh oh! Our luck has run out!

Spotted in the garden: what kind of flower is this?

Fall has felled the leaves.

Also in the garden: the castle-like Sydney Conservatorium of Music, part of the University of Sydney.

A quick visit to the rose garden, where roses grow on trees.

Had to stop and smell the roses.

Many of them had broken in the wind!

Found a thorn!

These dogs had a story behind them, but now I forget what it was.

Castle, garden, Opera House in the background, and rainstorm behind that.

That's basically the extent of Sydney's CBD.

Onward we go! Reflections in The Bar.

High pedestrian activity. Look at all those activities!

It's Ethel Quokka! Her unframed sister will be coming home with us to Bangkok.

Posing with Thomas.

Next indoor stop: the Museum of Contemporary Art.

They had many neat modern installations, like this one made of a roll of scored vinyl.

Viewing aboriginal art.

More aboriginal art.

These paintings are made out of instant coffee!

Can you guess who's standing behind the screen?

No shame.

Interesting exhibit of routes fleeing Africa.

The museum's rooftop restaurant is not rain-proof.

A wet opera house.

Stopping for lunch at Pie Face!

And after drying off at the hotel, we're off to the Carriageworks once again, for their evening market - another Vivid Sydney special.

Same market as two weeks ago - but at night!

This time, an entire pizzeria came by truck.

It was much more crowded than when we came in the morning the other week.

But the fresh baked goods still look delish!

Our dinner? A monster falafel salad, made to order.

Another lull in the rain - great!

Final stop on the tour, while the weather is dry: Circular Quay!

The centrepiece of Vivid Sydney: the Opera House! Lighting the Sails "Songlines".

More Lighting the Sails "Songlines".

More Lighting the Sails "Songlines". (Cool 3D effects!)

We were blown away by the projections!

No, really.

More Lighting the Sails "Songlines".

And here's the little booth that makes it all happen!

We found Ground Zero!

More Lighting the Sails "Songlines".

The crowd of viewers below. They haven't figured out that there's a great vantage point overhead.

More Lighting the Sails "Songlines".

The bridge was participating, too.

As was the CBD!

And many cruises and ferries.

More colours!

A movie being projected on the front of Customs House.

It's never too cold for Gelato!

Up close and personal. Still looks good from here!

Bridge from afar - it reflects nicely in the water, too.

More of the aboriginal designs.

This one was my fave.

The next morning, it's too stormy to go out! So may as well go to the gym.

Finally, around 3pm, we make it over to the Newtown neighborhood.

It feels a bit like Cambridge or Somerville.

Lunch at a very Thai restaurant.

More ornate shops.

Vegan propaganda that I do agree with.

More cute shops - lots of them with very neat, original products.

And a "J" vegan Thai restaurant.

Mmm... chocolate!

How colourful!

Nice mural - and setting sun. It's only 4pm!

Back in the CBD, this mall has a piano that's open for anyone to play -- provided you know how!

Hah! What a tease. Monday morning is beautiful.

As is Tuesday morning.

Mid-week, we found another great Thai restaurant. They did a great job recreating the feel of Bangkok.

And it was filled with Thai customers! Very disconcerting!

Bangkok Week 414

June 2, 2016

A classic Bangkok weekend: Malls, Malls and more Malls!

It's been a while! Lunch at the Amarin Food Court!

And conveniently, an ice cream fair at CentralWorld!

Some mimes -- or some unlucky store employees -- try to shock guests to come to G2000.

On Sunday, it's a trip to the newly re-opened Siam Discovery!

It looks nothing like the old mall. Open floor plans...

... with no clear delineation between stores.

Opening Weekend gimmick? Take your photo and have it projected as a collage on the screens that hang over the atrium.

Public seating area - and stairs. Can you tell where one stops and the other begins?

Checking out a (cozy) new home design shop.

The mall was redesigned by a Japanese architect, and the renovation reportedly cost over 4 Billion baht.

But wait! The most critical feature -- the link to the skywalk -- didn't come back after the renovations!

Sunday afternoon at the airport: seems like a VIM (very important Monk) is departing, too.

A teaser of what's to come: colorful lights as part of Vivid Sydney 2016.

And a brief sneak peak at the light show on the Opera House. Stay tuned for more!

Another week in Sydney!

May 26, 2016

Another fun weekend in Sydney! What a great place to be outdoors!

My weekend house guest stopped by again on Friday morning, just as I was heading out the door.

Friday night dinner at a Nepalese restaurant in Glebe.

It's like Indian cuisine... but runnier?

Saturday morning, and we're off on an adventure. With a train to ourselves!

Central Station, where the Light Rail u-turns.

In Redfern, on our way to the Carriageworks.

A bustling Saturday farmer's market at Carriageworks!

Local produce from around NSW.

Lots of colorful "greens"!

Pepper's long-lost Australian cousin!! Same posture and personal grooming habits.

This little wiener dog had his eye on the prize: drippings from the barbecue above.

Apart from veggies, there were also fresh flowers...

... and fresh baked goods!

Local artist "busking" for change.

The Carriageworks used to be the site of the Eveleigh Rail Yards in the late 1800s, where train carriages for Sydney's expanding rail network were built from scratch.

Diners, as seen through massive hydraulic presses.

Twin Westies.

Posing with my locally grown-and-brewed (that's right: the beans were grown and brewed right here in NSW!) coffee.

Also happening at the Carriageworks this weekend: Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week Australia.

Iconic something-or-other at the Carriageworks.

I guess it was garbage day!

Making our way back through the campus of the University of Sydney.

Whoops! Someone had an accident!

Sign on push door: "Beware of Sliding Door". What a great design!

The University Lawn and the famous Quadrangle.

The Quadrangle design is based on those of Oxford and Cambridge -- I knew it looked familiar!

The Quadrangle apparently took over 100 years to complete: construction started in 1855 and finished in the 1960s.

A great roundabout in the Chippendale residential neighborhood.

Food for the Future: a public food garden in Chippendale.

A little mosaic inside Peace Park in Chippendale.

Someone mature took this photo.

Inside the White Rabbit Gallery, a private collection of 21st-century Chinese contemporary art.

This sculpture, entitled "European Thousand-Armed Sculpture" by Xu Zhen, align to form a Buddhist Deity when viewed from the front.

And here, from above.

This is He Xiangyu’s "Tank Project", an extremely impressive (deflated) replica of a Soviet-Chinese tank made entirely from hand-stitched leather.

Check out the detail -- and the handles. It's meant to be a massive handbag.

Another floor.

These look like photos of sculptures, but they're actually paintings!

These leaves are all hand-painted porcelain!

Organic creatures climbing up the wall.

This knitting is made out of the pages of a dictionary.

The massive "Central Park Mall" complex, with lots of public green space.

Pausing for a lunch break - freshly made cheese breads from the morning's farmers' market.

Playing a full-family game of chess.

And a very large Connect-Four.

I know many people who would agree with this mantra!

Strolling through the edge of Chinatown, where there are many a Thai Massage joints.

"Gold Water Mouth" -- a gold-plated Eucalyptus trunk -- marks the entrance to Chinatown.

Back at Town Hall, street performers entertain on Saturday afternoon.

At the Pitt Street Mall, a young street performer entertains his fair share of a crowd.

Inside the famous Strand Arcade shopping complex.

A new birdcage art installation tucked inside a small laneway in the CBD.

Great view from the lobby of the Museum of Contemporary Art.

Saturday afternoon at the Rocks Markets, a hodgepodge of sellers coming together in the posh neighborhood.

Here, some street food.

A colorful grill!

Hot roasted chestnuts reduced to clear? Something tells me this isn't quite the flash sale he's making it out to be.

This pup must be tuckered out from a long day of shopping.

More stalls in the historic neighborhood.

These tents look awfully permanent!

Soontaree. Straight from Thailand!

The Walsh Bay area, just to the west of the bridge. It's recently been restored and reopened to the public.

Prime pier real estate at the foot of the bridge.

Great views of dinner cruises and Luna Park, too.

Not a bad place to live! I wonder how much these condos go for.

A stroll through Barangaroo Reserve, at the northern tip of Darling Harbour. Would you know it, it's not even 5:30pm!

Night lights!

Dinner at our favorite Chinese Vegetarian joint!

The next morning, it's a dig-off in downtown Sydney.

Time to venture into Darling Harbour. Despite overlooking it from my hotel the other week, I haven't yet paid it a visit.

Great weather for cycling and running.

It's a pretty touristy place. The ship belongs to the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Over on the Pyrmont side of the harbour...

... things feel awfully like Kendall Square, Cambridge.

Here we are at the Sydney Fish Market.

It's the largest Fish Market in the Southern Hemisphere!

There were surprising numbers of people eating fresh seafood - before 11am!

That's one way to cook a clam!

Fresh and colorful. Pleasing on the eyes, even if I don't eat it!

No shortage of colorful juices either.

Colorful local fruit. Can't find all of these in Thailand!

The Anzac Bridge and Blackwattle Bay.

Having a stare-down with his new friends.

These seagulls are waiting for their ride back to sea.

Taking the light rail back to Chinatown.

Visiting the Chinese Garden of Friendship.

The garden was designed by Sydney's Chinese sister city, Guangzhou, and gifted to Sydney in the 1990s.

A very large and creepy spider blends in with the leaves behind it.

Costume rental available, for your own photoshoot.

I guess locals have figured out that Bamboo makes a great canvas for carvings.

Venturing into the black bamboo.

The Golden Pagoda centrepiece of the garden.

This local ibis bit off more than he could chew (and swallow)!

Aww! Time to see off my visitor. Lucky for him, he has an express path pass!

Ready to run the 8.5 km back to the city center!

Bangkok Week 412

May 19, 2016

An honorary guest and mini-CADLAB reunion in Bangkok!

After a long two weeks away, we can finally add another pin to our map!

Look who we found wandering through Soi Aree. It's James Penn!

James wanted to test every Thai fruit he could find -- especially mangoes.

A quick Saturday afternoon visit to Wat Pho, where I was made to wear a hideous neon gown to show my "respect" to the reclining buddha.

Reclining Buddha - still smiling.

Never noticed that his head piece barely fits in the building!

Mimicking my new friends.

The Wat Pho monks were chanting for the evening.

We'd never seen actual monks there before!

Teaching James the tricks of the trade.

Dashing over to the river to catch a glimpse of Wat Arun before the sun sets.

The next morning, we decided to give "Now's Fitness" a try. Veridct: we'll stick to Olympic Club.

Hands-down the weirdest plane food I've ever been served. Boiled broccoli set inside jelly, wrapped in some kind of leaf, and then sliced. And served with cream cheese and lime. Uhh...

This just in: Sydney commuter prefers to mimic gym equipment (elliptical) instead of biking or running.

View from my hotel room this week: Sydney Tower Eye and cloudscape.

A week in Sydney

May 12, 2016

An action-packed weekend in Australia's largest city!

I went to meet my special guest bright and early on Thursday morning.

And then I didn't see him again until dinner time.

And here he is at breakfast the next morning. Keeps popping up everywhere!

Same with this cruise ship passing by Darling Harbour.

Finally! Friday night!

Seeing the famed Sydney Harbour Bridge for the first time.

It's the Sydney Opera House! Looks just like it does in all the movies.

Up close and personal - there was a function going on inside. Also, can you spot the stars (in the sky)?

The opera house roof is actually made up of many small tiles. Who knew!

Friday night dinner at a pizzeria in The Rocks.

It was a cozy little place with walls lined with celebrity photos.

The next morning, we were in for a surprise. A haze-filled Sydney from the controlled burning in the Blue Mountains.

This man has something on his mind.

Walking through The Rocks, on our way to the bridge.

A convincing facade?

The rays of sun are easy to spot with so much haze in the air.

A neat mural on the side of the on-ramp to the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Looking toward Circular Quay. Can you see it beyond the cruise ship and through the haze?

I think that's the opera house over there.

It was a lovely walk; just felt like we were seeing everything through a smoke screen.

A pirate ship.

Some color-correction helped the opera house pop out more in this photo than it did in real life.

Peeking into some neat back yards. Spot the emu?

Milson's Point, in Kirribilli, is a very cute part of the city with a suburban feel.

Lots of green, and a great view!

This seagull looks like he woke up on the wrong side of the bed.

You can see one side of the bridge clearly, but barely make out the other.

This kayaker is very daring. I'm sure he's the smallest boat in these waters.

The famous Luna Park Sydney! Not quite as famous as its Melbourne predecessor.

Spot the difference.

The classic Rotor. Free to watch!

Don't think I could stomach this ride anymore.

Very picturesque. The park has been very well restored over the past decade.

Classic!

The Wild Mouse! Originally built in 1959, and relocated a few times before returning home.

I reckon I can't stomach most rides anymore!

Inside "Coney Island," a fantastic little well-preserved funhouse. In fact, it's the only operating example of a 1930s funhouse left in the world.

Like this dense spaghetti string.

And a mirror maze.

And these rotating bridges.

And this crazy rotating tunnel!

Whoosh! There I go down the slide!

A late lunch at a delicious Chinese Vegetarian place not far from the hotel.

Next stop: the ANZAC Memorial in Hyde Park.

The ANZAC Memorial was completed back in 1934.

The interior features a domed ceiling (not shown!) adorned with 120,000 gold stars – one for each of New South Wales' military volunteers during World War I.

Continuing north through Hyde Park: a helpful sign warning of "tree failure".

Still hazy!

Families enjoying the warm afternoon, and local ibises enjoying their crumbs.

Learning to love pigeons at an early age.

Inside Saint Mary's Cathedral, where a wedding ceremony had just finished.

An Australian White Ibis welcomes us at the entrance to the Royal Botanic Gardens.

These 'bird of paradise' flowers really look like a flock of birds!

Careful! Train coming through the gardens!

The videographer in action.

And a local duck coming over to see what's so interesting.

"Hello! Hello!"

Making friends with the Chinese tourists!

Not so interested in saying hello to me.

Resting at a safe altitude.

The opera house and bridge at sunset.

Great view of the CBD.

Single-handedly holding up this rock.

More Opera house.

Went to go see it up-close and personal during daylight. Did you know that there are actually 2 theaters inside?

Great place to hang out on the weekend. Spot the bridge climbers?

And all the cafe-goers next door.

Back at The Rocks, where we heard there's a good view.

Proper sunset now, and a nicely-lit Luna Park in the background.

Old buildings lining Campbell's Cove Jetty.

Well-restored.

Photographer in action.

The famous profile pic!

Here comes the pirate ship, home after a long day at sea.

A 3D map of Sydney in the floor of Customs House, the building that served as the headquarters of the Customs Service until 1990.

Back at the hotel, a light dinner and sparkling wine in the lounge. And planning for tomorrow's activities.

Great view over Hyde Park and the Cathedral from the hotel.

Here's our trusty Sheraton on the Park.

And we're off to Bondi Beach, where all the surfer dudes and dudettes hang out.

The overcast skies and 20-degree weather don't deter the local surfers!

Or the Chinese tourists.

Setting off to catch some waves.

A cute mural on the side of the boardwalk.

More waves, and the surf splashing up against the Bondi Icebergs Club in the background.

Two boys practice their scooter skills at the skate park.

More surfers and spectators.

We're off on the cliff-side walk from Bondi to Coogee!

Skills I'll never have!

An impressive female surfer.

The famous Bondi Icebergs Club, winter swimming club.

Great cliffs, worn smooth by the waves over the centuries.

These girls don't seem to be afraid of heights!

As we rounded the cliff, we were treated to a show by a pod of dolphins.

There seemed to have been at least a dozen of them!

Next up: Mackenzies Bay and Tamarama Beach in the background.

Great skills!

Looking backward. Some nice real estate!

A little Westie who's not so sure about the giant cliff he's on.

This guy had to weave his way through all the other paddlers.

The weather was good enough for many games of beach volleyball!

Tamarama Beach used to be home to a roller coaster that went out over the water! I imagine the wood had to be replaced often.

Seagulls standing guard until the lifeguard returns.

These two have an even better vantage point.

Another ocean pool - this one open to the public.

The Waverley Cemetery, which contains the graves of many significant Australians.

Lawn bowling at the Clovelly Bowling & Recreation Club.

And a group of local boys practices their teamwork at Burrows Park.

More great real estate!

Park your dinghy here!

A memorial to the victims of the Bali Bombing. The local Malabar community lost 9 residents who were traveling there as members of a Rugby team.

An enterprising bird finds a way to get his drink of water!

6.5 km later, we've made our way to Coogee Beach.

Where (almost) all the locals are having beach-side brunch.

We take a bus back to Surrey Hill, to see what all the fuss is about.

Cute, colorful homes.

No parking -- or else!

Always was, always will be!

A tasty lunch at Whole Meal Cafe.

The massive Coke sign at Kings Cross intersection.

A modern house among classics in Woolloomooloo.

More classics.

An aboriginal-inspired mural.

"Almost Once", a giant sculpture outside the Gallery of New South Wales.

Coffee break at a cafe inside said gallery.

In the basement of the Gallery of NSW, an art exhibit of local high school students. This Seuss-inspired one was amazing!

And a ball-point pen rendition of the view from above the CBD.

Giant pieces of chalk - remnants of a fascinating social experiment in which artists had left similar pieces of chalk in the CBD and filmed.

Up-close and personal.

Tuesday morning Sunrise over Sydney. Beautiful!

Office workers queuing for their coffee. We all knew Aussies were crazy for coffee, but never knew it was THIS important!

Bangkok Week 410

May 5, 2016

One last weekend with mum and dad in Bangkok - and the official start of the Sydney run!

Celebrating Friday with lunch at a (very slow) Japanese restaurant across from my building.

And dinner at Sfizio in Asoke.

Mama Mia! What a nice pizza!

On Saturday, it's river-hopping around the Sirirat campus and Peninsula Hotel.

Enjoying the free shuttle to the other side.

A posh lunch at one of the poshest Thai restaurants in town.

Inside the famed Blue Elephant restaurant.

Enjoying the amuse bouche.

Next stop: stuck in a cage at Em Quartier.

Just like this sociable trio.

The Garden at Em Quartier affords a great view over Bangkok (and the Ferris Wheel that was aflame not long ago).

What's that?

A very short zip line right in the middle of the mall!

My new friends!

Enough said.

What a better way to start a Sunday than with a trip to Paul's bakery!

Enjoying the fresh croissants!

A BTS trip (or 4) well spent.

Next stop: Bangkok Comic Con!

Do you see the resemblance?

I guess these guys are used to posing for cameras.

Not sure which comic this brain comes from.

This was one of the more clever displays there.

You can have a tiny 3D print of yourself made! Not creepy at all.

Almost as strong as Iron Man.

Mum tries out her favorite Toyota Avanza.

At least some people came in costume, making the trek worthwhile.

Last stop: Decathlon, Bangkok's newest import, straight from France.

Trying on the new little backpack. We ended up with not-this-color.

Plane spotting while waiting to bid Bangkok a final farewell.

Anything interesting out there?

Everyone looks pretty happy to see me go!

Boo! I'm not supposed to be the one leaving first!

Good Morning, Sydney!

And hello, Darling Harbour!

Look at the feast they enjoyed without me!

Nothing like waiting til the last minute. Trying the new Gelato place in Ari, before heading to the airport.

Farewell, frequent flyers! See you in Bangkok in October!

Bangkok Week 409

April 28, 2016

A fun long-weekend in Trad, and then a whirlwind trip to Sydney -- my first of many!

Welcome to Trad! Maruay tries the home-made dog cookies straight from Erika in Toronto.

Wasting no time; enjoying the "Khao Lam" -- sweet sticky rice baked in bamboo.

Our first of many fine meals: seafood at a new restaurant, because our 'regular' go-to place was closed.

Evidence of freshly-caught fish?

Then, it was time to take our car for a quick wheel alignment.

Doing a fruit tour in the back yard. Look, a baby mangosteen!

Explorers!

Checking out the multi-colored flowers.

No trip to Trad is complete without a shop at Makro!

A dog on a bike, and men climbing out of the middle of the street.

Maruay is the evening entertainment.

Enjoying keeping a pillow lodged in his mouth.

"Now that I've got it, I can't let go."

Dinner at our favorite A/C'd Thai restaurant on the main street - with the fish leftover from lunch!

What a feast!

The next morning, saying hello to the stray cat who's taken up residence in the yard.

She's seen better days.

Off to the Black Sand Beach! Where we're greeted by lots of mudskippers and mangroves.

A bright blue-and-red crab wrestles with a half-eaten leaf.

Enjoying the walk through the mangroves -- because it's still breezy.

Trying to blend in with the mangroves.

We made it! To one of 5 black sand beaches in the world.

The tide is much lower than when we were here earlier this year.

Will the boardwalk hold up under our weight?

Promoting MIT fencing, wherever he goes.

This tourist blends in very well.

A brightly-colored fishing boat, half-way to Koh Chang.

That's our destination!

Another fishing boat -- this time, the fishermen are the brightly-colored ones.

Creepy lines in the sand... but from what exactly?

Say cheese!

Someone looks lost!

Imitating the very descriptive signs that leave no questions unanswered.

More crabs.

And more mudskippers. Did you know they have blue polkadots?

On the way back, a stop in Baan Nam Chiao, where they make the famous hats.

Found the perfect one for me!

I'll take this basket - it's a good fit.

A very tall, and rather steep, footbridge crosses the river.

Which is otherwise home to the local fishing boats.

Great view of the rooftops from up here.

And the river, which forks just up ahead.

A view to the colorful other side.

The local mosque.

Chicken rice soup. With a very cute "G" for "chicken".

Back at the house, mischievous Maruay decides it's time for a dip.

But when it's time to come back, he realized he bit off more than he can chew!

Lunch at a local resort that Top likes.

Operation Jackfruit is underway.

The result!

Time for today's lesson: how to pick a mango.

First, it requires lots of arm strength to manoeuvre the little claw at the end of the long pole.

The fruit of her labor!! Hah!

Off to dinner at our favorite dinner joint.

They've upgraded their tuk tuk since last year!

We're here before sunset this time.

And our early reservation allowed us to secure one of the best seats in the house.

Hello from the dock!

The neighbors.

Time for dinner for these red falcons - another revenue stream for this enterprising restaurant.

Time for the feast!

No dinner is complete without a DQ to wash it down.

Namwan watches her older brother play with his new "iPhone".

Maruay, my pillow.

The dogs enjoy a chat with a neighbor the next morning.

Some social time with the whole family.

Maruay knows how to give a good hug!

Excited by her souvenir from Makro Trad - Chicken Legs!

Check out the queue for visa-on-arrival!

My first-ever view of Sydney.

And the mountainous conservation area directly south of Sydney.

My taxi was being chased by an Anzac Day parade!!

St. James's Church, and the gaudy Sydney Tower in the background.

All roads closed for the imminent Anzac Day Parade!

Here it is! Marching band and all!

These kids have figured out how to get a good view

What a festive day! And great weather to top it off.

A marching band comprised entirely of veterans?

Time for some preliminary Sydney sight-seeing on my way to breakfast. Here's City Hall.

And a super-cute little cafe, with great coffee (of course).

And the regal Queen Victoria Building - the most posh shopping arcade I've ever seen!

More CBD; spot the reflection of Sydney Tower?

Town Hall at night.

And the view from the BCG Sydney office - hard to top this!

Looking down over Hyde Park.

Double-decker trains! I was expecting a subway.

They make for a comfy ride to the airport!

Qantas, Vietnam, Malaysia, Virgin - so many countries represented!

United, Air Canada - where am I?

Back in Bangkok! And a surprise dinner with Adil. I still can't get over the coincidence!

Bangkok Week 408

April 21, 2016

A short week in Bangkok, post-Perth

Back in Bangkok, and barely awake! Dinner at our local fave.

On Monday morning, seems like there's a fuss at the airport.

A star is shopping! Wow!

Time for someone's Thai haircut!

Finally, an opportunity for dinner at Mejico!

Buen provecho!

And another week-night dinner at our humble home.

Delish!

He couldn't help himself - it had been too long since his last Indian meal.

Perth and WA

April 17, 2016

A fascinating 10-day visit to Perth, Albany, and all points in between. Viva Western Australia. Also, watch the video here: https://vimeo.com/166039368

Hello, Perth!

Our home for the next 2 days: an Air BnB inside the former Salvation Army in downtown Perth.

Looks like we've lived here for years!

The living room, with its private courtyard in the rear.

The mysterious Purple Vampire blocking entrance to the top floor.

Stopping for breakfast and some much-needed coffee at a local cafe.

The quait Perth CBD.

They're big into safety here... I guess it's an influence of all the mining companies.

The Government House.

And St. George's Cathedral.

Feeding her new-found friend.

The cinematographer sets up his giant filming apparatus.

Do you have all your ducks in a row?

Kid meets Kangaroo.

A well-groomed Dr. Seuss tree.

A friendly hydrant.

A sea plane that was puttering around for a while out in the Swan River.

Standing in formation.

There goes the sea plane! Practicing its water driving.

Dolphins! Out to see what all this propeller action is all about.

A wet Elizabeth Quay experiences a refreshing downpour.

This ambitious kayaker doesn't seem to mind the rain. In fact, he seems prepared: he left all his clothes at home.

The curvy Elizabeth Quay bridge.

What's this? A cycling race?

And a Studebaker Commander testing its parking breaks on a hill.

Uniting Church in the City at the entrance to the Trinity shopping arcade.

A large selection of fresh apples at Woolies.

Clever! I've never seen gum displayed vertically using magnets before.

A nice "green" wall outside the shopping centre.

Percy Buttons' Aspiration at the Hay Street Mall.

A view of the modern Bell Tower, built to ring in the new millenium.

Downtown Perth, after the storm.

The City of Perth library in the foreground, and St. George's Cathedral in the background.

Next stop: Kings Park and Botanic Garden!

They have many beautiful trees lining Fraser Ave., the main entrance to the park.

A gorgeous view of the city down below.

The cinematographer at his finest.

Excited, tired, or in pain?

Posing with the green and the trees.

So distracted by his art that he's about to prance off the cliff.

Enjoying the view from the roof of the Aboriginal Art Gallery.

Using our new super-spy equipment to watch pedestrians and cyclists on the Elizabeth Quay bridge.

Toy cars and a toy train!

The Court of Contemplation and State War Memorial.

A bride-groom to be, taking advantage of the good weather and nice scenery for their wedding photos.

An Australian magpie, known as one of Australia's "most accomplished songbirds".

Enjoying the peaceful walk. (Someone forgot to bring his iron to Perth!)

About to head up and over the bridge.

The snaky bridge.

The Swan Brewery Co. building now contains a cafe/restaurant and function centre.

The hiding rainbow lorikeet who made our new lens purchase worth it!

Welcome to Fremantle; a.k.a. Freo.

Downtown Freo: full of hipsters and hippies.

This looks like a nice place for a late lunch.

Our late lunch is here, at a burger joint on the main street.

Excited by the prospects of his veggie burger.

Then, it's on to the Fremantle Markets, which claim to stock "Everything you could possibly imagine, plus a little bit more." I question the claim slightly.

Although they did have a piano open to the public... and the music being played was definitely more than I could imagine.

A late-afternoon pick-me-up, Aussie-style.

Man Goes where?

This seagull has taken it upon himself to watch over these parked cars.

A historic building in Fremantle.

Back in Perth, it's time for an evening jaunt. It feels like midnight, but I think it's only 6pm.

We found a Harry Potter lane...

... which is actually London Court, a cute little shopping arcade built in 1937.

Welcome to the Perth Noodle Festival 2016!

Asian "street food," done Aussie style...

The Elizabeth Quay bridge looks great lit up at night.

As does the Bell Tower.

The next morning, it's a quick stroll around our neighbourhood before heading off to Rottnest Island.

A very big tree.

St. Mary's Cathedral.

I guess it's not surprising to see it so full on a Sunday morning!

Miss Maud's Swedish Hotel - this one puzzled all of us!

On our way to the ferry, we passed this canine chauffeur.

Mum with a strange growth coming out of her chest.

The Round House, the first permanent building built in the Swan River Colony, and intended as a prison.

Looking south, over the Arthur Head Reserve.

Doesn't Fremantle look like a model toy town?

There were many beautiful historic buildings on the campus of the University of Notre Dame Australia.

The (former) Chamber of Commerce.

And here we are, at the famous Rottnest Island!

Where the party-goers are enjoying good times on some funky floats.

These girls enjoy their lunch with the gulls.

Some stressful minutes later, we're off on our bikes for a tour around the island.

The single-turbine wind "farm" that powers the island.

These trees seem to have given into the wind over the years.

Cheese! No casualties yet!

Mum, enjoying the casual cycle through the lakes in the island.

Off they go, like seasoned pros.

Red velvet cake? Or sea suds caked onto rock?

The real Wadjemup Lighthouse? Or just a toy model?

Beautiful blue waters - would be a great day for a swim!

In fact, some smarties are enjoying a dip to cool off.

Dunes and gulls ... definitely a different climate than the beaches in Thailand.

I have discovered where the Perth elite come to spend their time.

Two girls enjoy some paddle surfing.

Off we go, gravity in our favor! I hope no one misses that crucial left turn up ahead!

Decoys? Or the real deal?

Here's what we've come all this way for!! Quokkas!

Mum gets a great shot of Mr. Cutie.

Someone was partying too hard last night.

No quokkas in the general store? How discriminatory.

A bit of minor surgery needed after a confrontation with a quokka who was a little less welcoming than the others.

Late lunch = large lunch? Enjoying the view at Dome Cafe.

Whoops. This palm has seen better, stronger days.

The paparazzi has descended on Rottnest Island!

Aww! Now isn't he the cutest?

"Hello! Welcome to Rottnest!"

"This darned leaf. It's so tough. I just need to rip off one small pi--"

New BFFs! Enjoying a snack together.

This guy is a little too curious. That's probably why he has one fewer ear than all his buddies.

"Hello? What's this? An iPhone?"

"Cool camera you got there, lady! Let me see?"

We spent a bit too much time with the quokkas, I'm afraid, and started taking on some of their characteristics.

Back on the mainland, and back in Perth, it's time for some evening nosh up in the Northbridge neighborhood.

We found "Chinatown"... a row of Asian stalls (including Indian and Malaysian... so decidedly not all Chinese).

Asian it is!

A somber wall mural.

The next day, we're in the car heading south to Margaret River. We stop for lunch in Bunbury (the sister city of Chonburi, Suphanburi and Chantaburi), at the hip Cafe 140.

Turkish flatbread sandos for all!

They're telling it like it is in Bunburi.

This mural captures the essence of Western Australia.

The stubby little light house at Cape Naturaliste, the northernmost point of the Leeuwin-Naturaliste Ridge.

The waves were quite choppy!

But that didn't stop this father and son from taking a beach-side stroll.

Everyone's looking pretty wind-swept.

Dinner at our new home at the Acacia Chalets in Margaret River.

After many minutes of patient waiting, we spot our prey grazing in the back yard!

The next morning, we spy some Australian Ringnecks enjoying our lawn.

And some giant lemons? Or limes?

Our chalet in daylight!

I had always thought the 'roos come out around dusk. This one seems to be a rare morning-grazer.

On our way south, we drive via the picturesque Boranup Drive.

Karri Trees, as far as the eye can see.

They're tall, majestic... and make you feel like an ant on the forest floor.

Tiny people.

Finally, we make it to Cape Leeuwin, and its lighthouse -- which is considerably taller than its Cape Naturaliste counterpart.

Ahoy Matey! What do you see out there?

The lighthouse first opened in 1895 by John Forrest.

Visitors can climb to the top of the lighthouse for an additional fee.

Look at these three sociable tourists.

Rough waves, at the point where the Indian Ocean meets the Southern Ocean.

What a natural model.

This one less so.

We always knew that Mike was the apple of her eye.

What a family portrait.

We're *almost* as tall as the lighthouse.

All hail Australia!

What a stubby light house.

These rocks all seem to have a certain directionality to them.

Our next stop is at a vineyard!

Lunch at a well-regarded restaurant that uses its own-grown fresh fruits and veggies (and a little crazy) for its dishes.

You must be wearing white to dine at this restaurant.

Oh, apparently only if you sit on the other side of the table.

The most beautiful plate of fresh veggies I've ever seen.

Spending a comatose afternoon at the beach side: looking north toward Surfers Point.

There's a nice beachside walkway that connects Gnarabup with Surfers Point.

We arrived to Surfers Point just in time to see them packing up after the 2016 Drug Aware Margaret River Pro.

This lady has seen enough!

This beach supposedly has some of the best waves in the world.

Cool move!

Riding the waves at sundown.

Looks like Mum's about to brave a storm.

This Akita wishes his owner would stop texting and start paying more attention to him!

Last stop of the day: our Kangaroo lollapalooza!

"Who, me?"

Most of the extended family was enjoying the freshness of the 18th hole... except for ol' uncle Sal, who just couldn't help himself.

"Why hello there, young one."

Posing with my friends.

The baby of the bunch.

Back at our house... we had some unannounced dinner guests!

The next morning, we continue our drive south-east, in the direction of Pemberton.

Stopping outside the Manjimup Visitor Centre, wondering exactly where we are.

Next stop: the Diamond Tree Lookout, where only crazy people go.

It's a 52m tall live Karri Tree, that anyone can climb up using pegs nailed into its sides.

If you manage to scale all 52 meters, there's a cozy wooden viewing platform waiting for you at the top.

That's about as high as I can go, thank-you-very-much. About 10 meters up.

And that's all she got!

Do I need to come down?

The short walk at the base of the Diamond Tree was much more my speed.

More giant Karri trees.

This tree doesn't look very natural!

Lunch at a local bakery famous for its pies and pasties.

We were in for a great surprise at the Pemberton Visitors Centre - this surprise visitor!

He, and some friends, were orphaned when their mums had encounters with cars.... so now they were being rehabilitated by local rangers. And volunteering part-time at the visitors' centre.

Don't they look so comfortable in these baskets?

Relaxing like he owns this place.

I've seen more comfortable beds than this...

A gang of emus... including one headless one.

A bird standing guard over the entrance to the Beedelup Falls.

He knows he's handsome!

Testing the bridge load limit?

I think these falls have seen wetter days.

Praying mantis showing off his Kung Fu (Panda) moves.

Why do I look like the only one enjoying the little walk?

And we're off for a bit of a more strenuous walk: from Heartbreak Crossing to the Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree... via Blackbutt.

Enjoying the walk?

What reflective water! I guess the river's not really flowing!

Barely rippling.

The sky? Or the water?

Group shot!

Finally, a downhill!

More tall Karris.

Whoops! Someone lost his skirt!

More short people and tall trees.

Blue sky above the tall trees.

This tall one has seen stronger days.

The Dave Evans Bicentennial Tree, another fire lookout tree, with a lookout platform at 75m!!!

It was pegged for climbing to celebrate Australia's bicentenary in 1988, and was built to be a tourist attraction - not a fire lookout tree!

Yet again, more locals who are far more brave than any foreign tourists.

A colorful guest who is also staying at the Forest Lodge Resort.

Sunset over the resort.

Breakfast time in Pemberton!

A good reminder hanging on the wall of the breakfast cafe.

On our drive from Pemberton to Albany, our first stop is the Giant Tingle Tree.

A local snail.

Well, this is pretty funny, because I know the tree had something to do with a Butt, but I don't remember what.

Tingle trees are lumpier than their Karri cousins.

What a twisted tree!

Here's the Giant Tingle Tree!

And its slightly smaller cousin.

Next stop: the Tree Top Walk, with a very cute totem capturing all the local mammals.

Ahh! This is higher and sways more than we thought!

Starting to question why we came on this swaying walk.

The view from the top is great!

Looking down at the tall trees *down below*!

Those kids don't seem to be phased by the height or the sway.

Heart-pounding, but worth it.

A bit nervous? Nah!

Back on solid ground, we can appreciate the nobby tingle tree with a face.

Peek-a-boo!

Embracing tingles.

Our lunch stop today: the town of Denmark!

And finally, we reach Albany, our southerly destination.

A colorful butterfly is waiting to greet us.

This beach town seems to be hopping 12 months a year.

What? Pine trees on the beach?

This seagull feels it's his duty to be local lifeguard for the afternoon.

Amphitheater-style picnic benches, all facing the ocean.

Enjoying the Marine Drive Scenic Path, which connects Middleton Beach and downtown Albany.

Great clouds over Middleton Beach.

And a great boardwalk!

Our first bandicoot sighting.

And a giant ship at sea, not too far from us!

Looking into the Ataturk Entrance.

What a windy path!

A great hiding place.

More picturesque clouds.

Photo moment.

These fishermen seem to have their hands full.

That ship has probably seen better, more seaworthy days.

A saw dust plant! We could feel it in our lungs.

It's a proper half-moon tonight!

Great views from these houses along Brunswick Road.

A colorful clock at the former Town Hall.

Dinner at a "late"-night institution: Dylans.

The next morning, we're off to Torndirrup National Park.

The Natural Bridge was carved by the strong ocean waves.

Good thing we brought layers to bundle up!

The attraction was only reopened to visitors two weeks earlier.

Overlooking "The Gap" - a gap in the granite rocks, with a 25 metre sheer drop to the ocean.

Ahh. Now you can see the gap.

Looks like the waters below might be a bit choppy.

But nice and blue!

Better bring your innertube if you're going to swim around here.

For a slightly calmer next stop, it's the Blowholes... which may or may not be blowing.

Heading down the 900m path.

Waiting patiently for the blowholes to blow.

As is this father-daughter couple.

Another artsy prance by the cinematographer.

Haven't seen a lizard of this kind yet.

This area seems to have no shortage of choppy waters.

Some sun in your eyes?

Final stop for this hook: Frenchman Bay, which is sheltered enough for some calm swimming. Anyone ready for a dip?

Sailers and swimmers both can enjoy these calm waters.

Looking east toward Misery Beach - the more pleasant place to swim.

A fishing boat?

Pausing to orient ourselves...

... while the swimmer gets ready for some Southern Ocean action.

Can he do it?

Yes! Victory!

And that's all! Time to dry off.

These picnicers are enjoying the smooth rock.

Back in Albany for some shopping and lunch.

The Albany Entertainment Centre - kind of reminds you of a larger, more iconic opera house, doesn't it?

There should be a good view somewhere around here.

Taking a coffee break while dad shops for his local wines.

The University of Western Australia Albany Centre looks awfully like a train station.

Historic buildings in Albany centre.

Including this one, where we dined the night before.

Perfect timing for us: the 3 days of PUBLIC2016, an art and mural fest in Albany.

Borondo, from Spain.

Andrew Frazer, from Perth.

An exhibit of local artists, inside the former Town Hall.

A nice blue pattern - by whom?

Sleeping man with large nose by Darren Hutchins, from Fremantle.

Posing with (interrupting?) the artist himself!

A mess? By Hense from the USA.

Tools of the trade.

Chad Marwick, an Albany local.

Delicious local pizza for dinner!

The next morning, on the way out of Albany, we stop at the Saturday Farmers' Market.

It's a cute affair, with lots of fresh fruits, veggies, cheeses, meats and more from around the region.

Local musicians liven up everyone's morning.

Fresh red capsicum.

No trip to Albany is compete without seeing Dog Rock!

Our last stop, before making the long trip back to Perth, is Porongurup National Park.

We've hiked 2.2 km up to Castle Rock.

Still standing!

Taking a breather before embarking on the final challenge of the climb.

Making our way up to the skywalk!

First, it's an act of balancing as you scramble up these rocks.

The only casualty so far was the water bottle in my back pocket.

Then, over a few more rocks.

Like this?

Stop to enjoy the strong, fresh winds.

And up a long ladder to the top!

The view is worth it!

Farmland and forest as far as the eye can see.

Glad we brought our sweaters!

Yay! Time to head back down!

This is considerably easier than the walk up!

We did it!

Enjoying a relaxing lunch of leftovers at the base picnic area.

Finally, we make it back to Perth, for one last hurrah.

And dinner at Chutney Mary's, where dad was stoked to have met Mary herself.

Cheers to Western Australia!

Bangkok Week 406

April 7, 2016

Our house guests have arrived in style!

Our guests have arrived! First Thai meal of the trip... of many more to come!

Welcome dinner at Tet et Nez -- a newcomer to the neighborhood since they were last here.

Erika's cookies made the trip safely... and deliciously.

Enjoying the new toy she got as a birthday present, before our long day trip.

First destination: the 100 year old market (again!)

Taking in the sights.

A woman rows her boat down the river. We didn't that last time.

Two boaters!

These lazy Maruay look-alikes weren't too pleased by the foreigners in town.

Amused by the Thai alphabet prints on the t-shirts.

Posing atop the rickety old bridge.

Tiny, colorful little crayfish. Are they dyed?

The well-preserved innards of one of the hundred-year-old shop houses that comprise the market.

Somewhere out there, there's a Shell station missing its logo.

Having a laugh about the provincial split atop this bridge.

All the shoppers together.

This dozy guy has found the most comfortable place to rest his head.

A collection of old Japanese match book covers.

Hay there!

This car is a Classic Giggalo. I hope they mean Gigolo!

Getting in for a macro shot...

... of tiny pineapples.

Final stop for the trip: the bat temple! He he he he.

We've been spotted!

Bats in trees -- with much more clarity than the other week.

5-in-a-row. That's better than tic-tac-toe or Connect Four!

Bat-watching and poop-patrol simultaneously.

This mum is protecting her baby... and on the lookout for paparazzi.

This one must be a baby; it has no teeth!

Another mum and baby.

Here, the baby is doing the guard duty.

Enough with the bats. It's hot! Let's go home!

Some final bats and berries.

Toasting to the birthday girl, in all her plaid glory.

A tandoori birthday to you!

Great view of the three tandoor ovens.

Surprise! And happy birthday!

Present time, before they fall asleep. (Side note: don't dad's eyes remind you of the bats'?)

Another adventure the next morning: the railway market in Samut Songkram province.

Most times of day, it's a normal wet market.

Where the vendors sell fruits, veggies, and meats, and customers stroll along the central walkway -- which happens to be a railway track.

Which type of orange would you like?

Rail-side fish?

Chilies, chilies, or chilies?

More patrons strolling the market.

Until...

... something exciting happens!

Incoming train!

Whose idea was it, anyway, to put a market on the train tracks?

There it goes. Awfully close!

In fact, it's running over the veggies! Literally.

Group shot!

Quick, impulse decision. Let's ride the train.

Who's that man? Looks like a tourist to me!

Main street Mae Klong. They don't wait long before re-opening the roads to car traffic.

The tourists wish us a fond farewell.

The expert videographer capture the scene behind us.

Market life returns to normal.

Bye bye, railway market.

Now that the fun is over, let's enjoy the train ride.

"Ooh, look! Our station just wooshed by!"

Getting off mid-station, while the entire train looks on. That pretty much defines 'embarrassing moment'!

At least it afforded us the opportunity to see local Poms being grown.

My anniversary cactus is flowering! Aww.

A late, post-outing lunch at our most reliable local joint: Lay Lao.

Knew he couldn't make it more than 3 days in Bangkok without stopping at DQ.

One day late: Mum's self-selected birthday cake.

Some of the shenanigans I missed while away in Jakarta.

A nice home meal.

Meanwhile, I have the nicest view of Singapore from my hotel desk.

Great 180-degree views of the Singapore skyline. Although they'll soon be obstructed!

Their favorite MBK food court has undergone a major face lift since last time.

The burst that made our Wednesday night more interesting than planned.

My brand new work computer! Another 27 months until this bad boy gets an upgrade.

Didn't know Basilico was so funny!

Bangkok Week 405

March 31, 2016

After 6 years away, we return to Chiang Mai for a weekend getaway!

We're off to Chiang Mai! Our snack for the 50-minute flight? An Indian vegetarian sandwich!

My doorman has helped bring my bags to the room.

Our suite!

Not too shabby!

A late dinner at the night bazaar.

A fuzzy vendor.

Enjoying the Chiang Mai haze in our snazzy suite.

An intricate gate at the entrance to a temple.

An ornate roof on a small local temple.

More gold peaking out from behind the trees.

A long caravan of tuk tuks along the edge of the moat.

The brick wall that still surrounds the center of Chiang Mai.

Posing with the main gate to old Chiang Mai. Too bad neither we nor the gate is in focus.

No squeeze!

Ducking into another small temple to view its ornate building.

We stumbled upon a group ordination for Wat Chedi Luang -- probably because it's summer break for most students.

Some of the boys don't look very thrilled to be doing this... although the monks seem to be enjoying themselves.

Unclear what the boys in fancy dress on ponies had to do with it.

A very ornate street sign!

I'm glad I'm not a telephone line repairman in Chiang Mai!

No bugles in Chiang Mai!

Interesting street art on the side of a fence.

Posing with one of many elephants outside of an elephant-themed gallery.

This durian elephant was a bit creepy though.

A hat store -- aptly named "hat" in Thai.

After several hours in the sun, it's time for lunch at a small vegetarian restaurant.

Two tasty dishes and a fried egg. Good for the rest of the day!

Riding back to home base in a semi-chartered pick-up truck.

The pool at Le Meridien is not very big, but the view is nice. Sun too hot for a swim, though.

Instead, we relax in the AC'd comfort of the business lounge.

A vespa repair shop... many of which seem in sore need of some TLC.

The Saturday afternoon walking street is in full swing.

A colorful display at a fruit smoothie seller.

Insisting your products are fashionable may not be the most effective way to do business.

More interesting street art.

Selling hill tribe-inspired hair bands and purses.

A school girl busks for money to fund her education.

Isaan sausages, anyone?

Also near the walking street: Wat Srisuphan, an entirely silver temple.

The entire building, decorative details, and buddha image, are done in silver (and aluminum), giving it a distinct feel.

Very detailed craftsmanship has gone into all the silver pieces.

I guess they're not quite done yet!

Also on the property: a massive, ornate, tiered wooden temple.

Also with reflective detailing.

The temple offers "Monk Chat". It's a service offered by many temples in Chiang Mai, that allows foreigners to ask questions about Buddhism, and allows monks to practice their English.

Later that night, it's dinner with James at a posh Thai restaurant.

It serves mostly-vegetarian, mostly-Thai food... with the occasional meat and Indian dishes mixed in as well.

The next morning, we're off on a walking tour of Northern Chiang Mai. This building is over 200 years old.

Here's the Northern Telecoms of Thailand Museum. Although we didn't go in, I can only imagine how interesting it must be!

Who knew! They still have bike-powered rickshaws in Chiang Mai!

Mr. Cool models his shades.

Visiting the flower market.

Avoiding puddles on the flower market floor. It felt like a much-scaled-down version of Chatuchak.

But with no shortage of colorful flowers.

A view of north-eastern Chiang Mai, from a foot bridge.

Locally-grown strawberries. Each pack cost about 150 baht.

An interesting way to display durian! A sneak peak into what you'll get.

400 baht per kilo for mangosteen! What a scam!

Inside Chiang Mai's largest food and clothing market.

This seller has an extensive selection of Asian teas.

From the ceiling, they've hung pictures of the market from past eras.

Looking down over diners enjoying their lunch.

No city is complete without a Chinatown!

Another ornate northern-style temple.

Check out the detailing on its outer walls.

The central chedi reminded me a bit of Wat Arun.

This short-legged tour guide greeted us at the exit to the temple.

Next stop: Wat Buppharam.

I thought this was a particularly disturbing image in the entryway.

The main attraction of this temple is the teak buddha image -- the largest of its kind in Thailand.

A well-preserved old building sandwiched in between 'newer' ones.

What punky street art.

Lunch at a vegetarian place, decorated with aptly-themed quotes. This one in particular from K.D. Lang resonated with me. I've always wondered this!

A very spicy vegetarian salad (named "3 crunchy things") for lunch.

Finally getting to try his Khao Soi -- the signature dish of Chiang Mai.

Pepper would've loved this restaurant!

Final stop of our Sunday walking tour: Wat Phra Sing... which seems to be a lot more gold than last time we were there!

They have a small Sunday market on premise.

Have to get suited up before going inside. Proper attire only!

One of the largest and most revered buddha images in Chiang Mai.

They're already getting prepared for the Songkran celebrations.

An old beetle doing a proper job of parking in the streets.

Sun shines through over smoggy Chiang Mai. Farewell for now, northern capital.

Fast forward to Hanoi, where the mist is limiting the familiar lake view.

Spotted in Hanoi: a rather niche clothing store.

They've really done wonders to the airport since I spent time here in 2014. (Granted, a brand new terminal usually helps.)

Back in Bangkok, drama's afoot!

The storm doesn't stop the new pop-up amusement park from preparing itself for opening day.

Doesn't someone look nice and shiny?

Disembodied legs sleep overnight at Suvarnabhumi.

Bangkok Week 404

March 24, 2016

A fun Saturday day-trip to Chachoengsao Province; plus a birthday dinner; plus a whirlwind trip to Singapore. Let's go!

A pulled pork sandwich at a new vegan restaurant in town.

Nice decor and not-so-subtle vegan propaganda.

Saturday road trip! Destination: Chachoengsao Province. First stop: the Khlong Suan 100-year-old market.

The market has many "proprietary" snacks. This one is a "crispy egg snack".

Pickled fruit.

Six types of mangoes! Later, we bought a kilo to bring back.

No better time of year than now to dry fish in the sun!

Leftovers from Chinese NY?

One of the well-conserved 100-year-old buildings.

Guess the water level is low at this time of the year! Not sure if that boat's going to be making it out anytime soon.

A very scary wooden footbridge.

Some of the sellers in this market appeared to be authentic from when the market first opened.

Cat brand rolling tobacco ... and all the decorations to go along with it.

Jarusin's store seems to be an original as well. The area was home to both Chinese and Muslims.

And this is the toy zone.

Why not try out luck at the scary wooden bridge?

We made it up alive!

The market continues on for as far as the eye can see.

Down we go!

Posing with the original wooden doors.

An old cafe.

Wind chimes made of drink cans.

The slowest barber shop in all of Thailand. I think he's been working on this haircut since the market opened.

Cute ducky snacks.

Brooms with fancy woven handles.

A grandpa so famous for his sausages that he has a sign!

Stopping at the market's museum to check out the tiny scale model.

Some of the long-time sellers have personal call-outs!

Is this what sexy looked like back in 1967?

The end of Samut Prakan province, and the start of Chachoengsao province. We're finally here!

My teeth hurt just looking at these lollies.

This grandpa's famous iced coffee deserves a thumbs-up!

The view back: where we've come from.

This poor guy's had a rough morning. Must've been a late night out.

Same with this Grandpa.

Next stop: Wat Sothonwararam. Lots of people come here to make merit.

Inside, they have shelves upon shelves for people to leave their offerings.

The crowds were many.

You're supposed to bring boiled eggs - lots of boiled eggs.

Putting gold on a fat happy Buddha.

I think half the province must come here daily to make merit.

This temple dog seems overwhelmed by the number of guests today!

Next stop: Wat Sai Chon Na Rangsi...

... also known as the Golden Temple.

Perhaps what happened was that the builder accidentally ordered only one color of paint.

It's very beautiful to photograph.

You'll be relieved to know that the inside is also gold!

With a bling bling chandelier.

Sunny group shot!

It's time for lunch at a floating market!

It's fairly low-key for a floating market near Bangkok.

Lots of tables lining the center of a floating pier, with boat-based vendors on either side.

Like these!

Can't decide yet what to have for the main meal... so we'll have some steamed buns while we wait.

And the verdict? Som tum it is!

This grandpa decided to practice his balancing skills.

Careful on those wobbly planks, gramps!

Can you tell what's in the trees?

Now can you tell?

Bats galore!

They are like little foxes dressed as vampires for an off-season halloween.

Maybe they like these berries?

This particular temple is home to many other animals, too.

Including tens of roosters...

...and their families.

What's everybody looking at?

Next stop: the overly-ostentatious Wat Saman Rattanaram.

There's a giant lotus floating in the river.

And giant rats giving offerings to...

... a giant reclining Ganesha.

Very detailed, even from behind.

People were whispering secrets into the ears of the rats.

This chicken was collecting donations.

Unclear why the wat also had transformers.

Very colorful!

A huge gong... this woman could barely manage!

Giant, very detailed Brahma.

It's difficult to squeeze an entire family into the photo!

And I thought my foot was big!

Posing with rainbow scales.

Pit stop for some cheap pineapples to bring back to Bangkok!

Careful when driving behind this truck!

Last stop of the long day: Wat Hong Thong, a temple at the edge of the sea.

The wat is built over the water - I imagine this used to be mangrove land.

Visitors can climb to the top of the chedi hall, for a nice view of the sea.

And beautiful views of the ornate building next door.

Taking in the evening ocean air.

The sun sets over the Gulf of Thailand.

Bells that have been hung by other visitors as merit offerings.

Farewell to Chachoengsao. Bangkok, here we come!

Sunday lunch: a bowl of warm noodle soup from the new vegetarian food court across the street.

Unsure if he likes it! The grandpa growing out of his shoulder says hello.

Finally celebrating someone's belated 36th birthday dinner at Charcoal, a new Indian tandoor restaurant.

Check out the beer mug.

Two thumbs up to the napkins -- I mean bibs -- that they give you.

An example of the type of food they serve: yoghurt-and-cheese-marinated broccoli kebabs, baked in the tandoor. YUM!

It's that time of the week again - a Tuesday night departure from Bangkok.

And back to Singapore!

Commuting to and from the office like the locals.

This is so Singaporean; I love it! Taxi stand for 2 taxis only!

Lunch time in the first world!

A peaceful place to take a riverside break.

A first world indulgence: salad bowls with fresh, healthy ingredients.

Bangkok, here I come!

A new carnival, complete with 3 roller coasters, is being assembled on the site of the old Suan Lum Night Bazaar. Can't wait!

Bangkok Week 403

March 17, 2016

A visit with my favorite dogs-in-law, and a short trip to the prosperous first-world nation of Singapore.

"Slow down" says the sign. An important caution that the truck apparently did not heed.

At the Tesco in Klaeng, they freshen the bathroom with sliced limes.

Looks like the jackfruit are coming along nicely since our last visit!

For a sense of scale.

The papaya tree is filling out as well.

Bet you thought these were limes! In fact, they're little guavas!

Ta-daa. The new microwave.

In for a minor checkup and wheel swap.

Performing an inspection.

Namwan seeks respite from the heat under a chair.

Maruay found a very comfortable place for his chin.

Sunday morning bath time!

He knows the routine.

Namwan looks less like she's enjoying it, and more like she's tolerating it.

Time to pick the ripe papaya!

Whoops! Looks like the chipmunks got to it first!

A very nice, clean shop sign at the PTT station in town.

Why does he look so sheepish?

Showing his teeth.

Back in Bangkok, check out the giant block of land that looks like it's getting ready for a massive construction project.

All suited up to play my character at the Asia-Pacific new hire training.

And it's a Wednesday morning trip to Singapore.

Guess I won't be reclining this seat!

Spotted clouds over Malaysia.

U-turning over Batam, Indonesia, before approaching Changi from the South-west.

Great view of all the ships waiting to dock!

Bangkok Week 402

March 10, 2016

Singapore, Bangkok, a trip around the world, and KL.

The sun rises over Singapore's Marina Bay area, where construction cranes shape the skyline.

Heading home after a whirlwind trip to Singapore. Look how small the trucks are compared to the A380.

Changi is preparing for a giant new terminal in the space between its 02C and 02R runways.

We've arrived in Bangkok!

Celebrating the Friday night with pizzas at Tet et Nez in Ari.

I'm impressed by the preparedness of the Honda dealership we took our car to - they had a queue card waiting for us!

A cushy passenger is waiting for a driver to come buy this car in the showroom.

Checking out the 48th Diplomatic Red Cross Bazaar at Paragon, while waiting for the car to be done.

Buying some heavily discounted cereal (that's about to expire) from an importer who had a booth outside the main fair.

Another importer, this one of Canadian maple syrup and British biscuits.

Inside the main fair, embassies had booths of all sizes.

There were life guards around the perimeter, to monitor the crowds.

Sigg water bottles and Victorinox Swiss Army knives from Switzerland.

Denmark had a massive booth - and some actual Danes.

The crowd -- and the lifeguard.

Very cute olives from Greece.

Even Syria was there.

Ohhhh Canada. A bit of a lame showing.

Then again, I've never seen Captain Canuck maple syrup...

Someone from Austria thought it would be clever to sell imported Red Bull in Thailand.

Nigeria had local fabric and jewelry.

Panama brought a local musician - points for originality!

Mongolia was selling wool sweaters!

And Qatar was selling...

... cheese puffs!

I had a booth, too!

Fresh (?) salmon from Norway.

And cute little llamas from Peru.

Showing off our haul for the afternoon.

Spotted this nifty handle for plastic bags at the BTS on the way back.

Which shiny car shall we take?

Smoothie time!

Best consistency yet!

Guess what time it is?

Week-night dinner at Som Tam Bangkok in Aree Soi 3.

Spying.

Spotted in this week's issue of Time magazine.

Four pages of publicity!

Downtown KL looks like many other SEA cities!

A busy Thursday night at Suvarnabhumi.

Bangkok Week 401

March 3, 2016

My first full week in Bangkok in, like, over 2 years. Well, it was almost a full week!

On Saturday, we rode out to Ekkamai for lunch and a farmers' market.

Lunch was at Khun Churn, an all-vegetarian Thai restaurant that's been there for years, but which we'd never tried.

It was pretty good! Lots of things you can't usually find in vegetarian incarnations.

This farmer has fresh, organic fruits and vegetables from somewhere nearby.

And this guy specialized in 3 kinds of mangoes... and sweet potatoes.

Cacti have become all the rage in recent months.

There's an organization that teaches music to underprivileged kids from the Klong Toey slum. Some of those kids were there performing - very cute.

Couldn't resist these fresh baked goods.

We also stopped at a Japanese grocery chain, where they were selling individual pieces of sushi!

I'm really not sure if they meant Daily or Dairy. It's either odd, or very funny.

Saturday night date at a new Gelato place in Ari Soi 3.

Cuppa mint!

The next morning at breakfast, enjoying the pain au chocolate from yesterday's market.

Cute little organic carrots.

Sunset from the office... on a Tuesday night!

The funky new, uber-secure USB key we're required to use for work.

For dinner tonight: the "3 stinky things" dish from Baan Peung Chom up the street.

Enjoying his deep-fried banana flower.

Celebrating the week in Bangkok by trying a new Greek restaurant in town - supposedly the only one actually run by a Greek guy.

Tasted pretty good to us!

According to SQ, the number one thing to do in Perth is to go to Rottnest Island to see the quokkas!

Bangkok Week 400

February 25, 2016

Another 100 weeks have flown by! Week 500, here we come!

I witnessed a bit of a fruit spill on the way to the office on Friday. Avocados and papaya rolling around Rama 4.

Testing the lights in the latest condo in Aree 1.

At a massive homewares expo, looking for a good deal on a microwave...

... but all we got was ice cream. Can't complain!

Preparing for something big!

The big 4-0-0! (Wonder why I'm pointing? Go back to the homepage.)

400 weeks! Wow!

You'd never recognize the view from our pool anymore.

Sunday night immigration at Suvarnabhumi is looking pretty rough.

Got a cozy one-bed room this time at Changi.

Bangkok Week 227

November 1, 2012

Here and there in Bangkok.

Man on a ledge.

Street art on the abandoned railroad supports.

A reflective dinner!

A new Uniqlo opened in Paragon: several other Japanese companies sent congratulatory bouquets.

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