Bangkok Week 483

September 28, 2017

A short week, where we get back into the swing of things.

Yay! 3 new pins on the map!

Must. Have. Thai. Food... Need. Something. Spicy.

Enjoying a bowl of spicy Khao Soi... at long last!

Low-hanging clouds over Bangkok.

Four days in Paris

September 22, 2017

Four fantastic days in Paris... after which our feet were ready to fall off!

Enjoying freshly-baked breakfast on the early-morning TGV back to Paris.

Back safely at Gare de Lyon. Paris, here we come!

Our modest room at Le Meridien Etoile.

Nice in-room treat for us. Privileges expiring soon!

First stop - and the one nearest our hotel. The famous Arc de Triomphe.

Detailing under the arc.

The first of many staircases we'd climb. Second, if you include the cathedral in Geneva.

The Champs-Elysee and all its trees.

Storm clouds over La Defense.

The Gehry-designed Louis Vuitton museum, in Bois de Boulogne.

Great view of Montmartre from up here.

And of course, Paris's most famous Tour.

These street dancers have attracted quite a crowd.

Crazy tourists standing in the middle of the Champs-Elysee, vying for a straight-on shot of the Arc.

Practically twins.

Our first visit to a Parisian Boulangerie & Patisserie.

Piping hot panini!

Driverless trains on the Metro's No 1 line!

Next stop: Centre Pompidou!

Have the colors faded over time?

This little girl learns about city wildlife in the plaza out front.

Getting ready to go inside! (Or is it outside?)

Someone's excited! He studied this building in undergrad.

Up we go!

With our museum passes, we gained admission to the permanent collections.

Great views from the many outdoor terraces.

Looking north-west.

And looking south-west. Long shadows already!

Still can't believe he's at the Centre Pompidou.

Dramatic lighting.

The neighborhood around Les Halles.

They've done a major renovation, ongoing since 2010. Looks good.

Eye-catching homeware store.

Girls playing on a giant head.

Stumbled onto the Bank of France.

Small Parisien sois.

The ornate interior of Galerie Vivienne.

Artistic wall artwork.

The Tour Eiffel during it's hourly evening twinkle!

Struggling to figure out the low-light selfie.

Already counting down to 2024.

Dinner at a veggie-friendly* restaurant.

The Arc at night.

Blending in at the Jardin des Tuileries.

It's definitely fall, and it's definitely wet.

Blending in with the trees?

Our destination for this wet morning: Musee d'Orsay!

Seems like all bridges have been turned into bridges of love.

Already a long queue to enter! Good thing we have our trusty Museum Passes.

These ladies have lots of patience, and don't seem to mind the rain.

Inside the former train station.

This piece must've taken inspiration from the one on the wall in Trat!

Creative framing!

One of the museum's famous clocks.

View north. Looks like it's clearing up.

One of my favorite museum interiors!

The museum's watch-rhino.

Yikes! The queue for those *with tickets* has spilled across the street and around the corner. Glad we got there early!

Next up: Montmartre. Here, Abbesses station is the deepest in the Paris Metro, at 36m below ground. The station features one of only two original glass-covered Guimard entrances left in Paris!

The sois of Montmartre.

A harpist entertains the crowds on the steps of Sacre Coeur.

Sacre-bleu! It's Sacre Coeur.

Looking nice and green down below.

Sacre Coeur up close.

A really good street band got the crowds energized.

Inside the basilica.

The dome and stained-glass windows.

Heading up our next set of stairs.

Great views from up here. Yet another vantage point.

What a clear day it turned out to be.

I spy *LOTS* of chimneys!

At least Santa shoudn't have a problem accessing Parisian homes.

This street leading up to Sacre-Coeur must be one of the most touristy in Paris!

Even the 'do not enter' signs are artistic.

We stumbled upon the fabric district.

Really? Can't not try this, then!

Lunch time! We could tell this must've been the best baguette 5 years ago.

The Mur d'Amour, another attraction in Montmartre.

Interesting street art!

I like punny graffiti.

Aah! The cutest little delivery truck.

Continuing through the hilly sois of Montmartre, on a Lonely Planet-recommended walking tour.

Cute little cafe.

One of the two remaining windmills in the Montmartre area.

Nice building facade - now a hotel.

More Montmartre sois.

Yes, I could live in this neighborhood!

Dancing with Le Passe-Muraille.

Another picturesque neighborhood shot.

Did you know there's a vineyard in the middle of Montmartre? Le Clos Montmartre.

It's the only wine-producing vineyard in Paris.

Almost back at Sacre-Coeur.

Quick stop at the Musée de Montmartre, because our passes included it.

A beautiful property of historic significance.

Yes, I could live here, too.

What a great neighborhood. You'd have good calves if you lived here, too!

The bustling Place du Tertre, on the top of the hill.

The neighborhood's best, home-made ice cream.

I spy a cat!

Back in the posh part of town, stopping by the store that I run with Elle.

The ornate interior of Galleries Lafayette.

We're not here for the shopping - but rather, for the rooftop view.

Another unique view - this one of the back of Palais Garnier.

And the famous opera house from the ground.

Quick coffee break at the Nespresso store. The capsules are much cheaper here than in Thailand.

L'église de la Madeleine - built in Greek style!

Place de la Concorde.

And the famous Grand Palais.

The Petit Palais across the street is still pretty grand.

Traffic and a beautiful backdrop on the Champs-Elysee.

Nice sky!

Just for kicks, we climbed the Arc again at night, to check out the view.

The main streets are still bustling down below.

Another day, another adventure! First up: Sainte-Chapelle.

15 stained glass windows tell the story of mankind. As per the church, anyway.

The Rose Window depicts St. John's version of the Apocalypse.

The structure of the stained glass is different on each of the 15 windows.

The walls are also very ornate, but are over-shadowed by the windows.

Next stairs -- I mean, next stop: the home of the Hunchback.

Inside of Notre Dame is not as spectacular, when you come from Sainte-Chapelle!

One of the famous Rose Windows.

And the pipe organ.

Another several stairs later, a nice view of Ile de la Cite.

Inside the bell tower. The Hunchback was no where to be seen :(

A hungry gargoyle!

The predecessor to the pelican.

Is that a hot air balloon?

Looking south, toward the Latin Quarter and the Pantheon.

Clearest shot of the Pompidou yet!

These gargoyles are pretty expressive!

Looking east, past Ile St. Louis.

A plaza full of photo-takers.

High above Paris!

Our Lady, from behind.

Selfie in Square Jean XXIII.

This view can only be Paris.

Street musicians taking advantage of the great day.

Also a great day for tourists on boats.

Du fromage pour toi?

A fancy-pants cookie shop on Ile Saint-Louis.

And the famous Berthillon. It's never too early for an ice cream on a scooter.

More patisseries!

Color-on-grey.

These bateau-bus tourists got lucky today!

Next stop: l'Institut du Monde Arabe.

Good day to practice some rappelling.

Unclear if the shutter-like windows still work - but they're cool nonetheless.

My favorite secret vantage point in Paris.

The view ain't too shabby!

It's finally lunch time! More paninis!

Lunch in the Latin Quarter.

His vocabulary word! He spotted his one vocabulary word!

The Pantheon! Let's go climb it!

It now functions as functions as a secular mausoleum containing the remains of distinguished French citizens.

In the center of the Pantheon is a giant pendulum, which showcases the rotation of the earth.

Heading up to the dome - with a nice interior pit-stop.

The dome!

Another very Parisian view.

Final shot of Montparnasse before it receives its face-lift?

Le Quartier Latin.

Another unique vantage point - this one, exceptionally spacious and clean. I like it!

Final stop for the day: Le Musee du Louvre.

Another stop on the architecture-enthusiast's tour.

Pit stop - for our legs.

Inside I.M. Pei's pyramid.

Spiral stairs, glass pyramids - very cutting-edge for the mid-80s.

Michelangelo's The Dying Slave.

The famous Room 77 in the Denon Wing, filled with "masterpieces from French romanticism".

Guess who this small crowd is gathered to see!

That postage stamp over there on the wall!

We did it! We got somewhat close.

A modern-day artist, patiently practicing his craft. And somehow tuning out all the tourists!

How meta. We found both the Great Sphinx of Tanis... and a painting of it in the Louvre.

Likewise: the room housing the Crown of Louis XV, and a painting showing the same.

Straight-on shot of the Pyramids.

The inverted pyramid was completed almost a decade after the outdoor pyramids: in 1993.

A much-deserved dinner at a Lebanese bistro.

Lots of traffic over Paris this Thursday morning.

Place de la Bastille. Or is it, Place de Samsung?

It's Thursday - so Marche Bastille is on in full force.

Too many kinds of mushrooms.

Leeks! And all sorts of fall colors.

Oysters from Normandie?

A small tower of fresh baguettes.

So many colors!

Muffins! Muffins are a thing now in Paris!

Some olives with your market purchases?

Nearby, the local pigeons enjoy the morning bath.

The picturesque Canal Saint Martin.

Almost-perfect reflections on the water.

Transitioning to fall foliage along the canal.

Some gnarly meta street art.

This mural is cute, too.

Exploring the streets of Le Marais.

Evidence of a bike-friendly city.

Entering the Jewish sub-district.

Yiddish patisserie & boulangerie.

Du pain!

Look how many small cars fit abreast a narrow one-way street.

Our final lunch in Paris: another French sandwich.

Our destination for lunch: the Coulée verte René-Dumont, a disused elevated railway line, since converted into a public park.

It was inaugurated in 1993 - long before the High Line!

A nice mix of greenery and seating.

It offers a great view into people's apartments that you wouldn't get otherwise. A modern building!

More spying.

These look like apartments you might see in north Cambridge (MA).

A perfect spot for our picnic lunch.

Last but not least, our final museum for the trip: Musee Rodin.

Je pense, donc je suis.

The Kiss... just not in marble.

Many older visitors admire the Age of Bronze.

One of the Burghers of Calais.

Pierre de Wissant.

The not-so-modest Monument to James McNeill Whistler.

Stopping in the garden for some ice cream before heading off.

Quick pass by Les Invalides on our way to the Tour.

Another picture-perfect cafe setting.

Aha! The tower we came to see.

What's this rusty old structure called?

The names are legible from this side.

Our two favorite cities magically come together.

The Last Supper at this cute little vegetarian restaurant.

Tasty French (?) fare.

I think we found the Khao San Road of Paris.

One last monument before heading to the airport: la Grande Arche de la Defense.

Photo in lens.

After four solid days of stair-climbing, it's time to give our feet a rest and return to reality... in style!

A Sunday in Geneva

September 17, 2017

A quick 7-hour pop over to Switzerland. Quiet place, Geneva!

Whizzing through the tunnel, destination Switzerland!

First view of the sleepy city: the Bâtiment des Forces Motrices, a performing arts theater in the middle of the Rhone.

And the Cité du Temps, another event venue in the water.

The Ritz, in classic Geneva style.

Colorful Monument Brunswick.

It commemorates Charles II, Duke of Brunswick -- whom I'd never heard of until now.

An eye-catching sculpture sitting peacefully on a bench in the park.

One of the many bateaux, waiting to set sail on Lake Geneva.

A Swiss pigeon (or maybe he's French, on holiday) watching the world-famous Jet d'Eau. And wondering, what kind of landmark is this?

Selfie with the one-and-only Jet d'Eau.

Flags of many nations (states?) over the Pont du Mont-Blanc.

A man and his swan friend exchange the latest stories.

Nearby, many more swans try to listen in.

Getting up-close-and-personal with the jet.

A Mika, for scale.

The swan is not bothered by a bit of rain. He's used to mist from the jet, anyway.

Compact way to store everything -- including small convertible -- on your balcony.

Cute drawing in the sidewalk.

Ahh! Someone taking full advantage of his Smart Car!

A recumbent bike rider exchanges laughs with the Nissan Micra next to him; and the Micra thought *HE* was small.

A classic look for the Citizen Services Center.

Geneva streets! With the overhead cables, for both streetcars and buses.

More! Noticing a pattern?

Then we stumbled upon the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, Genea's largest museum! (Quite the claim, for a city of population 195k.)

Had to stop briefly to play with the giant contraption inside the main hall.

A peek into the medieval room of arms and weaponry.

Looks warm and heavy to me!

We took this as an example of how we *won't* be furnishing our living room.

Next pleasant surprise: the Geneva street food fair.

Not quite what Bangkok means by Street Food, but cute.

Ah! This is where all the Genevans were on Sunday!

Looked like a pleasant day out - but not cheap street food!

Amen to this, Swiss brotha'.

Thai people are never too far away from street food, though.

Informative infographic!

The narrow streets of the old city.

Our first peek at St Pierre Cathedral.

Although it was completed around 1160, the befitting column facade was added in the 18th century. (What were they thinking?)

The grand interior.

It has a beautiful organ.

The first of many ascents in the days to come!

Great view from the top; what a flat city!

Mountains in the background.

Hello over there!

Nice view; worth the EUR 4.

From here, we can spy on the crazy Jet d'Eau-goers, who brought umbrellas. Does that help?

With so few residents, everyone can park his boat in the harbour!

The wheel, and more boats on the north side of the bay.

We were just on that bridge!

Spying on the pedestrians below.

Back down on the streets, Geneva looks awfully quiet.

Is everyone at the Street Food Festival?

Cute public drinking fountain.

With so few people, Geneva makes a great backdrop!

Did we mention that it was a quiet Sunday?

A very colorful tram! Hard to miss!

Practically twins - down to the finger.

Back to the same performing arts center where we began.

Well these sunflowers seemed out-of-place.

Didn't make it to the zoo, but wish we had; they seem to have some unique animals in Switzerland!

We did make it to the UN, however.

Grand building!

Ah - found the main entrance this time.

No - not standing in the middle of the street! Despite what it looks like.

The famous Broken Chair sculpture (symbolises opposition to land mines and cluster bombs) ... but the broken leg is obstructed by the protesters!

Talloires and Annecy

September 16, 2017

Enjoy a tour of the exceptionally scenic, picturesque, and generally beautiful Annecy and Talloires, and environs.

All ready to set sail, in extra-comfortable seats thanks to Thai's free upgrade.

All comfy here!

Time travel tubes at CDG Terminal 1.

How futuristic. Google it: CDG Terminal 1.

And we've made it to beautiful Gare de Lyon.

Where travelers can have a free charge for their devices, but they have to work for it.

Just enough time in our 'layover' to sneak a peak of the Seine.

And grab some breakfast for the long ride ahead.

And we're off to Annecy, local nourishment in hand.

For those who are curious, here's the route the TGV takes. It actually bypasses Lyon.

Note the u-turn in Chambery.

Some nice scenery along the way.

The first of many cow sightings.

The next obstacle: the rental car. Our Opel Mokka.

We made it to our AirBnB. Our host's unit is the one on the corner, with all the plants on the facade.

We have a small entrance to our ground-level studio around the corner.

Our studio; and home for the next 4 nights.

The beautiful Lac d'Annecy, as seen from Annecy.

Blue skies, blue waters!

This is the third-largest lake in France (excluding the French part of Lake Geneva).

We were there, too!

Touring the lake is an attraction itself!

The kite surfers were out in force.

These athletes didn't seem to mind that it was 15 degrees out!

Flags of the region?

A small canal off the lake.

Annecy town hall.

The picturesque center of (old) town.

The Thiou river, the primary outflow of the lake. And its resident swans.

Classic Annecy picture: the Palais de l'Ile, former castle & prison.

This is the type of town they would replicate in China or Disneyland!

Heading up hill.

Cute graffiti.

Our destination: Basilique de la Visitation, on top of the hill.

It was built between 1922 and 1930 ... relatively modern by France's standards!

Interior of the basilica.

Also nearby: the Château d'Annecy, formerly a medieval castle, and now a museum.

Great view of roof tops from the hill.

Colorful homes, leaves, and sky.

No need to paint your house, when the foliage is this colorful!

Snack time! Vocab word of the day: "boulangerie".

Long shadows accompany the relatively long days.

More scenic canal shots.

Turns out Paul is actually a thing! Not just a brand created for Asian markets!

Farewell, Annecy.

Back in Talloires, the sun is [finally] setting over the local docks.

Early the next morning, we go out to explore -- and find breakfast.

The cute little town.

This is pretty much it for the town center.

The lake is still waking up.

All bundled up; it was only 4 degrees!

Even the boats are still asleep, trying to keep warm.

Pano of Lac d'Annecy, from the Talloires beach. Check out the slide on the LHS.

Mist rising up from the lake.

Boats all tucked in for the winter.

Finally time for breakfast! From our new best friend: the patissier.

View of the lake from even further south; we're heading to the southern tip.

Doing a short walk in the "Réserve Naturelle Marais du Bout du Lac d'Annecy".

It's a picturesque 3km loop through an area they have been rehabilitating over the last 40 years.

The mountains in this area are some of the most globally renowned for paragliding!

The Ire river, one of the two main rivers that feeds the lake.

Another picturesque pano, this time from the south side.

More scenic lake and marsh. Lots of ducks around here!

A paragliding pro.

Apparently many paragliding championships are held here.

Head in the clouds.

One of the ~6 villages and towns that border the lake.

Too bad it was just a bit too chilly for swimming!

Colorful portrait.

French duckies!

The nosy swans spotted people, and so had to come over to investigate.

Sorry swans, only limited French spoken here!

Bonjour, monsieur. Avez-vous du pain pour moi?

Finally, time for the big event! First stop is at the Mairie...

... for the official marriage ceremony. Check out the medal around this guy's neck.

The couple and their witnesses, listening carefully to the man with the medal.

Newlyweds!

The groom, looking more-than-dapper, with former colleagues from Bangkok.

Solene & Adrien, making their first exit together as a married couple.

Loving how they decked out their car!

Walking back to the Abbaye for photos and the next ceremony.

The groom, his best man, and two of the three flower girls.

The lake looks much more alive than it did this morning!

What a scenic backdrop for wedding photos!

And what a stylish couple.

Off they go, sailing into the sunset. Or, to take more photos.

Oh hey, we were there, too!

Back on solid land, the ceremony laïque.

Entering with style, of course.

Another great backdrop for their exchange of vows, and speeches from the guests of honor.

After the sun set, it did get a bit chilly, though!

Finally, the dinner that lasted until midnight!

We were seated at the table for English speakers!

Now I know how a European wedding can last into the wee hours of the morning!

Capping off the night: an extravagant pouring of the campaign.

Late the next morning: after several observations, he's finally figured out how to carry bread like a local.

Our activity for the morning: a windy drive up Mt. Semnoz, overlooking the lake. The road makers took "follow the curves of the mountain" a little too literally.

At the top, we're at an altitude of 1670m. Note: that sign is for the crazy cyclists who make the ascent!

Feeling on top of the (foggy) world.

From the ground, we thought it was a clear day. Turns out there were clouds, after all!

It must be beautiful when the clouds aren't there!

Literally spending time above the clouds.

Some sun found a way to sneak into one of the villages below.

A spy a sliver of the lake down there.

It's the time of week when the cows get to come home!

They look awfully excited! Have you ever seen cows gallop like that?

The running of the dairy cows!

More of the lake down below. Looks so blue, even from up here.

Uh oh, more clouds rolling in!

A tree-mountain-cloud sandwich.

This rebel dog and his owners (who were indeed French)!

Fresh cheese, I believe. But I didn't see any goats up there.

The ladies just chillin' and enjoying the view.

What healthy cows!

Uh oh! Another cloud rolling in.

A horizon of cows.

Can you guess what they use this misty mountain for in the winter?

Making my dramatic disappearance.

Making a pit stop on the way back down the mountain, for some valley views.

Another cute little village, still at relatively high altitude.

The dairy barns?

More cows!

And a nosy horse, carefully monitoring the traffic.

"Okay, you may pass."

One final elevated view of the lake.

Looking nice and blue!

Penultimate item on the wedding program: Breton crepes for brunch at Adrien's family's house.

Such a quintessentially French way to spend the afternoon.

Looking good!

Some well-deserved crepes, after a long wait.

More style from the groom. (Colors are in!)

Last stop on the official program: a boat tour of the lake.

Looking back as we depart Talloires.

A man and his dog, spending some peaceful time together on Saturday afternoon.

The sailors are out, too.

The dramatic Château Ruphy, an 11th-century fortress.

What a view!

Looks like snow on the mountaintops - but alas, it's just stone.

More low clouds.

What a steep backyard!

Au revoir, Talloirs et Annecy!

Bangkok Week 481

September 13, 2017

A short week, before we set sail!

A really cute cupcake, courtesy of a colleague.

Peppina Pizza - in the comfort of a mall!

Package included! That's good -- wouldn't want just the banana.

Lunch with James, who was in town for the weekend.

Note the difference between an iPhone camera and a Samsung camera!

Finally had an excuse to visit the robot building!

A different view of The Ari Egg.

The wires on Phaholyothin are coming down!

Snip-snip, cut-cut. Prepare for a wire-free view soon! What a nice surprise.

Bangkok Week 480

September 7, 2017

One last trip to Sydney (and Melbourne) for the foreseeable future!

Nice setting sun on Friday afternoon.

Thrilled to be trying the quinoa burger at Broccoli Revolution at long last.

This Thai nickname takes the cake!

Another nice Bangkok sunset. And an egg.

Look at all our plant's cousins.

How we've solved our washing machine drain problem! Works like a charm.

Another free ice cream at the airport. Thanks, Citibank!

A very cool installation in Venice by Lorenzo Quinn. https://www.lorenzoquinn.com/venice-biennale-venice-2017/

Spotted in the Thai magazine: the same setting as the wallpaper we found at a Thai restaurant in Sydney.

Creepy mountains south-west of Royal National Park and Sydney.

Towns encroaching on nature.

Looks like the towns are perched on the edge of those cliffs.

What strength do you need your coffee today?

Good-bye, Sydney. Maybe your light rail will be done next time I'm back! (But I won't put money on it...)

And off I go again.

Til next time, Sydney!

My last great Australian coffee.

Had a few minutes of pleasant Melbourne winter on the way back.

Really? Melbourne airport functionally operates with one runway?

All set for cereal until the next trip to a Western country!

Bangkok Week 479

August 31, 2017

Many once-a-year activities this week: Recruiting at Thammasat, annual visit to immigration, trip to New Delhi...

At Thammasat University for a recruiting event.

The campus is pretty lively for a Friday night.

Popping in for dinner at Seven Spoons, since we're in the neighborhood.

Yet another new local beer.

Fresh pineapple and coconut smoothies.

Spot the man in the wires!

Monday morning immigration queue - very Thai.

Look - the line even turns a corner.

Eyes in the sky.

Welcome to India - where we maximize the space we use in your passport!

View of Delhi suburbs from the hotel room.

Quite green (and not too hazy) in this area.

Odd system - some floors with "mechanical" keys.

At first glance, it looks commendable - and you wonder why Changi hasn't objected. Then you notice the sub-category, and the unknown award agency.

Larger-than-life elephants in the departure hall.

Can we take this flight instead?

Bangkok Week 478

August 24, 2017

Trat time!

Dinner at Paul! They're good not only for their patisseries.

This just in! Durian donuts at Dunkin'!

Look at them all! Aren't they cute?

Like my ride?

Working at my awesome new table!

Dinner time. The calm before the storm.

Namwan now regrets never learning how to climb stairs.

Tempting fate.

Staring down the barrel.

No fear in this cat!

Spot the cat!

Keeping a close eye on his sister.

Monks are here! So are the neighbors.

The fruit blend in well with the rugs.

More monks.

Lunch time for the Phra.

Always in the center of the action.

With Grandma from two doors down.

Maruay: back to his normal self.

What? Coin throwing? Yipee!

Fun, games, and coins.

Time to release the sea creatures. Hope they like fresh water!

Off you go, little fish! (Namwan's like, wait, I could eat those!)

See the resemblance?

"Hey wait a minute, I was talking to that turtle!"

Lots of dishes to dry!

It's that time of year - immigration photo fest! This is what happens when you try to do it on a weekday morning during rush hour!

Trapped in time! Spot the artifacts from the early 2000s!

We took an indirect approach to Manila.

Welcome to Manila. Looks like they're hosting some Asean affairs.

What a church!

Bangkok Week 477

August 17, 2017

Have I ever mentioned - we <3 Sydney?

My trusty Chatuchak pineapple came all the way to the Sydney tarmac with me.

Above the sheet of clouds.

And below.

It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood - and a new view for me.

Fast forward to evening: when it's Time for a Thai!

We headed to this hipster vegan burger joint.

Over a dozen different burgers to choose from!

Yums-a-plenty.

Back at Coles, Lindor has invested in a very creative display.

But I'm here for my cereal! Nom nom nom.

Off on an adventure the next morning. First challenge: taking the ferry from Cronulla to Bundeena.

Too chilly to be sitting outside!

This brave kayaker is not deterred.

A giant tree in Bundeena, a small town of 2000 residents with a distinctly 'Bracebridge' vibe.

Perhaps because it's surrounded on all sides by a national park, new cars have a hard time getting in.

Despite the small-town feel, there's still some funky architecture.

Repeating silhouettes.

At the start of our loop - still looking fresh!

We begin on an inland trail cutting through the interior of Royal National Park.

Royal National Park foliage will prove to be very diverse.

Like this conifer.

Are these cat tails?

Like a long, slender mic.

Blending right in with the locals.

Some color in a sea of grey.

You have to look closely to find the color.

Uh oh. Are we lost?

More unique foliage.

And more!

Colorful trees (that look more like fall than spring) and a cliff on the horizon.

The outback.

If you're stranded and you forgot your bread knife, you're in luck!

We also took a side trip to the moon.

But wait - why is there gravity?

We finally reach Marley Head, overlooking Marley Beach (as seen from above at the end of Bangkok Week 475).

Marley Beach.

Living life on the edge.

Group shot, in Australia's great nature.

A gorilla face in the side of the cliff?

Suddenly a group of school kids on a mission materialized out of nowhere!

Darth Vader?

Can't say they didn't warn him.

The famous Wedding Cake Rock (technical fenced off and off-limits, but that doesn't seem to deter most visitors).

More cliff-side view.

Who said Eastern Australia isn't as beautiful as WA?

How daring!

Nothing but water below...

... and a comfortable cushion of rocks.

More creepy rocks.

More beautiful backdrops.

More Royal National Park.

And on we go.

Some people, for a sense of scale.

Over a small brook, that eventually flows over the edge.

A stone staircase! Doesn't look so natural though.

Rocks, green, and people.

Some slightly different rocks!

Waves, frozen in space.

More cliff.

"The Balconies."

The end of the cliff-side walk - and back inland we go.

I was assured that this looked like I was surfing on waves...

Back in Bundeena, we spot a cockatoo!

And a cockathree, cockafour, cockafive...

And a bunch of lorikeet!

The lorikeet seem to love those conifers.

I see you!

And this is it! Bundeena town center! Makes Bracebridge look like an urban metropolis.

One of Bundeena's beautiful beaches.

So many types of fish!

Here's our ferry! Right on time.

Seating with a view.

How unnaturally blue is the water!

Enjoying the ride.

These properties aren't too shabby!

Yup, I could live here. With my yacht and my sailboat.

Watch out behind you, Team Cronulla!

A harbour straight out of Finding Nemo.

A quick stop in downtown Cronulla for lunch, before hopping on a train back to town.

Catching up on some valuable R&R on the hour-long ride back.

Last stop for the evening - the chocolate festival!

Seems to have attracted a large chunk of Sydney.

No way to walk ... so must stop and eat desserts.

And us? Going with a classic.

A gem glowing in the evening light.

Not a bad view for an evening dessert. Mind you, it's probably not much past 5pm.

The next morning, writing in the sky - not sure the meaning, but probably in relation to the big "City to Surf" 14km run that was happening.

And us? We're off to the zoo!

This captain has one of the better office views in town.

The opera house looks nice under the sunny spring sky.

The opera house seal! It's my first time seeing him in person - albeit from afar.

Great view of the interior structure (which is independent of the shell, as we learned last year) thanks to the angle of the sun.

Beautiful CBD silhouette.

Nice morning for a sail.

Following the leader!

Clear waters at the Taronga Zoo pier.

A warm welcome from the Taronga Zoo's most famous attraction.

The uber-cute Red Panda!

Who has a mighty fine view from his home.

The daily sea lion show!

It was educational and entertaining.

What a strong boy!

This guy was jealous that he wasn't in the show.

A great Australian pelican!

The famous headless Australian Penguin.

Oh, wait. Nevermind. That's not this guy.

Pygmy Hippos! Mum and baby.

Mum is actually quite cute...

But my, what big teeth she has!

Gibbon on the run.

Colorful fowl.

Baby Jai Dee (3 months old), and his mom, Pak Boong.

Nong Jai Dee learns what mom's poop tastes like.

The zebras, catching up on the latest goss.

And the most bored animals in the entire zoo.

This fellow enjoys some of the best real estate in Sydney.

Yes? Can I help you?

Curious about what's happening on the other side of the fence.

Peak-a-boo.

Another pelican.

Harassing his ducky friends on a frantic search for fish. Poke-poke-poke!

This emu is standing right in place.

Just a 'roo, enjoying a lazy Sunday afternoon.

A wallaby! My first wallaby.

Ethel's long-lost cousins! They've been living on the East Coast all along!

The Common Wombat. So common.

The sleepiest man in town. Doesn't he look comfortable?

"I feel like I'm being watched."

"Leaves. I want my leaves."

And back to Circualr Quay we go.

The Australian sun is strong!

Sunset spotters in Mrs Macquarie's Point.

I see why they come for the view!

Finally found Mrs. Macquarie's chair.

Posh Sydney Cove and Woolloomoloo.

The lounge already!? Bye, Sydney!

Spotted the source of the haze! Controlled burns. (Looks like it's coming from inside Royal National Park!)

Another one North of Sydney, too.

Beautiful 747-400 sunset.

Meanwhile, back in Bangkok...!

Bangkok Week 476

August 10, 2017

Bangkok to Bali to Singapore to Manila to Bangkok... and now onto Sydney. One year of travel compressed into a single week!

My new, compact desk for the next 4.5 hours.

I find this truly an odd promotion by Thai.

After 5 hours of delays, we've made it to Bali! How about some grilled corn on the beach?

My breakfast the next morning. Just kidding - he was my dining companion.

Nice green resort in Nusa Dua.

What an orderly beach!

Blue waters, blue sky. And low humidity! Great weather.

It was, however, a bit windy.

Nasi campur vegetarian! A pleasant treat!

Sky looks a bit more ominous that evening.

Nice set-up for the interns' farewell dinner.

Seems a bit aggressive to play this xylophone with a dagger, no?

Last morning in Bali - nice pool for a swim.

The ocean is looking less welcoming than yesterday morning, though.

Next stop: Singapore! (Which just celebrated its birthday yesterday.)

Colorful rolly-pollies play in the street.

Finally caught up with Mel - whom I hadn't seen in years!

Last stop: Manila! Here's a healthful national breakfast item: fried jam donut, topped in butter and cheese. Bon appetit!

Farewell Manila and Mario. Back to the motherland I finally go!

Bangkok Week 475

August 3, 2017

Have I mentioned that I <3 Sydney?

This one's for Julia!

Home-grown passion fruit, straight from Trat.

Appearances can be deceiving!

This reflects 45 mins of hard labor here, ladies and gentlemen.

Thanks once again to Citibank for the delicious freebie at the airport!

I spy the beautiful seaside cliffs of Royal National Park, just south of Sydney.

Some things don't change! Zipping into central Sydney by train.

The famous view when you emerge from St. James station.

Blue skies over the CBD.

Beautiful Circular Quay, already bustling at 10 in the morning.

How imposing: the Museum of Contemporary Art impresses.

A poetic reminder.

An imposing new mural inside the museum's main stairwell.

Looking back from out on the quay.

Lots of ferry traffic, even on a Sunday.

Dramatic sky over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Ah, finally! There's the Opera House!

Everyone important in a single shot.

Look, I really was there too.

The Rocks.

More of The Rocks.

Atty, the artist behind Ethel Quokka has moved into a permanent gallery space.

Enjoying the views on the way up to the bridge.

One year later, and the soccer -- I mean, football -- game is still going!

Dramatic skies over The Rocks.

All of Sydney was out and about on this lovely morning.

Dramatic clouds overhead!

Lots of traffic zipping into, and out of, the harbour.

It's neck-and-neck to the finish line!

Destination: Luna Park.

No teeth have been lost in the last year.

Although it looks like the ferris wheel has lost every fourth car.

Ah, to be one with the city wildlife.

What a great backdrop this guy has found.

My first time spotting a lorikeet in Sydney.

The pier at Luna Park was being renovated -- so this other pier 600m away is my new destination.

Like night and day. Or, like cloudy day and day.

Spot the bridge climbers!

Making waves.

Did I mention that it was overcast? (At least it wasn't hazy with controlled burn smoke!)

More Harbour Bridge.

Folks were out at the Opera House, too.

Not a bad place to come hang out and picnic.

Love the angles and the tiled roof.

If I lived in Sydney, I would spend the days outdoors, too!

Shades of grey.

Quay and quay.

Observers.

Twin peaks.

Found the rest of Sydney! They're all here, at Bondi Beach.

What a bunch of daredevils these Aussies are.

The water really was as blue as it looks in this photo.

People were swimming! And the water was COOOOLD.

What a view!

The crazy surfers - out in the middle of winter.

Deep contemplation before deciding whether or not to take the plunge.

Last stop: Coogee.

Monday was decidedly more overcast than the weekend.

And Tuesday was beautiful and clear for my departure.

Good ol' Central Station.

Self-serve McD at the airport!

Good ol' Thai 747. This particular aircraft was a ripe 22 years old.

Look at these diverse tails. I've flown all 3 this year!

Obstacle course to use the bathroom on the plane. User-centric design!

Bye-bye, Sydney.

See you again soon.

An even more beautiful view of Royal National Park.

Spot the airport, spot the harbour!

#avgeek news of the week: BOE004 engine endurance test.

Continuing along.

Just wrapping up the finishing touches on the B787.

Bangkok Week 474

July 27, 2017

A weekend with the extended family... and their parents, too!

Moderating a panel at the annual conference of the Thailand Management Association.

All in a day's work?

On Saturday morning, Maruay is happy to see us!

And Namtan is stuck on the roof, missing all the action.

Bath time for the big boy!

What a life - weekly trips to the spa.

How undignified.

Starting to feel sheepish?

Ahh, all done and wrapped like a burrito.

Do you recognize this car?

The nice green rubber plantation + chicken farm down the road.

Cat yoga!

This cat really likes cars!

They provide a great vantage point.

Cat yoga on car roof!

Mesmerised by the fidget spinner.

One lone guava on the guava tree.

Someone's in heaven.

Family feast!

Maruay, still giving "hugs" in his own way.

Ladies in black. One with a big head!

Good-bye, and see you next month!

We passed a caravan of antique Toyotas on the way back to Bangkok.

Just some of our spoils.

In <2 weeks, the subway will extend to Tao Poon, closing the "missing link" with the Purple Line!

Bangkok Week 473

July 20, 2017

Blue and black skies; dresses, suits and ties.

Given that we're in the middle of the rainy season, this sky was really a Friday Night treat!

Also, would you believe it's past 6pm?

Trying one of the frozen parathas from Villa with our leftover Indian.

Petch and Pink's wedding on Sunday morning.

Nong It wasn't thrilled.

Som-O, Maprang and family - all dapper, all smiles.

And just like that, the cafe across the street was gone!

Spotted for sale during a lunch market!

Another big storm hits Bangkok!

Peeking into the construction site.

Here one minute, gone the next. Last of the old property!

Bangkok Week 472

July 13, 2017

A long-overdue reunion.

Small world! Got the same taxi driver as in March. He has a distinctive seat cover!

Friday storm is brewing!

Raining in Siam.

Dinner with Hadi, the Freshman year roommate Sittha hasn't seen in 19 years.

Selfie outside Seven Spoons.

See you in another 19 years?

Putting the iToy to good use.

This taxi driver wants to take good care of his new car -- even the floor mats!

What a great mid-week surprise. Indian take-out for dinner!

Bangkok Week 471

July 6, 2017

The week the walls -- I mean ceiling -- came down.

The week the ceilings came down.

Recognize the ground floor anymore?

The upstairs ceiling removed as well - except for the skylight over the stairs.

In other news, we now have a bakery as a neighbor.

Got this paper order form with a flyer from the largest retail conglomerate in Thailand. For a second, I thought we were in 2017.

Decisions, decisions!

Trying another new Thai brew - this one in partnership with an Australian brewery.

The next night: trying a "cider".

A different plant makes an appearance in my office.

Trying out the new iToy for something useful, for once.

Bangkok Week 470

June 29, 2017

A short week this time.

Friday afternoon storm's coming!

And surprisingly quickly, it's gone!

Would you like to buy some Not Delicious Refund? On sale, today only.

A dramatic evening sky over Ari.

A Korean beer, believe it or not!

Gourmet Gorilla Cheese for dinner.

And a mid-week Isaan feast.

Bangkok Week 469

June 22, 2017

Someone got his much-belated birthday present!

Look at this! Someone still uses the printed airline timetable!

BTS Security Dog taking a long-deserved rest.

IHOP has come to Bangkok! In Paragon. The poshest IHOP on earth.

Dinner at "Veganerie" - also at Paragon. Is it any good?

Not bad!

Checking out the house, before the ceilings come down.

Checking out House of Lucie in the new neighborhood.

Part of the Lucie Foundation, which honors master photographers.

True 'dat.

New Isaan restaurant in Ari...

... which despite the cozy decor ...

... turned out to be deadly!

At long last, the much-belated birthday present!

Pretty in pink!

Testing out all the new sketching and paint tools stuffed inside the iPad.

And a nifty logo design app - to make stylistic icons like this.

Quick jaunt down to KL!

Selamat datang.

Bangkok Week 468

June 15, 2017

Chantaburi, Trat, and Julia's last 24 hours in Bangkok!

Finally a beautiful Friday sky outside my window.

Practically twins - another piece by Jean Jullien.

We made it to the ordination in Chantaburi, just in time for lunch.

This is the boring lunch corner.

Posing with the new monk. I forgot to not smile.

Everyone looks thrilled!

Maruay is happy to see me... I think.

He thought we were going on a simple road trip into town...

... little did he know what was in store.

This fatso lives at the vet.

Caught red handed, when we returned from town.

Stuck up here now!

Namwan chooses to lounge someplace more comfortable.

Someone doesn't want to take his medicine!

Namwan knows food when she sees it ... even when it's disguised as a weapon.

A picture-perfect cut.

The finished product. Mmm.

Another home-made feast.

Trying out my matching new pajama pants.

The next morning, we found Namtan hanging out on another car.

And here he is, trying to help wash the car. Notice a pattern?

In front of the house, there's a graton graveyard.

Looking through photos from Julia's visit.

The mangosteen in the back yard isn't quite ripe yet.

Neither are the rambutan. Next visit!

When did this papaya tree get so tall?

The shrimp are growing!

Top demonstrates his brute-force method for removing mangoes from trees.

A farewell hug for Maruay.

Twins, right?

What a grand send-off party!

Spotted on the way back to Bangkok: giant jack fruit!

My office got a plant!

Julia's back for one last Fruit Feast!

Farewell dinner at Cantina.

Not very Thai, but oh well!

Four weeks on the road, and still traveling impressively light!

Bon voyage, Julia! Have fun in China, Japan and Calgary!

Bangkok Week 467

June 8, 2017

A quick pop down under!

For once, a dry Friday sunset over Bangkok!

Time to choose materials!

The next-door neighbor is curious what all the fuss is about.

Spotted at Ari: a very scary 'doo.

Saturday night feast - partially home-made.

Spotted at the airport: someone's going on a trip!

Why hello there, Sydney. It's been a while!

Can still manage to take the train, even while mostly asleep.

A dry endorsement of public transport.

The same humorists are enthusiastic about subway etiquette as well.

Hey, remember this view!?

I was treated to the first gloomy day in over a month!

Largely wet and grey, but still Sydney!

Town Hall looks much the same.

And it doesn't seem like they've made much progress at all on the Light Rail construction in front of the Queen Victoria Building.

Bye-bye, Sydney. You've been brief!

See you next time!

Didn't realize the pilots have to check in, too. I guess it's because of the 70kg of luggage they're each bringing back!

Rainy to the last minute.

We had to wait in time-out until the weather above the aerodrome was flight-worthy.

Rainy down below, but purrrty from above.

Clearing up as we move north of of Sydney.

Sun sets early in winter.

Nice lighting.

Good bye, my colorful Oz.

And hello, Bangkok. Hey, aren't we supposed to be landing at that airport?

Bangkok Week 466

June 1, 2017

We get Julia back for another weekend! Stormy weather, bring it on!

It's Friday morning! And here comes the Friday morning rain!

What they fed us for lunch on Friday.

Even Ari experienced some flooding.

Julia made it back! To re-welcome her, a late Friday night dinner (my fault!) at Nara in Paragon. Who knew they had a whole veggie menu.

The next morning, we take on the pending rains and head to Chinatown anyway.

Iconic Chinatown... and ominous skies.

Spotted this product -- perfect for all you lazy iPad users out there.

Roasted chestnuts, anyone?

About to jump right into the hustle and bustle.

Lots of people were calling the rain's bluff!

Lots of novel new snacks to try here.

Can't find this one outside of Chinatown.

A very patriotic shop house.

And... that was the end of our luck! Stuck in a true monsoon rain! Our umbrellas didn't do much to help.

As Julia said, it was like we were in a water park!

Ankle-deep water, and no where to hide.

We finally found a taxi, who took our sopping souls back to MBK. Where we bought dry clothes and some long-awaited lunch!

Someone trying to get in from the rains.

There's a great exhibit on at CentralWorld by French artist Jean Jullien.

His art is quite amusing.

Then we stumbled onto the Original Thailand Amazing Durian Fruit Fest!!!

The Durian lovers were excited!

I thought these mangosteen cakes were pretty cute. And lifelike.

For THB 499, you had access to an all-you-can-eat fruit buffet for a 90 minute sitting.

Durian as far as the eye could see!

Also many, many kinds of mangoes - these were more my speed.

We finally made it home; we finally had dried. And now it's time for a warm meal.

Trying another new fruit - salak, or "snake fruit". Or bum fruit?

Julia very thoughtfully bought and cut up fresh mangoes for breakfast the next morning.

And then, as something different, we went to the gym! You see, it's not *only* about snacking in Thailand.

Still standing! But we'll be sore tomorrow.

Imagining ourselves in our alternate career paths.

No visit to Bangkok is incomplete without a stop at After You, Bangkok's famous dessert haven.

This was dinner!

One last round of new fruit before Julia's departure.

And she's off to Bali, at 3:50 in the morning! Safe travels, Julia!

Meanwhile, I didn't realize I was selling electronics accessories!

The week ends as it began -- with continued rains and flooded streets.