Bangkok Week 491

November 23, 2017

The house is progressing, the storms are still over Singapore, and Shawn came to Bangkok!

Friday began with a giant rain cloud over Singapore.

Changi has a cutesy-cutesy Christmas tree up in T1.

The house is nice and open-plan right now.

The master bedroom - looks livable, right?

The second bathroom.

No more railings on the stairs!

Found Shawn at Rod Fai Night Market!

The cutest little washing machine, at Paragon.

This will likely be the fridge we pick.

A very odd outfit for sale at H&M.

Notice something missing? Hint: check the balcony.

They've dug up the floor where the new pipe is going to go.

The full width of the living room is on view.

We could park the car in the living room!

Meanwhile, back in Singapore, Christmas is really in full swing.

Cloudy skies over Tanjong Pagar Terminal.

But downpours over the CBD!

A ceiling of clouds on Wednesday.

Blue skies follow.

Mixed clouds, and a clear view of the outer islands.

The Sentosa Merlion stands proud. And very tall.

A clever use for the pillars.

Another perfectly conical Christmas tree. They don't grow 'em like that in Canada.

Bangkok Week 490

November 16, 2017

The construction continues... and we have a nice day on the road with Rachel!!

Finally a sunny view out my window in Singapore!

More construction updates: there's a veil over the house now.

Where did all this debris come from?

The back 'maid's room' -- the column in the middle marks the end of the future kitchen.

How to descend the stairs? (Good thing they put a protective cover on the stairs!)

The second bedroom.

Where the second bedroom's bathroom once stood.

The removal of the bears-with-beach balls continues.

Check out the wallpaper that was under the built-in in the master bedroom!

This is the smallest bedroom, that will be turned into the study. It looks more spacious now that the walls are gone!

Meanwhile, in Singapore... Changi's Christmas celebration continues.

On Saturday, we're up and out early, and off to the train market with Rachel!

Lots of crowds come, even for the 8:30 arrival.

What are these fruit? Never seen them before!

Fruit going up the wall.

At the end of the market.

Here comes the train! Right on cue!

Selfie with the train!

Barely clears the veggies!

Some of these oranges got knocked.

This local pug is not sure what all the commotion is about. Train, shmain.

Someone's still in his PJs.

Next stop: Amphawa floating market!

Rachel bough several snacks to bring back from Uncle Glasses - whose picture is right on the packaging!

Good to be there and beat the crowds.

Another dog still in his pajamas.

Congregation of vendors.

Supporting another ancient uncle, selling is ancient coffee.

How dainty!

Final stop of the outing: the giant Chedi in Nakhon Pathom.

We only made it about 1/3 the way around...

... before it started to rain!

We finally made our escape, down a water fall.

I thought those were supposed to be stairs!

Before heading back to Bangkok, lunch at a small vegetarian restaurant nearby.

My favorite rowing topiary!

And Rachel's farewell / birthday dinner. Bon voyage!

Back to Singapore for another week. They're moving this terminal to elsewhere on the island, to make room for the CBD.

One last construction update for the week.

The front wall is gone now, too.

Lunch time for the workers.

Opening up the area next to the stairs.

This will become the ground floor bathroom. Looks like Africa!

Very open-plan right now.

The driveway - removing those tiles, too.

Bangkok Week 489

November 9, 2017

The renovation has officially begun! And Christmas is officially here!

Friday, November 3rd: an auspicious day to begin house construction!

Feng shui -- specific to our house, on this day -- indicates where precisely the construction should begin.

A zoom-in on how these decisions are made.

Right here: it's best if the construction starts right here.

Meanwhile, in Singapore... they're testing new auto-bag-drop systems.

Looking promising.

Christmas has come to Starbucks Singapore!

And to Changi, more broadly.

Tile shopping fun! Dark grey, or darker grey?

Finally! This is exactly the one we've been looking for!

These tiles would be perfect for the kitchen.

And this is the throne -- I mean toilet -- we've been looking for!

I always knew the hand rails on the BTS were meant for something more.

After delays of over 20 hours, Rachel *finally* made it to Bangkok!

Tuesday morning in Singapore - with a great view of Chinatown.

Veggie bento boxes for lunch in Singapore.

Meanwhile, in Bangkok: the winter coats are out!

House update! The demolition is coming along.

Big changes are (finally) afoot.

Can you guess what used to be here?

This used to be the 'maid's room'.

This used to be the bathroom in the second bedroom.

Not much left in the master bedroom, either. (Note the wallpaper that was under the built-in cabinets.)

A peek behind the house, via a hole in the back wall.

Material removal!

Bangkok Week 488

November 2, 2017

We make the most of the last two days of the vegetarian festival!

They're testing a new automatic baggage system at Changi.

A vegetarian salabao.

One last meal at Hong Kong Noodle for the season. Yum!

An exhibit of the world's best current event photos at House of Lucie, in Ekamai.

Turns out this past year was a sobering one!

Last vegetarian meal of the season: at Fuji!

Enjoying his noodle soup.

And me, my nice set.

Smoking washing machine = not good. This guy looks a bit flummoxed.

Clearance on the frozen veggie meals at 7-Eleven!

Bangkok Week 487

October 26, 2017

A long-weekend with the extended pet family. And their parents.

The Madrid magnet!

Also brought back a souvenir from Frankfurt.

It's the most wonderful time of the year: J week! Bring it on!

My favorite J-week dish: pork and wanton noodles at Hong Kong Noodle.

Namwan is happy to see us after a little while away.

And Maruay has gathered hundreds of friends to come see us, too.

Looking comfortable in the kitchen.

I see you there, Namtan.

Too fat, too lazy.

A great J-week feast.

He thinks no one sees him slinking up the car.

Looking all cute on the car roof.

Posing for the photo.

The local memorial for the King, which will serve as a satellite location for the funeral.

Marigolds all over Thailand; Trad is no exception.

And then this will be taken down.

Bangkok-style wires.

Makro has its J-meat out on ice.

Back at the house, it's time for a mid-day intervention.

A very fruitful jack fruit tree, down the road at the Uncle's house.

Getting a tour of his wood shop.

And now it's time for the late-afternoon treatment.

Aww. I didn't realize you could make sleeping on a car look so cozy.

Not as well hidden as he thought!

Namwan in the morning. Looking dainty.

Namtan, waiting for his breakfast.

Trying to figure out how doors work.

He got it!

What's that?

Sleepy time.

Back in Bangkok after the 3-day weekend. J noodle soup in Paragon.

Life-like shrimp. Well, at least in coloring.

Have I mentioned how much I love the Manila airport?

A very young jeepney driver.

It's Christmas time in Manila already!

Even though they haven't even celebrated Halloween.

A special dessert on SQ.

My first time on Sentosa. Too bad I wasn't hear to chill.

Could be any tropical resort island!

Fallen tropical beauties.

Bangkok Week 486

October 19, 2017

A brief stopover in Bangkok, and the rest of the week in Madrid. Olé !

Look what was waiting for me when I got back from Toronto!

A Tokyo train hankie!

I got the first print ever, of this tuk-tuk masterpiece.

Christoph Niemann's new book!

Modeling the shirt from Steve in Pappalardo.

Off to Madrid in the brother of that plane.

Construction for the new terminal is (finally) well underway.

The elevated highway just south of the airport.

Fields of water near the sea.

Siam.

Victory Monument and Phaholyothin.

Areas north of Chatuchak Market.

Remarkably clear weather!

I must be in Frankfurt!

Going for a stroll on my last day in Madrid.

A nice building, which is now the Rafael del Pino Foundation.

Heading into the Metro!

Small cars on this Green Line train.

They like their dramatic subway signs!

I emerged at the Opera station.

As promised, there's the Opera!

And there it is from the other side.

Lots of cobblestone streets and narrow alleys.

Casa Jose Cubiles.

Plaza de Oriente.

Royal Palace of Madrid.

Kids love bubbles all the world over.

I was there, too!

Egads! A blue sky! (And the courtyard of the palace.)

Catedral de la Almudena.

My new buddy, Petrus.

Seems like the cathedral has had a stop-and-go history. Construction began in 1883, paused during the Spanish Civil War, and finally finished in 1993.

Has a bit of a Sacre-Coeur feel inside.

For praying only.

Ornate ceilings.

Nice pipe organ.

A modern take on stained glass windows.

Back outside, some colorful buildings.

The State Council.

Monumento a Victoria Eugenia y Alfonso XIII.

Narrow streets.

And even smaller sois. Foot traffic only!

Nice balconies!

The Mercado de San Miguel, over 100 years old.

Lots of small stalls inside the mercado.

A cone of nuts, anyone?

More colorful buildings and small sois!

A hint of blue sky as I approach the Plaza Mayor.

True to its name, the Plaza Mayor.

One part of one wall is painted differently than all the others.

Estatua of Felipe III in the center.

More narrow streets. Getting a lot more toursity now!

Are pasties Spanish?

More ornate buildings.

This area felt like the center of the city.

Puerta del Sol, another large plaza.

Unfortunately, the buildings on all sides were under scaffolding.

Found the main shopping streets!

An ornate old-meets-new subway entrance in the square.

Prime location for an Apple store.

My luck has run out with the weather.

The Congress of Deputies.

Estatua de Miguel de Cervantes.

These two don't seem to mind the heavy rains.

Museo Nacional del Prado. But no time to visit inside.

I was there, too!

Monument to Fallen Heroes.

Bolsa de Madrid.

A giant, renovated palace that includes an exhibition space, and City Hall.

Instituto Cervantes and other grand buildings along Calle de Alcala.

Everyone's wet and soggy. Not just me.

Casino de Madrid.

And a hint of holiday spirit!

Aerial shot of the rush hour traffic on my way back to the hotel.

The next morning, heading back to Frankfurt. They're techno-geeks on Lufthansa!

All fliers must be curious about the engines.

Layers of clouds as we leave Madrid.

That lowest layer looks like a blanket of snow! (There was almost no visibility at the airport.)

Heading into the (upper) clouds.

Approaching Frankfurt.

Patchwork towns.

No excuse for my flight to be delayed. Plane is already waiting comfortably 3 hours before the flight.

Familiar friends!

Free newspapers for all, courtesy of LH.

The big beluga whale I'll be taking back to Bangkok.

Another Toronto Fall

October 15, 2017

For the second year in a row, I was fortunate to be able to spend 3 days in Toronto before heading back to SEA.

I got to Toronto, and this gift bag was waiting.

Got a snazzy new coat for the winter!

And this cute hedgehog, complete with his own cereal bowl.

Grandma examines the photos for her from Paris.

Two generations.

Only to be outdone by 3 generations.

Oh no! What has she done!?

First order of business: ensuring Candy Crush achievement is properly transferred to the new device.

Figuring out how the iPad's selfie camera works is no easy order.

Dinner with the Toronto Tomczaks at everyone's favorite: New Ho King.

Jasmine's selfie skills are far superior to mine.

The birthday festivities continue into a third day; lucky me!

A giant candle - used to minimize spittle on the cake?

A 10-layer cake!

Julia and Peter try out the sleepy-time couch for the first time.

Who said the couch was for two?

The next day is in beautiful Muskoka.

The second small lake (Frau Lake?) on the way to the cottage.

It's certainly fall at the cottage!

The cottage blends right in with these leaves.

Dock's still in.

Pano of our great lake.

Someone is feeling awfully brave!

Mulch-mulch-mulch!

Look who's back to see me again this year!

Hello there, Mr. Chippy!

Feeling a little piggish?

"I can't believe my luck. Two years in a row, now."

"Is that a camera??"

"Oh gosh. How am I going to do this?"

Looking pretty chubby there, mister!

Feeling friendly?

Farewell, until next season!

Hello, Colby!

"How did I get stuck back here with all these people?"

Granny's excited to see Colby.

And Colby's excited to see the cake on the table.

A toothless laugh.

Selfie!

Chris tries on the new iPad for size.

Beautiful fall view from Chris's balcony.

Spending Friday morning with the Emus.

I see. Pepper and these West Highlands Cattle went to the same hair dresser.

Eating as if there's no tomorrow.

And the anti-social llama.

Spiralicious.

Gazing intently.

The bumble bees aren't bothered by the grey day.

I guess they've got some last-minute work to do.

Aha! One tree! We found one tree whose leaves were changing!

A quick pop into Brookfield Place.

View from the 24th floor -- soon to be obstructed!

Final farewell dinner at the neighborhood Dosa restaurant.

I guess they bought the plates before they had settled on the menu.

How to pack a dosa for take-away.

Fast-forward to Taipei, where the Kavalan Solist is on display.

My boarding gate for Bangkok is all themed-up.

Not quite Hello Kitty - but I'll take Postal.

They really go all-out!

View from my plane... of the one I'd rather be in!

Farewell, Taipei.

Delicious Chinese breakfast. (My third breakfast of the day!)

Our lengthy route to Bangkok; apparently we were avoiding some bad storms over the South China Sea.

That's our destination!

Cartoon-like clouds, and their spotty shadows down below.

Chicago-Philly-Boston: Edition 2

October 10, 2017

A long and tiring (but worthwhile) week in Cihcago-Philly-Boston. Happy Columbus Day!

First time flying EVA. They have a unique take on the safety card.

Quick stopover with this smiley bear.

Elegant VOML served by EVA, on ornate table cloth.

Ready for sleep in these snazzy PJs.

Look at this grid. We must be in Chicago!

Where did the John Hancock Building go?

Colorful murals leading up to...

... the Oak Street Beach.

Looking back at the Magnificent Mile. Not so Magnificent today!

These geese (and the swimmer behind them) don't seem to be bothered by the weather.

Those are some low-hanging clouds!

The city lived up to its nickname!

Closed for the season.

Crossing over the wet N Lakeshore Drive.

Really, Goose? Is there no better water source?

South Pond and its Nature Walk, in the heart of Lincoln Park.

Um, the skylines don't quite match.

Quick visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo, a very nice, medium-sized zoo.

The grand entrance.

Joe the zebra wondered why he was all alone...

... while his smarter friends sought shelter under a bridge.

Inside the primate house.

The northern white-cheeked gibbons - who love love love to swing.

Many pink flamingos!

Two long-lost friends from Africa, reunited here?

A surly black rhino.

Passed this famous institution on the way back to the hotel.

Where many of today's comedic greats had their start.

View from my new hotel room: next to the parking lots I would never dare to use.

These gentlemen know better!

The famous Marina Towers. a.k.a. the corncob towers.

The same Chicago Theater I saw last year... but this time in daylight.

The massive Atrium building... looks like an arena!

But it's really a massive shopping complex.

Beautiful blue skies and Chicago skyline.

theMART. It's huge!

Nice seating overlooking the River Walk. Too bad Chicago's not like this year-round.

And voila: same beautiful views, but all lit up.

Ideas sing here?

View from our lovely office. Chicago is flat!!

Looking north-east.

Looking north.

And the very same views one day later!!

I guess this is the more expected Chicago fall.

Reunion dinner with our colleagues who are enjoying an extended stay in Chicago.

UBS displays its local spirit in a creative way.

What a fitting finish to our 3 long days in Chicago.

Fire-filled skies.

Dramatic good-bye.

This is the only photo from Philadelphia: the festive Jet Blue check-in counter.

End of the road, celebrating with birthday cupcakes from my kind colleagues.

Gourmet!

Back in Harvard Square; first time since 2014.

Dinner with James, former lab-mate and Lopez-mate. No one has aged!

Old City Hall; never stopped to see it while I was here.

Downtown Crossing. Hardly recognizable; they've done great things.

Yes! All stores should carry up to Size 13!

A beautiful summer day in Boston Commons.

Great morning to be outside.

True t-shirt weather!

More summer park.

These guys were confused: should they be hoarding for winter now, or are there still many months to go?

Wait a minute, isn't this a swan pond?

The ducks and the geese self-segregate.

Newbury Street looks the same!

A lone sculler on the Charles.

Picturesque sky over Boston.

MIT - looks the same!

With David, and his new shirt from Bangkok.

With Steve, in front of the Pappalardo sign.

A hack of some sort hanging in Lobby 7.

77 Mass Ave looks much the same, too.

Nice and blue over Vassar St.

Blue skies over the power plant.

Gehry-under-blue.

More picturesque Stata Center.

Long shadows on the Longfellow Bridge.

I was here, too!

What a floppy runner.

One of the most elegant post office buildings in Boston!

Long shadows as my visit comes to an end.

Until next time, Boston!

Bangkok Week 484

October 3, 2017

Our annual Alumni Dinner... and a lazy weekend otherwise.

Colleagues at the alumni dinner; although none of us is an alum yet!

Now this is a proper mix of current staff and alums!

Preparations are in full-swing for the Royal Cremation Ceremony later this month.

Marigolds are being planted nationwide for the King. They expect over 250k to be planted.

Guess who's back from Japan!? And look what he brought me!

Betcha can't guess it's vegetarian!

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.

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