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Chinese new year 2010 14-28th feb 2010

New years eve starts with Reunion dinner all th family will gather from far and wide. After this people like to visit the temples and pray for the new year. The poor will be there to receive gifts of money from the temple devotees to promote good Karma including the much coveted red envolopes with money. Throughout the 15 days there will be much celebration fire crackers and Dances both Lion and dragon dances performed many times. Hokkin new year is a special day amongst this celebrated with food and fircrackers all over town. There is a party and display of Chinese culture in the heratage are of Penang and everywhere is decorated. Finaly at the end of the 15 days (new moon) its all over with a big street party. And a huge completly none corperate procession of 50 + floats on the day after. Brilliant.

Feb 28, 2010

Photos: 82

Thaipusan 2010

Many people go to witness the extremisms of the piercings and Kavadi carrying however what you witness instead is a view of true faith and devotion in action it is both overwhelming and humbling to be in the presents of such deep felt belief and conviction. The experiences positive in effect. This is one of the most moving events I have been to and I feel privileged to have been there. It’s still the images of the piercings and the more extreme Kavadi some up to 40kg that are being carried or pulled to the shrines to make offerings that catch the eye but to be present with so many carrying offerings and blessings outweighs the sensational parts that the festival is known for. Briefly Thaipusan is dedicated to the Hindu Deity Lord Murugan and is held by the Tamil community in Malaysia and Singapore mainly at Batu Caves near KL, Penang Island, Singapore and to a lesser extent at Ipoh. It is held around January February each year it Lasts for 2 days in Penang and on the third day Lo

Jan 30, 2010

Photos: 103

Slimbridge wildfowel trust

Dec 9, 2009

Photos: 38

Colchester Zoo

Dec 2, 2009

Photos: 65

Angkor Temples Banteay Srei

Oct 12, 2009

Photos: 61

Cambodia no temples

The leves sticking out of the lake are tree tops as the waterlevel can vary 8 M dependent on season shown high here obviously. Trafic in Phnom Penh drive on the right except if you want to drive on the left as thats OK to just dont stop.

Oct 10, 2009

Photos: 61

Angkor Temples Lesser temples Terraces & Gates

Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som, Pre Rup, Banteay Kdei, Sra Srang, Prasat Kraven, Bayon Gates, and Terrace of the leper king, Lesser temples amongest the Angor complex some real gems not to be missed.

Oct 10, 2009

Photos: 162

Angkor Temples Angkor Wat

The most visually stunning of the temples

Oct 9, 2009

Photos: 53

Angkor Temples Ta Prohm

The special quality of a temple left within the Jungle with magnificent trees.

Oct 8, 2009

Photos: 74

Angkor Temples Bayon

Widly regardd as the most enigmatic of the Temples The faces stare out from every angle dramatic and stunning

Oct 8, 2009

Photos: 70

Swaziland &, St Lucia

Great area though maybe to many visitors in season Low season was excellent.

Jun 19, 2009

Photos: 85

Sabie Sands

3 days at the Dulini game lodge in Sabie sands 2 game drives a day and lots of pampering Fabulous

Jun 15, 2009

Photos: 170

Kruger

4 days in Kruger touring and moving camp from Phalaborowa gate/Letaba camp/Satara/Lower Sabie and out crocodile gate. Fantastic park great time.

Jun 9, 2009

Photos: 112

Patterns of nature

Patterns from the earth

May 23, 2009

Photos: 68

North Norfolk

A great day out.

May 1, 2009

Photos: 103

Work, Garden and Local area

Apr 2, 2009

Photos: 49

Sumba Villages People and landscape

Interesting Culture a light layer of christianity on top of strong Ancestor worship. Much of the wealth still goes to the ancestors in Sacrifice. And they have the control and can effect you in this life so dont piss them off

Feb 21, 2009

Photos: 146

Flores and Bali

Flew to Flores Mumere from Sumba as we could not get a flight to Bali/Lombok Flores was pretty nice beautifull island rugged with twisting road the fabled Trans Flores island (any resembalance to a highway as you may know it ends there. Visited Kelimutu at dawn and had a great day for it not so common this time of year. Bali stayed at Padangbai for awhile. Visited Amhed and snorkeled the Wreck great. Then on to Ubud stunning as always such a wonderfull place to be.

Feb 19, 2009

Photos: 105

Sumba Indonesia Lamboya Pasola

The Pasola at Sumba Harvest time festival were the spilling of blood on the earth is required. Can be a wild event at times but choose were you stand and you will be OK. The riders and the horse seem to enjoy the day. A great event. First the crowds thicken as you get near, Then on arrival practice runs and warm up that just seems to drift into the match 2 teams no winners buyt strong local support.

Feb 18, 2009

Photos: 80

Rougham and West Mersea Island Jan 2009

Cold foggy frosty day in January Took a trip to the excellent Company shed resterant on the waterfront on west Mersea Island get a loverly driver and get sloshed on a Lunch time meal of the finest fish, Lobsters, Oysters, and other shell fish All the freshest in the land served in a sea side shed. bit like a fish monger with tables. Bring your own wine (they supply the Glasses) bread and coffe I found a bottle of wine each does the trick just fine.

Jan 17, 2009

Photos: 28

Bali various visits

What can I say so many people love Bali and its so easy to see why lean a bit that way myself, its only a small part of the island that is Majorca for Antipodians easy to avoid we only spent just over 1 hour in Kuta (enough) Ubud we love so many interesting people around if you take the trouble. And its all so breathtakingly beautiful. The Island certainly deserves the Island of the gods label it has. There are pleanty of problems of course and pleanty of poor asian nation stuff thats kind of difficult for westerners to accept some of thaat is our problem of course I dont know where the line is drawn. We finnish our Indonesian trips here most of the time.

Jan 3, 2009

Photos: 113

Ambon Banda oct 2008

Second visit to Banda only 10 days not enough. The Dock in Ambon was biblical again. With so little time it was Snorkel all the time. Many more tourists on the island than the first visit maybe 20 or so getting crowded. Vita gest house has expanded 7 rooms now soon be a hotel. Alan remains a great host. Sharing boats sure brings the costs down though. Never crammed so much No 1 quality snorkeling into 10 days before. Just lived to be in the water. Read Nathaniels Nutmeg there mostly set in the islands that was a real cool experience at times reading about a journey that I was doing while I read waited 2 years to do that and completly worth it. This remains our No 1 destination.

Nov 18, 2008

Photos: 94

Tioman KL and Bangkok Sept 08

Down for a few days in KL I just love those towers then fly on to Tioman duty free island booz same price as Heathrow. Transport around the island by overpriced boats mostly. There is great Jungle on Tioman to steep and inaccessable for th loggers and Palm oil planters. Snorkeling not great off the beach but very good on the Expensive boat trips. Big water monitor lizzards abound up to 2M but to quick for any good photies. Stayed at Panuba inn on its own beach. Monkeys around and the odd Monitor nice island pity about the coral damage good few critters though. You could snorkel stick your head up and see the monkeys. Down by the airport trees full of Bats. Stopped at KL on the way back. Bird park and more fantasatic food cheated with some fishie pictures took them at the aquarium.And in a Chinese resterant waiting for there dinner (the one they feature in) Note the amazing Canadien Croc Duck which styles itself on a Penis in a shell.

Nov 1, 2008

Photos: 52

Sharm El Shiek May 2008

Snorkeling fine if you get away from the crowds (hard) they look after the reefs reasonably for having so many fairly rough and inexperienced package deal tourists tramping around (I mean they dont know how to not damage the reef or just dont care) Couple of OK restarants in old town main drag to much not my kind of place.

May 23, 2008

Photos: 31

Pulau Weh

Stunning island at the start of Indonesia great diving they say Snorkeling OK but sea a bit rough for snorkeling in the comfort zone most places in February The island is real nice. Main wildlife is Wild Boar (didnt hang around for the photo opertunity)and some of the largest Reticulated pythons in the world. Somtimes they swallow a pig.

Feb 7, 2008

Photos: 30

Sumatra

Great Jungle still exists in amongst the palm oil monocrop. Lewang has care in the comunity Orangs who will pose for you (sort of they dont keep still) its great actually and a lot of them manage to bread and some of the babies make it. OK its tourist jungle central but not to crowded at most times. It well laid back. Tankerhan is more remote interesting and a place I will go back to.

Jan 1, 2008

Photos: 77

Greece picasaOct 07

Just down the road in Europe and its so scarily photogenic. Every shot comes out it seems. Great food cheap wine but the country sure aint cheap hell we could have gone to Asia for half the price and we were in the low season. Santorini is stunning no doubt about it but the cruise ships ha who would want it they spend half there time standing in line waiting to get off or onto the boat bugger that no cruise should have more than 30 people for sure.

Oct 17, 2007

Photos: 53

Lomboc and Gillies var visits

Lomboc well Its really loverly but we havnt seen enough of it we are spending more time soon. Gillies are pretty nice and laid back snorkeling is not so hot but its a good all round destination with night life and a choice of islands. Love there being no cars there.

Oct 1, 2007

Photos: 47

Europe

Various trips to Munich with extra jaunts tagged on Costa Brave away from the packages is wild and beautiful but still to crowded. Prauge Excellent with or without so many tourists. I like the Englisher Garden in Munich great beer and awfull sasages. Eagles nest same bloody sausages. Facinating spot can see why they were so impressed with themselves.

Jul 1, 2007

Photos: 54

Borobudure and Prambanan 2007

Two great temples near the same City you can do them both in a day if you dont want to really get into them, Had a guide at Borobudure but with all the locals being Muslims he described the temple as a Cash cow no local ownership there. If the tourists dont come its a pile of building material it would not be the first Temple to suffer the fate. Prambanan is still damaged from the Earth quake good and special day just dont take the same guide we did.

Apr 12, 2007

Photos: 35

Derawan And Kalimantan

Great spot off Kalimantan. Mantas a regular site (but not when I was around) abundent green turtles, Sand bars are a great place for the afternoon if you have a boat Samama Island erie and primordial lagoons surrounded by mangrove. Our boat broke down and we nearly spent the night floating around on a Zodiac. Kakaban island a lake surrounded a ridge brackish and full of sting free jellies, facinating

Apr 1, 2007

Photos: 92

Mount Bromo

One of the few places I have been that has took my breath away only slightly drawn back from by the noisy kids at the viewing station for sunrise. Mind they leave pretty quick as they cant afford to hire a coat so stay late and be quite with yourself. The same feelings as the Grand Canyon stunning.

Apr 1, 2007

Photos: 68

Morroco Jan 2007

Well something different for Sure the Morrocans could show the far east a thing or to for getting into peoples pockets. Nice people though make you welcolm. The approach is none stop in tourist areas but you can see folk are OK with you just trying to eat. Countryside is stark and majestic hard to get a beer take pleanty of your favorite tipple be discreat no need to offend. Dejima El fina square is somthing must have been pretty good 100 years ago particularly enjoyed the storeytelles so atmospheric pitty everyone wants cash up frnt from tourists like to see the performance before I pay just like all the Morrocans. I would go back tommorrow.

Jan 17, 2007

Photos: 102

Banda and Kora Kora 1st trip to Banda

First trip totaly grabbed by the place reluctant to leave the history the landscape the snorkeling, Connons lie around in the street. Lack of Mobiles and internet a plus IMHO. Islands full of exitment for the Kora Kora all the islands except Bandaneira almost deserted to produce a crowd. Lots of eats party atmosphere lots of betting.

Nov 1, 2006

Photos: 106

Thailand

Holiday in Thailand joined by friend for last half Bangkok and Kao Tao. Spent so long in Thailand dont know what to say the North is stunning the drive from Chaing Mai to Mai hong Song is one of the worlds great drives (you can do it as the famous loop. And even better on a Motorcycle.

Jul 1, 2006

Photos: 49

Phillipines

Loverly sprawling mass of islands, friendly folk mad about fighting cocks and they love to party. Swimming with the Wale sharks at Donsol not to be missed. Great sceanary to many guns on show. There at Easter packed out the door of the churches, visited the Witches of Siquijor on black Satarday. All very interesting fun and not overun with tourists. I would go back tommorrow if I didnt like Indonesia so much.

Mar 16, 2006

Photos: 139

Makkassar to BiraSelayar cruise Makassar Oct 2005

Down to Makkassar during Ramadan hard to get a beer but possible, went to the Pensi Schooner dock there is one in Jakarta as well. You can get almost everywere in Indonesia on these if you have the time and dont mind the lack of comfort. On to Cape Bira see the traditional boat builders many making traditional boats for Russians all wood no drawings great skill levels. Bira famous for sunsets and diving I never see so much red in a sky. Then on to the shchooner for a trip round Selayour island. Loverly run but weather no good for snorkeling on the much valued east side. Good snorkeling to the west as well though. Back to Bira then on to Makassar (ujung Padang) and off

Oct 20, 2005

Photos: 63

Lomboc to Flores cruise Oct 2005

Kicked off from Lomboc stopped for a barby and beer 7 young backpackers decided to try and die by swimming from the beach back to the boat drunk at night while the small boat was full of people. Very scared and very happey to be rescued from being carried away into the night. Dragons well what can you say early in the day not much energy clumping about but they can be fast scary looking beasts for sure there eating habits are allegedly pretty gross. Stopped off at Tambora less than a couple of hundred years ago this went up with 6 times the fource of Krakatoa but before the news could travel round the world in a couple of days so its not well known. Finaly on to Flores this place needs more exploring have to go on the list.

Oct 13, 2005

Photos: 43

Sabah

Kicked off from Bangkok to Kota Kinabalu Then on the Siplock for Orangutangs like a zoo so many snap happy tourists the Apes on the feeding platform and the Tourists on the photo platform its just a circus. No like it. I have a photo of a wild elephant here but with no zoom the pictures are poor. I got myself a good zoom after this Holiday. Did a begginers tracking course just on Elephants ha. Nice Raffalasia stinks like rotting meat.

Apr 14, 2005

Photos: 27

Angkor wat July 2004

Angkor fabulous so many temples everyone likes Ta Prohm, Angkor and Bayon but there are many more its a hugh area. The kids are right in your face hopfully if things move on in Cambodia they may get to school but not much sign at the moment. With no farming in the area locals have to live of tourists so dont be mean. Choose your time of year there can be big temperature differences. Sunset view dont bother was like being on Oxford street. though there are not many high places for th view. Siem reap was very pleasant.

Jul 14, 2004

Photos: 46

KL and Perhentians Malaysia

KL again great city for me. Perhentians good snorkeling nice beaches nearly bumped into a 2M+ shark swimming round some rocks in shallow water it was as scared as me I think De Lagoon has 3 beaches and got surrounded by Barracuda shoal off Coral resort on Besar. fantastic must get back.