::: March 31, 2017 Asia - Snippets

Pattaya, Thailand 

Sometimes signs can be puzzling. I wondered what this sign meant until I looked around.

 

 

Phonetic accented spelling 

 

This one is self explanatory 

Pattaya, Thailand

Garden Nomes and other figures...

 

 

 

Or just a place to park your helmet!

Hanoi, Vietnam 

 

A millionaire! Or in Canadian $126.25 but we can dream!

Asia

Pretty in white ... yellow ... pink

 

 

 

Bangsaray, Thailand 

 

Crab fishery

 

 

Asia

 

Stylization of some pictures I've taken

::: March 25, 2017 THAILAND, Pattaya - Just the Beach and more

It's been some time now since I came back from Vietnam. To be honest, it's been quite hot here in Pattaya so going to the beach seemed the best option. Not a great deal of photography but there are some....

 

Through the mass of umbrellas 

The big boat ...

 

And the little one

 

 

Towards Beach Road with Koh Lan island in the distance 

 

 

Washed up on the beach

 

Colourful Beach Mats offered for sale

 

Giant African Land Snail found not far from the beach

 

Oleander

 

::: March 17, 2017 THAILAND, Bangkok - Queen Sirikit Park

Queen Sirikit Park is a botanical garden in Chatuchak district, Bangkok. A first for me. Quite extraordinary really. A botanical garden but also lakes, bridges, birds, animals and solitude. Much less known so far fewer visitors.

 

 

 Pet squirrel 

 Black Collarded Starling

 

Elephant (Chang) sculpture 

 

Water Monitor Lizard (not sculpture)

 

White goose resting

 

 Blue water lily

 

Cannon ball tree flower

 Hibiscus Japanese Lantern

 Palest blue water lily

::: March 16, 2017 VIETNAM - Hanoi - Finale

As I write this I am back in Bangkok. Despite the drizzly inclement weather, it was a good trip. The hotel was very good and Hanoi is a wonderful place to explore. Just wandering around the old quarter was fun. You can stop anytime for a wonderful Vietnamese coffee at any one of dozens of small coffee houses scattered all over. Sit on small stools on the street or larger chairs inside. Hanoi beer is available if that's your style. Shopping is great for many things and you'll find entire streets devoted to jewelry or paints or hardware, etc. Some very fine handicrafts are available all over. Here are a few of the things I haven't shown you about Hanoi so far..

 

That wonderful coffee 

 

Served at one of the more upscale places

 Artisans at work 

Carving wooden stamps 

 

Beer Hanoi 20,000 Vietnamese Dong (C$1.17) ... 

 

An eclectic upper floor

 

Those small blue stools seen everywhere 

 

The famous Turtle Tower on a small island 

 

A small sample of some of the artistic work

 

One of the restaurants lit up at night

 

 

And finally, that famous Red Bridge ... and NO ONE ON IT!

::: March 14, 2017 VIETNAM, Hanoi - "Hanoi Hilton" or Hoa Loi Prison and other places

No fixed tours today so did my own touring. Hỏa Lò Prison was a prison used by the French colonists in Vietnam for political prisoners, and later by North Vietnam for U.S. Prisoners of War during the Vietnam War. Wikipedia 

The only surviving original piece is the gatehouse which has been turned into a museum. During the Vietnam War it was euphemistically referred to as the "Hanoi Hilton".

 

 Literally the Central House

 

 

 Worn by Paratroopers 

 

 

 

St Joseph's Cathedral Hanoi

 

 

Huge case inside a Chinese temple 

 

National Library of Vietnam in Hanoi