@@@ January 9, 2018 Location: Phuket, Thailand

Flights and everything else ok here but suffering from a bout of cold/flu which admittedly slowed me down. Nonetheless, my third visit to this argueably most visited area in Thailand is great! First day, the famous Patong Beach, now gleaming in the sun!

Endless sunny days, it seems and chairs and umbrellas available... for a price 

Just over (C$8)

Interesting about Phuket...
- Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and while Thailand is 95% Buddhist, the rural area of Phuket is predominantly Muslim

- Phuket is actually pronounced ‘ Poo Get ‘ 

- Phuket Island has mountains running north and south comprising 70% of the island

Around the Paradise complex 

A common wildflower 

@@@ January 7, 2018 ... Location: HONG KONG

Not quite there yet... Due to a slight miscalculation on my part, I missed my flight from Vancouver to Bangkok so it became necessary to spend a night in Hong Kong and arrive one day later in Bangkok. I’ll spare you the sordid details as to why, but I came across a viable option in case anyone else needs to spend extra hours waiting in an airport. Specifically, I refer to PLAZA PREMIUM LOUNGE. What is it? ... “Plaza Premium Lounge (West Hall)

This airport lounge facility is the newest lounge to open in Hong Kong. It is an airport lounge open to all travellers, irrespective of airlines or class of travel. 

The flagship boasts a whole new modern contemporary lounge design by leading Hong Kong designer Kinney Chan of KCA. 

It is conveniently located directly after airport guests exit the automated people mover and includes fantastic facilities including comfortable lounge seating, business centre facilities, internet workstation that are Wi-Fi enabled, shower rooms, private resting areas and a great range of food and beverage offering a range of international cuisines. The signature Hong Kong-style Fish Ball Noodles and home made XO sauce is a must-try at the lounge.

Ideal for guests whose boarding gate is located after Gate 30 or above, the airport lounge is near Gate 40. 

Inside lobby of Plaza Premium Lounge. All things considered, when you add total costs of accomodation, food, beverages etc. This option is reasonable. The biggest benefit is the absence of all the hassle of having to leave the airport and return.

Hong Kong Airport

October 19-23 Martyr’s Shrine Midland, Awenda Park, Port Carling, Gravenhurst ONTARIO

One of the first stops was Martyr’s Shrine. A Roman Catholic Church in Midland, Ontario, Canada.

Consecrated to the memory of the Canadian Martyrs, six Jesuit and 2 lay persons from the

mission of Sainte-Marie among the Hurons. In 1907, a small chapel was consecrated at

Waubaushene, near the site where Sts Jean de Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalemant were martyred.

In 1925 a larger church began construction. Consecrated in 1926, this amazing church whose

interior is shaped like an overturned canoe opened. Closed during autumn and winter as

the structure is not insulated. Exterior photos only ...

 Near the church ...

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Awenda Park Penetanguishene Ontario.

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Port Carling Ontario 

The most amazing of murals ... composed entirely of photographs!

October 18, 2017 Waubaushene, Ontario

This trip to Ontario was my first in Autumn. Despite being told it was a poor year, I found the fall foliage display spectacular!

Above is Sumac ... growing everywhere and amazing colours.

The 130 year old home where I stayed. Spectacular! 

Resident Bluejay ...

Wild Turkeys

Hairy Woodpecker

Classic Car 

Tiny Marsh ...

Merganser

Colourful canopy

Resident squirrel 

Wild sweet pea

Forest fungus ...

Orange-fruited Horse Gentian

Red Maple Leaf .... very CANADIAN !

Robsart - Saskatchewan ... Ghost Town? ... August 2017

Robsart is an unincorporated community, 68 km south of Maple Creek Saskatchewan. As of 2006, the home of 16 people. Motto: "A Town With a Bright Future" (1915). Today? Still about 4 occupied houses and many more abandoned houses, stores and even a hospital. 

The hospital opened in 1917 and soon closed in the late 1930s. Since its closure the hospital has sat empty and neglected, being one of few surviving rural hospitals of its kind in Canada.

A sample of some of the abandoned houses

Abandoned stores ...

A window to the past ...