2013, Day 227 - Departing

I always feel like I am going to be accosted by security when taking photos at US airports.  It has never been a problem but people are increasingly being conditioned to fear photographers.  Disappointing.  Anywho, I took this picture before boarding my flight and if you look in the distance there is a tiny speck above the US Airways logo which is a Southwest plane taking off.

Fuji X-Pro1, Fuji 14/f2.8
14mm, f4, 1/1500 sec @ 200 ISO

2011, Day 139 - Homecomings

Earlier this week I made a run to the airport to pick up some friends returning from a trip.  Air travel is always rather unpleasant, it is kind of like walking across broken glass to get to play with a puppy, in the end it is rewarding but the process always seems excruciating.  Nevertheless, I do like the Portland International Airport.  The drop off and pick up areas are completely covered so that new arrivals are not immediately blessed with our Pacific Northwest precipitation and the sinuous walkway to the parking garage that bisects the roadway provides an interesting contrast to the otherwise straight lines.

Canon 1D Mark IV, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f2.8, 1/80 sec @ 800 ISO

2010, Day 363 - Point A to B

That's it, the end of my adventures in Thailand. This morning we were picked up by an slightly insane man who drove 90 kph through Bangkok to the freeways where he drove at 140 kph and managed to make a twenty minute drive out of what should have taken a half hour or more.

We flew from Bangkok's quite excellent and slightly mall-like Suvarnabhumi Airport to Tokyo Narita and then on to San Francisco where I took BART to Richmond and from there was driven back to my parent's house by my sister Laura and my mother. I will probably stay in California for a few days to recover from my jet-lag and celebrate New Years.


The end of the terminal at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport.


The room of shame at Narita, also known as the "Smoking Lounge" with a built-in pixelation bar to protect the privacy of the afflicted.


BART, almost done with hours and hours of travel.

2010, Day 361 - Back to Bangkok, Day One

Another day of travel, this time from Koh Lanta back to Bangkok just briefly before leaving to return home for New Years. We were once again picked up at our hotel by a man in a van. These men, it must be noted, are completely insane. The speed limit is whatever their vehicles are capable of with their foot pressed all the way to the floor, they make a third lane on top of the center divide and they brake only when absolutely necessary. With that kind of man at the wheel we made what we were told is a two and a half to three hour trip in two hours flat and that is stopping five times to pick up additional people.

The driver was so fast that we couldn't even check our bags when we got to the airport. Having only had breakfast and not expecting to arrive in Bangkok until six o'clock or later we decided to take our bags and locate food. Unfortunately the only food available at Krabi International Airport is made by Thai Airways in their kitchen used to prepare meals for their flights. Oh well, I guess we're eating airplane food...


The industrial grade scaffolding used at the airport for washing windows.

When we arrived in Bangkok we gathered our bags and headed to the train station at the lowest level of the airport. It was, after all, rush hour so we decided to get as far from the airport as possible. We weren't the only people with this thought and the train was completely packed, there was literally no place to move and the only way to get past was to crowd surf.

Finally we reached the stop on the line closest to our hotel and after two cabbies declined to take us we found one that would. The reason for not wanting a fare you ask? Bangkok traffic which was pretty much a parking lot. Almost an hour later (we could have walked fast and would have if we weren't burdened with luggage) we arrive at our hotel. After getting settled we went out in search of food and found the place recommended by the woman at reception.


The restaurant where we ate dinner.


Yes, my army continues to grow, this is my scout who is keeping me safe.


Somebody's dinner.


Ohh, I want THAT one!


You could even have mantis shrimp. My only regret is that I couldn't save them, they would make great snipers in my army.

It was a nice traditional Thai dinner and, completely stuffed, we walked back to our hotel. I stayed up long enough to take a couple pictures of the city from the rooftop pool and then showered and went to bed. Tomorrow we're being picked up by our guide early in the morning and will have one last day of adventuring before we leave.


Bangkok at night.