2014, Day 358 - Crowded shadow

Part of what I love about this photo is what it doesn't show.  There were lots of people on this beach.  Behind me there were four teams of men play volleyball and I used neutral density filters for a long exposure so that all the people who kept walking through my frame wouldn't show up.  So it looks like a boat on an abandoned stretch of beach when in fact I was surrounded by people.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
10mm, f8, 25 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 328 - Parting

It is a traveling day today so this is a scheduled post as I will be somewhere over the Pacific when you see this.  What I love about travel is the unexpected.  Most of the time the surprises are delightful, exciting, or heart-warming but on occasion they can be disappointing or unsettling.  In the end it all balances out and you learn something either about yourself of the place and culture that you're visiting and you're a better person for it.  It has been a great trip with some retracing of old steps and much that was new and exciting.  I'm grateful to have had such wonderful companions to share my adventures and as this one comes to a close I am ready to start thinking about the next.

I hope that wanderlust finds you all and that your journeys are as fun and fulfilling as my own.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
10mm, f8, 25 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 322 - Whorl

Tonight, in the wee hours of the morning, we are leaving Sri Lanka.  On our last day we had a few things planned but mostly we are preoccupied as to how we are going to spend the evening while waiting for our flight.

We got an early start and after a light breakfast at the hotel we loaded up our bags and left Bentota.  Our first stop was at Brief, the home of Bevis Bawa who was the brother of Sri Lanka's famous architect Geoffrey Bawa.  It is located in the countryside past rice paddies and into the jungle.  As you drive down a narrow lane it opens up into a circular driveway.  From that driveway there are two doors, one leads into the house and the other into the grounds.

Bevis Bawa worked on his home for years and the beautiful garden is a testament to his dedication.  There are paths to secluded sitting areas under large fragrant trees.  Along a sloping stretch of lawn there are a series of ponds leading up to the house which sits at the top of the hill.  Songbirds flit in and out of trees and everywhere there is lush sweet-smelling vegetation.  Scattered throughout the property are sculptures and statuary in hidden natural and man-made niches.

The house is interesting because although it was built in the 1920s and contains much of the original furnishings it has a distinctly mid-century modern feel.  Here Bevis Bawa entertained heads of state, kings, queens, and all manner of celebrities.  He was a bit of a rockstar and yet the house is relatively modest in size but with large outdoor living and entertaining spaces.  It is a beautiful marriage of style and location.

When we finished at Brief we resumed out journey north and soon found ourselves back in Colombo.  Here we stopped at the bank so we could pay our driver for all his help, had a quick lunch, and picked up an additional bag to relieve pressure from the straining zippers of our luggage.  After that we asked Nanda to drop us off at a hotel we booked for the night near the airport.

It isn't as though we need a place to sleep, it is more that we wanted a place to relax, maybe take a shower before the flight, and catch up on a little down time.  For less than twenty dollars it is money well spent.  So here we wait until almost midnight before we jump a cab to the airport.

Tomorrow, a sleepy day in Bangkok!

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
10mm, f16, 1.1 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 320 - Anticipation

I was dreading today but it turn out better than I had anticipated, for the most part.  We got up early to pack away all of our stuff as it had exploded all over our rooms, had a quick breakfast, and leapt into the car to head back to Colombo.

It took about eight hours to get from Colombo to Kandy and this time there was a timeline to stick to as Araceli and Melissa were hopping a plane to the Maldives.  With that being the case they needed to be at the airport to check in early so we couldn't afford another eight hour day in the car.  Nanda took the back road which was a bit longer in terms of distance but so much shorter in terms of time.

Along the way we stopped to see how palm trees are planed and turned into timbers ready for home construction.  Having built his own home Nanda explained that the darker wood is denser and therefore stronger so it is used for heavy loads.  It was quite interesting and the men waved us over to take a closer look.  After we made additional stops at workshops making architectural items out of concrete and again to see how bricks are made and fired.  All these stops make what could have been a tedious morning much more interesting.

We made it to the airport ten minutes before they wanted to be there so kudos to Nanda and his kamikaze Sri Lankan driving skills!

And back into the car driving for what we thought was Galle.  Turns out Nanda put us in a hotel in Bentota which is about forty-five minutes from Galle.  It is a beach town, a little bit sleepy, but that's the allure.  We had lunch in town, did a little shopping and then checked in to our hotel.

This is where is gets a bit disappointing.  The room is big but it is poorly lit with small windows, stained linens (although they appear to be clean), and an A/C unit with a remote that doesn't display the setting so you're pretty much just guessing.  Even the staff was underwhelming, not especially interested and asking a question is usually met my a blank stare and passing you off to someone else even though the person to whom you posed the question answered previous queries.  Weird.

But the room is fine for a couple nights and we caught up on life in the real world before asking Nanda to take us to the beach for sunset.  The sky was cloudy and a storm was coming in which meant we got a nice sunset.  We walked up and down the beach, Francene made friends with a fisherman whose boat is pictured below.  He has a big red smile, his teeth stained red from chewing betel nuts; he explained that they will go out despite the storm and their hope is to catch about five kilos of lobster before returning in the morning.

Sandy and sweaty we decided it was time to find some dinner.  We asked Nanda to take us to a local place, somewhere tourists probably wouldn't go.  He found us a little restaurant with good cheap food and we ate until we were stuff and the whole thing cost less than it would to feed one person at an establishment aimed at tourists.

Tomorrow we head to Galle to meet up with from of Francene's friends who are, coincidentally, in Sri Lanka too.  More on our adventures tomorrow!

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
10mm, f8, 26 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 294 - Friendship

It is almost time for more adventures.  In less than two weeks I'm off to Thailand and from there on to Sri Lanka.  This year has been great professionally but not as wonderful photographically.  I've been so busy as have most of my favorite photo buddies that none of us has really had a lot of time to get out and shoot.  Fortunately that's all about to change and I can't wait!

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
10mm, f11, 1.7 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 261 - Bearded

Being allowed to release baby sea turtles into the ocean was an experience I had long been waiting for and last year that dream came true on the beaches of El Salvador.  This little guy is crusted with sand while struggling to freedom in to ocean.  Only a tiny percentage will make it to adulthood which makes me sad because they are such beautiful creatures.

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/500 sec @ 100 ISO

2014, Day 163 - Listing

Before the sun set and we got that amazing burst of color our little group of Brian, Brian, Nicole, Craig, and myself worked the wreck from every angle.  Years ago the sand accumulation on the beach was higher and almost none of the remains were visible but they are quite well exposed at the moment.  Cold water was swirling around our legs and even though the wind made the cold's bite that much worse we are every-so-willing to suffer if we get the results we seek.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
12.6mm, f8, merged layers of 1.4 and 2.6 sec @ 400 ISO

2014, Day 151 - Journey

This was a moment of pure joy, watching hatchlings make their way to the sea.  I've always loved reptiles and have been captivated by sea turtles so witnessing this was something I had waited decades to experience.  It was only after, when I thought about it, that I started to worry for the babies.  Their struggle to reach the ocean was the first of many.  Most would not make it to adulthood but it was a privilege to be there to witness the triumph of these little turtles and wish them well on their upcoming journey.

Canon 1D X, Canon 100/f2.8L IS
100mm, f5.6, 1/320 sec @ 100 ISO

2014, Day 7 - Bliss

On our second-to-last day in Mexico we had a rather mellow day.  Time on the beach, a little local exploring, swimming, and reading.  Normally when I travel I dislike having slow days but this was day thirty of travel and a little rest sounded appealing.  It turned out to be quite relaxing and as the afternoon wore on we wandered down to the beach; I was hoping for another chance at a colorful sunset.  The clouds that I hoped for were there but we didn't get that blast of color that I had wanted.  Still it was beautiful listening to the waves washing over the rocks, the call of the sea birds, the smell of the clean salty ocean, it was bliss.

Canon 5D Mark III, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
18mm, f5.6, 13 sec @ 400 ISO

2013, Day 362 - Washing

I took this picture when we visited Sian Ka'an.  It is a UNSECO World Heritage site and an area of enormous biodiversity.  Many threatened and endangered species, both local and migratory, use this area and their continued survival depends on the preservation of Sian Ka'an.  On this particular day we had been out to see dolphins and do a little snorkeling but the light clouds of the morning soon began to darken and as they blotted out the sun we decided head back into town before the rain started.  Unfortunately we got caught on the rutted and muddy dirt roads after dark which made the trip longer but in the end it was a fun adventure.

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f5.6, 13 sec @ 200 ISO

2013, Day 361 - Counting

Apparently I am off by at least a day on my numbering for the purposes of my blog.  I should really pay more attention but I often blog in the evening and I admit that there are often distractions keeping me from really focusing on the task at hand.  Nevertheless, I don't think I've missed a day this year but that too might need to be checked but it should probably wait until it isn't late and when I am a little more lucid.

Until then I share with you a starry picture of the beach at Playa del Carmen.  The moon caused a bit of flare but I like the effect and I don't find it distracting; to my eye it is a little detail that is easily missed but that rewards the careful viewer.

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II
16mm, f2.8, 30 sec @ 400 ISO

2013, Day 302 - Lapping

This morning we woke before dawn to finish packing for an early morning flight trip to the airport.  Sadly, we were getting ready to leave El Salvador but fortunately to meet up with some friends in Puerto Vallarta.  By the time we got to the airport the sun was just cresting the horizon and we had what was probably the prettiest sunrise of our entire trip thus far and there was a chorus of birds to greet us as we collected our bags from the trunk of Luis' cab.

It was a quick and uneventful flight to Mexico City.  We were in the exit row which afforded us a seat close to the front of the plane and tons of leg room.  Our layover in Mexico City was about three hours but we had to go through immigration and customs so that ate up some time, especially as we had to recheck our bag for our next flight to Puerto Vallarta.

Our next flight was on a tiny jet with only three seats for each row but the flight was just over an hour so it wasn’t like we had far to go.  We arrived in Puerto Vallarta and our bags quickly followed.  This is where things went a little wonky.  Our hotel had people to meet us and provide transportation, that much was good.  Unfortunately due to some miscommunication and some confusion on the hotel’s end the cab company didn’t have our hotel information.  Long story short, he took us to the wrong hotel and by the time we got there and figured it all out almost an hour had passed.  Once discovered the error was quickly corrected but at the cost of a fifteen dollar cab ride back to the right hotel.

Finally at the right place the surly woman at the counter checked us in and when we asked about internet access we were told it was seventeen dollars per day for each connected device.  What a ripoff!  Oh well, it is quite obvious that Puerto Vallarta is a big bucks vacation destination.  I think both Francene and I were happy that our plans do not have us staying here too long.  The city is pretty but everything is expensive and crowded, I could eat out at home for less and get more.

But we had a decent dinner with a nice beach view for too much money and afterwards walked along the waterfront for a while.  Soon we saw a church in the distance so we wandered away from the water and further into the city.  It turned out to be Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, it was quite beautiful but hard to photograph because a lot of the surrounding buildings were constructed so close it is hard to find a good angle.

 

As it was getting late and both Francene and I were starting to feel the effects of our early morning we decided to find a convenience store and take cold drinks back to our hotel.  So we jumped on the bus back to Marina Vallarta; the driver was something of a maniac, changing lanes to pass cars, edging past other busses with literally less than an inch to spare, slamming on his brakes to avoid collisions.  We hurtled down the road and even making constant stops we made good time back.  So here we sit, both staring at computers, only one connected to the internet, trying to prepare all of our outgoing communications so we can get the most out of a five dollar hour-long connection.  It is just about my turn and then I am going to bed.

 

 

Canon 1D X, Canon 16-35/f2.8L Mark II

16mm, f4, 15 sec @ 320 ISO

2010, Day 360 - Koh Lanta, Day Two

As I had intended today was not especially eventful but quite relaxing. After breakfast I went off on my own down to one of the beaches as I had noticed that at either end there were lots of rocks and I hoped for some tide pools.

On my way I passed through one of the small villages on the island that was composed of a few restaurants, a couple of travel/tour outfits, a dive shop, a tailor, and a convenience store. Beyond those businesses there were a number or hotels and a couple resorts but nothing terribly exciting.


As in China business owners often keep songbirds near the front of their shops so they can enjoy their songs and to bring them a little extra luck.


I was able to access the beach via an alley between a restaurant and a hotel. Unlike the beaches in Phuket this because was soft white sand whereas in Phuket they were primarily smoothed bits of shell. Here the water is clear and blue because of the sand while the water surrounding Phuket is silty and muddy given it a distinctly green cast.

As I wandered along the beach I made friends with a number of crustaceans. I was rather like the Pied Pipers and one then five then a dozen then hundred of little crabs fell into line behind me. So I marched, as if to war, with my army of soldiers in heavy body armor up and down the beach recruiting more to my cause. It is true that my army had no specific goal but if the past two decades have taught us nothing else it's that you raise an army first and then you find and enemy.



An abandoned boat on the beach. I think my minions will be able to make use of this in the future...


Shell-encrusted rocks that form the tidepools.



The first of my soldiers, wearing his camoflague.


The lieutenant showing off his skills at blending in.


The commander of the heavy armor brigade.



We can still see you, must do better!


The fish were reluctant to join our cause but eventually the crabs won them over. This is the commander of my first naval brigade.


And his second in command.


We marched from on end of the beach to the other, our numbers growing into the thousands. By the time we reached the southern end the command structure was complete so when I decided to leave the beach I installed the smallest angriest crab and the leader and I instructed him to overwhelm any annoying American tourists and carry them off to sea so as to improve our reputation internationally. I call this army the First Zoidberg Batalion!

Warmongering is hungry work so I walked back to the village through the hilly route in the heat. By the time I returned to town by liter and a half bottle of water was almost empty so I picked up another and found a place to dine.

The restuarant I ate at was called the Drunken Sailors and they were under feline control. The furry overlords watched their human slaves from thrones and crow's nests. In order to show them that I understood their natures I had a tuna sandwich and slowly bought their loyalty. Unfortunately I could not make a complete batalion from the cats so instead I decided for form a special ops group because I figure with their hunting skills they would make great progress easing the way for the First Zoidberg Batalion.


The cats are only feigning disinterest, they didn't want it to be too obvious that they are joining my quest to dominate southern Thailand.


Feeling as though the day couldn't possibly go any better I returned to my hotel and spent the rest of the day reading and relaxing. There comes a point where doing more would only be counter productive so I stopped there and leisure became the word of the day.


Tomorrow we leave Koh Lanta and return to Bangkok for one free day and then our return to the United States. Good thing I was productive today as the end is in sight!