2014, Day 364 - Pull

This young man is working with molten sugar.  Soon he will be pulling and folding the sugar until it become a fine silky texture.  When that it done it will be bagged and sold with roti as a sweet treat.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 35/f1.4R
35mm, f1.4, 1/125 sec @ 800 ISO

2014, Day 363 - Surmounted

There are so many great temples in Thailand.  The first time I went was in 2010 and I had an amazing time exploring them because, no matter the size, they're all different.  This is Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon amd even though it was our first stop it was already crawling with tourists.  I had to wait at the bottom of the stair to get a picture with only a few people but I like them because they add a sense of scale.  This temple is relatively simple, just two levels with a stupa at each corner on the first and then the pagoda in the center.  From the first level you can see the valley of Ayutthaya below and see countless temples dotting the landscape.  We only had time to see a handful but they were each a little bit different and all had a story of their own.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
10mm, f5.6, 1/1000 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 362 - Road ahead

I love a good vanishing point, it forces me to think about what's beyond the horizon or around the corner.  It is the result of a naturally curious disposition which is why I love photography.  Through the camera's lens you can explore light, shadows, perspective, angles, so many little variables that can drastically affect the final image.  This is why going on photo adventures with friends is such a great thing because you can all look at the same subject and see completely different ways of composing the shot.  The results are so varied that sometimes it doesn't even look like the same place despite the fact that you were only separated by a few feet.  Next year I look forward to continuing the fun!

Fuji X-E2, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
10mm, f5.6, 1/125 sec @ 640 ISO

2014, Day 357 - Fish monger

I met this charming fellow at the market in Kandy.  He is a purveyor of all things dried but mostly salty pungent fish.  I liked the quality of light the bare bulbs cast, some shadows deeper than others and the texture of his wares.  Sometimes it is best that you can't smell a photograph.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f2, 1/125 sec @ 1000 ISO

2014, Day 356 - Sentinel

The shining white structure below is the Cave Temple of Dambulla.  There are five caves with both statutes and paintings depicting the life of the Buddha though a holy site was not their first use, rather the caves were once used as dwellings as burial sites over 2,700 years old have been found in the complex.  The cave temples date back to the first century BC and are now a World Heritage Site.  It was here that we were blessed by the monk you can see just to the left of the nearest central arch.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 23/f1.4R
23mm, f2, 1/350 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 351 - Diversion

This afternoon I went out to the Columbia River Gorge with my buddy Jay.  We made a number of stops but I loved the contrast of a grass against the leafless trees and the ominous sky.  It was dark and moody and an accurate reflection of my general demeanor which means I was, uncharacteristically, quite happy.

Fuji X-E2, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
12mm, f4, 1/240 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 350 - Patience

Frankie is such a goofy guy, he's either looking regal and refined or like a complete dope.  He may look dignified in this picture but moments before he was belly-up with his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth and feet in the air like a dead insect.  That's my little man, a hot mess.

Fuji X-E2, Fujinon 50-140/f2.8R OIS
134.4mm, f2.8, 1/125 sec @ 2000 ISO

2014, Day 349 - You've got a fast car

Not really though, this old double-decker bus isn't going anywhere any time soon but it is all cool and beat up.  Makes me think of the double-decker busses in Davis that still run regularly even though spare parts are largely unavailable and have to be made by a talented local mechanic.

Fuji X-E2, Fujinon 35/f1.4R
35mm, f1.4, 1/280 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 341 - Snack

Before visiting Wat Pho we took a walk in the neighborhood surrounding and found a very distinguished woman selling steamed fish.  She sat behind her stacks of baskets chatting with a friend while eating her breakfast.  I don't know if this is what I want for breakfast but there's not arguing over the freshness.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 35/f1.4R
35mm, f2.8, 1/220 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 336 - Fight

I watched a woman fighting with this monkey a few minutes before I took this picture.  She was standing by this brick wall catching her breath and the monkey came up and started helping himself to the contents of her plastic bag.  When her friend pointed out she was being robbed she turned on the monkey with, one assumes, the intention of retrieving her lost belongings.  The monkey scampered away but that didn't stop her from taking a couple swings at him with her plastic bag.  She missed and in the end didn't get her things back either, he passed them on to the other members of his troupe and it took him a while to return to the wall from his perch in a tree.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 35/f1.4R
35mm, f1.4, 1/1200 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 333 - Wielding

I am endlessly impressed with the women who work in the markets.  They're working before the sun comes up hauling heavy loads, arranging their wares, wielding massive knives, and all the while chatting and laughing with the people around them.  I've never seen a hint of fatigue or a falter in their smile and when they notice you taking their picture their smiles grow and it warms my heart.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f1.8, 1/125 sec @ 320 ISO

2014, Day 331 - Artisan

I lament the lack of craftsmanship today.  Artistry in everyday objects is hard to find or astronomically expensive.  This beautiful woman has been making attractive functional umbrellas for decades and is a master of her craft.  Hopefully she has and will train others to follow in her vocation so that the art won't be lost to future generations.  We focus so much of efficiency and modernity that the things in our lives lack soul.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 35/f1.4R
35mm, f1.4, 1/125 sec @ 640 ISO

2014, Day 324 - Sugar pusher

We got up before dawn to get ourselves together before heading out to Ayutthaya.  I visited the area four years ago when I was last in Bangkok but Francene had never been so we planned on making a day of it.  Our guide Nut was waiting for us in the lobby of our hotel well before the appointed time.  After quick introductions we were speeding through the city and onto the highway.

Our first stop was for breakfast as it was still early and we didn't have time to eat.  I love that you can get a decent breakfast in Thailand for a dollar or less.  Once our plates were clean we visited Wat Phra Chedi Chaimongkol which is dominated by a giant stupa.  Built in 1357 this temple was the home of monks who had recently returned from Ceylon after completing their studies under Phra Vanarat Maha Thera.  Adjacent to the temple is the Wihan Phraphutthasaiyat,  a statue of the reclining Buddha where is it said that if you can get a coin to stick to the bottom of his feet you will have good luck.  Guess who managed the task?

Next we stopped off at Wat Panan Choeng which was built in 1324 and houses an enormous statue of the Buddha that stand nineteen meters high.  Also within the temple complex are two large statues of the Buddha made from solid gold.  To keep from being stolen during the war with Burma they were taken into the jungle and coated with plaster to make them appear a less tempting target.  What's interesting is the number of Chinese figures in murals and sculptures of the Buddha in the Chinese style.  Apparently the immediate area had an ancient tie to China that has not totally been explained.

Before making our next stop Nut decided we needed an energy boost so we stopped for roti sai mai.  This is essentially Thai cotton candy eaten in a piece of flat bread.  The sugar is first melted and then placed in a bowl floating in cool water where natural flavoring is added.  When the flavor is mixed in and the sugar becomes cool enough to handle it is transferred to a heated plate with melted palm sugar to act as grease.  Initially the sugar is held in the hands, pulled, and folded back on itself, then it is put on the hot plate and pulled using wooden pins and folded back on itself until the sugar had the consistency of hair.  It is then bagged and sold with flat bread which is rolled around it prior to consumption.

Next we went to Wat Mahathat.  This is the temple where you can see the iconic carved head of the Buddha peering out from between the roots of a strangler fig.  Built in 1374 it is an important site in Ayutthaya because it housed relics of the Buddha and was close to the grand palace.  The central prang was partially destroyed be a lightning strike and subsequently lightning rods have been placed at the top of other culturally significant places to prevent another such disaster.

Just north of Wat Mahathat is Wat Rajaburana.  Built in 1424 the central prang, tower, dominates the landscape and is partially encircled with scaffolding as restoration work in currently underway.  The monarch who built this temple dedicated it to his two brothers who died fighting each other for the throne he later came to occupy.  The prang was looted in 1957 and even though the culprits were apprehended only ten percent of the stolen contents have thus far been recovered.

We then decided to have a little lunch in a quaint restaurant that overlooks the river.  As we ate we watched barge after barge pass by with massive loads of sand.  It made me glad to have a little shade to cut the sweltering heat of the midday sun.

Once our energy had been restored, at least in part, we went to Wat Na Phramane which was built in 1503.  This temple was spared destruction as the Burmese use it at a barracks during the war.  It is said that the statue of the Buddha is weeping due to the set of his eyes but I can't really say that I see it.  This was the temple where we received a blessing from a kindly monk who wanted to know where we were from and if our hometowns were one of those affected by the winter stormed he had heard about.  Apparently he was quite up on the news of the world but it was nice to have him take an interest.

At this point we had been out for seven hours and the heat was wearing us out so we decided to head back to Bangkok.  Fortunately we managed to get back right before rush hour so we had time to rest at our hotel before going out to dinner which was at a place only a few blocks away that Nut recommended.  The food was good and cheap and with our hunger sated we decided to spend the rest of the evening relaxing.

Tomorrow we're wading in to Chatuchak Market with is comprised of over eight thousand vendors and covers more than thirty-five acres.  I expect it is going to be another exhausting day!

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 35/f1.4R
35mm, f2, 1/170 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 323 - Idle

I didn't really sleep last night because out flight from Colombo to Bangkok left at 1:30 in the morning.  With the time difference we landed three and a half hours later and what with insisting on serving a meal and handing out immigration forms there was almost no time at all to sleep.  So we stumbled through customs in Bangkok, collected our bags, and went in search of a taxi.

We were able to get a taxi at the queue and were quickly mired in the traffic nightmare that is Bangkok.  Our drive kept trying side streets because the main streets weren't moving.  At one point he received and made a number of calls and then explained his father had been taken to the hospital so he needed to go.  He had called another cab who would meet us and we wouldn't have to pay for the rest of our ride.  Francene had some bad luck in Bangkok over a decade ago with cab drivers and was sure we were getting scammed.  I didn't think so but you never can be sure.  However, within minutes another cab pulled up and we transferred ourselves and our luggage over and the rest of the trip to the hotel was made without incident.

Of course it wasn't quite nine o'clock yet which is too early for check in but for an extra fee they let us into our room early.  At this point we were both so exhausted that we couldn't sleep and were starving so we dumped out stuff and went back downstairs for breakfast.  Once we had eaten we decided to have a little wander and find an ATM because the cab ride took almost all the cash we had left from our time in Chiang Mai over a week ago.

The obvious choice is Khao San Road which is a backpacker area.  It wasn't terribly interesting or exciting but it gave us an opportunity to stretch our legs.  When we returned to the hotel I took a quick shower and had a bit of a nap and when I got up again I was hungry so we left to find an early dinner.  So we walked back to Khao San Road.

There were plenty of choices and we settled on a nice little vegetarian Thai place off a side street.  It was clean and nicely furnished and the food was quite good.  By the time we finished it was starting to get dark so we had a bit of a wander, stopped off for drinks and snacks for our room, and headed back to the hotel.

Our return took us on a different route and we happened upon a local street market.  Most of the vendors were still setting up but it was quite lively already and a totally different atmosphere compared to the tourist area.  We took our time and enjoyed the scenery on our way back.

Now we're ensconced in our room with the air conditioning on and relaxing.  Tomorrow we have another early start so it is probably time to start thinking about sleep again.

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 56/f1.2R
56mm, f1.2, 1/125 sec @ 2000 ISO

2014, Day 319 - Loading

We kept it low key again today.  Another morning where we allowed ourselves to sleep in though it didn't happen so I caught up on some work from a distance and had a lazy couple of hours before we ate breakfast.

Today's agenda was pretty simple, see a bit of the Kandy's old city and run through the market as we are losing Araceli and Melissa to the Maldives tomorrow.  So we visited a batik workshop, wandered through the market for a few last-minute purchases, had a late lunch, and did a lot of people watching.

As we were leaving the market area we found a really interesting Ayurvedic pharmacy so we had to take a look.  They had all manner of herb remedies for things as simple as dry skin to boosting the circulation of people with diabetes.  I don't really know why but I always feel compelled to try different kinds of toothpaste when I travel.  Perhaps it is because the mint that we typically get does not mix well with food and I am seeking an effective alternative.

The other thing I spied was men loading and unloading trucks completed packed with boxes.  Not just in the trucks but on top of them too.  It looked like such sweaty work because, although it was rather overcast, it was really humid so it was a bit like being in a sauna.

By the time we finished it was mid-afternoon so we returned to our guesthouse to relax for a while.  One of the things our host suggested was a traditional dance performance but that isn't really my kind of thing so I let the others go while I had a nice afternoon to unwind.

Because it is our last night in Kandy the proprietors of our guesthouse cooked us a special meal.  It is probably the best food we've had in Sri Lanka and I think we have had some great culinary experiences.

Tomorrow we have to get up early to get Araceli and Melissa to the airport in time for their flight and then Francene and I are off to Galle for a couple days.  I think it is going to be a long day in the car...

Fuji X-T1, Fujinon 35/f1.4R
35mm, f4, 1/2000 sec @ 200 ISO

2014, Day 307 - Conundrum

I am somewhat befuddled, well, more than usual.  I've dozed on and off for about three of the last forty hours and much makes no sense.  For years I've posted a photo of the day but, admittedly, it always gets a little confused when I cross the international date line.  At home it is Monday the 3rd but in Thailand it is Tuesday the 4th.  How do I transition from one to the other?  It has to be done and, the thing that makes sense in my sleep-deprived head, is to post once for the two days and double post on the way back.  I like this because it is less work now, always good, and I should have a much more expansive library to choose from in a few weeks.  So that's the plan, criticism should be gentle because my brain can't understand a whole lot at the moment...

Fuji X-E2, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
24mm, f5.6, 1/125 sec @ 250 ISO

2014, Day 305 - Parting

Missing my Frank this evening.  He's off with my friends Paul and Karen and they are lavishing attention on him while I'm on my trip.  Frankie left a couple days early because it's been all go here and it makes life just a little easier having one less dog but you would think in house with four remaining dogs it wouldn't be super noticeable but it is.

Fuji X-E2, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/125 sec @ 1600 ISO

2014, Day 304 - Tongue

When you strip away the color often details become more apparent.  Color can be a distraction from texture which is why gritty scenes often look best in a muted palette but the same holds true for flowers.

Fuji X-E2, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f5.6, 1/200 sec @ 250 ISO

2014, Day 303 - Arranged

Flowers, the perfect subject matter for infrared photography :)

Fuji X-E2, Fujinon 60/f2.4R
60mm, f4, 1/200 sec @ 320 ISO

2014, Day 302 - Arcing

Through an infrared filter leaves look bright and white so when I looked at this picture I saw snow-covered trees.  That isn't at all what we're looking at as there was only the start of color on most of these trees but it has that effect which is, I think, rather magical.

Fuji X-E2, Fujinon 10-24/f4R OIS
10mm, f5, 1/125 sec @ 400 ISO