2.27.2006 My Photography: Thailand

I've posted the best of my Thailand photos from an artistic perspective. I still have more stories to share and related pictures but these are the pieces that I consider "photographs".... not snapshots. Please feel free to leave your comments! Click the buddha to be taken to the gallery.

Labels: Photography, Thailand

2.26.2006 Thailand - One-Two-Go airplane: Safety instructions

Labels: Chingrish or Engrish, Thailand

Thailand - Bangkok: A motto to live by.

Labels: Chingrish or Engrish, Thailand

2.25.2006 Only in Asia: noodles just ain't noodles

Man, Mr. Noodles are boring. All I have to say is instant noodles aren't instant noodles unless they include at *least* 4 packets of stuff to add in.

This one includes dehydrated veggies, a thick weird brown spicy goop (technical term), a packet that is so powdery and spicy that it instantly finds your nostrils and you start sneezing like a maniac, and the big packet is filled with hunks of beef and red sauce.

mmmmm noodles.

Labels: Only in Asia, taiwan

2.24.2006 Thailand - Khao Lak: Tsunami Elephant story

Of course being in Thailand I couldn't escape without a mandatory elephant ride. The part of Thailand I made home is called Khao Lak. Khao Lak sustained 78% of Thailand's damage from the tsunami.

During our elephant ride in the hills we stopped at a spot to swim under a waterfall. Our guide told us a story about how at 3am the morning of the tsunami the elephants (the 3 of them) in the elephant camp started screaming. And they screamed and screamed and screamed and screamed... by 6am the local villagers started complaining. When they went to check on the elephants they were desperately trying to climb up the mountain.

Even though the area is primarily inhabited with tourists it hit me at points in my vacation that probably every single local I was coming in contact with lost at least a friend, a co-worker or family member. Swimming in the ocean we found bits of clothing and random debris.

My friend Rafael, who was my travel companion, is now volunteering to build houses for displaced tsunami victims. Please check out his site and make sure to donate if you can. [Rafael's site]

Labels: Thailand

I am alive, honest

The past few weeks have been emotionally and physically trying but I am alive, and there will be a flood of updates to come. If not today.

Labels: uncategorized

2.16.2006 Happy Valentine's Day.

Spent Valentine's day unexpectedly moving. A bunch of updates to come once I get a bit more settled in. Some of my New Year photography I'm really excited about. I finally found a place that does a good job developing film :)

Labels: taipei, taiwan

2.14.2006 photo: Similian Islands (Thailand) panoramic

Too stressed at the moment to up do a proper update about my Thailand vacation but I'm back and alive in one piece. For now enjoy this panoramic of one of the islands where I went snorkeling. Click on the thumbnail to view a larger size image:

Labels: Photography, Thailand

2.06.2006 bonjour Thailand!!!!!!

Well this will probably be my last post for a week unless I can somehow find a way to pull myself away from the beaches of Phuket and find my way to a net cafe.

Sorry to say, but it is less than likely.

I will be flying to Bangkok tomorrow evening, flying to Phuket the afternoon after, and then spending some serious time relaxing... seriously.

Just because I like rubbing in how I'm going somewhere warm check out my Phuket home away from home:

http://khaolaklovers.com/baankrating.htm

mwa haha

:)

Guess which city Catherine would rather be in?


I've had a really great week in Taipei and got the chance to do a lot of things I've been putting off. With Thailand it's a whole new mixed excitement. Part of the reason I made the big dive to abandon my world home was the opportunity to see the world and travel like crazy. I have been to quite a few spots all over Taiwan but I haven't been anywhere else yet. Thailand will be my second Asian country.

Aside from that, being able to finish something that I wasn't able to before... it's powerful and I know dad would be proud.

I am going to come home to Taipei so rested, brown, and happy, and with armloads of film. Promise.

Expect plenty of "ooo look where I've been" pictures when I get home.

Lots of love,
Catherine

Labels: Thailand

Xinhai and some healing time (updated!)

Got my Xinhai (tombs and graves) film developed. Didn't even realize I was shooting black & white!!! How goth! I laughed my butt off when I realized. Of all the films to end up b&w it was the grave shots. Anyway [click here] to see the updated post.

Labels: Photography

photos: This is Meg

Took a couple of pictures with film that I'm really pleased with. I think they esentially capture Meg's personality... or at least her personality through my eyes. Meg is one of my ex-roommates from my first period of time in Taiwan.

She's also my muse and a real motivating force for me (creatively) lately.

Labels: Photography, relationships

2.02.2006 photos: we are so rock!

Ok... these may be a bit goofy, but can't I love them anyway? Meg had the idea to use her crazy jackets with the backdrop of her crazy couch covering, and crazy wall colours, with my crazy sunglasses. The wall is actually yellow but I think a mix of bad photo processing, and bad image to cd-ing made it more greenish. I really need to find a new place to get film developed. I've fallen out of love with my current place. Taken on the 21st of Jan (I think)

Labels: Photography

2.01.2006 Engrish or Chingrish: Delicidus

Not sure if it's supposed to read delicious, delectable, or ridiculous. Maybe all of the above?

Labels: Chingrish or Engrish

deep fried mushrooms and octopus balls!

I've been wondering where on earth everyone in Taipei is this week. I found them. The entire population of the city seems to be hiding in Danshui.


I made contact with an old friend and former co-worker yesterday. I've had Becky's photo in my photography section for awhile here.

It's been so strange being in Taipei this week. There's no one anywhere. If you walk around you see other foreigners... barely any Taiwanese. And nothing is open anywhere except 7/11s.

I wanted to go up to Danshui. Danshui is this market area on a wharf. Really pretty sunsets, lots of great food, fun little shops. We headed there not expecting anything to be open except maybe a store or two. We started suspecting maybe Danshui was alive on the MRT. We were packed like sardines. When we got to Danshui...... holy!!!!! I don't think the pictures give you any idea whatsoever of the crowd.


The crowds were more what I was expecting of Asia from my ignorant North American knowledge. You know in every movie shot in Japan or China they show these insane bustly crowds, everyone crammed together walking in every direction. Just like that. A sea of black hair (except for the guy we saw with pink hair).

It was actually exciting. It felt good to be in such a crowd, especially when it's a happy on vacation crowd. Being with Becky made it even more fun. Becky is a spunky, lively, giggly, happy 20-year old. And Becky speaks a lot of Mandarin! I'm jealous.

We spent the whole day slowly moving with the crowd and stuffing our faces. The Taiwanese deep fry everything and I mean EVERYTHING. One of my absolute favourite things are the deep fried mushrooms. It sounds insane but they are sooooooooo good. Mmmmm salty goodness.

My other favourite thing is a Japanese import. Battered deep-fried octopus formed into balls, covered in a white sauce and a wasabi sauce with dried fish flakes? sprinkled on top. You haven't had octopus until you've had these.


Unfortunately we had some Saint John-esq weather going on, actually kind of the opposite... It was perfectly beautiful in the city, but once we got out to Danshui it was foggy and cold. We hid in an overpriced cafe for awhile to warm up.



And then more food. We had the "Lanb wrap" mmmmmmmmm lanb.



Heading back was just as nuts. I don't know how the MRT could move with the amount of people in each car.

Labels: gastronomical adventures, Taiwan day trips

photo: bronze warmth

not sure what I think of this one yet. What do you think? How's it make you feel? Leave a comment.

Labels: Photography