tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170314932024-03-12T18:56:36.445-06:00Conrad Olivier, a talented Denver based Destination Wedding PhotographerDestination and Denver Wedding Photography, engagement portraits & travel imagery including humanitarian relief effort imagery.Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-79433206972611196692010-01-13T21:26:00.002-07:002010-01-13T21:26:59.195-07:00Do something for Haitians in the earthquake zone!Give here - give there, but give to some organization!<br /><div style="width:468px;"><br /><a href="http://cms.betterplace.org/ar.php?c=betterplace-changing-468x60" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://cms.betterplace.org/a.php?c=betterplace-changing-468x60"/></a><br /><div style="font-size:9pt;text-align:right;color:#555555;"><a style="color:#555555;" href="http://www.betterplace.org/">transparent giving</a> on betterplace.org,<br/>the platform for social projects.</div><br /></div>Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-30108768227674064132009-12-01T12:38:00.003-07:002009-12-01T12:41:53.598-07:00Calendar project<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXx1XqDy-e7nMd01igXgdFOw9yOQmxyfTaUdn1ScASL4vLuKh9YUCRItTvz1Cls0v_r3QNPMLzLnVRSY_XLEjSfx0XKlIL4KYgh02BPwf21-FlxZwWXCo7ZlLXqAe1gFBo8Sh/s1600/_MG_8995_cassidee.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXx1XqDy-e7nMd01igXgdFOw9yOQmxyfTaUdn1ScASL4vLuKh9YUCRItTvz1Cls0v_r3QNPMLzLnVRSY_XLEjSfx0XKlIL4KYgh02BPwf21-FlxZwWXCo7ZlLXqAe1gFBo8Sh/s400/_MG_8995_cassidee.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410355067859437202" /></a><br />I've been working with a great group of people on a calendar for a local coffee shop with a bit of flair. They are known as <a href="http://www.perkycups.us">Perky Cups</a>, staffed by bikini baristas (at least on Bikini Wednesdays). <p>Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-21103638759553342432009-04-23T09:42:00.005-06:002009-04-23T09:54:59.657-06:00A Wedding... Ethiopian style!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIkdj8XVehmD-avImJlQcFBpvh8Daqh8xQeOzVEr5lO5-NAUR9pC6JDzuttnG-FiECXrLlxBFfOQfinkqWNArqsRuLbS1FIAs5A4mnL4y7VQMwDcUAYZlkoOJr0nRJlt2NlAw/s1600-h/g_ethio.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIkdj8XVehmD-avImJlQcFBpvh8Daqh8xQeOzVEr5lO5-NAUR9pC6JDzuttnG-FiECXrLlxBFfOQfinkqWNArqsRuLbS1FIAs5A4mnL4y7VQMwDcUAYZlkoOJr0nRJlt2NlAw/s400/g_ethio.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327914673324518130" /></a><br />Injera... the bread of life for Ethiopians and many 'Westerners' who enjoy Ethiopian food at local restaurants around Denver, Colorado. In our area, there is a strong community of Ethiopians who have many wonderful restaurants in the Denver area (my favorite is, of course, Mesob). When I was asked to photograph this wedding, I was once again energized - why? Photographing people of diverse cultures presents many challenges and even more opportunities... what could be worse than stagnation or doing the same thing all the time, right?<br /><br />The photograph of the couple (on the right) was shot just as the sun was 65% behind the mountains... (strongly backlit) in a parking lot with fresh yellow lines (less than ideal, but it was an impromptu pose/photo moment) which I felt the connection between them was strongest of most of the 'portraits'. ISO800Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-77478273274556035422008-07-30T08:17:00.016-06:002008-09-22T22:41:40.208-06:00Steamboat Springs, Colorado<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.conradolivier.com" target="_new"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSbXeM7b5ehPcG-KdnpFlwQ-jGZmV_ejEaj5-8Z8emuTKKbWwFDV6zpc3wyd5sZOVMcnzuRz0iJ3BN-qyRstwudY61QmV1kbffJNh_8-jL3PYaGffa4vnS6aNxzsAAeyfKO7f/s400/wives_overhead_Bayani.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228821715738705298" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Steamboat is a magical place indeed with a lush green valley and some amazing waterfalls, hot springs and friendly people. Hence, it makes a perfect place for Amy and Warren to settle down in after living in NYC. On July 26, 2008, this couple celebrated with close friends and family in an outdoor wedding.<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><a href="http://www.conradolivier.com" target="_new"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDcmW4gdhMx3Eidk7aF1vMVp3kDXByYRCaMQer5ilkMS27FGVn3tXtaNkw6RZzy_2kwb8cDCGC7ixlsS_XSy-9U_62HeP6GtTNIs4YN4u0IVpWJVH0acKeAn73z1QD9FNC9fP6/s400/group_overhead_Bayani.jpg" alt="wedding photograph of a group in Steamboat Springs, Colorado by Conrad Olivier" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228814776684272898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I happen to know the bride and many of her friends who are a LIVELY bunch to say the least... the call themselves the 'wives' - not b/c two of them are now married, but b/c they decided a long while back that they were committed to each other in a serious, but lighthearted friendship. Saira (lives in Egypt, NYC, and Colorado), Laura (NYC), Romona (NYC), and I'm not sure where Katie lives... last but not least, Warren & Amy (Sil), who have given up life in New York for some elbow room in the Rocky Mountains.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.conradolivier.com" target="_new"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCVqmsLO0m7BDKLrQ7kZA9YiJUPdujwyAuIyfpFrOzk-fLQ84oackRcwC7VBAmoG2_ZHwB8h6XW3gwh_dyFeQnMq7RfqmJNtvs13lax13ZVOd-cwx6rtEnY1rNt5gJDt1PzjwK/s400/couple_amywarren.jpg" alt="Large group wedding photograph by Conrad Olivier" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228818712755903106" border="0" /></a><br />After the wedding and reception, things got a bit more serious with Sake Bombs and cigars... even I was compelled to do one Sake Bomb (at least I managed to beat the bride, but there is not beating her husband at this game as he is a former bartender). Even the bride's grandmother 'appeared' to get in on the action...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMCYdN_eEBYJwi1hrFSy0kp1NtMQ6tQYFtjz8zhF3puAGJTfwaDBUzCPu5CX01b5OOpPtO8sWLKL31pJiQe2dxksRsPOC3Q_I1Bl83qxzXFQv3mnPAPNZQPSZ85AI53M3B9Vs/s1600-h/sakeBomb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqMCYdN_eEBYJwi1hrFSy0kp1NtMQ6tQYFtjz8zhF3puAGJTfwaDBUzCPu5CX01b5OOpPtO8sWLKL31pJiQe2dxksRsPOC3Q_I1Bl83qxzXFQv3mnPAPNZQPSZ85AI53M3B9Vs/s400/sakeBomb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228822480132940930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvam-XkdHrpC8l6Q_Zl7aecAPrWuchVVoXSx4_bvw2wQXVn4vI29bpCFQS7LmnLNbBU-pdDXlmCaEW1pDHkBlvVV4P4n9q4GbSQpo9ME3w4oyBhGVkyG26hRAeJgrPJmrirZk/s1600-h/sake_overhead.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvam-XkdHrpC8l6Q_Zl7aecAPrWuchVVoXSx4_bvw2wQXVn4vI29bpCFQS7LmnLNbBU-pdDXlmCaEW1pDHkBlvVV4P4n9q4GbSQpo9ME3w4oyBhGVkyG26hRAeJgrPJmrirZk/s400/sake_overhead.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228818515154546466" border="0" /></a>Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-60390482653920888212008-06-24T08:00:00.005-06:002008-06-24T08:22:56.743-06:00The wedding of Andre & Christina at Niagara FallsWe made our way to the church on foot, stopping traffic to get images in the middle of the street as the clouds began to unload their cargo.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipD-Grs1Ec6GvgQc9mFrlP6uxVmpW31vVmfBpysHcQsPGp0Vsn1Q0uP5_rN9zGsZT0gY_XAYFwpJAVrrEuXloqMcuvMBIE7DrTSCtGTMwOab_U8o6LNNkKBGfncPZParCLbZKJ/s1600-h/IMG_4327.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipD-Grs1Ec6GvgQc9mFrlP6uxVmpW31vVmfBpysHcQsPGp0Vsn1Q0uP5_rN9zGsZT0gY_XAYFwpJAVrrEuXloqMcuvMBIE7DrTSCtGTMwOab_U8o6LNNkKBGfncPZParCLbZKJ/s320/IMG_4327.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215448130301913090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Andre & Christina at the point of no return! I could tell that neither of them has second thoughts... this makes my job of portraying people in love much more believable and easier. Here I've chosen to show an image favoring the groom since they are often overlooked during these moments or the photographer simply shoots them in profile getting one eye of each face producing a more flat image (IMHO).<br />Thank you Andre & Christina!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwWnOt-AUkSG1i740jtyeIvOd4NcYz1Aur4phLBlqxrqGsj3tFyNjXt2GoVr3M6fxnByb7lrCQ8DftPGq41_eYG98WtCjBb-lrHfNQGHwcb5LUGdLcy4AuFAQbRAfZSm6rifR/s1600-h/IMG_4363.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwWnOt-AUkSG1i740jtyeIvOd4NcYz1Aur4phLBlqxrqGsj3tFyNjXt2GoVr3M6fxnByb7lrCQ8DftPGq41_eYG98WtCjBb-lrHfNQGHwcb5LUGdLcy4AuFAQbRAfZSm6rifR/s320/IMG_4363.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215448135721295954" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Photographing many people in close quarters is always a challenge as there is always someone who is unaware that important images are being created during this fleeting moment. I felt fortunate once more as the people try to be respectful of my line of site during this chaotic moment. I took about 15 frames of this 5 second slice of reality. Christina's mother is just about the shower them (lower right foreground).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKxTHNIU7ZEY0-Loqx1WO_f02elAe5D5v3jdtLpVUZPkwTTiL8We-23R5IYAGEq_-byOyaxLnrGCnNk_Lf9XPsaM9cTp-2U5Fj7qoC54MZ2mq0aJEzK7Cy5zka0yMAlkpHQJm/s1600-h/IMG_4401.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAKxTHNIU7ZEY0-Loqx1WO_f02elAe5D5v3jdtLpVUZPkwTTiL8We-23R5IYAGEq_-byOyaxLnrGCnNk_Lf9XPsaM9cTp-2U5Fj7qoC54MZ2mq0aJEzK7Cy5zka0yMAlkpHQJm/s320/IMG_4401.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215448136374110338" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />Posing at the falls. I have the falls over exposed so that they do not detract from the couple. When photographing powerful subjects, one must be careful not to relegate your subjects as secondary by the more distracting background.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFXa93WLyDE4-dNO-7KxkguAPQvlsWHy_v_-4dyag3He-wp2qfUApPr6vyboFrLXSRdfABxNFwtRlgbYY5MVyt-iYVRcrnMWr34pH96WFopowpyEHSce9X_QRDGwxewF27ZTW/s1600-h/IMG_4438.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOFXa93WLyDE4-dNO-7KxkguAPQvlsWHy_v_-4dyag3He-wp2qfUApPr6vyboFrLXSRdfABxNFwtRlgbYY5MVyt-iYVRcrnMWr34pH96WFopowpyEHSce9X_QRDGwxewF27ZTW/s320/IMG_4438.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215448134209614322" border="0" /></a>Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-20828679331148129692007-04-09T09:54:00.000-06:002007-04-09T10:14:29.143-06:00Wedding in Phnom Penh<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmI9fPJf3FQY3E8rueZoyv60-RmJDgk1nXr3vh9QKwZ2crMsron_l_D4569fE8eE7nR8aZU8lwxdzJjNmmCIv-JlqIW1Emu8cb2jLkGIHBQ-BDdGqZGIDZ8jrzSXtj9AlOeQXx/s1600-h/blog_cambowedd.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmI9fPJf3FQY3E8rueZoyv60-RmJDgk1nXr3vh9QKwZ2crMsron_l_D4569fE8eE7nR8aZU8lwxdzJjNmmCIv-JlqIW1Emu8cb2jLkGIHBQ-BDdGqZGIDZ8jrzSXtj9AlOeQXx/s320/blog_cambowedd.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051457421549693346" border="0" /></a><br />My buddy Ed and I were just about to head south towards Takeo when we were invited to another wedding by our friend, Chariya. We went to Takeo for one night, then rode back to Phnom Penh so that I could photograph the event and help drink some of the 100 cases of Asahi beer that were on hand. We probably had 3 or 4 dinners that night as we were the table butterlies... toasting all of the guys drinking beers is nearly obligatory, but we didn't really mind (a toast between guys in Cambodia involves drinking the entire beer or at least your entire glass). The next morning we packed up our things and drove back down to Takeo where we enjoyed having the entire city to ourselves. Enjoying Vietnamese food for about 3000 Riel per plate and Khmer desserts for 1000 Riel (4,000 Riel = $1USD), we found that walking down the dark and deserted streets was the best way to settle all of that food before crashing out. What a refreshing and relaxing place ~ Takeo... a few weeks later, we came back through Takeo and visited Phnom Da were we met a few guys that were enjoying rice wine...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42GzlrAL1gZM4-jAgMvHwm9-EW1tGbVyAtj5hOUKaBWk-MMxnz9ueEN8MX_IIFwCNtQjCX4e58U0Pq115JZXXC07NoV8zK0yYrUhj5Dy1JKAfgjd3_cttDpvhE1dt98uTK4oX/s1600-h/IMG_1199.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42GzlrAL1gZM4-jAgMvHwm9-EW1tGbVyAtj5hOUKaBWk-MMxnz9ueEN8MX_IIFwCNtQjCX4e58U0Pq115JZXXC07NoV8zK0yYrUhj5Dy1JKAfgjd3_cttDpvhE1dt98uTK4oX/s320/IMG_1199.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5051460720084576690" border="0" /></a><br />These guys really work hard in the fields growing rice... as you can see behind them, there is no where to hide from the relentless sun... just rice, mud, and sun. So I helped them out with their next 'purchase'...Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-8546915179658991162007-03-23T07:56:00.000-06:002007-03-23T08:29:51.826-06:00Steung Mean Chey revisited...<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTbehVzjAYZ0fqnjaaOIEwkc7SqqgApaeZ9pE1secRRFVhsFmRtlPC5CaMQm1NpTMJdeY1FqA0gq5o7NB1kf69-11JYKpIgwC2juapWGVaB766M6G3a8UhHYyTMyjcK6_8ADF/s1600-h/2007_landfill_002.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTbehVzjAYZ0fqnjaaOIEwkc7SqqgApaeZ9pE1secRRFVhsFmRtlPC5CaMQm1NpTMJdeY1FqA0gq5o7NB1kf69-11JYKpIgwC2juapWGVaB766M6G3a8UhHYyTMyjcK6_8ADF/s320/2007_landfill_002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045124885265984610" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />I returned to Cambodia for 2 days without sufficient funding, but I knew that one way or another I would succeed in my effort to make a difference. I returned to the landfill on 19March2007, after meeting 6 other very motivated people who wanted to be a part of the effort... Each of them gave of their money and time to get the shoes and rice to those who needed them most. Again, people were literally running (many barefoot) towards us as they know that whatever it is that we are handing out is in very limited supply.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvefZTsDTyIQL60IVbinbaZZHzryuvwG9fzTD5WyJ9gHUcPR2HMKmI4zkNGrqy03yToNShlBkiotkdPcTUJRwA0gKqVlv0dbRHvEgzG-1ouqbdW1bURlQ-bbu0gE9JgHBRuVn/s1600-h/2007_landfill_001.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLvefZTsDTyIQL60IVbinbaZZHzryuvwG9fzTD5WyJ9gHUcPR2HMKmI4zkNGrqy03yToNShlBkiotkdPcTUJRwA0gKqVlv0dbRHvEgzG-1ouqbdW1bURlQ-bbu0gE9JgHBRuVn/s320/2007_landfill_001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045123008365276242" border="0" /></a><br /></div>In the end, it was a very successful visit not only because most of those who showed up now had sandals and a small quantity of rice... but also because the message is going to spread by word of mouth via the 6 other people that were a part of the effort. I saw only two children who were still barefoot, which is two too many. I will return again within the year with more sandals and boots as I know that I only saw a fraction of the women and children that live in this landfill on that day. A very special thank you to those that assisted me on that day: E. Kobak, J. Botterill, M. Taplin, N. Wharf, N. Smith, and M. Fairley... and to those that made donations S&J. Patel, C. Runyan, and C. Olivier.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYd-qQNtP66s8Sb08OIfKsRmEwuWB8ggwuCX9NdW6MQpntC02EaWk_7iqQrgG03wxiSa6B_WuDQH9FnH_sAeYr5PFsvUjbCTFgUBfKmfOasIl-iENB4__T7W1l0mW0xGS5Hro/s1600-h/2007_landfill_003.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirYd-qQNtP66s8Sb08OIfKsRmEwuWB8ggwuCX9NdW6MQpntC02EaWk_7iqQrgG03wxiSa6B_WuDQH9FnH_sAeYr5PFsvUjbCTFgUBfKmfOasIl-iENB4__T7W1l0mW0xGS5Hro/s320/2007_landfill_003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5045125001230101618" border="0" /></a></div>Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-76054655536215966602007-03-11T01:29:00.000-07:002007-03-17T05:42:14.219-06:00Steung Mean Chey landfill<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL92ZBMzBmFz1eG1nn02fwUnPWL9kDXzZ6plXeEpPjQpk49XOOhi25RA6xXmxLB0yhCVV1ttpI-Pah1XAU_W0FUzFsV34eBCB_yxA27OpZBBE4E8jYasbFfEXX4LnWlXnpJD5/s1600-h/femmes_PPsmall.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040585999302452338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcL92ZBMzBmFz1eG1nn02fwUnPWL9kDXzZ6plXeEpPjQpk49XOOhi25RA6xXmxLB0yhCVV1ttpI-Pah1XAU_W0FUzFsV34eBCB_yxA27OpZBBE4E8jYasbFfEXX4LnWlXnpJD5/s320/femmes_PPsmall.jpg" border="0" /></a>***Update: 17March2007<br />(A few people have made donations in the last few days and I will return to Phnom Penh 18March2007 to take more sandals especially small sizes for the very young children that seem very much on their own... it's one thing to be homeless, fatherless, or hungry, however, this is something very different.) Thank you Chris R and Clay O.<br /><br />11March2007<br />My second visit to the landfill in Phnom Penh revealed that although there are people and aid groups trying to assist the people, there is still much that is needed at that location. I also understand that there will be a new or additional landfill for PP. Conditions at the landfill in March 2007 are significantly better than November 2005 as the fires and smoke were minimal, air quality was not nearly as putrid as expected - in fact I removed all of my protective gear including sun glasses. Going there completely masked with a hat, sun glasses, and a face mask makes one feel very alien (and removed) in such an environment full of the most vulnerable of souls.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwOuw09eFlL2nc4yMQg9WLThDtaryVNEo1ays1BDyTxyu4wl0j8yffwxpIW7JnWNz0yw_VvFzHTrV0ZfAnNKTr7OKtlc08Mq3b6PbbwXoCJYZcYaclgAcFab0tWCSCC1KPVCO/s1600-h/hordes.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040587661454795906" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwOuw09eFlL2nc4yMQg9WLThDtaryVNEo1ays1BDyTxyu4wl0j8yffwxpIW7JnWNz0yw_VvFzHTrV0ZfAnNKTr7OKtlc08Mq3b6PbbwXoCJYZcYaclgAcFab0tWCSCC1KPVCO/s320/hordes.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Witnessing the hordes of shoeless children running toward me through burning trash, broken glass, and everything else under the sun - all barefoot - was difficult at best... knowing that I had already run out of small flip flops (sandals) gave me a sinking feeling which you might equate to near complete failure on my part. If you or someone you know have knowledge of an NGO or ways of acquiring more aid please contact me.<br /><br /><br /><br />If you ever wanted to be a part of something keep these facts in mind - I can purchase small flip flops for about .62 cents (USD) or 2500 Riel - up to about $1 USD for larger sizes... Rice is also extremely affordable at just over .25 cents per kilogram... imagine what $5.00 USD buys? 20kg of rice - or a coffee at Starbucks... it's up to you... if you want to lend a hand - on <a href="http://www.fotoscape.com">www.fotoscape.com</a> (Giving Back) there is a link for donations.<br /><br /><br /><br /><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SyIQRAAU7EwsAcUP0F8XnVUSWZimVkP_YeQvzIqd4PMyMpJONLJGb01MYrPJjqFG_aJzFElNXXnsfRxxfPDaeBi-PcupQKIcZu8b6wOOFol1NqO-kQ-_6yLPAUnz274BvC7M/s1600-h/tuktukMob.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5040588408779105426" style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SyIQRAAU7EwsAcUP0F8XnVUSWZimVkP_YeQvzIqd4PMyMpJONLJGb01MYrPJjqFG_aJzFElNXXnsfRxxfPDaeBi-PcupQKIcZu8b6wOOFol1NqO-kQ-_6yLPAUnz274BvC7M/s320/tuktukMob.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>I had several people on hand to assist with crowd control, rice dispensing, and sandal fittings, however, the crowd grew so quickly that I was unable to see the feet of the children that were so close to me... it made it hard to match correct sized sandals w/ the feet. At last the four of us were over run by the crowd which dispersed only after all of the supplies were exhausted... I managed to squeeze out and take a few photographs...Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-84990846385634971542007-02-21T03:13:00.000-07:002007-02-21T03:32:00.882-07:00Varanasi thoughts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWb6fT0SGNGIcmqCUTsS7sWK1Mf0zmObtANR_zc1lL23AaT4VbnogymcH1tCKYOKClHszXc9g0sORdiG85EYwrFZpAqyROP8IWiEwO6jWWm4kB6ug5YuqpnfzVsg3F3wdyhS_y/s1600-h/05022007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWb6fT0SGNGIcmqCUTsS7sWK1Mf0zmObtANR_zc1lL23AaT4VbnogymcH1tCKYOKClHszXc9g0sORdiG85EYwrFZpAqyROP8IWiEwO6jWWm4kB6ug5YuqpnfzVsg3F3wdyhS_y/s320/05022007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033933183699446258" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><pre>Dawn on the banks of the Ganges is a special time when color and sound fill the<br />air...<br /><br />Chanting...<br />very loud bells ringing continuously... through the night and day!<br />the murmur of the people...<br /><br />The sun only breaks through the thick atmosphere well above the horizon.<br /><br />...sipping masala chai while watching the dead move toward the Harischandra ghat...<br />watching the rooftop activity... cow patties are prepared, laundry dried, children play...<br /><br />...inhaling the ash and smoke of those freshly cremated, anticipating the biryani for breakfast<br /><br />Kites fill the sky at dusk, but now there is only one kite in view now...<br />Flown by a small child on the ramp of the Harischandra ghat... Poetic.</pre>Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-87898380129227661132007-02-05T01:21:00.000-07:002007-02-05T01:45:11.156-07:00Kolkata to VaranasiHowrah train station in Kolkata is an amazing place... the flow of humanity to and from the station is evident within 4km of the station - untold numbers arriving and departing by foot with full luggage in hand or atop the head. 2nd Class A/C is more expensive than many other classes in the train, however, it was well worth the added expense as it was a 20 hour ride through the night... arriving around noon, the train crossed the bridge over the Ganges river yielding an impressive view of the ghats all along the western banks of the river... there are no permanent structures on the east side in the flood plains so it provides an interesting backdrop of river delta soils and a few holy mens tents clustered together. <br /><br />Aside the expected bathing and ritual that encompass Varanasi, I was photographing a batch of water buffalo - in the Ganges... squatting down to take the photo, I realized one of the water buffalo blow some snot out and charged my way from about 2.5 meters away... instinct does kick in. I have more respect (fear) of falling or being knocked into the Ganges than being plowed over by a water buffalo ~ fortunately, I employed my newly acquired Indian driving skills & I now have become a water buffalo matador - pushing off of his head and rolling to the side... and of course, gracefully clearing the scene of the incident w/o even so much as a mud imprint anywhere on me. Just another encounter with a wild creature for me... better a buffalo than a crocodile!<br /><br />The burning ghats are always doing brisk business. I`m sleeping just outside of one of them... all day and all night, bodies arrive from all parts of India to be cremated on a wood pyre or in the electric crematorium (less expensive/faster). Bodies cue up on the ramp after being carried down the road that my guesthouse overlooks. The chanting of those carrying the bodies lets you know when they approach. The body is usually placed on the ground for a short time and different accoutrement's are applied/purchased and the body heads either up the ramp to the electric crematorium or down to the shore of the Ganges. Last night, there was someone quite well-to-do as they were burned on top of a large stop altar... instead of just on the shore/sand... this also attracted a large audience. Kite flying is a very popular passtime for the youngsters of Varanasi... its as if the spirits are flying about all over the city... On average, I can see about 50 kites from the rooftop.Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-83342286253046236452007-01-30T23:37:00.002-07:002008-02-18T11:33:23.192-07:00Kolkata<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfhgiHpmZGHWO6mdafOIvFsv6nvnYLky4tbHwqOgveJlopYy2M4FkWzyvygZGajKaRjpFdlSBioMwhb3q7mXJupbK2qMLVHCkR1R9Pr0s0ySReigosBFCgQ0ukaNtm6O4J4gW/s1600-h/30012007(009).jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfhgiHpmZGHWO6mdafOIvFsv6nvnYLky4tbHwqOgveJlopYy2M4FkWzyvygZGajKaRjpFdlSBioMwhb3q7mXJupbK2qMLVHCkR1R9Pr0s0ySReigosBFCgQ0ukaNtm6O4J4gW/s320/30012007(009).jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033933819354606082" border="0" /></a><br />Upon arrival it's all quite amazing if not overwhelming... after a brief trishaw ride, I climbed into a local bus - 30b - to Dum Dum station... there were so many people on the bus it grew dark inside the bus as the windows were obscured by the crush of humanity... not being able to see what was going on outside was of less consideration than what all was going on inside of the bus... lets call it a ~power skirmish~... getting out of the bus was something I didn't think was possible... magically, the flow of people began and it was as if I was rebirthed by the bus as it unceremoniously spat us out into Kolkata streets.<br /><br />Having a very nice cup of chai, we relaxed and took in the ambiance of the surroundings which are best described as a chaotic dance that all beings do within the city. Amid all of the disorder, one finds that there is order albeit different that what I personally have known. Jetairways service from Bangkok is outstanding - economy class felt more like First Class with lovely food, attendants, and on board entertainment beyond what I knew existed in any class. Such are the juxtapositions in life...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_DS_SWB_ZBjQPtgdbT-oH5L6bRvu8lsg21ktKivcDVDATc1KGPJSXC6sZ28O2I8HZprDEQiElBccryFmr5PwYhyI64OAbq6E72sgJvZ7iXfBmepTbpClx26jMbz_AKrEDnfD/s1600-h/kolkata_kids.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_DS_SWB_ZBjQPtgdbT-oH5L6bRvu8lsg21ktKivcDVDATc1KGPJSXC6sZ28O2I8HZprDEQiElBccryFmr5PwYhyI64OAbq6E72sgJvZ7iXfBmepTbpClx26jMbz_AKrEDnfD/s320/kolkata_kids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168389695450711538" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The people of Kolkata are an artful breed... vivacious and colorful in every respect.Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-46571449465518934362007-01-04T10:13:00.000-07:002007-01-04T10:23:01.632-07:00Simple and effective inline image spam fighting methodSo, the spammers have been sending you new spam in the form of inline images.<br />I have a web background which facilitated a way around these lousy attempts to clog my inbox. If you attempt to figure out what the name of the image is - you are led to believe that it's 'untitled.bmp' - and you can build a filter to block that, but it doesn't work (because that's not really the name of the image - it's actually encrypted). Upon closer examination of several inline image emails that I had received, I found a common character set that could be used to filter by. <br /><br />Here it is: "cid:"<br />Build yourself a filter in whatever your email client may be... find this string and do whatever action it is you prefer. While testing, I had it append the message title to let me know that it worked, later I changed the action to 'delete' the message completely. This method should be fairly safe for most of your email unless of course you get emails full of these encrypted inline images from your peers. You might lose an email if you were say talking about things that are<br />rancid: or placid: but how often would they be followed by a colon? Best of luck!Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-1157344797917148582006-09-03T22:29:00.001-06:002006-09-07T22:06:18.650-06:00Bore tides & BelugasUpon occasion if you are in the right place at the right time you might see both... As my friend was explaining the basics of a 'bore tide' - he said, look out there - there it is coming in! I was like whoa, is this like a scripted tour or what? Alas, it wasn't... Perhaps he was just sharpening his timing skills for his next date! Belugas began surfacing along the inlet or deeper channel just offshore as it filled the with silty grey seawater. 'Belugas' get their name from the language the word is borrowed from ~ Russian ~ which means 'white' (belugas are white). The bore tide itself was quite impressive - it pushed in decisively and it was quite photogenic as the back half of the waves were lit by the setting sun in the last days of August 2006. Some areas in Alaska can experience up to a 25' difference between high & low tides...Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-1146063528218212652006-04-26T08:48:00.000-06:002006-04-26T08:58:49.016-06:00Canto do Galo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/capoeirista_pushup.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/320/capoeirista_pushup.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Capoeira. The world is a humbling place... right when you think you are so cultured, you discover something else so wonderful... that's something I love about living. I'm not to going to be your guide to Capoeira... I won't even tell you what it is... why would I spoil your moment?<br /><br />I've never photographed an event or a group of people more cohesive than these people... apart from perhaps apsara. The energy they expended was nothing compared to the energy in the venue where the batizado was held... it wasn't electrifying, but it demanded & held my attention like nothing else. Like many things cultural, if you look a little deeper, there is always much more going on than meets the eye. Charismatic leaders keeping the artform alive...Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-1142792218258533662006-03-19T11:04:00.000-07:002006-03-19T11:21:56.533-07:00A Fresh Start...My friend, Paul, will have just that. He apparently died of some type of coronary complications in Phnom Penh, Cambodia where he made his home for the last year or so.<br /><p>He was instrumental in my last outing in Cambodia - without him, many of the photographs that I took would not have been possible... Cremation will occur in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, 21.3.2006</p>A character shrouded in cheerful yet very sarcastic banter, Paul had a <i>laissez faire, laissez aller, laissez passer </i>attitude. From what I gather, he has had a profound effect on the people that knew him. It is clear that his spirit is in Phnom Penh - people sensing him around every corner...<br /><br />Here are a few quotes to remember him by:<br /><br />...in his chicago deep throated voice - "I told ya guys not to ride at night!<br /><br />"well, I guess I'm not a team player see you at Sop..."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.fotoscape.com/images/memoriamPaul_smaller.jpg" />Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-1140304525176357762006-02-18T16:10:00.000-07:002006-02-18T16:15:25.186-07:00What's it like when you...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/sofiaIR800.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/320/sofiaIR800.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sometimes, you just don't know what the day has in store for you or what you might have up your sleeve. The good thing about getting older is that you have the option of getting better at some things... like how to spend one's birthday. Of course, I had the fortune of spending mine with a few good friends... Perhaps you have some days that aren't the greatest - advice - don't dwell on those - let them go & set new goals that have nothing to do with your past achievements or failures (they can only hold you back).Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-1139510594412216382006-02-09T11:24:00.002-07:002006-02-09T11:43:14.413-07:00Barefoot in Death Valley<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/DVmarathonRunners.1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/320/DVmarathonRunners.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">He did it... 26 miles on a rough stretch of washboard rocky road in Death Valley. My friend, Chris and I met up in Vegas and drove to Death Valley in our rented 'SUV' - well, it was supposed to be an SUV, but it was "unavailable", so we took the Hyundai Sonata <i>offroad</i>, which was remarkably comfortable as an offroad vehicle - perhaps much more so that the Santa Fe we were to use. All in all we did just under 100 miles of washboard roads which were in better shape than years past.<p><br />Perhaps he is the first person to run a marathon in Death Valley without shoes... he was well recognized everywhere inside the park after the race - "how are your feet" - "they're great thanks"... "Are you the barefoot guy?"... Apparently, there is a small, but growing number of barefoot enthusiasts... He says his feet held up good until mile 20, at which point the callouses began to wear away in a few spots...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/DVracetrack2006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/320/DVracetrack2006.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Fruits of our labor... an image from the Racetrack where large rocks plow thru the mud without witness only to be frozen in time awaiting the next rain. They have attached GPS units to these rocks to track their movements - apparently a 700lb rock actually vanished w/o a trace some time ago... Chris' theory is that the lakebed swallows these rocks when it's very soft... I tend to agree as there is not a lot of rocks on the edge of this playa.<br /></p></div>Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-1138422831259677132006-01-27T21:09:00.000-07:002006-01-27T21:34:54.356-07:00Pit vipers and such<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/ranteePitViper.0.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/320/ranteePitViper.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Just when Koh Phi Phi was starting to feel a little too quiet... along comes this white lipped pit viper. He posed for a few photographs before I took some infrared video of his beady eyes. News of him caused widespread unrest amongst the other bungalow guests at an unnamed beach on Ko Phi Phi... I felt pretty secure because he'd already come to this space - looked around - found nothing and left... so I knew he wouldn't be back.<br /><p><br />I was more concerned with the windy nights and the coconut trees overhead, the three gecko-stalking cats that would come into the bungalow (had most of the windows and doors wide open).<br /></p><p><br />One evening, a young man that lives and owns a bungalow/bar/restaurant was having a good time drinking on the beach with friends. He was practicing spinning the ropes that often have fire at one end - I know there is a name for this - but I didn't care to remember - sorry! He shrieked in pain over the reggae tunes and crashing surf... all sorts of people (there were only about 12 foreigners at this beach) rushed to see what had happened. Exclaiming in drunken English that his shoulder was out of socket - he sought anyone who could help. First in line, the drunkest of drunks gave his arm a twist and a tug - amidst the moaning and outbursts of pain he gave up... then the next and the next. Finally, it was decided that he need to go by longtail (boat) to the small hospital/clinic in the touristy part of the island. We were on a side of the island taking quite a beating from the waves that night... nonetheless, one of the longtail boat drivers agreed to take him on the 20-30 minute journey. There was much delay in departure as more and more of the people drinking (aka drunks) were wanting to go on a boat ride in complete darkness in a boat with short sides... long story short, everyone started heading back to the bar (naturally) and I asked what the deal? The guy was laying on the 'floor' of the boat - (I'd like to see how he did that! - you know what I mean if you have ever been in a longtail) - the surf pounding on the boat slapped him a few good times in just the right manner and voila - he felt fine - should back into socket. A few more beers and he was no worse for the experience.<br /></p><p><br />I had feelings of wanting to no be such a wuss and try to toughen up my white pansy-ass feet... so off with the sandals (I had forgotten about all of the glass we saw on the beach and picked up)... there was just a tsunami there and all. It wasn't long thereafter that I wandered over to the makeshift bon-fire (camp fire) and almost planted my foot squarly on a board with not one, but two nails sticking out of it - which probably helped me not get thoroughly punctured - I escaped with only minor puncture wounds.<br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/ranteeBungalow.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/320/ranteeBungalow.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Other than that, I drank a lot of tea and just took it easy with my friend, Zamil, from Australia/UK. It was a week without vices...</p>Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-1136232797033747432006-01-02T13:06:00.000-07:002006-01-02T16:35:05.083-07:00H5N1 - Deep fried!<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/H5N1.2.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" height="247" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/320/H5N1.2.jpg" width="247" border="0" /></a><br />I had a lovely eye infection for the last few days while I was in Bangkok which lasted a total of 12 days. I was considering wearing my new H5N1 t-shirt that I got at the Indy Book Festival in Bangkok just a while back, I had to scratch that idea since I had a touch of bronchitis (according to the US medical personnel) which they declined to treat. I had this weird suspicion they wanted to let me incubate... as I left the 'unmentioned facility' the employee let me know that they'd be sure to start me on Tamiflu if needed - that's great, but I was going out of town again for another week or so - nothing like preventative medicine. Apparently, no one will become famous for 'discovering' bird flu in my body this time. I was asked if I was near any poultresque type creatures - I said, no, not exactly...<br /><br />This image was taken in early November on the edge of Cambodian civilization (where the paved road meets the unpaved). You cannot live your life in fear, you must heed the warnings, but use your own judgement as well (if it's good that is...). I'm not saying that I didn't shooo the chickens that walked under my dinner table, but don't let the media overload your sensibilities.<br /><br />Well cooked chicken that you didn't handle/cuddle/kill beforehand will not harm you. In the end, the real danger will not be the chickens themselves, but people transmitting H5N1 around the globe to one another.Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-1134621971412877452005-12-14T21:46:00.000-07:002006-01-02T16:55:12.946-07:00Ko Phi Phi<p class="mobile-post">Spending söme quiet & and introspective time on a secluded part of the island that was hit by the 2004 tsunami. Very lovely Muslim Thai family taking care of no more than 10 to 15 tourists on this beach. Beautiful rainstorm yesterday... attached outdoor - open air bathroom - showëred in the rain. Hiked to the top of PP Don in a rainstorm - perfect! At the end of the secluded beach, rasberry colored rocks adorn the pristine sand grounding the interpreted elements of this scene.</p><p class="mobile-post" align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/Rantee_rock.0.jpg"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/320/Rantee_rock.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/Rantee_rock.jpg"></a></p><p class="mobile-post">Looking down at the beach shrouded in the clouds and rain. Descending soon to search for a green papaya for 'som tum' - the restaurant doesn't have any at the moment...</p><p class="mobile-post"></p><p class="mobile-post" align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/Rantee_rock.jpg"></a> </p>Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-1133837796989692832005-12-05T19:37:00.000-07:002006-01-09T12:39:30.326-07:00Crutches<table id="HB_Mail_Container" height="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="100%" border="0" unselectable="on"><tbody><tr height="100%" unselectable="on" width="100%"><td id="HB_Focus_Element" valign="top" width="100%" background="" height="250" unselectable="off"><p>In life, people often act more like cattle - following the footsteps of the one before them. Granted, if short on time I wouldn't be against the idea of using a guidebook as a supplement for your travel information - rather I use them mostly as a guide for how to avoid tourist gathering spots... 'watering holes'. I would advise not to rely on them as one might a religious text or methodology - unless you want a very predictable outcome which I find utterly pointless. (of course, you needn't agree). Interacting with the local people is often very rewarding assuming you are able to comply with local culture/customs - you'll learn about things the guidebook isn't ever going to provide you. If you are ready to go to the slaughterhouse, get on that trailer with all of your brethern - otherwise, take a chance and do something different.</p><p><br /></p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/320/cosmicOil.2.jpg" border="0" /><p align="center">( testing the local spirits)</p><p align="center"><br />I'll admit that from time to time I borrow guidebooks from other people, I hope to end that practice, but as with most elements of change - time is required.<br /><br />December 5th was His Majesty's 79th birthday... Thai people love and honor their King more than most Westerner's can fathom... he's noted to be the longest reining (living) monarch - enjoying nearly absolute popularity with his people. Most people wore yellow or gold shirts to mark his birthday - he's noted to have registered more than 2000 projects benefiting his people. If you've ever been to Thailand, you know that before each movie you watch in a theatre - there is a moment when all stand to pay homage to him. It's a very interesting phenomena... of course, there is always political sides to take in most countries, and the King apparently manages to remain impartial (so to speak).<br /></p></td></tr><tr unselectable="on" hb_tag="1"><td style="FONT-SIZE: 1pt" height="1" unselectable="on"><div id="hotbar_promo"></div></td></tr></tbody></table>Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-1133631690085519542005-12-03T10:41:00.000-07:002006-01-09T12:24:02.680-07:00Giant Turds...<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/giantTurd.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/320/giantTurd.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I'm riding in the front of one right now. Maintenance is never proactive, refueling is something we do together, your only nemesis is from within - what am I referencing? (I know you thought I'd never ask).<br /><br />Where to begin... having driven over, in, and off of the Darwinistic backroads of Cambodia, I clearly understand that just because one has 250cc's... doesn't gurantee that you won't have a giant (head on) bus passing a 4x4 truck passing a roto-tiller 'bus' passing various animals (generally cows as most other creatures move out of the way).<br /><br />About that nemesis, it could just be the four dollars you saved on that second class bus ticket, the overnight ones without the toilet, or with my luck - getting the seat above it. Might just be nausea, not to worry a plastic bag will not drop out of the compartment above - though you'll wish it would... Let's not even get into how time passes on a bus<br /><br />Forget about Rock, Paper, Scissors... it was 7a.m. and I saw 6" of AK-47 peaking out from under his fake leather jacket... Of course, he took a seat in the back with a nice vantage point. And people worry about bandits stopping a bus - take it in stride - if it was okay with Laos TSA (if they had a TSA) - it's okay with me. <p></p><p class="mobile-post">In Laos & Thailand, buses seem to follow a certain bit of genuine etiquette, however, my heart is still with the Cambodian smiles and her people even if their concept of live and let live on the road is more 'Move or die' - there is no right and 'wrong'.</p>Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-1133427524741774112005-12-01T01:58:00.000-07:002006-01-09T12:12:50.016-07:00The Novice and I<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/hongnaly_xiengWht.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/320/hongnaly_xiengWht.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/hongnaly_xieng.jpg"></a><br />As we rode the local bus to Phonsavanh from Luang Prabang, I was delighted to see that we wouldn't ever run out of brake fluid as the driver's assistant added it religiously via an inverted bottle attached to the dashboard. That was only the first clue that perhaps the brakes on this old Chinese bus weren't up to snuff. We managed an average speed of about 9km hour or so give or take 10km in either direction. As we hit sharp inclines, the bus door would be opened and the female assistant would hop out and run along side the bus in the event the bus driver wasn't able to get it into gear (she had a chock block in hand to stop the bus from rolling off the cliff). As we leveled out, she'd hop back in and secure the door.<br /><br />We followed a very new (two years old) road along the spine of the mountains passing many different and humble villagers and villages clinging to the steepest of hillsides. Views that one can only dream imagine, most of these people have no other reality as most haven't been to Luang Prabang or Vientiane.<br /><br />Motion sickness is a part of life inside a bus in Laos... it appears I will escape this fate, my young friend, Hongnaly "Lee", wasn't as fortunate. The bus ride was somewhere between ardous and too difficult to describe... so I'll leave it at that. He's a wonderful and bright novice monk studying English and Japanese in Luang Prabang. He comes from a family of rice farmers in a village about 84km away from LP. We became friends one afternoon while I visited with him and his brother in the Wat. I invited him to go with me to Phonsavanh to see the Plain of Jars - a mysterious place of stone jars and foggy mornings (otherwise, unnotable). I learned many things about the life of a young novice... the dreams, thoughts, and rules. What a pure soul already - he's been a novice for two years and will become a monk when he reaches the age of twenty.<br /><br />After the ardous bus ride, his stomach was empty for more than one reason... I brought him two servings of soymilk so that he'd have something. I felt guilty as I sat down and had several Indian dishes at a local restaurant... I thought to myself, being a monk is quite challenging indeed. He wanted to buy a camera, but I told him to use one of mine - he did a nice job and got to enjoy one of life's little pleasures - to be a tourist (an opportunity most do not realize/achieve). He hopes to study in Thailand and become a doctor one day ~ as he has tuberculosis.Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-1133427496434033892005-12-01T01:52:00.000-07:002006-01-09T12:43:09.590-07:00Mistaken identityHailed by two Lao guys, I was offered a thimble sized glass of whisky... After I finished that, I was given a hunk of grilled meat - "ma" - I knew exactly what it was... however, the Japanese girl didn't, the Turk passed on this opportunity, while the other Japanese guy went for it as well. It wasn't long before she inquired... when I told her it was grilled dog - her expression was priceless as she shrieked "uuuuuuuhhhhuuuyyyyiiiiii" as we crossed the road. She commented that it was too chewy though it had a nice flavor - I agreed and told her she could spit it out.<br /><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/320/dogChop.jpg" border="0" /><br />After a nice dinner, I went to the Wat at the confluence of the two rivers in Luang Prabang to meet my new friend, the novice monk at 8pm.Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17031493.post-1132979757408261132005-11-27T21:35:00.000-07:002006-01-09T12:49:38.536-07:00Destination: Pak Beng<p class="mobile-post">As I approach the northern border of Thai, I feel refreshed thinking of the challenges, opportunities, and smiles that are to come... A few days aboard a cargo boat destined for Luang Prabang via the Maekhong river should be a good experience. /// Nov 26<br />It's no cargo boat... however, it is full of tourists... The well beaten path. Six or seven hours to go - looking forward to the Maekhong rapids. </p><p class="mobile-post">//Nov 27<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/1600/pakBengCouple.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4887/1632/200/pakBengCouple.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p class="mobile-post">Pak Beng was a nice frontierish feeling town - crashed yet another wedding - the town was fresh out of electricity, but a generator kept the wedding party going. The climate in Laos is very cool and refreshing - people bundle up w/ winter coats while I insist on short sleeves. Luang Prabang is lovely. Quiet, scenic, and peaceful... best of all - quite clean... I overheard some tourists who made comments after being in the interior - "it feels like we are back home". Lao coffee is darker than a moonless night.</p>Conradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05899815887440764814noreply@blogger.com0