Hmong–Bhubing Palace-Doi Suthep

Sawadee Khrap

I got a surprise call from a old friend from Pattaya, Edty, that he was in town and Thursday we took a trip to Doi Suthep.  First a stop at the Hmong village at the top of Doi Pui, then on to Bhubing Rajanives Palace – Royal residence in Chiang Mai20151224_141225 – spent a hour there seeing the sights and then on to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep . From here you get a spectacular view of Chiang Mai City.  20151224_152332 On the right side is the International Airport and 20151224_150616the “Old City” about in the center of the shot.  We got a lot of shots and so 20151224_140206I put them in a Slideshow Gallery.  This shot shows me pretty exhausted – lot of walking, good exercise but never the less very tiring.  When you come to Chiang Mai be sure and visit these sites – we took  a  “songtaew”, the Red truck Taxi, and a Golf cart tour at the Palace – total transportation cost about  1000 baht or  $28 for 5 hour tour.   Can’t beat the price and convenience.  Then there’s always renting a motorcycle – but not for me.


Ciao

Love Art Park–Pattaya visit

Sawadee Khrap

If your visiting Pattaya – this is another new tourist attraction you shouldn’t miss – Love Art Park – Erotic Sculpture park   Soi 13/1 Na Jomtien, near the Phoenix Golf Course and Minosa.IMG_0920  IMG_0877  The 200 Baht admission (100 Baht Thai) is reasonable – you should plan on spending at least 2 hr there taking photos – excellent.  Too bad someone chopped off all the penis – would really look better as they were created – Damn critics and censors, but still a real fun place to visit and have your photos taken – I will definitely bring some boys here in the future. 

They are also open in the evenings and light up the statues – I bet this would be a terrific photo experience and what I will try when I go the next time with someone.

Here is a Gallery of photos taken – not all of them but a good selection –


Ciao

Lakeland Water Cable Ski–Pattaya

Sawadee Khrap

As I have always said – Photography is the only hobby you can take to any other hobby and have a great time.              He went water skiing, I went shooting. _MG_0342 


I have no desire to try Cable Water Skiing, yet I spent a great 2 hrs. with a friend, Dan, at Lakeland.  Located off Sukhumvit Hwy, between Soi 98 and Chaiyaphruek 2 Rd. – easy to get to and offers an exciting day for all._MG_0555-Edit


And the Gallery Slideshow


Ciao

"All at Sea" – Pattaya Players – Venue

Sawadee Khrap

pp131122-383x512 Went to this show “All at Sea” last night – a very entertaining, audience participating, Cinderella-Blackbeard story presented at the Venue.   II t was a lot of fun and very engaging.  If you’re here in Pattaya now, make sure you catch one of the other performances. 

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Here’s the announcement in “Nickys Gay Thailand Newsletter”  -  If you want to keep abreast of the latest events and happenings in Thailand – make sure you subscribe to Nickys newsletter.


Ciao

New format for Gallery Slideshows

Sawadee Khrap

This is the new Slideshow HTML Gallery format.   I believe it will show up better on mobiles and iPads -  At least I hope so.  Please comment if it is not working for your device.   Images are random ones posted before for something to use in testing. I am also going to test including videos to Gallerys. vi


iSwifter Browser for the iPad – view Flash content

Sawadee Khrap

I just heard some disturbing news, at least to me.  The Apple products, iPad, iPhone, and iPod will not work with  Adobe products.  Not owning any Apple products, I have never thought about this problem and just set my blog up with slideshows made with Lightroom using Adobe Flash.  Most of my Model and other posts have slideshows, over 8,000 images on the Blog, all  in Flash Slideshows.

iSwifterMaybe iSwifter  can come to the rescue – it’s free and states that it can show Adobe Flash on the iPad – for now maybe this would work.   Since I don’t have a iPad I can’t  check it out.   It would be almost impossible for me to convert the old slideshows to another format. 

I am going to redesign my slideshows to eliminate Flash – from checking the web, I think Adobe is or has pulled the Flash Player from Google Play store and intends to go to HTML5 for mobile platforms rather than Flash  – more research if I want my Blog to be readable by all -  Shit, problem, problems, problems.

Ciao

Mimosa again

Sawadee Khrap

Went to Mimosa again last night with Mark and Pooh.   There seems to be many postings on the internet and they keep talking about the 1200 Baht foreigner entrance fee — ???    Not sure and actually I didn’t ask last night – but we were charged 50 Baht each.  Didn’t seem to make a difference if we were Thai or not.   _MG_1062Got there about 5:30 so I could have some daylight for photos, caught the end of the first show and waited for the second performance.  Great show with the “Indian fire act” -  I had heard about it last time I was there and didn’t want to miss it.  Then we went for dinner at a French restaurant, _MG_1896Dammit,  didn’t get the name, but had a great dinner  – little pricy but adequate serving size for the price.  Nice photo, I think I’ll try making a painting from it.  That’s Mark and Pooh ordering.

******* Slideshow for Shops and area *******

******* SLIDESHOW for the show *******

Note:   139 photos so make sure you have time

My favorite  was the Indian fire act, but as I usually do, I didn’t stick around to get _MG_1792-Editnames nor had enough small change to ask the girls (all the “Girls” at Mimosa are Ladyboys) for photos with them – Mark posed with one of the girls from Roi Et – but it was dark and not a good shot ( it’s in the slideshow) – I was set up for night shooting without flash, so it’s not a shot I would normally show.

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As for the cost of getting in – I checked with the Mimosa Facebook page and no mention of ticket cost  – but it is now considered the start of the busy season and the pricing is still 50 Baht at the door. 

Next time I will take some 20’s and get photos of the girls.

P.S.     I have a new model coming over tomorrow – so stay tuned , should have some images to post.

Ciao

5-Star Centara Grand Mirage – Pattaya

Sawadee Khrap

A friend asked me to help him with some photos and treated me to Centara Grand Mirage Beach Pattaya-1dinner with his manager at the Hotel.  WOW, what a place – or palace I should say .  Absolutely beautiful.  Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Hotel – Pattaya.  They were having a new Disco Party and he’s auditioning to be the photographer there.  I took my camera so I could get some shots of the facilities to post here._MG_0160_MG_0396_MG_0235-Edit_MG_0382

 

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Here is a slideshow of the shots I brought back – haven’t seen

******* SLIDESHOW *******

any that he took – maybe this weekend, as we are planning a photo trip to Nong Nooch Garden – just to get some shooting time in next week – I am going to help him with some tips on using Photoshop.

And for a bit to eat – try out their Oasis Restaurant – MAGNIFICENT.

Ciao

Vegetable Festival–self mutilation

Sawadee Khrap

Although very common in Phuket during the Thai Vegetable Festival, Yesterday, I _MG_9570finally witnessed the Chinese Taoist practice of self-mutilation right here in Pattaya.  This group was going from business to business – with strings of firecrackers before them, scaring off the evil spirits, sprinkling holy water and prayers._MG_9660_MG_9576  The official start of the Festival in Pattaya will begins today on Oct 12th –14th.  I am not sure I will be able to get some shots as the traffic will be madding – and I really hate crowds.  Here’s a

 

********** SLIDESHOW ***********

of the group I saw.

Ciao

Mini Siam and SuperKart–Pattaya

Sawadee Khrap

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_MG_0015Located across from Pattaya-Bangkok Hospital is a collection of miniature replicas of many architectural places from around the world.  Mini Siam  and Mini Europe.   For example, here’s a panoramic _MG_9852-Editof one of the exhibits.  Fascinating collection and great for photos. It’s a long slideshow 285 images – make sure you have ample time.

********** SLIDESHOW *********** 

And right next door is the SuperKart Raceway – I didn’t take a ride _MG_0022_MG_0031but now that I know where it is – I am going to plan on going and get behind the wheel – really looks like fun.

Ciao

The Venue 2013

Sawadee Khrap

Wow, been a long time since I posted anything – sorry – not busy but lazy.  Several things have happened, I did go to the Venue (see the slideshow below) _MG_7099-EditCapturebut missed the special “Madam Karens” – I will go before she leaves and post the highlights. should be a very good show, I’ll try for the 22nd.  I am always amazed at the quality of the Venue show – everyone is happy, interacting with the audience , and making a terrific evening at the best prices in town.

***** SLIDESHOW *****

In addition The Colosseum  – Pattaya, has opened. Tickets are Capturte1200-1500 Baht for Farangs and 500-600 for Thais – I have a Thai drivers license so I can get in at the lower prices.  I will go but they have already told me – no cameras- pisser, I’ll go to the show and post about it but without photos don’t expect much.  I would think about the same as “Alcazar”.

Ciao

The Sanctuary of Truth – Pattaya

Sawadee Khrap

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Did a quick visit to “The Sanctuary of Truth” and got some prelim shots.  A little pricy, 500 Baht, but worth a visit – quite the carvings  – the entire place is covered with them and and new ones are being prepared to fill in the empty spots.  I will need to go back and do some real HDR work to properly photograph the place.

Make sure you have sufficient time as the slideshow is 133 photos.

******* SLIDESHOW ********

But don’t miss it when you are here – worth the time and money.

Ciao

The Million Years Stone Park + Crocodile

Sawadee Khrap

Just got back from “The Million Years Stone Park and Pattaya Crocodile Farm”.MillionYearsStonePark-as-Smart-Object-1   I went to check it out and take some quick shots to see if it was a good place to do future shoots.   Nice.   But, today was very hot and I got back soaked with sweat – so the shots were just from the hip and not centering in on any specific subject. – next time when it’s cooler I’ll go again and take someone with me to model.  but at least I’ll know where to go.

*******SLIDESHOW*******

I did like the group of young monks that were there and here is a panorama_MG_4514_MG_4434_MG_4537-Edit of the entrance path.  You’ll see them in the Slideshow.

Ciao

Batman bldg and fellow photographer -Ga

Sawadee Khrap

Just meet a new friend, Ga, another fellow photographer here in Jomtien – Check out his Facebook Page  He told me about a great location called the Batman bldg. This abandoned building is about 12 years old and has great graffiti on it’s walls.  It was built to be a Disco house and said to have the upper portion as a short-time rooms – but the place never opened.  I took a trip to see the place before I try to do a any photo shoot there – IT IS Great.

_MG_4408Batman bldg_MG_4402_MG_4375I have another friend that wants to have some shots of his new motorcycle and himself and done in a flashy way – this would be a ideal location for that shoot  – I’m going to tell him about it and will post the images when done.

*******SLIDESHOW*******

Hope Ga can show me some more fantastic locations in and around Pattaya and we did talk about going together to hire a model for some future shoots.  Stay tuned !!!

Ciao