Uploads from Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)

Mount Bromo Java

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:20:33 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

I am still on the road on the adventure of a life time.. I haven't had much time for Flickr but thought it was about time I post something.. I've been in Indonesia for the last while. Recently found myself in front of the beautiful Mount Bromo. Got picked up at midnight, dropped to a jeep at 3am and arrived at about 5 close to the volcano. Watched the volcano come not view as the sun rose. Quite an experience..

Mount Bromo sits in the middle of a vast plain called the "Sea of Sand", a protected nature reserve since 1919. The typical way to visit Mount Bromo is from the nearby mountain village of Cemoro Lawang. From there it is possible to walk to the volcano in about 45 minutes, but it is also possible to take an organised jeep tour, which includes a stop at the viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan (2,770 m or 9,088 ft) (Indonesian: Gunung Penanjakan). The best views from Mount Bromo to the Sand Sea below and the surrounding volcanoes are at sunrise. The viewpoint on Mount Penanjakan can also be reached on foot in about two hours. From inside the caldera, sulfur is collected by workers.
Depending on the degree of volcanic activity, the Indonesian Centre for Vulcanology and Disaster Hazard Mitigation sometimes issues warnings against visiting Mount Bromo.

Explored: Bangkok Panorama

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:04:57 -0800

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

This shot was taken from my balcony at the Chatrium Hotel. Its a 5 stitch Panorama shot portrait with my 50MM Looks best in Large :)

The golden building in the centre is the Lebua Hotel made famous from the Hangover 2.

Explored: Swimming Pool

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:45:14 -0800

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

A beautiful swimming pool near the alps

Temple Linh Ung, Danang Vietnam

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 05:39:50 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

Another dragon from Linh Ung. This temple is probably the most impressive I have been to in the whole of South East Asia.. Its in Danang near Hoi An and well worth a look :)

Explored: Hanoi Traffic Vietnam

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 09:55:04 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

Heres a video of my first time crossing a major road in Hano as you can see zebra crossing means nothingi:

www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151842817760476&set=vb...

Crossing the street in Hanoi is a fairly precarious affair. There are very few pedestrian crossings but a hell of a lot of scooters and cars.. So it generally involves stepping onto the road. Walking with your eyes shut and hoping no one hits you.. The trick is you never stop walking otherwise it makes it difficult for the oncoming drivers to predict where you are going.. It actually becomes fun after a while.. After spending a couple of weeks in Hanoi it became very easy to spot the fresh meat because you see them shitting themselves as they cross.

Patuxai: Vientiane, Laos

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 06:04:02 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

Patuxai meaning Victory Gate, formerly the Anousavary or Anosavari Monument(known by the French as Monument Aux Morts) is a war monument in the centre of Vientiane, Laos, which was built between 1957 and 1968. Patuxai is dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France. It is also given the name of Patuxai Arch or the Asian version of Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane as it has general resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris; however, it is typicallyLaotian in design, decorated with many Buddhist mythological figurines such as of kinnari (half-female, half-bird figures).

Patuxai is strategically built at the end of the grand Lang Xang Avenue in the heart of the Vientiane city. Lang Xang Avenue is also called "the Champs Elysees of Vientiane" as the Patuxai, a counterpart of the Arc de Triomphe, is situated at the end of this road. Patuxay Park, with musical fountains surrounds the monument.

The monument was known as "Anousavali" (literal meaning "memory") when it was built after World War II in memory of the Laotian soldiers who died in various wars, and during independence from France in 1949, which was an era of the monarchy in the country.

The monument was built using American funds and in the 1960s cement actually originally intended to build an airfield during the Vietnam War was used in the structure. The United States had given Laos money to build a new city airport. However, the Laotian government of the day used the money to build the monument instead. As a consequence, the monument is sometimes referred to as the "vertical runway".

The monument was designed by the architect Mr. Tham Sayasthsena, a Laotian citizen. In 1957, the plans submitted by Sayasthsena to the Royal Palace office were selected out of the many designs submitted by the Public Works Department, the Military Engineering Department, and many private architects. He was given a fee of 30,000 kip for the design. The original cost of building the monument, which was started in 1957, was estimated as 63 million kip.

In 1975, with the Pathet Lao taking the reins of power in Laos, the name of the monument was changed to Patuxai, to mean “victory gate”.

The monument has five towers that represent the five principles of coexistence among nations of the world. They are also representative of the five Buddhist principles of “thoughtful amiability, flexibility, honesty, honour and prosperity”.

The monument, as built, has gateways on four sides oriented towards the four cardinal directions. The four ponds represent the open section of a lotus flower (representing reverence of Laotians to the brave warriors of the nation). The four corners of the gateways are adorned by statues of a Naga King (mythical symbol of Laos), with a depiction signifying spraying of a jet of water (suggesting nature, fertility, welfare and happiness) into the ponds on the ground.

Two concrete staircases wind up from inside the main structure, passing through each floor, right up to the top of the monument. Viewing galleries are provided on the upper floors. The first floor has mainly the offices of the management of the monument. The second floor is an important area where a museum is housed, displaying statues and pictures of the iconic heroes and heroines of the country.

The next level is an open space where four towers are built at the four corners. These towers have been decorated with frescoes of foliage. The towers are also fitted with electric lights, which are switched on during the national day and other important festivals. The small towers, with temple like ornamentation, are designed in the Laotian style and are provided with spires. Each tower has a stairway. Apart from the four corner towers, there is another central larger tower above this floor, which also has a staircase which leads to the top floor that has the viewing platform from where a panoramic view of Vientiane could be seen. A telescope is also fitted at that level to get a view of the city.

Plans were drawn to fit lifts from two diagonal corners of the monument, which were expected to be ready in 2010 for the 450th anniversary of Vientiane. This work was never completed. Also the monumental building is not fully finished to this day, although the Laotian government have repeatedly authorized new funds.

Explored: Another Wat Chiang Mai

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 09:43:59 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

This Wat is found on Sri Phum Road. The monks here wear brown instead of orange which I found interesting not sure its any different but orange gets boring after a while :D

Explored: śrāmaṇera at Wat Phra Singh Chiang Mai

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Sat, 15 Sep 2012 03:12:29 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

Captured this guy studying in the grounds of Wat Phra Singh Chiang Mai

śrāmaṇerīs is a novice monk in a Buddhist context. A man under the age of 20 cannot ordain as a bhikṣu(monk), but can ordain as a śrāmaṇerīs. śrāmaṇerīs keep the ten precepts as their code of behaviour, and are devoted to the Buddhist religious life during a break from secular schooling, or in conjunction with it if devoted to formal ordination.After a year or at the age of 20, a śrāmaṇera will be considered for the higher bhikṣu ordination. Some monasteries will require people who want to ordain as a monk to be a novice for a set period of time, as a period of preparation and familiarization. Adults would normally wear the white robes of a Brahmin, as do mae ji, who do not seek ordination.Ordination differs between śrāmaṇeras and śrāmaṇerīs.

Explored: Blue Tārā Chiang Mai

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 03:05:12 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

I found this statue in one of the various wats in Chiang Mai. Blue Tārā is associated with transmutation of anger.. Sorry I haven't been posting much but I had no suitable internet in rural Laos.. Hopefully I can pick up the pace now and post more

Angry Birds

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 01:33:05 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

Took this shot at Chiang Mai Walking St Night Market on Ratchadamnoen Rd.. Once a week the street behind the Tapae Gate in the old town. If you ever find yourself in Chiang Mai on a Sunday be sure to stop by. I didn't want to carry my tripod so I just wandered with my 50MM 1.4. It happens each Sunday the whole street is closed and all the Wats are opened. Everything is sold here from great food to clothes to angry birds!

Hay Bales Pai

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 08:52:33 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

It's hard to appreciate how big these are but they are not far off the size of a bungalow. I initially thought they were straw huts learning later that this is how hay is kept dry!!

Pagoda at Luang Temple in Pai

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 07:39:22 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

This temple is in the centre of Pai.
The pagoda, a symbol of nirvana, was first built in a place where there were major activities conducted during the lifetime of Buddha, and were highly venerated. According to custom, circling right around the worshipped object is to show the greatest respect.

Bridge over the river Pai

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 06:37:53 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

Well my obsession with bridges continues!

Memorial bridge Pai: Built in 1942 during WW II when Japan occupied Thailand. Japanese soliders used Pai as a transportation route from Chiang Mai to Burma. This bridge was the route for transporting forces and weapons to Burma leading to a loose connection with the River Kwai bridge in Kanchanaburi province.

Chiang Mai Station

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Sun, 15 Jul 2012 10:31:12 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

After an arduous train journey through the night from Bangkok we reached our destination Chiang Mai.. Despite being wrecked from not sleeping I spotted this guy and thought it would make a nice shot..

A Peace of the Pai

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Thu, 12 Jul 2012 02:50:32 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

I've moved up to Northern Thailand just next to Burma.. Absolutely wonderful scenery..

Chao Phraya Bangkok

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 10:27:32 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

A fairly dramatic sky above the Chao Phraya river

Bangkok Tuk tuk

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 10:12:29 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

The quintessential Bangkok experience is hiring a Tuk Tuk.. Lots of fun but lot of these guys are total scam artists fun never the less.

Bangkok cityscape

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Thu, 05 Jul 2012 02:40:53 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

A cityscape from my hotel in Bangkok

Sallygap Sunset

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Wed, 30 May 2012 12:13:18 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo:

Lancia Flaminia, Inishcarra Dam

nobody@flickr.com (Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh)) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:48:43 -0700

Rambling Man(Neil Kavanagh) posted a photo: