Southeast Asia

A beautiful winding drive through the hills of Hong Kong Island, the South China sea from Stanley, known for it’s street market.

The view from Victoria Peak.

Looking down on Victoria from across to Kowloon on a lovely clear day. They say most of the smog wafts over from mainland China which lacks proper environmental controls.

Again, part of the mall at Victoria Peak (well, not the peak exactly, the peak is occupied by communication towers.

Fishing boat in Aberdeen Harbor, which used to be full of boat-dwelling fisherman, but now most favor living in condos.

Flower market near our hotel in Kowloon (nearby the bird and goldfish markets).

Kowloon apartment buildings.

Street markets in Kowloon.

Pagoda at 10,000 Buddhas Monastery, at Sha Tin, which Brad and I got a little lost trying to find by nearly going up the wrond staircase on a religious holiday.

Some of the many different golden buddhas at 10,000 Buddhas Monastery.

10,000 Buddhas Monastery.

The crowd of people we encountered packing the streets outside the Mong Kok subway station in Kowloon.

Looking across the harbor from Kowloon to Victoria (the central district) as the buildings begin to light.

Elephant ride north of Chiang Mai.

Bathing the elephants at the Maetaeng elephant farm.

Elephant trainer at Maetaeng.

Bamboo rafting on the Maetaeng river.

Trying not to hit any rocks.

Cobras at the snake farm. The skin actually has a really neat texture.

Wat Phra Doi Suthep in the hills above Chiang Mai.

No shorts or shoes in the inner parts of the temple, so they give you these to wear.

Hill tribe villiage near Myanmar (Burmese) border. Many have come from Burma seeking refuge in Thailand.

Long-necked woman and her daughter.

The jungle of northern Thailand.

Outside our hotel at the Golden Triangle, where Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos meet.

On the Mekong River.

At the Lao market on the Mekong.

The Lao side of the river.

The new Suvarnabhumi Bangkok Airport, we’re told it’s the largest in Southeast Asia.

The Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, southwest of Bangkok.

Fried bananas at the floating market, mmm. Just stay away from the durian.

View from the longtail speedboats of the town built on the khlongs (canals) around the floating market.

Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha).

Murals of the Ramakien, the Buddhist adoption of the Hindu story of Rama.

Wat Phra Kaew.

The gilded chedi at the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Outside the ubosoth, which houses the Emerald Buddha (made of jade).

The royal palace, no longer occupied by the King of Thailand. The king (Rama IX), will be 80 on December 5. In support of the King, his yellow flag is flown throughout the country and many Thais wear yellow. Each day in Buddhism has a color, the king was born on the yellow dayâ€“ Monday.

Wat Arun (Temple of Dawn), in evening light. Brad and I walked the mile and a half over to it, again wearing ourselves out. Good thing we had a Thai massage that night at the hotel.

Buddhist temples, such as Wat Arun and Angkor Wat, have very steep steps to relate the difficulty in reaching perfection.

Krung Thep (Bangkok)â€“ the City of Angels, and the Chao Phraya (River of Kings), from out hotel window.

Our hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

Along the entrance to Angkor Thom (the great city).

Bayon at the center of Angkor Thom.

The Elephant Terrace.

Ta Prohm, where the jungle still grows over the ruins.

Walking across the moat to Angkor Wat in the rain.

Angkor Wat. The main temple site of Angkor, depicted on the Cambodian flag. Centruries ago, Angkor was the capital city of the Khmer Empire.

The relief of the Ramakien in Angkor Wat.

Our tour guide in Siem Reap recalled hiding in Angkor Wat from the Khmer Rouge with his mother. The Khmer Rouge had a base at Angkor Thom.

Where we boarded the boats at the edge of Tonle Sap (the great fresh water river).

Tonle Sap, which varies greatly in size depending on the season. The river normally flowing into the Mekong at Phnom Penh flows backward into the lake during the wet season.