Daily Prompt: Nourishment

I thought this was a really interesting prompt from The Daily Post: If you could get all the nutrition you needed in a day with a pill — no worrying about what to eat, no food preparation — would you do it?

I’m sure in this age of dieting, food fads, weight loss pills and supplements many people would be putting their hands up to say ‘hell yes!’ But I myself am completely and utterly, unashamedly in love with food.

I love everything about it: growing it, preparing it, cooking it, buying it, paying for it, but mainly, eating it. Going out for dinner is one of my favourite things to do in the world. I adore trying new things that I have never tried before, particularly if it is from another country. There is something so satisfying in preparing, cooking and sharing a meal with people you love. There is something so indulgent in having food prepared and cooked for you.

Scallops with parsnip puree, balsamic reduction, parsley jubes and toasted pinenuts – Hayman Island.Oak smoked salmon presented and served tableside by the chef – Hayman Island.Let’s not forget the drinks that nourish us: for me, a crisp gin and tonic with lime or cucumber is the most nourishing, refreshing drink of all.Half of the pleasure of food comes from its presentation – ‘We eat first with our eyes…’
French martini sorbet served in an ice igloo – Hayman Island.Baskets of fruit sold on the beach in Koh Samet, Thailand. The most delicious, cheap fruit that money can buy.Seafood extravaganza served at the beach front restaurants in Koh Samet – eaten while sitting on a cushion in the sand. Fruit stalls on the road between Thailand and Cambodia. Meat markets in Siem Riep, Cambodia.  I’m still not sure exactly what this meat was, I will be the first to admit I was too scared to try it. Has anyone been to Siem Riep, Cambodia and knows what this is?  Fish drying road side in Kampot, Cambodia. The most delicious and spicy meals that I had in Asia came from this stall in Hua Hin, Thailand. I could buy a bag of rice, a selection of vegetables and a bag of mince for around 30 baht, or around $1 AUD.  I can’t leave coffee out either, it nourishes and sustains me every day. I absolutely love it, and I am utterly addicted to it. We had coffee and schnapps at the Bavarian Bier Café, Manly.

And now my mouth is watering.

Daily Prompt: Vacation

Vacation.

This word is beginning to sound as foreign to me as Latin. I haven’t had a vacation, a proper one, for well over a year. For someone who used to travel overseas or across country at the drop of a hat, it is becoming slightly depressing.

But this is a time to work hard, I know, and so I vacation vicariously through my old photographs. And now The Daily Post has given me the perfect prompt to share some of them, so here are some of my past Vacations.

Sydney – Australia Sydney – Australia Lake Rotoroa – New ZealandWanaka – New Zealand   Phnom Bakheng – Cambodia Wat Bayon – Cambodia Kep – Cambodia Rabbit Island – Cambodia  Hua Hin – Thailand Hayman Island – Queensland Melaka – Malaysia  Batu Ferringhi – Malaysia Langkowi – Malaysia Langkowi – Malaysia Melaka – Malaysia Tamboti Tented Camp – South Africa

Durbin – South Africa

Weekly photo challenge: The sign says…

As soon as I saw this challenge from The Daily Post I knew exactly what photograph I would choose.

This is one of the best signs I have ever seen, threatening and entertaining in equal parts. I found it completely by accident on the wall of the Pudu Prison, Kuala Lumpar.

This prison was built by the British Colonial Government between 1891-1895. It was used by the Japanese to hold POW during WWII. It was closed down in 1996, briefly used as a museum and occasional holding area for prisoners, before the Malaysian government decided to demolish it.

We visited it in November 2009, before the demolition had begun. Apparently now, only the gate and some external walls remain, but even these will soon be destroyed.

DEATH! That’s the mandatory sentence for and dadah (drug) trafficker in Malaysia.

So be Forewarned

I love everything about this sign. The bright colours, the impact of the statement: DEATH! The fact that they have used the Malaysian word for drugs, but translated it for us. The exacting correctness of the English used is endearing, especially the final sentence: So be Forewarned. I also love the pretty font they have used for this grim and ominous threat…

Looking down an external wall.

Graffiti on the prison wall

My camera at the time was a cheap point and shoot, and I took this photo from a long way away in dim light. It is a shame how poor quality it is. However you can make out the warning sign painted onto the left corner of the wall. This photo also shows the roofs of the internal buildings, which have now been destroyed.

I do think it is a shame that this building has been demolished. Of itself it is an interesting and unique prison, with plenty of vivid history. When asked why the prison was not being preserved for heritage reasons, the Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussain replied: “To our opinion, it’s not something to be proud of.” Which is fair enough, I suppose.

Daily Prompt: Journey

As soon as I saw this Daily Prompt I begun tearing through old photographs. I have been on so many journeys in my life: physical, mental, spiritual. I had so many photographs to fit this theme that it was overwhelming, so I decided to narrow it down to one small, yet significant, journey.

These photographs were taken five years ago on my trip through Laos. This was when the party scene was first erupting in Vang Vieng, luckily when I was there the town still held a small amount of its traditional local charm. In an effort to avoid the beer, the backpackers and the endless re-runs of ‘Friends’ playing in every bar, I set off on a journey to find the heart of Vang Vieng. This is how I got there.

 First I had to pay 4000 kip to cross this bridge over the mighty Mekong River. Locals cross for free, but hey, I can part with 54c when its asked of me.

I assume the cattle don’t pay either. This little fella was out for a stroll, unconcerned by the pedestrians, bicycles and moped’s whizzing past him.

I found myself out in the countryside, following the faintest path that  wound through the paddocks. The path was signposted by bits of torn cloth mounted on sticks, you can see one in the distance.

Tiny, abandoned huts littered the paddocks, waiting for the seasons to change and the farmers to move back in. A beautiful setting against the mountains.

I was bound for these cliffs, which apparently had caves, creeks and swimming holes at the base.

Someone had arrived before me.

The bridges from here on in got slightly more rickety, requiring nerves of steel to cross.

I found my creeks and swimming holes, untouched by the commercialism that was slowly creeping into Vang Vieng.

I had this pond to myself…well, almost. A journey to paradise.

Daily Prompt: Green-Eyed Monster

This is an interesting challenge over at The Daily Post: ‘When was the last time you were really, truly jealous of someone’. I guess I am jealous of people, on some level, all the time. But I don’t think it is ever an all consuming jealousy that turns my skin a pale shade of green…

Then I started looking through my photos. And I realised something. I am jealous of MYSELF, the younger me, the girl who could flit off on a holiday or move across the country at the drop of a hat. Nostalgia is a funny thing, I look back on those golden days as though they were unflawed, somehow all the tears and dramas have evaporated to leave only good memories.

Of course this is a myth, constructed by my mind. But I am grateful for it. Because I know that in ten years, I’ll look back on 2013 and be envious of the person I was then.

So these are some green themed photos of my travels, tinged with nostalgia.

Pigs snoozing on the 309 Road – Coromandel, New Zealand

Abandoned shack on the 309 Road – Coromandel, New Zealand

Settlements on the train line – Ayutthaya to Bangkok, Thailand

View from our hut – Koh Chang, Thailand

Foliage amongst the stone – Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Pond choked by algae – Wat Ta Phrom, Cambodia 

Garden in the National Museum – Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Manning the boat – Rabbit Island, Cambodia

Travel Theme: The Four Elements

This weeks travel theme over at Where’s My Backpack is very intriguing…entitled The Four Elements, we have to come up with photographs representing Earth, Air, Fire and Water. This challenge has taken me on a trip through old photographs and old memories.

EARTH

Moreton Bay Fig Tree – Sydney Botanical Gardens

Tree growing through the rocks – Rabbit Island, Cambodia

AIR

Tui resting on its favourite flax plant – Taupo, New Zealand

Hang-gliders – Queenstown, New Zealand

WATER

Up to 220,000 litres of water rushes through the Huka Falls every second – Taupo, New Zealand

The awesome power of Huka Falls as seen from our helicopter tour – Taupo, New Zealand

  FIREFire-twirlers on the beach – Ko Samet, Thailand

      Huge burst of flames caused by the boys throwing their fire sticks into the air – Ko Samet, Thailand.

Travel Theme: Beaches

How could I pass up on this awesome photo challenge, when I have been in search of the perfect beach my whole life. I moved to an island to be surrounded by beaches, for god’s sake. Thankyou once more to the awesome people who create these challenges and give me a reason to look through and reminisce over old photo’s.

In this case it is Where’s My Backpack providing the challenge today. Sunset at my former island home – Hayman Island, Queensland.    Boats on the ocean – Sihanoukville, Cambodia. My final sunset in a wonderful country – Kep, Cambodia

 

A scattering of shells – Langkowi, Malaysia

Holiday paradise – Busselton, Western Australia

My new beach, my new home – Bunbury, Western Australia

(Couldn’t help but include the last two shots even though they are Instagrammed off my iPhone, amazing what technology can achieve these days!)

And again…perfect patterns.

It’s early in the morning and I’m getting carried away. The example photo on The Daily Post inspired me to dig out some of my own photo’s of The Temple of Dawn, Bangkok. The entire surface of the temple is hand-mosaicked, making it an absolutely stunning vision to behold.  It is just as beautiful close up as from a distance. It is stunning at dawn with the rising sun reflecting off it.  An impressive piece of architecture.