small city on a tropical island

an old fort that guarded the city many years ago

the courtyard in that fort looks decidedly civilian

the view looking up from a swimming pool on the 7th floor

creepy artwork at an upscale shopping mall at the center of town

a local delicacy is presented as a two pound slab of meat and bone

bamboo at a nearby taoist temple

pizza napoli is prepared just divinely in this part of the world

an afternoon session of tequila tasting at a watering hole near the hotel

the local neighborhood as seen from my window

not sure how the bicycle is made to stand upright in the rain and wind

a museum dedicated to the history of the immediate region

a post modern church built in honor of a recent hometown saint

a jeepney seen behind a rain-drenched car window

a clearing where kids are playing a pickup game of volleyball

an urban beautification program consisting of recycled bottles and plants

a street vendor takes a break to read up on the progress of the typhoon sweeping through the region

a rooster standing proudly on a working well

street children at a corner of busy streets

view from a taxi

walking to a private island for a lunch of grilled seafood and beer

a sandbar at low tide

a tourist snorkler inundated by fish

weather up ahead of my boat

pleasure craft anchored above a coral reef

short stay in paris

one of the few french meals i had the pleasure of having on this trip

the duck confit makes for a nice homestyle lunch

mussel and clams is something of a specialty in this restaurant where nine-of-ten customer order this one dish 

the veal was good

from the grande arche de la defense looking down the avenue to the arc de triomphe 

wait staff setting up early in the morning

la grande arche de la defense

aboard a romantic dinner cruise along the seine

bridges and water along the seine river

such an iconic structure 

just happened to drive by a fashion week event in the heart of the city 

one of the most recognizable structures in the world and this city 

sudden impromptu vacation in dalian and penang

FYI - all pictures on this post taken with a note 3 cellphone camera - forgot to bring a camera with me but then again, i found it liberating to travel without anything in either hand 

 building and fountain town square show remnants of soviet influences in the planning of this city

 a police officer confronts the driver of an illegally parked three-wheeled vehicle in this downtown walking street

at the largest square in the world

 skateboarding perhaps the largest ramp in the world

 the safety standards are somewhat lax in this part of the world - i would guess that at least one kid must get seriously injured here everyday

 a proud monument to an impressive nation

 got caught in a sudden downpour during a stopover in Guangzhou - the effect of a weather pattern that delayed my connection by over two hours

 the bar alley is emptying out in the early morning hours

 the architecture and construction is notably dated in this south asian island destination

 old buildings rapidly get overtaken by nature and effects of the tropical weather

 a random mural on a wall along a row of low-income houses

 clouds form over this small hill on the mainland every day of the year

 a very tasty beef rendang is served with papadam and tangy pickles

 a quiet beach makes a serene setting for a relaxing lunch

 miles of empty beach - not sure why there are not more tourists here during this time of year

 a romantic dinner for one atop a revolving restaurant with city and ocean views

 a wooden jetty stretches out into the quiet sea

 rows and rows of houses on wooden stilts built out into the sea

 some have now been converted into tourist shop alleys but the vast majority of them still house families - often belonging to certain clans

 another building in disrepair - reverting back to nature

 and another one

 a ridiculous gathering of pigeons atop this snack store along a beach in dalian

hmmmmm beer