lucia dp

Who is copying whom?

2008-10-07T21:27:00.005+01:00

Check the post of the 1st August 2007 (back in the days when I was happily backpacking around Thailand and Malaysia)... Doesn't the new iPod Nano look remarkably
similar to those improbable imitations or what was at the time the latest iPod Nano?

Someone at Apple must have done some work between a sun bath and another.
Workaholic!

Visualize your objectives

2008-09-25T19:07:00.004+01:00

As an Enterprise Architect you may often wonders what Enterprise Architecture is all about. Hopefully this would help

Upgrade to British Airways: waste some plastic, save time

2008-09-21T03:31:00.001+01:00

"The World's Favourite Airline" seems now to aim to the title "The World's Most Environmentally Unfriendly Airline" since it is providing passengers with a nice plastic bag for them to clean after themselves.

Munich. A lesson for the industry.

2008-09-20T23:40:00.005+01:00

The organizers of EDOC 2008 couldn't plan for a better period : the October Fest starts today, right after the conference. Something to keep researchers motivated.

Bergen. Yummy! Few reasons why I could never turn vegetarian

2008-07-31T12:45:00.000+01:00

Norway to meat...As Italy to pasta

Flam. GRENSE

2008-07-29T14:41:00.001+01:00

Believe it or not, I have spent some time before even guessing what this little sign on rock was about...
"Grense" is norwegian for "Border".

Flam. Roof garden

2008-07-29T02:12:00.000+01:00

Quite literally

Church in Tromso. "Lasciatevi prendere per la gola"

2008-07-28T11:35:00.001+01:00

When it comes to "Church marketing", Norwegians are second to none... Ok maybe the Americans. I still haven't seen miracles and presidents naming God every other sentence here

Midnight

2008-07-27T23:59:00.000+01:00

Honnisgsvag. Delicious until...

2008-07-27T14:58:00.001+01:00

You are told they are fried tongues

Magerøya

2008-07-27T11:41:00.001+01:00

I still don't know why there are hundreds of towers of Hanoi here in Magerøya, close to North Cape. More importantly I still ignore what is their actual meaning...
Damn, I am so intrigued by it, and yet I cannot find an answer

Nordkapp

2008-07-26T02:29:00.002+01:00

For someone it is just a point in the amazing tundra, for someone just a lie : it is not the northern point in Europe...
For someone you love a dream come true
For most a destination

Either ways, the view from the cliffs is breathtaking

BTW: I ignored that adults could still dream from something but fame, success, money. Nice.

Arctic Circle... And Whales

2008-07-22T22:40:00.000+01:00

After few days watching "whales" feeding themselves at succulent Norwegians buffets,
here it is where at last I saw a real whale.

Empty churches?... Not anymore! Not in Trondheim

2008-07-19T11:02:00.000+01:00

Norwegians seem to have found a way to get people to go to church...

Ops, gotta go. Time for a glass of wine and ... ;)

Geiranger

2008-07-17T15:35:00.001+01:00

Young Norwegians are quite beautiful; probably even more than the more popular neighbours: the Swedishes.
They don't seem to age well though ;)

Stavanger

2008-07-16T08:27:00.001+01:00

Pee with love. The old town looks like a fairy tale borough at times; not even loos ruin the atmosphere

Duh!

2008-07-15T20:05:00.000+01:00

easyJet operates a strict priority boarding system and board passengers in the following order:
First...
Group SB: Passengers who have purchased Speedy Boarding/Speedy Boarding Plus
Then ...
Group SA: Passengers requiring special assistance and families (maximum 2 adults) where at least one child is aged 5 years or under.
Then ... Group A: (reserved for passengers who have checked in online, and the first 30 people who check in at the airport)
And last ... and least
Group B

A lady (see picture), talking on the phone jumps the queue, shows up at the gate with her Group B boarding pass, right at the moment when passangers requiring special assistance are boarded... Walk to the front, shows the passport and the boarding card, while still on the phone
The steward to her: "Just passengers requiring special assistance, I am afraid"
The lady:" I require special assistance the luggage is too heavy for me"

???

(I am happy to say that she was NOT Italian)

London. Night out, air in.

2008-04-11T14:05:00.009+01:00

I admit it, I am not a big fun of bathrooms without wiondows. I like natural daylight and fresh air. The opening of this loo though it is not quite what I had in mind... Above all when it seems to be the only loo in the venue you are at.

Yummy... I love Italy

2008-01-04T22:37:00.000Z

This is when I miss Italy the most!... And it is only for 7 euros. Would you believe it?
Tip: in Italy try to avoid "pizza-and-pasta-just-for-tourist" restaurants and go for a tasty and cosy Trattoria.

Family reunion in Pisa

2008-01-02T08:19:00.000Z

This old monastery is also the hotel I am staying at and the one that was reccomended to me by my sister.
Altough I love the place - not the church bells - I am wondering if there was a second blessing intent.
Nevermind. Unless I will have to pray before getting breakfast, I guess that the monks and I can well live together.

Che palle!!!

2007-12-30T02:48:00.000Z

Present and past.
It feels like I have been living a different life since I left the French Riviera (where I have resided for quite a long while), but there are things that never change. This picture depicts my old and new enthusiasm for Monaco nightlife and life style.

1907-2007 A hundread years travelling in Turin

2007-12-29T02:40:00.000Z

What is to celebrate about a derailing tram?
Luckly enough things are improved ever since... Turin finally got the tube. Hurrah!! Two lines :O

From home to home...

2007-10-28T15:55:00.000Z

Still wanting pre-assigned seats?

Outdoor Cafes in the cold Prague

2007-10-24T19:51:00.000+01:00

Patio heaters, blankets and few drinks... An indulgence not longer pleasing.
When is it simply no longer worthy?

Life in London

2007-10-19T20:02:00.001+01:00

What if your work mates were about to follow the advice?

End of holiday. Back to... The other jungle.

2007-08-20T20:01:00.001+01:00

Time to apply what learned in the amazing Taman Negara jungle.
In presence of leeches, venemous tarantolas, scorpions and snakes, move rapidly and do not slow down to their rhythms... They cannot move as fast as you do. Lead.
When confronted with big wild beasts, become part of the environment, don't let them perceiving you and move against the wind, if needed. Confidence is the key: they can attack you, but so could you.

Above all, time to apply Thais' simple and wise lessons...Try to be happy and smile from the inside.

Flying back.

2007-08-19T21:49:00.001+01:00

Singapore Changi airport is quite a fancy one. There is a swimming pool, nice restaurants and caffes, plenty of movie areas, very comfortable armchairs and live music. Guess whose music do they play?
Once again a sign of Asian obsessesion for " the King" (see previous posts).

Adverts in Singapore.

2007-08-19T07:29:00.001+01:00

Insect repellents for tropical areas are quite strong. They irritate the skin and melt plastic. More importantly they do not always work: we do have plenty of insect bites.
Once left the jungle and in general poor regions, you may want to stop using them.
Walking around the city and repellent-free, you may want to reconsider your choice...

"Ops...Have we already trashed away the DEET?"

Singapore. North East tube line.

2007-08-18T05:23:00.001+01:00

In a city that is featured by an unbelievable number of chaotic shopping malls and very few cultural attractions, that is populated by a great number of stressed professionals and hyper active shopaholics; where almost everything is at walking distance, you may end up pretty tired and looking forward to a nice seat of the tube train that will bring you back to the hotel, before going out again to enjoy the night.
The video that is broadcasted in some of the tube trains, showing a fake terrorist attack to Singapore underground, explosion included, and remembering each single train attack carried after 9/11 doesn't really help to relax and enjoy the ride.

Sympathetic with the Jacksons.

2007-08-17T16:04:00.001+01:00

Whitening products are common in South East of Asia.

Whilst in the Western countries we plan holidays and weekends to get the perfect tent, surprisingly here in the East they long for a nice pale look.... No wonder why Brits are so popular in the area then.

Entering in Singapore.

2007-08-17T15:34:00.001+01:00

Check the last sentence in red.
They must have laughed here when they first heard of Giuliani's Zero Tolerance policy.

...is the island truly desert? And if it is, why?

2007-08-15T07:26:00.001+01:00

Once traversed the forest,the story gets more and more intriguing. We found a ghost town and all around banners like the one in the picture.
The words of the lady that consigned the keys echo in our minds:
"Be careful. See you tomorrow"... (maybe)

Back in Melaka, we later discovered that the island is a sort of a Muslim spiritual center where - according to some rumors - Christians were (still are?) killed. This would explain the presence of a Mosque in such a small island.

BTW, the place we passed the night in, was apparently part of a resort that closed in mysterious circumstances.

Things to do on a desert island: get a nap on a putting green without being kicked out.

2007-08-15T06:52:00.001+01:00

Doubt: how comes that there is a golf course in the middle of the forest of a desert island? Is it truly desert? If it is, why is it?

Intriguing...

Candlelight dinner in a quite corner of south Malaysia

2007-08-15T05:29:00.001+01:00

When the desert island you plan to spend your next night... Is literally d-e-s-e-r-t-e-d

Environmental awareness in Malaysia.

2007-08-14T07:30:00.001+01:00

Don't stop to the first impression. This is the ticket to enter to the Sultanate Palace in Melaka.

Use it and Recycle!

Temerloh.

2007-08-14T07:11:00.001+01:00

If you were left wondering how to flush the water in most of Thailand and Malaysia loos, here you can find the instructions. See the drawing on the left. It couldn't be more clear.

This picture doesn't represent any kind of judgement on the town... That has, to be fair, very little to offer

Leeches... Outside the office

2007-08-13T16:18:00.001+01:00

In the jungle there is enough to get anyone at least tense: scorpions (easy to spot at night), wild animals whose sounds get confused with all sorts of noises, tarantolas living in the trees and getting out after the rain... But there is nothing that bothers more then leeches. They get you e-v-e-r-y-w-h-e-r-e at anytime. Very difficult to get rid of, they keep stucked in your clothes and shoes. You can smash them on the ground, they will not die. The only way to eliminate them is to burn them.

You may want to use this tip at the office too; be advised, it may make you not extremely popular... Kidding :)

Singing under the rain

2007-08-13T15:36:00.001+01:00

Not sure about the singing... But certainly under the rain.
If you are looking for Abay waterfalls, but the distance sounds too long, the jungle rain is what get closer to the feeling.
Regardless of the remote rainy place you have been living, you will find the jungle rain quite impressive: the level of the river rises at sight, walking paths turn to small rivers and bridges... Forget bridges, they would be somewhere under the water.

Night time in the jungle

2007-08-13T15:02:00.001+01:00

The jungle seems to wake up at night. Trekking at night you will discover a universe of animals and insects rarely observable in the day. Falling asleep at the sound of such wild nature you will probably awake at the rise of one simple question: "Will I have or will I be breakfast tomorrow morning?"

In either cases, it will be an experience hardly forgettable.

On the road to the world oldest jungle: Taman Negara. (Part II)

2007-08-13T14:45:00.001+01:00

It must be part of the fun or more probably of the extremely cheap DIY deal you can get to go to the jungle... Once arrived in Kuala Tembeling, the boat navigating to the jungle will eventually get stucked on the river bed.

"Ale Op! All out to push."

Never mind. The jungle is amazing and breathtaking; everything will be forgotten soon... Mobile phones included: there is no network connectivity :)

On the road to the world oldest jungle: Taman Negara. (Part I)

2007-08-13T14:19:00.001+01:00

Scene of dispair: the engine shut off about 10 times. After a struggle of 2 hours, that in medical terms you would describe as 'therapeutic obstinacy', the engine and the driver gave up.

"Engine clinically dead."

HSBC local advert in Kuala Lumpur.

2007-08-10T16:36:00.001+01:00

Manhattan picture next to the Petronas Twin Towers one; with what misses and what stands. Bad taste? lack of respect? what?

Late dinner at Kuala Lumpur.

2007-08-10T15:29:00.001+01:00

There are very few places open for dinner late at night in the center. We went for an outdoor restaurant in the streets of the lively China Town.
Almost done with the food we saw beatles on the street... And they were not singing.
Another test for the vaccins.

Payment confirmed. Forbidden spirit at Kuala Lumpur.

2007-08-10T12:26:00.001+01:00

As a backpacker without plans, you never really know how you will meet the next persons you will share your next experience with...

At the arrival to the hotel a nice surprise: the room we paid for was not available. Actually the hotel was full, so were all the other hotels the receptionist contacted.
Fellow of the same faith was an enlighting painter that lived and worked in New York city and then moved to Thailand long time ago to discover what life is without working. In all his wisdom he guided us through the adversity of that night. He invited us to seat around a table in the hall of the hotel, he took out of his bag a bottle of fine Thai Whisky and tought us a lesson we will hardly forget: there are times when the only thing you can really do is drinking and enjoying the company... Even in a Muslim country as Malaysia is.

At Phuket airport. Destination: Malaysia.

2007-08-09T17:16:00.001+01:00

What is more odd? A monk at the airport or the guy on the left wearing those boots with 35 degrees Celsius outside?
Make your mind.

"Long live to the king"

2007-08-09T10:49:00.001+01:00

... Of Rock'n'Roll.

We couldn't fail to notice that Thais are obsessed with Elvis but a monk acting like the 'the King' is probably far too much.

Kidding :). I couldn't resist the joke, somehow a monk with a microphone looks odd to me.
To be fair this picture has been taken during a Sunday market and the monk was speaking to the crowd to raise some money ...

But Thais are obsessed with Elvis though: there are Elvis shows almost everywhere in the country and often on TV

On the way to the Tiger Temple

2007-08-09T10:21:00.001+01:00

The only way to the temple consists of steep stairs. 1278 steps to climb surrounded by the forest and a great number of monkeys.

The cute monkey in the picture is the one that stole our only bottle of water... At about 1000 steps to go and 33 Celsius degrees.
Monkeys can be adorable at times. Can't they?

At the entrance of Tiger Cave

2007-08-09T10:07:00.001+01:00

Tourists in the South of Thailand mostly spend their time on a beach or travelling around islands... So there are very few means to go to Wat Tham Seua (the Tiger temple), one of the most impressive temples of the South.
After stopping a school bus, contracting a fare and agreeing a ride, at last we arrived at the feet of the mountain on top of which the temple is built. There you can find the Tiger Cave and a very small and bare village where old nouns live and monks come to pray and meditate.

There you could expect any other banner but this.

Chill out

2007-08-09T06:10:00.001+01:00

There is always room for another mango shake...
If corrected according to the Caribbean recipy

On the way to Railay, PhraNang Bay. According to the Lonely Planet, the most stunning beach.

2007-08-09T05:35:00.001+01:00

We already know that Thais are quite skilled when it comes to electronics (see previous post). What about their mechanical skills?
Consider two long boats: one with an flat battery and one with a charged one. Take the charged one to the boat with the flat battery; connect the twos with a wet cable and a wet metallic bar (kept in place by pushing on it with a very wet sandal). Start the engine. What is the result?
Yep, a smoking cable and two flat batteries.
End of the story: electric is not electronics

"My other car is a motorcycle"

2007-08-09T05:08:00.001+01:00

Enviromental friendly commuters in Krabi. Three people on the same motorcycle is quite common in Thailand. And four is not so rare neither.

BTW tourists are part of it too. We have been offered by a 'taxi driver' to jump on one in three.
Why not?!?

At the beach in Ao Nang

2007-08-08T14:54:00.001+01:00

Post tsunami banner.
Not really the most reassuring text when slipping on a beach.

At the airport

2007-08-06T18:37:00.001+01:00

Strict police security checks

When low cost is ... L-o-w c-o-s-t.

2007-08-06T18:34:00.001+01:00

Air Asia Boarding passes to Krabi

A local tribe house in the forest.

2007-08-06T18:23:00.001+01:00

Trough the centuries the inhabitants of the forest have refined their techniques to protect themselves during the rainy season, as this waterproof roof made of leaves shows.

No worries tough. In fact the name 'tribe', given by locals for mainly tourist purposes, can be quite misleading. They do seems to have electricity and, according to some rumors, also internet high speed connection. Soon they will discover better materials.

Trekking in Doi Inthanon

2007-08-06T18:07:00.001+01:00

Pedestrian bridges in the forest mainly consist of a bare stem.This is the finest example of bridge handcrafting in Doi Inthanon

Local tip. Hold your breath and keep repeating: "This is a perfectly built flat bridge, it is not so tall, I will not slide and fall...". Chances are that you will be at the other side of the river by the time you have said it... Otherwise, see you at the end of the river.

Doi Inthanon. In the rain forest

2007-08-05T15:37:00.001+01:00

At last a shower with a decent jet.

Doi Inthanon. A kid living in the rain forest.

2007-08-05T15:31:00.001+01:00

Planning to grow your Sales department?

She is cute, she is cudly and she can sell e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. Even air.
Of course this picture wasn't for free.

Doi Inthanon National Park

2007-08-05T15:16:00.001+01:00

Elephants in Thailand used to work full time to produce paper and later in the rain forest for lumberjacking. Nowadays they work part time and they retire at 55...

Not sure they still wish to reincarnate as humans in their next life.

Doi Suthep national park

2007-08-04T16:54:00.001+01:00

I bet this elephant is a male one. Would you?

Toilet Newspaper

2007-08-04T16:45:00.001+01:00

This is kind of luxury in the country side (and not only) in the north of Thailand...

At the guest house in Chang Mai

2007-08-04T15:11:00.001+01:00

Here in the north of Thailand, there are few options when it comes to what's on TV: a couple of channels about music, a couple about local soap operas and one about electronics. Today the subject is transistors: PNP and NPN...
No wonders why here basic electronic circuits come for so cheap then.

Sukhothai. Ride to the station.

2007-08-03T11:37:00.001+01:00

Guest house owner: "At what time is your bus?"
Us: "In about 10 minutes"
Guest house owner: "It is not possible"
Us: "Never mind, we will wait for the next one"
Guest house owner: "Jump on my car"
Us: "Kopkunka!"

Sitting in the back of his pick-up, after few bumps and turns taken at high speed, a question is raised: "Do Thais and Buddhists cherish more patience or races against time?"

We arrived well on time for our bus. Kopkunka :)!

Sukhothai

2007-08-03T10:38:00.001+01:00

In Bangkok air conditioned underground stations and trains with fancy plasma screens, or in one of the many shopping malls, you are left often wondering if in reality you are in Japan. Here in Sukhothai there are very few signs of progress: some PCs accessing internet (mainly in the guest houses), the usual 7eleven and this lab open night and day that is also an house/flat. Check your seat. You may be literally seating on their work... Or the one of someone like them.

At the bus station

2007-08-02T10:30:00.001+01:00

Waiting for a bus that would take you to your next destination in about 7 hours, sometimes you are left with no option. This is the sink and best part of the loo at the station.
Ops, I forgot to mention... You have to take off your shoes or sandals to enter. At times socks are really your most valuable belongings

Biking around Ayutthaya rests and temples

2007-08-02T10:05:00.001+01:00

Guess what? the Police station rents bikes (!). Stolen bikes? BTW bycicles there are so short that if you are 1.60 meters you'd feel tall

Ayutthaya

2007-08-02T09:51:00.001+01:00

A fine example of Thai bridge engineering. This floating bridge quite literally sinks at every single step.

Bangkok underground train

2007-08-01T18:14:00.001+01:00

Check the banner

Original Scottish Walkers shortbread in Bangkok

2007-08-01T18:02:00.001+01:00

Walkers shortbread boxes are so cheap that this alone would bring Scottishes here;) (95 bahts are equivalent to £1.4). Are they imitations too?

Thais produce imitations of everything... Even the unfakeable.

2007-08-01T17:49:00.001+01:00

Can you spot the original iPod Mini?

Tuk-Tuk... How to get ripped off

2007-08-01T17:40:00.001+01:00

In Bangkok everything is elegantly orchestrated to get the most from a tourist. The usual first step is being approached near tourist attractions by a stranger telling that the site is closed for holiday. The prey is then enticed to tour the city on a tuk-tuk that rides the victim to dubious shops. Tip: don't buy anything from those shops and get a taxi instead. It is a much cheaper and pleasant option in the polluted Bangkok!

Chatuchak Weekend Market

2007-08-01T17:15:00.001+01:00

A first step to prove Hepatitis A vaccine. We later discovered that Thai people use to fish in putrid canals

Westerized Bangkok

2007-08-01T16:51:00.001+01:00

The TNT office

At the hotel in Bangkok

2007-08-01T16:44:00.001+01:00

Apparently it smells more then our trekking boots

On the way to Doha (Qatar)

2007-07-28T18:23:00.001+01:00

The multimedia platform of Qatar airlines economy class has everything the British Airways business class one has and more... The Mecca pointer.

Ready to go

2007-07-27T23:04:00.001+01:00

Plans banned! Enjoy the freedom