Naritasan Park, Chiba
|
Michael Deveney
Living and working in Asia for some forty years has given me tremendous opportunities to experience places and cultures first-hand. Cycle trips have added the benefit of being close-up and, without doubt, the jeopardy of circumstance in the saddle can lead to a true sense of adventure. 'Asiatique' does all rather seep through, simply being there is usually enough to lift the spirits. As soon as you step off the plane... Having a camera and phone to hand has enabled me to build a visual catalogue along the way. Let's face it, everyone can be a photographer now - almost! I have put together a collection of images here from my travels in this part of the world, plus the occasional commentary. The blogs are stand-alone and can be read in any order. The country sections explore aspects of life, mainly in Thailand, Japan and Vietnam from longer-term residence, but also other countries within the region following short trips (under the 'More' drop-menu). More recently I have created a series of 'galleries' of selected photos, and this is something that will continue with future trips. This process has been rewarding because, while it's true that a picture says a thousand words, a few additional reflections don't go amiss in giving context to the locale or circumstances surrounding the shot. The process of putting the words and photos together is also enjoyable and prompts a memory, a bit of research, or a different kind of critical eye when looking through the results post-shoot. I live in Thailand now, hence the longer lists of places featured in each category. Oddly enough, the destinations stacked up rapidly here during the pandemic when international travel was off-limits. It was a case of just getting in the car and clocking up the miles. I got to many places which previously hadn't registered interest at all. Check out some exceptional road-trip locations in the north and north-east of the country. If you are headed in this direction, there is a handy Laotian saying: "Elephants don't step on birds, even though their mouths are small." File it under 'useful' - it will serve you well! Please feel free to make contact if you wish to follow up on anything. |
Lake Toya, Hokkaido