Tag Archives: Musings

14th March picture of the day…

14 Tuesday Mar 2023

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Picture of the day, Singapore, Travel

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Now I’m back in the UK I’m returning to the picture of the day format for daily blogs as life isn’t going to be quite as exciting or colourful here in dear old Blighty although I have do some interesting trips and visits planned over the next few months. Today wasn’t one of them! Dawn had to go into the Community Rail Network office in Huddersfield whilst I was half tempted to go for a wander with the camera as the weather this morning was gorgeous. It was one of those crisp sunny mornings that really make you want to enjoy the day, but the forecast showed that it wasn’t going to last. The forecast was spot on. By lunchtime heavy cloud had enveloped the valley, closely followed by heavy snow showers but the snow didn’t stick as the ground was so sodden.

Deciding I was going to be more productive at home I retreated to the office to continue paper shuffling and picture editing until late in the afternoon when I decided exercise was more important. Wrapping myself up in waterproofs I strolled down to Sowerby Bridge. I’d half a mind to try and get a few pictures of the Trans-Pennine Express services which are being diverted through the Calder Valley due to the engineering blockade at Stalybridge but the weather didn’t play ball. Mind you, the lateness of the day and the position of the sun (when it shone) didn’t help. Maybe tomorrow as I’m still readjusting to the UK weather after two months in Asia where it’s much more predictable – and a damned sight warmer!

Back home I knocked off early in order to take up cooking duties whilst Dawn was at work. We’d purchased all the ingredients for a Thai green curry, a dish we both really enjoy so I spent a happy hour chopping chicken and slicing veg before filling the kitchen with some delicious smells to welcome Dee when she walked in the door.

Now it’s time to wind down for the evening and leave you with today’s picture, which is another from my recent Asian travels. Singapore has some amazing architecture – old and new. This includes stations on their metro network, especially on some of the newer lines. They’re essays in glass and steel, but each one’s different. Here’s Stevens station on the Thompson-East Coast line which only opened in November 2022.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Thank you!

Back to work…

13 Monday Mar 2023

Posted by in Calder Valley, Georgetown, Malaysia, Musings, Photography, Travel, West Yorkshire

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Today was my first Monday back at work and the past two months travels already seem like a dream if it wasn’t for the fact I’ve all the pictures that prove it was real. Oh, and a tan! Jet lag is already receding. I’m still waking up early but not half-way through the night, although tiredness in the evening is still hitting me. It’s not as if I’ve been exerting myself physically as I’ve been stuck behind a desk for the vast majority of the day because I’ve been busy wading through emails and a pile of real mail that’s been accumulating whilst I’ve been away. Then there’s been the weather. We had heavy, gusting rain during the night that’s disposed of all of the remaining snow. The rain returned this morning and never really went away. Persistent precipitation meant that I didn’t even get out for a walk today – making it only the second time I’ve not hit my steps target this year. I’m hoping to make up for that tomorrow although the forecast looks bleak.

On the bright side, I’ve got a lot done today even though I’ve been trying to ease myself back in to my usual routine slowly. I’ve edited the final selection of pictures from my trip although most of them still need to have captions added. I did get a few dozen completed which you can find in the Malaysian gallery (link) on my Zenfolio website. There’s many more to follow tomorrow. Now it’s time to call it a day as the jet lag’s beginning to catch up with me and I’m planning on an early night. But, before I go I’ll leave you with a sample shot from my latest Malaysian pictures.

Homelessness is a problem in Malaysia, just as it is in the UK, although as a more developed and richer country we have even less of an excuse to allow it to happen. People find all sorts of temporary places to live. In the case of the chap in the green shirt it’s the bus station underneath the Komtar centre which provides a roof over his head (and that of several others). His belongings are hung on the rail next to him and stored underneath seats to the right. With the constant to-ing and fro-ing of buses it’s hardly the quietest or least polluted place to live, but at least it’s safe…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Thank you!

A lazy Sunday back in West Yorkshire…

12 Sunday Mar 2023

Posted by in Musings, Travel, West Yorkshire

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I’ve had a fantastic time travelling through Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore these past two months, but I have to admit it was rather nice to get back to Bigland Towers yesterday after such a long journey back to the UK. Dawn was a star and prepared food for the pair of us whilst I unpacked and got used to being home again. Come early evening the lack of sleep caught up with me. Apparently, I fell asleep by 20:30. I was wide awake again by 05:00 so crept out of bed so as not to disturb Dee and spent several hours editing pictures in the office before Dawn woke. My body clock was telling me 05:00 was early afternoon Singapore time. I suspect my sleep patterns will take a few days for my natural rhythms to adjust which is why the two of us have had a slow, relaxed day today. Well, that and the fact we’ve both been on our own for the past couple of months so have to get used to being a couple again. In truth, we’ve both had a lovely day at home catching up with each other about all those things you can’t fit into a weekly video call which is what we kept up whilst I was away.

Come late afternoon with the yesterday’s snow having nearly all melted we walked down into Sowerby Bridge for the first time this year. It being Sunday the place was quiet. The supermarkets and most other places were shut. Even the few pubs that were open were quiet. All except the ‘Hogshead’ brew pub where we called in for a drink. That place was full but not overflowing so we managed to find a seat. It felt strange to be back in a pub after being in Asia for so long. I’d rarely visited any bars whilst I’d been away – and those that I had were very different to a British pub full of white faces!

Now, having enjoyed the fruits of Dawn’s efforts in the kitchen which produced slow-cooked chicken with pressure-cooked veg we’re having a quiet night in and about to enjoy each others company whilst watching a film. I’ll be working from home for much of this week as there’s loads to catch up with but I plan to have a day out covering some of the changes going on with the rail network in the North-West – weather permitting…

The nearest I got to a local pub in Malaysia was this beer and wine shop in Georgetown. In the evening customers would grab a stool or two and take over the road outside. There was a fantastic mix of locals from different communities, expats and travellers from all around the world.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Thank you!

Asian adventure day 44. Georgetown day 12.

23 Thursday Feb 2023

Posted by in Georgetown, Malaysia, Musings, Photography, Travel

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Shit – 12 days already? OK, if it wasn’t for my injury I might not have stayed so long. On the other hand – I’m in no rush to leave. I love it here and it’s the one place where – if I had another life – I’d consider moving to. Funnily enough Charlotte and Adi expressed the same sentiment because you can get everything here – and you’re not too far from the Thai border -hence the daily minibuses. Only now there’s a fly in that ointment. The Thai Government have decided you can only make two stamped at the border crossings a calender year. After that you need to apply for a (free) visa at a Thai embassy – which will take up a whole day of your time and a page in your passport. This doesn’t apply if you fly. It’s purely about land crossings. Let’s not even get into ‘green’ options – although I’m considering mine.

Therefore I’ve decided to stay longer in Malaysia and spend time thinking about where I go next. After all, there’s so much to see and do here and Georgetown’s the perfect place for people -watching. I’ve been taking pictures today which do exactly that. I love wandering the streets so here’s a couple of todays pictures.

I walked through Downing St earlier. Remember when you used to be able to do that in the UK? Admittedly, is wasn’t full of tw*ts in those days…

Having been here for a while I’ve started to get to know some people. Not foreigners – I had a very depressing experience sharing a table in an Indian curry house tonight, when my enforced English companion (no other table was free) started banging on about ‘illegal’ immigrants taking people’s jobs in the UK. I was too mellow to rip him a new arsehole on that one, especially when he admitted he just drifted around Asia. But that’s a lot of Brits for you. Neither history nor immigration laws are their forte. It’s frustrating and the fact these xenophobes can’t put 2 and 2 together makes me want to scream.

It’s late and I won’t start telling the story of the chap in the bechak (tricycle) tonight as he deserves more. Instead, here’s a cuddly cat picture. Malaysians love their pets and also look after strays, You’ll always see pellet food and water being left out in strategic places. But in this case – this pudding thinks it owns the shop-house it lives in by the simple expedient of blocking the narrow doorway.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Thank you!

Asian adventure day 31. Kanchanaburi day 8.

09 Thursday Feb 2023

Posted by in Kanchanaburi, Musings, Railways, Thailand, Travel

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– and final day in Kanchanaburi. After the opressive heat of yesterday I was worried I’d lose another to the heatwave. Thankfully, that wasn’t to be. I was up at dawn this morning to make the most of the coolness of the day – fully expecting to be grounded later as the temperatures rose. At least the Tamarind would be a reasonable place for that to happen. They have an upstairs seating area that’s open but shaded, there’s plenty of power sockets for charging up gizmos – and there’s a free supply of water, tea and coffee.

Being up so early had other advantages other than the cool and free beverages. The river looks stunning in the early morning light and the amount of wildlife you see from the elevated perch compared to my rover view is fascinating. Pairs of Kingfishers used the roof of my ‘floatel’ as a lookout – something I’d never had chance to observe before. Meanwhile, squadrons of Monitor lizards began their early morning patrol.

Mind you, they weren’t the only early birds. When I left the hotel at 08:00 the first of the mains streets bars were open – and with trade. An old British expatriate was already on his first beer and God’s knows what number fag. I saw him several hours later. He was still in the same seat but with a different shirt, so I can only assume he took a shower break! The expat community here is interesting. A lot (but not by all by any means) appear to be British – and very set in their routines. They frequent the same bars and stick in the same groups. Not only are they drinkers, most of them are smokers too – and their BMI tends to reflect this. I passed a few of them at what I assume is one of their favourite food outlets. Chaps were tucking into toast and omlettes, or even a full English – and what looked suspiciously like black pudding – and I’ve no idea where you’d get that from! ‘Thai spicy’ wasn’t on the menu.

I have to admit, I’ve bumped into a UK expat here who’s given me a very interesting insight into expat (or long-term visitors, as some are) and it’s been food for thought. I really don’t get going to the same bar everyday, with the same people – until one of them croaks, which is fairly likely, as these guys are neither spring-chickens or out jogging every morning! It’s not much of a life or old age, more God’s waiting room with cold beer, baked beans and bar girls…

Now, please don’t take this as in anyway a criticism of Thai people. I’ve met some lovely ones here. OK, one or two of the ‘Farangs’ local girlfriends can be as mad as a box of frogs after a session on the Thai whisky, I’m talking about the vast majority of people, all of whom have been so friendly and genuine.

Anyway, my breakfast was full Thai (glass noodles and chicken), after which I wandered home to prepare for the blast-furnace – only to find that – unlike yesterday there was a very pleasant breeze that took the sting out of the temperature. So I thought ‘sod it’ and caught the 10:44 train to Nam Tok, the end of the ‘death railway’. Besides, you’re in a sheltered railway coach with all the windows open and roof-mounted electric fans, there’s worse places to be!

I’ll add a full review of the line at a later date, but it was a great trip. Few tourists go all the way. Most do just do a section of it as part of a minibus/coach package that whisks around a dizzying number of sites. This meant I had pole position at widows as I was on early and knew what to expect as I’d traversed the line in 2009. You’ll get to see all of today’s pictures later. Here’s a few as right now I’m back at my hotel concentrating on packing and another early night as I’m catching the 07:20 back to Bangkok in the morning. The next chapter of my trip is about to begin…

Alsthom built 4130 running around the train at journey’s end at Nam Tok. This loco’s been on this working from Bangkok since I arrived.
In my professional opinion, the best views from the train are on the Southbound run, but don’t get too far back down the trainset…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Thank you!

Asian adventure day 30. Kanchanaburi day 7.

08 Wednesday Feb 2023

Posted by in Kanchanaburi, Photography, Thailand, Travel

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30 days already? Sheesh. I’m half way through my trip…

There’s a short blog from me today. There’s wifi problems at my hotel which may or may not be connected with the temperature, because today the mercury hit 36 degrees – unseasonably warm for Kanchanaburi. Now I don’t mind the heat, but 36 degrees with the humidity that accompanies it in Thailand is pushing it, even for me – and tomorrow is forecast to be even hotter. Add to that the fact I had restless night’s sleep last night so cancelled my plans to go to Nam Tok and it’s been a bit of a washout day. Oh, I’ve still enjoyed being here, and the food is fabulous as always, but I find my appetite’s subdued by the heat so I’m only  eating twice a day. I find you don’t need the calories to keep you warm the way you do in Northern Europe. Mind you, I have been drinking bottled water like it’s going out of fashion because you lose so much moisture through sweating.

The weather’s meant most of my day has been spent holed up at my hotel trying to keep cool and get clothes washed as you go through them at a rate of knots. On the bright side – they dry in a trice! Whilst I was relaxing on the verandah I did manage to get some shots of one of the enormous Monitor Lizards that inhabit the rover. These things are well over 1.5 metres long, they’re the smaller cousins of the Komodo dragons, but they’re still impressive.

A Monitor lizard does its best to merge with a tree fragment by remaining perfectly still. It would be easy to miss if I hadn’t been watch its movements for the past half-hour.

I’m having an early night as I’m going to hope for a better night’s sleep, then look at an early start in the morning before the heat of the day really kicks in…

In light of today’s washout I’ve extended my stay for the last and final time as there’s some pictures I’d still like to get here -weather permitting. After that I must get back to Bangkok to see friends and meet up with my niece and her husband in order to get the train down to Butterworth, Malaysia, where the weather’s a much more comfortable 32 degrees. But, I’ll be back…

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Thank you!

Asian adventure day 29. Kanchanaburi day 6 (part 2)…

07 Tuesday Feb 2023

Posted by in Kanchanaburi, Musings, Photography, Thailand, Travel

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I did threaten that there may be a second part to today’s blog – and here it is…

My earlier blog was more concerned with memories. This one’s bang up to date. Today I’ve been hanging around Kanchanaburi. Not the tourist bit near the bridge but the other end where most people (including me) are staying. I love street photography and here’s an ideal place. The roads aren’t too busy and the people are really friendly – and aren’t camera shy.

I spent a couple of hours sat on a street corner just watching the world go by my lens, and one thing really struck me. In Thailand, cars have become monsters. They’re massive and heavy, taking up far more of the public domain than they used to – and I hate to think what the fuel consumption is. Some of the SUV variants are bloody tanks! That was my project for today, look at the reality of life on the roads and here’s some of the pictures…

This is more like it. I’m saying nothing about health and safety, but I’m always impressed by how many people can fit on a scooter. The most I’ve seen is five.
A brace of massive gas-guzzlers – and these aren’t even the worst examples. I couldn’t get a shot of them today but several looked like they wouldn’t have been out of place in a dystopian future like the one portrayed in the ‘Mad Max’ films.
– contrast the gas-guzzlers with this. Pooch-friendly transport. Sadly, I wasn’t quick enough to get a shot of the pillion passenger on another scooter who had a Cockerel tucked underneath her arm.
Then there’s this, which took me completely by surprise. It’s an old British MG. I don’t do cars so I haven’t the foggiest about it beyond its marque.
OK, scooters have an environmental impact too – but at least you can do this and interact with people.
Moody skies over the main drag outside my hotel entrance. Fortunately, the rain never arrived…
The brilliant food stall where I had the excellent but fiery ‘Som Tam’ this morning. This time the lovely woman who runs it is preparing me pork fried rice.
– and here’s the results of her labours. And all for 40 baht (£1). It was delicious.

So, here’s a little snapshot of life in Kanchanaburi and insight into why I’ve really grown to like the place. The people are lovely. Expect something a little different tomorrow as I’m going to be up early to take the train to the end of the line at Nam Tok.

Oh, before I go, I said I’d mention washing machines! There’s lots of launderettes here, mostly new but rarely beautiful, but there’s also this weirdly (to Western eyes) thing where you find a single washing machine plumbed in outside a shop. You bring your own soap-powder, load it with your washing, pay your money – then come back when it’s done. You take it away on your scooter to dry it at home. Sod tumble-dryers for chrissake – this is SE Asia!

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Thank you!

Asian adventure day 29. Kanchanaburi day 6.

07 Tuesday Feb 2023

Posted by in Musings, Photography, Thailand, Travel

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Bear with me as this blog is going to be long, rambling and covering decades of my life!

I’ve decided to stay here in Kanchanaburi for another couple of nights – which has surprised even me considering how I felt about the place when I first arrived, but that’s life for you. Then again, I wasn’t enamored by Thailand the fist time I visited. It’s a long story, but here goes. I’m dredging up memories from 30 odd years ago that I’ve never blogged about before…

In 1991-92 I was travelling through S-E Asia solo. I’d flown in to Thailand from Kathmandu in Nepal and it wasn’t an auspicious start. I’d loved Nepal, but getting out was “fun”. There was a lot of political unrest after the police had shot dead several students. We’d had night-time curfews which left us on the roofs of our hotels, watching armed police patrolling the empty streets below. The day I was leaving the opposition parties had called a ‘bandh’ (general strike) which meant there was no transport running. So I had to walk several miles from Thamel to the airport. I wasn’t alone, I met a few other Westerners on the way and a small group of us hung together for moral support. Meanwhile, we passed hundreds of Nepali’s walking the other way – to join in the protests. Some stopped to apologise to us for the fact we had to walk but all we could do was say ‘it’s really no problem – and you have bigger things to worry about’. After a couple of miles walking a car stopped and we were offered a lift by a Nepali family, much to our relief!

I remember sitting on that plane watching the Himalayas recede in the distance whilst thinking ‘phew’! But the ‘fun’ wasn’t over. I’d made the mistake of eating in a new place the day before I flew out of Nepal. It taught me a lesson that I stick to even now, because when I was queing at passport control in Bangkok my guts were on fire. I had food poisoning. I managed to make it into the country without shitting myself, but it was a close-run thing! As soon as I’d got my entry stamp I headed for the toilet, where things were ‘explosive’ to say the least.

I ended up getting a taxi I couldn’t afford from the airport to the Khao San Rd as all I wanted was a room – and a toilet – and fast! The Khao San Rd was very different in 1992. The range of accommodation was tiny and not great. I found a place where the ‘rooms’ were just studwork cells with walls that didn’t even reach the ceiling and we shared a toilet. I didn’t care – I was dying! I spent the next few days shitting and puking (mostly at the same time), grateful for the fact the sink was close enough to the toilet to let me do both! I remember wanting to post a ‘sorry for the dying noises’ note on my door as the other occupants of the hovel had to put up with them.

And that dear reader, was my introduction to Thailand. There was a lot of corruption in those days and travellers were often scammed. I got an overnight bus from Bangkok to Krabi which was fun as the a/c failed in the night. We all woke up drenched in sweat and then waited several hours in a truck-stop whilst it was fixed. No-one apologised. Next day some people found their valuables had been nicked from their luggage whilst it was in the hold. You’d been warned to keep important stuff on your person, but some folk didn’t listen. Oh, there was a general election in the UK whilst I was here too, the result of which was depressing as (contrary to expectations) John Major’s Tories beat the Labour party led by Neil Kinnock. At the time I remember wondering if I could claim political asylum somewhere as a result! All this meant I was happy to cross the border from Thailand into Malaysia and didn’t look back. Mind you, the political turbulence I’d experienced in Nepal was mirrored in Thailand. There’d be a military coup in 1991 and just a few weeks after I left the infamous ‘Black May’ shootings happened.

A lot’s changed in the intervening years. Well, apert from the military coups – obviously! I have a new respect for and understanding of Thai people now, which is why I’m very happy to be here and have the time to process so many memories. I kept diaries during my 1991-92 travels and I’ve always wanted to get around to digitising them and writing about my travels as backpacking was a very different experience back then. If you’d like to you can view my pictures from 1991-92 in this gallery. I’ll be adding pictures from today later on but for now – here’s a taster. This is the view from my verandah. Last night’s heavy rain has cleared the haze. A few days ago you could hardly see these hills.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Thank you!

Asian adventure day 28. Kanchanaburi day 5.

06 Monday Feb 2023

Posted by in Kanchanaburi, Thailand, Travel

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Today’s blog is one I’ve been hoping to write but the time hasn’t been right until now. If you’re expecting stuff about railways, look away now, because that’s not what this blog’s about. I didn’t actually come here for the railway and the river Kwai bridge either (I did all that years ago). I’ve come here for a much more personal reason and to finally put something behind me that’s been bothering me for a long time.

I first came here in 2009 when my first marriage was falling apart. I didn’t realise that would be the outcome, but both Lynn and I knew things weren’t right between us. What neither of us knew is what secrets the other held. Lynn always used to say “you never know what’s going on between two people – even when you’re one of the two people” – and how right she was. We were here with an old Australian friend called Alison whom we’d met in India in 1998. Poor Alison got caught up in our troubles. I can’t forget any of that. A short while afterwards Alison and I briefly came here with Dawn but the memories are mixed. I’m here now because those memories bother me and I need to create new, more positive ones. And I have. Despite my initial misgivings I’ve really enjoyed being here. Stay away from the tourist tat, the bridge and the girly bars and the people you meet are fantastic. Despite the fact as I write this the rain is hammering down and we’re having the most fantastic thunderstorm I actually feel very positive about being here. I’ve met some lovely local people, eaten some stunning food and found a great place to stay. Oh, and most importantly, I’ve made peace with something that’s been bothering me for a very long time…

Streetlife. Tomorrow I’ll tell you about the random washing machines…

Whilst I was hanging around this street corner to take pictures I got chatting to a local guy who was parked up in his scooter taxi, He didn’t want to sell me anything or try and take me anywhere, he was just interested in what I was doing and gave me tips on what traffic to expect coming down the road. I love that. Here in Asia you can smile at a total stranger and get a beaming smile and head nod in return. In most places in the UK they’d think you’re a nutter and eye you with suspicion.

I’ve a small favour to ask…
If you enjoy reading this or any of the other blogs I’ve written, please click on an advert or two. You don’t have to buy anything you don’t want to of course – although if you did find something that tickled your fancy that would be fab! – but the revenue from them helps me to cover some of the cost of maintaining this site (which isn’t cheap and comes out of my own pocket). Remember, 99% of the pictures used in my blogs can be purchased as prints from my other website –  https://paulbigland.zenfolio.com/

Or – you can now buy me a coffee! https://ko-fi.com/paulbigland68312

Thank you!

Asian adventure day 15. Kuala Lumpur day 9.

24 Tuesday Jan 2023

Posted by in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Musings, Photography, Travel

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The best laid plans and all that…

I’d fully intended to have a day out with the camera today but yet again, the weather conspired against me. When I looked out of the hotel window at 7am this morning the rain was already on the way through heavy grey skies, which put the kibosh on my plans. So, another day working from Bigland Towers KL branch it was then! It was a wise choice the day was one of perpetual heavy showers. I was here in January 12 years ago but I don’t remember the month being as wet as this. Ah well…

Having reconciled myself to working from home I did nip out for for food and enjoyed another excellent roto canai breakfast. For most people the holidays seem to be over which meant Chinatown was much quieter than it has been the past few days as a stroll around before returning home confirmed. Back at home I settled into a similar routine as the one I had when I was here over a decade ago. Work rest and play – only without the same photographic opportunities due to the weather!

The day passed speedily and profitably enough. The rain even held off long enough for me to have a wander, get my daily exercise and explore outside the bounds of Chinatown as I was looking to stock up on some Indian Ayurvedic soap. Malaysia’s one of the best places for buying it outside of India but the only place I could find sold it in bulk and I’m not ready to carry a couple of kilos of it around just yet!

By 18:00 I was more than happy to nip out for the beer that I’d planned to have the other night but just as I did the heavens opened once more and we were treated to yet another torrential downpour. I wasn’t going to let it put me off so I sat outside a familair haunt to shelter from the rain and watch the world go by as I recreated an old picture,

When I was here in Kuala Lumpur for several weeks in 2012 there was a particular Chinese restaurant on the corner of Jalan’s Sultan and Hang Lekir that became a favourite haunt. The food was good and reasonably priced, the beer cold and the location was ideal for people-watching. Across the road was a collection of hawkers stalls, one of which prepared and sold claypot chicken rice. I often used to sit and watch the chap juggling the various pots as it was a popular place and he was always busy. Here’s the picture I took from across the street on the 15th January 2012.

I went back in 2017 but my favourite restaurant had closed down and the pavement outside was covered in stalls. It’s still closed now but there’s a new Indian foodstall that’s taken over the pitch so I can sit, have a beer and recreate the picture – because the same guy is still cooking those claypots! Here’s how he looks almost exactly 11 years later. He’s wearing well!

Tomorrow’s my last day in KL so (come hell or high-water) I’m getting out to explore…

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