Aug 062011
 

After a very late start to the day, we headed out to enjoy the beautiful sun. Our first stop was to get a scooter – then our new freedom opened up places to explore!

Breakfast! Yum!Breakfast! Yum!

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Breakfast! Yum!03-Aug-2011 23:45, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 400

Street near Kuta BeachStreet near Kuta Beach

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Street near Kuta Beach04-Aug-2011 00:13, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 100

Bali - Kuta BeachBali – Kuta Beach

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Bali – Kuta Beach04-Aug-2011 00:17, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 100

 

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04-Aug-2011 00:17, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 100

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04-Aug-2011 00:17, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 100

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04-Aug-2011 00:18, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 6.6, 6.3mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100

 

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04-Aug-2011 00:18, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100

Bali - offerings to the undergods (they like candy bars??)Bali – offerings to the undergods (they like candy bars??)

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Bali – offerings to the undergods (they like candy bars??)04-Aug-2011 00:21, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 100

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04-Aug-2011 00:21, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100

 
Bali - scooter ride (traffic!!!)Bali – scooter ride (traffic!!!)

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Bali – scooter ride (traffic!!!)

 
Aug 052011
 

We arrived late at night in Jakarta and did not explore or see much other than the route to and from our hotel. There wasn’t much draw for us to spend time in a big, dirty city…

Scenes in JakartaScenes in Jakarta

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Scenes in Jakarta02-Aug-2011 22:18, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 100

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02-Aug-2011 22:19, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 100

Jakarta - from Aston Cengkang Hotel to airportJakarta – from Aston Cengkang Hotel to airport

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Jakarta – from Aston Cengkang Hotel to airport

 

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02-Aug-2011 22:20, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.4, 7.9mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 100

JakartaJakarta

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Jakarta

 

Mostly, we were ready to get ourselves to Bali and see some sun! So, here are some more pics from our trip on the way to Bali:

CFC in Jakarta terminal 3CFC in Jakarta terminal 3

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CFC in Jakarta terminal 302-Aug-2011 23:01, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 4.1, 15.7mm, 0.067 sec, ISO 200

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03-Aug-2011 00:53, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 200

A bit tight...A bit tight…

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A bit tight…03-Aug-2011 00:58, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 400

 
Runway line-upRunway line-up

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Runway line-up03-Aug-2011 01:38, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.8, 12.6mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100

Bali  - volcano from the skyBali – volcano from the sky

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Bali – volcano from the sky03-Aug-2011 02:48, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.6, 9.4mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100

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03-Aug-2011 02:49, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.6, 9.4mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 100

 

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03-Aug-2011 02:50, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.4, 7.9mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 100

Bali airport ride to hotelBali airport ride to hotel

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Bali airport ride to hotel

First night's dnnerFirst night’s dnner

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First night's dnner03-Aug-2011 05:31, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 1 sec, ISO 640

 

More to come…

-T

Aug 042011
 

I'll Walk Alone by Mary Higgins Clark

_I’ll Walk Alone_ by Mary Higgins Clark

It may be time for me to give up these books…or maybe I should just be glad I have read almost all Clark’s books and others like it so that I do not feel a need to read them all the time. I think last time I read one of her novels, back in Nov, I wasn’t as enthralled either.

This story is about a woman whose son is kidnapped two years before and she has never given up on trying to find him. As the plot thickens, it seems that someone is trying to set her up by using a look-a-like to make it seem as if she was the one who kidnapped her child. It all comes to a dramatic happy-ending.

It seems these books/stories are becoming too formulaic for me. There is a strong independent woman who is taken advantage of in some way. She has some weaknesses that are played upon. There are two possible antagonists,but one is more suspect than the other to draw your attention away from the real bad-guy. Then, the truth is revealed, but it never really makes sense or is justifiable in any way. In some cases, like this one, it just seems like a contrived and overly dramatic reason to cause such an extreme act against the protagonist.

It took me about a day to read the book. By the time all the possible characters were introduced I knew who had done it. So, until about the last 50 pages, I wasn’t overly engaged. The last pages took me in because there was more action, drama and the reason for the crime was revealed, although it was an unsatisfactory result…..

Hopefully, the next book will be more of a winner!

Until next time,

-T

Aug 042011
 

The second day in Thailand was quiet. We found Secret Recipe in the Siam Paragon food court. It was our regular eating locale when went to Kuching, Malaysia a couple of years ago. So, of course, we had to eat there. Then, while R went to his dental appointment I explored the shops and had some PT pampering myself. πŸ˜€ After that, we had a late meal at a local eatery.

Memories from Kuching...Memories from Kuching…

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Memories from Kuching…01-Aug-2011 01:54, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 400

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01-Aug-2011 02:02, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 400

Bangkok does purikura too....Bangkok does purikura too….

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Bangkok does purikura too….01-Aug-2011 02:38, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 200

 
Girly momentsGirly moments

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Girly moments02-Aug-2011 04:39, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.7, 11.0mm, 0.167 sec, ISO 400

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04-Aug-2011 03:31, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.5 sec, ISO 400

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04-Aug-2011 03:32, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.5 sec, ISO 400

 
Late night dinner in BangkokLate night dinner in Bangkok

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Late night dinner in Bangkok01-Aug-2011 09:22, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 400

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01-Aug-2011 09:22, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.4 sec, ISO 400

 

Our last day was spent just relaxing until it was time for our night flight to Jakarta. So, here are some photos:

Thai A&WThai A&W

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Thai A&W02-Aug-2011 02:53, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.6, 9.4mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 100

Flying Asia Air from BKK to CGK (Jakarta)Flying Asia Air from BKK to CGK (Jakarta)

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Flying Asia Air from BKK to CGK (Jakarta)02-Aug-2011 03:46, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.6, 9.4mm, 0.125 sec, ISO 400

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02-Aug-2011 04:31, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 400

 
Aug 022011
 

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

_Catch-22_ by Joseph Heller

Although I know that many people read this book in high school or early college days, it was never on my reading list. So, over the years I would read or hear references to characters or phrases from the novel along with the title itself being used commonly in literary/academic/colloquial conversations, but I never really appreciated the references.

Now, I have read it.

The World War II setting and the psychological struggles of the characters to get through the war is interesting. I wonder if high schoolers can appreciate the reality that at the end of the day, every man is for himself. Maybe as a teenager that is something we just take for granted? The chain of command wielded power over the others for their own glory, not considering the risk of life to the men who just want to go home and return to their “normal” lives.

Anyway, I am not sure I appreciated the book as much as I might have at a younger age, but using the term “It’s Catch-22” now makes a bit more sense, although it means to make no sense! πŸ˜€

I recommend it as a classics read, but am glad to move on to other reads now.

Aug 012011
 

Most of our first of a couple short days in Bangkok was spent recovering from our lat night arrival and relaxing in the hotel.

I did manage to use the treadmill, which was a nice return to getting some exercise. In the evening we headed to Siam Paragon (no pics…) on the Skytrain and had dinner, dessert and then saw Transformers 3 in 3D. It was a pretty easy and chilled day/night.

Just a few funny pics to share –

Relaxin' in hotel in BangkokRelaxin’ in hotel in Bangkok

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Relaxin' in hotel in Bangkok31-Jul-2011 01:49, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 400

 
Drunken dude's goods - he tried to start conversation at the food court...Drunken dude’s goods – he tried to start conversation at the food court…

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Drunken dude's goods – he tried to start conversation at the food court…31-Jul-2011 07:33, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.333 sec, ISO 400

 
Enjoying Hokkaido soft cream in BangkokEnjoying Hokkaido soft cream in Bangkok

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Enjoying Hokkaido soft cream in Bangkok31-Jul-2011 07:33, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.4 sec, ISO 400

 

I will try to take more pics today. πŸ™‚

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