More Cannons.
That's us.
The outside of the bunker.
We are in Servitude to the Central Bankers
13 years ago
Monday, October 26, 2009
Malaysia (Penang) | Fort Cornwallis Continued
A huge Cannon.
More Cannons.
That's us.
The outside of the bunker.
More Cannons.
That's us.
The outside of the bunker.
Malaysia (Penang) | Fort Cornwallis Continued
This is inside the Bunker. Ammo, gun powder and such.
Jonathan found a huge swing...probably what they did in their past-time, when not fighting or off duty (eh, eh)
The Chapel.
Jonathan found a huge swing...probably what they did in their past-time, when not fighting or off duty (eh, eh)
The Chapel.
Malaysia (Penang) | Buildings
I believe that this is called St. George Church.
This is some kind of government building.
Another government building of some sort.
This is the north east end of the island, the ocean water was very calm.
This is some kind of government building.
Another government building of some sort.
This is the north east end of the island, the ocean water was very calm.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Helping in the Slums: After
We only had the resources and ability to replace the roof to the bathroom and to the entrance of their house. If the water goes down to a reasonable level we will try to return in a week to raise the bathroom and make a better walkway to the bathroom.
This is the walkway to the house, I didn't get a before picture. This is the finished roof that we put in.
This is the walkway to the house, I didn't get a before picture. This is the finished roof that we put in.
Helping in the Slums: Before
So the family we helped out today was really poor. The father had become ill about a year ago (I think his kidneys) and has been unable to work. He and his wife have three kids and his wife has been supporting their family making about 150 Baht/day. 150 Baht is something around $5. I will typically spend at least 90 Baht on food in a day when I am going cheap...
Their bathroom sunk and their roof was in bad need of repair. We had planned to raise the bathroom and make a new walkway, but due to the recent flooding in Bangkok and lack of resources, the water was too high to raise the bathroom or create a better walkway to it. This is a picture of the failing roof to the bathroom.
Here is another picture of part of the roof that had been destroyed by rust.
This is an example of how the people in the slums just throw their trash in the water that surrounds them...and it's a lot of trash.
The bathroom was flooded and the path is hardly walkable...the water is raised about 1 ft above the usual level in this picture.
Their bathroom sunk and their roof was in bad need of repair. We had planned to raise the bathroom and make a new walkway, but due to the recent flooding in Bangkok and lack of resources, the water was too high to raise the bathroom or create a better walkway to it. This is a picture of the failing roof to the bathroom.
Here is another picture of part of the roof that had been destroyed by rust.
This is an example of how the people in the slums just throw their trash in the water that surrounds them...and it's a lot of trash.
The bathroom was flooded and the path is hardly walkable...the water is raised about 1 ft above the usual level in this picture.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Flooding in Bangkok
So we have spent most of the last 3 or 4 days in our house because we had some major downpours for a few days in a row, not to mention crazy amounts of lightning and really loud thunder (waking us up at 3am, the loudest thunder I have ever heard).
The street directly outside of our house was about 6"-1 foot deep with standing water. The closest main street was even more flooded, in some places it almost went up to my knees, we had to wade through it a few times...Don't worry, I washed and scrubbed like crazy when I got back, who knows what is in water that is standing for 3-4 days...some places smelled like feces, sick!
The flooding finally ceased last night and we could cross the main road without getting wet, Nolan and I rejoiced. Otherwise our stomachs would have gone hungry for the night as most things were closed at that time.
I updated my comment restrictions, I'm pretty sure that you may leave comments now. So if you want to leave a comment, please do.
The street directly outside of our house was about 6"-1 foot deep with standing water. The closest main street was even more flooded, in some places it almost went up to my knees, we had to wade through it a few times...Don't worry, I washed and scrubbed like crazy when I got back, who knows what is in water that is standing for 3-4 days...some places smelled like feces, sick!
The flooding finally ceased last night and we could cross the main road without getting wet, Nolan and I rejoiced. Otherwise our stomachs would have gone hungry for the night as most things were closed at that time.
I updated my comment restrictions, I'm pretty sure that you may leave comments now. So if you want to leave a comment, please do.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Laos Recap
So our time in Laos Laos
Our second trip was to Champasak to visit Wat (Temple Mekong river and the temple was pretty neat, we have lots of pictures. We thought Pakse was really slow…Champasak was even slower, there was very little to do. I better mention that crossing the Mekong river in a boat made out of half a tree is a little scary.
We returned to Pakse and relaxed some more. We had been frequenting a coffee shop called Champady. It was the best coffee we found in town and the food was decent as well. Anyway, we had made friends with the employees and we asked them if they would be interested in us doing a little bit of coffee/barista training and latte art lessons. They loved the idea. It turned out to be an amazing and unique opportunity for us, the language barrier presented some difficulties though. The Lord has blessed us with a gift and knowledge (coffee industry) that we can take across cultures. It is a neat way to get to know people.
We then rented motorbikes and took a trip back to the Bolaven Plateau in search of the a couple different coffee growing areas and a specific coffee shop called the “Travelers Meeting Place (or Point) Café” We rode a long way and didn’t really find what we were specifically looking for, bummer. We did see many coffee plantations, but didn’t have an opportunity to stop in. We ended up finding one coffee shop where I bought ½ a Kilo (about 1.1 lbs.) of Arabica beans (not sure the varietal) that looked well sorted, I am excited to roast these.
Then returning to Pakse again, we found ourselves smack dab in the middle of a large festival. The main attraction was the boat racing…this is where you have about 20 people in a really long boat racing against other teams. It was a fun 3 days, full of food and many people…the small town just seemed to be exploding at the seems with locals.
That pretty much sums up the trip vaguely, if you have specific questions, please ask, there is much more to tell. Hope you all enjoy reading this and please don’t forget to pray for our safety and health as we travel. We have lots of footage, so look for more videos to come soon.
P.S. sorry for all the posts all at once…we didn’t take our computers to Laos, so I just got a chance to upload all the photos and write about everything.
Laos - Random
This was a random house that I took a picture of in downtown Pakse.
This is the lemon-grass steamroom that we frequented, then ended it with a $2.50 1/hour massage...so nice. (sorry for being so blurry...my camara wasn't doing too well with the low light)
It is often that a single motorbike (or scooter) can be transportation for a family of 3, 4 or even 5 people...you can witness it yourself. If you asked me the secret of how they actually do it...I couldn't give you a good answer.
We ended up being in Pakse at the right time, there was a huge boat race and festival for the last weekend we were there. It was a lot of fun. Usually Pakse is pretty quiet...but I think that for this weekend all 66,000 people in Pakse arrived and then some.
This is the lemon-grass steamroom that we frequented, then ended it with a $2.50 1/hour massage...so nice. (sorry for being so blurry...my camara wasn't doing too well with the low light)
It is often that a single motorbike (or scooter) can be transportation for a family of 3, 4 or even 5 people...you can witness it yourself. If you asked me the secret of how they actually do it...I couldn't give you a good answer.
We ended up being in Pakse at the right time, there was a huge boat race and festival for the last weekend we were there. It was a lot of fun. Usually Pakse is pretty quiet...but I think that for this weekend all 66,000 people in Pakse arrived and then some.
Laos - Food, edible and non-edible
If you are craving a great hardboiled egg in Laos, you might just want to think twice.
We learned the hard way...apparently it is a fine treat to hardboil an egg...once the chicken (or whatever it may be) is partially formed. Yep, we got tricked into it...some little food vender by the river, they were so excited to see us and we thought, well great, they are so hospitable...and man, could I use some hardboiled eggs...wrong! I'm sure you can find good hardboiled eggs, but be careful. Ya, Nolan and I ended up trying one, the least formed of course, you can see the video (soon to be posted).
This ol' gal was selling sweet sticky rice with cocunut on top, it was tasty.
It boggles my mind how they can fit a whole chicken between two sticks...so amazed. Granted, the chickens in Asia are a slight bit smaller.
This is a bag-et, we found out about this little bag-et cart about half way through our time in Pakse and let me tell you, they are amazing. We often got cravings for them. A small bag-et like this one would cost around $0.50, a larger might cost about $2. Many times we would eat a couple of these for $1. I miss them already.
We learned the hard way...apparently it is a fine treat to hardboil an egg...once the chicken (or whatever it may be) is partially formed. Yep, we got tricked into it...some little food vender by the river, they were so excited to see us and we thought, well great, they are so hospitable...and man, could I use some hardboiled eggs...wrong! I'm sure you can find good hardboiled eggs, but be careful. Ya, Nolan and I ended up trying one, the least formed of course, you can see the video (soon to be posted).
This ol' gal was selling sweet sticky rice with cocunut on top, it was tasty.
It boggles my mind how they can fit a whole chicken between two sticks...so amazed. Granted, the chickens in Asia are a slight bit smaller.
This is a bag-et, we found out about this little bag-et cart about half way through our time in Pakse and let me tell you, they are amazing. We often got cravings for them. A small bag-et like this one would cost around $0.50, a larger might cost about $2. Many times we would eat a couple of these for $1. I miss them already.
Laos - Barista and Latte Art Training
This is the best coffee shop we found in Pakse, Laos. We frequented this place while in Laos, it is called Champady.
This is some of the group that we helped train.
Here is Sow working away.
Tulip, it isn't the best, but certainly not the worst.
Some more Latte Art.
This is some of the group that we helped train.
Here is Sow working away.
Tulip, it isn't the best, but certainly not the worst.
Some more Latte Art.
Laos - Wat Phu Temple Complex
This is one side of the 1st level of the complex (3 levels total)
This is some kind of temple on the second level.
This is inside the above temple.
This is a picture from the third level, you can see the first level from here.
This is some kind of temple on the second level.
This is inside the above temple.
This is a picture from the third level, you can see the first level from here.
Laos - Getting to Champasak
This is Nolan and I (of course you know that) and the water taxi that we took across the Mekong river to get to Champasak to visit Wat Phu.
Another Shot...I seriously was wondering if we would make it all the way without the boat sinking.
This is just as crazy...its one of these water taxi's but for vehicles...never would have thought that I would be traveling on one of these.
Another shot of the water taxi full of vehicles and people
Another Shot...I seriously was wondering if we would make it all the way without the boat sinking.
This is just as crazy...its one of these water taxi's but for vehicles...never would have thought that I would be traveling on one of these.
Another shot of the water taxi full of vehicles and people
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