Thursday, February 28, 2013

Opening the Window Again

I am again going through some old pictures.  First I worked my way through a couple of over flow boxes which contained many pictures from years past.  There was no particular order to these photos.  At first that really annoyed me because of the way I covered this before now…I think I’ve warmed to going through it in no particular order and sharing it for the fun of it.  This first picture is from a reptile farm near Bangkok001.  They actually fed these monsters whole chickens…already plucked and dead of course.  I want so much to return to visit Thailand with my family…someday.  This next one is an island in the Philippines002.  Doesn’t it look inviting?  I got sunburned horribly here.  I am a Montanan and don’t always consider tropical sun the way I should…boy did I learn otherwise!  This next one is a view along the walk to the church we were working with in the Philippines…such an amazing cloud shrouded mountain004.  During one of my trips to Thailand I went on a three day elephant trek.  My companion took the b&w photo005.  Why were we not on elephants?  Well, as it turned out much of the elephant trek was actually on foot in the golden triangle.  Looking back on the jungle we walked through makes me feel so strange somehow007.  Our guide tricked us and part of the group we were hiking with went ahead where they said they’d smoke opium…so me and my friend didn’t go ahead…later they returned laughing at us saying they ate lunch…we were hungry for the first part of that day008.  What do you think?  Want to walk the jungle of the Golden Triangle011?  Our would prefer the safer elephant show they have near the reptile park009?  This is a photo from the Yuhiko Orchid Garden where Lovely and I were married in the Philippines010.  There are some fantastic sights in these nations…I wish it were a safer world, I’d like to revisit these places012.  Some missionaries were captured and one killed in the rescue by Filipino soldiers when we were there…things are often troubled though it appears to be a paradise to the naked eye015…your not even necessarily safe riding on the back of a massive elephant014.  Sometimes the danger is forgotten when trying exotic foods016but still it is there.  Now that I’m married and have a family of my own I recognize more than ever that no man is an island unto himselfWindows to the Past 001.  More to come….

13 comments:

  1. WOW these are great.. I am just amazed at how many places and things you have done in your life. Falling off of the elephant would be bad enough I can't imagine how bad it would be if they got wild and ran or was violent.Scary. That island looks soo tiny but overgrown with trees etc..I am so afraid of SNAKES etc you would NEVER GET ME on any surface that has them. Nooooooo.. LOL Thanks for sharing this with us.. :-)

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    1. I haven't gone over this stuff in a while. Looking back over the years it's amazing to think of those times. Many of these pre-date 9/11...a different world in more ways than one. Riding elephants is sort of like riding on a controlled earth quake! I rode on the head of one and made him turn right or left by tickling his ears with my feet...it was an interesting experience!

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  2. I would love to walk the jungle of the Golden Triangle!! And also, yes that island does loook inviting. The alligators...not so much :)

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    1. The travel guide for many of these treks showed people getting wasted on Opium bongs under the trees near water falls...I was thankful to not be involved in that...ever seen that show "Locked Up Abroad"? I'd rather not star in that...or be alligator bait!

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  3. Those are all great photos Joe. I loved this post.

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    1. Thank you so much Beth, there's a lot of other photos to wade through, hope to find some surprises in there still!

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  4. What great pictures. Sounds like it was quite an adventure. Sometimes I wish I were the traveler type, but that's Sherry. I guess I was born with the 'chicken' gene, as I really don't like flying.

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    1. I'm about as homebody as you can get too. I was (and still am) a Montanan in a not so large town who never dreamed he'd go abroad but when the door opened up for it I went for it and I'm so glad I did!

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  5. i agree with u Joe. Countries show beautiful for tourists and nature is fantastic of course.But ppl kill and for what?
    i love the trip trough ur fotoos Its always a pleasure I like the bush
    Its nt without danger but oh so special. How many ppl can say that they have been there>?
    Have a nice wekend Jos.
    cya
    Mj

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    1. It can be a struggle to see the sights of the word and there's the necessity to leave our comfort zones to see it but I've always felt it was more than worth it. Some won't leave their zone...fore me, I always will look to the horizon and dream of being there.

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    2. sometimes we have to make in click in our head. and enjoy that there is more than just a microwave.lol

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  6. I just remember at Bangkok,Philippines with old another country.
    I am from Japan that made me was is not beautiful memories Joe!
    But as you said Thailand is three day a beautiful place people are forgiven exotic foods.
    I think is a big country are good thinking now, Other wise I won't leave in this country.....
    I hope you don't have too cold weather tomorrow Joe!

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  7. I think I was bitten by the travel bug years ago my friend, I love to travel and see and experience new things...it's the fountain of youth to me. I have seen many countries, Japan included...it holds a special place in my heart. The tragedy of the tsunami touched us personally since my mother in law was there at the time. She is now back in the Philippines and we need to visit her. Weather is not too bad here now...but that endless wind persists.

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