Bluebells

It barely got to 51°F today but I kept finding flowers in full bloom.

Apple Blossoms

These pink apple tree blossoms were at the height of color today.

Another Sunset

I've posted a number of sunsets over the past year. But each one is a work of creation and I never get tired of watching God's nightly show. Enjoy!

Violets

White

The warm windy Spring weather came back today.

It's tricky getting a good photo when the wind is blowing but the evening sunlight on these tulips was nice and I kept trying.

Tulips

Red

Daffodil

More Spring color.

Spring

I came back from Asia to find Spring in full color. I can't ever remember everything being in bloom in late March. Essentially, it's a month ahead of the normal timeline. 

Redbuds

Drop

I found this raindrop in the late afternoon sun. 

Global Street

I saw this ad on my way to Asia at the beginning of the month and liked the meshing of Europe and Asia. Today I saw it again on the way home in the Hong Kong airport.

Options

Transportation options in Manila are numerous.

Motorized tricycle: a motorcycle with s sidecar.

I rode in a tricycle like this yesterday.

4 passenger family bike

                                     
School bus

Transportation

The Jeepney is everywhere in Manila.They are painted and decorated to the hilt.

Garden

The plants are lush and green in Manila.

Church

Today I joined a group of believers in Mandaue, Philippines for worship and teaching. Here are a few of those who fellowship together at Pathway Community Church. It was a wonderful time of hearing what God is doing in this city.

               Top:Jennifer, Pastor Ramon, Philip                                                           Top: Jon, Janna, Rodney, Janice & Gerald

          Bottom: Honey, Marthi & Pastor Martin

Philippines

I just finished an hour walk through the Greenhills neighborhood of Mandaue near Cebu City. I kept noticing beautiful plants and flowers.

Lunch

Today we had lunch at an outdoor restaurant. You chose your meat from the counter and the go to your table where you order rice and drinks. When your meat is cooker the server brings it to the table. There were six of us and we got fried fish, pork bellies, BBQ chicken, clams on the shell, eggplant omelet, fried calamari. Every dish was delicious. (I tried at least a little of all of them.)

Here's a shot of the restaurant.

Ocean

Here's the fish tank in the home of the family I'm staying with in the Philippines. Not only were the fish in the ocean, so were many of the corals, worms, anemones and cleaner shrimp. It a beautiful display of God's creativity.

Daily Life

I love the detail and the depiction of everyday life in this painting.

It hangs in the lobby of the Mercure Hotel in Chiangmai, Thailand.

Pie

Tonight my roommate for the conference I'm attending ordered this beautiful Lemon Meringue Pie for dessert.

Lotus

I found this beautiful flower in an out-of-the-way location along a dusty lane in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Isn't God's creation amazing.

Remember Japan 3.11

Tonight I went to a "Thank You, Thailand" event put on by the Japanese community in Chiang MAi to commemorate the tsunami of 3.11.2011. One of the performances was a drumming/dance. This dancer also played the large drum above his head.

Party

My room in the Lotus Hotel overlooks the pool 2 floors below. This afternoon I came to the room and found the pool patio decorated for a dinner event.

On the other side of the pool about 7 floors below there is a live band every night. I'm not sure how the party will be able to hear anything but it seems to be progressing nicely. Fortunately, the band quits playing each night about 10PM. It's a bit like having a live band in the rom up until then.

Mall

Didn't get outside much today but did get into the mall connected to the hotel complex. Here are a few familiar stores.

Old City

This is a segment of the wall that surrounded the old city of Chiang Mai. Outside the wall was (and still is) a moat.

Musician

March 7, 2012*

This figure sits in the Lotus Hotel where I am staying in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

*Photo taken march 7, 2012 but not posted until March 8.

Race Car

Today I discovered a "car showroom" on the top floor of the Central Mall in Chiang Mai. This race car was surrounded by Mitsubishis, Mazdas and Dunlop tires.

Juice

I had a choice of juices for lunch today. It started with Orange and included a number of fruits I had never heard of. I think the yellow one was Chrysanthemum. I decided on the deep red juice at the far right in this picture Roselle Fruit. It was delicious. 

 Roselle Beverage

 Lunch was Stir fried noodle in soy sauce with seafood. Notice the deep red of the Roselle Juice.

Chiang Mai

This afternoon I spent a couple of hours at the pool. It's on the 7th floor of the hotel and I also got a view of part of the city. The temp is 32°C = 90°F. 

Bangkok

March 3, 2012*

I had an overnight in Bangkok before flying on to Chiang Mai. Once in the airport I grabbed a quick lunch before the short 1-hr flight north. I was surprised to discover this beautiful garden inside the airport.

The food court was mostly American: Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds and lots of others. I wanted an Asian meal and decided to go with a Japanese Miso Ramen soup. It was delicious and filling.

Photos taken March 3, 2012 but not posted until March 4.

Hong Kong Airport

March 2, 2012*

I was only in the airport about 45 min. I had 20 HKD left over from a previous trip and thought maybe I'd get a snack. I finally decided on a Diet Coke and then discovered a bottle cost 22. I guess my HKD 20 bill wasn't worth that much after all. 

As usual I looked for photos and found the following:

 When I downloaded this photo of a restaurant I was more impressed with all the reflections than with the counter.

 Looking closer I noticed live TV playing in this booth.

This photo merges the past and the present. The traditional rickshaw sits in front of an electronic billboard with a view of Hong Kong from the water.

* Photo taken March 2 but not posted until March 3, 8:44 AM Bangkok when I had internet access again.

Chicago Style Lunch

March 1, 2012*

I decided to have a true Chicago lunch at O'Hare airport before getting on my flight to Thailand. Uno's Pizzeria was the choice. They couldn't print receipts for credit card purchases so hand-wrote a receipt for me. Talk about going back in time.

*Photo taken on March 1 in Chicago but not posted until March 2, 9:28 PM (Hong Kong) because there was no internet access until I got to Hong Kong the next day.