Day 359 – A Few Days Missing
Some crazy weather we have been having!
I have still been out taking photos, just have not seem to have had a chance to post any up. The colours this morning were almost unnatural. I actually increased the green tint and dulled down the purple in the image above. Made for the first half decent sunrise I have seen in a while.
The weekend involved a fairly impromptu light painting outing with fellow photographer Dan Murphy. Unfortunately everywhere we went had flooded roads that were closed due to the recent cyclonic conditions. We still managed to get a few shots in utilizing a flooded section of roadway.
And since I have been so slack I will post another sunrise image I captured yesterday.
Day 358 – Tourist Trapped In Thailand
My experience of Koh Samui, although short, was a very mixed bag. It looks like a very beautiful spot – when it’s not pouring raining that is!
A few quiet-ish drinks at Ark Bar after a long day of traveling, and looking around it seems this place is one big party… Awesome. Lets get in some good sleep tonight, and have a huge one tomorrow.
It’s morning… and it’s raining. We thought we would still make the most of our time and get in a spot of shopping in between the shelter of bars of course. That was until we were stopped by a very enthusiastic Brit on a scooter offering a scratch card, and wouldn’t you know it we win a chance at a free holiday, an Ipad or cold hard cash! All we had to do is go and have a look at a new hotel they were building – But it’s not time share. 
We figured it was raining, and the beach was out so why not, and next thing you know we are sitting through a very time share like presentation, I had to laugh.
After the escape from the “not a time share” presentation, we got in a spot of shopping between showers, and grabbed a bite to eat at The Coffee Club… that was mistake number 2 for the day for myself. A short time after and I was giving the bathroom a very close inspection. Hmmm… So much for partying the night away.
You know what – the airport is very nice. Koh Samui – You may have won this time… but I will be back – and I am a little wiser to your ways now. My advice to you… If a bloke rides up to you on a scooter and hands you a scratchie… tell him where to go. Oh… and don’t eat the fish.
Day 357 – Zeavola Resort
Zeavola Resort on Phi Phi Island, Thailand, is the ultimate in luxurious accommodation and an exclusive private hideaway from the world of bustling tourists that the area has become known for. 
With a unique blend of classic Thai and modern architecture, each of the villas offer a private oasis to escape to, when you are not enjoying the white sand between your toes. Also, the choice of villas ranging from Village or Garden suites up to the Beachfront or Pool Villas make sure there is one for all tastes.
We just had to stay in a Pool Villa Suite of course… and I think everyone should experience the Zeavola lifestyle this way for sure!
The lush gardens surrounding the pathways are also a pleasure to walk through on your way to grab some of the tasty food on offer, or of course, a cocktail or 3 and to relax your way into the night on the beach.
The entire Zeavola team are fantastic, and do everything possible to make your stay more enjoyable. From the restaurant and bar staff who greet you as though you are long-lost friends, to the grounds staff who are always offering a cheerful smile and hello as you pass. A special thanks to Ruby, who spent hours trying to change our flights so we could stay another day… a huge thank you! 
And of course I will leave you with one last photo, a 360 degree view (click for a larger image) from the open living room verandah. If only I could wake up here every day. Visit www.zeavola.com
Day 356 – Weathered
Well, after attempting to get the shot I wanted for 2 mornings in a row, this was about the best that I could come up with. Sometime mother nature just won’t play the game for me…
Day 355 – Mornings Like These
It’s mornings like these that make me glad that I dragged myself out of bed in the dark… Happy Monday!
Day 354 – On The Line
Another sunrise, and another day of getting soaking wet! It’s all for a good cause right? I changed my mind at the last-minute for a location today, but I am glad that I did. I found another little spot that I really like and I think works for me. The poor guy fishing was not having as much luck it seemed, and kept on getting snagged on the rocks.
I think I went in a bit too cautious – exposure wise, with the blown highlights from yesterday in the back of my mind. It was hard to level out with dark storm clouds on one side of the frame, and the sun rising on the other. I did manage to pull a little bit more detail out of the clouds without going for the HDR software.
Day 353 – Washed Away
I came very close to getting washed away a few times again this morning. In the end I didn’t even get the image I had imagined in my head, but I did like this one even though the sun has some blown highlights.
Processing of this photo was done a little different to my usual quick conversion. It’s a pseudo HDR image – that is a HDR photo created from a single raw image file, not multiple bracketed shots - I converted the raw file into 4 16 bit tiff files with DPP using multiple exposure values (-2 -1 0 and +1), the four files were then processed in Photomatix, and final editing was done in Photoshop. Seems like a lot of work for one photo to me.
Day 352 – A Wave Caught My Eye
This image caught my eye when flicking through my photos from this morning. I like the line the little wave formed, and it’s always nice to have something that adds a little interest in the foreground.
Day 351 – Can’t Help But Feel Lucky
I can’t help but feel a little lucky this week when I look at where I live. Maybe I just missed the early mornings while I was on holidays. I did get to witness this spectacular sunrise, so that did help a little.
Day 350 – Spend A Day On Phi Phi
Do yourself a favor and find a nice quiet spot on the beach of Loh Dalam Bay. From here you can truly admire Phi Phi Island, and marvel at those beautiful rich blues and greens that work so well together. Look past all the tourists and block out everything else in life, you don’t have to look far to find beauty here.
Take a stroll along the white sand, and you will no doubt see a long-tail boat or 7. Pause and take at least a second to soak in the view… Suddenly all those idyllic postcards come to life right in front of you.
Barter a deal and jump aboard a long-tail or ‘taxi boat’, for your own private tour of wherever you wish to go. Bamboo Island is a favorite close by destination of mine for its crystal clear water. Swimming and soaking up the sun after finding a slice of paradise on a private little beach is just a bonus.
Looking at the time, I know there is one more stop I want to make. A short trek back to the boat, and I have to wake up the captain… sleeping under a tree, with a foam esky lid as a pillow – ahhh the simple life!
Cruising to the next stop, I am again awestruck with the huge cliffs that jut out of the ocean everywhere you look… then you arrive at Maya Bay – ‘The Beach’
Having visited here a few times on my last trip to Phi Phi, I left my visit this time to later on in the day in the hope of avoiding the plague of people ferried by speedboats from around Thailand. It sort of worked out, and there were definitely fewer people than most times I have seen. Time to kick back and enjoy a beer or two.
Drift away, and imagine how perfect it would be if no one else was around. If only those 50 people were not in my photo, and the dozen speedboats were not here…
I must admit… there is something special about having one of the worlds most famous beaches pretty much to yourself.
Day 349 – Back To The Start In Phuket
Sitting back watching the sunset over Patong beach, with the locals playing soccer on the beach, and a person parasails overhead.
Finding a reliable internet connection proved to be a hassle while traveling, so I am going back to the start of my trip over the next few days and going though some photos. Our first stop was Phuket, where we stayed at Baan Laimai Beach Resort in Patong.
While being in a great location opposite Patong Beach, the little touches make all the difference, and I don’t think I would stay here again with much better hotels close by – for just a little more cash. I would however recommend the food from the restaurant, and the live band was fantastic. There was plenty of shopping, catching up with friends from other trips to Phuket, lazing on the beach, and kicking back by the pool… what a way to start a holiday.
We spent our last day in Phuket down at Karon, and witnessed a couple getting some wedding shots on sunset. It drew quite a crowd of onlookers, and a few saw it as an opportunity to borrow a reflector from the photographers for an impromptu model shoot… and I had to have a little laugh I would imaging the wedding photographers got some great shots with such a beautiful sunset.
