street photography – Late Developer

Northern Exposure – Saturday Night in Chiang Rai

April 5, 2020Ian McCLeave a comment

Everywhere in Thailand has a night bazar, a night market of some description or a big weekend market. In Chiang Rai they take it a bit further. A large thoroughfare is closed off for the market, there is an multitude of stalls to buy just about anything, a selection of food to end the most austere of diets – and a large square for line dancing. Thai line dancing. There seemed to groups – organised hardcore dance classes in uniform, with clear lead dancers, as well as less formal social groups and the occasional Irish tourist.

market4 — a bit more food to go with your drink

market kacks — some shopping for knickers..

market1 — and a snack if you’re hungry after the shopping

The main attraction for me other than the food is the dancing and music. The dancing goes on for hours, a live band – sort of Thai Schlager – do the music and the dancing is continuous – til late.

This lot were a delight to watch and most agreeable for a photo.

As was Busker of the Night. Playing the cute card along with the music

And of course – evidence of the photographer getting in the swing..

dancing CR — Classic White Man Dancing..

Hol18: and that was it

March 23, 2019March 21, 2019Ian McCLeave a comment

Last few shots of Munich. It was my favourite spot on the European tour – the beer, the weather, the very German signage, the beer, the architecture, the metro (clean and punctual) and the fact that every green space contains a beer garden. I’ll go back.

a wee kiosk — Shopping for the Touristen

peters tower — Peter’s church ticket booth

mezzomix — Mezzo Mix – the genius of adding coke and fanta

alone in the alter hof — a quiet part of Munich

And finally – lederhosen, sex and falafel all under one roof. So German

Ricoh KR5 and Agfa APX

Hol18: Munichers..

March 22, 2019March 21, 2019Ian McC1 Comment

Munich was worth the wait after a three week tour around Europe. It’s one of the more photogenic cities I’ve visited with plenty going on. Here’s a few more shots

two old blokes — two oul blokes and a fountain

munich scene1 — one oul bloke and a fountain

Ricoh KR5 and Agfa APX100 from DM

Hol 18: Marienplatz

March 19, 2019March 17, 2019Ian McC1 Comment

As a central square and meeting /arrival place, Marienplatz is hard to beat. There’s the large Rathaus, S-Bahn station, shops, all the beer you can eat and all the tourist tat you can buy.

marienplatz old new — the new Rathaus on the left

reel around the fountain contrasty — Fountains

Smoking at kiosk with Pretzel — Tat and the Giant Pretzel

In the Rathaus courtyard there is a pricey restaurant (I didn’t) and plenty to photograph.

rathaus inner 6 contrasty — Inner Rathaus

rathaus exhibition — Rathaus Photo exhibition space

Shot on Ricoh Kr5 and Agfa APX100

Hol18: Munich – Daytime Drinking

March 18, 2019March 17, 2019Ian McCLeave a comment

Munich is all about the beer – there are countless places to drink – indoor and outdoor, particularly outdoor and even on a Sunday, when shops are all closed the drink continues to flow.
Viktualienmarkt round the corner from Marienplatz is a great palce to start.

munich beergarden 2 — Viktu-alien-markt. Very ‘day-earth-stood-still’..

munich beergarden 4 — Drunk and orderly queue

munich beergarden 6 — Beer Garden and… pole

munich beergarden 3 — bring the baby for a pint

Away from the main beer garden,you can always find somewhere for a beer when you see that exquisite signage or well turned out staff.

or if you don’t fancy a beer, there’s aways the traditional Bavarian Coffee Haus..

All shot on the Ricoh KR5 and Agfa APX100 – €4 a roll from Drogerie Markt

Hol18: auf wiedersehen goodbye

March 10, 2019Ian McCLeave a comment

I enjoyed Salzburg – plenty to see and a great city for walking about. I probably didn’t get the best of it not being a classical music lover or enjoying fine (= expensive) dining. However there are a few city views that would warrant a return.

salzburg along the river — View along the River Salz

innenhof — Inner city Cafe – Salzburg style

cafe altstadt — Hotel Altstadt – fixer a bit spent in developing…

salzburg SoM path — Cycling from the Sound of Music tour

Kit – Ricoh KR5 and Fomapan 100

Hol18: Salzburg – My Favourite Things

February 19, 2019February 18, 2019Ian McCLeave a comment

As well as Mozart, the other big tourist theme in Salzburg is The Sound of Music. You can get all sorts of bus tours and walking tours, but I went by bike – Fraulein Maria’s Cycle Tour.

dig

Of course the disadvantage of cycle tours is that it’s hard to take photos without stopping every 2 minutes, still there were a few highlights that were worthy of a photo.

First off, the guide isn’t a ‘Maria’. We had a guy with a beard. Good guide – and played the flute.

One of the main stopping points is the Nonnberg Convent

nonnberg ground pax — Nonnberg inner courtyard

nonnberg3 shadow tower — Nonnberg gardens

salzburg SoM hoaus — A von Trapp exterior

salzburg gazebo — The Gazebo (16 going on 17 …etc..)

mozart platz — Residence Fountain, Maria splashed here

gardens salzburg — The Mirabelle Gardens

Salzburg view 6 — Felsenreitschule – stone stage

and of course, a selfie…
bty

Ricoh KR5 and the Fomapan 100

Huawei P9

Hol18: Salzburg – Amadeusville

February 18, 2019February 12, 2019Ian McCLeave a comment

When you arrive in Salzburg, you know you are in Mozart’s town. He’s everywhere in the form of 2 Mozart Houses, numerous statues, music venues and every item of tourist tat you could think of. I have to confess to actually not liking classical music (I’ve watched the Amadeus movie a few times..) and I’ve no real academic interest but he has definitely become a bit of a tourist magnet for the city.

mozart statue — One of the better Mozart statues

Of the 2 Mozart houses, we visited the Mozartheim – where he grew up before going to Vienna. His birth house in the main shopping area is above a Spar and had much longer queues. There’s no photography permitted inside the Mozartheim – and it is rigorously enforced.

One slightly dodgy statue of Wolzgang is artist Markus Lüpertz’s ‘Hommage to Mozart’ outside St Mark’s church. The half male/female ‘lumpy’ piece isn’t overly prominent in the city tour guides and not too revered by its citizens. It puts the Ronaldo one in a bit of perspective.

salzburg mozart statue — Hommage to Mozart. It reflects his inner turmoil, apparently

Finally despite all the keyrings, stickers, phone covers and countless other pieces of tat, my favourite item of shopping is the Mozart Chocolate Balls. (genuine Salzburg)