Time Off | The Regional Manager

Walks Around Home

April 15, 2019 · by theregionalmanager

A quick blast of photos from several walks with my lovely wife around Whakatane, Ohope, Ohiwa, Lake Okataina in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. This will not be a comprehensive description of walks you can do around Whakatane, there are loads! But some useful links if you are interested can be found below:

Whakatane walking map: https://www.whakatane.info/files/docs/whakatane.info_walks_map.pdf

Descriptions of walks in and around Whakatane and nearby locales: https://www.whakatane.com/activities/walks-and-tramps

Bongeunsa Temple – Ballons, Pebbles and Buddha

January 12, 2017 · by theregionalmanager

A spare hour in Seoul enabled me to cross the road from the hotel into the Bongeunsa Temple grounds. As is often the case with a temple in the the city it is amazing how the tension of the metropolis evaporates shortly after entering the grounds. Regardless of your religion, faith or lack thereof I find that people wandering the grounds are usually trying to make sense of life, connecting with friends, thiniking and praying for loved ones and family or just wandering around and enjoying nature and beauty. It is certainly a more noble use of time than going to the mall.

I was particularly intrigued by the numerous small stone pebble constructions which maybe were made by temple visitors as some lesson in patience and concentration by their monk guru.

It is amazing to think that this temple was initialed constructed well over a 1,000 years ago and in it’s current form since 1498. Hard to imagine the surroundings back then but it has survived the progress of mankind springing up it all around it with dignity.

Links for more information: Bongeunsa Temple Wiki and Visit Korea Website

Map:

Photos (Canon G5X):

Coldplay in Auckland

December 19, 2016 · by theregionalmanager

Always a good evening with Coldplay! End of school year for Tahn before heading back to Bangkok for summer break. She made me go when the gates opened and boy was it a good idea, right at the front, a long wait but so worth it!

Robot Restaurant

November 12, 2016 · by theregionalmanager

Touted as Tokyo’s 16th favourite toursit destination I have been tempted to go for a number of years. Today was the day…

Restaurant is not really an apt description but if crazy neon Japanese madness is what you are after then you get that in spades. It seems expensive at Yen8,000 for a restaurant where you do not actually get a meal but well worth it all the same. There are robots despite lack of photos of them. Hard to describe the whole thing so just put it on the list for your next visit and experience.

Pancake Rocks

October 8, 2016 · by theregionalmanager

This October I spent a couple of weeks in New Zealand with my daughter cruising around the South Island. It was my first time to spend any length of time on the West Coast and these shots are of the fascinating Pancake Rocks in Punakaiki. They are located right on highway 6 about 45km north of Greymouth and are easy to find taking about 20 to 40 minutes to walk the well laid out track.

For more information visit the Offical website

Pancake Rocks, West Coast, New Zealand

Shot: Canon Powershot G7 X

Wide World

April 10, 2016 · by theregionalmanager

I go a bit mad using the panorama feature on the iPhone so have accumulated many panoramas on my bike travels. Believe it or not here is a cut down selection along with the Thai province or place in which they’re shot:

Phu Chi Fah

Chiang Rai

Kanchanburi

Phu Chi Fah

Nakhon Nayok

Nan

Phu Chi Fah

Loei

Nan

Phu Chi Fah

Uttardit

Kanchanburi

Phu Chi Fah

Nakhon Nayok

Phu Chi Fah

Nan

Uttardit

Kanchanburi

Phu Chi Fah

Nan

Nan

Uttardit

Kanchanburi

Loei

Khao Yai

Nan

Nan

Kanchanburi

Nakhon Nayok

Phu Chi Fah

Uttardit

Chiang Rai

Kanchanburi

Nan

Nan

Finding the Ferry

March 18, 2016 · by theregionalmanager

A quick little bike holiday with David and Kenneth resulted in my first exploration of the west side of Sinakharin reservoir. The aim was to search for the mythical ferry that crosses up the north part of the reservoir. It does exist and 50 Baht will see you and your bike across to the other side.

Khao Yai Stars

January 11, 2016 · by theregionalmanager

Spent an overnight break out of Bangkok in Khao Yai to to check out a few new camping gadgets and of course have a ride!

The Petromax Firebox is a great little stove for camp cooking from twigs and leaves laying around; compact, cheap and fun! The Canon G5X star mode was fun to learn can see how produce for point and shoot, but will certainly get better results the next time.

Lastly the North Face Talus 3 tent courtesy of United points was quick to set up and pack up and roomy and a very useful loft storage rack.

Back next weekend…

Petromax

Camp set

Food hunting Deer

Stars

Petromax in action

Even Better Than The Real Thing

November 16, 2015 · by theregionalmanager

Following on from photos from U2 @ the O2 is this video of “Even Better Than The Real Thing”. It is combined from two nights over 29 and 30 November 2015.

For full concert info for 29 November visit U2gigs – Show 1896

For full concert info for 30 November visit U2gigs – Show 1897

U2 @ the O2

November 10, 2015 · by theregionalmanager

Two nights at end of October 2015 and my forth and fifth time to see U2. The first time long ago on the Unforgettable Fire tour and two times during the 360 tour in Sydney and Vancouver. This time was ‘Innocence and Experience’ at the O2 in London. Having tried to avoid finding out too much about the show and although having high hopes I was still more impressed with the whole experience that U2 put together. From stunning use of the central expanding screen to a cut down simple staging with four guys playing it is a journey of U2 from the autobiographical songs from the latest album ‘Songs of Innocence’ to a wide song selection from the whole U2 catalog. They play at the main stage, B stage and from within the screen; there is always something new to view and angle to which experience it all from.

Seeing two nights in a row was also not repetitive at all with a number of song changes and with observing moments that were missed I think it would be good for another view(s) in a different city/country.

See video of Even Better Than The Real Thing

For full concert info for 29 November visit U2gigs – Show 1896

For full concert info for 30 November visit U2gigs – Show 1897

Enjoy the following photos using my Canon Powershot G7X. Always go ‘Manual’ when shooting concerts!