Regular followers of this site will know a little of my travels this year – when I was away from my home for over five months visiting South Africa, France, Cambodia, Vietnam, Holland, Spain, India, Malaysia, Singapore, various parts of Thailand and Italy. There may have been other places that I forget at the moment – old age! Oh – yes! Also a two-week visit to Western Australia. I hope to be more of a “Home boy” next year …
The quality of these more or less random photos varies greatly.
During my time in Malaysia my Canon blew up and subsequent photos were then taken on my steam-powered telephone. Huge repair bills to the camera when I returned to Thailand … only for the thing to die again when I was in Monaco. Many of the photographs after that disaster are also rather shabby results from my wind-up telephone. Prior to going to Australia or South Africa I took a second mortgage and sold a slave or two and bought a new Canon camera.
The folks at Canon must love me.
I now understand how professional photographers talk about going through camera bodies and amassing loads of different lenses. It is a bit like the woodsman who has had a favourite axe for decades … and has only had to replace the handle three times and the axe head twice.
The year’s travels were – mostly – very enjoyable and many of the places I would leap on a jet plane to see again … but I will not be in any hurry to return to South Africa.
Here are some photos from the year’s travels. Please let me know if you like any of them! Feedback of any sort is always encouraging to writers … and photographers.
Sunlight, Jungle Home, Pasak Ngam, Thailand
Railside dwellings, South Africa
The Queen’s Stupa and Garden, Doi Inthanon, Thailand
Chiang Mai Concert next to my apartment, Thailand
Likely Lads, Durban, South Africa
Street Workers, Goa, India
Old Man and Old House, Kampot, Cambodia
Traditional Hats and Government Buildings, Hanoi, Vietnam
Palazzo Ducale, Genova, Italy
View of the Harbour, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Sun Seekers, Ferry Boat and blue blue waters, Rovinj, Croatia
Atelier Restaurant and Hotel, Kampot, Cambodia
Simons Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Photodays Finalist JL Munoz: “Portrait of Jonatan a Gypsy Boy”; 2nd place Nude Body; Rovinj, Croatia
Flower Market, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Selfie with a very bloody Christ, Goa, India
Washing Day, Corte de Casarasina, Venice, Italy
Woman in traditional Ao Dai dress, on the steps of the Opera House, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
“Support” by Lorenzo Quinn, Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
Sunny archway with man on the phone, Antibes, France
… nice to know which way to go …
Hotel Principe and Gondola, Venice, Italy
HaLo Cafe Menu, Hanoi, Vietnam
Bounteous Women and Promenade, Durban, South Africa
Supi, my Boatman, Brunei Darussalam, Brunei
Street Vendor, Hanoi, Vietnam
Father and Children, Aguarda Fort, Goa, India
Wine Cellar, Waterford Vineyard, Stellenbosch, South Africa
Group in Cave, Muratie Vineyard, Stellenbosche, South Africa
Hauling in the Fishing Nets, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Bastion St Andre, Antibes, France
South African Flag, Devil’s Peak and Waterfront, Cape Town, South Africa
“Township”, Johannesburg, South Africa
Camps Bay Beach, Cape Town, South Africa
The People’s Palace and Himself, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
The Mall, Brunei Darussalam, Brunei … yes … McDonalds is everywhere!
Sunshine in Grisia Street, Rovinj, Croatia
Cheerful Colours of Bo Kaap, Cape Town, South Africa
Table Lamps for Sale, Phuket, Thailand
“Swimmer” by Carole Feuerman, Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
Interior of St Francis of Assisi Church, Goa, India
Chefs, Phuket, Thailand
Petunias and shopping Street, Antibes, France
Bare Bum, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Street Art, Kuching, Malaysia
Glimpse of a Shapely Ankle, Mediterraneo Bar, Rovinj, Croatia
Church of St Euphemia from the Promenade, Rovinj, Croatia
Mosque, Brunei Darussalam, Brunei
Waitress and Strelizia, Hanoi, Vietnam
Orangutan Tattoo Artist and Street Art, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Best Buddies, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Red Woman, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Wish I had been able to buy a dozen or two …
Massage Sign, Phuket, Thailand … I don’t like finding fun in other people’s use of English as my use of other people’s language is just as woeful … but I do wonder what sort of massage come with a problem solving in the sink …?
Sunrise outside the Rizqen Hotel, Brunei Darussalam, Brunei
Argentina Pavilion and Sculpture by Claudia Fontes, Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy
Long Hair, Short Skirt, Thigh Boots and Contemporary Art, MOCAA, Cape Town, South Africa
View of the Harbour, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Geraniums, Barjac, France
Red Red Rose, Berneuil, Bordeaux, France
Pure Lust, Red Light District, Amsterdam, Holland
Vallon des Auffes, Marseille, France
Le Chatelard, Passirac, Bordeaux, France
Art by Robert Combas, Lambert Art Museum, Avignon, France
Montclus, one of “Les Plus Beaux Villages de France”, Le Gard, France
Town Hall, Angouleme, France
View over the Fields, Barjac, France
Quiet Arcade, Girona, Spain
Street Art and Passerby, Bordeaux, France
Canals, Houses and Petunias, Leiden, Holland
Girona River and Cathedral, Girona, Spain
Capitale, Toulouse, France
Canals, Canoes and Church, Amsterdam, Holland
Swimmers and Sunbathers, Vallon des Auffes, Marseille, France
Sunset and the Lighting of the Lamps, Barcelona, Spain
Palace Guard, Monte Carlo, Monaco
“Silence”, Lambert Art Museum, Avignon, France
Windmills, Kinderdijk, Holland
……………
Numerous journeys 2017
Text and photographs © Christopher Hall 2017
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If a man ascended into heaven and gazed upon the whole workings of the universe and the beauty of the stars, the marvellous sight would give him no joy if he had to keep it to himself. And yet, if only there had been someone to describe the spectacle to, it would have filled him with delight.
Attributed to Marcus Tullius Cicero – On Friendship
hallomega 
What an amazing range of places and people you have seen this year. Thanks for sharing. I like best buddies and washing day. I like capturing ordinary moments.
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Thanks Lynda
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