Neil Duckett » Travel

Karon Beach Phuket

Neil — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:32:59 +0000

It`s been a while, but now i`ve finally got some regular internet access i can post a few things i`ve been up to.

On the way back from Japan i stopped by Phuket and caught up with what turned out to be 8 mates in total, all keen to spend some time in the sun, drinking, eating and relaxing.

Mid week we booked a fishing charter andspent the day cruising in the Andaman Sea. We only caught 1 fish but the day was still deemed a success.

Phuket Fishing Charter from Neil Duckett on Vimeo.

With the other lads coming from winter in Australia there was alwasy going to be lots of poolside activity.

For 5 consecutive days i sat in the pool from 12 until 5pm ….. drinking as many cocktails from the list as humanly possible.

We did manage to get down to Bangla road 1 night for some Muay Thai action.

All up the boys had a great time and there`s talk of making it a yearly event, i know i`m up for it.

One place i didnt`t get too was the Steroe Lab in Surin Beach. The others got up there for a day time drink but didn`t stick around to see wha it was like in full swing.

A quick search on YouTube gives me the impression it`s well worth a look after dark.

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Post from: Neil Duckett

Karon Beach Phuket

Hyatt Regency Tokyo

Neil — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:27:17 +0000

There`s an overwhelming sense of dejavu as i write this, sitting in the same hotel i stayed in 3 years ago when i moved to Japan … only this time, it`s the end of the journey.

I stayed in this hotel for near on 10 months before i was made a local employee and before i had a gaijin card, working visa etc … all the stuff you need to rent an apartment.

This time round the stay is only 3 days and having copious amounts of points from my semi permanent status a few years ago … i am able to cash in and use them so it`s free.

It`s been a stressful last week and depite living a minimalistic lifestyle i still managed to acquire far too many possessions that all needed to be disposed of.

The countless amount of tasks needing to be done prior to exit is far reduced with only some minor things outstanding. If you find yourself in the same situatiuon soon hit me up for some advice if you need any.

Saturday i head off to Phuket for a holiday, meeting up with my brother who i haven`t seen for 18 months and a few mates. Looking forward to it like you wouldn`t believe.

It`s bitter sweet leaving Japan, there`s lots i`ll miss, plenty i won`t too … but most of all i`m happy i had the chance to live in a place most people desire to visit for a holiday let alone live for a few years.

For the people i didn`t get to cacth up with before i left … i apologise, it`s been a hectic month.

What`s next for me? Not really sure. I won`t rule anything out and have a few ideas and a few irons in the fire as we speak.

My immediate plans are to kick back and spend time with family and Friends who i`ve seen very little of the past 3 years.

I`ve got a few bits and pieces of travel coming up for the remainder of the the year, after Thailand i`ll be off to Hamilton Island and have a few other trips in the wings too.

I`ll be sure to post pics of interest but in the mean time … until at least early August things will be quiet round here … while i sit on the beach and ponder the future.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

Hyatt Regency Tokyo

14 Nature and Wildlife Photos

Neil — Mon, 04 May 2009 04:15:10 +0000

Of the 800 plus photos i took from the Hiroshima and Kyoto trip a while back i found a few nature and wildlife ones i was quite happy with.

This bird was in a stream near Gion City in Kyoto.

Click each image to see larger size and better quality.

There were plenty of trees flowering in the grounds of Nijojo Castle in Kyoto.

The flower beds in the Peace Park at Hiroshima were spectacular.

Deer on Miyajima Island.

Cherry Blossom trees on Miyajima.

Deer with antlers removed.

Miyajima was full over blossoms.

The grounds of Nijojo Castle.

A stream running through Gion City in Kyoto.

Another bird in the freezing water.

One of my favourite shots of the trip, again from the grounds of Nijojo Castle.

Like i said earlier, all images are full size and much better quality on flickr.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

14 Nature and Wildlife Photos

A-Bomb Dome

Neil — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 05:05:40 +0000

You can only really understand the devastation that hit Hiroshima by going there as i suggested a few weeks back. The A-Bomb Dome was one of the only remaining structures that survived, if only partially.

In the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum there’s a scale model of Hiroshima before and after.

Widespread destruction with only several buildings still standing.

A representation of the A-Bomb Dome in sparse surroundings.

The A-Bomb Dome as it stands today, surrounded by a rebuilt Hiroshima.

The photos of the Atomic Bomb Watch that stopped at exactly the time the bomb dropped are interesting too – Atomic Bomb Watch.

Check out the full szie versions on flickr and some other trip photos from Hiroshima and Kyoto.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

A-Bomb Dome

Atomic Bomb Watch

Neil — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 05:38:02 +0000

A must visit for anyone getting down to Hiroshima, foreign or Japanese, is to the area the Atomic Bomb landed on August 6th 1945.

There’s many different areas to view different memorials and peace offerings but one exhibition was of special interest to me was the watch the now stands still, at 8:15 am, the time the Atomic Bomb devastated Hiroshima.

The watch is on display at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum.

Located in Peace Memorial Park the Museum is an extremely interesting and often emotionally challenging place.

If you didn’t know much about the Atomic Bomb and it’s physical effects on Hiroshima, you will after an hour or so walking through the Museum.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

Atomic Bomb Watch

Shinkansen

Neil — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 00:15:48 +0000

For my money, i can’t go past the Shinkansen for my means of long distance travel within Japan.

Not only is it a safer option, there’s much less stuffing around than with a plane, no security check, no carry-on luggage restrictions etc …

On my recent trip to Hiroshima and Kyoto i had the pleasure of riding the Shinkansen several times.

Although as a tourist there’s a JR Rail Pass you can get it’s not necessarily the best and easiest option.

Depending on the places you want to go the rail pass will only cover so much which and is limited to several trains not all of them.

I went from Tokyo > Hiroshima, then Hiroshima > Kyoto and lastly Kyoto > Tokyo.

All up the cost of the ticket for me was 40,000 yen, i doubt very much i could have got a plane any cheaper.

It’s so convenient too, all i had to do was get to Tokyo station to begin my journey.

Many of the trains are equipped with power these days and the one i caught had wireless internet from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka

If you get the chance when you visit Japan then i’d definitely recommend a ride on the Shinkansen.

If you plan on buying a rail pass be sure to check it will get you all the places you need to go.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

Shinkansen

Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji)

Neil — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 03:49:16 +0000

The Golden Pavilion or Kinkaku-ji 金閣寺, as it’s known to the locals, was a major highlight of last weeks trip to Kyoto.

Once again i tried my hand at a few HDR images, both with different levels of aggressiveness applied, here’s one reasonably subtle.

The 3 images i used to combine into one using photomatix were.

Overexposed …

Normal exposure …

Underexposed …

Here’s all 3 combined to make another HDR image of the Golden Pavilion Temple, much more aggressive with the settings this time.

All images can be seen better by selecting each image directly or in the HDR gallery on flickr.

Which one do you like best?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji)

Geisha Girls

Neil — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 06:49:45 +0000

Spotted while walking up to Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto were these 2 Geisha, the one on the left doesn’t look too happy with me … but you get that on the big jobs.

Unfortunately there were masses of people around and this was the one and only picture i was able to get.

Be sure to check out it out a bigger size or two on flickr.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

Geisha Girls

Miyajima HDR Images

Neil — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 06:28:51 +0000

Last week i had the folks in town, i took the week off work and we went to Hiroshima and Kyoto … a great time was had by all.

Despite it being a bit cold at times i was able to get out and about heaps and take a lot of photos.

Here’s my first attempt at some HDR images which i think turned out pretty well.

This 5 story Pegoda was an impressive site, looking over Miyajima Island.

All the images can be seen in full size with much better colour on flickr.

The boardwalk area made for some fantastic scenery.

As did the many Cherry Blossom trees in bloom.

The colours make for a great contrast although i would have liked a brilliant blue sky too.

It was good to finally see the Torii Gates i’d seen so many times on other sites but never in person.

I was out there at high tide, i would suggest to either to go then or low tide where you can walk out and get right up close to the Torii Gates. Miyajima tide times can be found here.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

Miyajima HDR Images

Taking a Break

Neil — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 10:27:08 +0000

Not the same sort of break Ojiisan had in Shibuya the other day but i`m taking a break.

I`m heading to Hiroshima and Kyoto all next week with my parents who arrive in Japan Friday morning early doors.

I`m going to be strapped for time from here on out, and in any case, i can do with a break from the internet.

You can expect me to come back online with a heap of photos and stories to tell sometime around the 6th of April.

Until then, enjoy whatever it is you`re doing … i know i will be.Similar Posts:

Post from: Neil Duckett

Taking a Break