Mousehound

Westerners often get hold of the wrong end of the stick!

Sangdee is on soi 5 sirimangjlajarn. Look for the hotel B2.

I have seen some Art Deco and Victorian style lamps in a shop on Thanon Phra Ahtit (runs alongside the river in Banglamphu BKK. They were quite well done. I realise you may not get to BKK, but they are available in Thailand - these were all made in Vietnam. A lot of that French second empire look - bronze bases. But there were also Tiffany style also. I think Chatuchack would be worth looking at as well, if you ever get to BKK.

I also like Gecko but think their F&C is just OK but admit it is good value. I actually like the atmosphere at Gecko and have met quite a few TV barflies there over the years. They are a pretty descent lot as a whole and I miss them, as I am now back in Oz (and I'd rather be in CM).

Silver-eared Mesia at a watering hole, Mae Wong NP.

Av mode; 1/250sec; ISO2500; F4.5; F/L300mm; off axis flash fired.

These are a real challenge for me and I like the way this looks. I avoid flash like the plague as a rule but there are times you just have to go with it. I see you have the ISO pumped up and quite a fast sync speed (faster than my gear will cope with. Did you dial the flash down or fire on auto? You seem to have kept the illumination limited to the central region (which I very much like as it focuses attention). Did you need to do much editing?

Scrutiny

Bella

Khmer lady at Phanom Rung

There are those that really don't care if they get a piece of paper or not. What is of use is the experience gained at university itself. I would really like to do a biology degree of some sort in natural sciences in Thailand as I have a great interest in studying the fauna of Thailand. Being able to study with those that are also studying this area and tutored by those with knowledge in the subject area is the value to me.

If anyone knows of a biology or environmental programme that is on offer to international students I would be grateful if you could pm me.

Those that supposedly don't care if they achieve certification or not are making a big mistake IMHO. They are certainly putting themselves at a disadvantage further down the line career-wise and are sending out a message that they are unable to study in a disciplined way. All that the record reveals is the message 'failed'.

I already have a double degree and a private business. I like the idea of doing a subject that I would really enjoy. Neither of my degrees were really of much use to me in business by the way. If you are just going to university to get a bit of paper to give yourself a so called career, then I think you are on the road to a dull and possibly unhappy future.

North from Pattaya.

https://www.google.co.th/#q=doi+inthanon+accommodation

Also Mr Daeng's for cheap accommodation in reasonable rooms with private bathroom. Food is good and position excellent. Google Mr Daeng's Doi Inthanon

There are those that really don't care if they get a piece of paper or not. What is of use is the experience gained at university itself. I would really like to do a biology degree of some sort in natural sciences in Thailand as I have a great interest in studying the fauna of Thailand. Being able to study with those that are also studying this area and tutored by those with knowledge in the subject area is the value to me.

If anyone knows of a biology or environmental programme that is on offer to international students I would be grateful if you could pm me.

One of the "Wooly" moths most likely in the Hepialidae group. Some of the larva of this family burrow down to reach and feed on the roots of shrubs.

Little white hairy thing, presumably a moth not a butterfly.

hairy.JPG

There is asbestos about that will never go away from brake linings. I pity mechanics that blew out linings with air guns. We are probably breathing that in regularly - Sheet material containing asbestos is better not used but is really not such a problem.

Nice work - possibly : Daphnis placida - A Hawk Moth

Wall hanging

PC040019 by pattayadays.com, on Flickr

E-M1 with 40-150mm F2.8

I have the dame problems with white - it is a real problem with Canon. I am not ken on ND filters (I like to use them but for birding shots they are too awkward for me) I usually just set at -3 to -6 and this usually works but in overcast or dull jungle lighting this can be a problem also. My 6D seems to cope a bit better than the 60D in this respect but this is most likely the extra data that can be used in RAW processing.

White-crowned Forktail from Mae Wong NP.

Still working out how not to blow out the whites on subjects like this.

1/50sec; F5; Av mode; ISO 1250.

Mood

I rented a shopfront with big windows and the heat was murder even with the aircon full blast - also the glare was a major problem for the screens (computer outlet). We whitewashed the windows with acrylic paint. Worked wonders and cheap (later had a couple of suppliers have their logos painted on at their cost. After a couple of years we moved and had the whole lot scraped off no problem - about two hours work for 10m X 3m. Cheap and effective - and fast to do.

I've used water based interior wall paint on windows. Black paint will stop the light. U may try white, yellow, pink, etc to achieve some interesting effects. Paul Klee on the Wall?

Nice work mate. Reminds of Paul Klee indeed.

Argh , be the size of a tic-tac to be sure Rob , thanks for your kind remarks BTW , this is one I am said to believe has loving eyes ?

Silver Orb Spider , I think or St. something cross spider , I was never good at Geography

St Andrew's Cross Spider

Only just managed to spot this

SAM_2062_crp.jpg

Another great Moth pic. Not surprised you nearly missed it - very cryptic. Green moths often ingest cyanide based compounds to act as a deterrent against being eaten and other moths (and butterflies do the same thing) imitate these as a protective measure even though they do not feed on poisonous plants. The bright moths are usually day time flyers of course as drab coloured moths are active at night when bright colour has no benefit in attracting a mate.

Golden emperor moth came to visit.

Stunning. I now have a license to collect Lepidoptera in Australia. Wish I saw moths like this one. The ones in Oz are mostly shades of brown.

If you were in your own town would you go wondering around dark street late at night? Well ? Tell the truth would you ?

My answer to that is no...

For some stupid reason a lot of tourist seem to think is fine and safe to wonder around the streets and beaches of Sihanoukville until all stupid hours of the nights and mornings they do this with some crazy mindset that's it's safer here than home and without any thought about there own safety or there own property..

Well if you won't do it in your own town or city DONT DO IT HERE....

Fair enough, Gazza, but you DID say you felt S'ville was safer than Perth at night !

Mate, I know where you're coming from, but I really think Thailand lulls many of us into a false sense of security. I've gotten away with early AM strolls in BKK/Patts/Hua Hin that I would *never* contemplate in Sydney and I've done much the same in KL, but I exercised a lot more caution in Jakarta. I refuse to visit Manila - even AC is low on my list of priorities - but I know that if I did I wouldn't be wandering around town at 2am without a care in the world. I sure as hell wouldn't be happy to drink in a bar full of locals, as I have done in Thailand on many occasions.

Don't know about Snooky but I would certainly feel safer in BKK or CM, which I know well, than Perth or even Fremantle at night. I have simply given up going out at night in Perth (city) with family, as every time we have had to avoid some quite serious trouble and been attacked twice (fortunately my son was with us and sorted the situation out - he works as a body guard). But he also does not want to go there anymore as he doesn't want to have to deal with this sort of thing. The big plus in Australia is that the police are pretty good. In contrast, although we keep to the main areas and are cautious we have never had a problem in Thailand. Worldwide, the only places I have really felt threatened with a potential loss of life situation was Djibouti and Papua NG. So my vote for the most dangerous city in SE Asia area would go to Port Moresby.

PA140345 by pattayadays.com, on Flickr

Catopsilia pomona The Lemon Emigrant

Cheapest option if there are two of them is a 250cc scooter for 200-250 baht per day, plus maybe same for petrol. Or a 215cc scooter each for a bit less. This gives them freedom to see what they want when there too.

What a ridiculous answer! So they can die on the road?

It's not a ridiculous answer if they are competent riders and sensible. I was up the mountain in January and there were several farang on bikes and they seemed to be having a good time.

Good thinking sunshine 51. I always forget to push the exposure when taking a shot with sky behind - usually +1.5 does the job. Depends if the background has grey clouds or is just bright sky. I have a Canon and it is poor compared to the Nikon when taking white plumaged or black and white birds. I often need an ND filter, or push or pull the exposure adjustment, to stop the whites blowing out.

This is getting predictably boring! Yawn - the usual paranoia. Good bye..