Last night I went to see A Complete Unknown, the new Bob Dylan Biopic. I'd heard wonderful things about this movie and it did not disappoint. I adored it. The sherpa and I were the only ones in the cinema which meant that I could sing very loudly and applaud all the songs. I felt like part of his audience. The opening scene is one where Bob Dylan goes to meet his hero Woody Guthrie who lay very sick in a New Jersey hospital. He plays him a song called "Song to Woody", written in 1962. The last couplet in the following verse really stood out to me.

Hey, hey Woody Guthrie, I wrote you a song
'Bout a funny ol' world that's a-comin' along
Seems sick and it's hungry, it's tired and it's torn
It looks like it's a-dyin' and it's hardly been born


I leaned across to the Sherpa and remarked how fitting those last two lines feel for our times. In fact it was a thought that surfaced often while listening to Dylan’s songs throughout the movie. Which brings me back to this image in Thailand, and, really, the entire trip.

The simplicity of island life stood in contrast to the complexities and horrors of the outside world. Life there may not be easy, (it looked really hard to me!) but everyone has a role—the women, the men, even the children—and there’s a quiet dignity in that. They don’t have much, living in humble wooden shelters, often pieced together from large bits of driftwood. Yet, there’s a warmth that comes from their sense of community.
Most people on the island know one another, and life is built on connection and mutual support. They help each other, woven together by shared purpose rather than individual ambition. I think that’s one of the most profound things we’ve lost in many parts of the world, the shift from community to self-interest, from collective well-being to personal gain.

Nothing could be more evident than what is happening in the USA.

Anyway, do you self a favour and see the movie and forgive my rambling!

Tags:   Thailand Island Longboat Sunset oceans

© All Rights Reserved

In the early morning I stepped off the veranda to put my thongs on and almost stepped on this Asian Water Monitor! Such a thrill but so glad I didn't put my foot on top of it. He/she stayed long enough for me to grab my camera from the table behind me and take a couple of images before scuttling off under the veranda. Drag marks in the sand most mornings told us many reptiles had visited during the night.

We encountered these monitors up trees (usually the smaller ones), in the water and on land. They are the second largest lizard with the Komodo dragon being the largest. Their size is generally around 1 -2 m but the largest was found in Sri Lanka and measured 3.21 m and weighed 19,5 kg!

This does not surprise me. When we were in Phuket, there was a river behind our accommodation and we saw a monitor that was the size of a crocodile. If I didn't know that Thailand did not have crocodiles, that is exactly what I thought it would be!

Beautiful reptiles.

Tags:   Varanus salvator Asian Water Monitor reptile Water Monitor lizard Koh Yao Noi Thailand

© All Rights Reserved

I still don't know what day it is but I am back from a blissful two weeks in Thailand. Our first week was spent on the quite, fairly undeveloped Island of Koh Yao Noi. Apart from the resorts scattered along the island, it is pretty much the island where the locals live and go about their business of fishing, tending rubber tree plantations, rice fields and operating Tuk Tuks, long boat tours and taxi services for tourists. It was the most wonderful way to absorb the local culture.
Everything people said about the place and the local Thai people was true. I loved every minute of it. I am just going to post my photos as I experienced my journey.

This was the view from our villa. Our first and only sunrise with much colour but we still got up every morning to see it.

Might take me awhile to catch up with everyone. x

Tags:   Thailand sunrise Koh Yao Noi Island Paradise Villa Koyao Island Resort

© All Rights Reserved

We stayed at the Loch Marie Hotel, on the shores of Loch Marie, near Gairloch. It was a gorgeous old hotel, built in 1872. Apparently Queen Victoria stayed in the Hotel in 1877. Perhaps she was captivated as I was by this beautiful sunset right behind the hotel.

One of the few times I actually used my tripod.

I am off for two weeks to a deserted Island. Not really, but the first week will be on an a quiet island where i expect to do nothing except read and laze about and hopefully some bird watching. I have never "done" relaxing before, but now I have to do things at a much slower pace or not at all, I am really looking forward to it. Probably wont have alot of reception so I may not catch you all till I get back.

Stay happy and well and hope you all find time to relax in the next couple of weeks.

Tags:   Loch Maree Gairloch Scotland Long Exposure Lake Boat Sunset Loch Maree Hotel

© All Rights Reserved

Well, the other reason I got a little shiver as I looked down over Dunraven Bay in Wales was not just because Paul was standing next to me, but because Mr Bob Dylan had walked this same path.

In 1987, this area was used as a location for the filming of Hearts of Fire, a film widely criticized for the story line and acting.Of course I saw it at the movies. I don't remember too much apart from Dylan just being Dylan with his glorious 1980s look, big hair, eyeliner, puffy shirts and earings. I remember enjoying Molly's voice. I just listened to some of the sound track and realised I knew some of the words so I must have listened to it abit at the time.

Further below from where I took yesterdays upload, there is al small cove and seats where one of the scene's was filmed. I couldn't make it any further so Paul went down and took this photo for me!

Here it is. Just abit of fan-girling. Why not?

Tags:   Dunravan Bay Wales Bob Dylan Hearts of Fire Film location Beacj

© All Rights Reserved