Fish Tales

Last week I found myself hoping for an emergency at the Taipei Airport.

Okay, maybe just a ‘false alarm’ kind of emergency. But, either way I wanted the situation to require everyone to evacuate the building. And, quickly.

Why?

Because we’d get to use the escape chutes!

I really wanted to peek inside

I’ve never seen anything quite like it.

Rather plain, white steel boxes strategically placed around the airport. Easy to overlook at first.

And, certainly, if the boxes didn’t have “Escape Chute” written on the side you’d assume they contained some sort of… umm, I don’t know. Something. Whatever would fit well in a white box. Use your imagination.

So, can an escape chute really be in a white box? Really?

Yes, apparently they can.

Look at the instructions if you don’t believe me.

Click photo to enlarge instructions

Flower Hmong Girl

Our early morning visit to Can Cau revealed a vibrant, colorful marketplace nestled against the mountain hillsides.

Each Saturday the local tribes gather to exchange agriculture, animal and textile products. And then some.

In Vietnam, the Hmong represent the primary ethnic group in mountainous regions. And, within this group, several subcultures exist.

The “Flower” Hmong comprise the principle minority in the area and their dress almost resembles a kaleidoscopic vision. The embroidery that decorates their clothes distinguishes each tribe within the various Hmong tribes in the region.

It was an amazing experience.

And a great photography opportunity…

Fabric market

Vibrant colored embroidery

Strong elderly woman

Baby carrier

Mother with child

Packing 50kg (110 lbs)

Leading a donkey (in town)

Elderly man

Yum!

A few days growth

What happens when you combine a few days growth with a visit to the Bac Ha Sunday market?

A not so ordinary shave, far removed from electric razors or the neighborhood Great Clips back in Portland.

The market, located in the in the North Vietnam highlands, provides a location for locals to trade everything from water buffalo to locally distilled moonshine.

Just around the corner from the live chickens and right before the small kitchen fires cooking blood porridge, a row of barbers sit and wait for willing customers.

When I walked by, one barber met me with a casual enthusiasm. With only descriptive hand gestures and some broken English he indicated I really could use a shave.

Apparently I’d be much more handsome sans stubble.

So, to his surprise I said yes.

This response quickly drew a crowd of other barbers.

He suggested a price 50,000 Vietnam Dong (less than $3 USD) and in the excitement I quickly agreed and neglected to negotiate the price. I later learned I paid about five times the local rate, but no matter. I think this shave involved significantly more work than the average local.

And if he cut or nicked me, the shave was free.

So, the barber started with a new razor and some lukewarm shaving water.

It made me a bit nervous.

He slowly worked his way across my face.

Notice the motorcycle passing behind

Not that it hurt, but it wasn’t always super smooth. I expect the barber wasn’t used to thicker, Western style facial hair.

But once he finished my face was smooth. No cuts. What an adventurous shave!

Open-air barber shop

The barber and me

“I’ll eat you.”

I’m sure that’s what this little guy was thinking. All while muttering under his breath, “Just if I was a little bigger. A little bigger”.

I enjoyed the stand-off with him. It reminded me of those kitschy 60’s Japanese horror films where overgrown insects take over Tokyo. Just minature. And not so scary. Because, if he were overgrown I would’ve been running in terror.

Just like in those movies.

But, in fact, this preying mantis is a vegetarian. He lives in Penang. And he’s designed to be perfectly camouflaged when resting in a tree. Even his wings look like dried leaves.

Stand-Off

Miniature monster/alien villan

When the tide goes out in Penang strange creatures show up. And I mean strange.

Are these fish? Mutated half-breeds resulting from the heavily polluted waters? What are they!?!?

That’s what I kept asking myself as they flopped, crawled and scooted across the soft mud. And effortlessly darted in the water whenever I got too close.

Good thing for Google. After about ten minutes of searching I learned they are called mudskippers. An appropriate name.

Mudskippers breathe through their skin, as long as it remains moist. During high tide, they maintain an air pocket inside their burrow, which allows them to breathe in low-oxygen conditions.

Freaky mudskippers

Tide out, thousands of mud burrow holes

The Tokyo Narita airport knows what they are doing. At least when it comes to making travellers feel comfortable during a layover. There’s a great lounge downstairs below all the gates with comfy chairs, computer desks, clean washrooms, etc.

And, the best part? TV monitors that show live pictures of each gate.

No need to stand around the gate joining in the cattle round-up before boarding while wishing there was an empty chair since the flight is delayed. Just watch the screen in the lounge and head upstairs as the boarding line begins to dwindle.

Most excellent!

Flight is supposed to be boarding... but, I know better.

Ouch! Now I regret avoiding the man-to-man sunscreen rub on my back. At the time, Derek and I jointly reached the customary, non-verbal guy-code on this. The aerosol sunscreen spray would do just fine.

Too bad Derek only managed to spray a lazy “S” while neglecting the rest of my back. The hot Thailand sun had its way with me.

Next time I’ll opt for the rubdown.

An S-Class Sunburn

Within minutes of stepping onto the Jaipur, India sidewalk these street performers found us – they seemed to walk the roads looking for willing tourists. The snake charmers kept their serpents in baskets with cloths covering the top and once they intercepted a receptive audience, they sat down, revealed the snakes and began to play a flute-like musical instrument. Their somewhat hypnotic song persuaded the cobras to emerge from the baskets and they eventually extend their hoods.

They asked for 1000 rupees, but they got 250. Not bad for 10 minutes entertainment.

Snake Charmers @ Jaipur, India

We managed to sneak in a quick sight-seeing excursion early in the morning before heading off to meetings in Jaipur. The destination? An ancient fort built in Amber, Rajasthan appropriately named Amber Fort – only about 8 miles from Jaipur. Perfect escape.

As we approached the fort my colleague commented, “Imagine trying to attack that.” Simple enough observation, but thought-provoking none the less. Back in 1592, during the fort’s initial construction, it probably did seem somewhat impenetrable.

Amber Fort

Inside the fort there was a lush, green garden that seemed very out of place in the dry, arid surrounding landscape.

Amber Fort Palace Garden

The inside walls and ceilings were adorned with intricate designs and beautiful colors influenced by both Hindu and Muslim styles of ornamentation.

Amber Fort Palace Artwork

An interior room in the palace was covered with thousands of small mirrors embedded in the wall and ceiling mosaics.

Amber Fort Mirrored Walls & Ceiling

What’s the equation to calculate horsepower into camelpower? I’m thinking about 2.4 horses equal one camel. Yes? Anyway, considered this potential equation when I saw a camel working a construction job in Jaipur, India. Given the busy, noisy surrounding traffic I was surprised how calm and laid-back it behaved… just standing there chewing its cud.

Blue Collar Camel @ Jaipur, India