Ayutthaya - Thailand

Some photos from old former capital city of Thailand.
Guided tour took us to couple of temples, town ruins and the Kings Palace(no photo because of battery strike).





small statues:

Statue high around 15 metres:

Bangkok - Thailand

Yesterday around midnight I arrived to Bangkok.
First impression if horrible hot and wet weather(34 degrees), but
better than cold :)
People smile a lot, when I speak to them, there is bad traffic on the streets
tuk-tuk(pict.) looks like the second most dangerous transport mean after motorcycle taxi.
Around 5 km long journey in tuk-tuk cost me 0.6 US$, taxis (all have to be air conditioned) are more expensive(3 US$).

And a big problem I see, that Thai alphabet is different and although they name the streets in Thai and in English as well, it is almost impossible to find out where are you located even with the map in your hand, because one street can have multiple names and every map uses different.

Sydney - Australia

I went 4 times to Hyde Park to eat my morning sandwich and 3 of 4 mornings this guy came to walk around my park bench:



Some audio from Australian Museum:
(museum guide playing live Didgeridoo, it was too dark environment to make a video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcGuPagTfdU

and illustration video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g592I-p-dc

Sydney - Australia

Monorail:



Sydney Opera House:



Harbour Bridge, background:



Watsons Bay:

Sydney, Blue Mountains - Australia

Yesterday I went to the Bondi beach and I definitely have to go here in the summer to learn to surf. Massive waves, noise and smell of the sea everywhere, great.



Today I bought organised guided 1 day tour to The Blue Mountains.
Yes, I know, hardcore backpackers never do it.

It was quite good value because I sat in the front of our 10 seat minibus and I also got driving lesson from our guide, former truck driver.
Now I know how to drive in the peak hours traffic jam and reduce the driving time to a half.

We had a stop at Sydney Olympic Park,
Sydney Olympic Stadium:



One of many solar systems installed in Sydney Olympic Park:



Our guide said that there is also a rain water collection system on the roof of the stadium and they use the collected water to supply the park and the athletes village as well.

Stop at Blue Mountains park area and one of the wild kangaroos:



Blue Mountains:





Three Sisters:



check the story behind Three Sisters

http://www.bluemts.com.au/tourist/thingsToDo/threeSisters.asp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Sisters_(Australia)

Real Three Sisters:



Real Three Sisters and me:
(I asked our truck driver to make this tourist photo for me, but never do again. Look at that horrible smile :)



World Steepest railway:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katoomba_Scenic_Railway

Sydney - Australia

It's nice shiny weather here in Sydney (around 15 deg.) and some people wear T - shirts and shorts.







Cars drive on the left side of the road as in New Zealand and you can see subway train just above your head :) in the middle of the downtown street.

You can buy 20 minutes of Internet for 2$ and when you go 200 metres, on the same street you find another Internet Cafe with the same computer and Internet for 2$ for unlimited access.

Rotorua, Waiotapu - New Zealand

For last 2 days in NZ I went to small city Rotorua, which is around 4 hours by bus to the east.

Geothermal natural park Waiotapu is 27 km from the city:



devil's ink pots:











Champagne pool:




devil's pool:






Lady Knox Geyser:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu1ovmqHqFU