Koh Samui Island, Thailand. 24 February 1986
Walked to the point where the Big Buddha sits. Certainly big. Came back towards sunset. I took 16 shots of a beautiful sun going down, its reflection in the sea cut by an anchored fishing boat & luckily in the foreground – a fisherman throwing a net.
14 January 1986
We’d heard that a cruise ship was berthed in Teluk Dalam and passengers were going to the village of Bawomataluo for a special performance of traditional dancing and stone jumping. So we walked 8 kms from our lodge on Lagundri Beach before a hot, steep 3 km hike up a hill to the village.
High-roofed traditional houses with thatched roofs are quite strange. The stone jumping was impressive, using a rock to push up from they cleared a 2m high stone wall feet-first.
We came down the hill another way, via stone steps for most of the way, followed by children. We had a dip in the stream. Drank tea in a villager’s home. Bought coconuts to eat and drink, a young boy clambered up the trees and cut them down. Bought bananas at the junction. No transport, had to walk the final 6 kms in the 1 o’clock sun, 22 km all up.
The Bawomataluo settlement was submitted to be a world heritage site in 2009, see: http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5463/
12 April 1986
Lots of folks selling flutes. This was at the top of Swayambhunath – the monkey temple – perched wonderfully above Kathmandu and hard won via 365 steep, stone steps.
Quite fine and warm when I started walking to the ‘monkey temple’ a few k.s due west, up and down a few hills past some interesting scenery: the Bishnumati River; a house being built by the hands of nearly the entire village. A bright, clear valley with hills in the distance. [Consigned to history I’m afraid – the city now stretches right to the base of the steps].
Had to climb a long series of steep steps to reach the summit complex. Past all the beggars patiently beseeching “Namaste” and holding their cups aloft. Had to fend off large Macaque monkeys jumping up at me making a grab for my mandarin.
12 September 1985
Walked to Butterfly Gorge from the national park campground with Brian.
Interesting vegetation: Salmon gums, palm trees, tropical fruit trees. Saw Aboriginal art on a rock overhang. Going down to the gorge from the ridge-line turn-off was beautiful. The sun coming through the leaves, black and white butterflies fluttering, birds calling. After the stated 7 kms (seemed less) we arrived at the water’s edge. Met up with the two Swiss guys and we jumped off the cliff & swam down the gorge a few bends before coming back for lunch.
When the main street of Kuta was still a bit rough and you had to watch out you didn’t step into an open sewer drain on the footpath. The rice fields were only just off the main drag.
It stopped raining and I walked up to bemo corner, then found a parallel back lane and came back along it. Didn’t see one tourist. A lot of Balinese, especially children, playing and flying kites. Everyone saying “Hello. Where are you going?”