Through My Eyes

Snow in the Jing

2009-11-10T13:42:00.000+09:00

Main Parade

2009-08-08T15:31:00.004+09:00

The main parade was a water inspired theme - thank God, we needed some cooling down! I was fascinated by the characters they had in the parade. Their costumes were beautiful and had so much detail.

Some Friendly Faces

2009-08-06T21:28:00.004+09:00

I think I was more excited than the children by all the characters, although I did make them pose with at least one.

Hong Kong Disney

2009-08-06T09:08:00.003+09:00

This summer we took the kids to Hong Kong Disney for a few days. It is amazing how a few days can equal hundreds of photos. Now I have the hard task of narrowing down a few to share.

HK Disney was such a fun but it was so hot. I don't think I will ever complain about not living in a hot country again!

Summer Fun

2009-06-29T22:07:00.002+09:00

Family fun day at school was a highlight last week. Miss C loved the slip and slide. I love the expressions on her face.

Fruit Markets

2009-06-28T22:17:00.006+09:00

There aren't big shopping centres here where you can get all you need. The way to get the freshest produce is to go to the market the locals use. The fruit and vegetables are so fresh, but I love it because of the images I can shoot.

more spring

2009-06-27T21:04:00.005+09:00

It is so good to be back. Sites get blocked by the government depending on their content. If someone anywhere in the world comments on something the government think is not ok, blogs get blocked. With the run up to the anniversary of Tianamen Square, a lot of things were blocked.

The flowers were poppies. Today's flowers were all taken at my front door.

Spring

2009-06-27T08:51:00.004+09:00

I love living in China, but I do hate the way so much of what is on the internet gets blocked. Blogger and all blogs have been blocked and still are since May, hence my lack of postings. I have truly missed being part of the POTD. The good news is .... I am back.

We are currently on our Summer vacation so I will have blog access for the next 6 weeks.

Here are some shots I took a few weeks ago, they were taken in Beijing. Spring in Beijing was amazing.

Prayer Time

2009-05-14T21:44:00.004+09:00

I love the spirituality of the Thai people. I also love all the ceremony involved with their prayers. Flowers, incense and offerings all are a feast for the senses.

To answer the questions from yesterdays posts. The ladies were actually bagging dried fruit, it was the angle that made it look different. One lady was resting and the other was filling bags with dried plums.

Thai People

2009-05-13T18:32:00.005+09:00

I find the Thai people so fascinating - they are such a contradiction between old and new.

They are a mixture of so many cultures and influences.

Thailand-again

2009-05-12T22:40:00.005+09:00

I have just come back from a week in Chinag Mai in Thailand. I honestly thought I wouldn't get anytime to take some photographs, but thankfully I was wrong. I got to spend an afternoon exploring Chinag Mai. These shots are at a temple I visited.

More Olympics

2009-05-09T11:18:00.004+09:00

I have been MIA as I have been in Thailand for Professional Development for a week, I will load my photos from there soon. This is the last of my Olympic shots - theses are a very random selection.

Inside the Bird's Nest

2009-04-21T22:17:00.004+09:00

At the Olympic Park you are able to go inside the Bird's Nest. This was such an experience. I have to be honest I had goose bumps up my arms as we walked in. We were able to go down onto the running track and look around. There were so many fantastic shots - the thing that really caught my eye was the rows and rows of red seats and the guards- I am sorry if I bore you with all the shots, it seemed that every angle I looked at them, I saw something visually pleasing.

Generation Gap

2009-04-20T21:48:00.004+09:00

I fell in love with this old man the minute I saw him. He was visiting the Bird's Nest. His clothes tell me he is from the country (he is still wearing the traditional dress from the Cultural Revolution days) and so did his responses - he kept walking around looking and touching everything. He was so amazed by the cameras and he kept looking at my camera and wanting to see what it did, to be more specific what the digital screen on the back did.

This shot below is my favourite one, he just could not stop watching anyone take photos.

He is looking at a stranger here.

Olympic Fever

2009-04-19T10:42:00.004+09:00

After living in Beijing for almost a year, we thought we should at least try to get to the Olympic Park once. I have to say I was completely blown away - the buildings were amazing, but it was the emotion there that touched me. I look at the work and the organisation that had to happen for the Olympics to be a success and you can almost touch the pride of the Chinese people as you walk around this place.

I have to say this was one of the best days I have had in China so far.

More Great Wall

2009-04-16T21:54:00.002+09:00

Here are some more shots from the Great Wall, this is a different section to my last posts. It is a restored section and a much easier climb. There is something magical about this place that I can not put into words. All I know is I seem to have hundreds of shots of the wall from all different angles, and I never feel like I have truly done it justice.

Miss Claudia

2009-04-07T19:05:00.004+09:00

These shots were taken on our weekend away. Claudia has decided she is a super model and has many poses under her belt. Here are a few.

A Chinese Village

2009-04-06T21:17:00.003+09:00

This is the little village that our resort was in. There is nothing remarkable here other than my fascination with the Chinese people and their way of life. It is so different to what we see in the Western world and the more time I spend here, the more I have come to love and respect it.

Manchurian Dreams

2009-04-05T22:46:00.004+09:00

My Mum is staying with us and as a special treat we stayed at a resort located at the foot of the Great Wall for a few nights.

The front gate of the resort is actually one of the walls towers.

It was a magical place - like stepping back in time.

All the shots from todays post were taken there.

Hiking

2009-04-04T16:50:00.006+09:00

My Mum is with us and we climbed an unrestored section of the Great Wall this week.

It was a tough climb, but worth the view.

Spring is starting to show her face here in China.

More Snow from Beijing

2009-03-30T22:33:00.004+09:00

What is Beijing without a bike?

These shots were taken from the balcony of our old apartment (we moved a week ago) - these are Hutong roofs, Hutongs are traditional Chinese houses. When I look at these photos I am so reminded of how lucky we are.

Snow in the Jing

2009-03-28T22:23:00.003+09:00

We had a seasonally late snow fall a few weeks ago and I couldn't help myself to sneak out before school and take some shots around the school grounds.

I love the snow and feel so lucky to get to live in a country where it snows - even if it is only once or twice a year.

The Land of Ice

2009-03-06T18:11:00.004+09:00

As promised - ice sculpture images, sorry they are over 2 weeks late.

Everything you see here is created from blocks of ice and are amazing.

I really found it hard to shoot these - there is a far bit of noise that I need to work out how to get rid of.

Enjoy Harbin

Harbin

2009-03-05T22:11:00.003+09:00

It is still freezing here in China and we spent the weekend in Harbin - Harbin is the ice capital, it is famous for its ice sculptures - I will post those tomorrow.

The photos today are just some shots of the ice and how cold it really is there.

These other two shots are from the ice swimming - crazy or brave, I am not sure, but these men swim in the icy water every day. I need to add here that I had 4 layers on, followed by a coat, 2 scarves and a hat and was still freezing! They need to have footwear on so they don't stick to the ice.

White is the new black

2009-02-25T20:26:00.006+09:00

I am working on a unit with my grade 5 students entitled - White is the new black. We are looking and painting techniques and fun stuff like that. Anyway, it got me thinking about white and the white images I have shot in the last 6 months. Then I noticed the colour challenge for February was white, so I figured this post will be all about white.

Random

2009-02-21T20:45:00.003+09:00

Hooray, I am done, I can put all my Korean images away - processed! These are quite random in subject, yet were all shot at the National Museum in Seoul.

I have no idea what these soldiers were doing, but it kind of freaked me out that they were there all lined up.

My first baby - sadly not a baby anymore.

This is a pagoda inside the museum - I really liked the texture in it.

Gyeongbukgung Palace (well I think that is how it is spelt)

2009-02-17T21:52:00.005+09:00

Thanks for you comments, I do have to agree with you about the textures.

No harm in having an experiment. These shots below are taken and a palace in Seoul. There is almost light at the end of my Korea shots.

Playing around with Textures

2009-02-17T21:44:00.004+09:00

Textures - this is something I know very little about, but I thought I would have a play around and see where I ended up. The first two shots are images I really liked and the last shot is created with the texture from the first shot... I'd love some feedback on it... Honestly I am not so sure whether I like the result or not.

Thanks

2009-02-13T15:03:00.004+09:00

Thank-you all for your encouragement, I will keep you posted how the exhibition goes.

There is a lesson to be learned... Always edit you photos as soon as you take them. I have been churning my way through my Korean photos. So here are some more.

These were taken at the park at the top of the Namsan Tower.

I love these two shots - Claudia is terrified of birds - here she is having a standoff with a pigeon.

The following shot is my favourite

- Grandpa to the rescue - I love the look of relief on her face.

Exhibition

2009-02-02T14:40:00.008+09:00

Where I work, they feature a staff member each month to exhibit their "art."

This month is me - I am so excited and very, very nervous. There is a huge difference between showing images on your blog and actually exhibiting. My post today is all the images I have chosen. I decided to feature our time in Korea as my theme.

Namsam Tower

2009-01-31T08:21:00.004+09:00

There is a tower in the middle of Seoul called Namsam Tower and at the top of it, lovers go to lace locks on the rails. The theory is that for as long as your lock is linked so to is your love.

The hopeless romantic in me likes this idea.

Inside the tower they have created windows that point in the direction of all the major cities in the world. I think my Dad was a little homesick.

Korea revisited.

2009-01-24T13:57:00.004+09:00

I have finally unpacked my hard drive that had all the images I shot in our last few weeks in Korea. So you will be bombarded with Korea for a few weeks as I work my way through all I shot. It is amazing how much you shoot when you know this will be the last time you see something.

These images were taken at a Palace in Seoul when they were changing the guards.

From my Beach Chair

2009-01-20T18:17:00.006+09:00

The first few images here were taken from my beach chair. Everyday these men would come along the beach and sell things.

I know they are popped as I overexposed them and no

matter how hard I try to fix them - still learning in Light Room

...... any suggestions happily accepted.

The last two were taken around our resort - I just thought they were lovely images.

Random

2009-01-19T21:49:00.005+09:00

There is no theme here - just some random shots from our last trip.

Thank-you all for your comments - they are so appreciated.

New Year's Day

2009-01-18T18:03:00.004+09:00

Thank-you peas for being so welcoming - it is nice to be back.

We had a quiet New Year's Eve in Bangkok and on 1st January 2009 we took a walk.

This was feast for our senses - flowers, bells, incense and hundreds of people.

On the first day of each year everyone comes to temples for prayers for the new year.
Every street corner had sights like the photos below.

Water Lilies

2009-01-17T22:23:00.005+09:00

My presence on this blog has been lacking - this is about to change. I am determined to keep the posts regularly coming.

We had a couple of weeks in Thailand over Christmas and I actually

had some time to just hang and take photos. This was just what the spirit needed.

I found these water lilies swarming with bees. It w

as fascinating to watch.

I am seeing stripes.....

2008-11-18T21:13:00.004+09:00

We took a trip to the zoo to see the Pandas - they were amazing but so to were the zebras. I have never seen one in real life and they just blew me away. It certainly makes you appreciate their creator when you see them.

The Beijing zoo is fascinating, but not very animal friendly. The giraffe spent the whole time licking the walls. Despite signs telling you not to feed the animals everyone did. What concerned me was the fact that they were feeding them anything they could find. Leaves, potato chips, bread and even chocolate. I felt so sorry for these beautiful creatures.

Dirt Market Continues

2008-11-17T09:16:00.004+09:00

Anyone for a pearl or a string of jade. I am constantly blown away at how easy it is to buy these things here. And so inexpensive. Maybe I can tempt you with a puppet or two?

I want to thank everyone for their kind comments, I am trying to get to everyone's blogs but I am having access issues. If you use blogger they are seeming to block it. If you use another forum, it is fine. So my apologies.

More Dirt Market

2008-11-14T00:41:00.003+09:00

Have I mentioned how much I love this place?

I need to explain, I am not in a funk with photography, I am just so busy with my new job, new country etc, that I have had to stop spending hours editing and actually do the job I get paid for. I feel so lucky to be here having the opportunity to record this country with my camera. Life just sometimes gets in the way.

The Dirt Market

2008-11-12T22:28:00.002+09:00

I have been in a funk photo wise. I just have been so busy with work and the kids that I haven't allowed myself anywhere near my photos. My self imposed exile is over.

There is this amazing place called the Dirt Market - it actually isn't on dirt, but I think it used to be. You can buy all sorts of cultural artifacts and a lot of cultural revolution memorabilia. I love this place and often go there just to escape. These are a few that I have edited.

My girls

2008-10-16T09:37:00.002+09:00

I love having two girls. I always wanted daughters and i feel so lucky to have my wish come true. These were taken on our holiday in Thailand, hanging by the pool.

Holiday snaps

2008-10-14T21:51:00.003+09:00

I am determined to get my summer holiday snaps edited if it kills me. Mind you we had 10 weeks away, so there are a lot. We started our trip in Thailand where we had 2 weeks resting and hanging out by the pool. Most of my shots this week will be from Thailand.

The shots today are from a trip to the market. Claudia wanted to buy bracelets and could not choose from the vast selection - it took her 25 minutes to finally decide. It was the hottest day I think I have ever lived through - hence her red face.

Birds

2008-10-14T09:13:00.002+09:00

My Mum lives in the rainforest in Australia and every morning these beautiful birds come down for a breakfast of seeds. They are amazing and so beautiful. Their colours are truly this bright, I have hardly touched the saturation on these shots at all.

The Last of the Summer Palace

2008-10-12T09:39:00.003+09:00

These are the last of my Summer Palace shots - I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend.

I made this story board from the template Molly C shared. Thanks Molly.

Yep, more Summer Palace

2008-10-09T14:13:00.005+09:00

I am so lucky to be apart of 2 peas - you are all so kind and your comments and friendly messages are so appreciated.

Well here are more images from the Summer Palace - I am glad you are enjoying them. There are to shots of my girls too - I took them at to the palace.

This one cracks me up - she hates having to pose for shots with strangers (I just didn't have the energy to edit this one too).

More Summer Palace

2008-10-08T08:38:00.002+09:00

The Summer Palace is a truly magical place. It is not often I visit somewhere and actually feel like I am in another place an time. The way they make the buildings is mind blowing, the intricate details and the attention to the small things is what makes the difference. But the again that is the Chinese way. Everything is thought about from the pot plants to the music that is played while you are walking around.

Someone asked what we do that makes us travel so much. Well DH and I are teachers in International Schools. I teach elementary Art and DH teaches 2d Grade. We are currently at the Western Academy of Beijing. Before that we were in Korea for 2 years. The best part about teaching internationally is the school holidays - we travel as much as we can. It also helps that for professional development or for conferences we actually have to leave the country. Hence our side trips to Singapore and what not. Due to the Olympics we had 3 months off for summer and spent that in Australia with a two week stopover in Thailand (I haven't edited those shots yet - still to come). DH's family live 2000km from my family so we got to zig zag our way across Australia too. Oh some days I yearn for a house in the suburbs, and never ever being in an airport!

I suppose the most purposeful part of my life is my spirituality (I need to talk more in code now as I am in a communist country). Fellowship and my relationships with my BIG Dad are so important. This has led to some amazing opportunities - hence our trip to Nepal and work with the children's home there. I am currently the Mercy Now representative in China. My work involves sharing and talking to others about the work Mercy Now does. Mercy Now is a mission organisation that works mainly in the South East Asia region. If you want to know more email me or pea mail me.

Sometimes I get sad and miss normal life in Australia. I miss my family and friends, but most days I actually have to pinch myself to make sure I am awake. I really feel I live a blesses life.

The Summer Palace

2008-10-06T22:51:00.003+09:00

Thank -you to all those of you who leave comments, I would love to repay the kindness, but the internet police here in China are very random about what websites I get on to and when. Some days I can get onto every site and other days they block them all. The last two days has been blocked ones. Lets hope this ends soon! I may get blocked after this post - oops!

We went to the Summer Palace and I have taken a million images. Be patient, you will be seeing them all week. This place is amazing.

More Saturday Shots

2008-10-05T09:31:00.003+09:00

These were taken last week on our trip out. We went to the park which I posted yesterday and then onto the Temple of the 5 Pagodas. It just had this amazing peacefulness about it.... I loved it there.

Saturday in the Park

2008-10-03T18:50:00.004+09:00

Well it has only taken me a week to get these shots edited. We had a walk in the local park last Saturday. It is amazing what there is going on in parks in China. Card games, Mahjong games, exercise, music being played - I love the way the Chinese people just get out and live life.

Joseph

2008-10-01T13:09:00.003+09:00

I adore my friends son Joseph, he is such a sweetie. When we were home, I wanted to get some nice shots of him for her. We took him to the beach and he had a fun time eating sand and I spent the day calling to him - all good memories.

Random

2008-09-30T08:10:00.003+09:00

These images are completely random. They were the last shots I took in Australia. We had a picnic and I just played around with my camera.

My Refuge

2008-09-28T22:24:00.003+09:00

We are really lucky as my Grandmother has a house on the beach where we stay whenever we are home. It is such a peaceful place to be. Early morning walks on the beach became a regular part of our summer routine. These shots are some of the many photos I took on those early morning walks.

Bubbles

2008-09-26T21:29:00.012+09:00

It is amazing how much fun can be gained from a $2 bottle of bubble mix. My Claudia loved playing in her pyjamas outside with her bubbles. I took these shots back home over our Summer break. I am slowly getting through editing my Summer shots.

Some answers from last weeks post. The third image was taken in a bakery in Singapore, but I think they were models of the cakes not real ones. Everything in that bakery looked so good. I am actually drooling right now as I think of it.

Singapore

2008-09-23T20:51:00.006+09:00

I was lucky enough to have a weekend away in Singapore last week. Not having been there it was nice to see a new city, although an overseas trip less than 4 weeks after landing in China was not what I expected. Anyway I was ever ready to grab some shots in between session of our conference.

I have a new Mac and I have been editing in iphoto - won't be doing that again! Not happy with the resolution and the results. Oh well we live and learn.

I'm back!!!!!!

2008-09-12T10:35:00.004+09:00

Wow, it has been so long since I have had time to post here. In fact, my last post was in June in Korea. Well so much has happened since then .... to cut a long story short, we are now finally settled into China and loving it.

The girls and I took a walk on Saturday to get breakfast and these are the images I shot between our apartment and the bakery. I am finding this country so visually stimulating and am enjoying the variety in what I see.

Missing In Action

2008-06-25T20:18:00.001+09:00

I am sorry if I have not updated my blog lately, I am in the process of moving from Korea to China via Australia!

It will be August before I have time to post anything and it will be from the Olympic city of Beijing.

Water Happiness

2008-05-20T09:24:00.002+09:00

I am so happy - I am on theme - yay.

It was SEW which means Spiritual Emphasis Week at school last week and we ended the event with a huge water pistol fight. It was so much fun. The best part is that I had protection from the water as I was photographing. Anyway I think these shots fit the happiness theme.

Monday Already?

2008-05-19T08:01:00.002+09:00

Well we had an eventful weekend it was the school fair, hence our clown shots. Other than that it was packing for our move - we are gone in 3 weeks. Man where did the two years go?

I am still editing images from when Mum and Dad were here. These are a continuation from our Fortress visit.

Have a great Monday!!!!!

Just clowning around.

2008-05-17T15:20:00.001+09:00

We had some clowns come to school today and I was in awe of them. These shots are so far from being technically perfect, but I really want to capture the fun of the day.

2008-05-16T09:44:00.002+09:00

There really isn't so much to do in Korea other than go to Fortresses and Temples. These shots were taken at the Hwaseong Fortress that is a world heritage site. Kind of depressing but it was built to honour a king whose son was murdered by a neighbouring king. This is the gory part - they buried him alive in a coffin filled with rice!

2008-05-15T08:14:00.002+09:00

It has been Buddha's birthday here and so there have been many celebrations on lately. We saw all these lanterns outside a temple and they were hanging them for Buddha's birthday.

Yes, that is a swatsticker (or how ever you spell it), it is a very common buddhist symbol.

Out and About again

2008-05-14T11:01:00.002+09:00

This is a prayer tree. Basically you write your wish or prayer on the paper and attach it to the tree - then it will come true. Personally I am a big fan of prayer myself, I'm just glad God hears mine.... I would be in serious trouble if I had to write them down.

More wedding

2008-05-13T11:16:00.004+09:00

It has taken me all week to get back to my wedding photos and finally finish editing them. From a Mum's point of view I like them, from someone learning to get it right photographically, I am not so happy at these shots as there is too much noise in some of them.

At least we have a nice record of the day. It was so much fun.

Thanks Jess for your Warm Honey here.

This is my favourite photo - the don't take anymore photos look!

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T20:09:00.003+09:00

A huge happy Mother's Day to all those Mums out there.

This is the Mother's Day shot I took for my mum and my DH'd mum.

Well I finally took the plunge and turned the dial from the auto mode to manual.

It didn't hurt too much and this is one of my first manual shots.

I am seeking CC as I REALLY want to improve and there are so many photographers here who inspire me.

These were my settings: 1/250, f6.3, ISO 100.

Flower Girl

2008-05-06T11:18:00.002+09:00

We were able to experience our first Korean wedding on Sunday. It was extra special as Claudia was the flower girl. I haven't really had time to edit much. I will try to post the rest tomorrow.

Water or at least a need for it!

2008-05-03T09:35:00.003+09:00

I have never really bee to good at sticking to the theme.

Todays photos are not really on theme either. My littlest DD was in art class yesterday (I am the art teacher) and she created this elephant - very cute I think. Well she also got really dirty - and I couldn't help myself, I needed to take her picture. She was not impressed. She said to me, "Mum, now you need to take everyone's photo, not just mine." I suppose it is hard to having a Mum as you teacher? Anyway, she needs to find some WATER and wash herself.

One very tenuous connection to the theme here.

RAW - i did it.

2008-05-01T19:56:00.005+09:00

Ok this may seem lame, but I have not ever shot in RAW - purely because I never had the time to work out how to convert it. Well I decided to make the time. These shots are nothing earth shattering, but are my first go at RAW. Emily and I took a little walk on Sunday in the rain.

Thanks for all your concern about my nose - yes it is broken, but not bad enough to do anything major to fix it up. So in the meantime I look like a racoon with 2 black eyes. Could be worse, I suppose and had to have an operation. i am trying to be grateful for small mercies.

Quick take the photo before spring goes.....

2008-04-30T10:18:00.003+09:00

That is how I feel. I took these shots on the weekend, I was hoping to get Cherry Blossoms too, but I was too late. This is what I have editied, I will put more up tomorrow.

I wanted to apologise for not leaving any comments last night - I had planned to after putting the kids to bed. Well the littlest kid and I were playing and she ended up falling on my face and I think I have broken my nose! Needless to say I didn't get to the comments. I will tonight, thanks for all your comments yesterday.

2008-04-29T10:47:00.001+09:00

Thanks to all you for your kind feedback - I appreciated it.

We had icecreams on the the weeked and I couldn't help myself.

I do feed my kids healthy food too, it is just I never seem to photograph it.

I couldn't choose which version I prefer.

Temple Stuff

2008-04-28T09:30:00.002+09:00

These are some shots from a Buddhist temple we visited.

Are you Hungry?

2008-04-27T08:28:00.003+09:00

Do you feel like a Korean snack?

I promise you these are real, and I did not make them up!

First we have a regular corn dog but then to add to the calories it is re-dipped in batter, rolled in chips (fries) and then fried again!

Our second choice for those not wanting something fried twice is the chocolate corn dog! This is just s regular corn dog, that is then dipped in chocolate or strawberry topping and sprinkled with hundreds and thousands! I bet your mouth is just watering!

Budha

2008-04-26T09:49:00.003+09:00

I have this rapidly growing collection of Budha photos. Actually I am not sure if they are all budha, they are different God's or non christian icons, but as I don't know their names, they are budhas to me. I ma fascinated at how different people seek God and how they represent Him in their lives.

Fairy Floss

2008-04-24T22:18:00.002+09:00

Please excuse my absence - I am in the middle of putting a year book toghether and there is little time for anything else. But I did manage to get these shots in of my Corky and her love affair with Fairy Floss/Cotton Candy.

Nepali Memories

2008-04-11T13:38:00.002+09:00

I have really struggled with this editing process - I have been in meetings all day and yesterday so I have been editing these on my laptop. I am officially stating that I hate using the laptop for these. I hope the colours are not too off?

More Nepal, you will be sick of these soon, but I keep finding more shots I want to post.

More Nepal

2008-04-10T10:58:00.003+09:00

Thanks for all your kind feedback -I am going to answer some of the questions from the feedback. Nepal is the most amazing country, everyone has mobile phones, yet the roads are still dirt. It is dirty, smelly and wonderful! The food tastes so good and the best part is you eat it with your hands - rice and curry with your hands! It is truly a third world country and they still load share power - every week for 2 nights a week you have now power from 4pm - 8pm. Most houses do not have running water and you will see people bathing in buckets on their front doorstep, yet when a Nepali man was in the final for Indian Idol the whole city of Kathmandu had a block party with firecrackers!

Our church was doing a mission trip so we decided to go and we spent 10 days living and working in an orphanage. It was the most challenging and rewarding experience of my life. It changed my girls perspective on so many issues. We live a blessed life, we travel, we live internationally, we want it - we buy it. My daughters helped wash clothes by hand with rocks and soap, they sat on the floor to eat their food and they had to first help cook the food and carry the water inside to prepare the food. They had to have cold showers for 4 days because there was no sun, so no hot water. Now when they whinge that their hat is not pink, I point out they are lucky to have a hat and they get it. The kids and the workers are now part of our life. Each month we send care packages and my girls send their pocket money at the end of each month. We will return to Nepal in October and spend another 10 days there - Nepal and it's people touched my life more than I can ever touch theirs.

Gosh that was a chapter book!

I have been inspired to play a bit with actions - ok long way to go but I feel I am starting to understand maybe 2% of what I need to know.

Nepal

2008-04-09T11:54:00.003+09:00

I know I am jumping countries, but I am sick of editing my Korea shots. We took a mission trip to Nepal last October. It was the first mission trip my girls have been on. Anyway I have finally got around to editing my images. Here are a few shots I have been working on today.

The ocean - at last

2008-04-08T11:06:00.001+09:00

We took my parents for a trip to the Eastern side of Korea to see the ocean. I was not expecting much as all my trips to the beach here have left me disapointed - rocky beaches, dirty water. Well was I surprised when we got to the beach. It was gorgeous. It was freezing, but that didn't stop my girls.

My Cuties

2008-04-07T09:19:00.002+09:00

I will never put my children in white again! I think every shot I took of Claudia is popped! These shots are nothing great, just some happy snaps of my girls when we took my parents out.

I seem to photogrpah my younger child more than my oldest and I have no idea why?

Oh I know, it is because the younger one doesn't run away from the camera.

Have a wonderful day!

I told her we had to go home - such a well behaved child!

Corky the Ballerina

2008-04-05T09:45:00.005+09:00

Miss Corky just loves to dance. She is always dancing around the place. Well it is either dancing or taking off her clothes - why does she do this? Anyway the other day she was dancing up a storm, I took about 200 shots - not much worked. I got these two images That I played around a lot with just trying to get some love from PS.

This snap is so typical of her - she has finished her game, off with the clothes!

2008-04-04T08:09:00.002+09:00

Ok, I'm in a funk! I talked about this yesterday - I have all these shots but I am sick of Korea! Not the country itself but photographing it. We leave for China in about 8 weeks, but it will be the same Asian images - I hope this doesn't sound ungrateful - we have a wonderful life with so many adventures, but how different is a street in China going to be compared to a street in Korea? Ok I need to move on.

These are some random images I took on my trip with my parents. Not really a regular theme, just some things I thought looked cool.

Dancing

2008-04-03T08:24:00.005+09:00

I know all these cultural images are interesting, but I am yearning to shoot something cute and pretty! Korea is not that! Anyway I've had my whinge.

Now onto my photos. This are the traditional farmers dance. They do these cool flips - I tried to capture it, although not sure how well. They also have these amazing ribbons attached to their heads and they spin them around. My neck hurts just looking at them.

At the fair

2008-04-01T13:16:00.003+09:00

I have been absent for a while as my folks have been here and have been busy playing tour guide. These are some snaps I took and the fun fair the other day.

Old Korea

2008-03-21T22:32:00.003+09:00

My parents are here for a visit and it is so nice having them around. We went to a traditional folk village this week. It was so nice to be able to share out life here with Mum and Dad.

Of course no post is complete without one shot of my cuties.

2008-03-17T08:27:00.002+09:00

Some more shots from my soccer afternoon. My friend's son is so gorgeous, I had to get some shots of him. Not so happy with the lighting in the last three, a little overexposed, but I love the interplay between Mum and son. Any CC greatly appreciated - I so want to improve.

2008-03-15T13:43:00.003+09:00

Spring is almost here and the weather is getting warmer. Daddy's team had an after school soccer game, so most of the school came out to watch. I was suppose to shoot the game, but the by standers were much more interesting. These are some of the staff kids playing around the side of the oval. I had a successful afternoon. The light was good, but more importantly I am starting to understand the settings on my camera better. This may seem so simple but the last weeks I have been working on understanding my ISO and what setting to use where. Still so much more to learn.

Crazy Cowboys

2008-03-13T18:38:00.002+09:00

We had some not so traditional looking cowboys at school today.

White Day

2008-03-09T10:01:00.010+09:00

It is White Day tomorrow. Korean's celebrate Valentines Day or Red Day - girls give to boys. They have White Day - boys give to girls and Black Day. On Black Day, you need to eat black noodles if you got nothing on Red Day or White Day. You eat the noddles to bring you good luck for next year.

One of my students got me a bunch of flowers for Red Day. I have been so eagerly seeking something pretty to photograph, so flowers it is.

Out and About

2008-03-08T16:17:00.003+09:00

The weather is finally starting to warm up so we have been wandering a bit more around our city. These are nothing special, just some shots to help me remember Korea before we go.

Long Absence

2008-03-06T14:32:00.004+09:00

I have not posted here for nearly two weeks. I can at least say I am not lazy. My little Claudia had a severe kidney infection and spent 7 days in hospital on a drip. I am not going to bore you with all the details, but she has made a full recovery - Praise God. for a while there the doctors were talking about kidney damage and dialysis. Anyway, not much shot in the last dew weeks, but I did capture these shots in hospital.

This is set up. I asked her to smile - I know asking too much.

She met a little friend in hospital.

Just my toilet humor coming out! Well seven days in a hospital will make anything seem funny.

Our name tag. I find this funny too!

Number 1 is ours and only our last name.

The name below is the girl next to us - her first and last name.

Where is the love today?

2008-02-15T08:36:00.005+09:00

I can tell you - in my daughter's ear! Long story, but funny. My cherub was given some bouncing goo for Valentines Day by her teacher. She loved it so much she took it to bed with her ( a fact I did not know). Anyway, this morning when I woke up it had gone into her hair, and better still, down her ear. We spent most of the morning digging goo out of her ear.

Anway she is at school now, with goo in her hair and a pink ear! Happy Valentines Day!

I have some more shots from our market trip.

I am posting - just in time!

2008-02-14T14:39:00.002+09:00

Here is my love picture. My dear friend made me some soup when we were not well. Just before I dug in I noticed the pasta was giving me a heart - Thank-you God, I have a post!

Love

2008-02-13T10:16:00.000+09:00

We have all been sick with the flu. Claudia my yougest is the only one well enough for school. Today she had to catch the bus for the first time on her own. I grabbed these snaps as she was eating her breakfast gazing out the window. I thought her tights were very appropriate for the theme this week. I am constantly blown away at how grown up she is getting. Man I love that girl. I also thought I might comment on the beautiful view outside our window. Living in Korea I see so many exotic sites but there is a downside - my view! I miss trees.

Markets

2008-02-11T15:44:00.000+09:00

To capture love is hard - well it is for me.

So I am taking the easy option today and just not going to be on theme.

We took the girls to the local markets last week. I saw these stacks of washing baskets and I thought they looked interesting.

I took about 500 photos at the market and got a few decent ones. I think a lot has to do with the interesting subject matter rather than the photographer. Anyway there is definately a fishy theme to the next few images.

Expecting

2008-02-10T10:13:00.001+09:00

POTD - Vertical and Horizontal

2008-01-31T10:55:00.000+09:00

Another selection of school shots - well it is where I spend all my time at the moment. I am not sure if I am truly into the theme, but there are vertical and horizontal lines in my images. I have to admit I have been really inspired and impressed with all the posts for this theme.

I teach a publications course and I set this project for my students (9th Grade). After having to explain vertical and horizontal to them I let them loose to photograph. Here are some of the better ones.

vertical - horizontal

2008-01-30T12:07:00.001+09:00

I'm a teacher, I see lockers every day - but I have never photographed lockers.

Well this is my on theme image.

Princesses Playing

2008-01-29T11:32:00.000+09:00

I know we are on a new theme, but my eldest left these words for me on my bed last night and I had to post them. Oh my heart melts

My girls played princesses all weekend. It started out with them all dressed up in costumes and as the weekend wore down so did their clothes. These shots are in the partial state of undress.

I am not sure if I shared with you or not that my husband and I have decided to move to Beijing. Our trip to Thailand was to attend a job fair and we were lucky enough to secure a position at a school there. I am not sure if it is the stress of moving internationally again, or the fact that it is still cold and snowing, but one of my students brough in a wig today and I couldn't help myself. These are not images I shot, but are funny any way.

On theme

2008-01-24T10:11:00.000+09:00

I am on theme, I have words!

My photos today are very different to my last posts. We are now back in Korea and it is freezing and snowing. Snow is still a fascination to me as it doesn't snow back home in Australia - well the part we are from anyway. Here are some shots I took whilst on playground duty.

More Thailand

2008-01-23T11:27:00.000+09:00

Thank-you so much for your feedback and comments. It is so heartening that other people like my photos. I have put all my non family related images on this post (I'll save the family shots for another editing session). I don't consider some of these to be my better shots, but we are all still learning. I would appreciate some feedback on some, particularly the ones that seem to have a somewhat orange tone.

I am also going to say I am one theme - sort of. My first image is my words picture - do number plates count?

More Thailand

2008-01-22T11:02:00.000+09:00

The first image is my POTD that is on theme. This is a shot from the roof of my taxi. They put their prayers up there to bring them good luck. Well it is sort of on theme. The rest is just Thailand stuff. We spent a day on the river and the images were so vivid.