Joe Benning Photography
Hi Everybody
We will have limited internet bandwidth until after April 17 because of local regulations with respect to Wi-Fi, so it may be a while until we can post photos.
Joe
We are in (South) Korea for 3 days. Here are some photos from Seoul.
Joe
The Emperor’s Quarters at the Palace Compound
The Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul, Korea
Our Location vis-a-vis London, Paris…
Korean Women in Native Dress
Korean Man in Native Dress
Hwaseong Fortress overlooking the city
Closeup of the Changdeokgung Palace in Seoul, Korea
Courtyard and entranceway to Changdeokgung Palace
Our three days in Beijing included trips to the Forbidden City, the Emperor’s Summer Palace, the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square and dinner and entertainment at the Great Hall of the People. Here are some photos–including one of the ambulance that followed the tour group–just in case someone fell off the Great Wall.
Joe
The Great Wall of China in the mountains around Beijing
Watchtowers along the Great Wall of China
Reflections Inside the Forbidden City
Temples inside the Forbidden City
At the Top of the Forbidden City
Mao’s Portrait in Tiannamen Square
Yulan Tang (House of Jade Ripples)
Father and Son visit the Summer Palace
Rickshaws with Drivers
Atop the Forbidden City
Great Wall with Mountains in the Background
Sign posted on the Great Wall
The Great Wall of China in the Mountains by Beijing
Our tag along tour ambulence
We visited the Jade Buddha Temple, the Yu Yuan Gardens, the Bund on the Huangpu River, the Arts and Crafts Research Institute, and of course we went shopping. Here are some photos.
Joe
Shopping in Shanghai–Note the Starbucks coffee shop in the middle of the square
Yu Yuan Garden in the Middle of Shanghai
The Museum of Arts and Crafts in the French Concession
The Long Bar, Shanghai China
Shops by Yu Yuan Garden
Shanghai Topiary
Monks in the Jade Buddah Temple
Fog Over Shanghai
Along the Bund, Shanghai, China
A View from the Bridge
A Busy Shanghai City Street
We spent a little time in the Port city Xiamen, which is a kind of a Gateway to China. It’s in a special economic zone and with 4 million people is a pretty big deal. By comparison, I think Chicago has about 2 million people. Anyway, here are some photos taken in Xiamen.
Joe
Woman Carrying Goods to Market in Xiamen
Statuary in Egret Park, Xiamen China
Retail Shop in Xiamen, China
Busy Shopping Center in Xiamen, China
A Mix of Eastern and Western Architecture in Xiamen, China
A bakery in Xiamen, China
Hong Kong, like New York, never sleeps. Here are some photos from the day and a half we spent there.
Joe
Victoria Bay by Day from our Stateroom
Repulse Bay Beach, Hong Kong
Plane flying over span bridge in Hong Kong
View of Hong Kong from Victoria Peak
Mary Anne in Hong Kong
Hong Kong China Town
Hong Kong Skyline at Night
We piled onto a junk with some friends to sail on Ha Long Bay, a UNSECO world heritage site. The bay is dotted with fishing villages at the base of some of the rock / island formations and it has an almost indescribable natural beauty. It’s kind of like the Grand Canyon in that you have to see it in person grasp the grandeur of it. The day we went was fairly cloudy, but that really didn’t matter much. It was still breathtaking. Here are some photos.
Joe
Rock Formations of Ha Long Bay
Placid waters of Ha Long Bay with a fishing village at the base of an island
Mary Anne sailing on a Vietnamese Junk on Ha Long Bay
Mary Anne and Brigitta sailing on Ha Long Bay
Ha Long Bay Rock Formations
Ha Long Bay Harbor from our stateroom veranda
Ha Long Bay “Thumb”
Fishing Village on Ha Long Bay
A Fishing Village on Ha Long Bay
A visit to Chan Mae included stops at Hoi An, Dan Nang and China Beach. It is officially dubbed Marble Beach, but the official name is ignored in favor of China Beach. Here are some photos that include the bustling market in Hoi An’s Chinatown, the jungle in My Son (pronounced Mee Sun), and China Beach in Da Nang.
Joe
China Beach on the South China Sea, Da Nang, Vietnam
Woman on Bicycle in Market
Street Corner Vendors in Hoi An
Street Market in Hoi An
Woman Carries Produce to Market in Hoi An
Woman Carries Goods to Market in Hoi An
Chinese Lanterns for Sale in Hoi Ans China Town
Path through Jungle in My Son leading to Pagoda of the Cham People begun in the year 1 AD
Bridge in My Son (Mee Sun) where the Cham people lived
In the Market
Pushing Goods to Market in Hoi An
Trader makes a sale
We took a long (7 hour) trip out to the Mekong Delta, which is about a 90-minute drive from Saigon. As usual, motorbikes were everywhere on the roads. In Viet Nam, traffic lights (a rarity) and Stop signs are mere suggestions so the drive was took us through the usual chaotic traffic.
When we arrived we sailed along the Mekong River on a Vietnamese junk. Quite an experience.
While Saigon is pretty vibrant and developing rapidly, sailing along the Mekong River presents a very different picture. Though there are occasional Wi-Fi signs and Cable Dishes, it reflects a more traditional way of life. Cable dishes notwithstanding, the Mekong River coastline is dominated by ramshackle houses and stores. They appear to be rather primitive and are geared toward life on the river. They are certainly not close to Western standards.
So the photos that are included with this post are ones that try to capture the essence of what we saw of life along the river for the Vietnamese people who make their homes and businesses there.
Vietnamese Woman Navigating the Mekong River
Woman with Baby in Vietnamese Junk on Mekong River
Trader Displays Her Wares in Floating Market of the Mekong River
Vietnamese Woman with Fruits and Vegetables on Board a Junk on the Mekong River
Workers making coconut candy in a village workshop along the Mekong River
Ferry Boat Lets Off Passengers
Vietnamese Junk on the River
Resort along the Mekong River
Houses and Stores on Stilts along the Mekong River
Saigon is now officially Ho Chi Minh City but the locals call it Saigon anyway. It very much resembles Paris; not too surprising since much of the architecture is from the French colonial period. It is a study in contrasts: an old city, filled with young people, ancient traditions and unbelievably chaotic traffic mostly led by motorbikes. It has to be seen to be believed. Here are some photos.
Joe
Water Puppet Show Masters
The busy streets of Saigon
View from the Rooftop Bar of the Rex Hotel
The Saigon Post office built by France during the colonial era.
Outdoor Market in Saigon’s China Town
Noodles for sale in an open market in Saigon’s Chinatown.
Motorbikes whiz along the streets of Saigon
Saigon’s streets are crammed with people riding motorbikes.
Photo of burning incense in a Buddhist Temple in Saigon, Viet Nam
Bikers weave in and out of Traffic
Biker Takes a Break
Inside a Buddhist Temple in Saigon, Viet Nam
Quite a few photos here including street scenes, outdoor markets, and of course, Temples and Pagodas. Cambodia and Thailand are studies in contrast. The beach resorts we visited are first rate. Not so much the villages and small cities outside the upmarket tourist areas.
Joe
Woman Paddling Through Floating Markets in Thailand
Woman cooking meals in open market in Cambodia
Thatched Umbrella at Beach Resort, Cambodia
Statuary in the Gardens of the Ancient City of Bangkok
Sokha Beach Resort, Cambodia
A small boy clinging to the driver of a motorbike in Cambodia
Pagoda on the Water
Life Guard Station, Sokha Beach Resort, Cambodia
Guanyin, the Goddess of Justice and Mercy
Garden Statuary Thailand
Floating Markets of Thailand
Floating Markets in Thailand
Buddhist Pagoda in Thailand
Young boy on the back of a motorbike in Cambodia
Replication of Pagoda in Ancient City of Bangkok
Mary Anne and I visited Singapore’s aviary–the largest in South East Asia. Here are some photos taken while we were at the aviary as well as a few taken in a man made rain forest.
Joe
View from the Cloud Forest with City in the Background
In a tropical forest
Ducks in Singapore
Red Myna Bird on a tree branch
Standing on a rock
On a tree branch
Flamingos by a waterfall
An unusual pigeon
Duck on a rock by the water
Bird show at the aviary
An eared dove perched on a tree branch