So Many Photos, So Little Time (and Memory)

Location: Soi 1 Guesthouse, Sukhumvit Soi 1, Bangkok, Thailand

Adventure of the Day: Trying to download, back-up, delete, post, and generally accommodate all of the many photos I've taken!

One of the things that’s been preventing me from posting is the insane numbers of pictures I’ve been taking.

You see, I take the photos on my camera (duh). And then I have to put them on my computer as a backup, because that’s just smart. But because I’m paranoid about something happening to my dear old Cheese* (he is more than four years old), I have to back up the photos yet again. Without an external hard-drive (I keep thinking I should buy one, but all honesty I would be just as worried about losing it), I’m backing them up online via Google’s Picasa. But I have too many photos for Picasa’s allotted space, so I have to weed out the really important ones to save. Which isn’t too hard seeing as most of the photos I take I look at a week later and don’t recall why I took the photo in the first place.

Another reason it’s important for me to get the photos on Picasa — I can directly link them to this very blog, so there’s a whole lot less downloading time. And if I’m backing them up on Picasa, why not link to them?

But it takes a ton of time for me to actually get the photos on Picasa (especially with inconsistent internet access/speed), so I have to wait to blog about something until I get the pics up. Cause I’d really rather not write a blog post without pictures. I want to share my experiences, and that means sharing photos of what I’m doing. Plus, as Trippy Tricia taught me in Intro to Web Development, visual elements are essential to a dynamic and enjoyable web experience. But then there’s the question of what size I should post the photos.

Extra big and beautiful in all their HD, 2000+pixel glory…

Sunset on Koh Phangan.

Still really big...

A more manageable size…

 

Or small, allowing more to fit in each post. 

The last thing I have to do with my photos is upload the good ones to Facebook. Cause I really want to inspire envy in my friends. And because I’m a writer, I have the undeniable urge to caption practically every photo. But again, this is more for my benefit than anyone else’s. I have the memory of a fish, and writing down why I took a photo helps me remember what actually happened. 

Never fear, though. I've just fully updated my Picasa account, and during the many hours of servitude at the desk here at Soi 1 in the coming weeks all my various adventures will be rehashed! 

I wish my Cheese actually looked like this

* My computer’s name, for those unaware. Cause it’s a Mac. Get it? Mac and Cheese. This probably amuses me too much.  

A Great Hobbit Day

Location: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Adventure of the Day: It's so hard to say goodbye

I hope everyone had as great a Hobbit/Lost Day* as I did. Though it's real bittersweet being my last full day in Phnom Penh and having to say goodbye to Sara and Tabatha who are staying in Cambodia and Vietnam bound Mike, Allegra, Jay, Zoey, Ed, and David, it was also a pretty great day. Last classes of the session. I got to explore the amazing Russian market, had some speedy tuk-tuk rides, enjoy a fabulous and all too short river cruise, and finished off the day with a group karaoke dinner party. And tomorrow those of us going to Thailand will be out the door by 7 A.M.

It's difficult to fathom how much has happened since I got here 12 days ago. It's difficult to believe I only arrived 12 days ago. The time has flown by and yet I feel like I've been in Cambodia and Phnom Penh for ages. It's such a completely different environment and the people, streets, and experiences have affected me forever.

When I first arrived Dara, a Khmer employee of Language Corps and the hotel, gave me a city map. Just a simple double-sided paper one. It lists tons of restaurants and bars, as well as the major sites. I've gotten to or seen: the Central Market, the Russian Market, the Cambodian-Vietnamese Friendship Monument, the Independence Monument, Wat Phnom, The Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, the Riverside, Tol Sleng Prison, the Killing Fields, Siem Reap, and the multiple temples at Angkor Wat Park. And all week I was in classes 9-5:30 learning about warmers and modeling, minimal competencies and phonemes. I've been so busy blogging has been a struggle, but all these experiences will be addressed.

I'm beyond excited to get to Thailand, find a job, an apartment, and begin a real life here. But Phnom Penh has been a great city. The food has been stellar and the people kind. Despite my reservations about coming to Cambodia, I've fallen into a great affection for this city and country. But how sad can I be to leave when I'm going to the island paradise that is Ko Chang, Thailand? And how can I really say goodbye when I know I'll be back?

Now off to bed, falling asleep to LOTR. Because it's Hobbit Day, and I'm in the middle of my very own journey. 



* September 22 is the birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings and was the premiere date of Lost. Thus my obsession.

A Whirlwind Week

Location: All Around Phnom Penh

Adventure of the Day: Heading off to Siem Reap and Angkor Wat!

It's been an amazing, hectic, draining, exhilarating, food-filled, educational week here in Phnom Penh. I've learned I love tuk tuks but hate traffic. Don't order roast squid — it's like jerky — and if I get frog I'll be picking out bones every other bite. Meals are slow to arrive but amazing to eat. Elephant rides are good for scenic views, bad for speedy travel. And lots more.

Updates/observations/photos from the week will be forthcoming, but with only half an hour before we leave for a weekend at Siem Reap and the chance to see Angkor Wat, I have to rustle up some grub.

Until then...