Vienna - me with weiner vendor

Vienna - me with weiner vendor
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

I found myself taking pictures with food all of the time in Vienna. I was very excited about the weiner stand. I was also amused by the fact that the first three items on the menu (frankfurter, bratwurst, and some other kind of wurst) all translated to hot dog.

Vienna - view from Stephensdom tower

Vienna - view from Stephensdom tower
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

This is the view from the top of the Stephensdom south tower after the 383 step climb.

Cairo - Elizabeth with hookah

Cairo - Elizabeth with hookah
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

Hookah smoking in Egypt seemed like an iconic experience. I was just excited that they had plastic disposable tips, so it was pretty sanitary.

Cairo - Khan al-Khalili bazaar

Cairo - Khan al-Khalili bazaar
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

The famous / infamous bazaar where I was so amused to receive over two dozen marriage proposals.

Cairo - Hanging church (4th Cent.)

Cairo - Hanging church (4th Cent.)
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

The hanging church is so named because it's built over an old fortress wall. It dates back to around 300 AD, which makes it the oldest church and one of the oldest buildings I've ever been to. This church is in an area called Coptic Cairo which is the area of the old city and where the Holy Family sheltered while hiding from King Herod. It's kind of mind boggling to put things like that into a real-life context.

Cairo - me with camel

Cairo - me with camel
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

A photo of my camel ride... silly, but still one of my favorite Cairo experiences. And this picture shows just how cute my camel was. I really think I got the best natured camel.

Cairo - us with pyramids

Cairo - us with pyramids
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

Proof that I saw the pyramids. I also went inside one - the Pyramid of Chefren had access open to a burial chamber. Going inside was a very cramped, claustrophobic experience. But seeing the pyramids in person was definitely something worth doing.

Bangkok - Aerobics in the park

Bangkok - Aerobics in the park
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

Thousands of people show up to do aerobics in the park. (You can kind of see the instructor - he's a small white colored speck near the lights at the front of the crowd.) It was quite a spectacle.

Bangkok - me at Grand Palace

Bangkok - me at Grand Palace
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

Mid-May is the start of the monsoon season and it rained every afternoon we were in Bangkok (hence the umbrella). These shiny statues were very fun. And it's one of the few pictures I have which really shows just how shiny the Grand Palace complex was.

Bangkok - Wat Arun tourists

Bangkok - crazy brits at Wat Arun
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

Crazy British tourists at Wat Arun. They were funny - I got several shots of them doing different poses.

Bangkok - Wat Arun

Bangkok - Wat Arun
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

Wat Arun is one of the more spectacular temples in Bangkok with it's interesting shape and ornate decoration. Also featured (in the lower right hand corner) is Bob, my traveling stuffed cow.

Hong Kong - tea at the Peninsula Hotel

Hong Kong - tea at the Peninsula Hotel
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

You've got to love the way the British spread the english language and a love of tea around the world. The Peninsula hotel is famous for their afternoon tea, which we tried. It was lovely.

Hong Kong - durien fruit at market

Hong Kong - durien fruit at market
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

I took the photo because I think the durien is an interesting looking fruit and we don't have them here. But evidently it's also very smelly and it's recommended not to eat them indoors. :)

Hong Kong - bird market

Hong Kong - bird market
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

The bird market was interesting and colorful and Very Loud. You could get a great deal on a pet bird, but I'm pretty sure it would be very complicated to get it through Customs.

Hong Kong - Accenture office

Hong Kong - Accenture office
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

We accidentally found the Accenture office! I was so tickled that I got the receptionist to volunteer for a photo. Half way around the world, and it looked pretty much the same as any of the offices I've seen in the U.S.

Hong Kong - Bank of China building

Hong Kong - Bank of China building
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

The Bank of China building was designed by IM Pei and is famous for it's feng shui - it sends negative vibes in the direction of its neighbors.

Hong Kong on arrival

Hong Kong on arrival
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

Photo taken from the airplane on descent into Hong Kong airport. Hong Kong airport is the world's largest passenger terminal and required several feats of modern engineering to create and connect to the city. (I watched a netflix video on it... it's interesting. I recommend it.)

South Pacific

South Pacific island from airplane
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

This is a photo taken from the airplane window while flying over the South Pacific. You're looking at an island (the yellow beach ringing a forested interior). I just think the picture is beautiful and interesting in its abstract-ness.

Fiji - orchid garden

Fiji - orchid garden
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

Evidently Raymond Burr used to own a Fijan island. He started an orchid garden which eventually got moved to the main island. The orchids were beautiful as was the tropical rainforest setting.

Fiji - Me with coconut

Fiji - Me with coconut
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

So you can see the beautiful Fijian background in this photo. But really I'm posting it because I was so ridiculously proud of myself for obtaining a coconut. The groundskeepers at the hotel seemed to work their way around the grounds cleaning the lower (dead) branches and coconuts off of the palms. And I managed to talk one of them into letting me have a coconut (plus having them hack it open for me). Very exciting. :)

Fiji - Pool

Fiji - Pool
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

This was my favorite of the resort's pools in Fiji. This particular one is the pool at the Sheraton Royal Denerau hotel.

Fiji - Starfish

Fiji - Starfish
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

Photo of starfish trapped in the shallows at low tide. It's purple color is somewhat muted in the photo from the reflection of the water - it really was a spectacularly vibrant color.

Fiji - Beach

Fiji - Beach
Originally uploaded by hsimmon.

Fiji beach photo. This is taken at the Sheraton's private beach island which was not so great for swimming, but had exposed reef at low tide which was really fascinating!