Similan Islands from underwater: part 2, underwater temple and more

At the end of 2012 I would love to take you one more time underwater between colours and funny/ cute/ weird looking creatures...On one of our dives around Similan islands we found this stone underwater temple at around 10 meters. Some other fantastic finds were the big white nudibranch, the sea urchin known as "jewel urchin" and the crab recycling rests of other inhabitant as his home....
Wishing you all a good end of the old year and a very good start in the new one! 

Christmas underwater, around the Similan islands, Thailand

 

Merry CHRISTMAS to ALL of YOU :-)))

Today with the underwater reportage from the national park Similan islands in south west Thailand. These islands are located around 50 km from Khao Lak and may be reached in 2-3 hours from the mainland by boat. This park is famous to be a real underwater paradise in the Andaman Sea and a place not to be missed. Our pictures will show you the colourful Christmas trees, the tiny crabs, some beautiful fishes and corals.

 

However even if you may see a lot of colours we have actually spotted more dead coral and destroyed ecosystem than an intact one. It was pretty sad to see that Similan islands (advertised as one of the top10 diving spots in the world) are suffering not only from heavy coral bleaching (due to global warming of the oceans) but also from other distructive natural & especially human activities. We were told that a lot of the big fishes are gone (either to escape the crowd or being fished)...Last but not least one may see the beginning recovery of the underwater world: the growth of new corals. I truly hope that the big tourism industry built around this disappearing beauty (like diving&snorkeling trips) will support and participate in it!

Bangkok fruit tasting: in the middle of exotic fruit paradise

 

Its not a secret that I am one big fruit junkie. Watermelons, peaches, grapes, cherries, pineapples, just name it....I love them ALL:-) So on my trip to Thailand I was very curious to meet&taste some more exotic to me fruits. And it was not very difficult! Bangkok markets are simply a fruit paradise: rambutan (first picture), jackfruit (second picture:being cut, third picture: right, already prepacked for sale), mangosteen (fourth picture) are just few of all yummy things I tasted (and purchased). 

Bangkok Fruit market  

This is how the mangosteen (top plate left), love apple and guava (top plate right), dragon fruit (down right) and rambutan look when they are ready to be eaten.-)

 

There are several different mango sorts and the ones below are ones of the best mangoes I have ever tried...Next on the list "to try" is the famous Thai fruit "durian" (in the left corner on the last picture). It supposed to be pretty stinky and one either loves it or hates it...I am curious:-)

About Bangkok and its streetfood...

 

Once you start to discover the famous "city of angels" (as the Thai capital is called), the first thing one see/smells and perceives is the Bangkoks streetfood. Food stalls are literally everywhere offering fresh fruits, tons of sweets or simply grilled meat&sausages. In the lunch break one may also get a whole warm dish (soups, curry or fried rice)...People also eat in the street on the sidewalk, where vendors oten install not only their mobile kitchen but also few tables and chairs for their guests. Every cook collects very careful the made garbage as there are big fines for rubbish on the street...

 

And in order to wish you all HAPPY holidays, some "tropical" decoration from here too:-)

...and as a big elephant lover I had to take a pic of me with this huge, cute elephant too:-)

Wet Sofia & night pictures of the cathedral Alexander Nevski

 

I wrote few weeks ago about the symbol of Sofia, the beautiful and special cathedral Alexander Nevski here...Somehow everytime I am home I do pass by. This time it was wet and later it got a bit dark, so you will see the cathedral in other lights...I had fun experimenting with different white balance of my small compact and got some stunning effects, especially the colours of the cloudy sky!