illustration | Saturday, February 20th, 2010

Happy Walls

These are murals we did for the new corporate office of Innoland Development Corp.

Don’t let the tiny screenshots fool you, these run along two walls with a combined length of 54 feet (and about 9 feet high)

Some detail shots

Godzirrraaaaaaa!

This is the view from the office. Deep night sky where will you take us tonight?

posted by: Mark Deutsch| 6 comments|Tags: Murals

hg everyday | Saturday, February 13th, 2010

Ha Long Bay

People around here say that Ha Long Bay is the place where the Dragon rests. And boy, is this place majestic and beautiful.

Along this vast body of emerald water are thousands of islands that seem to have been called up from under the earth to look out over the ocean. There was a mist when we were cruising around and it just added to the overall surreal feel of the experience.

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When we got there they let us choose our own junkboat. We picked the most magnificent one. (Which was not very much more magnificent than the second most magnificent one :p)

The Mist is everywhere.

On deck!

That’s our captain walking around (so who’s steering the ship?)

Dragon Kiss

There are stops on bigger islands along the way, where there are hiking trails and caves.

Badass Caveman

They’ve put lights in the caves for those of you who don’t have night vision

Move along

Well… I think there was something really interesting sticking on the rock

Ship’s cook

Shrimp for lunch

You can also hang out inside the ship’s small rooms. Same view, less chilly air.

Vendors come around and approach the boat, selling fish and fruits.

This is on one of the floating fishing villages (interesting stuff)

Of course, it didn’t take long for Johanna to take over and commandeer the ship. Arrr!

Uhm, Joh? I think home is that way?

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More of Vietnam:
Hoan Kiem Lake

posted by: Happy Garaje| 5 comments|Tags: Vietnam, whereintheworld

hg everyday | Saturday, February 13th, 2010

Hoan Kiem Lake

The Lake of the Restored Sword or Hoan Kiem lake is about five minutes walk away from where we are staying. Legend has it that, in the-15h century, Heaven sent Emperor Le Thai To a magical sword which he used to drive away the Chinese out of Vietnam. One day after the war a giant tortoise swam out of the water and took the sword from his hand and disappeared into the murky waters.

Since then a few tortoises have appeared in the lake, the last reported sighting was in 2000. In 1968, one tortoise died and weighed 250 kilos and was 2.1 meters long! The remains of the turtle is preserved in a museum.

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People come around the lake in the morning and late in the afternoon to exercise, bike, meditate or just hang around. We attempted to jog around the lake this morning too, it was a bit cold, as the weather today was hanging around 12 degrees. (that’s really cold for a tropical man like me)

That’s Johanna, she’s liking the cold.

This is the bridge that’s in the middle of the lake.

Tonight is New Year’s eve and they’ve prepared some elaborate fireworks show and have decorated the lake with these huge balloons.

That’s the Pagoda at the center of the lake.

Across the street is the famous Old District, where there is a large market that sells everything!

Let’s play spot Johanna.

It’s cold even for this guy.

There are flowers everywhere.

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Halong Bay

posted by: Happy Garaje| 3 comments|Tags: Vietnam, whereintheworld

Travel | Monday, February 8th, 2010

We’re going backpacking :-)

posted by: Happy Garaje| comment on this post|Tags: whereintheworld