I managed to submit the photos for the second inaugural Able Australia DeafBlind Photography Contest - the first was in 2011 which I won first place for my entry in the "Favorite Person" category and second in the other three.
This year, however, there were only three categories instead of four. My entries:
FAVORITE PERSON (2 ENTRIES)
FAVORITE PLACE (2 ENTRIES)
OPEN CATEGORY (3 ENTRIES)
With only a couple of weeks to recover from burnt-outness and generally being tired, I had some rest and managed to get myself on the plane in time to get the hell out of Terra Australis (thanks Mim, owe you for that 5am drive to the airport!) and there was a supermoon right there saying goodbye just as I arrived at the airport.
After two hours wait and 11 hours flying I arrived at the famed Incheon airport, Seoul, Korea.
Korean Airlines are superb. Everything is so crazy-advanced. There's even an USB plug next to the excellent touchscreens (excellent because they don't glare everywhere, only to the person facing it so if you want to sleep, you can just turn YOUR screen off and pass out without being bothered by the person next to you watching a movie) behind every seat for you to plug your devices in and charge them up - which is a GODSEND! I quite happily charged up my iPhone, kindle and iPad whilst using my other devices.
The night before, Mim and Steve told me about Incheon Airport winning the 2012 best airport in the world award. Naturally, I was skeptical as to WHY it should be recipient of such an exalted award. After being there, I humbly congratulate them and endorse the award. This is their eighth year in a row winning it and it is so easy to see why.
I did not get lost. NOT ONCE. In fact, I would use that airport as an imbecile detector, if you got lost there I rest my case. It was clean, bright, friendly and marvellously well laid out. The staff were superb, helped me get through customs quick-smart and sorted me out regarding my reservation for overnight hotel and vouchers for food and got me on the bus straight to the hotel.
The Hyatt was fabulous. Buffet dinner and breakfast courtesy of the inclusive return ticket, the works. And boy, the food was beautiful.
The best bit was the pasta - oh god...
The only gripe I had was the bed was remarkably hard. I mean, I enjoy a futon bed but this was an actual mattress bed and it was HARD! Other than that, five stars for everything. I am definitely coming back to explore Seoul if I can, the city looked incredible from the window as I was landing in the afternoon, especially the bridge that reached over the water to the airport.
This is pretty much EXACTLY what I saw from the window.
I added this photo to show you just how insanely big this bridge is....
(DISCLAIMER: Images stolen shamelessly from Google Image search)
That bridge seriously didn't look real. I honestly was gaping and giggling at it - wondering if I was hallucinating from lack of sleep.
Anyway, back on the plane for 12 and a half hours again to Paris.
Unfortunately, I was on Air France - definitely a downgrade. It was all okay except for this fat Korean woman behind me. They seriously need to install a "get rid of annoying person" chute in planes but I dunno if they make them large enough for this hideous waste of space. She kept asking me not to put my seat back and in the end I gave up and just did it and put the mask over my eyes so I could try and get some sleep. Which I did not get due to her amazing ability to (I honestly have NO idea what the hell she was doing) bang the screen behind my head as I was about to drift off or get up and go get more water or go to the toilet or put the tray down and up and god knows what else.
It's a pity it's illegal to kill people.
It's a pity it's illegal to kill people.
Blearily, I realise I am finally in Paris. Once again, the airlines look after me and someone is waiting for me, takes me towards the train station but once I show him my instructions for where to go he recommends a more direct approach, the bus. It goes straight to Montparnasse rather than having to get two trains there. Excellent.
Montparnasse station is crazy. There were SOLDIERS there with machine guns patrolling the place. I kid you not. I wasn't stupid enough to take a photo - didn't feel like being arrested and probed and god knows what else. Discretion at times IS far better than valour.
The first thing I do is naturally, get a baguette. Damn but the French sure know how to make a baguette.
One TGV later, I arrive in La Fetté Bernard where Eli was waiting and a brisk 25 minute drive later to the small town of Igé in the province of Orne I meet Luka Edan Jean, my godson.
The next morning (today), since Eli has to go to work, I decide to go for a stroll and find this mansion (Manor de Lonné) that is apparently straight down the road (which after 50 meters turns into a dirt road) and take Car - which is what I call my Canon 5D mk II - with me. That was breathtakingly beautiful, that walk was.
Two hours later I finally find the mansion in the fog and let me tell you, it was surreal. I felt like I was in a movie. If there hadn't been a couple of cars parked here and there I would have been looking around for medieval cavalry to charge at me for trespassing or Robin Hood and his gang to rob me. Seriously.
If you want to see the full resolution image just open the appropriate picture in a new tab/window.
I've missed France.
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