On the coast of Vietnam, east of Hanoi, is the world heritage listed Ha Long Bay. Scattered throughout the bay are around 2000 spectacular limestone islands. The constant heavy mist (either coastal fog or Hanoi smog) adds to the mysterious appearance of the region.
Early morning bathers.
Sunrise
Paddling out to sea
Traditional Fishing Boat
Fishing Boat with net booms.
Artist in funny hat entertains local fisherman.
Traditional floating fishing settlement.
After the peace and quiet of Sa Pa the 9 hour night train jolted us back into the non stop chaos of Hanoi. Twenty four hour markets, swarms of bicycles and motor bikes, endless street food, fruit and flower vendors, people selling post cards, hats, cold water, warm beer, you name it someone on the streets of Hanoi sells it. It seems like the population of 7 million people rarely sleep and are all on the move at the same time.
Man caught napping
Blending Traffic, Hanoi roundabout
Fruit vendor and Bicycle.
To cross a street in Hanoi you simply walk slowly out into this swarming horde and somehow they all part around you.
Cruising the backstreets
Low Speed Delivery
High speed delivery
Meat Delivery
Joyride in a Jeep
Non stop wholesale markets.
Any color, any texture, any thickness, any size.
Loading and unloading zone
Late afternoon shopping.
Old town Hanoi
View through Wire.
How not to loose your bike.
Flower Market
Any color, any size, any fabric, any style
Hanoi Fog
Railway at your doorstep.
Following the road east from Mataranka out to Roper Bar brings you into the top of Limmen National Park. The Northern region of the park is popular with Barramundi fishermen, but heading south along a badly corrugated road towards Cape Crawford brings you to Butterfly Gorge and a number of areas dotted with strange sandstone formations. 
Butterfly Gorge (minus waterfall at end of dry season)
This little Azure Kingfisher spent a lot of time patiently watching the ever diminishing waterhole for fish.
Pillars of sculpted rock.
Heading south east, we camped at the Ayrshire Hills. Another spectacularly weathered landscape 70kms out of Winton.
We entered Kakadu National Park from the south, via Pine Creek with a 3 day permit to enter Koolpin Gorge. After collecting keys from the ranger station, we bounced our way down the road towards Gunlom. Crossing the South Alligator River, we turned South East to Koolpin. The road was badly corrugated with some nasty twists and turns.
This poor guy found out the hard way that taking it easy gets you there quicker.
Koolpin Gorge is a string of waterholes linked by waterfalls in the wet season. The three lower pools are the home to salt water crocodiles, but beyond those it is safe to swim.
Walking up through the gorge is spectacular. The track cuts up over the ridge in places with great views of the surrounding country.
From Koolpin we moved on to Red Lily Billabong. There are no facilities there, and the track in is pretty rough at the moment, so not many people head out that way. We had the place to ourselves. A young couple with a tent called in, and seeing the number of crocs there, decided it wasn’t the place for them.
The billabong is a large expanse of water and covered with huge red water lilies. Lots of bird life and numerous large crocodiles.
Sandy Billabong is a favourite spot. The early morning light, rising mist and lurking crocodiles make the twisted old paperbarks look kind of creepy .
Yellow Waters Cruise on Jim Jim Billabong at sunset is one of the highlights of Kakadu. This is the fifth time we have done the cruise and it is always spectacular.
Afternoon fires turned the setting sun into a glowing red ball.
Kakadu Birds Slide Show Not Working?
We saw a number of small herds of water buffalo scattered through Kakadu. They had almost been eliminated but over the past few years are breeding up again.
This old landcruiser was used to chase down buffalo back when they were in large numbers.
After the Blackall workshops we headed out through Western Queensland and up into the Northern Territory.
Interesting architecture – Kynuna, Western Queensland
Ancient council caravan, seen better days.
Willie Mar’s Chinese Market Garden – Winton
We found ourselves in Katherine for the annual rodeo. The town was busy, but we were able to stay at the show ground where the rodeo was held, so we got to see all the practice and preparation before the events.
Abandon swings outside the rodeo grounds
On the morning before the rodeo we were treated to an impressive hour of hard core polo practice.
San Francisco was a busy couple of weeks – 10 workshop days and plenty of good restaurants, bars, shows and museums to see. Fantastic catching up with old friends and meeting new students from all over the US and beyond – a great couple of weeks.
Powell street cable car
Union Square
Bay Bridge
Fire Boat under the Bay Bridge
Red’s Java House
Jimi Hendrix’s Red House, Haight Street
Haight Street power pole – staples accumulating since the 60’s.
Medicinal Dope – Haight Street
Skull Exhibition – San Francisco Academy of Science
Air Show over Alcatraz celebrating Fleet Week.
Blue Angels – doing crazy things very fast.
The Stinking Rose – Garlic seasoned with food.
Under the Golden Gate Bridge.
San Francisco is dotted with (mostly) immaculately kept Victorian architecture.
Some awesome, but not so immaculate.
How to squeeze more into a pickup truck than should really be possible.
Jack’s Bar – Cannery building Fisherman’s Wharf.
Fog over the Golden Gate.
After our workshop at Dillmans we went New York to rest and relax before two San Francisco workshops. We didn’t do too much resting and relaxing, but had a mighty week with Dane and Zoe, visiting bars, galleries and restaurants all over Brooklyn and Manhattan.
Greenpoint mural
Black Cadillac
Metropolitan Ave
Dealers Merc
Brooklyn Mustang
New York Dolls
Murray’s Cheese Bar
Commute
Home Sick
Under Williamsburg Bridge
$399 Divorce
Halloween
Bridge across the Hudson
Manhattan Kindergarten
Brooklyn cat yard
Dome headed policemen
MOMA PS1 Retrospective – Xavier Le Roy
Time Square selfies
Birthday Beers
Brooklyn campervan
Airstream
Splashing Paint 