Saturday, March 22, 2014
New Guidebooks for Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand
I have been busy! I have several new books out in stores this year. Among them are these new guidebooks for Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. Please order a copy for your next Southeast Asian Vacation and help keep me employed!
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Friday, November 29, 2013
Kiwis and the Film Community are the Heart of New Zealand’s Middle Earth
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Pukeko Pictures' Martin Baynton, Weta's Richard Taylor and The Hobbit's Evangeline Lilly at a fundraiser for The Neonatal Trust. |
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Stephen Hunter (Bombur) and James Nesbitt (Bofur) |
I stroll through the lane past Gandalf’s Cutting, where the old wizard rode into the village past round, brightly-colour hobbit doors and rustic gardens. Across the quiet lake sits the cozy Green Dragon tavern, now open for human-sized customers to sit and enjoy a pint.
One of the other guests on my tour proudly tells me how a family member was an extra there on set. She too had been an extra herself, but for The Lord of the Rings. It seemed everyone in New Zealand had a family member or friend involved in some way.
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The Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata |
I turn the corner and walk past the home of Samwise Gamgee and then up the hill to Bag End. I stand on the porch, where Martin Freeman and Sir Ian McKellen filmed their scenes as Gandalf and Bilbo Baggins, looking across the hobbit homes and on to the green rolling hills beyond.
Just over the hill are several Hobbit holes designed by Guillermo Del Toro. Their diamond-shaped windows and stylized look departed from Peter Jackson’s vision and were kept off-screen in the new trilogy.
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The "Dead Marshes" from Return of the King, near Queenstown |
Incidentally, I’m told that those rabbits were originally intended to have more screen time, complete with a bit of "boxing" between the rabbits and dwarves (which sounds rather like an old Warner Brothers cartoon), along with a number of talking animals peppered throughout the films (which if I remember correctly, talking birds, spiders and other critters was an idea that is faithful to the books). These were likely among Del Toro’s various ideas that Peter Jackson discarded when he took over the director’s chair for the trilogy.
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Mount Victoria Park in Wellington, where the hobbits tumble down the hill and then are nearly captured by a Nazgul. |
A great deal of filming took place further south around the capital, Wellington. On a tour with Jack Machiela of Wellington Rover Tours we visit the sites where Frodo tells Merry, Pippin and Sam to “Get off the road!” as they flee from the Nazgul (Mt. Victoria). We also explore the River Anduin (The Hutt River); Sauruman’s Gardens of Isengard (Harcourt Park); and Rivendell, the home of Elrond and his elves (Kaitoke Regional Park).
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Aidan Turner (Kili) |
Jack is one of three founders of “Welly-moot,” a local chapter of the UK Tolkien Society, and a living encyclopedia on things of Middle Earth. He was an extra in King Kong. His wife however, was an extra appearing in The Hobbit. Welly-moot meetings are held in The Embassy Cinema, host to world premiers of The Hobbit and Return of the King.
Peter Jackson’s movie empire is based in the Wellington suburb of Miramar. Large film sets are constructed at Stone Street Studios. In 2012, The Hobbit’s Laketown could be seen here from the streets and hillsides around. Further down the road is Park Road Post Production, where the editing, sound design, mixing and otherwise putting-it-all-together happens.
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Andy Serkis (Gollum) |
Just around the corner is Weta Workshop, where the physical effects, props and models are made, and Weta Digital—where all the magical computer effects are done. The Workshop and Digital are not open to the public. However the Weta Cave and “Window into the Workshop” are.
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The Weta Cave |
On our tour we meet a man who was an extra on set at Laketown. While he couldn’t tell us anything about his role or the movie itself, he gushed about what a wonderful experience it was and how well Peter Jackson treated all the cast, crew and even the animals on set. He also said he’d never been fed so well in all his life.
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Cate Blanchett (Galadriel) |
While there’s no arguing that New Zealand’s natural scenery is a highlight of every visit and inseparable from the movies filmed there, it’s the gracious and welcoming spirit of the local people—and those involved in the movie business—that really seal the deal.
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Gollum at the Wellington Airport |
Peter Jackson is known for being particularly generous with fans. At the Red Carpet party for the premier of The Hobbit last year, he and other cast members made a surprise appearance, and though swarmed by hundreds of fans, Jackson stayed to greet each one, pose for photos and sign autographs. Throughout production of his films he makes special efforts to show fan appreciation.
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Evangeline Lilly (Tauriel) |
While Wellington has been nicknamed “Wellywood,” what truly sets it apart from Hollywood is its family-friendly environment, the down-to-earth openness and approachability of its filmmaking community, and the warm hospitality of New Zealanders in general. The people I meet on my many travels in New Zealand are who ultimately bring life to Middle Earth.
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Peter Jackson, Elijah Wood (Frodo) and Jed Brophy (Nori) |
All photos copyright Adam Bray and may not be reprinted without permission.
Labels:
Lord of the Rings,
New Zealand,
the hobbit,
Wellington
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Thursday, October 3, 2013
Photo of the Day: Cham Musicians, Kate Festival, Vietnam
Cham musicians at the Kate Festival in Phan Rang, Vietnam. The Champa Kingdom once occupied much of Vietnam and portions of Cambodia and Laos. The Cham were not just a longstanding historical rival of the Vietnamese, but also the Kingdom of Angkor. Often mistaken for a New Year Festival, Kate is nonetheless the most important event in the Cham's own unique Hindu calendar. This week the festival is celebrated in Phan Rang, with events going on all month in Binh Thuan and Ninh Thuan provinces (the southern kingdom known as Panduranga, to the Cham).
Labels:
Cham,
festivals,
Phan Rang,
photo of the day,
Vietnam
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Monday, September 16, 2013
Travels in Phnom Penh, Cambodia: Elections 2003 & 2013
Ten years after I arrived in 2003, elections have put Phnom Penh back in the news with big demonstrations, a bit of violence, and so far, unfortunately, at least one death. At least two more days of demonstrations are planned, but one wonders, given the tensions rising, whether they will go on much longer than planned.
Given the timeliness, I thought I'd share a few photos from Phnom Penh, particularly a few comparing things in 2003 and 2013.
Above is the ceremonial entrance to the royal palace as it looks in recent times. The smaller photo is 10 years ago. Not much has changed other than a coat of paint.
Above are examples of how the streets of Phnom Penh looked in 2003; most were unpaved and full of potholes. Crumbling buildings in the alleys fell into the streets. Now everything is paved and most structures, but a few French colonial buildings, are quite modern.
Quite honestly there's not much I would ever buy in here, however there are some good money changers as well as some great Vietnamese food in the take-away section in the back of the market.
The Raffles Hotel (left) and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship thingy
Above Top: The wall along the Royal Palace. Above Middle: The National Museum beside the Royal Palace. Above Bottom: At the Phnom Penh Waterfront.
Above and Below: One of the most remarkable changes since 2003 has been the border crossing between Vietnam and Cambodia. Pictured here in 2003 is the un-paved highway, with mud at times up to my thigh. What now is a pleasant, air-conditioned 5-hr drive, was then a 12-14-16-hr drive in in mud and bumper-to-bumper traffic. We often had to get out and push our van out of the mud. We, and our bags, were hot, sweaty and filthy when we finally arrived in Saigon. At the border there were no signs. The Cambodia side was a wooden hut. You had to walk across the border on foot, carrying your own bags, on a path through rice paddies, passing grazing water buffalo as you went. Now of course, there are modern border stations and the bus drives you across the paved roads, with big hotels, restaurants and even casinos on either side.
Thursday, September 12, 2013
Photo of the Day: Ca Day Lake, Vietnam
Ca Day Lake, in northern Binh Thuan Province, Vietnam. The modern overlook tower imitates the traditional architectural style of the local Cham people, who inhabit the province. The Cham people are the original inhabitants of southern Vietnam and once controlled an ancient kingdom that occupied much of Vietnam and parts of Laos and Cambodia.
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Saturday, August 17, 2013
My Favorite Resort of the Week: Victoria Angkor, Siem Reap
The beautiful sunken courtyard of the French-colonial-style Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Keep your eye out for the very special inhabitants in the pools below...
Visit the Victoria Angkor Resort at: http://www.victoriahotels.asia/en/our-hotel-in-cambodia
Note: I personally visit all of my "Favorite Resort of the Week" features.
Labels:
Cambodia,
Siem Reap,
Victoria Hotels & Resorts
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