Phuket Vegetarian Festival 2012 - Still Time Left

This year's Phuket Vegetarian Festival will be held from 15 October to 23 October; still plenty of time to make travel arrangements.

The religious celebration is one of my favorite events to attend and to photograph.  Duang and I have attended the festival twice, in 2008 and in 2010.  It is once again two years since we last attended so there is a strong possibility that we will attend once again.

The Vegetarian Festival is Phuket's biggest celebration and is a grand event for Phuket's Chinese community. Phuket was once a large tin mining as well as trading center. The Chinese immigrated to trade and to work in the mines. Today a large proportion of Phuket's population is Chinese. During the Vegetarian Festival, there are many ethnic Chinese visitors from throughout Thailand as well as from Malaysia and China.

The Phuket Vegetarian Festival started in the early 19th century. In 1825, a visiting Chinese opera company, that had visited from China to entertain the tin miners, caught malaria while performing in Kathu. In those days, malaria was often fatal. The opera company decided to adhere to a strict vegetarian diet as an offering to two of the Nine Emperor Gods. The opera company recovered from their illness. The people of Kathu celebrated by holding a vegetarian festival each year to thank the gods and celebrate the opera group's recovery. An additional belief that inspires the festival is to bring good luck to individuals as well to a community.

The festival is held over nine days during the ninth lunar month of the Chinese calender.

The central belief of the festival is that by eating vegetarian food and observing 10 rules, believers can purify their body as well as their soul while bringing good luck to themselves along with their community.

A Shrine Volunteer Covers A Container of Rice Which Will Be
 Distributed As Part of Vegetarian Meals to Believers

The 10 rules that believers are supposed to follow are:

Maintain body cleanliness

Use only clean kitchenware that hasn't been used by people who are not participating in the festival

Dress in white

Be moral in thoughts and actions

Do not eat meat

Do not have sex

Do not drink alcohol

Avoid foods with strong flavor such as garlic and onion

People in mourning should not participate in the festival

Pregnant or menstruating women should not attend the ceremonies

During the festival, many rituals are conducted to call upon the gods. These ceremonies include body piercing, fire walking, bathing with hot oil, and climbing ladders constructed with sword rungs. The ceremonies are held at each of the nine Chinese shrines.

The largest rituals are the daily processions of believers during the morning through Phuket Town. The origins of the processions go back to the early days of the festival when a local resident went to Kansai, China to invite two deities to reside in Kathu, a district of Phuket. He returned to Phuket on the seventh night of the ninth lunar month. He brought back with him the sacred documents used in the ritual back in China. Residents of Phuket had a grand procession down to the dock to welcome him back upon his arrival from China. Today's processions commemorate his original welcoming ceremony.

Spiritual Mediums, called "Mar Song", also written as "Ma Song", become possessed by the Nine Emperor Gods. The Mar Song are dressed in clothes befitting the god that has possessed them. People believe that the god will protect the mediums from harm while they perform the various rituals and acts of self mutilation.

Each of the main Chinese shrines parades through Phuket Town on their appointed day during the festival. During the parade the Mar Song demonstrate the power of their respective Emperor God by withstanding the pain of their ordeal. For devotees, the Mar Song through their ordeal, are able to remove evil spirits and can bestow good luck upon others as well as for the community. With their power and devotion Ma Song are highly respected and revered. Along the parade route many people and businesses set up tables of offerings to receive blessings from the passing Mar Song. Long strands of firecrackers are set off as a Mar Song approaches to scare away the evil spirits. The greater the sound and noise the more effective the ritual of driving the evil spirits away on to the Ma Song. 
As the processions advance, huge amounts of firecrackers are set off. The air becomes filled with the sharp staccato of bursting firecrackers, flashes of light, flying shards of bright red firecracker paper wrapping, and huge clouds of choking sulphurous smoke. The fusillade of firecrackers is especially heavy for the passing of the shrine idol. The shrine idol is placed on a chair that is carried upon the shoulders of several young men. The young men wrap shirts around their heads to afford some protection from the onslaught of firecrackers that are thrown at their bare feet or explode above their head from suspended strings. Power of the Emperor God is manifested in the ability of the young men to not be frightened or injured by the sound, fire, and confusion created by hundreds of firecrackers exploding about them. Other followers assist the young men when the firecrackers commence small fires on the shrine idol. They rapidly wave cotton tee shirts around the suspended chair to extinguish the flames.

The Mar Song are considered to be warriors. Their bodies are typically heavily tattooed with Oriental designs. The Mar Song are in a trance like state - they appeared to be talking or chanting to themselves with their heads trembling from side to side almost as if they had Parkinson's disease. The trance-like state for some people is attributable to a form of self hypnosis. For the devotees, the trance is due to possession by an Emperor God.

The morning processions will occur from Wednesday the 17th through Tuesday the 23rd.  The processions commence at 7:00 A.M.  Participants in the procession are members of specific shrines for each day.
For 2012 the participants and schedule are:

          Wednesday, 17 Oct - Sapam Shrine

          Thursday, 18 Oct - Sam Kong Shrine

          Friday, 19 Oct - Baan Tha Rue Shrine

          Saturday, 20 Oct - Bang Neow Shrine and Chering Thalay Shrine

          Sunday, 21 Oct - Jui Tui Shrine

          Monday, 22 Oct - Kathu Shrine and Yok Ke Keng Shrine

          Tuesdy, 23 Oct - Sui Boon Tong Shrine

If your time is limited, I would recommend attending the processions on Sunday and Monday.

To get the full experience of the processions and associated ritual, you can visit the shrine before the start of the procession.  I recommend that you arrive before 6:00 A.M. to witness close up the preparations of the Ma Song.  Be forewarned, the preparations include piercing the Ma Song with various objects ranging from needles to assault rifles  It is quite a spectacle and a unique experience.

Headed Home With A Vegetarian Meal From the Shrine

Life and Beauty - This Week

Duang - One week later and with stitches removed

Yesterday we had to drive back down to Kohn Kaen for the stitches to be removed from Duang's face.  The two hour drives down and back were fairly uneventful other than the numerous motorbikes travelling the wrong way on one-way roadways; a common occurrence here in Thailand.  There were even two pickup trucks going the wrong way; not all that uncommon either.  Unlike the previous day when I almost killed a motorcyclist, there was no excitement while driving.

The previous day I had gone grocery shopping alone because Duang is still shy about appearing in public with her swollen face.  Here in Thailand we drive differently than in the USA or Canada.  We drive on the left hand side of the road.  The slow lane is the lane furthest to the left on the road.   The fast lane, the passing lane, is the furthest right hand lane of the highway.

I was in the slow lane of the two lanes of the road that go north.  A median separates these two lanes from the two south bound lanes.  The entrance to the Lotus-Tesco Shopping Center is on the left.  I put on my signal to indicate that I was going to make a left turn into the entrance and commenced to slow down to around 20 KPH (12 mph) for the turn.  I noticed a motorcycle headed towards me, going the wrong way in the gutter of my lane.  I slowed even further and determined that in making the turn I would not hit the on coming motorbike.  Just as I commenced my turn to the left. I heard a loud noise and saw a flash of color pass by on my left side in the gutter of the lane that I was in.  A motorbike flew by me on the inside of my turn.  It appeared to be going around 70 KPH (40MPH).  The motorbike driver swerved to miss me, over corrected , swerved once again and missed the oncoming motorbike.  It all happened extremely quickly but played out in slow motion in my perceptions.  I remember thinking that the motorbike driver was going to fall off the bike and kill himself if not kill the oncoming riders.  Through luck, Divine intervention, or perhaps skill, the motorbike avoided any accident and continued down the road at 70 KPH.  It was a very close call.  Unfortunately this was not the first time that I have been passed by a motorbike on the inside of a turn or been passed on the wrong side by a motorbike.

I was amazed at my reaction.  Of course I was shocked - shocked at this happening so quickly and unexpectedly as well as how stupid the motorbike operator was to have provoked the incident.  A scene from one of my all time favorite movies came to my mind, "Lawrence of Arabia".  One of his followers, a man that Lawrence had risked his life to save earlier, kills a member of another tribe. The death must be avenged and the murder punished but that would trigger the need to avenge his death if he were killed by a member of the aggrieved tribe. To avoid a tribal feud and the disintegration of his fighting force, Lawrence kills a man.  Later, obviously upset by the incident, he reports back to his commanders.  They are extremely sympathetic and try to allay his emotions with statements about how difficult war can be, and how sometimes you must do bad things in order to achieve good.  Lawrence then shocks them by informing them that they did not understand and that he was upset because he enjoyed killing the man.  No, I did not enjoy almost killing that young man but what surprised and shocked me was that I did not care that I almost killed him.

They say that life is cheaper here in Asia.  My experience is that such a perception is true.  I once commented to another foreigner that you could hire someone to kill another person for around 5,000 baht ($150).  My Thai friend added that sometimes it is done for free out of friendship.

If a Thai were to kill another Thai in an accident, he or she would be expected to compensate the deceased person's family between $3,000 to $6,000 USD.  Blood money of $3,000 to $6,000 for a vast majority of Thais, most specifically people in Isaan, is a great financial burden.  However, for me, the issue or rather surprise is that the value of a human life has been quantified, monetized, and accepted before the fact.  In the US the value is undetermined and subject to litigation on a case by case basis.  For me it seems peculiar that the value of a life is subject to the skills and effectiveness of a lawyer and sympathies of a jury.  To discuss and attempt to seek a universal value for a life before a death is a taboo for many people.

In the Muslim countries where I have lived, there was a similar attitude towards life in that whatever happened was deemed to be "God's will".  This attitude seemed to, for many people, absolve or excuse people from acting responsibly or acting prudently in terms of personal safety.

I do not make any moral judgements in this regard.  I write to inform readers how things are elsewhere.  I write to point out how things are different from place to place.

I write of this incident not to share a personal story with my readers but to share experiences and observations of life in other countries and societies.  Because I or Duang have experienced or observed things personally, I am able to write about them and to share them.  It is not about me, or us, the story is about life.

Now, back to Duang's face lift.  We went to the hospital to have the stitches removed.  Just like in America we had to wait for the doctor.  Duang's appointment was for 12:00 Noon but the doctor was not available for her until 1:30 PM.  No problem, waiting here in Isaan is very entertaining and informative.  We waited in an area that contained small offices, small rooms for medical procedures, as well as an open triage area.

It was a busy day with all the seats inside the area filled as well as some seats outside of the area filled with patients and their supporters.  It seemed that each patient had a story to tell or if they could not their support people were all too willing to tell the story.  There was a young man who was going to have a hernia repaired.  His blood pressure was 154/90 so I expect he was suffering some anxiety over his upcoming surgery.  There was a middle aged woman who was having follow up work done on her fingers and thumb.  She had sewed them together in an accident. Apparently they had become infected and the surgeon had amputated some of them.  According to Duang, the bone was good but the meat was bad.  It did seem like some of them were shorter too.  There was a middle aged woman having a procedure done on her nose - implanting a silicone shape to give her nose a more Western appearance.  There was another middle aged woman who was going to have a hernia repaired.

In addition to learning why each patient was there, we also found out how much their surgeries were costing.  The young man's umbilical hernia repair was 50,000 Baht ($1,666 USD).  In contrast my similar operation in California about 6 years ago was $15,000 USD.  The woman's hernia operation was 55,000 Baht.

After a while a tall, slender, extremely attractive person in a very nice skirt and blouse walked into the office and sat next to Duang.  TIT, This Is Thailand, I knew what she was and why she was there.  I am not sure if it was a sixth sense, her protruding Adam's apple, or her low voice that lead me to believe that she was a "Kathoey' (Lady boy).  In no time at all Duang had learned that yes she was a lady boy and she was going to have breast implants done that afternoon for 65,000 Baht ($2,166).  The presence of the lady boy and the two others that arrived later was all just a matter of fact situation.  Everyone knew and no one minded.  Thailand is recognized as a tolerant culture.  The saying of "UP2U" is popular for good reason.

Turn around is fair play even in Thailand.  While Duang was getting all the personal information from the other patients, she was telling them about her face work and showing the work to them.  She then had to explain to them why she was not going to have her nose and breasts worked on.  I understand enough know to have an idea what is being said so I explained that I did not want those changed and liked everything the way that they were - much to their amusement.  I have grown accustomed to the openness of Lao Loum culture and lack of privacy - accustomed but not accepting as of yet.  Of course I smile and chuckle every time that I compare Thai procedures with American procedures.  I remember getting pages of documents outlining the eye doctor's "Privacy Policy". the Pharmacy's "Privacy Policy", the hospital's "Privacy Policy" knowing full well that there is none, and that if I want treatment I have to accept their policy.  In reality the only privacy policy that I am interested in is how are they going to ensure that I do not show my butt or anything else to other people while in the hospital.  However, I imagine that if I were sick enough I wouldn't care.

Eventually we got moved to an area outside of the procedure rooms and in the midst of the triage area.  There was and elderly woman who had fallen down the stairs laying on a gurney.  We got to observe the doctor examining her and deciding to send her to x-ray.  A younger woman was under sedation on a gurney closer to us - she was the wife of a policeman who had gone swimming three days earlier in Pattaya.  She was now experiencing "heart trouble" and tingling in her arms.

Duang was called into the room and had me accompany her.  Once again the room and equipment were not what I been accustomed to seeing in a US hospital or even a doctor's office.  The equipment was dated and the room appeared that it could be cleaner.  The doctor examined Duang and asked her about her condition.  Everything is going very well.  He answered my concern and question.  He told me that Duang will most likely stop looking in the mirror all the time in about six weeks.  We all had a good laugh.  He then had her lay on the procedure table and removed her stitches using a sterile scalpel blade which he used without a handle and sterile tweezers.  I was able to get up and watch the procedure up close.  The stitches were a very fine blue material - it looked like they were 1/5 diameter of a human hair.  I was impressed at the ease in which he could locate them and remove them. There was no topical analgesic used - only sterile saline solution and Duang never flinched.  We will have to return in three weeks for a followup examination.

After the stitches were removed, we exited the area through the area where we were originally seated.  The lady boy had two sample silicone breast implants in her hands.  She spoke to Duang and we went over to check them out.  One was larger than the other.  He handed them to me and I got to check them out.  I told him in Thai that one was "Big-Thai" and one was "Small-Thai" but to be "Small- Foreigner" he needed two of the "Big-Thai" implants.  Everyone had a good laugh.

The cost of removing the stitches was not included in the original bill.  After paying $13, we returned home.

This experience at the hospital as well as Duang's face procedure to date once again reinforced my perception that medical care needs to be only fit for purpose.  The facilities and their condition were not what I am accustomed to or expected in the USA.  However they were effective and met our needs.

Duang's face is coming along very well and even now it is obvious that the procedure was done very well.

The Price of Beauty - At Least In Thailand

We have been back in Thailand for two weeks now; two very busy weeks.  Our time has taken up with household repairs and cleaning.  Last night we did not get home until 1:00 AM.  No - we were not in a fight or auto accident.  Duang had some work done on her face last night.

I have written a few blogs on medical care and its associated costs here in Thailand.  This blog is about the costs and procedure for Duang's blepharoplasty and rhytidoplasty - face lift and eye lifts..

Duang is approaching her 49th birthday and has been wanting to have some work done on her face for a while.  I did not think that she needed any work and I don't see anything wrong with looking your age.  However during the course of photographing Duang over 4,000 times, I was aware of certain areas around her eyes  and mouth where I  consistently made 'adjustments" when post processing her photograph.  These were also the areas that Duang wanted to be worked on. While is the United States she became interested in the television ad campaign that has saturated the airways for over a year.  I called to get more information as the ad informed.  I ended up speaking with what appeared to me to be a boiler room type operation.  The operator on the other end of the line wanted my telephone number.  Well I can be a difficult type of person especially when it comes to spending my money.  My adage when it comes to money is "I will call you.  You don't call me"  I refused to give the number and requested the additional information packet as promised on television.  About two weeks later I received a packet with basically a regurgitation of the television ad and print ads.  It was generalized as well as very lacking in specific details as to procedures, methods or costs.  The information basically pointed out that you needed to schedule an appointment with a represented doctor in the Boston or New York City area.  All in all it reminded me of the sales campaigns of the 1980s for time shares.  That was more than enough to dissuade me from pursuing the matter any further.  I told Duang to wait until we got back to Thailand and reminded her of the many foreigners who go to Thailand for plastic surgery as well as other medical procedures.

Well it turned out the Duang's brother's ("Number 4") girlfriend had a friend who had just had "face make" in Khon Kaen, 2 hours south of here.  I point out how we got the information because that is how things work around here.  As far as I know there is no telephone book or yellow page directory for Udonthani.  There is no local newspaper for the area.  We have cable television so  we do not watch local television.  As such we are not subjected to daily and nightly barrages of lawyers seeking us as clients or helpful information such as advertising by local businesses or services.  Information is passed from person to person.  Fortunately Duang has a large family as well as many friends so there is always someone or someone who knows someone that can help with needed information.

Anyhow this woman had her eyes done 5 days ago.  The doctor was the number 1 plastic surgeon in Khon Kaen and worked at two hospitals.  He had been practicing for about 15 years.  His pricing seemed very good.  However after my experience with "Doctor Feelgood" ( an earlier blog about a the man who knew how to give injections out in the rice paddies and was injecting everyone with Valium), I wanted to check this doctor out before any commitment was made. Interestingly, I have yet to be informed of any doctor or business that was considered to be #2 or even #3.  I know that they have to exist but I have no idea who they are. Arrangements were made for Duang to visit with the doctor for last night.  As most things are here in Isaan, this was not a simple task.  It ended up that Number 4's girlfriend would drive us down to the doctor along with her friend who was having the stitches removed from around her eyes.

We ended up being 5 women and myself in Thailand's equivalent of a Toyota Corolla.  Four women were in the back, one woman sitting on another woman's lap.  Duang's former sister-in-law came along to see about having additional work done on her nose - Michael Jackson Syndrome?  many woman in Isaan have silicone inserts placed in their noses to make their appearance to be more "Western"  In may cases this does not work out well.  Another female friend came along I guess to provide morale support - that is how things are done here in Isaan.  If you are going somewhere there are always plenty of people ready and available to tag along.  I survived the two hour drive with 5 Lao Loum women all speaking at the same time just about all the time.  Actually I rather enjoy the sense of family and community these situations provide.

We ended up seeing the doctor and he informed Duang's former sister-in-law that no further work could be done or should be attempted on her nose.  I am still trying to figure out what was wrong with it to begin with other than it was not a nose belonging on a Lao Loum face.  Score one for the doctor.  I liked that he was not going to slice and dice as long as you had the cash.  We had a consultation with him and my concerns were addressed and my reservations were diminished.  Some work that Dung wanted he indicated was not necessary.  The next thing that I know that happened was that Duang and I agreed to have the work done.  I was shocked when his assistant came with two pieces of paper of which Duang was required to sign once.  After signing, he said "Let's go to the operating room"  Duang entered the operating room at 8:00 PM for a scheduled 2 hour operation.  The nurse came out at 10:00 PM and informed me that it would be another hour or longer.  Duang came out at 11:00 PM, 3 hours after the surgery commenced.

We had to pay for the entire operation that night - 35,460 Baht ($1,182 USD!) including take home medications.  The hospital took my credit card to pay for the operation.  We walked out of the hospital at 11:30PM.  We will return on Monday to have the stitches removed.

When we were in the USA, I estimated that a face lift along with eye lifts would run around $20,000.  Today, prior to writing this blog, I researched estimated prices for the work in the USA and came up with about $15,000.

I walked out of the hospital with three pieces of paper.  One was an invoice for the surgeon - 20,000 baht.  Another was an invoice for 5,000 baht for something.  The third was an itemized bill for 10,476 baht from the hospital.

For the three hour operation, we were charged $81.66 for the operating room, $2.50 for the nurses, and $172.80 for medical supplies.

It is hard to believe that two upper eye lid lifts, two lower eye lid lifts and a face lift cost $1,182.  However this is in line with what we previously paid to have Duang's eardrums repaired.  I guess this is why medical tourism is a growing trend here in Thailand.  Almost $14,000 in savings over having the procedure done in the USA more than covers the round trip flight and hotel stay.

To be honest with you readers who are in the USA, the facilities and conditions of the facilities did not measure up to what we are accustomed to and for the most part expect in the USA.  However you get what you pay for or not pay for.  As was often a determination in making decisions in my construction career, solutions need to be fit for purpose.  I suspect, no I actually know, from my parents medical experiences over the past year and one-half in the USA, that Americans, be it out of their pockets, their insurance premiums, or taxes are paying for a great deal more than is necessary or required for their medical care needs.  A great deal of American medicine today as it is practiced today is "Voodoo" medicine.  The witch doctor, chants and incantations have been replaced by high tech equipment, ostentatious facilities, as well as cost insensitive procedures.  To quote a former boss of mine "The juice is not worth the squeeze"  It may not be worth the squeeze but you are all paying for it.

I am not certain that we would not accept it any other way.

Bigger is better.  Newer is better.  More expensive is better.

They just all cost more.

Always Something to Do; Something to Learn

Always something to do and always something to learn ... no I have not joined the US Air Force or even started to learn to fly.  At almost 63 years old and five years into my retirement, I do not need to go to those extremes to keep active or stimulated.

For those of you who follow this blog, you will notice that my blog once again has photographs included in it.  In my last blog in which I shared the availability of my latest photography gallery:

http://www.hale-worldphotography.com/Other/USAF-Thunderbirds/23725718_c37vQr

I was unable to include photographs.  I had gotten a message that "Blogger" was no longer supporting the version of my Internet browser and that I should try Google's Browser, "Chrome".  I was very reticent to switch over from Microsoft Internet Explorer - I was satisfied with it and perhaps more importantly, I was comfortable with it.  I suspected that Microsoft and Google were at odds with each other to attain greater market share for their Internet Browsers and this was Google's escalation in the struggle; not to support Internet Explorer with some of Google's products.  "Blogger" is a great free application for creating and maintaining a blog.  After 375 blog entries with it, I am a believer as well as an advocate.  However if I can not post photographs to my Blog, it becomes much less value to me and creates a big problem.

At the same time as trying to figure out what to do about "Blogger" and my desire to maintain my blog, I was trying to upgrade my version of "Quicktime" on my computer.  I could not download the latest version.  Whenever I tried to download from the Apple website, the process stopped and I got a message "The connection with the Server was reset".  I had no idea of what that meant.  Based upon my recent experiences with Microsoft as well as Yahoo tech support(?), I decided to try to figure it out for myself.  Once again the Biblical saying of "Ask and yea shall receive" was indeed prophetic.  I googled the error message and in no time at all I learned that I am not the first person to get this message.  Several sites offered and automatic way to clear up the problem.  I tried to download the program, and OF COURSE; I got the following error message ... "The connection with the Server was reset".  Fortunately the site that I had selected, also include simple and concise instructions on how to manually rectify the problem yourself.  I printed the instructions and commenced to follow the directions.  In no matter of time at all, the problem was corrected.  The problem?  The problem was apparently caused by damaged or incompatible Internet Explorer settings or add-ons.  The solution was to reset Internet Explorer settings.

After resetting my IE settings, I went to the Apple website and downloaded the latest version of Quicktime without any problem.

Feeling confidant and perhaps somewhat arrogant, I set off to address the Blogger non support issue.  The first thing that I was curious about was if I had the latest version of Internet Explorer.  I thought that I did and I should have since I get automatic notifications of patches, service packs, upgrades, etc of my Microsoft products.  No matter the case I decided to download and install Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 (Windows XP).  Having solved the Server Reset Issue, I was able to uninstall my version of Internet Explorer and install version 8 without any problems.

Today, I decided to give Blogger another, if not last, try.  Hooray, it works!  Microsoft and Google are at least cooperating to that extent.  I had a bad or old version of Internet Explorer.  I am now back in business so to speak.

Speaking of business - I created and maintain a photography website where prints of my photographs can be purchased.  For ease and time considerations I only upload "email" versions of the photographs.  The uploaded files are typically around 1000 pixels in the longest dimension with the files being around 100 to 200 kilobytes.  I have a seven day period built in so that when a photo is selected for print, I can replace the selected photograph low resolution photograph with the full resolution file which can range from 3 to 10 megabytes.  I am rather excited about the latest gallery and started to check it out - as in pretended to buy prints.  To my horror I discovered that for many of the photos, the largest print size available was 8"x10".  This was disturbing since I had created many of them as 11"x14" sizes with file sizes at least 3.8 million pixels.  I then realized that the restriction on print size was being driven by the small file size of the "email" version.  This morning I replaced all the email versions will full sized files of the photographs.  I have also removed the 7 day hold on print orders.

I guess that I need to think about replacing more of my photography website photographs with full file versions.



Yes it has been a busy couple of days and I have learned a great deal.  The most important lesson is that we, in the Internet age, have the tools to solve so many of our problems.  We need to rely upon ourselves to understand better what we are doing and to resolve most of the issues that we encounter.

No matter your age or employment status there is always something to do and something to learn.

USAF Thunderbirds Gallery Is Now Available

We attended last Saturday's Rhode Island Air National Guard Air Show at Quonset Point.  The weather was terrific and the air show was fantastic.  The USAF Thunderbirds were the final performers of the day and thrilled everyone with their precision flying skills.

Some of the photographs that I took of the Thunderbirds are now availabale to be viewed on my photography website:

http://www.hale-worldphotography.com/Other/USAF-Thunderbirds/23725718_c37vQr

I am sorry that I can not post any photos with this blog tonight.  I have a message "Your browser is no longer supported by Blogger. Some parts of Blogger will not work and you may experience problems. If you are having problems, try Google Chrome"  It looks like Google and Microsoft are not playing nice.  I've got to figure what I am going to do next.  I guess I can't be friends with both.

My Review of Manfrotto 119 Female Spigot Mounting Adapter, 1/4"x20 Female Thread and 3/8" Female Thread, 31mm Long. (#3108)

Originally submitted at Adorama

Bogen - Manfrotto Female Spigot Mounting Adapter, 1/4"x20 Female Thread and 3/8" Female Thread, 31mm Long. (#3108)

Manfrotto 119 Female Spigot Mounting Adapter, 1/4"x20 Female Thread and 3/8" Female Thread, 31mm Long. (#3108)

Homage to a Spigot Adapter

By Allen from Groton, CT on 6/22/2012

 

5out of 5

Pros: Fit for purpose, Professional Quality, Highly Compatible, Easy To Use, Compact Design

Cons: None

Best Uses: What it was meant for

Describe Yourself: Hobbyist

Was this a gift?: No

An aesthetic device demonstarted by its utilitarian shape, form, as well as finish. It is rather unpretenious in appearance but exuding class in its material of construction, brass, weight, and curves. It seems to shout out aspirations of a greater potential than to just adapt 1/4"x20 Female thread to 3/8" Female thread. You may find yourself contemplating more glorious, if not more noble, uses for this product.

(legalese)

My Review of Bogen - Manfrotto Swivel Umbrella Adapter (Lite-tite) (#2905)

Originally submitted at Adorama

Bogen - Manfrotto Swivel Umbrella Adapter (Lite-tite) (#2905)

Bogen - Manfrotto Swivel Umbrella Adapter (Lite-tite) (#2905)

Just what I needed now and future needs

By Allen from Groton, CT on 6/18/2012

 

5out of 5

Pros: Easy To Set Up, Reliable, Fit for purpose

Cons: None

Best Uses: Speedlite Lighting, Artificial Lighting, Photography

Describe Yourself: Photo Enthusiast

Was this a gift?: No

I needed something to be able to mount at various angles my Photofles extra small Octodome nxt to a lightstand. This swivel umbrella adapter does the job and has the versatility to be used for many other similar purposes. It is well made and should be very durable.

(legalese)

My Review of PocketWizard FlexTT5 Transceiver Radio Slave for Nikon i-TTL Flash System with On-Camera Hot Shoe, 32 Channels, Multi-Zone

Originally submitted at Adorama

PocketWizard FlexTT5 Transceiver Radio Slave for Nikon i-TTL Flash System with On-Camera Hot Shoe, 32 Channels, Multi-Zone

PocketWizard FlexTT5 Transceiver Radio Slave for Nikon i-TTL Flash System with On-Camera Hot Shoe, 32 Channels, Multi-Zone

Glad That I Bought Them

By Allen from Groton, CT on 6/11/2012

 

5out of 5

Pros: Reliable, Easy To Pack, Easy to Use

Cons: Pricey

Best Uses: Fashion, Glamour, Portraits, Weddings/Events

Describe Yourself: Photo Enthusiast

Was this a gift?: No

I recently purchased three to trigger my Dynalites and speedlites. So far - over 1500 shots without a misfire. In every combination of lighting that I have set up the Flex TT5s have functioned perfectly. It is nice to have one less thing to worry about when shooting. Yes, they cost a great deal, but the value makes it worth the price.

(legalese)

Rocketmen of Isaan

 

Another gallery, "The Rocketmen of Isaan", is available for viewing at the attached link:

http://www.hale-worldphotography.com/Thailand/Isaan/Rocketmen-of-Isaan/22631674_LD3chR
 
The 33 photographs are another submittal for an upcoming festival in Cambodia.
 
It was an especially fun task to create this gallery today because I am headed back to Thailand and I will hopefully be attending a couple of Bun Bang Fei while I am over there.  It will be great to once again experience and photograph some of the unique cultural events of Isaan.
 

New Gallery

http://www.hale-worldphotography.com/Thailand/Isaan/Isaan-Lao-Loum-Funeral-Ritual/22612446_HwfDLs

A new gallery, "Isaan Lao Loum Funeral Rituals", is now available for viewing.

This gallery is a combination of old photos and some new ones which have not been shared before.

I created the gallery to answer the call for submissions to the 8th Angkor Wat Photography Festival.

I believe that submissions are just like the lottery;  "You can't win if you don't play"  So I am submitting in hopes of getting to participate.  Unlike the lottery the odds have got to be more favorable.

Decisions and notifications will be made by the end of July.

Reunion

My 1967 Senior Class Photo

This year my graduating class of 1967 at Robert E. Fitch Senior High will be having its 45th Reunion.

The opportunity of attending this reunion has presented me with a dilemma.  Why should I make an effort to attend an event with people who I have not seen or communicated with in 45 years?  Obviously these are people that have meant very little to me and I have meant very little to them over the years for if we had, we would have maintained some contact.  On the other hand, the reunion does present an opportunity, perhaps the last opportunity for many, to express my appreciation and regards to people who shared events and experiences from a critical time period of my life.  Perhaps more importantly a reunion provides the opportunity to pay some respects to fellow classmates who are no longer alive.

Perhaps many of us did not turn out the way that we were supposed to or were expected to.  Life has a habit of presenting opportunities and challenges to the path that we start upon or the path that we prefer to travel on our life journey.  However it is our decisions and manner in which we cope with these opportunities as well as challenges that makes each life so interesting and rich.  At the events like this, we learn that we are not alone ... alone in the suffering, joys, triumphs, and disappointments of life.  We are not alone in having shared many of the world events that have shaped history over the past 45 years.

Attending a reunion is not a matter of seeking vindication for the choices that we have made or giving vindication to others for theirs. Rather it is an opportunity to share those choices and to perhaps better understand why we are who we are today and to understand better where we came from.

I have addressed the fear of perhaps being on my death bed and wondering back upon my life and questioning "What would my life had been like, if back ... I had ..."  I did not want to be in that situation, so I made a decision to take that branch off to the side of the road and discover what lay down that road.  I do not regret having done that for my life is richer and more complete.

So after discussing it with Duang, I agreed that we will attend the reunion.  I don't want to regret at some point not having attended.  It will be an opportunity to thank some people and express appreciation to some people for the influence that they had on me so long ago.  Attending the reunion will also be an experience for Duang to learn a little more about American culture, my past, and to enjoy a night out.

Duang and I have traveled many miles to encounter and interact with peoples of very different cultures.  We have enjoyed the opportunity to learn and experience what other people are like.  We have never been disappointed.  Having done that and our intention is to continue doing that, it is only logical that we would cross the river to spend some time with some people that I went to school with.

I will return to Groton from Thailand on Thursday night, so after 30 hours of travel and 13 hours of time change, it should be even that more interesting for me on Saturday night.

It is far better, in my mind, to be curious than to be sorry.  One thing that I am certain of, there will be no 90th Reunion.

Give MeThat Ol'Time Religion

Easter is coming upon us.

We recently attended a Roman Catholic funeral.

I am preparing to return to Thailand for two weeks to take care of personal business.

These three events got me to thinking about devotion, ritual, and faith.

Several times I have written about Buddhist rituals that I have attended and I have remarked how similar they were to rituals of the Roman Catholic Church.  The similarities were the importance of candles, statues, incense, chanting, praying in a common old language of the faith, and blessing with water.

Well I should clarify that the Buddhist rituals that go back over 2,500 years ago are similar to the RC Church rituals of my youth.

Changes have occurred in the Parrish of my youth.  There is a crucifix over the altar with a less formidable Jesus in front of it.  He is clothed in a long robe and does not have a crown of thorns.  There are no visible wounds, no outward signs of sacrifice on the statue of Jesus. 

The church was devoid of any other statues.  There were not any trays of lighted candles or to be lighted.  There were no prominent confessionals where people go to admit and confess their sins.  The church did not have any odor of burning candles or of smoke impregnated wood from countless prayers sent towards heaven on wisps of burning incense.

The funeral Mass was spoken in English rather than Latin of the early Church.  The old songs have been replaced by newer music.  All in all, to me, it seemed very modern, antiseptic, and lacking in passion.

Back in Thailand and other countries, some people demonstrate their faith with passion, pain, and some suffering.

Last year I was planning on Duang and I attending the Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia but our need to be in the USA superseded my wish to witness one of the great religious spectacles..  The festival celebrates the birth of Lord Murugan, the God of War and Fertility.  In Malaysia and Singapore specifically. the festival is very intense with hundreds, if not thousands, of participants march to a shrine with


Some Shi'ite Muslims march in large processions in Iran and Iraq each year flogging themselves on their backs with chains, knives, and sword blades to commemorate the martydom of Hussien, the youngest Grandson of the prophet Mohammad.  I would love to witness and photograph this demonstration of faith but the realities of politics and religious sensitivities means that I will most likely never get there.

Some Christians in the Philippines and South America self-flagellate in commemeration of the Passion of Christ.  Someday I would like to travel back to Peru and witness the religious fervor and passion of the local celebrations of Holy Week.

The last of the major religions of the modern world, the Buddhists, also have a festival where adherents practice mortification of the flesh.  In Thailand, the "Nine Emperor Gods Festival" known more commonly as the "Vegetarian Festival" is a time where hundreds of men as well as women pierce their bodies with all kinds of objects in a demonstration of their faith and power of their Gods.  We have attended two of the Phuket Vegetarian Festivals.  The Phuket Vegetarian Festivals are unique and extremely interesting.  Like most and interesting things, you learn a little more, appreciate a little more and hopefully understand a little better each time that you experience the event.

The piercing of the body of the holy warriors, "Mah Song", is not exist in China so many people believe that the Mah Song tradition of the "Nine Emperor Gods Festival" is a Thai adaptation of the Hindu Thaipusam Festival practiced by Indians and their descendants in nearby Malaysia.

Duang and I will return to experience the Vegetarian Festival again for sure.

In this age where passion seems to be frowned upon by so many, I, personally am relieved and comforted to know that there are still places where and people who still practice that old time religion, no matter what faith that may apply, with passion, suffering, pain and sometimes blood.  Places and people that maintain their links to their past and respect their heritage, as different as it may be from ours.

Rocket Season Is Almost Here ... Well; Actually There

Ban That Rocket Festival

May is a busy month in Isaan.  It is the typical end of the dry season and the start of the rainy season.

With the onset of the rainy season, the Lao Loum people can commence to focus on planting this year's crop of rice.  For many people this is not merely job opportunities but a matter of survival.  If they do not grow rice this season, the family does not eat for the next year.

Launch Crew Preparing A Smaller Sized Rocket

Traditionally the return of the rains is facilitated by launching homemade rockets into the sky in merit making activities called "Bun Bang Fei".  Bun Bang Fei range from launching a hand full of relatively small rockets from the local Wat on any given afternoon to internationally known  three to five day festivals where some of the rockets contain up to 350 pounds of gunpowder.

With this being Isaan, the festivals are always a great party complete with parades, morlam shows, pageants, religious rituals, carnival rides, drinking, dancing, drinking, foods of all sorts and drinking.  They are definitely culturally unique events and a photographer's delight.




The Launch Is Underway!


The biggest and most internationally known festival is held in Yasothon at Phaya Thaen Park.  This year the festival will be from Friday 11 May to Sunday 13 May.  The rocket competition will be on Saturday starting in the morning until the late afternoon.

Rocket On It's Way To Some Rice Paddy

I will be back in Thailand during that period but my wife does not want me to drive so far from our home so I am hoping and trying to determine if the Ban That Rocket Festival will be held while I am back in Isaan.  We have attended the Ban That Festival before and enjoyed it very much .  It is much closer to our home so I have clearance to go to it.

Not All Launches Are Successful But They All Make A Big Bang!

I suspect that besides worrying about me driving a long distance alone along Thailand's country roads, Duang is concerned about my personal safety.  Often people are injured at these festivals due to exploding rockets.  Sometimes people are killed at these festivals.  Yasothon Rocket Festival since it traditionally launches the largest rockets presents a greater danger.

At the Ban That Rocket Festival, a rocket exploded on the launch pad in front of me.  For me it was exciting and a chance to get a close-up photo of the fragments around me. The rocket that exploded probably had around 20 to 25 pounds of gunpowder in it unlike some of the 300 pound monsters launched in Yasothon.  Duang came running over and was quite concerned.  I was there after relegated to vantage spots further from the launch pads.

What Went Up, Came Down In Some Far Away Rice Paddy

Yeah, it can be dangerous but it is always exciting and definitely interesting.  I can not imagine such festivals being held in the USA.  How on Earth could you get permission from the Dept of Homeland Security to have such fun?  How many governmental agencies would have to review and approve such a festival? 

Poi Sang Long - 2012

Poi Sang Long



Poi Sang Long Procession In Mae Hong Son

 Another year has passed and the cycle of festivals in Thailand continues.  Soon, one of our favorite festivals will be held in the Mae Hong Song area.  From April 1st to April 15th, the people of the area will be celebrating Poi Sang Long.

My wife and I attended the festival in 2009 and plan on returning someday, hopefully some day soon.
Poi Sang Long is a Buddhist ritual celebrated by the Shan people.  The Shan people, also known as the Thai Yai, originated in Myanmar which was once known as Burma.

Each year young Shan boys are ordained as Buddhist Monks, actually Novices, in an elaborate ritual that commemorates Buddha's son becoming a Monk.

The air around the Wats during Poi Sang Long, is filled with the sound of clanging cymbals and drum beats. The cymbals are banged in a staccato three beat grouping, the number three is very important in Buddhism in that it identifies the The Buddha, The Teachings of Buddha, and the Buddhist Religious Community (The Sanga). The drumming is not in any noticeable rhythm that I can detect but then on a good day I can only distinguish 3 of the 5 ways to pronounce the Thai word "kohn".

Each Wat conducts the ritual for the young boys at different times during the prescribed period for the festival.  In 2009, we attended the festival in Mae Hong Son for Wat Jongkum Jong Klang (actually two different Wats that are adjacent to each other in the center of Mae Hong Son on the lake).

A stage had been built in front of the Wat on the temple grounds. Some people were occupied placing colored bunting on the stage. A canopy had been set up underneath one of the large trees on the temple grounds. Underneath the canopy, several young Monks, around 16 years old, were busy banging gongs and clanging cymbals. These young Monks would later take part in the hair cutting and head shaving ritual of the young Shan boys who would be ordained as Novice Monks. They are following Buddha's son, Prince Rahula's path in becoming Monks at an early age. Removal of their hair symbolizes renouncing worldly possessions and goods - in olden days long hair was symbolic of royalty.

Around 16:30 of what I call the first day of the festival, the head shaving ceremony gets started. There are pamphlets that are available with a schedule of events but they are not necessarily complete or even accurate.  It is best to check, double check, and then check once again to determine what is happening and when it will be happening.  Hotels are a source of information, the Monks at the Wat are helpful and of course families of the young boys are very good sources of information - even m ore so if you speak Thai or are with someone who does speak Thai.  I would also recommend that you arrive early just to be sure that you don't miss out on anything.  A young boy is seated in each of the plastic chairs - 40 boys in all when we attended in 2009. Each boy is surrounded by his family. After a little speech from the Abbott and a blessing, the ceremony started. The first part of the ceremony is cutting the boy's hair.

The boys wear their colorful super hero or cartoon tee shirts and short pants and sit rigidly in their chair. These boys were about to take a very important step in their religious and temporal life. They are now the center of attention and the representatives of their family. Although these boys are seven to fourteen years old, it is obvious that they were trying their best to bring honor to their family. It is also entertaining to see some moments when the boys were busy being boys such as sharing their hair clippings with their friend, or grimacing at the irritation from their shorn locks.

The boys sit with a large lotus leaf in their lap. Using regular scissors, relatives take turns snipping off locks of hair and placing them into the lotus leave. It is considered an honor to cut the hair and the relative order in which a person cuts the hair is indicative of the respect as well as esteem that is held by the family for the participant.

The Abbot patiently makes his rounds ensuring that he cut some hair from each of the young boys. Many people were mingled amongst the family members photographing or filming the ritual.

After family and friends have had their opportunity to cut some hair, it is time to shave the boy's head. Prior to shaving the boy's head, family members usually a mother of grandmother pours water on to the boy's head. Some waters are scented with flowers or perfume. There is no shaving creme, gel, or foam in sight. Some boys may have some soap rubbed into their hair. It is during the head shaving portion of the ritual that the demeanor of the boys changes. It can be seen in their face - a look of seriousness and in some cases trepidation. These feelings are visibly mitigated by the close and tender attention given to the boys by their family and the Monks. It is a special ceremony that reinforces family, religious, and community ties.

The shaving of the heads is a time consuming effort shared by men, women, and Monks. Just as in the case of the hair cutting, the Abbot makes his way along the lined up chairs to shave a little of each of the forty young heads. The other Monks of the Wats join in to help shave the heads. The Monks shave about one-half of each head with the remainder done by family members.

After their head had been completely shaved, inspected and accepted the boys are washed off with buckets and bowls of scented and unscented water. Many boys have a pomade of powder and water applied to their newly bald heads. The boys retire to the inner areas of the temple complex to spend the night and await the next step in their ordination the following morning. Snippets of hair and shavings are gathered up and removed by some younger Monks.

The forty boys, soon to be Monks, have completed the first step in demonstrating their renunciation of their worldly possessions by having their heads shaved. They have started their individual journey in following Prince Rahula's footsteps.

The next morning around 5:00 A. M. there is continued acrimonious clanging, banging and beat of the previous day's music. As long as this music is going on, something is happening. The Bot is filled with family members attending to their young boy. This morning the "Sang Long" (jewelled sons) will be dressed up in fine silks, brocades, jewelery, and complicated millinery. Their mothers, sisters, and aunts apply makeup to the boy's face that would be the envy of any Bangkok or Pattaya Kathoey (Lady Boy). In fact I suspect that many American women would love to be made up and look as elegant as these young boys do. Each family sets up their spot on the floor in the Bot. Outsiders are very welcomed by the families and the atmosphere is free and relaxed.

The boys are made up to resemble Princes. When the dressing and makeup have been completed the boys look like they are little Maharajahs out of some Rudyard Kipling story. This is not a Halloween masquerade type skit but a financially taxing attempt to emulate royalty. Some of the clothing cost upwards to 10,000 baht ($300 USD). The clothing is colorful, intricate, and very fancy. Dressing up your son for his ordination is very analogous to the tradition and social pressures in the USA for having your daughter get married. To suitably impress the relatives, neighbors, and friends, families take on a large financial burden. Almost $300 for a child's outfit even in the Western World is not a trifle amount. Here in Thailand the average farm worker makes 100 baht ($3.00) a day. To stage this family celebration many families pool resources and many end up borrowing money to finance the spectacle. Peer pressure is very strong for every family to somehow and someway to come up with the money to participate in the tradition.

The fathers focus their efforts on dressing their son in all the various articles of clothing. The proud fathers also give their sons words of comfort and guidance. Other male members of the family sit next to the young boy. In many places, hired men also sit next to the jewelled princes. Once the boy has had his head shaved, his feet no longer touch the ground. The jewelled prince is carried upon the shoulders of his father, grandfather, uncles, and older brothers. To supplement the contingent of male relatives, some families hire men to carry their son on top of their shoulders during the rituals and parades. In many cases the porters for a particular boy are smartly dressed in pastel tailored traditional Shan outfits. Several men are required to carry the boy along the parade route. As a man becomes tired, the boy is transferred to a fresh man for his turn to carry the jewelled prince. Some of the porters with a great deal of energy from the clanging and banging music or perhaps the whiskey that you can smell on their breadth, danced enthusiastically with the boy on their shoulders. A couple of the porters may have a de facto contest as to which one of them can get their prince lowest and most parallel to the ground without dropping him.  The mothers complete the outfitting of their princes by placing their gold chains around their necks and placing gold rings on their fingers. It is interesting to watch combinations of tape and yarn being utilized to ensure that the family jewels stayed on the boys small fingers.

After all 40 boys had been prepared, they eat a small breakfast of fried rice and plain water. They are carried outside to be organized into parade formation. Outside family members congregate awaiting the start of the early dawn parade. A small Asian breed of horse waits outside to lead the parade. The horse is immaculately groomed - to the extent that its mane is cropped where a large garland of flowers is carefully placed around its neck. Two men wearing traditional Shan clothing tend and lead the horse. Another man who appears to be some type of shaman leads the parade along side of the horse. He is dressed in white pants and tunic with his head covered in a white turban. He carries a ceremonial offering bowl.

The boys are carried on the shoulder of a man and are surrounded by men in waiting - waiting to have their turn at carrying the boy on their shoulders. Each boy is also shielded by a large ornate golden umbrella attached at the end of a long wood pole carried by a man walking to the side of the elevated boy. The umbrellas are very ornate and decorated with flowers, garlands, and intricate decorations. The umbrellas are also heavy and unwieldy, so just as in the case of the boy, men take their turns in carrying the umbrella and ensuring that it shelters the specific boy.

Some families also hire "professional" musicians to bang gongs, clang cymbals, and play the unusual drum in the same style as can be heard since arriving in Maehongson for the festival. Some of the "bands" may have long mechanical racks that played several cymbals at the same time. Two men carry the rack and a third man "plays" the cymbals by moving a lever back and forth. The din of the amateur musicians along with the professionals creates quite an atmosphere.

The parade leaves the Wat complex at sunrise and heads through downtown Maehongson. The entourage stops at a local temple in the center of town. The purpose of the stop is for the boys to let the spirits know that they were becoming Monks and to ensure that the boys had been forgiven for any previous unacceptable actions, thoughts, or words. The parade then moves through the airport on the edge of town to visit a Buddhist temple. At this location the boys request forgiveness from the Abbott. The procession eventually returns to the Wat and the spectators leave only to return the next morning for another predawn procession.

If we were back in Thailand we would be attending this year's festival.  Thankfully we have our memories and photographs from a previous celebration to carry us over until we can attend once again.

My Review of Nikon Coolpix S4000 Digital Camera with 12.0 Megapixel, 4x Wideangle Optical Zoom, 3" Bright Touch Panel HVGA, 4-Way VR Image Stabilization, Red

Originally submitted at Adorama

Nikon Coolpix S4000 Digital Camera with 12.0 Megapixel, 4x Wideangle Optical Zoom, 3" Bright Touch Panel HVGA, 4-Way VR Image Stabilization, Red

Nikon Coolpix S4000 Digital Camera with 12.0 Megapixel, 4x Wideangle Optical Zoom, 3" Bright Touch Panel HVGA, 4-Way VR Image Stabilization, Red

Hate the Shutter delay

By Allen from Groton, CT on 3/12/2012

 

3out of 5

Pros: Good Image Quality, Great Zoom, Nice Body Color, Large Clear LCD, Small / Compact

Cons: No Viewfinder, Lag / Shutter Delay

Best Uses: Family Photos

Describe Yourself: Semi-pro Photographer

Was this a gift?: No

I purchased this camera as a gift for my wife who is just getting into photography. It takes beautiful photographs but I find the shutter delay to be extremely annoying. It is a very nice carry around camera for a person who is not a demanding photographer.

(legalese)

My Review of Flashpoint Portable Reflector Bracket, 12-67"

Originally submitted at Adorama

Flashpoint Portable Reflector Bracket, 12-67"

Flashpoint Portable Reflector Bracket, 12-67"

Does the job at a reasonable cost

By Allen from Groton, CT on 3/12/2012

 

4out of 5

Pros: Value, Price

Best Uses: Portraits, Indoors

Describe Yourself: Semi-pro Photographer

Was this a gift?: No

Does the job that it was meant to do for a reasonable price. It does seem to struggle a little when using a larger diameter reflector i.e. 42 inch. Not a major problem for me but could be a consideration for other buyers.

(legalese)

My Review of Expoimaging Rogue FlashBender Small Positionable Reflector

Originally submitted at Adorama

Expoimaging Rogue FlashBender Small Positionable Reflector

Expoimaging Rogue FlashBender Small Positionable Reflector

Lightweight and Versatile

By Allen from Groton, CT on 3/12/2012

 

5out of 5

Pros: Durable, Easy to Use, Compact, Lightweight

Best Uses: Weddings/Events, Portraits

Describe Yourself: Semi-pro Photographer

Was this a gift?: No

Another great offering from Expoimaging. I use this one in conjunction with the large Flashbender to modify light from my speedlites for environmental portraits. It is very vesatile and exhibits great quality in construction.

(legalese)

My Review of Nikon EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Pack for many Digital SLR Cameras, and MB-D200 Multi-power Battery Pack

Originally submitted at Adorama

Nikon EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Pack for many Digital SLR Cameras, and MB-D200 Multi-power Battery Pack

Nikon EN-EL3e Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Pack for many Digital SLR Cameras, and MB-D200 Multi-power Battery Pack

Reliable

By Allen from Groton. CT on 3/12/2012

 

5out of 5

Pros: Easy to Install, Reliable, Solid Construction

Best Uses: Travel, Digital Photography

Describe Yourself: Semi-pro Photographer

Was this a gift?: No

I purchased two of these batteries a couple of years ago to supplement the battery in my DSLR. The batteries have never let me down. I shoot mostly in the tropics and the heat as well as humidity have not affected the battery performance. Nikon products cost more but what is the cost of a missed shot or shots because of product failure?

(legalese)