Ecuador - Cuenca February

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Andorra and Toulouse Photos

Toulouse Photos are here:
http://ryanandronworld.blogspot.hu/2013/10/france-toulouse.html

Andorra Photos are here:
http://ryanandronworld.blogspot.hu/2013/10/andorra-la-vella.html

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Malta Photos Online

My Malta photos are now online here.

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This is a slideshow of photos I took around the city from April to July of 2010, put on the computer and then forgot they were there. There are, in my opinion, some really exceptional shots from in Kerepesi Cemetery. The photos do not always show us as wonderful in a blog, so feel free to visit the album online.  

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Christchurch and Franz Josef Photos

Two new photo albums have been added to the photo blog:

Ryan and Ron Do the World

Christchurch, New Zealand

Franz Josef, New Zealand

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Napier, New Zealand Photos

The Napier photos are now posted here.

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Pictures from the 4th and Last Full Day in Riga

For blog subscribers, if you cannot see the photos, click here.

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Pictures from the 2nd Day in Riga

View the sideshow by clicking here.
or go to http://ryanandronworld.blogspot.hu
 

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Like a Stationary Bike

There are times when I feel like I am on a stationary bicycle, pedaling fast and not getting anywhere that I want to be. When times like this occur it reminds me of why people use life coaches. Coach, coach thyself. 

I thought I had come up with a great theme color-wise for my new website. Drawing on a Hobbit theme, the greens were spectacular, the decorations were simple, but great, yet best of all there was a rabbit hole full of metaphors to associate with it.

The one website designer who I have worked with for a number of computer issues, wanted $1,200 to $2,000 if there were no complications. From past experience, I know there are always complications with them, so that idea was nixed.

I can see the site in my mind, I just cannot execute it into html coding. Now, the designer I was just introduced to looked at the template I started with and called it cheap. We have some work to do, starting with his fees and we may or may not progress from there.

In the meanwhile I am getting Photoshop lessons on Saturday to snazzle up some of my old pictures. Out of the 6,000+ on my computer, thus far I have found about 200 that would be worthy of decorating a mug, mouse pad, greeting card, or t-shirt using a POD company. POD is print on demand. A few of them offer the creation of a virtual store where you can upload your photos or art, advertise your shop and they print the order as it is ordered handling the shipping too. Nifty!

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You Oughta Be in Pictures

Well, all of my pictures are now in albums and ready for viewing. 

Kenya - 522 Photos

http://ryanandron.shutterfly.com/kenya

Tanzania  284 Photos

http://ryanandron.shutterfly.com/tanzania

For those that know me, you should be shocked at so few photos. My normal holiday amount is well over 1,500. The difference with this trip was, how many zebra pictures can people look at? I can look at dozens because I saw them in person, but for others, it just becomes a bore.

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Photos, Photos, Thousands of Photos

Sometimes, I come across something which seems like a great idea, but involves time and mental labor. Once I start on a project like this, I cannot stop until it is completed putting other more mundane things aside for the time being. I had heard of Shutterfly for saving pictures online and basically just ignored it, because I had all of my pictures backed up on Kodak Gallery. Something sparked my curiosity about Shutterfly, so I looked into it. What I could do there was different. I could basically build a web site of all of my albums in one place, where anyone could access them at any time without my having to invite them. They did not have to save a link to each album, everything was in one place. This was a wonderful idea, because not only do I take pictures for memories, I love sharing what we have seen through my personal lens and filtered thinking. Once I started uploading, I liked the results. What I did not anticipate was that this would take me a week of nine hour days, basically to upload all of the albums, sub-albums, and assorted photos. Some I do not like the resolution of, but this is because they were taken on APS film when we first left the States in 2001 and were transferred to CD while we traveled. This technology was new and scarce in Europe at that time, so the results were not always wonderful. Some albums like Ireland and England are short changed in the early years. When we left the States in 2001, we had only intended to be traveling for a year and had to carefully budget our money. I was a frugal photographer then; film was expensive, developing more so, and money was tight. It was not until much later when I made my first digital camera purchase that the world opened up and I could shoot to my heart's content, deleting later. Some of the albums, you would swear I never deleted a photo, but believe me I was usually heartless in trashing many photos. With that preamble, I invite you to see my photo site, which you can return to or sign up to an RSS feed to be notified when it is updated. I still have some Szeged photos to put on that are still on the camera. http://ryanandron.shutterfly.com/ If you lose the link, it will be in the sidebar on the right side of this blog.

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Gift From the Blast in the Past

I received this e-mail from a past B and B guest. Hello Ryan,

A blast from last summer's past! We have been having some issues going on here (as always) so haven't had any free time at all. I have a great picture of Budapest hanging that I am planning on sending to you. It is in a cheap plexi frame. Is that ok? That would be the best for sending really. Also, as you know, economy here is pretty bad so discretionary spending in limited here at our house! We often talk about our trip and the wonderful time we had with you. Your place is awesome!

My note back: Hey,

A great blast hearing from the fun past. If you want, you can send the photo in cardboard to reduce the weight. Whatever works for you will be wonderful, just getting it. Please send it to the university address for safety. The result:

Holy smokes, when you said you had a picture in a frame, I was thinking a 4X6 and was concerned about postage. When I went into the secretary's office today and saw the large box, I thought it was books I had ordered. What a shock!!

I brought both of them home to show Ron, but I just may confiscate the one in color for my office. It needs perking up. We were both floored with the photos and the fact that you were generous enough to send them. We love them both and will think of you every time we look at them. Thank you repeatedly!! Ryan Sometimes people's generosity is overwhelming. As my note above stated, I was expecting small photos in frames. Both of these photos are huge. I would not have noticed the quality of the frames if she had not mentioned it, but they look great and are ready to hang. I always feel guilty when people spend money mailing us things. The cost is so prohibitive and in these times especially so. I do count my blessings continually even when they are spread throughout the world.

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Hobart

This is the last, but not least album. I really loved Hobart and the other parts of Tasmania that we traveled to on our two day trips.

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Cairns

To see the whole album at once, click on any picture. It will take you to the web album at Picasa.

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Sydney

If you want to see the whole album at once, click on the picture and it will bring you to my online Picasa album.

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Melbourne

Kodak Gallery turned out to be a problem for a number of people to access the photos, so I am trying this a different way. If you want to see the whole album at once, click on the picture and it will bring you to my online Picasa album.

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Kodak Gallery Issues

Kodak Gallery turned out to be a problem for a number of people to access the photos, so I am trying this a different way. There are Picasa slide shows embedded into this blog, but if you still have problems and want to see our photos, go to www.budabab.com to click on the Photos link.

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Good Morning, Vietnam

How can 22 different embassy web sites be wrong, I ask you? After looking for the Vietnam embassy address, we found the same listing on all web sites, but when Ron went there, they were no where to be found. A call into the US embassy did the trick, we found the corrected address and this morning, we went to apply for our Visa for December. First we had to have pictures taken in one of the photo booths in the subway. Two photos per application please! This was a comedy of errors since the machines are obviously made in Italy. All of the signs are in Italian. Of course, we had a late start and was fumbling for change once we were at the booth. Our plan was to have two snaps and immediately change seats so we could get 2 and 2 with the same amount of money. BUT we were fooled. The flash only goes off once and you get four of the same shot. Better look pretty the first time or you are out of luck. After scrapping for more bills (recommended) and the balance in change, Ron had his chance. Off to the embassy, tiny, but orderly embassy with two women and one man working, we had our applications in and were out of there in 20 minutes time. One sheet, easy to fill out application and two photos was all it took. They keep our passport until it is completed. We can return on Monday for them. Viola!! Simple. The Visa is 9,000 Ft each. Our Visas for Cambodia and Malaysia can be obtained at the airports.

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