In 2015 I journeyed round the southern part of the Indian Continent. Starting in Goa and working my way round the peninsula to Chennai. In the beautiful state of Kerala I stopped in Varkala and after my amazing experience with the Theyyam traditional worship of the Gods in Malabar, I was keen to see the Kathakali.
In 2013 i was in Cambodia as part of my bigger Central and SEA tour for just over a year. In Battambang I took what is fondly referred to as “The Bamboo Train”, their proper name is a Norry or Nori and can get upto speeds of 50kmh. It certainly felt like it!!
Norries have low fares, and are frequent and relatively fast, so they are popular despite their rudimentary design, lack of brakes, the state of the rails (often broken or warped) and the lack of any formal operating system. Its simple construction and light weight means that a norry can be easily removed from the track – if two meet on the line, the one with the lighter load is removed from the rails and carried round the other. At the end of the line the vehicle is lifted and turned.
Based in Chachoengsao, about 40km from Korat in Thailand, this cool company creates absolutely unique life size statues based on movie characters. The collection includes life size predator/alien replicas, Transformers statues, Star Wars and Terminator Figures. Besides that, it also includes sculptures of superheroes such as Iron man, Captain America, Hulk and Spider man. Plus many many Cartoon favourites. Each scrap metal art statue is hand-made from recycled car parts. Car and motorcycle parts, screws and gears welded together to most original and unique sculptures. These expressive figures are produced according to hand made plans, polished and painted. Their strength lies in the detail. Up to 8 meter high sculptures are dismantled in up to 10 parts. Each object is unique.
Journeys From A Small Room 