mrbrown's jotter book

Below ground, images from the Boston Metro. ⠀⠀⠀...

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 08:55:55 +0800

Below ground, images from the Boston Metro.
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#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninBoston
#streetphotography
#strangersintransit
#streetphotography
#streetleaks
#ourstreets
#everybodystreet (at Boston, Massachusetts)
https://www.instagram.com/p/B17gGHCJfRv/?igshid=iwkjfmoxak7

Are we there yet? (Yoichi to Oshamambe, Hakodate line.) ⠀⠀⠀...

Thu, 20 Jun 2019 00:26:18 +0800

Are we there yet? (Yoichi to Oshamambe, Hakodate line.)
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#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninjapan
#blackandwhite
#streetphotography
#strangersintransit (at Hokkaido)
https://www.instagram.com/p/By5eKjypGm-/?igshid=168t0kwk2bn0r

Wistful. (Yoichi to Oshamambe, Hakodate line.) ⠀⠀⠀...

Sat, 15 Jun 2019 18:57:45 +0800

Wistful.

(Yoichi to Oshamambe, Hakodate line.)
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#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninjapan
#blackandwhite
#streetphotography
#strangersintransit (at Otaru Hokkaido, Japan 小樽市)
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByulYsYJK2j/?igshid=h095h7ze59cd

This is the face of a man who flew more than ten hours from San...

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 00:38:42 +0800

This is the face of a man who flew more than ten hours from San Jose to Tokyo, then landed and jumped onto a Train/Shinkansen for another five hours.
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It is the look of a happy man who likes taking trains and eating bento onboard.
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It is the look of relief at finally being able to check into his hotel room, put down his backpack, and have a bath.
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It is also the look of delight at seeing a konbini open nearby, so that he can buy his snacks and drinks before retiring for the night.
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This is mrbrown. He loves planes, trains and automobiles. (Ships too, actually.)
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#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninjapan
#HappyTravelUncle (at Japan)
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByamClMJ8sB/?igshid=n9uiw7ygtm87

On a 6.10am flight via Tokyo, to San Jose for Apple’s #WWDC! See...

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 06:15:25 +0800

On a 6.10am flight via Tokyo, to San Jose for Apple’s #WWDC! See you all in a day or so! I have not slept for more than 24 hours (since 6am yesterday) so excuse me as I sleep for the rest of this flight.

#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninsanjose
#wwdc2019 (at Changi Airport Terminal 2)
https://www.instagram.com/p/ByJLAUApHcS/?igshid=10dm9p875gb50

“That’s it”, said the man, and he walked right in front of my...

Thu, 09 May 2019 21:41:18 +0800

“That’s it”, said the man, and he walked right in front of my shot as I was taking a photo of the Wife in the Alcazar, Seville.
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He decided my photo shoot was over and just walked past. I wasn’t even taking very long and I didn’t know he was there. But as he walked by, I instinctively went, “Chow turtle!”
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Actually I said many more Hokkien words but they can’t be printed here.
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At least I got my shot.
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I showed Marc Nair some of my photos over iMessage and he said, “Is that a Game of Thrones location?”
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“Issit?” I replied.
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“It looks a bit like Dorne.”
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I checked online and indeed, the Alcazar was where they filmed the Water Gardens of Dorne, private estate of the House of Martell.
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“Damn. I am good. And the background was slightly blurred!” Marc replied.
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I have so many nerd friends. But then nerds of a feather, flock together.
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#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninSpain
#mrsbrowninSpain
#thebrownsinSpain (at Real Alcázar de Sevilla)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/BxPmrNYJ-r9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1nxkd98xroaup

Postigo del Aceite, Seville, Spain. ⠀⠀⠀...

Thu, 09 May 2019 18:50:25 +0800

Postigo del Aceite, Seville, Spain.
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#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninSpain
#mrsbrowninSpain
#thebrownsinSpain
#streetphotography
#streetleaks
#ourstreets
#leicaq (at Sevilla - Andalucia)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/BxPTH8TJBNP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tylkztrgqyd6

Travel is full of surprises. Just like life. Sometimes you have...

Wed, 08 May 2019 06:30:52 +0800

Travel is full of surprises. Just like life. Sometimes you have to roll with it. Sometimes you just enjoy it. In this case, it was the Spanish-speaking host of our apartment in Cuenca who told me to drive my car to the multi-storey car park nearby and to get back to the apartment, take the lift to the seventh floor and walk back down. It was a shortcut he said.
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We did all that with Google Translate’s Conversation function. I thought I heard wrongly. I mean, sure, I understand driving down the hill to that dingy car park with the dodgy tunnel entrance. But why not just walk back uphill the apartment? Why must take a lift to the seventh floor and then walk down? How is that faster?
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But I listened to him anyway. Drove to the dingy car park. Parked it on the first lot I saw on the first floor. Then took a lift to the top floor, floor 7. Then I cam out and saw this view.
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What the.
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I messaged the wife back after taking a few photos.
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“You won’t believe the view from the top of this car park, dear! Come, I show you!”
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*iMessaged the photo*
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The Wife replied, “Wow! I want to see!”
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And so I came back to the apartment, and took her back to the car park’s seventh floor via the short way and we enjoyed the view together.
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Then we realized we stayed too long, and it was getting super cold, and the small town may not have any more restaurants open anymore at 11pm on a Sunday. And rushed back to the town square to look for dinner.
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Phew. Still got one restaurant open. And the food was good too. Heng ah.
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#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninSpain
#mrsbrowninSpain
#thebrownsinSpain
#leicaq (at Cuenca, Spain)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/BxLZsoHpEgd/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mq23qzqvessk

Today, as we tucked into breakfast in HanSo Cafe in Madrid, the...

Tue, 07 May 2019 19:36:57 +0800

Today, as we tucked into breakfast in HanSo Cafe in Madrid, the wife said to me, “My lip balm isn’t working very well for me. It makes me lips dryer.”
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Then I replied, with concern, “Oh, you better stop using that then. And get a new one that doesn’t give you a reaction.”
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“I found one,” she cheerfully said. “Did you know your eye gel works great on my lips?”
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“You used my expensive 10ml tube of eye gel on your LIPS???”
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“But it really works well leh. Takes away the wrinkles and moisturizes.”
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“I give you money later. You go to the Farmicia and get a good lip balm, ok?”
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I am generally a sharing husband but I draw the line at personal skincare products.
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Side note: We only become Flat White and Avocado on Toast hipsters when we travel. It costs too much to be a hipster in Singapore.
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#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninSpain
#mrsbrowninSpain
#thebrownsinSpain (at Madrid, Spain)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/BxKO3QvpU-q/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1j4udxx60g3ng

Wife, who is very good at Chinese, typing a message to a...

Sun, 05 May 2019 19:20:08 +0800

Wife, who is very good at Chinese, typing a message to a colleague in Chinese: “Hmm, what is the Chinese word for ‘professional’? I blanked out for the moment…”
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Me: “专业.”
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Wife: “Wah, that’s right! Since when your Chinese so good?”
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Me: “Secret training.”
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Never stop surprising your spouse. It’s one of the secrets of a lasting marriage.
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Also, never underestimate the power of a glass of good Spanish wine to unlock the deep recesses of your mind.
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#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninSpain
#mrsbrowninSpain
#thebrownsinSpain (at Corsá, Cataluna, Spain)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/BxFDWCQp6z9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=g3bwn6npn4al

What some people will do for a selfie. Please don’t. Your life...

Sat, 04 May 2019 23:24:32 +0800

What some people will do for a selfie. Please don’t. Your life is more important.
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#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninSpain
#mrsbrowninSpain
#themrbrownsinSpain (at Parc de Montjuïc)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/BxC6hvYpAJ2/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ths16dqq27t9

We spent a lovely three days at the wonderful Hotel Torre...

Sat, 04 May 2019 03:35:40 +0800

We spent a lovely three days at the wonderful Hotel Torre Barcelona (thanks, Giorgio and Mercedes!). Nestled in the quiet residential neighborhood of Valldoreix, it was a haven in Barcelona. It even had a great Italian restaurant next to it, run by the hotel owners.
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In the morning, just before check-out, the Wife and I were discussing where to go next. We never know where we are going until the day itself.
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Then five minutes later, I’m planning our next destination alone. She already zzz on the hotel bed.
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At 10am.
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Haiz
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#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninSpain
#mrsbrowninSpain
#thebrownsinSpain (at Valldoreix, Cataluna, Spain)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/BxAydqDpb6o/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qn6a7wrwiu19

Gràcia station, Barcelona, Spain. [⠀⠀⠀...

Fri, 03 May 2019 05:37:10 +0800

Gràcia station, Barcelona, Spain.
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#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninSpain
#mrsbrowninSpain
#thebrownsinSpain
#streetphotography
#strangersintransit
#streetleaks
#ourstreets (at Barcelona, Spain)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/Bw-blK4pxDR/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mdcn136h3cq3

Me (on the train): “Ok, we are going to enter #Barcelona now....

Thu, 02 May 2019 20:41:33 +0800

Me (on the train): “Ok, we are going to enter #Barcelona now. Beware of pickpockets, hold on to your bag closely, and zip it up.”
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Wife: “Ok. You should zip up too.”
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Me: “Oh.” *zips jeans up discreetly*
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#guagua
#opencoffeeshop
#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninSpain
#mrsbrowninSpain
#themrbrownsinSpain (at Gràcia)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/Bw9eRXzJZhU/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bsbbdfnrxpr8

Wife: “Oh! So many Spanish oranges! Do you think they can be...

Wed, 01 May 2019 14:10:59 +0800

Wife: “Oh! So many Spanish oranges! Do you think they can be eaten?”
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Me: “Look! One just dropped! I’ll go get it!” *peels Valencian orange for wife*
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Wife: “Can eat or not ah?”
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Me: “I’m sure can. Here, have a slice. Nice or not?”
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Wife (eating an entire slice: “SO SOUR!!!”
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Me (nibbling a bit): “Ya. Sour hor?”
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Lesson of the day: Not everything that grows on trees is good to eat.
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#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninSpain
#mrsbrowninSpain
#themrbrownsinSpain (at Valencia, España)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/Bw6MyWRJZzm/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1utj691s5nwwk

Me, driving for the last three hours: “Dear, I think that’s a...

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 16:56:34 +0800

Me, driving for the last three hours: “Dear, I think that’s a message from the place we booked. Can you read the message from my iPhone to me?”
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Wife: “Ok. Oh, your phone is locked. Let me unlock it first.”
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*waves my iPhone in front of my face*
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Me: “Eh. Use my code, use my code. I’m driving leh!”
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Wife: “Oh ya hor.”
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#guagua
#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninSpain
#mrsbrowninSpain
#themrbrownsinSpain (at Andalusia)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/Bw368i4JPPl/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mjby09xgfr51

Me: “Why don’t you get a jar of the strawberry yoghurt from the...

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 16:24:15 +0800

Me: “Why don’t you get a jar of the strawberry yoghurt from the breakfast table and we share?”

Wife: “Ok.”

Minutes later, after she takes a spoonful.

Wife: “I think you get your own.”

#travel #mrbrowntravels #mrbrowninSpain #mrsbrowninSpain #themrbrownsinSpain (at Málaga, Spain)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/Bw1ScrYJelj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1p1fa09m8ob8

Life-size replicas of Columbus’s three ships: the Niña,...

Sat, 27 Apr 2019 19:34:41 +0800

Life-size replicas of Columbus’s three ships: the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa María, at Muelle de las Carabelas (Warf of the Caravels), La Rabida, Spain.
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#IFAGPC
#IFABerlin
#IFAGPC19
#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninSpain (at Andalusia)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/BwweqR6J8HM/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1rvq7brhhdktf

After a long red-eye flight from Singapore to Frankfurt in...

Thu, 25 Apr 2019 23:26:30 +0800

After a long red-eye flight from Singapore to Frankfurt in Economy, in the middle seat, sandwiched between two aunties, followed by a three-hour layover (thank you, Lufthansa lounge and your showers), then a three-hour flight to Seville, then another one-and-half-hour coach ride, I am finally in Barceló Punta Umbría Beach Resort, in Andalucía, Spain.
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My room is big and comfy. The view is something else. Weather so far is sunny and yet 18°C, like aircon temperature. I opened the window of my balcony to let the cool air in and turned on some music.
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May I say how adequate the iPhone XS Max is for playing music out loud in the hotel room? I’m playing some Tatiana Manaois and Jennifer Chung tracks right now.
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I’ve set up shop in the room, my usual practice of setting up all my gear and toiletries, and hanging up my clothes. And also did some light laundry (the clothes I wore on the plane have to be washed). I’m a bit of a neat freak traveler and I have my rituals.
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Dinner time soon. Can’t wait.
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#IFAGPC
#IFA
#IFAGPC19
#travel
#mrbrowntravels
#mrbrowninSpain
#HoppyTravelUncle
#tombihn
#myphotosontombihn
#bihnthere
(at Andalusia)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/Bwrvl5bJ0VP/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tzi8h8gamq2d

Bye bye, warm and humid Singapore! I am heading to better...

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 23:20:47 +0800

Bye bye, warm and humid Singapore! I am heading to better weather in Andalusia, Spain, for the annual IFA Global Press Conference!

Frankfurt first, then Sevilla. See you all in 13 hours or so.
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#IFAGPC
#IFA
#IFAGPC19 (at Changi Airport)
https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/BwpKJnfJObp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1up93i3hb044y