Thanks for stopping by my blog!
This blog is for sharing my thoughts, moods and photos (all taken by me, except otherwise noted) with my friends.
I am retired and based in Hong Kong. I have taken up part-time teaching at a local university and helped out in preparing a book.
Writing this blog (first time ever) is a challenge for me as:
1. English is not my native language.
2. I have never written anything. Pre-retirement, the only thing I need to write were emails.
3. Writing is not my best of skills.
Nevertheless, there were many things I wish I would have written about before my retirement. I am happy to take up this challenge as from 1 January 2012.
I hope you would enjoy my blog.
2013 Update – I have started a daily morning hike into the woods, learning Chinese calligraphy and Spanish, and watching more movies in cinemas.
Copyright
All images on this blog are copyright (C)
a) In case you want to reuse any of the photos in this blog, please notify me and provide a link back to this blog with full and clear acknowledgement of all items used.
b) All photos and text or part thereof are not to be used for commercial purposes.
c) All photos must be used in their original form, no addition or alteration are allowed.
retireediary 
Hi, Michael! Long time no see! How are you?
I am ahead of you by a year. I started to take pre-retirement leave on 2.1.2011, retired on 1.7.2011 and have lazed for one whole year enyoying my own life with my family without becoming bored.
Looking forward to meeting you on the 14th.
I have really enjoyed looking at your photos, and just wanted to say that I think it’s awesome that you are writing in a second language. Living in Europe for the past eight months has really helped me appreciate the value of multilingualism. My goal is to become proficient at French and Spanish, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to blog in any language but English!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I am thinking of learning sufficient Spanish to get by while travelling in South America. I would be travelling to Budapest soon!
Hi I just nominated you for the “Inspiring Blog Award”! You can view it here: http://wp.me/P2SkWH-kn
Hi 1life196countries, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
Hi, Michael:
I just noticed your blog, and really enjoy reading it. I shared some of the ideas you have. First English is not my native language (Chinese is :-)), second writing is not my major (data analysis is :-)). It took a lot of courage for me to set up my blog a year ago, that is one of the reasons that I named my blog as “from hiding to blogging”.
I am looking forward to sharing the experience in blogging with you in the future. Please take a moment to visit mine here: http://cxianliu.wordpress.com/.
Thanks.
I visited your blog and am glad that I have found it.
Surely, I will be happy to share my experience of blogging (not that much really!) with you!
Regards,
Michael
Hi! Thank you for stopping by my blog! English is not my native language as well, but I think these challenges make it more interesting for us. I am enjoying reading your travels! Have you made it to Estonia when you visited Lithuania? (I am from Estonia… 🙂 ) Good luck!
Yulia
Hi! I think writing the blog in English is a good way of keep using this language after I retire. We spent a few days in Estonia (our first visit) and find it delightful; computers are very widely used and people are friendly, but unfortunately, it has been raining heavily and I didn’t have much chance to take good photos. I have enjoyed reading your blog and I didn’t realize that English isn’t your native language.
Hi Michael! Thank you for your comment. Yes, Estonia is delightful isn’t it? I’m sorry that the weather did not cooperate, but it is pretty common. We even have a joke about it: “The summer is over, why are you not tanned? Oh, I was sick that day.” 🙂
Had been sightseeing in Tallinn and visited the Parnu Beach. The beach was very windy that day but I enjoyed the atmosphere. My impression was that Estonia is more modern than the other Baltic countries. I also like the architecture. One building I saw was cladded in rust free steel (actually it was a bit rusted but would not further deteriorate) which I had never come across before. It was a wonderful trip!
This is a very keen observation, and I tend to agree with you – I think Estonia has had more successes to become independent than her two neighbors. Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
It was the loss of professional identity after decades of dedicated work that was somewhat not that easy to get over. Yes, blogging, teaching, assisting to prepare a book, hiking, travelling, photography etc have actually helped me to transition from work into retirement. I am glad to have retired!
Michael, you and Yulia amaze me. You write so well in English, yet both of you no doubt have to work at it. I studied Spanish in high school, and in recent years have taken a few courses in conversational Spanish. I have so many words in my head, yet putting them together in a coherent sentence is a challenge. We have lots of Spanish-speakers in our area, and I ask them to speak to me in Spanish so, “puedo practicar la lengua.” That helps, particularly if they correct me along the way and correct my mistakes. You are quite a traveler, Michael. Budapest is a place I’d like to see, but know little of Estonia and Lithuania. We had a priest here return to his native Estonia when the USSR dissolved to become either a bishop or archbishop there. I’m sure it was a life’s dream for him to be able to return. Thanks for liking my posts. With a trip to Spain tentatively planned for September I may have an opportunity to practice my Spanish more, though they do speak it differently there than our Central and South Americans do.
Hi, I think I will never be able to write posts using Spanish. I have studied it for over a year now -there seems to be so many things requiring good memory – the conjugations and the tenses etc. I hope I can have more chances practicing with others. I understand that there are differences in the Spanish between C and S Americans – like ustedes and tu etc. Hope you will have a great trip to Spain!
Hi!
Thanks for liking my blog. I can assure you that your English is much much better than my Cantonese, which is rather cobbled together because I had to learn how to speak it for a job in Scotland.
Great photos!
Your images of Lake Wandermere are just marvellous. Wish I would be able to visit the place one day.
Hey! We’d love to welcome you when you can make it. Can I practise my Cantonese or Mandarin with you then?
I was posted to work in London in 1985 and did some travelling around UK but never had the chance to visit Lake Windermere. Your photos of Lake Windermere are just great! I would be pleased to practise Cantonese or Mandarin with you if I am in the area.
Can you adopt me and take me with you everywhere?? 🙂 Love the pics !!!!
Will have to carry you around in a suitcase. Regards.
English may not be your first language, but you certainly could have fooled my on that point. And if writing isn’t one of your best skills, then you must be very, very skilled in other areas.
I’ve been to your beautiful city (before reversion back to Chinese control) and very much enjoyed the experience. I hope to return one day.
Thanks for your kind comments. I know my English is only functional and because of professional needs, it tends to be precise rather than appealing. I am relearning how to write and keep on polishing my English. HK is constantly changing, hope you will like it when you return.
Lovely blog and pictures. You are living the life I crave for- maybe a few years in the future! I am 3 years in my profession, works hard, but spend any free time travelling. I hope to earn enough to not have to worry financially in future, and to retire in a secluded place in the world where no one knows me!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Like you, I have been working very hard when I was young and spent time travelling and learning. Travelling has helped me to view the world and myself in a different light. It is important to save up and invest wisely so as to gain one’s financial freedom as soon as practicable.
Retirement is a great time to take on new challenges.
Yes! I am enjoying every moment of it. I started up the blog wanting to talk about this important transition, the psychological journey, what it does to longevity etc. I have digressed somewhat into travels and photos. Would like to write more about this subject later. Anyway, many thanks for stopping by my blog!
Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and liking my post on Stratford-upon-Avon! Your blog is wonderful and your photos are absolutely amazing, thanks for sharing them!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am glad that you covered Startford-upon-Avon so well in your post, a place which I have always intended to visit but still have not been able to do so.
Thanks for liking my post Grand Canyon Sunset.
I have always been fascinated by sunsets and love your pictures.
Thanks for visiting my blog “Eyes to Heart” and liking my post “Rainbow’s End.” … Have fun with your blog. … Be well, Dorothy 🙂
Thanks for sharing your great peoms and pictures!
Thanks for visiting my new blog and liking it!! I like your pictures as well, beutiful places. I understand what you mean about writing in English, I am in the same boat!!!
Your English and writing seem really good, especially since English is not your first language! Good luck with all your retirement endeavors – it’s an exciting time for a new chapter in your life! Thanks for checking out my blog!
Thanks for liking my blog! I am hoping to polish my English through writing and would be grateful if anybody can point out how I may improve. This is indeed an exciting time and I really enjoy the complete freedom I now have.
You use your camera very skillfully. The photographs are beautiful, and have the effect of making us want to visit the places you have been! I’ll be back to look around and read about some more of your adventures.
I am flattered by your comments on my photographic skills as I am still a learner. My wife’s usual comment on my scenic photos is that they are boring. In any case, I am very happy to share my travel photos with all those visiting my blog. Many thanks for your comment!
Hi and thanks for dropping by..i’ve been to your country just this year and enjoyed your place..i’m happy that you are enjoying your retiree years in traveling..
Hope you have enjoyed Hong Kong. It seems, in my retirement, I have found something which combine traveling, photography and writing. Thanks very much for stopping by my blog and liking it!
Thank you. I had thought what you are living in Langkawi. I understand why there are Chinese in your article. I am looking forward to the travel writing of your trip.
I love travelling around; be it in Japan, Malaysia, China, Europe, infact, anywhere. From the responses I am getting, like me, many of the readers also like Langkawi. Thanks for following my blog and have a good weekend!
It looks like you’re having fun. Keep it up. You’ll soon wonder how you ever had enough time to go to wokr.
Enjoying total freedom for the first time and treating time (the present) as the most valuable asset. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Thanks for visiting one of my blogs. I am glad you enjoyed today’s post on Collioure. You do very well for someone who is not native to speaking English. I hope you will stop by again.
Léa
Hi Lea, thanks for stopping by my blog. I enjoyed your post on Collioure and will surely come back and revisit!
Hi Michael. Thank you for stopping by my blog. This song is lovely and the photographs are magnificent.
Hi Pat, your picture on Machu Picchu was just fanatstic! Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Gorgeous photos!!!! I am envious of your many travels … many of these places I plan to get to, one day…. Thank you for visiting my blog! Cheers, PK
The field you are in is really interesting. I would also like to pursue it if I am still young; would be nice to know how to reduce morbidity and increase longevity. Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking the posts!
Thank you fro stopping by my blog and liking my post! Great pics on your blog!
Your beautiful pictures of Italy make us wanting to go there! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Thank you!
Hi Michael, I’m glad you checked out my blog because it enabled me to discover yours! Your photos are great and I’m very jealous of your travels. All the best!
Your blog is very interesting. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Hi Michael, I am pretty close to you, I’ve been living in the Philippines for the past 5 years. I hope to visit Hong Kong some day soon, maybe take my kids to Disney there.
I look forward to reading about more of your adventure on your blog. Like you, I am new to blogging, good luck on your journey!
The Ocean Park here is also very interesting. Maybe, you can consider that as well. Thanks very much for visting my blog!
Cool Blog! ❤
Hi Nina, thanks for the kind words!
Hi Michael. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and I’m glad you enjoyed it. I look forward to catching up with some of your posts here too. I am pretty new to blogging too so every new post is a learning curve. Best wishes, Phil Max
Hi Phil. I love your bear. I am also new to blogging and as you say, am still on the learning curve. Sometimes, I don’t know what to write or how to present . Maybe, that’s part of the challenge.
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Reagards, Michael
Thank you so much for liking my blog post! And very best wishes from Jamaica! By the way, your English is excellent. And by the way, I am retired too! I am now one of your followers! Best regards,
Emma
Apologize for the belated response. For unknown reason, your comment was classifed as Spam. I enjoying reading your posts and it is nice to know you are from another part of the world which I don’t know much about. I trust you are also enjoying your retirement. Thanks for following my blog. Regards, Michael
Hi Michael, thank you for stopping by my blog and liking my post. I adore as well your post and also your English..pretty well done I think, and in the option of being still flourish in retirement..amazing and it’s great! Hope you’ll get wonderful time on your next vacations, and can’t wait for your holiday stories in my country Indonesia (so many places to choose)..hope so..:D..
Hi, Have been to Borobudur and Mount Bromo many years back, but still have fond memories of those places. I look forward to visiting your country and maybe Lake Taboa as well. Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking it! Michael
I retired early last July and have been feeling my way. you liked my blog on trekking in Nepal – this was my first adventure in retirement. I have been to many of the places you have talked about – the west coast of Japan, Hong Kong, many places in China and Taiwan, as well as the standard western Europe countries. I believe that travel should be more than just checking off another country on the list; in each place I hope to find some new piece of beauty, truth, humanity – or why go?
It will be interesting to compare our experiences of “retirement” – which is a misnomer, I think, as i hope to be more engaged with the world and its inhabitants, not less.
I believe that it is important to give something back to the society and for this reason I am doing part time teaching at a local university. I also believe that we should contribute as much as possible to our profession. My contribution to a book under preparation is perhaps one of the things I can do using my previous experience / residual value. Travelling to me is opening myself up to new ideas, situations, environment and understanding of the world and its inhabitants so as to see what and where we can be of some assistance. Regards, Michael
Hi Michael! Great blog you have here! I love your whole adventure, I wish I get to travel to the same places you have as well in the future (like Egypt!). There’s just so much to discover out there and it’s great that you’re taking time to discover them all 😀 I look forward to reading more of your blog 🙂
Hi, I suppose that there are more places than we can travel in our life time. I hope you will be able to travel to all those places you love, including Egypt and other unforgettable places. Thanks for visiting my blog and liking the posts!
Hi Michael! I’ve enjoyed following your travels and I think you have a gift for simple yet powerful storytelling. I have nominated you for a Genuine Blogger Award:
http://insearchofperfect.com/2012/06/06/genuine-blogger-award-and-unearthly-sunset/
Congrats!
Yulia
Hi Yulia, I feel very honoured to be nominated for the award. However, in my retirement, I have decided not to pursue or receive awards of any nature. Writing and sharing with others from all over the world already give me the highest pleasure I have ever found in my life. Your encouragement and inspiring comments will never be forgotten. I found many bloggers write long articles which I am unable to do as my skills in English is rather limited. I have also not followed those bloggers who have put in a lot of photos as usually I can only find a handful of pictures which look reasonably good.
With regret, I have to decline the nomination , hoping that you will understand. Regards and take care! Michael
Michael,
Of course I understand and appreciate your position – in any case I just wanted you to know that I enjoy reading your blog! 🙂
All the best,
Yulia
Hi Yulia, I also enjoy very much reading your posts. Wow! You were brave to have stayed in Afganistan. Regards,
Michael
Thank you Michael. I’m afraid I was not brave – we simply had no choice 🙂
Good luck. What a great retirement project! All the best! And thanks for stopping by my blog.
Love your tips for Barcelona; presumably you will also have Part II. Regards, Michael
Indeed! I’ve been travelling again but I hope to have to have time to write parts II and III soon!
And here is part II – part III to follow!!
Thank you for sharing on Barcelona!
I love your blog. The pictures are fabulous and it is great to see someone living the dream 🙂 I look forward to many more posts
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I hope you will fufil your dreams as well.
English is my 1st language, but that rarely means that I will say what I am truly attempting to communicate :0) Thanks for stopping by my Post today!
I trust you are a devoted mother and a good cook. Love your pictures on birds and nature. Thanks for stopping by my blog!
Hey Michael
Thanks so much for the ‘like’ on my blog..Really great to see you there.
🙂
Hi Stuart, You have a great blog with amazing photos! Regards, Michael
Thats extremely kind of you Michael…I’ll try to keep those photos coming….
🙂
for someone who has not written before you are doing a great job! please keep up the good work! and also, thank you for the support on my blog, it means alot 🙂 great encouragement for any student!
Hi, My writing has been lousy since high school days. Maye, this is just a happy punishment. . . . . . in any case, I have been keeping my posts short.
Thanks very much for following my blog which is appreciated. Regards, Michael
oh but you are doing a very very good job sir! dont ever get discouraged 🙂
Hi, I will do the best I can and share my writings and photos with anybody showing interest. Regards, Michael
Michael – Thanks for liking my post and picture on pecorino. I see we share the same theme! and same interest in evocative fotos. Your pictures are amazing! I enjoyed them very much.
Hi Pamela, your posts on Italy make me wanting to be there. Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting! Regards, Michael
Thank you! Bringing Italy to you has been my pleasure. Divertiti! Enjoy –
Dear (retired) Professor Michael,
I can very much relate with the writing part as English is not my mother tongue. That’s one of the reason too why I created a blog to hone my writing skills while sharing my travel adventures. I dream of becoming a writer and hopefully I could write a book someday :-).
You’ve got a beautiful blog + photos! Wishing you always good health so you can travel more :-).
An aspiring student,
Mafey
Hi Mafey, blogging is a good way to polish up my English. I hope you will be able to become a good writer some day. Thanks for your comments, good health and safe travels! Michael
Hi Michael, Thank you for popping in. Your blog seems very interesting and I can’t wait to hear more. 🙂
Hi Lara, thanks for stopping by and your kind comments! Michael
I see that you’re based in Hong Kong. I have just been there four months ago. I loved the weather in February.
Cheers,
Lara
Hi Lara, I think the best weather for visiting Hk is October / November, but basically you find something enjoyable at any time of the year. Hope you like HK!
Regards, Michael
Good luck with your writing, it seems to be going great so far!
I always wonder how moving from one place to another changes our lives. Will be interested to see how things develop for you. Thanks for stopping by my blog! Regards, Michael
Hi there,
Thanks for stopping by The Legion of Door Whores and leaving a like for one of my images, it is appreciated 🙂 If you have time, please drop by my photo blogs http://reflectionsofchina.wordpress.com and http://moreimagesfromme.wordpress.com, I do hope you enjoy what you see there!..You have a really nice site here, certainly worthy of a follow. Regards Mark
Hi Mark, I have vistied both sites and found the photos amazing! I thoroughly enjoy them. Thanks for stopping by my blog and commenting! Regards, Michael
You make me want to retire — about 40 years ahead of schedule. 🙂
Hi, looks like you enjoy your work and retirement is still so far away. Thanks for visiting my blog and commenting! Michael
Thank you for discovering and liking my latest post, because it has allowed me to discover your blog as well. I applaud your attitude to “retirement” and I put the word in quotes, because you have not retired from the world, you have simply changed focus and means of engagement. Like you, I no longer work at a defined paid employment, but I am fully engaged in the world — perhaps more than ever, certainly more broadly than before. We are in what I call the Golden Overlap: we now have the time to explore new opportunities, and we still have the physical and mental ability to do so. Lucky, lucky us.
Hi Penny, well said, we are now in the Golden Overlap. Not too many readers have viewed my postigs on retirement, many of them liked the travels section. I am glad that we share the same attitude. I hope we are only at the beginning of the Overlap and that we have many andd varied opportunities in front of us. Thanks for stopping by my blog and offering insightful comments! Regards, Michael
Hi,
I nominated you for the “Versatile Blog Award”
You can find all the information you need here: http://solaner.wordpress.com/2012/06/14/another-day-another-award/
I really appreciate your work! It’s incredibly inspiring! Thank you!
Hi Andre, Thanks for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or receive any nomination during my retirement. As such, I have already turned down three similar nominations. Knowing that my posts are read throughout many parts of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. I thank you for visiting my blog and the kind and supportive comments. Regards, Michael
Thank you for dropping by my blog and following me. You have beautiful pictures here…lovely to see them
Hi Ritva, thanks for the kind comments! Regards, Michael
Michael,
It’ll be some years yet before I can retire and go around as you do but I definitely aim to!
Cheers,
Mel
Hi Mel, thanks for visiting my blog and commenting! Regards, Michael
I can’t even imagine writing in a second language. It is a challenge for me to express myself in my own language! You are brilliant!
Hi Lissa, I am struggling with it; in any case, I treat this as a challenge. I am learning from other bloggers how they write and how they have skilfully taken their photos. Thanks for the kind comments! Regards, Michael
Michael thank you so much for your support of my blogs. I think you are mastering English very well.
Thank you!
Hi again, I just wanted you to know I’m really enjoying your Blog and included it on my Sunshine Aware Post, no obligation to participate but you can read it here:
Hi, many thanks for that. I love your description about my blog. As I have promised myself not to pursue or receive any award during my retirement, I will not be participating. Thanks again for your kind comments and the support! Regards, Michael
Hello there. Thanks for stopping by my blog. Keep supporting me. By the way I really enjoy your blog. Its kinda amazing..
I’m glad you liked Focus on Croatia. There’s some nice photographs here. I’ll be back.
Hi Michel, Croatia is lovely, isn’t it? Thanks so much for the comment! Regards, Michael
Thank you for stopping by Pinball Donut Girl. Your photos make me itch to travel!
anna
Hi Anna, thanks for the ckind comments! Regards, Michael
My son lives in Hong Kong, and I see you have been to Hungary, and Budapest. A great place for photos, I’m off there again in a few weeks.
You have a lovely blog and amazing photos! Thanks for the kind comments, Regards, Michael
Hi Michael, thanks for reading my blog on Granada, Nicaragua. I cannot imagine writing in another language, I am having a lot of trouble just trying to speak in Spanish. Good luck to you and have fun.
The idea of livng in a place and learning the language appeal to me too. I am also thinking of learning Spanish which is so widely used in the Central and South Americas. Good luck with your learning and your work! Michael
Mike, you seem to write quite well, after all you retire after the running the world 🙂 for ages I guess. OK seriously – your writing is short, simple and clear. The kind of writing I like – brevity. I haven’t had much chance to read your other posts but this is the feeling I get from your About page.
Hi Benjamin, I think I can only write functional English and things that make sense to me; not necessarily those things appealing to others. So, I have always tried to write in simple English. Thanks very much for stopping by my blog and share your kind comments! Regards, Michael
Hi there,
Thanks for liking my post “gone again” on my blog Little Things. Glad you stopped by!
Cheers,
Jill
Hi Jill, thanks for stopping by my blog!
Thank you for your comments on my blog. Darlene
Thank you for liking my post. I really enjoyed looking at your China photos and look forward to reading more of your blog!
Looks like you have been enjoying your time in China. Hope I will be able to travel into mainland China again this year. Thanks for following my blog! Regards, Michael
Hi Michael, just wanted to say thanks for liking my post about traveling in Africa. It is inspirational to see someone so ready to see the world and be open to all its beauty and mystery. Good for you and keep on inspiring all of us!
Hi Tanner, opening up myself is one of the reasons for travelling. Thanks for your inspirational comment! Regards, Michael
Hello Michael,
I want to thank you for stopping by my blog. I give you much respect for writing a blog that is not in your native language! Bravo! I look forward to reading more of your posts!
Best, Margie
Hi, Margie, your posts on Italy are just fantastic; enjoy reading them. Regards, Michael
I have a the same challenge, writing this blog in English, which not my native language. I opted for that, because it gives me global reach and I use English in business every day anyway. Your posts are really good and your layout fantastic.
Greetings from Munich to Hongkong. I had a short consulting project HK Electric 1999-2000 and I remember the city well. I am also a big fan of Wong Kar-wai.
Good luck and happy writing.
For the same reason I am writing my posts in English; it is nice to know that one has readers from all over the world. In fact, I do not have many readers when I wrote about Hong Kong. I am happy that you also read my post on HK. HK still remains my favourite place where I call home. I understand Munich is a very attractive place in Germany to live in. Greetings from HK as well! Many thanks for your inspiring and kind comments! Michael
Michael. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog. I really appreciate it. The English language ain’t so bad…
Hi, love reading your post on ponds. Thanks for your kind comment! Regards, Michael
Hi Michael, just wanted to say thanks so much for stopping by our blog earlier today. Much appreciated 🙂 Hope you’re having a great weekend!
You both have travelled a lot! Have a great weekend too. Regards, Michael
We’ve been bitten by the travel bug 🙂 Thanks so much and same to you!
Hi, Michael. You’ve been too modest with your introduction. You are a great writer and photographer.
BTW, my husband is now visiting HK for the first time. Anything place of interest that he ‘must’ visit?
Hi Sutira, I would suggest going up the Victoria Peak (or sometimes called the Peak), a ride across the harbor in the Star Ferry and if he has the time, he may like to go to visit the Big Bhudda at Lantau Island by taking the Ngong Ping cable car at Tung Chung near the airport. Regards, Michael
Michael, thank you so much for your advice. I’ll pass it on to my husband.
Regards,
Sutira
Thank you for taking the time to read my blog.
You are welcome!
Hi Michael,
Thanks for visiting our blog and liking my post. I have enjoyed reading your stories – you have done some really interesting things!
Jo
Thank you Jo!
Hi Michael,
Despite the fact that English is not your first language, you write beautifully! I love the name of this blog (very clever) and I can’t wait to read everything and travel vicariously through you. I’m glad you’re enjoying retirement so far!
Happy travels!
Nancy
Hi Nancy, thanks for your kind comment, I am flattered. I hope I can maintain, if not improve, my English in my retirement and keeping myself busy. I also enjoy reading your posts. Regards, Michael
Thanks for reading and liking my most recent blog post. Enjoy your travels. You’re lucky to be able to take advantage of your retirement in this way.
I count myself lucky to be able to travel during my retirement; this makes up for the many leave days not taken when I was busy at work. Regards, Michael
Hi, Michael! Thanks for visiting our blog. I have reading your stories.You have done really interesting things, indeed!
Thanks for preusing my posts!
Thanks Michael for visiting my blog and liking my posts on Paris and London. I’m also discovering the power of the English language every time I’m writing for blog. 😉
Your post have given me many fond memories of the two cities. Thanks Gina!
Thanks for stopping by my blog, Michael. Your pics of Hong Kong are lovely! I now know other places to go to when I next plan a visit to Hong Kong 🙂 Wishing you many happy hours of blogging and photography!
I think I have written too much oversea travels instead of writing much at all on Hong Kong. I will try to include more photos on HK later. Thanks for following the blog. Regards, Michael
Thanks for stopping by my blog, Michael, and giving me a “Like” on “Days Gone By”. Good luck with your blog writing.
Hi Shanomi, thank you for stopping by my blog as well!
Thanks for liking some recent posts. Best to you.
It is my pleasure!
I think writing is an awesome skill you have.
Hi, in my days, students who are good in mathematics and bad at English / language would go for an engineering career. I was one of those. After blogging for several months now, I find that quite a few of the bloggers are engineers or IT professionals. Maybe, the lack of opportunities of writing to express ourselves (and not our projects) is the main driver for writing. Thanks for your encouraging comment! Regards, Michael
lol. I am an Engineer and in the IT industry myself too !!
That’s why we are now bloggers!
for me, blogging is a way to capture my memories..the good ones.. and putting them in one place where I can see it for years to come and share it as well. some of my posts are from 15 yrs ago too. Whatever I can recollect, I quickly type them out. I travel a lot too..my experiences from my travel make their way in my posts. while at it, I learn from all blogs that I can read. Read many of your posts by now !
Hi, only after retirement do I have the opportunity to write. Many of my posts are quite contemporary; I have lost almost all my old non-digital images. Yes, you must have read quite a few of my posts; very few people would go back to my post no.1 on “Retire Tomorrow”. Thanks for perusing my posts, knowing that I have readers like yourself is a already a great encouragement to continue blogging. Have a good weekend, Michael
Hi Michael. Thanks for stopping by our blog and liking our latest post! It’s much appreciated!!!
You are welcome! Regards, Michael
Your doing great Michael. I’m following your blog. Thanks for liking one of my photos.
Hi Chris, thanks for the comments. I’m also following your blog! Regards,Michael
Greetings, Michael! Thanks for liking my post. It is nice to know you are from Hong Kong as well!! Your writings and photos are beautiful, and I am sure you have enjoyed the new and exciting world of blogging. I look forward to reading through your travels, and also exchanging great encounters in Hong Kong. Best wishes, SC
Hi SC, I’m still learning how to present my photos and text in my posting. Blogging is indeed interested; I hope I’ll not become addicted to it. Will look forward to exchanging our encounters in HK. Regards, Michael
great pictures! i visited some of the same places- its great to have such a beautiful reminder!
Glad that it brings back some great memories!
Michael, it’s great that you have started this blog — great concept to have a retiree journal (although it sounds like you’re quite busy!) I love your photos and looking at them give me the travel bug! Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking my post on kangaroo road kill.
Hi Stephglaser, thanks for your encouraging comment. I’m trying to keep busy and meaningful during my retirement! Michael
Hi, thanks you for visiting my blog and for the like. Really liked yours and keep writing. English is not my native language either but it is a good way to challenge yourself. All the best
One thing I’m not accustomed to when writing in English is that I can’t use Chinese proverbs and idioms or do it in a colloquial manner. As you said, this is a challenge. I like your blog, please keep blogging! Michael
Hi Micheal,
Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking my post Špilberk Castle in Brno. I find your approaoch to retirement really interesting.
Hi Janet, I am still in my early stage of retirement – the Go-Go stage. I am happy with my present life and hope that I can continue with this for some years. Thanks for stopping by my blog! Regards, Michael
Thanks Michael for visiting my blog and liking my post. I like your travel stories and photos. It is also my dream to travel to different countries someday. And I wish I could also blog in English. You are an inspiration to other retirees. Keep on blogging.
Thanks for your kind comment; I am also open to be inspired by our fellow bloogers! Regards, Michael
Wow you take great natural photos…:)
Hi Jeni, thank you for your comment. You are welcome! Michael
Thanks for liking a bunch of recent posts. Best to you.
Amazing photos!
Greetings! Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking one of my posts. I’ve enjoyed viewing some of your photos — superb! I’ll be checking out more of them. Looks like you are enjoying a lot of travel in your retirement. 🙂
Many of your photos and writings are superb too! I am just trying to use my time in retirement in a meaningful manner. Regads, Michael
Hi Michael, you have a lot of amazing pictures in here and now I think I want to retired soon 😀
PS. Your English are just fine, more… it was a great one ‘holding dictionary just to type this comment’ 🙂
Hi Ansella, you won’t be surprised if you occasionally find some grammatical errors in my writings or if the English is structured in a rather strange manner. Many thanks for stopping by my blog. Regards, Michael
You sound like you’re having a fun. Don’t spoil that with concern over grammatical or writing or any other language errors. You’re doing fine and keep on trekkin’.
Thank you Cecil!
Thanks for liking my post. Enjoy your retirement, it could be a long time if you don’t.
Hi Wendy, very true, normally we may have 10,000 days in our retirement. It would be a long time if we don’t like it. Thanks for your comment! Michael
Thank you for visiting my blog. In return, yours looks much more interesting than mine! I love to travel, and I would love to do what you’re doing someday. Keep posting, please. Your photos are awesome!
In fact, my blog’s layout is quite plain. I only have limited computer skills to make it more attractive. Thanks for your kind comment!
Thanks for visiting my blog! I look forward to keeping up with you as well! 😀
G
Hi Ginger, you have a lovely blog, I also look forward to keeping up with you! Regards, Michael
Why thank you sir! And thanks for stopping by my FB Fan page — means alot!!!
Hi Ginger, you are welcome!
Hi Michael. Rex Crum, aka rexpresto here…Just wanted to thank you for the “like” of my post, The First 662.7 Miles Are Always The Easiest, at Your Dad Did. All the best to you!
Hi Rex, thanks for your inspiring comment! Michael
I only looked at the most recent 2 posts from you and from what I’ve seen so far, it looks like great travel blog already! I will read some more tomorrow, keep it up and enjoy your retirement! You’ve been to places that people can only dream of.
I am glad that you like my posts. There are a lot of interesting places that I still want to travel. Thanks for your kind comment!
Looking through your blog is very inspiring! I am a new blogger, trying to focus on traveling, and dabbling in other topics too. Thanks Michael!
Hi Katwin19, I started blogging 6.5 months ago; therefore I am also new to blogging. Indeed, I would also like to diversify into other areas. Best of luck with your blogging! Regards, Michael
Hi Michael! Thanks for visiting my blog and liking my post!
Hi Michael, your photos are stunning, keep up with the good work! Regards, Michael
Thanks for the like at “Memories on the Journey” – we spend many days looking for God’s lessons in our new life here in Hong Kong, hopefully some of them bless & encourage others along the way! Next time you visit, please let us know your thoughts! – Blessings, jk.
I enjoy reading your “About”. You truly are a blessed family. Best wishes, Michael
Thanks so much! *oops* I just realized the comments were disabled on that page. fixed it now. 🙂 Guess we all have much to learn about the blogging world! Glad you decided to write too, I think your English is very good – compared with many we work with here!
Hope you and your family will have a good time in this part of the world!
It’s never too late to learn – best of luck! Thanks for stopping by my blog too.
Hi, thanks for the comment! Regards, Michael
I love your photos! They are so real and so beautiful!
Many thanks for your kind comment!
Hi – please check your nomination – I like your blog! http://managuagunntoday.wordpress.com/2012/07/20/very-inspiring-blogger-award-nomination-circle-of-love/
You will also have noticed I reblogged your blog about Dubrovnik. Thanks very much. Hope that’s ok.
Hi Managua, thanks very much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down several similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated. Regards, Michael
Thanks for stopping by and visiting CTB 😀 Good for you and your English is very good! Much better than my Chinese will ever be. After 2 years in China I can only say a few words, never would I be able to blog in Chinese!
Thanks for your kind comments. English is so much different from Chinese, I think to be proficient in it is not that easy. Hope you have enjoyed your stay in China! Regards, Michael
Hello! Thanks for the like on my post! You take nice photos and I think your English is pretty good as far as I have read 🙂 I really like your night shots, for me those are hard to do!
Hi Anna, thank you for your encouragement. Understand encouraging other people is a purpose of your blog! Reard, Michael
I really enjoy your blog , and I have nominated you for the One Lovely Blog award…you may receive it here. http://viewsofmyworld.wordpress.com/2012/07/21/thank-you/ 🙂
Hi LyannV, thanks very much indeed for the nomination. I have told myself not to puruse / receive any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason I have turned down several similar nominations. Knowing that my posts is read in many countries is already my biggest reward. So with regret, I have to decline also this one. Many thanks once again and regards, Michael
I can certainly understand 🙂 At least you know that I really, really like your blog!
Hi LyannV, many thanks for the kind comment. It is reader like you that keeps me go on blogging (until I run out of photos and things to say). I also love reading your blog! Have a great weekend, Michael
I envy you Michael. I dream of travelling different country as well but my main priority now is to explore different places in my country. I hope you’ll have a chance to travel here in the Philippines and I’ll assure to you that you’ll find many beautiful places here. By the way, we Filipinos are known as very accommodating people so you’ll enjoy staying here.
Hi, thanks for your comment. Travelling to the Phlippines is also on my wish list. Regards, Michael
Hello. Please forgive my tardiness, but I took two short trips and have lost track of keeping up with my blog stuff. I stopped by to (finally!) thank you for liking one of my recent posts. I always get a kick out of it, and I appreciate it. So—thank you. 🙂
No worries, love your posts on Mexico!
Thanks for reading my post! You got beautiful pictures. Sorry about your bad experience in Hungary! (There is a reason why I don’t live there any more…) It’s great that you have undertaken blogging in a second language in your retirement.
Hi Monica, understand that there are too many people who have left their homeland and and crowded into Budapest. I suppose this is the universal trend of urbanization and Budapest just don’t have sufficient number of jobs for its residents. I don’t blame them. Thanks for the kind comments. Regards, Michael
Well good luck with your writing and I echo some of the comments above; you’re writing is far better than you realise. Well done and good luck!
Hi, many thanks for your inspiring and supportive comment! Regards, Michael
Thank you for dropping by! For a moment there I thought you were my cousin. 🙂 My family is Lai too and I have a cousin who goes by that name.
You take beautiful pictures! You have been busy since retiring! You do write well. I only hope one day I can work up the courage to write in another language. 🙂
Keep up the great work!!!
Hi, Lai ia not an uncommon surname in the southern part of China and perhaps also in Vietnam and other SE Asia Chinese communities. I am seeing more blogs in languages other than English. Thanks for your kind comment!Regards, Michael
What a great blog! Love the name!!! Your blog makes me want to run and buy a ticket somewhere and start my own adventure! Best of luck to you in completing your book. I’ll be living vicariously through you as I look at your photos and keep tabs on your latest trips. Best Regards!
Hi, many thanks for your encouraging comments! I wish I can have you skills in macro photography; your photos are just amazing / awesome. I am also living vicariously through you to look at the world in a more detail manner. Regards, Michael
Loving your blog – thank you for sharing, sure glad you gave my blog a like so I could discover your blog. My husband are starting to plan a year long Europe trip and I am just in heaven reading about your journey!
Wow! A year long Europe trip. That’s wonderful. Will be anxious to live it vicariously through your blg. Safe travels, Michael
Wishing you all the joy, fun and satisfaction in the blogging world, Michael. Glad you liked and discovered my blog; otherwise, I would not have come across yours. Thanks.
I am also glad to have come across your excellent. I like your reviews very much. All the best with your future blogging! Regards, Michael
Because I really like your blog, I nominated you for the ‘One Lovely Blog Award’. You can see it here: http://brilliant-london.com/2012/07/26/blog-award-2/
Hi, thanks very much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down several similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated. Regards, Michael
No problem. Happy to check-in on your posts.
There’s so much happening in London right now, your posts reminds me of my year (1985) in London. Regards, Michael
Hello Michael, thanks for sharing your perspectives, experiences and photos. Nice blog! If you happen to come to the south of Spain, do drop me a line! I speak Mandarin too.
Hi Bernice, we were tossing between going to Spain or Croatia this year and in the end we went to Croatia. This is partly due to the fact that my aged father in law couldn’t stand having late meals in Spain and that some of us have been there before. I very much enjoy Seville, Cordoba and Granada and will surely like to re-visit these places and Barcelona. Will drop you a line when the time comes. Thanks for the encouraging coment! Regards, Michael
Thank you for visiting my blog. It gave me an opportunity to discover yours in return. Your photos are lovely and I’m impressed with your ability to write on English when it is not your first languguage. Bravo!
Hi Anna, if you are careful you may spot the clumsy way in my writing or an occasional grammatical mistake. Many thanks for your encouraging and kind comment! Michael
Dear Sir, thanks for stopping by your photographs are awesome and I liked that you describe them as well.
Thanks very much for your kind comment!
Hello Michael, thanks for visiting us at Around the World in Eighty Wickets. I’m inspired by your energy and your courage to blog in a foreign language. Thanks for the wonderful photos, too. Best, Merryn
Hi Merryn, my source of energy comes from a redirection of it from my previous work. As for the courage of writing in another language, it comes from ignoring how difficult it might be and knowing that my readers will forgive me for my funny English. Thanks for the kind comment! Regards, Michael
Good for you! Enjoy!
Michael, I too have recently retired (July 1, 2012) and begun writing. I have a great editor (my daughter-in-law). It’s difficult to edit your own work, even if English is your first language.
I wish you success. I love your pictures and can’t wait to see your next post!
Hi Bmpiller, welcome to the world of the retired. I’m sure you will enjoy your retirement. My writings are unedited, so forgive me if you spot any grammatical mistakes. Many thanks for your encouraging comment. Regards, Michael
Dear Michael, Thank you so much for “liking” my blog at http://www.artteachtravel.com . I was so encouraged today to see that you’d read quite a few of my blog posts. I am fully impressed with not only your blog, but your learning the English language so well. Also your photographs are wonderful! I see that you are based in Hong Kong and that is a city I’m considering moving to. I will enjoy looking through all your photos. The very best of luck to you and enjoy your retirement! I can’t wait for that day to come for me! 🙂
Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. HK is indeed a fascinating city. It has just been ranked number one in terms of Liveability by the Economist. Hope you will have the chance to move here!
Hi,
This is just to let you know that I have nominated you for the beautiful blogger award. If you chose to participate, (I understand completely if you do not wish to), please pick the award and rules from here: http://wp.me/2ys6I
Luv ,
Cynthia.
Hi Cynthia, thanks very much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
A fellow traveler! If you journey to the Southern of the two Koreas in the future, I hope we could meet up. But I’m sure there are many other places you plan to visit. Looking forward to reading more of exploits!
Hi Albinogoth, thanks for the good gesture. Travelling to Jeju is on my wish list; although I don’t know too much about it. Thanks to your kind comment! regards, Michael
Just looked at your January images, Michael; as w/ the rest, simply amazing. (Figured I’d grab a month at a time in order to not have a sensory overload.) Love the title “retireediary” as well; great choice – if this is what you are producing as a retiree, then you should have retired a long time ago!
Wow! I have another look at your blog, your photos are just amazing. I envy your skills on Photoshop, Lightroom etc which I know nothing about. I was born in an age when we still use punched cards and later magnetic tapes for running computer programs. If I were in the States, I would also like to take up some proper photography training. All the best with your future blogging! Michael
I really enjoy to read your blog .. specially “ABOUT” this one is similar to me ” 3. Writing is not my best of skills.” ;D you are not alone Michael .. im with you 😉
– Pinaybyaheras
Good to know that I’m not alone. After writing for about 7 months, I still find that’s not easy! Regards, Michael
Yes your right .. ;D
Have a blessed day!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! I love your photographs and admire the challenges you are undertaking.
Wow! I really envy your experience of crusing to so many parts of the world. Safe travels, Michael
Hi, thanks for visiting my blog. I’ve been to hongkong once and it was a great visit. Btw, English is not my mother tongue too, but the best part, we try to keep up!
All my best,
Criselda
Thanks for the kind comment!
Thank you for stopping by my blog – and no, English isn’t my first language either, so we have that in common. Your blog looks like fun, well done for starting it and keeping it up.
Thank you for your encouraging comments! Michael
But you write so well Michael! English is not my native language either, but it’s the one I’m most comfortable with. By the way, nice photos! Ah, to have time to travel!
Hi, I’m sure your English is a lot better than mine. Anyway, thanks for your comment! Michael
Hi Michael. Thanks for visiting my blog. Great to read yours – loved the photos on your last post in particular. I wouldn’t have guessed about non-native English as it read really well. Hope you keep enjoying the writing! Annabel
Hi Mrs H, thanks for the encouraging comment. Hope you are enjoying your time in your new life after quitting the job. Regards, Michael
Hi, thanks for paying a visit to my blog today. Lately I’ve been considering early retirement but my problem is I what to do with all that time, I must have something to do at least a couple of days a week; otherwise, I am afraid I’d be climbing the walls. LOL
Hi Marcia, I know the concern and I pondered about it before retirement. I have a draft (more like a checklist) of what people do in their retirement. I Hope I can put it to shape and publish it soon. Best wishes, Michael
I have some ideas of things to do, what I want to find is a way to produce a good income working from home, LOL
But.. I will still welcome your post on the subject!
Hi Michael,
Thanks for stopping by my blog. And your blog is something worth following.
Hi Adamontheweb, you are welcome! Michael
Hello, this is so late but thanks a lot for liking my post. I can’t reveal my real name yet as I am not retired yet.. If I reveal my name, it won’t be good for my job. Your photos of China are fascinating to me!
Hi, hope to post more on China. Thanks for the comnment! Michael
Hello Michael
I am glad you found my blog. Hong Kong was the place we almost moved to (as described on my About page) and although this move is not happening just yet, we enjoyed a fabulous visit there in October, and have not ruled it out for the future, if the opportunity arises. You write well! I look forward to reading more. Good wishes, ItchyFootMum (UK)
Hi ItchyfootMum, it will be interesting to stay here in this exicitng place; think you would like it here. Hope the chance will come up again. Thanks for the kind comment! Regards, Michael
beautiful photos. your entry about thailand reminds me of my solo vacation to phuket and im feeling very nostalgic now 🙂
Hi Apple.e-s., thanks for stopping by my blog. Yes, there are also many places in Thailand that I love to visit. Regards, Michael
Hello, Michael. I have been enjoying your photography and have nominated you for blogging awards at atasteofmorning.com
Hi Laurie, thanks very much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
No worries : )
Lovely photos! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Minou
Hi BonMinou, thanks for stopping by my blog too! Michael
Thanks for your comments Michael. English is my first language but according to Mrs Spouse that is debatable after the third glass of red wine. Or….was it the fourth?????? How I admire anyone who has 2 (or more) languages at their finger (tongue) tips. Love Hong Kong but compared to New Zealand it is just a little busier. Thanks again for looking at my Blog.
I can’t drink at all if I am to write in English! Love NZ, but a man cannot be in two places! Thanks very much for the comment, Michael
Pingback: He’s Walking: Wonderful Photos from Michael Lai, RetireeDiary Blog « The Practical Psychosomaticist: James Amos, M.D.
Hi James, many thanks for referring me to your readers. I am very pleased to share my posts wth them! Regards, Michael
Hello! Thank you for liking one of my post as it enabled me to discover your wonderful blog. Your pictures are amazing! Best regards, Ann.
Hi Honey and Parrots, thanks for your kind comment! Michael
Hi Michael, Thanks for stopping by and liking one of my posts in my blog. Reading some of your trips really wow-ed me.. The kinda retirement I would love to have someday 🙂
Cheers, Rie.
Hi Rie, thanks for the comment. I’m still trying to find more meaning for my retirement. Regards, Michael
Thanks for visiting my blog and liking my post earlier today! Your photography is breathtaking and I admire your taking the plunge to start a blog. I just started mine as well after a lot of thought.
I started the blog without much thinking; I guess the difficult part is how to maintain the interest of the readers in the long run. Regards, Michael
Yep. I’m still figuring that out, but it sounds like you’re doing ok in that area.
I am still muddling through!
Thankyou for taking a look at my site. Very sweet of you Michael.
Michael, congratulations for taking up the challenge of writing, even if wish you had done it sooner.
Hi bucketdave, I am happy to take up this challenge and as you said, I should have done it sooner. Regards, Michael
Hi Michael,
Thanks for visiting my blog again, and for the like on my post “Sunrise at Anacortes Marina.” I’m still enjoying your photography.
Alice
Hi Sailor Lady, would stop by again! Michael
Love the blog !
Thank you youtheeverydaysuperhero!
Hi Michael thanks for visiting and liking my post …really like the pictures on your blog…All the best!!
Hi Shivani, all the best with your blogging and regards, Michael
thanks for stopping by my blog. i am glad to find yours. love your photos!
Thank you Anvi!
Hi Michael! Thanks so much for taking the time to “stop by” my blog…I’m fairly new at this and enjoying the challenge. Love your photos! Victoria
You are welcome. Thanks for your kind comment!
Dear Mr. Lai,
Your blog is absolutely beautiful, from the thoughts, to the photos and to the written word. i admire your willingness to continue to challenge yourself. And I find myself wondering, “HOW does he take such gorgeous photos?” I look forward to following your blog!
Hi Mindfulmagpie, thanks very much for your encouraging comment! In my previous life before retirement, I have always tried to challenge myself. Now, this blog is my major challenge as this is the first time I actually write and show my photos to others. Thanks also for following my blog! Regards, Michael
THANKS for visiting my “pun-ny” photoblog and leaving a “like.” Your photos are incredibly beautiful and imaginative.
–John R.: http://TheDailyGraff.com
Hi Mr. Robinson, thanks for the encouraging comment! Michael
Thanks for visiting my blog and for leaving a “like”! love our photos of China. I live in Kunming, Yunnan. You must come back again.
– Regards, Roz: http://www.rozw.wordpress.com
Hi Roz, Yunnan is a lovely place. I know I’ll revist it sometime. Hope you like the life up there! Regards, Michael
Hello Michael, I’ve lived in several cities in China, even in Hong Kong and visited Yunnan (Dali, Lijiang, Xizhou, Kunming) 3 times while I was working but now I am retired and loving my tranquil life in Yunnan. I too have taken up writing. Just finished writing a Chinese Cookbook and waiting for the final parts to complete and then it will be epublished. Amazing what you have time for when you don’t have to work!!!!
-Regards, Roz
Hi Roz, it appears that you are very active in your retirement and enjoy writing and publishing. All the best with your retirement and hope that your book will be a success! Michael
Hello there, I nominated your blog for a Blog on Fire award. No need to call the fire fighters, just showing my love for your blog. You can check out it…
Cheers!
Hi Thisfloridalife, thanks very much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Hello, your blog has got fantastic pics and to think they are all taken by you is humbling. Thank you for liking my blog too and the article on tourism in Uganda. You should get sometime and visit Uganda. We are a beautiful country! You can also get me on twitter @masakeonline or @ugandatourstrav for any questions on Uganda. Kind regards!, Masake
Hi Masake, didn’t know Uganda has so many gorillas. Will keep learning more about Uganda and to be inspired. Many thanks for the kind comment! Michael
Your welcome Michael! Would you please avail me with your email address? i would wish to inquire something about certain products in China if it’s ok with you. Thank you and kind regards!
Hi, my address is block8alai@gmail.com. Regards, Michael
Hi. Wow, I am fascinated by your travels. You seem to be doing retirement the right way! Keep at it.
Hi, I am trying to stay active in my retirement and am enjoying it. Thanks for your kind comment! Michael
ciao! thanks for (ad)dressing my blog. i checked yours and it’s just a luvFAB.
thebestdressup.
Thank you thebestdressup!
Glad to meet you… and put a face to your name! 🙂
Hi Elizabeth, your positive attitude and encouargement are inspiring! Regards, Michael
Likewise! TY! 🙂
Thanks for sharing your world in stories and pictures and thanks for taking time to stop by my blog. I believe I will learn alot following your adventure into retirement.
Hello Mud, you are welcome. I believe I can learn from you and be inspired by you too! Regards, Michael
One of my writing teachers once taught me that you cannot be a writer if you don’t write. That’s how it gets better. Good luck!
Yes, practice makes perfect, thank you!
Michael,
I am very inspired by reading your story. It sounds like you have lots of fun and adventure ahead of you! Good luck with writing it all down. And good for you for doing it in English, which is not your first language!
I want to thank you as well for your “likes” of my blog post on The Dairy Free Traveler, and ask you for a favor. Recently, I left WordPress.com and am now self-hosting my blog on BlueHost. It is better for the most part, but one thing I have lost is the ability for people to “like” my posts. So now I can see people are reading but I don’t know who! Could you please leave me some comments now and then to let me know you are still reading? Even a short sentence would be a big help.
All the best,
Karl
Hi Karl, thanks for the kind comments! I’ll leave comments now and again on perusing. Regards, Michael
Michael, Thanks so much for taking the time to visit my blog and “like” my pages. I just subscribed to your blog because I love your photos and adventures…I hope you will do likewise. I’m a novice to blogging but not to the love of travel! How much fun to “meet” other wanderlusts across the continents!
Victoria
Hi Victoria, will follow your blog. Regards, Michael
Great! Looking forward to experiencing more fabulous destination, even if it is virtually or vicariously! V.
Thank you Victoria!
Hello Michael,
Your blog looks most interesting and I look forward to reading more. It is always a pleasure to meet new friends from the Far East. Keep up the good work!
Hi, I have much respect for cabbie drivers in London who know the back streets so well that they can always avoid the congested roads. I also love their manners and the design of the London taxis – ability to turn tight circles and spacious seat arrangement. Some of the models(T4?) are now being made in China under licence and some people have tried to import them into HK for use of disabled persons. It is my pleasure of meeting you! Michael
Hi, thank you so much for stopping by my post. It is greatly appreciated! I too am starring to write and have much to learn about being an online writier.
Hi Scarlett, I am also learning. Keep up with the good work! Michael
Michael,
Great blog! Good to see people sharing their adventures with the world. We are very fortunate to be able to travel.
Thank you for stopping my blog and liking an article.
Until next time…
Wyman
Hi Wyman, it is my pleasure to share my posts with you. Thanks for the comment! Michael
Impressive travel list! I love the photos! Keep up the blog, it’s great.
Many thanks for the comment, will keep up the blog! Regards, Michael
Thank you, Michael, for liking my blog post. I agree with Claudia : VERY impressive travel list. And I admire your skill, writing in another language than your own. English is not my mother tongue either but at least we use the same alphabet. Don’t skip Belgium on one of your travels : we have a great “cuisine”. 🙂
Hi Pviette, I like the Belgium chocolate. Understand Belgium is a bit small but also very beautiful, will certainly include it in my future travels! Michael
Hello Michael, It’s the small things that matter, you know. And our fantastic chocolate is only a small part of our cuisine 🙂 The Dubrovnik series is great ! Have fun. Patricia
Small is beautiful! Thanks, Michael
Thanks for visiting!!
My pleasure!
Thank you for visiting and liking my post Gathering
Hi lamrcc, you are welcome! Michael
Having read your posts, I’d say you’re doing a great job regardless of any preconceived obstacles. I enjoy your stories and photos. I look forward to more posts!
Hi msherice, in my retirement, I am relearning my photography, my English and writing skills. I thank you very much for your encouraging comments and would do my best to overcome the perceived obstacles. Best wishes, Michael
Hello Michael,
thanks for stopping by! Beautiful photos! I have been to HongKong in 1997, just before it went back to China and landed at the old airport. Remember flying through the city at night. Wow!
I enjoy your blog and think your English is amazing! Hats off to you for doing a blog that is not in your mother tongue! 🙂 I have hit the “follow” button.
Best wishes from sunny Vienna 🙂
Hi happyface313, landing at the old airport after making a tight turn in the air is not for the faint hearted! The night views here is always amazing, hope you enjoyed that. Thanks for following and for your encouraging comments! Michael
Dear Michael, it is so long ago, but it was really amazing. Haven’t been to HK since, but maybe next spring. So I trust I will read and see a lot of your diary until then 🙂 Encouragement is very important and underestimated. All the best! 🙂
Thanks, may you have happiness on your face all 365 days in the year!
Thank you for visiting. i really enjoyed reading about your travels and your photos are wonderful!
Thank you for your comment, as much cake as you want!
Breathtaking photographs. Your pictures speak for itself, so writing is redundant I may say, although i don’t quite see you lacking in it either 🙂 Wonderful blog, keep it coming.
Many thanks Mo for your kind comment!
Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog. Your images are beautiful .
Thaank you Brenda, you photos are beautiful!
Hello,
I hereby nominate your most deserving blog for “One Lovely Award”. For more details please go to my post :
for fulfilling some rules/ formalities. Should you have any question please let me know for clarification.
Hi AnilCm, thanks very much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination and your following which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Dear Michael,
No matter for non-acceptance of the nomination. Truly speaking, I too not much interested for such awards. I have already declined one recently and this the second one, which I accepted. So don’t get disturbed by declining the nomination. Its absolutely fine.
Have a nice time.
Regards,
Hi AnilCm, love reading your blog independent whether you have any awards! Michael
Hi Michael…first of all…it is amazing that you are writing this in a language which is not your mother tongue. I could never do something as challenging. A special thanks for liking my post on my India Journal Blog and also for bringing me here to explore yours. It is wonderful. You might also like another one of my several blogs which has lots of inspirational posts about life’s journey but also many photos. Continue to enjoy every moment of your retirement. I have been enjoying mine for several years now and it is a true blessing. Hope you continue to enjoy my adventures in India as well.
with love light and JOY
Hi Jane, I have retired for a year now, I know I am getting more satisfaction out of it than from my previous work and am enjoying every moment of it. Your other blog on life’s journey is really inspirational; will visit it again. Thanks for your kind comment! Michael
thank YOU…and continue to enjoy…your life in general and blogging as well. 🙂
It does look like you’re having a great, rich life being a retiree. Congratulations! Thank you so much for visiting my blog; I’m glad you liked the one about sustainable lifestyle in Germany. Best regards.
Hi Rebecca, I like the sustainability topic you posted which is quite unique and interesting. I am trying to make more sense out of my life than in my previous work life. Thanks for the kind comment! Michael
It’s my great pleasure to award your blog with ” One Lovely Blog Award ” :–) please come and have your award here :
http://gabrieliphotography.com/2012/09/06/one-lovely-blog-award/
Hi Gabriel, thanks very much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Thank you for your encouragement and liking my recent post on the weekly photo challenge. Keep up the fine work on your end ~ it is quite enjoyable!
Thank you ThisDayln!
Hi! I nominated you for a One Lovely Blog Award. I really enjoy your posts & photography. Keep up the awesome work. I’ll keep reading. 🙂
Here’s the link to your award nomination: http://twohundredseventy.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/one-lovely-blog-award/
Hi Baywife270, thanks very much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
I understand! I just wanted you to know that one more person out there enjoys your blog!
Thanks very much!
I nominated you for the ‘One Lovely Blogger’ Award! http://hslaterblog.wordpress.com/2012/09/06/the-one-lovely-blogger-award/
Hi Hayleens, thanks very much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Hi Michael,
I’m just discovering your blog, and thusfar I’m loving it! You are so privileged, being able to see the world. That’s my biggest dream! Keep up the good posting for us travel junkies 🙂
Hi Shanothaine, thanks very much for the encouraging comment. I feel myself blessed to be able to see the world. Will do my best to share the best views in my travels. Regards, Michael
Michael:
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I applaud your plan to start a blog and making your golden years more fruitful and satisfying. Please do not stop. I am talking from experience that it is most gratifying to hear from people who you have never met telling that they liked something you created. Keep it up.
Hi ashokshenolikar, quite true, if I got as many “likes” from my previous company as from my readers now, most probably I would have never retired!
Well said, these are my golden years when I rediscover that I could write something and show a few pictures which people like and I also enjoy. Regards and all the best! Michael
Hi Michael
Nice to meet you. Will be interested to compare retirements.
Corinne
Hi Corinne, nice to meet you too! I have retired for one year now and find retirement interesting and more rewarding. In the initial stage of my retirement, I did find it somewhat difficult to adjust to my new life psychologically, this is described in my post on the Psychological Journey of Retirement in the blog. Will be happy to compare notes. Regards, Michael
Hello Michael, thanks for visiting Featherglass. What a blessing it is to be able to see the world! Keep writing and taking these lovely pictures. : )
Hello Ming, each day is already a blessing and I count myself extremely fortunate to be able to travel and share the joy with others. Thanks very much for the comment! Michael
Michael, I like the pictures you bring to us so I am nominating you for a One Lovely Blog Award!
For more details, please see here:
Hi Steve, thanks very much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Amazing photos, thank you for sharing them, and thank you also for visiting my blog 🙂
Keep sharing…love your images.
Thank you A Rambling Poet, I love your posts too!
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Your photos of Dubrovnik make me wish I was there again…
My pleasure and hope you will revisit Dubrovnik again! Michael
Dear Michael
I totally relate to being self – taught and having had (still having) many challenges in putting up blogs and websites, as well as to having travelled extensively and loving Gaia, our beautiful mother earth!
English is also my second language as (I lived most of my life in Australia, although I was born in Venice – Italy and am back here in Umbria now, between Rome and Florence which are only about an hour and a half by train).
I am passionate about life and with a lot to share myself, which I now try to do via photgraphy, writing and the B & B set-up I have helped with here in Italy where I hope like minded individuals will soon come, to visit a wonderful slice of Paradise where there is so much to learn and photograph!!!
As a matter of fact, my first friend to visit me here was Noriko M. from Osaka (where I was at her home,for a month many years ago) and she absolutely loved the places, nature and culture of the areas we went to.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for liking my post and who knows, if you come to Italy one day it’d be great to meet you in person. I love your photos on the coloured flowery fields and wish you the best. My other website is indicated below although it was through http://marinacpublications.wordpress.com that I found out that you liked what I had set up, thank you!!! It does motivate one to continue sharing!!!
Hi Marina, whereabout in Italy are you based? I have not visited Italy before and would like to visit it one day. You obviously have a lot of talents and hope that you would achieve what you have set out to day one day! Thanks & regards, Michael
Thank you for stopping by my blog and liking my post. All the best to you in retirement. I look forward to the day when I can do the same. By the way, English is not the easiest language to learn, but you’ve done wonderfully!
Best,
Nett
Hi Nett, it is not easy to learn a language well, but by comparison, English is an easier language than Chinese. Thanks for your best wishes and your kind comment! Michael
beautiful pictures.. happy retiring.. 😛
Thank you uw und ich!
Hi Michael,
Thanks for visiting my blog, liking my posts, and commenting. I love photographs and it’s great to see so many beautiful photos on your blog. I look forward to seeing more
Hi myoutdoorexplorations, thanks for the kind comment! Hope my future posts wouldn’t disppoint. Regards, Michael
Hello Michael
Thank you for “liking” many of my posts. I too started really started blogging earnestly in January because my son suggested I do it. I, too, have found the experience of meeting people from around the world a very rewarding experience. The internet has shown us how many good people are in this world – how much we can share with each other. Thank you for sharing your photos and thoughts. Carla
Hi Carla, my pleasure. I also found meeting international bloggers very interesting. I would like to share my posts with others as well as to be inspired! Regards, Michael
hi! thanks for stopping by my blog http://www.bitsandpiecesonphoto.com. i am really new so appreciate it. i love your travels and photos and look forward to more.
Hi mekala, you have a lovely blog, so keep on blogging! Michael
It’s my great pleasure to award your blog with ”One Lovely Blog Award” 🙂 Please come and take your award here: http://heythatsmypic.wordpress.com/2012/09/15/one-lovely-blog-award/
Hi Oli, thanks very much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Beautiful photos!
Thank you ananastravels!
Hi Michael 🙂
Thank you for liking my posts on my blog. By the way, you have a great blog.. looking forward to reading more of your posts 🙂
You are welcome, thriftysenyorita!
thank you for visiting my blog and for the ‘like’. loved your pictures. they speak for you…:)
My pleasure! Thank you for your kind comments, Michael
Hello and welcome to the retirement club. I joined about 7 yrs ago. It is nice to be able to engage in some of the activities that you always dreamed about. Thank you for visiting and liking my post Nearing the End.
Hi, I am new to this club and still finding the best way to enjoy my new phase of life. Thanks for the comment! Regards, Michael
Thank you for sharing your travels and your beautiful photos and thankyou for visiting my blog. I’m putting Dubrovnik on my future travel list!
My pleasure to read your blog. I would also like to revisit Dubrovnik someday. Regards, Michael
Wonderful about. l enjoyed your post and the pictures.thank you for visiting my site.Best regards.Jalal michael
Hi Jalal, thank you for your encouraging comment. Best regards, Michael
Thank you for sharing your photos. They are beautiful!! And…you write very well!
Hi Mr. Tod A Parker, thanks for your kind comment. I am still polishing my writings and would appreciate any comments for improvement. Best regards, Michael
Your writing is fine,just like your photos. Keep up the good work. It inspires other to do the same.
Thanks very much Mr. Tod A. Parker!
Please,call me Tod. Mr Lai
Hi Tod, will do. Regards, Michael
Beautiful blog and really amazing photos!
Thanks very much Ataleen for the kind comment! Michael
Appreciate your coming by and liking my Weekly Challenge post Solitary.
My pleasure! Michael
I think you are doing a great job and I see no problem with your English and you take beautiful pictures. Keep on doing what you enjoy the most.
Thank you very much for the encouraging and kind comment, bebs1!
thanks for reading. I enjoyed your blog and will follow. I invite you to follow my blog as well. beebeesworld
Thank you beebeesworld!
Michael — I have nominated you for the ‘Reader Appreciation’ Award. Congratulations! Do not feel obligated to pass it on, but know that you are appreciated! If you want to pay it forward to some of the blogs you appreciate, however, the “rules” of the award are contained in my post: http://travelgardeneat.com/2012/09/25/being-appreciated-the-reader-appreciation-award/ . . . looking forward to your next travels! ~ Kat
Hi travelgardeneat, thanks so much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
No worries — I am happy to tell others of your blog, and hope more will discover it! I understand completely. ~ Kat
Thanks for your kind understanding. Best regards, Michael
Hi Michael. Thanks for visiting thefirstgates to like a post. You have a wonderful blog, and I would not have known that English is a second language or that you had little previous writing experience. Nice job!
Hi Morgan, my pleasure to peruse your blog. Thanks also to the kind and encouraging comment! Michael
Hello Michael,
Your posts always give me so much pleasure that I have just nominated you for a Silver Quill Blogger Award. You can read more about it on my latest post, 26 September.
Hi icelandpenny, thanks so much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
No need for any appology, Michael. I also feel that the real value of an award is not the award itself, but the fact that someone I respect has offered it to me.
Thank you for your understanding and always kind comment! Michael
Hi Michael
How are you? I am so glad to see you are a regular visitor to soulsnet. I hope you are enjoying reading it as much as I am writing it. It is wonderful to discover such an absorbing and creative activity in the world after work!!
I am preparing a post on “Silver Surfers” and the challenges that retirement and new technology presents for some of the more mature amongst us, and of course I thought of you!!
I have looked through your incredible array of photographs and I can’t begin to choose. There are so many but would it be alright if I share some from time to time. I will always let you know when and which and of course always link back and credit you.
I have become an enthusiastic amateur photographer and will always be grateful to blogging for introducing me to another way of seeing the world, but for something really lovely to look at I will always want to share a photograph from an accomplished photographer, and you are one of my favourites.
You are obviously having a wonderful retirement and have found a lovely way to share it with others. I always look forward to new posts from you and I am sure all of your followers do too.
Warm regards
Corinne at soulsnet.com
Hi Corinne, I am alright with what you suggested in your third paragrapph, provided it is not for commercial use. I am a retiree still looking for a meaningful way of life and wouldn’t mind at all sharing what I like / love with the world of bloggers and friends. I feel flattered with what you said about “accomlished phtotgrapher”. I am still an amateur, hoping to shoot pictures so that beautiful views can be shared. Thanks for liking and following my posts as well as your inspiring comments and your posts in Soulsnet which I am happy to followed. I am also prepared to be guided. Thanks & best regards, Michael
Hi Michael
Thanks for that. It won’t be for commercial use, just for sharing with friends and the blogosphere.
All of my posts come out of something that I have either struggled with or found interesting and “Silver Surfing” is a poem that I wrote ages ago when I was deciding whether or not to try to keep up with the modern world or let it go on without me.
I want to try to work it up into a post because I think alot of my friends seem to be facing the same dilemma. Actually starting a blog for me was not only about sharing thoughts and ideas it was also a commitment to trying to stay in touch with new technology. I am not finding it easy but I am surprised at how much I have been able to do.
Warm regards
Corinne
Hi Corinne, will await to read your inspiring post on Silver Surfing. I am a dummy on IT. When I was at college, we used punched cards for running programs, then we switched to preparing command statements, then using magnetic cards and self written programs on calculators. At work, I always have a secretary so I didn’t have to type myself. Retirement means I have to type, prepare all powerpoints for part time teaching, using Excel spreadsheets for my personal matters etc. The world has moved on and retirees have to do the same! Regards, Michael
Hi Michael
How reassuring to know I am not alone. That’s what’s so good about sharing. We always think that everyone else is doing so much better than we are and then we find that more often than not we are all in the same boat.
Thanks so much for this
Corinne
Thank you Corinne!
Michael! My parents were both born in Lithuania, so I particularly like your pics of Trakai! I was there a few years ago myself. Keep up the good work!
Hi, it is one of the most pictureque and romantic castles I have ever seen. I’m sure you love it. Thanks for the encouraging comment! Michael
Congratulations!
You have just received the So Sweet Blogger Award for being so AWESOME!
Please check out my blog for details, post the award on your sidebar and spread the love to some of your favorite bloggers!
Hi foodnotherstuff, thanks so much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
You are welcome Michael. No worries, I completely understand;)
Thank you again, foodnotherstuff!
Just wanted to let you know I have nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I hope this will be welcome news for you. If you prefer not to accept the award, I certainly understand, but I hope you will visit the other nominees, and they will visit you, just the same. To see more about the award and accepting this nomination, please visit my post at http://wp.me/p2ekZU-E4. All the best!
Hi The Retiring Sort, thanks so much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Best of luck with your blog writing and thanks for visiting mine! Enjoy your retirement too.
My pleasure visiting your blog. Thank you for the kind comment! Michael
Hi Michael
Lovely to see you at soulsnet today. I hope you enjoyed the post. As you could see I had had some technical issues which nearly drove me demented so it seems opportune to make the next post the one that we discussed previously “Silver Surfing”. Thank you for allowing me to share one of your lovely photographs, I shall be spoiled for choice. I will obviously link back and credit you and I hope you will enjoy it.
Warm regards
Corinne
Hi, will await for your next post! Michael
Hi Michael
I have just posted the latest from soulsnet. I do hope you enjoy it as to a large extent you inspired it. I have so enjoyed following your blog, not just your wonderful photography but also your journey post retirement which you share with us.
Warm regards
Corinne
Hi Corinne, a great post – I thoroughly enjoy reading it and would recommend it to any retirees or readers. I look forward to one day when my hair is all silver rather the dirty grey at the moment! Warm regards, Michael
Hi Michael
So glad you enjoyed the post. We silver surfers have to stick together.
Warm regards
Corinne
Hi Michael! I truly enjoy your blog and have nominated it for an award! Please see the details at http://tinylessonsblog.com/2012/10/07/appreciation-in-multitude/. Take care – Tiny
Hi tiny lessons blog, thanks so much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Josh here from the BlinkPack blog. I like the concept of your blog, and I am so glad you are spending time sharing your thoughts through writing. Thanks for that, and for visiting the blog. Wishing you all the best! Happy trails.
My pleasure in perusing your blog! Safe travels, Michael
HI Michael, please accept this blog award as an indication of my enjoyment of your beautiful blog! http://youngbyname.me/2012/10/09/one-lovely-blog-award/
Best wishes
Debbie
Hi Debbie, thanks so much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
That’s fine, Michael, I totally understand. I’ve had several others that I haven’t bothered with before, but this one just caught me in the right frame of mind to follow through! Thanks for letter me know though, and keep on blogging! Best wishes, Debbie
Thank you Debbie!
Hello Michael, thank you for the like on my blog https://islandhoppinggreece.wordpress.com/. Reading your blog makes me a bit envious – how wonderful to travel as much as you do and to be able to see photos the way that you do. I really enjoy your style of blogging. Regards, Pia
Hi Pia, I am glad to have discovered your blog which has valuable information and beautiful photos of the Dodecanese islands which have aways been my dream destinations. I look forward to reading more of your posts. Regards, Michael
Welcome! Thank you for subscribing to follow my blog. I hope you are encouraged, inspired and enjoy the photos I take of life events as seen through the lens of my camera.
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
My pleasure to follow your blog and peruse your posts!
Hi Michael, Thank you for following my blog. I hope my photos inspire you. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog and learning about your retired life! Great photos.
My pleasure in following your blog and peruse the posts! Michael
Thank you for sharing, Michael. Your photographs are stunning!
Thank you Jacq for your kind comment! Michael
Hello Michael, I’ve enjoyed following your travels and seeing your journey documented in spectacular images. I wanted to let you know that I’ve nominated you for the Super Sweet Award! Thank you for creating such an interesting, super sweet blog 🙂 Here’s the link: http://twoblackdoggies.wordpress.com/2012/10/13/super-sweet-award/
Hi twoblackdoggies, thanks so much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Hi Michael, I understand and respect your decision completely 🙂
Thank you twoblackdoggies!
Just wanted to let you know I have nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I hope this will be welcome news for you. Some people choose not to participate, others enjoy the opportunity to visit new-to-you blogs and to be visited by new-to-you bloggers. To read more about the award and accepting this nomination, visit my post at http://globetrottersara.wordpress.com/2012/10/13/speeches/
Hi Sara, thanks so much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Michael, I sent you an award, but just read the comment above that you do not accept awards. Sorry….
Hi Shaanthz, thanks very much for the nomination. I am glad that you like my blog and consider me worthy of the nomination. Have a great weekend! Michael
Thank you very much for stopping by my blog and taking the time to like some articles. I started reading some of of your posts and I am hooked ! Your pictures are marvelous ! I loved the ones of XiXi, Hangzhou in winter 🙂
Thank you for reading my blog; I also love perusing some of your articles and was interested in knowing why you call yourself “anonymous”. I understand Mr. “anonymous” did exist and I have a picture of his staute in my post “Budapest – Of Heroes and Castles”. Regards, Michael
I read your article about this mister “anonymous” and I admit I knew nothing about this man, but I may start looking into his work !
I chose to call myself anonymous as I believe that once you start traveling (properly) you are no longer only a people of your native country, but a citizen of the World, a chameleon and you adapt your behavior depending on the country you are in. I believe being anonymous makes you travel better ! But that’s just my point of view.
Yes, we are just world citizens in a world without boundaries (except visa requirements), the absence of any pre-conception / discrimination and travelling with an open mind are perhaps the best way of travelling. Regards, Michael
Great blog! I’m enjoying your photos 🙂
Thank you Mark!
Thank you for liking my Big Lobster! I can certainly relate to what you have said about yourself. I too am writing in my second language, I am not a professional writer (or a photographer), and I am semi- (i.e., about to be) retired. My Blog is my experiment. I certainly like your photography. I’ll follow your Blog, and hope you will with mine too and drop by again.
Hi Opalla, it seems we are similar in many ways. Am following your blog and will drop by again! Michael
Thank you for stopping by and liking a verse on my WordPress site. I plan to look at and perhaps be inspired by your photos. Continued good wishes on your retirement…I have many years to go before I can retire. My WordPress site was also an experiment in recording small daily observations. While we cannot follow every blog…I do plan to put your site on my favorites list so I can find you easily. As I enjoy photography too. Though I haven’t quite figured out all the computer details about posting it.
Cheers from Pennsylvania – The United State of America.
Hi Jules, thank you so much for your encouraging and kind comments. Hope you will enjoying blogging and posting, will meet you on this platform again! Michael
Enjoy your retirement!
I will make the bost use of my time in retirement. Thank you!
I would be surprised if no one has nominated you yet for the Beautiful Blogger Award. I just did because I really like your site. You write very well and your pictures are so beautiful. Keep on blogging.
Hi bebs1, thanks so much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Thanks for the like on my post “baby gators” I have enjoyed checking out your blog – Steve
Hi Steve, it was a pleasure reading your posts. Thanks for the kind comment! Michael
Thanks so much for checking out my lifestyle blog, http://bmoreenergy.wordpress.com. I will take a look around yours!
You are welcome!
You have great eye for color, light and shadow. There is an elemental balance in your photography that really catches the essence of the subject. Thanks for stopping by The Brass Rag. Come back and see us again soon. Meanwhile, happy writing!
Hi Cheri, thank you for your encouraging comment; I am still a learner in photography. I’ve started following your blog! Regards, Michael
Thank you for following, sir!
My pleasure!
Hi Michael, thanks for stopping by to read. Not only is the sheer quantity of your output inspiring, but the quality is just fantastic too. I look forward to more!
Hi ryan, I have been trying to click “like” on some of your posts but find that it didn’t work. Maybe, you can ask your friend to do the same to see if this is also the case. Many thanks for visitng my blog. Regards, Michael
Thanks for the advice, Michael – I will investigate!
Thank you for your continued support and liking of my blog posts!
My pleasure, Stan!
What an interesting life you lead! Thanks for the like on my own blog. I’m thankful too that I checked yours out here. Your English is as good as any native speaker!
Hi Stacey, life only started to be more interesting upon my retirement. Thanks for the kind and encouraging comment. Will stop by your blog more often. Cheers, Michael
Thanks for liking Emmmyjay’s Excellent Adventures! Retirement certainly agrees with you!
Thanks, I am really enjoying my retirement!
Hi, Michael,
You have been nominated for a One Lovely Blog award – see details at http://otrazhenie.wordpress.com/2012/11/10/nominated-for-one-lovely-blog-award/ . Enjoy your award and keep blogging 🙂
Regards,
Otrazhenie 🙂
Hi Otrazhenie, thanks so much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Thank you for passing by and the following..
You are welcome!
hi Micheal,
Thanks for the likes!! ditto:)
Keep your posts coming…..let me know if you get to Lucca!!
http://www.ilovelucca.co.nz & http://www.runtontorun.wordpress.com
Hi, I got to Lucca but it seems there is no “like” button to click. You have quite a few posts which I like. Regards, Michael
i will go amend that…i think you can only like it on facebook as the ilovelucca website has some functions of wordpress but its hosted separately….try ilovelucca.wordpress.com…its soley the blog
oops, forgot to say…..maybe we can tempt you to join us on the writers workshop in 2013????
check out full details in January 2013…..www.ilovelucca.co.nz
Hi, unfortunately I am neither a writer nor a photographer; I’m just a retiree muddling through my new phase of life. Thank you for your suggestion!
i’m not either But you never know…Ivan can help the writer in all of us:)
Hi – Thanks for stopping by my blog, “Snapshots.” I, too, am recently retired. I enjoyed looking at your post of Victoria Peak. I’ll visit your blog often.
Hi Charles, hope you are enjoying your retirement. I also enjoy reading through your posts! Michael
I hope you get freshly pressed one day. Your photos are awe-inspiring.
My main objective is to share and be inspired by others, so I am not too concerned whether my post got freshly pressed. In any case, I feel flattered by your kind comment!
Thank you for visiting and liking our webpage http://nxtgengadgets.com and bringing us to your wonderful site.
Keep on visiting often to get your daily dose of technology.
Thank you Pranav!
Awesome Photos and story. thanks for blogging! 🙂
Hi beethbeth, It is my pleasure to share my posts with you and all readers. Thanks for the perusal! Michael
I lived in Okinawa for 3 years and I admire your writing this blog, great job!
Hi author4u, I like Okinawa and have written a couple of posts about it. In particular, I like the aquarium. In my retirment, I like travelling around and taking photos. Thanks very much for the encouraging comment! Michael
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Your English is good, keep it up 🙂
Think I still need to improve my English. Thanks for your encouragement! Michael
Thanks for stopping by my blog Michael. We share some life experiences-no longer working full time, blogging for the first time and having to prepare any slides and such all by ourselves. That is life beyond full-time flat-out work. That is a wonderful life. I am using my blog to describe life and thoughts beyond full time work too. barbstruestories.wordpress.com
Hi Barb, indeed we have many similarities. While working, I always have my own secretary, I didn’t even have to do much typing or preparing slides or PowerPoints. I am now being thrown into a different world but am enjoying every bit of it. Preparation of PowerPoints for part-time teaching is my biggest challenge. I think I could have made my blog a lot more attractive if I have more computer skills.
Best wishes on your retirement and please keep in touch! Michael
Thanks for stopping by….hope to see you sometime soon!!!
Thanks for liking the post! Would you be passing through HK?
Appreciate you stopping by my blog and liking several recent posts. Best to you.
You are welcome!
Thank you for checking out my blog. I LOVE yours. It makes me want to retire haha
Both work and retirement can be enjoyable; at the moment, I am finding the latter more enjoyable! Haha!
I think this blog is wonderful and I am glad to share all your experiences….thank you
Lisa
Hi Lisa, glad that you like my blog. It is my pleasure to share my journeys and experiences with you. Regards, Michael
wonderful pictures! keep on clicking!
Thank you Junsjazz!
Awesome shots! Cheers ^_^
Thanks for the kind comment!
Interesting travels and photos! I have found I like following the blogs of people from countries other than my own as it provides a different perspective on travel and other issues. Your English seems quite good to me. I think you write in English better than a lot of Americans!
For the same reasons, I also like following blogs of people from other countries. No doubt, you will find a mistake or two here or there in my text; hope my readers will pardon me. Thanks very much for the perusal and kind comment!
Congratulations on writing a blog in your non-native language. I think it is fabulous way to improve your English (though yours already seems very good). I was only yesterday encouraging a student of ours to do the same thing. All the best for your blog, photography, travels and retirement.
Thank you for the encouraging comment!
Thank you for visiting and liking a blog post of mine. I was looking through yours just now…your photos are beautiful.
Thank you Irish Kate!
Hi and thankyou for visiting my blog. I hope you enjoy my little stories of France 🙂 I’ll be enjoying your photos.
Thank you cupcaketravels, I really do enjoy the stories about France. Thanks for sharing!
Dear ★ Michael ★,
I have nominated you/your inspirational blog, for the Blog of the Year 2012!
Congratulations!
Please pick up your badge and information/rules on how to pass the torch at:
http://faestwistandtango.wordpress.com/2012/12/08/blog-of-the-year-2012-award/
Wonderful Holiday Season to you and yours!
😀 Fae.
Hi Fae, thanks so much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Dear Michael, I sincerely respect your choice. Though it was obvious having viewed your blog, nonetheless, I wanted you to know that your blog was one of my choices for the blog award of the year. I appreciate your talent and am always in awe of what you capture with your lens. Fae.
Dear Fae, thanks again for the nomination and your kind words of encouragement! Have a great weekrnd, Michael
Good morning Sir! Just wanted to stop in and say thank you for your support of The Brass Rag. Your blog looks beautiful and I love seeing your pictures. Looking forward to your comments…meanwhile happy photographing and writing.
Thank you Cheri, you are most welcome!
Michael I have nominated you for the “Blogger of the year 2012” award. Please go to The Other Side of Ugly at this link http://theothersideofugly.com/2012/12/08/its-wonderful-to-be-a-part-of-such-a-beautiful-community/ and follow the instructions. Congratulations!
Hi The Other Side of Ugly, thanks so much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Hi Michael,
Thanks for having a look at my Bucket List. I had a look at your blog and the first thing I’ll say is your pictures are giving me a twinge of homesickness (my parents live n the countryside, I’m studying in London), your photography is really beautiful. Secondly- I think it’s great that you’ve picked up writing- even as a retiree! I absolutely adore it, my blog is the place I find myself, and develop my creativity. Interviews with poets, fashion designers, and making bucket lists etc are helping me find myself- people like you reading them is just a bonus! Keep up the good work, I hope you stop by again soon.
Regards,
Rhiannon
Hi rhiannoncdavies, thanks for the kind comment. I also find your blog interesting and will stop by again. Regards, Michael
Hi, Michael,
I’m finally getting around to thanking you for taking time to read (and like) my blog posts. Also, thank you for your lovely and thought-provoking photos here. I really enjoy your blog. Best wishes, Paula
Hi Paula, thanks for the kind comment! Michael
Hi Michael Lai!!! Thank you for stopping by my blog. may you find some words in my blog that is less understood. This is because my english is not good.
I love your travel experience, especially Shirakawa-Go.
By the way, do you have plans to visit Indonesia. if you come to Indonesia you should visit Belitung Island and Raja Ampat
Warm regards from Indonesia
Hi Abdul, I have visited Indonesia and like very much Mount Bromo, Yogatta and Bali. Thank you for introducing Belitung Island and Raja Ampat to me. I will find out more about these lovely places. Thanks for the kind comment! Michael
Maybe you mean is Yogyakarta not yogatta….
hehe
Yes, I mean Yogyakarta!
I am enjoying your photos. Thank you for liking and following . . . it brought me to your site.
You are welcome!
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog. I’m so glad I found yours as well!
I am glad also to have found your blog. Regards, Michael
Love your blog ! I have an award for you at my place. Please stop by and check it out ! Bella
http://bellaremyphotography.com/2012/12/13/time-to-celebrate/
Hi Bella Remy Photography, thanks so much for the nomination. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
My dad says writing is just organizing your thoughts. You seem to do that quite well, from what I’ve looked at so far your writing is good!
That is so cool that you get to travel so much and take such great pictures. How often do you travel?
Before I retired, my job involves quite a lot of thinking and organizing; maybe those help. However, my English is mainly functional and does not contain a lot of colloquial language, simply because I don’t know them. I am in my early stage of retirement and therefore would travel as much as possible while I am still mobile. I have been to two short trips and one long trip this year. Regards, Michael
Sorry, I disagree w/ one more thing – you said writing is not your best of skills. Your stories are great. And thanks for the quick response/like of my ” ‘Shrooms” and “The Old Fisherman…” OK, I’ll leave you alone now…Have a lovely evening (or day???)
Hi Laurie, I try not to use too many words. Sometimes, I am not sure whether I am gramatically correct or whether I have mis-spelt. I hope my stories are not boring ( I am sure some of them are, if not for the photos!). Best wishes, Michael
I am grateful. ❤ Thank you and may your 2013 be heavenly blessed!
Thank you, same to you!
Hi Michael!
I have nominated you for the Blog of the year 2012 Award. Thanks for all your great photos & fantastic insights. Also for ‘following’ my blog and all the ‘likes’, it is much appreciated & inspires me to blog more everyday!
Check out my blog for your Award 😉
Hi Milka,
Thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (150 countries) is already my biggest reward.
I read your post on your impressions about my blog. I feel very happy and honored. I know if I write something which is not from my experience or from my heart, usually, the response is not good. I have a phobia for writing – when I was a student, I always hated the “compostion” examinations as I don’t know and could not make up my mind what to write.
With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated!
Regards, Michael
No problem Michael..it was my pleasure anyway!
All the Best with your blog! 🙂
All the best with your Blog too!
Happy Holidays, Michael
You are such a wonderful friend and encouragement.
Thank you for your kind comments and likes on my blog.
Yours is absolutely beautiful and very well done.
Your friend Amber……
Happy holidays to you Amber !. . . . . .
Thanks for showing so much support for snappy~speak, Michael! I really appreciate it!!
~Christy
You are welcome!
I have nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Please see this link at
http://wp.me/piVRT-2M6 Congratulations!
Hi mavimet, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (150 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Michael, I’ve nominated you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. I enjoy your pictures and your writing. I wanted to acknowledge you even though you don’t accept awards.
Hi miriamtroxler, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (150 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Michael,
Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking my Christmas post. Your photos are excellent. I love the recent “oils,” especially the “Fields of Gold” one. Looks like retirement is treating you well! Look forward to following.
Hi Ashley, I am enjoying every moment of my retirement. Thank you and Merry Christmas! Michael
hi 🙂 I’ve nominated you for the versatile blogger award http://theeclecticeccentricshopaholic.wordpress.com/2012/12/25/the-versatile-blogger-award-and-the-shine-on-award/
happy holidays! ^^ and yes, i’m definitely enjoying your blog. english isn’t my first language either but i’ve realized that blogging is indeed a great way to sharpen language skills ^^
Hi KZ, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (150 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
it’s totally fine, no problem ^^ i only felt the need to mention your blog because your photography is fantastic and wanted to share it with my followers as well. happy holidays! ^^
Much appreciated KZ!
Thanks for visiting my recent blogpost… It’s been a pleasant journey…http://3rdculturechildren.com/2012/12/27/looking-back-at-2012-remembering2011/ Thanks for stopping by and liking! Much appreciated! Happy Holidays! Greetings from La Paz, Bolivia!
Wow! This may be my first comment from Bolivia! Thanks for the greetings and best wishes for the New Year!
I’m glad to know this is the first one from Bol… If you wait a couple more years, the comments will be coming from another country… that’s our life! 😮 Take care! Happy 2013!
Actually, my readers are from over 150 countries. Hopefully, I will receive comments from some African countries which are not yet covered. Happy 2013!
Wish we had interacted earlier, when I first began blogging about Mozambique, S. Africa and Swazi… Wishing you a successful blogging year! 😮
Thank you 3rdCultureChildren!
Merry Christmas Michael 🙂
Happy New Year to you jakesprinter!
So how did it go since last January? 😉
I have to say, your writing is just fine; it is impressive to know that you have not written before, especially that English is not your mother tongue. I wonder if you have an easier time with your first language, or is it harder?
Thanks for liking my recent post.
Lila
Hi Lila, I have never expected that there are so many hits / followers. My training and career were in engineering. As I have not written before, it does not matter whether I was to write in Chinese or English; I have to struggle with both. However, I cannot do Chinese posts as I don’t even know how to type in Chinese! Shortly into blogging, I realized that there are very few readers from HK as they don’t normally read English blog posts. The advantage of writing in English is that there are a lot more audience and I am happy with that! Many thanks for the perusal and comment, Michael
I understand completely. Writing is an art; it doesn’t matter if you use ink or water color The struggle of art has nothing to do with the tools we use.
English is predominant now. I am Canadian from Arab origin and even in the middle east, there are people who studied English for so long that they can only write well in English.
And it’s funny how there are English born speakers learning Chinese/Mandarin because they believe it will soon be the predominant language! Can you believe that?
I’m happy you write in English so we could meet and communicate. It’s great to meet you.
Best to you in the new year!
Lila
Hi Lila, China has a population of 1.3billion, in addition, there are many migrants in SE Asia ( including Singapore, Malaysia) and the Western world, they speak and / or write in Chinese. Some people are learning at least to speak in Chinese, so they can do business / work in China. The difficulty of learning Chinese is that the writings are more diagram like and not related to the sound, this is the biggest hurdle in Chinese becoming the most prdeominant language. I am sure that there will be more and more people who can read / write Chinese but not sure that it will be the most commonly used language. Happy New Year to you! Michael
At 1.3 billion, it already is the most spoken language, and English is the most dispersed around the world. I think it’s a great idea that people are learning it. It’s Interesting that you speak the top spoken languages in the world. You’re quite lucky!
The way you described Chinese reminds me of hieroglyphics. It sounds fascinating, I love it; you taught me something new about the Chinese language 🙂
Lila
Hi Lila, I have started learning Spanish. By the time I have some profiency in this language, I will be able to communicate with a big percentage of the people in the world! Michael
Haha, you’re a genius, Spanish is huge!
I am working on increasing my French skills now, only because I love it so much and I am also Canadian! But the next language will either be Spanish, Chinese or Japanese!
How are you studying?
Hi Lila, I have started on a Basic Spanish class which involves attending 12 lessons each of 1.5 hours. Back home, I do homework and listen to the CD attached to our textbook. I have now enrolled the Intermediate classes in Spring too. Kind regards, Michael
Excellent. I am at fault with my languages since I have no one to talk to for practice. Language is just a skill we need to repeatedly practice for excellence. I use audio daily.. Seeing others who practice like you motivates me even more to excel (: Thanks!
Lila
Thank you Lila!
Thanks for dropping by and liking my post, much appreciated. 🙂
You are welcome!
Hi .. I’ve nominated your blog for 4 different awards. Please take a peek at them here whenever you get a moment! 🙂
Hi muZer, thanks so much for the nominations which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (150 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nominations. Thank you once again for the nominations which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
No problems at all. I did give that option of accepting or not so totally understand it. This was just my way of showing appreciation for your blog and the amazing photos I get a chance to look at, so thank you for that! 🙂
Regards,
Hi muZer, thanks for the understanding. Have a great weekend! Michael
Just to start the New Year off right, there is an Award waiting for you at http://acrossthebored.com/2012/12/30/awards-christmas-comes-twice-this-year/
Whether you choose to participate or not, please know that Across the Bored finds inspiration, entertainment, enlightenment and good company in your blog. Thanks for being a presence in our virtual reality!
Hi ideflex, thanks so much for the nominations which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (156 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nominations. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
No problem – it’s the thought that counts – have a wonderful New Year!
Wish you a happy, healthy and successful 2013 too!
Hi Michael, nice to meet you. Your blog so impressive… 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog… blessing to you… !!
Hi Bams, glad to meet you too. Happy New Year to you!
Love your blog so I am passing on an award I received for a Blog on Fire: http://sarahryan85.wordpress.com/2013/01/06/a-whole-new-year-ahead/
Hi Sarah, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Michael
Hi Michael! Thanks for dropping by my blog and liking my posts. I was looking at your photos… so nice! I was also reading your post on joys and jokes of retirement. Got a good chuckle out of the part about getting a watch when time is no longer as important as it was before. Good point.. I never really thought about that. 🙂
Hi Shelley, thanks very much for reading something which I wrote almost a year ago when I first retired. In a sense, time is now all the more important as all time is now in our hands ( and no more in the hand of the employer) and as always, it is running out! Michael
Thank you for stopping by my blog and liking my post. I look forward to checking out your photos!
You are most welcome!
Your photos are lovely! I have really enjoyed browsing them just now. Thanks for the visit to my blog and keep taking fabulous images!
Thank you very much roxyboots!
Wonderful retired life and great photos!
Thank you myfoodandflowers!
Thanks for stopping by and liking my Word a Week Challenge – Clouds entry! you have some great images here, and I find your English to be very good. Take care and thanks again!
Thanks for your kind comment. Have a great 2013!
Wishing you the same!
I’m so happy to have a WordPress friend in China! I am a tea reviewer and student of Chinese tea. I love your photographs and your spirit for travel! Congratulations on making your transition to retirement. I will read your blog with delight!
In my retirement, I am getting to know more about China through travelling and lately learning Chinese calligraphy. I may try Chinese tea tasting too. Thank you!
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and looking at your pictures for awhile now, and decided to nominate it for the Shine On award. Read all about it here. http://mycruisestories.com/2013/01/10/shine-on-award/
Hi LBcruiseshipblogger, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Regards, Micha
Michael,
Very interesting stuff. I can see you have an appreciation for life, nature, and the mystery surrounding it all. Thanks for taking an interest in my work as well.
-Joe
Hi Joe627, thanks for your perusal. I am flattered by your kind comments. All the best with your blogging!
You have a wonderfully interesting blog here and I am impressed with your command of English, as you write clearly and with fairly good grammar too. The subjects of your little articles and the photos are very interesting and I can see why you have so many followers. I am only in first week of blogging, so still have much too learn. Will return often!
Would be grateful if you would help me to improve my English through pointing out some of the shortcomings. Best wishes on your blogging!
Cheers for liking my post about airline meals! Which were your most memorable ones?
Will be curious to see if you post photos of Shenzhen and Kowloon Tong, since I used to live in both of those areas!
My most mmemorable meal was not the one when I was upgraded to first class but some roast goose with noodles served on CX. Unfortunately, I do not have any photos of Shenzhen or Kowloon Tong. Thank you for the kind comment!
We’ve nominated your blog for an award (or two, or three…), if you accept them. If not, just consider it a token of our esteem! 🙂 See our post at http://windagainstcurrent.com/2013/01/13/award-appreciation-we-thank-our-readers-for/
Hi Vladimir, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
You have a very interesting and rich blog Michael, as evidenced by the number of positive comments that you’ve received here. Well done; and thank you for your appreciation of what I’ve posted so far.
You are welcome. Thank you for the kind comment!
I am incorperating more pictures in my blog now that I have recoverd my photo albums.
Thank you Bill!
Michael, I think I know your response since I’ve read the comments in this section. But I nominated you for the Shine On! Award prior to reading these. Just know that you are appreciated and mentioned. Here’s where you can read about your nomination: http://wp.me/p2l4j8-s2
Best wishes for continued success!
Hi Rusha, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
Hi Michael, thanks for your Like on my Cologne trip post (artcalling). I just dropped into see what you are up to and it is a very interesting blog and your English is excellent.
Many thanks for for the perusal and the comment!
Thanks for dropping by my blog. I like you recent post – the glass is amazing. 🙂 D34
Thank you D34!
🙂
Hi Michael, I have nominated you for the Reader Appreciation Award 🙂
Hi Opalla, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the
I can understand and I respect your decision, Michael. It’s taken me a while to decide whether to dip my feet in these awards blogging too. I consider myself a participant observer to find out about blogging, and hence, I am in. Bog on!
Hi Opalla, thank you for your understanding. I am also new to blogging (1 year) and am still learning. Regards, Michael
Congratulations! I love your blog and have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award.
However, there are rules and I won’t be offended if you don’t want to follow them. I just wanted to share your blog with others.
Ana (http://jubileejourney.wordpress.com)
Hi, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
If retired life is as good and globetrotting as yours then it perhaps is something to really look forward to. You are indeed living the dream of traveling and enjoying life after having met its responsibilities. Your photographs are splendid, have character and your narrative reminds me of friends coming back from trips brimming with enthusiasm and stories. Your following is perhaps best reflective of the joy your posts are bringing people. Keep good health, keep travelling and keep blogging.
Looking forward to your Posts
Hi Potsoup, your comments are exceedingly kind and encouraging. I have worked continously for almost 4 decades without any time for developing my interests; so this is a new lease of life. Regards, Michael
Keep on TRAVELING!
Will do and will share them in my posts!
Hello, Michael!
Just wanted to say “Hi” and let you know how much I enjoy your blog. I also appreciate all the “likes” you’ve clicked on my page time after time. I am especially impressed with your photography. I have just finished reading all the comments on your about page to see if anyone asked the question that’s always on my mind…and no one has yet. So here’s the question: “What camera do you use?!” (Of course it’s not always important about the equipment, but moreso about the technique but I’d really like to know what camera you’re using.) All of God’s richest blessings to you and your family thoughout 2013!
Hi Andy, for the last 2 years, I only have 2 digital cameras. A Fuji X100 which has a fixed lens (no zoom) for oversea trips and a cheap small Casio EX-H15 which I may carry around locally ( previously, I only have entry level cameras). I quite like the X100 but now Fuji has produced even better cameras, some with interchangable lens. The more recent ones include the X100S, X200, XE-1, Pro1 etc. I am also looking for a new camera as my X100 cannot zoom (that explain why I do not have a lot of close up shots, apart from macros). Hope this information is of some use to you. Many thanks for your blessings . Best wishes to you and family in 2013! Michael
Hi,
Good news (I hope), if not, just news.
I am nominating your blog for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award.
The rules of this blog award are at:
http://notesfromcamelidcountry.net/2013/01/25/something-inspirational/
Best wishes, Paul.
Hi, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
Thank you for stopping by on my blog, great to see your photos of China, particularly envious of your trip to Zhangjiajie – my dream place to visit! Please continue to enjoy your retirement to its fullest, an inspiration for us uni kids to work hard and achieve the same. Daisy
Zhangjiajie is indeed a breathtaking place to visit. Your certainly have the right philosohy: work hard and reap the harvest when retired. Thank you for your kind comment!
I nominated you with the Versatile Blogger Award! Please click this link http://kuyasnotebook.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/versatile-blogger-award/ for more about it! I love all of your photos! One day I’ll have to see all the places you’ve been to! 🙂
Hi, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
That’s fine! I just want you to know how much I appreciate and love to read your blog, regardless of whether you want to accept the nomination. 🙂 Thanks for always putting out such great content!
Much appreciated!
你好老师！我是大学生。我家有四个人。我妈妈，我爸爸，一个妹妹，和我。哈哈。我是美国人。
Good that you can write in Chinese. Best wishes to you and your family. Many thanks for the kind comment too!
I have just been looking through your Blog, what a wonderful set of images.
Hi male-sf, many thanks for the perusal and the kind comment!
Thank you for the “like” on my blog. I came over here to view yours and love it! The photography is excellent. I will be following the blog.
Thank you for your kind comment and your following!
Thank you for stopping by simplydaisies. Your photography is amazing.
Thank you for your kind comment!
What a lovely blog, with some amazing photos! And considering English isn’t your first language and you’ve never blogged before, I think your doing a super job. Thanks for taking the time to stope by my Heggles blog and like it. I’ll definitely be looking out for your blog in future.
Best wishes
Heggles
Many thanks for the kind comment! Best wishes in the year of the Snake!
Dear Michael Lai,
I’m much respect and really appreciate for your kindness. Thank you for taking time to stop by my blog, read and then “liking” my posts, although in Indonesian language.
English is not our native language, it’s no problem at all. I am happy that we had “connected” by “retiree” language (I was retired in 2002… 🙂 )
Happy blogging, Michael… All the best to you and your family… !!
– It’s my dream to visit HK… someday –
Hi Bam, my pleasure to visit your blog. Happy retirement and thank you for your kind comment!
Here is another retired since 2004. I speak Finnish, but I am blogging in English, French and Spanish.
I wish to You active days! 🙂
I admire your proficiency in so many languages. I have just started learning elementary Spanish in my retirement. For me, it is a good mental exercise to keep learning. Happy retirement and hope to hear from you again!
Hello, thanks for visiting my blog. I really liked Hong Kong when I visited last year. I also enjoy reading your blog. Happy Chinese new year!
Hi, Hong Kong is avery unique place. Maybe, I should have featured this in my recent post on “Unique”. Thanks very much for the kind comment!
Drop by to say “Gong Hei Fat Choy 恭喜發財”!!
Your blog has been an inspiration.
Thank you for your kind comment! 恭喜發財 to you and your family in the year of the Snake!
Hi there, you’ve been nominated by F&S Guru:-)
Hi, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope you’re enjoying your new challenge.
I am enjoying my retirement. Thank you 🙂
The words and photos on your blog are just beautiful – thank you so much for sharing. I look forward to seeing more of your photos and hearing about your retirement journey. Enjoy!
Hi, you are most welcome to visit my blog. Thanks very much for the encouraging and kind comment 🙂
I love both the name and the purpose of your blog – inspiring!
Thank you so much, Elle:-)
Most excellent, Michael. Such a journey you are on! You are well suited for it and obviously up to the challenge. I look forward to hearing of future adventures.
I have a good read of your About page and fully impressed by it. Like you, I hope I am leading a good and happy life.Thank you for the kind comment:-)
Hello Michael, Thank you for liking my blog posting (I was surprised as I had just posted it moments ago). I’m glad you did though as it brought me to your blog and although I don’t have time just now as I must get ready for work, I look forward to browsing through your beautiful photos and your well-written prose. I see you are a traveller as well and I think you have been to many places I have not yet so I’m sure I have a lot to learn from you:)
Maureen
Hope you will stop by again. Thank you for the kind comment 🙂
I make it sweet and short: great pictures!
Many thanks Bigplatypus 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love your photos. I have Croatia on my list of places to visit and your photos motivated me to get planning.
Hope my posts of Croatia will help in your planning. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Hi Michael, thanks for always liking my posts. I guess we have similarities:
1. English is not my native language.
2. I have never written anything except homework back in schooldays, e-mails, etc…
3. Writing is not my best skill too 🙂
You have beautiful photos 🙂
Hi Reena, looks like we have many similarities. Many thanks for stopping by my blog and best wishes on your overseas life!
Congratulations, Michael!
I have nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award.
The rules of this award are at
Hi, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
Hi Michael, thanks for stopping by my blog and liking my random posts. I am glad to had visited your blog too and will be back to look some more. I love your pictures too. Tony
Thank you Tony. Have a great weekend 🙂
Hi, I respect your decision. All the best for you and your blog 🙂
Thank you peterl41 🙂
After reading your description I know how you ended up at my blog. We share the passion for Spanish language. 🙂 It’s great that you took to this particular language – it makes people more happy.
Yes, I have just done an elementary course in Spanish and like it very much. I have enrolled for the middle level course. Spanish is fun to learn.
Regards, Michael
I’ve been noticing you slowly catching up on my old posts, Michael – I’m flattered and so gratified by your support and interest 🙂
Youa are most welcome. Thank you for your perusal and kind comment:-)
Thanks so much for visiting my blog and liking my photo! I appreciate it very much. 😀
Hi Jackie, it is my pleasure 🙂
Your blog has inspired me so I’m nominating you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. You can check it out here: http://jubileejourney.wordpress.com/2013/02/25/very-inspiring-blogger-award/
Hi, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
Hi Michael you have a lovely blog. I too teach college students 🙂
Cheers and nice meeting you. 🙂
Nice meeting you too. It is great to be able to pass on our knowlege to the younger generation. Thank you 🙂
Hi Sir Michael, Thanks so much for dropping by in my blog and clicked like in my photo challenge post.. I felt great that someone like you,a professional photographer took time to like my amateur shots. You had an inspiring life..I like your blog.
Hi Jannece, I am not a professional photographer. I am sure many people would be able to pick up new skills with more practice. You are welcome. Thank you 🙂
Thanks for liking my blog post Mr. Lai ! I appreciate the support! Look forward to continued and open lines of communication with you! Let’s drive traffic to our blogs together! Ps. I’m an english major about to graduate from Pennsylvania State University, if you need or desire any help with your English grammar or writing at all, feel free to get in contact with me and I will assist you as best I can.
Hi, nice “meeting” you on the WP platform and many thanks for ofering to assist me in my English. Will certainly enlist your help if I am stuck in my writing. Thank you 🙂
“Offering,” assistance is just in my nature. When I get a moment to sit and go through your travels I will comment whenever I am inspired to! I wish to travel the world and mingle with the natives in every country, learn every language and be a diplomat of nations. Thanks for following my blog, feel free to contact me if you’re interested in traveling at wholesale pricing and becoming a business owner in your retiree years, where you can “work,” if networking can even be called work (chuckles) at your leisure.
All the best,
Dominic
Many thanks drjones890 🙂
Hi Michael,
Firstly thank you for stopping by my blog, secondly, you have a GREAT blog here which I will be very happy to follow, and thirdly, I completely relate with your 1,2,3 points above 🙂 !!!
Hi ancafitness, I enjoyed going through your blog. Thanks for the kind comment 🙂
Thank you for stopping by and add a “like” to my post. If you need to know anything about Italy just let me know!
You are welcome. I am interested in Italy and would like to learn more about it. Will certainly ask should the need arises. Thank you 🙂
Hello Michael! Can I have the honor of featuring your and your works in my digital magazine? It’s not a commercial endeavor, just an ongoing online project of mine. I plan to come out with Issue #7 by end of March. Here’s a link to the previous issues where I have showcased some photo bloggers: http://junsjazzimages.wordpress.com/digital-magazine/ It would be great to have you in the upcoming issue. Much thanks. I await your reply. Keep on clicking with your wonderful images. Best regards! ~JJ
Hi JJ, provided this is not a commercial endeavour, I will be pleased to be featured in your digital magazine. Many thanks and regards 🙂
Thank you for the go signal Michael. Since Issue #1 I have always emphasized that I don’t get anything from this personal project of mine. So this is a private, one-man undertaking but with the whole online world as the audience. Anyway, I don’t want to bother you with anything so just trust me to pick out 6 to 7 of the best images in your blog. But I do have a small request. Can you make a short write-up about yourself? 4 to 5 sentences on how you started in photography and what you look out for when taking pictures, stuff like that. Please email me the write up at jazzmanjun@gmail.com Welcome aboard Issue 7! Thanks again!~JJ
Hi JJ, As a child, I started learning from my classmate the technique of developing B&W photos underneath a table as a dark room, that made me interested in photography. I got a first and proper Nikon FE camera in the 1980s but did not shoot a lot of pictures, only during journeys, which were few and far between at the time. My photography only started about 2 years ago when I retired. The number of photos I shoot in recent years in fact exceed the number I shot since 1980s. I like shooting landscapes which are looks tranquil and beautiful; apart from photos which are sort of for record purpose only, I hope I shoot from my heart. Regards, Michael
Thanks for a fantastic blog, I have nominated you for the ” Blog of the Year 2012 Award” 🙂 You can read more about it here: http://ynnej1976.wordpress.com/2013/03/16/the-recognition-of-other-bloggers-passing-it-on/
Hi Jenny, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
Fully understand you Michael, and indeed having a blog read by people from 160 countries is rewarding enough 🙂
Thank you ; have a great weekend 🙂
Fun eh? Thanks for dropping by “Honey.”
Yeah, it’s lots of fun and freedom! Thank you for the kind comment; have a great weekend 🙂
Love the bridges! I am originally also an engineer before photography and writing got me:-D
It is marvelous that you were able to transition from engineer to writer / photographer! Thank you for the perusal and comment 🙂
Actually I think my engineering background help me with the technical side of photography. Every time I “screwed up” a photo I got so flipping mad that I dived right into my technical manuals and tried to figure out why the photo didn’t turn out like the scene in front of my eyes..LOL:-D. I also had a French photography teacher who kicked my butt real hard:-)
You must be really intelligent to understand manuals! Some of them are just unreadable. Iwish I have some formal training in photography. Thank you for the kind comment 🙂
Ha, ha! 😀
Check out my bridge picture today! Hope you’ll like it!
Hi, have read it and left a comment. . . . very beautiful! Thank you for the comment 🙂
Thanks for the “like”. Hope you entered the giveaway?
Yes, I did and I like the orchids. Thank you!
:))
You write very well for English not being your native language! Had you not mentioned it, not many would know!
Hi Justin, I only manage because my writings are short and I use simple sentences. Hope my English is at least functional and understandable. Many thanks for the perusal and kind comment 🙂
Your photographs are breathtakingly beautiful…I could look at them all day! I have a Thai professor and was not aware of the colors for each day…he will be impressed that I know, thanks to you. I should be retired by now (ha ha) but decided to go back to school and get my masters. Thank you for visiting my blog! I hope you enjoy my musings…would love to get back East one of these days. I’ve been fortunate enough to visit HK, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan and Japan numerous times for business and am grateful to have had the opportunity to visit so many wonderful cultures. Keep up your wonderful work…
I also have a reader who expressed that she didn’t know these Thai colors although she has lived in Thailand for around 3 years. It is great that you have been to the East and like it. It is the fastest growing region. Many thank for the kind and encouraging comment 🙂
Michael you are retired. Party. like. A. Rockstar! I love Hong Kong and I have a recent post on my front page called “Hong Kong:Bring the Action” by the way. Happy retirement. For more information of East-West development visit my blog Generationpassport.com
Thanks,
Joe Platt
Hi, I enjoyed reading your posts; will come back again. Thanks for the perusal and kind comment:-)
Thanks for stopping by my blog! Great photography! And as for your English, I’ve seen “native” speakers butcher the language. You’re doing it absolutely no disservice. 🙂
Hi Julio, you are welcome. I hope my English is at least understandable / readable. Thank you for the perusal and kind comment 🙂
Hi Michael, thanks for stopping by our site and supporting us. You might be interested in attending Open Show in Hong Kong on April 19th. More information here
http://openshow.org/
https://www.facebook.com/openshow.hk?fref=ts
CM
Thank you 🙂
Most welcome.
🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I’m inspired by your travels, and I’ve added a link to your site in my blogroll.
Hi Gwen, many thanks for adding the link. I like your Gravatar with a chicken in your arm, it looks very pretty 🙂 Regards, Michael
Hi – Thanks for reading my blog article on “Where are the Facts on Immigration.” You may be the only person who has ever read it. 🙂
I like your photos especially those on the egrets too. Thank you for the kind comment 🙂
You have an amazing blog. I love it. Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate the support. Have a great week!
You are welcome, Patinspire. Thanks for stopping by my blog too. Have a great week 🙂
You have a great blog with interesting posts and amazing photographs! I’ll keep coming back 🙂
Hi Inigo, thanks for the kind comment. You are welcome to share with me my travels and my photos. Regards, Michael
Hi there, Thanks for liking one of my post. English is my second language too. And I am learning Spanish just for fun 🙂
The same with me; I am learning Spanish for fun too! Thank you for the perusal and kind words 🙂
Hi Michael! Beautiful photos. Cheers for stopping by my blog. Hope you liked it! All the best from Edinburgh
Hope Edinburgh is not too cold at the moment! Thank you for the perusal and kind words 🙂
Hello,
Michael Lai, it is a honor to meet you first things first, I love the photography work. It is great full of culture and worth a million words. I believe art expresses itself as well as the artist emotions, feelings, and spiritual enjoyment. I thank you for your support with my blog and come visit again. Everyone is welcomed!
gianniballou.wordpress.com Come Join Me For A Life Changing Business Opportunity…Thanks Again For Your Support Michael!
Thank you 🙂
I’ll be back visiting your blog. Thanks very much for the perusal and kind words. Have a great weekend 🙂
Hi, Michael. Thanks for liking my post. It’s absolutely inspiring to read about your desire to blog about your travels and everything else that’s happening in your life despite what you supposedly refer to as a “language barrier”. It’s not a big deal really because we are still able to communicate in different forms and you communicate your thoughts and especially your travels really well. So kudos! 🙂 Definitely following.
Hi msjfreckles, I think it is really good to blog in another language, keeping it in use in my retirement and not forgetting about it. Thanks very much for the and encouraging words. Have a great weekend 🙂
Thanks a lot for taking time out to read a number of my posts. I really, really appeciate it. God bless you real good sir.
You are welcome. Thanks for the perusal and kind words. Have a great weekend 🙂
You too sir. Greetings to your family 🙂
Thank you, Michael. Greetings to your family too 🙂
a retirement is a great chance (for me too…)
I have a good look at your About page too and find it very inspiring, to combine Flickr and blogging. Thanks very much for the continued perusal and kind words. Have a great weekend 🙂
Hello Michael, I’ve nominated you for the Beautiful Blogger Award. Congratulations!
http://judylesko.com/2013/04/06/beautiful-blogger-award/
Cheers, Judy
Hi Judy, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
No worries, Michael, I totally understand your perspective. Thank you so much for your candor and I look forward to more visits to your blog. Best always, Judy
Many thanks for the understanding. Have a great week 🙂
Michael,
Your blog is an absolute pleasure and I have nominated you for a Very Inspiring Blogger award.
Take a look at this:
And keep snapping!
Hi Kristy, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
What a great blog! It looks like you are just as busy now that you’re retired 🙂 Thank you for stopping to read my post!
Hi, you are welcome. I agree that I am equally busy if not more so and definitely happier than when at work. Thank you 😉
Hi, I would agree that I am equally busy and happy if not more so than at work. Thank you 🙂
Hi Michael,
I’m going to Hong kong the end of May. I heard that 印洲塘, 東平洲, 鴨洲島 are worth visiting if one goes there by boat. 船穿梭在風化岩石間, 景色不凡. Have you been there? If yes, could you please let me know where to take the boat? Thanks!
Yes, I have been to 印洲塘, 東平洲, 鴨洲島. Think you have to book through local travel agent like YauMaTei. Regards and safe travels!
Hi Michael, thank you for visiting my blog. I look forward to reading more about your experiences.
You are welcome! Thanks for the perusal 🙂
Hi Michael, you have some incredible photos on this blog. Keep up the good work. Happy trails!
Thanks for the encouraging comment; will share more beautiful photos 🙂
Pingback: We’ve Been Nominated! | The Diary of a Not So Ordinary Wife
Thank you 🙂
Hi Michael-
Thanks for checking out my blog. You have quite a nice collection of photographs here!
Thank you 🙂
Congratulations, I have nominated you for “Best Moment Award”! Please visit the following link to accept it and see how it works. Keep up the good work! http://amblealong.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/best-moment-award/
Hi AmbleAlong, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
Hi Michael, thanks for stopping by my blog and by doing so introducing me to yours. I love your photography. Your photos of South East Asia, especially Cambodia, are especially inspiring to me as it is my next destination in a few weeks!
Glad that you will be visiting Cambodia soon. Have a nice time and safe travels!
I am happy you are following your thought. You will be great. Thanks for stopping by my blog
You are welcome. So far, I am glad that I am blogging and the many supports I have been receiving. Thank you for your perusal and kind words 🙂
Hi Michael, thank you for stopping by and liking my blog. I’ve been reading yours and love it. Great photos, which make me want to travel more, and you write well too. I look forward to following your adventures, keep it up!
Hi Avril, thank for the perusal and the kind words 🙂
You’re welcome.
🙂
Thank you for the like at simplydaisies. Come again.
Sure will. Thank you 🙂
Thanks Michael~I appreciate your “Like”. I envy you the time you have! It’s a lot to do being an artist and working full time, so the museum show is a nice reward!
I also envy the dedication you have to your work and interest. Thank you 🙂
I also envy the dedication you have to your work and interest. Thank you 🙂
Very impressive blog! And in a second language! – Very impressive. You clearly love what you do and you take lovely pictures! I’m so pleased you liked one of my posts as I have found your blog as a result. Wow! If you can recommend a book from your part of the world this would be great as I could link back to your blog and I am very keen to read from places I might not have been
Hi, thank you for your perusal and kind words!
I have a post “Love is a Many Splendored Thing” based on a book written by HanSuYin which you may consider linking back. https://retireediary.wordpress.com/2012/01/25/love-is-a-many-splendored-thing/
The background is Han felling in love in Hong Kong and losing her lover in the Korean War.
Thank you and have a great weekend:-)
Thank you so much for stopping by! Your blog is amazing! I wish you all the best!
You are welcome. Thank you for visiting my blog too 🙂
Thanks Micheal and well done. You sound like you have experienced many things and continue to do so…!
Hi Jade, I am glad to continue experiencing more things. Thank you 🙂
Thank you for stopping by and liking my photobyjohnbo.wordpress.com blog. I am also retired, a former educator and IT specialist. I envy your ability to write in a language that is not native to you. I look forward to reading some of your blog posts.
Hi, you have a great blog too! Thanks for stopping by and reading my posts. have a great week 🙂
Having just started my blog, a positive comment from an experienced blogger such as yourself is quite a compliment. I hope I can earn your continued follow.
You are welcome; will be back!
need to change your blog name to ‘travel diary of a retiree’! nice you decided to hike every morning. i would go back to HK and hike any day!
If you read my early posts, the blog was meant to be posting on Hong Kong, life etc. However, not too many people read them. I agree that it is now more like a travel diary photo blog. Thank you for the comment 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog and leading me to yours! I love your passion for life and exploration of cultures and look forward to reading more 🙂 Happy lifelong learning and travels!
In my retirement, I understand that I am starting on a new journey, a new life in which learning is important. Thank you for the kind words 🙂
Just when I believe I have traveled or done something worth writing about, I find a blog like yours. You’ve seen and done so much! From reading the other posts I can see I am not the only one inspired and impressed. FUNomenal work!
I am flattered. Thank you so much for the kind and encouraging comment. Have a great week 🙂
Good day Sir! I nominated you for this award, because I found your beautiful blog very deserving. Cheers! http://jillofalltrades8.wordpress.com/2013/04/15/whats-not-beautiful-in-the-outside-is-sometimes-beautiful-in-the-inside/
Hi janice27, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
Your welcome Sir! I very well understood that. 🙂 I also believe that you have been receiving a lot of awards already for your established site and you are deserving of those. I am already expecting this kind of reply from u Sir, and don’t worry I don’t feel bad about that. I insistently choose you to be included in my nominations so to let you know that I admired so much your beautiful blog. No worries Sir! Good day! 🙂
Many thanks for including me in the list and letting me know that you like my blog. I am flattered. Thank you 🙂
You are most welcome! Have a wonderful week! 🙂
Thank you for the perusal and kind words, have a great week 🙂
have you ever been to Indonesia?
Hi, yes, I have been to Jakarta, Yoyagata, Mount Bromo, Borobudur, Bali etc. There are many places in Indonesia that I like and would love to re-visit them when the time comes. Thank you 🙂
Wow, it must be great experiences 🙂
I am happy with what I have experienced so far in my retirement 🙂
wow that was awesome!
Thank you for the perusal and kind words 🙂
This is such a lovely blog – beautiful pictures and – without meaning to sound patronising – your English comes across really well. I hope I do something this good when I retire!
I am flattered. Thank you for the perusal and kind words 🙂
Greetings Michael,
Thank you for visiting my blog and enjoying my poetry. I enjoy your thoughts and photos. I very much appreciate your intentional lifestyle. Your commitment to enjoy your morning walks , learn new skills and focus on what meaningful to you now. Espero que siempre puedas recurrir to caminata, sacar photos, y mantener to blog.
Hi stepdrynan, I will continue to travel / hike, take photos and posting. Thank you for the kind message 🙂
Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope to live life to the fullest when I retire just like you.
Hi Sabrina, hope you will live to the fullest in the retirement. Thank you for the encouraging comment 🙂
Awesome photos!
Thank you for your kind words 🙂
the word ‘retire’ is so dominant everywhere here including the name of the blog. yet, your words and expressions make you what u r. all the best. keep sharing. there’s so much energy that u spread. thanks.
Sometimes, I still feel that I am not positive enough. Thank you for your very encouraging comment 🙂
Thanks for liking my blog. You have some beautiful photos here. Nice work.
Thank you 🙂
Thanks for the visit, sir.
You are welcome 🙂
Nice reading about you Mr Lai, I am glad you chose to take photos so beautiful and put it on the blog, your photography is exceptional, I loved it
Thanks for following my blog Ajaytao2010@wordpress.com. Browse through the category sections, I feel you may definitely find something of your interest
Many thanks for reading my many posts. I like the About page and many of your posts too ! Have a great weekend 🙂
thank you sir
🙂
Michael, your blog truly touches me. I look forward with enthusiasm to following your journey here. Peace and blessings to you. Michele
Hi Michele, thanks very much for the blessing and the peace which are something indispensable to me. Thanks also for the following; hope you will enjoy my future posts. Best wishes, Michael
Hi Michael! I’m so amazed looking through all the fabulous pictures you took throughout your journey. I would totally spend my retirement just like you– traveling! 😀
Hi, it is a joy travelling! Hope you will have a purposeful retirement too. Regards, Michael
Hi Michael,
Thanks for liking my blog. It is commendable that you are doing so many things including blogging, post retirement. Since I love photography enjoying your blog and following.
Cheers
Amrita
Hi Amrita, thanks for perusing and following my blog. Thanks also for the kind words 🙂
Hi….
Thank u for liking some of my post.
Do u speak Indonesian language, bcs i saw that u like some of my post that written in bahasa indinesia…
Moreover, I believe u’ve been visited Indonesia.. I hope visited Bandung too, city where I live. 🙂
So envy to see u go traveling around the world.. I hope someday I can go travel like u on my retirement days….
Keep the spirit!! 🙂
Hi, I don’t understand much the Indonesian language but have visited some wonderful places in Indonesia like Mount Bromo, Borobudur etc and like them very much. Thank you for perusing my posts and regards, Michael
Hi Michael, thank you for stopping by my blog and for the like! Linda.
You are welcome. Thank you 🙂
Hi Michael! Thank you very much for visiting my blog and liking my recent post, I’m glad that you liked it and I hope that you will visit again! Your blog is beautiful, wonderful photos. I will be back 🙂
Hi, you are welcome. Thank you for dropping by 🙂
Hey Michael, thanks for stopping by at my blog. I’ve been to HK once in 2011 and love the place. It’s an interesting place with full of culture. You have a nice blog here, keep up the good work!
I am sure you enjoyed the culture and variety in HK. Thank you for the encouraging words 🙂
Hello MIchael! Many thanks for visiting my blog and liking my post. As I have now had a chance to take a proper look at your wonderful blog I’ve nominated you for The Sunshine Award! The link with the simple rules is: http://sherrimatthewsblog.wordpress.com/2013/05/03/part-two-the-sunshine-award/ I hope you will accept, many congratulations and keep writing!
Hi, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Best wishes to you also, Michael
Hi Michael, I love your blog, and your travel pictures. I have nominated you for the “Super Sweet Blogging Award”. I have a feeling that you won’t accept, but I still wanted to include you as you are an important part of my blogging community.
Feel free to click on the below link if you wish to accept the award and all you need to do is follow the quick and simple rules. http://luchaniktravel.wordpress.com/2013/05/05/super-sweet-blogging-award/
Well done and congrats for being one of my nominees, and thanks for your visits to my blog.
Hi, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated! Michael
Howdy, Thanks For visit American Male
You are welcome. Thank you 🙂
Thanks for liking my post “Where we’re starting from”! I like what I’ve seen of your blog too! 🙂
Thank you for liking my blog too 🙂
A very inspiring blog, beautiful photos as well. Thank you for liking my post @DriftlessWorld, I look forward to reading more of your diary here.
Thank you very much for following and also for the kind words. Will be back to read more of your posts 🙂
Hi Michael! You certainly make retirement look like a whole lot of fun. I especially enjoy the beautiful pictures that you post. I, therefore, award you with the Very Inspiring Blogger Award: http://dreaminginarabic.wordpress.com/2013/05/10/a-great-way-to-build-community/
Hi Jolandi, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated 🙂 Michael
Thank you for visiting my blog! Your blog is great! Love the pictures and your lyrics, I although try to make my first blog in english, which is Not my motherlanguage. So I can say your english is brillant 🙂 I have to follow!
Thank you for your very kind comments. Have a nice weekend 🙂
Michael, I wanted to thank you for all the support you have given my blog over the last few weeks. It is very much appreciated. I think yours is awesome and I’ve really enjoyed traveling the world through your photos. Thanks again and have a great weekend!
p.s. your writing of English is excellent.
Hi, many thanks for your kind words and thank you for reading my posts. Have a nice weekend 🙂
Thank you for finding my blog – I look forward to looking through your photos.
You are welcome and thanks for the perusal 🙂
thanks for your dropping by in my blog and liking it as well. good day
You are welcome!
Hello Michael! I have nominated you for a ‘Very Inspiring Blogger Award 2013’ – if you would like to accept the details are here: http://sarahryan85.wordpress.com/awards/ Wishing you all the best!
Hi Sarah, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated 🙂 Michael
You have been nominated for the Best Moment Award. Go to http://jeaninjackson.com/sunshine-award/ for details. Cheers
Hi jeaninjackson, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated 🙂 Michael
No worries
🙂
Man! Scrolling down here to comment was a journey! This blog is seriously cool! I love your photos and I think it’s amazing that you pushed yourself to make a blog regardless of your perceived disadvantages! I wish you all the best and I will continue to read your blog–thanks for reading mine! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and dropping me this comment. I can’t believe myself blogging in English for 17 months now. Thank you also for the encouraging words 😉
Hi,
I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award 🙂
http://iarxiv.com/2013/05/22/the-versatile-blogger-award/
iarXiv
Hi iarxiv, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated 🙂 Michael
No problem, that’s why I mentioned that if anyone doesn’t accept awards, me nominating them is just a thumbs up and a way of saying ‘great blog’!
Cheers,
iarXiv
Many thanks for your thoughtful and kind consideration. Regards, Michael
Hey, I’ve just been given a Versatile Blogger Award, and one of the things is you have to pass it on to 15 other people, so I chose 15 blogs I really liked, including yours. So here’s your Versatile Blog Award! Go to my page http://pomsawaydownunder.wordpress.com/2013/05/24/the-versatile-blogger-award/ to collect it and see what you have to do next.
Hi kiwipom91, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated 🙂 Michael
Thank you for the like 🙂
Your photos are absolutely fantastic!
Thank you very much 🙂
Keep inspiring and hope you’re having a blast with your life. Cheers! 🙂
Hi Jean, thanks for the kind words. Thank you 🙂
Hi Michael! I will definitely be following your writings with great attention!
Hi raytheron, thanks for your support. regards, Michael
Thanks for liking my post, Michael. So excited to connect with someone from HK. Some of the best foods I’ve had in my life I had in HK. Best regards to you, I’ll be checking out your blog as well. Very inspiring from what I’ve seen so far!
I am also excited to be connected with people around the world! Glad that you like the food in HK – it is indeed a great place for eating pout. Thank you for the perusal and kind words 🙂
Hi Michael. Thanks for liking my post about Siem Reap. I don’t know how you find me but the your visiting means a lot to me. I like your blog very much because I love travel and photography. Your are a wonderful photographer. English is not my native language too and I am doing this blog to improve it.
Hi, I have written some posts on Angkor Wat and am interested in reading how others see it and stumbled on your blog. Best wishes to your future blogging!
I can’t tell you how delighted I am always to read your blog. I have nominated you for the bunch of awards. Please find the link here- http://ethicalhedonism.wordpress.com/2013/06/02/its-certainly-raining-awards/
Keep Blogging 🙂
Hi A. Mittal, thanks so much for the nominations which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. Thanks for enjoying my posts and thinking of me for the nominations. Regards, Michael
Thank you for visiting my Blog and liking my latest post. Blogging is a great retirement hobby I hope you enjoy it 🙂
I am enjoying blogging; hope I won’t be addicted to it. Thank you 🙂
I love the name of your blog. I look forward to following your adventures here. Thanks for sharing with us and thanks for the “like” of my blog. Best wishes to you!
Thank you so much for following my blog 🙂
I love the photos Michael, very varied landscapes. Keep it up! Greetings from South America.
Hi terrymoto, many thanks for the kind words and the greetings from the other side of the globe 🙂
I enjoy your blog quite a lot. Very interesting from different parts of the world!
And thanks a lot for visiting my blog.
You are welcome. Thanks very much for the kind words 🙂
Hi Michael, I received a Versatile Blogger award & in passing it on, have just nominated your blog. You can view it here: http://khanasweb.com/2013/06/10/the-versatile-blogger-award/ . I hope you accept but if you don’t like awards or just don’t have time for them don’t worry, I understand 🙂
Hi khanaspector, thanks so much for the nominations which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. Thanks for enjoying my posts and thinking of me for the nominations. Regards, Michael
Thanks for replying Michael. I realize you get a lot of feedback & are very busy on your blog. I just wanted to let you know that I really enjoy your work 🙂
Thank you for your kind words! I must admit that I should have responded more thoroughly to many of the readers who commented; but, as always, I am struggling with my time, trying to respond to many readers, reading their blogs, preparing my posts while trying to deal with my other commitments.
Thanks very much for the kind and encouraging comment 🙂
Thank you for stopping and visiting my other blog. One is of my adventures in a virtual world and the other is real life. I’m just happy to have found a nice medium to explore writing and continue to learn taking pictures. I look forward to seeing more of your wonderful work.
I am finding that the virtual world is occupying more of my time. Will be back to follow more of your writings 🙂
Your About page is awesome! Your Language is very easy flowing and it feels as if you are talking to me (the reader). I am very humbled by your likes and appreciation of my posts. Thanks for your visit and I plan to follow your blog.
Hi, think I can only talk in simple English / using simple sentences. When I write, I used to think how I would normally talk to my friends while showing them my photos. You have a very promising blog. I will be back to visit more often. Regards, Michael
Have lots to learn from you about retirement, in preparation for my own. Thank you Michael and I will be sure to keep reading your blog posts.
Hi Wenchang, many thanks for the perusal! Will be learning from each other 🙂
Thank you so much for stopping by and the “Like.” May retirement afford you all you desire!
|o/
Praise Jesus!
You are welcome. I pray that the Lord will grant me a happy retirement which is also helpful to other people. Regards, Michael
It’s commendable that your interest in retirement is not for self-consumption – a most miserable existence, I’ve discovered! May this season of your life reap a bountiful harvest as you give to others!
God bless,
Tami
\o/
Praise Him!
Hi Tami, hope I will able to give more to others in my retirement. Thanks for the kind words 🙂
I actually lost my breath when I viewed your most recent photos. You not only capture the beauty of a subject, but also quietly and reverently let its profound essence emerge.
I’m honored that you liked my post!
Hi, I am flattered by your comment. I am so glad that you like my posts. Have a great weekend 😉
Michael: I have nominated you for the Inner Peace and Sunshine Awards. I know you do not accept them, but nonetheless, I have listed you in my blog so that my readers might find the same joy in your blog’s photos and essays that I do. Thank you for all that you do for all of us who love retireediary.
Hi Theresa, many thanks for thinking of me and nominating me. Both Peace and Sunshine are important for everyone and I am happy to share if my posts bring peace and sunshine to my readers. Have a great weekend 🙂
Thanks for the follow Micheal!
You are welcome 🙂
Thanks for the follow. Blessings to you.
You are welcome. Thanks 🙂
Hi Michael, I’ve nominated your blog for the Super Sweet Blogging Award! See more details here: http://reasonstobecheerfulandsad.wordpress.com/2013/06/19/reasons-to-be-cheerful-super-sweet-bloggers-award/
Hi lbellinlondon, thanks so much for the nominations which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. Thanks for enjoying my posts and thinking of me for the nominations. Regards, Michael
Because your blog has been an inspiration to me, given me joy, or brought a sweetness to my soul, I have nominated you for the Super Sweet Blogger Award. You can see my post and your nomination at http://unexpectedincommonhours.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/super-sweet-blogger-award/
Hi unexpectedcommonhours, thanks so much for the nominations which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. Thanks for enjoying my posts and thinking of me for the nominations. Regards, Michael
I understand completely. I truly enjoy your blog and your magnificent photos!
Cheers, Deb
Many thanks, Deb 🙂
Thank you for visiting my blog. I’m loving your blog as I look around – still going through your posts. I look forward to visiting your blog more often.
Wishing you success in your writing venture and hoping you enjoy your retirement as the best-est time of life.
Stay well!
My pleasure. Many thanks for your blessings and kind words 🙂
Hi Michael! I love your blog and admire your sensibilities as an intellectual and as a person. I’ve recently learned Chinese, and I wonder what you recommend to improve my proficiency (especially in writing) in the language?
Hi, maybe try some Youtube videos where they tech Chinese. Thank you 🙂
Thanks you Michael for giving me 3 Likes in a row. Your photos are amazing!!!
You are welcome. Thank you 🙂
hello uncle how are you:)?
i like to read your blog ,and thankyou for liking my blog:)
Hi niece, you are welcome 😉
😀
hihi:)
Hi Michael, I am writing a post about my bucket list. May I use some of your photos which I will link back to your blog? Let me know 🙂 Thank you.
Patricia
Hi Patricia, yes, if each of the picture used in one way or other refers back to my blog. Can you please advise which pictures will be used. Thank you 🙂
Still doing some research and I will keep you updated on which pic I would like to use. Thank you
Patricia
Thank you!
http://findingmyinnercourage.wordpress.com/2013/06/30/2-x-very-inspiring-blogger-award/
Hi findingmyinnercourage, there is no problem of using my photo/ text in your blog if you would provide a link back to my blog. Thanks so much for the nominations which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. Thanks for enjoying my posts and thinking of me for the nominations. Regards, Michael
Michael, I just wanted you to know that I love seeing your little picture pop up when I post. The fact that you enjoy my blog elates me. You are a wonderful blogger and I am really enjoying your posts. I hope you have an amazing day, and thank you for following me.
Happy Travels!
Hi, you are welcome. I’ll be back again visiting your blog. Thank you 🙂
Always love it 🙂 have a perfect day!
Hi Christa, glad to know that you like my blog. Thanks for the encouraging words 🙂
🙂 you’re welcome
🙂
Michael, thank you for liking my poem ‘Smile’. You seem to be enjoying your retirement, as one should, and I hope you quickly and efficiently master calligraphy and Spanish. Best of luck.
Hi, You are welcome. I think I am doing well with my calligraphy but learning a new language from scratch is not that easy; think I need to spend more time on my Spanish. many thanks for the kind words 🙂
You’re welcome. 🙂
Man! If only I could speak and write a second language like you! Way to go!
Hi Professor, I am also learning Spanish as a third language. English, Chinese and Spanish are the most widely spoken languages. Thank you very much for the kind comment 🙂
Hi Michael!, we love your posts!, very interesting pictures and information. It’s nice to meet you here. Cheers!
Hi, I love your pictures too. They bring back many fond memories when I stay in London for a year in 1985. I especially like St James park and other parks in the UK. Many thanks for the perusal and nice meeting you too. Have a great rest of the week 🙂
Are you serious? Goodness! Very impressive. Do you plan to learn any others?
Hi Professor, I am serious. I understand learning a new language is a good way of maintaining a sharp mind in my retirement. My objective is to be able to talk in Spanish when I travel to South America and Spain. I have no plans to study other languages. To be able to speak / write Chinese/ English / Spanish means that I am able to communicate with a big percentage of people in this world! Regards, Michael
Congrats, and good luck! Now I can brag that I know a fellow who can speak and write (soon) three languages. And I hear that English as well as Chinese are very challenging!
Both English and Chinese are very challenging, maybe for different reasons. I have learnt Spanish for almost a year now, will proceed to a higher level after the Summer holidays. Regards, Michael
Thanks for stopping by and liking my post.
Wow great photograph, hope to see more from you… 🙂
Thank you for the perusal and following 🙂
Hey there my friend!! I have good news for you….I have nominated you for the “Best Moment Award.” The reason I nominated you for the award is because I think that your blog is worthy enough to receive the award and that other people should have the opportunity to enjoy your blog. Congratulations! I hope that this award will help brighten your day in some way! You can visit my site and check it out! “Good Time Stories” http://goodtimestories.wordpress.com/2013/07/13/best-moment-award
Hi Coach Muller, thanks so much for the nominations which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. Thanks for enjoying my posts and thinking of me for the nominations. Regards, Michael
Thanks for stopping by my blog.
You are welcome 🙂
Hello Michael – and thanks for visiting my blog!
Well done on your blogging – you have some fabulous photos 🙂
You are welcome. Thanks for the kind words. Have a great week 🙂
Thanks for visiting my blog Sir, You have a very good blog with marvelous photos. I have been following it recently 🙂
Thankyou very much for following my blog. Hope you will also like my future posts too 🙂
Thanks for liking my post. That got me to your wonderful blog and it goes straight into my recommended blogs section.
You are welcome. Thanks very much to put me in the recommended blogs section. Regards, Michael
Hi Michael, Thanks for visiting my blog and the like. I am also from Hong Kong, but a long way off from retirement (haha). I look forward to reading more of your posts. Gorgeous photos! — Mrs. J
Hi, my best wishes to the Trinity! Hope you enjoy your stint in HK and with your work and also your role as mom. Have a lovely week 🙂
Hello Michael,i found your blog informative and great so i wanted to follow your blog for read more posts so i followed you..hope you will have a great journey with my blog too 😉
Glad that you found the blog informative. Many thanks for the following 🙂
you are most welcome 🙂
🙂
i hope you will read my posts and feel free to comment,,,waiting for your comments as i love notifications and comments at my blog 😉
Sure, we do in the future 🙂
With your stunning photos of places and nature…I sense the existence of peace within you. Hence, I think you so deserved this award.
Many thanks for the nomination. I am flattered. Regards, Michael
You’re most welcome! Cheers!
Thank you 🙂
You have a very beautiful blog and your photos are amazing. Thank you very much for stopping by ISLAND VIGNETTES. I am encouraged that you liked my post!
You are welcome. Thank you 🙂
Hey guess what? I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Award. Click on the link below and follow the instructions to claim your nomination! Look forward to reading your next post!http://defusingchaos.wordpress.com/2013/07/25/lieber-award/
Hi jdeangellis79, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated 🙂 Michael
that is alright but don’t forget that your blog is worthy of this award. Cheers
Hi, I am very glad that you have nominated me. In a way, I am somewhat lazy, don’t really want to respond to the questions and nominating other worthy bloggers. Also, don’t really want this to eat into my time which to me seem all the more precious in my retirement. Thanks again & best wishes 🙂
Hi MIchael. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I really like your space here.
I strongly believe that learning should never stop in any phase of life. What you are doing is very inspiring. Good luck!
Keep visiting!
🙂
Hi Baldeep, you are welcome. I am a life-long learner, starting to learn things which I haven’t yet have the chance to learn before. Thanks for your encouragement 🙂
Hello there my friend! I hope that all has been well with you and your family. I would like to let you know that I have nominated you for the Loyal Reader Award. I really appreciate the fact that you visit my page as much as you do and I would like to honor YOU with this award.
Please visit my page to see the award requirements and other information…along with the name of your blog page! Check it out on “Good Time Stories”.
Once again, congratulations on your award nomination. I am very proud of you and wish you all the best. Here’s to many, many more of your stories and articles on the future!
Hi Coach Muller, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand are important awards. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. With regret, I have to decline the nomination. Thank you once again for the nomination which is very much appreciated 🙂 Michael
Thanks for stopping by my humble blog and liking the Barcelona blog post! Your blog is filled with wonderful pictures and your writing is very enjoyable to read!
Hi, your posts on London and Barcelona remind me of my time there. Many thanks 🙂
Thank you Michael again for dropping by!
You are welcome 🙂
Hi Michael,
I am glad you visited our blog and liked the Pic of The Month by Lisa Clarke – she is a great photographer and I see you shoot quite a bit of black & white yourself!
Cheers,
Stefan
Redbrickstock
Hi Stephan, I will visit more often. Thank you 🙂
Greetings Michael ! I love your roofs post. You will see that I dabble in photos of interesting architecture. Thank you for stopping by my photo blog. You may also like 50figment and the Adventures of Stick Chick. Cheers!
Hi Kimberly, you are most welcome; I have started following your blog!
Thank you!
Michael,
Like so many others before me (see above), I want to thank you for stopping by my very political blog and liking my recent post on Benghazigate. We have at least two things in common:
1. I, too, took to blogging after I early retired from being a professor and had a really, really tough time adjusting.
2. We have Hong Kong in common (I was born there).
Your photos are lovely and breathtaking. 😀
Hi Dr Eowyn, yes we have a few things in common. I am still teaching as an Adjunct professor in a local university. I am proud to be born in HK, witnessing many economic / societal / physical changes here. I will be back visiting your site from time to time. Good that we are in touch! Have a lovely weekend 🙂
Brilliant stuff Michael! Thank you for checking out my photographer’s blog also – all the best, Michael
You are welcome. All the best to you too 🙂
Pingback: Un omaggio agli ospiti esotici « allsho's blog
🙂
Hi Michael, you have very nice photo blogs. I know i will be a frequent visitor here going forward. keep blogging!
Thanks for the kind comment and your encouragement 🙂
Hello! Thanks for stopping my blog as well. My father has also retired a few years ago, and has been working at another company. I really think your retirement endeavors are awesome, and I like your photo very much! I’m interested in Hong Kong movies and Hong Kong people & cultures. Hope to communicate with you through blogs. Have a wonderful days! 🙂
I like your blog name King Kong! I just try to do something meaningful and interesting in my retirement. Please send my regards to your dad. No doubt, we will meet again on this platform 🙂
Michael, I am honored that you have visited my blog especially because now I know about your blog! We couldn’t be more different (I have never left the U.S except to visit Toronto.) and yet we are very much the same. I retired once and then found an entirely new career. Now I am “downsizing” in that job. Writing has always been an interest, but I really love blogging. I am learning how to travel the world from my living room. Blessings on your times of contemplation and travel.
It is such a blessing to be able to find a entirely new career. I wish I can do that too 🙂 Thanks for liking my blog, please join me in my travels !
Michael, Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and making the decision to follow me on my journey! I consider it an honor to have you follow along. I’m so impressed by your blog, and your photos, and I have the utmost respect for anyone who has the ability to communicate in more then one language. Very impressive!
Blessings to you as you journey through life!
Hi Becky, you are most welcome. Blessings to you too!
Hi Michael, So glad I came across your blog when I was checking out one of my favorite blogs, whitetrinity.com….Hong Kong is my hometown too. You have a collection of fantastic photos! I wish I can write as well as you do! Cheers, Mom of Dragon Boy
Thanks so much for checking out and following my blog and thank you too for the encouraging comment! I have always loved HK and glad that it is your hometown too. You must be a proud mom of your Dragon Boy. Unfortunately, I wasn’t born in the year of the Dragon, I would love to be born a Dragon Boy as well. Best wishes, Michael
Hi Michael, Apologies for writing this here, but do you have a contact email? mine is tsgwilliam254@gmail.com
Michael I am really enjoying your blog and I am also a member of the club (retiree). Nice to see another retiree who is not a couch potato, LOL.
Welcome to the world of the retired! This is a new phase of life which I truly treasure. Have a great day:-)
HI.I have something for you .
Check it out for details!
Stay blessed 🙂
Hi Yasmeen, thanks so much for the nomination which I understand is an important award. I have decided not to pursue or accept any nomination / award during my retirement and for this reason, I have already turned down all similar awards. Knowing that my blog is read in many places of the world (over 160 countries) is already my biggest reward. Thanks for enjoying my posts and thinking of me for the nominations. Regards,
Welcome..
Sorry for that
Thanks for thinking of me for the nomination 🙂
How is your Spanish going? What is your first language?
I have attended 36 sessions in Spanish, covering 20 leccions in the text book and doing various exercise. We have covered some grammar but not yet all tenses. That’s fun! My first language is Chinese. Regards, Michael
Thanks for stopping by my little blog that I am struggling to start by using my lunch hour. You have lot of wonderful pictures and I enjoy very much travelling around the world through your blog.
You are really using the best of your time. Hope every success with your blog! Regards, Michael
Mike, I find you all over wordpress. How long have you been blogging? I’d also like to ask your honest opinion of my blog. I know you have seen many out there. How does it compare and what do you think I should do to improve? Thanks, by the way I enjoy yours.
Hi, I have been blogging for about 20 months. You have got an interesting theme and your Tags show you cover a variety of topics which can be made very interesting. How long have you been blogging? I didn’t have much traffic at all in the first 8 months. I am sure many readers like me would take an interest in your blog. Regards, Michael
Hi Mike, I’ve been blogging serious now for the last four months. I really didn’t do anything with it before then. I’m at over 7,000 views, reaching 100 countries, and a readership of almost 200. My goal is to reach 500 readers by the end of the year. What I’m not sure about is monetizing my blog. Part of me says start a second to do this. Have you considered this? Honestly I’m trying to create an income with it, being an expat living in Russia limits my options, they are not to friendly in hiring foreigners here in Kazan.
Hi, monetizing it is a completely different ball game; something I have no experience at all. Best of luck with your endeavors! Michael
Thanks for visiting my blog, Michael. You have a wonderful blog and I’m excited to learn more about your travels, etc. ¡Bien hecho!
You are most welcome. Thank you 🙂
Thank you kindly for dropping by wePoets. It’s much appreciated. We would be happy to showcase your photo’s should you want to share. 🙂
Thanks for the suggestion; let me think about it. Regards, Michael
For sure and you’re welcome 🙂
🙂
I’m still learning how the whole “pingback” thing works, so I thought I’d stop off here too and tell you that I’ve nominated you for a bunch of awards today. I linked back to your blog in my post – so look out for it 🙂
Hi, many thanks for thinking of me for the nominations. However, I have now declared that my blog is an Award Free Blog ( please see my Page on this). Apologize for declining the nomination. Best wishes on your blogging and many thanks 🙂
My humblest of apologies; I did not read that page, but thank you for taking the time to reply to my post.
I will continue to read, comment and like your blog as I have always done 🙂
Hi, your nomination is much appreciated. Thank you very much for reading , commenting and liking my post – I do need this support to continue blogging. Regards, Michael
Thank you so much for liking my posts. I feel honored and motivated. 🙂
You are welcome 🙂
Thank you for liking our posts Michael.. we are very pleased that you like what we do. Seeing that we are so new to this it means a lot to have your support. Cheers, The Living360 crew!
You are welcome 🙂
Would you consider doing a post on our blog as a guest? We can work on something fun!? We simply love your pics
Hi, many thanks for the suggestion. I am struggling with writing my own posts and may not have the time to do that. Many thanks for liking my photos 🙂
Thanks so much for following my blog. I just take the time to read yours. It impressive. You are so humble – would love to read and see your photo more. Rithy
You are welcome. Thank you 🙂
thanks for liking the Connect Culture blog Micheal! Are you Cantonese? this is funny because I ve been invited to give a workshop on accessibility in Hong Kong in December! maybe we can be in contact?
Hi elle, I was born in HK so was my mom. Both of my parents have ancestors from the Canton province. Glad that you are invited to give a workshop here on Accessibility. My mom has weak legs and has to be transported around mainly in wheel chair – I can totally feel the issue of accessibility in this city; although we are improving it with ramps, elevators etc. still, much can be done. The company I worked for used to have a lead person / a group providing service on accessibility. Yes, we can be in contact. Regards, Michael
what is your email? 🙂
My email is block8alai@gmail.com
Thanks for following the Jenn stories!
You are welcome 🙂
Your photographs are stunning!
Thank you for choosing to follow one of my blogs. I hope you will continue to enjoy the posts.
You are welcome. Glad that you like my photos too 🙂
You have a wonderful blog! I absolutely love the pictures! I look forward to seeing more of them and to read your blog, as well.
Many thanks for reading my blog; thanks also to your encouraging comment 🙂
Your blog and photos are fascinating! I can only hope I have so many adventures when I retire one day 🙂
I am sure you will have many more chances to travel in the future. Thank you for stopping by my blog 🙂
Thanks for stopping by my blog, Michael! It seems like we have found very similar interests in retirement, although truth be told I’ve always enjoyed traveling and photography. I’ve spent time in Hong Kong too, for two years and I enjoyed it thoroughly!
You are welcome! Travelling and photography seem to go hand in hand, and I love them. regards, Michael
You’re not a native English speaker and writing is not your top skill… I just can’t believe you wrote that! Actually, we have similar ‘sentiments’, aside from the fact that we both are Asians. 🙂 I have started blogging to improve my writing, and here you are saying the same, which I couldn’t believe because I find your blog so cool! BTW, thanks for visiting my site.
Like minds think the same. Best wishes with your blogging 🙂
Thank You for liking my Art Pieces!!! 🙂 *Cynthia
You are welcome. Thank you 🙂
Hi Michael,
I would just like to say that I am nominating you for the Capture the Colour 2013 Photoblogging Challenge. Hope you’ll consider entering as your photographs truly capture Earth’s wonderful landscapes. Nonetheless, here’s the link to Capture the Colour 2013, where you will find the rules and procedures: http://www.travelsupermarket.com/holiday/holidays_capture-the-colour-terms.aspx. Thanks, Jean.
Hi Jean, thanks very much for nominating me to participate in the challenge. As I have decided not to pursue any competition, I will let it a pass. Regards, Michael
You have a really nice blog and take beautiful pictures! Keep it up! 😊
Hi Edwina, many thanks for the encouraging words 🙂
Hi Michael, nice to meet you. I’ve been travelling around your blog – what superb photos!
Thank you for visiting our blog, and for the ‘like’ on the post about the”work” of travel.
Blessongs
Alison
Hi Alison, you are most welcome. Thanks also for perusing my blog. Best wishes, Michael
WoW!! Some happy family you have here!! Thanks for following OMBH… I do hope you enjoy your visits as much as I enjoy seeing your world! 😉
I enjoy reading your blog too. Many thanks for the kind words 🙂
Hi there Michael Lai. I`d like to invite you to submit your blog and the story behind the creation of your amazing blog to MillionSitesList.com Hope to hear from you soon 🙂
Hi, I think my story is quite straight forward – I was looking for something which combines my interest in travel / photography / writing and blogging seems to be the solution, at least for now. Thanks for the invitation and regards, Michael
Michael Lai
Please forgive my boldness however, I have a problem that even though it is not your country you might be able to answer this question?
Because you are a retired professor and travel around a lot, if you please could you by any chance help me with my being able to answer a question from Korea that has been coming to my blog tracker for years now?
I am a descendent from Sachem Uncas and have the knowledge to answer, I just cannot find their question?
Or any place for me to offer help.
I do thank you for reading and any help if possible?
The Last Of The Mohican 영화에 나왔던 Uncas (웅카스) 뜻
tae****
질문 4건 질문마감률0%
2007.06.05 00:26
추천 수 1
답변
1
조회
1,211
안녕하세요 ^^ 어디에 찾아바도 나오질 않아서 글 올립니다.
1992년 영화 The Last Of The Mohican에 나왔던 인디안 모히칸족 아들역을 맡았던 Eric Schweig (에릭 슈웨이그의) 영화안의 배역 이름이 uncas(웅카스) 인데….
인디안어 인듯 하네요 제가 알기론 인디안의 이름이 특이해서 Uncas(웅카스) 이름 뜻을
알고 싶어서 그럽니다.
아시는 분 있으시면 부디 좀 답변 부탁합니다…..
· 신고
의견 1
질문자 채택이 되지 않은 경우, 질문 최종 수정일 기준으로 15일 경과되어 추가 답변 등록이 불가합니다.
http://kin.naver.com/qna/detail.nhn?d1id=6&dirId=613&docId=61495361&qb=c3Rvcnkgb2YgbW9oaWNhbg==&enc=utf8§ion=kin&rank=1&search_sort=0&spq=0&pid=RDXsSc5Y7tVssc/HwgNsssssss4-019700&sid=UluARHJvLBcAACgwxUU
Hi, sorry that I cannot be of much help as I do not know the language. Maybe, you can try copy this question onto Goggle and ask for a translation -the translation may not be that good but you may feel the gist of the question. Thank you 🙂
Thank you for your reply my friend, I have also tried everything that I can think of to be able to help, everything so far leads to a dead end and yet they keep posting?
Again thank you ‘but someday’?
I had to give you a try?
Hi, I use Google to translate a few words in your message to English:
안녕하세요 ^^ 어디에 찾아봐도 나오지 않아서 글 올립니다 – Hi ^ ^ Where did writing come raise a trace of it anywhere
I still think if you paste paragraph and paragraph into Google and translate, you will reveal more meaning of the whole email.
Regards, Michael
Thank you Michael
It shows up on a Google tracker once in a while?
http://mysmudgingblog.blogspot.com/
Hope you are able to crack it. Regards, Michael
I will try what you say, again thank you
Have a good day 🙂
Cheers Michael for liking my post about language study! Do you recall (or have a guess as to) your first Cantonese and/or English words? Not too long ago, right!
You are welcome. Can’t remember the first Cantonese word but my first English words may be ” A for Apple”, and Apple is still around!
Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Your photos are astounding!
You are welcome. Regards, Michael
Thank you Michael, for visiting blog! Your words and imagery are inspiring! I look forward to reading and seeing more!
You are welcome. Thanks for stopping by my blog too 🙂
Awesome blog you’ve got here! Thanks for stopping by our blog, ‘Another Couple’s Blog’! We actually have plans to travel out to Hong Kong in November! My family is from Hong Kong so I’ve been there numerous times. I can’t wait to be back!
Great to learn that your family was from HK and that you visit HK often. I will be away from HK in November and I’ll stop blogging for about a week. HK is really my kind of city and home. Have a great weekend!
Michael, I have put your name forward to this photo & travel competition – where you can win £1000 through blogging. Good luck. Deadline 31.10.13 http://wp.me/p293Pw-7B0
I enjoy following your blog. You have a lot of great photos!
Hi, glad that you like the blog and the photos. Many thanks for the perusal and the like!
Thank you for following my blog, much appreciated.
You are welcome 🙂
Hi Michael,
It is a very nice blog you are having. I am looking for a budda picture to be published in a Non-Profit organisation booklet. I found the Budda image in Datong cave. May I know whether we can use the image.
Thank you
Santhi
Hi, yes you can use my image with a clear acknowledgement that this is from my blog. Thank you 🙂
Hi Michael, thanks for dropping by my blog & thereby introducing me to yours, i must say this blog is absolutely great!
You are welcome . . . thank you 🙂
Michael, thanks for stopping by my blog and I am enjoying your words and pictures. keep it up!
You are welcome. Thank you 🙂
Hi Michael, AMAZING pictures you have on your blog! Looking forward to more posts, and thanks for dropping by as well. Cheers!
Hi, you are welcome. Glad that you like my photos – I thought some of the reader friends are bored with the many posts I have on fall foliage. Regards, Michael
Hello: I have now made that link to your blog from mine: it is very simple, a simple announcement, and people are responding.See that post here:
http://ilghepardo.wordpress.com/2013/11/15/i-discovered-a-great-blog/
Cheers, Vera
PS. English is an acquired language for me too… my native language is Italian.
Many thanks for introducing my site to your readers 🙂 Writing a blog in an acquired learning is fun – I never thought of that before. Have a great weekend, Vera!
Do you have time to read a book, Michael? If so, would you like to read Village Teacher? I will be happy to email you either a PDF or a Kindle file for you to read at your leisure. When you are finished, just let me know what you think of it, or better yet write a short review on Amazon. No time constraint, take as much time as you want. My email address is: neihtn@yahoo.com.
Hi, I found myself more busy in my retirement. I don’t have much time for reading books now – I mainly read magazines, newspaper and of course, other people’s blog posts. I have bought too many books that I left them unread. I think it would take me a while to read the Village Teacher which I think would be quite interesting. If you don’t mind, you can send me a PDF file on block8alai@gmail.com but it may take some time before I revert with comments. Many thanks and regards, Michael
At first I really enjoyed the photos, I’m nature lover, they are amazing… English is not my native language too! but I write, just write. Well wishes!
Hi, looks like we do have something in common. Keep up with your good work !
Also I would love to reblog some of your wonderful works here sometimes. Please let me know if it would be ok with you to do so.
Hi, you are welcome to reblog my posts. Regards, Michael
thank you….you are so kind…
🙂
Hello Michael! I nominate you for the “Sunshine Award” because I really enjoy your blog! Your photos are beautiful. I travel to faraway places through them… Thank you!
Hi, thanks for the nomination. Regret to advise that it is my policy not to accept any nomination. Regards, Michael
Lovely blog.
Thank you!
Michael Lai. Thanks for visiting my blog, Blackbutterfly7. Nice to meet you.
You have a wonderful blog. I’m anxious to read more.
You are welcome, Xena. Nice meeting you too! Will share more in the future 🙂
Thanks for deciding to follow my blog. I appreciate it.
Thank you also for visiting my blog 🙂
Hello Michael Lai
I just wanted to thank you very much for stopping by my blog. I really appreciate your pictures too. I hope somedays, we could meet for real!
Have a wonderful day.
Hi Azandels, you are welcome. I also hope someday we can actually meet. Have a great weekend!
Hi Mr. Michael…thanks for liking my post Puente de Solidaridad. This is the first time I saw a retired person enjoying so much of life and learning to love blogging by heart. Kudos to you!
Hi Cecile, I am trying to stay active during my retirement. Many thanks for your encouragement!
I love your blog, Michael. Retiree makes usualy people lazy, bored etc but not You. You are such full of energy, I’m happy i see your blog 😉
Take care and dont stop!
xie xie! 😉
Hi Xie Xie, I am trying to be as active as possible during my retirement. The many positive responses I have from my reader friend’s give me the power to continue on blogging. Have a great weekend!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I have been looking at your posts too, and your photos are lovely!
You are welcome. Thanks for stopping by too 🙂
Thanks Michael for checking out my blog, really appreciate it! I admire your posts they are absolutely brilliant!!
You are welcome; hope to “meet” more of you!
Hey ~ I m glad to be here , you have a nice Blog and i enjoyed your writing way, my first language is also not English and i am trying to keep my Blog alive now, i created it in 2008 but never really remain online due to full-time job. Anyway now i m here and i will share my views with all of you.
and yes thx alot for following my Blog.
Regards
You are welcome. Will see more of you in 2014! Regards, Michael
I just wanted to drop by and thank you for supporting my blog! You have a great site here too, I’ll be stopping by more often 🙂
Hi Simmy, you are welcome. Thank you 🙂
HI! Michael, I know you don’t use awards on your blog but I offer this to you. There is no need to accept. I would just like you to know how much of an inspiration you are to me. So, I will leave what I am giving to everyone I have nominated. Just so you know. Jk 😀
I, Jennifer Kiley aka ‘Jk the secret keeper’ want to nominate you for the Most Influential Blogger Award. I feel your blog is creative, inspiring & insightful that it deserves to be recognized by giving you this special Award. If you would like to take a look to accept it or not, here is the link: http://thesecretkeeper.net/2013/12/10/nomination-most-influential-blogger-award/
Hi Jennifer, glad to see that I am nominated, but sorry to advise that I have to decline the nomination. Thanks for thinking of me for the award. Regards, Michael
Hi Michael, check this photo, I think that you would like it:
http://hovercraftdoggy.com/2013/12/11/we-are-surrounded-3/
Amazingly silent photo, thank you 🙂
Hi Michael! Thanks for stopping by my blog. It just gave me an opportunity to see your blogs and the photographs and they are really amazing. Had seen the ones you had taken in Angkor Wat and they are really well taken…
Beena
Hi Beena, you are welcome. Glad that you enjoy my post and photos. Have a great day! Michael
Thank you for stopping by my blog.
You are welcome. Thank you 🙂
Hi Michael. Thank you for visiting my site. Browsing through yours, I must confess, I am envious! Some of the countries you’ve gone visited I can only d r e a m of going! Must be great being a retiree huh…to be able to simply pack up and travel wherever, whenever. Me, I have a good many years left before I could say adios to my ugly old desk. Guess I’ll just havta confine myself to being a living-room traveller for now LOL!! I will most certainly follow your blog coz it’s inspiring and a delight to read. Cheers!
Hi raroto, many thanks for your kind words. After decades of working, I am happy to be able to retire and not becoming part of the office furniture. I count myself blessed. I hope one day, you will be happily retired too. Many thanks for the perusal and the follow. Regards, Michael
Hello! thank you for visiting my blog and letting me discover you )
You are welcome; thank you for your visit too!
Congratulations! I have nominated you for the Parliament Award. Please accept and go to the page below for the details. Blessings! http://talesalongtheway.com/2013/12/17/semper-fidelis-award-parliament-award-blog-of-the-year-award-2/
I just saw you don’t accept awards,but please accept my admiration!
I am glad to be nominated, thanks for thinking of me for the award. Thank you 🙂
Michael, you take excellent photos. Your English and other endeavors will improve with persistence.
Be Blessed,
Filmartist7
Hi Filmartist7, many thanks for the kind words. I do believe with persistence, one will improve one’s skills and knowledge. Merry Christmas!
You’re welcome. Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Escribo en español, ese es mi idioma. Disfruto cada entrada de tus fotografías y me llenan de asombro como si estuviese al lado en tus viajes. Muchas gracias por compartirnos esta maravilla de tu mirada en los campos y las ciudades. Feliz diciembre
Muchas gracias por le gusta mi blog y fotografías. Feliz Navidad para usted también!
Where is your contact info?
Hibasiga, in case you want to contact me, my address is block8alai@gmail.com
Merry Christmas !
Thanks Michael for your like on my Vietnam photo post for the weekly photo challenge. I like your photo work on your site, be following your posts!
Hi, many thanks for following my post. Merry Christmas !
Thank you, have a blessed Christmas! Good to discover your blog :).
It is good to discover your blog as well. Merry Christmas 🙂
Wow you have quite a following in such a short space of time – congratulations! I think it’s great that you have taken up the challenge of blogging – more people should follow in your footsteps 🙂
I am also surprised; but I think my readership is dropping off a bit. I am also persuading some of my retired friends to take on blogging. Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the like on my blog! Really enjoying your blog.
You are welcome. Thank you 🙂
Just stopping by to wish you a Merry Christmas and hope that you have Wondrous and Prosperous New Year, Michael. Still love your photo work, my friend.
Thank you!
Hi Michael, an award for you, check this link out: http://irenedesign2011.wordpress.com/2013/12/26/awarded-the-blog-of-the-year-2013/
Thank you for the nomination!
You deserve it.
🙂
Pingback: My Best Christmas Gifts: The Inventive Blogger Award and The Blog Of The year 2013 Award… | Michael Monday
Thank you for the nomination which is much appreciated!
Wonderful blog, photos, and sense of humor. Humbled that you would drop by my blog. Thank you for the visit and for reading my work.
Thank you for the kind comment. Happy holidays!
Hi Micheal, thanks for liking my post “Welcome” I hope you will keep reading it as I get more stuff on it!
Yes, would stop by more often in 2014. Thank you 🙂
Hi Michael, Thanks a lot for visiting my blog and liking my post.
You have a pretty nice blog here with some splendid images.
Wish You a Very Happy New Year.
Thank you 🙂 Best wishes for 2014!
Thank you for visiting our blog and liking our recent post. I am full of respect for your accomplishments, sir! To write so well in English when it was not your native language . . . and to do so in retirement “just for fun”. You are an inspiration to us!
You are welcome. Think my English is only functional. Many thanks for the perusal 🙂
Your English is far better than many Americans speak or write!
I am still trying to brush up. many thanks for the perusal and have a great day!
An Award for you, check out the link: http://irenedesign2011.com/2014/01/05/one-more-award-thanks/
Irene
Thank you for thinking of me for this nomination. Regards, Michael
You deserve it Michael
Thank you 🙂
I love your post travel theme birds. The colors are beautiful in the photo!!! Thank You for liking my Charcoal Drawing!!! 🙂 *Cynthia
You are welcome. Many thanks for stopping by and liking my post!
hi, Michael. i would like to feature you/your blog on my new page entitled ‘spotlight’. please advise if ok with you. thanks, Marlyn
Hi Maryln, I am fine with this. Thank you!
would be needing a profile of you and some pictures of family or close friends or anything you’d like to share. please email everything at marlynsuarezexconde@gmail.com. thank you very much.
*it is in this page that i keep my favorites.
Hi Marilyn, you may find some of my profile under my Page on Work Published Elsewhere which is repeated below:
1. As featured photographer in JUNSJAZZ Images & Inspiration Issue #7 on Minimalism
http://www.joomag.com/magazine/junsjazz-images-inspiration-issue-7/0365524001361335326#.UVwz3HabZx8.mailto
2. Featured as a Blogger / Photographer in the Indie Scribe Magazine September 2013 issue
http://www.joomag.com/magazine/indie-scribe-magazine-september-issue/0572401001375696354
Regards,
Michael
many thanks, Michael.
🙂
Hi Michael. You got an award, check it out here: http://irenedesign2011.com/2014/01/10/new-award-excellence/
Irene
Hi Irene, thank you for thinking of me for the award. Regards, Michael
You deserve it Michael. Enjoy.
Irene
Many thanks, Irene 🙂
You make a lot of sense Michael.
Thank you, I am just trying to use my time creatively!
hello, Michael. You’re on Spotlight. Please advise of any changes you’d like me to make. thanks.
Hi Marlyn, many thanks for featuring me in your Spotlight. The whole article is well written and I do not have any changes to make. Have a great week ahead 🙂
thanks also for gracing my blog and for allowing me to have you on Spotlight
Hi Mariyln, I feel honoured to be in your Spotlight. I lime your paintings too, they are just very inspiring 🙂
Thanks Michael for coming back and liking my photo post. Enjoy reading your posts and seeing your nice shots. Happy retirement!
You are welcome. Thanks for the kind words 🙂
I have really enjoyed the photos of your many travels. Rosemarie
Many thanks Rosemarie for your kind words which is much appreciated!
Pingback: The Sunshine Award – Don Charisma Six Times Awarded | DonCharisma.org
Thank you for the Award!
Hi Michael, thanks for dropping by 2Rangers! Hong Kong is a place that we love and would visit several times yearly. Do visit Singapore and maybe you can start a Category on ‘Travel Singapore’ if you like this little island!
Hi 2Rangers, you are welcome. I have been to Spore a few times but haven’t been there recently. I am aware of the Marina Bay development / architecture, would like to be there someday!
Thank you for “Liking” the post, “Horrific”. Streets Of Our World., on my photography blog http://www.throughharoldslens.com. On behalf of the Through Harold’s Lens Creative Team, my trusty sidekick Mr. SLR Nikon, his brother Mr. Pen Pal and myself, we truly appreciate your enjoyment. We hope you continue to join us on our journeys.
Best Regards,
Harold
Hu Harold, you really have a good team! That’s the reason that I have been stopping by your blog, sure I’ll continue on to swing by 🙂
Hi Michael! Your work is incredible! i am in awe of the beauty of these photographs. I look forward to seeing more! Thank you! Cher 🙂
Hi Cher, glad that you stop by my blog. I have started perusing your Canadian perspective of Chicago too. Thank you 🙂
Hi All,
My FunLIFE invites you!!!
Check this out: http://www.carlosbjr.myfunlife.com
Thank you 🙂
Hi Michael, I admire greatly all your photo-journals, so for me to get a “like” from you for my juxtaposition post is like getting an A in maths (my weakest subject in school)! Haha!! Thanks for dropping in 🙂
Hi, you are welcome. Thanks for visiting my blog too!
I like your blog 🙂
Hi Jean-Paul, nice to hear from you and thank you for loving this blog 🙂
Dear Michael, I noticed that you have visited my blog several times. Thanks! Your work is incredible. I am still learning every time I take my camera out whether it is above or below the water. Hope to learn something from you. Janice
Hi Janice, your underwater photos are great – I’ll never be able to take any underwater photos. I am also learning from you ! Regards, Michael
Hi Michael! I love your pictures. I am a filmmaker here in NYC and re-doing my website. I am looking for a beautiful B&W picture to use as the landing page of the new website. We are a very small production company here in NY. Would you be willing to let us use one of your pictures for our website? We would be happy to credit you and link to your blog etc? Please do let me know. Nice to meet you!
Best,
Rick Kaplan
rick@sherpaproductions.com
Hi Richard, there is no problem with that. Can you please advise which photo you want to pick? Regards, Michael
Hey Michael, thanks for stopping by and liking “Paradise Found in 2014” post. It’s given me the chance to check out your blog and I have to say I love your images.
Hi, you are welcome. Thank you 🙂
thank you for liking my photo, Michael. I cannot wait to read your blog!
You are welcome. Have a great weekend 🙂
Michael, thanks a lot for visiting my blog! I’ll enjoy having another look around yours. I must say that you strike me as a humble and courteous man. All the best, Stephen.
Hi Stephen, you are welcome. I just treat every reader as my brother and sister of this earth. Many thanks for the kind words!
Michael , Thanks for visiting my blog and wish you’ve been enjoyed .
here i found you a very intellectual man by the specific vision in your photos that make them unic and characterize and so artistic, i really like them all . 🙂
Hi, you are welcome. Many thanks for the kind words and the encouragement. Have a great week!
Pingback: The Dragon’s Loyalty Award – Don Charisma Five Times Awarded | DonCharisma.org
Thank you, Don 🙂
Hello,
Thanks for liking my “Little Egret” picture post.
You may also like pictures posted at :
facebook.com/dsualeh
flickr.com/photos/danishsualeh
Hi, we have some little egrets near here, I like them very much. Thanks also for stopping by my blog 🙂
Your photos always put me in a peaceful place. Happy Anniversary!
Some people say the photos reflect the mind of the photographer. I like representing the peaceful side of things / landscape. Regards, Michael
great
Thanks for the comment!
Thanks for the “like” on my post about camping in Death Valley! 🙂 Happy blogging!!!
You are welcome. happy blogging to you too 🙂
Thank you for stopping by my blog and for the like. I think that your selfie is the favorite one that I’ve seen.
You are welcome! Glad that you like my Selfie 🙂
dear Michael, thanks for giving my photo a star on my blog 🙂 – secondly – you don’t look old enough to be retired by about 20 years, I wonder how everyone does it! I like your list in the about column and the award free blog bit too, looks like you are a methodical person, by trade?; an engineer? Whatever your background I look forward to seeing your pictures. Polianthus
Hi Polianthus, thanks for perusing my various pages. By some standards, I am still young for retirement. Have been an engineer and manager in my career. As you said, we tend to be methodical and disciplined. Great to hear from you and hope you will revisit this site again 🙂
Hello Michael, how funny I guess right :), I will surely revisit your site, love the photos of Wales. all the best
Hi, engineers’ English is usually functional – you may have a hint from there too. Best regards, Michael
Thank you for sharing and Greetings from Gede Prama 🙂
http://www.gedepramascompassion.com
Thanks for your sharing also. Have a great day!
Hi Michael! Wow, you lead an amazing life. Congratulations on being retired and being able to travel and go to so many wonderful places! You are an inspiration to me and I hope to be able to do what you do when I retire as well. Cheers!
Hi, I hope you enjoy your life right now ands also when you retire. Have a great week 🙂
Thanks, Michael. I am loving life right now and working on a business to hopefully retire in 2-3 years. I hope you have a great week as well! 🙂
Best wishes to you, stenoodie!
Thank you! 🙂
Michael–I love your blog! Thank you for the like for my ‘treasure.’ I appreciate it very much. ps: I hope you get a good grade in your Chinese calligraphy because I thought it was beautiful!
Hi, I got good comments from my teacher. I am still searching materials for my “Treasure”!
Hello Micael
You recently ‘liked’ one of my blog posts – I’d like to say thanks. Also, my son is married to a native Chinese born woman, and I have a mixed race grandson, who like many Euro/Asains, is stunningly beautiful. I have been to China once, and hope to visit again to see my many Chinese relatives and an amazing country.
You are welcome. Eurasians are stunningly beautiful and clever too! Hope you will visit China soon 🙂
Yes I agree with you about the cleverness. He knows his own mind and has done right from the early days. He is 5 this year and I so look forward to seeing him again.
P.S. sorry I spelled your name wrong!
I have a few Eurasians classmates and they are pretty clever!
Thanks for the like. And all the best for your photographic and writing adventures!
You are welcome! Thank you 🙂
Thanks for stopping by and liking “Great North Road.”
You are welcome 🙂
Thank you for visiting my blog and looking at my work. I look forward to following your blog and seeing your future posts.
You are welcome! Will be back visiting you blog again.
Hi Michael, thanks for stopping by and liking my blog.
You are welcome, Sonu!
Michael, thank you for stopping by my blog and liking! Love your photos and honestly, you’ve given me a different perception of Hong Kong, sort of opened a window of possibility for me with your pictures and that is priceless. I am now following 🙂
Hi Maxine, great to hear from you. HK can be quite dense, busy and vibrant but the country side and the country parks can be quite nice too. Glad that you are following. Thank you!
It is definitely not obvious that you are a non-native writer. I like how you are taking this challenge, and I can see that I am not the only one. I wish you a good continuation!
Hi, I am a bit clumsy with my English – that’s where it shows! Thanks to the encouragement which is much appreciated!
Thank you for stopping by my blog,much appreciated.
You are welcome!
Good morning, Mr. Michael!
I am so nice to know your blog.
Just like you, I am meeting the 3 challenges you say above. But you made it successful! And I believe that I can make my blog come true.
Thank you so much for your sharing!
Hi, I am sure you can make your blog successful too, if you persevere!
Hello, Michael. Your blog is fantastic! I’m so glad you stopped by my blog because that brought me to yours. I am now your follower.
Thanks for liking my post ‘After Sunset’.
Cheers 🙂 Irina
Hi Irina, great to hear from you. I am glad that you are now following; hope my posts will not disappoint. Have a great week 🙂
Hello Michael, thank you for stopping by and “liking” one of my blog posts. I was looking through your blog and wow, amazing photos!! I especially like kthe “Abandoned” from the Photo Challenge. Not only did it look like abandoned/frame but in my opinion looked very much like a painting, breathtaking. Thank you
Great to hear from you and that you like this “picture in picture”. Regards, Michael
Hi Michael, thank you for visiting and the like on my blog.
You are welcome 🙂
Blessings. I hope you visit again, I am exploring your blog.
Thanks for visiting my blog, I will come back to revisit yours!
You are welcome. I will looking forward to seeing you snooping around. 🙂
Will do 🙂
Always good to hear.
🙂
Pingback: The Angel Award – Thanks Angie :) | Don Charisma
Thanks for the award!
Thanks for stopping by my blog 🙂
You are welcome. Regards, Michael
🙂
Thank you for sharing!
🙂
I adore your photos of your trips throughout Europe – they’ve reminded me how much I miss my home continent and inspired me to travel to the Baltic countries when I return! Truly beautiful, thank you xo.
Glad those bring back memories. Hope you will make to the Baltics oneday. Regards, Michael
I enjoy your pictures! I also speak Spanish if you want to practice. Thanks for visiting my blog.
Hi, I find memorising the tenses difficult. I hope there are easier ways of memorising them – maybe doing the exercises is a good way but I am rather lazy doing the exercise. Your kind offer is much appreciated!
I enjoyed your entry in Junsjazz digital magazine. Thank you for sharing your photos and thank you for stopping by my blog.
Hi, you are welcome. Glad that you find out more about me from the magazine. Much appreciated!
Pingback: The Butterfly Light Award … Disco Flutterby Award :) | Don Charisma
Many thanks for the award!
Hi Michael,
Lovely pictures. I tried to look up your preference in music. Maybe you could tell me more. I’ve been composing songs since last November when I put my first album out in iTunes. Maybe you would like to have a listen. If you go to my web page then click on the album cover, it will take you to iTunes. Click again on the album cover and you can sample the songs for free. You won’t hear the whole song but it will give you an idea whether you like the music or not. I play the flute and do some of the singing and all of the talking. Enjoy.
Leslie
Hi, I like Celtic flute! I like listening to classical, instrumental, rock & roll, Chinese instrumental etc. Will click as advised. Regards, Michael
Thank you Michael. I’m here if you have any questions.
Leslie
Thank you, have a great day!
Hi Michael,
Thank you for visiting my blog and liking “Doors and Alley of Charlotte Amalie”. I like to walk through your awesome blog and enjoy your photos.
Nice to hear from you. You are welcome!
Hi. This is the first time I am visiting your blog and I have to admit it’s really good. I love the fact that you travel so much and also that you write in English. I am learning German and know how difficult it is to write a blog in a different language. Great to know you.
Have a great day! 🙂
Hi Helena, I am learning Spanish but find it so difficult. I will never be able to write post in it. Many thanks for the kind words!
Hi Michael! Just as you and many other people I see here in the comments, I’m also writing in English to try to improve it! I’d started many blogs before but nothing worked out, maybe the key was to write in English! 😛
At this time I’m learning Chinese, so I can understand your struggle with Spanish! Anyway, good luck with it! :))
Hi, great to hear from you. I first started out blogging about things in Hong Kong in English – there wasn’t much of an audience. I then find out I have to diverse into other topics and write it in English. Currently, over 50% of the readers are from the States, the runners up are all from English speaking countries.
Right now, I am stuck with Spanish grammar, it is difficult for me to remember all the tenses and the conjugation! Hope I could make some progress 🙂
Thank You Micheal for liking my Painting !!! 🙂 *Cynthia
You are welcome, Cynthia 🙂
Great to “see” you. Thanks for sharing your life.
Hi, great to hear from you. It’s my pleasure “meeting” you too 🙂
You are so lucky to have the time to experience the beauty around you. Thank you for sharing and for liking my blog!
You are welcome. Thanks for stopping by my blog too!
Hello Michael Lai, I too am retired and I have discovered a love of reading and writing. I started blogging on WordPress several months ago. I write about my new lifestyle and the challenges I experience.
I’m currently in a English Composition one class organized through “Courera.com” Duke University is hosting this class and we are in our 2nd week. The class is Free! Yes, free. I have taken several of these free online courses and the experience has been wonderful!
I look forward to seeing your post and I encourage you to read my WordPress blog at the following link. http://007pandas.wordpress.com/
Take care and enjoy your day.
Marty
Hi Marty, I hope there are free classes here as well. Enjoy your retirement and have fun 🙂
After perusing your blog here for a bit I have no doubt that you will be visiting South America in the future, speaking Spanish. Thanks for stopping by my blog. It is an honour. Looking forward to enjoying more posts that you are gracious enough to share. Best wishes.
Great to hear from you from South America. It is a bit far to visit – otherwise I would have visited it. Best wishes to you too:-)
Bonjour! Hello! Congratulations, you have interesting and successful
blog! I like it! I lived a couple years ago in Shanghai and with my family traveled a lot around the Asia!! I look forward to new post. Cheers! Kamila
Hi Kamila, nice to hear from you. Hope you like Shanghai which is becoming a bit too crowded and modern for me. Thank you for the kind words 🙂
Michael, thanks for your kind like on my post regarding my new book “The Mirror” being available on Barnes & Noble. If you’d ever like a complimentary read, please send me an email at themirrorbooks@gmail.com.
Cheers.
Hi, you are welcome. Many thanks for the comment and the offer. Have a great weekend!
Thank you for stopping by Storyteller. — Ray
You are welcome, Ray!
Thanks so much for stopping by and liking my blog. I’m new to it but certainly can get some tips of you.
Hi, thanks for following my blog. You have got some stunning photos in your blog too!
I think you have a great travel blog. More places for me to dream about visiting someday! My bucket list is growing.
Wish you will have a successful blog! Great to meet you on this platform 🙂
Hello, Michael. Thanks for stopping by my blog. I retired last year and it was fun reading your thoughts on the subject. You are an inspiring person. I am glad to know your blog and I will definitely come back to read more.
I am not good with WordPress yet. My blog is: http://www.HelenChen.ws So much to learn…
There are still many things in using WordPress that I am not familiar. You will meet some nice people here too !
Looks like you are enjoying your retirement too. Thanks for stopping by and hope to see more of you 🙂
Thanks for liking some photos on my photo blog. Best to you.
You are welcome. Thanks for per4suing my bog too!
You’re a legend. In just two years of blogging you have accomplished far, and I really believe you deserve it. It’s a privilege to follow you, and I wish you the best! Thank you!
I am flattered by your comments! I am glad that you are travelling with me vicariously and hope you will continue to do so! Regards, Michael
Hi Michael, How brave you are, to be writing in a language that is not your first. I have enough trouble dealing with my first language and am not so talented to be able to speak (or write) in any other. I am also not retired … bit of a sore point in for this ageing adventurer, so I’ll be following your posts to see how the other half live! EnjoY!
Glad that you have started your WP blog. Hope to hear more from you and your adventures!
Michael, thank you for being a great supporter of my posts, and thank you for your follow. I am honored!
You are welcome, Stacy!
Kichael, I recently used a re-blog (http://hunt4truth.wordpress.com/2014/05/25/egypt-photographs-and-memories/). June 10, my post (http://hunt4truth.wordpress.com/2014/06/10/ancient-roots-pyramids/) is about Egypt. It has one of your pictures that links back to the source page at your blog. It is also titled so when the mouse passes over the image your information and the source page display: https://retireediary.wordpress.com/2012/02/20/egypt-photographs-and-memories.
Blessings friend;
~ Eric
You have a great blog! Thanks for linking back 🙂
Hello,Great Blog You have,my best regards,EM
http://emeraldwake.wordpress.com/
Hi EM, many thanks for stopping by. Best wishes to you too, Michael
Hello Mike, please visit me too in free time,i will be honored,lovely day ,EM
Will do 🙂
😀
Hi Michael, So nice to have you visit my blog… and to introduce me to yours! What thoughtful writing and photographs. As others have written before me, kudos to you for diving into writing in a language that is not your mother tongue. If you scan previous entries on my blog, you’ll see that I’ve had the privilege to speak and learn a few languages while traveling and living overseas. I don’t know if this happens to you, but once in awhile, I jumble things up and what comes out of my mouth is probably a little like the Tower of Babel 😉
Hi, I would like to stay a little longer in each places and polish up the languages – but couldn’t afford the time yet.
Many thanks for writing to me – you also have a blog that you should be proud of!
gracias, merci, toda, danke y terima kasih 😉
I can recognize 3 languages for “thank you”.
Thank you 🙂
Hello , Thank you for visiting my blog and liking the post “Save Our Souls.” . You have a wonderful blog with amazing captures. Glad I came across yours. An inspiration for those who hesitate venturing in new waters.
Happy Blogging.
You are welcome ! Many thanks for visiting my blog and your kind comment too!
Michael, thanks for all your likes !!
I like not only your photos but also your style of writing. Keep up with it!
Thanks for your like on my recent post on Iceland! Your blog looks really interesting and inspiring! I’ll visit again 🙂
I am glad that you stop by! You are welcome 🙂
Thank you for the Like. Later (I do not know when) I want to do a few posts on our travels in China. We have adopted five daughters from China. Our visits have been to Beijing, Xiamen (Fujian), Fuzhou (Fujian), Wuhan (Hubei), Hefei (Anhui), Changji (Xinjiang) and Guangzhou. Since these were not ‘tourist trips’ we did get to see some of every-day China. We loved it all!
Hi Dennis, I am so glad that you have adopted so many children from China. I am sure that they will receive much better education and living condition than if they were to stay in China. Many thanks for your kind deeds!
Hello and thank you as a fellow retiree to blogging.
I just wanted to thank you for kindly visiting and liking my blog and I shall look forward with interest to checking up on your progress.
Kind Regards
Bob
Hi Bob, thank you for checking out my blog, I look forward to checking out yours too! Regards, Michael
Thank you Michael
Thank you Bob!
Although I speak English best, writing anything is a challenge for me. So I hear ya. Wonderful photography work you have here! :oD
Many thanks for the kind words and glad that you like my work! Regards, Michael
Hi Michael and thanks for liking my post! Quite the contrary , I have written my fair share and blogging is my way of keeping my passion for writing alive. You are indeed a prolific traveler and have much invaluable insights for the community. Will look forward to your future posts , and hope you’ll look forward to mine as well!
Hi, many thanks for the perusal and the likes. No doubt, I will be back on yours as well!
So glad to discover your blog! Looking forward to browsing through your older posts- beautiful photographs!
I am glad to discover your blog as well – you have a good collection of impressive photos!
thank you so much- have been blogging for about 6 months now and so enjoy seeing people’s pictures from around the world- little glimpses into other lands and lives. Thank you for your kind comment!
Hi Martine, I also enjoying other land / places. Keep up with the good work!
Thanks for liking a bunch of my photos on my blog. Have a great day.
You are welcome 🙂
Thank you do much for liking my blog entry at The Whiz-ard That is Dr. Oz. You have some great content and I look forward to reading more and seeing more photos!
You are welcome! Thanks for the perusal 🙂
You have been so many interesting places, and you seem to explore them thoroughly. You also seem to see things (details) that others may not — carrying a camera helps do that I think. I like the way you have made pages on specific things — like walls and castles and faces. I think I will throw a few of those into my blog because I, too, like to look at architectural detail, as well as the big picture.
Gracias para sus fotographias magnificas.
My first love is landscape and my second love is architecture and details. When travelling there are always things which interested me – things I would like to capture with my camera. Will look forward to reading your new posts. Muchas gracias!
Thank you for reading (and liking) my posts. It is encouraging and appreciated. My husband and I are most likely going to Madrid for the last week in September and I will be excited to try my Spanish and take many photos. I have wanted to go there for a long time — just hope we will be able to return at some point to see more in the south of the country. I will post my photos!
I am studying Spanish and would like to try it out in Spain too!
Mr. Lai, I always look forward to your beautiful and artistic photography! Thank you for sharing your wonderful photographic eye! I’ve nominated you for the “Very Inspiring Blogger Award ” http://willowscabin.com/2014/08/13/very-inspiring-blogger-award/ : )
Thank you for the nomination which is much appreciated!
You’re welcome 🙂
🙂
HI Michael Lai: You kept to: Ajaytao2010? It is true that died? I am very moved by this news.
I am also moved, hope this isn’t real.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.
Today marks eight days after his death. Our thoughts remain united to his soul clean and pure.
I have reread some of his posts, they are excellent!!
Amazing photos. Thank you for stopping by my blog.
You are welcome!
Greetings, Michael !
Thanks for sporting this attractive travel blog… with vivid, real pics as well.
You make retirement phase so enticing ! and relaxing at one’s own pace.
Be following your blog.
Hope you will calendar a visit to the Philippines, too?
edna
Hi Edna, many thanks for visiting my blog. I hope that I will visit some of the beautiful beaches in Philippines one day!
Hi! I love your photos and will follow so I can enjoy more. I’d also like to share some from time to time if that’s OK (with of course your name and blog site. ) You mention making a link to your site, I’m not sure how to do that (I’m also a new retiree and am just learning about blogging and IT in general.)
Hi, great to hear from you. You can link to my site by typing
http://www.retireediary.wordpress.com
Happy retirement and blogging, Michael
thanks will do.
🙂
This is fantastic site Michael, thank you for your photography!
You are welcome! Hope you will visit from time to time 🙂
Michael, I got a notification that you like my “beginning of India”, so I came to have a look who is there for me 🙂
I can see we have visited a few places in common and it is nice to see your perception of them in the photographs.
Unlike you I really love and need my writing,thoughyou liked a papost where three is only a video. So I hope you will enjoy stories I will share in my blog with the continuation of My Big Trip!
Thanks!
Hi, you are welcome, I will read your stories too when I have the time!
Hi Michael, thanks for visiting my blog. I look forward to reading your posts, especially about your travels! Have a great day. Chrissy 🙂
You are welcome,
You are welcome, Chrissy. Have a lovely day to you too!
Hi Michael, thank you for visiting my blog! All your photos looked so good! Look forward to reading more of your posts.
Look forward to learning more about your blog too!
A great blog you have here with lots of amazing photos! Thanks for sharing.
Great to hear from you. Thank you 🙂
Hello, OMG one has to travel a long long distance to comment on your about page. Testimony of your success and popularity. You may check my post to see my recommendation for your blog. I know it is a award free blog but still worth recommending !
I have nominated you for Premio dardos award. http://soulnspiritblog.com/2014/10/01/another-award-premio-dardos/ Please accept this and it is entirely your wish to do the needful. Looking forward to hear from you.
Many thanks for the kind words and the nomination which are greatly appreciated. I think I need to do even better and not to disappoint readers. Many thanks once again!
I have loved reading your blog since I found it after you liked one of my posts! Maybe in a few years when we get to Hong Kong you could show us the not so touristy can’t miss places. I would love to keep in touch! emunaendeavor@gmail.com 🙂
Yes, please stay in touch. If there are places in my blog which you would like to visit, I will be pleased to show. Regards, Michael
Hello Michael. Thank you fo ryour visits and likes on my blog! I have been meaning to come over and take a look, so this morning: here I am.
You have some spectacular images here. I look forward to seeing more – you have a new follower 🙂
Glad that you are now following – hope my blog would not disappoint!
You are welcome. Regards, Michael
Thanks for stopping by and liking my Wordless Wednesday post. I love your photos.
You are welcome. I like your photos on Wordless Wednesday too 🙂
Michael, you have some incredible images on your site……Thank you for visiting my page. Travel safe on your life’s path 🙂
Glad that you like my blog and thanks very much for your blessings on my life trip!
You have a beautiful gallery of your adventures. I like your site, especially your Japanese trail in Hokaido.
Your kind words are appreciated. Glad that you enjoy the posts!
Dear Michael, your blog posts are astounding! Am also not a native English speaker, but your works are far better than anything that I may aspire to write…
Think my blog is just ordinary. Think we can inspire each other!
Wow, you have some amazing photos on here. Your English is fantastic too.
Many thanks for your kind comment. You have a great blog too!
Hi Michael, thank you for stopping by my blog, good to be across yours too, Vonita 🙂
You are welcome! Regards, Michael
Thanks for liking my blog!
You are welcome!
Hello! You have an amazing blog. Wonderful photographs. 😀
Many thanks for the encouragement, Kitty and Vince!
Hi Michael,
You do have a nice collection of photos 😉 ..
I’ve recently started blogging and made a personal blog, and I was confused which language to use in my blog because my case is just like yours “English is not my native language”
so I use two languages “Arabic and English” in my blog which is kind of wired 🙂 but I guess that’s gonna be awesome and I don’t know why hahaha.
anyways, keep it up and best wishes
I think English is more universal – most of my readers are from the USA.
Hi, I’ve just nominated you for the liebster award 🙂 feel free to accept it or not… here is the link: http://byswav.com/2014/12/19/the-liebster-award-december-2014-paintings-by-swav/
Warm regards from sunny and a bit rainy Ireland, Swav
Many thanks for the nomination!
Thankyou for liking my post (“While beauty surrounds me Everywhere”). Cheers and a happy new year!
You are welcome, Abby – have a happy and healthy New year!
Hi Michael,
Thanks for stopping by my blog, I hope you find something awesome there. You have a fabulous blog and gorgeous photos to accompany, I can´t wait to see more
Lots of luck
🙂
x
Many thanks for stopping by too; thanks also for the kind comment!
You are living up to the proverb… “Retirement is not the end but a start”
Great to hear from you! It is just a new phase of life, I hope I can start up on something new too 🙂
Hello Michael, thank-you for reading “The Last Seat”. I wish my site was as beautiful as yours. I am still learning how to use the tool. I love, love, love your site. It is very soothing and expressive. You have a great eye and rhythm to your photography as well as nice flow. Retirement fits you well.
Hi, many thanks for your kind words. I think blogging is good for retirement. Thanks for stopping by and following 🙂
Hi Michael, thank you for the like on my blog. I love your photographs and I already read and enjoyed some of your blogs. I am a “new” retiree and loving every every minute, although it seems to me that my life is getting more hectic by the minute. Keep up the good work!
Hi, welcome to the world of the retired, I am sure you will enjoy it more and more. Thanks also for stopping by my blog. Regards, Michael
Hi Michael, thanks for visiting our blog:) and I just stumbled upon some pictures from Lithuania on yours! Love the one with the tiny old town street and the cat – beautiful colours! It looks like one of the streets in Vilnius’ old town. Those streets and cats really go well together…:) Keep travelling and taking great pictures!
Understand you were from Lithuania – a beautiful country I must say. Yes, the photo was taken in Vilnius’s old town – I have two versions of the photo – with and without the cat! Regards, Michael
I see you are quite involved with other blogs, traveling, etc. Your photos are all gems.
Since this is my first time here, I will not assume anything, but if you are still looking for guidance on writing, you might try to find a lovely book about writing called “Writing Down the Bones” by Natalie Goldberg. I think it’s quite old but you will likely find at least a used copy online.
btw, my great grandparents came from Lithuania to the US.
Thanks for stopping by my space: spontaneouspresence.net
Thank you for your kind words and the name of the book.
I love Lithuania, hope to revisit it again someday.
Regards,
Michael
Thanks for liking my blog, honestly I am still a newbie blogger now.. English is not my first language too but I am working on it, and Japanese too.. I LOVE your amazing photos, certainly you had traveled to so many great places.. I hope someday I will have the chances for it..
Have a good day!
Hi, I have blogged for about three years, in a sense, I am also a novice. Many thanks for liking my blog – wish you will have chances to travel widely too. Have a great week 🙂
Thank you.. You are a pro, Sir. Keep taking photos and sharing them with us 😀
Hi, I am not really a photographer – many of my photos are just snaps!
Thank you for liking my Wordless Wednesday post of kittens Graphina and Himatyte in the herb garden caldron. They had just woken from a nap and gave me a great stink eye. 😉
Mitsu and the Homestead Colony cats
>^;^<
You are welcome, love the cats 🙂
I was wondering how you got to my blog. 😉 Yes, I am a “cat lady” and they are all outdoor cats.
Mitsu
>^;^<
I read posts on my Reader which contains posts of travels, Weekly Photo Challenge, Travel Theme etc, your post must have been posted in one of these!
Strange, but okay.
>^;^<
🙂
Feliz año nuevo chino! Me gusta su blog y también su interés en aprender español. Es mi lengua materna, but I speak english a little bit. Saludos!
Os deseo un ano Nuevo con muchos saludos, abundantes felices, muchos dineros y paz!
Muchas gracias Michael!
Muchas gracias tambien 🙂
Pingback: What Shall I Retire To? – The Practical Psychosomaticist
Hi, it has been a while, many thanks for stopping by again. I have never stopped blogging after starting it on 1st January 2012. Best regards, Michael
If you are ever in the UK or Europe , let me know. It would be my pleasure to host you.
I hope one day I will travel to the UK again, I enjoyed my one year stint there. I understand you are an architect, I have been working for AECOM which has bought up G Maunsell, EDAW etc, working on engineering before my retirement. Anyway, many thanks 🙂
Hi Michael, thank you so much for stopping by my blog 🙂 You have a lot of amazing photos on here, and I’m so envious of your travels! Hope to learn a lot on here since my photography skills are limited to point-and-shoots! Take care.
Hi, I don’t have a tripod – my photos are also point and shoot!
Haha, I meant to say a point and shoot camera — like a digital camera as opposed to a DSLR if that makes sense? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point-and-shoot_camera
Mind if I ask what camera you use at the moment?
I am using a Fuji X-T1 right now and have been using a Fuji X100. Regards, Michael
Thanks for liking my posts Michael! I’m looking forward to your posts!
You are welcome 🙂
Hi there,I am a South African and am happy to have discovered your blog.I’ll definitely visit here regularly,as it seems very interesting.English is also my second language.
I am glad too to have found your blog. Sometimes, I find myself struggling with the use of words!
Great blog with some truly stunning photos. Thanks for stopping by Leighton Literature.
Thanks for the kind words. You are welcome!
WOW!! It’s amazing in here! Need to show this to my mom as soon as I am back home next weekend!!
INCREDIBLE! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing! 🙂 🙂
I can feel the joy you have reading my blog, many thanks for showing it to you mom! Send her my regards too!
🙂 🙂 I will!
🙂
wow, that is so cool that you are writing in English, the language not being your native one. I am an English teacher who has taught students from different parts of the world..not the china part… but japanese and other countries. As a teacher, I would say great job! Keep up the good work 🙂 Thanks for hopping onto my blog a little earlier today 🙂
Many thanks for your kind words. I still make silly grammatical mistakes. You are most welcome 🙂
learning is an ongoing process… I understand, the fact that you are making mistakes means that you are on the right track 🙂
Great to hear from you! yes, we learn from our mistakes 🙂
Beautiful images and words. Glad to have found your blog : )
I am also glad to find your blog too!
Michael, I have written a blog about you and I have used some of your photos. Please check it out; if you want me to remove it because your photos are copyrighted, please let me know and I will do so. Comment on the blog post if you want it to be removed. https://valschallenge.wordpress.com/2015/04/06/beauty-and-adventure-through-a-retirees-lens/
Many thanks, much appreciated!
Thank you for liking my blog — you are my travel hero. Hope you enjoyed your time in the United States. You certainly saw some amazing places!
Hi, I am just an ordinary traveler who took pictures on the way – things that interested me along the way. Regards, Michael
Thank you so much for the like! =)
You are welcome 🙂
Hello Michael. Thank you so much for visiting my blog. Like you, I am retired and doing the things I could never have fitted in before. Now, whereas you do your wonderful photography, I write novels. Your blog is really inspirational. I love the photos, especially the ones of the kapok trees. I did a post a while ago about kapok but the only illustrations I could find were of white-flowered trees. I think you are doing incredibly well with your very successful and popular blog, especially as English is not your first language!
I am glad that you write. To many of us, retirement is just the start of another phase. I am sure you find a whole new world on writing novels – something you so much cherished. Best wishes for the future.
Please keep in touch.
Thanks for liking my post ‘A Heart For Salt’. I like your site and subject especially since I’m getting close to the retirement age. Thanks!
Wish you will have a happy retirement, JC!
Pleased to meet you Michael. 🙂
Please to hear from you! Regards, Michael
Super Michael. Feel free to visit my blog when you have the time. 🙂
Will be back again!
Fabulous to hear Michael. Thank you. 🙂
🙂
Thank you so much for liking my post! Your travels look amazing, I hope one day I can be so lucky to get to visit all those places. I will search your blog for recommendations for my upcoming trip.
I am glad you like my blog. It will fulfil my purpose if my readers would search it to get more ideas in planning their trip!
Michael Lai, Thanks for the “Like” on my post…Marina Bay skyline Singapore!
Yours is a very beautiful picture. You are welcome!
Hi, thanks for visiting my blog and liking my posts
You are welcome!
Have to agree with all:)
English is perfect and your photos i would say is really professional. I admire your work, and i really wish i could do as good as you do with that camera. You know what your doing i have to say.
All best wishes on your retirement works 🙂
Many thanks for the kind words! There is still a lot of scope for improving my English and also photographic skills. Regards, Michael
Hi Michael. I have nominated you to join the Five Photos/Five Stories. I hope you don’t mind and only if you have time. Thank you!
I regret that I will have to decline as I do not have the time. Many thanks for thinking of me in the nomination.
No problem, I understand. Thank you.
Thank you!
Thanks for stopping by http://wdfyfe.net/ I’ve been pointing around your blog. You’ve got some amazing photographs here.
Many thanks!
I hope you don’t mind too terribly, but I have decided to nominate your blog for “the Creative Blogger Award”: https://davidavien.wordpress.com/2015/06/16/nomination-damnation/
Hi David, thanks for the nomination which is much appreciated.
You’re welcome
🙂
Hello Michael … was looking for some advice. Am planning to travel to Tokyo in the beginning of July. Would be there for a week or so…. would appreciate your inputs on must visit places in Tokyo or near-by areas.
Hi, I would say the Imperial Palace and Mt. Fuji are places not to be missed. See also link:
http://www.visitacity.com/en/tokyo?gclid=CjwKEAjwwZmsBRDOh7C6rKO8zkcSJABCusnbzz6FToXjEnnWOnVg6quVa_bd-P9hJTd70qxJNfk2KhoCsQrw_wcB
As I have been there quite a few times, I now used to avoid going there; except for buying things.
Regards,
Michael
Thank u for the prompt response! This site is just the thing I was looking for. Wanted to visit Hakone national park too, but am not too sure of the weather – raining there right?
regards,
HD
It will be difficult to know whether it will rain!
😀 will take the chance then. Thank u for your inputs!
🙂
Hello Michael from the Bordeaux wine country. Thank you for liking my post this morning on bike rides and travel. It’s a pleasure to discover yours in turn, what myriad personalities make our world so wonderful. I have been to HK and Shanghai and hope to discover more of your part of the world – your nature images surely make our world more familiar and smaller. Very nice. Enjoy your retiree life. Tristane
Hi Tristane, glad to hear from you. I hope one day I can travel to the Bordeaux country too. Many thanks for the comment, you are always welcome!
Hi Michael, Thanks for liking the blog on Pelling,Sikkim, you may also view a short video on YouTube-
You may also follow on twitter-travelojoy
Just done it; fantastic and serene. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Michael. Thanks for the like on my post ‘Void of Rainbows’. I see from the dates on your blog that your retirement journey has been going for a while – and long may it continue! My grandfather is 96 and continued to work for charities, riding his bike and exploring up until his legs told him they’d had enough! He now explores using his iPad 🙂
And for you to embark on this journey with English as a second language is equally admirable – I am always astonished how well non-native English speakers converse, especially in written form, in many cases with far more grammatical accuracy than those born with the language. I encourage the children I teach to aspire to this.
All the best 🙂
Thank you so much for writing to me. I hope I can still be energetic in the years to come.
Actually, I can only write short paragraphs functionally.
many thanks for the kind words!
HI Michael! Thanks for dropping by and for liking my post. Have a nice day!
You are welcome!
you write very well…in fact, better than those whose “native language” is English…thanks for sharing your views with us…
Hope I don’t make too many silly grammatical errors!
Hey, your photos are terrific, keep it up. Your English is better than my Humans Mandarin (they lived in Shanghai for 5 years). Boss-Human is the photographer in our little family and she absolutely loves what you are doing.
R
Great to learn that she also likes my photo; thanks for the encouragement!
Thanks for stopping by my blog and liking my latest posts, I’m very thanksful! Your blog is great, always having a good time reading your articles! Warmest regards, Héloïse
Heloise, you are most welcome!
Thank you for liking my blog. It matters to me especially as it has my pictures in it and you are a wonderful photographer.
Thank you 🙂
It was your ‘liking’ one of my photos on my site that brought me here, and I am so glad to have showed up. Your photos are just stunning and I look forward to follow your adventures.
Hi, thanks for stopping by my blog too; you are most welcome!
Hi Michael,
Thank you for liking my blog, At Long Last, St Regis in Bali. I started blogging like you after I retired in 2012, with the purpose of sharing my travel experiences and taking readers with me through my photos, as well as give tips and recommendations that may be helpful to those planning to visit the same destinations. Please check my website, http://www.ramonadetravels.wordpress.com. I have a post on Hong Kong when we visited last year.
Happy blogging & enjoy retirement…one of the best chapters in life.
You have got a lovely blog, keep up with it! Regards, Michael
Magnificent photos! So pleased that I stumbled upon your blog. I will definitely be following. I just used one of your photos on my blog: http://witnessestohope.org/2015/07/28/a-mountain-step-plod/
Hi, many thanks for stopping by my blog and using one of the photos. If you don’t mind, can you please edit my name from Li to Lai on your post. I think it is easy to mix it up as they are quite similar. Many thanks! Michael Lai
No problem!! Sorry that I got it wrong.
🙂
Hi Michael,
It’s a lovely blog you keep. Thanks for visiting mine and liking my post. That’s how I got to reach out to you and saw your wonderful posts. Incidentally, I visited Hong Kong in the last week of March this year and loved every bit of it. If I’d known then of your blog, I’d have definitely asked for tips :-)…
If you’d like to, then you can check out my impressions of Hong Kong here:
http://reflectionsontheriver.wordpress.com/category/Hong-Kong/
I am glad you like Hong Kong on which you have some wonderful posts.
You are most welcome!
Thanks for liking my post! It’s a new blog and I was surprised that I got some likes on the first day and I just wanted to thank those who visited my blog.
Your blog is amazing! Tons of content and experience! Will be looking into your Malaysia ones. Will be travelling there on November. 🙂
Many thanks for stopping by my blog too!
If you are travelling, you may want to take a look at the posts on Langkawi! Regards, Michael
Will do Michael! Thanks!
🙂
Thank you for your “like” Michael. Please visit again.
You are welcome!
Hi Michael! thanks for visiting my blog! I really enjoy seeing your photographs when they come through in my emails!
You are welcome, nice to hear from you!
Thank you for stopping by my blog and liking my post Mr.Lai. You have an interesting blog. Looking forward to read more of ur posts.
Thank you for dropping by my blog too. You are always welcome!
Hi, Thanks for liking our post! The photos are nice 🙂
Thank you!
Hi Michael, thank you for checking out my blog and liking my photos. I really appreciate it. If I may, I’d like to build on your “Shoot from the heart” line and say- “Shoot from the heart, write from the heart.” 😉
Yes, write from the heart too. But unfortunately with my mom in sickness, I don’t think I can spend too much time writing.
Michael, you have a very nice blog. Your beautiful photos show that you’ve done extensive traveling. May you have many more adventures. Thank you for visiting my blog.
You are welcome!
xié-xié! merci! thanx for stopping by my playground! 🙂 my very best and respectful regards, Mélanie NB – Toulouse, FRANCE
* * *
P.S. our son speaks and writes Mandarin Chinese & Japanese – fluently… https://myvirtualplayground.wordpress.com/2014/10/28/chinese-characters-spiritual-gifts-from-the-heart/
Hi, I learned French for two years and have forgotten most of it. I am now learning Spanish! Merci!
Hi Mr. Lai, thanks for stopping by our blog! Your photos are lovely, I look forward to following you and hopefully gaining a tiny touch of wisdom along the way 😉
Many thanks for following; I hope you will enjoy my posts!
Hi Sir Michael, Thank you for stopping by my blog. I hope you enjoy my blog. You have a nice blog here.
You are welcome. Thanks for liking my blog!
Inspiring and charming.Thats how I see your blog.Looking forward to more stories and pictures.
Glad that you like my blog; will sure keep up with posting more stories and pictures!
Hi, Michael,
First of all, thank you very much for the Like of my blog and ‘Bali Indha’ book. You have a great site here, with wonderful pictures. Wow, you have been traveling quite extensively, I wish I had. I lived for almost 30 years in SEAsia, most of the time in Singapore. I miss Asia. Keep up your great work.
Thanks again, ingojez
Your blog is stunning too, there are many posts in there which I like!
Hope you are able to come back to SE Asia for a visit soon!
Mr Lai,
I appreciate you liking my most recent blog on Cambodia! Your support is greatly appreciated and I look forward to seeing you going forward, Michael =) You are dealing with the challenge of blogging superbly, my friend!
-Nauman
You are welcome. Thank you, Nauman!
Dear Michael, thank you for stopping by in Tanzania. I see you have a great number of followers. There must be several things you do right! Well done!
Thanks for your encouragement!
I enjoyed browsing your photo challenges. I especially like your grid series. I look forward to seeing more of your artistic and original photos and insights. Mari Beth https://tanguerabeth.wordpress.com/the-scenic-route-31/
Hi Mari, most of my photos are original in that I don’t crop them or process them, but it is not possible to say in every post that the photos are original. many thanks for your kind words!
Hi Michael, thanks for the follow. I really like your work here which inspired me to follow your blog too 🙂
Thanks for the following too!
Hi! Thanks for dropping by and liking my post! 🙂
You are welcome!
Hi Michael from Australia, thanks for liking my post. Looking forward to checking out your blog.
Glad to hear from you, Miriam. You are welcome.
I thought you had stopped blogging, bu instead somehow I had stopped receiving! I have again clicked on “Follow” so I hope there will be no further problems. I am so happy you are still blogging, I always enjoy your posts. Thank you, also, for the ‘likes’ on some of my own posts.
Hi, nice to hear from you. It happens to my Following as well. Although I have subscribed to other people’s blog but I am not receiving. I think it is a WordPress problem. Glad that you are back!
Firstly, thank you for stopping by at my blog (www.curiecat.wordpress.com) and liking a post! I just wanted to say that the name of your blog is brilliant! Retiree Diary has such a good ring to it. Best of luck blogging.
Many thanks for your encouraging and kind words!
Michael, I am always thrilled when I see a “like” from you on my blog. Sometimes when I look at the country list of views, I wonder where you are traveling to view. Your circle photos of yurts are stunning. I have often wished for a source of soul-inspiring photos. I read over your copyright instructions and may be back to choose a photo now and then. Blessings on a happy and fulfilling new year.
Hi, I sometimes don’t know what to post next! I have to go through my archive to see what is interesting and suitable to the theme / occasion!
Hi
I’ve nominated you for the animal spirit award
I hope you will have time to look into it
Thank you!
Thanks for checking out my post about my Cambodia photo film 🙂 I have enjoyed looking through your beautiful photos of Angkor Wat- they brought back lovely memories!
Nice to hear from you, Julie.
I like your Cambodia photos too!
You are living a well earned retirement and doing things that you like. That is the wish of everyone.
And your writing is equally good besides your photography.
Enjoy.
Lately, I have not been putting much efforts into the posts; hope that you can bear with me!
Your photos are worth a thousand words! Keep on 🙂
Thanks for your kind words!
Hey Mr Michael, Your blog looks splendid, reading your bio has given me as sense that i will surely enjoy my time here, looking forward to reading more of your posts, Cheers! 🙂
Yes, everybody has limited and precious time only, so make best use of it while we still can. Many thanks for stopping by my blog. Your blog looks awesome too!
Thank you sir for visiting my blog as well. Means a lot! 🙂
Keep up with your wonderful blog!
You are very much welcome.
Thanks for liking a post on The Expositrix! I like the idea of a weekly photo challenge; maybe I should push myself to do the same…
The DP Weekly Photo Challenge is quite an interesting one. I am lazy to find other theme to blog about. Hope you find it interesting as well！
Michael,
Thank you so much for visiting my site and reading my introductory post about the cancer relief fund that me and my brother are starting for our momma. It means the world to me that you took time out of your day to visit. If it’s not asking too much please share our page wherever you can.
Sincerely,
Christopher Michael
Christopher，
My mom has the same problem， surgery on a Stage 3 colon cancer which spread become Stage 4. She is now on chemo – Oxalplatin infusion and orally taken Xeloda pill.
Have faith， miracles do occur.
Best wishes to your mom， brother and yourself！
Michael
Wow! That is EXACTLY what my mom is going through right now. Same chemotherapy regimen as well. Thank you for the well wishes and words of encouragement. You and your family are in our prayers as well!
God has His own plan for everyone, hope He gives us the best within His plan.
The issues you are facing are not small but I am sure you will see brighter and happy days. If you like you can also pray the Novena of St. Peregrine – the saint for cancer.
I plan to reblog your post in due course.
I didn’t know that about St. Peregrine but I will google the Novena and start adding that to my prayer regimen. Thank you so much for your words of hope and your consideration for possibly reblogging our cause. Truly. Thank you! God bless!
On the family side, what you are facing is not unlike what I am facing too. We are taking things one day at a time and thanking God each day He gives us.
Hi Christopher, I have reblogged your post. You might like to check it out. Regards, Michael
Thanks for the like! Great blog. I am intrigued by your photographs and content. I am looking forward to reading more! Jessy
Hi Jessy, many thanks for liking my blog. Hope you will find some of the back posts are as intriguing as the new ones!
I’m glad you are writing. Thank you for the like on my post. I look forward to following your blog!
I was attracted by the name of your blog. Many thanks for the following!
Thanks! Please keep stopping by!
Sure!
Thank you for liking my post. I will be writing more about Iceland in the next few weeks if you are interested in stopping by again. I enjoyed reading some of your posts and look forward to reading more.
I will certainly stop by to know more about Iceland. Regards, Michael
Thank you for stopping by StepsAndPauses and leaving a “like” that led me to your blog. I, too, am blogging in retirement. Great to connect with other parts of the world, and to see the wonderful imagery others (you) have shared.
Glad to know you on this platform. Happy retirement!
Hi Michael! Thank you for dropping by at an article I made for Millionaires Digest. You seems to have an amazing post-retirement life. Keep sharing your work 😉
Aui
Your book helps to save lives; great efforts!
Hello Michael, Thank you for liking my post. You have a great blog here too, and even though English is not your first language, your English is perfect! I wish I could inspire my father (also retired) to blog like you, but he’s just too lazy! 😛
By the way, I was born in Hong Kong (while it was still under the British) but returned back to India while I was still in primary school. It would be fun to see Hong Kong through you, so many years later 🙂
I note you have a Diary name to your blog too.
Yes, it will be nice if your dad can be encouraged to write a blog.
I have a profound love of HK and hope to show it in its beauty.
Hope u are having fun in blogging!
Oh yes! I didn’t notice yours had diary too. Blogging is a substitute to the pages-diary I used to fill, and although I don’t get to write as often as I used to, I’ve picked up a bit.
Hope to read more of your posts 🙂
Hope to read more of your posts too!
Hello, I am currently creating a website/blog on the Kyoto School of Philosophy, which was founded by Nishida Kitaro, and I would like to use one of the photos (0048) on the page where I give his biography: Nishida was born near Kanazawa, went to school there, taught there and in fact spent 40 years of his life there before moving to Tokyo and then Kyoto. And while he was in Kanazawa, he had long walks in the splendid Kenroku-en gardens. Is it OK if I use your photo, which is really superb. My website is entirely non-commercial – my only goal is to try to share my interest for the philosophers of the Kyoto School who worked really hard to share the message of Eastern spirituality with the West, though the West is not as interested as it should be … By the way, congratulations for this outstanding blog!
Hi Nicole, as you are using it for a good cause, please use the photo in full, with a link back or an acknowledge from this site. Best wishes, Michael
Many thanks. I will do as you say. I will send you the link to my blog so that you can see how the photo is displayed there. Best wishes, Nicole
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Dear Mr. Lai,
I’ve really enjoyed reading posts in your blog retireediary – The Diary of a Retiree . Your travel photography is outstanding!
I am currently working on a non-profit project to beautify my home town – Racine, Wisconsin USA. One aspect of the
project is to build a promenade (park) along the city shoreline on Lake Michigan similar to the promenade in
Morges, Switzerland.
I was wondering if you would grant me a limited usage right to use one of your image of Morges on a website promoting
my nonprofit civic project. Your photo would help me to visually communicate to other citizens of Racine, WI how beautiful
our lake shore could be.
The image is in your blog post: “Lake Geneva at Morges, Switzerland – September 27, 2012”
The image is: https://retireediary.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/dscf0026.jpg
Thank you so much.
Donald Groetzinger
Hi Donald,
Yes. The photo must not be used for profit making and on this project only, with a link back to this site.
Grateful if you would send me the draft before it is used.
Regards,
Michael
Hi Michael,
Thank you!
Here are links to the testing/development website:
http://plinia.net/RacRiv/
http://plinia.net/RacRiv/the-projects-2/view-as-slideshow/
http://plinia.net/RacRiv/the-projects-2/the-projects-thumbnails/
http://plinia.net/RacRiv/photo-credits/
– Don
Hi Don, you have a wonderful site.
The photo ideally suits it. I am glad that my photo is put into good use!
Regards,
Michael
Michael, thank you for your permission to use your beautiful photo of Morges Switzerland in my proposal. My wife and I had traveled in that area a number of times. It is lovely.
The Racine Journal, our city newspaper, published my proposal on Sunday July 9 2017 and unfortunately your approval arrived after their deadline for printing and they had to use a substitute picture that is in the public domain. With your approval I will continue to use it on our web page “racine-riviera.com. The response to the proposal so far has been good and very positive.
Should your travels ever bring you to this area of the mid-west United States we would like very much to have you visit us. My telephone number is 262-681-0367 email dgroetz@wi.net
Please keep in mind, I am 86 years old so your visit would have to be within the next few years. I’m in great health and not planning on going anywhere soon, but you never know.
Sorry it took so long to respond, I’ve been busy responding to those responding to our newspaper article.
Best regards
Donald Groetzinger
Hi Donald,
Sorry that you are unable to use my photo on the newspaper.
Glad to learn that your proposal is received so well.
I have no plans yet to visit the mid-west yet, but if I do in the next few years, I will pay you a visit.
I am glad that at your age, you are still so very active and contributing to the society.
Please write if you have the time.
I will be pleased how your proposals go.
May God bless you,
Michael
This is an impressive blog! Your writing is very good.
I have to write more otherwise this is just another photo blog. Thank you for your kind words, Henry!
Hi I have been following your blog and enjoyed reading your posts. I have nominated you for the Liebster Award. See it here: https://cuckoos4u.wordpress.com/2018/01/13/the-liebster-award/. Hope you could take part. Best wishes for blogging.
Hi, my blog is an Award Free Blog, thank you for your nomination anyway.
This is a beautiful blog. I’ve only just discovered it so I have lot of catching-up to do!
Great to “meet” you here!
Hope you enjoy perusing my blog posts 🙂
We just start blogging last May 2018 and we stumble accross your blog. The photos are amazing. Please visit our blog at http://www.frejatravels.com and leave a comments or tips. thank you.
Great blog, keep it up 🙂
Thank you soo much. Much appreciated your comment and stop by at our blog. I wish you a fantastic Sunday. cheers.
Have a great week ahead 🙏
Hello Michael. The pictures of the Dongyang sculptures are amazing. Would it be possible to include a few in an art teacher resource I am writing?
Hi Marianne, it’s OK if it is not for commercial purposes, with proper acknowledgement / reference and linking back to this site. grateful, if you can show me the finished pages, 🙂
Well what a wonderful project, your English is wonderful by the way. We hope all is going well and Look forward to more of your photos to admire.
Dear David and Laura, thanks for the kind words and encouragement. I hope there will be more journeys and photo taking opportunities in my retirement. Sure, I am glad to share them 🙂
Excellent, thank you and looking forward to your posts.
Thank you 😊
Good morning, I was wondering is this possible to use one of your lovely photos: Autumn in Shirakawa-Go, as a picure to FB event for a larp activity. The Activity will took place in Europe, but as a story it will be in autumn village i fantasty-semi-asia realm.
Forgive me the boldness of this question, but I have bo experience in using copyrighted pictures, and I want to recognize your work.
Can you please advise what the larp activity is about? Is it a commercial thing and / or carry any advertisement?
Regards,
Michael
Happy retirement and awesome blog. I hope to join the retirement group in December 2022. Have a wonderful day/night and remain safe.
Thank you for your kind words, Tangie.
I am sure you will find retirement enjoyable.
For now, just enjoy the work you are doing . . . . .
Thank you Micheal, I will use one of your photos of Patmos Island for a research calle Medways. I will put you name and reference, Yhanks