Tuesday, May 24, 2011

BIGGA Show - Harrogate, UK January 2011

Marcus Oliver, Alan Oliver, Mike Stott and Stuart Hutchins of GreenTek, UK.

Sun Ying and personnel from Greenman, Industries from China visiting booth.

Ex-President of GCSAA Mark Kuhns and his wife Janet.

Great display developed by the folks at GreenTek showing off our True-Surface Vibe-V vibratory greens rollers.

Bettys and Taylors of Harrogate is one of the best tea rooms in the UK if you ever get the chance to have a cup of English tea and a scone or biscuit.

Ireland - November 2010

730 ft. tall Cliffs of Moher that were formed by giant glaciers during the last ice age near Lahinch, Ireland.

Durty Nelly's Pub which was founded in 1620 standing next to Bunratty Castle which was constructed in 1425 by the MacNamara clan and occupied by the O'Briens in 1475.

Tony Roethler, Tim Roethler and Mike Null enjoying the Guinness St. James Gate at the factory in Dublin, Ireland.

The lads outside the Brazen Head Pub founded in 1198 is said to be the oldest pub in Ireland.

Michael Murphy, head greenskeeper/superintendent at Waterville Golf Links in Waterville, Ireland.  The course is ranked number 35 in the world according to the Golf World (U.K.) June 2010 edition.

Tim Roethler enjoying a Jameson Whiskey at the Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin.

Mike Null pulling the perfect Guinness at Durty Nelly's.

Tim Roethler pulling another perfect Guinness at Durty Nelly's.

Tony Roethler topping off his perfectly pulled Guinness that is about to hit the lips after a Slainte salute.

Looks like Tony-Boy had too many perfect Guinness!

Ireland and Italy - Fall of 2010

My wife Sue getting blown away with a stiff West Clare seashore breeze at Spanish Point, Ireland.

Local Mullagh resident telling cousin Jim O'Brien how it is as pub owner Noel Moroney watches on.

For any of you who used to watch BBC this is the home for the TV show Father Ted.

The Leon Pub at Quilty, Ireland that has really not been opened for years, but tourists still try to get in.

Rush hour in my village of Mullagh, Ireland.

Sue in the oldest market in Venice, Italy where any type of fruit or vegetable can be found.

This is a water taxi in Venice and the locals stand up to take a ride to the other side of the canal for around .50 Euros.

More locals standing up to cross canal.  Usually only the tourist will sit down during crossing.

Great entrance to house on canal at high tide.  Notice the steps under water at high tide, thus the sinking city.

The Rialto Bridge built around 1588.  The original bridge was built on this site in 1181 which was a pontoon bridge and replaced with several wood versions until current bridge was finished in 1591.

Three young Italian beauties drinking from one of the 122 or so public water fountains.  The city of Venice is one of the largest consumers of bottled water and the city is encouraging tourist and locals to drink from these fountains as the city is being buried under the empty plastic water bottle trash.

Sunset view of homes along the Grand Canal.

The filigree facade of the Ca' d'Oro.  Regarded as the loveliest of Venice's Gothic palaces.  Started construction in 1420 and was originally outfitted with gold leaf highlights on the exterior, thus the name "House of Gold".

The leaning bell tower of the 16th Century church San Martino on the island of Burano.

One of the canals along the colorful homes on the island of Burano.  Legend has it that the homes were painted with bright colors so the fishermen could recognize their homes from the sea.

The Colosseum in Rome, Italy.  Commissioned by Emperor Vespasian in AD 72.

The Arch of Constantine, built in 315 AD to celebrate the Roman war victories and the Colosseum in the background.

The Victor Emmanuel Monument begun in 1885 to honor Victor Emmanuel, the first king of unified Italy.

The Victor Emmanuel Monument at night.

The Trevi Fountain by Nicola Salvi in 1756 is Rome's largest and most famous fountain.  It contains the figures of Neptune, flanked by two Tritons.

The Trevi Fountain at dusk.

The Pantheon temple built in first century AD considered the best preserved ancient building in Rome.

"No really dear, I think I can fit!"

Some guy named The Pope lives here!

Monday, May 23, 2011

South Korea - October 2010

First stop with Johnnie Choi of SeoWan was the Cygnus Country Club.

You can see the grass is already going dormant in late October in the mountains of South Korea.

Great view from one the half way house.

Johnnie Choi and I with personnel from course.

Next stop was to the TGV Country Club.  TGV is the manufacturers of the high speed trains in Korea along with a hugh portfolio of other industries.

View down fairway at TVG CC.

Looking down fairway from tee box at half-way house.

View from deck at half-way house.

Market Stalls in Hong Kong - October 2010

Seafood as fresh as it gets at one of the street stalls in Wan Chai, Hong Kong.

Great selection of fish so fresh they don't smell like fish!

Open air meat market that carries every part of the animal including the tail and intestines.

Ladies Market in the Kowloon area of Hong Kong.  Great place to buy a fake Gucci.

Speaking of fakes this Jaguar look-a-like was parked outside one of the markets.  Look close at the hood emblem is you can.

Point out which hen you want to take home for dinner, go do some more shopping and by the time you get back your hen has been killed, plucked, cleaned and packaged for you.

Great table of crab set out for you to choose from and take home live.

Towards the later part of shopping for your fresh food for the day around 11:00 am.  You had better get your shopping for dinner done early for best selections.