mrbrown

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

On a 6.10am flight via Tokyo, to San Jose for Apple’s #WWDC! See you all in a day or so! I have not slept for more than 24 hours (since 6am yesterday) so excuse me as I sleep for the rest of this flight. #travel #mrbrowntravels #mrbrowninsanjose #wwdc2019 (at Changi Airport Terminal 2) https://www.instagram.com/p/ByJLAUApHcS/?igshid=10dm9p875gb50

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

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

[mrbrown]

Me: “Why don’t you get a jar of the strawberry yoghurt from the breakfast table and we share?” Wife: “Ok.” Minutes later, after she takes a spoonful. Wife: “I think you get your own.” #travel #mrbrowntravels #mrbrowninSpain #mrsbrowninSpain #themrbrownsinSpain (at Málaga, Spain) https://www.instagram.com/mr_brown/p/Bw1ScrYJelj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1p1fa09m8ob8