iPad tip, thanks to Sanyasi....

[Guest WPalank]

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In the next couple of weeks I will be going to South East Asia for a couple of weeks to take some photos and hangout with my lovely wife. Jack Siegel (sanyasi) mentioned in a couple of iPad threads that he had downloaded his camera equipment PDFs to the device in lieu of dragging along the actual manuals. One of the critiques of the iPad when it first came out (and rightly so) was it's inability to read or deal with PDFs including downloading such documents without third party software. Well with the newest OS update and newest version of iTunes (on the computer one uses to sync the iPad), it's now kind of a breeze.

 

First make sure all software is up to date.

 

1) Download the PDFs that you need to a specific folder on your desktop from the web (Google is your friend) and rename them something meaningful.pdf (i.e. "Leica M9 Users Manual.pdf")

2) Open iTunes on your computer. On the left margin click on "Books" (under Library).

3) Drop each individual PDF into Books.

4) With iTunes still open, plug in the iPad. When the iPad becomes available click on "Books" in it's upper Menu.

5) Click on Sync Books>Selected Books and down below you should see your new PDFs. Select the ones you want and hit Sync.

 

Once Sync is done and you can eject your iPad safely go to your iBooks Application on the iPad. In the Bookshelf you will find a new tab next to Store and Books, PDFs. Click on that tab and you will find your new PDFs cleverly lined up on the shelves like your books have been in the past.

 

Now lets say you are in the field and need one of your missing manuals and you don't have access to your home computer. You will need a wireless connection for this method and a third party app.

In my case I have "ReaddleDoc" only because Terry White (tech blogger) thought it was better than "Good Reader" and it happened to be on sale (2 bucks that day, currently 4).

 

With ReaddleDocs you need to first find the pdf online via the Safari browser on your iPad. Copy the webpage url and then get out of Safari. Open Readdle and hit the "Browser" tab on the left menu. In the tab at the top of the page "Copy" the url that you got from Safari and hit Load. Once the PDF loads you can hit save and it will save the PDF into the Documents folder in the Application. Now you're good to go because it is saved as a document within the application and on the iPad. The PDF will only be available through the ReaddleDoc application and not iBooks.

 

Anyway, I now have the manuals for my Leica M8, M9, Canon 5D II, 580 EXII, Pocket Wizards Plus, Sekonic Light Meter, etc with me at all time.

 

My next job was searching the iBooks Store, Kindle Reader App, new Borders Books App to download Travel Books of Thailand, maps of Bangkok, not to mention magazines and books for pleasure all in on slender device that slips in the rear zippered pocket of my camera bag so that the info is always with me along with my kit. All of which I can access without an internet connection, just a charged battery.

 

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[stuny]

William -

 

I'll be sending your post to Barbara so she can do likewise with her iPad. You might want to read her Thailand trip notes on our site (plus notes on other Southeast Asian countries if you're going there, too).

[koray]

Sorry, but I couldn't resist:

 

564 words worth of instructions on how to display pdf files on iPad?

 

Ridiculous, I mean, is it that bad?..

 

And why do you need user manuals when you are travelling, anyway?

 

K.

[krandall]

Some other don't-miss spots in Thailand are Khao Yai National Forest, Si Phangna National Forest and Khao Sok National Park. Both of these latter are on the penninsula, just north of Phuket. Although Phuket is the big tourist destination, I don't like it... it's very crowded. We just fly into the Phuket airport, (flights are cheap, and you don't have to arrange them ahead of time... the planes are never filled) get our car and drive off the island.

 

The best beaches, IMO, are in the Khao Lak area, just north of Phuket. This area was pretty much destroyed by the tsunami, but has been beautifully rebuilt. Si Phangna is less than an hours ride from the Khao Lak beaches, as are a number of other picturesque waterfalls and small, but impeccably maintained temples. The Krabi area has beautiful beaches too, but the area is more upscale, and a lot more expensive. There are fun hot springs around Krabi too.

 

Khao Yai is east of Bangkok, about 3 hours away by car. The wildlife is spectacular, as is the scenery. North of Bangkok, but an easy drive, is Ayutthaya, ruins of the ancient capital of Thailand... well worth a visit. Nakhon Pathom is the largest Chedi in the world, and sits about an hour west of Bangkok. It is an impressive Chedi, but unfortunately, they have been working on the gold leaf of the dome for a number of years now, (with no end in sight) and the dome is completely surrounded by scaffolding.

 

There are beautiful temples ALL over Bangkok. Don't miss the Royal Palace, but other favorites of mine are the Golden Mount Temple (beautiful views from above the city) and the Marble Temple.

 

If you can, try to fly out on a Sunday or Monday so that you can visit the amazing Chatuchuk weekend open-air market. Wait to buy your souvenirs here... you can get ANYTHING, the prices are good, and there are several places within the market where you can have things shipped home for reasonable prices.

 

If you have the time, it's also very beautiful going west from Bangkok past Kanchanaburi and up toward Three Pagoda Pass. (Myanmar border) lots of pretty country and another nice national forest that way.

 

Bangkok itself is an amazing city, but there is SO much more to Thailand that I hate to spend too much time there. I've spent a fair amount of time there, and have yet to explore the northern part of the country. I wouldn't drive in Bangkok if my life depended on it, but if you don't mind getting used to driving on the right hand side, outside the city, the roads are quite good. It really helps to have a good "spotter" in the right hand seat to help at intersections until you are used to "wrong side driving". If you drive, pick up a "Roadway" atlas at a gas station... it's the only decent set of maps you'll find. I know people who have tried renting GPS's with their cars, but they have the same mistakes on them that the atlas does, and you have to give them back.<g>

 

The people in Thailand are warm and welcoming. We asked before taking photos, and were rarely turned down. The only exceptions were little girls, who are exceedingly shy. Even with parental permission, you have to really catch them unaware, or they just hide from you! We also went FAR off the beaten "tourist track", and still always found someone willing to help us if we could get our needs across. Almost all younger people speak some English. In the tourist areas, many also speak German. The older people in rural areas usually speak no English, and a phrase book might not help, because they might not be able to read Thai either. So plan plenty of time to find a guest house (which are an incredibly good value, clean, and much more fun than generic, western-style hotels) before dark, when you can still get help if you need it!

 

Have a great time. I'm heading to Taiwan this fall, but kind of wish I was going back to Thailand... especially after talking about it again. It's a magical country!

 

Karen

[wparsonsgisnet]

William, the pic says it all: you have the correct cover for the iPad.

 

This cover, which Apple cannot keep in stock and I had to order online, protects the screen, makes a stand for easy reading, and weighs just about nothing.

 

My only regret upon receiving this cover is that I had to retire the hot pink surround cover my wife was using.

 

This device is a brilliant tool.

 

Of course, since I am not allowed access to it, I cannot use is in this manner.

[dennersten]

Thanks for a great tip!

[Guest WPalank]

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564 words worth of instructions on how to display pdf files on iPad?

 

Ridiculous, I mean, is it that bad?..

 

K.

 

Yeah, unfortunately with the first iteration of the device and software Apple made it near impossible to access or read a PDF. Many thought it was a way of getting people to buy their software "Pages". Off Topic but you still can't delete any photos that you download directly off the iPad. You have to sync with your computer.

 

The technique I outlined above using iBook and iTunes just became available 3 weeks ago and many people are still unaware how to accomplish it but the end result of having the PDFs lined up on a bookshelf when using the device is very Apple like.

 

 

And why do you need user manuals when you are travelling, anyway?

 

K.

 

Not so much for my M system but definitely the three different Canon bodies that I own.

 

Also, this will be my first time traveling into the back country of Burma with a smaller lighting system, kind of a Strobist ghetto system. Which means I will be using two Canon flashes with Pocket Wizards fully Manual. Increasing and decreasing output, increasing and decreasing zoom to decrease hot-spotting on the soft-box, getting the two strobes to play nice, yes, I need a manual to review as there is about 5 buttons you need to push in unison to utilize any of the functionalities above.

 

I'd have no problems with a heavy Profoto System but it's just that, heavy. Hard to get large boxes in a tricycle rickshaw in the Burmese countryside.

 

And the Sekonic meter which fires the pocket Wizards......

 

Karen and Stu,

Thanks so much for the Thailand tips.

This will be my second trip there. I will have to stay a couple of days in Bangkok while I wait for the Burmese militia to hopefully OK my Visa.

 

Karen I've been to Chatachuk and it's great. Anthony Zimmer does a show on the Travel network called "Bizarre Foods" where he eats everything. In Bangkok he referenced a food market in Bangkok where all the chefs buy their seafood and it's open at 3AM. Any idea where that is located?

 

Bill,

Yes it is a great device!

[AMinSF]

Hi, new guy here. Just wanted to let everyone know that there is an easier way to get PDFs on the iPad: simply dowload them to your pc or Mac, then email them to yourself as attachments. In your iPad email, press and hold on your attachment icon and a box shows up, giving you the option to save it. I use the latest version of iBooks, which saves the PDF similar to books. iBooks is also a good way to browse large PDF files IMO. Haven't tried this with amazon kindle app, but that may work as well.

 

This is how I now read my d-lux3 manual- via iBooks!

[koray]

Have a safe trip, then! Keep snapping! :-)

 

K.

 

PS: Did you see Sony PRS-300 Pocket Ereader? It goes on for weeks without charging. You might consider dropping one in your bag for an effortless reading experience! Oh and really light weight.

[stuny]

Bill-

 

Check our site for Barbara's trip notes on Myanmar.

[krandall]

Karen and Stu,

Thanks so much for the Thailand tips.

This will be my second trip there. I will have to stay a couple of days in Bangkok while I wait for the Burmese militia to hopefully OK my Visa.

 

Karen I've been to Chatachuk and it's great. Anthony Zimmer does a show on the Travel network called "Bizarre Foods" where he eats everything. In Bangkok he referenced a food market in Bangkok where all the chefs buy their seafood and it's open at 3AM. Any idea where that is located?

 

I'd love to do Myanmar too, but haven't had the time yet. (although, ethnically, the people up along the border near Three Pagoda Pass ARE Burmese)

 

Not sure if it's the same market Zimmer was talking about, but there is a huge fish market (where you can buy fresh or cooked stuff) right down near the river... close to where the water taxis pick people up for the canals. there is some tourist traffic there, but it seems to be mostly local commuters who use that area, so maybe that's it?

[PakornW]

 

Karen I've been to Chatachuk and it's great. Anthony Zimmer does a show on the Travel network called "Bizarre Foods" where he eats everything. In Bangkok he referenced a food market in Bangkok where all the chefs buy their seafood and it's open at 3AM. Any idea where that is located?

 

 

Talad Talay Thai (Thai Ocean Market) in Samut Sakorn just an hour west of Bangkok

 

Check this out just look down at the bottom of the page there is a google map for that location

 

http://www.moohin.com/trips/samutsakhon/seathaimarket/

 

 

*add google Translate

 

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moohin.com%2Ftrips%2Fsamutsakhon%2Fseathaimarket%2F

[krandall]

Thanks! I tucked this away for future reference!

 

Karen

[wparsonsgisnet]

I have done the same. Many thanks, William and Amin.

[Guest WPalank]

Thanks PakornW,

That looks like a great spot!

 

I went to the Bizarre Foods website and the one Andrew visits is called "Khlong Toei Market".

File:Klong Toey Market Bangkok.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

PakomW, do you have any pull at this place? Only has two tables in the middle of another market and you eat what he serves you. Evidently a Chinese millionaire (rags to riches) that just wants to cook.

 

Jok's Kitchen

23 Soi Isara Nuphap Thanon Phlab Phla Chai Chinatown, Bangkok

 

"Even the biggest celebrities have to wait in line to get a table at this restaurant. Try the fried gingko nuts, pig stomach, sea cucumber soup, tea-smoked duck, and crab claws."

[PakornW]

Klong tuey market is almost right in the city of Bangkok. Just take Subway called MRT get of at Queen Sirikit Convention station walk about 2-3 block, very easy to goto. You better planed to be there early morning for best activity and light. Get to KLong Tuey first, you might have better photogenic environment than Taley Thai

 

About the restaurant you mention, I heard of it but never have the chance to visit, so no comment there, if remember correctly the chef was working at very old famous restaurant.

[leicashot]

Good advice and post, but I'd probably advise most people to read the manuals before embarking on any trips or outings with their camera(s) ;-)

[thompsonkirk]

Bon voyage, William, & I look forward to seeing your posts & prints when you return.

 

Kirk

[Guest WPalank]

Good advice and post, but I'd probably advise most people to read the manuals before embarking on any trips or outings with their camera(s) ;-)

Agreed but please tell me how to set zoom on a 580ex II from the default 24mm to 50mm step by step without looking at the manual. Button by button....

Now using the same rule, tell me how to fire it fully manual, first setting it to 1/3 stop increments and then let's fire it at 2 stops. Again, looking at the manual would be cheating.

 

 

Bon voyage, William, & I look forward to seeing your posts & prints when you return.

 

Kirk

 

Thanks Kirk,

I leave in abbot two weeks.

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Hallo,

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[Guest WPalank]

Klong tuey market is almost right in the city of Bangkok. Just take Subway called MRT get of at Queen Sirikit Convention station walk about 2-3 block, very easy to goto. You better planed to be there early morning for best activity and light. Get to KLong Tuey first, you might have better photogenic environment than Taley Thai

 

About the restaurant you mention, I heard of it but never have the chance to visit, so no comment there, if remember correctly the chef was working at very old famous restaurant.

 

Thanks again PakornW.