X'mas 2013

Christmas breeze of Straits Quay, Penang

It is again the last month of the year. While am still struggling with my own dilemma, Christmas breeze is already in action. Christmas carol and decorations reminded the beautiful Christmas moment I had in Europe and US. The smell of Christmas, the air filled with cold breeze and Christmas. What a wonderful time I had.

Seeing all these Christmas themed decorations in shopping malls have once again waken up the inner Xmas spirit of mine. Maybe I should focus more on Xmas rather than seeing it as the end of a year. To be honest, I am scared and worried. Time flies and I don't seem to have the courage to look back what I have achieved in the past 11 months.

Sunset 夕阳

Sunset is one of my favourite moments.

Vibrant, colourful and mystic. 

It is like the stage curtain, gradually veil the day, putting an end to it. 

Then, the nightfall kick in. 

With less energy, nevertheless more peaceful and serene.

羞涩妩媚的夕阳，曾经那么的耀眼，转眼却无尽忧伤。

美丽的夕阳， 带有无尽的色彩。

耀眼的光波，

残阳， 依旧泛着金光。

静懿却不乏温馨。

直肠子

弯弯曲曲的道路， 九曲十八弯， 不是我这直肠子的那一杯茶。

自己原本就比较直肠子。

因为觉得抱着这样的态度，

看开一点， 活得坦坦荡荡，

生活也许会简单一点。

摩擦

The sunset at Pantai Pasir Panjang, January 2013. 夕阳， 金光闪闪。

人与人之间， 总会有不断的矛盾， 有解不开的疑问， 没有道理的事情发生。直到我们都累了， 不爱去计较了，问题却还是会源源不绝的来。凡是在生活上有交叉的人， 就有机会发生摩擦，避也避不了， 除非是完全和你不相干的人。 
面对这样的问题， 伤心也好， 失落也罢。 最重要的莫过于伤心失落后从新的站起来， 那就已经是最大的成就了。

Crossing from 2012 to 2013

365 days. Some bad days and some good days in between. On the new year eve, i continued my last year tradition of writing an email to thank someone who have been helping me so much in everything in my life. Made creme caramel and tea to celebrate my new year eve, sitting on the cold tile of my balcony floor, caressing by the cooling breeze, sipping hot tea and sharing my thoughts with my late father. Miss him so much on that cold night, when fireworks were blasting here and there in my sight. I recollected the first time this type of gigantic fireworks being introduced to "normal residents", around 8-9 years back which my neighbourhood was just started to taste its sweetness. Me and my father would walk around to hunt for its glory lights. 

After his leaving, fireworks reminded me of him every time when i see one. Especially during the festive season of new year and Chinese New Year. On year 2011, i was so blessed to have a once in a life time chance (to me it was) to visit US with my granny and uncle's family. Witnessed the most glorious enchanting and magical fireworks I could ever imagined in Disneyland in Anaheim, California. Yesterday, on the new  year eve, from the other end of my building, the bomb-blastic sound some fireworks caught my attention. So i went with camera, and managed to capture one photo. Very soon, after the building opposite is up. I will lose the chance of seeing such beautiful fireworks from there. Well, we all have to move on. 

2012 had been a good year to me when I try to only look a the bright side and ignore the bad. Many wonderful and memorable moments I had. I feel that, I kind of lost my impatience little by little too. Grateful and wishing to have another "enchanting" year. 

First photo of the year 2013. Bomb-blastic fireworks. Sign of the coming bombastic year? Let us all wish for that.

Little bit of everything, December 2012

My December was filled with LOVE. Started with attending a very blessed and blissful friend's engagement, next the Winter Solstice with glutinous rice balls in Almond Milk and last but not least, the Christmas dinner hosted by my sister in law.

What can you ask for more when you life is on and off filled with LOVE from friends and family. Put away the worries, the stress, the unwanted and plunge into pool of happiness while you still can. My best wishes to everyone. Keep smiling and life may magically become better. 

With lots of love.

夜晚

很多时候， 某位在我们生命中曾经熟悉的人，会在一夕间，成为了陌生人。

也许， 他们的出现，是让我们明白到待人处事的大道理。

也许， 他们的出现， 是让我们更了解人性的弱点。

也许，  他们的出现，是为了让我们在受到伤害后， 懂得振作起来。

白天， 在人群里， 人与人之间里奋斗。

夜里，我们只想要静下来， 然后放松自己，放空自己的脑袋。

这样的夜晚， 还真不容易实现。

合艾水上市场篇

合艾的水上市场， 不像曼谷著名的水上市场般的闻名，也不太一样。据我所知， 曼谷的水上市场是顾客和小贩都在流动的小舟上的，合艾的却是小贩门在小舟上，在河岸旁，固定小舟，然后在小舟上贩卖各种特色小食。第一次见识到这一类型的贩卖方式， 真的很有意思。 小食大致上都经济， 而特别的是那里用来盛面，米粉类食品的容器均是瓦作成的， 品尝完了后， 还可以把那容器带回做纪念。用来装饮料的却是瓦类和竹子， 就连吸管也是竹子。 喝起来还真的别有一番风味。

合艾是去年年尾去的。这一篇却一直都没有发布。

人来人往， 来来往往

平静的倒映在水面上

那一时刻的美丽，

足以令人屏息。

荷塘 倩影

Beautiful Water Lily with lovely reflection at Penang Botanical Garden

Calming scenery at Penang Botanical Garden. Greenery scene, spiced up by colourful flowers blossom. 

I was hoping to have some fresh air but sad, the air there, was somehow lost its freshness, with people smoking there.

Even they grow in muddy water, lilies always rise without being "stained" or "polluted"

Nowadays, it is so hard to be un-stained and un-polluted by the social sickness.

Pearl of Orient-Georgetown 1

Temple of Goddess of Mercy-Beauty of Georgetown, Penang

Little walk in Georgetown the other day, enjoyed even walking under hot sun. Georgetown is a city with soul. Wherever you look, you have to look with your heart to feel its true beauty.

在繁华的都市里， 还是有一偶， 呈现着最纯朴的一面。
年轻的一辈， 把空闲的时间都花在了虚拟的世界里。
唯独在这古迹区里， 大家放慢了生活的脚步。
细细的， 就如品茗般，
感受纯朴真实的一面。

Conference ++

Crystal Mosque at Kuala Terengganu- Photo taken with phone.

NOTE: Conference ++ bears the meaning of attending conference as the major purpose but with fun and pleasure activities which are indicated by the ++ sign.

One of the greater event of July will be the conference attending at Kuala Terengganu. Bus left from Sungai Nibong, Penang on Sunday night at 9, arrived Kuala Terengganu at 5 in the morning. Lazed around lobby of Ri-yaz Heritage Marina Resort and Spa, enjoyed the breath-taking dawn. We checked in the chalet style room, with 2 deluxe single bed and a beautiful verandah.

I went to conference registration, got my kit and name was called by someone i know. Then i headed back to room, and had a power nap. It was feeling so great as we were all worn out by the long bus journey. We had some food at the verandah restaurant at the hotel, then headed for our little town sight seeing, which was the ++ part of the journey.

We left our shoes prints on Chinatown, He An Gong (Chinese Temple), floors of Pasar Payang, Bazaar Warisan, Kubu Puteri, Masjid Abidin Kuala Terengganu, and the promenade outside of Istana Maziah on our very first day in Kuala Terengganu.

The next day morning, we attended few sessions of the conference, then continued with out ++ program. Destination: Pantai Batu Burok. We spent time-stopping moments there, sitting on the observation tower on the beach, fully enjoyed ourselves with what ever happened on the beach as we had the perfect view of the coastline. Fish throwing accident, voice-over story making were the highlights of the day. That night, we wondered around town on foot, for nearly 4km. Great experience.

The last day in Kuala Terengganu, I had my presentation on the first session of the day. Less than the given time (8mins) i finished presenting. The chairperson said that its timely presentation, i take it as a compliment though. We checked out the hotel, packed and ready for the very last adventure of the town. We went to experience Batik painting, boat making workshop, Floating Mosque of Kuala Terengganu, Crystal Mosque, again market in the town, followed by durian fest given by our lovely guides. We were on board of our chariot at 9pm, and arrived at Sungai Nibong, the next day morning around 5.

An eye opening experience i would say. I got to learn a lot. Will never forget it.

Mystic Side in Everyone's Heart.

Everyone has a mystic side deep down under in their heart. Picture taken at Pantai Pasir Panjang.

We struggle in this world to live a so called "better" life which no one actually knows what is better. It is just a relatively speaking concept. We do not know what is ahead, but we keep faith and thinking that all will be better later, better from present. We live on faith and hope. Big possibility that that are the reason that human still being able to think creatively and innovatively even after millions of disasters happened to mankind.

We live, we struggle, we hide, we cry, we avoid, we do whatever we able to think of just to feel "better". Whatever way you are using when dealing with life its your own mystic story engraved in your heart.

Sunrise

Sunrise near Jerejak Jetty,Penang bridge on the left, a part of Jerejak Island on the right.

With hue and shinning sun as the center of attention.

Taken at Penang-18 February 2012

After encountering the beautiful sunset, next challenge, okay sort of a challenge is the sunrise. Sunset requires a long exposure time with high aperture value, am happy my camera was still be able to provide F8.0. For sunrise that is complete different story as i have to limit the exposure time by changing the ISO and Aperture Value..Which was kind of hard as i had no prior experience.

Well, woke up early morning for the sunrise, hoping to capture it's beauty is a challenge. The twilight, followed by peeping sun, then the rising sun. Everything happened in a split moment. That's why capturing it's beauty is very hard.

I enjoy the ambush of the sun...It is indeed inspiring.

Sunset

Sunset at Pantai Pasir Panjang, Balik Pulau.

In love with a place, a place where you can actually see the sun goes down the horizon leaving beautiful hue. Went for the sunset solely on Chap Go Meh and ended my Chinese New Year celebration with colours.

Kek Lok Si Temple

Kek Lok Si Temple, The goddess of Mercy

Visited Kek Lok Si Temple during Chinese New Year the second time. The first time was 2 years back. This year was the first time ever for me to reach the hill top Goddess of Mercy Statue at night. Serene and beautiful with the magic touch of lights.

Traffic was not surprisingly heavy, as expected. The lights worth the waiting though. As each each year there is some new elements introduced.

Lights in Kek Lok Si, on 3rd Feb 2012

Love

Love is everywhere, even it's in our ordinary ice lemon tea.
Photos taken at Khaleel, Gurney Drive on 24 July 2011, during a sight seeing trip with Parveen, Hassan, Asha, and Prof. Sultan

Test shot-Night

Test shot again with LX3 + UV filter. It was taken around 8.25pm today. Love the view where the dark clouds were sort of hovering that area with magical enchanted blue sky as background.

Lx3 with filters test shot.

Test shot 1 with UV+ ND + PL filter on my cilantro

Test shot with UV filter and PL filter at night.

Camera accessories

Bought some accessories for my LX3.



These are how my LX3 looks like after using the UV PL filter and lens adapter.


This was what my LX3 looks like before accessories.

City in B&W photobook

I made another photobook today with all the dynamic black and white photos that i took during my visit to Singapore on February.

I am thinking about making some other photobook for trips that i have made.
Or can be downloaded at the following link.
The photobook can be downloaded HERE