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.

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.

2011－合艾 3天2夜 1

久违了的泰国合艾，那一个曾几何时我经常去的地方 。可以第一次的和 一班友人开心的畅游合艾是多么的难得。三天两夜的行程是排的满满的，同行的有Asha, Nathaneal, 淑蕙和母亲，小弟和女友共7人。 在清晨时分行驶过槟威大桥，天渐渐的亮了，橙红色的街灯，车灯和远处的灯火完美的点缀了迷蒙的宝蓝色天空。车子开上大桥时的那一段路，平静的海面，带有神秘感的晖映了街灯和大桥中央结构的灯光点缀。车子一路的开往泰国的方向，沿路经过了美丽的稻田， 这个季节，田园中均是绿油油的稻田。 阳光耀眼的带出了稻田的生气，青葱草绿的，仿佛是呆在冷气车子里也可以闻到清新的春天带有的独特气息。

进三个小时的路程，我们终于到了这个有一个小时时差的美丽国度。过了关口，见到的是孑然不一样的风景。在过了关口的第一个小镇是一个叫Sadao的地方，我们一路的往前奔驶，一片片的橡胶园由我们的两旁飞闪而过。透过车上的窗，见到了当地人逍遥淳朴的风情和友善的笑容。在车里，我们讨论了泰语的文字，感觉像是得从右边给读起的，也发现了他们的文字，没有如英语般的每一个字都有空格， 感觉一口气念完整个句子很有可能会断气。 谈谈笑笑的就到了合艾我们降下塌的酒店。Rado Hotel，就坐落在与BP Grand Hotel的同一条街道上。 非常靠近市中心 ，一条街直走就可以到达Lee Garden Plaza和 Central Shopping Mall。在酒店登记后，我们就开始外出吃午餐。 眼光明媚的合艾可以说是和天气预测差个十万八千里，当时的曼谷可是深陷在大雨和洪水灾的恶劣情况，难得的我们在雨季的合艾可以见到蓝天白云，让我们不舍得就这样的躲在室内里购物，所以决定了户外活动。午餐后，我们就在街上截了一辆TukTuk，经过讨价还价后，司机同意以一人50Baht的价钱接送我们来回到邻近的卧佛寺（Wat Hat Yai Nai）。给人和槟城卧佛寺有着不一样的感觉的卧佛寺， 是个开放式的寺庙。虽然没有槟城卧佛寺那么的堂皇但是这35米长的卧佛却给人一种心灵自然的平静。之后我又和司机商量以便宜的价钱接送我们到近卧佛寺的其他寺庙，善良的司机后来决定了以100Baht／人的载送到另外两间的寺庙。当然他也不忘在我和他讨价还价时取笑我说遇见他是我们大家幸运，我也不忘作弄他说你遇见我们才是你幸运呢！回程，见到了美丽的田园景色，矮矮的稻米未到成熟时，淡淡的绿色，外加路上车子行驶过飞上来的尘土，别有一番风味。到了酒店门口，给了司机钱，向他道谢的当儿也不忘祝福他顺风（泰语：chuk dee)。 在父亲还在世的时候，我没有好好的向他学泰语，只是听了学了一点简单的单字， 和学了一点当地的文化，所以只会有限的单字。

休息了一下， 我们就正式的投入购物天堂合艾的怀抱。 难得的我们选的来的日子是泰国水灯节(Loy Krathong)， 所以傍晚时分就到一间近河流的庙宇去放水灯许愿，并且让水灯把厄运都带走。 另外水灯也是用来答谢水神的祭品。 一般水灯的价钱为30－60baht，一些比较特别的水灯就有不一样的价钱。水灯的基座一般为香蕉叶和香蕉树干。拿着自己选了的水灯，点上了水灯里的蜡烛和香，走到河边，在满月的加持下，在河里的泰国小男孩接过了水灯就帮你把水灯放到河中央，让河流把水灯带走。放了水灯， 在那 庙宇两旁似庙会的庆典小摊子，卖了各式各样的小食。 我们胆粗粗的试了香脆蚱蜢外加好多的小食。

过完水灯节的放水灯仪式， 我们回到了市区，又继续了我们的购物。 夜里，大家都熟睡到像婴儿般，可谓真的是累坏了。也许，大家都真正的放松了，放开了都市的烦恼也放开了平日的担忧。

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