Dandenong In The Mist

Melbourne Night Noodles Markets

Melbournians enjoying a messy rain-soaked taste of asia.. Melbourne Night Noodle Markets 2013

His eyes tells a story

A young foreign worker, possibly from Bangladesh, has just arrived in Malaysia and on his way to the city of Kuala Lumpur where employment awaits (hopefully). Throughout the bus journey, he stares out of the bus window with such pensive eyes... as if contemplating what the future holds for him.

Personal Top 10 for 2012

Bukit Tabur, Selangor, Malaysia

Penguin Island, WA, Australia

Caversham Wildlife Park, WA, Australia

Tambun, Perak, Malaysia

Sherbrooke, Victoria, Australia

Mount Buller, Victoria, Australia

Lake Eildon, Victoria, Australia

Lake Eildon, Victoria, Australia

Logan Bay, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia 

Gibson Steps, Victoria, Australia

Sherbrooke of Dandenongs

The tall gum trees of Dandenong did not fail to impress... everytime I took a break and looked up, I see them putting up a display of beautiful patterns against the sky.

I enjoyed this particular stretch along Monument trek, I believe the trek was situated at a deeper gully hence there were more moss on decaying trees & thicker ferns lining the path..

Speaking of ferns lining the path - they were everywhere! This particular stretch was along Sherbrooke Hill trek & was made inspiring companion during my hike :)

Home

I snapped this picture in July 2012, and I still remember lamenting how pictures - regardless of how nice they may seem - never will do justice to the actual beauty of the scenery. What you do not feel with this picture is the breeze blowing in your face, what you cannot hear is the rustling of the grass & the dance they perform as they sway. But if anything, looking at this picture serves as a reminder of this beauty, & the feelings invoked are strong. Remindful of how much home truly means.



Where I stood - admiring this view of a calm fish pond, nestled between fruit farms & the gorgeous limestone hills - I felt my breadth taken away. I didn't want to leave - I watched the sun set entirely, I took some pictures, none I felt were good enough to justify the moment I was in. However I know I am fortunate to bear witness to such rare beauty - that much I'm grateful for.

Tioman Island

I join this lady at the back of our ferry to admire the morning sun rising over Tioman Island.

Watching & waiting for the sun to set over the mainland peninsula.

Stumps of young mangrove plants sprouting everywhere near the beach front.

Getting a time-lapse shot of the calm evening sea.

The Mountains of Datuk & Nuang

The barren rocks at the top of Gunung Datuk.

A crowded morning - few groups of school children were climbing with us that day.

Along the hike up to Gunung Nuang via Janda Baik village, lands are cleared by orang asli for agriculture.

Orang asli settlement.

Manual labour. An elderly Indonesian worker carries a hefty basket of four-angled beans to the lorry pick-up point a good distance away.

Perth

A grouchy looking wombat at Caversham Wildlife Park - my favorite shot of the trip! I knew very little about the wombat before this trip, and certainly did not expect it to be as big as a bull-dog in actual size! I remember its sleepy red-eyes following my every movements as I got close to him. The wombat carer said this fella is just a 4 year old teenager, with its grouchy demeanor & sleepy red-eyes ~ it certainly was full of character! I am still amused looking through the photographs now :)

Jogging along Perth's beautiful Swan River - what better way to start your day. The sun illuminated the city skyline & we had the privilege of enjoying the inspiring views & sunrise as we jogged along Swan River.

Took a short drive & ferry ride across to Penguin Island - we chose to explore the island using the well-constructed boardwalks but didn't see many wild penguins (saw just the one!), instead we were squawked at by thousands of gulls who were all ferociously guarding their eggs (it was hatching season!) ~ & it was fantastic being able to get so close to them & taking photos. Picnic lunch couldn't get anymore adventurous as we took shelter inside a cove as the rain had started coming down just as our tummies started growling.. the wife got it right when she said it was such a Nancy Drew setting! :)
 

Bushwalking at Bells Rapids - sadly there weren't any rapids & the river was totally dried up. I learnt it is usually in the winter months when there would be more rain & water flow. Nonetheless the walk was certainly challenging (plus we got a bit lost!) & was a good primer to the flora faunas of Oz (& the intensity of the Ozzie sun!). Our picnic lunch had the perfect setting ~ on some big boulders overlooking Bells Rapids, in the shade & with a lulling & much-needed breeze, and a view of Perth city at a far distance. We later saw our first wild kangaroo as we explored deeper towards Mount Mambup (& it was huge roo!), which without a doubt got our hearts pumping a bit & had been unanimously voted as our first Ozzie moment! :)

Chilling out at King's Park with the locals and tourists - the weather picked up towards the end of the week & we were happy just to spend the afternoon lying on the soft grass & taking in the city view. The skies were gorgeous & we couldn't have asked for a more beautiful wrap-up to our visit to Perth.

The Glorious Sunset of Kota Kinabalu

It's hard to imagine the beautiful sunset of KK is a daily affair, it's no surprise why many wedding photographers are based here in KK! I had the privilege to photograph this glorious vista at the beachfront over Labor Day holidays & I hope the pictures chosen are worthy of its beauty!

Awaiting the sunset..

Rolling skies lighting up as the sun starts to set.. towards the horizon, a light shower from the low hanging clouds adds to the dramatics..

Hues of purple starts to set in not long after, and the sea calms as the tide recedes further.

The final scene sees the skies torching up &  finally consumed by darkness.. this glorious vista knows little parallel in Malaysia.

Ching Ming 2012

The Ching Ming Festival is an opportunity for the Chinese to remember and honour their ancestors. For my family, this means a visit to the ancestral graves, followed by a visit to the temple where grandma's ashes are kept. This year's Ching Ming took place on 1 April in Malaysia and our family observed the same procedures as previous year's.

The young and old with offerings to be burnt in the temple for their ancestors.

A lady reaches out for the Chrysanthemums she left by the window. This building is where ashes of the departed are kept, and whose spiritual presence are believed to reside.

Throngs of visitors share the limited space to place food offerings for their ancestors.

Back from a long day of Ching Ming celebration, father relaxes with his newspaper & is briefly disturbed by a distant thunder. The cool evening rain is a welcome relief after a warm & humid morning.

POTY 2012 (Portrait) - Submissions

These are the pictures I chose to submit for Photoanswers.co.uk's competition for the Portraiture category:

I chanced upon the camel herder and his family on my way back from visiting a sandstone tower called Faisal's Finger in the desert outskirts of Riyadh. Evening was upon us when we drove near a camel herder rounding up his camels for the day. We were greeted kindly & after a brief exchange were asked to stay for some tea & dates with his family (I later learnt of Arab's well-known hospitality!). As we chatted, I asked for a picture of him with his favourite camel, he was more than happy to oblige! Choosing this particular shot, I felt it tells a little bit more of his story, of his children & of the simple happy life they lead. His smiling face will always remind me of the warmth of hospitality & friendship he offered a complete stranger on that faithful evening.

This is Andrew, an avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast, immersing himself in the beautiful scenery of Klang reservoir set against the rugged ridges of Tabur Hill in Malaysia. Nature is where Andrew calls home, and he has been on countless nature expeditions in Malaysia. This particular hike up Tabur hill began in the early hours and the mid-morning light lit up the landscape perfectly as we reached the top. Positioning myself trecherously at the edge of these sharp ridges, I was able to get Andrew against the stunning scenery into this picture. The cloudy sky had some texture which I was able to highlight, & the reservoir was calm & mirror-like and reflected the skies beautifully.

(This pic was not submitted) This is little Ryu Iskandar and he had just gotten into a little tussle with his cousin brother & was upset. He was searching around for his father's comfort but did not know that daddy was away from home for couple of days. I took this shot as he approached me asking where his papa is :)

Prayers

May 2011 - Dad informing my divine protectors through prayers and offerings my status of becoming a 'man' the night before I was married. Details are vague but my parents have sought the help of the Jade Emperor (玉皇大帝) when I was ill as a child. I have since became the 'adopted' child of his divine presence - whereby the protection would end on the day I marry. Such traditional customs still widely practiced amongst Malaysian Chinese.

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Tabur

The crystal quartz ridges of Bukit Tabur overlooking the Klang Gates reservoir - a favourite spot for local hikers. The stunning views has no parallel in this region of Malaysia & the ridges form an extremely unique rugged natural beauty. My personal trips here are always refreshing, sadly it faces threat of housing development as it sits on the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur. If there was one place worth saving from the onslaught of commercial chainsaws - there is little doubt it is this place.

Trail Running

A man called Marvin Skagerberg once said... some days you just have to run in place & wait for the finish line to come to you..

Personally the biggest thrill of trail running is this - it makes running come alive. Being back in nature engages the basic instincts & every step taken brings you closer to nature. To me, trail running is an exciting combination of hiking & running, and for those who have yet to venture into it ~ I urge them to try it out. Prepare well for what the sport requires, take the first step & get ready to set your senses free :)

Taiwan

Dr Sun Yat Sen memorial.. a lady is ready to have her picture taken & waves for her cameraman.

Officer of the memorial urges the crowd to stay back as the guards came through - Dr Sun Yat Sen memorial.

Temple gate of Bao An Gong 保安宫

The scenic Jhuilu trail （锥麓古道） of Taroko Gorge.

The grand blue skies & green mountains of Taroko Gorge.