Taipei - National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall

Guards in the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall.

Taipei - National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall

Our first few days in Taipei was sort of dampened by the occasional showers. However while we were making our way up the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall, I noticed at the joints of the steps, little plants. They looked very fresh because of the rain drops on the leaves. Water on the ground makes the scene complete with contrasting reflections both from the leaves and the sky.

At the point of time when I bent down to take a shot of the plant, I can sense many eyes looking at me and wonder what on earth I am doing... I know I just noticed something so natural and beautiful but so easy to miss. That little plant made my day.

Taipei - National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall

One of our first tour around Taipei was the National Taiwan Democracy Memorial Hall. The most impressive was not really the building. It was how guards were deployed to guard the statue of of the former president Chiang Kai-Shek.

Anyway, back to photography... I observed that many tourist took photos of the magestic building. And in the internet you will find countless similar shots of the same building with some variations of its perspective depending on where they were at the time the shot was taken.

I decided that that was pretty boring. So I focused on the beautiful blooms as the foreground and took at shot with the building as the backdrop. Well, I think I can still appreciate the beauty of the building without a somewhat common perspective taken by most photographers.

Taipei - Sashimi!

This is my share of sashimi. Huge thick slices of tuna and salmon.
Nice color. Good to eat too.

Droooooooool....

Taipei - Ximending

Somewhere tucked around Ximending was an exhibition on arts and films. This very old calculator was on display.

Urinal @ The Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 3

Wonder if you have heard this phrase 'We aim to please, you aim please'. This phrase is directed only to male users. Male toilet users. Male toilet urinal users to be more precise. I guess the designer for this urinal understood how very 'well' a man uses the urinal.

I think the image of the 'housefly' as a target on the wall explains how much fun one would have while... pissing. =)

Fire-Extinguisher @ The Singapore Airport Terminal 3

Hsinying went to the toilet before we made our way to the boarding gate to Taipei this June.

I was waiting outside the men's toilet and found the fire-extinguisher amusing as it just looked like a red-bodied bird with a very weird round beak facing the wall. It looked pretty angry too. Just then Hsinying walked out of the toilet. I did thought of taking a photo of her coming out of the toilet as part of the photo story board for our trip to Taipei.

The fire-extinguisher as the foreground immediately became the most desirable foreground. I've decided to focus on the fire-extinguisher instead. 'Ahem...'

Kuala Lumpur - Palace of the Golden Horses (2009)

That was my tradition toast ordered from Old Town Coffeeshop. Quite crispy and tasty.

Very photogenic too. =)

Kuala Lumpur - Palace of the Golden Horses (2009)

I think we should be in Times Square in Kuala Lumpur... (?) or another shopping mall?
Anyway, had coffee in Old Town Coffeeshop and traditional toasts. And walked around in the lobby and coincidentally was an exhibition of Mazda cars. Then maybe I thought I should fill in the lens with some of those logos and signs.

Partial close-up showing the yellow lit sign-board and subsequently the brightly lit Mazda logo makes a nice photo composition. Don't really need to have everything in all the time...

Kuala Lumpur - Palace of the Golden Horses (2009)

Magpies basking in the warm morning sun.

Fire Hydrant @ BBSS

It was one of those lazy hot June holidays afternoon after an entire day of D&T coursework consultation with some of my graduating students. I was in my car about to drive off from the first lot and noticed a very capturable context. A bright red fire hydrant basking in the foreground with bright red sun-shades decorating the Design and Technology workshop. The sky color was also wonderful.