Water - Life

Flowers - Loved

Flower display

Grasshopper

Got this from the Singapore Botanica Gardens

Ant : Feast!

An ant feasting on scale insects on plant.

Waiting For You

All images available in Hi-Res. Enquire via email.

Cat in Arab Street - 'I'm watching you" =)

Watching you...

Taipei (2009) - Street Night from Taipei 101

Taken from Taipei 101

Taipei (2009) - Temple Mood Shots

Mood shots

Taipei (2009) - Temple Reflection

Temple Reflection from a mini pond

Taipei (2009) - Bookshop in the Evening

Bookshop

Albino Cockroach (2009)

Albino Cockroach in my kitchen. I regretted blasting it with a pest killer. Now its dead. But at least now it is easier to capture it on photo. =)

Bread Crumps

Loved to have coffee and a good company. And the company is my wife. We ordered a traditional toast set that comes with a cup of coffee, two half-boiled eggs, and a traditional bread toast.

The crust was so crispy I dropped them all over the table each time I take a bite. Then I decided that I can make use of the crumps and make something useful. I formed a heart on the table.

As we left our table, we were wondering if the cleaners cleaned it up. We didn't look back...

Taipei (2009) - Night

Shilin Night Market

Taipei (2009) - Scooters - A Rain Shot

Still on scooters (see previous blog entry).

Scooters scooters everywhere. I think I've grown to love taking photographs when or after drizzle.

Unlike taking a shot in daylight which one could leverage on the shadows and its cast angles to create stunning image effects, rain on the other hand, creates a different opportunity. Instead of casting shadows, the water in the surrounding context casts reflections which could be very useful in photograhy.

This shot above, however, could not really demonstrate what I have just said, but you could see the reflections of the scooters on the bottom right of the image. This photo's focus is on the passing vehicles at the background. Thus creating a feel for movement while the scooters are in their stationary position.

Taipei (2009) - Scooters - Naturally Neat

Many things the Taiwanese have normalized and accustomed to to do as society has amazed me. One of the first things I noticed is that stark contrast on how everyone parks their scooters by the road.

It is just amazing. In fact to simply say amazing is an understatement. Why so? It is easier to be neat and to follow public rules for parking when one is not in a rush and when there are ample space to maneuver the bike. The parking lots for scooters (or motocycles) in Taipei are actually quite scarse because of the large number of "scooter'ist" on the road.

Despite the number of riders trying to find a lot even if they have to literally squeeze in between a gap the size of a paper thickness, I've not (yet) caught any parked scooter whose handle is not positioned to the left.

That is not all, this societal rule applies also to bicycles. Amazing isn't it?

Taipei (2009) - National Palace Museum

National Palace Museum under the clear blue sky.

Wild Flower

A digitally modified and enhanced photograph of a wild flower taken many years back.

Taipei (2009) - Shilin Night Market - Kittens for Sale

Shilin Night market has a corner that sells animals and birds of all kinds. Most of them looked very cute and cuddly. Well, of course they have to be otherwise who'd be buying them...

Taipei (2009) - Insects

It was evening time. On our way back to our hostel we came across a fruit stall. We decided to buy some fruits. A flying insect crossed my path and stopped over some pears. Very quickly... and I mean VERY QUICKLY, I snapped a shot of it at rest.

Taipei (2009) - Beef Noodle

Dinner Time! I like the way the guy in yellow looked at the camera. =)

Taipei - Ice Jelly Dessert @ Shilin Night Market

We were at the Shilin Night Market for dinner. Before heading off to soak into the market atmosphere we got ourselves a cool ice jelly dessert. It was really nice. The sight of the bucket full of jelly and floating lime reflecting the ceiling light was even more captivating at least for me.

Taipei (2009) - Black Ball Dessert & Plant on Table

We were at a dessert stall having Mango dessert with Black Balls. Nope I didn't get it wrong. Not black pearls... black balls. Sounds wonky I know. By the way, their website is http://www.blackball.url.tw/.

And every table is decorated with a little potted plant. Refreshing.

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.

Kuala Lumpur - Palace of the Golden Horses (2009)

Lunch time... display by a single stock of rose in a wine glass standing beautifully in the centre of the round meal table. Quite a pleasant sight when there are dozens of rows of tables with a consistent display configurations.

Took a close-up shot from my table. Then realised something missing. I liked the close-up shot very much but somehow it feels dull. Before the second shot, I sprinkled some water extracted from the wine glass and immediately, the pretty rose sprang to live. Now you should understand why florist sprayed their flowers with water and the fruit guy who sprays water on their fruits. To make them look fresh and pleasant.

I proceeded to take another close-up. This time changing the color to setia. =) BEAUTIFUL!!! I LOVE IT. =)

Kuala Lumpur - Palace of the Golden Horses (2009)

Lift Lobby Lighting Display

Every lift lobby was decorated elegantly with displays like photograph shown above. Warm lightings were used to create a very warm environment.

The potted Orchid plant tastefully placed in the middle give the Victorian theme a tint of Chinese. Very unique combination.

Kuala Lumpur - Palace of the Golden Horses (2009)

Bedside Table Lamp: Bronze horse

(Close-up shot taken diagonally up from the floor)

Table Lamp: Bronze horse

Some where in the hotel which I forgot where...

(Close-up shot taken diagonally up from the floor)

We were at the Palace of the Golden Horses in Kuala Lumpur for our annual church camp this year. Someone asked the receptionist how many horses are there hotel and there are 8888 of them. '8' is an auspicious number for Chinese.

There were many horse figurines within and outside the hotel. But I can't find any 'gold' ones though.

Hong Kong Relaxed (2007)

That is my wife relaxing while reading a magazine and me sipping coffee and looking out for nice shooting perspectives. This final image concludes the series of Hong Kong trip photos.

Coming up next:

A selection of ARPC Church Camp Photos 2009.

Followed by 'Holiday in Taipei' Photos taken in June 2009...

Hope you enjoyed my photos so far.

Hong Kong Ocean Park (2007)

It was Christman period when we were in Hong Kong. The Ocean park wasn't spared with beautiful Christmas decorations that caught my eyes with the brightly colored bear and snowman figures in stark contrast to the greens from the background.

The entire context soothes the eye and creates an unparalleled tranquility.