Birthday 2009

First of all, i must thank you all for the well-wishes and the 'i still remember u, and u getting older' sms-es :P And of coz, for those who forget i guess u were just too busy, ain't u, so let's be forgiving too ..... it's the Christmas spirit after all.

A recollection of the year long event, i definitely have been shooting photos much much lesser for this year. The start of the year was a blast.... photos taking was still going strong, work was getting heavier but colleagues are fun. Things started to turn for ups and down since March when i started to plan for the next career move which ended up in two splits. Yet, the most memorable part would be the trips to Cameron Highlands which basically sum up the mood for the first part of the year.

The second half can only be described as disaster. The first 3 months was a dry-spell for my camera which turn dusty. Next was the lens selling and equipment selling..... Next was for my circle of frens. Two best words to descibe is 'busy' and 'anti-social'. My weekends are just filled to the brim (or thrash?). The last straw came in when i couldn't even take the word 'trust' (can't describe too much here, as it's a public thread with lot's of counts). Life lessons learnt the hard way... Countless thoughts pondering over the last two months. Something strange happen, as stress became unbearable. I always dreamt of my secondary school time, where i woke up with feeling of regrets, and wishing i could done have something more. On the other hand, those were the few years cointaining the best memories of my life (they do say subconscious say a lot more truth). Maybe, i do feel regret for not having enuf fun back then ;P

Looking forward, this year was more of a cooldown, rather than a showdown. Spending alone on this day is something that i dun really forward to and this worsen by the fact that i need to go back to work. I can't actually remember a year where i wouldn't have taken leave, or somehow skip to make sure i got a nice day :P (evil as it may seem). Somehow i'm grateful that my family is around me (even if they not too keen in celebration). And of coz for frens who remember is something that i cherish, especially on this period of 'not so good' time.

Looking forward, Christmas gathering, upcoming buffet and feast was the usual. Logcakes, human traffic and the jammed at city area ...is something else. I do hope things will turn a bit better. The Myanmar trip seems to cheer me up for a while, and bringing me a few points. Well, of cox this also implies certain changes i would make in the near future (rather than those pointless new year wishes). As follows,

1) Sad but true, there's seems to be negligence in me in time planning for social, fren, important ppl. Managing was something that i fare worst....
2) There so many things pending on my to-do list (it's time to sort it out)
3) Certain things are better keep, than say.
4) If there's things that ought to be risk, take a calculative one.
5) When things are too uncertain, it's best to take a break.

and it's time to take a good sleep..........

Myanmar 2009

This is probably one of the trip that i enjoyed the most, minus the hot weather and the sudden cold. Anyway, it's such a good experience that i probably may go there again. So let's start with some of the place that i went there....

Day 1


yeah...window seat :) flying to yangon



Yangon Streets....



Most buildings were antique



The first temple we visited.....



Shwedagon Pagoda



One of the most scenic we seen...

Most of the these stupa are gold plated and it's just shine damn brightly in the morning. Well visited so many temples, monastery that we nearly lost count. But it's sure a lot of stupa throughout the country. Other than the stupa, the streets were pretty old and due to lack of electricity, the nights are fill with noise of generators. The food was nice overall ;) (mostly sweet, sour, spicy)


Day 2

We wake up like 6am in the morning rushing for our flight from Yangon-Bagan with a stopver at mandalay (not a direct flight). There's just so much rumours over the safety of domestic flight i was wondering if it gonna..... well, i'm still alive ;) hahaah.... and u hearing me rumbling.

The markets were filled with ppl trying to sell u stuff at high price considering u the tourist. If u like something bargain for it. And have small change ready cox they may not have enuf change. Best part ? They went off looking for change for u ....and they lost their way never to come back ...so a piece of woodware for US50 ? ... haha.. (not everyone does that, but just in case)

Bagan is famous for it's stupa...and u see tons of it, gold-coated or ancient. :)


Yangon airways ... one of the better flights available there....



We went to the local market



All sorts of stuff u can imagine (except for the things that i can buy back)



One of the grand stupa in Bagan....



Gold leaves .... (yes, it's leaves)


Standing buddha (there's a set of 4) with different hand position



Irrawady river....



Having my lunch here ;)



Lacquerware (traditional craft)



Lot's of stupa...



Overlooking Bagan...



Sunset.....


Day 3

Walking early morning around 6am again ...yawnz..to catch the sunrise. Not disappointing at all :)


Hot air ballon for roughly US250 per pax, pretty expensive.


And off we fly to Mandalay.....

Mahagandayon Monastery



7 layers of gold...(can't remember if it's Manuha Pagoda)
(skip this place if u can) - bad experience
2 reasons - i was keep pestering for donation and they charge hefty price of US2 for camera fees.. (best part- they keep fuzzing over us not paying the fees)



Kuthodaw Pagoda (the largest book ) :P literally



Mandalay Hill

Day 4
Took a boat trip (1 hour) to Mingun for a short walk. The first visit was to a ruin site due to earthquake. It's suppose to be a very huge temple but the construction was stopped after the earthquake.



Mingun Pagoda



Stairs to go up ...



Stone slabs....



Under the Mingun bell...



U Bein Bridge



Sunset....



Bridges across


Day 5
Flying off from Mandalay to Heho. We were looking forward to Inle lake, a cool lake with good view. Just the coolness is off expectation. It can get pretty chilly in the morning.



Shwe Yan Pye Pagoda


Inle Lake!!


Our resort....



Fisherman...


Silk weaving workshop



Traditional way...



Colouring....



Lot's of work.....the process



The workshop-silk making



Making iron tools....



Traditional tribes.....



Tobacco.....



Rolling up the tobacco...



Lakeside.....

Day 6

Wake up for an early morning shoot......

Sunrise

The resort....

Early morning....heading out.....

Fisherman at work



Net catching....



Original Shan-style stupa



More gold-coated type



We going up there...... tiring......


Some villages....



On top of the hill......



Back to our boat......


Day 7

Most of the time was spending for transportation. We spend an hour getting back to our resort after visiting the market, then went over for lunch and another hour ride back to the port. After that, time were spent some time for transfer to airport and then flying back to Yangon. By the time we reach Yangon it's already night time.

Popar Village



Around the lake


And finally for our dinner of the night at Karaweik Palace.... a bit too grand haha....



Day 8
After 7 days of rushing, it's mostly R and R on the last day. A short walk around the Scott market at Yangon, a gemstore, around the downtown area, grab out lunch and heaving back home :P Flying back....was definitely a heavy feeling....

Some ramdom outings.....
(Sengkang outing)



Starburst



Spiralling...



Ladder



Cherry



Part of a park


Silky...


It's raining soon :(

Gift from India

Something intriguing. So, what can u buy after a India trip ? Muruku (it's a kind of indian snacks)? Curry spices? or even leaves? Fret not ...the coca-cola revolution was just the start....

Now u can get ....



Lays' Potato chips as low as 80cent (sing) ...and it's american style :P
(it tasted slightly more spicy compare to the normal one....more onions perhaps)....



Our fav sweets with variation of 'mango' taste and 'tropical cherry' ....
(they came in cartons of 48 mini's..mind you)



Yes...they got expiry date if u wondering......



And now they even make Chinese snacks.... (it written Made in India...correct me if i'm wrong).
Maybe it's gonna be some 'bakkua revolution' soon ?

And of coz, lot's of thanks from dawn for bringing the nice food. It's an eye-opener ;)

Food pics ;)



Start off with - Cereal



Nasi lemak - the usual must-have fare



Prawn noodle



Congee



Asam laksa



Salad....



Kueh-Kueh

Cameron Higlands 3D2N


This is probably the best trip i ever heard, due to good weather, cool climate and of coz good company. It's a very small down dividing into Trinkap, Brinchang (the peak) and Tanah Rata. Each are very small down by itself, slow-paced ...which is kind of the usual town u gonna found in Malaysia.


20 Jul ....
First thing first, we arrived roughly around 7am in the morning, taking our breakfast in Brinchang town. Must try is prawn noodle ;) After that, sign up for some local tours, arrive at Equatorial Hotel and able to early check in at 9.30am. Equatorial is probably at the peak of Cameron which offers good view. Although my room is facing east, i couldn't see any sunrise for the next two consecutive days. Yet, the it's still scenic enuf for me, to miss this place. :)


A short good sleep, off we go to find lunch. Looking at the expensive hotel menu (roughly around RM 20-30), we decided to walk to Kea farm to have a fairly priced meal. Managed to find a small restaurant called Strawberry View (around RM5-6) for stuff like hor fun, hokkien mee and fried rice. The usual fare, but definitely taste way better the usual SG food.... uhh..... The place offer a scenic view, so sit outside to enjoy the cool breeze too. Yet, i think the place started to be polluted by farms and more building of resorts.

Our tour started at 3pm. First we visited the crysanthemum farm where it's a nice place to shoot macro. Next, we were drive up to a hillside to look at watercrest, a farming method. Next, was a vegetable farm where we saw fresh vegatable sold a cheap price and the corn is very sweet :P

Next destination is strawberry farm. These strawberry are grown on hydroponic system. Cute strawberry .... serve with sundae ;) And not forgetten the cactus farm, probably nvr see so much type before.

As nitez come, stomach growling, we were treated with vegetable buffet with minimal amount of meat. The vege is fresh, crunchy....since it's just plucked from the next door farm ;P

Time to go back hotel to sleep...



The place we staying



View from hotel.....









Crysanthemun farm.....



Bright...bright...



solitude.....



Flowers.....







Water crest....



Farming methods....



Where our fresh vegetable come from....









Strawberry.....



Cactus farm






More cactus.....


21 Jul ....
Excited!! wake up at 6.30am to catch the sunrise....okie, waited ..waited...waited...misty..misty ...misty...stomach growling...

Breakfast was delightful. Nasi lemak, sausage, pau, western food ;) and even asam laksa


Next, is the tour again ;) Went to visit the tea plantation. Next is the drive up to Gunung Brinchang. Disaster happen ...my camera crashed to ground. Filter is cracked...but thank goodness...lenses is still working....sweat sweat sweat....

Back to the trip, it's cold up there. And it's high up...leg is shivering ;P


Next we visit the mossy forest. Okie ..nothing much.....


A drive to BOH tea centre, the moment we reach there I can smell the nice fragrant of black tea. yum yum.. There we go see see the factory and buy some tea bags. Apparently the best tea, garden tea is sold out at the moment. What a waste....

Next visit is the aboriginal village. Not much worth mentioning. Eat at Brinchang town ..food is nice ;) Went back to Hotel to have a nice afternoon nap, which apparently drag until nitez. Have dinner and packing up for next day early departure..


It's early....yawnz...



Hill afar......



Tea plantation....



Greenner leaver....


Watching tower at Gunung Brinchang



Mossy forest.....



Weather is not impressive....


More tea plantation....



22 Jul...
somehow, i feel sad leaving this place...back to stressful life with hot weather and block blocks of concrete. Maybe will come back again someday....


I really dunno why....but normally when it's my last day....the weather suddenly becoming too good for photography.... lolz.... maybe coz i'm leaving...haha