A small bit of China

Zoky was supposed to go with the then-boyfriend.

They broke up not too long ago. It's non-refundable. Needed a replacement on the queen. Yeah, how you all wished. She later changed the rooms to twins.

One photo a day for the five days I'm there.

Backyard garden of a once corrupted mandarin.

Bistros and pubs at Shanghai.

Wuzhen. An ancient water village.

Wuzhen at dawn. Traditional wedding exhibitions.

An alley at Hangzhou.

I'm back a happy man.

And don't ask. Nothing happened.

Hat Yai mix

No, it's not a drink.




Tuk-tuk.




Crowd at the temple.




Lovebirds overseeing the horizon, near the bottom of the temple.




Laem Samila beach, Songkhla.




Near dusk at the Floating Market.



Back. With mixed feeling.

Naruwan

"Welcome", in the language of the Amis people of Taiwan.

This trip wasn't plan. Zoky's friend was going for honeymoon. They asked her and few friends & family to tag along. She in turn asked us. I don't even have an itinerary of the trip till the third day I'm there. I can't read Chinese. Or speak fluently in that matter. Which make this trip even more... interesting.

Well, at least for me.

The lowest temperature being at 5 degree. It wasn't that bad if it's not because of the rain and wind. Three layers for outing. Two layers for sleep, with the heater on. Overall, I like it here. Good mixture of city, nature, people, culture, and food. I will be back for sure.

As usual, one photo each day to sums up seven days of the cold and warm of Taiwan. The cold temperature. And the warm people.

Taken with the Nikon D700, Tamron 35-105mm & Tamron 70-300mm lens.






Teapots. Taoyuan Night Market.




The faces at Jiufen.




Mountainous route. Suhua Scenic Road.




The V's. Dream Shopping Mall.




The Lover Tree. Alishan Forest Reserve.




Nighfall at Taipei 101.





Where's the 7th? The last day was at the airport lah. Nothing interesting there.

And you're Naruwan. *wink*

Shots of Vitamin C

One of the many last minute plan. For being too bored on a Saturday night. Forked out 5 bucks each for that couple of hours spent in the parking being an amateur photographer. At least it's something... productive?

Yummies, kilos & self promo

I'm alive. And kicking. I think. Work had taken over much of my "other" free time. This thoughts-scribble is not dead, either. I do came in on an every-other-day basis. Going through of new posts from the blogs I stalked... er, sorry, followed.

Here's a quick recap.





Cindy's big day was on Saturday.

Took the Friday off. Cheated the coming Monday. That's two unpaid leave. But it's worth while. Got to meet up with almost everyone. Yeah, the cousins. It's been so long. How much I've missed the younger days.

Cindy is very happy that night. So is everyone. There's smile, there's laughs, there's also tears. My slides got a few thumbs up. Thanks to Cakap Melayu, and his designer. And of course, art direction and copywriting from yours truly. But I have to admit, the Chinese translation was much better. The structure. The choice of words. The whole feel of it. Zoky read it too, she's impressed. You can't really beat an experienced writer, eh? I salute you, Aunty K.

These photos are stolen from Bro. He's the photographer mah. If you are seeing this. Sorry ar, pinjam saja.






Canopy at Kek Lok Si. Art direction by me.




Sugarcane at the assam laksa stall. I think this is the only photo I shot.




The slots at Hard Rock Hotel.




Cindy. We had cupcakes for her day. This is hers.



I came back with 3 boxes of Dau Sar Peang. One for Zoky. Two for the office. Must kasi social and networking sikit mah, right? I reported back to work and spammed everyone's mail with the yummies. And I can't miss this great opportunity of doing a little... self promo.

Let's just put it "being single and available" is ding-donging in my mails.

The kilos? Nah, not going into details on that few kgs I've put on.





A. Quick? Recap? Spoke too soon. And this is just a bit of it.

Be right back!

Phuket Déjà vu

My second time there in two years.

Very different, I must say. Not about the island, but the trip itself.

Went to places I've never been. Was more into sightseeing. More into seas. More islands hopping. More sand playing on beaches. Got blisters from too much walking. And cuts on my soles for clumsily stepping on the wrong side of the reefs. Devoured more beef noodles. Bottoms up-ed more alcohols. It was dripping on two evenings. I couldn't even smell the rain the last I went.

The seas are clearer this time. The corals are visible. Without having you to go under. Being surrounded by fishes. When you're just standing on the beach halfway submerged in the water. Where these came from? Was it the post-tsunami effect? It washes off the unnecessary, and brought in new things?

Anyway, here are some photos on that trip. To sum up six days I'm there. Taken with my trusty Nikon D40, and Tamron AF 70-300mm telephoto lens.

Didn't let me down.






Viewpoint at Phromthep Cape. One of our first stop.




Longtail boats at the snorkeling point. Near Phi Phi Islands.




Zoky. I'm her personal photographer throughout the trip.




The angular wonders. James Bond Island.




Eurasian boy. Beach on Coral Island.




The pouring evening at LCCT. "Missed" Songkran Fest there. But got it back here.





Hope you're not expecting to see our faces in. *wink*