The blue cycle

One of those blues that sets in whenever I hit on a creativity block. Beyond this, enlightenment awaits.

Once life

Once it was a healthy entity sustaining part of a larger sphere of organisms. Down lt returns to its roots. Soon, we will see a pheonix reborn.

Trepidation

After more than 4 yrs of slogging off in a tiny laboratory, finally got to prepare for my oral defense. Being at work for a year now, can't help but feel a little on the jittery side. I used to be sitting duck like this blue-winged Pitta. However, my yr old exposure in the working world has aided in restoring my lost confidence. So eager to know yet there's always present the elements of unknown to inject uncertainity.

Tis no more. Cause the proud old self has been restored. Good naturedness is not lost but nutured and allowed to blossom into another entity. That entity manifest as a form of art in vibrant colors. Yet another path unfolds before my very eyes.

Exhilaration

After days of wallowing in despair, the clouds broke to reveal the life sustaining golden rays.

The Link End

Master: So u want to be fed...

The Link II

Master: I see...interesting

The Link

Elephant: Come master, let me tell u a story.

Pixel Peeping

Still recall I bought a new toy and went on a triggering spree. This unfortunate feather was selected as my guinea pig, thanks to its techni-color coat of fine feathers. Not a good subject cause at the end of the session, I was deafen by its banshee cry.

Stumbler a Purple Cuckoo

One of those days when I stumbled upon a rare feather. It's a male species that eluded even the best guidebook, where only the female gender is illustrated. Yes, it's almost like finding a hen's tooth. And I found one. The male purple cuckoo.

Harrassed and unrested

It's quite strange how a harmless little life such as this black-naped Tern can incite such a big discordance within a tiny colony of homosapiens. These feathers are never at fault. e root cause always lies with the homosapiens. Laughable and ignorant behaviors. Protect with a motive to kill. I say eat them to save them.

Pycnonotus bimaculatus

Only known by its scientific name, this is yet another earlier shots. e pose and colors made me return for more. That was the beginning of a life-time commitment to these feathers. It's a passion that last for eternity. Strangely, the magic only works for garden/ forest tiny varieties, not applicable to larger predatory birds. I like them cute and colorful through my eyes.

A feather that aspires to be a tiger

Nature's wonder is beyond comprehension. This was an earlier work when I first embarked on nature photography. Was by my favourite Garden of Eden when this brownish feather popped out to say hi. It was chasing some air-borne insects and just happened to land smack in front. After scrutinising me for a few moments, it left me alone its food. I knew I nailed it and was elated beyond words. Tis e Tiger shrike

Asian Golden Weaver

These are nature's master architect. When it comes to nest building, they are second to none. As always, mother nature favours the male gender, endowing it with a shiny golden coat at full adulthood with crystal clear ruby-colored eyes. e gender can be differentiated by their eyes, one being black whilst the other being red.

What big yellow eyes u have

My first impression of this Green Heron was it's eyes were ridiculously hilarious. Black Iris with yellow lining. Looks exactly like a clown. However if u stare hard enough, u will fall into its eyes so beware.

A misplaced starling

Black birds are generally not appealing to most and for those feathers with plumage that are cast to dark hues under poor light, it is even easier to mistake them as crows. However unlike the larger raven family, Asian Glossy starling are smaller in size at ~20cm in length with dirty green plumage that turns irridescent under direct sunlight. Cam metering and AF system simply hates these ruby-eyed feathers cause 9 out of 10 shots are probably off focus. On some rare occassions, these feathers simply stay perched and allow ample time for prefocus. So don't be too hasty to prejudge these feathers based on their plumage alone. Humans always have this folly. I hope u are not one of them.

Angkhang concluding- Abstract

One of the rewards of visiting a remote place such as Angkhang is the bountiful window of opportunities for abstract art in everyday living. The poverty and simple lifestyle simply add to that additional touch. It's a concoction that eludes me for very long time.

The strong shadows cast by the adjacent roof created this impression. Of booze and tethered laundry.



A block block away, I was walking in a back alley way musing over a couple of donkeys when I turned to see a couple dragging their leadon luggage, as if to beckon it's time to return home.



Even workhorse need a rest. "Finding way home"

Angkhang (V)- Into the heart of the minority II

The unspoilt primitive environment offers a good many photography opportunities quite unlike anything I've ever seen. Coupled with its inhabitants, it's just pure magic at the last hour of sunlight.

The setting sun presented very strong backlit conditions adding that extra strength to an otherwise mundane frame of a cherry blossom by a white house in the distance.

Simplicity is an understatement in this town. Poverty is the truth. The houses were mostly built along the periphery of the highway that was etched into the side of the mountain, creating a very perilious situation for any modern man who could jolly well take a mis-step and topple over. Yet for these folks, danger was part of their life and I didn't see any worries in their eyes at all. Kids fell, w/o uttering a cry. They simply picked themselved up and carried on.

Once illegal immigrants from China, they were offered land and food by the gracious king of Thailand to settledown. Their livelihood is very much dependant on fruit crops like peach trees, which are omni-present. Everyday, working young adults will trek to their workplace in town which is easily a good few kilometres away and return by dusk.



Perhaps it's nearing the Lunar new year, most of the kids were dressed up in auspicious red. This was one of them.



And of course, some kids just can't come out to play while for others, they are simply mummy's boy.



The sun took a dip and back I went.

Angkhang (IV)- Into the heart of the minority

The most impressionable aspect of Angkhang, apart from it's spectacular mountainscape, is the minority tribes that resided in the mountains. These folks have taught me a lesson in life; that to be content and find delight in everything I do; that to treat everyone with sincerity if you wish to be treated in equivalence. I can see no malice in these simple folks. Absolutely none.

As usual, my resort driver, who is a Yunan descendant in this early 20s drove me into his hometown. Although his mandrain is heavily accented with local slur, I could still make out what he's trying to say most of the time. He dropped me by the last home uphill, just when a gang of "5" approached my vehicle, attracted by all my toys. The first thing in their mind was to have their photo taken. And so I obliged.

The magical moment finally came when I showed them their individual portrait on my tiny LCD and they were simply delighted. I finally ambled downhill but with a couple of these kids still tagging along. I could still recall one young lady kept asking me for something though I can't understand a single word. It's only later when I returned to my room that it dawn on me she was asking for sweets.

Yes, and the kids that tagged along. She's a 9-yr old lady babysitting her yr old brother. I thought she wanted a personal portrait done with her little brother.

Further down hill, the daily activities of these simple folks came to live. Ever seen a old chap smoking traditional pipe?

Angkhang Part (III)- Thailand-Burma Border

Made an evening trip to another part of Angkhang towards the Thailand-Burma border, where the Palong tribe reside. It's only after the recent cease fire that the border was open to tourist visit and yes we are talking of truck loads of them. My guide can't speak English at all, less the only discernable word was "Burma", when he kept pointing his finger in the direction beyond the border.

Evidence of the once tense scene was apparent in the chest-deep trench that was dugged along the perimeter, though most of the time their rifles are stocked somewhere else during my brief visit. The techni-colored surrounding just doused whatever residual tension that may be present. Just look at those cherry blossoms!



Of course e picture will be incomplete with some pure, happy and simple local tribesman. The one thing that struck me was the kids were simply "kids". Perhaps it's only when one survives on needs that we will get to see the true side of the human being.



As if to reflect my feelings, the sun God took a dip behind an ancient pine tree, creating a strong silhouette.

Angkhang Part (II)- Pinnacle of Angkhang

For a moment I thought I had conquered the pinnacle but on closer scan only to find there were several more hill tops to surmount. With an 8kg load of camera gear on my puny shoulder, I was just surprised to be able to return in one piece with all those steep gravel treks.

Another hill top brought me to the forest of the "thousand year flower" or Rhododendrum.

Not the in-season but still managed to see a couple of flowering trees. Green-tailed sunbird? Well I saw none. Can't blame them cause as I raised my head into the Persian Blue sky, the sun God was already bursting through a break in the leaves. A star burst I named it.

Tis the time to fill my stomach and descend I made. Feeling much much lighter after conquering the Pinnacle of Angkhang, my footsteps just took to wings. I think this was the one time when I felt truely free. At the exit, I realised I had missed the driver pickup time.

The only choice was to walk back ~4km of undulating mountain road. Lucky me, hitched a ride back to town. Driver was a long hair lady. Still recalled she changed her Thai music to some chinese cassette tape. There was brief exchanges inbetween but before long, I was by my doorstep.

So long for first day.

My solo rumbling to Northern Chiangmai, Angkhang- Part (I)

Travel period: 11/15 Jan 2006



Always thought of walking the globe on my own but never do I expect it to begin this year before I turn e big 30. What I did was basically booked a return ticket on Tiger and there I flew.

As it was a late evening flight, the day was already getting very dark when I arrived at ChiangMai international airport. Well, at 6:30pm the sky was nearing pitch dark! Took nearly 1 hr to clear custom due to the ultra slow queue. Fortunately, my driver was already waiting outside to fetch me to the resort, which was a gruelling 3hr-drive in a 12 seater mini-van. My senses was completely doused inside the van. Got some trouble dialing home but fortunately mum saved e day by calling me instead. Finally reached destination around 11pm and my first impression out of the van was it's freezing at 5 deg! A quick trip to e info counter saw a porter escorting me directly to my room.

e story then unfold.

At first light with a highly refreshing American breakfast, I set off for the highest point of Angkhang at 1,200m above sea level. Got a driver to drop and fetch at my convenience and seriously this was my first time doing such a thing! E only mistake I made was to wear ankle-socks with boots (new, all weather) and ended up with very bad blisters developed at my heels, making ascend and descend a painful experience. Nevertheless, the experience has proven itself worthwhile.

At the base, my perpesctive open up into the vastness of the surrounding mountain ranges.

Took a while to climb to the top, with several rests inbetween. Took the direction from a trunk and from there I throw my vision into the distance.

Made another turn and I saw blue petals.

To be continued...

Descendant of the sun

Definitely a sunbird with a screaming coat of yellow. As shown male has a deep irridesecent blue under its throat. Apparently this male was having a vocal training session when I bumped into it around evening time. Female is completely olive in color, distinguished from the female plain-throated sunbird by its dark eyes. This is an olive-backed sunbird, male.

Not your Normal Spidey

Another member of the Nectariniidae & also the most skittish of them all that resides in the Garden. It's characterised by an impierce beak that is developed as part of its skull. No joke! On those rare occassions when it decides to perch to feed on the touch ginger of its selection, one can get a glory eye of its beauty upfront. Most of the time, the sight of a homosapien will cause it to take flight. The sexes cannot be differentiated by appearance alone, less one scrutinise its underparts it your hand. This is the Little Spiderhunter.

e Misnomer

Yes, the plain-throated is one of the many colorful species from the Garden. The naming "plain" is clearly a misnomer for this attractive male, which is in stark contrast to the e crimson-eyed female with olive colored coat. That's the female alright. These feathers are normally docile and are chased around by crimson whenever they perched on the touch ginger to feed. During the nesting period, they turned the table on the bully and made the whole ginger garden their own. Quite a sight to see them chasing after one another.

e Notorious Crimson Pirate

All touch ginger belongs to me. A nectar feeding bird not bigger than 11cm but fiercely antagonistic towards other species. Tis the Crimson sunbird, a handsome male. Its fiery coat is its biggest attraction. During the breeding season from April to Jun, these feathers apparently lost their home ground to the even more aggressive plain-throated species. That will be reserved for another day.

A jewel in the garden

The smooth tintinabulation of the crystal voice of mister and missus ashy tailor birds that echoes through the garden every morning. Measuring a mere 10cm, it easy to give this beautiful feather a miss if it doesn't sing. Even if it does warm up its voice, the greyish coat blends perfectly into the green sea of trees.