Central Vietnam

A communist turned republic country, Vietnam is replete with all sorts of exotica; from its unique culture to the ever green padi fields cultivated into the mountains. There seems to be an infinite array of wonders at every turn. While I do not use the term poor to describe their living conditions, I should say simplicity is the word to describe them best. Vietnamese are very warming folks, from elderly chaps to stumbling toddlers. All seem so affable. Somehow, this country reminds me of the larger extension of Angkhang, Chiangmai.

And so Jeff embarked on another journey to East Asia on his own with a Lowepro Computertrekker on his back topped with a tripod to conquer the country. Within 9 days, he swept on one swift swoop from Central Vietnam up to the cool and moisted Northern countryside. Crossing from Central to Northern country is akeen to transiting from a desert to a cool house, where everything takes a dramatic drape of faded colors.

Danang was my first stopover, where my plane landed in her primitive airport. The originally planned driver to fetch me to the Ancient town of Hoian was no where in sight when I arrived. So I hailed on a taxi ride to some 36km outskirts to the Hoian township.

This being an unplugged trip, I took my time to settle down with plenty of scheduled and unscheduled rests interspersed. For the first evening, I took a stroll along the river bank remote from the cacophony of the town and met a 15yr old teenager, who warmly invited me into his house, where he introduced his family (sister and father).

He seemed bubbly enough and soon made another invitation to bring me on a boat cruise, which I kindly accepted w/o a second thought. The following morning, we took a tiny boat out, together with his uncle and father, on a river cruise.

As u can see, no barring, only a skinny plank to reach the sampan. Of course I took a larger sampan equiped with a motor! As u can see, being equiped full battle order ready is not a good thing to begin with. Soon, I learnt to go solo.

These folks do not have the luxury of a brick house, only straws and they appeared quite content as it is. But that doesn't amount to playing poor hosts! In fact, they were just great people with big happy hearts. Soon, they won me over with their generous laughters and it turned out the trip has only just begun.

P.S. I passed my Oral defense :)

Tis a lily flower in the morning

Beauty is to the eyes of the beholder. But one just can't dispute the the calming aura emanating from this white water lily. The foggy feeling was created using moisture, an accidental creation in fact. I just wipped out my moisture condensed cam and shot w/o realizing the T difference has caused some condensation to form on the exterior of the lens rear elements. Nonetheless, it does save the additional work of adding a softening filter here.

On Sabotical

Back on 30th May. Until then, ta ta.

My Ass

Never learn

I guess the saying that a leopard never change its spots is never truer when applied to myself. There always come a point when that special switch in my mind will flip and today, it flipped on that most critical time! Right in the middle of my oral defense. Probably a goner. Will be very surprised if I am allowed a pass grade. There goes my 4.5 yrs for that dumb permanent head damage.

Only consolation is I see the light in another aspect of life. N i am answering this calling very soon.

>>The flame extinguishes and the moment turns into eternity. Jeff floats into space and goes into ultra-hybernation to look for his dragonball :)<<

Angel's Wings

Lend me thy wings, for i give u honey. Tis time is near, for i will don thy wings the morrow.

Waning passion

Climb

Newton's law says whatever goes up must come down. But the laws of nature are always full of paradox. We thought we know all, but not this.

Memories

What was meant to come by will leave some day. But for this moment in time, I froze this hummer for eternity. In fond memories of a beautiful feather.

Lost in Paradise

Paradise it was. Paradise it will be.

>> Take my hand. I'm a stranger in paradise. All lost in a wonderland. A stranger in paradise.<<

Patterns and symmetry

Sometimes it really depends on what u want to see, what u want to hear and what u want to feel. I see beauty in simplicity, unparalleled simplicity of mother nature. Evergreen petals.

>> In a pine forest, a pine needle fell. The eagle saw it, the dear heard it, and the bear smelled it. Which are u?<<

Earthed

We are used to seeing coconut tree with a textured bark. Beneath this intricately pattern exterior lies millions of threads of fibres. Not that one get to see its inard very often, just that this poor entity was struck by lightning. This was what's left.

>> I leave a tiny part of my soul behind with each picture I make. Soon, it will go empty and I'll fill it up again<<

Blending in

Try as it may, it still cannot escape my bionic eyes (ha!). Not that I depend on my vision alone. Most of the time, my senses just kickin and I let the rest do the job. Perhaps this little pink-necked pigeon was uncomfortable with my distance cause after foraging the vincinal leaves for insects, it took off. Wait until u see the gorgeous male. Those hypnotic eyes!

Touch a cord

Sometimes, certain photos remind me of certain things long forgotten. This is one of those "almost remember" but that still eludes me.

Soar

Plain huge. Fishing on a serene monday morning by the pond. A White-bellied Sea Eagle.

>>After struggling for 5yrs, finally my Oral defense is near. Arrrrrrhhh, those butterflies in my stomach. Must find a way to banish them.<<

Everything for a Damselfly

For it, I became a part time contortionist. For it, I stacked a record number for tubes and extender. For it, I risked falling into the water. But it's worth it. For a Damselfly.

Strange art of balancing

They made an odd couple. With the seemingly gigantic blue glassy tiger balanced by the tiny Mrs Linx spider. Life is full of paradox.

Fly dragon, fly

One of the rarer species that happen to prey around my eye level one fateful day by the Garden of Eden. When it gets excited, it will cock its pointed yellow elastic chin in an up and down motion. The buzzing insects in the vincinity surely got it aroused plenty! Notice the loose skin around its belly? Those can be extended and used as gliding flaps in its flight from one tree to another. In camouflage mode, it pretty tricky to pick out this fellow from the bark.

Blue dragon

Being infatuated with blue, just about any blue will grab my attention. This unfortunate dragon became my victim of constant harrassment to test my stacked tubes technique. Very cooporative little creature. Of course after the studio portrait, I respectfully left it alone to roost in the morning light.

Only bluuuuue

In my room, only the color of blue.

Simplicity

Many a time the sky will clear on a special day. It was marked down on my calender every time of the year to look up into the sky. This day is no exception. The beauty of simplicity. Beyond words, beyond senses.

Serenity

My heart is at peace. My vision is crystal clear. My mind is focused.