Pagi tidak Sunrise sahaja, tetapi satu keajaiban yang indah alam yang kekalahan kegelapan dan merebak Cahaya
Morning is not only Sunrise, but a beautiful miracle of nature that defeats darkness and spreads Light
Showing posts with label zLakes and Rivers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label zLakes and Rivers. Show all posts
Saturday
119. Sunrise in Melaka
It is my last day, I rose early to catch a last glimpse of the city I had come to love. As the dawn was starting to come, I waited silently in the early morning watching the sky gradually lighten and the sun rise heralding the start of a new day. Below are some of the photos - I have tried to choose ones which show the differing light from first to last.
Pagi tidak Sunrise sahaja, tetapi satu keajaiban yang indah alam yang kekalahan kegelapan dan merebak Cahaya
Morning is not only Sunrise, but a beautiful miracle of nature that defeats darkness and spreads Light
Pagi tidak Sunrise sahaja, tetapi satu keajaiban yang indah alam yang kekalahan kegelapan dan merebak Cahaya
Morning is not only Sunrise, but a beautiful miracle of nature that defeats darkness and spreads Light
118. Last Night in Melaka
WEll It's my last night in Malacca and my last night in Malaysia and I am a little sad - I wish it could go on forever. I wish it was three weeks ago and my time was just about to begin and I could relive it all over again. But of course that doesn't happen, except in fairy tales.
Above: Jonker Walk
This is my last photo of Jonker Street and I walked along thinking of all I had seen and experienced. I found a little hole in the wall operation somewhere on the left hand side and went in to order a meal. I chose the chicken and rice. There was an old grandmother, her iron grey hair tied in a bun, coming down in wisps about her face, holding this huge ladle as she stirred the large pot. A young girl (her granddaughter?) stood to her right helping with other foods. There was a fridge on the wall opposite with round tables and stools. It wasn't a pretentious place, just a very ordinary little eating house.
All the other customers kept staring at me and I wondered if there was something wrong with my appearance. Did I have dirt on my nose? Am I doing something wrong? Then the penny dropped - I was the only westerner there - everyone else was a local. I'd found one of the places where the locals go to eat not the tourists. I must say it was rather pleasant sitting there, no loud mouthed tourists, no flashy looking foreigners, just me. And the locals. (Not by a long shot is there anything flashy about me at all - some tourists even look down their elegant noses a little!), just my usual clothes and hiking sandals. And no, I didn't think to take a photo. Wish I had.
Above: Lagenda Antik
This building caught my eye - the startling white decorated with red, yellow and green. Red roses, leafy foliage and yellow urns. The three colours are repeated at the top of the columns. There are also some salmon pink designs as well - on the upper right hand side is a pink lion, on the left what looks like a flamingo.
Lagenda Antik is an antique shop in Jonker Street and is decorated in the style of a Straits Chinese house. Behind the hall is an inner courtyard and a collection of knick-knacks, porcelains and furniture of the era.
Over the River
It is time to cross over the river again and do something I promised myself I was going to do - ride in one of those colourful trishaws.
Above: Clocktower at night
Here I passed the clock tower again. For this photo, I turned the dial to dusk or sunset and this is the result - a warm orange glow, the colours are warm. The only downside is the photos come out a little blurry. I have included it to show the difference in camera setting.
Above: 7.30PM
Same subject, same time, but in this photo, I had the camera set at the normal setting. You can see the difference between this photo and the previous one - here the colours are darker and are cool colours and the photo does not have the blurriness - it is sharper.
Above: Trishaw ride
And now - it is rickshaw time! Which one shall I choose? That one there with the blue and yellow? Or that one over there decorated in blues and greens? Hmmm...so many to choose from. ...I think ..... this one. I like the glorious pinks and reds. Yes, I'll choose this one. The trishaw driver and I discussed price - 40 myr for an hour, but due to the lateness of the evening, I wanted only half an hour. So that was settled and off we went. I wish I had done this in the daytime and been taken around - I'd have stayed for the whole hour. And it is such a pleasant way to travel. I could have save myself a lot of hot huffing and puffing and walking in the heat. Then again, I would have missed a lot - some of the best things are just walking around getting lost and finding yourself seeing things you otherwise wouldn't have.
Above: My trishaw has the best flowers
This is the full view picture - check out the other trishaws towards the right - none of them can hold a candle to "my" trishaw.
About Trishaws
In the old days, trishaw was one of the main methods of transportation in Malacca, but today with modern vehicles, the trishaw is a thing of the past. Fortunately they are still seen and used today - as a tourist attraction. They are beautifully decorated with flowers and an audio player with popular songs being played out loud.
There are only two states with tourist trishaws - Penang and Malacca. I rode in both and enjoyed them, but the trishaws of Malacca are the best looking and best decorated. Sitting behind the plethora of (artifical) flowers, a wonderfully padded seat with silver floral design, I truly felt like royalty.
Back across the river again
All too soon, it was time to go home - by home I mean my accommodation place. It's funny, but when I'm travelling, I always refer to where I stay as "home".
Above: Nighttime on the river
Here I am, back near Heeren House and one last look at the river. Photos don't do it justice - the river flowing quietly, water lapping gently alongside, a myriad of light reflected in the water showing ripples of gold.
Next: Sunrise in Malacca
This is my last photo of Jonker Street and I walked along thinking of all I had seen and experienced. I found a little hole in the wall operation somewhere on the left hand side and went in to order a meal. I chose the chicken and rice. There was an old grandmother, her iron grey hair tied in a bun, coming down in wisps about her face, holding this huge ladle as she stirred the large pot. A young girl (her granddaughter?) stood to her right helping with other foods. There was a fridge on the wall opposite with round tables and stools. It wasn't a pretentious place, just a very ordinary little eating house.
All the other customers kept staring at me and I wondered if there was something wrong with my appearance. Did I have dirt on my nose? Am I doing something wrong? Then the penny dropped - I was the only westerner there - everyone else was a local. I'd found one of the places where the locals go to eat not the tourists. I must say it was rather pleasant sitting there, no loud mouthed tourists, no flashy looking foreigners, just me. And the locals. (Not by a long shot is there anything flashy about me at all - some tourists even look down their elegant noses a little!), just my usual clothes and hiking sandals. And no, I didn't think to take a photo. Wish I had.
This building caught my eye - the startling white decorated with red, yellow and green. Red roses, leafy foliage and yellow urns. The three colours are repeated at the top of the columns. There are also some salmon pink designs as well - on the upper right hand side is a pink lion, on the left what looks like a flamingo.
Lagenda Antik is an antique shop in Jonker Street and is decorated in the style of a Straits Chinese house. Behind the hall is an inner courtyard and a collection of knick-knacks, porcelains and furniture of the era.
Over the River
It is time to cross over the river again and do something I promised myself I was going to do - ride in one of those colourful trishaws.
Here I passed the clock tower again. For this photo, I turned the dial to dusk or sunset and this is the result - a warm orange glow, the colours are warm. The only downside is the photos come out a little blurry. I have included it to show the difference in camera setting.
Same subject, same time, but in this photo, I had the camera set at the normal setting. You can see the difference between this photo and the previous one - here the colours are darker and are cool colours and the photo does not have the blurriness - it is sharper.
And now - it is rickshaw time! Which one shall I choose? That one there with the blue and yellow? Or that one over there decorated in blues and greens? Hmmm...so many to choose from. ...I think ..... this one. I like the glorious pinks and reds. Yes, I'll choose this one. The trishaw driver and I discussed price - 40 myr for an hour, but due to the lateness of the evening, I wanted only half an hour. So that was settled and off we went. I wish I had done this in the daytime and been taken around - I'd have stayed for the whole hour. And it is such a pleasant way to travel. I could have save myself a lot of hot huffing and puffing and walking in the heat. Then again, I would have missed a lot - some of the best things are just walking around getting lost and finding yourself seeing things you otherwise wouldn't have.
This is the full view picture - check out the other trishaws towards the right - none of them can hold a candle to "my" trishaw.
About Trishaws
In the old days, trishaw was one of the main methods of transportation in Malacca, but today with modern vehicles, the trishaw is a thing of the past. Fortunately they are still seen and used today - as a tourist attraction. They are beautifully decorated with flowers and an audio player with popular songs being played out loud.
There are only two states with tourist trishaws - Penang and Malacca. I rode in both and enjoyed them, but the trishaws of Malacca are the best looking and best decorated. Sitting behind the plethora of (artifical) flowers, a wonderfully padded seat with silver floral design, I truly felt like royalty.
Back across the river again
All too soon, it was time to go home - by home I mean my accommodation place. It's funny, but when I'm travelling, I always refer to where I stay as "home".
Here I am, back near Heeren House and one last look at the river. Photos don't do it justice - the river flowing quietly, water lapping gently alongside, a myriad of light reflected in the water showing ripples of gold.
Next: Sunrise in Malacca
Monday
66. Sunset at Angkor Wat
As I said in my earlier post, as I didn't have a guide it was a case of keep your eyes and ears open. I looked and listened and if I thought I saw a guide, I unashamedly listened in! Not knowing where the "best" spot was to witness the sunset, or indeed, nor knowing what to look for and where I should look, and what I was "supposed" to be seeing, I wandered around listening to people talk.
Realising the only way I could face was west, I set about trying to find the "best" spot.
Above: Peeking through
The sun was getting lower in the sky and here is the silhouette of one of libraries I think it is with the sun peeping between the posts.
Above: Orange glow
The sun just before it started sinking below the horizon. The halo around the sun had changed from yellow to a salmon pink.
Above: Balloon Sunset
The sun and the hot air balloon.
Above: South west
Moving to the other side of the causeway, the sun is surrounded by a pink sky.
Above: Fireball
The last photo I took - anything more would have been not worthy.
Above: Reflections on Water
The moat around Angkow Wat. This view is facing south west.
The trip back - Nightride
After watching the sun sink below the horizon, it was time to head back. It was strange to be driving along the road in darkness, when only a few hours earlier it was bright with the heat of the day and the glow of the sun. There were police posted along the long avenue back (the only road into and out of town to Angkor Wat) every 100 metres or so. Some were in twos, some alone. No thieves or baddies would dare make trouble with the local constabulary in attendance!
Night Stalls and Bright Lights
As we drove into the darkness, I spotted a few night stalls here and there. One place advertised "Happy Hour" - 3pm to 10 pm with Draft beer at 50 cents and Cocktails for $1.50. That's waay cheaper than back hom in Australia - you couldn't even buy a box of matches for that price. I was surprised at the number of people out and about, then again maybe I shouldn't have been. This after all is Siem Reap and it is after all a very big tourist attraction, not to metnion when the sun goes down, people come out when the air is cooler.
Night Scenes
A collection of different scenes and spots along the way on the ride through the night.
Realising the only way I could face was west, I set about trying to find the "best" spot.
The sun was getting lower in the sky and here is the silhouette of one of libraries I think it is with the sun peeping between the posts.
The sun just before it started sinking below the horizon. The halo around the sun had changed from yellow to a salmon pink.
The sun and the hot air balloon.
Moving to the other side of the causeway, the sun is surrounded by a pink sky.
The last photo I took - anything more would have been not worthy.
The moat around Angkow Wat. This view is facing south west.
The trip back - Nightride
After watching the sun sink below the horizon, it was time to head back. It was strange to be driving along the road in darkness, when only a few hours earlier it was bright with the heat of the day and the glow of the sun. There were police posted along the long avenue back (the only road into and out of town to Angkor Wat) every 100 metres or so. Some were in twos, some alone. No thieves or baddies would dare make trouble with the local constabulary in attendance!
Night Stalls and Bright Lights
As we drove into the darkness, I spotted a few night stalls here and there. One place advertised "Happy Hour" - 3pm to 10 pm with Draft beer at 50 cents and Cocktails for $1.50. That's waay cheaper than back hom in Australia - you couldn't even buy a box of matches for that price. I was surprised at the number of people out and about, then again maybe I shouldn't have been. This after all is Siem Reap and it is after all a very big tourist attraction, not to metnion when the sun goes down, people come out when the air is cooler.
A collection of different scenes and spots along the way on the ride through the night.
Wednesday
54. Angkor Wat - 2. Scenes
Around Angkor Wat
Below is a snapshot of some of the area around Angkor Wat.
Above: Around Angkor Wat
a) The top two shots are of part of the area to the south of the causeway, next to them the scene is facing the entrance (west) before sunrise.
b) In the middle row the pink lotus flowers were in the pond just in front of Angkor Wat where we sat and waited for sunrise. The other two are of the moat on the northern side of the causeway facing east.
c) The third row shows people walking back to the entrance after the sun had risen. I have included both the close-up shot and the long distance shot to give you some idea of just how big this place is. If you look closely at the picture on the right which was taken before sunrise, you will notice a balloon to the right of the entrance towers - people in a hot air balloon floating in the sky to watch the sunrise.
Above: Silhouette in doorway
This doorway faces east and is under repair. Note the window balusters either side. You can see a figure walking down towards the entrance.
Above: Lions and nagas flank the steps down from the causeway
Lions and naga-balustrades border the cruciform terrace.
Above: Devatas
Devatas are female divinities - sort of like guardian angels and there are around 2,000 of them at Angkor Wat, where they appear in groups or individually.
Below is a snapshot of some of the area around Angkor Wat.
a) The top two shots are of part of the area to the south of the causeway, next to them the scene is facing the entrance (west) before sunrise.
b) In the middle row the pink lotus flowers were in the pond just in front of Angkor Wat where we sat and waited for sunrise. The other two are of the moat on the northern side of the causeway facing east.
c) The third row shows people walking back to the entrance after the sun had risen. I have included both the close-up shot and the long distance shot to give you some idea of just how big this place is. If you look closely at the picture on the right which was taken before sunrise, you will notice a balloon to the right of the entrance towers - people in a hot air balloon floating in the sky to watch the sunrise.
This doorway faces east and is under repair. Note the window balusters either side. You can see a figure walking down towards the entrance.
Lions and naga-balustrades border the cruciform terrace.
Devatas are female divinities - sort of like guardian angels and there are around 2,000 of them at Angkor Wat, where they appear in groups or individually.
Thursday
43. A Wedding and Rural Life
It was warming up quite a bit and I was really glad I'd chosen a tuk tuk instead of a car. Firstly you feel a bit of a breeze and secondly imagine hopping in and out of an air-conditioned car only to be met with a difference of temperature outside! Plus, you get to see so much more than sitting in an enclosed car.
We set off and there was this building festooned with swathes of bright, colourful fabric - and tassels too.
Above: Wedding Reception
There was going to be a wedding.
Above: Marquee
This marquee had been added to accommodate the guests ensuring they were out of the sun.
Above: House by the lake
One of the houses we passed. I could see umbrellas and piles of bits and pieces close to the water, shaded with tall palms and shady trees.
We set off and there was this building festooned with swathes of bright, colourful fabric - and tassels too.
There was going to be a wedding.
This marquee had been added to accommodate the guests ensuring they were out of the sun.
One of the houses we passed. I could see umbrellas and piles of bits and pieces close to the water, shaded with tall palms and shady trees.
Sunday
37. The Airport Road
No traffic rules thanks
For those of you who have never been to Cambodia, or Siem Reap, all the tales you've ever heard about drivers and road rules are true - they don't exist. The "rules" that is. Most of the traffice seems to be split between motor bikes and bicycles. There are of course lots of cars but the motor bike rules supreme. Then of course we have the big tourist buses with their drivers thinking they are king of the road. They do not like to move over but prefer to drive almost in the middle.
And tooting - there's lots and lots of tooting. The early morning was filled not with the sound of birdsong, but with horns. My driver tooted at almost everything that moved, or so it seemed. Tooting at cyclists, tooting at other tuk tuks - we passed many of the other tuk tuks. In Cambodia you drive on the right hand side of the road, when you make a left hand turn, instead of being in the right hand lane, most drivers turn into the left hand lane hereby driving on the wrong side of the road with oncoming traffic coming towards you. They then guage when to move over into the correct lane. I had my hands resting on each side of the tuk tuk and a motor cyclist came within six inches of it.
I closed my eyes so I wouldn't have to see, then told myself, "Look at the scenery, look at the scenery." Surprisingly, it all seems to go smoothly and nobody crashes!
Above: Police Headquarters
Unlike here in Australia, no-one slowed down when they passed the local "cop shop". There are many police around, on the sides of the road at certain intervals, standing near the bikes.
Above: Politics
This sign was everywhere - I took a bit of a dislike to these three chaps, after all, I couldn't see any advertisments for their opponents. They look so solemn!
Above: Street scenes
As we drove on further, we passed large, expensive hotels. Theses were all situated a fair way out of town. For the rich people. Although why you'd want to stay miles away from town I don't know. It's much more fun staying in the middle of town among the local people. The sights, sounds and general hub-bub of every day life, the little shop across the road, the lady with her chickens hanging up outisde in the air, cafes and markets - these are the things that I enjoy.
We started to see traffic lights, and I was very impressed with them for when they change to red (or green) not only do you have a red/green light, you also see in red or green the number of seconds ticking down until the lights change again.
For example, the light has changed to red, so there's the number 45 in red, which does the countdown - 45, 44, 43, 42, etc. When the number has changed from 4 to 3 - the drivers whizz across. None of this wating for the red number 1 to change to green number 45. Not all lights start at 45, depending on the intersection, some start at 35 or another number.
Above: Siem Reap River
We turned at a roundabout and were driving alonside the river. It was an idyllic scene and I'd loved to have been able to stop there and just sit on one of the seats for a time looking at the water. I had planned on doing this later, but didn't get the chance. But there's alwasy a next time, and I definitely plan on going back - this time for about a week.
Above: Crossing the bridge
This is the bridge we crossed to get into town and it's the same one used to go out or return.
For those of you who have never been to Cambodia, or Siem Reap, all the tales you've ever heard about drivers and road rules are true - they don't exist. The "rules" that is. Most of the traffice seems to be split between motor bikes and bicycles. There are of course lots of cars but the motor bike rules supreme. Then of course we have the big tourist buses with their drivers thinking they are king of the road. They do not like to move over but prefer to drive almost in the middle.
And tooting - there's lots and lots of tooting. The early morning was filled not with the sound of birdsong, but with horns. My driver tooted at almost everything that moved, or so it seemed. Tooting at cyclists, tooting at other tuk tuks - we passed many of the other tuk tuks. In Cambodia you drive on the right hand side of the road, when you make a left hand turn, instead of being in the right hand lane, most drivers turn into the left hand lane hereby driving on the wrong side of the road with oncoming traffic coming towards you. They then guage when to move over into the correct lane. I had my hands resting on each side of the tuk tuk and a motor cyclist came within six inches of it.
I closed my eyes so I wouldn't have to see, then told myself, "Look at the scenery, look at the scenery." Surprisingly, it all seems to go smoothly and nobody crashes!
Unlike here in Australia, no-one slowed down when they passed the local "cop shop". There are many police around, on the sides of the road at certain intervals, standing near the bikes.
This sign was everywhere - I took a bit of a dislike to these three chaps, after all, I couldn't see any advertisments for their opponents. They look so solemn!
As we drove on further, we passed large, expensive hotels. Theses were all situated a fair way out of town. For the rich people. Although why you'd want to stay miles away from town I don't know. It's much more fun staying in the middle of town among the local people. The sights, sounds and general hub-bub of every day life, the little shop across the road, the lady with her chickens hanging up outisde in the air, cafes and markets - these are the things that I enjoy.
We started to see traffic lights, and I was very impressed with them for when they change to red (or green) not only do you have a red/green light, you also see in red or green the number of seconds ticking down until the lights change again.
For example, the light has changed to red, so there's the number 45 in red, which does the countdown - 45, 44, 43, 42, etc. When the number has changed from 4 to 3 - the drivers whizz across. None of this wating for the red number 1 to change to green number 45. Not all lights start at 45, depending on the intersection, some start at 35 or another number.
We turned at a roundabout and were driving alonside the river. It was an idyllic scene and I'd loved to have been able to stop there and just sit on one of the seats for a time looking at the water. I had planned on doing this later, but didn't get the chance. But there's alwasy a next time, and I definitely plan on going back - this time for about a week.
This is the bridge we crossed to get into town and it's the same one used to go out or return.
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