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 zSunrise and Sunset. Show all posts
Showing posts with label zSunrise and Sunset. 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
Tuesday
107. Sunset over Malacca
I love watching the sunset and each one is more beautiful than the last. It brings with it a calmness and serenity that cannot be equaled.
The best place to see the sunset is at the top of St. Paul's Hill. You get a magnificent view and the colours are just superb.
Sunsets are so beautiful that they almost seem as if we were looking through the gates of Heaven. ~ John Lubbock
The best place to see the sunset is at the top of St. Paul's Hill. You get a magnificent view and the colours are just superb.
Sunsets are so beautiful that they almost seem as if we were looking through the gates of Heaven. ~ John Lubbock
Monday
67. The Last Sunrise
My last morning in Siem Reap and I had trouble sleeping, so I went upstairs to the balcony and sat in the cool morning air and waited for the dawn. As the light slowly changed, I watched my last Cambodian sunrise - it was a bittersweet moment. I was leaving and wanted to stay. The past coulpe of days had been the most meaningful and rewarding of any and I didn;t want it to end. I felt at one with this place and could easily have stayed for a very long time.
Above: Balcony view
This was my view in the early hours of the morning.
Above: The Last Sunrise
Wonderful pinks from the rising of the sun. Taken from the upstairs balcony. I wish I had been able to get a more panoramic photo, but it wasn't possible with the balcony building outline.
This was my view in the early hours of the morning.
Wonderful pinks from the rising of the sun. Taken from the upstairs balcony. I wish I had been able to get a more panoramic photo, but it wasn't possible with the balcony building outline.
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.
Tuesday
53. Angkor Wat -1. Sunrise
In the middle of the night
I woke at 2.00am, went back to sleep, then woke at 3.00am, had coffee on the balcony. Couldn't sleep. I seemed to be wide awake. I think it was the excitement that made my brain work in over-drive - today was the day - the day I would spend at the temples starting with watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat. I was too excited to sleep, so I just mooched around doing nothing, although I did go through countless cups of tea and coffee.
Numerous teas later and enough ciggies to start a fire, it was time (finally) to get ready and set off. I'm sure my stomach was sloshing around like the Pacific Ocean, I'd drunk so much!
A new driver
Going downstairs I looked around for my driver but didn't see him. A fellow came and introduced himself to me, telling me his name was Zola and he would be my driver today. I asked why, where was Pookeah. His answer? "Mr. Pookeah busy at home today." I thought this cryptic answer rather strange and felt some trepidation getting into a tuk tuk with an unknown fellow. I questioned him further but he didn't elicit any more information other than "Mr. Pookeah is busy at home today and cannot come." (I did wonder if Pookeah was annoyed with me for staying so long at the Silk Farm yesterday and changed drivers because of it.)
5.30 and all's well
So used to call the time keepers of the 18th century - we left at half past five, the morning air was lovely and cool - well warm actually but very pleasant and coolish with the wind fanning my face. We made our way along that long avenue where I'd been driven the night before, and turned left. The moat on the right was hazy with early morning - that time between night and dawn.
Zola pulled over and said he'd be waiting "Over there" to pick me up. I made my way slowly along the long causeway.
Above: Angkor Wat before dawn
This was my first visit to Angkor Wat and I was struck with the wonder of it all. I was here - here at Angkor Wat where so many other thousands of visitors had stood and walked. It was one of the most amazing feelings in my life. In the middle (well almost) of the night - hundreds and hundreds of other souls just like me here to see the sun as it comes up over Angkor Wat.
Where's the best place to see the sunrise?
I didn't have a guide (I didn't want to fork out US$25 for some bloke to walk around with me saying see this, see that) - I preferred to do it at my own pace. Walking and mingling among the people, I noticed a few guides with their quarry and tried to listen in. Eventually I asked a man where's the best place to see the sunrise? He pointed to my left and said, "Over there, in front of the water."
I slowly made my way down and saw many chairs all placed in a semi-circle on the left hand side - the front row almost touching the water's edge. People had breakfast and drink bottles, people were sitting on the ground, so I found a spot, sat down and waited.
Above: The sun shyly peeps over the horizon
In the interval between sitting down and the first glow of a new dawn, the colours of the sky changed - blue, pink, mauve and as the sun shyly peeped over the tower it was awesome. Everybody stood entranced to the exclamations of "Oohs" and "Aahs".
You could hear a pin drop, so quiet was it. Faces focused to the east, all with the one intent - to witness the dawning of a new day. The glorious colours and hues of the sun, the sky and the shimmering reflection in the water.
Above: Changing sky colour
There were many shades of pinks but this was only time the sky was filled with a golden glow.
Above: The sun between the towers
The sun's reflection in the water was like a fiery beacon amid a sea of pinks - pink sky, pink water.
Above: Sun between the second and middle tower
The sun gradually moved and appeared between the towers of Angkor Wat.
Above: Sun behind the middle tower
You can see the sun just peeping around the middle tower.
Above: Sun between the middle and the fourth tower
As the sun rose higher, the sky colour deepens and the brilliant rays emit a vivid orange/red.
Above: Sunrise
The sun has risen - let us rejoice. A new day has begun.
I woke at 2.00am, went back to sleep, then woke at 3.00am, had coffee on the balcony. Couldn't sleep. I seemed to be wide awake. I think it was the excitement that made my brain work in over-drive - today was the day - the day I would spend at the temples starting with watching the sunrise over Angkor Wat. I was too excited to sleep, so I just mooched around doing nothing, although I did go through countless cups of tea and coffee.
Numerous teas later and enough ciggies to start a fire, it was time (finally) to get ready and set off. I'm sure my stomach was sloshing around like the Pacific Ocean, I'd drunk so much!
A new driver
Going downstairs I looked around for my driver but didn't see him. A fellow came and introduced himself to me, telling me his name was Zola and he would be my driver today. I asked why, where was Pookeah. His answer? "Mr. Pookeah busy at home today." I thought this cryptic answer rather strange and felt some trepidation getting into a tuk tuk with an unknown fellow. I questioned him further but he didn't elicit any more information other than "Mr. Pookeah is busy at home today and cannot come." (I did wonder if Pookeah was annoyed with me for staying so long at the Silk Farm yesterday and changed drivers because of it.)
5.30 and all's well
So used to call the time keepers of the 18th century - we left at half past five, the morning air was lovely and cool - well warm actually but very pleasant and coolish with the wind fanning my face. We made our way along that long avenue where I'd been driven the night before, and turned left. The moat on the right was hazy with early morning - that time between night and dawn.
Zola pulled over and said he'd be waiting "Over there" to pick me up. I made my way slowly along the long causeway.
This was my first visit to Angkor Wat and I was struck with the wonder of it all. I was here - here at Angkor Wat where so many other thousands of visitors had stood and walked. It was one of the most amazing feelings in my life. In the middle (well almost) of the night - hundreds and hundreds of other souls just like me here to see the sun as it comes up over Angkor Wat.
Where's the best place to see the sunrise?
I didn't have a guide (I didn't want to fork out US$25 for some bloke to walk around with me saying see this, see that) - I preferred to do it at my own pace. Walking and mingling among the people, I noticed a few guides with their quarry and tried to listen in. Eventually I asked a man where's the best place to see the sunrise? He pointed to my left and said, "Over there, in front of the water."
I slowly made my way down and saw many chairs all placed in a semi-circle on the left hand side - the front row almost touching the water's edge. People had breakfast and drink bottles, people were sitting on the ground, so I found a spot, sat down and waited.
In the interval between sitting down and the first glow of a new dawn, the colours of the sky changed - blue, pink, mauve and as the sun shyly peeped over the tower it was awesome. Everybody stood entranced to the exclamations of "Oohs" and "Aahs".
You could hear a pin drop, so quiet was it. Faces focused to the east, all with the one intent - to witness the dawning of a new day. The glorious colours and hues of the sun, the sky and the shimmering reflection in the water.
There were many shades of pinks but this was only time the sky was filled with a golden glow.
The sun's reflection in the water was like a fiery beacon amid a sea of pinks - pink sky, pink water.
The sun gradually moved and appeared between the towers of Angkor Wat.
You can see the sun just peeping around the middle tower.
As the sun rose higher, the sky colour deepens and the brilliant rays emit a vivid orange/red.
The sun has risen - let us rejoice. A new day has begun.
Friday
52. Phnom Bakheng - Sunsets & Elephants
The phases of the setting sun
After seeing the sun peeking through overgrown trees and not being able to see much, I moved around a bit and found a spot where you had a good view - the space between the trees was wide and the misty haze surrounding the distant hills and forest was like something out of a children's fairy tale.
Above: Sunset at Phnom Bakheng
Rather than post up seven different photos. I've made them into a collage which not only takes less space but also makes it easier to see the different stages. I haven't numbered them as this would detract from the pictures, they are from the top row going from left to right - 3, 5, 1, 7, 6, 4, and 2.
At the beginning the sky was a light pink with a touch of blue which deepened to a darker shade of pink with a purpley mauve. As the sun sank lower this changed to a pale apricot, with shades of light yellow deepening to a fiery golden orange. I long for the day when I can afford a really good camera which captures the bright orange ball which is the sun and show the brilliant fiery colours I saw.
Above: Elephant riding
As people started leaving, I looked around for my elephant - where were they? Walking along to the right I saw a sign and turning left went towards them. Showing my ticket I was led to "my" elephant. She is a female, aged 42 years old and her name is Tao.
Remember the children's song we used to sing?
Heidi, Heidi, Ho,
The great big elephant is so slow,
She swings her trunk from side to side
As she takes the children for a ride.
Heidi, Heidi, Ho,
The elephant is so slow!
Above: Coming down the mountain
One of the things I really, really wanted to do was ride an elephant, I've ridden Harleys and camels, and an elephant was a "must do" - well for me it was. Now, you might think that sitting on top of an elephant like a British Memsahib from days of yore in colonial times, gently swaying from side to side while you look down and around you from your wondrous height would have you feeling like some Duchess, n'est-ce pas? - but think again.
A 1200 - 1400 pound (that's 545 - 635 kg) elephant plodding along a flat path is one thing, but a 1400 pounder going down a very steep hill/mountain is an experience to remember! With every heavy step thumping down, I was at a forward angle and each time we moved I found me rear end slid forwards - almost off the seat. How embarrassing if I should go zoom, woosh, splat! With arms out-stretched, I held onto the wooden sides. It felt like my arms were coming out of their sockets some of the time - but Oh! It was a wonderful experience, and yes, I'd do it all over again given the chance.
There were wonderful views coming down that hill, trees so close I could have touched them (well I could have were it not for me arms hangin' on for dear life to the wooden sides of me elephant basket) - through the trees I could see Angkor Wat. First it had greenery around it, then later as night drew in it was dark blue and grey - as you can see in the collage above.
Tip
Make sure you wear cotton clothes - don't wear shiny, silky pants - they don't have very good grip!☺
Above: The "Book" Salesman again!
Remember how I said in the previous post (No. 51) that the local people have memories like an elephant, and I'd explain later? Yes, well...
When we reached the bottom, I thanked my driver and looked around me - there were people everywhere, and the "book boy" rushed towards me wanting me to buy books, and the lady I called in my mind "The Scarf Lady" - both of them were jabbering (in English) for me to buy this scarf, buy this book - "You said you'd buy this when you came back and I waited for you. You say you buy, I wait for you now you buy." Oh mama mia - this was when the rule of "Never say maybe later" hit me. To us, it means just that, but this boy (and the woman) thought I meant I would definitely buy later. Well, I like to think that's what they thought and not that they deliberately misunderstood on purpose - if you know what I mean. (Sigh).
Well, anyway, as much as I didn't want to buy a scarf - I didn't like the ones she had anyway, and I really didn't want to buy something straight away, they sort of made me feel obligated to buy something. The young lad wanted US$25 for one book and $15 for another one - he had an assortment of them. I told him I'd think about it and perhaps tomorrow. His reply? "But tomorrow I go to school"
Hmm....he kept asking $25, I kept saying no, he offered $20, I shook my head, the scarf woman was on the other side buy my scarf, buy my scarf - I flipped through the pages of two books, he offered two for $15, I said no, (I didn't like one of them) so....I looked him straight in the eye and said, "I'll give you $10 for that book" Then it was buy both for $15, etc etc etc, but I'd offered ten - after both of us dancing around and skirting the issue of "two for $15" and "$10 for that one" he looked at the woman who nodded her head slightly, and it was then I realised she must have been his mother.
During all this exchange, I spoke softly and smiled as I spoke. Even if you've been accosted and asked for the 500th time if you want to buy a bottle of water (or whatever else it is), don't raise your voice and show your annoyance, you'll lose all respect and the people won't think very much of you. Just smile, shake your head and above all - be polite.
Above: The way back
After having had my first exchange at "bargaining" I climbed into my tuk tuk and we were off. The night air was pleasantly cool with the breeze fanning my face and it was quite dark. This was my view - or one of them. The back of my driver as we motored through the countryside the sounds of night around us.
After seeing the sun peeking through overgrown trees and not being able to see much, I moved around a bit and found a spot where you had a good view - the space between the trees was wide and the misty haze surrounding the distant hills and forest was like something out of a children's fairy tale.
Rather than post up seven different photos. I've made them into a collage which not only takes less space but also makes it easier to see the different stages. I haven't numbered them as this would detract from the pictures, they are from the top row going from left to right - 3, 5, 1, 7, 6, 4, and 2.
At the beginning the sky was a light pink with a touch of blue which deepened to a darker shade of pink with a purpley mauve. As the sun sank lower this changed to a pale apricot, with shades of light yellow deepening to a fiery golden orange. I long for the day when I can afford a really good camera which captures the bright orange ball which is the sun and show the brilliant fiery colours I saw.
As people started leaving, I looked around for my elephant - where were they? Walking along to the right I saw a sign and turning left went towards them. Showing my ticket I was led to "my" elephant. She is a female, aged 42 years old and her name is Tao.
Remember the children's song we used to sing?
Heidi, Heidi, Ho,
The great big elephant is so slow,
She swings her trunk from side to side
As she takes the children for a ride.
Heidi, Heidi, Ho,
The elephant is so slow!
One of the things I really, really wanted to do was ride an elephant, I've ridden Harleys and camels, and an elephant was a "must do" - well for me it was. Now, you might think that sitting on top of an elephant like a British Memsahib from days of yore in colonial times, gently swaying from side to side while you look down and around you from your wondrous height would have you feeling like some Duchess, n'est-ce pas? - but think again.
A 1200 - 1400 pound (that's 545 - 635 kg) elephant plodding along a flat path is one thing, but a 1400 pounder going down a very steep hill/mountain is an experience to remember! With every heavy step thumping down, I was at a forward angle and each time we moved I found me rear end slid forwards - almost off the seat. How embarrassing if I should go zoom, woosh, splat! With arms out-stretched, I held onto the wooden sides. It felt like my arms were coming out of their sockets some of the time - but Oh! It was a wonderful experience, and yes, I'd do it all over again given the chance.
There were wonderful views coming down that hill, trees so close I could have touched them (well I could have were it not for me arms hangin' on for dear life to the wooden sides of me elephant basket) - through the trees I could see Angkor Wat. First it had greenery around it, then later as night drew in it was dark blue and grey - as you can see in the collage above.
Tip
Make sure you wear cotton clothes - don't wear shiny, silky pants - they don't have very good grip!☺
Remember how I said in the previous post (No. 51) that the local people have memories like an elephant, and I'd explain later? Yes, well...
When we reached the bottom, I thanked my driver and looked around me - there were people everywhere, and the "book boy" rushed towards me wanting me to buy books, and the lady I called in my mind "The Scarf Lady" - both of them were jabbering (in English) for me to buy this scarf, buy this book - "You said you'd buy this when you came back and I waited for you. You say you buy, I wait for you now you buy." Oh mama mia - this was when the rule of "Never say maybe later" hit me. To us, it means just that, but this boy (and the woman) thought I meant I would definitely buy later. Well, I like to think that's what they thought and not that they deliberately misunderstood on purpose - if you know what I mean. (Sigh).
Well, anyway, as much as I didn't want to buy a scarf - I didn't like the ones she had anyway, and I really didn't want to buy something straight away, they sort of made me feel obligated to buy something. The young lad wanted US$25 for one book and $15 for another one - he had an assortment of them. I told him I'd think about it and perhaps tomorrow. His reply? "But tomorrow I go to school"
Hmm....he kept asking $25, I kept saying no, he offered $20, I shook my head, the scarf woman was on the other side buy my scarf, buy my scarf - I flipped through the pages of two books, he offered two for $15, I said no, (I didn't like one of them) so....I looked him straight in the eye and said, "I'll give you $10 for that book" Then it was buy both for $15, etc etc etc, but I'd offered ten - after both of us dancing around and skirting the issue of "two for $15" and "$10 for that one" he looked at the woman who nodded her head slightly, and it was then I realised she must have been his mother.
During all this exchange, I spoke softly and smiled as I spoke. Even if you've been accosted and asked for the 500th time if you want to buy a bottle of water (or whatever else it is), don't raise your voice and show your annoyance, you'll lose all respect and the people won't think very much of you. Just smile, shake your head and above all - be polite.
After having had my first exchange at "bargaining" I climbed into my tuk tuk and we were off. The night air was pleasantly cool with the breeze fanning my face and it was quite dark. This was my view - or one of them. The back of my driver as we motored through the countryside the sounds of night around us.
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