Presint 2, Putrajaya

Since I moved down to Kuala Lumpur, I had chance to do the things that I always wanted to do. Photography is one of that 'thing' I consider as my passion. Initially I wanted to go to the wetlands, but having multiple turns and rounds, I still can't get to the opposite side of the road. The road in Putrajaya was made in such a way that a wrong turn will take you another 5 km to turn back, which is all the hassle. Drawn by the height of this bridge, I drove towards it instead.

From far, it looks like a yacht. From near, it looks awesome. This is one of the structural marvel that should be seen in real life. Many, including me, had make this bridge as their wedding photo shooting scene. Not unsurprising, as the lines drawn are very sharp and geometry wise it is in its harmony.Simply beautiful.

The complex network of wires and frames

Parallel lines

Sky curtain

The thick pillar

Twisting of the lines

Butterfly

Geometry is simply brilliant!

Last Moments of A Bachelor's Life

I guess a man always want to feel belonged. After having a stable career, he wants a family, a wife to journey the life, couple of children to share the joy, a house to live in and a group of good friends. He can't wait to start the family and get married. But I guess, human are always confused. He will have mixed feelings. On the verge of marriage, he will think of all the responsibility that is going to fall on his shoulders. Is this the right decision? I mean, what can a person lose when getting married? My married friend told me, you loose a lot. Gone were the days of partying till the wee hours in the morning, hanging out with friends, traveling alone to odd places,  talking simply about everything: who is the new 'chic' pharmacist, who is going to win the election or what is the best condom brand. Welcome to the real world. Now who is going to wake up to attend to the baby cry? Who is going to change his diaper, feed him milk? All the talks centered around the best formula milk, the most ergonomic stroller, and the nursery that abuse their kids.

It sounds like nightmare, isn't it? I feel scared sometimes.

My friend also told me, you will gain a lot. You'll have a life partner, to share the joy when you are up in the sky, and to comfort you when you're down on your knees. Behind every success man, there is always an even more capable woman to support him, to buffer him and most of all, to love him. There will never be a dull moment in your life. When the right time comes, and you are blessed with your first born, that joy is indescribable. It felt like your life is complete. If gives you a reason to come home after work, to quickly put aside your work and start your life. It puts a smile on your face that worth a million dollar. Though there are hard times, sleepless nights, seeing him grow up is the best thing you can hope for.

Now, I am not scared anymore.

The Painted Window

I was on a walking tour in Ho Chi Minh City. There was this very tall pair of stipples standing in the park of the town. Out of curiousity, I entered the church. I discovered this pair of painted glass on the side wall.

It tells a story. I do not know what the story is about, but I believe during war times, people seek refugee in this church. When the world is full of chaos out there, this place will bring them some peace and shelters. Many had carved words onto the walls, saying their prayers.

We live in a world of chaos, where brothers and sisters fights; the society fights; the government fights; and the nation fights! On the other hand, some had inner war, where there are conflicts of thoughts. All these will bring to unhappiness to us.

Hope you finds your inner peace tonight.

Rising of The Phoenix

I don't like to write about advice. In fact, I am poor at teaching people, guiding them. There are a handful of juniors under me that seems to have not benefited anything at all after they left from my department. I just like story-telling, narrating of the whole event, from the beginning to the end. 

I was sitting by the beach, eagerly waiting for the sunrise. It was a long time that I didn't find my 'inner peace'. Despite they said I am fortunate to live in this town that has beautiful beaches, scenic mountains, and a peaceful river carved the beauty of this small town, but I didn't see it. The sound of the waves hitting on the white sands attracts tourist from far far away, but I didn't hear it. The coolness of the rushing waterfall on the skin that washes away all the troubles, but I didn't feel it. These few years I had been severely disconnected to the environment.

Watching a sunrise is a good chance to think about our life. Every sunrise is like a hurdle in life. It gets dramatic in the early part, and became very hot and difficult to manage during its peak and when the sun settle to the west, so does the problems. With time, things will work their ways. When a new day starts, the cycle repeats again. There is not a day without sunrise, nor a day without sunset. Similarly, there is no life without problems, nor solutions to every problems.

I am making comparing this to my education. When I first step into the primary school, I were so elated. When the happiness wears off, left with hard facts of life. Homework, co-curricular activities and exams... Then came the UPSR examination. The hard work put into preparing the exam till I faced head on with the exam. Finally, I passed the examination and moved on to secondary school and the vicious cycle repeats itself, again. Fast forward till now. I had just crept out of my comfort zone as I have been accepted into Masters degree program in internal medicine. And its all rise and shine again. Time to wake up!

KongMing Lantern

Saw this KongMing lantern today. If you never see one, it is a sight to behold. A seems to be very simple mechanism brilliantly brings a lantern up in the sky. What is more surprising is the design was made way back in the ancient Chinese, by non other than the brilliant Sir ZhuGe KongMing.

Its basically a tightly sealed lantern, exposing the bottom end. The fuel of the lantern will create a hot air inside the lantern, expanding it, and bring it airborne. Used in ancient war time to pass messages, now Chinese use it for prayers, writing the wishes on the lantern and hopefully it brings the message to the heavenly place.

Simple, but brilliant.

路上行人欲断魂

破晓

神明

妖魔

幽灵

狱火

诚心

扫墓

 世界上真的有天堂、地狱吗？
人死了，又会到另一个世界吗？还是一切归于乌有？
难于理解

The White Doves

Many white 'doves', which are quails, actually...

Proposal... checked
Tell the parents... checked
Choosing the pre-wedding photographer... checked
Choosing the white dress... checked
Date and time... checked
Venue... checked
Registration... pending
Wedding band... unable to decide

Chinese style wedding is a very taxing, time-consuming, pocket-emptying exercise. I think that is why Chinese practice monogamy... You simply declare bankruptcy after the event, which last less than 24 hours, by the way. Afterwards you will get explosive migraines looking at the aftermath.

The most important thing (highlight) is not the wedding itself, but is to decide on the venue, and checked with their schedule. Booking must be done real early, if not a year ahead, or you will get some crap dates which everyone will not come because it clashed with the lunar calendar. Speaking of the lunar calendar, it is one of the oddest thing, to start with. There are certain dates that looks just fine, but looking at the lunar calendar, the only thing you are allowed to do is to be buried or move into new house. Chinese have been believing in this things, since ancient times. Seldom people dare to break the believe, nor choose the date that doesn't favors both parties (i.e July in lunar month).

Next thing is to 'tackle' the parents. They said a match made in heaven, I refused to believe it! How can two person on this Earth can come together just like that, a live happily ever after? The habits, cultures, do's and dont's, fixed-false believes cannot just go away. Expectations may not met with reality; spending that doesn't match the earnings. There is a lot of arguments, discussion, despair, tears and finally change and tolerance. Then there comes the true love, that is everlasting, time-tested.

To live together with another person is really a challenging feat. You have to get over her lip-smacking habits, her smell, her messy hair, which is hard at first, but in the end, it is the things you can't live without.

Wishing all my friends who are doing the same at this moment, to enjoy every second of it, and smooth sails ahead.

Lost, and Found Again

Gelora Beach, which means 'Waves' in Malay

Recently, I watched a movie of Shrek. He made a promise with Rumpelstiltskin, in exchange for a day of being an ogre, he gave up one day. And that one day was the day he was born. So he loss everything that he had, including his lovely wife Fiona and three cute ogress. And he was deeply regretted that only when he loss everything, then he only noticed what was gone. Aren't we the same in real life?

I took a walk to the beach one day, only to be amazed by the beauty of the sky and water. It was there all the time, but I never took notice. One day if I left this place, I will surely missed the waves, and the gentle breeze, an awful lot.