“When the tides of time turn against you,
And the storms of life sink your boat,
Don’t cry and scream and holler,
Just turn on your back and float.”
Quoted from American sitcom ‘The Honeymooners’
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Nha Trang, Vietnam.
Archives for category: Travel
Time for you and time for me,
And time yet for a hundred indecisions,
And for a hundred visions and revisions,
Before the taking of toast and tea.
– T.S. Eliot
Nha Trang, Vietnam.
It is interesting to see the different manifestations of divine powers that humans have come up with.
A week ago while in Vietnam, I visited the Cao Dai Temple in Tay Ninh, Vietnam. The Cao Dai religion is a culmination of a few religions, including Buddhism, Christianity and Confucianism. In their prayers, the worshipers faces the Divine Eye, which represents God.
I believe that most, if not all, religions lead towards the same path. The question of religion should then become whether one believes in the existence of God.
Happy Easter!
A few years ago, I came across a Japanese saying about water. It commented on how water could represent both life and death. One could not live without water. Yet, one could also easily lose his life to water. Such is a paradox of life.
RIP Prof Winston Koh 1963-2013
—
Nha Trang, Vietnam
“Colors are the deeds and suffering of light” goes a quote by the German artist Johan Wolfgan von Goethe.
I first stumbled upon this quote while reading the photography book of Alex Webb titled “Suffering of Light’. The Magnum photographer commented of how he was mesmerized by the radiance of color photography, especially of photos taken in the tropical region.
While the streaking sun had bothered me much while I was in Bangkok, I am relieved of the slight tinge of vibrancy in my photos.
There is something called the Terror Management Theory. No, this theory has nothing to do with horror movies! Rather, it proposes that human behavior is always motivated by their sub-conscious fear towards death. So, religions supposedly came about to help us mere mortals make sense of the world (and make peace with death).
This brings me to a point raised by a Thai friend of mine. She mentioned how, in a Buddhist perspective, an early, natural death may not necessarily be a negative thing. A person who dies young may have a pure soul and have completed what he or she is meant to do on Earth.
I may not be a Buddhist, but what she said resounded in my heart. At 23, I’m still making sense of the world, let alone death. Ironically, I’ve come to realize that the fear of death has somewhat made my life worth living.
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Bangkok, Thailand
Pretty colorful houses occupy Burano Island in the Venetian Lagoon. Besides these houses, the island is also known for its lacework. Then, there’s the Da Romano restaurant recommended by TV personality, chef Anthony Bourdain. In my trip to Venice last year, visiting Burano was one of the top highlights. How could one not feel cheered up looking at those bright colors?
I’m excited that the above photo of mine has been featured in Noise Singapore 2012 showcase and publication. Noise is an annual festival showcasing art and music by the youth. If you’re in Singapore, be sure to check out the showcase in ION Orchard Basement 4 (now until 4 March). Many inspiring works await you!
Today, when my friend exclaimed “Happy Valentine’s Day!”, I had no idea how to react. You see, I had no date. And I never had one. So, every year, Valentine’s Day comes across as a typical, non-significant day.
Except that I notice more girls dressing up than usual, and more girls carrying flower bouquets in their hands.
Do I feel jealous? If I say absolutely no, I’ll be lying. But, am I in a hurry to find a companionship? No. I’m still 22! So, no hurry means no worries (ok, just a little bit perhaps).
The shot above was taken in Berlin in July 2011. I didn’t go hunting for PDA behaviors in Singapore today. But, wherever one may be, it’s easy to notice couples who are very much in love through their body language. Kisses are not necessary. They’re just an icing on the cake.
In Hong Kong, my friends and I visited Sam Mun Tsai village in Taipo. What astounded us was the sheer number of Chinese graves lying on top of a nearby hill. These graves took up more space than the typical Hong Kong arrangement, which was narrow and vertical (even the living lives this way!) Perhaps, the village’s obscure location, along with the abundance of unused space, meant that these dead residents could afford the luxury of, uh, space.
All of the graves faced the sea. This was most likely to be based on Feng Shui practices, which partly aimed to bring prosperity to one’s descendants. Then, there are Mountain God tombstones accompanying some of the graves (below is such picture with orange offerings).
I decide to present these tombstones with pictures of the surrounding nature. They provide an interesting parallel. One can argue that in death, one returns to ashes, and to mother nature. One may face the issue of death alone in spirit, like the lonesome tree figures. And, when one finally accepts death, it’s like letting one’s grip off the shore, and allowing oneself to be carried off by the current of the ocean. You’re free, but you don’t know where you’ll be heading to.
The Occupy movement stormed the world last September. To this day, it is still ongoing in some cities, including Hong Kong. I had been unaware of its existence in Hong Kong until my Hong Kong friends brought me to its site.
What struck me the most was its location — which was beneath HSBC Asian headquarter in Central. It was like breathing under the throat of capitalism for the sake of fighting its corrupting influence. The Hong Kong protestors had been criticized for not having clear demands, but still they had been on camp over the past 2 months. No signs of police trying to evict them yet.
This was the last picture I took before my 18-55mm lens died. So, it will take at least a week before there’ll be a new batch of pictures! In the meantime, I will be uploading my earlier photos of Hong Kong.
