June.July 2011

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Poet, Dylan Thomas said, “He who seeks rest finds boredom. He who seeks work finds rest.” I missEEd the boredom. After weeks of work, finally I got a rest today and do some write up, to make order out of chaos. Chinese says, rest is to go further..

Duanwu Festival, also known as Dragon Boat Festival falls on the 6th of June this year. It is a celebration of the life of Qu Yuan, Chinese poet from the southern Chu during the Warring States Period. Upon learning that the State of Chu had been defeated by Qin, he committed ritual suicide by drowning in the river as a form of protest against the corruption of the era in great despair and distress.

The townspeople, hearing of Qu Yuan’s fate, rushed to their boats to try to save him. Since he was much loved, they tried to prevent the fish from eating his body by throwing rice dumplings (Zongzi) into the water. They beat drums to keep evil spirits away. In commemoration of Qu Yuan, people still eat Zongzi and hold dragon boat races annually on the day of his sacrifice.

This year I managed to watch the race of dragon boats at the water front of Case del Rio Hotel Melaka. Together with the racing event, a Chinese calligraphy competition was held at the site. When I went for shooting the dragon boats, I met some old friends, little Tang and father Tang, and other Chinese calligraphy teachers, which was first after many many months. It was great to get to see them and know that they were well doing.

And last month I celebrated the 2nd birthday of my buddy 500D camera but also grieved the end of its shutter life after a month. The tigers shot in Melaka Zoo below was the last click from the camera. Now it’s in the service center waiting for its repair. There won’t be any shooting until its return, while I’m considering of getting a new buddy to join the family, to take photography a step further.

May all bEEings happy. Sharing the snapshots taken in Melaka within these two months,