Sep 28

Pengkalan Balak the beach

By Beautiful Melaka, Photography
beach of Pengkalan Balak, Melaka

beach of Pengkalan Balak, Melaka

After our first visit to Lubok Cina to meet the Ling’s family, Kok-Liang, Tracy, Wee-Peng, Patrick, Meng-Hong and I left the place and drove back to the town of Melaka. It was 4:00 pm in the afternoon and we were starving. Since Pengkalan Balak is not far from there, we headed to the beach and look for some local food.

The town was lively in the afternoon when we arrived. Just at the corner of the street to the beach, we found a Malay food stall with many diners. In fact, we didn’t have many options as it was Hari Raya; many Malay-operated shops were close for business. We parked our car and had a meal there. Nevertheless, the food was yummy especially the cucur udang (in Malay: mixture of prawn fritters with fried tofu, cucumber and others ingredients topped with wonderful peanut sauce). Many customers ordered the dish too.

After the meal, Patrick and Meng-Hong who drove in a car returned to town for dinner with their family. They left but the rest of us stayed for sightseeing at the beach. There is a Turtle Sanctuary Centre not far from where we ate. It took us some time to drive and locate it however was already closed after 4:00 pm when we found the centre. Without disappointment, we walked along the rocky beach, then sat under the trees and enjoyed the scenery of the seaside and the life of typical fishing village:

cucur udang, a local malay food

cucur udang, a local malay food

Tracy was photo taking

Tracy was photo taking

green green grass by the beach

green green grass by the beach

the beautiful coastline of Pengkalan Balak's beach

the beautiful coastline of Pengkalan Balak's beach

the fishermen

the fishermen

home-coming

home-coming

rocky stones

rocky stones

home with catch

home with catch

friends, Tracy and Kok-Liang

friends, Tracy and Kok-Liang

the sand, the swimmers and the joy

the sand, the swimmers and the joy

friends resting under the trees, from left: Kok-Liang, Tracy and Wee-Peng

friends resting under the trees, from left: Kok-Liang, Tracy and Wee-Peng

We had a very good time at Pengkalan Balak. Thanks to Kok-Liang, Tracy, Wee-Peng, Patrick, Meng-Hong for their company. May all beings be happy.

Facebook Comments
Sep 26

Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes – by Lao Tzu

By Wisdom
Lao Tzu by Fan-Zeng / 老子图 – 范曾画

Lao Tzu by Fan-Zeng / 老子图 – 范曾画

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them – that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like. ”
-Lao Tzu

Facebook Comments
Sep 25

Trips to visit little Chern of the Ling’s family

By Life Journal, Photography
the Ling's family: Cynthia, little Chern, and Mark

the Ling's family: Cynthia, little Chern, and Mark

Congratulation to the proud parents, Mark and Cynthia for their newborn baby, Khim-Chern. Hope the both of you be loving parents. Do your best. Enjoy your baby!

Last week was the full month of little Chern from the Ling’s family. They celebrated by throwing a party at the house of Cynthia’s parents in Lubok Cina. It took us 45 minutes drive from Melaka to the place.

Before this party, we paid a visit to the Ling’s family a week before the party. Kok-Liang, Tracy, Wee-Peng, Meng-Hong, Patrick and I departed after our breakfast and travelled to Lubok Cina. Ever since Cynthia delivered the baby, we didn’t have the chance to visit the family. So it was thrilling of this trip.

When we arrived, Mark the new father was happily welcomed us and showed us around the house before bringing us to little Chern. Cynthia, the new mother was in the house, looking healthy and cheerful, expecting for our arrival. We just could not wait to step into the house and look at the baby. Little Chern was so tiny and cute. He was sleeping in the baby hammock. We didn’t want to interrupt his slumber so we had a chat with the parents for their new experience.

the fingers of father and son

the fingers of father and son

Shortly during our chat, the baby woke up and cried. He was hungry. The moment came when the new father had to carry his responsibility to milk the baby. So Mark held little Chern in his arms just like what a mother would do and slowly placed teat into the baby’s mouth. The atmosphere was warm and quiet; everyone was watching at the father and son.

Mark feeding little Chern in his arms

Mark feeding little Chern in his arms

Mark patiently feeding little Chern while the baby enjoyed the meal. After 20 minutes finished the milking, Mark held little Chern up on his tight, repeated gently patting on the baby’s back to bring him to burp. This would help little Chern to get rid of some of the air that he tends to swallow during feeding because not being burped frequently and too much swallowed air can lead to spitting up and gassiness.

Feeding a baby is an exciting experience for any new parent and Mark seemed to enjoy it. The process happened again during our second visit for the full month party. Mark became very experience after a month of practice.

During the second visit, many of us got to hold the baby the arms. After feeding, Cindy, Tracy, Lawrence and Cinda were so keen to hold little Chern and did that one after another’s turn. Some of them held baby for the first time, feeling excited yet anxious. Then the couples started to talk and play with the baby. Maybe, it is soon for us to see a new family of our friends.

Short after little Chern back to slumber land after milking, both visits ended in warm embraces and promises to visit again. It was a wonderful trip to Lubok Cina to see the Ling’s family and exciting experience to observe the parents taking care of little Chern.

Thanks for everyone for going on these trips together and spent a precious time together. We would like to congratulate and thank the Ling’s family for having a healthy and cute baby, inviting us to their house and sharing the experience with us. To Mark and Cynthia, may little Chern fill your life with sparkles and twinkles.

 May all beings be happy. Share some shots taken after the jump:

Read More

Facebook Comments
Sep 23

Gates is giving away his billions to defeat global poverty

By Compassion
Hope ... Melinda and Bill visiting a Gates-funded research centre in Mozambique (photo credit: Corbis)

Hope ... Melinda and Bill visiting a Gates-funded research centre in Mozambique (photo credit: Corbis)

For much of his adult life the unremarkable-looking bloke in slacks and sensible woollen jumper opposite me has been the richest man on earth.

Worth an estimated £34billion, William Henry Gates III, as Microsoft founder Bill Gates was christened, could have settled for growing old in limitless luxury.

Now 54, he ranks alongside the Medicis, Romanovs, Rothschilds and Rockefellers as one of history’s wealthiest individuals.

But Gates has no interest in using his billions to launch a dynasty. He is giving away his fortune.

The father-of-three has unleashed his planet-sized brain and the extraordinary dynamism that made Microsoft the all-conquering global software giant to defeat global poverty.

Read More

Facebook Comments
Sep 22

Outdoor portrait photography – Gina

By Photography
Outdoor portrait photography of Gina

Outdoor portrait photography of Gina

Two weeks ago, Kenn-Wai rang me up and invited me to join an outdoor portrait shooting of Gina. She is a Malaccan working as news reporter of a local TV station in Kuala Lumpur. I was happy to join the shooting, hoping to learn about portraiture photography from Kenn-Wai which he is skillful in.

In the 4pm afternoon of Sunday, after meeting up with Kenn-Wai in Pulau Gadong and picked up Gina who staying nearby, we went to some of the good sites with beautiful landscape. Kenn-Wai always knows where to go for fascinating spots especially in Pulau Gadong as where he lives.

First we reached at a vast paddy field and found that the crop was just after harvest. Without the full-grown greenish paddy which we anticipated, we set to look for an alternative site. Kenn-Wai then recalled a corn farm not far from the paddy field. We then drove to the next destination.

When we were lucky to locate the corn farm, the trees appeared in yellow, russet and brown colors. They were pretty much dead, probably due to drought damage or pesticide over-dosage. Thinking that it might be a new experience, we chose to stay and shoot in this brownish corn farm.

Gina in brownish corn farm

Gina in brownish corn farm

The theme was country girl. After having some short chat with Gina, we started our shooting. Gina was requested to enjoy herself and be herself in the sense doing what she would normally do without the presence of others. Gina understood what we wanted and with her experience, she picked up really quickly and was doing very well and natural. Gina gave us her full cooperation which made the shooting progressing.

The sun was setting over the hill and the natural light source was not that sufficient especially when we moved into the trees. Kenn-Wai is good in with flash units and always creates amazing lighting for his shots. After taking some shots however, Kenn-Wai passed his wireless flash unit to me, sacrificed his time and shared with me his knowledge in flash lighting. I really appreciate Kenn-Wai’s kindness and the credit of the last few shots would go to him.

Two hours later we were worn out and thirsty. The shooting was concluded after we had some refreshing coconut drinks nearby. It was really great and fun outing with Kenn-Wai and Gina. Thanks to Kenn-Wai for inviting me and sharing much of his experience and thanks to Gina for giving in her time and being tolerate throughout the whole session.

May all beings be happy. Some shots taken:

Read More

Facebook Comments
Sep 19

Ni Zhi Dao Wo Zai Deng Ni Ma (妳知道我在等你吗) – by Stephen Tang

By Music and video
Stephen Tang at Jason's house

Stephen Tang at Jason's house

The song, Ni Zhi Dao Wo Zai Deng Ni Ma (“Do you know I am waiting for you?” in Chinese) is a classic and was a very popular song back in late 80s. This song was originally written and sung by Zhang Hong Liang (张洪量). And it was so popular that many other singers have covered it such as Teresa Teng, Jacky Cheung, Leng Yu, and Anthony Lun.

Last week my friend, Stephen Tang and I went to Jason’s place, and Stephen was attracted to Jason’s piano in the living hall. He told us he could play some songs but we doubted. Stephen said to us that the same thing happened to his partner Pei-Ching; she thought it was a joke.

“Let me practise for 10 minutes and I shall remember how to play.” Stephen said while warming up his fingers and slowly sat by the piano, which he had not played for a decade.

As soon as the melody reached our ears, Stephen touched us as beautifully as he touched the keys of the piano. What further amazed us was he played without the piano scores. Stephen continued to present some songs wonderfully as we requested.

It’s always nice and fun to go for a tea chat with Stephen as he is a funny and straight forward friend. And to prove to Pei-Ching, I recorded Stephen’s play, Ni Zhi Dao Wo Zai Deng Ni Ma.

May all beings be happy.

Facebook Comments