The golden rose on the Coffee Jar’s menu (iPhonegraphy)

Coffee Jar (呷珈琲) is one of the cafes in Melaka I’ve visited many times for its coffee and cheese cake. The coffee, the ambient, the vibe, and most importantly the two owners and also lovely couple, Ivan and Joe Yee are the many reasons I love to visit the cafe.

On one of my recent visit there, I found something beautiful. Each time we drink at the cafe, the owner will serve a glass of water. One of the many glasses, there is this one, when light on the ceiling beams on it, it reflects and creates a golden rose on the surface beneath it. I just happened to be served with that particular glass, and found the golden rose.

If you happen to visit Coffee Jar, try your luck and look for the glass which creates golden rose.

Found some other shots in my phone taken at other visits to Coffee Jar. Find out its business hour and location at their Facebook page.

A cup of latte at the Coffee Jar (iPhonegraphy)

Leica M5 film camera of Tatsuya, a Japanese photographer we met at the Coffee Jar (iPhonegraphy)

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Marina Barrage in the late afternoon (iPhonegraphy)

Mid of October, during my visit to Singapore for meeting with clients for upcoming wedding assignment, we had a chance to visit to Marina Barrage for the first time.

Henry, my childhood friend traveled together and we then met up with our good friend, Koh Yiaw who works in Singapore. He was generous to bring us around in Singapore.

After meeting up with my clients, we told Koh Yiaw that we had not been to Marina Barrage and Gardens by the Bay, although we had been to Singapore for so many times.

The afternoon in Singapore was warm and windy, a fine day for outdoor activities. While waiting for the Big Trees of the Gardens by the Bay to light up in the evening, we drove to Marina Barrage which is next to the it within 5-10 minutes walking distance, to spend the afternoon before the sun set.

The Marina Barrage is a dam built across the mouth of Marina Channel, to help alleviating floods of same areas and supplying water. On top of that, the facility is further utilized by providing a rooftop park for recreational activities.

Koh Yiaw showed us around the dam and brought us to the rooftop park. There were people there hanging out with friends, picnic, kite-surfing, exercising, drone flying, and some even lying on the grass for sun-bathing.

Henry (left) and Koh Yiaw enjoying sunset at the rooftop park of Marina Barrage (iPhonegraphy)

Later afternoon, as sun was going to set, the crowd started to come in, with groups of tourists, prewedding shooting couples, landscape and cityscape photographers, evening yoga lovers and so on. It was the best time to have the view of sunset over Singapore city with Marina Bay Sands in silhouette.

We could see Big Trees of Gardens by the Bay, the gigantic artificial trees were lighted up after the sun set. We then left Marina Barrage and headed for the Big Trees before the sky turned completely dark.

Big Trees of Gardens by the Bay with Marina Bay Sands in scene (iPhonegraphy

The parking of Gardens by the Bay was full and cars were queuing for parking spaces. We did a quick stop to get close to the Big Trees near the ticketing counters, to experience how gigantic the lighted trees. Before the sky went dark, photographing the lighted trees with the colorful sky as backdrop can be interesting and spiced up the mood of the photographs.

Thank you Koh Yiaw again for spending half the day with us showing the two interesting places of Singapore, and also brought us for wonderful meals and coffee.

If you would love to visit the two places, just Google Map and search for Marina Barrage or Gardens by the Bay. The places are reachable with public transport including MRT.

They are next to each other and the admission is free for Marina Barrage and ticket is required on certain areas of Gardens by the Bay. Visit of the outdoor gardens and the Big Trees is however free.

The post Marina Barrage and Gardens by the Bay, places for outdoor activities in Singapore appeared first on juesatta (CJ Photography).

Izakaya Kushi Masa in Melaka, closing down this month (iPhonegraphy)

Otsukaresama deshita (お疲れ様でした) is Japanese expression of appreciation of one’s hard work. In this case we thank the Japanese owner and also chef Mr. Yanai and his crew from Izakaya Kushi Masa Japanese restaurant (串政居酒屋) for their years in Melaka serving delicious Japanase cuisine.

The restaurant in Plaza Mahkota Melaka is probably one of the Japanese restaurants in Melaka who has the most Japanese customers, mostly those who work in Melaka or visit to Melaka. Mr. Yanai makes delicious Japanese meals especially the BBQ, considered to be having authentic Japanese taste which attracts the Japanese in Melaka and even the locals.

Unfortunately Mr. Yanai has decided to cease the business by this month (October 2017). When asked about where would he go then, Mr. Yanai then laughed and told me that he is bachelor therefore can go anywhere he wants to. He refused to comment whether he would return to Melaka again.

We are so gonna miss his cooking especially the BBQ leeks, bacon with cheese, curry rice, and so much more. Thanks again Mr. Yanai and his crew for serving authentic Japanese cuisine in Melaka all these years. Best wishes to him and hope that he would return to Melaka again.

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Klebang desert (also known as Padang Pasir Klebang in Bahasa) in Melaka (iPhonegraphy)

One of recent and new tourist spots in Melaka is the sand dune in Klebang. It is not far to Dataran 1Malaysia Klebang, the beach of Klebang. Ironically being a Malaccan, I came across this place 4 years ago from a non-Malaccan friend who came to visit to Melaka and told me about this place.

Back then, even many locals didn’t know about this place. And now, in every morning and evening, many locals and tourists are here to visit the sand dune and take photos as if they were in the Gobi or Sahara. Thus the place is also known as ‘the desert’. To reach the desert, it takes a 30 to 45 minutes walk to the desert from the barriers, which stop the cars to enter the desert for safety purposes.

So months back in April, I started evening walk for two weeks to prepare for my backpacking journey to India and Nepal in May. I walked to the desert on every evening, explored not only the sand dune, but the area nearby. During the week of my walk, I captured some photos with the only camera I had with me, my mobile phone.

Sharing some shots taken with iPhone and post-processed with iOS apps.

GPS location to the parking of the Klebang Desert :
2.210343, 102.191614

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Chinese New Year at Bukit Cina (iPhonegraphy)

End of the year and beginning of year is the busiest period for photographers with wedding assignments and commercial photography. Most of the time we filled our working days with DSLR camera and gears. Therefore, we try not to bring our heavy camera during our leisure time.

It doesn’t kill our passion even without having the camera with us. Phone has thus become our best friend. Nowadays they provide amazing camera feature and produce good quality images.

During this Chinese New Year festival season in January and February, I wake up early with my daily routine and always walked around Melaka town to do preparation prior to Chinese New Year. It’s in me to capture some images of Melaka with Chinese New Year mood. Not with the DSLR camera but the lighter camera I carry always, ‘my mobile phone’.

Here are some of the shots I lovEE. 新年快乐！ Happy New Year and Happy Chap Goh Mei!

Reading at Bukit Cina (iPhonegraphy)

A friend’s music shop, Love Music in Bukit Cina (iPhonegraphy)

Morning walk at Taman Tun Fatimah (iPhonegraphy)

Chinese restaurant oppositePay Teck Chinese Primary School (iPhonegraphy)

Tea time at Second Floor Ka Fei Guan (贰楼咖啡馆) (iPhonegraphy)

Crossing at Jalan Bunga Raya (iPhonegraphy)

Chinese You Tiao (油条) (iPhonegraphy)

Breakfast in Semabok (iPhonegraphy)

Post office with the little girl (iPhonegraphy)

Spring cleaning (iPhonegraphy)

‘Fei Fei’ the dog (iPhonegraphy)

Bamboo (iPhonegraphy)

Spring (iPhonegraphy)

Shopping for Chinese New Year at Bukit Cina (iPhonegraphy)

‘Lulu’ (iPhonegraphy)

Ride red (iPhonegraphy)

Resting cat (iPhonegraphy)

Purple flowers (iPhonegraphy)

Wood carving at Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (iPhonegraphy)

Chinese New Year at Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (iPhonegraphy)

Chinese censer (iPhonegraphy)

Morning prayer at Cheng Hoon Teng Temple (iPhonegraphy)

Senior citizen devotee (iPhonegraphy)

Lanterns at a temple in Kampung Pantai (iPhonegraphy)

Sun drying (censored) at Jalan Jawa (iPhonegraphy)

The Daily Fix Cafe (iPhonegraphy)

Stranger at The Daily Fix Cafe (iPhonegraphy)

Paddy (iPhonegraphy)

Morning toast at Lui Chiu Coffee Restaurant in Taman Pertam Jaya (iPhonegraphy)

The post Chinese New Year 2016 in Melaka appeared first on juesatta (CJ Photography).

Beautiful sky of Melaka River after weeks of severe haze (iPhonegraphy)

What a day with clear sky and fine weather! Blue sky covered with thick clouds was seen again this afternoon after weeks of severe haze condition in Melaka.

May all bEE happy!

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Nyonya Memoirs – first live environmental Peranakan show in Melaka (iPhonegraphy)

It caught my attention when the ad in the mall stated it to be the first 360° musical show, not only in Melaka but Malaysia’s. The show is the product by the familiar Malaysian film director, James Lee whom I admire of the short films he directed (read about his introduction of this play in his Facebook too). 

Last week I got an entry ticket from my friend and invited to see, I would say ‘participate’ in this show happening in Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall. The musical show is about the love story of the young couple, a poor Baba and tailor ‘Zhang Min’ and a pretty Nyonya ‘Bao Zhu’ from a wealthy family, set scene to the 20s of Melaka, yet something different than the usual musical show or play I had been.

When I entered the show, I realized everyone was standing. There was no seating arranged for the guests. It was a garden-like open area with a narrator in the center doing the talk while the other actors and actresses wearing of the 20s Baba and Nyonya, and some Chinese costumes and danced around us.

The stage was in fact around us. Shops like photo shop, tailor, sundry shop, street food stalls, fortune teller booth from the 20s of previous century were setup as of the street of Melaka. After the introduction, we could visit each stall or shop and interact with the actors and actresses, behaved and talked like they were in the 20s.

The play then continued. The use of lighting, actors and actresses would directly or indirectly guide us to the spot where the play progressed. There were spots decorated like the interior of a Baba and Nyonya house, including a main hall, backyard, dining area, kitchen and bedroom (what is showing on the picture above was a feast setup, called Tok Panjang in dining hall).

The story took place in all area of the theater, so-called 360° setup, and involved the participation of the audiences. Such as in a scene when the main actor ‘Zhang Min’ was in dilemma of proposing to ‘Bao Zhu’ whom he admired, he seek the help from the audience for advise. A guest from Klang was sporting and was invited to the front and taught ‘Zhang Min’ how to propose. In addition to that, the guest’s wife was too invited to the front and the guest demonstrated proposal to his wife by kneeing and said the magic words. Everyone laughed.

There was also a scene when a kid from the audience was requested by a messenger of ‘Bao Zhu’ to pass a letter to ‘Zhang Min’. The kid was requested to walk and deliver the letter to the tailor’s shop of ‘Zhang Min’. He did so and ‘Zhang Min’ then replied the letter by passing it to another elderly from the audience and requested the elderly to deliver a letter back to ‘Bao Zhu’. Of course, the elderly was intercepted by the evil family members of ‘Bao Zhu’ before he could decide what to do with the letter in his hands.

It was a happy ending for sure, and the final scene was a traditional Baba and Nyonya wedding ceremony of ‘Zhang Min’ & ‘Bao Zhu’. It took place outside the theater. A lovers’ bridge was setup in the shopping mall for the scene, which drew the attention of many shoppers too, and joined in the play. They missed the front part in the theater anyway

The dances and songs during the play were definitely outstanding. I enjoyed very much. The actors, actresses and the back-end people were putting a lot of effort for the show and doing a splendid job. The show itself is a fresh experience to me and beyond my expectation. I would recommend to all friends whether you are from Melaka or visitors here, to enjoy such a wonderful play, at the same time, understand more about the Baba and Nyonya culture of Melaka.

A few things to note about this show. It is conducted in Mandarin and some Bahasa language. English translation however, is displayed on the many TVs hanging at the walls of the theater.

It’s good to have your camera with you because you are alright to snap photos with the actors, actresses and the setup. However, please do not fire the flash during the play

The show is on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the 3rd floor Dataran Pahlawan Melaka Megamall (of the GSC cinema’s block), and it’s only until mid of July. So don’t miss it, grab your ticket and join the fun!

May all bEE happy

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Couple sighted under the sunset at the beach of Taman Kota Laksamana (iPhonegraphy)

Gorgeous sunset near the beach of Taman Kota Laksamana, where couples always here and immerse themselves in romance by the sea breeze.

The setting reminded me of the song “Two Less Lonely People in the World” by Air Supply.

May all bEE happy

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Hazy Melaka – view from The Shore (iPhonegraphy)

A nice aerial view of Malaka River and Jalan Munshi Abdullah snapped from highest floor of The Shore Melaka on its opening day. Melaka was covered in haze during the week.

Have a lovely day. May all beings bEE happy.

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