一丝的情绪

我对自己心爱的人付出的，

并不想得到人情式的回报，

我对你所做的一切，

都是因为我喜欢而做，

并不想，刻意让你知道，

你不要有负担。。。

我知道感情是不能勉强得，

绳子的两端，都须要力气去平衡，

少了一端的拉扯，都不会有任何结局

一方再怎么努力都没用了吧？

1Heritage Celebration @ Georgetown

This weekend Penang had a 2 days activities around town in accordance to the celebrations of the 1st anniversary of Georgetown listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There were art workshop, dance & musical performance, cultural shows and landmarks' history exhibition. A walk in the town on a bright and sunny morning is indeed a way of relaxation although all the sweats and tiredness are just around the corner hehe...

With my 1 month bf (my nikon D60) and along with Sifu we headed to catch some action around town. Without knowing the meaning of heritage walk on the brochure, I thought there will be some kind of procession along town. In my surprise after Sifu told me the heritage walk is for tourist to head to various famous landmark around Penang for a visit. Although it's quite disappointing to me but we still walk around town to take some pics on UNESCO World Heritage Site - Georgetown.

In and out from one streets to another observing the daily routine of Penang folks indeed brings out the difference from city to city. Some landmarks that I used to drive by and did not managed to stop and look into details on the architecture of the buildings. There seems to have a drawing competition on Penang's landmark as along our journey, there are lots of artist sitting by the pavement and starts to draw.

We hopped on the Rapid Penang to shift from Jetty to our next destination. The ride was free but we need to wait for around 10 mins for the bus to start it's journey. The bus went to a few places like Town Hall, Komtar, Jetty, Fort Cornwallis and etc. We stopped at a station near komtar and visited a market nearby. As we walking towards the market, a young lady was belting out her skill in popiah skin making. With her swift and well learnt skill, every thin sheet of popiah skin just turn out right everytime.

As the morning session did not resulted in photos that potrays the heritage and culture, we decided to head down to town again in the evening as there is more culture shows around the different association around Penang. We headed to the Teochew Association and Kuil Arulmigu Mahamariamman which is quite near to each other. Both site provided a variety of programs like Dragon Dance, 24 Seasonal Drums, Teochew opera, indian dance and classical music performance. A few of my favorite photos on the seasonal drums with the Teochew Association at the background and the weaving products sold in the Teochew Association.

After all the snapping and squeezing through the crowds to get the shots wanted, it's kind of tiring. We went straight for a cooling drink at Starbucks New World Park. To our surprise, there is a live band inside and they belted some nice classic songs and upon request by the Starbucks worker themselves. I think it's a great way to end our journey for the day, with the nice environment with songs and drinks. Cheers!~

Bon Odori 2009 @ Esplanade Penang

Before heading to Bon Odori, I was hungry once we reach esplanade. As we didn't know whether the food stalls already open, so we went to a nearby food court to get some food. The food wasn't good but I found the pics are great!

The forever photogenic Chee Ang and smiling Eng Lee

This is my first adventure to Bon Odori. Yeah you got me right... ADVENTURE. It was near to 6pm which the event was scheduled to be starting, the crowd had already start to pour in the food stalls as well as the field. The stage already start to have some announcement on the activity, stage performance as well as Dato' Lim Guan Eng's opening ceremony. Chee Ang, Stephanie and Eng Lee starts to head for the food stall to see what is on the table for the night. Kelvin as usual in the fastest speed gone with the wind... dunno where is he disappear to.

Found this little girl with her Pooh Fan is so cute so without hestitation, I take some quick snap on her gestures.

The crowd was ok during early of the event but later at night, the crowd was unbelievable. Kelvin had taken some nice shots using my camera as his batt was out.

After seeing the crowd, I can't escape from introducing some food that was sold there. There are plenty variety of sushi, ramen, korokke and not forgetting some local favourites. But the price are really expensive compared to the commercial price.

Eden Gypsy Chicken

Okonomiyaki - Japanese Seafood Pancake




Fatty loh's Chicken Rice actually cost RM 7!!


Sushi and heaps of sushi...

After all the food, the center of attention for Bon Odori is all the sight of young and old wearing the yukata to celebrate the event. Colourful and pretty yukata had made the event even more meaningful and a memorable experience. Small kids had become my target as they look so cute n pretty in yukata.

One of my fav photo from the bunch...

As japan had started a trend with Cosplay, the Bon Odori event can't missed out there either! The sight of Cosplay fans started to flock to the event during the later of the night, Eng Lee and Kelvin's camera had already stressed out and just left mine. I had to take up the duty to snap, snap and snap hehe...

Last but not least one of the main purpose of heading to Bon Odori is the fireworks. This was the nearest I had came across the fireworks which is pumping loud from above. I was directly under the fireworks location where I was facinated by the sight. Wanted to capture more photos but I had the urge to look at the fireworks as well. I guess photographer do indeed need to do some sacrificing to benefit others.

Ok. I guess that wraps up my adventure to my first Bon Odori event and not sure whether I'll be around for the next. Anyway, had a blast of the time with my buddies. Hope you guys and gals enjoy the event through the photos and can imagine the crowds and the happening activities. More photos available in my flickr under BON ODORI 2009. Can't wait for my next adventure. Hrm... any suggestion for nice photo spot?

More Jetty and Fort Cornwallis

Next stop, Tan Jetty and followed by Lee Jetty. As I stroll along the jetty, the different houses' style seems to potray every jetty's uniqueness. It is amazing on how these houses are preserve by the resident. The jetties are like the back to the past portal which brings visitors back to the 60s or 70s" kind of feeling when you lay sight on them.

Antique car that is well perserved parked by the roadside when I start heading to the next jetty. I took some interesting shots along the way which I learnt on different focusing can result different kind of shots.

The flower pics below I had done some post processing where I learnt to use Photoshop to create a black and white background. I did some additional tinting on the flower to bring out the beauty of the flower and the greenary. The right side is the original photo before the post processing.

After visiting 3 different jetty at 1 go, I start to head back to my next destination - Fort Cornwallis. I'm lucky to get a car park near to the entrance and I'm still embracing the hot and sunny weather after 2 days of rain. I saw a trishaw which symbolize Penang in a kind of way where the seats are in front compared to Melaka's which are placed side by side with the peddlar.

Here goes the journey into Fort Cornwallis... the entrance.

This was one of my fav from the bunch of photos that I took. I'm imagining if a bride was leaning against the wall in this shot, it'll be a pretty good pic. Any comments?

Some other shots in the fort. It's kind of disappointing and not to my expectation which I thought the fort would be. But still tried my best to take some of the fort's interior. The fort mainly have the history of Penang as well as when the British was taking over Malaya.

This is another shot where post processing was done, with the black and white background and put some attention to the antique lock which potrays the lock left by the british in the prison back then.

Ok! That's the end of my trip that day which lasts around 2 hours and I felt the heat when I get back to my car. I hope you guys enjoy the photos and stay tune for the next post when I get my phone line fixed. I'm currently blogging in Roti Bakar near USM.

Coming up ---- Bon Odori Festival, Penang