Bunaken (Manado). Little island with plenty to offer. This year, I’ll make another trip there.
Sunrise at Bunaken (Manado)
travel / landscapes
Taken during a trip to Sydney in 2004. I was in the midst of changing jobs and decided to visit my sister in Sydney. In a day trip to the famed Blue Mountains, I stumbled upon a trail that led me to Wentworth Falls. While walking down the path by the side of the fall, a beam of sunlight hit the waterfall. The water droplets looked like millions of little gold coins falling off the cliff.
Wentworth Falls during Spring
November that year, I bought my first DSLR. I did my last dive in September where I came back with a perforated eardrum (again!). But this time round, it was much worse than the previous time. Since I have to stop diving till it heals (which typically takes 2 weeks), I decided I’ll go windsurfing:D The seawater caused further infection and I have pus flowing out of my ear at work one day. 2 days later, I was half listening (half, because I was almost deaf on the right) to a lecture from the specialist. So mesmerised by the world undersea, I asked him “if I don’t mind being deaf on one side, can I still dive?” (his facial expressions and hand gestures became more animated at that point).
That was pretty much one of the lowest point of my life (at that time). I had saved up for a underwater digital camera at that time, but it seems like it’s not going to happen anymore. So on impulse, I bought an entry level DSLR. Coming from an engineering background, I have no problems understanding how a camera works. That helped alot in the initial months. Google and the library are my best friends when it comes to photography.
I started taking photographs of my labrador retriever (Triever) and bringing the camera to my weekly trips to the beach with him. Went to the Botanic Gardens as well. Like every new camera owner, I plan trips to take photographs. Just me and Triever.
Triever getting a little bored with all that shooting.
The usual weekends where I brought him to the beach.
The very first shots I took at Botanic Gardens. I liked this alot but I was told by a friend that it sucks (i suspect she doesn’t like green).
I remember when I first bought the DSLR, I have friends who commented “wah… turning PRO” (add two tablespoons of sarcasm and stir well). I was a little disturbed by comments like that. Come to think of it… they’re pretty good with predictions:D
During the trip, I met up with Darren and Peng Tzee for dinner at Cottesloe. We had our dinner at a restaurant by the beach which has an amazing view of the sunset. The day I was leaving, I was invited to their place to check out Jerzy (they know I love dogs!)!! Jerzy is 7 years old, but she sure packs a punch for a lady this age:D I suspect she knows kung fu too.
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I have to say, I’ve been working so so hard, but yet feeling so so happy this entire week. Doesn’t even feel like I’m working at all. An amazing trip to Perth changed so much in me. I’m lovin’ every minute of what I see now. Thank you Jesh.
Perth is a beautiful place. I took a little break from editing to check out some of the images I took. Didn’t go many places, but felt like I’ve been there for a long time. Here are 2 images from the trip.
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All of us had reasons to make our lunch a little longer than usual. Wendy, Daniel and me had lunch at Tiong Bahru Market before heading down to the newly opened Marina Barrage. Getting there can be a little challenging as the amount of construction works around the area makes you feel like you are driving through the desert. They seem to have very limited parking space as well.
Other than that, I think the Marina Barrage really wow-ed me. Be it the “roman pillar” lookalike walls or the “9-shaped” architecture. The most attractive area I’d say is the gallery. It’s really very well done up. I’ve never really seen a dam in action before, so this mini one is quite a spectacle to me. I stood there for quite a while, just watching the water move through the opened crest gates. Amazing stuff.
With a fantastic view of the CBD and Marina Bay area, I think this will be another hot spot for photographers, wedding couples, firework shooters… etc. Landscaping wise, I think Hort Park is much better:)
Here’s a picture of the CBD area. No photos of the architecture, my hp ran out of batteries.
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Sometimes, i take pictures like an engineer. Very structured kind of way. Symmetries, lines and categorizing things into different parts of the image (ok, that sounds a little more like a librarian).
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… keeps the barrel well oiled.
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