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travel / landscapes

Attention… will passenger xxx please proceed to gate xx for IMMEDIATE boarding…

 

My friend once told me… “late” is my middle name. And I just have to keep proving it…

 

While heading to the airport in Penang, I was just sharing stories with Nic and Sheila about how I nearly missed my flights previously, and telling them, this time I’m very sure it’s 630pm. I did my internet check-in and thought, well, I can be there at 530pm and still board on time. As usual, I looked for my flight details upon arriving at the airport, and to my horror, it says 605pm. The conversation with the check-in personel went like this…

 

Me: *walked towards one of the many closed counters* Erm… I’m checking in for 605pm flight to Singapore…

CIP: Sorry, it’s closed, you have to wait for the next flight.

Me: Can you please let me go through?

CIP: I’m sorry, I’ll put you on the next flight.

Me: … ok, but I checked in already

CIP: !!!! *speaking in the calmest tone he could muster*… Mr Tan… even if you have checked in, you STILL have to be here early.

Me: I…

CIP to colleague: Help me print a ticket for 63 Kilo… *typing furiously on his computer*

CIP to Me: *look at all my bags (4 of them)* You have to hand carry everything…

Me: But got liquid inside… more than 100ml…

(at this point, I can tell he wants to tear me apart… but still keeping it very professional)

CIP: Ok, bring it here… *handed me the boarding pass* now go to the gate IMMEDIATELY!!

Me: …*points at his desk*… my passport.

CIP: … (good thing they are not armed, else I think he’ll shoot me)

 

I think they are going to ban me from flying very soon. Ok ok, I promise, next time I’ll be there early, I’ll bring a book to read. So sorry about the inconveniences, but I have to say, they are so much nicer than the ones I encountered in Singapore, because here, they “follow law”.

 

8 Comments »
posted by wansheng on September 18th 2007 in randoms, travel / landscapes, voices





走光

 

What the duck!

 

Only saw that “走光” after I downloaded the photos.

 

 

[tags]Photography, Sydney, 2007, Travel, Self Portrait[/tags]

 

4 Comments »
posted by wansheng on September 12th 2007 in images, randoms, travel / landscapes, voices





randomsinsydney

 

Things that got into the camera. Traveling makes me happy. Photography allows me to document some of the things I want to say, but can’t express it in words. I say it’s a lazy way to say a thousand words.

 

 

 

 

 

[tags]Photography, Sydney, Bondi Beach, APEC 2007, Travel[/tags]

 

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posted by wansheng on September 12th 2007 in images, randoms, travel / landscapes, voices





Blue is the mountain

 

The blueish hue on Blue Mountains becomes more pronounced as the sun disappears below the horizon.

 

 

“The name derives from the blueish tinge the range takes on when viewed at a distance, which is caused by the release of volatile oils from eucalyptus forests.” – Wikipedia

 

[tags]Photography, Sydney, 2007, Blue Mountains, Travel[/tags]

 

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posted by wansheng on September 12th 2007 in images, travel / landscapes, voices





Taking a break

 

I was deciding if I should head home after filling my tank, then I thought, since I drove 2.5 hours here, might as well stay a little longer for the sunset. With 6pcs of McNuggets and a pack of french fries, I stopped beside one of the many vineyards in Hunter Valley and watch the sun go down. The dying minutes before darkness in Hunter Valley is simply fantastic:)

 

 

 

[tags]Photography, Sydney, 2007, Hunter Valley, Sunset[/tags]

 

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posted by wansheng on September 12th 2007 in images, travel / landscapes, voices





Hunter Valley

 

Threw the dart on the map and it indicates “Hunter Valley”. So to Hunter Valley it is today. Since I’m driving alone, I didn’t try too many wines, just a couple, trust me, I know my limits… on the official wine guide says, to avoid exceeding the limits, “For men, 2 glasses for the first hour, 1 glass for subsequent hours…”, but it also says, “this is just a guide”.

 

Finally… I get to see grapevines with leaves!!:)

 

 

 

[tags]Photography, Sydney, 2007, Travel, Hunter Valley[/tags]

 

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posted by wansheng on September 11th 2007 in images, randoms, travel / landscapes, voices





Blue Magic

 

Took a short trip to Blue Mountains today (because I nuah-ed in the bed till lunch…) and headed straight to Leura to do some window shopping. Last stop, Wentworth Falls. Instead of heading down the the falls which I did last time with my mum, I decided to just stay at the Princes lookout (which is FAR from reaching the bottom). While watching the streams of tourists come and go and waiting for the sun to go down, I saw from far, the weather changing. It’s an amazing sight, the changes in the cloud formation, the rain moving down the mountains and the sun setting behind the tablelands, all happening at the same time. It’s magical yet has something eerie about it.

 

  
 

I stayed till last light and figured I had to run because there are no lights in the mountains and being the last day of the Lunar 7th month, there’s not going to be moonlight either. I made way my way up, but after a few steps, I saw a figure, a man in a long beige trenchcoat, skinny, face sunken, making his way down the valley. He reminds me of one of those psycho killers or Dracula. My heart missed a string of beats… then I said, “Hi, getting dark eh…”. He gave me a smile that made my skin crawl and said something about my tripod. At that point in time, I just thought, who the hell in the right frame of mind will make his way down into the valley at this time of the day without any lights?! I could hardly see where I was walking. Doubling my pace, I made my way up while checking back every 2 secs or so, making sure I’m not being followed. I can imagine so many scenarios I’ve seen in movies, like him appearing right in front of me or floating on top of me… etc (now you know why I hate horror movies!!).

 

When I finally reached the safety of my car, I was already panting like a dog… silently swearing… “uncle… 7th month not over yet leh… don’t come out and play this kind of game can?…”.

 

This is the last time I’m going there on my own. Took me 1 large pizza to calm my nerves…

 

[tags]Photography, Blue Mountains, Sydney, 2007, Wentworth Falls, Princes Lookout[/tags]

 

3 Comments »
posted by wansheng on September 10th 2007 in images, randoms, travel / landscapes, voices





A note to nephew

 

“Dear Nephew, I know it’s probably pretty comfy in there, but if you are still not coming out, I’m leaving. C’mon, be more cooperative, tonight or tomorrow?”

 

Looks like I may have to extend my stay for another 2 days (max) just for this kid. Just like me, (almost) never punctual:P My sis’s father-in-law joked, “better stay till the baby is out to make sure it’s not a hoax!” (I felt like a witness:P) And when my sis called home to update the situation, my dad said “Ask your brother to come back, the baby’s not coming out when he’s around…” That bad huh?

 

Weather’s good today. Strange that weather turned for the better once APEC is over. Heading for a little walk in Blue Mountains.

 

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posted by wansheng on September 10th 2007 in randoms, travel / landscapes, uncategorized, voices





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