04-JAN-2019
Masjid Negara
This is Malaysia's National Mosque, which sits at the edge of the city. Built in the 1960s, it consciously avoids the dome in the structure and instead has this unique shaped roof.
04-JAN-2019
KL Skyline
This time, from the 45th floor and with a tripod. Having been away from Kuala Lumpur for 12 years, it's nice to see my favourite haunts from this level as well as loads of new buildings.
05-DEC-2017
Caves in Tambun
Part of the Banjaran Hotstprings resort in Perak, Malaysia. A tiny cave, perfect for a few moments of tranquility.
Storm approaching
The iconic KL skyline during the monsoon season.
11-JUN-2012
Masjid Putra
The main mosque in Malaysia's Putrajaya district
04-JAN-2007
Babysitter
It took a half hour drive on a dirt road through the jungle in Cameron Highlands to go to this Orang Asli village. Orang Asli literally means native people, and are the aboriginal people of Malaysia. There are 18 tribes, this one was taken during a visit to the Semai tribe.
02-JAN-2007
Good Feng Shui
At least that's what my friend Keat Ching claims - that having photos of waterfalls increases one's prosperity.
This was taken at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, a short drive away from Kuala Lumpur.
PS - Keat Ching - congratulations on your achievement! :-)
Tropical Rainforest
This is the view of Cameron Highlands, one of the traditional hill stations of Malaysia.
The hills, as far as the eye can see, are covered by dense jungles, which have mostly been untouched since the dawn of time, literally before even the ice age.
Looking at it again, while living here in Dubai where all trees are carefully tended to and are a novelty because of the scarcity of water, this scene appeared like paradise to me, even though I had grown up with this scenery all my life. Strange how perspective can change.
03-APR-2006
Pink
Clouds over Kuala Lumpur's most prominent icon, the Petronas Twin Towers.
This was taken as a sheer fluke, looking upwards, I noticed the pinkish clouds - not having my DSLR on me, I took a chance with my compact digital.
04-JAN-2007
Roots
Taken in a moss forest in Cameron Highlands, the death of this tree continues the circle of life.
This was taken during a guided hiking trail close to Mount Brinchang, the ground you see is not earth, but compost. This forest itself is about 250 million years old, much older than the rainforest of Taman Negara which is said to be 140 million years old. Because of the altitude, vegetation is this forest is not as dense, and coupled with a cool climate, hiking along the trail was a very pleasant experience.
02-APR-2006
Black
My hometown, Kuala Lumpur, in panoramic glory. This was taken on a stormy night during a short visit there in April 2006.
06-APR-2006
Platinum
The Petronas Twin Towers, uncut, unabridged and unprocessed.
06-JAN-2007
Clan House
Taken at the Khoo Kongsi, one of the Chinese clan houses in Penang. The original design was apparently so elaborate that the roof was mysteriously burnt down on the day it was opened. This place is tucked away in the middle of Penang's Chinatown.
07-JAN-2007
Kek Lok Si temple, Penang
A view of this gorgeous temple, which is nestled in the hills of Penang
07-JAN-2007
Writing on the wall
Taken at the Kek Lok Si temple in Penang, Malaysia. Any offers for translation would be gratefully accepted!
06-JAN-2007
Red Door
Taken in the old part of Georgetown, Penang, where one can take a walk through the Chinatown and Little India of Penang.
04-JAN-2007
Yikes
The jungles of Malaysia are harsh - for example, one would not want to trip over one of these centipedes while traipsing around over there.
May not be a particularly delightful photo, but that's life! :)
06-JAN-2007
I can do it with my eyes closed!
I wonder if eating is a national sport in Malaysia. It permeates into our ways of life, from informal greetings ("Have you eaten?") to invitations to socialise ("Let's have a teh tarik [sweet tea]"). You can go into any Malaysian household, even unannounced, and rest assured that you will be served with a hearty meal. In town, food is available literally 24 hours a day, being hungry in Malaysia is impossible! I reckon that seeing the way we eat, it is a wonder that the Malaysians have not died out two generations ago from general obesity and clogged arteries. Though for the record, I have to state that the average Malaysian is generally in good health, slim and shapely.
These are deep fried savoury goodies served at a hawker stall in Penang, one of the dozens dotting the sidewalks.
03-JAN-2019
KL, you are beautiful
The view outside my window on the 27th floor -never really noticed how pretty the skyline is from here! This is a hand held shot - my windows are at a weird angle and don't open fully, so I had to stick my hands out, hold the camera in mid air and wish for the best!
08-JAN-2007
Top of the World
This is a view of the lush rainforests in the hills of Langkawi island. This vantage point was reached via a dizzying cable car ride from the base of the hill, from there, we crossed a suspended bridge straddled across two hilltops to get this awesome view.
09-JAN-2007
Universal symbol
Taken at one of the smaller islands surrounding Langkawi island.
02-JAN-2007
A walk in the forest
Literally, that is. This was taken at the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, where in addition to researching and preserving the various species of plant life, there are also walkways for the public to appreciate the surroundings.
The minute figure at the top of the stairs is my friend (she is K in my book!), who, no matter which part of the world she's in, appreciates her surroundings by reading profusely!
03-APR-2006
Blue
The Petronas Twin Towers during twilight. Taken with the IXUS compact.
06-JAN-2007
The Portal
Taken at the Kuan Yin temple in Penang.
02-APR-2006
Spectrum
The tip of one of the Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur. The colours are reflections of the surrounding buildings on the steel structure.
09-JAN-2007
Evening walk
Taken on one of the smaller islands surrounding Langkawi.
04-JAN-2007
Little Miss Muffet ...
... would have already run off a long time ago at the sight of this little beast! Taken during a short walk in the forest in Cameron Highlands, spiders and spiders webs were scattered everywhere amidst the vegetation. Yes, some of these are quite dangerous, and in case of doubt ... don't!
06-JAN-2007
Hot wheels
Ok, so maybe not, seeing that the front tyre seems to be a bit short of air.
Taken in Penang, along one of the row of dilapidated shophouses.
And what do you know, there's also a Syrian version, this time of a working bicycle:
07-JAN-2007
Smoke gets in your eyes
This was taken at Kek Lok Si temple in Penang. One of the many incense burners lit by devotees.
09-JAN-2007
Datai Beach
At the northern tip of Langkawi island. The beaches in Langkawi are probably the best ones in the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia, tho for serious beach bums and scuba divers, it is best to enjoy the powdery white sand beaches along the east cost.
04-JAN-2007
Dancing Ladies
It was pouring with rain, so rather than take the SLR, I plodded on with my standby compact digital.
These are a species of orchids found in the Cameron Highlands, nicknamed the dancing ladies. Take a look and you will see why.
04-JAN-2007
Welcoming committee
A bunch of children who were hanging out deep in the jungles of the Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. They are from the aboriginal people of Malaysia and wll probably be the last in hundreds of generations, as progress and civilisation creep into the heart of the jungle.
04-APR-2006
Chestnuts
Chestnut seller in Petaling Street, Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown
04-JAN-2007
Rainforest
How does one comprehend the age of the rainforests of Malaysia? Older than the ice age, older than the jungles in the Amazon. This one is about 250 million years old, taken from one of the peaks in Cameron Highlands
04-JAN-2007
Have a cup of tea
The legacy of a colonised nation - a tudor house in the middle of a tea plantation in the tropics. Because of its cool climate, Cameron Highlands, which is about 6000 feet above sea level, was traditionally one of the hill stations for the British colonists.
This was an era ago, Malaysia is now in its 50th year of independence, but certain landmarks are etched on the landscape. Even now, one cannot have claimed to have visited Cameron Highlands without first partaking in scones and tea at one of the old English style inns!
02-APR-2006
Diversity
Entrance to the Malaysian Philharmonic, in Kuala Lumpur City Centre
04-JAN-2007
One day I will be beautiful
A hairy caterpiller which was spotted as we were walking along a dirt road in the jungles of Cameron Highlands. I'm not sure what kind of butterfly this unfriendly looking thing will transform into! Having said that, as we continued walking down the path, there were loads of pretty butterflies fluttering around us, and I'm sure this caterpiller will be just as stunning once it has metamorphosised.
04-JAN-2007
A spot with a view
The foreground shows the biggest tea plantation in of Cameron Highlands, located roughly about 5000 feet above sea level. If I remember correctly, they process about 25,000 kg of tea per day!
The background shows what the terrain used to be like before it was cleared for the tea plantation - ancient and dense rainforests.
06-APR-2006
Gold
Public Bank Building in Kuala Lumpur. I have always liked this building because of the play of angles and geometrics.
To Richard, here's your favourite building!
02-APR-2006
Gray
Storm clouds over Kuala Lumpur
06-JAN-2007
The best curry house in town
My favourite restaurant in Penang, a curry restaurant owned and managed by so far, six generations of an Indian Muslim family. Although the appearance is somewhat rustic (to put it mildly), the food here is to die for. Located in the heart of old Penang.
07-JAN-2007
Tiles
This was taken on a rainy day in the Kek Lok Si temple in Penang.
07-JAN-2007
Blessings
This was taken at the entrance of Kek Lok Si temple in Penang, one of the largest Buddhist temples in South East Asia. Perched on a hill, it commands a magnificent view of the surroundings.
06-JAN-2007
Campbell Street
One of the oldest shopping streets in Penang, this was a view taken during a trishaw ride.
06-JAN-2007
Electric blue
I spotted this wall as I was walking along Penang's Chinatown - the vividness of the blue seemed to be so out of place compared with the rest of the peeling paint surrounding it. Of course, seeing this exposed socket on an outer wall of a building where tropical rainstorms occur almost on a daily basis did not inspire much confidence! :)
Primary colours
Well, almost. This was taken in Georgetown in Penang.
There was no colour manipulation for the sky, just my polarizing filter gone a bit beserk!
06-APR-2006
Bronze
KLCC reflected.
Composition inspired by Greg Ling.
09-JAN-2007
Tasik Dayang Bunting
Less romantically, it means the lake of the pregnant maiden. Legend has it that a lady who had been trying to conceive for 19 years drank water from this lake and then was blessed with a baby.
This is an fantastic, somewhat eerie freshwater lake, accessed by a 100m walk from the beach on Pulau Dayang Bunting. Great for swimming! Amazingly, the sea is immediately beyond the hills in the distance.