Tibet June 2006....

This post serves to be a completion of the other pictures that I've not posted for the June2006 trip to Tibet. Friends have been asking for pictures! And here are a collection!

Seen here the infamous prayer flags of the Tibetian region. Basically the wind will carry your prayers whenever the wind blows. More Here



By writing names of your loved ones, your prayers shall be delivered everytime the wind blows!



More of the blue skies, Minor tweaking done here. Ascending to ~5000m above sealevel to Namtso Lake - One of 3 holy lakes in Tibet. We were suffering from altitude sickness....headaches/breathlessness. etc.





Along the roads to any touristy sites, tourist-attractions aglore! Locals egging tourist to pose with their wares, even taking pictures with the locals. Tips are a must, and they'll get rude if you try to bargain! Here we have Wenhui with a baby lamb! Would that make a nice dinner? hmm..



This was shot at the edge of the Namtso lake itself, and again, plenty of horses and yaks for tourists to pose/ride with...for a fee of cos!




This was shot on the way to Namtso, quite number of site prayer sites littering across the vastlands.



Toilet with a to-die-for view!! "dry-cleaning" services included!! Free of charge!!







A series on Tibet would not be complete without monks and temples, here we have monks just outside Tashilunpo monastary/temple.




A building within Tashilunpo. The broad building contrast with a lone tourist at the corner.

Vast buildings with white walls are common features in Tibetian architecture. Black framing of the windows are to reflect away evils and bad luck.



Coca-cola or Pepsi-cola?












Along country roads, hawkers would set up stores selling fruits/drinks/tidbits. Here we have a family selling watermelon. We gave their kids candy and one can see the joy on the girl's face...but boy looked suspicious as he chunks down a Snickers



Back to Lhasa. Pasar Malam style stores selling every imaginable items. Here a shop selling soley horseshoes!






The final meal in Tibet before heading back to the equator. Han/Tibetian cuisine ain't exactly palatable..hence we tried their version of KFC!

Gold Class!!

Planned the first outing to the most exclusive movie screening in SG! Gold glass @ Vivocity! Booked central seats for Wenhui, Huiqin, Winnie and I for Curse of the Golden Flower.

The seats were truly luxurious!! Better than 1st class airline seats! We were pretty on the dot, hence had little time to enjoy the lounge. We appeared quite mountain turtle as we didn't know food was served right insite the theatre!.

The perennial rain + the air-conditioning brought out tightest snugs of the gold class blankets. The blankets were lovely! HQ wanted to 'stunt' one home leh..hehe.

The show was alright, shan't post any spoilers here.

Next went shopping around, haircut at Team, followed by Spa at Wellness Village and wonderful portobellos at Spaggadies!

26 Degrees

Its a yearly event, consecutive days of rain in december. Wooooo....other than the traffic jams, i'm loving every minute of it. One gets to play in the rain, jumping into puddles, driving and splashing onto the kerbs, skidding (safely) on tiled floorings.

More interestingly, the temperature in my room dropped to below what I see when I turn on the air-conditioning!

~19th December 2006

Fwahhh!!! Gwahh!!!!

Went to Kazu, Cuppage shopping center last Saturday to celebrate the birthday of Wenuhui's Mom.

Kazu is a Jap restaurant specialising in yakitori (japanese 'satay').

Man..we tried almost every exotic stuff... one of the first dish was a gooie looking white stuff like mini intestines of some kind. I was told put it in my mouth without breaking the 'satchet', and when it melts in my mouth....heaven! Was told by Tiong Kiat (Wenhui's bro), that it was some sperm of some seasonal fish...hmm..fish sperm!?!

Wenhui has turned to non-meat dishes for reasons attributed to disgestive well-being. She could only watch the rest of us chunk down the ox-tongue, pork belly, chicken heart etc while she chew on her ...fish.....







How boring normal fish looks next to the other yummy animal 'parts'. Take a good look at the next picture and guess its origin before scrolling down!








I thought that this was like chicken satay......I put it in my mouth...and *bling!* : I reached the 7th stage of heaven. Man, I never knew chicken tasted that good! Or was it chicken? I asked Tiong Kiat who ordered all the dishes...this was...one of the most 'cruel' food.. --> Foi Grois (I think the pronouciation is 'Fwah Gwah'). And rightly so....u just wanna go Fwah!!! Gwah!! after eating it. Yum yum. This picture was the second stick that we ordered.....

The 3rd dish worth mentioning was Horse Sashimi...yes..HORSE..马!
Never tried, and tasted one piece totally raw and cold...almost tasteless and forgettable. Then I was told to mix it with sesame oil and some radish/ginger garnishs etc....then 2nd piece was.....you guess it...Nth stage of heaven! More of these and I'll be lost and never be able to get back to Earth....

Thanks Tiong Kiat for the marvelous treat!

JazzyJeff - ZoukOut 2006: Were you there?

What a Night!

Bought the cheapest tix possible $28 at Zouk some moons back with LokeYuen and Roland. Didn't prepare much for the day as I was having a photoshoot at SP guild house in the morning and covered June's solemnisation in the afternoon. Picked up LY and RG + a couple of his friends (Aragon? and Sophie) at the entry to Sentosa and headed to Beach carpark. Taxis were streaming in and out, and cars were everywhere! And it was only 8:30pm!

Beach Carpark - Ministry of Sound:
Found a lot easily (heard that by 11pm, no more lots!). Groups of party-goers were having mini discos out of their car boots with booze lying everywhere. Lugged a bottle of JD and Jose Cuervo to the entrance of Siliso beach and check in first with LY and RG while Sophie waited outside with Aragon.

Jacks, Jose & Eon:
After circling a round within the ZoukOut compounds, we went out to start the boozing. Eon, a friend of LY, was there to join us. After a few card games and the fav "clap for every '3'", everyone was 'getting there'. As feared, ice was running low and we still had some hard liquor left. Ice had ran out@7E too! Alas, I initiated pouring Jose down out throats directly...*evil*. Only Eon and later Aragon was on about it.

没有酒量，只有酒旦 - EonWhat a 'profound statement'. Man, what a character! We rocked into the compounds of ZoukOut. Electronica/live band/Mambo sets were all amazing. I sprined my left elbow in the midst of it...yikes. Then Jazzy Jeff came on at 2am. Having heard him in ZoukOUt 2004, I knew that he is the most interactive DJ of all. This time with an Emcee rapping ocassional to Jeff's beats, it was a lethal combination. Jeff was scratching while mixing every sort of beats imaginable. From Retro numbers to house anthems and down to a medley of Michael Jackson 80's hits, Jeff's mixes never went more than 2mins per track, this kept the crowd on their toes throughout!

The Z monster
By 3am, we were getting tired, wandered deep into the main arena as Ferry Corsten had just came out. Though the numbers were good, they were sort of predictable, the usual progressive house music, similar to each of the 'main attraction' of the past ZoukOuts. By 330pm, we were staggering out the compound and heading off to our vehicles..

My friend called Jack

Played with my Canon 100mm macro and some water. ! Water turned into a soothing sour mash....
Way to go, Jack!

*Edit - This is a closeup shot of a droplet of water, with a Jack Daniel (Whiskey) bottle in the background. The label can be seen as off-focus in the background. The bottle can be seen within the droplet itself, click on it to enlarge! This edit was posted as many couldn't figure out the message behind this post*

Singapore Motorshow 2006

Not as keen to attend motorshow as 2000... but still made the 'pilgrimage' to Suntec City on Sunday. Brave the crowds and took only 1 minute to find a parking lot!! How lucky, no traffic jam outside as well. Strange.

The convention halls were busy, but not packed. Russ Swift is here again to do stunt demonstrations. The tickets ran out very quickly. Well, we've watched it in 2004, shldn't have been much of a difference.

Well, pictures are at www.perqjon.com/motorshow2006.html

It doesn't have to be Oysters and Sashimi - Cafe Brio's

*Picture to follow*

Happy birthday, to me!

Went to Cafe Brio's @ Grand Copthorne. 1 for 1 deal using UOB cards. Of course, as an Oyster / Sashimi fan, the first plate is full of raw stuff! But then, disappointment....failed to tickle my palate. It was the next round of MEAT that blew me away. MEAT that doesn't need to be CUT, and to be able to be chewed off easily..and thats goooood stuff! There was also supremely delicious Cheeses that Wenhui was yumming all the way through.

*burP*

NUS Triathlon 13th Aug 2006

My first Triathlon. Signed for 500m swim, 25km cycle, 5km run. Cost $54! + $5 'admin' fee for the champion chip (chip where times are logged during the race).

Seen here at -2EV using A80 shot by wenhui. Racer on the left is Terence. Race delayed due to reasons unknown... butterflies stirring!

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Thanks to Terence for loan of Helmet and anti-fog (for goggles)

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Had some struggle during the swim at 200m, had to force myself to relax, pace the strokes to finish it. Getting on the bike never felt so good, the breeze on the salt-laden water on my skin felt good. It was still only 830am (I think), sun was gentle. And time to push the bike!! Getting into rhythm, but still got 'qie4' by at least 100 riders.(99% were using road racers). Enroute towards esplanade, a good friend Mr Sehsuan got up early to prep himself on the road shoulder and snap this pin-sharp shot at the right moment. Thanks bro!

At the halfway mark of the ride, I managed to start pulling back on some of the earlier riders, counted at least a couple of mountain bikers and 1 or 2 on road racers! Many complains on the race by the veterans as the roads weren't completely blocked, leaving top riders dreading the occassional red light.




Finally, I managed to push the bike back at around 1hr and a few minutes. Was happy with my time. But there's still a 5km run!!! OMG...my legs weren't jelly, but there was nothing left in them, nor in my lungs! Was literally throdding along, forcing myself not to stop and walk, and finally made it back in ** mins. Shot taken by my beloved Wenhui as I was near the finishing point.

Overall a great experience, but it seems to be one of the worst organised race in recent memory for those veterans!

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Finally, after shower, it was lunch at the East Coast lagoon, and Terence and I shared a bday cake as it was to be our bday on the following day...14th aug 2006. :)

Utmost thanks and love to Wenhui for being the cheerleader, supporter cum photographer. :)

Tibet Day 2: The Bears whom lack sleep

We wanted to go to Wolong Nature reserve, where pandas roam free. Due to rain, we went to a nearby research centers to get a close up on the huge bears instead. Here seen a Giant adult panda in his enclosure

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A pair of pandas feasting, oblivious to strangers. Pandas seem to be grouped in pairs, their names are in pairs as well, with 双双 and 美美 etc.

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Shhhh....Keep Quilt! Pandas are resting!

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Panda having a good time after a meal. There's a video on this, went on for Minutes! HOHOHO

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Sneaking up onto a Panda

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One of the most endearing 30mins, watching 3 young cubs playing either each other, with 2 of them virtually wrestling each other and going for each others' throats!

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This is the smaller specie of panda, looks very cute as well. Possible to pose with to have a picture taken, no such luck on our visit.

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Parting shot ending with the the pair of playful pandas having a drink in the middle of their wrestling match. One of Wenhui's Goals fulfilled, to meet Pandas!!

Tibet trip....8th - 17th June 2006 (Day1)!

Took a package tour with 人人 tour agency. Pictures here shall be amateurish story telling with some 'arty shots... :)

Hereby presenting you day 1, first ever landing to Chengdu, China!



Armed with a Map, guidebook and hungry stomachs, Wenhui and I trot the streets of Chengdu for their famous 小吃 for lunch, not knowing what exactly to expect, we hopped into a cab and went straight to the location at Zhong Fu Jie. Here we have a setlunch of 20 dishes. Half are immersed with Hot Spicy chilli Oil!! OMG...my lips were sizzling with the acids... but...other than the fire and ocassional saltiness, the food was fantastic! Hygiene could do better, as a lady spitting right where she was sitting (wake up call!!)

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Travelling was via cab all the way, couldn't bother with trying to take the bus, traffic rules were non-existant! U-turn ANYwhere you like! Here our cab stops to 加气。Not sure what it meant, but I'd be terribly pissed if I were in the Amazing Race. Nevertheless, fares are cheap, staring at Y5 (~SGD$1), fares climb at Y1.4/km.

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Went looking around for one day tours for the following day (wanted to see the giant blacked-eye bears up north....) and also went to look for softwares..*ahem*, tired legs and parched throats led us to the popular activity of lazing around in the afternoon, sipping chinese tea, at 10-25Y a pop.

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After a Nap at 金满堂hotel and a short trip to Carrefour (yes they have it), we went trotting down to a two-storey restaurant Kong Liang for the hottest steamboat on Earth! With enough firepower to ignite most stomachs, our oil laden innards would heave everytime some of the chillis trickle down our throats. Take off, anytime soon!

Burn the Floor!

Had free tickets after buying K750i (thanks to M1 and Sony Ericsson!). Burn the Floor, cabaret style dance event showcasing World champions of Ballroom dancing. Had real crappy seats at first, can't believe any show will take the breath of all 601-603 halls of Suntec, and expect people from the extreme side to see anything at all! Moved to the centre column as many seats were unfilled. And hence I've got the better view (as above).
Overall quite a good show, reminscent of MDC days, where entertainment/dance/singing was other of the day. Burn the floor ain't the usual musical. I'd have preferred a Live Band accompanying the dancers. A theme akin to musicals such as Fame might add another dimension to the show. But a poor storyline might render it Cheessy...

Mixing Blood with Water

*xxxx_xxxxxxxx*

Nongsa Village@Batam 15th-16th April 2006

Kudos to Maureen and Beng Hwee for invitation to their lovely villa at Nonga Village (Batam Island). Stress-free and laid back with furnishing akin to a Dempsey road showroom, this is truly paradise. One needs to take 10 steps from the back door to meet this inviting sunrise over the endless horizon.

Shot taken using K750i again. F2.8, 1/800 ISO 100. Doesn't look very clean when blown to full 2megapixel.

Pink River

Heavy downpour, pink river spotted near my house (yeah its REAL)...Shot using new K750i.....slight post-processing needed as picture was a bit soft at inifitnity with some chromatic abberations.

Earth, Moon, Sun

Shot using reverse macro. 350D, 80mm reversed, fixed at F5.6.

Thunder @ Sepang! 17th to 19th March 2006

Waited ~4 yrs..or 7 yrs to do this trip. To a F1 Grand Prix with a Good View. Finally...plonked down the dough to get K1 Gold tickets, and spend hell of a weekend with My Loved One up north! This thread will be more of a photo blog entry... Welcome to Sepang! Colourful weekend awaits you while track officials checks on quality of the track

Swarmed by Ferrari Fans..well...what to do.....

Wenhui here seen butchered by the exhorbitant pricing of food! If its GOOD food, I wouldn't mind forking out, but charge me HIGH price for food you can hardly swallow? OMG....

Some family member of Villeneuve

Some pro getting break, look closely and you'll find 2G CF cardSssss. + >S$10K worth of Glass...

Getting ready just before the 5 lights! at the edge of the pit straight!!

Fisichella leads the pack into 1st corner cleanly. Man, was firing away, no idea who was leading...this the dilemma between shooting an event you love to WATCH.

Kimi!! My fav driver! Alas, crashed out during the first lap by Nick Heifeld...grrrr This pic taken during qualifying...or was it free practice... well, panning at 300mm was really difficult without IS nor monopod nor experience. (enough excuses yeah?)

Multiple burst mode of one of the key points of the race, schu makes his way up the field, seen here bullying past trulli.

Anxious fan looks on as the red cars were nowhere near the podium towards the end of the race.

Young renault fan awaits anxiously for the first 1-2 by Renault team since joining F1 in 1982.

Fisichella wins his second career Grand Prix by leading from start to finish! Following closely behind is his team mate Fernando Alonso. Gratz for the French team and Fans.

I don't smoke, but doesn't mean my eyes can't 'smoke candy'

Till Sepang 2007! Jumpa Lagi! (See you again!)

Two vids can be found @
Massa Leading Schu
Some audible commentary
(commentary can be heard....but cars are way too loud to hear properly, ear plugs were compulsory!)