Link: 2014
Link: 2013
Link: 2012
2015 has been disappointing. Hoping for a more fruitful 2016!
1. Krasnodar, Russia (March 2015)
2. Sochi, Russia (March 2015)
3. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (August 2015)
4. Phnom Penh, Cambodia (August 2015)
5. Siem Reap, Cambodia (August 2015)
6. Xiamen, China (October 2015)
7. Wenzhou, China (October 2015)
8. Bangkok, Thailand (November 2015)
Penang unexpectedly became one of my favourite places in South East Asia. I marveled at the beautiful architecture of its atmospheric old town, the interesting street murals which turned every walk and every turn of corners into tiny bite-size adventures, and of course, at its legendary food. It pains me to say this as a Singaporean, but when it comes to our regional cuisine, Malaysia wins hands down. From street carts to restaurants, in Penang, there always seems to be something to eat. Hunting down the next best thing can become an obsession.
My trip was met with a lot of rain, but it didn’t dampen the mood, nor stop any of these street food vendors out cooking a storm in the alleys of old town Penang.
1. Hokkien Mee
Technically, I had this in Kuala Lumpur, but this can be found in Penang too. This can also be found easily in Singapore, but Malaysia’s version tends to use the thick udon-like noodles giving it an unfamiliar texture. The generous fried pork lard adds much flavor to the char fried noodles, though it may be a nightmare to the health conscious.
2. Char Kway Teow
The most ubiquitous fried noodle in Penang as every store and street seems to be selling a variation of this popular dish. This didn’t taste too different from the ones I am used to having in Singapore.
3. O jian
Another street food staple in Penang, O jian, which means ‘Oyster Egg’ is one of my family’s favorite. This version used charcoal to fry the egg though I think it was just a gimmick. The oysters are plentiful and fresh.
4. Dim Sum
The Chinese community in Penang seems to be predominantly Hokkien, so it was very surprising to find the street where I stayed to house a few restaurants serving Dim Sum, typically served as breakfast for the Cantonese. This restaurant was very popular and it was busy throughout the day, even at night. Eating here was quite an experience, with old ladies pushing down carts along the restaurant isles, recommending us what was good on that day.
5. Kway Tiao Thng
This deceptively simple rice noodle soup (Kway Tiao stands for flat rice noodles) was a good break from all the other unhealthy fried food which I’ve had. This stall was a surprise find, and seems to be extremely popular with locals. The fish balls are made from eels which is rather unusual. This stall also served the best iced coffee I’ve had.
1. Hualien, Taiwan (May 2014)
2. Tainan, Taiwan (May 2014)
3. Taipei, Taiwan (May 2014)
4. Bagan, Myanmar (June 2014)
5. Lake Inle, Myanmar (June 2014)
6. Yangon, Myanmar (June 2014)
7. Chiang Mai, Thailand (June 2014)
8. Luang Prabang, Laos (June 2014)
9. Hanoi, Vietnam (June 2014)
10. Tunxi, China (November 2014)
11. Hongcun, China (November 2014)
12. Hangzhou, China (November 2014)
13. Shanghai, China (November 2014)
14. George Town, Malaysia (December 2014)
15. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (December 2014)
I believe that the best portraits are taken with a short lens and at a distance as close as to the subject as possible.
It’s unfortunately a skill I have not master (not to mention the courage to approach a subject and ask for his or her permission to do so).
Until then, I prefer taking pictures of people at a non-infringing distance.
With enough background captured into the picture, it is perhaps able to better tell a story that close up portraits may not be able to.
After almost 3 years with my entry level DSLR (and getting increasingly frustrated with its limitations), I have finally found the heart (and pocket money!) to upgrade my camera to a full frame semi-professional Nikon D610. It’s also the first time I have shot with a prime lens, specifically, a 50mm f/1.8 and that takes some getting used to. Last weekend I took my new toy out for a test run shooting at various places in Singapore. It was fun exploring my own country and looking at it through a view finder. I felt like a tourist.
As the pictures on this site has been cropped to 623 x 415, the quality of these pictures do not appear too different from those in my previous posts. But at full scale, the difference is apparent. There are still plenty to learn, so I hope to do more of this in the next few weeks!
With the local bus departing from Bagan eastward, scenes of the fiery red temples of the plains were no more. Like a new kid on the block eager to show off his toys, I was treated to a tasting platter of Myanmar’s geographical greatness- its friendly yet unfamiliar road side villages, its dusty terrains, its green rolling mountains, and eventually a scene of a vast carpet of grass soaking in the late afternoon sun, granting only the sneakiest peak of the pristine lakes hidden beyond. It was 10 hours later that I arrived at Nyaungshwe, gateway to the capital of Myanmar’s placid lake side living, Lake Inle. The contrast with Bagan was incredible.
Lake Inle was not part of the original plan. As I would like to visit Luang Prabang in Laos, the easiest means of getting there is to catch a Monday flight from Chiang Mai, Thailand. With 3 days to spare after Bagan, my next destination was a tossup between Mandalay and Lake Inle. The latter just sounded so much more interesting, and I was not disappointed.
Arriving at Nyaungshwe, the largest town in the vicinity, it is hard to fathom the vastness of Lake Inle. Nyaungshwe itself has not much going for it, though it’s the most convenient base to explore the region, with good array of travellers’ amenities (by Myanmar’s standards). It was here which I witness one of Myanmar’s wonder- a ferris wheel ‘powered’ entirely by human strength. Sadly, it being off season during my travels, I didn’t actually get to see it work.
The only way to explore Lake Inle is to hop on a hired motored boat, the choiced method of transportation for locals too- though the tourists’ version is probably less rickety, its boatman speaks a few word of English and the actual boat itself even comes with a wooden armchair and life jackets (which i wore during the entire trip with no shame, much to the amusement of the locals who zoomed me past).
The boat journey from Nyaungshwe was a slow meandering past the town’s canals into the main lake, followed by an exhilarating full speed burst toward the southern end of the lake. Formed around the lake are interesting floating markets, villages on stilts, gardens, water-bound temples and ancient ruins. Amidst the sun set, stunning views of local fishermen peddling their boats with their bare legs were as unforgettable as they were timeless. It was a fascinating sight of how peoples’ lives revolve around the lake, and how the latter came to life at the presence of its inhabitants.
Whether it is the image of the fishermen taking a bath at the muddy water at the end of a hard day’s of work; or of their wives using the same canal to wash up their dishes after a sumptuous meal; or of their kids cheerfully cooling themselves in the scorching sun, life at Lake Inle is a demonstration of contentment at its simplest.
Lake Inle is almost non-descript, yet strangely intoxicating. It’s a tonic for the soul.
It was the realisation that I was walking on paved pedestrian walkways (oh how I have missed those) or maybe the sight of “Beware of scammers” posters replacing those that vividly say “Myanmar warmly welcomes tourists” which reminded me that I had cross the border to Chiang Mai, Thailand. Coming from Myanmar, Thailand was almost too tamed and easy. My immediate impression of Chiang Mai was that it was packed full of western travellers there for the quintessential ‘South East Asia’ experience, much like Bangkok.
Scenes of the noisy and loud backpacker crowds detracted the experience a bit, but with just one day there I’ve never had a chance with the city. Chiang Mai was a necessary transit to my eventual destination in Laos and Vietnam, suitably more exotic or interesting. But even with one day; compared to the crazy and rowdy Bangkok, I decided that I liked the classier Chiang Mai a lot more. My timing was superb- the streets of old city on every Sunday turned into an open extravaganza with indelible street Thai food, excellent shopping, and opportunity to people watch. During the day I walked around the old city exploring temples and relics, and when the heat gets too much, quick stops at one of the many chic cafes to replenish. Rather typical tourist stuff.
It was good chilling out, and it felt a bit like ‘returning to civilisation’ after the immensely surreal Myanmar. Some pictures:
Hot, noisy, and crowd full of people who just don’t seem to like foreigners, Hanoi is not going to feature highly on my list of favourite places any time soon. But my trip to the capital city of Vietnam was still an enjoyable one if only because of its amazing food. I wouldn’t call myself a foodie, though I love trying local cuisine during my travels as a way of experiencing a country’s culture. Besides the ubiquitous phở, here are some of the best street food I’ve had in Hanoi.
1. Bia hơi
Freshly brewed draft beer which is sold to the drop and replenish the very next day. Cheaper than water and found everywhere in Hanoi, Bia Hoi was my choiced beverage anywhere I go. Each Bia Hoi joint seems to be getting their supplies from different places so the quality varies widely. A few I’ve had was highly suspicious of adding too much water to the mix, but after a few rounds you won’t be too bothered!
2. Bánh cuốn
Steamed rice rolls with either chicken or shrimp fillings served with plenty of fried shallots and fresh herbs, dipped in a sweet and tangy sauce. A staple in many Vietnamese restaurants outside of the country, so chances are this is not going to be something completely foreign to visitors who know their pho ga from pho bo.
3. Bún chả
My absolute favourite food in Hanoi (had to walk several streets to find this place). Bun cha is a rice noodle dish served with barbecued pork patties and again, plenty of fresh herbs and vegetables. A meal in itself, the way to eat this is to dip the rice noodles in the concoction of clear sauce of meaty goodness- a leap of faith given how oily it looks. Salivating just thinking of it, this is easily my number one thing to have if I am crazy enough to visit Hanoi again.
4. Sữa chua
As it turned out, Sua chua is actually Vietnamese for ‘Yogurt’, and not technically the name of this dish which i had mistaken it for (the store I had this had the term plastered everywhere). As I mulled over the vast variety of ingredients on display when attempting to make my order, i was pointed unceremoniously to one these little stools to take a seat- the owner will include everything. Last I count, there were yogurt, shaved ice, almond jelly, green tea flavoured jelly, jackfruit, little tapioca drops of various colour and many more. Desserts from around the world has something to learn.
5. Bánh gối and Nem cua bể
Some fried savoury pastry thing that is stuffed with minced mushroom, crab meat and vermicelli. Whoever first came up with the idea of including vermicelli in stuffed pastry is a genius and deserve an award. These were crowd pleasers among the office workers where I had them.
6. Bánh tráng trộn
A very surprise find, as I had just finish dinner before spotting a very big crowd of people having these on tiny stools by the roadside, before deciding that I too need to savour them. Banh trang tron is a tropical salad with shredded cuttlefish, peanuts, and a whole lot of miscellaneous things. It is probably akin to what Papaya salad is to Thailand or what Rojak is to Singapore.
7. Xôi xéo
Any food that has two ‘X’es in its name deserves a second look. It’s a sticky rice dish with yellow bean paste and chicken shreds, this one I had was at a stall which seems to be engaged with a fierce rivalry with a neighbouring store. Again, as with many things in Vietnamese cuisine, the ingredient seems awkward on paper together, but somehow it works really well in reality. One of the best thing I have eaten.
My thoughts were momentarily interrupted by the abrupt stop of the enchanting sound of the hired pony cart. The driver hopped down from his seat, seemingly having found something. He picked up a wooden carved slingshot left on the ground (a child’s toy, he said), not an easy spot in these sandy vast plains. With a few swipes to clean off the dirt and sand, he proceeded to show me how it’s used with a few rocks he picked up. You can scare off dogs, see? He suggested I keep it as a souvenir. Sure, but my mind was still with the awe-inspiring sunset views of Bagan just moments earlier.
The trip from Yangon to Bagan was a lot more difficult than I had anticipated. As internet bookings for air tickets are not available in this country, I approached a local air line agent only to discover that the official ticketing offices are closed during the weekends. Despite knowing that mine is no longer a business of theirs, the office manager had his entire team researched for options of my itinerary, sat me down with a warm cup of tea and carefully ensured that I knew what to do. It was but one of the many genuine moments of kindness I experienced from the local people.
My only bet was therefore to arrive at the airport early before the 6.20am flight and purchase the ticket directly from the desk. I arrived 2 hours in advance, lurked around the unopened airport doors just so to make sure that I would be the first in queue (I wasn’t- the locals’ ability to arrive late, flag their cash and cut queues should not be underestimated). I felt like I was on the Amazing Race.
Despite the troubles in getting there, Bagan is worth every bit of the effort. It is as spectacular as I imagined it would be.
Bagan is an archaeological site in central Myanmar, spanning some 40 square kilometres. The grand plains are dotted with closed to 4,000 temples, many of which suffered from neglect, erosion, looting or are simply destroyed during earthquakes. Of those that remain standing (according to my guide, there are still more than 2,000 left), many were restored in a dodgy and un-historical manner (it is not uncommon to see some temples whose paint colour look somewhat different from the rest); and for that reason, unlike its more famous cousin the Angkor Wat in Cambodia, Bagan has not been included by Unesco as a world heritage site.
The Bagan region is massive, and it will take weeks, maybe even months to explore every single one of the temples. Geographically, Bagan can be divided into 3 main areas: Nyaung U, Old Bagan and New Bagan. Most of the important temples are found at the region surrounding Old Bagan, while the other 2 areas offer better lodging and amenities.
The most famous temples include: Ananda Pahto– the most imposing and awe inspiring; Sulamani Pahto– said to be the prettiest; Thatbyinnyu Pahto– the tallest; and Dhammayangyi Pahto– the largest temple, a red colossus. At sunset, the pagodas of Pyathada and Shwesandaw will offer some unforgettable views, destined to be etched in its viewers’ memories. Get contend with the presence of many other tourists and the sound of vendors selling 15 postcards at 3,000 Kyats at these prime spots, though.
What makes Bagan such an incredibly romantic site is that apart from these famous temples, there are thousands other to explore, many abandoned and forgotten, but each seems to have its own secret story to tell. Hop on to a bike, rent a car, or hire a horse cart, and explore a piece of Bagan that seems worlds apart from the rest of civilisation. Get up close with the local people who have learnt the art of living among the ruins throughout the centuries, or observe the unassuming farmers guide his herds into the beautiful sunset. It will be moments like these which make Bagan most fulfilling.
I left after 3 days at this magical site, feeling that I could easily spend another few more. As for the slingshot, it sits firmly in my haversack. As a piece of Bagan I am bringing home, it’s indeed not too bad a souvenir at all.
Trot.Snap.Scribe 