of whites, fields, beaches




One of my oldest friends actually trusted me enough to shoot her first anniversary photos. It was an honour and a delight, plus I was fed really well. If you ask Debbie, my long-time friend of yore, she'd tell you that feeding me is the key to get my thing going.

So, here are just some of their photos from the shoot. Enjoy!!!

missionary








Lately I’ve been thinking about going on a mission trip, or for you non-religious folks, engaging in a community volunteer programme.

I think it was the trip to Siem Reap that did me in. I’ve always loved kids, and kids are cute wherever you go. But I guess it was the haunting eyes, bright and expecting, seemingly untainted by industrialization and globalization that did me in. When they play, they play simple games. Most of them have never seen a computer, nor been in a chat room. They don’t blog, they don’t play counter strike. In short, they will never know that I write about them.

It is sad that innocence is so easily snatched away. Child prostitution is rampant in these third world countries, the fact that so many foreigners actually travel to these parts for this particular purpose in mind causes the industry to thrive.

You see little Olivers everywhere. Each one of them selling trinkets to tourists or begging by the side of the dirt street. Each one of them having a Fagin to get back to at sundown. Each one of them handing over their profits of the day only to get a few mouthfuls of food in return. You can’t have beggars looking too well-fed and healthy.

So I guess what I took away from Siem Reap wasn’t mainly the awe of being in the midst of ancient temples, it was experiencing the people and learning about their livelihood. I guess, also, that you do not see until it stares at you in the face, telling you, “Yes, it’s real, these things do happen and not only in the movies.”

angkor wat

The next leg in my Siem Reap journey. This place seems so enriched with histories and many mythological stories. I know it is a little weird to be visiting temples, but I sincerely didn't think of them as temples, I thought of them more like storytelling vessels that allowed me to experience and imagine this whole new world before modern civilisation.

The Angkor Wat dates back all the way since the 12th Century, most of it's building structures are original, and it took 37 years to build. Some carvings inside it are incomplete, as the people of that time decided that once the king died, it would be inappropriate to continue his life's work. So the progress of the temple died along with the king.

Further along the timeline, when Siam was invading Kampuchea, alot of nobles and royalty abandoned the temple, leaving only the Buddhist monks to fend for themselves. The Angkor Wat has since been converted into a Bhuddist monastery, but it's main operations take place away from the old temple.

I realise I've left many holes in the story, but for now, just enjoy the photos. =)













The famous Ta Phrom is up next. Till next time...

extended absence


I have to admit, it's been a long time since my last entry.

Alright, that was a bit of an understatement.

Whatever few readers I actually have probably lost interest when there's nothing new to see.

To my defense, you'd probably be tired too with the continuous traveling. Which I have to agree sounds exciting at face value, but you try getting a taste of it, especially since most of the traveling is work related. To illustrate my point, I've calculated the days I've actually been back in Singapore, a total of six days in the last 4 weeks, and not in a stretch. Though not all of it was work. I just came back from a holiday in Siem Reap, home of the Angkor Wat. So that took care of the need for a short vacation, even though I'm burnt and my muscles are aching from all the climbing.

I'm going to be grounded for at least a week and a half so at least that will give me time to edit some photos that I am seriously behind on (what's new?) and clean up my place.

So... things to look out for...
Onslaught of Siem Reap photos... more updates on MeLa de Gypsie photography... photos of random things... a new tutorial on using textures... etx...

Till next time soon...