Beijing Photos

I thought I'd share some photos taken in Beijing (about 2 months ago) this time round cause if I don't post these now, these photos will never get posted, ever.

CNY so far

Good things come in pairs.

Take ONE:

 

Take TWO:  

 

Take ONE: 

Take TWO: 

Take ONE: 

Take TWO:

This year’s CNY has been so far so good. More memorable than previous years.

I’m done with my first job. Will be taking up the next challenge soon but before that, results :(

Balik Kampung 2010

After a few weeks living through the work-sleep-eat-online routine, I finally got my break. The usual 2.5 hours car ride back to Kampar took 4 hours plus instead, thanks to road blocks and packed rest houses.

Started my tiger year the same way I did for the cow year. Went to the temple, lighted up 30+ joss sticks and had tears in my eyes due to the smoke.

It wasn’t a pleasant way to start off the year especially when your whole body smells of smoke but we do this only once a year so it was ok.

On this day, the number of youngsters at the temple outnumbered the number of adults at the temple. This probably wouldn’t happen at any other time throughout the year, and some came dressing like the temple was organising a Vday party.

Speaking about Valentine’s Day, CNY > Valentine’s day (at least for my extended family) hence CNY wins but there were still lots of love in the air.

 

Had a lion to dance around my grandpa’s house after many years of absence. I kept taking photos and thought that the dance ended before it even started. Luckily there’s a video of the whole dance :)

I couldn’t be bothered about how much ang pow money I’ll be getting but rather it’s the company of relatives that counts. For the past 2 years I’ve been returning to Singapore on the second day of CNY itself (which is so potong steam). This time round I’m glad that I have a 6 days break.

I would like to make it a point to post something here at least once a week starting next week when I quit my current job. I’ve made my first thousand (in Ringgit wth). This is my holiday, I need a break.

Oh no, and March is so near. I can’t wait to go back to Singapore to see the casinos and everything else except for my lousy results.

Malaysia is so interesting!

 

Yes, please read this! (Entertainment) news is getting more and more interesting in Malaysia. The latest: Sodomy II. In the mean time, let’s not forget about the arson attacks on churches.

Quickie

Look who’s back.
I have been neglecting this blog for quite some time. I have a day job now, and will be trying out a night job soon. I like to face the different customers who I meet everyday. Some come in smiling, some come in like they have just lost a battle, some come in and expect me to layan them first.

Photo taken at KLCC over the weekend.

It’s 2010!

 

This is like a mandatory ‘Happy New Year’ post.

In 2009,

1. I sat for my last public exam

2. Finished 2 years of studies in Singapore (not sure if there will be more to come)

3. Learnt how to handle a big black camera

4. Had fun

 

In 2010, I’ll be

1. Working (before uni). Not going to rot at home watching movies/ playing games

2. Spending more time at home

3. Travel more, take more photos (hopefully)

Happy New Year! I’m glad that I started off 2010 in a peaceful manner. Sparkling juice, sec school friends, cards, Wii..

 

‘Ryan, please grow up.’

 

More photos from Beijing:

Travelogue Part 1

This brief travel journal will cover my trip to Beijing. The number of photos seen here will be 1% of the total number of photos taken. Let’s get it started.
It was a midnight flight so we boarded the airport limo after dinner. What are the chances of having the same taxi driver for 2 consecutive yearly vacations?
 
We had the exact same taxi driver who drove us last year to pick us up when we just simply dialled the hotline for a limo. Nowadays even airport limos have GPS devices in their cars, quite advanced.
Anyway the Christmas decoration was bad at KLIA, with just a few miserable Christmas trees in the middle of check-in counters for little kids to pose for photos.

Checked in 3 hours prior to departure, so we had lots of time to spare. Headed for supper at Noodles.

Killed time by snapping away at the satellite terminal.

Shot from the aero train. Nice effect (to me).

While snapping guess what I saw: airport staff playing games. They were clever enough to hide behind the counter but not smart enough to realise that people from upstairs were watching them.

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Experienced Malaysian Hospitality for 6 hours, landed at Beijing Capital Airport in the wee hours of the morning. Didn’t get a chance to see the newly built T3 as MAS uses T2.

Ate sandwiches from Starbucks and started to tour around Beijing. First stop: Summer Palace. This place is listed on UNESCO World Heritage List.





The entire lake was frozen. Temperature on that day was 2°C , the highest throughout my stay there and I wasn’t wearing my long john on my first day there.

Visited the hutongs 胡同 on trishaws. Hutongs are traditional courtyard residences, but there are not many left in Beijing today.

Went into one of the preserved residences to have a look at the arrangement of furniture etc. The compound is surrounded by 4 rooms, 1 for the parents, 1 each for boys and girls and another one for guests.



Strolled along Bar Street 酒吧街 before heading for lunch. It was rather quiet cause this street comes alive only at night.
  

Had Brazilian buffet BBQ for lunch. I have no idea what Brazilian BBQ has got to do with Beijing but anyway I think the locals like it a lot.

 
After lunch, we visited the Temple of Confucius 北京孔庙. I don’t know why but whenever I look at his statue, I feel calm.

‘When anger rises, think of the consequences.’ - Confucius

On few occasions, I saw up to 10 men crowding around a Chinese chess game out in the cold. Perhaps thinking/strategising keeps them warm?


Night show after dinner. Very entertaining, very colourful cultural show. Acts include mask changing 变脸, emperor and his girls, wushu, lion & dragon dance and more.

More photos from day 1:

To be continued…