Gone Fishin' in NZ South Island

I've been wanting to visit NZ since my day in Perth and it's about to become a reality in a few more hours. This trip was suppose to be with a few friends. I was telling myself regardless of my friends would make it I would still head there myself. Honestly, I believe this will not be my only trip to NZ.

Arthurs Pass looks good (esp the Highway), Franz Josef Glacier, Fiordland that includes Milford Sound, Mt Cook and the plentiful lakes are places I am sure would amaze me.

Anyway, I'll be off for roughly 10 days...

In & Around Saigon

What actually struck me in Saigon were the Cu Chi Tunnels and its surrounding spots. I am sure there are plenty of photos around the web showing how narrow the tunnels are and those have been widened to enable tourists experience the "tunneling". All I could say is claustrophobia did creep in though it was only a short 5-min venture.

I had the experience of firing a gun now. Mind you, it's AK-47! It was such an awesome feeling of pulling the trigger.

What I love about this city is the buildings, more so of the old structure.

Vung Tao offers a weekend getaway for the locals and Jesus Hill is one of the attractions. The view from atop towards the township does look like Sao Paolo. Don't you think so?

Not too far away from Jesus Hill, there stood the Goddess of Mercy.

Here are some other pics in and around Saigon.
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Life in Saigon

A long outstanding post that I have been procrastinating for some time. Helping out for friend's wedding did tire me out for weeks. Well, I thought I better get to this before the commencement of my next adventure in about 10 days.

I had the opportunity the visit Saigon or Ho Chi Minh City late last year with my folks. Like all travels, it's certainly an eye-opener. Specifically, life is so simple there. Yet, there exists thess specks of joy and smiles everywhere and almost everyone I walked passed.

We were told that Saigon itself has a population of 10million while Hanoi has half of that. Obviously, the night scene where we saw crowded streets with motorcycles nudging and weaving their way through the heavy traffic with plenty of horns blaring. There are just constantly blaring of horns even with our driver. Overtaking - horn, Turning - horn, Switching lanes - horn, Being overtaken - horn, etc...

A friend suggested that we should try the "Coconut Ice Cream" not too far away from the place we stayed. It supposedly tastes awesome. We did, twice...!

More photos to come but I actually didn't take too many, especially right after the wedding of a friend.

Penang - No 22 on NY Times

Temple - Kek Lok SiCannons - Fort CornwalisSunrise overlooking the PortAn Old Post Box Along Upper Penang Road that is still being usedTown Hall

Penang is one of the 44 places to visit in 2009, as listed on New York Times. Being a Penangite, I am proud of it to be listed among the Top 44, let alone being placed at no 22! I had the opportunity to capture some shots in a part of the heritage city, a place that I have taken for granted.

These are some of the photos taken. How I wish to have more time.
Click here for more pics.

A Getaway from Chilly Melbourne

I was in Bali almost 2 weeks ago for a short 4.5-day getaway from chilly Melbourne as well as involving in a wedding shoot. More on the tour of Bali which I joined my parents before the shoot in later post. It was an amazing experience overall.

Here are some photos from the location shoots of the newly-wed in Ubud, 2 hours drive away from Nusa Dua where our abodes are. [Images are not properly displayed though but click on it to have them opened in separate view - FIXED]

With the hot and humid weather in Bali and returning to chilly Melbourne, I am down with a cold at the moment! :( I can't wait to get to the photos taken in Bali but I still have a wedding I did before the Bali trip. Patience, peeps!