Khoo Kongsi

When the Chinese migrated to Malaysia (then Malaya) about 200 years ago, they formed closely-knit communities. Those who shared the same surname lived together and watched over each other. In the Hokkien community in early Penang, there were Five Big Clans, namely, Khoo, Cheah, Yeoh, Lim and Tan. These communities built their clanhouses and formed settlement around them.

Evening At the Park

It has been months since my last post. Ever since I started working more than two months ago, free time has become a luxury. On the weekdays, daytime and nighttime is but an alternate between work and sleep. Weekends meanwhile, are for slumbering and being unproductive, except for the very few occasions when I'd somehow force myself out for a photo session.

But what's a photo session without my beloved Zhi, who's also my faithful camera assistant (she carries the lenses for me) cum photo model? And so, poor Zhi was dragged along to the Youth Park, on a hot sunny day when stepping out of the house is hardly a welcoming idea for the sane mind.

Thankfully, our session was a fruitful one. We came back with a number of satisfying shots.

Redang

We've talked about this since half a year ago, long before I returned from Japan - a trip to Redang Island. But planning a trip is never easy, especially if you're travelling to an island that is not as accessible as your local shopping mall... First, you'll need to either take a plane or a bus to Kuala Terengganu. Then, hop on a taxi to get from the airport to the jetty, where you'll take a boat ride to finally reach the island. That's right, half a day and at least three modes of transportation to get to Redang Island!

Glow

After 5 years in Japan, I'm back to Malaysia. From now on, my photo album will feature photos from here, starting with Pulau Redang! Pulau Redang is an island off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia in the South China Sea. ("Pulau" means "island" in Malay language.)

With no light pollution, the night sky was dotted with stars that you will never see in the cities. If you look closely enough, a couple of them was caught in this photo. Even with a 52-second shot, the stars were starting to trail off.

This rocky hill is located in the middle of the two beaches. It was lit by some light from a resort close by. The white "mist" in the foreground is the waves hitting the beach. And in the background, some distant light (perhaps from a lighthouse?) lent an eerie glow to the night sky.

11 March 2011 - The Day the Earth Shook

I woke up this morning, wondering if yesterday was a dream. Just then, the building trembles as if to remind me it wasn't. Okay, point taken!

So there I was, pushing the trolley back to the lab after sending my stuff to the post office. As I walked into the university compound, staff were coming out of the administration building on my left. The terrified looks on their face showed that something was amiss. They turned back to look at the building they'd evacuated. Oh god, the building was swaying. So were the trees that lined the road. They seemed to be shaken by some invisible force.

Then I felt it. The ground was moving.