Filed under: Photography, Ramblings, Travel | Tags: mrt, Photography, singapore, thoughts, train, transit
And so Jin (me) was in transit one day and decided that hey, it’s about time I put away my earphones and pull myself back into the real world. For a few moments hence, I remembered why I put them on in the first place.
With an effort that rivaled the Labours of Hercules, I forced every fibre in my body to refrain from plugging myself back into the rhythmic realm of Led Zeppelin, Saigon Kick, Foo Fighters and every other son of rock and roll.
I began to look around, and it occurred to me then that the MRT is perhaps one of the best places to people watch. A café is static, and it only attracts a certain demographic of people. Trains on the other hand, don’t discriminate. All sorts of people commute with it and it’s constantly moving, with a fresh influx of commuters at every stop.
Being in transit is like being in limbo. There’s not much to do during the time in between from when you got on and when you get off, but sit or stand quietly – if you’re on your own – and reflect. Often, a lonesome traveler’s thoughts are reflected on his face.
I took out my camera and snapped off a couple of shots of this smorgasbord of emotions around me.
I was intending to delete the last image from collection of photos on the grounds that it was too blur, but upon further inspection, something compelled me to keep it. There was just something about this photo that hung on to me as I looked at it more and more. The quiet sadness in his eyes, the look of resignation on his face and the way he clung on to the divider just seemed to speak of a man in need who is presently just drifting by and marking time. There was this whole air of despondancy about him, and it made me sad thinking about it. Perhaps that was what prevented me from deleting it, that it could stir some emotion in me.
That said, I was quite happy with the family shots. It was a delight to see the pure joy the little boy brought to his parents; a private moment that would have been easily missed if I hadn’t decided to ditch my mp3 player.
Not sure if it’s obvious enough, but in Father and Son, the two of them were playing some network game with each other. Pretty cool way of bonding and bridging the generation gap, I would say.
Anway, next time you take the train, spare a few moments to observe around you and see what stories you could find in others while you’re in transit.
Filed under: Experimental, Ramblings, Travel, Videography, Wedding Locations
Just dug up something Ed did when he was in Portugal in 06 for a design conference. Really old video but it really fits the theme of travel. So here it is!
Filed under: Photography, Travel | Tags: durians, malaysia, malaysia boleh, penang
Well, it has been awhile since we’ve blogged about our adventures. Please forgive us, we’ve just been so busy lately, caught up in a flurry of one activity after another!
E is now a proud new father of a precious baby girl, Donna. As for the rest of us, we’re going to be proud owners of a new office! More about that later once we’ve made the transition.
Recently, we had the priviledge of visiting a durian plantation in Pahang. I must say,nothing beats the taste of a freshly dropped durian than the beating your non-durian aficionado buddy gives you when you burp in the car and there’s no exit for him. Joy. For us at least. Probably a hellish nightmare for him.
I don’t know about you, but it’s never really occurred to me what the whole process of collecting durians is like. To me, when I think of durian and any form of processing, it usually starts with breaking open the shell, popping that fleshy seed into my mouth, licking my fingers and starting all over again.
Not to these workers though. You know that little ditty? Planting rice is never fun, bent from morning till set of sun? At least rice farmers don’t have to trod all over hilly regions searching for thorny fruits. These guys do, and these aren’t kuching kurah hills we’re talking about. Steep and at times, dangerous ones – in the forms of the local fauna.
We went up to one plantation after hearing that they had caught a snake. We couldn’t tell what species it was and we couldn’t speak Thai either, so we left not knowing what it was, only that it didn’t look too friendly!
Another time we were at this shack where they were packing the durians onto trucks for shipment back to Singapore and I over heard one of the workers speaking to the foreman in Chinese that they found tiger paw prints in one of the other plantations.
I guess every job has its occupational hazards. Oddly enough though, we found out that in the 30 years the plantation owner had been in business, not once has any one of his workers been injured by a falling durian! Apparently there’s a saying, “Durians have eyes. They watch where they fall.” Reassuring as it may be, it just didn’t feel safe whenever we heard a loud “thuuuuck!” right behind us, and we had no interest in setting a precedent!
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- Qi An readying for the trek across the plantation
Having seen this, I’d dare say that still cameras complement video extremely well. This was shot on a Canon 20D and the shutter was exposed every 30 seconds over a long period of time. Then, it was carefully stitched together to form this masterpiece. Having said that, one musn’t forget how the music complements the entire video as it clearly shows how music and images can work together to form a multi-sensory experience.
Another video shot on Full HD. This video was shot on the Sony EX3 and Letus Extreme. Amazing colours, details and contrast. Just check out the fluidity of the motion of the people in the video and you will know why. After yesterday’s company meeting, we’ve decided this will be the next thing on the shopping list after we move to our new premises! These are exciting times!
Wow, just happened to stumble across this beautiful video of the Sony EX1 coupled with a Letus Extreme. Just have to say that Full HD is the way to go. The detail and the colours alone are already unrivalled (par film) across all formats. You should also check out the variable frame rate capabilities, where we can experience REAL SLOW MOTION instead of slowing down video in post production. This is truly amazing. Well, I guess Oddoneout should be moving into Full HD capabilities in the very near future. So do check back the moment we do that coz it’s gonna be real exciting.
Filed under: Travel, Wedding Locations | Tags: Blue Mansion, cheong fatt tze, malaysia, malaysia boleh, Mansion, penang, Travel, Wedding Locations
It’s been a couple of weeks since we were last in Penang, but we still can’t quite forget the Blue Mansion!
- Awesome room messed up by not so awesome guests
You can’t blame us though, after continuous nights of tossing and turning in Singapore, yearning for those plush beds once more. One night was enough to spoil us!
In our earlier entry, we didn’t quite elaborate much on the mansion, so this will be the focus of this entry.
So who was this eponymous Cheong Fatt Tze? From what we know, Ah Fatt was in short, China’s 19th Century version of JP Morgan. This man used his wealth to help fund the construction of roads, railways and buildings amongst other businesses he ran within South East Asia.
- Key to awesome room
When he wasn’t busy playing tycoon, he was often found in the blue mansion. We have the 7th of his 8 wives to thank for our most comfortable stay because it was built specially for her.
As we mentioned previously, the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion has been designated as a UNESCO heritage site.
Now what’s so special about this mansion for it to be conferred such a lofty and honourable title that immunizes it from the bulldozer’s hungry jaws that spares not the lesser buildings?
Well, at this present moment, the Blue Mansion, which took 7 years and a team of master craftsmen from China to complete, is only one third of its kind left, which makes it exceedingly rare. It’s also Penang’s only relic to show case the best of 18th and 19th century Chinese home architecture.
Although it’s more than a century old, it is not the decrepit liver spotted edifice that people might expect of a structure of such age. In fact, it kept to the times and under went the knife – so to speak – and has been restored to its former glory.
One thing we love about this place is that there’s this really old world charm to it. It felt as if we were on some Shanghainese film noir set directed by Wong Kar Wai.
In fact, we think it would be the perfect place to have a themed wedding, where everyone dresses up in something Shanghainese for example. The bride could be the roguish detective, and the bride the foxy and mysterious client. Or the other way round if it floats your boat!
There’s no need to worry about accommodations because there are rooms within the mansion, obviously, that you could rent out for your guests. Each room not only comes with an extremely comfy bed, but is also individually themed. (There are also hotels next door for the guests who aren’t close to you have no wish of giving the honour of staying in the mansion with you)
- 2nd Floor
The banquet hall is of sufficient space to hold your dinner for about 10 to 15 tables. When you’re done feasting, you and your guests can adjourn to either the inner or outer courtyards to begin pretending to be the God(dess) of gambling.
It is a thought for those of you who want to have a different wedding that is away from home, yet not too far away.
For those who are interested, feel free to contact us to find out more and we can see how we can get the good friends we made at the mansion to help!
Filed under: Photography, Travel, Wedding Videos | Tags: 35mm film, black and white photography, cheong fatt tze, malaysia, malaysia boleh, penang, Photography, the blue mansion, Travel, wedding
We had a real fun time in Penang. Pity the ride up there wasn’t all that enjoyable though, seated behind two overwhelmingly chatty old women. Still, it was worth the ride and if they’re reading this now, we would like to say a great big thank you to Yvette and Barney for inviting us over to cover your wedding.
- Barney And Yvette
Honestly, we’ve never attended anything like this before. No offence to Singaporean couples, but it’s always the same old thing – waking up early in the morning, the gate crashing, the sabo-ing and then the dinner. Come on, how many of the guests do you guys really know?
What happened to your dream weddings? Why must there always be a need to follow tradition or what our parents want? If I had my own wedding, it definitely wouldn’t be anything traditional. I haven’t really thought about what it’s going to be like exactly because I’m not even attached. But still, you get my drift.
I know I’m starting to sound like an ungrateful son, but it’s going to be my wedding after all, and it’s going to be a once in a life time event (hopefully) so why should I have one that is similar to everyone else?
Of course there should still be some must dos like the solemnization and the tea ceremony for the parents and in-laws (I will be marrying their daughter whom I haven’t met yet after all, so no point cheesing them off so early)
It should be unique, not uniquely Singaporean. And the people who grace it, I would rather they be the ones closest to me that I speak to often than the ones I see once in a long blue moon.
Now these two love birds, they had something different going on! It’s one thing to visit a UNESCO heritage site, and another to be staying and partying in one! 
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, or more popularly known as, The Blue Mansion
It was a real grand and charming place, rich in history and had one of the most comfortable beds I had ever slept on. Best sleep I had since I can’t remember when!
- Pastel coloured walls
Inner Courtyard
Barney And Yvette standing at the entrance of Cheong Fatt Tze on the banquet night
The bride herself was really something different too. A director by day and priestess of Isis by night! Okay la, not really night, but you get the idea.
Yvette waiting for the ceremonies to begin at the Hindu temple
In this day and age, everyone rides in shiny cars, what more for their big day. Yvette and Barney? No pimped out turbo charged rides for them, no sir. Cows and chariots, man. Respect.
On the way to the temple
It was long ride for a short distance
Guests awaiting the arrival of Barney
It was pretty darn hot and humid in Penang
And so begins the ceremony with the first beat of the drumView this Post
This was the most memorable, most surreal and the most fun wedding I had ever attended. Thanks a lot guys, wishing you two many good years ahead!
We’ll also be adding the wedding video soon, so you’ll be able to see the wedding in colour plus what else went on within the Blue Mansion. We would love to have shot more photos, but unfortunately that meant us not doing our job 
Would have also loved to have shot in colour, but someone’s DSLR died and we had to rely on old school 35mm TMAX 400.
