Penang 09

Here are some shots from my weekend stay in Penang. It changed a bit since my last visit 4 years ago. Now there is a huge shopping center at Queensbay. For seafood, forget about crossing the bridge and going to Bkt. Tambun. There is one on the island itself which is even better. Forgot where is the place, but it is located near the Penang Hill.

Going up Penang Hill is a hassle. Perhaps the effect after my trip to Mount Takao in Tokyo. The trains at Mt. Takao are brand new, fast and air conditioned. But the trains here are old, slow and stuffy; with only fans providing ventilation to suffering passengers stuffed in overcrowded cars. The wait for the train is long too.

Anyway, big thank you to Jonsern for being a great host.

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Portrait Photography: My Nightmare

I visited my friend Jonsern in Penang. He organized a portrait photography weekend for me apart from the usual eating and sight-seeing trip. I've never shoot portraitures seriously and I thought it would be a great idea to move out from my comfort zone of landscape photography and learn some new skills. Armed with the new 50mm f1.8 lens, I was eager and all ready for it.

Continuing my story from the previous post below, I said it was a blessing in disguise that I did not get the 35mm f1.8 lens; which is double the price of my 50mm. And this is the reason why. I first started shooting pictures with my prosumer camera with a whopping 12x optical zoom. After depending and living so long on zoom lenses, it's like a drug now which I cannot shake off. Zoom lenses are so convenient that I hardly need to move me feet when taking pictures. My composition skill and perspective are all rotten because of this. Moving on to DSLR, now I have the benefit of using prime lenses; like my new 50mm lens. Using prime lens for the first time in my first serious portrait photography, unfortunately it turned out to be a nightmare. I couldn't even compose the subject into the frame properly. Many shots turned out to be out of focus too. Feeling so frustrated, I changed back to my zoom lens in the latter session. The pictures are better, but still not outstanding. I come to the conclusion that I suck big time in portrait photography. I will stick to my landscape photography. I feel very sorry to the models for taking such bad pictures for them. Well, luckily I got the cheaper 50mm lens instead of the 35mm. Else, I will be crying over a wasted lens left collecting dust in the cabinet.

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Bokeh Time

I got myself a bokeh lens; Nikkor AF 50mm f1.8 D. Was supposed to get the 35mm f1.8 lens but it's out of stock. It was actually a blessing in disguise which I will reveal the reason why in my next post. Below are some sample pictures taken from my new lens. Most pictures are blur or out of focus due to my inexperience in handling prime lens and without a tripod as well.

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Sakura Trip: Tokyo, Hakone, Takao

Ah, it's that time of the year again where I perform my annual backpacking trip ritual. This year, without doubt I chose Tokyo to see the cherry blossom (sakura); which I've missed it last year.

I took the much coveted flight to Tokyo on the Airbus A380 super jumbo. This has got to be the best aircraft ever built. My entire flight was super quiet and so comfortable. And it has the best suspension systems I must say. During taxiing, take off or landing, I could not feel any bumps or jerks at all.

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Tokyo Edo Museum is a very good place to start for a gaijin (foreigner) first-timer in Japan. This museum tells stories from ancient emperor/samurai era and how Japan rises from the ashes of A-bomb to become an ultra modern country. Next to the museum is the Sumo hall. One can catch sumo wrestlers in action at certain days of the week.

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I walked the streets of Akihabara and Shinjuku in the evening on my first day. Big mistake! It was freaking winter temperature even though it's spring. It was already 3deg celcius at 7pm. I was a frozen pig that night even under the blanket.

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I joined the Hatobus tour on my second day to save me the hassle of transport. The tour brought me to Meiji Jingu shrine, Imperial Palace, Sensoji temple in Asakusa, cruise down Tokyo Bay and Odaiba man-made island.

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To get the best view of Tokyo Tower and also the night city view, you have to be at Roppongi area. Head west of Tokyo Tower and find the Roppongi Hills Mori tower. Go to the 52nd floor at night and enjoy a 360deg view of Tokyo lights.

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It must be my lucky day. Mori tower has an ongoing display of Ferrari cars on their 52nd floor observatory tower. They even have the Enzo and the sexy SP1 on display!!!

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From Shinjuku station, I walked to the west side, full of skyscrapers. I got a very nice day view of Tokyo city from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. Both their North and South observatory towers are free in admission. One can see Mt. Fuji from here on a clear day. On the east side of Shinjuku station is the shopping district. The back alleys are a little shady; housing numerous "love" hotels and stuffs like that. It's perfectly OK to walk during the day before it turns into red light district at night.

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Shinjuku Gyoen park is my playground. This huge park has the best cheery trees around. Not only that, the park also has the best landscape and many other flower/tree species. Boy, I utilized my time and D90 to the max in this park.

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Another great place to view the sakura is Chidorigafuchi (Imperial Palace moat). Sakura trees line both sides of the moat and you can even row a boat there. Opposite the moat is the Yasukuni shrine, where they had a big festival there on my visit.

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The busy and famous zig-zag crossing at Shibuya; definitely not the place for me. It's a sea of people out there. And the shopping price tag is out of my wallet range. Teenagers dressed up as anime characters and gothic styles gather in Harajuku. Nearby is the Yoyogi park. Not really a nice place to see the cherry blossom in my opinion.

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I took some time off from the city and headed to Hakone. It is such a beautiful place and offers so many attractions. If only I knew it, I would have planned more days.

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My last few days were spent at Ueno park and Mt. Takao. Ueno is the next best place to see cherry blossom after Shinjuku Gyoen park. It has got the ancient feel. The park has got some really old cherry trees lined up on both sides of the walkway. Nearby attractions are some museums and zoo. Do take note about the crowd on a good sunny day. The queue was so long that it backed all the way from the park to the train station. Climb Mt. Takao on a good day and you'll get to see Mt. Fuji and the city view.

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Well, that wraps up my yet another exciting and wonderful trip. I love Tokyo, and I definitely left my heart there for someone special.