master in black and white Unknown 12:02 AM

I named him master, the master chef.  :D

I can't remember what he was preparing but I do remember that we waited for more than an hour for our food which gave me the idea of taking his picture.  I was sitting next to their kitchen window, and I was seeing everything that was happening inside.  I think they're cool and collected.

I think he was cutting fish or some shellfish.. notice the huge basin of ice on his side.  I think this black and white version of him is prettier.

young and beautiful Unknown 12:13 AM

This young girl reminds me of some local celebrity.. a very young version of her.  I caught her running around our backs while we're resting from exploring the whole garden.. playing around.  Her dad was calling her while I was shooting her, so I backed away, but the little girl came back.  I think she liked being photographed. or maybe she just loves to play around.

Another young and beautiful is this young girl on her bike with her dad at her back keeping up with her.  I've shared this many times before but I just love this shot that much you might still find her in my future posts.

ultimate list: my take on street photography Unknown 10:39 PM

I was reminded again that taking other people's pictures is offensive in every angles, and that I might get into serious trouble if I continue doing that.  I appreciate the concern, I do, and I do take this advice very seriously, but I do this kind of photography very discreetly as well.  And when I was asked why I'm doing it, I replied "I don't know".  But what I do know is I enjoy doing it, I just don't know why.  Is that good reason enough?

And so here is my list of the most interesting shots I took in the streets of Singapore and Malaysia.  I could hardly call this my ultimate list though, I just need to create a title for U.

I've shared some of them before, like this shot of the biker girl, and the "celebrity chef" who posed beautifully in front of the Singapore Flyer, the lady in "tunnel of bloom", and that toasted under the sun Laneway Experience.

This girl who's pedaling hard to get away from her dad and join the love of her life is one of my most favorites and luckiest shots in my entire collection.  I took it in one of the streets in Singapore.

tunnel of bloom Unknown 3:16 PM

The tunnel of bloom is what I called this long walkway to the Gardens by the Bay.  It's a connection between the MRT and Gardens by the Bay.  You'll see a lot of flowers in there displayed on its wall lined with tall mirrors.  People started to pose in front of those wallpaper flowers and I can't resist shooting them as well, but I failed.

I continued to take their photos while walking; these people, they're just fascinating, and I was able to get a good shot of someone from my back.

My camera was processing the last shot it took, and a few seconds later, I saw my subject staring straight at my camera, or maybe at me for shooting her without permission.  She already had passed by me when I saw her face looking like I don't know if pissed.  But I seriously like this photo.

so many reflections Unknown 11:02 PM

So I was walking towards the Gardens by the Bay through this long walkway which I called "the tunnel of bloom", and I was admiring its flowery wall, watching people strike their favorite poses, checking every angles, showing their best smiles.. you know, for Facebook.  I tried to take their pictures but I failed.  They're not worth sharing.

And so I thought of shooting those who were chilling inside the tunnel instead.. those who were hanging out with their cellphones out.  And I came out with this.. 

recollecting the moment Unknown 9:30 PM

Do you remember the last time you hang out with your whole family in an amusement park?  I was in elementary, I think, grade 3 or 4 when we went to Boom na Boom.  It was huge then.  And that was our first and last time to hang out in an amusement park, as a whole family.  My father is not a fan of kiddie rides, he's more a beach or river or pool kind of man.

We had a lot of joyrides going to beaches in our relatives' provinces back then when he was still owning a taxi.  Yes, he was a taxi driver, and he named his taxi "kambal" or twins in english.. because we have twins in the family.

I don't know how to connect the intro with my topic, so maybe I'll just tell you that I caught a few family moments in Universal Studios which gave me the idea for that title.  I wasn't reminiscing, if that's what you're thinking.  I just think they all look cute and nice and warm and very nice and I'm glad I was able to shoot them and document their family moments.

Petronas Towers Unknown 9:14 PM

You know what really caught my attention when we arrived in Kuala Lumpur was the sky.  It was super red.  That sky wasn't photoshopped.  It was actually reddish, and it kinda freaked me out, but they never seem to notice.  They're all busy taking pictures.  But, hey, it did add character to my photos.  I just don't know why it's red.

I took another shot from another angle.. it's really red.  It was both alarming and fascinating.  Is this how bad the pollution is in Malaysia? particularly in Kuala Lumpur? or I don't know, maybe it's just the lighting.

obligatory Laneway shots Unknown 8:55 PM

I do feel like it's an obligation to shoot moments like these.  They were there, we were there, sitting next to each other, listening to these great bands from all over the world, not minding the heat, and too much sweating.  I did feel like a melting candle being blown away by these fantastic music.  But we stayed.  I stayed.  I let myself be toasted, and for the nth time, I should have thought of protecting my skin at least.

I took this during the early hours of the festival.  Some people caught me shooting them, some hid their faces, but that girl in front made this shot really special.

nearly missing the plane Unknown 6:51 PM

We had a few hours to spend scouring every stalls, every shops, every products they have before our flight.  I found the cutest vegetable magnets in a reasonable price.  I'm not a fan ref magnets, but how can you say no to a mushroom, tomatoes, and ginger which were beautifully crafted.. they looked real in my eyes.  I have no photos of them though, and two of them were already broken.. that's why I'm not a fan of ref magnets.

But I do have this shot which I wasn't able to share before.  I took it while we were waiting for the rain to stop, and while they're haggling for something.  I stood under this tent which I don't know if strong enough to handle the rain, but I had no any other option.

l-l-l-l-l-light show at Gardens by the Bay Unknown 10:12 PM

We witnessed a very beautiful, very colorful, very nice light show in Marina Bay last year, but unfortunately, I wasn't able to take a picture of it.. not one.  My camera always die whenever something as glamorous as a Marina Bay light show occurs in front of me.. something that is worth every picture in the universe.

But the universe was good to me when we visited the Gardens by the Bay.  We were about to exit when I heard a very calming voice giving a nice introduction to the show.  I stopped walking and started to take pictures.  I heard my brother calling me and telling me something like "this way" or "that way" but I ignored him.  I was on a mission, and I must at least get a picture or two.

I was joined by a hundred more people, pointing their fancy gadgets in the "huge flowers" (I'm sorry I don't think I'd be able to get over the huge flowers), I mean, the super trees.  I saw how pretty their shots are.  But I like mine.

keep it cool Unknown 8:23 PM

How long can you wait for your food before you lose your cool because you're starving and you keep noticing that some people in the other tables are getting their food already when you know you came first and ordered first before them?

I think we waited for about an hour before our food finally landed in our table.  There was nothing fancy in our orders.. just normal wanton noodles, chicken, rice and tea (that's all I remember).  But no one lost their cool, we were just kind of crying and begging for our food to come because we noticed that everyone's eating already and we're staring at their every bite.. drooling.

I almost tapped the kitchen wall (which was a glass wall) because we're sitting next to it and remind the chef of our order.  But I saw how busy he was and he might just ignore me, so I thought of shooting him instead.

joyful smiles for me Unknown 9:17 PM

It is very rare that I encounter someone who would be pleased to be shot by a stranger, and smile gorgeously in my camera.  I have shared before some of my favorite models; those who were pleased to be shot by me, without asking for anything in return.  And I'm glad I still was able to find one in another country.

This one was taken in Universal Studios, September last year.

I was trying to shoot Beetlejuice from afar because I don't want to invade their social activity.  He was surrounded by people trying to take his picture, so I stayed in my place and hoped for good shots.  I was really aiming for his face, but I caught a pretty nice smile smiling towards me.  I'm not saying that that smile was for me, but I do think that it's a pretty lucky shot to catch someone smiling and laughing and then noticing that some lunatic was shooting them from afar while in a state of being happy.

invaders must die Unknown 8:37 PM

Universal Studios was invaded September last year by the not so unidentified object.  It wasn't flying but floating above a crowd of fans.. of StreetBoys' fans who were enjoying their every moves.

StreetBoys is a group of dancers from the Philippines, who were quite famous in the late 90s and early 2000s.  They broke up and moved on to different careers, I guess, but some of them continued their passion in dancing in Singapore.. in Universal Studios.  I thought I should tell you that because I mentioned their group and I do think they're great dancers.  Unfortunately though, their fans didn't notice that they're standing under a high-caliber flying saucer.. and they were about to die.

I think from the aliens' point of view, the people are the invaders, and they must die.

face painted in blurry Unknown 10:35 PM

He saw me pointing my camera on him.  I asked if I could take a shot, while pointing my camera on him.  He slowly walked towards me.. too close actually, but I still wasn't able to get a good shot.  My camera is super fucking slow to function when I turn off the flash.. which I do all the time.  I've taken a few shots already but it was still blurry, and then he looked away.  Guess that's my cue to get out of his face, or else.

caught in the act Unknown 9:16 PM

I was walking under the huge flowers, looking for a beautiful, catchy scene.. well, I'm actually just randomly taking pictures of everyone that catches my interest, when I saw these guys (I don't know what they're doing, I just saw them sitting next to each other) and I caught that other guy peeking on the other guy's phone.  And I was like, "jackpot!"

This shot was originally blurred because I was meters away from them and I was walking.  I wish I could stop and take a few more shots, but they might catch me and I might end up running for my life.

biker girl be like Unknown 9:09 PM

I caught her in one of the streets in Singapore.. seriously pedaling away from her dad.  You can see it on her face.  I'm not making this up.

I love every angle of this shot.  I'm super lucky to catch her in the middle.  Her dad looking a bit concerned that his girl was being shot by a stranger and/or she might leave him behind, and run away with Roman.  I love the passion being shown in here.

Her legs might be shorter than her dad's, but her eagerness to win this race and finally reach that street to blend in with the other bikers and hold hands with Roman is her ultimate goal.. even just for a few moments away from her dad and finally with her love.

daddy moment Unknown 11:31 AM

I'm linking up this cute daddy moment photo to Wordless Wednesday (although it's already Thursday) ..but they're not in any way related to me.. I just thought, a lovely moment like that must be documented, so I took a shot.  

I'm sorry, it's meant to be wordless, right?  :>

pg m-m-m-moments Unknown 1:58 PM

It was Christmas day.  Everyone's busy preparing for the party (our annual party), and since they've got everything under control, and since our baby Erin was crying nonstop, I decided to take her to the playground.  Thankfully there's one in the area we're at.

It wasn't occupied when we got there, except for the cutest baby on the swing and her mother, or maybe that's her tita with her and we joined them.  Erin became the happiest, cutest, little runner in the playground.  I had to chase her all over.

She went from the swing, to that little horse on a spring, to the slide.. I joined her on the slide.  I had to, even if I looked ridiculous.  Maybe I was being over protective of her, but she is so fragile! and so clumsy like her little tita.

the dinosaur babies Unknown 8:50 PM

It was 35 - 40°C or more that day, and they found a way to cool it up.  There was an old woman who was a bit tempted to join the kids, and I was waiting for her to dip in, but I don't know what changed her mind.

 

those huge flowers in the park Unknown 4:01 PM

We were thinking what to do next.  Where to go next.  We're checking on the area; eyeing on our next target, and one of us remembered the huge tower-like flowers in the park, but none of us can remember the name of the lovely place.. but we saw it.. from afar.. from where we were standing.  

We started to walk towards those flowers, trying to figure out how to get there.. passing by a few more installations, a long stretch of restaurants facing the bay.  It was a very nice walkway, actually, prettier at night, with some street performers.  I wanted to stop, but we had to keep moving.  So we ended up in the mall but it seemed like a dead-end.

We can not pass by the road, only cars can.  So I approached one of the crews, trying to figure out what to say as I was walking towards him.  In my head I was already laughing because I didn't know the name so I went "uhm, how do we get to the.. uhm huge flowers?" pointing at its direction.  He was smiling and I can see that he's trying hard not to laugh.  I appreciated that a lot.  Believe me, I haven't been that embarrassed, but I had to do what I had to do.  

So he told me that there's a "lift" outside the mall and from there we'll cross a bridge to get there. But earlier, before that embarrassing moment of asking direction, a group of people, a family, asked us how to get there.  We were standing on the said "lift" when I said "we were actually looking for the same thing", smiling back at her.  

I think someone already pointed them to that "lift" but they were not sure, or maybe they couldn't find it, and it was so unfortunate that they had to stumble upon us and get dragged by our idiocy.. my idiocy.