Dawn Of A Lifetime

If you are an ASEAN citizen, a visit to the nearby Angkor Archaeological complex in Cambodia ought be on your bucket list. Not just any visit though. Go to the temple at 6 am. Sit cross-legged under a shady Bodhi tree in front of the moat. Put your camera down. Treat your eyes to the most magical breaking of dawn as how the Hindu kings saw it in the early 12th century. Then take a picture.

To get there so early in the morning, you should make arrangement for transport the day before and obtain your multiple-entry pass before hand. A tripod is not necessary but handy. There will be a lot of climbing and walking to do, so carry a lightweight one if you must. See also the sunset pic from a nearby area, in my gallery.

Dawn Of A Lifetime

Surreal Nilai 3

Photographed this Afghan carpet dealer walking behind a giant banner stuck to a wall in Nilai 3. It is a bizarre, surreal town in the middle of nowhere, and a shutterbug’s dream place. You kind of half expect a tumbleweed to roll into view any time. There are more carpet and plastic flower shops in tiny Nilai 3, than anywhere in the world.

Originally, I composed this shot as a 16:9 wide image on the Olympus OM-D. The man was framed in the center. Didn’t expect it to work cropped down to a square format for Instagram. Hey! What do I know? It does. The text kind of retained its meaning too. So you never know until you try. Corner vignetting (filter) works in Instagram because it creates the illusion that the film or camera sensor was square to begin with. For foreign viewers, the words mean “Our promotion, Crazy, He (Who Is Fast) Profits!”

Surreal Nilai 3

Pulling Power

Did I hear you say our taxis are too small and stuffy? Maybe you like to try one of Cambodia’s innovative public transport options. Only problem is when a passenger decides to haggle, he will hold up 15 other passengers (not counting the 3 babies on-board). I opted for more upmarket transport. I squatted on the narrow roof rack of a mini bus with 10 others. A bit more cooler and great for street photography. That was how I captured this scene from bustling Phnom Penh.

Pulling Power