cong a.k.a jordana site of me and updates (will change soon)

I was fumbling for my wallet already in the cab. Things were not looking so rosy for the beginning of a holiday trip. Called back and checked, but mum said it was not at home. Then found it lying below the seat of the cab. Well, just let that be the last of those scary moments for the rest of the 8 days, I thought.

Maybe it did end there. Because I saw rainbow from inside the plane. A good sign. Call me “bandang” (superstitious in local slang), I am Cantonese anyway! Nonetheless, it was a big, full circular one. Maybe it is common to see that in planes, but it was my first time seeing that.What was not my first sighting out from the plane was the night lightings of the cities. I had reminiscences of landing in Hanoi! That is the similarity between this 2 great cities. Unlike Singapore being flooded with lights from above, Western Australia (W.A) is untypical of what you would expect from a developed country. Well, the stats of having just over 2 millions in population within a state already bigger than some of European countries means I will get more surprises out of this city/state in the coming days.

Rainbow on the left

Rainbow on the right

Arriving close to midnight at Perth International Airport was a hunger torture. We were looking for filling meals for dinner, only to find confectioneries as the only food source. Sweet stuffs are not exactly my likings, especially it was meant to be dinner. Worse, at that hour. So it was AD$6 for a pie, AD$3.50 for a coke! Tell me how much food I can get here in Singapore with that amount! Perfect introduction to Australia standard of living.

Anyway, with me were my poly buddies, Keyuan and Vincent. This trip was initiated in February when I happen to see the return trip to Perth by Jetstar was only S$220! What a steal! So for the next 5 months, extensive research and bookings were made to allow the sharing of another expensive chocolate muffin with Tanqueray Gin at 12.30am in Perth International Airport a reality.

Trip Fellas (from left to right: Vincent, Keyuan, Me)

"Mother" of all Energy

Arrangements were made so we can check in at 6am to our hostel accommodation we booked. That prior night was designated at the airport. I blamed my hunger for my insomnia in the plane. I had to blame the chair (or my chronic slip disc) for another insomnia at the airport “lodging”. Caffeine introduction had to be sought. Coke, “Mother” and Nescafe. All for the coming Rottnest Island adventure.

The reading for coming days to come soon!

I thought I was early. Yet I was standing inside the train. It is 6.22am now.

Only just 4 hours earlier I decided to go for a photo shoot myself. The weather was fairly cooling from the drizzling all day. A nice morning with beautiful clouds formation is expected. If my initial thought of meeting Aaron at 10am still holds, I have to shoot before that timing. Since it will be early, might as well shoot even before the sun comes out.

Raffles Place MRT was my stop, or beginning rather. It was not the first time I started my derive, or drift (my classmates will know), from Raffles Place. Most probably the third time. Always a challenge to take artistic photographs in such a business district, I thought. Yes, artistic. For the sake of UOB Painting of the Year competition.

“For the sake” didn’t sound right. It sounds last minute. Unfortunately, it was. Effort was not put in for it. An image was already in mind to be printed later if my derive yields no success.

I do not expect it to be. The clouds are not fantastic. In fact there are none. The sky now are dull and grey. Trying to be a stranger in a foreign land, I tried going to places in the CBD I have not been to. Cabling works caused the grounds to be unearthed. Construction works are everywhere. I do not like the sights of them.

I still have a knowledge of where leads to where. Very soon Tanjong Pagar was where I am. Then came Chinatown. Yakun breakfast at Chinasquare was in my menu of thoughts. So was the image I am ready to print.

The camera was not at all used. The Macbook brought along was hoped to be used to edit new images, but only performed the task of converting the existing image to PDF and saved to thumbdrive. Together with the tripod, all these could have been at home and not torturing my back and legs. But it would be sinful to be thinking that way if I am to call myself a photographer.

The 12″x12″ printout was not fantastic. Dynamic contrast was all lacking. It should not be the case when furthermore it is a mono image. I should have know better. The thing is I should have done earlier.

I told my friends that I have very low motivation to shoot in Singapore. That is why I love to travel. But travelling frequently is not practical now. Sigh… I still have a long way to go in seeing places as foreign land if unique pictures are to be made.

UPDATE: the printout was so unacceptable to me I discarded it altogether. Printing it from my Canon Photo printer on Photo Pro Paper was so much better, as well as better tonal control. Although it was smaller at 8R, the minimum size for submission, at least I know the quality will be better than a bigger piece without substance. The printing shop was my first patronisation, and will also be my last! Wasted my $10.80!