Category: Photography

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Conflict & disaster History & heritage Photography

[2161] Of thank you Australia

I have always loved war memorials. I have been to the Tugu Negara in Kuala Lumpur multiple of times. When I was in Washington D.C. for a very short stay, I visited the war memorials there. Likewise in Sydney and Melbourne. The reason for my love for war memorials is not because that I glorify wars. Rather, it is closely related to my love of history.

While I do think wars sometimes are necessary, especially when liberty is under attack to make wars a serious option for libertarians, I do not cherish the thoughts of its necessity. Wars are never pretty but the wars that Malaysia went through, notably against Japanese imperialism during World War II, against communist terrorism for a good part of the country’s history and against attempt of invasion by Indonesia during the formation of Malaysian federation, were certainly wars that could not be avoided in terms of preservation of liberty.

Australia is one of several countries which have dedicated its men and women to the defense of Malaysia or its current components prior to 1963. Malaysia won the wars because of countries like Australia.

Australia remembers this in Sydney in form of the Anzac War Memorial…

Some rights reserved. By Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams.

…and in Melbourne in form of the Shrine of Remembrance:

Some rights reserved. By Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams.

Belated maybe, but I say thank you nonetheless. It has been a fruitful alliance.

Categories
Photography Travels

[2160] Of another picture from the Great Ocean Road

I am still not in the mood of writing. I think it is the post-Melbourne blues. I have missed a column for The Malaysian Insider last week. The return of World of Warcraft to my life does not help either. The way things are going at the moment, I might miss another week. Oh, the editor will be so pleased.

But, I am in the mood of posting pictures. Here is another one from my recent trip.

Some right reserved.

This is one of the famed Twelve Apostles along the Great Ocean Road. The name of this particular formation is Island Archway. It was an archway. The arch collapsed in June 2009.

Categories
Photography Travels

[2159] Of who drives on the right side of the road?

I was on the road last week, and I found this along the Great Ocean Road.

Some right reserved.

One of the coolest road signs ever, I must say.

Categories
Photography Sports

[2158] Of are you watching tennis or…?

Some right reserved.

Categories
Personal Photography Sports

[2157] Of the Australian Open and I’m lovin’ it

I first kept abreast with development in soccer after watching the 1995 Champions League final on television, I think, when Ajax Amsterdam won the European Cup. The 2010 Australian Open is the tennis equivalence of that for me. I think, I am a tennis fan now.

I was at my first ever Grand Slam several days ago and I loved the atmosphere through and through. A little bit of sunburn was not enough to deter my enthusiasm, no siree!

The best match that I saw was a double match between Gonzalez-Ljubicic pair and the Australian Ball-Huss pair on Day 6. It was exciting because each was catching up with the other but no one was breaking through. It was especially exciting after watching Davydenko abused Monaco in men’s single and seeing Vedasco winning after his opponent retired early. I wanted some action and I got some action.

Some right reserved.

Some Australian audience turned the atmosphere into something that one would only expect during a soccer match. But then again, what do I know? This is my first Open.

Gonzalez became the target of these audience but the way he handled it was admirable. So admirable that the audience loved him even as Australians supported Ball and Huss for the obvious reason. The Australian pair lost, but I dare say that the audience won.

The next Grand Slam is the French Open in Paris. I am dreaming of perhaps an impossible dream of going there in either May or June this year. I now have a real incentive to work and save.