Categories
Photography Travels

[833] Of Bangkok is city of angels and of Miss Thailand

Through casual observation, Bangkok has a high density of beautiful people . It was unusually hard for me to savor the architectural marvels of Bangkok when there were so many angels walking gracefully on the face of the earth.

Once on a train back to Ratchadapisek – where I was staying – from Siam, Bangkok, I found it extremely hard to remove my attention off a person of the fairer gender of immeasurable beauty. It was extreme delight to set my eyes upon her; she has the perception of sweet innocence. Too alluring in the most innocent sense. I had thought such creatures only dwelled the heaven above.

The only reason she didn’t notice that I was having problem controlling my gaze is the fact that she was sleeping most of the time. But while her eyes weren’t shut, smile her offered to commuters wrecked my sanity. When she was awake, I couldn’t look at her direction – I felt so miserable whenever I couldn’t keep her within my view; I had to be inconspicuous or else, it would have been an embarrassing moment for me. Mind you, it was already an embarrassing moment for me but letting her know was the last thing I wanted to do. Damned if I looked at her, damned if I didn’t. Sigh…

I wish I could go back to Bangkok, get on that train over and over again, day and night until I get to meet her again. All I want right now is to see her again one more time, and maybe another.

But what I felt wasn’t as bad as what my friend had gone through. Or at the very least, wasn’t as physical. A friend and me were walking one of the busier streets in the city when a Thai girl caught my friend’s eyes. His eyes were so attracted to the girl that he failed to watch his steps and unfortunately for him, he rammed into a huge Caucasian male. I could only bursted in laughter.

The next day, while at Vajiravudh on game day itself, the annual Vajiravudh College-Malay College rugby match, just like the city, there were countless angels roaming the College ground. I wish I could point my lens to every angel that I saw but that would take too much courage. Courage is one commodity of dire supply available to me, whenever I find myself in front of an angel, much less in front a cohort of them. But whenever the moments weren’t as awkward as it was on the train, I grabbed the opportunity. One of them that God somehow let loose from heaven:

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

And here’s a cute school girl that was supporting the wrong team. She’s on the left side of your screen, nearest to the camera. And honestly, no dirty thought. Her mom was with her anyway:

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

And, Miss Thailand 2005. Really. No shit:

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

An alumnus of Vajiravudh College introduced her to us during tea time. Bless Vajiravudh!

Another shot of her:

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

I apologize for the quality of the pictures. The environment within the room was too harsh for my good ol’ cam.

Most of the time when she was in the company of Malay College old boys, she looked uncomfortable. Some of the old boys were treating her as if she was an object instead of a person. I was rather offended – quitely and quietly – upon witnessing the lack of decency displayed by us. I shared my opinion with my friends who were sitting at the other end of hall later. After hearing my rambling, a friend of mine told me, she chose that path and nobody could say otherwise. Decency, in any case, is relative.

Categories
Photography Travels

[830] Of off Jalan Sultan, Singapore

I’m back from Singapore. Unlike my last visit to the city state some months ago, I didn’t have too much chance to roam the city and take shots. Still, I managed to get a decent picture out of my latest trip:

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

This is an alley by Jalan Sultan. It doesn’t look too different from Kuala Lumpur.

For photos from my previous visit to Singapore, please go to [602] Of Singapore waterfront, [619] Of Singaporean old building and [612] Of Singapore’s pretty much…

Categories
Environment Humor Travels

[828] Of cat, dog and god

A joke told by one of my friends on one peaceful Friday afternoon, not verbatim:

A dog has a human being to feed it, bathe it, pat it and give it everything. So, the dog thinks, “Hey, my master must be a god!”

A cat has a human to feed it, bathe it, pat it and give it everything. So, the cat thinks, “Hey, I must be a god!”

Joke asides, are you a dog or a cat?

Anyway, I’ll be leaving for Singapore soon. A day after I’m done with that tiny island, I’ll be leaving for Bangkok. Suffice to say, for the rest of the week, I won’t be in Malaysia. So, unless I’m able to connect to the internet, my blog would be sparsely updated.

During the duration of the World Cup, my blog get little visitors. And now, I’m leaving my blog behind. I hate that. I want all my visitors back. You stole my visitors World Cup! Damn you! And Italy too!

By the way, nicely done Zidane! You’re my hero!

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

p/s – the 11th anniversary of the sinking of the Rainbow Warrior.

Categories
Environment Photography Travels

[799] Of Sultan Abdul Jalil Bridge, Kuala Kangsar

While at Kuala Kangsar , I and a few friends spent two nights at a resthouse by the Perak River. Roughly 200 meters away from our balcony was Sultan Abdul Jalil Bridge.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

The concrete bridge is different from those modern bridges of stainless steels and wires that are so prevalent nowadays. It’s a breath of fresh air.Kuala Kangsar has another bridge farther upstream. The name is Sultan Iskandar Bridge and it’s made out of steel. If I got my fact right, the concrete bridge was built because the locals complained that the steel bridge was too far away from the town.

Across the river is a village called Sayong. Before the newer bridge was constructed, those that planned to travel by land from Kuala Kangsar to Sayong, or Sayong to the town or to and fro had to suffer one huge U-turn with kilometer as the proper unit of measurement. Walking was simply not a good idea. Therefore as late as year 2000, boats still played an important mean of transportation between Kuala Kangsar and Sayong.

With the concrete bridge, I observed that the river’s role as a mean of transportation has diminished. Not completely though.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

p/s – last year, I said I expect Malaysia to see another bout of haze in 2006. Well, Indonesia promises that we won’t:

Indonesia promises this year will be less hazy

Sat May 27, 11:36 PM ET

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – Indonesia has said the choking haze that annually blankets parts of Southeast Asia will be reduced this year as it cracks down on oil palm plantations that clear land by burning.

Indonesia’s Agriculture Minister Anton Apriyantono said authorities would enforce a 2004 law that imposes stiff penalties on plantations that burn land, a practice largely blamed for contributing to the haze.

I’m skeptical. Especially that enforcement part. But if Indonesia needs Malaysia’s help, by all means, please ask. I don’t want another “no thank you but we can handle this by ourselves” again.

Categories
Photography Travels

[797] Of Overfloor, Malay College

Like what I’ve said yesterday, I didn’t get too much time to roam with my old trusty camera at the Malay College. But here’s another one that I managed.

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

This building is called the Overfloor. Most Malaysians – well, even those that attended the Malay College I suppose – strongly relate the structure with the School . And a few other ideals too. But, this is supposed to be an entry with a light subject. So, I won’t touch on that.Concerning the photo, this is the first time I’ve ever posted a black and white. I feel the raw picture isn’t as good as I had expected it to be. So, I turned it into black and white instead. I’m not quite satisfied with the final product but I do like it better than the raw version.

The photo underwent two stages. I first lightened up the facade. Nextm I stripped the photo of its colors.

This is the “lightened up” version with its colors intact:

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

This is the raw version:

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

Finally, haha, go Leman!

Mohd Hafiz Noor Shams. Some rights reserved

This is the first time I see my house grabbing the first overall spot since I first set my foot in the School. And in sports! Eat dust Mohd Shah! With Vengeance. Capital V!But it seems that Leman has problem with discipline. Notice that Sulaiman’s Sahsiah points is the lowest among the Houses. LOL!