My Favorite Miss Pesta...

This is my favorite Miss Pesta...

Miss Pesta

Miss Pesta was the feature of the Chingay... beautiful.

I think these 3 charming ladies were the Miss Pesta 2008, 1st runner up and 2nd runner up.

Chingay 2008

For the first time in many years, Chingay was held on a day other than Christmas Day. Bravo to the new Penang State Government for changing the date at the request of Christians who celebrate Christmas Day and had no chance to join in the fun of Chingay in the past years. This year, it was held on 21 December 2008 and I had the golden opportunity to photoshoot at the Chingay parade.

Armed with my camera, and standing at this spot (Chulia Street) I eagerly awaited the arrival of the Chingay parade.

The police did well in managing the crowd and traffic.

This is my first experience photographing our Malaysian Police. Feels like a CSI photographer huh (",)

Happy New Year 2009 (",)

I am back to blogging again, after a pause of more than a month. The month of December has been the busiest time of the year for me for the past many years. Closing of Q4 results, preparing budgets for the next year, presenting the budgets for boss' approval, staff appraisals and annual increment (or no increment) discussions with staff amidst the Christmas mood made the month of December swift by in a blink (",)

I received a beautiful new year text message from my childhood friend Stephen Chin, and I made this message my new year text message as well.

Here is how it goes:

"May the year 2009 be like an aeroplane, with God as your pilot, dreamz as your wings, hope as your fuel, love as your jet engine, good relationship as your cabin crew, faith as your seat belts, happiness as your passengers, to take on another challenging year. Happy New Year to you and your family."

Another new year message which caught my attention was:

"Life is short, break the rules, forgive and forget quickly, love truly, laugh loudly and uncontrollably, never regret the past, trust God for the future, and smile always (",)"

"May you be as handsome as your mother thinks, so rich as your child believes, and may you have as many women as your wife suspects...!!" Ha Ha... funny one.

Happy New Year... Dreamz

Final Ramblings in Rome

After rambling about Rome for the past 2 weeks, I am about the conclude the photo series of Roma Arrivo. I shall conclude this gallery with these final ramblings.

This caught my attention.. How would I fit into this car? While walking about in Rome, I came across this car parked in the motorcycle parking area.

It rained when I was on the way to the airport, and this dramatic skies @ Fiumicino caught my attention too. This photo.. heaven shines forth (",)

Mc Donald's poster in Rome. This poster was posted on the window of Mc Donald's near the Spanish Steps... but where is the golden M logo?

This window display caught the attention of my camera. This is not the display window of a pet shop though...

Hope you liked my Roma Arrivo gallery. FINITO.

Flora & Fiona @ Rome...

I am beginning to be attracted to photography of flowers...

This gallery features the flowers & plants that caught my attention in Rome

At Hotel Sanpio in Rome, there beholds a beautiful garden. The series below features the flowers and plants @ Sanpio Gardens.

The photo series below also features the plants at Sanpio Gardens, fruits and some unusual ones...

Flowers @ FORO...

Flowers @ Mc Donalds Rome...

Scalinata della Trinita dei Monti...

The Spanish Steps (Scalinata della Trinità dei Monti) are a set of steps in Rome, climbing a steep slope between the Piazza di Spagna at the base and Piazza Trinità dei Monti, dominated by Trinità dei Monti, the church that was under the patronage of the Bourbon kings of France. I learnt this from Wikipedia...

The Scalinata is the longest and widest staircase in all Europe.
This is the fountain at the foot of the stairs...

The monumental stairway of 138 steps was built with French diplomat Étienne Gueffier’s bequeathed funds of 20,000 scudi, in 1723–1725, linking the Bourbon Spanish Embassy to the Holy See, today still located in Palazzo Monaldeschi in the piazza below, with the Trinità dei Monti above.

Snapping this photo below was a very proud moment... and the reward - the view is simply breathtaking.

Is this a Spanish horse in Rome?

Moving from Spanish Steps, I walked into the Fashion Street - Via Dei Condotti, and turned back to catch a last look of the magnificent steps...

Mvsei Vaticani @ Rome

The Mvsei Vaticani or the Vatican Museum is probably one of the oldest museums in the world. A great place to practice the skills of indoor photography.

Intricate & beautiful artwork on the ceiling...

The Catholic art that caught my apt attention...

Mother Mary & Jesus...

Mother Mary & Jesus surrounded by angels....

The Crucifixion...

Beautiful halls and corridors...

..so many beautiful halls..

The photo below was taken in the court yard...

And finally, I feature the spiral stairs...

Splendido!

Pope Benedict XVI @ St Peter's Basilica

At St Peter's Basilica, a crowd was building up to hear the Pope speak (as well as to see him). I happen to be one of them wanting to catch a glimpse of the Pope. Amongst thousands of people, I managed to get a few good photos of this memorable event.

As I was armed with a big camera, many thought I was representing the media and some even waved at me.

The crowd awaiting...

The Pope ...


waving at the crowd and getting cheers as responses...

I was standing on a chair, and zooming my lenses...

Somehow, being part of this crowd gave me an awesome feeling...