From ChiangMai to China

NOTE: Try not to fly budget airlines + transit.
"Budget airlines do not do baggage transfer service for you even when it's the same airplane you'll be catching"

I spent my first two days of this trip arriving at ChiangMai Airport, drove straight to Chiang Rai (3 hours), checked out some tea estate, went for a hair-do, then shopping.
All these were done one after another and it was alright towards the end of the night.

BUT, having wasted one whole good day just to get from one place to another is just, I can't explain..exhausting?

Today's Agenda was:

Check in-wait-fly-arrive-collect luggage-check in again-wait-fly-arrive-collect luggage-wait for taxi-someone cut queue mom told her off-40 mins to hotel-hotel gave away room at 6pm even when we told them our flight was at 11pm-went hunting for hotel at midnight-checked in-go to room to freshen up-go out nearby for food-came back showered-watched tv til I fall asleep.

Perhaps I am just bored from waiting. Both me and mom were in grouchy moods. -.-"
My throat hurts :( Where's my baby?

Oh well, looks like mom's laptop's bluetooth isn't working. Would like to put atleast ONE picture of the rabbits I saw at ChiangMai Night Bazaar.

Greetings from ShenZhen.

Happy Earth Hour everyone~ Do your bit of contribution for that hour. You're closer to nature than you think. I will continue about my excitement over Earth Hour next, k? Before that happens, share with me your opinion on what are the objectives of Earth Hour?

Portrait: Elaine Tan

Venue: Krabi

I liked the natural sunlight effect to this picture.
No editing required...It could be better :)
I'm still new with portraits.

Hanako will arrive tomorrow!

Hills of Deep Creek Conservation Park

The hills are alive (aahhhhh) with the sound of music (aahhhh),
With songs they have sung...for a thousand years (aaaahhhhhh)
The hills fill my heart (aahhh) with the sound of music (aaahhh),
My heart wants to sing every song it hears (every song that it hears)..

You may find yourself humming this subconsciously ^^


Venue: Blowhole Beach, Heysen Trail

Picking Pebbles

I was picking pebbles with Berry :)
[Sunset]

Venue: Blowhole Beach
[Deep Creek Conservation Park, S. Australia]

Heysen Trail

From this angle, we hiked uphill for 45 minutes over 1.5km~
It doesn't look as steep, but this is only the beginning of the slope.
Around 45 degree slope up, up and away, I slipped and fell.

My legs hurt for three days, not from falling though :)


Down below is the dirt road for 4WD only. Geralyn fell slipped and fell {Ouch!}!

Venue: Blowhole Beach
[Deep Creek Conservation Park, S. Australia]

Blowhole Beach

I tried my best to show you what I saw...the feeling I had when I was there...
Nature had me absorbed and dazed.

Some of us went fishing, some of us picked pebbles, and some played on the beach...
Relaxing?



What you didn't know is we walked on dirt road for 2.5km...
not knowing there was a hike trail downhill, saw and smelt a kangaroo carcass.
--
Before the sun sets, we hiked [photo] 2km uphill on Heysen trail.
I slipped but didn't roll down the hill and join the kangaroo. ^^
I couldn't walk the next day.
Atleast I slept well that night!


Venue:
Blowhole Beach
[Deep Creek Conservation Park, S. Australia]

:)

HDR : Mitsubishi Evolution IX

My first photoshoot of automobile. 

I followed a car convoy up to Lobethal for a trial photoshoot. 

Hope they are happy with it! I would love to have honest opinions because I'm learning, k?

Note: more specifically on HDR effects.

Owner : Paul

Venue: Lobethal, South Australia

Model: Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL
Focal Length: 18 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Date Picture Taken: Sep 21, 2008, 2:59:55 PM

| Other Related Photo | Download Full Size |

Panning : Little Girl

Note: All links will open in new window!



Apart from my HDR shots, I also practised my panning shots.

I chose this because it's actually focused.

Venue: Royal Adelaide Showground, Wayville

Model: Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL

Shutter Speed: 1/25 second

F Number: F/6.3

Focal Length: 18 mm

ISO Speed: 200

Date Picture Taken: Sep 12, 2008, 4:17:55 PM

HDR : Royal Adelaide Show Ferris Wheel

Note: All links opens in new window!

My first attempt to a HDR (High Dynamic Range) photo.



I present to you, Colourful Ten Ferris Wheel :) Although it may not be too great a HDR photo, it's different for me and I'm proud of it!

Listening to Teresa Teng makes me want to dress in Qi Pao (cheongsam) in a cabaret and sing to you... One of my near future dreams. Will keep you in the loop!

Some amazing HDR photos which inspired me here.

Venue: Royal Adelaide Showground, Wayville.

Model: Canon EOS 350D DIGITAL

Focal Length: 18 mm

ISO Speed: 200

Date Picture Taken: Sep 12, 2008, 5:12:00 PM

Long Neck Karen Hill Tribe

This lady was the first to catch my attention during my adventure at the Long Neck Karen Hill Village in Chiang Dao.

She could speak minimum Chinese, enough to sell her tribe's handmade goods. For that, I bought a Turquoise Stone Necklace, which was almost as heavy as my camera!
Price? 100 Baht = RM10.




The village is surrounded by natural flora and fauna, primitive resources and "machines" to prepare food for the family. Two little boys were following us through our walk around the hill.



This scene made me smile.

Enjoy~


Venue: Long Neck Karen Hill Tribe, Chiang Mai

Exclusive Hotel in Chiang Mai

Mandarin Oriental Dhara Devi



This hotel looks larger than it seems in this photograph.
When I say large, I mean there is no way you can walk to your room. You'll need a carriage, (which is superb for me because I love horses) to bring you to your room.




This grand hotel has almost everything you need, as a tourist, to experience the real life of the locals. How?

This is what you see right on your doorstep.



The surrounding environment is filled with plantations such as paddy fields, corn, fruits...you name it. Almost all the local plantations that can be found in Chiang Mai is found in this very hotel.

Your activities, as a tourist, includes getting your hands dirty. You are guided through the plantations, learning from seeding to harvesting the produce. That's real experience if you ask me.

The hotel also has its own yoga centre, swimming pool, business centre and a british colonial building as one of your choices of hotel rooms.

Venue: Chiang Mai

Great Chiang Mai Restaurant

Khaomao Khaofang Restaurant




This was my first low shutter speed mini fountain shot :)
Obviously, I will need to improve! I don't like the background :(



Another smooth angelic water shot..



This is a ginger plant's flower, if I'm not mistaken :)

What about some fresh lemongrass juice?



The first time I've seen lemongrass juice GREEN in colour.
Those you get in shops are usually brownish =/

Venue: Chiang Mai

Amata Lanna Hotel in Chiang Mai

Amata Lanna Hotel, Chiang Mai

Amazing service, giving us utmost undivided attention.



There are only few rooms, all of which are uniquely designed, in Thai themed design.



Welcoming Mermaid Statue



Venue: Amata Lanna, Chiang Mai.

Cute Thai Boy

He posed for me when he saw me taking a few pictures of a Cute Thai Girl.



It was a heart-wrenching moment to see the children of this hilltribe longing for attention with utter innocence.

I also took a picture of their classroom... Felt like I was in one of the movies where there was only one hut, using only natural breeze and sunlight to guide these lovely children to their bright future.


Venue: Long Neck Karen Tribes, Chiang Mai.

: Ah Kua Show (Lady Boy) : City : Cultural :

Dolphins

I want to swim with dolphins now...making one of them...my lifetime friend.

Double leap

Horizontal Flip

Makes you want to spend all your time with them.

I now, am thinking about taking a Dolphin Research and Training course.

I am in love with them.

Venue: Seaworld, Australia

More pictures of Seaworld

: Rides : Marine Water Creatures :

Sea World Australia - Rides

Gold Coast


Click to view larger image
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Venue: Seaworld, Australia.

More pictures of Seaworld
: Dolphins : Marine Water Creatures :

Batu Caves

If I have a wish, I will wish to know if there's life outside of milky way.

To those who doesn't know, the Universe is what we know as the biggest atmosphere. Within the Universe, there are god knows how many galaxies. Milky way is our galaxy. Earth is accompanied by other planets such as Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and I will still include Pluto.

Zillions of money spent on sending Spaceships and Voyagers to our neighbouring planets.
So far, technology brought humans to the Moon, ...that's all I know of. Venus is too hot thus a ship was sent and only survived for two hours in the lava. Even with our currently technology on the speed of spaceships, it takes 3-6 months to travel just to the Mars. Mars is closest to earth at 35 million miles and furthest at 250 million miles away.

Let me introduce the Astronomical Units
1 Astronomical Unit = 149 598 000 kilometers
The distance for Mars (from Earth) is currently at 1.005 AU. Neptune...is now 29.288 AU from Earth. You can do the calculations by google-ing 29.288AU.
Voyager 2 took 12 years to reach Neptune.


Now let me introduce to you LIGHT YEARs
1 light year = 9.4605284 × 10¹⁵ meters
Note...STARS that we see are FURTHER than our PLANETS. Antares was known as the biggest star visible to the naked eye. It is 1,108,430,000 km away.

What is bigger than Antares? You shall find out later at the end of the post. All of these planets, these stars and wonders are WITHIN our galaxy (Milky waay).

HOW WILL WE EVER KNOW IF THERE IS LIFE IN ANOTHER GALAXY!?
Let me see...nearest galaxy is Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy at 25,000 light years away. It is a natural satellite of Milky Way. In this case, satellite means it orbits the Milky way (ie: The moon is a natural satellite of Earth).

This is making me crazy. If there are any species coming to earth from the outerspace out of our milky way, who are we to call them aliens.....? If they can come to earth from so goddamn far away, I will follow them. If they exist, they are the smart ones. I'm the alien.

To those who thinks they are enjoying life to the fullest, this may not help. So, this is what I see tonight. Pretty damn small, eh? I feel like crying.


What is bigger than Antares? by samtsai.com

I love how the Universe is killing me softly.

.

My July In Asia - Coming up Soon!

Dear friends and families,

I'm back in Australia now...Moving in to a new place, bought a brand new absolutely massive PC (well, Kitboy chose the parts so I assume it's MAD too), going to Uni, and cleaning up the house.

There are a few things I would like to post, but I don't have the time, and I haven't unpack. It will take us approximately 2 weeks to get our internet working, 1 day for me to install Photoshop to resize best photos, few days for us to clean the house and so many other things to do!

So there you go. Not that I'm slowing down but there are more reasons to why I haven't been posting. So many pictures from my last visit to Malaysia. Can't wait to update you guys!

P/S: I will find time to compile the list of attendees on Blogger's Day and shall send them to your emails!

Love,
Elaine Tan
MiccObaYb