CK Go Places

Breakfast with the Oldest Church in Paris

2009-11-07T18:36:00.000+08:00

When I visited Paris, I put myself up at a hotel in St-Germain. This place is convenient in terms of transport and food. I had most of my breakfast meals at a place called La Croissanterie, which is also my favourite place for breakfast in Paris. By its name, it wasn't hard to tell that it is a pastry shop. Furthermore, with the vast choices of pastries on display, nothing can go wrong with the order.

I particularly like the raisin roll and almond croissant here. I miss them when I see these pictures. The raisin roll has a very cute name in French, escargot au raisin! It is not made of real escargot, though. These are best gobbled down with a freshly brewed cappuccino.

Just a stone-throw away, or shall I say, a distance of over-throwing the stone, stands the oldest church in Paris, Église St-Germain-des-Prés (Church of St Germanus of the Fields). This church is surrounded by cafes and restaurants.

The bell tower of the church has been standing there with very little change since 990, except the spire which was installed in 19^th century.

The construction of Église St-Germain-des-Prés actually dates back to 11^th century when it was built on the site of a 6^th-century abbey. It was the dominant church in Paris before Notre Dame took over the glory.

The vaulted ceiling of the church is painted blue with yellow spots, which is a resemblance of a starry sky. Other than functioning as a place for prayer, it now stages concerts and recitals because of its marvelous acoustics in a medieval atmosphere.

Shopping in a Palace

2009-11-03T20:46:00.000+08:00

Can you imagine a shopping centre that looks like a palace? How do you feel if you can shop like a member of a royal family in your own palace? You can find all the answers at Galeries Lafayette in Paris.

The giant transparent dome is deliberately decorated with tinted glass. With the sunlight coming through, a beautiful pattern comes into place.

The arches supporting the main dome are also painted in Baroque style, and the balconies look like the box seats of a grand theatre. However, when you look on to the floor, it is not different from any other shopping centre selling branded stuff.

Galeries Lafayette occupies two buildings linked by a footbridge across the road. I entered the building without the dome first and was searching for the dome high and low. It was after almost half an hour that I realised I was searching for it at the wrong place.

Musée du Parfum

2009-10-30T21:38:00.001+08:00

The Perfume Museum in Paris houses the history of perfume making. There are bottles of perfume lined up on the rack that the arrangement is named 'Perfume Organ'. Does it look like an organ to you?

I didn't know before this that the ancient perfume making involved giant brass boilers! I would have mistaken this setup as producing some sophisticated chemical if I were to see it somewhere else.

Other than those perfume making apparatus, most of the other displays are perfume bottles dating from ancient Egypt until the not so distant modern day.

Kenny Sia's Secret Project

2009-10-28T22:55:00.003+08:00

Some photographers and bloggers were invited to a media preview of Kenny Sia's 'secret' project on last Sunday, 25^th October 2009. I was very honoured to be invited as a 'photographer' and I was happy to have another great outing with a bunch of friends in photography.

The 'secret' has been revealed to us on this day. The fitness centre has three levels. Level one is for muscle building.

Other than the models, Kenny Sia himself co-starred for us in the photo shooting session as well.

Level two is full of equipment for cardiological workout and fat burning. This has got to be the level that I'll keep going back once I am officially a member. I seriously need to burn away a lot of body fat!

There is also a small corner on level two where the members can use the inflated rubber balls to do some light muscle toning.

The changing rooms are also on level two. This was the first time that all male photographers were allowed to enter the female changing room.

We were later led to enter level three where the studio is. This will be the hall where the yoga, aerobic and body combat classes are conducted.

At the end of the photo session, we all lined up for a mandatory group photo. Even the photographers were not exempted! The people in the photo include some pretty lady bloggers like Annna and Rose Wong.

We were later invited for a refreshment and everybody was given a goody bag inclusive of a one-month free membership. I have been there twice to work out and I am beginning to like it. I will be going to sign up as a long-term member on this coming Saturday while the special offer package of RM99/month is still valid.

Kuching is Beautiful

2009-10-25T22:38:00.000+08:00

I went to hunt for sunset at two different locations for the past two consecutive days and I am quite satisfied with the results. I would like to share two of the photos I have taken. Do enjoy the view.

Pimped Up Centre Pompidou

2009-10-19T21:11:00.000+08:00

Crowning Centre Pompidou as the king of pimped up buildings is probably not too exaggerating. Where on earth can you see a building with over-sized exhaust pipes? That is a resemblance of a pimped up car!

All the other pipes running around the building are also resemblance of a pimped up engine.

This is in fact the Centre National d'Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou (Georges Pompidou National Centre of of Art and Culture). The radical architecture is perhaps more overwhelming than the modern art collection it houses.

Unfortunately, it was closed for maintenance on the day of my visit. So, I could only walk around the building to appreciate the architectural features.

The series of escalators connecting the ground floor all the way up to the top floor could be the longest in the world. However, I am not sure about that as nothing was mentioned about it in my travel guidebook.

On the right of the centre (if you consider the series of escalators as the front of the building) is place Igor Stravinsky where a series of fanciful mechanical fountains can be found. These modern-art fountains complement the pimped up Centre Pompidou well in my opinion.

Guest Model Shir Lee

2009-10-15T19:56:00.001+08:00

During the "Miss Photogenic FB '09 Season 1 Final Photo Shoot", we had a guest model Shir Lee who was invited as one of the judges. When the photo shoot session for the contestants was over, we played another role of shooting professional model. It was a casual and fun session with her.

Miss Photogenic FB '09 Season 1 Final Photo Shoot

2009-10-11T23:13:00.000+08:00

Today is the day where the 5+1 finalists for the "Miss Photogenic FB '09" had a photo shoot at 175º Cafe. This time, we have sponsors for their hairdo and make up done by professionals. Their outfit was also sponsored by a boutique.

This was supposed to be a casual event just for fun by due to overwhelming response, it somewhat turned out to be the talk of the town. Congratulations to the 5 finalists whom will be voted and only one will become "Miss Photogenic". The voting will start at midnight tomorrow at my friend Micklong's Facebook fan page.

Still Hot in Autumn & Winter

2009-10-08T20:38:00.001+08:00

I went to The Spring Shopping Mall on last Saturday to shoot the Autumn & Winter Fashion Show. To my surprise, there was a segment featuring the undergarment of Xixili. It was my first time shooting photos of an undergarment fashion show. I hope my hand-shake did not cause too much blurriness to the photos!

Shining Elaine

2009-10-07T00:00:00.001+08:00

It is not so wordless on this Wednesday.

I had a photo shooting session with Elaine last Sunday as she has made it to the semifinal of the "Miss Photogenic FB '09" organised by a friend. Her name really suits her character, as shiny as the sun ray.

If you are interested to vote for her into the final, please sign in to your Facebook and vote for her by clicking "Like" below the photo at this link.

Event: Miss Photogenic FB '09 Semifinalists Photo Shoot
Location: Reservoir Park, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
Date taken: 4^th October 2009
Camera equipment: Nikon D300 + Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D

Working with Amelia

2009-10-06T00:06:00.003+08:00

Amelia has made it to the quarter final of the "Miss Photogenic FB '09" and it was my pleasure to work with a girl whose name means "work". She is definitely very hardworking to give me such wonderful poses during the photo shoot.

The voting is still on. I hope that she can make it to the semi final of top 5 so that I can work with her again. Please sign in to your Facebook and vote for her by clicking "Like" below the photo at this link.

Miss Photogenic FB '09 Quarter Final Photo Shoot

2009-10-04T17:39:00.001+08:00

My friend has organised a "Miss Photogenic FB '09" and 10 entered the quarter final. I was assigned to do the photo shoot of the 2 contestants and the following are the results of my photo-shooting session with them today.

The Moon on Mid-Autumn Festival

2009-10-03T20:09:00.000+08:00

Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival on the Chinese/Lunar calender. It is also the day that the moon is the roundest and brightest. So, I think it is a good idea to share some of my shots of the moon taken just a moment ago.

Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

花好月圆，月饼圆圆，茶壶浑圆，合家团圆。中秋节快乐！

Highland Nuts

2009-09-23T15:33:00.000+08:00

A few weekends ago, my sister bought some nuts at the market from the native people. According to the seller, these nuts only grow in the wild on the highlands. The name is repi.

It was the first time I have seen and tasted such kind of nuts. The shells are very thin and brittle, so they are very easy to break just but hand. The thin membrane draping the nut is a bit hairy but can be eaten together with the nut.

The colour of the nuts is greenish white. They taste like green peas mixed with walnuts, quite an interesting taste. The texture is chewy rather than crunchy and they come with a bitter after taste. They are something that you should try if you happen to see them in the markets around Kuching.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri

2009-09-20T09:09:00.000+08:00

Today is the first day for the Muslims to celebrate their most important festive season after a month of fasting. Malaysia has a very large population of Muslims and Singapore has a considerably large Muslim community too.

I would like to share some of my photos taken in Singapore last month where there were already decorations on the streets to mark the arrival of the festive season.

To all the Muslims in Malaysia and Singapore, "Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri", and to the rest of the Muslims in the world, "Eid Mubarak".

A Journey to the Sea

2009-09-16T00:00:00.000+08:00

Location: Sia Beach, Lundu, Sarawak, Malaysia
Date taken: 16^th May 2009
Camera equipment: Nikon D300 + Nikkor 85mm f/1.4D

Paris Through the Eyes of Birds

2009-09-09T19:19:00.001+08:00

One of the best places to see the panoramic view of Paris is the dome of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur according to my Lonely Planet travel guidebook. It is said that the view can extend as far as 30 km on a clear day, as the Basilica is standing on the summit of Butte de Montmarte, the highest point in Paris.

So, I paid €5 to enter the dome via the Dôme Crypte. There were 300 steps for me to climb, so I did. In fact I have seen the panoramic view of Paris from Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, but I still climbed the steps to see it again.

The viewing platform of the dome has a series of arches supporting the main dome, making them quite an architectural feature.

The first and nearest thing to see was the bell tower of the Basilica.

This was followed by a 360º view of the city when I walked circling around the dome.

The view of the Eiffel Tower cannot be missed. Without it, Paris is just not Paris.

Notre Dame can be seen from here as well, if you look carefully.

The weather wasn't good on that day, so I didn't stay for too long on the dome. It rained at the time when I was about to leave the place.

A Touch of Italian in Sin City

2009-09-06T15:51:00.000+08:00

Singapore can be considered as one of the largest international food centre in Asia as you can find almost any type of food here. For the food that you can't find it here, it is probably that Asians have not acquire the taste bud for it.

According to my 8-year old nephew, Casa Verde at the Singapore Botanical Gardens serves the second best pasta in Singapore. Then I asked him where I can find the best. He told me that it's from his dad's kitchen but the chef wasn't feel like cooking that day. So, we had to settle for the second best.

The first thing that was served was the pizza with prosciutto crudo (raw ham), and mozzarella cheese. The prosciutto crudo was as good as the one that I have tasted in an Italian restaurant in Japan.

The Italian sausages were quite scrumptious as well. They were very juicy and tender.

Then came the second-best pastas in Singapore! They were quite good indeed. The pastas were chewy and moist, particularly the linguine; and the sauce was not too sweet nor sour, just nice.

On another evening, my brother's family brought me to a cafe operated by a Singaporean sweets institution called Canelé Pâtisserie Chocolaterie. This double dark chocolate cake is Caraibe, made from 66% dark chocolate and crushed nuts.

The Tarte Citron is a lemon tart is layman's term, but it tasted much better than an ordinary lemon tart, especially with the burnt cream on top.

We also had a Fondant Chocolat which is a chocolate lava cake served with creme chantilly.

The cakes and sweets served here should be considered as gâteaux grade. They are not only delicately done, but extremely scrumptious! You shouldn't miss Canelé Pâtisserie Chocolaterie in Singapore if you like cakes and sweets. They have outlets at Robertson Walk, Raffles City Shopping Centre, Shaw Centre and Paragon.

It's a Small, Small World

2009-09-02T00:00:00.001+08:00

Location: Ranchang Recreational Park, Serian, Sarawak, Malaysia
Date taken: 30^th August 2009
Camera equipment: Nikon D300 + Micro-Nikkor 200mm f/4D + Nikon Speedlight SB800

Scrumptious Food in Sin City

2009-08-31T20:36:00.002+08:00

Whenever I pay a visit to Singapore, there are a few types of food that are considered must-have for me. The shops or stalls are all within walking distance from the place that I was putting up, so it was a convenient a convenient lip smacking spree for me.

My first breakfast on my recent trip to Singapore was the lor mee (卤麵) at a coffee shop near the North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre. The boss there could recognise me 3 years ago after I had left Singapore for 6 years. It was no difference for this time that he said he waited me for ages in Mandarin (痴痴的等)!

The stall doesn't have a special name but is just called Chia Bee Lor Mee (正味卤麵) which literally means authentic brine-soaked noodles. Liking lor mee is an acquired taste. Many people do not like it when they first tasted it, but I'm loving it more after each bowl! The addition of the black vinegar makes it even more delectable.

On that same evening, I went to look for this place that serves very delicious clay-pot rice at the Golden Mile Food Centre along Beach Road. I had had it many times during my studies in Singapore but I would go back for more.

The name of the stall is just 76 Golden Mile Clay-pot Rice (76 黄金砂煲饭), but the food it serves is fantastic! The way to eat it is to add the sweet black soy sauce and a few drips of oil on the chicken and sliced preserved sausage and they are mixed thoroughly before scooping them into a plate.

The rice at the bottom part of the clay pot has to go through the same treatment before tucking in. I particularly like the rice sticking at the bottom of the clay pot. Yummy!

On the next morning, I went to the North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre to feed myself with the stuffed tofu at the stall called Lao Huang Hakka Niang Tou Fu (老黄客家酿豆腐). Other than stuffed tofu with minced pork and salted fish, there are many other stuffed vegetable as well such as brinjals and bitter gourd. The noddles with minced pork is optional but I always had the stuffed stuff with a plate of it.

In fact, Golden Mile Food Centre has a lot of scrumptious food on offer. There is a stall at the basement of the food centre, also with a simple name called Golden Mile Fried Kuay Teow Mee (黄金炒粿条麵), serving very delicious fried kuay teow (ribbon rice noodles) and noodles. Although the ingredients used are just very simple, i.e., sliced pork and preserved sausage, cockles and eggs, the owner insists on frying every plate of rice noodles or noodles separately. It is said that he has used up one million chicken eggs along the way! Squeezing the fresh lime juice on the fried noodles really brings out the fragrance a lot.

As for dessert, I like the stuffed glutinous rice balls that can be found at the Golden Mile Food Centre also. There are five types of fillings: ground peanuts, red-bean paste, yam paste, black-sesame paste and green tea.

Only the ones with green tea fillings come in green. The rest are white in colour. When served in peanut soup, they are just heavenly!

Skyline of Singapore After Dark

2009-08-26T00:00:00.000+08:00

Location: Singapore
Date taken: 17^th & 19^th August 2009
Camera equipment: Nikon D300 + Nikkor DX 18-70mm f/3.5-4.5G

The People at Basilique du Sacré-Cœur

2009-08-20T21:35:00.002+08:00

When I visited Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, I saw a model shooting session of an English-speaking photographer and a female model. I observed for a little while until they were comfortable with me coming into the scene to shoot photos of them at work.

I snapped a couple of shots of the model's poses as well but I didn't want to interrupt their shooting session too much. So, I don't have that many photos of the model.

The model is really gorgeous that the photographs taken by her photography must be stunning.

After observing them for a little more while, I started to look for some other interesting composition. I found this couple gazing at the panoramic view of the city of Paris while looking at the directory interesting.

There was also a street artist performing at the square in front of Basilique du Sacré-Cœur at that time. He seemed very friendly to the two ladies who sat down by his side listening to him, so I guess it was alright for me to take a shot.

When I was trying to take more shots of him after the two ladies had left, he stopped playing and scolded me, saying that I was interrupting his performance. I apologised to him but he didn't care and kept on shouting at me while trying to chase me away from the square. I knew I had met with a snobbish French man and ignored him. He then turned to other tourists to unleash his dissatisfaction about me.

One of my photography friends once told me that French people are very rude before I visited Paris. I have to agree with him after my personal encounter with a rude French man. I have also no doubt about this now for the fact that French people have been voted worst tourists in the world. If they themselves are the worst tourists, how can we expect them to treat the tourists in France nicely?

It was after all a bad day for me in Paris also, as I was pick-pocketed in the evening of the same day. Well, these are not my favourable memories but they will stay with me for a very long time!

A Sacred Heart

2009-08-14T20:08:00.001+08:00

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur, or the Sacred Heart Basilica, was built on the summit of Butte de Montmarte. Although the foundation stone of this Romano-Byzantine Basilica was laid in 1875, it was never fully completed until 1919.

Although there are steps for visitors to climb up to the summit to visit the Basilica, I chose to ride on the Funiculaire.

The first thing that laid before my eyes when I stepped out of the Funiculaire station on the summit was the view of the streets of Montmarte and the panoramic view of the city of Paris.

Turning my body one-half round, the Basilica was in sight again, taking its seat tranquilly on the summit.

There are two Equestrian statues flanking the three-arch main entrance. The one on the right is Joan of Arc, but I took the picture of the one on the left whom is I-don't-know-who.

Entering the Basilica is free of charge, but photography is not allowed. So, I can only show you the domed-ceilings above the three-arch entrance.

My Super Car – Lamborghini Murcielago

2009-08-12T00:00:00.001+08:00

Location: My home
Date taken: 23^th May 2009
Camera equipment: Nikon D300 + Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8D

The Charm of Champs-Élysées

2009-08-06T19:55:00.001+08:00

Av des Champs-Élysées, a name that is never to be forgotten by the shopaholics. It is the mother of all branded-goods shopping streets. It is a heaven for those with a bottomless pocket. Almost any European brand that you can think of can be found here.

A very heavy thunderstorm was just over when I arrived at av des Champs-Élysées, but that never stopped the hardcore shoppers as there were already many people on the street.

It looks like many people love Paris, even dogs love Paris as they can leave their droppings anywhere they like.

As the leading French automobile manufacturer, Peugeot has to leave a mark on av des Champs-Élysées. I don't think anyone will just pay for the car here and drive it home straightaway.

For the fans of Louis Vuitton, this has got to be their dream shop, the mother of all LV shops! Patronising this shop must have been their ultimate pilgrimage. I was wearing LV, but I didn't dare to step into the shop, as my LV stands for Low Value!

Swatch is more likely the kind of shop for me, but I was more interested in the lady.

One of the most peculiar brands on av des Champs-Élysées has got to be this one: Toyota! Maybe they are trying to portray the image of driving a Toyota is like carrying a Hermès handbag!