Ma Du Zi

We all know that now’s not a very good time to travel to Bangkok with the international and domestic airports still shut, but if you’re planning to go there in the not too distant future, may I recommend Ma Du Zi – an ultra chic boutique hotel conveniently situated in the Sukhumvit business district. Ma Du Zi means come and see in Thai, and it’s definitely worth more than just a look. Hotel and fashion aficionados will go ga ga over this gorgeous hotel.

Temple of the Dawn

This is Wat Arun at dusk. Contrary to its name which means Temple of the Dawn, the popular tourist attraction is at its most magical when night falls.

Mai Pen Rai

Bangkok is in a state of chaos with the shutdown of Suvarnabhumi Airport, leaving tens of thousands of tourists stranded. Many of whom will be missing Thanksgiving back home because of the unrest. Well, as the Thais would say when face with a setback, mai pen rai which means never mind. That’s life, so just grin and bear it like this photo which I shot with my Canon G7 in June this year.

The farang looks troubled as he waits in a yellow cab stuck in Bangkok’s notorious traffic. The smiley decal is an interesting contrast to the lad’s glum face. I can imagine there are many more glum faces in Bangkok as I write. Hopefully, the crisis will end amicably soon... but I won’t hold my breath.

Flower Saucer

If you think you’re looking at a UFO, you’re right! This unique flower object was taken at Amangalla, Galle Fort, Sri Lanka.

Flower Dome Song

This picture of a floral arrangement was taken at Metropolitan hotel, Bangkok.

Still

I like to play with natural light to create different moods, turning a simple subject into an object of beauty. This picture was taken at The River House, Balapitiya, Sri Lanka.

Shadow & Light

I’m putting together a series of still life photographs for my collection aptly titled Still. This photo was taken at Kahanda Kanda hotel in Galle, Sri Lanka.

Golden Oldies

Still on the subject of old age, here are portraits of “golden oldies” I took in Bali and Central Java. The lady in the main picture asked my guide/fixer with a giggle, “Why is he taking my picture? I’m so old not pretty anymore!” I said to my guide, “Please tell her that I think she’s very beautiful.” And I speak from my heart. These old folks have something that most of their younger counterparts do not have and that’s inner beauty.

Virtues & Emotions

Here are more pictures from Voices from the Heart, Living with Dementia.

This project was quite a challenge. The brief required me to capture pictures that convey the following virtues and emotions: Patience, Frustration, Strength, Optimism, Filial Piety, Love, Encouragement, Hope, Despair, Challenges and Communication.

So I spent several days in Chinatown, Botanic Gardens and a daycare centre for old folks to take the pictures. It was not easy. I had to hide behind trees and pillars to secretly take the pictures. Thank goodness for my Canon Zoom EF 70 - 300mm lens!

The Old and The Beautiful

These pictures are from the dementia resource book, Voices from the Heart, Living with Dementia.

Taking photos for the book was an eye opening and humbling experience for me. We all dread the idea of growing old and will go to great lengths to stop the signs of aging with botox, mesotherapy and collagen supplements. I guess the media is to blame for our obsession with youth and beauty. The skinny wrinkle-free (airbrushed) models and celebrities in glossy magazines certainly do not help boost our self-esteem.

If we look beyond anti-aging creams, wrinkles and liver spots are beautiful. Each line and freckle represents a moment in someone’s life. Taking his first baby steps, celebrating his 21st birthday, getting his first job, marrying his sweetheart, keys to his new home, carrying his firstborn in his arms, mourning the loss of a loved one, enjoying his retirement in Maui… all these are told in one’s face. The frown and laugh lines are our life story. So I don’t see why would anyone want to erase his life story with botox?

Photos from the Heart

Voices from the Heart, Living with Dementia, a resource book for dementia patients and their caregivers is now out in stores!

I had the privilege to photograph the cover for the book and some of the inside pages. Although they’re not my best work (I find it hard to get inspiration photographing in my backyard), I am happy to be a part of this “labour of love”. The photos, taken in Singapore, photojournalism style, celebrate old age. Be it an uncle laughing with a few missing teeth, two white-haired ladies enjoying a chat, or an Indian man catching a few winks in Chinatown, each of these photos has a story to tell.