Protection Of Mother

“What did you just say to my mom?” The wide eyed, startled and angry kid seemed to be asking me.

Me: “Told her she’s really beautiful and have very nice features like that of a Bollywood star”.

I wished I could tell her that but I don’t think she’ll understand me.

I must brush up on my geography, too. When I asked her which town she comes from in Myanmar, I couldn’t figure out what she said and spelt. Not her fault. I’ll carry a paper map of Myanmar next time.

She nodded her head and smiled when I asked if she is Muslim. There are 136 ethnic groups in Myanmar. 135 now according to The Lady..

Photography Notes: This shot works because I got down to their eye level by squatting too. That probably startled the kid. Lol.

I would have allowed more headroom for the mother but didn’t think the kid will repeat the reaction. So I reacted and clicked before I could properly compose.

Also, the scene will look bad if it was taken from a standing position, looking down.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY, especially to the many SINGLE MOTHERS, who raised her children single-handedly under very hard circumstances. It is hard for a nomadic refugee.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 2500, f11, 1/200 sec.

#documentaryphotography #streetphotography #migrants #myanmar #burma #mother #child #mother #refugee #sonyalpha #a7r #zeiss

A Little Known May 13 Story

When I was doing my story (hash tagged #tvssblc) on the Leprosy colony in Sungai Buloh, I interviewed Abdul Rauf, a former inmate who has recovered after a long stay inside.

He now runs a successful nursery business selling plants and turf grass. Except for a few deformed and missing fingers, there is little clue he was a long time sufferer of the contagious and feared disease.

His memory is still sharp and he told me many stories of life in the settlement. He has a great sense of humour and has much fond memories of his extended stay in the colony. A mysterious Chinese man, I befriended earlier, named “Africa”, purportedly one of Rauf’s best friends, led me by motorcycle to Rauf’s home.

When he told me about the various incidents such as royal visits, I asked him about the dreadful May 13 racial riots and whether it impacted them. He said many residents panicked and rumours were rife. The Malays hid at the mosque and surau when there were rumours of Chinese gangsters arriving to attack them. Kepong nearby was notorious for Chinese gangsters. Similarly, Chinese inmates huddled together in the churches and temples. Can’t remember if he mentioned about Indian and Orang Asli patients who also formed cliques.

There were a lot fears and distrust, he said. Finally one wise English doctor asked them. “Let’s be honest. What outsiders are going to risk coming in here??? Normally, people will run when they see lepers!”

Then the lepers starting to hug one another and started asking, “Who have we got as family apart from ourselves?” According to Rauf, their greatest worry was the supply of food and that it may run out with the curfews and disrupted supplies. Then they declared that they will share their food with one another in order to survive together. In recalling their unsubstantiated fears, he suddenly laughed very hard. We hugged and laughed hard together.

What I interviewed him on 28th May 2016 but kept the story for today.

#leprosarium #sungaibuloh #colony #leper #settlement #history #life #sonyalpha #a7r #zeiss #tvssblc #racerelations #may13

Flamingo by the Lake Hotel

The Flamingo Hotel was one of the earliest suburb hotels. Since then, there are now other neighbourhood hotels such as Maluri Hotel in Taman Maluri and Sri Petaling Hotel in Taman Sri Petaling. Flamingo hotel is now correctly branded as Flamingo by the Lake. If you get a room with a balcony facing the lake, it is quite nice. Seems like a quiet hidden getaway and a suitable honeymoon suite with the romantic and picturesque surroundings.

I can’t remember if they had flamingos on the lake but in the early days, there were probably a few pathetic swans, I think. If you want to see flamingos, drive to the zoo nearby.

They say 2 star hotels and a pair of tight jeans for men have something in common. There is no ballroom. The hotel is more than 2 stars and it has a grand ballroom that can accommodate 1500 pax.

I remember attending Malaysiakini’s 5th anniversary dinner here in 2004 where it was joked that should the ceiling collapse that night in the ballroom, the government would have unwittingly gotten rid of all opposition members, critics, dissidents, anti government cartoonists, bloggers, candlelight vigil types and NGO members in one fell swoop. Haha.

I have also stayed there after all night drinking sessions to avoid getting into trouble with roadblocks. It is never a good idea because when you get up with a massive hangover, it is already check out time. This was why Japan came out with cheaper capsule or pod hotels to cater to drinking executives. People just want a simple roof when they missed the last train. But this a story for another day.

We KLites may scoff at the congested Ampang Jaya junction location but for the out-of-towner, it may be a quick drive to the National Zoo or an easy drive to or from the city by the Ampang Elevated Highway or by DUKE. The nearest similar or higher class hotels are De Palma Hotel Ampang and the new Elements @ Ampang Hotel (behind Gleneagles).

Book Flamingo By The Lake here.

Address: 5  Tasik Ampang, Jalan Hulu Kelang, 68000 Ampang, Selangor Darul Ehsan

Finding Warmth On A Cold Floor

Who can resist a cool marble floor on a hot day? A homeless dog seeks shelter under the watchful eyes of the statue of Buddha at an obscure and quaint Thai temple named Wat Meh Liew in little-known Kampung Siam in Kuala Lumpur.

I was sitting on the floor on Wesak Day last year when the dog came to lie in front of me. A wonderful moment for the camera. It also brought a smile to my face and warmed my heart.

The temple’s tolerance and acceptance of stray animals symbolizes the heart of Buddha’s teachings – Compassion.

Happy Vesak Day ahead.

#wesak #vesak #buddhism #buddha #thaitemple #dog #compassion

Beaches For Your Sunset Pics – Part 4

I’ve been looking at my sunset pics to feature more for the Beaches For Your Sunset Pics series. See sidebar for related links.I think Bagan Lalang can be the 4th beach to include. I know. Singapore has Clarke Quay and Boat Quay and what do we have? Weed Quay! Haha. It may be far but it has yielded consistently good sunsets for me, so far.

I first went there before AVANI Goldcoast Sepang was even built, Since Bagan means a fisherman’s quay or fisherman’s wharf or jetty and lalang means weed or blady grass, I placed the camera on the ground on top of the grass creeping on the sand for this very low view of the sunset.

Besides the luxury AVANI Sepang Gold Coast Resort, there are a couple cheaper alternatives very nearby. When you finish with the sunsets, it will usually be already 8 pm and the road is dark and narrow, So stay a night and relax.

Hotel links here: http://www.mycen.my/hotels-in-morib-and-gold-coast-selangor/

Morib Beach Part 1 http://www.tvsmith.my/eclec…/beaches-your-sunset-pics-part-1
Morib Beach Part 1b: http://www.tvsmith.my/ecle…/beaches-your-sunset-pics-part-1b
Redang Beach Part 2: http://www.tvsmith.my/eclec…/beaches-your-sunset-pics-part-2
Port Dickson 3: http://www.tvsmith.my/eclec…/beaches-your-sunset-pics-part-3

#sunset #dusk #beach #twilight #baganlalang #goldcoast #silhouette #selangor