Tag: documentary photography

Slow Down: Kids Crossing

The door-to-door ice cream man brings much joy to the children of a village in Ulu Yam. I stopped him to buy and to chat.

It made me feel silly and guilty at the same time. Silly, having had a so-called artisan elderflower-flavoured ‘ais krim potong’ (tube popsicle) for RM 8 ++ at a hipster mall with absurd parking. Guilty, because I am paying less than a ringgit for an equally tasty Wall’s Solero (imitation) here.

Of course, one can argue that many top malls charge RM15K or more for monthly rental of a cart or kiosk. For this mobile ice cream man, his overheads are petrol, dry ice and sweat. Speaking of petrol, I spent less on petrol getting here than for parking at some malls in the city.

Sucking a popsicle, hearing the breeze flapping the leaves of a banana tree. That’s life.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, 4.5, 1/800 sec.

Bougainvilleas And Dragons

Ulu Yam Bharu and surroundings may have a turbulent past but today it is a sleepy hollow. Not much activities except for people stopping over for food on transit to Genting Highlands. You may want to explore the town and village on foot to pick out hidden gems with your camera.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, f9, 1/800 sec.

Route 66: The Other Road To Genting Highlands.

If you see Genting Highlands clearly while driving on Federal Route 1, you know you are near Malaysia’s own Route 66. Few people realise how close the mountain resort is until they see it from this location. This moonlight-like shot was photographed with a 600mm lens and polarizer from the roadside of Route 1.

First World Hotel, the colourful complex on the left most, once held the record as the largest hotel in the world with a total of 6,118 rooms. It was dethroned by two other slightly larger casino hotels: The Venetian Las Vegas + The Palazzo and the MGM Grand Las Vegas.

Klang Valley people are used to accessing Genting via the Karak Highway and Genting Sempah. A proper road (Route B66) was opened in the 1980s to connect Genting via Batang Kali and Ulu Yam. The road is linked to Gohtong Jaya on the eastern end. The Ulu Yam exit also provides an alternative route to Batu Caves and Kuala Lumpur.

Ulu Yam’s claim to fame is not just its connection to the east. It offers more.

Panasonic GM-1, ISO 200, f6.3, 1/2000 sec.

Bristle

Under clear blue skies, flowering blady grass patches appear like stalks from golden wheat fields. I was waylaid by charming Serendah for a few wonderful days. Happy to encounter new places, good food, four-legged friends and hospitable locals there.

From waterfalls to lakes to the rural landscape; Serendah bristle with natural beauty. It is such an under-promoted and unsung eco-tourism destination.

At the rate I am going, I don’t know when I will even reach the Perak border. But that’s alright. The little detours and surprise finds will make this photo essay even more interesting. Thank you and goodbye Serendah.

Next Stop: Ulu Yam.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 100, f5.6, 1/640 sec.

The Balcony

I think a hipster will trade his or her mason jar lamp (with the coffee filter shade) for a chance to do a selfie or a yoga pose on this balcony. Every fitting is intentionally hipsterish. The furniture is chicken (wire) coop style, similar to those found in KLPAC grounds or in Publika. Don’t ask me about the significance of that rusted and cracked wok (kuali) on the floor, though. Lol.

It is a shame that the place is categorised as luxury camping or glamour camping (glamping) though. Is more than that. Strip away all the pretensions, it is a resort hotel (minus all the staff). Taken as a whole, I found the appeal to be the subtle landscaping and blending with its environment.

Sure; there are creature comforts such as hot shower, a toilet bowl, coffee machine and a pool but then that’s what concrete jungle people expect when they pay RM 700 or more a night, I guess.

Standing on the balcony, I felt as if I was the conductor of an orchestra where the musicians were tireless birds and insects. To each, his or her own. For me; it was hearing nature’s symphony and seeing random leaves drift gently from trees. That was priceless.

Sony Alpha a7R, ISO 640, f8, 1/60 sec.