Our Travelations

Xi Tang, just outside Shanghai, China in 2005

Xi Tang is a small water town that has nine rivers that snake around and overlap each other. It is in Zhejiang province, just a couple of hours away from the busy and cosmopolitan Shanghai. Here you will find old-styled crafted stone bridges that link the different parts of the town. People use the waters running through these canals for cooking and daily consumption; furthermore, residents use these waterways to travel to other parts of town and for merchants to transport their goods. The town was made even more famous when the action sequel, Mission Impossible III (which featured Tom Cruise) was shot along the banks of this tranquil town.

Here the people are nice and tourism then in 2005 had not really arrived. Hopefully, it will remain a scenic and historic area for the residents who still enjoy the tranquil serenity of the place. Choose to stay with one of the residents and thoroughly immerse yourself in this very interesting and peaceful place.

~ Jeff

Esther

Graffiti art at Merdeka Square at Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia in 2005

This picture is taken when we were travelling in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. We were visiting the Merdeka (Freedom) Square when we chance upon this very unique graffiti of the most influential man in modern Malaysian history. Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was the longest serving Prime Minister in Malaysia. He spearheaded  a change and set the tempo to drive growth in Malaysia. He was the one who came up with the vision of making Malaysia a developed country by 2020. Dr Mahathir was the architect of many large-scale national projects like the once tallest building of the world, the Petronas Towers, which he helped design, the North-South Highway that links Thailand to Singapore and many more.

It was interesting to find this picture near the Merdeka Square. Don’t you think?

~ Jeff

We’re in the midst of  a wonderful trip to Malacca, Kuala Lumpur and Penang in Malaysia at the moment. We have loads to share (especially on food), so stay tuned!

Esther

Freshly caught fish glistening in the sun at a market in Manado, Indonesia in 2004

Esther and I are avid divers and whenever we have a chance during our dive trips, we would visit the local fish market at our destination. It’s interesting to see what type of local dish are caught and sold. This picture was taken in the wee hours of the morning when the fish are laid out before day break. That’s when masses of people from the local restaurants, hotels and residents come down to savour the fresh catch.

In Manado, Indonesia – which is famous for its great diving – the sea life is abundant due to the rich volcanic sand of the Lembeh Straits. This market is the best and biggest wet market in Manado and is known as Pasar Bersehati Manado. Go visit if you have time to spare and be pleasantly surprised by the friendly fishmongers.

~ Jeff

Esther

Sunrise at the Moken Village at Mu Koh Surin, Thailand in 2004

I took this picture a bit after 5am at the Moken Village at Mu Koh Surin in Thailand. I was there as part of a recce group for a Singapore International Foundation expedition to help and learn more about the sea gypsies living there. The Mokens are a group of people who live off the sea and are, traditionally, nomadic folk. But those in Phuket have been settled permanently within the Surin Island National Park.

They are a very giving lot of people and I was fortunate to be able to communicate a little with them, as the older folk speak Malay.

Read more about the Mokens on this Wikipedia article.

~ Esther

Esther

Slicing tuna at Tsukiji Market in Tokyo, Japan in 2007

I took this picture on my maiden visit to Tsukiji Market in Tokyo in 2007. It is of a master and his apprentices at a shop that sells, what else, the prized tuna. Tsukiji Market is the biggest wholesale fish and seafood market in the world and it is breathtakingly amazing. I also witnessed a tuna auction that was extremely fascinating and meticulously well-organised.

A few weeks ago, I had the good fortune of watching a documentary series on Tsukiji Market. A big part of the first episode chronicles the life of a seasoned tuna expert – from his strategies at the daily tuna auctions to how he runs his over 30-year-old stall in the market. His work is not just work. It is his life; his pride and joy; his legacy.

I thought he looked very, very familiar. Then, as I quickly (more like, frantically) looked through my photo archives, I realised it is the same man I pictured a few years ago, patiently teaching his two young students the art of all things tuna. Life’s funny that way.

~ Esther