Here goes the Part 5 as well as my second last travel blog post of my recent trip to the scenic and picturesque Hangzhou - Enjoy A Cup of Coffee And Watch The World Goes By In Hangzhou 在杭州喝氧生活实验地, 品咖啡.
Coffee is a worldwide favourite drink. There’s nothing like a nice cup of spicy Java, a creamy Latte or a kicking Espresso to wake you up out of your slumber and get you thinking about the finer things in life. Chatting with friends over a cup of coffee seems to be many people's favourite past-time. Besides tea shops, there are actually many coffee / cafe shops in Hangzhou. It’s not only the coffee that is addictive, it is also just the fact that there are no pretences, no worries and no sense of time when drinking a cup of coffee at Hangzhou. That, in fact, should just be the way of how a cup of coffee to be enjoyed. How relaxing it will be if one just slows down back home here in Singapore, enjoys a cup of tea or coffee, tries to reach a balance or an inner peace after a hard and busy day. 我想, 杭州人除了爱喝茶之外, 也真的很爱喝咖啡吧. 我在杭州待了一个星期, 无论到那儿, 不论是山郊外野嶙, 幽密小经, 热闹大街, 或是风华无限的西湖旁, 总会见到大的小的, 高雅的在地的, 中式的欧式的, 便宜的贵的风格各意的咖啡馆. 咖啡馆这东西简直在杭州遍地开花. 不论男女的, 老的少的, 有钱的没钱的, 大家通通都在喝咖啡. 在杭州, 喝茶或咖啡是一种态度, 是一种享受, 是一种全民运动, 杭州人的生活早已离不开茶和咖啡. 要说那一家咖啡馆最有新一代杭州人的特质, 我真的拿不定主意, 因为这里有太多古色古典的咖啡馆. 新时代杭州人所追求的, 不是那种古色板板的沉闷感, 而是一种充满活力的生命观. 在杭州的每个咖啡馆就会感觉到这种温度, 一种自然而然, 简单不做作的感觉. 也许杭州人在中国是最懂得生活的人. 他们总爱找个好地方, 喝茶, 喝咖啡, 吃点食零嘴, 高谈关论一番, 刁个牌, 奢侈地消磨整个下午时光. 我们这些外地人到杭州也来这样好好对待自己放松自己吧. 所以如果想喝一杯乐活且慢活的咖啡, 来杭州将是个不错的选择哦!
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Here goes the Part 4 of my recent trip to the scenic and picturesque Hangzhou - Nan Song Yu Jie and Qing He Fang Ancient Street 逛街感怀老杭州活古韵的南宋御街和老字号第一街的河坊街.
There are actually many shopping streets in Hangzhou. These streets are not only for shopping but also for some nostalgic viewing. Hangzhou's main shopping streets have all their special characteristics. Hangzhou marketplaces are varied and special too. Dubbed “Southern Song Imperial Street 南宋杭州御街” this pedestrian shopping street is situated at one of Hangzhou’s historic thoroughfares. Renovated in an architectural style associated with the South Song Dynasty (Hangzhou was the capital), Nan Song Yu Jie 南宋杭州御街 is a must-see attraction, with crowds keep coming back to check out its distinctive architecture, shopping opportunities and numerous Chinese and Western restaurants. For a walk back in time in Hangzhou, i strongly recommend you to take a stroll along the preserved Nan Song Yu Jie 南宋杭州御街 and Qing He Fang Ancient Street 河坊街. 我知道这样说有人一定会觉得牵强, 但我是真的这样想, 旅行中最有趣的一件事就是逛街. 藉由逛街来了解一个城市, 是最快又最有效的方法. 但这逛街, 可不是指单纯的走马看花, 血拼到处都有的寻常东西, 或是单单买些衣服纪念品而已. 逛街要如何逛, 血拼的血要怎么流才会有价值, 都有它一定的道理. 比方我会到当地才有的百货公司或购物的地方: 像纽约的 Barney's, 曼谷的 Siam 区, 通常这里是当地中产限级最爱来购物的地方, 藉由这些品牌或商品, 我们很快就会知道这个城市的主流属所喜欢的东西是哪些. 比方我会到当地才有的传统市集或是跳搔市场, 如曼谷的 Chatuchak 周末市集, 香港的庙街, 来体验一下当地才有的本土特色, 跟着当地人吃吃喝喝, 疯狂大挖宝, 所以逛街不是那么浮浅的是事吧....这挡子事可也是有深度有文化的呢.... 所以到杭州我们要怎么来体验这份逛街寻宝乐呢? 建议大家到最有皇城味的南宋御街来体验充满历史的游乐味, 想像一下以前的人是怎么生活怎么娱乐的. 藉由这些体验. 我们来深入杭州最道地的生活. 这儿的一切都是贴近人心的, 与生活息息相关的. 来这儿就等于亲眼见证了一段活生生的历史. Here goes the Part 3 of my recent trip to the scenic and picturesque Hangzhou - Xixi National Wetland Park 仙境一般的西溪国家湿地公园, 原来湿地里面另有风景.
Xixi National Wetland Park 西溪国家湿地公园 is a new hot tourism spot in Hangzhou attracting tourists all over the world. Xixi Wetland has a history of more than 1,800 years and an abundant cultural heritage. The place contains the vivid life of a water village, featuring silkworm feeding and silk production. Visitor can also enjoy boating on the rivers, the flowers are beautiful and trees are shady. You can have a good break from the hustle and bustle of the city. The park is a large natural wetland situated inside the densely populated city. It is nicknamed as "kidney of Hangzhou" for its pristine air and extensive green vegetation. Looking for anonymous serenity and peace in bustling Hangzhou? You can find it in Xixi, along with great views and a unique dining experience. If West Lake is the famed beauty of Hangzhou, Xixi National Wetland Park 西溪国家湿地公园 is its young maiden still hidden at home, not yet discovered by the world ! 杭州是这么一个能让人亲身体验到历史的地方, 而这份历史是融于自然与生活之中, 让原本秀美的山水变得不一样. 比方西溪湿地与京杭大运河, 更是人工心血的结晶. 历史在杭州的周遭城市, 我们会发现故事更精彩, 余杭区良渚镇所挖屈的良渚文化, 一下子将厉史往前推进 5000 年, 中国古文明原来早在那时就已产生. 当阳的乌镇及建德的新业古民居, 则以一栋又一栋的老房子老风俗见证历史的存在. 亲眼见到这些活生生教材, 为我们诉说一个又一个故事, 那股震撼力可真是够瞧的. 我总觉得, 一个有着悠远历史背景的城市, 硬是比一些新兴的都市要来得吸引人许多, 也许我会喜欢杭州, 就是这样一个原因 ! 杭州就像个历史宝库, 处处都有好故事, 挖也挖不完. 来杭州吧!探访杭州历史的足迹. What a great start to a Happy Weekend! My photo taken during in my recent trip to Hong Kong 香港 is being featured in the latest June 2012 Issue (Volume 11) of SNAPPP Magazine, a popular monthly Taiwan Photography Magazine!
SNAPPP is available at all the bookstores in Taiwan, as well as in major Bookstores in Singapore and Hong Kong! My photo featured in SNAPPP Magazine is a shot taken at the Hong Kong 香港 famous Apliu Street Flea Market 鸭寮街跳骚市场 located near Sham Shui Po 深水埗 MTR Station. Here goes the much-awaited Part 2 of my recent trip to the scenic and picturesque Hangzhou - Wu Zhen Village 游乌镇, 梦里水乡寻回久远的朴实宁静.
Wuzhen is a rich historic water town with about 1,300 years. This place is nicknamed the Venice of the Orient. Though time flies by, the name, address, river system, wooden structures, stone bridge and people’s way of living in this town remain the same. Talking about Hangzhou travel, people often know the West Lake. But I promise you that you will also lose yourself in Wuzhen. In Wuzhen, everything keeps up an old customs. Walking on the slabstone-paved street, all housed in wooden structures of brown. Rivers and creeks spanned with stone bridges in various designs flow through the town. I feel it’s just like a dream when I first stepped into the place. Wuzhen displays thousands of years of history in its ancient stone bridges floating on mild water, its stone pathways between the mottled walls and its delicate wood carvings. Also, setting it apart from other towns, it gives a unique experience through its profound cultural background. 在江南水乡, 有不少像乌镇这样的古镇, 美丽宁静得像一颗颗珍珠. 乌镇除了拥有大家都具备的小桥, 流水, 人家的水乡风情和精巧雅致的民居建筑之外, 更多地飘逸着一股浓郁的历史和文化气息. 这可能是它的历史最为悠久, 文化最为发达的的缘故. 从杭州出发走高速公路一个多小时的车程. This is my umpteen time in which 2 of my photos are currently on exhibit at Cat Socrates 苏格拉底猫 Bookcafe with a theme this time round to be "Stranger on the Bus". I simply like and will always try my best to pursue each photo theme opportunity released for a photo exhibition at this chic bookstore! Photographing strangers in public transportation is regarded by some as a little odd. Yet pictures of our daily life related to the use of public transportation are what come to define an era and many of the great pictures of the past decade would fall into this category. Photography in a bus or train though is far more than that. It can be hard to define and many practitioners have their own ways of shooting. But what's fascinating about such photographic scene is that it's open to anyone with a camera. You do not need special access, even the most basic disposable camera can be used. All you need is time, patience, shoe leather and a good eye. Get real people, some of us just enjoy photography for what it is, without any ulterior motives, and, as much of what we do becomes a useful archive of contemporary life. Photography has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them! Shortlisted "Stranger on the bus" photographs are currently on exhibition from 1 May to 30 June 2012. Location of CAT SOCRATES 苏格拉底猫 bookstore cafe: Bras Basah Complex #03-39B Exhibition Timing: 12 noon - 8 pm (Daily) 1 pm - 7 pm (Sunday & Public Holiday) 来到这个城市里一个珍贵的存在书城 Bras Basah Complex. 大概是在大学时期听导师提起新加坡有这么一栋集合各类书店的建筑物, 从此这里就成了我一个人游走时的秘密基地. 从以前的一家家书店去探索, 到现在固定地去一个心灵充电基地站. 那就是特色小店 "苏格拉底猫" Cat Socrates, 售卖独立音乐, 独立杂志和书籍, 各种杂货, 还有各种 Lomo 相机及相关产品. 来自上海的店主经营一种生活美学, 非主流但深得我心. 每次一踏进店内, 心灵仿佛就找到了归宿. 昏黄的灯光下, 悠扬的音乐轻飘着, 颇有心思的陈设形成一道迷人风景.
原来, 书本, 音乐, 用心制作的事物, 坚持经营美丽的小店, 这些我依恋的一切, 就是我的小宇宙. 它们贴近我的心, 传达我的信念, 展现我喜欢的美好. 我在这个小宇宙里, 舒服自在, 找到了我生活的态度, 和尊严. 日常生活让我那么疲惫无力, 是因为我必须离开自己的小宇宙, 走入一个不得不面对不美的世界. Can't wait to share with all of you another piece of good news, one of my photo was published again in the latest May 2012 Issue of Digital Camera Magazine, a popular leading monthly photography magazine! I submitted this shot taken in Hong Kong some time ago for the "Your Mission - Take A Stunning Architectural Shot" category released for publication in this magazine issue. It was a good chance to see it in print nationwide, yippee ! :-)
What a great start to a new week! Not only that i just came back from a scenic photo shoot at Hangzhou, one of my photos taken in Vietnam was published in the latest May / June 2012 Issue of Lonely Planet Asia Travel Magazine! I can't wait to share this featured shot in the magazine with all of you first, as this shot is considered one of my master pieces in my photography work so far, frankly speaking. I am so glad that my photo taken at the famous Cao Dai Temple in Vietnam and the unique religious movement of its worshippers got its recognition and shared with among all of you!
For a long time now, I have been fascinated by the whole ritualistic aura surrounding the growing, picking and drying of the so-called 'best' green tea in the world. I have managed to visit Hangzhou in the Eastern China as an attempt to satisfy my curiosity. As i just got back from my trip and as promised, i will be blogging on the photos taken in this scenic and picturesque trip split into a few parts (probably 4 or 5 parts), so please stay tune to my next upcoming few blog posts on this recent trip to Hangzhou, China ! :-)
Here goes the first blog post on my recent trip to the scenic and picturesque Hangzhou: One of the most prized and expensive teas in China, dragon well green tea has a light yet unmistakable fragrance and calming taste. Known locally as Longjing, the best harvests are traditionally reserved for government officials and the wealthy elite. The best way to cop free samples of the stuff is to skip the storefronts and teahouses and head straight to the source - Hangzhou’s Dragon Well (Longjing) Village 老龙井御茶园. 我喜爱生命中的每一份惊喜, 享受旅途中的一切美好. 能与杭州结缘, 真的是一个最美丽的意外. 杭州一个最具风情的城市, 完美融合着自然与人文, 古典与时尚. 杭州真的是…我必须告诉各位...是一个 Super Nice 的地方! 杭州不是全然的旧, 也不是全然的新, 这是一个以深厚历史人文为基础, 同时又带著时代新气象, 一直往前进的地方. 这里是一个尊重传统, 但却又有著自我个性, 怀抱新时代理想的地方. 更重要的, 杭州是一个充满生活味的好城市. 这里没那么商业, 没那么大的生活压力. 这里不那么急, 不那么赶, 做什么事我们都能静下心来慢慢品嚐其个中好味. 杭州真的是值得花时间住下来的地方, 过着自己 tempo 的生活., 让属于这一方的人, 从骨子里都不愿离开. 这一趟的旅程, 得到的是一个全新的杭州, 我相信一定会颠覆大家对杭州的既有印象, 与我一样, 体验一下杭式生活方式特有的自在与悠闲, 爱上杭州 ! 爱上杭州, 就从此刻起..... Hi everyone! A great start to a wonderful week! I will be grabbing my luggage and heading off soon today for a scenic shoot at Hangzhou, with the mild breeze and an excited mood! I will go to a fresh place to find a paradise on earth, once accepted by the old wooden door, in a tiny opened book bar, with a cane chair, a book and a cup of tea, i am sure i will be very relaxed in the paradise thoroughly. It's time to lie back and enjoy some time off out of the usual bustling life at work. I am looking forward to all the beautiful scenery at Hangzhou upon my arrival. :-) 我今天即将要去中国的旅游胜地 - 杭州. 单看那些山, 水, 树木, 就能让人留恋忘返. 感觉好就可以了, 好像心也随之荡散开去. 这将会是一趟难忘的杭州之旅 ! I will be back soon, so please continue to stay tune to my photographic blog for the amazingly beautiful shots taken at the scenic Hangzhou, China. I also hope all of you will have a fulfilling week ahead too. Stay Happy and Enjoy :-)
联合早报 从3月开始推出改革版, 强调 “四好”: 好看, 好读, 好用, 好谈. <<新汇点 现在>> 推出全新的四个栏目, 为读者提供更为精彩的内容. 其中新栏目包括 "典型新加坡" 征稿启事 - 以图片叙说故事, 捕捉最具新加坡特征的景与物, 人与事. 除早报摄影记者定期展示 “典型新加坡” 的一面外, 也欢迎读者传来你们眼中的 "典型新加坡", 请注明拍摄地点, 对照片内容的介绍, 并附上个人联系资料, 电邮到zbxhd@sph.com.sg, 照片若刊登, 作者将获得稿酬.
以下是我的其中一张近日在红山区的一房式或一房半厅的政府组屋单位所做的摄影考察, 刊登在今天联合早报的 "典型新加坡" 栏目里!! 我翻开今天报子的内页, 这让我惊喜万外. 一定要和大家一起分享这份喜悦, 也希望我们能一起前行, 细细品尝生活中特征的景与物, 人与事. :-) Singapore's Orchard Road isn't just about the countless brand stores and shopping malls. It's also great for just strolling about, taking in the sights and sounds. Wander down the main stretch of Singapore's shopping district and it's hard not to get sidelined by the impressive perfomances on display. Street performers / buskers have been entertaining shoppers and curious families for years now and the variety of talent on public display just keeps getting better.
Some street performers perform all day, everyday. Some are totally unique in their performance whose style is not found anywhere else. Some of them even compete in huge busker festivals celebrating excellence in street performing. 十字路口的人行道, 红灯, 让人们被迫停留. 虽然多数人对街头表演不以为然, 这些街头卖艺者却坚持着作为艺术工作者的严谨. 他们没有让自己停滞, 而是不断寻求改变, 即使观众并不是常客, 一走而过. 这些街头卖艺者都觉得, 他们的表演是在提醒自己还有我们, 在快节奏的生活中要时不时停下来, 思考什么才是最重要的. 奢华喧闹的新加坡乌节路, 除了购物和消费, 还让我看到一种艺术坚持. This blog post is for a Big Welcome to a selected group of people who place a great importance of music in their everyday lives with vinyl records being the preferred medium!! Vinyl LP (Long Play) caters to a very specific group that favours real analogue sound over "digital music". But in today’s age of digital file formats, and at a time when CD sales are spiraling toward a fantastic and fiery demise, vinyl records remain in demand by many musicians and hard-to-please music aficionados. Some vintage vinyl stores in Singapore do sell new albums in LP format if you're still interested. They focus either on "audiophile" jazz albums or DJ albums used for club mixes. Some stores have records on sale, both used and new. You can find audiophile jazz LPs, used pop / rock etc records from cheap to rare. Those stores still offers that huge collection of coveted, white-label records, as well as rare and deleted collector’s edition of Teresa Teng, Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui - all available on their racks. The equally legendary New Disc Village (#02-15 The Adelphi) brings in exclusive seven-inch records, most of which have already ceased to be in production. Serious collectors should also square in on Simply Music (#03-12 The Adelphi), Roxy Disc House (#03-42 The Adelphi), Vinylucky (#B1-42 The Adelphi) and Chinatown Complex (#01-133 Block 335 Smith Street) for more rare and limited edition CDs and vinyls. 在数字播放器当道的时代, 音乐光盘正在消亡, 卡式磁带听起来久远得像石器时代的东西, 曾经风靡一时的黑胶唱片, 又称 LP (Long Play)...不, 它们没有逝去, 正卷土重来. 没有什么东西比在留声机上悠悠旋转着的黑胶唱片更时髦. 黑胶唱片爱好者说, 黑胶唱片记录下来的音乐最接近原声, 音质比经过压缩的数码文件好得多. 另外, 唱片是个有形实体, 有包装, 有质感, MP3和CD无法比拟. 一些人购买黑胶唱片是为收藏漂亮的封套, 还有一些黑胶唱片收藏家喜欢淘货, 专门寻找稀有, 保存完好的唱片. 从磁带, 激光唱片到MP3, 依托现当代的科技, 人们欣赏音乐的载体不断在更新换代, 但仍有那么一部分人, 他们钟爱黑胶唱片塑造的真实感和年代感, 收藏与赏析之, 或者是将胶木唱片当作投资品种类. 区分黑胶唱片一个很明显的指标是它的转速, 这些数字的含义即是每分钟转多少圈. 此外, 黑胶唱片的常规尺寸, 黑胶唱片的颜色通常为黑色, 不过也有彩色的. LP是直率的, 通透, 多信息, 是鲜的, 是活的, 是感人的, 直接的和你交流. 艺术歌曲上 LP 能够立即把你和演员之间建立交流, 你会马上投入进去, 与之共鸣. 简单讲, 你会用情去听. 是你主动的, 你自己愿意的, 都是因为 LP 和你进行了直接的交流. LP 在艺术歌曲的感染力上和 CD 不是一个东西. 另外单声道的 CD 不好听, 但单声道的LP很多都是精品, 音质奇佳, 尤其在钢琴, 小提琴, 大提琴为主角的作品中. This small shop at Chinatown Complex (Level 1 Unit 01-176, Block 335 Smith Street) is run by a former antique dealer. The store is packed with more than 4,000 records, including an abundance of Chinese-dialect pop and Melayu from Indonesia. The highlight of this place is the formidable pile of records of mostly mid-century Chinese pop, classical and opera, including some exceedingly rare recordings from pre-Communist China.
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