​The shape of the hot air balloon is something I am drawn to. I can’t help wanting to draw and paint it. There is so much to love about their generous curves. Like an upside down pear. I love the way they let the air fill them up so completely, no reserved hidden corners

I always like to see hot air balloons. It is just the sort of extraordinary sight in an ordinary day that makes me happy to be alive. Even in the most routine tasks there is the odd touch of whimsy to be found. It makes you breathe a little deeper and a smile a little more. Up in the quiet expanse of blue under a glorious colourful bulb. Staring at those bright generous shapes in the sky you can feel the sense of freedom. Freedom is a state of mind.
 
Even though I am not a huge fan of heights, there is something a little magical about a hot air balloon. They seem to have an energy of anticipation about them that is so inspiring. For it does take some energy to fill that balloon and get it air bound. All the heat and drama required to lift that balloon is a fascinating contrast to all the peaceful, silent floating.
 
So true to life. There will be moments of heat and fire. Passion and drama. But there will also be moments of ease and serenity. Perhaps one is not possible without the other. I’m not sure what the collective noun is for hot air balloons, or if indeed there is one. But for me there is only one word that describes them en masse. To see a sky filled with hot air balloons, what else could you call them but a celebration?

If you follow my blog, then you already might know that one of my favourite things to do is to explore a new place as walking aimlessly and getting lost in it. I love when one discovers new and unexpected travel gems and The Hague (a.k.a. Den Haag) in The Netherlands was a great surprise. You can easily travel from Amsterdam and trains from Amsterdam to The Hague Centraal take roughly 50 minutes. It’s very easy to get around in the Hague and explore on foot (and public transportation is quite expensive). I love the Hague because it has such an international spirit, but still a vibe of a small town. The Hague doesn’t have the same scale as Amsterdam, ie, Miles of canals and multiple historic districts. The Hague’s Center City charms are impressive but concentrated in a very walkable area.  Also, the architecture in Den Haag is very beautiful. I have a thing for big windows, bicycles and beautiful and big doors. The typical Netherlands picture.

The Hague is such an important city in the Netherlands. The Hague is home to the International Court of Justice, a center of justice associated with the United Nations, which is located in the Peace Palace. The International Criminal Court, which is responsible for prosecuting international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, is also located in The Hague. In addition to these international courts, the King and Queen of the Netherlands live in the center of The Hague. It’s quite an important city, not only for the Netherlands but the rest of the world.

荷兰一直是个神奇的国度，它总是不断刷新人们的认知，就像大家都知道阿姆斯特丹是荷兰的首都，但却不一定知道荷兰政府其实不在阿姆斯特丹，而是在另一座城市：海牙 (The Hague)。海牙曾是皇室贵族的猎苑，直到16世纪成为了荷兰的政治中心。这里是荷兰中央政府和议会的所在地，荷兰的皇室也在这里，因此海牙是荷兰名副其实的皇城。
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虽然这座城市充满了皇家贵气和政治的肃穆感，可偏偏最令我铭记海牙的，是那一抹令人心颤的纯净翠蓝。从小到大，一直很喜欢蓝色，总希望能找到一个只有蓝色的地方，静静地徜徉其中，就像在天空中漫步一样。对蓝色迷恋至极，我的旅拍画面里时常记录纯净湛蓝的天空和深邃宽广的蓝色海洋，每次旅行，我的镜头不由自主地追寻着蓝色的影踪。这一趟荷兰旅程让我邂逅一个千年古老的蓝色海牙，一路探寻它昔日的辉煌，旅途中真正的蓝色艳遇。

Let’s get one thing straight from the get-go. I fell in love in Amsterdam. Not with a person, but with the city itself. It was instantaneous and mutual. Amsterdam was made for me and I was made for Amsterdam. Amsterdam is for everyone – the extroverts, introverts and everyone in between.
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Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities in the world. I love its brick buildings, open skyline, rich history, and relaxed, easy going attitude towards life. I love the beauty of the canals and historic homes (as I keep saying over and over again), the friendly nature of the Dutch, the museums, the parks, and the quality of life. I love the international feel of the city, the cafe culture, the art, the exploding entrepreneur scene, and the rise of good beer bars! In short, I love it all.

一到阿姆斯特丹，心情就好像能随时随地飞起。阿姆斯特丹实在是精彩绝伦，我喜爱它的文化多样性和美丽的建筑物。它是古代航海时代的商业传奇，现代人性化基建和城市规划，超乎想象的别样体验，数不尽的惊喜和温柔，走过上百座城，阿姆斯特丹尽乎完美。穿行在这座城市，常常让我觉得恍惚，是那种掉进了名信片里的感觉。在这座城市里散步闲逛，是络绎不接的游人们在这座城市最迷恋做的事，在运河边漫步也是一种独特的体验。

It was a perfect winter day. The day started beautifully with a blue sky and the sun kept me warm. I love this winter weather. Winter had relaxed its grasp on the Amsterdam city a little. There was a lack of snow in December last year, and wispy clouds raced along a blue sky. It was a fine day to go exploring. There’s nothing finer than a walk around an European city on a crispy, windy morning; things were quieter than the morning before, but the sun streamed in between the narrow houses, reflecting off calm canal waters. 

The Dutch sky is well known for its beautiful clouds. The Dutch love their skies. Many famous and lesser known painters illustrated the spectacular views of the Dutch sky in their work. Personally I think that the real Dutch sky is to be seen on the fields, in the countryside (and with the obligatory windmill in the background, of course). But in the few winter days the Amsterdam sky can also be spectacular, not only for its clouds but also for its deep blue colour. These are a series of cityscape view of the canal of Amsterdam in winter with a blue sky, house boats and traditional old houses. 

荷兰之旅首站，阿姆斯特丹，这里的蓝天白云给人印象深刻。这么多年我走过了很多地方，也看了许多地方的蓝天，但阿姆斯特丹的天是最蓝的，像是一块湛蓝色的绸缎布接在了地平线边。单看蓝天白云作为背景的这些照片就可知当时的天气有多好。冷冷的，却不失暖和的阳光。当我一进入荷兰阿姆斯特丹境内，蓝天白云真是美不胜收。​我喜欢在这样的冬节看天空，看那蓝蓝的天，看悠闲的白云点缀天空。

My visit to The Netherlands was perfect. The Netherlands are nothing short of spectacular, everywhere you point your camera you get postcard quality shots. I loved every minute I spent in The Netherlands. Amsterdam has always been on my list of places to visit. I spent many days in the Amsterdam with trips to enjoy other lovely cities such as Haarlem, Utrect, The Hague (a.k.a. Den Haag) and Rotterdam. Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, is a magical place. As a tourist, you’ll never have enough sightseeing, canals, and beautiful adventure that will help improve your experience. You should also try walking the streets and have a taste of the wonders of Dutch architecture. I wouldn’t say I’m a massive architecture buff, but I’ve always had a fascination with old buildings and their history, and my favourite thing to photograph is interesting structures, archways, and houses. Amsterdam, unsurprisingly, lends itself very well to this little hobby of mine. You can’t walk anywhere in the city without seeing a row of gorgeous houses, often leaning slightly forward, slightly left or right. I hope you fall in love with Amsterdam like I did!

I took many sepia photographs in The Netherlands and I really liked the results. The sepia tone seemed to "warm-up" the image, and change the mood for the better. Photographs can be thought of as tangible memories of the past, providing a lens to reminisce and revel in nostalgia. I’ve always felt like I’m traveling back in time whenever I see those warm, brown-tinted old pictures. I, personally, find that sepia can be a softer, more delicately muted medium than black and white, even in high contrast sepia images. I should mention that high contrast and low contrast sepia are far different from their counterparts in black and white photography.  

阿姆斯特丹被称为欧洲北方的"威尼斯"。城里，是一圈一圈环绕着的运河，整个城市有一千多座大小桥梁。缺少水的城市，总是让人感觉缺少了一份灵气，而水的存在，同时也让阿姆斯特丹拥有了一种从容。这是一个平坦的没有坡度的城市，于是，河里的水总是平缓的流淌，远看，甚至感觉是静止。与威尼斯不同的也是，今天的阿姆斯特丹并没有过分沉溺于月光小夜曲的甜腻与往日时光，它的每一条街道，每一块砖瓦，无一不透露着古典与现代共生的气质。很难说清楚，阿姆斯特丹到底是岁月静好的小城，还是纸醉金迷的华丽都城，它就像一颗被精心打磨过的钻石，瑰丽，并且多面。它是一个谜一般迷人的多面体。

阿姆斯特丹就是这样一座复杂的城市，它像谜一般令人困惑。时而它是个浪漫雅致的文化中心，时而它又是一个光怪陆离的后现代都市，你可以说它自由而包容，也可以说它放纵无度。这恰恰是其魅力所在。鲜有城市能将这么多截然不同的气质融合得如此恰到好处，而阿姆斯特丹正是这样的一座。 
 
不少人都喜欢拍摄单色 (monochrome) 的照片，而通常也是指“黑白色”，但也有人会喜欢上图这种棕褐色 / 深褐色调 (sepia tone)。我用了棕褐色拍摄这系列的照片，因为它带有一种怀旧、温暖的感觉，也有一份历史的味道。

Hello everyone, it has been a while since i last updated my travel blog. I hope all of you are well! I've been very busy before Christmas last year and I travelled to Amsterdam and other parts of The Netherlands for almost two weeks before returning to Singapore on New Year's Eve. When it comes to travel, there are some destinations we instantly fall in love with, others that we become fond of in time, some just remain in our minds forever.

Visiting Amsterdam is a life-changing experience no matter what time of year you go. However, the city dials it up a notch over the festive season and New Years. It’s not known as one of Europe’s merrymaking capitals for nothing. ​Even for the most world-weary traveller, there is something very special about Amsterdam. #iloveAmsterdam #iamsterdam

Woohooo! #蓝天游 My photo essay on Japan, Tokyo's two remaining iconic two streetcar lines - Setagaya Line #世田谷线 and the Toden Arakawa Line #都电荒川线《乘坐东京仅存路面电车》is published in Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 zbNOW/早报现在 today! U made my day while i'm currently travelling in Amsterdam. Thank U so much 感谢、感恩！

A good start to a happy weekend! My photo essay under pen name 蓝天游 on Czech Republic’s St. Barbara's Church of Kutna Hora《圣巴巴拉教堂 捷克小镇上的建筑瑰宝》is published today! So happy to see it being featured nationwide in print! Special thanks to Lianhe Zaobao, you have made my day! Thank U so much 感谢 感恩 :)

I got the chance to see Southern Finland for the first time in December last year during Christmas and fell in love with Finland. I spent most of my time in Helsinki, but one day I took a one hour bus ride to Porvoo, a medieval town filled with cute, colorful streets. Porvoo is the second oldest city in Finland. And if only the cobblestone streets could speak, they would tell you tales of many Finnish artists who’ve called Porvoo their home. 

I fell in love with Porvoo as soon as I saw it. And not just because Porvoo is pretty – even though it is, very pretty indeed. It’s one of those places that you find on those ’10 most beautiful villages’ kind of lists, alongside a plethora of stereotypical descriptions – picture-perfect, candy-coloured houses, picturesque, cute as a button, quaint cobbled backstreets, and so on.
 
Fact is, Porvoo really is that. It is picture-perfect. The medieval town and riverside have a happy, holiday-ish vibe which is unique in Finland. That is my favourite part about Porvoo. The time seemed to tick even slower in Porvoo. Wandering around in the enchanting town is easy to get lost back in time and feel the easy-going and historical atmosphere.

去年十二月我迎着冰雪的芬兰之旅，去寻找冬天里冻出来的美景。无雪的北欧冬天不知道会是怎样一幅萧瑟的画面，而我是幸运的，赫尔辛基以银装素裹等待着我的到来，没有雪的冬天，又怎能算是一个完整的冬天呢。我在赫尔辛基有几天的时间，就去波尔沃（Porvoo）这个童话般的小镇走走，体验了芬兰的另一面。波尔沃中世纪小镇有着完全不同于赫尔辛基的精神。

踏入古镇，首先会想到的是，我重新定义“景色如画”这个词。波尔沃是一座有着200多年历史的古，具有北欧威尼斯之称，处处美景如画。如果没有身着现代装束的居民和游人熙来攘往，我会以为整个古镇还被尘封在600多年前的某一天里。当初我为何选择去波尔沃完全是被网路照片那一整排河边红色小屋给深深被吸引了，所以决定前往追寻。我查找了一下交通方式，其实从赫尔辛基搭巴士过来还满方便的，在时间充裕的情况下，决定来个波尔沃 一日遊，享受一下芬兰第二古镇的魅力。从赫尔辛基到波尔沃车程大约只需55分钟。在赫尔辛基市中心的长途汽车站即可乘车前往，长途汽车车身上通常标有 Porvoo 字样。

波尔沃小镇上的观光客並不多，尤其是冬季。一到冬季添了些许神奇的魔力。如果说夏日的波尔沃明媚灿烂的酷似油画，那么冬日的波尔沃则更像是冰雪中的童话世界，同一个地方，相反的季节，风格迥然。

Streetcars used to be very common in Tokyo. However, due to the progress of technology and the progressive migration of trains from above to under the ground, they have almost disappeared. Only two streetcar lines are currently left: the Tokyu Setagaya Line and the Toden Arakawa Line. You may read my recent blog on the Setagaya Line here.

There's something deeply nostalgic in seeing a vehicle with such a retro look still running the streets of Tokyo.

之前为大家介绍过的世田谷线外，另外就是这条东急电铁的都电荒川线。到东京不一定只能玩市区，而已经来东京不少次的游客，若希望挖掘一些郊区或隐藏景点，可利用都电荒川线来趟郊区一日游，买一张都电荒川线一日券，随兴的上车下车，体验一些意料之外的乐趣，也是不错的选择。都电荒川线在东京复杂的铁路系统中，是仅存行驶于路面的电车之一，光凭这个原因绝对值得搭乘，若喜欢郊区一点的步调与景色，更是不能错过，在电车叮叮叮的声音中，我开始展开一天的行程。

​那天坐上百年历史充满复古怀旧的都电荒川线路面电车 (Tokyo Sakura Tram)，就像把时钟拨慢我不赶行程更没有紧凑的步代，走走停停来来回回全靠当下的一念之间。荒川线就像一本历史故事，也像一铁道电车百科全书，喜欢老时代氛围的会爱上它的内涵，是铁道迷的更会来此捕足它深度的风采。