It was a sail back in time to explore Singapore's lesser-known islands and lighthouses to better understand the country's trading past. I went for an exclusive sea tour and visit to Raffles Lighthouse last weekend organised by the National Heritage Board in collaboration with the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) as part of this year's HeritageFest programme. Since young, i have a fondness for lighthouses. Surely I wouldn't give up this opportunity to visit the Raffles Lighthouse. One day perhaps, I would want to make an educational trip to Pedra Branca to visit the Horsburgh Lighthouse built on fabled 'pristine white rocks' out at sea.
Lighthouses hold a special place in every country. Before the jet age, these coastal beacons were the most important landmarks for anyone who traveled by ship. Often sited in spectacular locations, they perform a vital role in the safety of mariners in all weathers. Sailing is no longer a necessity for international travel, but lighthouses still have a role to play in modern times. Today's lighthouses are automated, so lighthouse keepers - the air traffic controllers of their day - are slowly disappearing. 我走在惊涛拍打的长长海堤上, 在夏日斜斜的阳光中穿行, 低矮的太阳 突然拨开有些厚重的云层, 那天晴空万里,阳光明媚,是看灯塔的好时机。 2014年7月19日 中午十二点, 在这个坐标 在这个时刻, 我看到了至今为止,新家坡剩少最古美的灯塔。 波光粼粼的海水伴着雪白色的灯塔, 散发着地中海式的怡然风情。
0 Comments
A lot can happen in a year. Sure, you can plan for some things. But, others unfold in a remarkable way. Four years ago, I decided to embark on this journey. It’s been one with ups and downs and life lessons I never realized I’d learn.
We have to celebrate each and every small goal that we accomplish. So, I celebrate today. This blog is four years old. I celebrate consistency and discipline. I celebrate following my goals. I celebrate you for being on this journey with me. I celebrate the dream I have in my heart. I’ve learned to give myself permission to celebrate growth. Both the substantial and trivial. Four years ago, I was flip-flopping about the type of photography blog i wanted to create. I realised over the years i created blog posts with places I really like for no specific reason. I just try to explain the activities and try to make you live there through my words. For now the words I have to say, and that I really mean them, again, THANK YOU! Someday I’ll be there wouldn’t have reached what it is now without you, so please continue supporting, reading, commenting, emailing, whatever it is you do to stay in touch with me, keep doing it! I love it! I thought this is also a good place to say that you can follow me on Facebook, twitter, Flickr and Instagram through those links. Sandwiched between Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong, Yau Ma Tei has long lived in the shadow of its more brash and touristy neighbours. However, this often neglected area was in fact the first urban centre that the British colonial government developed on the Kowloon side in the 19th century. A storied boat community, artisanal trades, heaving markets, as well as crime and vice gradually grew out of this deliberate attempt to transform this piece of once-barren land into a habitable district.
Hong Kong’s cityscape has changed radically over the past few decades as the population and economy boomed. Low-rise buildings go, traditional industries disappear, and old shorelines morph into landlocked roads thanks to the city’s special relationship with reclamation. While Yau Ma Tei isn’t immune to the forces of modernisation, one can fortunately still find colourful traces of the past as well as plenty of vibrant community life in the area’s narrow, shop-filled lanes and banyan-shaded public spaces of great historical importance. The historic Yau Ma Tei Fruit Market which turned 100 years old last year, was founded in 1913. It’s the oldest fruit market in the city, which was also once a haven for poultry and vegetables before the government decided to move those industries to a nearby spot in 1965. Today, it remains at the centre of the industry, providing around 70 percent of Hong Kong’s fruit supply. Over the past century, it has witnessed the drastic changes of its neighbourhood but remained what it looked like decades ago. The timeless business model also remains largely the same: bring in fruit and sell it. The site is also listed as “Grade III historic buildings” by the Hong Kong Government. 一百年前, 香港油麻地果栏临海而生, 新填地名字来自该地是填海而来. 因为码头, 果栏正式落地. 凌乱却神秘, 陈旧却带有浓厚的文化气息, 新鲜水果的果香与糜烂水果的果臭混合, 恰是香港独有的味道. 香港油麻地新填地街有个地方叫 “果栏”, 全名其实就是 “油麻地鲜果批发市场”. 顾名思义, 就是指水果的批发场地. 所谓 “栏”, 是水果批发商的旧称. 其实, 这个地方最初并不是只经营水果, 还有家禽, 鲜鱼, 果菜, 杂货等货物, 可算是九龙区的主要食品批发市场. 这个历史悠久的食物批发地, 的确保留了不少重要的历史建筑, 见证了 “果栏” 的变迁. 由于 “果栏” 有历史地位, 于 1990 年已被香港古物谘询委员会列为三级历史建筑; 到了 2009 年12月, 更升格为二级历史建筑, 足以证实 “果栏” 的历史地位. 我喜欢这里, 因为在这高度城市化的香港市区之中, 还可以见到一遍蓝天. 你也可以在果栏, 感受到香港人为生活而拚博的精神. Quaint Cafes Littered Along Entire Georgetown Area In Penang, Malaysia 旅游槟城乔治市古迹区咖啡馆, 一趟咖啡之旅16/7/2014 The city of Georgetown in Penang itself is filled with nostalgic shophouses, vintage shops and old streets that are hard to come by in big cities these days. It is a pleasure to wander around and admire the old town architecture. One thing that has been lacking is a cafe scene. Traditional cafes here are kopi tiam style, which offer a simple food menu and a place to chat with friends. They are not cafes you would sit down and write in or crack open a laptop. However in the recent months, Penang has had a cafe boom. There are now newly opened inviting cafes that serve espresso style coffee and are conducive for working in. With this newfound cafe culture, Penang has yet become a digital nomad hub.
One of the great things to do on any holiday is to have a coffee and a cake in a cafe and just watch the world go by. The same goes for when you’re not on holiday of course, and if you’re a coffee lover, then there’s not many a day goes by when you don’t pop into a cafe for an espresso or whatever your particular favourite is. Penang is a fantastic city for this, often it feels like there’s an espresso bar on every corner, but unlike Singapore, they’re not all run by the large chains. Don’t get me wrong, you can find those chains if you really want, but I’d prefer an independent cafe any time, and the thing I most notice about Penang cafes generally is that the coffee nearly always seems to be made with love and attention. 泡在咖啡馆, 已经是现代人消磨时间的一大乐事, 也是享受生活的一种方式了. 坐在浓浓咖啡香的咖啡馆, 听着悠悠的音乐, 坐在软软的沙发上, 喝着香香的 latte, 再加上内供应的好吃蛋糕和食物, 不管是静静地在一角上网, 还是与三五好友聊天, 都是赏心悦事. 古色古香的槟城, 拥有多家这类场所. 一个让人印象深刻的城市, 总是会有些好东西让人难以忘怀, 总是会有些好风景让人驻留. 比方说咖啡馆, 就是一个带有香味的美好回忆. 我总会觉得一个城市不该只有 Starbucks 这一类的咖啡馆. 这一类的连锁咖啡馆我也喜欢, 但我觉得每个城市都是独一无二, 都有无法取代的魅力, 换言之, 每个城市也该拥有别处都找不到的风味咖啡馆. 如果一个城市只有 Starbucks, 你能想像这是个多无聊多乏味的地方吗? 我喜欢槟城, 不只因为这儿的古迹区, 更因为我在这儿找到了很多很棒的咖啡馆, 让我有种如获至宝的感觉. 藉由品咖啡, 我来尝尝槟城的好味道吧 ! Recently just came back from a vacation at Penang in Malaysia, i have to admit i had one of the best holidays of my life! Whoever have been there were universally excited by their visit. Georgetown, this is hands down the number one place to visit in Penang. Most buildings are weathered down and some abandoned, giving off that charming rustic feel that photographers and culture buffs adore. It a one of a kind city made up of shophouses and in 2008 it was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Singapore doesn't even have one because those titles aren't easy to get! There are so much of history in this area, that you'll see temples and colonial heritage buildings still standing that played historical roles in the city's past. I simply took some time to observe daily life in the town’s narrow backstreets.
George Town Festival (GTF) 2014 will take place in August and during this month-long celebration of the anniversary of inscription of Penang’s capital as one of the UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, Penangites’ culture and traditions are echoed in dances, street and theatrical performances, art exhibits and many more. However, one must know that revelry of each ethnic community in Penang is almost whole-year-round. The island’s sunny-weather also dictates no biases on when to plan a trip to George Town. |
Author
|