Good news! I was informed that one of my previous travel photography stories taken either in Hong Kong or Haikou (China) will be shortlisted for publication in a local creative lifestyle travel magazine, to be released sometime in January next year 2013! I can't wait for them to be published out in bookstores soon! Hooray!

Just a recap, you may browse the travel stories and photos in these URLs:
* Hong Kong, Sham Shui Po 深水埗 Apliu Street Market 鸭寮街跳骚市场 (Travelled in April 2012)
http://www.jenniferteophotography.com/1/post/2012/04/hong-kong-part-1-apliu-street-market.html

* Haikou, China 海口骑楼老街 (Travelled in November 2011)
http://www.jenniferteophotography.com/1/post/2011/11/-haikou-china-part-1.html

You know, some self-encouragement words always stick in my head,"Do what you want to do, Jennifer, do your photography, you will have to make compromises through life at times, but never veer off the path YOU WANT, YOU CHOSE this, it's your calling, it fits, never give up. That's Life, that's what a real living is all about."

I just wanna say to all of you that thank you so much for reading my travels all the while, my experiences and what i have been taught from others, mean the world to me. Photography is my passion and i will never give it up. There are many important stories i would like to share more and see them published in bookstores or through social media. I hope all of you can continue to help me to share with the world my travels, educative photos, people / groups that are actually making a difference in the world and to be able to get it published. Thank you once again for dropping by to read! :-)

Street Art is a form of art, specifically visual art, developed in public spaces, that is, "in the streets", though the term usually refers to unsanctioned art, as opposed to government sponsored initiatives. The term can include traditional graffiti artwork, sculpture, stencil graffiti, sticker art and street poster art, video projection, art intervention, guerrilla art and street installations. Typically, the term 'street art' is used to distinguish contemporary public-space artwork from territorial graffiti, vandalism and corporate art.

Artists have challenged art by situating it in non-art contexts. ‘Street’ artists do not aspire to change the definition of an artwork, but rather to question the existing environment with its own language. They attempt to have their work communicate with everyday people about socially relevant themes in ways that are informed by esthetic values without being imprisoned by them.

我在这个博客上要提供的是生活的建议, 提供一些大家平时想不到, 或者想到了却一直没有去做的事情, 并且告诉读者, 怎么去做, 或者去哪里可以做到. 活得简单, 才能活得自由, 是一个再简单不过的真理.

仔细想想, 维持每天生活的必需品有多少? 其实并不多吧, 我们之所以要得多, 都是因为贪图享受, 然而一旦贪图享受, 就容易被物质所奴役. 你拥有的并不少, 但仍感觉不幸福.

有一些简单的道理, 可能我们都懂, 但却做不到:
1. 过简样的生活, 不被物质所累, 就能保持精神的自由.
2. 生活简单一点, 心灵就会更富有.
3. 物质简化一点, 思想就会更充实.
4. 欲望减少了, 就轻松能自在.
5. 少一些追求和享受, 就能更加拥有自我.

最宝贵的, 其实就是时间.

我们每天忙忙碌碌, 竟忘记了生命是如此的短暂.

到底每天我们都在追求些什么呢? 金钱? 还是名誉? 钱真的有那么重要吗? 有多少美好的人生享受, 如思想, 艺术, 爱情, 亲情...都不是金钱能买到的啊!

时间一天天过去, 生命也随之流逝了, 我们却忘了要享受它. 所以, 宁愿做一个有时间的穷人, 也不要做有钱的忙人. 从现在开始, 过简单, 间适的生活吧!

把欲望降到最低吧, 想得也要简单一点. 把时间拿来阅读, 看电影和简单的人交朋友, 思考及实践生活与人生. 即使上网也是用来和朋友分享与交流简样生活的体验与心得.

减少对物质的需求, 当身边的东西越来越少, 为杂物的担心和操劳也会渐渐减少.慢慢卸下肩上的压力和负担, 拥有更多属於自己的时间和空间. 时间多了, 心就静下来了. 等心平静了, 你就会有完全不同的人生体验, 相信我, 这完全值得.

生活越简单, 就越懂得生活.

当你渐渐能不以功利的眼光去评断, 就愈能享受别人发现不到的乐趣. 当感受自然变化的时间变多了, 心就能自省, 不再向外追逐了, 真实感受人生的乐趣, 也收服崭新的心境. 我们大家一起加油喔! :-)

As we are entering into the rainy months ahead, I am beginning to take the daily sunshine for granted. As I get into the swing of life in a rainy weather condition, I will still elaborate on day to day life and the little things that make it so interesting and different, especially when i can catch a glimpse of some sunshine. I have just got some precious shoes fixed by a street cobbler on a fair weather day, I felt it was time to give these humble local street cobblers some cyberspace coverage in my photography blog. I also felt that it is crucial to highlight this vanishing trade as many of our younger generations are unaware of such informal services.

Traditional street cobblers are now rarely seen in Singapore as we continue the march towards commercialism and modernity. Street cobbling is a fading trade due to the urbanization and availability of modern cobbling services throughout the island. Such modern cobbling has sophisticated equipment and provides more services such as shoe polishing which street cobblers do not provide.

Although the nature of their work is informal and humble, it is important for us to remember that these cobblers bear testimony to the entrepreneurial spirit of our city-state and are part of a rich cultural heritage to the early years of Singapore. 

苏打绿昨晚在新加坡举行的 "当我们一起走过2012" 演唱会圆满落幕. 以下是我在苏打绿巡回演唱会新加坡站所拍摄的照片.

在华人音乐中, 从来都不缺少深沉, 有力, 多情之类的作品, 但要谈到华丽, 却实在凤毛麟角, 而把音乐做到行云流水的华丽, 以前有达明一派 (听歌) 将新浪漫主义与华人流行乐组合, 后来便有 10 多年的断档. 现在, 终于有苏打绿扮演华丽救世主的角色, 所不同的是, 用室内流行乐嫁接于校园民谣, 与时俱进, 紧贴潮流, 同样也那么妖娆多姿.

2012 苏打绿 "当我们一起走过" 巡回新加坡演唱会 - 苏打绿成员介绍:
1) 青峰 - 乐队主唱, “音乐小王子". 青峰的声音独特, 才华惊人.
2) 馨仪 - 贝斯手, 是个帅气的女孩子. 她的贝斯让人安于低沉又充满企图心.
3) 阿福 - 木吉他手, 他的脸上总是挂满微笑, 在演奏吉他是永远全力以赴.
4) 小威 - 鼓手
5) 家凯 - 电吉他手
6) 阿龚 - 中提琴手

到底是五个人还是六个人? 很多人对苏打绿组合的具体人数一直非常困惑. 去年3 月阿龚退役, 年底, 阿福也役期届满, 宣告苏打绿重新回归六人完整组合. 擅长搞怪的阿龚和团长阿福的回归将让苏打绿演唱会的气氛更加热烈. 昨晚在演唱会上, 青峰狂拿退役后首次公开演出的阿福开涮, 看着现场超 High 的气氛, 青峰对阿福说: "好久没见过这样的场面了吧? 我们倒是经常见喔!"

演唱会的主题, 当我们一起走过. 其实在表达, 无论我们从哪里开始, 从哪里出发, 在哪里相遇. 最后, 我们的终点, 都是 (家).

珍惜可以组成永恒的这个片刻.

After days and days of rain, the sun finally came out in the afternoon over the weekend, so I was out the door with my walking shoes on as soon as I'd finished the most essential sleep. The sky was a hazy blue and the sun bright and warm.  Steam wafted up from the road, fence posts, letterboxes, anywhere the sun hit. A huge bank of white mist has rolled down the harbour and engulfed us. Good bye sun, hello cold and dreary.

I took my camera with me thay day, not sure of what I'd snap, but the nice letterboxes at Haji Lane caught my eye. So I spent the rest of my walk sniffing out unusual or pretty letterboxes.

I have composed this picture taken at Haji Lane in which each element is interesting - the little road, the beautiful shophouses and the different letter boxes (of course).

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新加坡三轮车巨集的地方所做的摄影考察, 刊登在今天联合早报的 "典型新加坡" 栏目里!! 这是第二次我的照片在联合早报的 "典型新加坡" 栏目里刊登！ 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.

特别感谢联合早报再次地刊登我的照片！

Good news! One of my photos was published again in the latest October 2012 Issue of Digital Camera Magazine, a popular leading monthly photography magazine! I submitted this shot taken at Singapore's bustling Orchard Road for the "Your Mission - Shoot a revealing street candid" category released for publication in this magazine issue. It was indeed a good chance to see it in print nationwide.

"Your Mission" is a monthly photography mission / theme released by the Digital Camera Magazine Editorial Team and the mission announced back in August 2012 - "Shoot a revealing street candid" - was to go out there and capture an arresting street candid. Street Candids are all about creating meaningful images of strangers in public without the subjects knowledge, or at least when they aren't looking directly into the lens.

Hi everyone, just to inform all of you that my next travel trip has been confirmed to take off in the coming December, during the Christmas festive season! I will be away for almost a week in late December and i'll keep all of you in suspense first on that destination until when the date draws near, the destination would then be disclosed. I am still in the midst of sorting out my itinerary and arrangement of my logistics transport & accomodation.

Next, i'd also like to share some good news with everyone is that i would be heading for some fascinating trips next year, one of which the destination would be in Europe, most likely in the Eastern part of Europe. Details of these trips to be revealed in early 2013!

I seriously don't think that i chose to travel. Travel chose me. In the recent years, i have been living a life that many of us can only dream of. One could come up with half a dozen objections within seconds to such relentless travel: financial concerns, familial obligations, the strain of always being up and about, the need for stability in the ever-changing economical landscape. Yet, i am a firm believer that you can have your cake and eat it too; money can be earned, family can be convinced and stability can be found if needed. The first time i travelled overseas without the assurance of parents or friends to figure out transport logistics and confusing travel documents, i wondered what exactly it was about travelling that everyone raved about.

First, it was an unearthly hour in the morning. Second, there was the long wait at the gate (I hadn't yet been seasoned enough to stroll in 10 minutes before boarding). Third, there was a baby sualling throughout the flight. Then, the flight attendants switched on the blazing lights at 4am and proclaimed the arrival of a less than mouth-watering breakfast.

When i finally got off the plane, what i wanted was my bed at home, not a horrendously long queue at the immigration counters.

That somewhat grumbly feeling lasted until i checked in at the hotel and freshened up. Then, armed with some little comestic help and less bleary eyes, i stepped out onto the streets of Hong Kong and was immediately hit with something i would call the parallel effect - in essence, a realisation that the world is made up of a multitude of different people living, working, playing and sleeping simultaneously.

That realisation was irresistible.

In every country that i've visited since then, be it Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the United States, or Indonesia, i've had that exact same sensation of so many people living together on this planet in so many different ways, yet essentially doing the same thing - making something out of our lives.

Therein, perharps, lies the charm of travel. Of stepping beyond your shores to see how lives are experienced differently in another country, or better still, to discover the similarities beneath the trappings, the languages and the scenery. That a smile will be exchanged for a smile, or a money note for a warm meal. Or that the couple sitting at the table next to you is taking the same pleasure in watching rain slide down the cafe window.

That in other parts of the world, mountains and rivers dominate the lanscape instead of skyscrapers. That you could be walking in the midst of a hundred cyclists in Beijing, or sitting in a bouncy little tuk-tuk that waves skillfully in and out of Bangkok's infamous traffic. That you could be eating the best dim sum you've ever tasted in your life in Hong Kong, or that you could simply be standing still, listening to the wind whistle in the trees in Kyoto.

And when you are en route home, looking at deserts and mountain ranges spreading below you on the plane, it suddenly feels like the world is a beautiful, mysterious place and there just isn't enough time to explore all its wonders.

Then even all the discomforts - the ceaselessly crying babies, the long queues, the bored immigration officers, the security checks - seem worth going through simply to remind yourself that there is always a new place waiting to be discovered! :-)