A very happy start to a great week! My photo essay under pen name 蓝天游 on Hong Kong's Jao Tsung-I Academy《隐于香港的饶宗颐文化馆》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 :)

A very happy start to July ! My photo essay under pen name 蓝天游 on  Taipei, Taiwan《台湾老街漫步游》is published in Lianhe Zaobao 联合早报 zbNOW/早报现在 special NATAS Travel edition 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 :)

The minimalist principle of eliminating everything superfluous. This concept is brilliant. There is one such store in Tokyo since 2015.

All you will find in the tiny bookstore of "a Single Room with a Single Book” Morioka Shoten in the luxury shopping district of Ginza in Tokyo is simply a single room with one table in it, displaying just one book. More precisely, multiple copies of the said title will be there for one week, with a different book coming up in the following week, and so on. The agony of choice is washed away, as Morioka Shoten has made the choice for you. 

You must buy the book Morioka Shoten wants to sell you. How refreshingly easy.

在东京逛过很多书店，我闲着时总想找些可以让人安静下来的地方，书店无疑是最好的去处。但去过许多让我惊喜的书店，特别难忘的是​一间微型书店以“一册、一室” 概念的森冈书店。

第一次去森冈书店的我带着满满好奇心，穿过奢侈品林立的银座大街，走过热闹非凡的街道，鳞次栉比的高楼，森冈书店就开在相对幽静小巷中的铃木大楼里。我一直觉得，出门旅行除了买买买我们还有太多事情可以做，比如可以在银座买的开心，也还可以找到这样一家有趣的独立书店存在。只有十几平米，没有书架，仅有的家具是一张年代久远的桌子和靠墙的一排储物箱。这张桌子正是这家书店的展台兼收银台。

一个空间、一本书，在这里不再是由顾客亲自从上千上万本丛书中挑选自己有兴趣的来看，而是由店主人每周亲自选定一本书。这么做虽然看似不可思议，但少去选择后，或许更能让我们接触到不同的作品与思想。另外，店家​精心挑选出一本好书在店内售卖，再根据这本书构建一个相关主题，策划一系列与这本书有关的展览、活动、对话，让顾客有机会更深入了解作者与书籍，增加阅读时的趣味。而这些体验是读者无法在网络上获取的。

This store is tucked away in a little nook in Ginza in Tokyo. I circled it 3 times before almost giving up then I caught sight of a little sign and finally honed in on its location. Gekkoso, a historical art store, is established in 1917 in Ginza, Japan. This quaint art store is more than a hundred year old and they make some of the most iconic art supplies and stationery items. It was one of the original store in Japan to bring wester art supplies into Japan. Their logo is a cute French horn, as a symbol to gather friends in one place. 

Once you get in, it is a small but magical place. I am just an amateur artist but the stuff here sure makes you wish that you are a professional artist. The paper, the colours, the sketch books everything is delightful. 

The Gekkoso shop has all the watercolor you can imagine. The handmade brush is also worth to invest on. The price isn’t that expensive compared to other designers’ brushes. Of course, I got myself some of the Gekkoso brushes and acrylic paints as memento for the trip.

日前小小的旅行到日本，抱持着好不容易可以出门去一趟东京玩，出门前兴奋的查了十来家左右的美术用具店，想要好好去朝圣一下。在攘往熙来的银座街道上，有这么一家梦幻的古朴小店，名字叫做月光荘画材店。不过由于行程安排， 不是所有人都对美术用具跟我一样有特殊狂热。第一次去银座找月光庄时，在巷子里绕了好几圈。这对拿地图在东京找地址一段时间我来说，很不寻常。

月光荘画材店里贩售各式百般的艺术纸类、画材用具，从1917年就座落在银座，至今已近百年的韶光。

Think back nine years. In other words, cast your mind back to the faraway year of 2010. Where were you and what were you doing?
 
When I started That’s Life Capture It! blog in July 2010, I never expected it would be anything more than a hobby (that’s all most blogs were back then). Had you told me back in 2010 that I’d still be chugging along, spewing out posts about the places that capture my attention, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. A lot has changed since those early years, from my own personal experiences to the general landscape (less bloggers, the rise of Instagram and social media overall). Quite candidly, it’s sometimes been more than enough to want to throw in the towel, especially as I still have a full-time career and a half-completed academic course study. But now, with more than 250 posts, thousands of visitors from around the world and countless memorable experiences, I’ve never been more excited and committed to the possibilities that lay ahead. I’m so happy to get to do something I love and call it my passion, and I’m proud of it I’ve built along the way.
 
My greatest learning has been the importance of accepting myself. Of being proud of what I put out there, of the message I send and of the type of blog I am creating. If you have been along for the whole time you know the blog has taken many turns…some better than others but all with the true intention of creating content that is authentic and organic.
 
Comparing myself to my fellow travel blogging peers has been a struggle; I am human. But what I have learned is that we are all on our own journey. And while our paths may cross, and often times do, we all have different goals, different passions and different dreams.  Each one of us is pursuing happiness. I feel nothing but inspiration and motivation. And so I use that inspiration and motivation to drive me forward. In a saturated “market” of blogging, it is important to stay in my lane; to be true to myself and remain authentic and real. I know that my learning is not done. Almost everyday I learn something new about this journey.

Ginza is perhaps Tokyo’s most prestigious shopping district, known mostly for its high-end department stores, galleries and luxury boutiques. There's no shortage of art galleries in Tokyo, but in upscale old-school Ginza, there's one that goes back, waaaaaaaaay back.

On a recent visit, I happened upon the Okuno Building, a former apartment building that was built in 1930s. The Okuno building has somehow survived not only the ravages of World War II, but also the wrecking balls of development through the boom years thereafter. It is now home to numerous art galleries, shops for artisans and design collectives.

Looking rather like a mini Chungking Mansions in Hong Kong, the Okuno Building stands in complete contrast to its modern Ginza surroundings, almost as if it were a piece of art itself. Unlike restoration or revitalisation projects in Hong Kong, the Okuno building looks and feels basically the same as it did decades ago. There are no fancy makeovers or upgrades. The floorings have been untouched since the building was designed over 80 years ago. The interior matches the exterior perfectly and is wonderfully old, rusty and worn down. Flaking paint, bent railings, deep ruts worn into the concrete floor, it looks more like an abandoned ghost complex than a working building. The art inside is constantly evolving, with many exhibitions lasting mere days, but just walking around in the building is fun in itself. While appearing haunting to enter, I strongly urge you to experience its narrow corridors and short ceilings, poking into gallery after gallery, getting lost in its gloomy corridors and wondering if you are going to fall through the floorboards.

Let me introduce a cherished breakfast experience in Tokyo.

First things first, if you have never been to Yanaka district, just get off the train and go exploring. It is one of those rare gems in a city like Tokyo, an area steeped in history and endowed with countless historic temples; it never seems to garner the same kind of attention like the ‘old-Japan’ seeking tourist hot spot that is Asakusa. But this is what makes it great. Yanaka is Edo. You don’t even need a map, just take a walk down any side street and you are bound to come across a temple with some kind of historic importance. Basically, Yanaka is that wonderful of a topic that it deserves a post all of its own, for another time.
 
Within the midst of all that history stands the Cafe - Kayaba Coffee.

Kayaba coffee is a fusion of ancient and modern. This traditional coffee house has been running for over 70 years. The building itself is a worth-seeing spot as it was built during the World War I in the so-called “old downtown” of Tokyo. The coffee house has survived the earthquakes and the air raids during the War and exterior remained unchanged to this day. However, the true charm of this cafe is its ability to adapt to modern times. The original owner has closed the place in 2006 but it has been brought to life once more in 2009 with the help of non-profit organisations and the people behind the nearby art gallery SCAI THE BATHHOUSE. While Kayaba coffee house has been renovated, you can feel the retro spirit all over the place, from the original sign post, tatami mats, chairs and coffee cups that have been used for decades. The warm atmosphere will make you feel at home.

我相信很多人来到日本，除了喜欢人文、美食、购物之外，日式传统建筑浓浓的怀旧气息也深受许多人的喜爱。这次我去东京之前在Kinfolk和当地杂志上看到的关于谷中（Yanaka) 地区的文章，被深深吸引，来到那里的时候我马上就被浓浓的昭和气息吸引了。和东京复杂嘈杂的洋气大都市很不一样，这个社区仿佛自称气候，一切在这里都变的很慢。商业化的连锁店也很少见，反而街道上都是手艺人开的自家的小店，面包房和杂货铺也一应俱全。新店和几十年的老店交相呼应，客人和店主也彼此都熟识。这样的氛围在新加坡也很难寻见了，更不用说在东京这样的大都市。
 
走着走着就来到这间位于东京上野、日暮里一带的Kayaba Coffee。它是一间历史超过百年的昭和式町屋改造而成的咖啡馆，建筑外观依然保持着传统的昭和式建筑。在东京这种大城市中，文艺风及时尚类型的咖啡馆非常多，然而复古式的咖啡厅在东京反而比较少见，因此不管是平日或假日都会吸引许多观光客慕名而来。

I can’t see a thing.
 
There’s clouds of smoke billowing in every direction. People rushing by me with growling bellies or expensive cameras; and everywhere I turn I smell the essence of Japan.
 
It’s night time in Tokyo Omoide Yokocho (more commonly known as Piss Alley or Memory Lane), and the place is starting to fill. Every shop is wafting a different delicious smell from their open BBQ’s down the narrow and crowded alley that’s usually filled with locals and tourists from every country. It has its roots in the black market which sprang up in post-war Japan in the late 1940s. It was more famously known as Piss Alley, probably as back in the old days at makeshift black market tent bars, there were no proper toilets, and drunken people just pissed around. 

While the entire place actually burnt down in 1999 and was remade into the alley of today, all the decor and the general vibe was deliberately made to feel authentic to the post-war era. I think this would be an awesome setting for a Kung Fu movie of sorts. There’s just something about it; from the old looking decor, the crazy amount of smoke coming from the open flames, the shoulder-to-shoulder people sitting on tiny chairs in tiny restaurants, the lights, the sounds, the smells. Oh god, the smells.

It's chaos. But i love it. 
​
在日本旅行时，我都会去居酒屋喝杯小酒吃串烧，感受一下日本的居酒屋悠哉气氛。沿着东京新宿站西口陆桥，与高楼大厦形成对比，充满昭和复古氛围的长屋，就是Omoide Yokocho （回忆横丁）。横丁在日语里是胡同、小巷的意思，思い出横丁 翻译过来就是“充满回忆的小路”，是不是光听名字就有一种很文艺很浪漫的感觉呢？然而这里之所以出名倒不是文艺，恰恰相反，是因为在这里可以体验到繁华东京最接地气的市井美食。从远处看也非常醒目的个性招牌，是这里的特色之一。回忆横丁都是满满居酒屋店家，共有80几间的餐厅。每家都是小小的，人们肩并肩地坐在吧枱前。当中有17间是串烧店，烟雾弥漫，非常热闹。虽然环境简陋但是价格相对外面的居酒屋要便宜许多，可以算是迷你版和低配版的深夜食堂了。

​These are funny books of finnish people. I spotted these little books at a bookstore in Finland and was curious to see what kind of nightmares the Finnish have.  After flicking through and realising they are in English and also hilarious I bought them both to take home to Singapore. Apparently, the Finnish Nightmares books have been bestsellers worldwide.

Finnish Nightmares by Karoliina Korhonen, is a collection of comic art detailing the life of finnish Matti, who loves silence and personal space. If someone gets angry or is behaving badly, he wonders what he has done wrong. The idea is interesting, and I like the way the nightmares (universal as they are) are represented. Who of us hasn't felt awkward when someone invades ones space? Who doesn't feel at least a tiny bit of social anxiety when standing in an elevator with a stranger? What about that awkward moment when you accidentally touch the salesperson while collecting your change? Small talk turning into something way serious? That´s when it happens. A finnish awkward moment. And I could go on. These books have made me wonder if I'm maybe a secret Finn? The author says that if you relate to any of the comics you may have a little Matti living inside you. I think I am Matti.

芬兰艺术家Karoliina Korhonen创作了一个漫画系列，取名为“芬兰人的噩梦”（Finnish Nightmares），漫画的主角叫Matti，是一个典型的芬兰人，注重平和、安静的个人生活，尊重人际交往中的个人空间、对待他人的礼貌以及避免不必要的搭讪。
 
艺术家在漫画系列中描绘了Matti的日常。善良又坚持，害羞又内省，日常生活中的纷纷扰扰，也许不仅仅只是芬兰人的噩梦。如果你也像马蒂一样，日常生活中常常遭遇各种不足为人道的小困境，说明你的内心深处可能也有一个小马蒂，你可能也是一个“芬兰人”。

Painting attracts so many people today of all ages. Painting is not just for the professional.  Painting can be a pastime or a hobby too; and pursued for the satisfaction of simply trying something one has always wondered whether or not they could do. I think most people like the idea of painting something of beauty and feeling good about being able to say they painted it. Painting as a hobby can be relaxing in a stress filled life.  It can be an escape into another world, a world of calm. Anyone can pick painting up as a hobby and enjoy it.  One will not find themself dealing with boredom when taking up painting. There are many benefits to the hobby of painting.

Painting tree silhouettes is slightly more challenging than drawing, however I find the experience to be therapeutic and very much worth any effort involved because the end product is striking and beautiful. Something to be proud of every time. Looking upon a gorgeous tree silhouette gives me a feeling of peace. The fact that they are also some of the easiest natural things to recreate makes them one of my favourite subjects to paint.

I love to use acrylics. The canvas size that i usually use is 12 x 18 inches. Acrylics are very forgiving. If you don’t like the way it looks once the paint is dry, paint right on over it. Keep adding layers until you are happy!

As a rule, using black in painting is usually a no no. It creates a hole in your picture when used carelessly. Having said that I love using blackest black for my silhouettes because it slices a striking, intricate and delicate pattern in the paper or canvas that I find beautifully captivating. If you prefer not to use black however, you can always just use a very darkened version of whatever other colors you are using. Although I said that acrylics are forgiving, and they are, however painting a purely black tree on your background is not going to be easy to paint over if you mess up, so proceed with caution.

Harmonica Yokocho (Alley) in Kichioji district of Tokyo contrasts nicely with the fancy neighborhood that it resides in. Places like this are called yokocho in Japanese, a set of alleyways where some of the city’s most precious gems are safely sheltered - small shops, modest restaurants, teeming ramshackle pubs. Those who are familiar with Kichioji usually associate it with its links to art, high-end fashion, fine dining, and top izakayas (Japanese pubs). In fact, many popular Japanese personalities such as famous musicians and manga (Japanese anime) creators flock here to hang out and shop for themselves. It’s also very accessible from anywhere in Tokyo; it’s just a 15-minute train ride away from Shinjuku.

You’ll know you’ve found the main entrance to Harmonica Yokocho when you see a large yellow sign with a red Japanese inscription. Below that inscription, you’ll also find the English translation, except it’s spelled “Harmonica Yokyocyo”. If you want to have a true “Tokyo Drinking Experience”, there is nothing quite as authentic to be found in Tokyo as what Harmonica Alley has to offer.

战前东京的老街大多狭窄，可能只容两人通行，不过大多数的小巷在战后重建和现代化过程中都已消失。近年来，为数不多的几条小巷，日文Yokocho，已经成为了最新的吃货聚集地，很多复古或特色鲜明的餐厅置身其中，吸引了众多的顾客。一旦您转进了这样隐秘的世界，您会立即被各种露天酒吧、旧式站立式酒吧和小餐厅的气氛吸引，其貌不扬的学生和身穿定制西装的生意人都挤在一起用餐。很多餐厅都有自己的特色菜、酒品或者地区美食，开放的格局可以让您慢慢的一网打尽所有美食。

我最近去东京吉祥寺，喜欢上了口琴横丁（ハモニカ横丁）。一般外国观光客到吉祥寺，大多是为了去另一侧的井之头公园。即使有经过口琴横丁的入口，踏进去的人却凤毛麟角。因为里面许多的居酒屋和小餐馆，感觉上好像没有在地人陪着，就不太有勇气走进去。其实要是错过了这几条小巷弄构成的商店街，吉祥寺的趣味也就少体会了一些。搭乘JR中央线，新宿站出发只要约15分钟就可抵达吉祥寺站。从车站出来看到的小巷子，就是口琴横丁。近100家店铺林立的小巷中，属于东京的日常，充满了满满怀旧气息。

I first laid my eyes on Tallinn last December. At the time, I was on my trip to Helsinki, the Finnish capital two hours away by ferry from Tallinn. Given their close proximity and shared heritage, these two cities are often referred to as twin capitals, Baltic sisters, or simply Talsinki. Castles and other churches and buildings lie scattered all over this tiny country. Then there’s the aftermath of two World Wars and the Cold War, as well as Soviet occupation and withdrawal, making it a fascinating country to visit.

Tallinn’s old town is just marvellous. Visiting there is like stepping back a few centuries and they have done a good job of preserving their history and medieval structures. I walked around there shuffling down cobblestone paths which are lined with medieval homes and ancient churches. Tiny alleys lead to tinier lanes, where you find cloistered yards. The city is still ringed by much of its original stone wall and many guard towers. It’s breathtaking.

I don't really use a map nor an itinerary to discover it. I realise just going by foot everywhere and stumbling on interesting things is fulfilling enough. I like medieval towns to be empty and quiet. It personally helps me appreciate them more. Medieval towns are much better when they are empty and peaceful. In winter, the narrow cobbled streets that take you past grand merchants houses, medieval walls and hidden courtyards are almost deserted.

由于爱沙尼亚的首都塔林 (Tallinn) 就在赫尔辛基 (Helsinki) 两小时的船程范围内，于是我便贪心地把塔林这城市都加插在我芬兰旅行程之内。在港口便望见一大片白墙红顶、高矮参差错落有致的房屋，间或有一个个突起的墨绿色尖铜顶刺向天空，勾画出一道耐人寻味的天际线。那里就是塔林的老城区。单是听名字，已经觉得浪漫。塔林老城是欧洲唯一保持着中世纪外貌和格调的城市，因此被列入世界文化遗产。

I tend to shoot as I am going about my life so much of my photography is 'daily life' or places I have chosen to visit. I have not actually photographed many of the 'tourist' places and I probably need to do a bit more of that. 
 
While I have not completed my Finland winter stories, I shall bring you back to Japan, precisely to one of the most crowded and vibrant cities in the world, heaven for street photographers: Tokyo.
 
One of my favourite spots in Tokyo to wonder around photographing and a paradise for street photographers is Ginza; the Grande Dame of high-end shopping in Tokyo. This is the place where all the main fashion brands show their beauty and richness by installing enormous stores and decorating the spaces with the most extravagant architectures and billboards.

There is also a sort of sophistication that Ginza still holds onto that the other districts just do not have thanks in part to its wide streets and sidewalks. This makes a much more relaxing place to shop. I would love to go back again and again and again, as there is always something new happening in these crowded and exciting streets.

One of the good things about visiting Finland in winter is that it is easy to catch both sunrise and sunset on the same day, offering ample photography opportunities without insanely early wake-up calls. Getting up to catch the sunrise in Finland in the winter is a piece of cake. It’s pretty odd to see a sunrise around 10 a.m. in the morning but the sky looks so beautiful that you forget about it later. The same thing happens during sunset. There is this magical blue light that can be seen around Helsinki that makes everything better. You will have to visit it to see it. Therefore, it’s actually reasonable to catch sunrise and sunset, and if you are at all able to, I suggest doing so as you certainly don’t want to regret missing out on a beautiful sunrise when photographing. 

Do you prefer the sunrise or the sunset? Which one really stands for the beginning and the ending - when both are the start and finish line of another day or another night. It’s a matter of opinion. I love both, but love sunset even more. The color of the evening just after the sun falls behind the horizon is absolutely unique and stunning to me. Whichever you prefer, you can frequently tell a sunrise from a sunset by the fact that the latter appears more chaotic, and the former, tidier.