Last few days

It's amazing how fast time flies when you're on vacation. The last week has gone by like a vivid dream. I've been taking quite a fair bit of photos over the last week or so, and catching up with friends here and there. Can't really imagine myself leaving Taiwan again so soon :|

Anyways, there's quite a fair bit of photos today taken over the past week. More photos available on my flickr and facebook :)

Souvenirs at Dan Shui

Vera & Salome at Bali (Taiwan)

Seafood & Sushi Buffet

Transformers in Kaohsiung

Vera at Xi Zi Wan (西子灣)

Wu Fu Road (Xin Jue Jiang, Kaohsiung)

Leica X1 (Found the Leica shop in Taipei, nearby 101. This camera is amazing, but a bit out dated. Wouldn't mind picking up an X2 when it's available, provided they've improved the auto focus speeds and high ISO to match Fujifilm's X100).

Photos were taken with my Ricoh GXR A12 28mm f/2.5 and edited with Adobe Lightroom 3.0

Taiwan so far

Few more photos to add to my trip so far. Spent a lovely New Years Eve at Danshui 淡水 north of Taipei. We were kinda expecting fireworks there but apparently our sources heard wrong lol. Still had quite a crowd up there armed with their own fireworks though, at least until the police showed up :) Didn't feel like fighting with the mobs attending the Taipei 101 fireworks, not a fan of large crowded areas. 

Anyways, since the New Year, I've gone up to Mao Kong for a day trip; catching a 20min gondola ride up into the mountains which was quite a journey, spectacular view too had the weather been clearer. Also went up to DanShui again during the day on the 2nd day of the new year and caught a ride to Bali (Taiwan's Bali) on a ferry and spent the day riding around in pairs :D I haven't edited my photos up to the 2nd of January yet so I will update my blog again when I get the time to. For now, here are a few photos from my trip so far, enjoy :D

Coffee Seed @ Shilin District - Where I've been hanging out during the day sipping coffee and editing photos while Vera is at work

Us being silly at Shilin :P

Salome, Myself & Jessi at The Red House in Danshui for NYE Dinner

Wah!! :D

Jessi, Myself and Vera at Mao Kong Tea House

Back in Taiwan

Been waiting so long for my holiday, and now it's finally here. I'm back in Taiwan for 3 weeks and will be spending my Christmas and New Years with Vera. It's been great so far, glad to be out of the office and spending time with my gf and old friends.

Some photos so far taken with my Ricoh GXR 28mm combo.

Salome & Vera

Wandi Mark & Myself back at Wenzao

Christine & Myself at Xin Jue Jiang

Dong Gang markets early in the morning

As fresh as can be, these fishes are still alive

Vera my love ;)

Me & Vera

It's been awhile

... since I've last visited my own blog for an update :) I've been away most of November as per my previous blog. Spent a total of 5 weeks on Christmas Island with 1 week back in Perth for a break.. away from the island, not work. 

I've taken several photos while I was back on the island. Will post a few random shots taken during the month of November. I've also pretty much completed my travel photography gear. Picked up the Ricoh GF-1 flash to accompany my Ricoh GXR and Ricoh GRD 3 cameras. I've also ended up splurging on the Ricoh A12 28mm f/2.5 lens after selling the Fujifilm X100; and a new SLIK Mini Pro 3 tripod for travels. Some of you may know that I am heading back to Taiwan next Friday for a short two week vacation :D

Anyways, time for some photos... in no particular order or theme

 

South Point Temple, Christmas Island

 

Burning the Horizon (heading home to Perth)

 

Dahlinova Hypnotica (backyard photos)

 

Last but not least, my Ricoh Travel Gear 2011 !!! :D Photo was taken with my Samsung Galaxy S 2 Android phone and edited with Nik's Silver Efex Pro 2 in Lightroom 3. 

Thanks for viewing! 

Flying around for work

Since the beginning of October, work has been flying me over to Christmas Island pretty frequently. My colleague on the island decided to take a bloody 5 week vacation to New Zealand, so I'm left to man down the entire Centre myself (procurement/admin side). 

I flew in for 3 weeks in October, before returning back to Perth for about 10 days, then flew back again to Christmas Island for another 2 weeks. Just arrived today, after having my first flight cancelled on Tuesday due to bad weather. Today's flight was lucky enough to land, after failing to land on its first try, the pilot decided to circle around the island for a bit before making another attempt from a different direction. On the bright side, I'll only have to go to work 1 day tomorrow and it'll be the weekends! I'll only have to work 7 working days in total here. 

Some aerial photos taken during my two trips~

Heading back home to Perth (4 flights were cancelled prior to mine due to bad weather)

Floating beyond the clouds

Heading back to the island again; View of Perth, Western Australia

Rottnest Island from the sky

Gigi's leaving Perth

So you're back in town for two weeks, packing up, and now it's finally time to leave. That was a good long 5 years you've been in Perth. Hopefully I'll see you again soon enough in KL or maybe Thailand? Japan? 

Some photos taken during Gigi's visit back to Perth :) 

Gigi at Dragon Palace on 29th October 2011

Gigi at Freo

At home (welcome back anytime)

Gigi & Yia Shi at home

Yia Shi :)

Take care and have a safe trip back to KL on Monday! All the best with your new job :D

Gavin & May's Wedding

Got a last minute text on Thursday from a number I didn't have on my phone, and it so happened to be May. Haven't heard from her in quite a few years, but she invited me down to her Wedding Ceremony at Araluen Botanical Park yesterday. Congratulations to the newly wed, Gavin & May =)

Newly Weds & their best men

Chun & Helen - Best Man & Brides Maid

Ming at the Wedding

Tai & Esther

Darren & Ling

Enjoy the pics, thanks for viewing =D

**Photos taken with Ricoh GXR 50mm f/2.5 Macro**