In the ruins

Finding life in the ruins

This was another stop during our road trip using the old road going back to the wife's hometown. Seeing a land with a lot of dying trees made me stop on this uneven road. Looking for a spot to stop the car was even more challenging than placing that tripod for a setup. This part of the road was really "hip-hop" but with all the green scenery we saw and then this, that small voice inside me just told me to stop. Quite sad though to see this because I wondered when didn't they make use of the chopped trees for something at least. Well time will tell...

Finding life in the decay

I went in nearer to even seeing more decay even the stream was very bad seen. I thought I could see any signs of life but on some small trees were coming. I remember a car was honking at me giving support that made me wonder what was he supporting at "me shooting at his place" or (please not be) "reporting this to the press". What ever it was, it was still a nice spot to stop.

Sungai / River - The old road drive towards hometown

(click photo for larger view)

This was another shot/pit stop we made during our journey towards the wife's hometown. 

We first swept the old road earlier this year due to the massive traffic of a festive season that held the traffic on standstill just 3 minutes drive after the toll booth. During that time I didn't had my camera as it was sent for repairs due to shutter failure. But during that drive, I never left my third eye behind so does my creative director aka the wife (LOL)!! She was the person who supported me for every scenery shoots. Just as what was said by Sally in Cars; "People don't just drive any more", and boy was she right!! The highway sure saved time but then you'll miss the sceneries and foods the road had to offer. Though we had to stop multiple of times at a lonely winding road but the stops were well worth it (well to me at least)!!

The Bukit Merah Laketown Resort incident!!

Bubbles... My bubbles... (Finding Nemo - Aquarium scene)

The family went down to a water park to have a little more than a tan with this time accompanied by Mommy (it isn't a home without her too!!). And having a camera that is able to go underwater really gives a different view to my third eye. But this time around I was pushing the camera rather than for a good view. This was because the first cam that I bought went south the very day I wanted it to work!! We were on an island & all I wanted was to play snorkelling with the fishes while trigger happy!! Instead, I saw the cam becoming a fish tank instead!! But when I send it for a warranty claim, they gave me a new cam in its latest model!! LOL

The English castle made from love

(click photo for the pano view)

Kellie's Castle, Batu Gajah, Perak Darul Ridzuan, Malaysia

This is probably the only English castle in Malaysia... (for more info on the castle, click here). Well, as far as I know of that is. You see, my geographical knowledge is limited by my GPS Navigation apps running on my mobile phone PLUS the journey I'm heading to!! Without my navigation apps, the only road I will use is the highway and the signage listed by the roadside while driving. LOL

So when the wife wanted to head back to her hometown, we decided to use the old winding road where at times you'd pray for no car failure and head on your journey safely. Still, there was a lot to see which I now find the old winding road more exciting & refreshing to drive. Taking the highway the journey from home (in KL) to Taiping will usually take around 3 to 3.5 hours depending on your driving speed and usually gets worse due to unskilled drivers who do not know the meaning of overtaking lane making traffic hogging a long long way. These days, I do it in 2 hours while getting a gas average of 14.5 or 15 km/l. But using the old winding road, time didn't matter. What usually takes me 2 to 3 hours; took me 7 HOURS to arrive!! Bwahahahahaha!!... WHY??!! Well, once you have "eyes", you tend to have stops along the way and making your kids suffer in the car!! LOL

This was our last stop before we headed right to her Mom's house. We were on luck that this tourist attraction was opened a bit longer than usual where they stretched about 2 extra hours due to school holidays fever and we had reached it at a perfect hour with perfect weather. Before we left the castle, I couldn't resist the sunset cloud (though the sun was at the other end of this photo - LOL). The family was in the car with sweat & thirst waiting for me. LOL

More photos of the journey later...

Details:

Panaromic 4 frames stitched

HDR 5 exposures

Sunset hour (around 7pm)

Signing off

Daddy Rain

23/07/2013 @ 1015