Sunday, October 30, 2005

Kuala Selangor Nature Park - Mangrove takes ..

Fiddler crabs are so colourful ...


The claw is not just a pretty decoration.


"I got it all covered" i.e. 360 degree view ...

Kuala Selangor Nature Park - Flowers

Nice flowers. No idea what its called.


Lots of bees around gathering pollen.

Kuala Selangor Nature Park - Winged but Not Raptors

These two looks like they are trying to mirror each other.


"Merbuk" taking flight. One still not cleared for takeoff.


I have no idea if this is an egret, crane, stork ... ??


Large bee buzzing around the flowers ... bee-zee, bee-zee

Kuala Selangor Nature Park - The Raptors

Looks like no need to go to Langkawi for raptors as there's plenty in the skies above the Kuala Selangor Nature Park. A magnificent sight to behold as these graceful predators gather in one place.


Here's a take on one scooping down on its prey ...


On the prowl


Always a sight to behold ... well, it does seem that way for one who is not on its menu.

Sunday, October 23, 2005

Who're you gonna call?

When it comes to a breakdown, no exceptions even for an AAM breakdown assist vehicle. Who do they call? Why, AAM of course!

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Jalan Dang Wangi??

The sign seems to say so, postcode and all but I don't recall having such a scenery in Kuala Lumpur? No trick of the camera here. This shot was taken at the Oriental Village in Langkawi. I wonder what gives with the road sign?

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

One That Nearly Got Away

This magnificent raptor was feeding on the ground before silly me, in my excitement forgot something called a stealth approach. It got spooked and took off but managed to catch these few shots.


It can fly away but I could still zoom in ...


Did not notice it earlier but there were 2 raptors around. The blurry one at the background looks like a falcon.

Views from Machincang

Buray Bay below and beyond that, Padang Matsirat.


This could have passed as somewhere in the mountains of China. Weather was wonderfully cool and air was fresh.


Anyone for paragliding?


Seven Wells Waterfall as seen from the cable car.


Another falls deep within the jungles. Not sure if there's a path there.

Suspension Bridge atop Machincang

A marvellous architectural construction to walk amongst the clouds between peaks.


Suspended high above the gorge yet a solid feel to walk on. My first thought when I saw this, "Hey, can do bungee jumping!" ... then a small but distinct voice cried out, "Xiou".


Not for the faint-hearted but a thrill nonetheless.


On a bridge at over 650 meters above sea level.

Langkawi Cable Car

Gunung Machincang.


Start of the ride. That looks like a long way up to go... and very steep at the last section too.


There are only 2 support towers between the two stations and the last section is the longest.


Into and out of the clouds. This was between the summit stations.


View on the way down. Its not as scary as it looks... trust me?

Monday, October 17, 2005

Up Close & Personal

Eye to eye shots of the fearsome & cuties.







Wind Beneath My Wings

A White-bellied Sea Eagle soaring the wind currents above Kuah town in Langkawi.







Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Another take of the Moon

The Ramadan moon against the darkening sky. Shot with a 300mm (equiv to 480mm) zoom and cropped to produce this image. Unfortunately, there was thin cloud layer that diffused the light hence the picture did not come out sharp.


Yummy Chee Cheong Fun

We missed this for months when the 'kopitiam' which occupied 2 shoplots was forced-closed due to an owner-tenant matter. The corner shoplot has been since renovated into a bank and some of the stall operators have resumed business into the other shoplot.

You just have to try the 'chee cheong fun'. Flat noodles with mushroom, minced meat and sauce that would make your mouth water just by thinking about it.

Monday, October 10, 2005

Fun Snail Pics

Here are some fun pics of a homemade "aquaria" comprising of ex-residents of Port Dickson. Photos were taken with the Nikon CP5000 and the lightsource was a 5-LED Nova torchlight.

Closeup of 2 sizing up the containment unit.


Top view of the unit.

Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Nemo & Friends

Clown or Anemone fish are hard subjects to photograph generally because they don't stay still to pose. Most come out blurry or Nemo has ducked back into the safety of the anemone host's tentacles. The name "Nemo" has become synonymous with the clown/anemone fish since the Disney animated movie "Finding Nemo".



An angelfish (I have not ID this yet) and a beauty.



Grumpy looking turtle that was flanked by yours truly on its left, and another diver on its right. Kept going round in circles until we had our fill of taking its photos and allowed it to disappear into the blue.



Another clown/anemone fish staring out at me from its bubble anemone host. This is the Tomato Clown and one of the larger, fiercer anemone fish. It will not hesitate to charge out if you get too close. Such small defender does you no physical harm directly but the shock of having it defend its host so vigourously can take you aback.


I have no external strobe at this point and having a lot of suspended particles in the water, there are noticeable backscatter that I chose not to digitally edit out.

Sunday, October 02, 2005

FRIM Chillout with Friends

A day out to FRIM (Forest Research Institute Malaysia) with Ladyhawk, Moggie and Pummkin aka Pippita.


Incee-wincee spider tending to its web.
Along came a photographer wannabe and, and.. errr shot its photo lah.



Fungi cluster



Worm-eye view of the final sector of the canopy walk. The highest point of the canopy walk is about 30 meters from the forest floor.



One of the many bugzidens.



Peek-a-boo ... I see you too..



Closeup of the glacier at the end of the trek ... aka ABC (Air Batu Campur).



The cool weather that followed us to the waterfall/picnic area. Due to the dry season, water is a mere trickle. Nonetheless, the atmosphere was relaxing and peaceful.