Photos of Paintings - Lifestyle of the Past

As a passionate photographer, I enjoy capturing live moments and am equally interested in taking pictures of the paintings. Some of such shots ...

Typical houses on Kampung Air(Water Village in Malay)

I shot this pic at a friend's house and she said that it is a prized possession!

Pasar (Market in Malay) Scene

Chinese Settlement?!

It's just my guess that this scene is of a Chinese settlement, mainly because, people are wearing typical cone shaped Chinese hats:)

Joint Family

Unlike today's nuclear families, this scene shows the entire family under one roof...

Chemist

Western styled chemist...

Grocery Shop

All these Scenes have a couple of things in common,
- it shows lifestyle of the past!
- taken at a friend's house in Melaka!!!

Tea Estates of Cameron Highlands

After the long drive in Indian roads, that too between Chennai & Madurai during Diwali, my longing for long drives that I used to have in Malaysia has become intense...one thought leading to other, I was going through the pics that I'd taken in Sungai Palas Tea plantation in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia. At that time the fresh dew, fragrant air and the pleasant weather was compelling and I was lost in its sheer beauty.

it was a pleasure to be in that place. 

After a short trek, you reach the tea shop... 

Our World

The view from the tea shop deck is breathtaking!

The fresh air, emerald blanketed natural surrounding & noise free atmosphere is a blessing for city dwellers like me.  

Heeren Street

Heeren Street, is synonymous with museums and rich Malaccan heritage. To, me it is one of the most attractive haunts in Melaka, as I've spent time with friends for photoshoot and just lazing around. It has never failed to bring a sense of calm awesomeness.

Model of yesteryear Heeren street - SSS

This street boasts archaic double-story buildings, which predominantly was built on Dutch influenced architecture! Malaqa Musem is a good place to go and explore the fine details and view yesteryear arts and artifacts.

Malaqa House

Baboon House is another must place in Heeren street. They serve juicy burgers and nonya delights. Its not just their food, the archaic ambience, its unique garden and the love for arts is a heady mixture in which one could soak up and laze around unwind with friends. Here are some shots of this paradise...

Artistic Interior

The garden is, how to say, am lost for words...Even if you are alone there is something for you at Baboon House

Enter the Garden

The Baboon Paradise!

Then there are bird houses, which I didn't get a chance to visit...

Bird House

One cannot miss to notice the circular opening that separates the buildings...

In short Heeruen street subtly boasts the rich past!

Scenes on Road - Cameron Highlands

Drive to Fraser Hills in Malaysia, encouraged me to plan for Cameron Highlands, which was farther away and higher in altitude. In the last trip, I didn't get a chance to stop on the road to take pictures, and this time round, I wanted to fulfill that wish. When I drive, my better half constantly drives me crazy by acting as a back seat driver! And, he would never let me stop on lonely roads. So, my daughter and I tricked him into sitting in the backseat, as soon as we touched the hill road. See our first stop!

Pleasant weather and mist covered hills and lonely road was divine. At the first and next stops my partner was upset because we were taking risks by stopping at lonely spots, but then he gave up on us:D  

Though the above muddy track was very much inviting, we controlled our urge as we didn't want to push my partner's red button.

Vegetable plantations

No one was around these plantations and the entrance was locked, so we could not get in and check out.

It looked like a balance, suspended in a pulley that was connected across a gorge. My assumption is that, it should be used in carrying things! 

Strawberry and tea plantations are the signature attractions of Cameron highlands. Bharat Plantation was on the way to Tanah Rata. 

The green blanketed tea estates

Tanah Rata - largest town in Cameron 

Cameron Highlands has three towns, the lowest being Ringlet, followed by Thana Ratha, which is the largest (where we planned to stay) and Brinchang being the highest.

The golf course on the way to Brinchang is a site to cherish.

There are many strawberry farms on the way to Brinchang and most of them allow visitors to hand pick the berries. But, this monument in between Ringlet and Tanah Rata is a sight that should not be missed.

Biking - Back to Nature

Cycling was the most cherished outdoor activity of my childhood. Outdoor, literally means out of the house door and on the road, but not in a natural surrounding! Those were the carefree days when I used to roam around the streets of my hometown during afternoons, that too without my dad's knowledge. The minute he finds out that am on roads, I would be grounded :(

Of late, the most enjoyable activity, was driving and exploring offbeat beaches and villages. But, during my last visit to Melaka my friends suggested that I could borrow a friend's cycle and join them for a ride in the neighborhood kampung (village in Malay). At that time I never knew what exactly was a bike ride. But, the passion to explore the unknown urged me to accept the offer, and I agreed to join them. When my friend commented that we take the simple route, it still didn't give me clue as to the distance or nature of the ride. I was in for a world of new and exciting experience.

Loaded for the ride! 

With great enthusiasm I packed my DSLR and the additional 70-300 mm lens too and assumed that the weight of the camera wouldn't matter, how naive of me!

After less than a KM in the kampung, we were trying to find the right direction to reach the river side and then frog farm, but we were lost in the fields.

Sky Watch

So we stopped by a traditional wooden Rumah Melayu (Malay house) to ask for directions.

As we went deeper, there was no road, we were riding in muddy paths and came by a river side and we were in for luck to see a stock of Storks!

Migratory Storks in transit!

Before I could think loud, my friend suggested that she clap so that I could catch them in flight!

By now, I started feeling the weight of my camera and requested my friend to carry it for me. After this, we came across a fenced building in the middle of nowhere...

Bird house

And we heard loud recorded chirps! I was told that this place was meant for birds to nest and that music was to attract them!!! Bird's nest is an expensive delicacy in Chinese cuisine. I can't begin to imagine why would people want to even destroy the nests:(
Within few meters was the frog farm, they are reared for food. Yes, frog is another Cantonese delicacy and frog leg soup is quiet popular! Well seeing them in large number in various stages of growth was something new and it was a feast for my camera:D

Tadpoles

  

Halfway from Tadpole to frog!

Babies (Shadow Shot Sunday)

Matured

Until I captured the above closeup, I never considered a frog to be a beauty!

After this, we headed deeper in the woods and stopped by a moderate hill. Now, my friend told that I could take my time and walk up the hill, while they ride up! I tried to test my limits..tripped and fell off the bike. But, I was giggling instead of getting shocked, I was totally carried away with the adventure. Well, except for minor bruises I was fine, so we went further to Pineapple farm and then rode through oil palm plantations...

Pineapple

Oil-palm plantation (SOOC)

On the way, we ran out of water supply, so we drove through village and stopped at a petty shop. Oh boy, I was so glad to see 100plus and just gulped it with greed. When we finished our ride, my friend checked her speed indicator and announced that we just completed 19KM ride and almost my jaw dropped at that!
If I was told about the distance before the ride, I'd have chickened out. Thank my lucky stars, and friends' patience, I did it!!! In fact, throughout the journey I had a silly grin like a child on a treasure hunt! Certainly, it is one of the most memorable trips.

Madras Thorn - கொடுக்காபுளி

When I saw this in Pallavaram market, I was a little more than excited...

கொடுக்காபுளி

But, the roadside peddler was at a ever busy junction and I'd to make a huge u turn just to buy this!

கொடுக்காபுளி, until this day I didn't know the English name, thanks to google for informing the botanical and common names - Pithecellobium dulce/Madras Thorn!

This is a seasonal fruit (well, how else can I call it?!), available for a very short time in the height of summer. Taste - bitter sweet to sweet, you can't judge the taste by the color of the skin...at times the green ones are sweet too and the pink ones are bitter.

More than eating this odd tasting fruit, the thrill is in peeling the first layer of the black seeds!

These seeds are inedible and has a double layer. The outer thick black one, followed by skinny brown layer. The minute you start peeing with nails, both layers come off. So peeling that tough layer without scratching the next layer used to be our challenge in those days. Even now, I couldn't get it off:(

Menara Lama Surau Tengkera

Several times I have driven through this minaret in Tengkera, Melaka.  Once, when I had my camera in my car, I bothered to pull up and take a good shot.

Oldest Mosque built in Melaka, 1728

Until I captured this, somehow I used to think that it was a light house, instead of mosque, as this area is known for land reclamation!

Wandering Alone @ Gole Bazar

Again, I got a chance to wander alone! Well, this time it was in Kharagpur, West Bengal, which boasts longest railway platform in the world! On the first day, I was wandering within walkable distance from where we stayed. Later I was in for luck, and made friends with an inspiring personality. She suggested that I use rickshaws for exploring Gole Bazar, a place worth visiting to get a local feel of market and savour mishti (sweets in Bengali), from local's favorite shop.
Predominantly, the locals either spoke in Bengali or Hindi. English was hardly understood. Somehow, I managed to communicate with the rickshaw-wala (rickshaw-driver!) in my broken Hindi. The 5 KM ride cost me only Rs 60 (around RM 3.5!!!).

Shadow Shot Sunday

Though the ride was bumpy and slow, the open top helped me to capture life on the way to Gole Bazar.

Rickshaw wala was quite talkative. As we approached the bridge over Kharagpur railway station, he told that his son was working at the Eastern Railways garage. He added that 2 trains (with 20+ carriages each) can be parked back to back on this platform! Well, it could just be local lore, as I could not verify this information online.

Longest platform in the world - 1075m

My expectation of the bazar, was that of a crowded vibrant market, but When I reached Gole bazar around 11 AM, weather was a bit chilly and the bazar seemed to be lazy like this...

Gole Bazar

A push-cart with small earthen cups attracted me. He was just opening his business and I wanted to take a picture, but was not sure how the vendor would react, if I don't buy anything. So, I asked him for what purpose that cup was used and if I could just buy 1 cup. He replied that he sells tea in that cup for Rs 4. Surprised at that cheap rate, I asked again, if he was telling the rate of the cup or tea. He gave a weird look and told that the tea and cup together was Rs 4!!!

Matka Chai - Teh Tarik - Rs 4 or just around 20 sen per cup!

Then I understood that this cup was meant for one time use ONLY! What an environmental friendly disposable cup! I dared to take a sip, and fell in love with the tea as the flavor and fragrance was enhanced because of the earthenware:)

By now, slowly the market was coming alive and I bought a couple of duppattas.

When it was about time to leave, I stopped by the mithai (sweet) shop, which my friend recommended to.

Jamuns, rosgullas, sweet yogurt...

Later, I decided to take a 'share auto', as there was a lonely stretch on the way back. There I met two Midnapur university students (fellow passengers). I learned that one of them were married and continuing education! Well, marrying at young age is still prevalent, but at least education seems to have gained importance.

Altogether it was a lively experience.