Visual Inspiration #55

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Oh gee, was asking myself “I can’t believe I’m now in Middle Eeast Asia. This part of the world has always been a mysterious place to me! Doha, the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar. Doha is Qatar’s largest city, with over 80% of the nation’s population residing in Doha or its surrounding suburbs, and is also the economic centre of the country. No wonder I seldom see people on the streets and only a handful number of vehicles in the city which i thought it will be very congested.

The sun was scorching hot, just a short distance of walking not only dehydrated our body fluid but also exhausted all our energy. Fortunately, we were very lucky to hitch a ride from a random passerby. A good man of course, and drove us back to the city center from a deserted piece of land, which deemed as a shopping attractions. (no shops opened & no sight of people at all!!!)

Photo taken on 29 April 2011 – Doha, Qatar

Not houses finely roofed or the stones of walls well builded, nay nor canals and DOCKYARDS make the city, but men able to use their opportunity.

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Alcaeus
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Visual Inspiration #54

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Earliest known ancient records that carried the name of Shenzhen date from 1410 during the Ming Dynasty. Local people called the drains in paddy fields “zhen”. Shenzhen literally means “deep drains” as the area was once crisscrossed with rivers and streams, with deep drains within the paddy fields. It became a township at the beginning of the Qing Dynasty, and was subsequently renamed to Xin’an and Bao’an.

The one-time fishing village of Shenzhen was singled out by the late Chinese paramount leader Deng Xiaoping to be the first of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in China. It was formally established in 1979 due to its proximity to Hong Kong, then a prosperous British territory. The SEZ was created to be an experimental ground for the practice of market capitalism within a community guided by the ideals of “socialism with Chinese characteristics”.

Photo taken on 15 Nov 2008 - Shenzhen, China

Most of us can read the writing on the wall; we just ASSUME it’s addressed to someone else.
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Ivern Ball
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Visual Inspiration #53

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Today when i was working in the office, somehow kept thinking of my dad. Really missed him so much!!! I always couldn’t stop my tears whenever I recalled him asking me not to go Thailand before he passed away. Although I know he is very happy in the heaven now, but I just cant get rid of the pain of losing him.

Photo taken on June 1998 - Albany, Australia

Dedicated to my beloved dad: “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a MEMORY no one can steal.“
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From a headstone in Ireland
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Visual Inspiration #52

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Macau was a Portuguese colony and both the first and last European colony in China. Portuguese traders first settled in Macau in the 16th century and subsequently administered the region until the handover on 20 December 1999. The Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration and the Basic Law of Macau stipulate that Macau operates with a high degree of autonomy until at least 2049, fifty years after the transfer.

This bridge gave me a feeling that this small island nation is so near to China yet so faraway separated by the history of mankind.

Photo taken on 11 Nov 2007 - Macau

DISCIPLINE is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.
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Jim Rohn
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Visual Inspiration #51

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On the way to our hotel in Nice, France. We saw a gigantic weird statue/monuments. Do not understand the meaning of this monuments, but was guessing the idea behind it… the quote explained my interpretation of this monument.

Photo taken on 16 Nov 2010 - Nice, France

Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our OPINION of ourselves; vanity, to what we would have others think of us.
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Jane Austen
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Visual Inspiration #50

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Florence is a beautiful & proclaimed as the “art capital of Italy”, Florence has immense artistic and cultural richness and contains numerous museums and art galleries where some of the world’s most important works of art are held. The city is one of the best preserved Renaissance centres of art and architecture in the world and has a high concentration of art, architecture and culture.

Photo taken on 15 Nov 2010 - Florence, Italy

The air we breathe, the water we drink, and the land we inhabit are not only critical elements in the quality of life we enjoy – they are a REFLECTION of the majesty of our Creator.
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Rick Perry
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Visual Inspiration #49

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Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with 367,569 inhabitants.

The city lies on the River Arno and is known for its history and its importance in the Middle Ages and in the Renaissance, especially for its art and architecture. A centre of medieval European trade and finance and one of the wealthiest cities of the time, Florence is considered the birthplace of the Renaissance; it has been called the Athens of the Middle Ages. A turbulent political history included periods of rule by the powerful Medici family, religious and republican revolution. From 1865 to 1870 the city was also the capital of the Kingdom of Italy. Florence is often known as the “Jewel of the Renaissance”.

Photo taken on 15 Nov 2010 - Florence, Italy

I feel, sometimes, as the renaissance man must have felt in finding new RICHES at every point and in the certainty that unexplored areas of knowledge and experience await at every turn.
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Polykarp Kusch
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Visual Inspiration #48

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Vatican City; which translates literally as “State of the City of the Vatican”, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, the capital city of Italy. It has an area of approximately 44 hectares (110 acres), and a population of just over 800.

Vatican City was established in 1929 by the Lateran Treaty, signed by Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Gasparri, on behalf of the Holy See and by Prime Minister Benito Mussolini on behalf of the Kingdom of Italy. Vatican City State is distinct from the Holy See, which dates back to early Christianity and is the main episcopal see of 1.166 billion Latin and Eastern Catholic adherents around the globe. Ordinances of Vatican City are published in Italian; official documents of the Holy See are issued mainly in Latin.

The Pope is official head of state of Vatican City, functions dependent on his primordial function as bishop of the diocese of Rome. The term Holy See refers not to the Vatican state but to the Pope’s spiritual and pastoral governance, largely exercised through the Roman Curia. His official title with regard to Vatican City is Sovereign of the State of the Vatican City.

Photo taken on 14 Nov 2010 - Vatican City

Jesus Christ belonged to the true race of the prophets. He saw with an open eye the mystery of the soul… Alone in all history he estimated the GREATNESS of man.
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Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Visual Inspiration #47

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A never expected trekking trip to the waterfall took us about an hour to walk down and stairs and an hour and a half to climb up the trekking stairs… its really tough especially we seldom train our legs. It can be quite dangerous as no doubt you may have a strong torso… once your legs fails you, you may fall off the steep stairs… Photo below shows the view when we trekking midway to the waterfall. It looks like we were once stranded in Bali.

Photo taken on 13 Apr 2010 - Bali, Indonesia

What makes a river so RESTFUL to people is that it doesn’t have any doubt – it is sure to get where it is going, and it doesn’t want to go anywhere else.
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Hal Boyle
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Visual Inspiration #46

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It was a tiring trip to the central of Bali. After visiting the active volcano, Mount Batur, we passed by this rice field and requested Mali (our hired driver for a day) to stop and let us take some cool shots.

Photo taken on 13 Apr 2010 - Bali, Indonesia

You’ve achieved SUCCESS in your field when you don’t know whether what you’re doing is work or play.
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Warren Beatty
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Visual Inspiration #45

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Something that I look forward is to camwhoring with my bunch of buddies in overseas… Well maybe we camwhore too much in Singapore, hence we gotta find new ways and means to keep up the spirit! I would say I love the portrait shots of us in the collage shown below. It shows the natural side of us at the same time with nice beach scenic at the background… love the aperture of it, makes us stand out from the amazing scenery.

Photo taken on 12 Apr 2010 - Bali, Indonesia

The true portrait of a man is a FUSION of what he thinks he is, what others think he is, what he really is and what he tries to be.
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Dore Schary
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Visual Inspiration #44

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Having some free time to walk around while others were enjoying their Venezia meal. Came across a specialty shop selling special art pieces. For a person that I will describe myself as a “idiot in arts”… I’m attracted for a while to the work pieces in this shop. This maybe due to the ambience of Venice that makes me more artistic…

Photo taken on 13 Nov 2010 - Venice, Italy

True art is characterized by an irresistible urge in the CREATIVE artist.
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Albert Einstein
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Visual Inspiration #43

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Once again, it was new year eve… its time for party again!!!

Siloso Beach Party at Sentosa, Asia’s grooviest New Year celebration is BIGGER and BOLDER this year! With resident clubs on Siloso Beach joining in the New Year celebrations, usher in a brand new year at Siloso Beach on 31 December 2010, from 8pm to 6am with a groovy line up of DJs, non-stop music, pyrotechnics display and fringe entertainment.

Party all night long at the 5 unique zones across the 1.2 km beach stretch it transforms into the ultimate countdown party arena.

Beach lovers, come prepared to party at this mother of all beach parties . If the heat gets a little too much to bear, just dive into the giant foam pool.

My new year resolution is to wish peacefulness in the world. A healthy, wealthy, happy and harmony family. United & closely bonded friends. Not forgetting a healthy and cool looking me. :p

If you happen to read my VI 365 project, a very Happy New Year to you!

Photo taken on 1 Jan 2010 - Sentosa, Singapore

An OPTIMIST stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.
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Bill Vaughn
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Visual Inspiration #42

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Photo was taken while on the way to Mount Pilatus, in Lucerne Switzerland. Everyone knows what Switzerland is famous for; chocolates; swiss army; swiss salvation army; red cross; & etc… oh ya… also the Swiss Alps… what people do not know is; what to expect for the adventure, that is awaiting for you on top of the Swiss Alps.

Photo taken on 10 Nov 2010 - Lucerne, Switzerland

Do not go where the path may LEAD, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
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Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Visual Inspiration #41

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Cologne is Germany’s fourth-largest city (after Berlin, Hamburg and Munich), and is the largest city both in the German Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants. It is one of the oldest cities in Germany, having been founded by the Ubii in the year 38 BC. The name is derived from that of the Roman settlement, Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium.

Cologne lies on the River Rhine. The city’s famous Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom) is the seat of the Catholic Archbishop of Cologne. Allows & take some quiet moments for yourself and stroll down the streets of Cologne, you will be amazed by how proud & friendly the warm Germans are towards their own city.

Photo taken on 8 Nov 2010 - Cologne, Germany

Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as SUNSHINE flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.
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John Muir
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Visual Inspiration #40

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A lot of people have misconception of Amsterdam as a complicated city with drugs, space cakes, prostitution (red light districts) & the mafia gangsters… however, I would say, Amsterdam is one of my favorite & beautiful European city. If you wanna change your conceptions, take a stroll during the day and slowly appreciate this city. You’ll truly smell the fresh scent of the flowers and admire this charming city by its amazing canals. BEWARE of the tram while crossing roads and streets!!!

Photo taken on 7 Nov 2010 - Amsterdam, Netherlands

There was a young man who said “Damn!
At last I’ve found out that I am a creature that moves
In predestined GROOVES, in fact not a bus, but a tram.
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Unknown
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Visual Inspiration #39

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Its very cool to walk down the street of London and check out the local specialty stores. During cold winter time, the streets can be very quiet and giving people experience a strong sense of emptiness and solitude loneliness. However, some of these specialty stores in London do make this city more colorful and brightness.

Photo taken on 5 Nov 2010 - London, England

SWEET like candy to my soul, SWEET you rock, and SWEET you roll. Lost for you, I’m so lost for you.
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Dave Matthews
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Visual Inspiration #38

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It was the first time that my Uni buddies get to Hong Kong. Being very familiar with HK, ever since my half a year attachment to HK in 2002, & physically being there for many times… i naturally become their tour guides.

It was crazy fun on top of Victoria Peak overlooking into Victoria Habour. That was our first time doing cool star jump shots on top of the mountain. Not a bad start after all…

Photo taken on 13 Nov 2010 - Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

To do anything in this world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but JUMP in and scramble through as well as we can.
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Sydney Smith
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Visual Inspiration #37

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That night was crazy and a fun night. Well that gave me a reason to featured my dear mate, Mr Melano Chua for the Xmas entry. :p All i can say is, i bet you wouldn’t want this person to be your Santa!!! But hey, you maybe surprise by how much fun & joy he can bring to you. YOU MAY BE even surprise the gift he will get for you too!

Merry Christmas to ALL… Be it your Santa is petite & small or big & fat… May your dreams come true. :p

Photo taken on 24 Dec 2010 - The Lobby, Singapore

From home to home, and heart to heart, from one place to another. The WARMTH and joy of Christmas brings us closer to each other.
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Emily Matthews
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Visual Inspiration #36

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Once again its Christmas day! Every eve of Christmas is my parent’s wedding anniversary. Usual way, dad will buy a bouquet of flowers for mom. This year, dad is no longer with us. Mom not receiving flowers from dad, but i believe she continue feels the warmth and love from us and dad, as long as our family stays intact forever.

This makes me realise the real value of having Christmas. As stated in my facebook, my family is my best Xmas gift, as they provide me warmth and happiness each day!

Photo taken 9 Mar 2008 - Taroko, Taiwan

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a HAPPY family all wrapped up in each other.
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Burton Hills
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Visual Inspiration #35

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Pisa is a city in Tuscany, Central Italy, on the right bank of the mouth of the River Arno on the Ligurian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Pisa. Although Pisa is known worldwide for its Leaning Tower (the bell tower of the city’s cathedral), the city of over 87,500 residents contains more than 20 other historic churches, several palaces and various bridges across the River Arno.

This is one of the churches that is beside the famous Pisa leaning tower. It sort of steal my attention away from the leaning tower. A Spectacular view indeed!

Photo taken on 16 Nov 2010 - Pisa, Italy

We say nothing essential about the cathedral when we speak of its stones. We say nothing essential about Man when we seek to define him by the QUALITIES of men.
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Antoine de Saint-Exupery
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Visual Inspiration #34

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The Principality of Liechtenstein is a small alpine German-speaking country which is doubly landlocked by Switzerland and Austria (meaning it is landlocked by landlocked countries). It is the last remnant of the Holy Roman Empire and an independent state with very close ties to Switzerland. It enjoys a very high standard of living and is home to some incredibly beautiful mountain scenery. The principality’s capital, Vaduz, is a major center of commerce and international banking and mainly a modern city.

This photo was taken on bus; while on the way from Vaduz, Liechtenstein to Innsbruck, Austria.

Photo taken on 11 Nov 2010 - Vaduz, Liechtenstein

On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be TRAINING your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow.
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Friedrich Nietzsche
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Visual Inspiration #33

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My company, SWDA (Singapore Workforce Development Agency) gave us a treat to Universal Studio. Hurray!!! It’s been a long period of hardwork, and finally we have this family day kind of leisure day at Universal Studio Singapore. This photo was taken just before i enter for the mummy ride… ITS WAS THRILLING… and I LOVED IT!!! A 5 star recommendation and MUST TRY…

Warning: If your heart can’t take it… give it a miss and take a carousel instead!!!

Photo taken on 22 Oct 2010 - Universal Studio, Singapore

Some men are like pyramids, which are very BROAD where they touch the ground, but grow narrow as they reach the sky.
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Henry Ward Beecher
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Visual Inspiration #32

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Our annual D&D is finally here… this year our theme (ehem ehem) is Reality TV – Beauty & Geek! LOL I think many people really enjoyed that night, not just the programme but being able to look geeky or “beauty” hahaha… it was an excellent camwhoring night… well with many bosses and colleagues all dressed up… how cool was that!!!

Photo taken on 3 Dec 2010 - Concorde Hotel, Singapore

Artificial INTELLIGENCE is no match for Natural Stupidity.
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Unknown
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Visual Inspiration #31

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Once again, new year is round the corner. This year new year I’m heading to Sentosa beach party again with my gang… AWESOME!!! Reminds me last year when we did the collage using different colours of light stick and play with the shutter speed to create amazing photos… thanks to the creation of cameras makes life more memorable and add colours to our life!

Photo taken on 31 Dec 2009 - Sentosa, Singapore

CHARACTER is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed.
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Cavett Robert
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Visual Inspiration #30

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Just got my camera 550D and went with my 2 buddies to Marina Barrage, The Marina Barrage is a dam in Singapore built across the mouth of the bay, between Marina East and Marina South. It was officially opened on 1 November 2008. It was Singapore’s fifteenth reservoir. Hence, Ryan, Melano & myself decided to drive down to South Singapore for some night shots! I guess you’ll agree with me that Singapore is really beautiful at night!

Photo taken on 1 Apr 2010 - Marina Barrage, Singapore

The life of our city is rich in poetic and marvelous subjects. We are enveloped and steeped as though in an atmosphere of the MARVELOUS; but we do not notice it.
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Charles Baudelaire
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Visual Inspiration #29

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4 hours drive in from Singapore to Malacca, Malaysia is chicken feet to me. While taking a rest in the petrol kiosk located somewhere in Yongpeng – Johore, Malaysia; my mischievous nephew took over the driver seat… he told me he was inspired to be a taxi driver when he grow up!!! TAXI DRIVER??? OMG… what an inspiration! Look at his naughty cheeky face… haha

Photo taken on 2 Apr 2010 - Malacca, Malaysia

No one can drive us crazy unless we give them the KEYS.
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Douglas Horton
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Visual Inspiration #28

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My Phuket-Krabi trip was indeed a refreshing one for me. Looking into the deep blue ocean & clear blue sky (thank god for giving such a great awesome weather), allow me to rest & recharge and get away from the hectic lifestyle in Singapore. Snorkeling, and island hoping is one of my favourite activities in Thailand. They are well-known & famous for their beaches. Believe i do not need to elaborate on that, but strongly recommend folks, teens or adults to visit Phuket & Krabi at least once, you’ll understand the beauty of mother nature.

Photo taken on 30 Nov 2010 - Phi Phi Island, Thailand

You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment. Fools stand on their island OPPORTUNITIES and look toward another land. There is no other land, there is no other life but this.
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Henry David Thoreau
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Visual Inspiration #27

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It’s was a thrilling river rafting… or should call it white water rafting… A grade 4 rafting in Bali was a splendid experience. Its was a fun 4 hours long of rafting… on the way met some crazy Australians, Brazilians and Chinese Mainlanders… its was a real cool (add on “wet”) day. I’ll definitely do it again, but in Australia… hopefully and finger cross. :p

Photo taken on 16 Apr 2010 - Bali, Indonesia

I think a man’s duty is to find out where the TRUTH is, or if he cannot, at least to take the best possible human doctrine and the hardest to disprove, and to ride on this like a raft over the waters of life.
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Plato
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Visual Inspiration #26

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Love love love this photo! This was taken near Piccadilly Circus, London. London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who called it Londinium. London’s ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its square-mile mediaeval boundaries. London is the city with rich history, modern world seems to add in lots of colors to the city.

Photo taken on 5 Nov 2010 - London, England

Never RUN after a bus or a man. There will always be another one.
Never RUN after buses or women: you’ll always get left behind.
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Unknown
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Visual Inspiration #25

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My main intention was actually on the tower bridge of London, well a lot of people misunderstood tower of London as London Bridge. The poor bridge that was curse many decades… wonder who invented that song is a genius!

However, i was distracted to Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England.

It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The castle was used as a prison since at least 1100, although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence.

Photo taken on 5 Nov 2010 - London, England

A well-ordered life is like climbing a tower; the view halfway up is better than the view from the base, and it steadily becomes FINER as the horizon expands.
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William Lyon Phelps
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Visual Inspiration #24

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Why are there so many bicycles in the city??? Guess what is this for? Its actually for travelers to rent and use them to travel around the city without the hassle of walking. Can Singapore implement this? yes? no?… i think is too dangerous for travelers to cycle in Singapore…

Photo taken on 20 Nov 2010 - Paris, France

The journey of life is like a man riding a bicycle. We know he got on the bicycle and started to move. We know that at some point he will stop and get off. We know that if he stops MOVING and does not get off he will fall off.
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William G. Golding
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Visual Inspiration #23

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The Musée du Louvre, or officially Grand Louvre; is one of the world’s largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. It is a central landmark of Paris and located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement (district). Nearly 35,000 objects from prehistory to the 19th century are exhibited over an area of 60,600 square metres (652,300 square feet). Including famous Mona Lisa portrait and the Venus de Milo was added to the Louvre’s collection during the reign of Louis XVIII.

Cant believe i was here before…

Photo taken on 20 Nov 2010 - Paris, France

Living is like tearing through a museum. Not until later do you really start ABSORBING what you saw, thinking about it, looking it up in a book, and remembering – because you can’t take it in all at once.
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Audrey Hepburn
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Visual Inspiration #22

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Amazing shot isn’t it? It took us (Dalton, Gustavo, Melisa & myself) about 15mins climbing of stairs to reach this view… Well, i finally can understand why people pay so much to get themselves to Mediterranean sea.

Photo taken on 17 Nov 2010 - Nice, France

The Mediterranean has the color of mackerel, changeable I mean. You don’t always know if it is green or violet, you can’t even say it’s blue, because the next moment the changing REFLECTION has taken on a tint of rose or gray.
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Vincent van Gogh
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Visual Inspiration #21

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The sunny weather and the beach in Nice makes me feel homely again. Hurray!!! Especially having a GREAT Asian fusion meal at the Thai restaurant in Nice; with Carley, Sarah, Amy, Gustavo, Dalton, Sav, Clare, Mick & Melisa… how cool was that? It sort of sealed my homesickness on missing my family, foods, & friends…

I love this photo simply because I’m with my 2 buddies from Brazil & Australia… it also brings the true meaning of cultural diversity to it… LOVE LOVE LOVE IT….

PS: It also shows Brazilian cant pose very well huh… hahaha :p

Photo taken on 17 Nov 2010 - Nice, France

Children need MODELS rather than critics.
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Joseph Joubert
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Visual Inspiration #20

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The 2010 Summer Youth Olympics, officially known as the Singapore 2010 Youth Olympic Games (YOG), were an international multi-sport event for youths that took place in the city-state of Singapore from 14 to 26 August 2010, in the XXIX Olympiad. They were the inaugural Summer Youth Olympics, a major sports and cultural festival celebrated in the tradition of the Olympic Games. A total of 3,531 athletes between 14 and 18 years of age from 204 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) competed in 201 events in 26 sports.

I attended this very first opening of Youth Olympic Games in Marina Bay floating platform. It was spectacular to watch athletes from 204 countries coming from different parts of the world not just to compete; but also to learn from each other strengths & experience the culture diversities.

Photo taken on 14 Aug 2010 - Marina Bay, Singapore

With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ABILITY, one can build a better world.
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Dalai Lama
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Visual Inspiration #19

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It was Melano Chua’s birthday, and we decided to head off to some rural areas of Singapore in the middle of the night to take some awesome night shots using my 550D. This secret location located in North East of Singapore is deserte; but there are very nice river & forest around; however the crickets’ sound + the chilly wind can make you feel little eerie, but hey… there are 5 of us here.. so fret not!

Photo taken on 22 May 2010 - Seletar, Singapore

Don’t walk behind me; I may not lead. Don’t walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my FRIEND.
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Albert Camus
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Visual Inspiration #18

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After 9 hours of driving from Singapore, finally reached the capital city of Pahang state, Kuantan, Malaysia. Kuantan in the first century was a part of Chih-Tu empire. In the 11th century, this piece of land was conquered by another small empire called Pheng-Kheng before being taken over by the Siamese during 12th century. During the 15th century, Kuantan was ruled by the Malacca Empire.

We were a little disappointed with Kuantan initially, probably due to the bad weather season, waited endlessly for the turtles to lay eggs, no fantastic shopping night markets & little bored with this small little town. However, we were very elated to found very good vegetarian fast food & restaurant in Kuantan. Food was amazing… well, Malaysian didnt failed me with their food before. Waterfall & beaches was a little disappointing, probably I’ve better ones in Thailand. Hey, Its still fun for us to climb up the waterfall and have some fun crazy fugly photos… haha :p

Photo taken on 11 Sep 2010 - Kuantan, Malaysia

A STRONG man and a waterfall always channel their own path.
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Unknown
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Visual Inspiration #17

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The island of Bali lies 3.2 km (2 mi) east of Java, and is approximately 8 degrees south of the equator. Bali and Java are separated by Bali Strait. East to west, the island is approximately 153 km (95 mi) wide and spans approximately 112 km (69 mi) north to south; its land area is 5,632 km². Very well know for the series of active volcanoes. Here is one of the photo taken at Mount Batur. An active volcano that last erupted 1994. Pretty cool place with hot spring and very nice scenery due to its rich fertile land.

Photo taken on 13 Apr 2010 - Bali, Indonesia

Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store nor under a tree, but in the hearts of TRUE friends.
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Unknown
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Visual Inspiration #16

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Krabi, OMG… the best beaches destination I ever been. Its was soooo beautiful. The scenery was fantastic, the white sand beaches were awesome, & the Thais were so friendly + the food was soooooo nice. Its considered very cheap for us to travel to Thailand, due to good exchange rates. humphh… Strongly recommend for people who wants a vacation to be relaxing and who loves to chill under a coconut tree for a day, with sunny hunks & babes around… Krabi will be the place for you.

Photo taken on 29 Nov 2009 - Krabi, Thailand

When I admire the wonder of a sunset or the beauty of the moon, my soul expands in WORSHIP of the Creator.
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Mahatma Gandhi
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Visual Inspiration #15

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My first time to Shanghai, China. First impression is “VERY CROWDED”… can’t really get used to so many people squeezing you around the city. Main purpose of visiting is to meet my family for a lunch… haha yeah.. just meet them for lunch in Shanghai & that’s it… for the trip all the way from Singapore to Shanghai. They were actually on holiday tour around Shanghai, Suzhou, Hangzhou, & many places and the poor me… only have 2 days of leave for Shanghai…

Since I’m there, why not take the opportunity to visit the World Expo… & I SIMPLE LOVED IT… Its was extremely huge area; its 5,28km2, 200 countries participated… Well the country is FULL of land… so it’s nothing to them.. BUT just by seeing the outlook of every nations’ exhibits, took me 2 DAYS to complete it!!! THAT’S REALLY AMAZING…

Photo taken on 12 June 2010 - Shanghai, China

In a roundabout way, they keep LABELING people who have come through this program as thugs. They’re bashing people who have put them in the position they’re in.
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Terry Nelson
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Visual Inspiration #14

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This photo was taken when we – the fivesome (Tom Simpson, Melissa Gough, Melisa Tan, Gustavo Arruda and myself) was lost in Rome. We were ditched by the local guide as we signed up for Colosseum + The Roman Colosseum Ruins walking tour. We were so lost!!! But hey… adventure in Rome continues… Mark Heap told us; in order to experience Rome, we gotta experience being lost in Rome. AND WE DID!!! We were so lost!!!…

Photo taken on 14 Nov 2010 - Rome, Italy

A thousand years may scare form a STATE. An hour may lay it in ruins.
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Lord Byron
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Visual Inspiration #13

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Venice is beautiful so as my dear Canadian friend, Jordan Casey. I was doing some portrait shots for Jordan and kept asking him to work it… work it… Have absolutely no clue at that point of time, there was another talented photographer around that captured an even more natural and beautiful shots of me & Jordan. Photo courtesy of Sav Aneja.

Photo taken on 12 Nov 2010 - Venice, Italy

The virtue of the camera is not the power it has to TRANSFORM the photographer into an artist, but the impulse it gives him to keep on looking.
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Brooks Atkinsons
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Visual Inspiration #12

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Finally, an entry for one of my most favorite city in Europe – Venice, Italy.

Venice, aka the city of water, city of bridges, city of canals or city of masks… was my first Italian city & my first step into Italy, or Italia… I was expecting to use some of my limited Italian language to greet the locals eg “Ciao Bella” to the women in Venice… but i was so attracted to the views of Venice, ended up didnt really notice if there were any hmmm Venice bellas… haha

This island city was built during the Roman empire before middle age and hence this city has NO motorcar vehicle nor bicycles… the only transportation is the well known Gondola or speedboat…  hmm that made this city so special… This was 1 of the shot that i randomly took while sharing a short history of Venice with Carley Graham… i’m pretty proud of this shot actually!!! :p

Photo taken on 12 Nov 2010 - Venice, Italy

Not houses finely roofed or the stones of walls well builded, nay nor canals and dockyards make the city, but men able to use their OPPORTUNITY.
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Alcaeus
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Visual Inspiration #11

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Paris, indeed owns the title – “the city of love”. Somewhere near Musee Du Lourve, I discovered this lovely couple that walked with affections, hence secretly snapped a shot behind them. Well, i am not a stalker but hey it’s the only way to make the picture more naturally and lovely… :p Awwww love is in the air in Paris… I should have keep some bottles of the Parisian’s air.

On a side note, don’t you find them really familiar? haha…

Photo taken on 20 Nov 2010 - Paris, France

Sympathy constitutes friendship; but in love there is a sort of antipathy, or opposing passion. Each strives to be the other, and both TOGETHER make up one whole.
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Samuel Taylor Coleridge
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Visual Inspiration #10

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This photo was taken in Hualien, Taiwan. Where we stayed 5 star Hotel, Park View Hotel, supposedly be the best. It’s the most expensive and best in services among all hotels in East Taiwan.

Well, hotel itself is HUGE and guess what, i am impressed that there was a E manmade waterfall and a big garden park on top of the waterfall, only available for the hotel guests. Just imagine early sunrise, when you open up the curtains, you see this BIG waterfall just right in front of you. How cool was that? Photo was taken while we morning stroll up the waterfall.

Photo taken on 11 Mar 2008 - Hualien, Taiwan

If you want your child to walk the RIGHTEOUS path, do not merely point the way – lead the way.
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J.A Rosenkranz
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Visual Inspiration #9

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Today’s entry is for the memories of my beloved father. 27 Mar 1945 – 12 Jul 2009. I am living with the grief of losing him and it was the most painful period of my life. Losing my dad has indeed make me a stronger person, because nothing in this world can hurt me so much and it breaks me apart. I was devastated.

The following calligraphy was done by my dad. He was really upset by one of us (cant remember was it me or my siblings and over what occasion) and hence, he did a piece of work and hang it in our living room. The value of this piece of art, has now appreciate to infinity. It’s one of the most valuable thing in our house. Do spend some time to read this if you happen to visit my house, you will be surprise & get inspired by him.

This calligraphy is from a poem about filial piety. It’s an extremely ordinary but rather deep affection lingers in both hearts and mind.

Sincerely hope everyone treasure and cherish every moment with your love ones. Life is short, filial to them while you can, and not to regret when they are gone.

Calligraphy created on 3 May 2009

当你还很小的时候，
When you were still young,
花了很多时间教你用勺子，用筷子吃东西，
I’ve spent a lot of time teaching you how to eat with spoons and chopsticks,
教你穿衣服，绑鞋带，系扣子，
to dress, to tie up shoelaces, to button your shirt,
教你洗脸，教你梳头发，
to wash your face, to comb your hair,
教你做人的道理，
to cope with the world,
教你檫鼻涕，檫屁股，
to keep yourself clean and tidy.
你是否记得经常逼问我你是从哪里来的？
Do you remember I always stumbled when you start asking me where you came from often?
所以——
So–
当我有天变老时，
when I grow old someday,
当我罗罗嗦唆重复一些老掉牙的故事
when I naggingly repeating some age-old stories,
当我想不起来或接不上话时，
when I cannot remember something or consistently forgetful,
请不要怪罪我，
please do not blame me;
当我开始在吃饭时弄脏衣服，
when I begin to stain my clothes while eating,
当我开始忘记系扣子，绑鞋带，
when I begin to forget how to button my shirt  or tie my shoelaces,
当我梳头时手开始不停地颤抖，
when my hands begin to tremble while combing my hairs,
请不要催促我，
please don’t rush me,
因为你在慢慢长大，而我却在慢慢变老，
because as you are growing up and I am turning old.
只要你在我眼前的时候，
My HEARTS will be warmed
我的心就会很温暖，
when you are around.
如果有一天当我站也站不稳，
If one day I cannot even stand up from my feet,
走也走不动的时候，
or I cannot walk anymore,
请你紧紧握住我的手，
please hold my hands tightly,
陪我慢慢地走，
and walk beside me slowly,
就像……
just like…
就像当年我牵着你一样…………
just like the way I hold your hands in the past。
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Unknown
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Visual Inspiration #8

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I promised Cassandra to feature her in my visual inspiration collection as her birthday gift. Seriously, I don’t think  I did a very good job here, but somehow manage to get something out of it! Hope you’ll like it. :p

The photo was taken on a sad occasion in 5 May 2010. One of my closest friend, Cassandra is leaving for Macau with her husband, Garneth. Pursuing a carefree and lovely couple life; 2540.14KM; or 1578.41 miles away from the lion city.

The red color at the background symbolise blissful marriage & luck awaiting for the newly weds. Hope you’ll love the quotes I personally find for you. I felt it best describe how you feel on that day. Photo credits to Melano Chua.

Photo taken on 8 May 2010 - Chinatown, Singapore

And so we remained till the red of the dawn began to fall through the snow gloom. I was desolate and afraid, and full of woe and terror. But when that BEAUTIFUL sun began to climb the horizon life was to me again.
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Bram Stoker
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Visual Inspiration #7

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The collages was specially created for memories from my Europe – Contiki trip. Would like to thank everyone for this fantastic trip. Thank you god for making it smooth and easy for me throughout the trip. Few days after I left London, weather in Europe went into blizzard. Many were trapped and once again thank you god that everyone is home safely by now.

In all, it was a Playful + Photogenic + Pleasant People + Pretty + Popular Places = Precious Experience but a very Pricey one!!!

Photo created on 24 Nov 2010 - Mates Around The World

Each friend represents a WORLD in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.
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Anais Nin
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Visual Inspiration #6

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Bali, the famed Island of the Gods, with its varied landscape of hills and mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, lush rice terraces and barren volcanic hillsides all providing a picturesque backdrop to its colourful, deeply spiritual and unique culture, stakes a serious claim to be paradise on earth.

Fighters fought for years to survive in this small piece of land, while mother nature sets scorching weather; which increase the tensity between the war of mankind.

Photo taken on 12 Apr 2010 - Bali, Indonesia

To fight and conquer in all your battles is not supreme excellence; supreme excellence consists in breaking the enemy’s RESISTANCE without fighting.
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Sun Tzu
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Visual Inspiration #5

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There are no kangaroos in Austria??? Is this the city of love, Paris? No again??? BUT I am surprise to witness the power of love from this Canadian lady (Katie Whitall) that gave her strength to lift her man (Jordan Casey) on the street of Innsbruck, Austria. Their love inspired me so much that I decided to feature them in my inspiration collection.

Photo taken on 11 Nov 2010 - Innsbruck, Austria

Love no limits to its ENDURANCE; no end to its trust, no fading of its hope; it can outlast anything. Love still stands still when all else has fallen.
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1 Corinthians 13:7-8
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Visual Inspiration #4

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This was taken while on the way from England to France at the English Channel. It is my first step away from UK and my very first step into mainland Europe. Breathtaking view as I can see across the channel from France & wave goodbye to the English White Dover… What a fantastic way of starting my Europe adventure!

Photo taken on 6 Nov 2010 - From Dover England, to Calais, France

Over the same sea, on the same winds; A ship sails in one direction, another in opposite. It is not the wind that decides which direction the ship goes; Its the sails; how they are tied and how they are MANEUVERED.
Similarly, it is not fate that decides where your life is going; It is all about how you take life and where you take it to.
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Unknown
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Visual Inspiration #3

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Paris, a city of love and romance. Dubbed the City of Light (la Ville Lumière) and Capital of Fashion.

This picture was taken at the Eiffel Tower (French: La Tour Eiffel, nickname La dame de fer, the iron lady) is an 1889 iron lattice tower located on the Champ de Mars in Paris that has become both a global icon of France and one of the most recognizable structures in the world.

The tallest building in Paris, named for its designer, engineer Gustave Eiffel, the tower was built as the entrance arch to the 1889 World’s Fair.
The tower stands 324 metres (1,063 ft) tall, about the same height as an 81-storey building. Upon its completion, it surpassed the Washington Monument to assume the title of tallest man-made structure in the world, a title it held for 41 years, until the Chrysler Building in New York City was built in 1930. Not including broadcast antennas, it is the second-tallest structure in France after the 2004 Millau Viaduct. 

Photo taken on 19 Nov 2010 - Paris, France

It is from numberless diverse acts of COURAGE and belief that human history is shaped. Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope.
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Robert Francis Kennedy
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Visual Inspiration #2

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Picture was taken in Lucerne, on the way up to Mount Pilatus. On the way to make the ride more interesting, Gustavo and myself made everyone sing me a “birthday” song… hey… its cool to have my 21st birthday for 7th times….

Photo taken on 10 Nov 2010 - Lucerne, Switzerland

Be master of your petty annoyances and CONSERVE your energies for the big, worthwhile things. It isn’t the mountain ahead that wears you out – it’s the grain of sand in your shoe.
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Robert Service
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Visual Inspiration #1

Introduce my very first Visual Inspiration Project Entry!

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This picture came from Avignon, when we were caught surprised by a big carousel in the middle of the city of Avignon. A city that fills with beautiful castles. The photo consist apart the usual people, it also has my favourite Canadian man & hugged me with so much affections. Photos contain Gustavo (Brazilian), Dalton (Aussie), Myself (Singapore) & Jordan (Canadian)… Credit to Melisa Tan. :p

Photo taken on 18 Nov 2010 - Avignon, France

The AFFECTIONS are like lightning; you cannot know where they will strike till they have fallen.
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Lee Iacocca
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