Beyond an HDB flat
We were in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode (also known as Sint-Joost-ten-Node in Flemish) last weekend to check out the flea market. While we were in central Brussels, it felt like we were somewhere else in Turkey! Several streets were closed off to traffic on the occasion of the flea market which, disappointingly, was selling mostly brand-new, mass-produced junk.…
Read More
I first visited Barcelona in December 2008. This was also the first time I stepped foot on Europe. Since then, I’ve been back to the city on various occasions for work and play. This year, I’ll be in Barcelona at least four times in the next four months for work. Which will be the most…
Read More
I am listening to [mystery location], intent, my eyes closed; Then suddenly birds fly by, Flocks of birds, high up, with a hue and cry, While the nets are drawn in the fishing grounds And a woman’s feet begin to dabble in the water. I am listening to [mystery location], intent, my eyes closed. Guess where…
Read More
I was recently in Abu Dhabi for work. Even though I had been to the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on two previous occasions, I decided to revisit the mosque. It was the first time that I was at the mosque on my own (instead of hosting journalists). Going through the photos that I’ve taken at the…
Read More
Apparently I’ve got the “rule of thirds” wrong all this time. When I first got interested in photography some 15 years ago, I borrowed books on photography at the library. I don’t remember much about what I read except that one of the basic principles of good photo composition is the “rule of thirds“. Another guideline was to have…
Read More
Bought thistles for the first time today. Love the striking geometry of this prickly plant, as well as its purple crowning glory. This is quite a handsome flower, don’t you agree? While reading up on thistles, here are some fun facts I came upon today: * The humble weed is the national emblem of Scotland *…
Read More
Over the last few months, I’ve been taking photos mostly with my iPhone and editing them using the VSCO Cam app. Sometimes I miss using my Fuji x100, processing the raw files on Raw Photo Processor and making the final touches like straightening the lines in Photoshop. However the former option is more convenient than the latter…
Read More
For one weekend a year, the public is invited to visit and discover Brussels’ historic monuments and city landmarks through guided tours and walks. Titled Journées du Patrimoine / Heritage Days, this annual event usually takes place on the last weekend of September. I had missed the Journées du Patrimoine in previous years as I wasn’t in town. So even…
Read More
One of the coolest things about my job: Working on splendid galas where historic hotels are transformed into an ephemeral fantasy land where some of the city’s most beautiful, stylish and/or prominent personalities turn up in their finest. This was exactly what happened earlier this week when I was at Hotel Imperial in Vienna, Austria for the official…
Read More