No Snow, No Tripod, No D300 But Another Kyoto's Shot !

I don't want to leave any negative comments on the top of my blog. I'm posting a couple of snapshots that I took from the recent trip to Japan.Nothing spectacular, but better than venting. By the way, the weather there was extremely hot in September !

Kinkakuji Shrine (Golden Pavilion)  is the popular name for one of the main buildings of a Buddhist Japanese temple in Kyoto Japan. The name Golden Pavilion comes from the Japanese term Kinkakuji, which literally means the temple of the Golden Pavilion.

I was lucky enough to met "Bishamonten" , The Samurai's god of war and warriors, and a dispenser of wealth and good fortune. Bishamonten is also considered a god of healing, with the power to save emperors from life-threatening illness and to expel the demons of plague. One who hears everything; lord of north; bestower of treasure and wealth; heals illness; expels demons and evil; also known as the Great Black Warrior.

Angel & Demon nearby the Shrine.

Shinto architecture is the architecture of Japanese Shinto shrines.This image was shot at Kinkakuji shrine.  

 

Yasaka Shrine,Kyoto - just about 10 minutes walk from Gion.

The great lantern of Maruyama Park,Kyoto.

 A statue of another great samurai, Sakamoto Ryoma and Nakaoka Shintaro in Maruyama Park,Kyoto Japan. Ryōma has inspired at least seven television drama series, six novels, seven manga and five films.Ryōma was assassinated at the age of 33 and killed on his birthday in 1867 at the Ōmiya inn in Kyoto, not long before the Meiji Restoration took place.Initial reports accused members of the Shinsengumi for Ryōma and Nakaoka Shintarō deaths, but another pro-Shogun group, the Mimawarigumi's Imai Nobuo confessed to the murder in 1870.

Erika with Ninja at Uzumasa Egamura, Kyoto

The Sagano and Arashiyama districts are located in the western part of Kyoto City. In the 8th century, aristocrats often came to this area of rice fields and bamboo woods to enjoy the colored leaves, or to go boating. The landscape today is still reminiscent of that period.

Sagano in Arashiyama Mountains,Japan.

The Romantic train at Sagano

The legendary Tanuki- Japanese Raccoon Dog.In Japanese folklore the Tanuki has great physical strength and supernatural powers and it is a master of shape-changing!

 The cold stream at Arashiyama Mountains.

Date Masamune ? I have few theories about this Samurai Kobuto (helmet) . First is that it wasn’t suitable for battle. It must have merely been decorative. My other theory -the designer who designed it secretly wanted the person who wore it to be killed rather quickly...hehehehehe...

All photos are copyright the photographer and may not be used without written permission. Thank you.

 

All images copyright © Langkawi Ink.Com. All rights reserved

condition  that they are credited to

http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Langkawi Legend : The Lady & The Crocodile またまた伝説公園のワニ

Nikon D3000 + Sigma  70-300mm  @ 70 mm — ¹/40 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200.

I snapped this photo during our relaxing walk at Lagenda Park in Langkawi yesterday.Things had changed quit a bit in the few days since we had last been here.The air was much more crispy,cold, and clean (of yeah! the area had been cleaned ). Here we are, and I let Naomi  fooling around with the guardian of Lake Pregnant Maiden - the legendary white crocodile before I took her photo. Well, most people are awestruck when they see these statue, and just one look into those mouth and red eyes will give you chills.

またまたクアの公園に来ました。この中、結構、ワォーキングやジョギン

ろんなきれいな鳥もいて、ちょっとした歩にも最適です。説の白いワニ君と一緒に記念してみした。いい年して上にっかってしまいした。

Nikon D3000 + Nikkor 17-55mm  f /5.6 — ¹/2000 sec, ISO 200

No crocodile here ! Local fisherman was seen casting their net for shrimp, mullet, flounder or maybe crab. This pix was taken near the Eagle Square at Kuah Town. A tip from him : Do not throw near rocks or oyster beds or you will rip your net ! Awwww..

地元の漁師？カニでも採ってるのかな？

Nikon D3000 + Sigma 70 -300 mm @ 200mm,  f/8 — ¹/3000 sec, ISO 200

It was really hot but the day was so beautiful @ Eagle Square Kuah, Langkawi Island.

クアの中心部から少し外れたフェリーターミナル近くにある、巨大なワシの像が建つ公園。ランカウイ島が発見されたとき、ワシ(マレー語でラン)が大理石(カウイ)の岩盤から飛び立とうとしていたという伝説が今に伝わっています。そのためこの島はランカウイと名付けられ、島のシンボルとして建てられたのがこのワシの巨像です。

Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Langkawi Island - My Own PhotoShelter - Part 2

The question is not what you look at but what you see – Exposure, Composition, Color Management, Processing,Workflow and More.Test shots all these images with all type of camera from Nikon Coolpix to D3000..

All these pix was shot in Langkawi. Enjoy !

There's so much photographic opportunity in a field of wildflowers at Langkawi mountains range or Gunung Raya..

I got a number of winners. This was one of my favorites.

You dont have to go far to find the colour of green. It is the most dominat colour around your house! This pix was shot with the dirt cheap Vivitar lense and yet the result is brilliant.

Important note : When shooting any close up or macro composition - go for manual focus rather than auto focus.

A common spider found around my garden. Look at the eerie and creepy eyes. Yikessss.

I love the contrast between the subject and the background. I moved just enough to let a small lights out from behind and the spider to be part of the overall composition . At these close, who need tripod? 

This pix was shot at Lubuk Semilang Waterfalls in Langkawi.

So, is it really safe to say that frontlight doesnt pose any great exposure challenges? The quality and colour of frontlight are best in the first hour after sunrise and during the last few hours of daylighting.

All photos are copyright the photographer and may not be used without written permission. Thank you.

 

All images copyright © Langkawi Ink.Com. All rights reserved

Remembering Challenge 99- Jalur Gemilang & Datuk Azhar Mansor

Do you still remember Jalur Gemilang sail boat and Datuk Azhar Mansor? A hero from Perlis who sail solo around the world without engine propulsion? He sat sail on 2 February, 1999. In 190 days he took on Jalur Gemilang over 21,600 nautical miles and on 11 August, 1999, Datuk Azhar safely arrived at Awana Porto Malai Resort in Langkawi. His courage is something every Malaysian should be proud of. Now, his famous Jalur Gemilang yacht is on display at the Perdana Quay Marina at Harbour Park in Langkawi ( By the way, the harbour is operated by Datuk Azhar Mansor himself ).

 The RM2 million “Jalur Gemilang" docked at Perdana Quay Langkawi. Dato Azhar

became the first Malaysian to sail solo round the globe and the first person ever to set a new solo west-east circumnavigation route with this yatch.

 Jalur Gemilang crossed five seas, four continents and five capes before reached back to Langkawi 

  

We hope that his achievement will inspire younger generations in the years to come as it is proof to them that Malaysians are world achievers and can succeed in anything they do !

A name to remember.

Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Revisiting the Road to Kofu: Furinkazan !

I love Kofu! As the Samurai say - "There is indeed something spiritual in this place. And though it may forever be obscure to me, I cannot but be aware of its power.I do know that it is here that I've known my first untroubled sleep in many years... But I like to think that I may have at last found some small measure of peace, that we all seek, and few of us ever find....."  

Notice the Takeda Shingen statue in the background. You can find it to the right as you exit the Kofu Station. It is one of the few things that hasn’t changed since it was erected in 1969. This is another memorable shot.

Shingen's Kamon. His war banner contained the famous phrase Fū-Rin-Ka-Zan "Wind, Forest, Fire, Mountain", taken from Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War.The motto applied to Shingen's policies and his military strategy.

Shingen Yoroi. Be here during the Shingen festival and you can see wave of Shingen’s 24 regiments made their appearance at the shrine which I suppose would translate into something like “victory in war blessing ceremony.”

 The Osuwa-Daiko origin can be traced to one of the most famous samurai battles in the history of Japan "Kawanakazima-Samurai Battle War" where are near the capital city of the NAGANO prefecture between one of well-known samurai, Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin. Kenshin was one of the many powerful lords of the Sengoku period. He is famed for his prowess on the battlefield, the legendary rivalry with Takeda Shingen, his military expertise, strategy and his belief in the god of war — Bishamonten!

Here I am in front of my idol - Takeda Shingen's statue in Kofu, Yamanashi Japan.The banner he carried into battle was inscribed with these words: "Swift as the Wind, Silent as a Forest, Fierce as Fire and Immovable as a Mountain".The words that inspired Shingen came from a Chinese literary work, Sun Tsu's The Art of War.

Tanuki - The Japanese Raccoon at Takeda Jinja.

Takeda Shrine was built in 1919 to enshrine the spirit of Shingen at the site where three generations of Takeda (those of Nobutora, Shingen, and Katsuyori) all lived. Various Takeda-related important cultural assets are on display.

Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Antara Ikan Puyu & Rebung Buluh.

Hidup itu indah. Terpulanglah pada seseorang individu itu untuk menilaikannya.

Bila mai tengah tengah malam macam ni, saya selalu teringatkan hidup sewaktu di kampung zaman rumah kayu bertiang seribu dan berbumbung atap daun rembia. Kena mai waktu musim hujan lebat - basah "lokoih" la kami sekeluarga.

Ikan Puyu.

Hidup zaman kanak-kanak dulu banyak dihabiskan dengan mengail ikan puyu - orang putih kata,climbing perch. Kalau nasib baik dapat la dalam 20-30 ekor sepetang. Balik mai rumah, tok wan jadi mangsa siang ikan, mak pula kena paksa goreng ikan sampai garing. Adik pula kena la masak nasik bagi panas panas atau gaul ikan buat pekasam.

Rebung buluh. 

Time dulu-dulu, ulam pun banyak-jantung pisang, kacang botoi, rebung buluh, pucuk kadok,petai dan daun cekoq. Boleh dikatakan seluruh tempat ada.La ni mana nak cari benda benda tu semua.Tu la makanan kegemaran saya. Satu lagi, toyu (kicap) dan telor goreng mata kerbau wajib kena ada.

Maklumlah, selera orang kampung.

Hmmmm ...Nostalgia dan sejarah. 25 tahun lalu, nostalgia hidup di kampung memberi sejuta pengertian untuk saya dan memori untuk generasi hari ini.Saya sangat bersyukur kepada tuhan kerana masih diberi peluang menjalani kehidupan sebagai orang Melayu yang asal usulnya dari sebuah kampung kecil di luar bandar Alor Staq !

*** Minta maaf sebab sesetengah bahasa menggunakan loghat Kedah. 
Images - Credit to Google***

From Tokyo With Love

Let's be honest.I love the sunny beaches of Langkawi but at the same time I am seduced and consumed by the sensual of Tokyo's summer. By 2011, I have fallen into and out of love with every quater of the city many times over.The forces and rhythms that effect my developing relationship with Tokyo & Kyoto are recorded by the most daily entries of my personal journal.

Aqua City in Tokyo.The observation deck also offers nice view of the bay area and as far as Mount Fuji on clear days.

As viewed from the ground on Odaiba City.

  

The Statue of Liberty - Liberty Enlightening the World is a colossal neoclassical sculpture at Odaiba City in Tokyo.

Samurai bronze gift at Asakusa Temple,Tokyo.

Katana at Asakusa Temple

Erika & Nana -both of my daughter love the graceful flower framing Mount Fuji in Shizuoka Prefecture.Fuji San is the highest mountain in Japan - 12,388 ft and often considered the symbol of the country. This photo was shot from Hanamiyako Koen in Shizuoka, the home of Fuji San.

Above is a very poorly reconstructed scene of what it would look like were Mt. Fuji not covered in clouds. My camera was on wide angle and the sun was high overhead. A little zoom, a lower sun, and fewer clouds and this has to be one fantastic scene to behold. The entire left outline of Fuji San is visible and the right side reveals more from here than most Fuji views from the east. The scene in front of Mt. Fuji is also very nice, although the above photo doesn’t do it justice! Sigh!

Japan - It has been a wonderful year, but now it is over. I took over 6,000 pictures, of which less than 5% have appeared on the Facebook & my blog so far. In other words, if you’re still interested, I’ll keep sharing them

Mount Fuji Station 5 . From Tokyo, take the Kawaguchiko I.C. on Chuo Expressway. Turn Right onto Route 139. Turn Left onto Fuji Subaru Line.

Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

フォローしてくれている皆さんへ

This 30 meter stand tall Karmen Rider pix was taken at Kyoto's Toei Uzumasa Egamura

during recent trip to Japan.

フォローしてくれてる方々の数が２００人を突破しました！皆様、ありがとうございます。

このまま１０００人突破を目指してがんばります。（って別にがんばってないんだけどね。）

この田舎島ののよさが世界中の人に伝わったら、嬉しいなと思います。

写真は、京都の太秦映画村の中の写真です。旦那曰く、この仮面ライダーの様な誇らしげな気分との事です。

There's Something In The Woods「となりのトトロ」について

It’s difficult to explain why I want to see a monster with heavy fur but My Neighbour Totoro movie just has that effect on me.  It is for this reason that I have decided to travel to Tokyo from Langkawi and visited Studio Ghibli in Mitaka. When I arrived to the Inokashira Park, I could not believe that these Studio in the woods were actually in the middle of a congested crazy suburb of the city! And I couldn’t believe I was actually in front of Totoro – seeing it, walking up and around it.  I was overwhelmed by its cuteness so much so that I even surprised myself.

マレーシアでも宮崎駿さんのアニメは大人気です。「となりのトトロ」なんて私が子供の頃に見ていたアニメですが、うちの子供達も大好き！何回もビデオで見ました。日本に帰った時に東京の三鷹のジブリ美術館まで行ってきました。平日にも係わらず、すごい人でした。屋上にあるラピュタに住むロボット？の前で写真を撮るのにも長蛇の列でした。（館内では撮影禁止だったので。）

Images by Google

Totoro is a 1988 Japanese anime film written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki and produced by Studio Ghibli. The film follows the two young daughters of a professor and their interactions with friendly wood spirits in postwar rural Japan. The film won numerous prize and the Mainichi Film Award for Best Film in 1988.

Totoro, Mei and Satsuki pix in my room in Kyoto, Japan.

Totoro is a completely a crazy creation – a fat cat mouth with bristling weird whiskers, with rabbit ears, and despite his considerable fat body, he can perch on a branch like a wise old owl !

Totoro or Camphor tree monster.Erika meets and befriends a larger version of the same kind of spirit which identifies as "Totoro" . I later tells her that this is the "keeper of the forest".

I still remember the Tonari no Totoro plot.Totoro takes his colleagues and the girls for a ride on a magical flying top. In the morning, the tree is gone, but the seeds have indeed sprouted !!

From the terrace off the Cat Bus Room, a spiral stairway leads to the roof, and there you will find a grassy rooftop garden. From this lofty post, a serene 5 meter tall Robot Soldier ( from “Laputa Castle in the Sky” ) looks down on Inokashira Park!

                              

食いしん坊のフリー君



ベルジャヤランカウイリゾートのダヤンカフェコーヒーハウスに毎朝やってくるリスのフリー君です。
とっても食いしん坊で、パンや果物など何でも食べます。食べる時は、とってもお行儀よく両手で食べます。最近、食べすぎで少し太り気味なのが悩みだそうです。ちなみに、このフリー君という名前はリゾートの総支配人がつけました。今ではレストランの看板リス？です。

ランカウイの観光について # Naturally Langkawi ?

To tell you the truth - I am not very happy or satisfied that we don't have enough attractions to keep our visitors happy in Langkawi. We have seen impressive success of investment of attractions at other places such as Phuket in Thailand, Bali in Indonesia and Bohol in Phillipines.They have done well and we need to do better than them ! I wish LADA and Tourism Malaysia could  promote the Island with a new kind of promotions to woo more tourists. I want to suggest that there are other frontiers on the Island that are waiting to be explored and conquered. We should start thinking proper to give it publicity and we can always dig to find a story yet to be told.

ランカウイの観光名所は？って聞かれると正直困る事があります。特に有名な寺や神社や遺跡があるわけでもないです。私が思うに、その何も無いところがいいんです。なーんにもない、ただただ自然とゆかいな動物たちががいるこの島に癒されに来て下さい。

These Langkawi's most prominent landmark should gain more global recognition.

A good campaign will give double dose of good publicity to Langkawi Island.

Langkawi Cable Car - Amazingly Beautiful

Tanjung Rhu located at the northern most tip of Langkawi Island is trully romantic.

Too Fast Too Furious - Japanese Style !

Enter the world of drift racing Japanese style ! I took this pix on my recent trip to Japan of which remind me of The Fast and The Furious movie franchise !  I’m sure at this point you all have seen the movie and were impressed by the many cars you saw in there... By the way, I have not seen anything like this in Langkawi !!

Mazda with some nice alloy wheels and a very striking Manga anime sticker .

I think after this car comes out from the house , the cops and JPJ are going to crack down on the driver ! Let's be honest - Japanese love to show off their own personal style and this Mazda is super amazing ! 

Sexy Back !

Mazda - their high grade manufacturing material plus ultra aggressive style in body kits make them the top-notch car.  

Suwako

Suwako (Lake Suwa) is the largest lake in Nagano prefecture but it also features one of the world's largest geysers. It is also a region whose hot spring waters are so abundant that their use goes far beyond being used in onsen resorts. Apart from Langkawi Island - I love this place too .

The Black Castle @ Matsumoto Castle in Nagano Japan

Will be back there again next year for sure.

Interested parties are welcomed to reproduce or

 quote materials published in this blog with the condition  that they are credited to http://hasnulyakin.blogspot.com/ to avoid misunderstanding.Thank you.

Today's post is an essentially random collection of  my own personal pictures  V(^_^)