23/9/2009 Tropical Spice Garden

After the photo shooting at Chew Jetty in the morning, I moved to the next venue for photo shooting - the Tropical Spice Garden in Teluk Bahang, Penang.

Tropical Spice Garden opens from 9 AM to 6 PM daily. The admission fees are divided into 2 categories - Self guided tour or guided tour. Self guided tour will cost RM14 for adult, RM5 for children or RM28 for family package which includes 2 adults and 3 children. While the guided tour will cost RM20 for adult, RM5 for children and RM 45 for family package.

When I arrived at the Tropical Spice Garden, I was greeted by a friendly receptionist. After paying the admission fees, the receptionist asked me whether I would like to purchase a copy of the map, which cost RM5. Though I turned down the offer, the receptionist has been kindly pointed me the directions of different trails, as there are 3 different trails in the garden - the Spice Trail, which has over 100 varieties of tropical spice and herbs plants; the Ornamental Trail, which has a huge collection of exotic flora; and the Jungle Trail, which has a showcase of ferns, wild orchids, palms and other significant jungle flora. After that, the receptionist offer me the mosquito repellent, which is made of lemon grass and some other herbs without any cost. After applied the repellent at the counter, I started my journey.

I first took the Jungle Trail, as I wanna take some photos of insects. While I was at the Jungle Trail, I was attacked by mosquitoes, I guess I have not applied enough mosquito repellent. So, later on, I would have to bear with the itchiness while photographing.


The Red Dragon Fly besides the pond which located near the entrance


A nymph of a Praying Mantis that I discovered at the same place

After a few photos taken at the pond, I moved on to the Jungle Trail.


A fat grasshopper in between the leaves, it was so steady that even I move the leaves closer to my lens, it didn't move at all


A withered fern at the Jungle Trail


A Chinese Hut with an antique Chinese door which was found in an antique shop in Teluk Bahang


The Chinese antique door, the wording on it is Health and Mountain, which means Longevity as the Nan Shan, a mountain in Hainan


A shining and hairy bug found in the Jungle Trail


An upside down fly

After spending nearly 2 hours at the Jungle Trail, I continue my photo shooting at the Spice Trail.


A hut with the globe at the Spice Trail


Some spice for display, from the top is Cinnamon, Star Anise and Lime




More spice, from the top: Lemon Grass, Ginger Buds which mostly use to cook curry and Ginger


An insect that's standing on the ginger





After the last photo, the sky turned dark and started to rain, so I rushed back to my car before the rain turns heavy, thus, that's the end of my visit to Tropical Spice Garden.

23/9/2009 Chew Jetty, Georgetown

It was the last day of my holidays, so I decided for some photo shooting.

I had woke up early in the morning, earlier than my working days, as the alarm started beeping at 6:30 am, I just quickly rush to the balcony to check on the weather. Thankfully the weather was nice with just some clouds. After washed up and packed up my camera, I just depart to Chew Jetty, which is just 15 minutes of driving from my house.

As I arrived Chew Jetty, the Sun already broke out and the sky begun to turn bright. Without much hesitation, I just walk into Chew Jetty and prepare for some sunrise photo shooting.

Chew Jetty, or Seh Chew Keo, is the biggest of the waterfront settlements in George Town. It was created in the middle of the 19th Century, in a very different Penang from what it is today. The last community jetties, the Peng Aun and the Chap Seh Keo, were only established in the 1960's (http://www.penang-traveltips.com/chew-jetty.htm). Chew Jetty

After I reached the end of the jetty, I started my photo shooting.




















Chew Jetty Traveler's Lodge

21/9/2009 National Park, Teluk Bahang

It was holiday yesterday and the weather was fine in the morning, that's the sign for photo shooting. So, after I packed my camera and accessories, I just fetched my brother-in-law and depart to our destination - National Park of Penang.

This was my second time there within this month. Some additional information regarding National Park of Penang, it was located at Teluk Bahang, North of Penang Island, and it's second in size to National Park (which spans across 3 states - Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang) within Peninsular Malaysia which only occupy 1,266 hectares of land. It's consists of hill dipterocarps, mangroves, beaches and rocky shores. There are several places of interest within the National Park like Monkey Beach, the Light House in Muka Head, Turtle Hatchery Center in Pantai Kerachut, Meromictic Lake and etc.

Me and my brother-in-law had been to Pantai Kerachut 2 weeks ago and we were so exhausted for the hiking, so we both decided to go for an easier trail this time by picking the trail to Monkey Beach, though we didn't reach Monkey Beach, but we enjoyed the trip as we spent more time on shooting photos than jungle tracking.




The cloud formation was so interesting


Blue sky and sea with white clouds, I like the weather like this

10/09/2009 Nautilus Bay

I have done one thing that I have never done before, going out for photo shooting with one prime lens and a flash only.

Maybe to some people, this is not unusual, but to me, it's something challenging, though mostly I will use the Tamron SP90 for macro photography, but I also tried to use it for landscape today, as I am trying to train my composition skills. Though end up I only snapped a few landscape photos then turn to macro photography, but I am quite happy with it.


Though I won't say it's a good photo, but it's my first time to use a prime lens for landscape




Macro time


I like the texture of the wings


The shining fly


Such a big eye it has

09/09/2009 Penang International Airport

After work today, I went to Batu Maung, where the end of the Penang International Airport is located, for some photo shooting. The weather was dull, as there was some haze and quite cloudy, so end up some of the photos was kinda dull, so I just adjust the color before I post up the photos. Not many photos was taken, and only a few are nice, and I just picked three to post, as I feel that these are the best shots for me.


Firefly, I wonder will the tail of the fleet glow in the dark?


Now Everyone Can Fly, I wish I can fly now


The cargo fleet is ready to take off

07/09/2009 Butterfly Farm

It was holiday yesterday, as I don't want to waste the day, so I decided to go to the Butterfly Farm for some photo shooting, and to test on my macro lens at the same time as well.

Butterfly Farm is located at Teluk Bahang, north of Penang Island, which is just further North from Batu Ferringhi. The Butterfly Farm was established in 1986, by Mr David Goh. Though it has been there for 23 years, yet I never visit it for all this time, firstly, I am kinda lazy to go all the way to there; Secondly, before I had my camera, I don't really interested of going places with lots of people. So, due to these two factors, I have never been there before. But after I got my macro lens, I decided to visit it, so that I can have some macro photo shooting session.

I was there yesterday at around 10 something in the morning, since the business hour starts at 9:00. As I read some magazines, the pro recommended to shoot the butterflies at the morning, when the air is still cool, so that the butterflies are idle. 10 something was not early, but thankfully, I still managed to captured some butterflies that are idle, and I am glad that the butterflies in the Butterfly Farm are not so shy. =P

Besides butterflies, there are also other things to see, like other insects, amphibians, reptiles and birds. The only disappointing thing is that, the species of the butterflies are not much, maybe the others are hidden somewhere I didn't explore. Anyway, I do hope that the next time I be there, there'll be more specimens to be snap.