quaint melody

Dusk on the summit of Mt Eden click photo to enlarge.

I spent the mid-autumn festival afternoon on Mt Eden. It is always very windy up there. I started snapping photos while waiting for the moon to come out. The temperature was freezing and my fingers seemed to have taken on a life of their own after awhile, but still I kept on snapping. Funny how our passion almost always enable us to push through unfavourable conditions.

Standing atop the once volcanic mountain braving the freezing winds, my mind wondered off to those days where festive seasons spelled out fun and laughter. As a kid, I anticipated every traditional celebration. I remember walking around the suburbs back home with my colourful lanterns every mid-autumn festival, prancing around with my friends. The laughter and colours are still fresh in my mind. Those picturesque moments are permanently locked in the precious corner of my memories.

Life may throw me a curve ball ever now and then, but I soldier on the passages, continue to search for the buoyant nature in me as a kid, the simple bliss of life.

Just before dark, Mission Bay. click photo to enlarge.

Why does the sky seems so grey
Is it because of me
There’s no one left in sight
I feel the world closing in

Of all the places I’ve been to
All the people I’ve seen
People come and go
But memories, the memories of them cast footprints in my heart

As time goes by, I learn it’s all the grand plan of life
Of all the love and broken hearts
Of all the victories and battles
We’ll rise and shine again

*I notice Akismet is recognising some regular comments as spam. Don’t be alarmed, I’m keeping an close eye on it.

Yummy, yummy, yummylicious! click photo to enlarge

What is that little delight that brightens up cold days like this? This of course, my little winter comfort food. Yes, it’s kiwi season again! No, not that bird! The fruit! The green sourly fruit that makes our mouth water. Winter is the best time to savour this sour sweet fruit. The season normally starts in late May, early June. (I know, I know, I was meaning to write about this in June, terrible procrastinator that I am!) Long post, click to continue!

Here are some photos taken at the Orakei Marina, Auckland a few weeks ago, on a bright winter day. It was freezing cold even though it seemed warm and bright in the pictures. Orakei Marina is located on the scenic Tamaki Drive at Okahu Bay in Auckland. It is home to various luxurious large vessels. The view of Auckland city’s skyline and Hauraki Gulf from here is pretty amazing. We were fortunate enough to gain access to a part of the Marina that’s usually close to public due to a kind gesture from a friendly security guard, Lou. She even posed for me! You’ll see her cool photo below.

I’ll let the pictures do the talking here. Hope the many photos brighten up your Monday!

Wait for the photos to fully load then click the main photo. Move your cursor to left/right side of photo to go to the next or previous photo.

p/s: If you missed the Olympic opening ceremony, there are some amazing photographs here.
Special thanks to narrowband for the link!

Sky on a winter afternoon. click photo to enlarge.

The panoramic view outside my window, on a beautiful winter evening. click photo to enlarge.

The Maori named New Zealand Aotearoa for a reason. It means ‘The Land of the Long White Cloud’. Sky like this is a common scene all year round. With the cotton-candy-liked clouds hanging low and extending into the distance.

As you know it’s been one hell of a winter, with continuous rain and strong winds. Yesterday was surprisingly a pretty clear day.The above photos were taken then.

I marveled over the beautiful sky, looking forward to the good days to come.

當輕風吹來，當白雲飄過，我心中輕輕響起典典韻樂。

A hauntingly beautiful view of the park in the afternoon. click photo to enlarge

The sun finally came out Monday afternoon, winds blew away the gloomy clouds.
Rays shining through tall trees towering from a distance, casting long shadows on the emerald field.
Walking along the familiar path, relaxing myself in the lush atmosphere,
I detected a mist of sweetness in the air.
The storm didn’t come, it’s a good day after all.

Share with me, my friends, your relaxing moments of the day.

當我獨自漫步，聽風的歌，看影子舞動。生活也就如此，悠然。

View outside my bedroom window. click photo to enlarge

It’s been a very wet and gloomy winter down under, raining more than usual. The weather pattern surely has changed dramatically in the past few years. Auckland weather can be very unpredictable. With the sun shining one minute, and gloomy clouds roaming the next. Climate over here is direct opposite to those in the northern hemisphere, with summer starting from December to February, autumn March to May, winter June to Aug and spring September to November. While the weather here is generally temperate, mainly maritime, summery sun can be quite unbearable. Though the general temperature seldom hits the 30 Celsius mark, the UV levels are very high due to its closer proximity to the sun at that time of the year. It is really not advisable to expose oneself under the hot sun for a prolonged period of time, even if sunscreens are applied.

Coming from the tropics, the thing I enjoy the most about living in the temperate climate is the many colours that comes with it. While summer is too harsh, winter too gloomy and spring too garish, autumn yields the perfect season for me. It is then when everything turns colourful and breezy. The whole town seems to turn into a big dazzling picture, with coolness in the air and leaves swaying on trees in shades/hues of reds and yellows. Even the most unromantic people will feel the poetic moments in the air. A walk in the park is most pleasurably at this time of the year. I always feel a little surreal emerging amongst the breezy air and splendid colours of the season. It never fails to amaze me.

On another note, forecast said another storm is heading our way. This gloomy winter weather is killing all my fun to get out of the house for some decent photo shoots. Somehow the sun only comes out occasionally during the weekdays and rains all day long in the weekends! The sky pretty much looks like the above picture lately, albeit a little less dramatic (what to do, I’m all about drama!), but still, gloom! I’m just going to roll into bed and hibernate.

click to enlarge

I pondered, over and over, searching for something that wasn’t there.
‘Let it be for now,’ a voice rang in my mind.
‘Just remember, this too shall pass.’