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Garden Festival @ Singapore

Garden Festival.

Reading those 2 words, the picture that comes to my mind is a place with lots of sunshine, flowers, trees, butterflies and insects, peaceful surroundings with lots of handsome hunks and bikini babes, together with a smoking hot BBQ ready to grill some succulent steaks…….wait…. its not a beach party……..that’s so wrong.

Or am I half right because the Singapore Garden Festival has lots of flowers, trees and hmmm…..but no sunshine !! Its all held indoors at the Suntec City Convention Center. Its an exhibition featuring people who are serious about their works of art and their concerns for the environment.

My expectations were fully met, the place was amazing. Competitions were held to judge who can create the best fantasy gardens. Effects like a moving plants, serene music, smoky effects, waterfalls and rocks that mutate etc……….Its like a fairytale come true !!!

yes i know, i have dry, ugly and fat fingers.

Everyone wants to take pictures with these organic works of art…….

Though i understood nothing when the guy next to me said, this belongs to the “Angraecum Sororium” family. English please…….

The shows runs from 7 – 15th July 2012.

Florence Part Deux, Italy

I have been here before, just 6 months ago. It is only now that i realized how small the city center is….everything still smell so fresh and familiar.

Look Left…..Tourists

Look Right…..Tourists

Look Front…..Tourists again !!

There are people everywhere in the center of Florence. You would have thought you were in some parts of American or China, going by the various languages that I heard. Tour groups are everywhere !! There isn’t a need to pay for a translating guide. Just pretend and tag along with the english speaking tour groups. I guarantee you that no one will notice.

No wonder its a haven for Street Artists and Performers……

Me tried to do more portraits-style street photography but its an off day for me. Everyone had their sunglasses plastered onto their faces…..Grrrr

See what i mean ?

Hot Hot Hot ! 32 Degrees C !

I love Street Artists ! But they are rather shy, I had my camera on my face for a few minutes but they did not even bothered…..I give up….

Cupid. Everyone wants to take pictures with him……

But take your time too to walk along the little lanes. No need for maps, you will always end up somewhere familiar.

It is also on these small streets that i found this old man. If i remember correctly, I saw him at the Duomo 6 months ago (Yes, i have super mega powerful memory..hehe) . Squeezed out of the main areas perhaps ? I suppose he had to settle for these lonely streets. I would have spent more time photographing him if he allows…….

And you definitely will spot them. Chinese tourist rushing off back to their tour buses after buying their Louis Vuitton’s, Chanel’s and Prada’s !!

That smile on their faces…..how to explain……its like striking lottery ? except that you are paying…….

Balearic Islands : Mallorca !!

Am in Spain for few days for a meeting.

“Do you want to come visit us in Mallorca for a day? “ A friend asked.

“We are having our pre-summer holidays, going on a yacht, enjoying the sun ….we can watch the Euro Cup……….the…” I couldn’t hear the rest. The picture of pristine beaches, ladies in bikinis, or with no bikinis, hunks with perfectly sculptured 6-pack bodies comes to mind…. and lots of beer.

I looked at my pale pasty self, the “united nations” belly and thought, its time they see some sun!!!

Mallorca is part of the Balearic Islands, which also comprises of Ibiza. Friends tell me that its also the place where the Scandinavians, British and Germans come to play. Good, I wouldn’t be the only one who looks like a codfish on a plate. 1 day it is !!