WandrLens

Moon Festival in the Old Quarter

Tue, 28 Sep 2021 08:28:49 +0000

Trung thu, as how we call the Moon Festival in Vietnamese, happened in September this year. Living in lockdown in Sydney at the moment , I can only celebrate it by eating delicious moon cakes. Among many photos about Hanoi, I managed to have a series taken during Trung thu in 2014. The best part about this is that the pictures were about the Old Quarter, the most bustling and packed area in Hanoi.

It has been seven years, so I felt nostalgic seeing these photos. It was emotional to contemplate how colourful the streets looked and how people stopped by street shops to grab something on the way home quickly. I remembered the smell of food and rain, the sound of people talking and vehicles. The heat from a lingering summer and the sweaty feeling due to the humidity. Narrow street, hot air, bustling noise. Newcomers in Hanoi will feel easily overwhelmed. But standing between all these, I sometimes feel calm.

Growing up in Vietnam, I learnt how to grasp the rhythm in all chaos. It is similar to how you cross the street by understanding the tempo of traffic dance and swiftly reach the other side. It sounds pretty cool describing something I have done since a kid. I have to admit that whenever I went back to Vietnam, the first time crossing the streets or riding a motorbike made my body feel stifled. But after that first time, I felt at home again.

After leaving Hanoi for overseas study, whenever I got a chance to visit home, I usually walked in the Old Quarter to glimpse into my childhood. The memories there are vivid up to now. The usual ice cream shop, bookstore, street food were still there. The whole district is a time capsule that keeps my childhood, which I enjoyed and feel pretty proud of.

Play this beautiful song about Hanoi and enjoy the visual journey!

Still beautiful Sydney

Fri, 02 Oct 2020 08:28:49 +0000

Sydney is transitioning to springtime. The winter and its cold weather were on the last run last week. It also has been 6 months since I started working from home due to the COVID-19 situation. Part of me starts to long for more outdoor activities, but the other part is already used to staying at home.

One thing I am going to miss in Sydney winter is its night scene. It was easy to go out at 5 pm and see Sydney easing into the dark gracefully. I was looking for some reason to go out so I did exactly this in an afternoon.

Hopping on a subway, I aligned at Milsons Point station and strolled along the coastal walk to look for new views of Sydney CBD. I imagine that the Sydney Opera House seen across the water would look amazing. I wasn’t disappointed after all.

The views from Jeffrey St Wharf is refreshing. It is beautiful as if someone drew this view in a painting before actually building it.

I saw a few people fishing at the wharf and felt amazed at how patient and focused they looked when doing that. I took a time-lapsed photo and the man appeared so still that there wasn’t any blur around him in the photo.

When I reached Beulah St Wharf after a long walk from previous wharf, a fairy-like scene was unveiled. This wharf was much closer to Sydney Opera House so I could see more details of its fine architecture. Hidden behind a long row of residential houses, the scene appeared suddenly and my eyes were rather “captured” by it than the other way around. There were only one or two people at the wharf but it felt very bustling. Then I realised that I was more familiar with the calm environment at my house.

Ferries passing by back and forth with their evening lights added a playful touch to the time-lapsed photos I took. Seeing it reminded me of Vivid Sydney, which is my favourite event in winter. Unfortunately, it was cancelled this year, but we’ll see it again in August 2021 hopefully. When I think about it, it’s quite a long time from now, October 2020, but time flies so it might feel just like a blink, similar to my 2020.

As the COVID-19 situation in Sydney has become better, the stress I have when going out starts to wear down. Not that I stopped wearing masks or taking precaution, but mostly the hope of the future that makes me feel this way. The future can be uncertain, but I am positive about how resilient we can be. And Sydney is still beautiful.

Arashiyama - A summer breeze

Sat, 11 Apr 2020 10:24:00 +0000

This post was queued for publishing in March but the COVID-19 situation was getting worse at that time so I held off. The situation is still bad but I realize that life should go on as well. I also learnt that talking about travel also help me stay hopeful. So here we go with an article about one of my favorite places in Japan.

If you plan to visit Kyoto and Kansai area, a place you should place in the itinerary is Arashiyama. It has beautiful scenery, moss gardens, temples and accessible mountain view, all of which can be seen in an one-day trip.

Thinking about the Arashiyama summer trip in June 2014 always put a smile on my face. It resembles a scene in anime, the Japanese animated movie, where you see children in summer days running and discovering nature in forests and mountains freely. And I really thought “This is truly summer” when I first stepped out of Arashiyama JR train station, seeing blue sky and sunshine.

Getting there

Arashiyama is a small town at the western part of Kyoto. From Central Kyoto, you can go there easily by taking JR Sagano Line to Saga-Arashiyama station. There are three stations in the town so you have other options as well. One thing to note is the logistics of carrying luggage during the trip was easy as there are many lockers at train stations. If I recall correctly, Saga-Arashiyama station doesn’t have lockers so depending on the route you take, you can look up for a station with available lockers before reaching Arashiyama. It is much more enjoyable to travel light for the reason I’m about to mention shortly.

Cycling

Exploring Arashiyama on feet is relaxing and pretty doable in one day. But if you want to maximize your time there, the quickest and most fun way is to use bike to quickly zip between places, especially along Hozu River.

Bicycles are available for rental right next to Arashiyama train stations. There is something to be said about zipping around the town on your bike and suddenly find yourself at a strange, breezy and beautiful corner of Arashiyama. Getting a copy of Arashiyama map and you will be set for a memorable experience. Yes, I think using a paper map is much better than your phone. And there is a sense of exploration about riding a bike and using paper map whenever you wonder at a new corner.

There is a digital cycling map for you to plan the trip ahead.

Daihikaku (Senkoji Temple)

This is a temple with the spectacular view of Arashiyama. Though Senkoiji is not in the top list of must-see temples, the view from it is amazing on photos. I was motivated to cycle along Hozu River and climb the mountain to contemplate the view by myself.

Bamboo forest

One of the most popular places for tourist in Arashiyama is the bamboo forest. Bamboo is a common scene in rural areas in Asia. What is special about the one in Arashiyama, I think, is its density and how the path runs in the middle of the forest. These make the scene more photogenic from various angles.

Something not everyone know was that the bamboo forest is pretty large and there are many areas where you can see this. The beginning part has a wider view but only when you reach the end that you start seeing the forest getting thicker. We actually found an area where the bamboo forest is quite thick and no one else was there. Unfortunately, it was too thick to take any well-lit photos inside the forest. It definitely felt much more immersive than others.

Moss garden at Gio-ji temple

I am a sucker for Japanese gardens. Having seen the rock garden in Ryoan-ji, I was eager to see the moss garden in Gio-ji. Being overwhelmed in a greenished moss garden is to say the least. I was lucky to visit Gio-ji in a sunny day. After being in many touristy spots, I stepped into a totally different world and my eyes were fed with the most greenish color ever. Even the amazing photos I saw online were just the under-representation of the actual scene.

Next time

I have been a train lover ever since I went to Japan in 2012. The romantic train seems worth a try next time I visit Arashiyama. The landscape of the region is gorgeous and the train really allows you to enjoy the nature at a comfortable pace. It is a popular activity in spring and autumn, but not so much in summer when I was there.

For someone that like rock and moss gardens, temple hopping in Arashiyama really took most of my time and it was worth it. There was almost a temple around the corner. Describing it like this might make it sounds like going shopping. It isn’t not. But the thrill was real.

If you like Kyoto, you probably will fall in love with Arashiyama. It is like Kyoto’s mini version with all the best fun packed for you. Here is one of my favorite photos taken at Hozu river to end the article. Stay safe and we’ll talk again soon!

Same place, different mind

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 13:35:52 +0000

“How to see interesting things in a familiar environment?”

The question came up in my mind one day in July 2014. At that time, I had just come back to Singapore from a memorable trip to Japan. I was so excited about the streets, cuisine, nature and people there that I took a countless number of photos. After that, the lack of newness in my surrounding environment in Singapore life made me feel bored quickly and not interested in taking photos. I longed for another trip to Japan soon. Does this mean I am interested in taking photos only when travelling? I didn’t want to take Yes for an answer. To me, photography is a creative process and by doing it, I feel energised and free. I want to keep doing it everywhere I go.

When I was still wondering about the answer, an idea appeared. My office was at Bugis and I usually rushed to and from work. Rarely did I walk around the neighboorhood to enjoy it. That thought triggered my curiosity to see what it looked like in the weekend.

That weekend, Bugis was still filled with people going for delicious and affordable food choices. However, I felt different because I wasn’t looking for a place to eat. Seeing queues didn’t tire me anymore. In fact, I enjoyed observing different people in the queue of a particular well-known hot pot restaurant.

Back alleys always interest me in a strange way. They look raw, industrial and certainly are a genuine part of the city.

Without being aware, I walked over to the Clarke Quay, a popular nightlife spot for tourist and locals. It was around 4 pm so most of the places are not yet open.

I saw this man standing on a table to clean the ceiling of his restaurant. The ice bucket was being used as cleaning water bucket, which was quite hilarious. He must be preparing the place for the evening opening.

Looking at these photos I took, it is clear that I was looking for novelty. What are the people in my photos were doing? and most importantly what did I have in mind when taking them?

I have written before that I liked to capture moments, but maybe I was just trying to capture my mind.

One of my friends said to me that she once reviewed all the photos she liked on Instagram, just to understand who she really was and what she was truly passionate about. That intrigued me greatly. The decision to like a photo happens in a split-second. There is no logical reason, only impulse coming from our desire and nature. It is quite similar to taking a photo. A button is pressed, the shutter closes and opens. The moment is captured as quickly as our thought. What went through my mind at those moments? What was I really looking for?

I took this photo when visiting some friends at Bedok. An uncle and his grandkid were hanging out at the playground next to my friends’ house. I can see joy and adventure in this photo: the joy of the uncle and the kid’s adventure to explore the playground.

It was true that my job back then was quite stressful, so following a daily routine didn’t allow me to see joy and adventure in life. It’s not about the place, but the mind. Travelling is simply an easy way to immerse my mind in newness and it’s not the only way to do that.

You may ask “How can I see interesting things in the city I am living in?” The following tips have worked me and they may work for you to varying degrees:

Do something unusual, something not in your routine. For me, it was revisiting familiar places at different time. I really like my neighboorhood at midnight, which I discovered only when I started running in the evening. My current city, Sydney, is lovely and quiet at Christmas time when many people travel elsewhere for holidays.
Take a different route to the office or back home. By taking a new turn, a new street, I discovered new restaurants and shops around my office. This is a small tweak but can give a surprising result.
Travel with new people to see the world through their perspectives. As seeing the world is not just through your own eyes, having a fresh perspective really helps you feel a different vibe of the place. I enjoyed Singapore also when being a tour guide for my family or friends when they visited me. Seeing how excited they were made me feel the same.

I hope will you find interesting things around you, even when you are not actively travelling. Remember that it’s not about the location, it’s about your mind. If you are curious about the world, you will learn new things.

That’s it for today. Thank you for reading this through. I will catch you next time.

Cheers,

Ryan

My Singapore

Sun, 12 Jan 2020 15:04:13 +0000

As this year marked my three years of living in Sydney, it also reminded me of the departure from Singapore three years ago. My life has become much busier for the past 6 months, so looking at the old photos I took in Singapore was quite refreshing and nostalgic.

City life

I am a Vietnamese but lived in Singapore for seven and a half years before moving to Sydney. During the first four years, I stayed inside the campus of Nanyang Technological University to finish my bachelor degree. That place was relatively far from other areas of Singapore. Living a student life and talking mostly with other students that pursued the same academic and career goals made me not pay attention to other parts of Singapore. In other words, I was ignorant and detached from reality outside my school campus.

When I first moved to Singapore, the city looked fancy with all new sky-high buildings and modern facility. But the more I saw, the less shiny things started to become. After graduation, I moved to be closer to my workplaces. For some reasons, though I changed my jobs, my workplaces are both at Bugis suburb, a downtown area filled with restaurants and shops. At least, that’s what I thought before discovering a few residential houses there. Going there every day helped me witness the life of people living in Singapore in a more personal way. Things I saw revealed a raw, unpolished and genuine side of Singapore, was rarely seen in my campus life.

A problem I had for a long time in Singapore was a feeling of restlessness. There was always an external drive that pushed me forward: jobs, friends, families, or education, etc. Around me, everyone seemed to be doing things with economic, career goals. It was hard for me to see the joy or fun in those goals. Existential questions popped up in my mind occasionally when things got tough. I thought a life in Singapore wasn’t meant for me.

Photography

As I have always loved photography, I started to visit the centre of the city during the weekend to take photos. The office areas were like a ghost town. I think going to downtown during the weekend made me feel in peace with my life in Singapore. It was usually too hustling in the weekdays, and there wasn’t any space to appreciate the beauty of the city. A Singapore with more space was just what I needed. Observing life in a more intentional way, I saw more similarity than difference between Singapore and my home country’s cities such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Taking photo became an opportunity for me to engage with life. It started slowly, but eventually, Singapore felt like my second home.

There were ups and downs during my stay in Singapore. The city is not meant for me to stay forever, but it was the right place for me to challenge myself and grow up. And when I did, I really appreciate my time there.

Companions

Right companion makes our lives easier and memorable. This photo reminds me of the people I met and shared my life with. They were originally classmates, roommates, and even colleagues. I am truly lucky to meet those people by chance and still are friends by choice. All my best moments are always shared with them. Maybe that’s the essence of a Singapore I keep at heart. The people.

I’m going to post more photos taken in Singapore in the next couple of weeks. There are many stories I want to tell.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Take care,

Ryan

New Year Eve Firework in Sydney

Mon, 30 Dec 2019 14:16:19 +0000

Though not a fan of attending crowded public events, I have wanted to watch New Year’s Eve (NYE) firework in Sydney for long. It is the earliest and one of the most spectacular celebrations on Earth in New Year’s Eve. The show often attracts approximately more than 1.6 millions attendance (reported in 2014).

New Year’s Eve 2018

I have watched NYE firework twice during my time living in Sydney. The first time was in Yurulbin Park, not so far from Sydney Habor Bridge. Standing there allowed me to view the overall firework but not the details. The advantage of this park is its availability of space, which usually runs out quickly before the afternoon at “better” views in Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.

Video of New Year’s Eve 2018

New Year’s Eve 2019

In the following year, I went to Dawes Point Reserve, right next to Sydney Harbour Bridge to view the firework. At this viewpoint, I was right underneath the firework. The experience was more immersive, though it was hard to have an overview of the whole show. The details were indeed the highlight of the show when I viewed from there. It was challenging to take any photos as I didn’t have any ultra-wide lens so the video served me better. Video of New Year’s Eve 2019

One of my friends has seen the NYE firework in Sydney four times said that the visual format of the firework has been pretty much more or less the same for the past four years. I find that quite true when comparing at the videos of the firework of NYE 2018 and 2019 I have captured so far.

Random bits

The more I go out to these type of events, the more I realize that going with the right people is more important than choosing the viewpoint. Seeing the firework on the first day of New Year with friends and family creates a good memory. One of those memories was when I went with my mum to see Lunar New Year’s Eve firework in Hanoi. We literally watched it from the street. People stopped driving and parked their motorbike on the side but as there were too many people, the street became full and other vehicles had to stop. Though our view was blocked partly by the park nearby, the visible scene and the sound of firework still made me feel changing at that moment. Maybe the firework simply marks a mental node in our brain and nudges us to think about a brighter future rather than dwelling on the past.

New Year’s Eve 2020?

I definitely agree that NYE firework in Sydney is an iconic scene to watch. If you visit Sydney for the first, Christmas and New Year is a good time to immerse in its festive charm. Personally, I will wait for a couple of years before going to watch the NYE firework again as I want to wake up early in New Year’s Day, especially the very first day of 2020s.

Thank you for reading this last post in 2019 of Wandr Lens. Have a happy holiday with families!

Nikko, Japan

Sun, 01 Dec 2019 14:39:16 +0000

In the summer of 2012, when staying in Tokyo for my first trip to Japan, I made a few excursions to nearby areas, one of which was Nikko. This beautiful town leads you to Nikko National Park, where you can see the beautifully decorated Toshogu shrine and lake Chuzenji. I was in awe when I first visited Nikko.

First day - Scenery

From Asakusa station in Tokyo, I hopped on the Tobu train to Nikko. The trip took me almost 3 hours. The scene during the trip changed from urban to rural with more green and fresh air, which made me feel good after a whole week seeing the hustling life in Tokyo’s metropolitan area.

Our train stopped at Tobu-Nikko station and we continued the journey to lake Chūzenji, where we start our sight setting, on the bus.

Lake Chuzenji

Sitting on the train and bus for long made us want to exercise a little bit. We rent a boat at the boathouse row to row on the lake.

I felt small and immersed between the blue sky, the lake as the reflecting mirror and the surrounding green forest and mountains. It was a beautiful moment to be remembered now.

After this, we walked to Ryuzu Falls. The road runs around the lake so I had more time contemplating its beauty.

We reached the fall after a short walk and it looked fantastic.

At the fall, the battery of my Nikon D80 died so I had to use my iPod Touch camera to capture photos for the rest of the day. It was also my fault as I didn’t charge the camera battery fully and took too many shots in the morning.

Sunset

The most photogenic time in Nikko must be sunset. At a house by the lake, the lake looked amazing. The scene was quiet. I could only hear the sound of waves tapping the bank and birds chirping. The sun was fairly low, creating more dramatic lighting for photos. Though the camera of iPod Touch has a resolution of only 0.9 MP, I still love these photos.

My friends and I were pretty tired after the long trekking and wanted to go back to the town. However, we missed the buses as they stopped operating earlier than we thought. A friend of mine studied in the US had this idea of hitchhiking. I wasn’t used to it since it is a very rare thing in Singapore but was curious to try it. It really worked! We waved for a while and a gentleman gave us a ride to the town.

We didn’t book any hostel as we thought of visiting the town first to decide whether we want to spend one more day in Nikko. It was not difficult to find accommodation in a non-peak season like June. We managed to find a hostel room that has 4 bunk beds for us.

I took this shot near Kegon Falls. We encountered a wild monkey running toward us when it saw us holding cameras. It tried to snatch our cameras and got pissed when I took this photo. Apparently, this problem with monkeys was already noted by the government. If you see wild monkeys in Japan, it’s better that you don’t hold any cameras.

After dinner, I decided to look for a disposable camera in the supermarket nearby. I bought a Fujifilm film camera since it is the only one they got. It has an ISO 1600! Pretty crazy considering my D80’s max ISO is also 1600. The ISO is determined automatically by the camera’s light sensor, which is smart enough to increase the ISO in the shady lighting condition. The photos look noise-free in open daylight environment. Its colour produced by the Natura film reminds me of many Japanese movies I have watched. They have a calm, serene and nostalgic vibe.

Second day – Shrines and Temples

In the second day, we visited Rinnoji Temple and Toshogu Shrine. On the way there, we passed by Shinkyo Bridge, which is an iconic site of Nikko.

I have many failed shots during the trips, due to my first time using a film camera. My fingers were accidentally the view many times.

I was too slow to take a photo when this lady was walking toward me. It ended up being a shot from behind her, but I’m still satisfied with this.

Toshogu shrine was our last place to visit in Nikko as we went back to Tokyo in the afternoon.

Writing this post, I also did some research about Nikko as I want to plan another trip there when I visit Tokyo again. An interesting fact that came up is that Nikko is part of Japan Romantic Road, which is definitely part of the itinerary for anyone that loves a road trip. Also, I didn’t try any onsen in Nikko. So my plan for the next trip to Nikko is to definitely visit it during the fall and spend more time trekking at Nikko National Park and enjoy the onsen there.

Angkor Wat - A walk in the past

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 13:24:48 +0000

In June 2013, I visited Angkor Wat as my graduation trip with friends to Cambodia from Singapore. Living up to the meaning of its name, City of Temples, Angkor Wat amazed me with its well-preserved temples, rich history, and the serene feeling during my trip. The man-made complex lies harmoniously with its surrounding forest. I felt like stepping into a different time.

Many scenes at Angkor Wat has become iconic, and represent Cambodia. The complex is spacious and requires a lot of walking to explore. But it is rewarding with a journey filled with architecture and stories, especially if you are interested in history and went with a local guide.

Monks walking in Angkor Wat

After looking at the photo set taken in Cambodia, I realised this is my favourite. I saw two monks walking around the corner and going to out of my sight. The scene was quiet, and for a brief moment was livened up by the presence of the two monks. There seems to have a connection between the past and present when I look at this photo.

The trip to Cambodia was a refresh from the bustling life in Singapore. The temples weren’t crowded so our group fully enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere and unrushed walk. Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgable about Angkor Wat’s history, which really made our trip more rewarding. I highly recommend Angkor Wat as a day trip to have a glimpse into the past of Cambodia.

Tet in Hanoi

Sun, 15 Sep 2019 05:08:16 +0000

Having lived overseas for a long time, I have been trying to spend time in my hometown during the Lunar New Year, which we call Tet. In Hanoi, the cold weather makes being with our family feel cozy and warm, which is different from other cities in the South like Ho Chi Minh City. Every Tet, I have a few favourite places to go, and pretty much they carry a major part of my memories in Hanoi.

Nhat Tan flower village

Nhat Tan flower village near West Lake is famous for its numerous floral gardens. Each year, when Lunar New Year (aka Tet) comes, Nhat Tan is crowded with a lot of sprint flowers and plants. The most popular choice of flower in Tet in Hanoi is the peach flower. With various shapes representing growth and luck, peach trees are the best ornamental trees for Tet, which is why you can see them inside Hanoi families. Hanoi peach farmers usually take care of these trees for almost a year before selling them in New Year. Some peach trees that have artistically unique shapes are created by experienced bonsai artists, which will require more care and effort.

Beside peach, Nhat Tan village also has seasonal flowers such as daisy, butterfly flower, chrysanthemum, etc. These flowers have become more popular in Tet as people want to have more variety of festive colour.

The photos below were taken in Hanoi, 2014.

I saw quite a few professional photographers here. Flower farm in spring is probably a popular topic for those wanting to capture the beauty of changing season.

There were many props at the flower village for visitors to use for their photos. This couple were considering this red booth for their next photoshoot.

Nghi Tam flower market

Nghi Tam flower market is considered as the centre flower market in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam. I took these photos only two days before Lunar New Year, and the market was more crowded than ever. Fresh flowers sold in the market are brought from Nghi Tam village nearby. The market usually opens early in the morning. I once passed by Nghi Tam at 5 am and saw the market already crowded with many stores opening. Every Lunar New Year, flower markets open from 19th to 30th of the last month of the year.

Whenever I come back to Hanoi in Lunar New Year, Nghi Tam is always my favourite place to visit. It has a lively atmosphere, crowded street, varieties of flower, colours, and scents. Flower plants such as apricot blossoms are also for sale here to serve families that want to have a vibe of the warm weather from the South of Vietnam. Everyone at the flower market looks excited and rushing to buy the most beautiful ones so that they can rush to the next things before Tet comes. I felt like being part of Hanoi when walking at the market. If you are lucky to visit the city during Tet, you should check it out.

The photos below were taken in Hanoi, 2014.

Temple of Literature

In Vietnam, those people who wish to be intellectually smart in the new year will go to the Temple of Literature. They pray to have clear, smart thought, and good luck in exams. Exams in Vietnam are considered as significant events in a school year and used as a primary assessment tool to determine whether or not a student can go to his/her dream school. Therefore, many people seen here are those preparing for their final exams in summer.

The photos below were taken in Hanoi, 2013 and 2014.

The letters written on red papers describe the necessary virtues that an intellectual person should have. For example, they are wisdom, patience, integrity, and determination. At the Temple of Literature, during Lunar New Year, many experienced calligraphers open their stores to write these letters for calligraphy lovers. Most people visit the temple to bring home a letter as their new year luck charm.

These photos reminded me of when I was preparing for the national university entrance exam. During Lunar New Year, my family and I went to the Temple of Literature to pray for good luck in the coming exams. We waited for around 15 minutes for the ink to dry. I passed the exam. I’m not sure whether it was because of my superstitious belief, but I was definitely determined to pass the exams.

… and more temples

Temples are usually the most crowded place during Tet. Many families don’t go to just one but two. Students, people looking for love or marriage, business people looking for success, etc all have designated places to go to pray and ask for their desired things. I used to laugh off at this ritual, but my recently-formed belief is that if someone is willing to through the hassle at crowded (and occasionally sardine-packed) temples and spends that much effort to pray, the person is determined enough to get what he/she asks for.

For me, going to temples is a great thing to do at any time, especially when I want to step aside from the usual daily life and stop worrying. The quiet atmosphere and the smell of incense are like fresh air for busy thoughts jammed by crowded Hanoi streets.

Even the streets look sparer during the first few days of Tet when a lot of families spend their Tet in other cities.

Whenever I thought of Hanoi, I thought of this picture. At the middle of the flower market, I saw this monk. People kept passing by. Noone stopped. She simply stood there. And Tet was still closing by.

That’s a photo for thought today. Thank you for reading through this long post! I hope you enjoy it.

Ryan

Christmas in Ho Chi Minh City

Tue, 20 Aug 2019 05:36:12 +0000

In December 2014, I attended a wedding of my friend in Ho Chi Minh City. It was my first time in the city. Aside from time for a wedding with my friends, I had only one day to wander around its bustling streets. It was close to Christmas and the holiday spirit could be seen on the street. This reminded me of Lunar New Year in Hanoi and how the street is filled with energy.

On the street

Saigon Central Post Office is an interesting place to visit. It still functions as a post office as well as a tourist attraction. The architect is Gothic, influenced by French architecture. The phone booths were frequently used by locals and tourists when I was there.

I couldn’t miss this mass crossing of children in Noel costumes just outside the post office.

Life in Ho Chi Minh city is bustling and you will always see people checking their phone, calling someone, or rushing to somewhere. Maybe the only exceptions are pets.

I visited Independence Palace, a historic site from the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975. A small observation was that the entertaining facility takes a significant amount of space in this palace. There are cinema, dancing floor (at the rooftop), etc.

In the bar

A trip to Saigon is incomplete without a visit to live music bar. In the evening, my friends and I went to a rock music club in Saigon and it was the highlight of the day. The band played the Rock cover of We Wish You A Merry Christmas, which was absolutely a thrill to listen to and sing along.

I really like the level of details on the stage, decorated with Christmas theme.

I saw these two men trying to erect a Christmas landscape just outside my house. As the Catholic population is quite significant in the city, Christmas is a big event and widely celebrated in many families. Almost everywhere I went, the landscape was decorated in red.

In Hanoi, a lot of things seems like from the past and it might take first-timers a while to notice its changing parts. Whereas, Ho Chi Minh city is adapting so quickly that you can see new buildings, imported products, etc everywhere and the only place that I saw its past was the few historic sites left. That is my first trip ever to the city so I think my understanding will change in the future.

Mt. Semeru, Indonesia

Tue, 13 Aug 2019 20:16:45 +0000

In September 2015, I joined a hiking group in my company at the time, Wego, and summited peak Semeru, Indonesia. It was a challenge that I really enjoyed, especially with my new colleagues.

From Singapore to Surabaya

Leaving the office early, I with my colleagues went to Changi airport. We flew from Singapore to Surabaya (SUB). Our guide picked us at the airport then drove us to Malang (MLG), where we stayed overnight before the long journey.

We looked excited for the trip after a long flight. Photo’s credit: Zhai Yao. I was holding my Panasonic Lumix LX7.

Camping at Ranu Kumbolo

We reached the camping site after a long hike and stayed there for dinner and resting.

The summit at midnight

Semeru, or Mount Semeru, is an active volcano located in East Java, Indonesia. It is the highest mountain on the island of Java. This stratovolcano is also known as Mahameru, meaning ‘The Great Mountain’. Midnight is the best time to summit Semeru so we can avoid the crazy heat during day, especially on cloudless day.

Taking a break during the climb

Somewhere close to the peak.

A local porter easily conquering the height without using many hiking gears like us.

We were very tired at this point. The chance of reaching the peak by sunrise has past so we decided to take a rest before the last push.

The local porter coming down from the peak. Their movement made me think they were moon-walking.

Our tour guide is a tough guy. Seeing him climb persistently encouraged me in the last push.

Not sure why I was wearing shade in this photo. Maybe it was too sunny for me. We borrowed the signage and did a quick shot. Worth it!

Sunrise by the lake

It was the start of new day. We were going to leave this lake. For the locals here, it were a day like any other days.

Sunrise at Bromo

People that share the moment with me.

Ryoanji and Wabi-sabi

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 18:24:14 +0000

Wabi-sabi is a world view in Japanese aesthetics including architecture, fashion, art, etc. Its central point is the acceptance of imperfection and transience. I had a chance to experience the concept used in landscaping when visiting zen gardens in Kyoto in 2014. I have come to understand my life perspective by reflecting upon what I captured in photos.

Ryoanji

During my trip to Japan in June 2014, of 9 days, I stayed in Kyoto for 5 days, most of which I spent on temple and garden hopping. Among all visited temples and zen gardens, my most memorable place is Ryoanji and its zen garden. Though I had read about the famous zen garden before my visits to Ryoanji, being immersed in the atmosphere of the garden is still an amazing experience, which is, unfortunately, can’t be recorded fully in photos.

The garden has a rectangle shape. Within it, there are 15 stones of different sizes, divided into 5 groups; one group of 5 stones, two groups of 3, and two groups of 2. The base ground is covered with gravel, which is raked carefully every day by the monks. Stones lie slightly higher than the garden ground. Their surrounding area has some moss. All these stone are arranged in an interesting layout whose entire composition cannot be seen at once from the veranda. From any angle, up to only fourteen stones are visible.

The background wall of the garden contributes to its rustiness. Made of clay, it has been stained and have subtle brown and orange tones. Rustiness is a prominent factor in zen. It shifts the human focus to the content of the object, which defines the core aka the essence, instead of its appearance, which usually causes distraction.

To appreciate zen gardens or any beauty in life, it is essential that the viewer first reach a calm state of mind, when there is no distraction and noise. In this state, our mind focus can avoid the fancy appearance of the object to comprehend its character. The clay wall in Ryoanji serves this purpose well. Ryoanji will be interpreted in a completely different way if the wall is gold-covered.

From Wabi-sabi …

There are many interpretation theories around Ryoanji. My overall understanding is that we need to acquire various perspectives to see the truth, especially the complex ones. The existence of anything can be acknowledged throughout its relationship with other visible objects, not necessarily its visibility. The relationship between different subjects can be more important than themselves.

I guess the interpretation is not what matters in understanding Ryoanji. What matters more is how the garden shifts the viewer’s focus inward and reflect on themselves instead of the outer world. I believe this, indeed, is a form of meditation. Viewers need to embrace the imperfection to see through its essence. Garden historian Gunter Nitschke wrote in his book Le jar din Japonais (Japanese garden): “The garden at Ryōan-ji does not symbolize anything, or more precisely, to avoid any misunderstanding, the garden of Ryōan-ji does not symbolize, nor does it have the value of reproducing a natural beauty that one can find in the real or mythical world. I consider it to be an abstract composition of “natural” objects in space, a composition whose function is to incite meditation.”

… to Photography

Wabi-sabi has been my interest since my first trip to Japan in 2012. After reading a few books, I believe that philosophy is what I need to understand my way of life. In the context of photography, Wabi-sabi helps me explain my feeling attached to an analog medium. When I see photos with film colour tone and grain, I always have a nostalgic feeling toward it since they bring out a sense of time. It’s essential that a photo needs to go through a long development and scanning process to become a visible object is what make me attach to it so much. With digital photography, this feeling is different since we have more and faster control of the medium, and thus evidence of time is less visible.

During my travel, sometimes I wondered why I like taking photos. There were many situations in which I didn’t take any photos and just simply enjoyed the scenes. That was when I realised my camera can’t capture my state of mind and that I should treasure the view without any distraction. Ryoanji is a place where I felt that strongly.

Palm Beach, Sydney

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 03:32:36 +0000

Two of the most popular beaches in Sydney are Bondi and Manly, which, unfortunately, during summertime, are terribly crowded. It is usually hard to enjoy the scene or even get a vacant parking lot. An alternative with a more quiet vibe and still stays within 1-hour-driving distance is Palm Beach, at the northern suburb of Sydney CBD. After my trip to Great Ocean Road, I craved for more beach atmosphere so Palm Beach became my next weekend destination.

Quiet beach

View of Palm beach from the parking lot

A quiet beach

After chilling at the beach, my friends and I decided to hike to the lighthouse. It seems near, we thought.

The hike to lighthouse Barrenjoey

A track leading to another beach

It turned out that in order to reach the lighthouse, we needed to go from the other side of Palm Beach. The path was pretty long.

Picturesque frame along the hike

The water at the other side is fairly quiet so there are more people

There are two tracks to the lighthouse: Barrenjoey, also the name of the lighthouse, and Smugglers. The former is longer and easier while the latter is faster and steeper. I recommend taking Barrenjoey track as the way up and Smugglers track as the way down.

Barrenjoey Lighthouse on blue sky

Barrenjoey Lighthouse

The walk is totally around 45 minute from the parking lot and around 30min from the foot of the hill. Barrenjoey Lighthouse, constructed in 1881, is at the most northern point of Sydney. An interesting fact about it is the unpainted sandstone quarried at the lighthouse. The site looks original and still have its heritage value.

The panoramic view of Broken Bay is impressive. People said that you should bring binoculars to watch whales in the months between May and September. I know this only after the trip when reading about Palm Beach on National Parks website so I know have more reasons to come back to Palm Beach.

Broken Bay

Thank you for visiting my site today. See you in the next post.

Great Ocean Road - A magnificient ride

Sun, 14 Jan 2018 05:33:13 +0000

As the summer weather in Melbourne is quite pleasant, I decided to visit the city in December 2017. It was my first time in Melbourne so the most popular day trip, Great Ocean Road, was included in the itinerary. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and will come back for a longer adventure.

Scenic views

I signed up for a one-day bus tour with my friends as our schedule is quite packed. We visited Eastern View beach, Loch Ard Gorge, The Razorback and The Twelve Apostles. The bus started at around 7 am and came back to Melbourne CBD at 7 pm. The road was fairly smooth with beautiful scenery along the way so it was hard to fall asleep during this trip.

Loch Ard Gorge and Razor Back

Loch Ard Gorge

A way down to the beach of Loch Ard Gorge

The Razorback

The rock formation at The Razorback is interesting. It’s like a natural artwork being crafted by wind and water of Bass Strait sea every day. Amazing when you think about it that way!

The Twelve Apostles

Twelve Apostles

The Twelve Apostles looked dramatic in the afternoon with long shadow. The contrast between sky, earth, water made the view so picturesque that you might spend hours strolling along the beach to view it. Standing there, I wondered why I couldn’t see all twelve stones. The reason is that one of the stones collapsed in 2005.

The facilities at lookouts are great. There are toilets, shelters, free tap water and clear signage for visitors.

Best time to visit

I think any summer day is great to visit Great Ocean Road. The sun is up early and the day is long for so you can explore more destinations. Winter day is shorter but the sunset is earlier so you can wait for a good sunset photo before heading back to Melbourne. Please avoid weekends and peak season in May and December, when university graduation ceremonies happen and international families pour into Australia from other countries, which I saw during my trip to Melbourne in December 2017.

Getting there

Hiring a car and driving there is the easiest way. Tour is good also if you choose to go with a private coach and a small group. Tour bus and big group are not enjoyable, which I experienced on my trip.

The less crowded spots are further down the road and it takes one more day to explore so I could only visit those near ones. I highly recommend taking a two-day itinerary so that you will enjoy Great Ocean Road at your own convenience. I myself will definitely take this option next time.

Thank you for passing by my blog. I am updating its content so stay tuned for more photos and videos.

About

Hi, I’m Ryan

I’m the photographer and blogger crafting WandrLens. I am from Vietnam, but studied and lived in Singapore for almost 8 years before moving to Sydney for my Master degree. I have been living here since 2017.

My time studying and working in Singapore allowed me to discover my passion for photography early. In 2009, around 2 months after moving to Singapore, I bought my first DSLR camera, a Nikon D80, to work for the university’s student newspaper. I then started travelling outside of Singapore and found more opportunities to learn about different cultures and use photography to document my journey along the way.

Though I have been taking photos since 2009, I haven’t consolidated and posted them on any dedicated space. The closest thing I did was some occasional posts on Facebook and Instagram. One day, I cleaned up my photo storage and read travel notes, only to feel inspired by my own work. WandrLens was then started as a place for me to share stories with everyone.

Besides photography, I work as a full-time product designer in the tech industry. I have been fortunate to work with and meet people from different walks of life but share a passion for photography, travelling or life views. Talking about these passions have helped me know many great people.

This website is relatively new, so the best place for you to start is the homepage. I’m writing up many stories this year, 2020, so please stay tuned. The easy way is to fill in your name and email in the form below, and I will deliver travel stories to your inbox weekly.

Licensing my work

Thank you for your interest in licensing my work. My work is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. #### You are free to: * **Share** – copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format. * **Adapt** – remix, transform, and build upon the material. #### Under the following terms: * **Attribution** — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. * **NonCommercial** — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. If you are not sure about how to license my work, please feel free to [contact me](mailto:hello@wandrlens.com). Thanks, Ryan

Subscribing via RSS

Thank you for your interest in WandrLens! If you want to subscribe to my blog posts via RSS, please paste this feed link in your RSS reader app.