Into-the-Light with Rumplestiltskin: Featured Galleries and Collections

Thailand Oct 2009

angronnie@hotmail.com (Into-the-Light with Rumplestiltskin) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

23rd October - 25th October
I flew to Bangkok, where my buddy is currently stationed, to join him for a weekend of self-drive photography escapade.

The place where I most wanted to see via my lens is a market located on a live railway track in the town of Mueang Samut Songkhram, known locally as Mae Klong, about 70km SW of Bangkok.

I first knew about this unique market a few years ago in a TV documentary. Since then, I had put it down on a mental note that I must visit it some day. That 'some day' had finally arrived.

Of course, having the whole weekend to slowly partake in the joy of photography, we visited many other interesting places at our own leisure:

Amphawa Night Floating Market
The Death Railway in Kanchanaburi
The Death Railway at Tham Krasae
The Death Railway at Hellfire Pass
Erawan Waterfalls at the Erawan National Park
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery
Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, etc.

More will be uploaded in the next few days. Stay tuned.

Others

angronnie@hotmail.com (Into-the-Light with Rumplestiltskin) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here is where I'll place pictures of other birds that cannot hold a gallery on their own for the time being.

[Back to "Birds"]

Large-tailed Nightjar

angronnie@hotmail.com (Into-the-Light with Rumplestiltskin) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

A Large-tailed Nightjar (Caprimulgus macrurus) is a nocturnal bird with a prominent white throat patch, large eyes and a wide gape designed to catch insects in flight. It has a greyish brown plumage which is a great camouflage when nesting among dead leaves and twigs on the ground.

A common resident with a distinctive "honk honk" call that commences at dusk. The call may continue well into the night with irregular stops and starts. It launches itself in acrobatic forays from a favourite tree perch or post and may be found in many urban areas with sufficient insects. It feeds on moths, other night-flying insects and is especially fond of flying termite swarms.

Nightjars don't make a nest and simply lay 1-2 mottled buffy/pinkish eggs on the ground in a shallow depression. They nest in the open, usually in a shaded area, under a tree or bush. The eggs are well camouflaged and look like pebbles. Eggs average 8-9g, the first egg is usually heavier and larger. Both parents take turns brooding the eggs which hatch in 16-18 days. [Back to "Birds"]

Little Tern

angronnie@hotmail.com (Into-the-Light with Rumplestiltskin) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

The Little Tern (Sterna albifrons) is a seabird of the family Sternidae. Aptly named, it is the smallest specie of only two resident terns here in Singapore. In the breeding season, its bill changes from all black to yellow with a black tip.

The following story happened in Tampines Mountain Biking Trail where I frequented for my macro photography. It all started when my friend spotted two eggs lying on a path of the cycling trail. Words soon spread after he posted the sighting in a local nature forum. I personally counted 20 plus birding photographers descending on the scene in the following days, at different times. It was a secret no more.

A few days later, another egg was laid but the joy was short-lived. First, an egg went missing, then another one ensued. Worried, some photographers began to encircle the solitary egg with rocks, Stonehenge-like. After about 25 days' of anxious wait, a cutest chick spotting a greyish-white with black marking down feathers, was hatched on Father's Day!

This story would be perfect if I could show you pictures of the young tern's first maiden flight, with the proud parent birds hovering above and egging the youngster on. Alas, it was not meant to be. On the eighth day of its hatching, I received a SMS from a friend that the little chick was found dead underneath a rock! There were no witnesses, so no one could say what actually happened for sure.

A few suspected foul play while some said it was just an inevitable incident waiting to happen as the trail was frequented by cyclists, joggers and trekkers. Since day two, the chick had been actively exploring its surroundings. It might have been trampled on by accident and the culprit placed a rock over it in the aftermath. Your guess is as good as mine.

Hatched: 21st June 2009
Departed: 28th June 2009

This gallery is in fond memory of the cute, 8-days old, up-and-running little chick. Life is short indeed. Adious Junior!

[Back to "Birds"]

Night Canvas

angronnie@hotmail.com (Into-the-Light with Rumplestiltskin) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Welcome to Night Canvas, my very 1st series on Nocturne Photography which is the light-painting of night scenes.

As I 'paint' the night away using artificial lighting with or without coloured gels, subject realism is not too major a concern of mine here. Instead, the interesting play of various types and colours of light, interlacing with shadows and reflections, conjures up a surprising mixture of exciting emotions as well as moods.

Although this may not be everyone's cup of tea, I hope you can view this gallery with an open mind. Just treat this as a manifestation of my subconscious mind working on overdrive in dark, deserted and sometimes, eerie places.

Let your imaginations go haywire!

[Back to "Nights / Nocturnes"]

Eneloop Mountainbike Carnival 2009

angronnie@hotmail.com (Into-the-Light with Rumplestiltskin) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Date: Saturday, 28th February - 1st March
Venue: Tampines Mountain Biking Trail

This year's 100km MTB Marathon race came with a few surprises. First, there were more racing categories to last the whole day, catering for different skill levels and age groups. Next, the main 100km MTB Marathon was turned into a night race. Lastly, there were two mountain biking legends; David 'Tinker' Juarez and the 'Founding Father of Mountain Biking' - Gary Fisher!

Race Categories (in starting order):

Dirty Duathlon Sprint
Dirty Duathlon Full
Speed Dual Trials
Short Track (Open, Elite)
Kids Race (C, D)
Super D
100km Marathon Night Race

Unfortunately, last year's 'Pitter Patter' curse was back again. Due to fierce thunderstorm over the race site, the 100km Marathon Night Race was stopped at 8.45pm. Below was the result for those who had completed 6 laps.

100km Marathon Night Race Mens Solo

#52 - Frederick Reyes Feliciano, PH (2:52:10)
#6 - Eusebio Zaldua Quinones, PH (+01 sec)
#2 - Nino Surban 'Philippine Team', PH (+1:32 min)
#1 - Tinker Juarez 'Monavie Cannondale', US (+4:13 min)
#4 - Lim Yew Meng 'T-Clan', MY (+9:02 min)
#5 - Zamri Salleh 'Team Toshiba BikeLabz', MY (+16:51 min)
#41 - Matthew Powell 'Team Ay Up Lighting', AU (+17:38 min)
#21 - Lex Nederlof, NL (+26:16 min)
#15 - Calvin Sim 'Chapter 2 Cycle', SG (+26:54 min)

[Back to "Sports / Games"]