London 2010 Countdown


The 2010 London countdown coverage comes in 8 months late. Yes it is indeed mega procrastination. Thankfully it is out before the 2011 countdown, otherwise I might never post it up, ever. For this photo series, I did not go for long exposure method, with the long light trails. But I would definitely want to try them next time.


2009 marks another amazing year in university, with plenty of amazing and fun experiences. It also marks the start of next step into DSLR photography. And it ended with a good display of colourful fireworks. I won't really delve into how the 2009 year has been as I'm sure you are not interested. Instead I'll just stick to the photographs.
This is my favourite scene of the fireworks show. It isn’t the flashy blasts of lights display or the bombastic explosions in the sky. I was mesmerized by the millions of floating lights in the sky, which is like a brilliant display of stars in the sky. And the stars seem to be drawing nearer as it floats down. 


The countdown was held at the London Eye, along the Thames River. The entire area was literally filled with people, and the few of us were waiting in the freezing cold about 3-4 hours before to get a good view. 





Seasoned countdown-goers were there with mini chairs and hot chocolate, picnicking in the cold while waiting. That is something to note for those of you going for the next one. The above picture contains few of the many colours the London Eye lights up in. Quite a beautiful mix of colours.







Unfortunately, things weren't so rosy after the countdown. Drunk or overly excited people started to get rowdy, and being stuck with thousands of people taking the tube at once is hardly a pleasant experience. Best to have an accommodation nearby to avoid the mass exodus of people going home. Do be careful when you are going for these events!
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Hungry Ghost Festival 2009

As the 2010 Hungry Ghost Festival draws near, I hope to share some of the pictures I took last year. In Chinese tradition, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar is called Ghost Day and the seventh month in general is regarded as the Ghost Month (鬼月), in which ghosts and spirits, including those of the deceased ancestors, come out from the lower realm.



The Ghost Festival is celebrated during the seventh month of the Chinese Lunar calendar. During this month, the gates of hell are opened up and ghosts are free to roam the earth where they seek food and entertainment. 

dThese ghosts are believed to be ancestors of those who have forgotten to pay tribute to them after they had died, or those who have suffered deaths and were never given a proper ritual for a send-off. They have long thin necks because they have not been fed by their family, or it is a sign of punishment so they are unable to swallow. Sourced from Wikipedia


Its been almost a year since the 2009 Festival. Well, I'm slowly uploading the shots I took whenever I can, sort of like revisiting the past. I hope this series does not contain any scary silhouettes though. In case those of you who knows me are wondering where the chinese words come from; Google.
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