Bali Hai

The cotton wool clouds, the fine grains of black volcanic sands, the clean sea waters - one can just lie on the beach and while the time away with a tan beneath the balmy tropical sun...

Lumia 530 - Travel Buddy In Your Palm

November 2014 Singapore The Nokia Lumia 520 was the one of the best-selling Windows Phone handsets. With the 530, Nokia brings in a few improvements and retains the brightly-coloured plastic body, solitary 5MP camera, and compact 4-inch screen. What Can Be Improved... Being a basic phone the Lumia 530 comes only with a basic camera, which works better with mainly daylight photos.     An entry level phone also means the...

Panoramic Arashiyama - Togetsukyō Bridge

Togetsukyō Bridge (渡月橋, Moon Crossing Bridge) Arashiyama Hanatouro (嵐山花灯路) Arashiyama, Kansai Honshu, Japan Winter, December 2013 A calm serene plane reflects lights, projecting colors. Gentle golds, blues, on a sheet of black, daring someone to notice them. A scene of beauty, majesty, wonder unrivaled by any other. A pattern of rusted metal,  unattractive in the minds eye, yet stunning to the beholder. A peace...

Panoramic Kobe Luminaire

Kobe Luminarie (神戸ルミナリエ) Kobe, Kansai Honshu, Japan Winter, December 2013 I see the flickering flame And marvel at its brightness Its warmth Though its light Is quite tiny Somehow The brightness Illuminates the room And manages  To brighten My heart— For in this flame Burns a steady promise Of a love and friendship shared Across miles and miles On this earthly plane  And when I feel...

Panoramic Nara - Tōdaiji Temple

Tōdaiji Temple (東大寺) Nara, Kansai Honshu, Japan Winter, December 2013 Ringing bells  Blissful strike  Traditional chants  An energizing feel Lighted lamps  A pleasing sight  Devotional songs  A prayful world  Vintage structure  A timeless boon  Garlanded deity  Deepening springs  "My Village Temple" Poem by Ravi Panamanna, AllPoetry.com ...

Panoramic Himeji - Egret's Eye View

Himeji Castle (姫路城) Himeji (姫路), Hyōgo (兵庫県) Kansai (関西), Honshū (本州), Japan (日本) Autumn, December 2013 Towered over the countryside; stood mighty palace once derived from mountaintop; almost alive, envy of all the land. Beauty conveying such granduer like none had ever seen afore. Inhabitants all loving, pure, singing hand in hand. Turrets spiralled to the sky, as glaciers, but twice as high. Moments before oncoming...

Bangkok - Showcasing Nokia Lumia 930

Bangkok, Thailand July 2014 Merlion Wayfarer recently had the opportunity to test the Nokia Lumia 930 while on her Bangkok travels. In this short feature, she showcases the phone's excellent photo abilities by capturing the exciting sights of her short trip. Suphachalasai National Stadium, Pathumwan From a tall vantage point across, you see a majestic stadium in the bright morning sunlight. The rays of the sun are not directly above, the light...

Osaka - At First Light

Osaka, Honshu, Japan Winter, December 2013 It was sunrise. From the plane, you watch as a sliver of light blue creeps up over the horizon. The pale blue slowly lightens to a pale orange, before gradually darkening to a deeper rich peach hue. On the ground below, a lighted metropolis slowly awakes. Buiilding lights flicker on as street lights dim... Osaka (大阪 Ōsaka) is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, the...

Panoramic Arashiyama - Bamboo Groves

Bamboo Groves (竹林) Arashiyama Hanatouro (嵐山花灯路) Arashiyama, Kansai Honshu, Japan Winter, December 2013 聞く  : To Listen Distant thunder An uninvited visitor arrives Quietly silence departs  Listen to the wind Nature flows over and past People standing still Pearl Diver ...