Unchanged Melody - Garung Guni Man

Unchanged Melody - Garung Guni Man

This is a 70 years old garung guni man whom I've never get to know his name nor his surname. This was my third visit.

He's married with kids. How many? I dunno. I'm sure they are all grown-ups and married. The old man has been working here at Dickson Road (Little India area) for many years. I bought him coffee and we started to chat up. It's always the same old "kopi-tiam" topics i.e. work, health, people and the high-standard of living in Singapore, etc etc. The higher standard and fast living pace really affected him so much. Howsoever, he's able to cope by himself; buying and selling strap junk for a living. Well, of cuz, with some help from his son who happened to be around that day.

The old man's son is friendly and chatty. We talked about the old kampong days in Singapore. As we're talking, the old man takes a break with his cigarette and coffee. Shortly after, his son left. We chatted on for the next 30 minutes. Eventually I requested to take his photographs and he gladly agreed.

Upon taking his portraitures, it occurs to me that life is like a melody with many high and low notes/keys. To this old chap, his melody is unchanged after all these years at Dickson Road, where he's contented with what he got. Or does he?

Well, I guess it doesn't matter to him at all, even on the last day of 2006. The unchanged melody still plays on...

Old & New Favorites - Panorama

Laughing Buddhas

Well, I posted this panoramic photograph on our local photographic forum i.e. Clubsnap forum, on 12 Jan 2006. Since I just started on my new photography blog, I also wanted to share it with every blog reader.

I got the chance to borrow a classic HORIZONT panoramic camera from a friend of mine and took on a roll of Fujifilm Superia 200. One main problem with this camera is light leakage and I was lucky to get this shot without light leakage. Phew! All the photographs I took, were at the mercy of the camera's mechanical fault. You never know what kind of light leakages you will get or how worse it can get.

In fact I took 2 shots of these 2 Laughing Buddha in Waterloo Street. Taking panoramic picture does change the way I see things. As I came across the Laughing Buddha there were lots of people praying and worshipping They touched the Buddha statue for good fortune and good health. The last time I was there on 31st Dec 2005, the old Buddha was still in that spot. Now, it was shifted aside and replaced it with a new varnished Buddha statue. Everyone go for the new one and neglect the old one. Personally I find it pretty humorous and ironic on the other. For your information, the tarnished state of the Buddha statue was due to the countless touchings by prilgrims. The new one symbolizes a good new start in the coming new year. So does favoritism play a part here?

Today is Vesak Day. I wish every reader healthy and happy always.