Monday, September 28, 2015

Ancient villages 古村



18-9-2015

早上,天气良好。数位摄影组员再次回到落霞沟,拍照日出美景。

早餐后,告别了友善的酒店老板,在九点十五分左右,离开红土地,朝向400 公里外的普者黑前进。这是一段需时超过六、七小时。

途中,我们参观了两个少数民族的古老村落。我们见到了农民们辛劳的工作,但充满热爱及快乐的生活。他们生活清苦,但脸上还都显现笑容。

中午时分,我们经过一段偏僻的荒野,有一辆吊车正在操作,吊放巨大的水泥电线柱子,把马路一半给挡住,只有超小小型车辆及摩多车才可以通过。我们只好等待它作业完毕后才通过,预算需要半个小时左右。

突然,缺乏耐心的指使,司机决定冒险利用一半路肩通过,但却没料到那是非常松的泥土地,巴士右边的前后两轮都陷入泥土中,动弹不得,而且非常倾斜,有翻车的危险。

欲速不达,只得等待吊车半个小时之后,作业完毕,要求帮忙。

吊车司机老虎开大口,索取人民币2000 元才愿意帮忙。经过一番讨价还价,肉在栈板上,巴士司机没帮法,只好照付而已。

在这荒野地方,最近的救援,也需数小时,也不知是否能够找到。我们心里也非常的慌张。当时天气时晴时阴,有下雨的可能,其中还有一位两岁的孩童呢。

我看着巴士的倾斜度,非常的危险,祈望在吊车的过程中,不会翻车。

很自然的,求助祷文马上念个不停:『吁玛丽亚,无原罪始胎者,我们向你求助,请为我们转求』; 『主耶稣,求你垂怜,俯听我们的请求』 。那时候,除了人力之外,神的助佑同样的重要。

经过了一番折腾,吊车徐徐的巴士吊上路面,大家一阵释怀,还给了一阵掌声。经过一番检查,巴士倒是没有损害。

感谢天主,一个半小时之后, 我们可以续程往目的地前进了。

这是整个旅程中,最惊险的时刻。

我们在下午近两点才用午餐。

1. (Facebook 照片)

2. (Youtube 录影 )





18-9-2015

The weather was good, so few of our group members went out early morning to take pictures of sunrise.

After breakfast, we bid goodbye to the friendly hotel owner, and left at about 9:15 am for a 400-km, 7 hours journey to our next destination -  Pu Zhe Hei, South East of Yunnan.

En route, we visited 2 ancient villages of minority tribe of China.

The villagers in one of the villages are tobacco farmers. Yunnan is a major tobacco supplier throughout the country.

At noon , we were stopped at a remote area on the way because of a crane lifting heavy concrete lamp posts in the middle of the road. It blocked more than half of the road and only small vehicle and motorcycle were able to pass through.

We decided to wait out the operation, which would take another half an hour.

However, our bus driver was feeling impatient and decided to drive through using the road shoulder. Unfortunately, the soil was loose and soft, thus the right front and back wheels of the bus were stuck, and the bus was heavily tilted to one side.

The only option was to wait for the crane to complete its operation, and seeked help from the crane driver.

With no possible help and remoteness of the location, our bus driver has to accept the demand of RMB 2000 from the crane driver to lift the bus.

We were in the middle of no where, the sky was changing, it might rain ... we have no shelter. I was also worried that during the operation, the bus may tilt over ...

" O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who has recourse to thee .." " Lord Jesus have Mercy, help us ". I prayed unceasingly.

After a tense moment, the crane successfully lift the bus back to road surface. Everyone heaved a heavy sigh and gave a round of applause!

The whole episode took more than one and a half hour.

After a check on the bus which suffered no damage, Thank God, we continued our journey and had lunch at about 2 pm in a small town.

What a great misadventure!

1. Facebook pictures

2. Youtube video 





Sunday, September 27, 2015

Hongtudi (3) 红土地




 17-9-2015

这是我们在红土地的最后一天。

天公怜悯,给了我们好天气,虽然没有艳阳蓝天,但没有下雨,阴天,但偶尔有阳光。光线还不错,所以可以拍到一些美丽的照片。

早上我们去拍日出,因为迟了一些,所以没机会见到彩霞,但能够看到日出。过后,我们续程前往观看一棵“千年龙树”,这是一个以传说著名的山坡上一棵老沙松树。

午餐后,我们再次的回到落霞沟,远眺美丽的景色及拍摄照片。

我们依据往外行程,到花田观赏。天气时阴、时亮,没有下雨,所以我们有机会漫步花田之中,享受弥漫的清新花香,边走边拍照。

一行十八人,漫步花田,清风徐吹,花香迷人 ,有的拍照,有的投目远处的美景,有的谈笑风生。

弄手骚姿的团友,蜜蜂、花朵、绿叶、红土,形成了一片美丽的景色。我们就是美景,我们就是大自然,此情此景,人生难得,夫复何求!

一路上,我们也赞叹中国乡下农民的刻苦、勇敢及坚毅的体力与耐力,从早到晚为农忙。

大半天就是这样轻松、愉快的过去了。

等到夕阳西下,我们才回到酒店,享用一顿丰富、美味的晚餐,结束了我们红土地的行程。

我们将在隔天清早,离开红土地,往普者黑出发。

1 ( Facebook 照片 )

2. 录影Youtube 红土地 (上)

3. 录影Youtube Hongtudi (下)



 17-9-2015

Our last day in Hongtudi.

Lord has mercy and granted us a good weather. Though not sunshine and blue sky, but no rain, and intermittent sunlight broke through the cloud. 

We managed to take some beautiful pictures of sunrise.

After breakfast, we went back to Luoxigou near our hotel to get a good view of the valley. It was misty when we were there on our first day morning.

We went for hiking after lunch. We spent half of the day walking through acres and acres of White Rapeseed fields. It was filled with fragrance and humming bees.

It was enjoyable walk and we called it a day after sunset.

We would leave Hongtudi next early for Puzhehei, another remote scenic spot in the South East of Yunnan.

1. (See Facebook pictures)

2. Video on Youtube Hongtudi (1)

3. Video on Youtube Hongtudi (2)


Friday, September 25, 2015

Hongtudi (2) 红土地



16-9-2015

旅行是增加知识,扩展视野,结交朋友及多认识自己。

这趟红土地之旅,团友来自吉隆坡、巴生、文冬、武吉丁宜及来自加影的我们三位(太太、我及莉莉)。我们之前只认识其中的两位外地团友而已。

经过了三天的共游,大家都很快的熟络,加上小团友希希(嘻嘻)的这位快乐、勇敢的小天使,成为我们团里的喜乐酵母,使到气氛更加温馨。

团友们都很合作,友善、相互关怀。在面对一些艰辛与非常挑战的情况之下,都保持着乐观与接受的心态,不抱怨,也不埋怨。在欠佳的天气中,看不到日出,却在浓浓的雾气里,见到了团友脸上美丽的笑容;在陡峭的小路上,气喘中,我们听到了欢乐的笑声。

 红土地、普者黑地区,属于较偏僻地区,所以卫生设施非常的简陋,其中以厕所最为可畏,但大家都以平常心态以对,一笑解千“臭”。

在此我给大家一个『赞』!

行程的第三天,天气仍然欠佳,早上微雨,不能够去观看日出。

午餐后,天空放晴,我们到酒店隔邻的村庄远足,观赏及拍照。

走过农家的园地,种满了玉蜀黍及马铃薯,大家都为收成忙。

经过大约一个小时后,前面另有洞天,一片又一片迤逦的油菜花田,出现在我们的眼前,整个山头,满是花香,大家不禁哗然。

这里有着非常显眼的红泥土,陡峭的山谷,远方的村落,形成了一幅又一幅的美丽图画。

这里就是落霞沟的另一个姿色。

三个小时后,我们回到酒店,再往另一个景点『乐谱凹』出发。

我们以步行的方式,慢慢的步行及观赏,直到日落后才离开。

( Facebook 照片 )



16-9-2015

Traveling is to increase knowledge, broaden horizon, making new friends and deeper knowing of ownself.

Our group members come from different places - KL, Klang, Bentong, Bukit Tinggi and Kajang ( My wife and I and Lily). We knew 2 of them only.

On third day, we are more settled and acquainted. With little traveler Xi Xi, the fun and joy of the group, making our whole journey warm and wonderful.

Group members are friendly and cooperative,  they turned challenges and inconveniences into laughter and joke.

The foul smell and deplorable condition of the toilets, days of bad weather and kilometers of walking on muddy roads were no hindrance and obstacles for them.

No complaint and no blaming. The took them all in stride and enjoyed every moment in friendship and goodwill. My thumbs up for them !

The weather on third day of our trip was still unfavorable, it rained in the morning.

After lunch, we went for a hiking at a village near our hotel.

Farmers were busied harvesting their crops, mainly tomatoes and corns. As we walked along the muddy path for about an hour,  there appeared a open hilly area filled with white Rapeseed fields and red soil hills.

All of us were awe struck ! (see pictues)

After 3 hours, we were back to hotel and proceeded to our next destination - The Musical Note Valley.

We walked along the roads, admiring and taking photograhs, and retured to hotel after sunset.

(See Facebook pictures)

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Hongtudi (1) 红土地



14/15-9-2015

我们一行人乘搭亚航班机,在傍晚大约 5点降落在昆明长水机场,受到当地的领队张老师的迎接。

我与张老师第一次接触是在2012年的10月尾,他带领我们完成了 香格里拉-稻城-亚丁 摄影之旅。那是一趟我毕生难忘的旅行。

用过晚餐后,我们直奔250公里外的红土地,大约在晚上十一点左右才到达。

隔天一早五点半,大家出发到靠近酒店的落霞沟观看日出。当天天气欠佳,云雾覆盖,一片白茫茫,我们也白忙了一场,只能够享受晨雾的弥漫,山谷下的村庄也只是隐隐约约的模糊让我们惊鸿一瞥于瞬间。

到了下午,天气稍微好转,但雾气仍然很重,我们只好在附近逛逛及拍了一下照片。

红土地的泥土深棕色,含有丰富的铁、铝矿物质,在阳光照耀之下,呈现红色,所以有红土地之称。

红土地的白菜花,在九月盛开,是旅游的季节。

(观看照片 Facebook ) 




14/15-2015

Our Airasia flight landed in Kunning Changshui Airport aroung 5 pm, and was welcomed by local leader Mr. Chang.

We first met Mr. Chang way back in Octorber 2012 when he led us in our trip to Shangrila-Daocheng-Yading photograpic tour. It was a life long memorable trip which we cherished very much.

After dinner near the airport, we started our journey to Hongtudi (Red Earth), and arrived at about 11:00 pm.

We got up at 5:30 am the next morning to catch the sunrise at nearby Luoxiagou. Alas, the weather is against us. It was misty and see nothing... just manged to catch a glimpse of the village in the valley hundereds of meters down under through the drifting mist.

However, we enjoyed the morning view and took some pictures any how.

In the afternoon, the weather improved but still misty. We went for a walk at the Rapeseed fields nearby.

Hongtudi is famous for its Rapeseed fields and red soil. The dark brown soil in this area contains high iron and aluminum, and turn red under sun. September is peak tourist season when white Rapeseed plants in full bloom.

( See pictues in Facebook )

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

The land of red earth 红土地


My wife and I joined a photography group from Bentong for a trip to Hongtudi-Puzhehei in Yunnan from 14th to 22nd September.

Hongtudi means red earth in Mandarin. It is about 250 kms from Kunming, the capital city of Yunnan and took about 6 hours bus journey on road.

The group consisted of 17 adults and one toddle aged 25 months old. Majority of the group members are non-photographers but attracted by the fascinations of the places and adventuristic nature of the trip.

Being just 25 months is no handicap for breast-feeding toddler Xi Xi. She covered the whole journey just as other adults on bus and on foot, although sometimes needed to be carried. She is a great Little Traveler!

The journey logged in more than 1500 kms. Pictures would be uploaded in stages.

( See Facebook pictures) 

Read soil  红泥土

我和太太参加了一个由文冬摄影人朋友主办的云南红土地--普者黑旅行团。

这趟九月十四日至二十二日的旅程,共有17位成年及一位25个月大的孩童参加。大部分团员不是摄影者,但却都是被所要去的地方及摄影团寻密方式所吸引。

25个月大还在哺乳的小希希可真令我们佩服。她如成年人般的坐车、步行完成了整个行程。虽然有时得要大人抱住替代步行,但绝未有被气候、食物及住宿有所影响。她确实是个小小旅行家!

整个行程大约1500公里。我将逐步把故事及照片分阶段的上载。

(Facebook  照片)


Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Linking up 链接




Dear friends and my Blog's readers who do not use of Facebook, I have set up a link for you to access my Facebook anytime you wish to.

You can see any new postings/pictures on my Facebook Timeline by just clicking on the Facebook Badge on the right.  Thanks to you all !

各位没有使用脸书(Facebook)的朋友及部落格读者,我已经开设了一个链接,让你能够及时、及任何时候都可以看到我脸书上的最新照片、评语等。

很方能的只需在右边的脸书照片上点击即可。谢谢你们。

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Amboseli National Park 安博斯利国家公园


Two days before the end of our Kenya holidays, we traveled another 250 kms from Nairobi to the Amboseli National Park, another famous Safari location.

It is smaller than Massai Mara National Park, and the roads are very much better too.

We checked into Serena Lodge which is located within the park. The place is beautiful and comfortable.

We enjoyed the view from the hotel lobby lounge where many wild animals were grazing at the big open grassland.

Amboseli is more famous as a place to see elephants and girafee.

( Amboseli pictures in Facebook 1 )

(Amboseli pictures in Facebook 2 )


我们肯亚之旅结束前两天,我们驱车到大约250 公里外的安博斯利国家公园。它是肯亚在马赛玛拉国家公园之后,另一个著名的野生动物观赏景点。

这个国家公园比马赛玛拉较小一点,但前往该地的公路可好的多了。

我们进住在国家公园内的一间豪华酒店,非常的美丽及舒适。

酒店的大厅,可望到一片宽阔的草原,见到许多动物悠闲的在吃草。

安博斯利国家公园以大象及长颈鹿著名。


( 安博斯利照片 1)

(安博斯利照片 2 )