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Wat Chalong Temple
Buddhist Temple in Chalong
The most important of the 29 buddhist temples of Phuket is Wat Chalong (Thai: วัดฉลอง) or formally Wat Chaiyathararam (Thai: วัดไชยธาราราม), located in the Chalong Subdistrict, Mueang Phuket District. It is dedicated to two highly venerable monks,
- Luang Pho Chaem (หลวงพ่อแช่ม) and
- Luang Pho Chuang (หลวงพ่อช่วง),
who led the citizens of Chalong Subdistrict fighting against the Chinese rebellion in 1876 and with their knowledge of herbal medicine helped the injured. (Source: Wikipedia)
More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Chalong
The temple is very colourful inside and out. We have seen Gold Buddhas in different structures. There is one unique building like a house we entered and there was life size monks statue probably the founders as you could read above text from Wikipedia. A lot of people visits there to pray and well wishers. The place is very solemn,
Some important reminders for Tourists:
- Slippers are not allowed inside the temple
- Wear proper clothes that can cover your skin
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5 Ways How Danes Celebrate Christmas
Year 2017 was my 4th time to celebrate Christmas in Denmark together with the family of my husband.
What I love most how they celebrate Christmas is the solitude within family ties gathering in winter time, could be lucky if it is White Christmas.
To narrow down my wonderful experience throughout the years I’ve been celebrating Christmas in Denmark, you may find below my picks on how they celebrate Christmas according to Danish Traditions.
1. Christmas Eve Dinner
The head of the kitchen which is my mother in law with my father in law, they are busy preparing all the food for the Christmas Eve and as well as the table arrangements.
The Traditional Food for Danish Christmas Eve
- Roast Duck
- Roast Pork or Flæskesteg
- Boiled potatoes
- Caramelized Potatoes
- Gravy made of fat from the pork roast
- Red cabbage, beets and cranberry jam
My top and always been my favorite was the Roast Pork it tastes like heaven form especially the cracklings of it. Winner food!
2. Rice Pudding Game
A typical Danish desert Ris ala mande or rice pudding to be eaten right after big main course. It’s served with hot cherry sauce. The rice pudding is prepared with vanilla and chopped almonds.
There is one whole almond hidden in the dessert bowl and the lucky finder of the almond gets a present.
I won the game when it was my first time to celebrate Christmas in Denmark and since then my husband’s little niece and nephew is the stars winning it.
3. Christmas Caroling around Christmas Tree
After complete set of dinner, everybody is full and time to stretch out the bellies. The fitness exercise is the Danish Tradition of Christmas carol where everybody is holding hands with the songbook and dances around the tree and singing the Christmas Carol in Danish. I am getting good in singing the traditional Danish Christmas hymns and carols, every year it’s improving. After dancing around the Christmas tree one will lead the way to go around dance with carol everywhere in the house.
4. Christmas Family Gift Giving
Wish list is a must for reference and this could mean as well that what you wished is what you get. Yes I love Christmas gift giving in Denmark it feels like I’m still a kid when it comes to present. This is the most exciting part of the night of Christmas Eve, the spirit of Christmas comes within by being generous and how much you cared about the loved ones on Christmas day. The thrill is the unwrapping of gifts and all the acknowledgments and thank you for the presents got.
5. Christmas Lunch
JULEFROKOST is being served the day After Christmas Eve. Family gathered again together for Julefrokost and with amazing food and tasty Danish meal on the dining. The exciting thing after the lunch is a game to be played called Pakkeleg. Gifts are on the table prepared by the master of the house and the game will start with a toss of 2 dices. The rule of this game is when you get the face of 6 in the dice after tossing it then that is your chance to get 1 or 2 gift for you to keep for a while. Yes it is!
1st round: Everybody will have the chance to toss the dice in round robin until there is nothing left to take.
2nd round: The stealing game of the presents. There is a time to beat for this round and the game continues same way like the first round but this time you will get the gift from somebody who got it. When time ends, its up to you how much present you have stolen. It’s very fun game.
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Dolomites Scapes
Dolomites Naturescape
The Dolomites are a mountain range located in northeastern Italy. They form a part of the Southern Limestone Alps and extend from the River Adige in the west to the Piave Valley in the east.
Source: Google
It was a fun adventure driving through the most exciting roads to drive in the Dolomites. Together with my husband and his skillful driving, we manage to pass safely one of the most adventurous routes in the world. The road is so curvy at every edge so you have to prepare yourself for a roller coaster ride. The adrenaline rush is so worthy at all when you reach to the top of the Dolomites. The nature of it is so refreshing and relaxing. Greenery landscapes that surprise you on the other side coming from the spiral road, with minimal colorful houses that surround the beautiful naturescapes very far out from a typical cityscape in Italy and I am amazed for the first time such amazing picturesque you could imagine.
We stayed a night in Alpen hotel in the Dolomites, the view was breathtaking and worthy at all to see after an adventure ride. We enjoyed their infinity pool towards the mountain and the room is superb with a great view of the Dolomites community.
“In photography there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.” — Alfred Stieglitz
“Adventure is worthwhile.” – Aesop
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Monique Glam Photoshoot
Monique Glam Fashion Shoot
Fun shoots with this sophisticated young lady Monique. She is Filipino but her looks are quite different compared to a typical Filipina beauty. Her looks are more dominant like a Middle Eastern beauty and her eyes are the perfect shape for makeup. Late afternoon lighting is just perfect for taking dramatic glam fashion portraits after our makeup session and plus a speed light thanks to my brother assisting me for the positioning of the light. I did simple half cut crease on her with dark on the outer and cream shades in the inner eye. I used Nyx cosmetics and MAC cosmetics for her makeup look that suits her dress that Monique provided and finishes with a bouncy curly hair.
“You can have anything you want in life if you dress for it.” —Edith Head
“In photography, there is a reality so subtle that it becomes more real than reality.” — Alfred Stieglitz
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Aya Sofya @ 1
Baby Sofya at One
A fun shoots with this beautiful baby girl as she turns 1 year old. She is half Filipino and Jordanian such very cute mix. We brought a lot of things for her like her dresses and toys and we have chosen 3 sets of match ups. In order to get the baby’s attention, it is very common to cheer her up behind the camera to snap a perfect shot as many and quick as possible. A perfect late afternoon lighting for taking baby portraits and should be after napping. The location was at Zabeel Park Dubai suitable for kids wants to play after the photo session. It was a fun day indeed!
“When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence.”
— Ansel Adams -
Beautiful Venice Scapes
Venice, the capital of northern Italy’s Veneto region, is built on more than 100 small islands in a lagoon in the Adriatic Sea. It has no roads, just canals – including the Grand Canal thoroughfare – lined with Renaissance and Gothic palaces. The central square, Piazza San Marco, contains St. Mark’s Basilica, which is tiled with Byzantine mosaics, and the Campanile bell tower offering views of the city’s red roofs.
Source: Google
Places we have been in Venice:
- We stayed at Intercontinental Venice
- Piazza San Marco
- Saint Mark’s Basilica
- Rialto Bridge
- Bridge of Sighs
- San Marco Campanile
- Grand Canal
- Venetian Lagoon
- Lido di Venezia
- Doge’s Palace
- Piazza San Marco
- Burano
- Il Redentore
- Murano
- Murano Glass Museum
“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination with reality, and instead of thinking of how things may be, see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson
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Fashion Forward Dubai-10th Edition
Dubai Design District hosted the 10th edition of Fashion Forward Dubai dated 25-28 October 2017.
It was a free show you just have to register online otherwise they will accept walk in registration.
A lot of well-known designers participated in the event with an amazing runway show. Luckily I witnessed one of the prestigious fashion show headed by Lara Khoury and it was my first time to witness a real catwalk with the skinny beautiful young models.Dubai Fashionistas strut their stuff as well and looking absolutely stunning. It was a fun day experience as an aspiring photographer and got nice candid photos.
“Fashion is very important. It is life-enhancing and, like everything that gives pleasure, it is worth doing well.” —Vivienne Westwood
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Desert Queens
A fun shoot with these 2 beautiful muses namely Ashley and Khaye with collaborations of Newline & Memories photographers headed by Glenn P. Catching up the sunrise is a perfect lighting in photography with scenic location in Al Qudra Lakes, Dubai. A quick touch up to Khaye and Ashley with my skills in hair and makeup artistry and completed by my styling.
“Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever… It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything.”
— Aaron Siskind“What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially today when human contacts are so quick. Fashion is instant language.” —Miuccia Prada
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Ancient Rome Architectures
Rome, Italy’s capital, is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city with nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture and culture on display. Ancient ruins such as the Forum and the Colosseum evoke the power of the former Roman Empire. Vatican City, headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, has St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, which house masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes.
Source: Google
Places we have been in Rome:
- We stayed in Radisson Blu es. Hotel, Rome
- Colosseum
- Trevi Fountain
- Roman Forum
- Pantheon
- Spanish Steps
- Piazza di Spagna
- Capitoline Hill
- Altare della Patria
- Piazza Venezia
- Palatine Hill
- Arch of Constantine
“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives, other souls.” – Anais Nin
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Cutcrease Makeup Look
Cutcrease Makeup, originally eye makeup for arabic look. Typically good for almond eye shape. It’s a technique used to define the crease by cutting across it with a contrasting eyeshadow color and little to no blending.
Different Kinds of Cutcrease:
- Double Cutcrease
- Cutcrease
- Half Cutcrease
