宁静 Sereneity ...

Sereneity is
when the Heart and Mind
at Peace with each other
...

Melacca Strait Mosque 

马六甲海峡清真寺

疑虑 Doubt ...

Forget it, 
I'd say that
"Doubt is the beginning and end to wisdom"
...

a Mosque in Bahrain

所有宗教的主要指示 The Guiding Principles of all Religions ...

I like to believe that

the Guiding Principles of all Religions

are to

Say "Good Things"

Do "Good Things"

Think "Good Things"

...

Melacca Floating Mosque

在一个清真寺里 In a Mosque ...

It was interesting to have spent
2 hours in a Mosque
in the middle east
and learn one or two things about
Islam
...

Al Fateh Grand Mosque, Bahrain
Samsung Edge 7

出生并生活在一个穆斯林国家 Born and Live in a Muslim Country ...

My grandfather and father migrated to this country 

before world war II, and I was born in the 60s, 

it is never easy for a Chinese living in a country 

of not your native langugage and predominantly a minority, 

we don't learn the history of China but instead history of a foreign land, 

to be honest we all pretend to celebrate chinese festivities but never knew what there really mean, 

I have come to terms with all these of being a migrant Chinese 

after living in this country for 50 years.

On the dinner table, though I still insist my bowl and chopsticks, 

but I don't mind eating with my hands or cutleries, 

 at home we insist our children to learn the Chinese Language
but I never insist them to use a bowl nor chopsticks on the dinner table;
as a Chinese,
I think we all work hard to make a living and adapt to wherever we were born.,
and I think I am kind of proud of that.

... 

皇家巴生清真寺 Royal Klang Mosque 

Klang Town, Malaysia

Olympus OMD EM5 with m.zuiko 12-50mm 

ISO 100 f8 @ 1/320 -0.3 EV focal lenght 32mm

我们的国家 Our Country ...

In a time like this, 
we need to live harmonously together
...

Chow Kit Kuala Lumpur 

Olympus OMD EM5 with m.zuiko 25mm f1.8 

ISO 640 f4 @ 1/600 0 EV

蘇丹回教堂 Sultan Mosque ...

An Evening of Photography Excursion 
to Kampong Glam to 
photograph the Sultan Mosque
in Singapore
...

Kampung Glam @ Bugis, Singapore
新加坡武吉士 

水晶清真寺 Crystal Mosque ...

A grand structure made of steel, glass and crystal. 
The mosque is located at the Islamic Heritage Park 
on the island of Wan Man, Kuala Terengganu. 
...

 Kuala Trengganu 丁加奴

Tolerance 容忍 ...

I am a Buddhist,
but sometimes
I go in with permission, 
sits quietly at the corner 
of an Indian temple, a church, or a mosque
...

"Iron" mosque
Putrajaya

Masjid Jamek 占美清真寺 ...

The mosque is situated right at 
Klang and Gombak river meets,
where the history of Kuala Lumpur begins
...
the 100 year old mosque is the 
oldest in the city
inspired by Mogul Architecture of India 
...

Jalan Tun Perak, Kuala Lumpur
吉隆坡 ...

Putra Mosque 博特拉清真寺 ...

Putrajaya

普特拉贾亚

I am a Chinese who live in a Muslim country ...

and honestly, I like visiting all "House of Worship" 

or "Synagogue" ...

be it the Indian temple, Chinese temple, Thai temple 

or the many local mosque ...

Religious Architecture is very unique

It reflects the Architectural Language 

for worshipping the different beliefs it is intended for ...
some blend in it with the local cultures 
which makes it even more interesting ...

A moment of silence for all 沉默的时刻 ...

Tragedy strikes Japan, 

regardless of race, religion, and country,

a moment of silence for all, 

in prayers for the victims ...

甲必丹武吉清真寺，槟城

Kapitan Keling Mosque, Penang

Moment of silence for NZ's 240 quake victims 为新西兰的240地震灾民默哀 ...

"This is not just New Zealand's tragedy, 

it is an international tragedy 

that is touching the lives of thousands around the world"

My condolences go out to the 

beautiful people of New Zealand ...

Night falls in the Straits of Melacca 

黄昏在马六甲海峡 ...

Malacca Island 

马六甲岛

"Steel" Mosque "铁" 清真寺 ...

Melacca Strait Mosque 马六甲海峡清真寺 ...

Location: Pulau Melaka 马六甲市 马六甲岛
Date Taken: August 12th, 2010
Nikon D90, Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
ISO 200, "A" mode F22, 1/2, -1to+1 EV 3shot HDR, Landscape, FL=18mm, ND8

Crescent moon over Mosque 月光下的清真寺 ...

Location: Melacca Island 马六甲岛
Date Taken: August 12th, 2010 @ 07:39pm
Nikon D90, Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
ISO 100, "A" mode 30s @ F18, 0 EV, Landscape, FL=18mm, WB=Auto, ND8

...... I enjoyed this shot to end the night photographing this beautiful mosque overlooking the Straits of Melacca on the man made island of Melacca. The time was about 7:30pm with almost the last rays of sun at the horizon and the beautiful crescent moon over the Mosque. I think the 1.5 hours here was well spent and very fulfilling. I shall come here again in my next visit to Melacca. It is very dark and quiet at night after 7 pm except those who are praying in the mosque, I think you can park your car inside the mosque as it is much safer that way. Unlike Kuala Lumpur, I was told that in Melaka; you are allowed in the vicinity of the mosque even in the evening but not within the mosque itself if you are not a Muslim.

The Blue Hour 蓝色小时 ...

Location: Melacca Island 马六甲岛
Date Taken: August 12th, 2010 @ 07:38pm
Nikon D90, Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
ISO 100, "M" mode 30s @ F22, 0 EV, Landscape, FL=18mm, WB=Auto, ND8

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri 祝所有穆斯林朋友们开斋节快乐 ...

Location: Melacca Island 马六甲岛
Date Taken: August 12th, 2010 @ 07:43pm
Nikon D90, Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
ISO 100, "M" mode 30s @ F14, 0 EV, Landscape, FL=18mm, WB=Auto, ND8

A blessed Ramadan 一个神圣的斋月 ...

Location: Melacca Island 马六甲岛
Date Taken: August 12th, 2010 @ 07:43pm
Nikon D90, Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
ISO 100, "A" mode 30s @ F14, 0 EV, Landscape, FL=18mm, WB=Auto, ND8
Software: Picasa
Flickr link:

...... Fasting is a person's whole-body, natural response to life's sacred moments. The beauty of fasting in my opinion can only be understood and clearly appreciated by those who sincerely practice it. I would like to wish all Muslim a blessed Ramadan, and "Selamat Berbuka Puasa".

Melacca Strait Mosque 马六甲海峡清真寺 ...

Location: Island of Melacca 马六甲岛
Date Taken: August 12th, 2010
Nikon D90, Nikkor AF-S DX VR 18-105mm f/3.5-5.6G ED
ISO 100, "A" mode 1/4s @ F20, -2to+2 EV 6shot HDR, Landscape, FL=21mm, ND8
Software: Picasa and Photomatrix
Flickr link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/46055880@N03/4894190810/

...... with my tripod as the sunset is ending its last ray on the Straits of Melacca, I took several bracketed exposure for HDR. After processing, only 1 or 2 came out "right" for me. I am satisfied with my first try on HDR. A really beautiful place to do HDR photography in my opinion on this man made island where this beautiful mosque is located. It is quite windy during the evening, a sturdy tripod is really important. I was aiming at more extreme HDR in the outcome of this photograph.