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TRAVEL • JUL 2022 WAT PAKNAM This is the temple of Bangkok's urban explorers' dream. Wat Paknam may have been established in 1610, but it was the completion of the 69-meter-tall Buddha statue that has put it closer to the hearts of photographers. The height of the statue meant that it could be seen from a distance away, framed by Bangkok's sprawling urbanscapes. The canal that runs nearby the temple has been beautiful vantage points as well.
STREET/ AERIAL/ SPACES • JUL 2022 RAZAK CITY RESIDENCES Finding Hong Kong in Kuala Lumpur. We really don't need to travel far anymore to find the high-density, neatly-packed urban dwelling aesthetics that are synonymous with Hong Kong. Razak City is a development that features a series of 48-storey towers packing a total of 5748 units within the 22-acre land it's sitting on. Perhaps an impressive sight for urban explorers, and not so much if you're waiting for the elevators.
HERITAGE • JAN 2023 CHINESE NEW YEAR 2023 The lantern-lined street along Jonker has been a regular feature during the Chinese New Year, but this year's deco seemed to have been elevated to greater heights, thanks to bigger lantern sizes and a tighter arrangement. I just had to see it with my own eyes.
SPACES • DEC 2022 MEGAH RISE In the spirit of urban rejuvenation, the site that many locals around Taman Megah would fondly remember as Ming Tien foodcourt is now a 39-storey mixed development consisting of a condo block and a four-level mall. We are loving how Megah Rise is elevating the landscape of this neighbourhood by complementing the charming shophouses surrounding the site with a more upscale f&b and retail experience.
TRAVEL • NOV 2022 PASAN Located at the confluence of the Ping and Nan River, this ultra cool symmetrical monster in Nakhon Sawan is really a beautiful tribute to the origins of the Chao Phraya River. The new landmark features a series of walkways snaking through its structure, allowing its architecture and surroundings to be admired up close and from various vantage points.
SPACES/ TRAVEL • DEC 2022 TAKE A BREATH CAFE Taking inspiration from the barn in the wood, this new cafe in the suburb of Bangkok is definitely a breath of fresh air in the local cafe scene. The cluster of 3 buildings is spread across a 4600-sq-meter ground, plenty of spots to hang out in and admire the architecture from.
SPACES • NOV 2022 RONIN JAPANESE RESTOBAR Right from its entrance walkway, this new hidden restobar over at Arte Mont Kiara transports its guests to Japan with its funky blend of traditional and modern elements weaved into a cosy space rich with details and colors.
SPACES/ TRAVEL • SEP 2022 SITTISANG CAFE & AIRBNB Definitely the most memorable accommodation of our 10-day-long roadtrip in Thailand, this beautiful airbnb was restored from a pre-war shophouse in the heritage center of Kanchanaburi, with the ground floor level now converted into a cafe. Fav part of the place is the spacious balcony overlooking the busy street below.
SPACES • OCT 2022 PETRONAS TWIN TOWERS Kuala Lumpur is obssessed with its Petronas Twin Towers, this landmark that has been at the centerstage of the city's identity since 1996 continues to charm us till today. This is my compilation of all the images done of the towers this year.
SPACES • OCT 2022 BON KIARA SHOW GALLERY The very explosive combination of BON Estates and Karen Mok Design is back, after the well-received The Estates development, for the show gallery of the developer's second project in the Klang Valley.
URBAN EXPLORING/ PORTRAITS • OCT 2022 SUBANG JAYA The bustling commercial center of Subang Jaya has always been known for its food and other conveniences, but we challenged ourselves to uncover its photogenic side too this morning. That adventure brought us to Subang Ria Park, the SJCC Property Gallery, and a few pretty cafes and retail outlets nearby.
SPACES • OCT 2022 SIGNATURE FLAGSHIP GALLERY Trust one of KL's most established kitchen cabinets and wardrobe solution brands to shine when doing up their own flagship store. This sprawling two-storey complex is a beautiful space that combines multiples sets of show rooms with product gallery, office spaces, a small auditoriam, meeting rooms and a cafe.
URBAN EXPLORING • AUG 2022 MERDEKA 2022 FEATURE This year, we brought our light-painting Merdeka celebration adventures to greater heights, thanks to a very special collaboration with Petronas Twin Towers who allowed us access to the higher floors landing area to capture some rare vantage points.
TRAVEL • MAY 2022 Christmas comes early this year, or at least that’s what it feels like for us, being free and out and about again after more than two years of isolation. This is my first travel again after COVID-19, and I couldn’t have chosen a more magical place than the Faroe Islands to reboot our exploring, its 18 rocky, volcanic islands of pure outdoor adventure a dream come true.
TRAVEL/ SPACES • MAY 2022 25 HOURS HOTEL Once home to a porcelain factory, this 19th century building situated right in the heart of the city is a treasure throve of spaces waiting to be explored.
TRAVEL/ SPACES • JUL 2022 TAMNI HOTEL @ BANGKOK Redeveloped from a plot of land housing 22 units of crumbling shophouses that were over 60 years old, PO-D created this beautiful set of structures that include Tamni, a 700-square-meter hostel, sharing the space with a spa and an office block.
URBAN EXPLORING • AUG 2022 'RESONATING MICROCOSMS' All the years of rushing overseas to experience teamlab's mesmerizing installations, and now they are finally here in KL. Titled ‘Resonating Microcosms’, this installation will be open to public at the Lalaport BBCC Central Rooftop Garden from 4 Aug to 30 Nov. See you there.
URBAN EXPLORING • JUN 2022 LIGHTNING DURING THUNDERSTORM We arrived at Taman Bukit Utama to take some lightpainting shots against the evening vibes of the city center from this vantage point. But Mother Nature seemed to have a more dramatic lightshow prepared for us, in the form of an ultra crazy thunderstorm. I have never experienced this amount of lightning unravelled in such a short span of time before, and that got us jumping in delight as we caught bolts of these electric flashes one after another.
PORTRAITS • APR 2022 BHUMI LIFESTYLE It may be hard to believe that the space of an empty commercial lot could be this much fun to shoot, but when you fill it with the passionate team behind this yoga and pilates studio, the bare concrete backdrop became our canvas for some clean yet powerful images. This space is also blessed with a large outdoor area that overlooks the busy Bukit Bintang street below, extending our playground outwards for some variety.
SPACES/ PORTRAITS/ URBAN EXPLORING • FEB 2022 This repurposed oldschool cinema in the city's charming Chinatown district has seen a number of interesting set up in the past, and BookXcess' charming reintepretation of the space is perhaps the most exciting that I have seen. Multi-storey-high bookcases extended the space vertically as giants steps retained from the cinema hall completed the 3D maze. This fortress of a playground is just begging to be explored.
SPACES • MAR 2022 Marking their foray into the Malaysian market, Amaris' first outlet in the country is now opened at Suria KLCC. The dominant pink-green hues of the space gives it a young, modern look while still retaining a taste of luxury with the choice of a gleaming bronze metallic surface in the center column of the outlet.
SPACES/AERIAL • MAR 2022 PROPERTY PORTFOLIO FOR This assignment brought us on an amazing race trip across a few cities in Peninsula Malaysia, where we covered 5 different malls owned by Capitaland within and outside of the Klang Valley region. These are Jumpa/Sungai Wang @ Bukit Bintang, The Mines @ Sri Kembangan, 3 Damansara @ Damansara, East Coast Mall @ Kuantan and Gurney Plaza @ Penang.
URBAN EXPLORING • FEB 2022 THEAN HOU TEMPLE FESTIVE DECORATIONS It's becoming really quite a tradition to drop by Thean Hou Temple every Chinese New Year to admire their CNY decorations, even more so during this pandemic times when international borders are still pretty tight.
AERIAL/ URBAN EXPLORING • JAN 2022 SALOMA LINK LIGHT UP 65 landmarks, 23 nations, all uniting for a common cause, to raise awareness of NTDs (World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day). I'm honoured to once again be a part of this event.
SPACES • JAN 2022 THE LUMA HOTEL Joining the expanding list of upscale establishments at Kota Kinabalu's latest hip central of Sutera Avenue, The Luma is the first design hotel in the city, adopting its name from the local Bajau tribe's ethnic language for the word 'home'.
URBAN EXPLORING • JAN 2022 SETIA SPICE CONVENTION CENTER Completed in 2017, this beautiful modern archi landmark in Penang has attracted quite some attention in the social media space, and I'm happy to be finally able to explore it in the company of my friend Cheng Yih. Got our attention focused on the porte cochere, this flowing 113m-long curved structure roof that looks the most marvellous on a sunny evening. Hope to be back for the other spots in this sprawling site.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • DEC 2021 CFF (CROPS OF THE FUTURE) RESEARCH CENTER One may be forgiven for being reminded by our mum's favourite plasticwear - the colorful dish covers, but these curious-looking structures rising from an otherwise common-looking landscape do beg to be given a second look. We got to know later of their original intention but the state of things from what we saw somehow gave the indication that it's being under-utilised now.
URBAN EXPLORING • DEC 2021 VIVI AND WEI JIAN Before all the fuss with Squid Game finally fizzles away, we decided to take the series-inspired attire for a spin at this cool location. Completed in 2014, Encorp's Strand Garden office features 14 blocks of shop-offices that are connected by this hanging walkway structure that looks cool either observed from ground level or from the walkway itself.
URBAN EXPLORING • NOV 2021 KAYU BAKAU PASIR PANJANG This apocalyptic scene of a vast expanse of dead mongrove trees on the beach against the setting sun was both mesmerizing and saddening. We wonder what happened here. While you're visiting, the Tua Pek Kong temple at the same spot makes for an interesting stopover as well.
URBAN EXPLORING • NOV 2021 Completed in 1885, this classic site on the heritage town trail of Malaysia still captivates visitors, especially when it is lit up at night. Hoping to be back during the Chinese New Year to see a sea of lanterns handing in the square.
URBAN EXPLORING • NOV 2021 A recent commercial work for an upcoming upscale highrise residential development in Damansara Heights for E&O brought us on a more focused documentation of this charming neighbourhood, from its thriving cafe and bar scene at Plaza Damansara to the tree-lined roads and nearby golf courses. Can you spot any of your favourite haunt in this set of photos?
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • NOV 2021 Kota Bridge is the first double-decked bridge in Malaysia, and while the bustle of the city that it's in is a far cry from a few decades ago, the bridge stands sturdy and is still a good location for some street photography.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2021 The city’s latest playground is here, and it’s at Book Xcess' newest store at My Town Shopping Center.
URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2021 ILLUMINATING SHADOWS: Lights, camera, illusion! Kwai Chai Hong’s latest art installation is a trippy, psychedelic journey of twisting colors and shifting shadows, having drawn inspiration from the materials used to make traditional wireframe lanterns and the playful way light travels through them.
URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2021 A mere 5mins’ drive away from the abandoned LRT train cars scene is a spot that couldn’t be any further apart. This small serene pond with interesting circular patches of grass had us wishing we brought our picnic basket and some sandwiches.
URBAN EXPLORING • SEP 2021 BLUE BOY MANSION An urban discovery of this level of charm happens only once in a while, but that is enough to keep me going. Despite having been around since 1962, this seven-storey apartment block that was once home to KL's wealthy chinese families has somehow eluded me and my street adventures. But I'm glad to have made contact now, even though many decades since its fall from glory. While the heydays are gone, there is a certain charm that remains. It helps to have really friendly residents who are taking reasonably good care of the space as well.
PRODUCTS/ MINIATURE • AUG 2021 MINIATURE LIFE: Other than mushrooms and broccolis, pea sprouts are perhaps the next cutest vegetable items that we can find in the supermarket. Added chickpeas as the ground this round.
PRODUCTS/ MINIATURE • JUL 2021 MINIATURE LIFE: Dusted the only CD sets left in my collection out of the storage box for some fresh air, cos the evening sun was just too nice. This set is inspired by the mesmerising public spaces in Japan and Korea cities. A latte in hand to warm myself, and I could just sit there on the stairs watching the world goes by.
PRODUCTS/ MINIATURE • JUL 2021 MINIATURE ASTRONAUT SERIES: Today's adventure brought the tiny astronaut to yet another colorful ocean, this time made of food dyes. Got a small and simple aquarium for this shoot. Lost count of the number of times I had to refill it as I experiment with different backdrop and dye colors. Overall a fun shoot nevertheless.
PRODUCTS/ MINIATURE • JUL 2021 A BEAUTIFUL MESS The beautiful mess that is the clash of oil and water plays out beautifully for the camera, especially when some food dye is introduced to this concoction. This is perhaps page 1 of the macro photography playbook, though nevertheless still a very fun one.
PRODUCTS • JUL 2021 The collaboration with Q-Aroma Wellness brought us this set of cheerful, sunlit photos featuring popular essential oils from one of the world's leading brand, dōTERRA. We styled our product against white blocks and colored papers to give the mood a crisp, refreshing style, which is in line with the brand's feel-good image.
SPACES • MAR 2021 FOUR SEASONS LANGKAWI Our team has lost count of the series of misfortune we traditionally have with the weather, but we could not have asked for a more glorious two-day slot in Langkawi during the shoot. The coverage of this newly completed 3-bedroom villa by the beach for Four Seasons Hotel Langkawi was filled with nothing but the best sunshine, all day long, with the magic holding on all the way till a dreamy sunset.
PRODUCTS/MINIATURE • JUN 2021 MINIATURE ASTRONAUT SERIES: For heaven’s sake, Scotty, I said oyster king, not king oyster". Today’s tiny astronauts adventure brought us, accidentally, to an enchanted world where fungi dominates and the soil is tainted blue thanks to their radioactive spores. Are you feeling the magic?
PRODUCT/MINIATURE • JUN 2021 MINIATURE ASTRONAUT SERIES: As part two of the tiny astronaut series, I decided to do something about this viral song that has been stuck in my head for the longest time, with a little refreshing twist. I hope this set of photos didn’t trigger your trypophobia.
URBAN EXPLORING/ SPACES • MAY 2021 ASIA SCHOOL OF BUSINESS Further to the opening of AICB Center of Excellence, the hip neighbourhood of Jalan Dato Onn is blessed once again with a second work of architecture wonder that is Asia School of Business. GDP Architects is once again the creative mind behind, collaborating with Moore Ruble Yudell to give the city another gorgeous space to explore.
URBAN EXPLORING • APR 2021 Empire City has been in the making for the past few years. While work seems to have intensified lately, this neighbourhood is certainly not short of half-constructed buildings and infrastructures, and this morning we had the opportunity to explore one stretch of a new flyover that features a cool backdrop of the gleaming buildings behind. Woke up extra early to catch the magic that was the rising sun being reflected on the glass panels.
URBAN EXPLORING • JAN 2021 HOLES IN THE WALL Perhaps my favourite hidden architecture spot in Georgetown, Penang, this series of punctured walls on the ground floor of Penang's tallest tower may look dated, but the opportunities for quirky and fun shoots here are limitless. Come find your own interpretation of this space.
URBAN EXPLORING • DEC 2020 A cosy getaway in between the pandemic lockdown phases to my favourite heritage town in Malaysia. This edition features some lightpainting work at the clan jetties.
URBAN EXPLORING • APR 2021 APARTMENT PUTRA RIA Back in the embrace of one of the earliest apartment complexes that I explored when I started this urban exploring series. And I'm glad to report that it's charming as ever. Still as blown away by the tightly-packed lines that are so reminiscent of Hong Kong, a place that seems too far away in this strange time.
URBAN EXPLORING/ PORTRAITS • MAR 2021 No coverage of the Malaysian spring phenomenon is complete without some portraits, and I'm happy to have Vivi posing for me again, this time in her floral print yukata and traditional umbrella. Among the locations covered include Air Panas field and basketball court, Plaza Tol Gombak and Danau Kota flats.
SPACES • APR 2021 ARTE MONT KIARA: One of the key selling points for the Arte brand has always been their visually-striking facilities that are just begging to be your next instagram playground, so imagine the amount of fun we had documenting this long list of spaces. This album seems to have already covered quite a few, but there are another two more that you need to check out for the complete story.
SPACES • APR 2021 ARTE MONT KIARA: And the last album in the Arte Mont Kiara series features the themed lobby in each of the respective three towers in this development.
SPACES • MAR 2021 FOUR SEASONS KUALA LUMPUR Celebrations come early as we worked with the fun people behind Four Seasons to produce this set of visuals for the upcoming Raya.
URBAN EXPLRING/ STREET • MAR 2021 MURAL WITH TRX EXCHANGE 108 VANTAGE POINT There's a sidelane off Jalan Nagasari, specifically Jalan Angsoka, that offers a cool vantage point of one of the city's most prominent tower, TRX's Exchange 108. And if the beautiful contrast of seedy sidelane and modern skyscraper alone was not impressive enough, the walls of the buildings lining this street have now been dressed with beautiful murals by local artist Akid One, as part the DBKL's effort to rejuvenate the entertainment district of Changkat Bukit Bintang. Come on a sunny noon and let the blue skies transition into the cheerful blue hues of the mural. And don't miss the spot where you will be able to align the mural with Exchange 108.
URBAN EXPLRING/ STREET • MAR 2021 IMBI PLAZA CARPARK VANTAGE POINT The old IT marketplace of the city may have lost its place in our hearts, but the very existence of this building right in the bustling center means we continue to get an excellent vantage point to observe the city from. The carpark on the upper levels gives some wonderful views, especially of the monorail and Berjaya Times Square, before opening up towards Tun Razak Exchange.
SPACES/ PORTRAITS • MAR 2021 AARON IN LICKY CHAN In between licks and clicks, the city’s latest ig playground teases our imagination, and they happen to also serve a cool selection of interesting ice cream flavors. Come on a sunny day for some extra magic at the quirky courtyard, and don't forget to check out the pretty backdoor too.
AERIAL/ URBAN EXPLORING • JAN 2021 KL TOWER The other contender for everyone's favourite architecture in KL, KL Tower makes frequent appearances in the urban explorers' work. Here's and compilation of some aerial shots done of this beauty.
URBAN EXPLORING • JAN 2021 PETALING STREET/ Finally graduating to a new set of photos for KL's most interesting heritage neighbourhood. Gentrification pushes on as new hipster joints replace sleepy stores, and instagrammers on the lookout for photo inspirations replace seedy characters searching for cheap thrills.
SPACES • DEC 2020 PAR 3 CONDO SHOW UNIT Our second project for IOI Properties in the sprawling IOI City neighbourhood brought us to their latest condo. This Par 3 show unit boasts an unobstructed view of the golf courses and beyond, especially the Kuala Lumpur city skyline on a clear day.
URBAN EXPLORING • JAN 2021 COLORFUL BACKLANE Brickfields may be just a stone's throw away from KL Sentral, but the city's major transporation hub's modern touches have long eluded this stepchild of urban redevelopment. Thus, this unexpectedly clean, organised and colorful backlane along Jalan Thambipillay seems worlds away from its former filthy, rodent-infested self. Kudos to DBKL for a year's worth of negotation and coordination with the locals for this wonderful transformation.
URBAN EXPLORING • DEC 2020 Bukit Seri Bintang feels worlds away from the urban chaos of the city but yet close enough for you to gasp at the sprawling city skyline confronting you as you complete the upward hike to Peak 1. This piece of green haven is a favourite exercise spot among the locals and hides a few cool photoworthy locations including the really cool 'desert'.
URBAN EXPLORING • JAN 2021 The orderly, tightly packed set of office blocks at the Horizon at Bangsar South is your perfect dose of medicine if you're missing a similar urban lookup of big cities like Hong Kong, or more specifically the China Hong Kong City, minus the gold tint. You may find quite a few ways of playing with this interesting perspective while fighting the urge of playing a plane right in the middle.
SPACES • DEC 2020 ARTE BY THOMAS CHAN The year 2020 may not have started off as the most exciting of times for the hospitality industry, but Arte Mont Kiara made sure that they ended it with a loud bang, with the soft-opening of their french-retro themed hotel suites. It was a frantic day as we swept through all eight suites of the 56th floor, documenting their various charms while getting distracted a little by the breathtaking cityscapes right out the window. Looking forward to the roll-out of the other floors.
GUIDES • UPDATED JAN 2021 37 KUALA LUMPUR Kuala Lumpur may not have the most glitzy modern architecture, but the interplay of old versus new is very much alive here as urban decay gives way to towering skyscrapers. If you look hard enough, lying just slightly off the radar of most urban explorers are plenty of gorgeous spots that will make your venturing off the beaten track worth the time and effort.
SPACES • NOV 2020 TAGO ALAIA SHOW GALLERY It's not an everyday event that I come across a space as well-designed as this one. And Tago did it again with the show gallery for their latest project in Titiwangsa. It was a fruitful day as we exhausted all the pretty angles of the gallery and the two show units above.
URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2020 MENARA TA ONE: For decades the Petronas Twin Towers graced the KL skyline, and it's towering height a beacon of the country's march towards a developed nation. It's no wonder that we are so fascinated with catching them in our photos. Menara TA One sits right opposite the road from this landmark, and it's open-air top level of the carpark section presents the perfect opportunity to capture the twin towers from a very close, and higher vantage point than the usual street-level spots that you may find around this area. Come on a wet evening, and the extensive puddles on the floor will complete the magic.
PORTRAITS/ URBAN EXPLORING • SEP 2020 Our next adventure with Owen Yap brought us to the historical city of Melaka. While I have lost count of the number of times I've been here, the evolving city has proven to still have the ability to keep us entertained as we uncovered new sights to shoot in, especially along the river.
SPACES • JUL 2020 PAVILION HOTEL Occupying the sharp intersection of Jalan Raya Chulan and Jalan Bukit Bintang is Pavilion Group's glitzy upscale hotel. This week-long assignment took us from the common areas to the string of f&b outlets within, and onwards to the Presidential Suite.
URBAN EXPLORING/ PORTRAITS • JUL 2020 OWEN YAP Two weeks back to back shooting portraits at the same spot. Laman Perdana truly deserves this kinda attention. While we didn't get as lucky with the weather this round, I brought along the heartpatrick magic mirror to add in something more conceptual.
SPACES • JUL 2020 EBISU, PAVILION HOTEL You may be forgiven if your senses tricked you into thinking that you have been transported to Japan, for the rich interiors of Ebisu resonate with our experience of the finest Japanese touches.
PORTRAITS • JUL 2020 A SEASON FOR LOVE: Been such a long time since my last family portrait session. And I'm so glad I found time away from my commercial work to capture this set of memories for Rey and Loraine as they get ready to welcome their second child. There couldn't have been a better backdrop to all these heartwarming moments than Four Seasons Langkawi.
SPACES • JUL 2020 TERENGGANU HERITAGE VILLAGE Nestled in the idyllic village of Kampung Penarik is this charming set of Malay kampung houses restored from crumbling buildings around the state into this beautifully preserved heritage village.
OTHERS • MAR-JUN 2020 #CREATIVELOCKDOWN: Our daily routine as we know it may have been disrupted during the covid19 lockdown, but this is finally our golden opportunity to spend more quality time at home, doing the things that we could only wish to do during busier periods. There's no better time for me than these few months of lockdown to finally put all the miniatures that I have been collecting the past year or so to good use. What a fun opportunity too to recreate the great outdoors while staying indoor, using everyday materials and food items found at home.
URBAN EXPLORING/ SPACES • FEB 2020 ARTEPLUS This is your instagram selfie museum on steroids, except that you can also bring your luggage in for a night's stay or more. Nusmetro's strong emphasis on meeting the demands of the throngs of instagrammers searching for a new playground in town has paid off. ArtePlus Jalan Ampang packs a dizzying array of visually-interesting spots for your OOTD and light saber low-light photography and everything in between. Most of these facilities are accessible by condo residents and guests only, so do book your stay through one of those vacation rentals vendors out there for your all-access pass.
TRAVEL • DEC 2019 We came in search of the magic that made this place deserving of the title India's first UNESCO World Heritage City, and found it while navigating the labyrinthine alleys of the old quarters, choked with architectural details and bustling street scenes and everything in between. Ahmedabad is not for the faint-hearted, but among the overwhelming cacophony of traffic, crowd and noise, this city will charm you with the truest of smiles and warmest of hearts.
SPACES • JAN 2020 The Jalan Stonor neighbourhood has a new addition to its bustling skyline with Tan&Tan delivering their 41-storey luxury development at the end of Lorong Stonor. Spent two days documenting the various spaces within as the light shifts from morning till night.
TRAVEL • NOV 2019 There's nothing quite like the experience of autumn in Mount Fuji. That 3-night stay here was one of the most productive trips that I have ever had. I definitely could not get enough of Fujiyoshida town, the surreal sights of this sleepy town against a snow-capped giant sitting at such an unbelievably close distant are beyond words. Something tells me that I will be back again, soon.
SPACES/ URBEX • DEC 2019 BOOKXCESS, SUNSURIA FORUM Not all bookstores are created equal, and in the case of the latest BookXcess outlet in Sunsuria Forum, the interior architectural game has been upped by elevating a book store to the status of an instagram hotspot, perhaps having sought inspiration from similar cool bookstores and libraries in China and Korea.
GUIDES • UPDATED SEP 2019 15 KUALA LUMPUR Kuala Lumpur may not be have the most glitzy modern architecture, but the interplay of old versus new is very much alive here as urban decay gives way to towering skyscrapers. If you look hard enough, lying just slightly off the radar of most urban explorers are plenty of gorgeous spots that will make your venturing off the beaten track worth the time and effort.
TRAVEL • AUG 2019 It was the quickest Europe trip for me ever - a week-long journey to cover a wedding in Lisbon, and this is the spin-off album with some shots from the few hours here and there that I got to do some street photography. Absolutely loving the vibrance of the city during summer, I was mostly tracking the paths of the trams for all the best spots in town. One day I'll be back again.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • AUG 2019 Taman Melati has a hidden secret, two impossibly colorful courts tucked quietly between blocks of low-cost flats. And I'm so glad that to have the company of Shuang Yi while exploring this, as I wouldn't be able to do much magic myself without his presence in my shots. The rainbow-colored facade of the flats is post-processed, but still, the courts themselves were already worth the visit.
SPACES/ STREET • APR 2019 RAINBOW WALKWAY This is perhaps Pusat Sain Negara's most impressive exhibit, and it's free. The rainbow walkway is the result of the sunlight filtering in from the rainbow cladding enveloping the circular building, and the good thing is, this breathtaking effect is visible all day long, as long as we have the sun. To get to this service lane, drive around the building until you see an external staircase leading up from the ground floor to the upper floors. Take that and you're there. Remember to greet the friendly guards who are sometimes seen around the walkway entrance.
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SPACES • OCT 2022 PARKROYAL Parkroyal may have been an established resort in the popular Batu Feringghi stretch of charming beachside accommodations since the 90s, but the resort continues to reinvent and upgrade itself to stay relevant and keep up with the times. This trip was to cover a few new offerings within the resort ground, including sunset dining at Gustoso by the Beach, the new Amazonia water park and Passion Garden bar.
HERITAGE/ STREET • JAN 2023 CHINESE NEW YEAR 2023 The charming village of Machap has been making headlines in the past few years for their beautiful new year decorations, so this time around, we made sure to travel down to capture the festive vibe. And it was definitely worth the journey.
AERIAL/ HERITAGE • JAN 2023 MALAYSIAN HAN STUDIES Officially opened in Feb 2016, this majestic, spaceship-like building draws inspiration from the Hakka tulou, and is home to the Malaysian Han Studies, a non-profit, private educational institution in Malaysia. I'd look forward to the opportunity of exploring the interiors one day.
TRAVEL • SEP 2022 WAT PHRA THAT PHA SON KAEW I haven't seen a Buddha statue as breath-taking as the one at Wat Phra That Pha Son Kaew. Located at the hilltop of Thang Daeng Village, this statue is really made up of five statues stacked tightly together, resulting in this majestic formation that I could not take my eyes off. Despite having arrived during the rainy season, the famed sea of clouds remained elusive to us. Perhaps we will be more lucky the next round.
SPACES • NOV 2022 PARKROYAL LANGKAWI RESORT Spotting an architecture inspired by the shapes of the eagle's wings taking flight, Langkawi's hot new hotel opening is quite the head-turner. Here is a first look at this sexy space that's slated to welcome its first guest in early 2023.
HERITAGE/ URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2022 PANTAI MEK MAS This beautiful expanse of sand dunes at Pantai Mek Mas is giving us Ghibli vibes. It's been on my to-do list for awhile and am happy to arrive in the company of a sweet couple on a beautiful sunny and windy evening. The dunes may be what people come here for, but I thought the overgrown vegetation added a new level of surrealism to the place.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2022 BANDAR SERENIA Tucked away in Sepang is a new township founded upon the inspiration from tea leaves. I had a fun time documenting the mesmerising kinetic sculpture, together with a few other interesting installations around the 105-acre neighbourhood.
TRAVEL/ SPACES • SEP 2022 Located right in the heart of Chinatown is the heritage zone's latest opening. The modern, minimalistic design of Asai helps calm the senses after an day out at Bangkok's chaotic district.
TRAVEL • MAY 2022 While Faroe was all about nature, our side trip to the capital city of Denmark was all about my core travel interest - architecture, and Copenhagen certainly is not short of breathtaking ones. Among the few that we managed to cover are Ørestad Plejecenter, VM Houses, Copenhill and Aktivitetstaget Bella.
TRAVEL/ SPACES • MAY 2022 CACTUS TOWERS This aptly-named set of towers definitely begs a second look. Measuring 60 and 80-meters tall respectively, the Cactus Towers, or Kaktus Towers as the locals called them, is a high-rise residential building with a stunning, spiky facade. I can't wait to be back to explore them in detail after completion.
URBAN EXPLORING • AUG 2022 Chinatown is currently enjoying this seemingly unstoppable wave of urban rejuvenation, Pudu remains its humble, unassuming neighbour, though still buzzing with the heritage hum that has been going on for decades. This busy, vintage time capsule of a neighbourhood is a cacophony of wet market, charming eateries and street side food vendors, temples, oldschool bakeries and more. Come on a sunny morning and feel the authentic buzz.
SPACES/ TRAVEL • JUL 2022 SAMSEN STREET HOTEL Nestled among a charming neighbourhood of local housing, street food vendors and wet markets is Samsen Street Hotel, transformed from a 47-year-old curtained love motel in Bangkok’s old Samsen Red Light District. Now this hip hotel is about cool design, airy interiors, and hanging your legs from the balcony for an outdoor movie night.
TRAVEL/ SPACES • JUL 2022 Bonsai, which means on top of the ficus tree in Thai, pays tribute the large Ficus tree sitting on the plot of land where the hotel is built, and thus the design concept of this charming boutique hotel is born. We were first attracted to the brightly-colored staircase area, but quickly discovered that the same cheerful design language extends to the other areas too.
SPACES • JUL 2022 LEA BY THE HILLS MLA's latest space for OSK Property tucked at this charming, hilly side of town carries on the bright, welcoming interiors blessed with warm hues and dashes of gold.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • JUN 2022 OHO MOOKATA & BAR It’s always a plus point when a restaurant gives you not just good food but also some great photo opportunities. We all agreed that their food sent us up to cloud nine, or in this case a strange new blue planet.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • MAY 2022 It's been more than 20 years since KL Sentral opened its doors for the first time, but KL's premiere transit-oriented hub has continued to transform the city's skyline and the public transportation experience of its urban dwellers until today. While my most visited spot here in this 290000 square meters of space has been the pedestrian crossing of Nu Sentral to Brickfields, this collaboration with MRCB Land has allowed me to really spend some quality time exploring its every nook and cranny.
SPACES • APR 2022 WAYANG KULIT-INSPIRED A traditional form of puppet-shadow play gets a modern reinterpretation in this installation by Perk Idea for a Xiaomi/Natgeo Masterclass event.
HERITAGE • APR 2022 CHERANDONG DAM WATERFALL It’s hard to believe that such a sight exists right at the doorsteps of Klang Valley. Yet here it is in its full glory, bathed in the warm morning sun. The Cherandong Dam is an old structure left behind from the British era, and while it may have now fallen out of use, the sight of it is as captivating as ever.
URBAN EXPLORING/ SPACES • UPDATED APR 2022 ICONIC BRIDGE & The City of Elmina has done it again. Right after blessing the Klang Valley with the rainbow bridge instagram spot, a new sight has now been completed, called the Iconic Bridge, located right next to Elmina Central Park. Do remember to check out the similarly striking red lookout point within the park as well.
URBAN EXPLORING • FEB 2022 TRAPPED IN A VIDEO GAME Mall got creative with the temporary hoarding of a vacant lot, and we had a fun half an hour or so reinterpreting the colorful space into a dizzying game of 3D tetris. Give us more of that please.
PORTRAITS • MAR 2022 NOAH YAP I always feel that there are more ways to play with the architecture of Centrio. Thus this collaboration with Noah, a professional aerial dance performer in Malaysia, is perfect. His long, flowy strip of red silk is a perfect complement to the masculine, cold steel structure seen all over this development.
URBAN EXPLORING • MAR 2022 SUNGAI LIMA There may be no other place as near to the city yet as detached from city life than Sungai Lima. Sharing the same island as its more popular neighbour, Pulau Ketam, this fishing village is famous for its production of dried shrimps. While the volume of this industry has been shrinking due to the migration of the village population to the city, we still managed to catch glimpses of the whole process, and had a pleasant time observing and documenting the daily life of the locals.
URBAN EXPLORING • JAN 2022 KAMPUNG AGONG SharingIf you can't decide between spending time in a coconut grove or the paddy fields, Kampung Agong is your answer. Situated in Penaga, Pulau Pinang, this countryside “Agro Themed Park” has been hot on the instragrammer to-do list for awhile now, and I'm so glad to have dropped by on a beautiful, sunny morning. Will definitely time my second visit to coincide with the golden harvest season next.
SPACES • MAR 2022 SOFITEL KUALA LUMPUR Wrapping up this assignment for Sofitel Kuala Lumpur who commissioned the shoot to refresh the visuals of their offerings, from hotel rooms, event spaces, to their f&b outlets and facilities.
SPACES • JAN 2022 FLOW COFFEE Expanding from their West Malaysia base, Flow Coffee finds a cosy footing at this quiant section of the lobby of The Luma Hotel.
SPACES • DEC 2021 CHICHA SAN CHEN Continuing their expansion beyond the over 200-strong store count across Taiwan and China, CHICHA San Chen's foray into the Klang Valley's boba drink market brought them to the spanking new mall this side of Bukit Jalil. The site's orientation allows for a 360-degree appreciation of MLA's magic touch.
SPACES • DEC 2021 MOET CHANDON INSTALLATION Experiencing Perk Idea's multi-themed installation for Moet Chandon in conjunction with the festive season of 2021 feels like a fizzy dream come true. We had a lot of fun documenting the various charming interplay of light, projections, reflections and perspectives, as the story of this classic champagne unfolds along the journey.
URBAN EXPLORING • DEC 2021 STAR/KL LIGHT INSTALLATION Still recovering from the regrets of having missed his epic 2015 work in Butterworth, I knew i just have to rush over and check out Jun Ong's next chapter in his STAR series, happening right now at the Godown.
URBAN EXPLORING • NOV 2021 Mirrors make for some cool visual effects, and this dizzyingly gorgeous installation at The Parc has all the mirrors we will ever need for our insta games. If you’re planning to do a little sprint in this maze, please watch your steps carefully, and don’t trust ur eyes entirely.
URBAN EXPLORING • NOV 2021 TAIPING LAKE GARDENS Finally got another key sight checked off my Malaysian heritage sites list. Staying true to being the wettest place in the country, it was absolutely wet throughout most of our shoot in this 140yo ex-mining ground wonder, but that just added to the magical, misty, dreamy mood of the shots. And given Taiping folk's love of their rainbow umbrella, there's no other more appropriate prop that we should showcase.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2021 ENLIGHTENED HEART BUDDHIST TEMPLE Hidden deep within the limestone hills of Tambun is a Tibetan temple with a pagoda boasting an interior architecture so mind-blowing I had to stop every other step just to take the whole scene in. The 13 levels of hanging balconies and curved stairways may be unsettling for acrophobics but this enlightening experience to the Buddha statue on top will be remembered for a long time to come.
URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2021 Nestled within the limestone caves of Ipoh is the oldest chinese temple here called Sam Poh Caves Temple. Surrounded by towering hills, the red-roofed structure in the middle gives it a mystical feel that is impressive from both ground and aerial view.
URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2021 JONATHAN CHEAH It was a fun morning teasing all the cool parkour moves out of Jonathan. This extreme park may be a little tired looking but it’s still a cool venue for some serious poses.
SPACES • SEP 2021 AKASA CHERAS SOUTH Hap Seng Land's entry into the property market this part of town is setting a new standard for high-rise living. Beyond the beautiful details of the urban resort inspired reception lobby, the man-made beach, Olympic-length lap pool and gourmet kitchen with unobstructed views of the neighbourhood and beyond are definitely upping the competition.
URBAN EXPLORING • AUG 2021 PANGGUNG BANDARAYA DBKL Located at the junction of Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Raja, this historical theatre is definitely one of KL's most underrated building, perhaps its close proximity to the Sultan Abdul Samad building means the latter may have taken most of the attention away. For the longest time, the back portion of the building was off-limit due to ongoing restoration work, but the recent removal of barricades at the entrance revealed a charmingly restored walkway that gave access to a beautiful back facade. Looking forward to seeing what other magic is coming this way.
PRODUCTS/ MINIATURE • MAY-AUG 2021 As I packed my box of miniatures and props by the end of year 2020, I thought it will be a long while before I dust it off again for more shoots. But fate would have it that covid will continue to disrupt our life with new waves of infection, and so this compilation is in tribute to those countless weeks spent locked up at home again in year 2021.
URBAN EXPLORING/ AERIAL • SEP 2021 RIVER OF LIFE/ MASJID JAMEK The story of Kuala Lumpur, told in one frame. We can't get any closer than with the image of Masjid Jamek sitting at the confluence of Gombak river and Klang River. And the River of Life project elevated the dramatic scene further with dreamy blue perimeter lightingd and the intermittent mist that magically transform the mosque into one that is seemingly floating in the clouds. This is one spot that has to be seen with one's own eyes, and sometimes one's drone.
PRODUCTS • JUL 2021 MALAYSIAN HERITAGE PRODUCT: The tides of time is a threat to our heritage, and while looking for items of significant value to our Malaysia culture to document our collective memories by, I did not have to think too long before settling for the Flying Man matches. Found this box at an old hardware store of which owner told me, expectedly, that they don't bring in fresh stock anymore. Which other items do you think I should cover?
URBAN EXPLORING • JUN 2021 BERJAYA TIMES SQUARE There's something about the desolate, forgotten world of Berjaya Times Square that makes it appealing - those dystopian scenes of deserted chinese new year deco and empty food streets make for a strangely beautiful urban backdrop during these trying times. Let's hope for things to return to normal once the dust settles.
PRODUCTS/ MINIATURE • JUL 2021 MINIATURE LIFE: Dedicating this next miniature series to my favourite game of all time. Monument Valley may have been released years ago but its aesthetics and gameplay continue to impress me till today, even after repeated plays. I hope ustwogames will make a third edition soon!
PRODUCTS/MINIATURE • JUL 2021 MINIATURE LIFE: "Honey, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore." It was a fun afternoon building a city out of loose screws left over from our renovation days. A little blu tack goes a long way into making sure that the city is able to withstand some tremors, and a recycled piece of packaging plastic helps to complete the trip on a choppy sea.
PRODUCTS/MINIATURE • JUN 2021 MINIATURE ASTRONAUTS SERIES: Had my imagination teased today as I brought the tiny astronauts on another out-of-this-world adventure, to a series of mostly colorful planets, brought to us by the magical swirls on the soap film bubbles. It's hard to appreciate the beauty of everyday life sometimes, until you decide to zoom in on the details. Seriously falling in love with macro photography.
URBAN EXPLORING • MAY 2021 KAPUR TREES MASTING The Kapur trees, or Dryobalanops aromatica as they are scientifically called, is a species of critically endangered plant in the family Dipterocarpaceae. Sometimes affectionately referred to as the broccoli forest, the large collection of these trees along the Rawang Bypass is why the highway was built to shape like such, to snake its way around the trees and therefore minimizing the impact of construction. Once every few years, the phenomenon of mast seeding, also called masting, occurs. It refers to the synchronous production of large numbers of seeds or fruit by a population of plants. The resulting sea of yellow was quite a sight to behold, and I was lucky enough to have caught this beautiful sight with my drone before a fresh wave of COVID restrictions came into play.
URBAN EXPLORINS • APR 2021 CAMPBELL COMPLEX VANTAGE POINT FOR Campbell Complex may have lost its lustre within the city center's aging heritage core, but the rooftop level of its parking floors hides a pretty interesting secret - a vantage point that unlocks a pretty impressive view of the streets below it, especially when it's the month of Ramadhan. We fell in love with how the colorful street-lined stalls compliments the bright neon signages.
URBAN EXPLORING/ PORTRAITS • MAY 2021 NOEY IN The KLCC area may boast quite a few popular attractions within the vicinity of the Twin Towers, but this beautiful mosque has eluded me all these while, until this Ramadhan month, where I had the honour of marvelling at its architecture from a close distance, in the company of my friend Noey.
URBAN EXPLORING/ AERIAL • APR 2021 ABANDONED VEHICLE DEPOT What was supposed to be a quick brunch stopover during a work trip down south turned out to be our coolest urban decay find in the recent months. This sprawling visual feast got me jumping in delight at its sheer vastness and potential. Wish we had the whole day here.
URBAN EXPLORING • APR 2021 TAMAN BAYU TEBRAU Launched in 1999, Taman Bayu Tebrau was a residential project that was expected to complete in 2005. It subsequently stalled after the developer got hit by a financial crisis. This ill-fated project remains uncompleted despite a more recent effort by the government to revive it. The abandoned site joins the numerous other constructions in the city that suffered the same outcome.
SPACES • APR 2021 ARTE MONT KIARA: Snuggled within the higher levels of each of the three towers in Arte Mont Kiara are three more spaces for residents to explore.
URBAN EXPLORING • APR 2021 KWAI CHAI HONG ART INSTALLATION: Kwai Chai Hong's latest art installation marries the traditional chinese floral design with fabric-dye factory display, creating a living, breathing artpiece that comes alive with the breeze. I had a fun blue hour shoot with Javier Chor, one of the co-founder of Kwai Chai Hong, using some backlit flashes to add some additional lighting drama into the shots.
URBAN EXPLORING • MAR 2021 KL IN SYMMETRY: Twice a year, at the popular lookout point of Changkat Tunku, a visual feast awaits those willing to sacrifice their morning slumber. I have been guilty of missing these opportunities year after year, but am grateful that I finally found the determination to catch it once and for all this round. The sight of the sun rising right in between the Petronas Twin Towers was pure magic. I believe I am now hocked on bearing witness to this feast for years to come.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • JAN 2021 1 UTAMA The Year 2021 could risk having its chinese new year celebrations stripped, amidst the raging pandemic still chalking up aggressive numbers on new covid infections. Not all malls are ready to let this dampen their festive spirits though. Against all odds, 1 Utama, in particular, gave us the most impressive set up that I have seen, a good-sized pagoda in a garden of plum blossoms, surrounded by a ring of covered walkway that covers the entire length and breath of the podium. The visual impact is immediately arresting. Combined that with a longing for exotic overseas locations that have eluded us for a year now, and we have got a hit.
URBAN EXPLORING • JAN 2021 SAFARI LAGOON: The story of Safari Lagoon, Klang Valley's first roof top water themepark, has fascinated many. It was the go-to destination when it first opened its door back in 1998. While many of the city folk still reminisce about the wonderful memories created there, and wondered about how things are looking everytime they pass by this building while driving along MRR2, hopefully this set of images will help.
SPACES/ PORTRAITS • DEC 2020 The coolest property to emerge in town and there's no way I could stop myself from doing some portraits here. Nusmetro's Arte Mont Kiara is built for the gram and I could take a good few sessions just to cover all the spots. Pray that your session here is blessed by lots of sunlight.
URBAN EXPLORING • NOV 2020 Putrajaya's Alamanda Mall has a secret, and it's this impossibly colorful installation on a series of steps going down from the mall to the lake. This sprawling series of interlocked tri-color patterns is a cool backdrop that can be admired from multiple vantage points and perspectives. I'll be back for some aerials.
PORTRAITS/ URBAN EXPLORING • NOV 2020 KEITH IN KEDAI KL Kedai is an artisanal marketplace that was carved out from a block over at MAHSA Avenue to create this airy, artsy space for a curated retail and lifestyle experience. This recent facelift gave the center court an even more interesting set of patterns and colors.
URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2020 CHIN SWEE CAVES TEMPLE On the way up to Resorts World Genting is a photo stop that many miss. While the top promises round-the-clock entertainment, the serenity that is Chin Swee Caves Temple is worlds away. I had a fun time working on a few night shots that have been in my mind for awhile. Armed with a speedlite on a tripod, and a drone with lumecube lights, they finally came to fruition.
SPACES • OCT 2020 THE MANSIONS Within the award-winning, hilltop enclave of Desa Park City lies MLA's latest project. This 4-storey space became our playground for an entire day as we document the shifting natural light from the double-volume living and dining area, to the various themed spaces of the house.
PORTRAITS/ URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2020 ANGEL TAN It's been easily two years since my last portrait session here, and I'm glad to see Taman Weng Lock still holding up to the title of the most charming neighbourhood in KL. This round I'm accompanied by Angel Tan who wanted a set of photos to commemorate her 40th birthday. Among some of the cool spots to check out around here are Sekeping Tenggiri, Kurau Library, Kebun-kebun Bangsar, and the row of quaint fb outlets along Lorong Kurau.
URBAN EXPLORING • SEP 2020 JUNK BOOKSTORE Nestled in an old shophouse nearby KL Chinatown is the city's longest-running secondhand bookstore. Packed to the brim in this three-storey treasure trove are literary gems, comics and even LPs. If the collection itself fails to impress you, the interior architecture of the space will. The charming circular airwell in the middle helps open up the space and reduce the claustrophobic feeling when navigating the low ceiling and tight walkways on the uppor floor.
SPACES/ AERIAL • AUG 2020 ARTE MONT KIARA Here's a first look at one of the city's most anticipated upcoming residential condo project. This gorgeous piece of architectural work is already turning heads even when it's still a few months away from completion. Designed by Spark Architects, and developed by Nusmetro, I'm looking forward to the three towers lending a cool twist to Mont Kiara's upcoming skyline.
PORTRAITS/SPACES • SEP 2020 OWEN YAP Finally found the chance to check out this quaint cafe that has eluded me the last couple of visits to Melaka. Helmed by the passionate folk behind The Daily Fix, Sin See Tai boasts a cheerful, sunlit upper floor that is adorned with lots of greeneries and books, the perfect place to while a lazy afternoon away.
URBAN EXPLORING/ PORTRAITS • AUG 2020 OWEN YAP The thriving fishing town of Kuala Sepetang, once known by its english name Port Weld, may have shaken off its earlier role as an important part in the tin mine production in nearby Taiping, but its tight-knit community is a treasure trove of charming local cultures and practices. In addition to fishing and its related industries, the huge expanse of mangrove forest surrounding the town helps support the charcoal production here, and gave the town another reason for tourists on a heritage trail hunt. Among other fun activities to do here include taking a boat ride out for dolphin watching, eagle-feeding and a visit to Kuala Sangga.
SPACES • JUL 2020 BANYAN TREE Our last stop in the series of shoots for Pavilion Group is Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur. There was no shortage at all of beautiful interiors to explore, and we were scrambling to cover them all. The highlights are the hotel's Presidential suite and the string of f&b outlets including Altitude, Horizon Grill and Vertigo, all of which offer some of the best views of the city, especially in the evenings.
URBAN EXPLORING • JUL 2020 Over two decades since their completion, the Petronas Twin Towers continue to be the most recognisable landmark of the city. While we are never short of a cool vantage point of the gleaming structures, the adjoining park offers one of the best spots in town to admire the towers, given its close promixity and varied installations.
OTHERS • MAR-JUN 2020 #CREATIVELOCKDOWN: Other than miniature photography, the luxury of time at home gave me plenty of opportunities to try my hand on a string of creative shoots that I have always wanted to work on. Special thanks to Heart Mum as my most trusted (and only) assistant.
SPACES • JUN 2020 BEAUTY&CO Befitting the title of an Instagram museum is this elaborately funky beauty center in town. In fact you will find phone tripod holders all over the place, because there's nothing better to document your glowing complexion after a facial treatment than a selfie.
SPACES • JUL 2020 There are so many reasons to fall in love with Norm. This cheerful, sunlit cafe has touches of industrial against a white canvas, and some structures from the original building were retained to contrast with the modern textures. But the waffles - that is certainly the magic that will keep us coming back for more.
URBAN EXPLORING • JUN 2020 PPR SERI CEMPAKA Delivered as part of the Sayangi Rumahku campaign, with help from volunteers from EdgeProp, Paramount Property and Nippon Paint Malaysia, the outdoor sports court of this PPR has been given a much-deserved upgrade with splashes of colors now greeting futsal games and other types of activities here. This vivid spot may also be begging to be your next OOTD backdrop.
OTHERS • MAY 2020 The COVID-19 pandemic may have kept us indoors, but the cravings for our everyday indulgences could be the last thing that we will successfully contain. These elixirs from Sunbather Coffee, other than looking pretty, do work wonders in making our stay-home episodes much more beareable.
URBAN EXPLORING • APR 2020 #HEARTANDTHECITY: Album 4! Tying up the loose ends of newly-discovered spots and the usual tourist spots and everything in between.
SPACES • MAR 2020 TAMARIND SUITES SOHO The magic of the architectural wonderland that is Tamarind Square extends seamlessly onwards to its residential arm, called Tamarind Suites, here in Cyberjaya's most handsome looking development. And within the beautiful brutalism-inspired block lies an equally charming interior, designed and delivered by no other than the very passionate people behind Studio+Works. There is so much to love with this space, from the array of thoughtfully concealed storage space, marriage of chic metalwork and woodwork, as well as the beautiful styling done head of the shoot.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • MAR 2020 It was a quick afternoon spent at KL's latest and hippiest addition to the line-up of chic hotel around town, and it's easy to see why this place been garnering so much attention since its opening earlier this year. A quick tour of two of the designer lofts did not do justice to all the work spent on creating these spaces, they all deserve a good day or two spent within its walls just to soak in the atmosphere. I will definitely be back for more.
URBAN EXPLORING • FEB 2020 NU SENTRAL ROOFTOP In addition to the magnificient overhead pedestrian crossing, Nu Sentral Mall has a second architectural wonder hidden in plain sight since its opening. It is in the form of a glass pyramid structure sitting on its rooftop, a spot that has until now been off limits to the general public. With the opening of new f&b outlets there, this space is finally opened and ready to be explored.
URBAN EXPLORING/ AERIAL • JAN 2020 PENANG BRIDGE To soar above Penang's iconic bridge and document its beauty upclose, that was perhaps one of the earliest motivation of the purchase of my drone. I just didn't know that this dream will only come true two years after finally owning one, but it was better late than never. And what a visual feast it was.
TRAVEL • DEC 2019 If Ahmedabad was overwhelming, Mumbai took it up a few notches, its dizzying energy fueled by an almost 20-million strong population that just refuses to leave your senses alone. It's evidently too big to cover in five days, but the sights that we saw during the visit, from Asia's largest slum (Dharavi) to the world's largest outdoor laundry (Dhobi Ghat) was eye-opening enough to make the journey worthwhile.
URBAN EXPLORING/ SPACES • DEC 2019 PPR PERKASA Not all low-cost flats are built the same. In the case of PPR Perkasa, the town-planning folks seemed to have spent a little more time here on creating a color scheme that will turn heads. I'm loving how the seemingly rigid, repetitive design come alives as the color blocks interplay to create new patterns at different angles and perspectives. We should have more PPRs like these!
SPACES • DEC 2019 SUNNYHILLS @ MINAMI AOYAMA, TOKYO Like an bunch of artsily entangled chopsticks, Kengo Kuma's beautiful creation was one of the most memorable spots that I have had the opportunity to document in Tokyo. Add a dash of Japanaese hospitality in this Taiwan-based pineapple tart store, I was quite ready to camp there for a night but unfortunately had to rush off to our next spot.
URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2019 SPIRAL STAIRCASE And so my obsession with the beautiful geometric formations that are spiral staircases continues with the addition of this vintage set from a rather forgotten building somewhere off Jalan Ampang. Loving the contrast of the striking blue railings against the faded mosaic tiles. It's a space that is begging to be given a fresh spin on the perspective game. One day I will find time to be back for more.
URBAN EXPLORING • SEP 2019 At first there was a struggle but the explosion of instagrammable spots in Kuala Lumpur is thankfully not showing signs of slowing down, with a growing list of strong contenders vying for a spot in the list of the most colorful locations in the city. And the Linc is packed with them! This art-centric mall holds a winning combo of nature, food and creative retail, all housed in a structure dotted with backdrops that will slow down the most demanding instagrammer. The adventurous few that are able to make their way to the vast color block roof above will be in for a pleasant surprise.
URBAN EXPLORING/ STREET • FEB 2019 #HEARTANDTHECITY: Is Kuala Lumpur getting more pretty by the day, or am I just trying harder now to uncover its beauty? The urban explorer in me continue to build momentum as I spend more time being out and about and digging deeper into what my beloved city has to offer.
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HERITAGE/STREET/PORTRAITS • JAN 2023 OLD MASTER Q We are reliving some seriously vivid childhood memories here, those long afternoons spent while accompanying our moms to the hair saloons. This comic was popular from the 1960s through 1980s, and there is no better backdrop to bring the character back to life than our favourite heritage city, Georgetown. Special thanks to my model Wei Jian, for braving the constant attention the entire morning to complete this shoot.
HERITAGE • JAN 2023 Our Chinese New Year content trip brought us to this charming town in Negeri Sembilan, and I fell in love with its laid-back vibe and close proximity to nature. That beautiful misty morning helped as well of course.
HERITAGE/ STREET • JAN 2022 We now have our local version of the famous uncle from Akihabara. The shopfront of this kitchenware shop, choked to the brim with your mum's favourite cooking tools, should be a tourist attraction of its own. Come say hi to the friendly owner the next time you're in town. Google for Soon Woh Kitchenware Enterprise.
HERITAGE • JAN 2023 SI THIAN GONG TEMPLE This relatively new temple in Kuala Pilah has now become one of the country's most majestic looking one. In conjunction with Chinese New Year 2023, we made a trip over to Kuala Pilah to check out the place for ourselves.
TRAVEL/PORTRAITS • SEP 2022 KHOK SALUNG FLOATING RAILWAY About a 3-hour drive away from Bangkok is perhaps Thailand’s most photogenic railway stretch. Floating above the water reservoir created by the Pasak Chonlasit Dam, this 18km-long stretch is giving us some really strong Ghibli vibes. In addition to the tracks, the site also features other cool photo and hangout spots on the vast plains of grassland below. The train only stops on the tracks for special journeys, as it will usually just zoom past quickly before you could get ready to pose, as with our case. We will be back!
URBAN EXPLORING • NOV 2022 IMMERSIO MENGUKIR 2022 The fourth edition of Filamen's digital art festival has gone even bigger after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, having found a new home in Muzium Telekom. We had a great time exploring the 12 immersive installations, among which are Pamela Tan's Tatu, Tristan Lo's Tending To the Garden of Infinity and Pangrok Sulap's Marine Life.
SPACES • OCT 2022 STELLAR GOLDENHILL Touted as the first ever caravan camping in Cameron Highlands, Stellar couldn't have chosen a more apt location. Perched on a gentle slope at GoldenHill overlooking the valley below, the caravans afford some nice views of the surroundings, and coupled with the highlands' cooling weather, this brings glamping to a whole new level of fun.
SPACES • DEC 2022 RITZ-CARLTON RESIDENCES This week-long shoot brought us to Malaysia's first Ritz-Carlton Residences, where we covered 4 units of fully-furnished residences, including the penthouse, with views of the city's most iconic buildings at each corner.
SPACES/ TRAVEL • OCT 2022 This could very well be the prettiest ibis that I have stayed in. Groovy tunes, vibrant colors, and artwork inspired by Thai folklore set the tone for this new swanky hotel in the heart of Bangkok.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2022 It's hard to put a finger on what Bear & Bad is, this series of surreal spaces that are reminiscent of teamlab's breathtaking experience are usually only found in glitzy, modern cities, yet here we are, in a small town in Johor, staring at almost the same thing. The entrance fee may be a little steep, but it was certainly worth it. I had the time of my life here, shooting to our hearts' content on a quiet weekday afternoon with the whole place to ourselves.
URBAN EXPLORING • AUG 2022 BEYOND THE MOONLIT DOOR: It’s the time of the year for lanterns, mooncakes and celebrations. And admiring Kwai Chai Hong’s art installations is fast becoming the tradition too. They’re back with a colorful visual feast titled “Beyond the Moonlit Door”, featuring “Endless Frames” by Poh Sin Studio, a giant moon and sets of oriental doorway to complete the look. See you there.
TRAVEL • MAY 2022 SUPERKILEN PARK Offically opened in 2012, this kilometer-long park has been known to house quite a few interesting architectural elements, among which the wavy topology lines of the black market seems to have gotten the most attention. I wish I had more time to also document the red square and green park too. Perhaps in future visit.
URBAN EXPLORING • FEB 2022 My collection of visual stories from my favourite heritage state of Malaysia has finally entered a double-digit running number, and will be going strong still while I continue to check off existing pins and discover new ones along the way. So the love story continues.
URBAN EXPLORING • JUL 2022 JOMIS OLD JETTY Our exploration of hidden gems in Johor brought us to this abandoned jetty at Sungai Rengit, a town in Kota Tinggi, Johor. The curious sight of the long stretch of concrete pillars extending towards the sea is strangely reminiscent of some ancient relics. We decided to go for a night shoot to enhance the mysterious mood of this space, using the landing lights from my drone to light up the structures at various spots.
SPACES • JUN 2022 This two-storey bungalow, tucked at a serene corner of TTDI, is a beautiful celebration of old and new. The warm hues of exposed brickwork and terraccotta ventilation blocks compliment the modern touches of steelwork around the facade. There are plenty of spaces that can be opened up to welcome the cooling forest air from nearby Bukit Kiara, and furniture and deco pieces with a strong heritage root lends a sense of character to the space.
TRAVEL/ SPACES • JUN 2022 CIRCULAR HOUSES These surreal circle gardens on the outskirts of Copenhagen are such a feast for the eyes. Built in the year 1964 by landscape architect Erik Mygind, the circular design of Brøndby Haveby, or Brøndby Garden City, was proposed as a way to promote a sense of community, while allowing each unit their space for gardening and urban farming.
SPACES • MAR 2022 Every now and then an urban rejuvenation project comes along that makes us want to pay attention. Yap Ah Shak house is the latest in the series of heritage building makeover in Chow Kit. The place is now a boutique enclave of private offices, events venue with rooftop bar and a go-to destination for heritage Italian cooking.
URBAN EXPLORING • MAY 2022 BANDAR AINSDALE Within the mature enclave of Bandar Ainsdale comes a fresh new outdoor space with the kind of focus on aesthetics that you can expect from Sime Darby. This Lake Park features a beautiful pavilion in striking shades of red, a two-storey-high slide, pavements with colorful shapes and a host of other fun installations guaranteed to make every minute of your hour-long drive from KL worth it.
STREET/ HERITAGE/ URBAN EXPLORING • MAR 2022 Among the many charming places that are a convenient hour-long drive away from the city, Bentong comes up pretty high on my list of heritage towns that are just buzzing with local activities. One may be tempted to detour to some other more touristy spots in the vicinity, but this day trip was all about grounded, honest, small-town vibes around kopitiams and wet markets and small talks with locals.
URBAN EXPLORING • MAR 2022 PUTRAJAYA It's sometimes hard to believe that country's administrative capital has been around for 20 years. Carved out from a sprawling 5000 hectares of mostly palm plantations, this city is not short on cool photography spots, thanks to the ability to plan things out from scratch. While you most probably already know the top photo spots around here, there are also quite a number of lesser-known ones that are equally interesting. Here is a list of spots that have captured our imagination in the last few years
SPACES • MAR 2022 CHRISTINE'S BAKERY Christine's has come a long way since its humble beginning in Sunway back in 2017. Five years on, their gleaming new outlet in Bukit Jalil's latest retail space, their biggest yet, is the new go-to spot for customers looking for the finest quality pastries. MLA Design delivered a space that hums Christine's warm-toned aesthetics, with hints of Malaya-inspired textures such as rattan weaves and vintage tiles.
URBAN EXPLORING/ SPACES • JAN 2022 MITSUI LALAPORT BBCC It's quite a few years in the making, but Mitsui's transformation of this plot of land that was once Pudu Jail made it all worth the wait. Touted as the first Lalaport Mall in Southeast Asia, this place is definitely not short of cool architecture angles, both inside and out. We may have only brushed the surface of its total potential but that just mean that we will continue to have interesting things to look forward to as occupancy increases.
SPACES • JAN 2022 JOJO GASTROBAR & HINODE Sharing the same commercial block with The Luma are two f&b establishments that are worthy of their own followings.
SPACES • DEC 2021 THE ESTATES Bon Estate's first foray into the property development market in the Klang Valley could not have been more exciting. This high-rise residential project in Bangsar South is perhaps one of the most charming site that I have documented in recent years. The magical combination of landscape design by Seksan Design and interiors by Karen Mok Design, both of which are firms whose work I love to photograph, blended resort living with modern day touches, and gave rise to a space full of so many cosy corners I could not decide which is my favourite.
SPACES • DEC 2021 LADY YI TEA HOUSE Located in my favourite hotel this part of town is MLA's latest project. Lady Yi Tea House features a beautiful blend of peranakan-inspired motif and materials against the industrial tones of Four Points' double-volume lobby area. While the blue hour brings out the subtle colors of the interior, I will be back one day to experience the space on a beautiful sunny evening too.
URBAN EXPLORING • NOV 2021 Did a quick passthrough this part of Perak, mainly to drop by the Sunflower Garden, and fell in love with the idyllic villages nestled among coconut plantations. Hope to be back for more exploration.
SPACES • NOV 2021 BUNGALOW Probably one of the most charming space that we have worked with, this idyllic bungalow felt worlds away from the bustle of the city. The decades of experience in styling boutique hotels around the world helped Designwilkes carve a space that blends cosmopolitan influences with tradition, as pieces of furnitures and art pieces rich in heritage and historical value fill walls and shelves, while a rich selection of plants enveloping the site delivers a tropical paradise many would love to be lost in.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • NOV 2021 ECO GRANDEUR Nestled in Puncak Alam is Ecoworld's signature township, Eco Grandeur. This 1400-acre development may have been launched way back in 2016, but it was only recently that I had the opportunity to explore this part of Selangor, unveiling some pretty insta-worthy features here that are begging to be documented more properly. This includes the signature roundabout that doubles as a perfectly symmetrical park, the dragonfly-shaped lake and a very charming playground.
URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2021 ABANDONED LRT TRAIN CARS Excited to have spotted this dystopian scene after an hour’s drive around vegetable farms and serene ponds. We are happy to report that there were no zombies in sight. But let’s still try to keep all the doors shut. On a serious note, as the various news coverage may have mentioned, the ownership of these trains have been transferred from Prasarana to another company years ago. This location is meant to be a temporary storage while the new owners work on plans to repurpose the train cars.
URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2021 Depending on which side of the KL/PJ border the forest is sitting on, Bukit Kerinchi or Bukit Gasing is a pretty easy hike, yet I have waited until now to explore this trail. Happy to have found time to document it though. I need to be back to complete the other sections too.
URBAN EXPLORING • SEP 2021 PJKITA COMMUNITY CENTER The PJKita community space was first announced in year 2017, touted as the go-to place for especially the youths in the surrounding communities. Fast forward to four years later, we managed to explore this location again to check on its current state, and are both amazed by this cool industrial, wavy structure that we found, and disappointed by the lack of activities here. Not sure if the current pandemic was the reason for work being halted, or if some other issues have arisen. Am hoping that the relevant planners will continue the effort to allow the full potential of this space to be realised.
SPACES • SEP 2021 Cheras’ hip new cafe is a bold statement of juicy colors and beautiful forms. Tucked away on the upper floor of a row of pretty nondescript shophouses, the contrast with the surrounding setting makes the place even more surreal. Remember to say hi to the two shy resident cats.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • SEP 2021 TSLAW TOWER Dubbed as Malaysia's first ever 360 LED building facade display, the magic that has transformed many of China's city skylines has finally arrived here in Malaysia. TSLaw Tower may be dwarfed by Exchange 106, but it certainly has enough tricks up its sleeve to catch your attention. Can't wait to see what else is coming.
PRODUCTS/ MINIATURE • AUG 2021 MINIALIFE LIFE: I have never quite been a morning person, and neither have I been lucky enough to witness our Petronas Twin Towers piercing through this amount of low-lying clouds. So I guess till the streets are a safer place to roam, this will do for now.
PRODUCTS/ MINIATURE • JUL 2021 MINIALIFE LIFE: This piece is inspired by the helpelss feeling of explorers tragically stuck behind the safety of their homes. It's now been more than a year since our conquest to document our round-the-world adventures got interrupted by the pandemic. I’m beginning to forget the life I had before covid, those freedom we used to enjoy of being able to go anywhere we want and at anytime we wish seemed too good to be true. How could I have taken things for granted so much. If only I knew what’s coming.
URBAN EXPLORING/AERIAL • 2019 ONWARDS KUALA LUMPUR: One of the most important aspect of urban life is public transportation, and no documentation of the city will be complete without this angle. I hope to be able to continue building on the collection here.
PRODUCTS/MINIATURE • JUL 2021 MINIATURE LIFE: Lighting is so important in photography. We use it to create drama, accentuate or hide details, and sometimes to turn zero's into one's. I had a fun afternoon lining up three sticks of Polo sweets to create this digital world. Did you see a hidden message inside?
PRODUCTS/ MINIATURE • JUL 2021 MINIATURE LIFE: Mushrooms are such fun food items to reinterpret. Just placing them differently gets us into yet another strange new world. This afternoon, we admire this group of families as they enjoy the liberating freedom of frolicking in a special type of onsen. Perhaps one day I will be able to dip in one of those fun pods too!
SPACES • JUN 2021 OSK SHOREA PARK The orange-teal theme's popularity may have worked its way into the instagram filter hall of fame, and it seems its magic is just as effective in interiors. This cheerful show gallery from OSK's latest property launch at Puchong is best caught on a dreamy early morning. We are loving the long shadows and the depth of the textures highlighted down to the smallest of details.
PRODUCTS/MINIATURE • JUL 2021 MINIATURE LIFE: Had a real nostalgia kick when I came across the beautiful interlock spirals of these traditional mosquitor repellant during a recent grocery trip so I just had to.
PRODUCTS/MINIATURE • JUN 2021 MINIATURE ASTRONAUTS SERIES: "Can you believe this, Matt, the atmosphere check came back looking all good. We can finally take off our suits and pose for some ig photos." It was one the most glorious evening Ryan could remember. All the time spent trapped in the spaceship made her forget how blessed it is to be able to just walk freely in the open without the restrictions of her heavy suit.
PRODUCT • JUN 2021 FOUR SEASONS KUALA LUMPUR This midautumn festive season, Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur unveils a sensational selection of mooncakes for gifting – perfect for nurturing and renewing those special bonds with family, friends and colleagues. Handcrafted by the talented Yun House team, these traditional sweets commemorate the Mid-Autumn Festival, an annual celebration across Malaysia. To bring out the vibrance of the intricate designs and striking colors of these mooncakes, we used contrasting sets of colored paper, and shot flatlay styled with key ingredients using pieces of neatly arranged tiles for structure.
URBAN EXPLORING/ SPACES • APR 2021 AICB CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE Nestled among the hilly enclave of Jalan Dato Onn is GDP Architects' spanking new structure that looks poised to be the city's next cool archi playground. My favourite spot of the development is the five-storey podium, its interlinked bridges and hanging meeting rooms offers a space that can be experienced and observed from different vantage points.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • APR 2021 BOOKXCESS The bookstore that is as much for the bookworm as it is for the instagrammer in us has done it again. BookXcess Big Box's massive outlet is the largest in the Southern region. If their million-strong titles does not impress you, the floor-to-ceiling shelves will prove to be quite the visual feast to take in.
URBAN EXPLORING • APR 2021 WHAT YOU ARE THE WORLD IS: Andrew Pok’s emotionally charged installation sums up the past year of our life in a surreal visual experience titled What you are the world is. Are you ready to relive the past twelve months? Head over to The Godown for more information on this event.
SPACES • APR 2021 ARTE MONT KIARA Mont Kiara's shiny new landmark has finally been unveiled, complete with its color-shifting led fins on the facade that give this part of town quite a visual feast when night falls. This album features the development's facade as well as the ground level lobby area. Be sure to check out the other accompanying albums for photos of the rest of the spaces within.
URBAN EXPLORING • MAR 2021 PARA PARA TECOMA: Spring is here, and we may still be trapped with no international travel. While we may miss the sights of sakura overseas, our local malaysian sakura trees, or tecoma, has put up a beautiful surprise for us city folk this year, launching into a simultaneous display of full blooms, in colors of white and pink. The extreme hot weather earlier has triggered the trees to produce more flowers during this flowering season, the resulting sights are this surreal, glorious views that are not unlike the hanami experience from Japan. Locations covered include Taman Batu Muda, and Flat Danau Kota.
SPACES • MAR 2021 ARTE BY THOMAS CHAN A few months since the introduction of their first set of hotel suites, the passionate people behind Arte By Thomas Chan is now ready to roll out the next eight suites. Located on Level 61, these art deco-inspired spaces continue to tease your visual senses. The walkway alone is a treat on its own.
SPACES • MAR 2021 Tucked away in Titiwangsa is this restaurant that has already won my heart before I got to the interiors. Its series of arched and slightly winding entrance walkway seem like a space I could be lost in with my camera for hours. And when I'm ready to settle in, the airy, lush setting packs plenty of cosy corners to while an afternoon away in. Can't wait to be back again.
URBAN EXPLORING • DEC 2020 MACALLUM APARTMENT tidy, repeating lines of Macallum Apartment intrigue me. There are so many ways to admire them by, especially while observing the interplay of light and shadow as the sun shifts from morning to evening.
SPACES • JAN 2021 CENTRIO PANTAI HILLPARK: No documentation of a cool space is complete without the immersive experience of a 3D tour, especially in the time of a pandemic where we scramble to bring the real world online.
URBAN EXPLORING • JAN 2021 CREATIVE PHOTOGRAPHY: For the longest time I was reluctant to go into lightpainting, the chore of having to lug a tripod and extra gears around was more than enough to hold me back. But the last year or so of me finally taking up the challenge was the single reason I could now elevate my work to the next level, and it was definitely worth every bit of trouble I took to research and prepare for the shoot. Special thanks to Fotorgear for the key gear used and my tireless assistant Wei Jian for all your help.
SPACES • JAN 2021 This assignment for Buenos as part of their website redesign brought us to 4 different locations all around Klang Valley to document their best kitchen cabinet and wardrobe designs. The use of light-painting techniques helped tune the ambience of the space, including those without natural lighting, to one that is cheerful and welcoming.
SPACES/PORTRAITS • JAN 2021 A DAY IN SEREMBAN 2:
URBAN EXPLORING • DEC 2020 The entire urban chaos that is Genting Highlands, it exudes a certain poetic charm for those who cared to look closely, especially on a foggy evening. If only I had the chance to spend an entire week here.
SPACES • DEC 2020 SPACE FURNITURE The row of swanky businesses along Jalan Maarof is now blessed with Space Furniture's classy new outlet, fresh from their move from The Intermark, and MLA Design's midas touch ensured that it's every bit as pretty as those in overseas locations.
PORTRAITS/ URBAN EXPLORING • NOV 2020 VIVI TAN IN Surrounded by conventional-looking apartments, the PV Park's european-inspired pavilion and maze garden stood out like a surreal dream. The locals may not think much of it, but with the right treatment this location can be a fun morning portrait spot.
SPACES/ PORTRAITS • NOV 2020 ISAAC IN VERNAKULAR STORE Vernakular is half a watch retail store and half a cafe, and the people behind the cool interiors of this place had to make sure your experience in each is as distinct as the boundary that runs across the space. This playful separation sets the stage for some really fun visual illusion that is begging to be experienced.
URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2020 Here's an album dedicated to the urban landmark of it all, the twin towers that have been so quintessentially Kuala Lumpur that despite decades since their completion, they continue to outshine every other buildings that come even after it. Words can't fully describe our love for these two architectural marvel, and so we pointed our cameras and, more recently, drones at them.
SPACES/ PORTRAITS • SEP 2020 A DAY AT BSC is one of my most frequented malls in the city, and I'm glad to have been given the opportunity to document a day here in the company of two very fun talents, part of the collaboration with the mall on producing a series of lifestyle images for use on their social media platforms.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • OCT 2020 LIGHT CAPTURE CAFE It's not an everyday event that a cafe opening generates this much buzz, yet Light Capture Cafe by Hon deserves every bit of the attention thrown its way. Situated among the collection of old pre-war shophouses in the heart of Chinatown, owner Hon carved out this gem of a cafe interior from two adjoining lots that were previously damaged by fire. The result of an airy, sunlit interior that retains charming architectural elements from its previous life yet boasts plenty of cosy, modern touches fit for the most demanding of cafehoppers.
PORTRAITS/ URBAN EXPLORING • SEP 2020 OWEN YAP It was one of the most gorgeous evening that I have witnessed locally, and I had the honour of spending that at this charming instagram spot in Melaka, in the company of Owen. The Klebang sand dunes shot to fame a few years ago, and by not being here sooner due to the scare of heatstroke, I have unfortunately lost the breathtaking sight of a vast stretch of sand dunes and nothing else. Nevertheless, the set of trees lining the edges now added an hint of tropical wilderness to contrast the setting. It's the perfect reason for the early-visitors to come explore again.
URBAN EXPLORING • SEP 2020 MERDEKA 2020: I may have lost count of the number of years spent combing the streets of KL searching for my next photo story, but I do know as a fact that I have never really given much thought to documenting the Merdeka mood around the city come August and September every year. 2020 is definitely not the best year for that, as we continue to practise social distancing and avoid large-scale celebrations. But the pandemic gave me the opportunity and determination to still try. Special thanks to Fotorgear for making the wonderful Magilight lightpainting stick, for without it, I would not have been as effective in injecting some patriotic themes to some of the locations that I covered.
SPACES • AUG 2020 THE KASTURI Nestled between the rainforest and South China Sea is a tiny resort that is possibly as far away as you could get from the bustle of the city. Brainchild of Malaysian architect Hijjas Kasturi, the individual chalets here are reminiscent of the traditional Malay architecture, expressed in a modern interpretation with its A-frame origami-like roof structures.s
SPACES • AUG 2020 FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON KL Chinatown has a beaming new icon, and that's Sheraton hotels' third Four Points Hotel in Malaysia. dwp delivered a design that takes inspiration from the charming heritage identity of this neighbourhood, featuring exposed raw bricks, warm wood and traditional jade-hued tiles.
URBAN EXPLORING/ PORTRAITS • JUL 2020 JVENE Laman Perdana is most probably Perdana Botanical Park's most instagrammable spot. Completed in 2014 by GDP Architects, this canopy adopts a form that mimics its green surroundings, and is best admired on a sunny day when filtered light creates a mesmering pattern on the floor.
URBAN EXPLORING • JUN 2020 Yet another fulfilling week-long trip to Penang, with fresh places and spots to explore, despite me having lost count of the number of times I have visited this heritage city. Georgetown continues to stay vibrant and interesting, and we'll definitely be back again when the hawkerfare starts calling our names.
TRAVEL/ URBAN EXPLORING • JUL 2020 PANTAI MANGKUK I must admit that I have quite given the East Coast a cold shoulder until now. And it took a virus the scale of COVID19 for me to get my first taste of Terengganu. And gosh it was one of the most idyllic places that I have been! Narrow roads lined with coconut tree, in a tight, almost deserted peninsula sandwiched between a river and the sea, and three glorious days of sunny weather. We were spoilt.
PORTRAITS/ URBAN EXPLORING • JUN 2020 CHENG YIH Who would have thought that a long, straight staircase off the side of a dam could be this photogenic, but that's how photography reinterprets spaces, and I'm glad I managed to pull along my Penang friend, Cheng Yih, to pose.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • MAR 2020 SALOMA LINK BRIDGE Finally, after all these years of waiting, the city center received a strong addition to the list of iconic structures in town, one that is breath-taking and most certainly prominent enough to complement the Petronas Twin Towers. This RM31mil, futuristic-looking archi wonder is best appreciated in the evening and at night, when it's lit by a combination of 4100 LED lights for a mesmerising color-shifting display.
URBAN EXPLORING • FEB 2020 A SPIRAL STAIRCASE Had the opportunity of exploring this spot as part of a recce trip with a location manager, definitely one of the most surreal urban spots that I have been. I have been asked to keep the location details private unfortunately. Enjoy the visuals.
URBAN EXPLORING/ SPACES • FEB 2020 MASJID TNB BANGSAR
URBAN EXPLORING • MAR 2020 There may be tens of new stations that have sprung up all over the city as part of the MRT project in the recent two years or so, but none is quite like the Maluri station. The color block design of the facade is a refreshing change from the conservative design of other stations, and is rather hard to miss even from a distance.
URBAN EXPLORING • MAR 2020 INTELLIGENTSIA BOOK STATION They don't make bookstores like these anymore. Nestled among a row of old shophouses along Jalan Tun Tan Siew Sin is this 20yo one-of-a-kind gem that may once be the haunt of bookworms, but as the Information age sweeps in, the keen-eyed instagrammers should find themselves with a space that is as messy as it is charming. Owner is very kind to allow photography, so do be the gracious guest and help support their business by bringing back some books with you for those me time moments at the beach.
URBAN EXPLORING • JAN 2020 COLORFUL UMBRELLA Empire Damansara has an open secret that's been around since it launched many years ago. I've been slow in covering this spot but it is a gorgeous one nevertheless. So glad that I brought my prop along, turned out that it was the exact same umbrella as those hanging in rows above.
TRAVEL • NOV 2019 Another two weeks spent with my favourite travel destination in the world, and the experience once again left me craving for more. There is simply not enough time to experience it all, this time amidst a country bathed in the golden, red hues of autumn.
SPACES • 2016 THROUGH 2019 CENTRIO SOHO This award-winning property is in every way deserving of the recognitions given to it, picture double-volume spaces with spiral staircases and private rooftops, hanging gardens and bridges, peculiar structures and loads of nooks and crannies to get lost in. It's one perfect giant playground to while a peaceful afternoon away.
SPACES/ URBAN EXPLORING • SEP 2019 TAMARIND SQUARE Brutalist architecture is very much alive and kicking at this popular photography spot in Cyberjaya, and it's easy to see why. Beautiful concrete formworks combined with a keen sense of art from the hanging gardens designed by Seksan right down to the creative signages deliver an integrated development that has so many instagrammable nooks and crannies it takes a while to just take everything in. This is a place I will come back again and again and still find fresh angles to interpret.
URBAN EXPLORING • SEP 2019 ELMINA RAINBOW BRIDGE And another impossibly instagrammable colorful spot emerges in the Klang Valley, this time in the form of a set of bridges, built by Sime Darby as part of the infrastructure in its new township Elmina City. This place is best appreciated on a sunny day when the shadows of the colorful overhanging rainbow strips above add another layer of pattern on the walkway below.
TRAVEL • APR 2019 My experience with the city of angels have had many stark changes over the years, but there's nothing quite as different as this past trip, where my urban explorer hat has grown so snugly fit on me that I could not derive any greater pleasure then to spend time digging out the best local scenes and hidden urban spots. The focus this round is on Yaowarat, Bangkok's thriving Chinatown that is both chaotic and charming at the same time.
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