Central Market, The Annexe, Sharing Space Photo Exhibition

Central Market, located in Kuala Lumpur is place to go to for Malaysian handicraft and arts center. Built as the main wet market before the war, the place was converted to it's current state in the 80s.

This was my second time to Central Market, the first time being in the early 90s when I first worked in PJ. I must say it's much easier to get here. I took the LRT to the Pasar Seni station, and just cross the street and you are there. There's also a parking lot in front of the Central Market but I reckon it's easier to take the public transport then risk getting stuck in the traffic.



Inside, the whole place is air conditioned and brighly lit, with lots of shops selling local handicrafts, fashion accessories, souveniours and snacks. There are also food courts and restaurants to tuck in some local cuisine.

Anyway the reason for my trip to Central Market is to visit the Sharing Space photo exhibition, a contemporary photography of Japan & Malaysia. Unfortunately, I can only visit this exhibition on it's last day so by the time you are reading this, they have already busy preparing for the next programme.

The Annexe is located at the other end of Central Market. There were a few art gallery on the ground floor, a cafe on the first floor, some studio on the 2nd floor while the Gallery is located on the top floor.




A shot of one of the walls with the photos. Note the 3 photos on the left are by Pang Khee Teik.


Gallery III.

I like the open space of the 3 galleries displaying the photos. There were interesting topics, themes, print types and sizes photography. Generally, it is an interesting exhibition and unfortunately the prices for the photos would have wiped out my retirement funds so I only went back with fond memories of the works.



Some shots from the gallery window.


No, this isn't an exhibit.

OK, I thought it's a new bank in KL.... KOK Bank.....hmmm I wonder who their customer base are....

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Well, after this photography exhibition, the Annexe would be hosting the notthatbalai art festival. For more information, please visit the site: http://notthatbalai.blogspot.com/

Jakarta, End June 2007

This was a working visit...a very hectic one where there wasn't a chance for me to pop out and have feel for the place. So this photos were taken from my hotel room.

View of a portion of the Jakarta skyline. Superimposed image.


When the lights go out....

Yuxi, China June 2007

Sitting alone at a corner of the Kunming International Airport is aShenyang J-6 (Chinese copy of the Soviet MIG-19).


One of the exotic food that I tried. Eaten more like a snack, it's fried till crunchy and tastes like biscuit. Tastes OK.

Things You don't find in Malaysia

KRISPY KREME!!

I decided to try something heavenly and decadent that can't be found in Malaysia.


The one on the left is New York Cheesecake and the other one is the Original Glazed.

The doughnuts are actually very "light" feeling and not the heavy dough types that are normally sold at food stalls here. I preferred the Original Glazed compared to the cheesecake variety. It isn't overtly sweet, just nice.

On the last night, I pop into the place again and bought another 2! Maybe it was almost closing time, the staff offered everyone a piece of complimentary warm doughnut


The one closer to the camera is Glazed Chocolate Cake and the other one is Chocolate Iced Glazed. Both were perfect. Now if only they have a chain in Malaysia, the fitness centers would have booming business.

Back in Manila, Late April 07

I had been flying over to Manila for a few times since 2005 and this place have always been special to me. However, this would probably be the last for a long time to come. I will miss the contradictory nature of this place.

From a prosperous nation in the 60s and 70s, plain mismanagement and politics had dragged the country down.


Despite the wide disparity between the haves and have-nots, you could see Filipinos at all levels full of determination in moving forward with a smile and a song.


Abject poverty doesn't seem to put them off from eking a living by running simple enterprises.


Of course there are other reasons why I would always remember Manila...