“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson –
Today’s Flower
Balance & Harmony
“To put everything in balance is good… 
...to put everything in harmony is better”
– Viktor Hugo –
Orchids
Distance
Sematan Beach, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.
Black & White Photography – 9
This is the ninth time I join Susie’s fun photo black and white challenge.
In the past I have mostly photographed people, this time I choose pets, dogs and cats.
“When I look into the eyes of an animal I don’t see an animal I see a living being, I see a friend, I feel a soul”
– Anthony Douglas Williams –
“ If cats could talk they wouldn’t”
– Nan Porter –
“Dogs eat – Cats dine”
– Ann Taylor –
“Having a dog or a cat will open your heart. Reading a book will open your mind.
Having both a pet and a book… absolute heaven.
– Mark Rubenstein –
“You can keep a dog but it is the Cat how keeps People because Cats find Humans useful domestic Animals”
– George Mikes –
“Look at animals kindly, and they will see. Talk to animals gently, and they will listen”
– AD Williams – 
“All animals are born with innocence, curiosity and love”
– Anthony Douglas Williams –
Below are the images also in color for those who like to compare. And as always when it comes to quotes, we mustn’t take them too seriously, although some may be worth considering.
Flower of The Day
The Lost Keys
No More No Less
Flower(s) of The Day
Feeling Blue.
Red for Love – Red for Fire.
Snow White
Yellow Solar heat.
Pink – Passion.
Wherever life plants you…
Susan’s Flowers on Fridays
Cee’s Photo Challenge.
Black & White Photography – 8
I just realized that my Swedish driving license needs to be renewed. Since I live in Malta I have applied for a Maltese driver’s license. While I wait for it to be ready, I wonder what it’s like to ride a motorcycle. Lol.. Haha…
This is just for fun, don’t think I’m riding a Harley-Davidson here in Malta in a couple of weeks.
And for the sake of unusualness, there are only two pictures this time. Happily!
Kuching Street Art
Kuching is a colorful place and the city is becoming a popular haven for street art.
Thanks to local arts festivals and even corporate sponsorships, more and more of the town’s blank walls are gradually being taken over by vivid murals. 
Many of the works portray scenes from local life… 
…whether it be human or wildlife. 
Paintings of orangutans are a common sight throughout the city. This one is small…
…while this one covers an entire wall facade.
Flower of The Day
Yesterday I saw an almond tree that was already blooming, although it was mostly buds.
It’s a lovely flower.
It feels like spring though it’s still winter here on the island.
“Almond blossom, sent to teach us That the Spring days soon will reach us”
– Edwin Arnold –
Black & White Photography – 7
Moments…
Movements…
Meanings…
“Silence is sometimes the best answer”
– Dalai Lama –
Lens-Artists Challenge – Favorite Photos of 2019
Artistic.
For the last Lens-Artists Photo Challenge of 2019, we will show some of our favorite photos that we have taken during the year that are close to end.
Creative.
It’s always difficult to pick favorites but I like the way Patti divided her favorites into different categories, so I did the same, or almost the same.
Fun.
Here’s the proof, a smile says it all and means a lot. A smile is the shortest distance between two people.
Artwork created by nature.
A favorite image does not always mean that it must be perfect from a photographic point of view.
Pictures can convey feelings, evoke memories or special moments.
The true reality.
This orangutan lives in Borneo’s rainforests and belongs to a species threatened with extinction.
Our valuable nature.
We must take care of our nature and its inhabitants which all have an impact on the survival of the earth.
“Cherish the natural world because you’re part of it and depend on it”
-David Attenborough –
Lens-Artists Challenge #76 – Favorite Photos of 2019
Masjid India Kuching
The newly built one and only floating Mosque in Kuching is located on the banks of the Sarawak River, close to the newly built Harmony bridge whose shape symbolizes the balance of cultures living together in harmony.
“Harmony among our different religious traditions is essential for world peace”
–Dalai Lama –
This is the Old State Mosque, built in 1968 to replace an original wooden one built in 1852.
Its gilded cupolas make it one of the city’s most striking landmarks, particularly at sunset.
Memories from Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo Malaysia.
December 2019
Flowers on Fridays
This time I choose to show three different types of flowers but with similar shades of color.
The flower on top I believe is an anthurium, also called flamingo flower.
The one above is a type of orchid but there are about 28,000 different species so I have no idea about its name.
Plumeria flowers. 
Susan’s Flowers on Fridays
Cee’s Photo Challenge.
Black & White Photography – 6
The above pictures are from the square along Sarawak River in Kuching. Every afternoon, both young and old can be seen playing with each other, many of them blowing soap bubbles, just for fun.
This skilled lady I saw in Valletta here in Malta the other day. Guess why she’s looking down.
Concentration! She really knew how to handle her little puppet on a string.
Back to the square in Kuching. This little girl seems to be looking for someone.
Finally, Fanny and I at home yesterday evening. Fanny did not like to wear a Santa hat, I can understand that. It’s much more fun to try to bite it into small pieces and so she did. It was cheap and it was Christmas Eve.
As usual, I also show my pictures in color. This time, I prefer to see all these images in color, except one. Guess which one..
Flower of The Day
“Look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better”
– Albert Einstein –
“It you truly love nature you will find beauty everywhere”
– Vincent Van Gogh 
“Time spent in nature heals your body, mind & spirit”
– Katrina Mayer –
Sarawak Orchid Garden, Kuching – December 2019.
Black & White Photography – 5
Wednesday, and my fifth colorless post, inspired by Susan’s black and white photo challenge.
As in my previous black and white post, I choose to show people. People in everyday life that I photographed recently when I visited the city of Kuching in Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.
Of these five images, there is actually only one that I’m happy with. As always, it’s up to the viewer to decide whether you like what you see or not. Which of these five pictures do you think I am most satisfied with. What’s your opinion of my b/w images?
As usual, I also show them edited in color, for those who want to compare.
Lens-Artists Challenge – On Display
Today’s pictures are from Kuching Sunday Market that I visited recently. I’m not so happy to show headless and half people though it’s not easy to avoid when there are so many people moving around.
Here you’ll find a huge variety of different kinds of fresh fruits & vegetables.
Guess it was high season for bananas.
Walking around here is an exciting experience, a colorful symphony with many more or less appealing scents.
Where they sell fish I pass pretty quickly, although the fish are naturally fresh.
I’ve promised myself not to show too many pictures in just one post, but sometimes it’s hard to avoid.
Whats your opinion, isn’t it better to show fewer pictures and divide them into different posts? I think so.
This post has seventeen images, it’s too much but the post is done and most important, it was fun.
Lens-Artists Challenge #76 – On Display
Signs on Sundays / Skyltsöndag
It’s Sunday, which means it’s time to share some signs again.
Since I just came back home from Malaysia, my signs are from there.
For some unknown reason, wordpress has restricted the possibilities to create a gallery. That’s why it looks like this, though I didn’t want it to look like this. Feel free to click on an image to see it more clearly.
It you look closely, there is a small gecko to the right on the sign.
I do…
This is my favorite. AisKrim.
The sign reminds me of when I saw a little girl standing by the river in Kuching. She sold homemade ice cream that she marketed with a handwritten sign, AIS-KRIM. Typically I didn’t bring my camera with me.
Alla kan vara med och skylta på söndagar tillsammans med BP som håller i trådarna.
Länk till övriga deltagare.
Sarawak People – Daily Life
“The best is yet to be”
– Robert Browning –
“In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous”
– Aristotle –
“The invariable mark of wisdom is to see the miraculous in the common”
-Ralph Waldo Emerson –
Kuching, Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.
December 2019
Flowers on Fridays
These beautiful flowers were taken when I visited Orchid Garden in Kuching, Sarawak. It’s obviously not some kind of orchid, but it is a beautiful flower that grows on large trees and has a lovely scent.
If I’m not mistaken, this is Plumeria flowers which are most fragrant at night in order to lure sphinx moths to pollinate them. But I could be wrong…
Back..
…back to my daily life here in Malta after a couple of weeks in Sarawak, Malaysia. Today’s images are from yesterday’s visit to Ta Qali Park. Nature has changed, in some way, it feels more subdued. 
It’s winter now, not so many colorful flowers, besides the yellow ones that bloom all year round.
These special plants are now seen growing in abundance among the green grass in the park.
They are small and resembles a kind of pitcher plant.
I really like being in Sarawak, I wouldn’t mind living there year around. It’s a very special part of the world. But I know it doesn’t work to take my dog to the other side of the earth.
It feels good to be with Fanny again…
Black & White Photography – 4
This is the fourth time I’ve joined Susan’s black/white photo challenge and to me it’s really a challenge, but a fun one. In last week’s b/w post I showed old vehicles but it feels more challenging to edit images of people.
These people dressed in traditional costumes are from the Iban tribe in Sarawak, Borneo. 
The Ibans are famous for their head-hunting past, their massive ironwood longhouses, their ornate body tattooing, their wonderful weaving skills, and of course their potent rice wine, tuak.
Next Monday I will be traveling to Sarawak again, probably for the last time…
The one I am least satisfied with is the warrior, he is doing much better in black / white.
The Power of Flowers & Color
It feels like my last post was a bit too depressing so I decided to add some happy color in a new post instead. My colorful bougainvillea is still blooming on our terrace…
…and the color splash that is barely visible in the top image is the color of Fanny’s new coat.
If dogs could smile she would do it and if dogs could talk she would tell that she is a happy one.
Trees on Tuesdays
“Be like a tree and let the dead leaves drop”
– Rumi – 
“The greatest Threat to Our Planet is the Belief that Someone Else will Save it”
-Robert Swan – 
Susan’s Photo Challenge Trees on Tuesdays.
Just Another Sunset…
A sunset like so many others..
…and some wise words from Singita, Miracle Beach.
The Tower
Għajn Tuffieħa Tower, designed by architect Vincenzo Maculaniwas, is a small watchtower built in 1637.
The tower was built on the site of a medieval watch post and was originally armed with a ½-pounder gun. Its garrison consisted of a captain and three men, who were paid by the Università of Mdina…read more
The view from here is amazing.
Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, Malta – November 2019
Black & White Photography – Part 3
This feels almost a bit scary. I’m not good at all when it comes to edit my images to black and white.
In September I visited an exhibition of old motorbikes at the Aviation Museum in Ta ‘Qali. 
The Historical Motorcycles Club exhibited both classic…
…and military motorbikes.
…as well as some old cars.
Engine and a wheel.
As I wrote, I’m not used to this at all, but, as long as it’s fun, I will continue to challenge myself.
As last time, I show my images also in color, for those who like to compare.
Your comment or advice for improvement would as always be greatly appreciated.For some unknown reason, it’s not possible to comment on this post.
Thanks anyway for visiting my site!
Trees on Tuesdays
Same tree taken from different angle and different seasons.
The one in the middle was taken in the beginning of February this year. The others are from last weekend.
Għajn Tuffieħa Bay, Malta.
Susan’s Photo Challenge Trees on Tuesdays.
Yes, the picture in the middle has been shown here before.
Didn’t have much imagination today.
Today’s Quote
“If You feel the Grass is always greener on the other side.
You surely need to water your garden more often”
– Shivangani Agrawal –
Too Close for a Close-up
This little creature suddenly landed on my sweater and looked deep into my eyes. So I did the same…
Spring is in the air
Yesterday we went to Ta Qali Park. Usually we never go there on the weekends when the summer is over because there are too many people and you can’t have your dog without leash. But we were all alone.
I haven’t been here for a while and was really surprised. It felt like spring even though we are in November! This beauty has a very special expression, perhaps it was also surprised that it felt like spring in the air.
The sky was blue, the grass was green and there were lots of small yellow flowers.
Fanny was more than happy to run around in the greenery without a leash. 
At first I didn’t notice that there were two butterflies on the leaf! 
A spider with its catch of the day.
I saw lots of different kinds of butterflies, dragonflies and other kinds of insects. But as usual, they are very active and difficult to capture with the camera. I’m glad I got this one.
Ta’ Qali National Park, Malta
Welcome November
Typically November, the sky is gray, it’s thundering and it’s raining again.
Days like these we need both color and flowers and not to forget, a happy mind. 
Susan’s Flowers on Fridays # 13.
Cee’s Photo Challenge.
Flower of The Day
It continues to rain here on the island. 
These are still blooming on our terrace, although it’s soon November.
Life goes on, sometimes a bit too fast. For the future, I have a wish…
Cee’s Photo Challenge.
It’s Raining
Today the weather is so bad here on the island that not even my dog wants to go out.
It’s raining and getting dark outside already at five o’clock.
Bad weather doesn’t mean you can’t shoot. But in case you aren’t in the mood for that, it can be fun to look through all the pictures stored in your huge archive and try to pick only ONE, just for fun! 
There are so many different ways to stay positive when a day feels gray.
Like thinking about old bright and happy memories, and not to forget…
Saturday’s picture & Quote
Thistly
“Do not blame the thistle that you can see no beauty”
– Jonathan Lookwood Huie – 
“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better”
– Albert Einstein – 
