WPC – As The Sun Rises, Hope Soars


In wishing you a fond farewell, we wanted to share our all-time favorite photos with you. We welcome you to share your favorites with us…

I could not believe my eyes when knowing that this week Weekly Photo Challenge would be the final one, but as change is eternal, we have to accept this decision, even with a little sadness. I have so much enjoyed the photo challenges over the years and also the people I have connected through their posts. For me, Weekly Photo Challenge is so special, because it’s the only way to push me to post regularly. For the Daily Post’s team, thank you for having been here for all of us over the years.

And as requested, I want to post my all-time favorite photo as a fond farewell to the great team of Daily Post. It is not the end, because I believe as they say, they will be focusing their attention on other great projects on WordPress.com

About the photo, I love the sunrise in Pokhara, Nepal. From my hotel I could see the sun over the World Peace Stupa which were built on top of a hill with sea of clouds surround it. It’s a magical moment, as a reminder that as the sun rises, hope soars. Like the team of Daily Post, this is not the end. The upcoming great projects are waiting for them and for us also. It’s time for them and for us also to start something new and trust the magic of new beginnings.

As happened in life,

A Sunrise is God’s way of saying, Let’s start again. Todd Stocker

Morning Serenity Above The Clouds
Morning Serenity Above The Clouds

 

 

WPC – The Mirror Of Nature


Last month I visited Angkor Wat in Cambodia for the umpteenth time. Angkor Wat is the place in the world which I feel I belong to; a place for recharging my energy. No matter how many other beautiful places I visit, I always feel the magical spark in me when I stand in the ancient walkway of Angkor Wat. I feel so comfortable to walk along the cozy corridors or the surrounding forest which perhaps, nothing special for other person.

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Another Sunrise in Angkor Wat

So, it was early morning of Khmer New Year, -it’s in the mid of April-, and I found myself standing in front of a small pond in Angkor Wat. I joined the other people to watch beautiful sunrise there before I enjoyed my walk in the lush forest around it.

The small pond in southern part of main entrance is different to the similar pond in northern part which is full of lotus. This time I felt so lucky with the small water in it. Just perfect as a mirror of the nature with its majestic temple. I could see the small ripple of water when something disturbed it. Totally perfect for me. Right place, right moment.

Like water which can clearly mirror the sky and the trees only so long as it surface is undisturbed, the mind can only reflect the true image of the Self when it is tranquil and wholly relaxed.

WPC – Rise to Bring Hope, Set to Bring Peace


 

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The Light, Clouds and Blue Sky

One fine day in December in Bali…

Every sunrise may bring us hope and every sunset may bring us peace.

Standing at the Benoa Beach right in front of the hotel where I stayed, I wished I could see a beautiful sunrise. Unfortunately, it’s cloudy and even dark clouds was hanging in the sky above me. The sun has arisen some time before and seemed to hide its beauty behind the clouds by letting its light shines through the dark clouds. It seemed to tell all the creatures on earth that the dark clouds will disappear in its time. And it’s true, as the clouds moved slowly, the blue sky started to appear.

It’s perfect as the wise people said,

Behind the dark clouds, the sky is always blue, the sun still shines, the birds always fly…

I got a simple lesson to keep hoping good in that cloudy morning. The appearing blue sky reminds us to give meanings to our own life until the time comes.

Yes, until the sun set to change the face of the day. It seemed to offer us peace into our hearts over all works that had been done well.

That day, the same day I had a cloudy sunrise, I watched the sunset with its all beauties at Kuta Beach, Bali. It seemed to say to me to let bygones be bygones peacefully and be good memories in our hearts.

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Sunset at Kuta – Bali

WPC – Nature & Love Are My Greatest Inspirations


This time we are asked to show about Inspiration for the week’s photo challenge.

Well, I share a wise words which I admit the truth about it.

“Nature and love are my greatest inspirations. It is like an attempt to define the undefinable” – Ali Bukhari

Yeah, nature and love never fail to motivate me, its amazing beauty always boosts my feeling from time to time. From the small to great things, from the things inside the range or beyond my senses capability, which are all reflecting the Almighty God.

Borobudur in Morning Mist
Borobudur in Morning Mist
Sunset in Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia - Heaven on Earth...
Sunset in Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia – Heaven on Earth…
on morning flight to jogja
on morning flight to jogja
Paddy field in Sunset
Paddy field in Sunset

My Muse is From Sunrise to Sunset, from Sunset to Sunrise


For this week’s challenge, we’re asked to share the subject that keeps us coming back; turning to frequently, to get more inspired each time… Yes, we’re asked to share pictures about our muse.

it‘s a little bit difficult for me since I don’t have any specific subject to be my muse. But I don’t wanna give up to share. It should be fun anyway.

Hmmm… I love to see sunset or sunrise. Well, who can see the beauty in a sunrise or sunset without feeling the awesomeness of it in their heart? The moments of sunset or sunrise are always decorating my heart. Like a door, sunset or sunrise opens another world of beauty in daily life.

From Sunrise to Sunset, Help me not forget all that You have done for me

From Sunset to Sunrise, Help me keep my eyes upon You Glory

Sunset or Sunrise, or around those time, are always magnificent moments.

A tree siluet during sunset
A tree siluet during sunset
Sunset at Kuta Beach, Bali
Sunset at Kuta Beach, Bali

 

May every sunrise bring you hope, may every sunset bring you peace

WPC – Early Bird in Nepal


Sunrise in Nagarkot with an early bird
Sunrise in Nagarkot with an early bird

It was last morning of my holiday in Nepal. I was so tired to get up earlier on that day because I’d arrived at the night before after long hours overland trip from Lumbini. But I won’t skip the chance to see and feel the early morning in Nagarkot, a beautiful hilly village in Kathmandu Valley. I got up after hearing the humming birds and walked into the balcony of my room. Well, actually I was amazed with the sunrise and the mist that spread across the valley. So, I was taking pictures of the scenery and suddenly a pigeon came into the frame when I pushed the button. A moment, with the early bird.

In response to Weekly Photo Challenge with the theme of this week : Early Bird

Weekly Photo Challenge: Orange – Sunrise to Sunset Daydreaming


Sunrise across the Mekong river, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Sunrise across the Mekong river, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Feeling the morning breeze on my face, suddenly I woke up in a river bank. Disoriented but could not help watching the nice orange sunrise across the big river. Am I home? It must be the Great Mekong in Cambodia.

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Without any chance to think, my body became lighter and lighter. Momentary blinded for a blink, the sun disappeared and now I saw local monks in orange robes walking around Angkor Wat, home of the souls.

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Secretly following them through the wind, watched them chanting in front of the Giant Buddha. But, heiii… there’s no Giant Buddha in Angkor. Time had played with me and brought me to a temple with gold, yellow and orange color in Thailand, home of the smiles.

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Blue bench under the flamboyant tree in Bagan, Myanmar
Blue bench under the flamboyant tree in Bagan, Myanmar

A moment or two taking delight, then I had to tiptoe out quietly. This country-hopping drained my energy. One step means hundreds kilos to fly in bewilderment. I should take a rest for a while. I could not believe my eyes stuck to the blue bench under the orange flamboyant tree in Bagan, Myanmar. Another hopping to the home of new hope.

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A orange backhoe in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia
A orange backhoe in Kuta, Bali, Indonesia

I fell asleep on the bench that brought me to the seat inside the orange heavy vehicle in Bali. What’s going on? I drove it to clean the beach. Lots of trash came from the ocean and brought those back to the shore of island of gods. I have the faith that cleaning is a way to purify.

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A Plane and A Pagoda in Hong Kong
A Plane and A Pagoda in Hong Kong

The heat and sweat made my day. Within less than a second I was in the plane that flew over an orange pagoda in Hong Kong, the hidden oasis to make a solemn request for peace.

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Autumn leaves after the rain, Secret Garden in Changgyeonggung, Seoul, Korea
Autumn leaves after the rain, Secret Garden in Changgyeonggung, Seoul, Korea

Landed in South Korea with autumn vista. Being a tropical mind who knew only rain and summer seasons, I was always amazed by the red, yellow and orange maple trees, the special autumn colors as a delicate bridge to welcome winter sonata.

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But again, time flew and no more for loving the autumn colors. I stood still in front of an orange big gate in Japan. Too big for small me walking through it before I stopped in front of an orange shrine. Somebody whispered it’s a love shrine, although the true love shrine is in the heart of people…

I walked through a tunnel of thousands orange torii or gates in Fushimi Inari in Kyoto, one step to another, believe there is an end in everything

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Lantern Festival in CheonggyeCheon Stream, Seoul, Korea
Lantern Festival in CheonggyeCheon Stream, Seoul, Korea

Finally all torii disappeared and became lantern characters in orange atmosphere. The King himself deliberated with his Royal members to prosper his people life

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Sunset in Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia - Heaven on Earth...
Sunset in Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia – Heaven on Earth…
A silhouette in Discovery Beach, Bali
A silhouette in Discovery Beach, Bali

Time ticked and I was kicked. The bright orange color decorated the western sky of Indonesia, as a sign for sunset. Kuta Beach in Bali will be my witness.  Like a movie, the picture faded away and a silhouette of tree with orange background was emerged, night was on the way to come.

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Hanging Orange Lamps in Sampoerna Museum, Surabaya, Indonesia
Hanging Orange Lamps in Sampoerna Museum, Surabaya, Indonesia

Quietly I switched on the orange lamps for giving some lights through the mysterious darkness of the night

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Museum of Bank Mandiri, Jakarta, Indonesia
Museum of Bank Mandiri, Jakarta, Indonesia

A day has been gone and be part of a place we called a museum. We can visit to make a remembrance but it has been bygones. Just like the one with the colonialism orange atmosphere…

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Orange BMW 2002
Orange BMW 2002

Suddenly all’s gone and I tumbled down. I pinched myself and realized that I had a daydreaming in an orange old BMW!

And the last but not least, a question… do you know the production year of that BMW? 🙂

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in response to Weekly Photo Challenge with the theme for this week

Orange