Emperor Jade Pagoda, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

On the recommendation of Peter Stuckings, fellow photographer based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, I visited the Emperor Jade Pagoda for a quick photo shoot. The Emperor Jade Pagoda (Chùa Ngọc) is a Taoist Pagoda located at 73 Mai Thi Luu Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It is also known as the Tortoise Pagoda due no doubt to the large number of tortoises in a pool in front if the temple.

My timing was perfect as on arrival there was a ceremony going on with the head priest leading a procession of followers dressed in black. The chanting, drums and burning incense really added atmosphere to my visit. The highlight was when the overhead sun came out and created these wonderful beams of light through the overhead slatted roof beams cutting through the haze of smoke from the burning incense.

The temple was very authentic and was obviously well used on a daily basis by local worshippers. The ancient old fans hanging from the ceiling made the place look like a set from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

Guess

The Times Square are in New York is a small area which is very intense with shops, restaurants and an array on neon-lit billboards providing a feast for the eyes. There is always something to capture on camera and a great people watching spot.

Over the years the advertising billboards have become more complex and larger with brightly lit large posters and Jumbotron screens to capture attention. This corner of buildings was being used to promote Guess with a number of different billboards focused on this brand ..... just wonder how much this type of advertising actually costs?

Islamic Light

This ornate light was seen in the entrance of the Islamic Arts Museum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia houses more than seven thousand artefacts, as well has an exceptional library of Islamic-art books. The art objects on display range from the tiniest pieces of jewellery to one of the world’s largest scale models of the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca. The aim is to create a collection that is truly representative of the Islamic world. Instead of concentrating on works from the heartlands of Persia and the Middle East, IAMM also puts the emphasis on Asia. China and Southeast Asia are especially well represented. The third component of the Malaysian melting pot is India, which is also given special status. India, China and the Malay world are in an exceptional category.

Chinese Lanterns, Shangcheng, Hangzhou

These colourful Chinese lanterns advertised a light shop in Hangzhou, China. This part of the city, known as Shangcheng, was full of shops and restaurants and even though the evening was bitterly cold many people were out shopping, eating and enjoying the many spectacles along the streets.