these are some of my favorite from 2011 collection. =)
every picture have their own story, either its a moment, portrait or just a plain landscape picture.
hoping for a better year. 2012, please be nice to me.
maybe the last year before settle down? im not so sure. =)

all of these photos are from

- jakarta & bandung indonesia
- koh li pe island thailand
- hong kong
- macau
- bidong island malaysia
- tioman island malaysia
- penang malaysia
- cambodia
- fraser hill malaysia
- hatyai thailand
- north & south island new zealand

regards, azimzainudin.2011

Ramadhan will come to an end. soon we will be celebrating hari raya aidilfitri. 2011, was the toughest ramadhan in my life. i was in cambodia for 17 days. gaining a new experiences, learning new things every single day, getting to know my muslim brothers and sisters in cambodia.
These are some of the collection from the road less traveled cambodia – 2011. i manage to capture the activities of the muslim community here in cambodia in ramadhan. Muslim is just a small group in cambodia. u can hardly find them in other part of cambodia except in phnom penh, kampung cham and kampung chnang.

“Cambodia is a strange and beautiful land. The majority of Muslim here live in extreme poverty….. yet regardless of the hardships they face, they are perhaps the most smiley people I’ve ever met”

best regards,
azim.zainudin.

April is not always the cruelest month, though Thailand in April can sometimes feel that way. It’s hot, hot, and more hot that month, but a special antidote do exist. It is called Songkran, or the Water Splashing Festival. Just as the name implies, at Songkran a lot of water gets dispersed =)
Songkran is a celebration of the Thai New Year, and historically the word “Songkran” is Sanskrit, and means “passing through”. The dates used to be calculated by an astrological calendar, but are now generally set to April 13th through the 15th.

Water and Songkran is very synonym. Thais driving by in trucks dumping buckets of water on anyone in their path. Children with their water guns, drenching each other. Elephants fill their trunks and spray the crowd. In this event also occasionally chalk or talcum powder is added or mixed into the water.  If you don’t want to get wet or chalky you should probably lock yourself up inside your hotel room.

Songkran is a Public Spring Cleaning Day, supported by the religious belief that anything old and useless must be thrown away or it will bring bad luck to the owner. That’s why they are using the water!
During the afternoon of the 13th, Buddha images are bathed as part of the ceremony. Young people pour scented water into the hands of elders and parents as a mark of respect while seeking the blessing of the older people. In ancient days, old people were actually given a bath and clothed in new apparel presented by the young folks as a token of respect for the New Year.

This is my first time experienced Songkran. I choose Hatyai as my destination because of the easy access (and of course because of the tight budget) If u guyz really2 want to experience Songkran, Chiang Mai and Bangkok is other destination that offer awesome celebration! This year, Bangkok celebration itself have made a new world record as the biggest water festival in earth so far! I cant imagine myself!
But Hatyai does not disappoint me. The midnight celebration was so cool and crazy! people started to get wet as early 8pm before the Songrkan day itself and party all night long non stop for 48 hours!
Seriously Thais in Hatyai really knows how to celebrate it… with a lot of fun and cool event like parade… muay thai show… concert… and the best part is the foam machine! haha!

I decided to documented this event with 100% black and white! I really dont have a fix reason… its just that i feel like BNW is perfect for this. Trillion thx to naqi for the fish eye! wohoooo!
and not to forget my travel mate man, eman n doc for this awesome trip! remember what happened in Hatyai will stay in Hatyai. lol~!

Travel tip – the most important thing… book your accommodation at least a month before event! seriously there’s no such thing as walk in as a backpackers when it comes to Songkran festival. the rate will be double! damn!
Do make a preparation to wrap up your camera if u are a photographer! using underwater casing is one of the option.
bring extra cash as backup, and enjoy the event! hehe =)

next year Songkran… Bangkok or Chiang Mai! anyone with me? =)

**this documentary is part of the ‘live.laugh.celebrate’ project by azim.zainudin.

regards,
azim.zainudin 2011

The market doesn’t sell any unique products, and it’s not the oldest, or largest market in the world, but it does have a train running through it 8 times a day, and that makes it unique. Because Thailand has no laws requiring markets be moved, if a railroad is built in the area, Maeklong Market remained in place even after trains began passing through it. Vendors simply remove their awnings, and shoppers step off of the track that serves as a walkway, long enough for the train to pass, and then it’s business as usual, as if nothing happened. To locals it’s just routine, but to foreigners it’s one bizarre display.

The Maeklong Railway from Bangkok opened in 1905 and has a total of 18 stations in small villages and towns from beginning to end. The railway, which receives relatively little use compared to those in major cities, is regularly threatened with closure – though it seems that may never really happen. The Maeklong Railway has only one track, making it difficult to operate more than two or three trains at a time. The only time two trains can pass each other is if they are resting in one of the terminals.

The journey to the maeklong market have been a though one for me and my travel partner, amri. It is because u will be using a lot of public transport to get u here, and the more far from bangkok, the more difficulties u will find in communication especially.
There have been an issue that they want to remove this market at least 2km away from the railway. It is because of the safety purpose.
For me, it is cool to let this market operates as it is. For the locals here, Maeklong is their home and they were there first, the train came along later on. This will be one of a kind in the world,  so just let the market be there.

Let the ‘undisturbed maeklong’ being undisturbed forever.

regards, azim.zainudin

ingat lagi kt entry pembuka 2010 dulu… ‘work hard n travel more’
alhamdulillah… lebih dari separuh matlamat n cita2 dah tercapai…
betapa susahnya nk dptkan sume tu… time dapat tu terasa die punya nikmat!
time xdpt tu plak frust menonggeng… tp itu bukan alasan utk jatuh…
Allah maha adil… dia ganti kan bende tu dgn sesuatu yg lebih baik…
aku selalu percaya bende ni =)
yang penting tiap2 ape yg kita buat tu kene ikhlas n buat sungguh2…

misi 2010 boleh dikata kan 3/4 dah tercapai… alhamdulillah…
akhirnya dpt gak saya keluar tgk tempat org… learning new things everyday when travelling…
understand the lifestyle…
dan xlupa jugak trip2 pendek to so called paradise. yes i do love beaches! whenever i feel strees dgn kerja2 yg belambak2… lari lah kejap ke tempat2 cmni… tgk2 ikan… dgr bunyik ombak… hilang segala kekusutan!

here are the summary list of my 2010 traveling route

january :: bangkok – ayutthaya – damnoen saduak – surat thani – krabi – koh jum – phi phi – hatyai (center thailand)
february :: hatyai – krabi – hong island (south thailand)
march :: mabul – sipadan – kapalai – omadal (sabah)
april :: siem reap – pnhom penh – ho chi minh city (vietnam, cambodia)
may :: perth – lancelin – pinancles – margaret river – bunburry – fremantle (western ausie)
june ::
july ::
august :: perhentian island
september ::
october :: maldives – male – villinggili – conrad ranggali (maldives)
november :: chiang mai – chiang rai – golden triangle – chiang dao (north thailand)
december ::

im hoping for a better year in 2011. more things to see…. new things to learn… a lot more to discover!
indonesia, india, philipines, myanmar, new zealand, china, korea n japan!
insyaAllah all in 2011!

in photography… byk pembaharuan dah dibuat… shooting style… editing style… im trying my best do deliver the best for all my clients… xkira lah in weddings, portraiture n travel photos…
partnership with mimota studio juga adalah satu titik permulaan utk 2011…still photo n cinema!
moga impian nk jadi lonely planet photographer n contributors akan termakbul… insyaAllah… akan cuba sedaya upaya =)

selamat tahun baru 2011 pada semua!

*to her… happy new year to u too… may 2011 will be a great journey for us together =)

reagrds, azimzainudin 2010

In november some may wonder what is going on in thailand when one sees travel magazine ads and posters at hotels showing thai girls dressed in traditional thai clothing with beautiful floating objects. This simply indicates that Loy Krathong is on its way. In Thai “Loy” means to float and “Krathong” means a circular floating object with decoration of banana leaves, flowers, a candle and incense sticks. Loy Krathong does not occur on the same date every year. Instead it is based on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month, which usually falls in November. In 2008 it was held on November 12, in 2009 it was held on November 2. In 2010 Loy Krathong Day will be celebrated on November 21. People look forward to going out and launching Krathongs together to predict their romance future by the direction the Krathongs float.
The floating of a Krathong is signifies floating away ill fortune as well as expressing apologies to Khongkha or Ganga, the River Goddess. Some believe that the ritual is meant to worship the Buddha’s footprint on the bank of the Narmada River, while others say that it is to pay respects to Phra Uppakhut, the Lord Buddha.

As my journey to the north part of thailand, which is Chiang Mai to documented a story about this loy krathong festival. In Chiang Mai, loy krathong is celebrated in their own style n in a bit different way.
It is called Yi Peng Lantern Festival.
Most people usually make banana-leaf cups to float them onto the river. However there are exist some uniquely different aspects in certain communities. In this Yi Peng Festival in Chiang Mai, a balloon like ‘Khom Loi’ lanterns, ‘Khom Fai’ – a fire lantern and ‘Khom Khwan’ – a smoke lantern are flown into the sky as a symbol of worship to Phrathat Chulamani in heaven. Making a Khom Loi will need a lot of artistic skills as well as scientific techniques, just like the ones used in balloon making.

I was there to witness this awesome, beautiful event. Thousands of so called the ’sky lantern’ are floating into the sky of Chiang Mai. After a year of planning about this trip, with a very little information i still manage to come and witness it with my own eyes and captured it with my camera. I must say this the one of the awesome things i ever seen in my life.
If u guyz wish to come and see this event, please do so! Although i manage to capture and share it with all of u, but u guyz gotta see and witness it  ur own.
Another great backpacking journey to the north part of thailand, Chiang Mai do offers a lot of cool places and activities!
Chiang Dao, Pai, Mae Hong Soon and Chiang Rai are some of the must visit places when u are in the northen part of thailand.
A great trip to close 2010 year with thousands of traveling memories. Im hoping for another great backpacking journey in 2011. more time, less cost and a lot of places to discover!

regards,
azim.zainudin
chiang mai nov 2010

There are five million people in Saigon – and three million motorcycles. Almost no one walks or rides a bicycle anymore. Of course they are a few but it is very in a small count. the people have become motorcycle dependent, motorcycle bound. It’s  impossible to separate them from their cycles. They go nowhere without them… and they ride them anywhere and everywhere.

Although they were traffic lights, still… under normal conditions no one stops at intersections in Saigon or anywhere else in Vietnam. Everyone just keeps rolling at a steady pace. They expect other drivers to read their intent, and to speed up, slow down, weave or dodge in order to avoid smacking into them. Timing is routinely split-second.

Motorcycles surge through the streets like massive schools of fish swimming in a river too small and too shallow to carry them all. their drivers weave like barrel-racers through an oncoming tide of traffic, up a one way street or into an oncoming lane. They sail nonchalantly through intersections, directly across the flow of traffic, stopping only when confronted by a much bigger vehicle. Seriously this is insane!!!

They ride up over  onto the sidewalk, dodging and threatening pedestrians in equal measure, and with equal insouciance. They careen down narrow alleys crowded with people,with street sellers balancing bamboo poles or pushing large carts, with people drinking tea or beer, cleaning vegetables, cooking meals, doing dishes, and with children playing.

Motorcycle drivers come in all ages – some no more than children. They may be cautious and careful, or free-wheeling and reckless. Some are focused on what they’re doing, watching the road ahead, trying to anticipate what the other guy is about to do. But many seem to be paying almost no attention at all… they talking on their cell phone, looking for an address or yelling to a friend across the road. lol.

As my 4 days visit to saigon, i was totally amazed with this scenario! then i decided to documented this as part of my photo documentary project. This project is one of my ongoing long term project. maybe some of u have no idea what it is all about. Come to Saigon and experience yourself on the road. I already give a try to ride a scooter owned by one of local friends, but i failed! i cant stand any longer than 10minutes, especially when entering the junction and intersection. Dammit! haha.

Maybe all of the pictures above still not enough show how crazy the motorcycles in Saigon. I will try my best next time, need to get photos from different angle especially from the top!

regrads,
azimzainudin – saigon april 2010

alhamdulillah. the deal has been confirmed.
will be in perth for another assignment.
hope everything will go smooth as planned.
im off for a week. perth here i come!!!

regards, azim.zainudin.

Shom, 28 years old have been living here at Bayon since he was born. He became a monk and help the lead monk, (picture of an old monk) 83 yrs old, to take care of the temple in Bayon area. Locals from all over Cambodia come to them because they provide traditional medicine to the patients.

This 2 young Khmer girls always wanted to go to school, but their family cannot afford it. Everyday they will help their parents to run the business selling Cambodian home made clothing to the tourist in Bayon area.

A group of young beautiful Khmer girls working as a full time traditional model in Angkor Wat. If the tourist want to take pictures with them, they will charged a small fee.

Garbage collector at the top of Angkor Wat. The poor life makes them do everything to get money to survive. Can u imagine how much they earn in 1 day, but still they are happy with their life…

The old market in Siem Reap always busy all day long. U can find a lot of things here, from the unique traditional Cambodian food to the high quality of home made jewelry.

Major of locals in countryside of Cambodia used to be in paddy production. In april, normally locals in Siem Reap will look for other things to do. Many of them will go fishing as the big famous Ton Le Sap is not far away from here. Some of them will do the fruit plantation. I manage to found a small community that still can plant the paddy although it is in the dry season. The source of water is very limited in this season but still, they got to do something for a living.

regards,
azim.zainudin.

The most interesting facts that i found while i’m there was ayutthaya have been ruled by 33 kings during the period when it was capital! fuh! after that, the city was sacked by the Burmese in 1767. Now, ayutthaya was declared as a UNESCO’s world heritage site since 1991.

-sources from ayutthaya provincial administration organization-

The journey to here was awesome!!!  There are many ways to get u to here, by train, bus or car. we managed to get a train from hua lamphong railway station (bkk). the journey by local train was 3 hours. u can see a lot of nice view of thailand from the train.
if u guyz are planning to go here, my tips is simple. u need to spend at least 1 day 1 night so that u can cover all ayutthaya province. there a some cheap guesthouse near the ayutthaya railway station. there, u can hire any tuk2 or taxi to get u to cover all of the place in ayutthaya. (please bargain so that u can save!) or u can rent a bike, if u know the way. seriously this place was very big and u can easily get lost. It will take u at least 10/15 minutes to reach from one place to another place by tuk2 or car. theres a lot of interesting place and things to see here. if u are coming to bangkok, this is one of the must go destination although it is quite far from bangkok. lol
oh… not to forget, if u got more time and budget, u can try ayutthaya elephant ride – according to lonely planet.

till next time.

regards,
azim.zainudin – ayutthaya (jan 2010)