Arlo Raim is Silent Key

Ornithologist Arlo Raim from the US was also a radio amateur with a home CallSign: KB9LLF - went silent key on 20th August, 2010.

He was perhaps the best bird tracker in the world. You can read about it at:

http://www.arrl.org/news/ornithologist-arlo-raim-kb9llf-sk

In the amateur or ham radio jargon, a deceased ham radio operator is referred to as "Silent Key" - meaning that his telegraph or wireless key has gone quite. The wireless key is a device use to send out Morse codes - a series of dots and dashes over the airwaves.

Woodgrain Over Pretty Face

The photograph above of a little girl I shot at the Sunday Market in Paro was one of the images that I displayed at a recent photographic class that I was forced to conduct to a group of budding Bhutanese photographers.

The image was chosen to show that, at times, a photographer must allow himself or herself to be drawn away from the main subject and focus on that which surrounds it. In this photograph, you will notice that I have put more emphasize on the wooden post that she was leaning on. What caught my attention was the little specks of paint - remnants of a thicker coat that had peeled off over time - revealing the fine details of the wood’s grain structure. While ensuring that the girl was sharply in focus so that she did not suffer importance as an important element in the image, I focused more on the wooden post thereby enhancing the impact of the image.

I could have shot this photo from a different angle - and by selecting a different aperture, I could have completely altered the look and the feel of this image but I do not think that the impact would have been the same.

The photo above of an old tin can nailed to a pine tree can be seen on the road leading to Kuenselphodrang. Obviously, it has been put there to prevent littering. I love the message scribbled on the tin can: “Don’t Blow it - Good Planets are hard to find”.

The Venetian Macau-Resort Hotel, Macau

On my return trip from covering the Shanghai Tennis Masters Cup, 2008, I stopped over at Macau so that I could spend a night at the extravagantly famous Venetian Macau-Resort Hotel, Macau. It is the most beautiful hotel I have ever been to. In terms of service, facilities and amenities available, the Venetian Macau-Resort Hotel, Macau is probably unmatched in the whole of Asia. 

The hotel complex is so huge that it is large enough to accommodate ninety Boeing 747 jumbo jets. Opened towards the end of August, 2008, it boasts of 3,000 all suite guest rooms. It houses the largest casino in the world with 3,000 slot machines and 750 table games.

It has a theater that can sit 1,800 people. Within the walls of this gigantic hotel, a small portion of the City of Venice has been replicated - it houses three indoor canals with Gondolas - complete with serenading gondoliers.

The Interior Of The Venetian Macau-Resort Hotel, Macau

The rich and ornate interior of the hotel. You have to see to believe the painting and carving that has gone into the interior of the hotel.

One Of The Three Canals Inside the Hotel

Within the walls of this gigantic hotel, a small portion of the City of Venice has been replicated - it houses three indoor canals with Gondolas - complete with serenading gondoliers.

The Hotel's Drive-Way

Hong Kong By Night

This night photo of Hong Kong was taken from The Victoria Peak on my way back from Shanghai, China.

Chinese Buddha

In contrast to our own Buddha, this is how a Chinese Buddha looks like. I shot this photo of the bronze Tian Tan Buddha in Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, Hongkong. It is 112 feet tall and weights 250 metric tons. Its construction was completed in 1993.

As you can see, this Buddha also wears a look of serenity but somehow it is not as blissful as ours.

Buddha Image at Kuensel Phodrang

The Buddha image at Kuensel Phodrang is nearing completion. It is an imposing image and I love the look of serenity on the face of the Buddha. There are Buddha images else where in the world but none as serene looking as ours.