#71 Ladybird Pupa, originally uploaded by See Fei.

This is the insect world version of the ugly duckling. The cute ladybird beetle started life as a fierce centipede look-alike creature.

In the human world, the closest equivalent  i ever observed is my nephew. He used to be a naughty and spoilt brat in his younger days but after going through army and NUS, is now a soft spoken gentleman.

So, we are not what we used to be. We change. From bad to good. Or good to bad. We will never know what we will become. Be mindful and aware and hopefully we will not be too far away from the middle path.

#79B “Bring ME to your leader!”, originally uploaded by See Fei.

A grasshopper that look evil and fit perfectly into a invading martian in sci-fi movie. Except this quiet and non-assuming creature is a peaceful garden dwellers that was found in the serene Bukit Batok Nature Park.

Besides the fierce alien look, this grasshopper is unique in the orientation of its hind “jumping” legs. They seems to “lean” forward and in a very unnatural position.

I am still trying to find out the ID of this grasshopper. The first one i met was at Mandai Orchid Park a couple of months ago. Hope the next time we meet i will get to shoot the front shoot showing those big compound eyes.

#5 beauty & the beast, originally uploaded by See Fei.

it was fellow Pentax users monthly outing at Hortpark in June. This beautiful butterfly was shot in the butterfly garden which open only on the last Saturday of the month.

There were friendly Hortpark staff attending and willingly telling us the name of the butterflies in the park. This is a “Jacintha Eggfly” butterfly. Actually it was feeding on the dirt in the rubber grip of the lens. Yuck!

brown capuchin, originally uploaded by See Fei.

this is the first time i visit the zoo after ah meng the orang utan passed away. there seems to be a lot of changes going on at the zoo with new construction and exhibit being put up.

only brought my f*300 prime lens and shoot a lot of monkeys during this trip. somehow, these primates were too fast for my camera. this brown capuchin is one of the few sharp ones that i got.

i will be back.

#54 Two is Company, originally uploaded by See Fei.

Ants tending to their herd of aphids. The aphids are sap sucking animals which the ants kept for their sugar supply. Sap is rich in sugar which the aphids take and excess will be excreted. The aphids are treasured by the ants for their sugar-rich excrement.

“Golden” Jumping Spider, originally uploaded by See Fei.

Hi! i am finally awaken from my slumber after like more than one year away. First post in 2010. Not bad hor… I havent changed into a spider lah. Just one my models in my new hobby – photography. Actually, not new also lah, been doing photography for 3 years already. but recently got very addicted to macro photography. Macro photography is shooting animals not more than 10mm in size. Aiyah, insects and bugs lah. Forgive the pun, but really got bitten by the “macro” bugs hahaha….

Ginza Plaza my kampung shopping mall is gone. Once famous for its many massage parlours and hair saloons, the new mall had been renovated and reopened recently….

Feng shui must have played a part as there is a lot of water scape and curvilinear line at the front entrance. Renamed West Coast Plaza, residents at the sleepy West Coast finally have a place to hang out.

Staples F&B outlets like NewYork2, Starbuck, Sushi Tei, Sakae Sushi now filled the new mall. The uncle must had felt disoriented with these new changes. Well, call this development…

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The shops spread over 3 storey with a central atrium and may be it is a sign of time, not all lots were taken and there was no crowd during the soft opening.

As with all urban mall, family with kids in tow  from the neighbourhood was a common sight…

At lots that were not taken, the landlord put up giant posters of famous places to cover up the vacancy. Not a bad idea since a lot of shoppers stopped to take photograph in front of these giant posters.

With catchment from the nearby newly built condo, the taste of West Coasters (hahah…) had upgraded. No wonder upmarket “Cold Storage” took over from old  ”Shop & Save”.

The neighbourhood aunty and uncle reccing the new environment. But alas, the take up rate of shop lots had been slow as can be seen from the green and red hoarding at the background.

Forgot to mention, there were a lot of spectacle shops in the old mall. Only a handfull is left with some moved over to the HDB shop lots at West Coast market.

This is a new and very welcome addition in West Coast Plaza – money changer!! These guys give good rate and they even deal in Durham. Anyone working in the Emirates can come here to do your money changing.

Development has finally come to the sleepy West Coast. I miss the old shops of the old especially one massage parlour (Xiao Xie) who had relocated to Beauty World but this is life is Singapore. You can expect at least one major changes in your environment every five years.

I will try harder and let me start with updating my blog. Here is the first post for 2009. It was an event that i witnessed at a neighbourhood mall near my home. The feats that these acrobats performed were so out of this world, i held my breath every times a dangerous stunt was performed. I didnt have my camera that day but luckily the show was on multiple days.

 i went back the next day with my camera to record it…

cant seem to upload the photos but if you visit my flickr account you can see it there. really awesome.

morning session:  Botanical Garden

Afternoon:  Chinatown

Evening:  Sunset at Labrador Park

Night:  Orchard Road – Shaw Centre

Entrance to Orchard Road

Takashimaya Shopping Centre

The crazy bunch who joined me for the marathon. Group photo taken in front of the Chinatown Relic Tooth Buddhist Temple.

Wish everyone a happy 2009!! … and hope you will end your year end with a bang too like pipit!!!