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Gong Xi Fa Cai (Happy New Year)

Tuesday 24 January 2012
3kids2

I took this photo of Lil L and her cousins in early 2011. They've grown so much since then. Looking at it makes me miss my family back in New Zealand even more. Thank God for Skpye! The 11 hour time difference is a pain but technology has allowed us to "see" each other more often than not.  The whole family gathered at my youngest brother's house to call us. Miss you all!

To all my readers who celebrate Chinese New Year - Xin Nian Kuai Le! It's the year of the Dragon and I'm surrounded by pregnant friends. I guess there will be plenty of dragon babies crawling about this year.

A big thank you to Nelah of 52 New Days for the lovely award! What a lovely thing to wake up to. By the way, you'll notice that I've only just started tweeting. I'm still light years from being proficient at it. Thank goodness for Kim of A Very Sweet Blog  who patiently talked me through it. I had no idea what all those hashtags # are for. Nor those puzzling and cryptic #FF tweets! So come on over and follow me on Twitter. Just click on the Twitter button on the right side of the blog.

Do hop over to Malou of 33 Avenue who'd interviewed me about my travels. It was fun reminiscing about my wild adventures in the past. I'm a lot saner these days. Well, at least my parents hope I am.

26 comments:

  1. I gave up Twitter after two weeks, it just seemed so inane, I'm already doing enough inane ramblings on my blog! I'm a dragon, I hope it is a good year the last two have been awful.

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  2. Happy CNY!
    Just read your interview, and I loved it! One of the things I admire about you is that you're a no-nonsense hardcore traveler!

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  3. congratulations for the award and your interview is beautiful.. once again i fell in love with your pictures!!!!
    i have twitter but with my baby, household and other things i can barely update. i got lucky whne my baby sleep during the day so i can post in my blog :)
    anyway.. happy chinese new year to you!!!!
    take care. xoxo, Haus of Gala

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  4. What a cute picture! Happy Chinese new year to you too!

    Follow me & my bags, shoes, and all things dainty at:
    pjlattesbagbook.blogspot.com

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  5. Love, love, love the interview! :) Your pics, your pics! And I wish I was half as adventurous as you are - I think I'm the kind of traveler your other child is :p

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  6. That photo is too cute of the kiddos. Gotta love those Asian eyes.

    Tell me about Twitter. I signed up months ago but never used it. In a way, I felt it was too much for me to keep up, let alone the blog. Good for you that you are stepping out and giving it a try. Perhaps you can show me how to use it.

    Your travel experiences are truly entertaining to read. How funny the part about your lil L was missing briefly and you found her chatting with a store assistant..ha. I am slowly nut surely reading through your archives.

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  7. Gorgeous photo and kiddies! Happy Lunar New Year! Gong Xi Fai Cai! I have a twitter but I don't use it much due to a lack of patience. Amazing interview and photos!

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  8. happy new year to you too!! year of the dragon rawr hope you had a great one!

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  9. Happy New Year love! Lil' L and her cousins are adorable! Will have to head on over to read your interview.

    I come on Twitter now and then just to see what's going on but I agree with the majority here, it is quite insane ;)

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  10. What a cute picture :) I haven't yet jumped on the twitter bandwagon! Btw loved your interview with Malou! Awesome places you have been to!! I have definitely caught the travel bug!!

    katattack2000.wordpress.com

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  11. What an adorable photo of the kids! As always, your photography is beautiful.

    Xin Nian Kuai Le to you, too! So many people don't know what I'm saying as they've only ever heard Gong Hei Fat Choy so glad to hear another celebratory phrase said. :)

    On another note, I've tagged you for a blog award here: http://awalkinthecloset.blogspot.com/2012/01/versatile-or-rambling-blogger-award.html

    Don't feel obligated to participate. I would be interested in learning new (7 to be exact!) things about you, though! :)

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  12. Hello, I love your pictures and wonder what kind of camera you have. I saw the pict with the kids in Indonesia. You can clearly see the drops of water splashing and falling. I need a camera like yours.
    Also if you don't mind sharing how do you take the pictures of clothes and accesories, what do you use for background and what tools you use... I try taking pictures of clothes using white background and two lamps, but never close to yours.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for the compliment. I'm glad you like the photos. Actually the photo was taken in Sabah (Borneo). You'll be shocked to hear that I actually use an old camera body - Canon 400D (rebel). However, I do invest in lens. After much trial and error, I've found Canon 55-250mm IS (image stabilizer) to be very sharp and reasonably priced at £138.

      To answer your next question. I use a large sheet of white paper placed near the window. I very rarely use artificial lighting. I sometimes use an external flash with a diffuser attached to bounce the light. I edit all my photos on Photoshop. Please don't hesitate to email me if you have further questions.

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    2. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, for a while I've been thinking on getting one, actually 8 yrs, but my little digitals and my phone cameras were enoungh while finding the right one. I was too busy and instead of going to a store and being persuade by a salesperson that wants a commission, I've been asking around. This year I am seriously looking and with your help, I made my choice. I read about your lens and it's what I need. I will get an up to date body, so most likely 600D. Thank you again.

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    3. I ment "enough".

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    4. Ms Hat, my pleasure! My workhorse lens is Canon 17-55mm IS but it's heavy and expensive. The other inexpensive and sharp lens I can recommend is Canon 50mm 1.8. Canon 600D has really good reviews. You can't go wrong with it.

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  13. Hey M! Happy Chinese New Year to you! Lil L and her cousins look too cute in the picture above :) It's amazing how kids grow up so fast. You are so sweet to mention me with regards to Twitter. You are too humble M! You knew a lot girl, but I'm so glad I could help. I learn everyday. Congratulations on your award. It's so cute. Nelah is the best.
    http://www.averysweetblog.com/

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  14. I hope you all had a wonderful Chinese New Year! Little L and her cousins look too adorable!

    xx Mandi
    www.findmeamuse.com

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  15. Thanks again Marlene for taking the time for the interview. Happy Lunar New Year and take care!

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  16. The pictures of the kids are so cute!!

    And don't worry about the scissors and hair washing! I used scissors that day too! Oops! It wasn't something I remembered practicing when we grew up! :)

    xo, sam

    P.S. Followed you on Twitter! I totally know what you mean! When I first starting using it, I was so confused by all the hashtags and FF?!!

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  17. gong xi fa chai!! OMGOSH I DIE OVER THIS PHOTO!! so freakin' cute!!

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  18. Happy New Year to you, too, Marlene. ADORABLE!!!

    I'm more pathetic than you are. I still haven't mastered Facebook but I plan on doing it soon. I hear Twitter is addictive.

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  19. gong hei fatt choy!!! it will be a prosperous year!!

    and that pic is adorable

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  20. Happy New Year to you! This picture cracks me up. They're adorable:)

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