Getting ready for her big day

Sharifah Khairani - Engagement, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

Lovebirds

Lovebirds, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

Isn't it nice to spend time with your significant other, just a relaxing walk, arm in arm, while the world around you carries on in its mad rush?

Just like a post card...

Larnach Castle, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

I took this picture with my Canon 50D and a Tokina 11-16 f2.8. The building is very old and beautiful and has a lot of character. The couple being there and walking down the steps was an added bonus. Every time I look at it, it feels like I'm looking at a postcard!

Things I look forward to...

Yum!, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

Its just the simple things in life that make me happy. Get my paycheck. Take the family out to a nice dinner. :)

The most beautiful place on earth

Lake Matheson, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

We came to this spot after spending the morning climbing Fox glacier. It's called Lake Matheson and it was all we could do to not keep our jaws gaping. New Zealand has got to be the most scenic country on earth. Its beauty is everywhere I looked. Its people are friendly. Its air clean. Even though we spent two weeks there, it was not enough. Even before we the end of the first week, we were already talking about going back for a second visit!

Mother and son

Mother and son, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

I like this particular photo. Took this during a train ride at Shantytown - a theme park near Greymouth, New Zealand. We spend most of our weekly routing leaving our kids during the day so that we can work and have a steady income to bring up the kids the way we want to. These are the few times that we got to spend quality time with them.

Best time of his life....

IMG_6647, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

I look back at the pictures I took during our trip to New Zealand and am glad that I went out of my way to capture these moments. Some day, my children will look through these photos again and they will remember the great times they had, and how carefree they were.

Its a long road

Its a long road, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

Inside looking out

Inside looking out, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

My daughter, never having been to Singapore before, was looking out the window in wonder at what the Lion city will be like.

The journey begins

The journey begins, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

The anticipation came to an end. Both for my children as well as for the missus and me. We had been waiting for weeks to go on this trip and we had to wait just an hour more before we boarded our plane. We had a great time together on this holiday!

Packing for New Zealand

Packing for New Zealand, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

A smile of anticipation and excitement as we pack for our holiday to New Zealand.  Its special to see my daughter with happy smile.

Kais pagi, makan pagi

Kais pagi, makan pagi, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

I took this photo some time back. I never thought to publish it but as I was looking through some of my older photos and saw it again, I thought that it told a story. There's a saying in the Malay language.

"Kais pagi, makan pagi. Kais petang, makan petang."

Literally, it means that you make just enough from you work in the morning to have your morning meal, and you make just enough from your work in the evening to have your evening meal. It is hardship and strife. For some reason, this picture makes me think of this phrase.

Laughter

Nurul & Azhar, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

I took this during a wedding shoot. It made me reflect upon the times when my teenage kids were just babies. Those were happy moments I'll cherish.

Hardship

Hardship, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

Taken during a stop on the way up to Cameron Highlands. This woman is part of an Orang Asli family living just outside the forest reserve in the state of Pahang, in Malaysia. The Orang Asli are a people protected by the government and accorded special privileges as they are recognized as the original peoples of the land, before the Malays, Chinese or Indians came along. They also enjoy all rights, just like other citizens of the country. However, they choose to keep to their Orang Asli life style, living in huts with no electricity or any of the modern amenities that we take for granted.

She's a young lady now..

Definitely a "Myspace" pose, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

This is my daughter. It seemed like it was only yesterday I cradled her in my arms as a newborn. Now, she's grown into a young lady. Time flies too fast.

Sunset at Putrajaya

Sunset at Putrajaya, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

Went out with the wife and kids to Putrajaya to enjoy the sunset. When I was younger, I never really appreciated all the things I saw. I visited many places as a kid. My father moved around every few years to pursue his education. He brought us with him. During the semester breaks, he would always take us to places, camping here and there. I remember now, every place we went, there were really beautiful sceneries. We went to such beautiful places as Niagara Falls, to the Florida Keys. The Statue of Liberty to the Grand Canyon. We witnessed natural and man made marvels. As I grew up and pursued my own education, I did my own traveling as well. Every image that I saw then remains an image in my mind. Although now, these images are lost somewhere in my head. I wish I'd had a camera then, so that I could have permanently captured these images. Now that I do have a camera as well as the financial means, I intend to do just that, as well as share it with anyone who wishes to view it.

A burden on his shoulders

A burden on his shoulders, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

I was traveling with friends to Melaka and made a stop by the beach near Port Dickson. I was only a few tables from him but he seemed so engrossed in his thoughts - perhaps troubles at home or at work - that he failed to notice me.

Jump!

Jump!, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

Underneath pokok klapak, I'm waiting for you..

Underneath pokok klapak, I'm waiting for you.., originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

This reminds me of that song that one of the contestants in AF sang. I think it went something like, "Underneath pokok klapak, I'm waiting for you..." For the life of me, I can't recall the name of the singer...

Sunset

Originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

Simple memories are the ones that last

Simple memories are the ones that last, originally uploaded by Nik Hisham.

Friends at the beach

Happy New Year!