Reminder - Wear White Colours At Hindu Funerals. What about weddings?

UK - still lots of funerals are all black. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

I was told not to take photos at a funeral (UK Jewish liberal) so I have here just the cemetery attendants taking away the bier which transported the coffin to the grave.

In India, photos of the mourners gathering to pay respects to see Bollywood film star Sridevi Kapoor in Mumbai show hundeds of people in all colours. The VIP film stars have arived in white. 

Problem
What colours to wear at weddings and funerals in Asia?

Answers
Funerals
Hindus wear white for funerals.

Weddings
(Symbol of purity, just as white, which was established for Weddings in the UK and worldwide by Victoria in 1840.)

Indians and Chinese
The Indians and Chinese brides were red (auspicious and lucky).

However, many brides, especially Japanese, and in Singapore, will change dresses, perhaps wearing white wedding dress for one part of the ceremony, usually the formal part, and photos, changing into a shorter coloured cocktail dress for ease of movement dancing at the reception.

Best to remember check on what colours you should wear. Worldwide, the rule would be for the immediate family to co-ordinate with the bride, whilst others should not dress in the same colour as the bride. You don't want to be mistaken for the bride, nor to rival her.

When going to a new country, try to sort this out in advance. When a family is preparing for a wedding or funeral, you often cannot get through by phone.

Especially with mixed-nationality marriages, for example, a couple who met at work when both were lonely at an overseas posting, they have gone to another country for a first or second wedding reception with the parents of one side or another. I have been to three weddings in Singapore, Chinese-Indian and Chinese-Italian, Chinese-New Zealand, which incorporated traditions from two cultures. They might hold three ceremonies, whilst holding a third wedding for colleagues in the country where you met them.

Wearing Suitable Funeral Clothes
In the UK you are safer wearing either black or a dark colour such as navy. In case the immediately family are in solid black, others not, you might wear a contrasting colour scarf. The same applies as for weddings, that the immediate family are too upset to talk and a third party is giving out the information and hard to contact, so the earlier you can ask, the better.

If you have a car, you can take an alternative jacket.

Useful Websites
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5443881/Bollywood-legend-Sridevi-mourned-fans-Mumbai.html

For photos of Sridevi Kapoor also see Wikipedia and page for photo originals
 and for permission to copy photos see Wikipedia.
 http://www.bollywoodhungama.com (See Wikipedia.)

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.

Hindu Temple In Kingsbury, white, colourful temples in Singapore

Driving through London suburbs you see Hindu temples in shining white, mosques, synagogues, churches, public buildings, as well as art deco houses and blocks of flats in white with green tiles and Victorian mock-Tudor houses in black and white, buildings in London red brick made from local London clay, Georgian windows. Increasingly we have foreigners from sunny climes painting their homes in pinks and purples, greens, a delight for the eye.

Here's a lovely white Hindu temple in Kingsbury. You pass it on the main road between Hendon and the Edgware Road and Kingsbury, perhaps on your way out again to Kingsbury or passing through on your way to Kenton or Harrow.

I photographed it from a distance. Then I was able to get a better view as we were nearer. I always take the distant view first, just in case my better view gets blocked by a tree or a lorry (as you say in the USA, a truck).

Later I was able to crop out the windows of the vehicle I was travelling in and the surroundings.


I was lucky enough to be able to visit a Hindu temple on a guided tour. First we took off our shoes. We were told how experts in carving had been invited over to the UK to create the buildings and statues.

Some temples are pure white outside. Ethereal. Pure. Clean.

Other temples I have seen in Singapore are covered in colourful carvings and glittering gold. Happy. Exciting. Mesmerising.

Here's one near Farrer Park station, near Mustafa's department store in Little India. Easy to locate.


Another temple in Singapore I came across by chance when a Toastmasters meeting (which was cancelled) was supposed to be held in a meeting room in an adjoining building. My disappointment at not meeting friends or potential friends for a meeting was mitigated by the discovery of this beautiful temple.

The greeting board outside is very informative, education, interesting. One board gives the history of the building. Another says that all are welcome and all are deemed Hindus. Before entering you turn into the area where shoes are left and wash your feet.

I usually wipe my washable shoes or shoe soles using a wet wipe and maybe the running water. I dry the shoes off surreptitiously. Then wash my hands.

You are then walking around on a cool marble floor. You might find unused airline socks from a long-haul flight come in handy.

I carry a plastic bag with me. I put my washed shoes inside the plastic bag inside my tote bag.

Otherwise you find yourself at the back entrance of the building with a group of people who left their shoes the other side. I did that on my first visit. A helpful guide offered to show me the way from another exit to the bus stop. I had to delay him whilst I asked him to show me the way back to the front entrance to collect my shoes.



The pictures might look very small in the post on your screen. But click on the pictures and they suddenly come up larger so you can see the details, read the plaques and get a slide show. Depending on your device, you may have an icon which goes to full screen.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
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How To Take Better Photos

I was reading the rules for entering the competition for photos of monuments for Wikipedia when I clicked through to their advice page on taking photos. I knew several of the basics, including:

1 Make sure your picture is horizontal
2 Or correct it later
3 Ensure the autofocus is on the main subject of the photo.

Photographing People
Regarding autofocus, I know that when you are taking a picture of two people, you have to ensure that the camera is not focused on the wall behind and between them, in the centre of the picture.

Focus Fix
On some cameras which focus on whatever is in the middle of the box shape frame or cross in the middle of the picture, you can focus on the person, one of the people, press something to hold that focus, and then move back to correct layout. I have never mastered this. Also it causes delay. I prefer to move one of the people into the middle and have the other person behind looking over their shoulder.

What Wikipedia adds is how the camera might focus on the foreground, such as a lamp post, which is incidental, whilst the main subject of the photo, the cathedral in the middle distance, is out of focus.

The Wikipedia article handily shows several photos of the same scene.

Before And After
I have always wanted to do a before and after photo guide, or a wrong or right guide. Every time I delete a bad picture I think, maybe I should have kept that as an example of what goes wrong and how to correct it. I probably will do so eventually.

Meanwhile, enjoy the useful Wikipedia article, which is clear and not over technical which is the fault of many books on how to improve your photographs.

http://www.wikilovesmonuments.org.uk/category/common-photo-errors#11

Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer.

Zoos, Parks, Bamboo and Botanical Gardens - Singapore's is easy to reach

Every city has its must see parks.

London, England
London has several. It's free to walk in Regents Park, Hyde Park and Green Park and visit the Peter Pan statue in Kensington Gardens. Most areas have a free park or two. Just check on maps.

London also has London Zoo, a paid for attraction. Smaller zoos are scattered around the capital.
You can also drive out to farms and zoos in other cities.

Singapore
Singapore's favourite paid for attractions include the Night Safari and the Singapore Zoo alongside. Look for reduced price tickets for the two. You can also visit crocodile farms selling crocodile skin souvenirs, or walk along piers to glimpse crocodiles.

If you want an easy to reach attraction, try the Botanical Gardens. The MRT (underground station) is helpful named Botanical Gardens and is right next to the Botanical Gardens entrance on the Bukit Timah road. Even if you don't have time for a long visit, you should stop at the MRT and pop up to the entrance to the Botanical Gardens for a photo stop and to read some of the captions at the entrance.

Bamboo
Standing by the bus stop recently, waiting for a friend arriving by car, I stood admiring the bamboo, famous for being fast-growing. The bamboo main stalk or trunk, was green, brown, or black.

Photos of Trees

Currently you can see an exhibition of photos about trees in Singapore by a photographer called Benny Loh. Another panel is about the photographer.

This entrance is also served by numerous buses.

Inside the Botanical Gardens is a historical bandstand where brides like to be photographed.

In addition to the Bukit Timah gate, two other major gates are the Nassim Gate and the Tanglin Gate.


More information from:
sbg.org.sg
foodandshelter.co
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

When to visit Singapore and Asia: bargains, decorations, no haze and no rain

Good Time
Time to visit: any major event or festival (unless you hate crowds). My favourite time in Singapore is Christmas because every shopping mall is dramatically decorated with giant plays, sometimes animated. So are the major shopping streets such as Orchard Road. Sale time - Singapore sale. If you can't make the sale, go to Mohammed Mustafa department store. Part of it is open 24 hours.

Bad Time
Monsoon or rainy season. Roads are awash. Floods in major areas and highways. Rain not just an hour in the afternoon but for three days solid. Sandals shipping water. Photographs a waste of time. Boat trips cancelled. On the other hand, two major Singapore activities are still available. Food and shopping.

Tips For Shopping In The Rain
Any advantages to rainy season? This is when your hotels offer bargains. Great time if you are visiting family, indoor museums, restaurants and indoor shopping malls.  Think of what you have saved on hotels. More money to spend on shopping.

Trick to shopping indoors? Find basement malls which link one area to another. For example, half of Orchard Road is linked between Orchard MRT and ION along the south side of Orchard Road to Ngee Ann City towers. Two levels of shopping streets at Basement one and Basement two.

Hot or Not
If you are too hot, stay indoors. Indoor shopping malls. Indoor restaurants. Drink lots of iced water.

The locals drink warm water. Women are told that cold water gives you stomach cramps when you have your period and warm water helps relax your tummy. So Singaporean girls and women often ask for warm water. Your waiter will ask if you want warm water or iced water.

In India I was told that Indians like hot drinks such as tea because hot food and drink makes you perspire which cools you down.

Hay Fever, Pollution and Haze
If you suffer from hay fever, allergic reaction to pollen, in England or elsewhere, in spring, get away from it all in Singapore.

Singapore's haze is worst June to September. Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong suffer from polluted skies. Check weather reports. If the locals are wearing masks, either it's a flu or medical epidemic, or haze.

Haze - cause and effect
What causes the haze? Read the local papers and see what they say. Indonesia is blamed for forest fires started deliberately to clear forests to plant crops, eg for oil. At one point the Indonesians were claiming the cause was Singapore. At first it sounded a bizarre case of the pot calling the kettle black.

But I kept reading. One of the companies involved had its HQ in Singapore within sight of where I was then on holiday.

I wish the problem could be solved. Regardless of who is to blame, what can you do as a tourist?

Where can you buy a mask? At a pharmacy. But masks come in two qualities. The cheaper masks are only good for a few hours. You can buy a pack of three.

Will the haze affect you if you are only on holiday a short time? From a photographer's point of view, the sky is white instead of blue. Distant views of mountains are faded and blurred.

When the haze is at its worst, the schools and colleges shut. The staff at outdoor events have to be sent home. The elderly are told not to do strenuous exercise outdoors. Even indoor events are cancelled because the building cannot operate without staff working outside (cleaners, parking attendants, gate security etc).

Children cannot use outdoor playgrounds at school and outdoor walkways linking buildings nor outdoor food courts. Staff who don't have a maid, nanny or granny to take care of children have to go home to mind the children.

Hospitals are extra busy because of those who are ill. Also those who are old or sick must be checked as a precaution if they suddenly have breathing or other problems.

You might come down with a sore throat. No fun if you are speaking at an event.

When your Singaporean friends who are affluent or have family in Australia decide to leave Singapore for Australia, maybe it's time to shorten you outbound stopover at Singapore and plan to stay longer on the way back instead. Or maybe time to plan that Xmas trip. Flights are busy and often fully booked for major holidays such as Xmas and Chinese New Year. So check your calendar and plan the best time for your trip, taking into account budget, seasonal weather and festivities.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer, author, speaker.

Security when travelling

To guard against loss, practise using your Find my phone app (which might come free with an iPhone) or pay to install an app such as Hidden.

Take photographs of your luggage handbags and phones. Note the makes of phones and model numbers and serial numbers, and helplines and report loss lines. Keep these separate from your phone.

Memorise the colour of your bags and suitcases and airline bags. Note the brand names which you may be asked when reporting loss.

Check that all your documents show your current address, not your previous address. If you have a maiden name, or pen name, or business name, have a name matching your passport or identity document on any item you might lose.

In case you lose your phone, have written on your phone and other items a number that the finder can call, such as your spouse, next of kin, boss, travelling companion name and phone number or email.

Good luck on your travels.