Tony Wu&#039;s Underwater Photography Blog

Archive for 2006

Toshi Koshi Soba

Sun, Dec 31st, 2006 | Food, Musings 4 Comments

Crossing over from one year to the next in Japan traditionally involves a lot of food. The evening before the new year, you’re supposed to have toshi koshi soba (年越しそば), which translated literally means something like “soba noodles to cross over to the new year”.

soba

This tradition started some time during the Edo period (1603-1867), and it carries a few meanings. First, the soba, or buckwheat, noodles are long and thin, which symbolises a desire/ hope for long life and luck for you and your family.

In addition, the noodles break relatively easily, which is meant to symbolise a break from the passing year’s difficulties, problems, debts and other troubles.

Though many of Japan’s traditions are disappearing rapidly, this one fortunately seems to be hanging on.

And even if you don’t entirely buy into the symbolism, the noodles are delicious.

お正月の準備

Sun, Dec 31st, 2006 | 日本語 No Comments

飼い主から言われた。おせち料理を食べたければ、お風呂に入りなさいと。

それは無いだろうと思いつつ、仕方なく入った。は〜
pasta

Ignorance in Melbourne

Wed, Dec 27th, 2006 | Environment No Comments

Eco-minded people around the world know that promoting destructive eating habits like consuming shark fin is a common problem in Asia. Reviews of shark fin restaurants (read: advertisers) in newspapers often appear with glowing praise for shark fin soup.

Fortunately, in recent years, the frequency with which these types of blatant promotion appear seems to have decreased, in large part due to the weight of public opinion sent to the publications in question.

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Season’s Greetings

Fri, Dec 15th, 2006 | Musings No Comments

Xmas

Rueing Ruminants

Tue, Dec 12th, 2006 | Environment, Funny Stuff, Musings No Comments

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO, part of the United Nations) has released a report indicating that cattle are a more significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions than the entire transportation industry.

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On Being Sceptical

Sun, Dec 10th, 2006 | Environment, Musings, People 3 Comments

I recently came across the text from a lecture that Michael Crichton gave a few years ago. Crichton’s discussion pertains to rationality, in particular as applied to the modern-day phenomenon of “science by public consensus”, which is of course not science at all, but mob rule by another name.

Crichton takes the unpopular and un-politically correct position that commonly held views of global warming are based not upon science, but on politics, manipulation of public opinion, and quasi-religious extremist faith.

Whether you believe that humanity is the prime cause of global climate change or not, his lecture is worth a read. The substance of the argument is well constructed, and his message applies to popularly held views on most environmental issues.

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Sharkfin Response

Thu, Dec 7th, 2006 | Environment 2 Comments

Here’s a response to Dr. Giam from Bernard Harrison, former CEO of Wildlife Reserves Singapore (which runs the Singapore Zoo, Jurong Birdpark and the Night Safari), which was published only in the online edition of the Straits Times:

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Colour & Time

Sun, Dec 3rd, 2006 | People No Comments

My friend Gunther Deichmann has recently published a new book of images from his travels around the world. In short…it’s stunning. I spend so much time looking through images, both my own and those that other people have taken, that it really takes a lot for an image to make me stand up and take notice.

The images in Gunther’s book are topside photos, taken in exotic places like Tibet, Cambodia, Australia, Greece and Micronesia, and the book’s title describes it all. Gunther has an incredible eye for colour, patterns, and detail — a talent which shines through in his photographs. See for yourself. Take a look at some sample pages from his book.

If you’re struggling to find a special gift for a photographer friend this holiday season, you can order online via Gunther’s website.

Nothing Wrong with Sharkfin?

Sat, Dec 2nd, 2006 | Environment 9 Comments

This article appeared in the main newspaper in Singapore. The author, Dr. Giam Choo Hoo is well known in conservation circles as a proponent of wildlife consumption.

You can send feedback and comments to the paper at: stforum@sph.com.sg

Please include your full name, address and contact number if you write in.

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Article: Sport Diver magazine

Thu, Nov 30th, 2006 | Articles, Places, Adventures 6 Comments

I recently contributed to a feature entitled 9 Trips of a Lifetime in the Nov/ Dec ’06 issue of Sport Diver magazine. My section on page 100 was about Sipadan. The other areas highlighted in the article include Australia, Wakatobi, Yap, the Red Sea, Kona, Little Cayman, the Galapagos, and Cocos.

Hmmm, looks like there are quite a few more places I need to get to. So little time, so many things to do… here’s my little part of the feature:

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