It was... Photo | TrekEarth

Photographer’s Note

September 1996, Malaysia.
Perhentian Besar Island, the biggest one of the omonymous archipelago, located on the eastern coast of the continental Malaysia, close to the border with Thailand.

We went there at the end of a 3 weeks tour made by train and bus of Malaysia.
Some friends were went there 2 years before and they talked to us about that small islands as The paradise on heart.

And it was the truth, the pure truth.
At that time there were just 2 way to reach the archipelago, or by expansive boat of the only one 4 stars hotel of the island or with the fisermen boats.

There wasn't a pier, there weren't roads, there weren't shops, there wasn't the electric power on teh small island, no facilities and nothing to do all the day.

Just diving and snorkelling in the wonderful reef that rounded the islands.

Watertaxi, small longobats were the only way to tour the islands, there were not more than 20 guesthouses with spartan bungalows on the beache, and just one high level hotel.

Nothing to do all the day, on the beach drinking a milkshake (alchool was banned on the islands where local people was a bit integralist, except in a small open air "bar" in the middle of the jungle were 2 guys sold warm and hot whiskey, rhum and Mongolian vodka...), planning the next dive, meet people, playing beach volley and wait for the wonderful daily sunsets!

This one was took on Flora Bay, on the bigger island, looking south-west.

We back there in the Perhentian other 2 times, in spring 1997 and in the September 1998.

It "was" a Paradise.

Today i've reaad that there are some dozens of hotel, some top ones, roads, shops, arcade, electic powers, dive shops, pubs...

*Scanned image*

everlasting, Wanda1, besnard, mesquens, papagolf21, kiwi_explorer, Budapestman, Cretense, atus, belido, riclopes, andante, pasternak, gneufeld, Signal-Womb, ruisc_pt, carlab, Cricri, Pascale, plimrn, giorgimer, Muse has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

claire526 (1261) 2008-01-28 1:16

Hi Paolo,
I love this water colors! It looks just like a painting. Love the silhouetts. Great shot!
Ciao
Claire

besnard (30072) 2008-01-28 1:17

Bonjour Paolo
Tu nous proposes des couleurs incroyables, presque surnaturelles mais du plus bel effet.
Bravo - merci pour le partage et bonne journée.
Nicole

mesquens (1967) 2008-01-28 1:24

Magnificent, Paolo,
Nice and vivid colors, very good POV and DOF.
Cheers
Raimundo

knerkowski (1467) 2008-01-28 1:33

Hi Paolo
Fantastic colors for this wonderful sunset.
Birds are perfect
Thanks for sharing
Regards
Kevin

papagolf21 (55872) 2008-01-28 1:38

Bonjour, mon ami Paolo,
Lorsqu'on rêve tout seul, ce n'est qu'un rêve alors que lorsqu'on rêve à plusieurs c'est déjà une réalité. C'est que l'on ressent en admirant cette prise de vue qui sort des sentiers battus.
Amitiés.
Philippe

molla (6871) 2008-01-28 1:47

Hej Paolo,
There was paradise and still going to be for them that was there when it was!!?? I spend serval years in the beginning of the 80 ' searching for it, especially in S-E Asia and in a lot of places I'v found images of it, images that I later used as a prove to that I'v been to paradise. Your image are like that, the expectation of what it would be like, a smooth tropic sunset an icon over a dream. where the picture afterwards are the essence of the time and as it is an icon your memories and our impression are just that dream.
well... I dont know it makes any sence. Paradise lost or not, nice picture
cheers Anders

erguvan (759) 2008-01-28 1:48 [Comment]

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kiwi_explorer (12195) 2008-01-28 2:02

Hi Paolo,
A paradise indeed ... the colors are just awesome. After 10 years, I hope overdevelopment hasn't caught up with this "Paradise". Beautifull and colorful scene. I like the vivid colors, the sharpness of the image, and the dynamism the flying bird. Well captured and composed. Well done! tfs
Cheers,
Renier

anes_lc (14762) 2008-01-28 2:05

wow...paolo....amazing colors ,a real paradise
great quality for a scanned picture
thanks sharing
best regards,anes

Budapestman (40866) 2008-01-28 2:36

Hi Paolo,
Fabled impression writh picturesque colours and lights, perspective is great. Composition is very effective, Very well done! Have a nice week
George

Cretense (54654) 2008-01-28 3:29

Hi Paolo!

Excellent sunset photo, amazing composition in its simplicity, magic colours, great combination of warm and cold tones. Probably because of scanning the definition of the photo is not the best, but even that helps to create a poetic atmosphere. Congratulations!

Ciao, Hercules

carper (63968) 2008-01-28 3:30

marvelous colours here Paolo,
good point of view and I like the quality, not easy but you did do it well, have a nice day.
gr. jaap

atus (15452) 2008-01-28 4:56

Ciao Paolo,
ecco un paese che cercheró di inserire tra quelli da visitare quest'anno. Molto bella e ottimamente composta l'immagine scannerizzata, mentre i colori psichedelici sono proprio attraenti. Complimenti e buona giornata!
Attila

stefanocer (10313) 2008-01-28 5:56 [Comment]

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belido (15997) 2008-01-28 7:06

Ciao Paolo,

this is such a great scene. I really like the way you mixed the warm tones with the blues. The silhouettes are a great addition. Very well done!
Regards,
Carlos

riclopes (32823) 2008-01-28 7:25

Oh man, you discovered this paradise 4 years before me! It still is the best place to relax I've ever been. Now, those days are gone with the development...I think it's not so bad, but I don't want to return there and destroy the image I have. This one makes justice, Paolo :) Amazing blues and oranges tones and great catch of the 3 seagulls.
Ciao,
ricardo

andante (7092) 2008-01-28 8:01

You are the master of sunsets and dusks. Love the gradient and variety of colors you have captured and displayed here. Excellent saturation management!
Ciao,
Enrique

pasternak (12934) 2008-01-28 8:45

Yes, infrastructure changes but the sunsets there are still the same I think... Wonderful capture, Paolo, these three birds are the best part of it all...

Cheers
Alexander

jurek1951 (25708) 2008-01-28 8:48

Hi Paolo,
nice presentation of the sky, the colours look beautiful here, the composition is excellent and the framing effective,
Georg

maltese (21527) 2008-01-28 9:29

Hello Paolo
D'étonnantes et belles couleurs sur cette photo, le dégradé dans le ciel est superbe et le présence de ces oiseaux est vraiment un plus.
Du bon travail, amicalement
Hervé

mrcrow (3989) 2008-01-28 10:03

blunt and impressive banding of tones add a lot to this way beyond a trek earth subject..your note is good and makes the traveller want to travel
the shot conveys more than just a record shot imparting the actual mood of the occasion
three birds are in some respects carry a lot of message...freedom and friendship
cheers
geof

xavshot (61821) 2008-01-28 11:08

Bonsoir Paolo
les couleurs sont très impressionnantes et l'ensemble me plait beaucoup. Joli travail dans cette photo.
amicalement
Xavier

Signal-Womb (11590) 2008-01-28 14:10

Hi Paolo, I really like your composition on this. The course of the birds was well seen and timed. The colours are a little to intense for my liking but because of this it does have a certain "painting like" quality which does appeal to me. Well done.

barrufeto_77 (25593) 2008-01-28 14:58

Hi Paolo.

What a pleasure for your eyes should be that view! Excellent colours with that lovely seagulls!

My compliments!

Rgs, Oscar

bostankorkulugu (33328) 2008-01-28 17:11

i dont know how you managed to do it but these three birds looks almost 3D... such a dreamy mood this one has paolo... complimenti...

korkut

Wanda1 (10854) 2008-01-28 22:03

Hi Paolo,
The colours here are intense and the trio of birds simply makes the shot for me. I also like the silhouetted boats on the horizon.
Regards
Wanda

everlasting (10894) 2008-01-28 23:12

Thats why you have to think yourself lucky when you stumble across an unspoilt place and keep it secret. it will e discovered soon enough....... until then, and for gods sake dont mention it to LP.
Beautiful colours, and textures paolo and the three birds caught in flight are the icign on the cake for you. Your have your memories - cherish them.

ruisc_pt (6206) 2008-01-29 1:20 [Comment]

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AiresSantos (41220) 2008-01-29 1:25

Hi Paolo
As you usual said... Amazing colours and tones in this wonderful composition.
It seems a painting
Have a nice day
Aires

carlab (2087) 2008-01-29 1:57

fantastica, ... che altro dire? tu hai già detto tutto, ma come hai fatto a colorare il mare in quel modo? era davvero così?
ciao, carla

PS benvenuto al piccolo appena arrivato... e tanti auguri a tutti

brandstaetter (13606) 2008-01-29 8:21

Ciao Paolo,
purtroppo e´cosi´ che il turismo distrugge... ma il tramonto bellissimo si vede anche oggi :)
buon qualita´ dello scan..
Ciao Christian

Cricri (42735) 2008-01-29 10:57

Ciao Paolo,
Merveilleuse cette image, avec ces couleurs qui éblouissent le regard pour le plus grand plaisir
belle composition
Have a nice evening for you
cricri

Pascale (10066) 2008-01-29 11:05

Bonsoir paolo
Incroyable ,on est en plein rêve et de tels rêves ,j'aimerais bien en avoir souvent.Vraiment magnifiques couleurs qui méritaient une composition simple .J'aime beaucoup ce tableau
Amitiés

plimrn (19552) 2008-01-29 14:18

Ciao Paolo,
It was also stunningly beautiful with the bright sky reflected in the water and the trio of birds captured at the perfect moment. What a lovely memory. SAG, Pat

vincz (19039) 2008-01-30 1:08

Fantastic image, fabulous colours. A true dream with the birds. I like it a lot.

giorgimer (20610) 2008-01-30 4:35

Ciao Paolo,

ma come fai a trovare sempre questi tramonti incredibili? Colori impressionanti, i gabbiani sembrano essersi messi in posa per te. Nota perfetta come sempre.

Complimenti!

Gio

Muse (30559) 2008-01-31 1:56

Hello Paolo,
Un résultat surprenant et des couleurs vives étonnantes.
Atmosphère paisible bien perceptible et bon cadrage.
Best regards
Denise

pattyis (1313) 2008-02-03 12:17

Ciao Paolo
bellissima foto...fantastici colori!
quei gabbiani, il profilo delle barche...

fantastico tramonto
buona serata
Patrizia