From Rubbish Art to Masterpieces

Stains of dirt and residues of the rainwater dripping down these once-white washed brick and lime plastered walls are evident, stripping the pre war buildings and shop houses of their former glory.

Perhaps they were once majestic in their past; concealing the untold stories as they stand in their place, bearing witnesses to the many events and even tragedies which unfold before them.

Today their dilapidated state is a sure giveaway of their age and sorry states, as they stand in the bleak part of the town, casting gloomy shadows of themselves as they are no longer at the prime of their youth nor are they the center of the limelight, but instead they are today sore to the eyesight, and no one would even take a second glance at them.

They are only known as the old buildings; thrown into the background as urbanization and modern buildings step into take their places and the only attention they are getting are from the people who call them hazards to the society and placed them on the list of demolition, paving that way for their blueprint plans of sky high buildings adorned with glass windows and ceilings in their places.

There is no escaping that fate, and they are screaming, weeping tears in silent protest of their own extinction; pained by the cruelty of their fates and also the fact that their contributions, deeds and reasons of existence have been forgotten in that blink of an eye. They are no longer important; that message was clear and the recognition of their past (or lack of) is clearly almost nonexistent.

They were nothing but just remnants of trash to be taken out to clear out the backyard; all in the name of modernization.

Their futures are bleak and they moan their distasteful eviction from the present but no one heard their cries. Their existence no longer means anything.

One man changed everything.

With a touch of his brush and creativity, he gave life again to these walls.

He saved them with his grace of painting and brought back feelings of exuberance and reformation to the town.

With just one brush.

A joint effort between the municipal of Georgetown and this budding young Lituanian artist, Ernest Zacharevic took on the bold challenge to transform the historical town, also the capital of the famous Pearl of the Orient, the Penang island located on the north of Malaysia, with just a few paintings to inject that fresh breath onto the yellowish pages of the town.

It started with six paintings; and the local council granted the artist the permission to begin his project, painting, on, get this, the old street walls.

The old dilapidated walls are the artist’s canvas for him to unleash his talent and creativity.

It is a winning situation for many parties, if you come to think of it; the town gets another identity and an overnight sensation of catapulted fame, the local authorities reap from the boost in tourism, the artist gets to showcase his talent and a chance at fame, the owners of the shophouses, well, get a fresh coat on their sorry walls, and the walls, are, now, priceless and saved from their intended evil destruction.

It was a huge success, probably more than the original plan.

Ernest Zacharevic proved to be an incredible talent with his strokes, and he had painted realistic and remarkably heartfelt depictions of the local scenes.

His paintings drew the locals and tourists from all over the nation and worldwide to throng the island in droves.

It was amazing, the way his paintings; his street art or murals, evoke emotions and memories of the local scenes which is perhaps, the very reason for drawing his audience (art or even non-art enthusiasts) to flock to each location of his art like opposite sides of the magnate.

From the “Boy on a Bike” to the “Little Children on a Bicycle” and the striking “Awaiting Trishaw Pedaler”, the location of these walls became instant tourist spots and dot the traveler’s map, topping the list of the places to visit, or must visit in Penang.

Another piece, "Reaching Up" found on one of the walls and have been featured in one of the Hong Kong drama

Already a tourist destination in its heydays due to the crowns of “Food Paradise” and heritage status (Penang is recognized and honored as a UNESCO Heritage Site since 2008), along with its longstanding tiara of being nicknamed as the Pearl of the Orient due to its many wonders (nothing could be better than that; in fact the island is almost unbeatable in its fame compared to its minute size on the map), the island continues to enjoy more attention worldwide and welcoming visitors from all over the world.

The spike in tourism delighted the locals and businesses continue to prosper, and there is no longer a difference in weekends and weekdays for there are always foreign folks on the island throughout the year.

The locals were the first to pay homage to these artistic paintings, of course, though there were also many who have not been. It is always as such, for the locals are always the comfortable in their own backyards and believe that they are always going to be there.

After all, it is their hometown, isn’t it?

Tourists are excited to stalk the spots where the wall art are located, and it became sort of an activity of treasure hunt, or rather, wall art hunt, as everyone follows the trail, preying on one mural after another.

Technology has definitely helped to spread the reputation of these street murals; with the creativity of poses and postings to social media accounts such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

The walls have definitely been restored to its former glory, though they have been reinstated with a new breath of identity altogether, with that coat of illustration and colors on their faces.

Well, at least, it did well to mask their fears and insecurities, and also the misery of their former selves.

The walls can now breath a sigh of relief, and continue to smile as they are now, right smack, thrown into the limelight and perhaps, they might now silently wish for a moment of silence, once in a while.

The surge in the overnight fame of the street wall art catapulted its artist, Ernest Zacharevic into stardom, as he rides on his new fame; holding his art exhibition on the island as well.

It probably also inspired many others to have a go at demonstrating their skills, transpiring the many more unknown paintings and murals to emerge on the street walls over time, and perhaps, at an alarming rate too. The growth of these murals makes it difficult for many to distinguish between the real McCoy from the decoys.

Perhaps there are many more Ernest Zacharevics out there, or they are just wannabes, trying their luck to be someone one day.

However controls are exerted, for unauthorized paintings on the public street walls constitute acts of vandalism and is a breach of public responsibility, and definitely, illegal by all means.

Once regarded as an act of vandalism; street paintings (or perhaps some form of beautified graffiti) on public street walls, are now given a new name in justice, with their contributions to the local tourism.

They are now known as Street Art/Mural.

Ernest Zacharevic has popularized street art, and given a fresh perspective to as he calls it, rubbish art, but he has definitely given them their due credit.

It is not just with a flick of brush, but it comes with talent and skill, and of course, that burst of creativity.

Let’s not forget about opportunity either, for there are so many talented people out there who remain unrecognized and perhaps underrated for they never had the opportunity.

Given the opportunity and the permission, rubbish or street art can become tourist and social media worthy of attention but remember, doing it on your own and without the right approval, it is still a crime and one is just asking for trouble.

Thanks to Ernest Zacharevic, these street art has unveiled the beauty of Penang to the world, through her very own eyes, or walls, if you may, of the simplicity and exuberance of the lives here, a secret well kept by the locals and now, proudly illustrated for the world to see.

What a coincidence when I captured this photo, definitely not planned in my "accidental photo shoot"!

**Most of the street art by Ernest Zacharevic are located in the UNESCO Heritage site of Georgetown; mainly centering in the Armenian Street enclave, bordering  Weld Quay and its vicinity. **

Hoover Dam reminds me of...

Transformers.
Yes, remember that classic scene in the first installation of the movie where the gigantic leaders of both the Autobots and Decepticons; Optimus Prime and Megatron were hot on each other's tracks like they were in a cat-and-mouse chase? (Maybe cat and mouse did not seem to be such an apt description for two gigantic bots, but you get the idea)
They were tumbling after each other; practically, over the high boulders and the upstream, gates, well, pretty much all over the place.



Those images stuck in my mind for years and when I was heading towards the entrance of this prominently featured dam, believe it or not, that was the first thing that came to my mind.
That was how profound of an effect from that movie, and I believe the producers and filmmakers of the movie would be very pleased to hear that, and extremely proud of themselves.
I was even half expecting Optimus and Megatron to continue their battle; and unleash more destruction around the mighty dam when I was there - such imagination.

Hoover Dam was definitely built to withstand such pressures though; not destruction I mean, but the might and resilience of the structure was definitely eminent, holding the breath and awe of every visitor.
The dam, is more than 70 years old; from its birth between the years of 1931 and 1936 and its construction was massive with the efforts of more than a thousand workers, and claimed more than a hundred lives during the process.
It is devastating to learn of loss of lives involved in the establishment of the famous dam; as with most of the other complex buildings and landmarks in the world. These are the unsung heroes; the ones we did not know who put their lives into presenting a prominent landmark to the world today.

The Dam was dedicated by the ruling President Franklin Roosevelt during his time; on the 30th September 1935 but it was after the former President Herbert Hoover the dam was named after, raising much controversies back then.

Lake Mead, the largest reservoir by volume in the whole of the United States were confined within the territories of the Hoover Dam, making the dam one of the most important water storage areas in the country.

Hoover Dam is not just important for its water storage capability, but was also designed to serve its multiple purposes of storing, retaining, regulating the water, flood control and also the source of hydroelectric power generation  
On top of all that, Hoover Dam ranks as one of the tourist attractions and recreational area; witnessing more than  a million tourists annually.

Controversies surround the name of the dam; where the locals refer to the dam interchangeably between the officially named Hoover Dam and the Boulder Dam, with reference to its location near the Boulder City of Nevada and the neighboring Boulder Canyon.
Wedged between the two canyons; Black Canyon and Boulder Canyon, it is more precise to point that the location of the dam was in the Black Canyon, where the famous Colorado River runs.



It is interesting to note that this is not just any ordinary dam; which we already know by now (as I conjure images of the giant bots once again), following its remarkably captured photo-worthy location in Hollywood movies and apart from the entertainment aspect, this is also the world's 38th largest hydroelectric generation site.



Thus with a reputation like that, it is definitely not surprising to learn that the dam is safely guarded and protected by their very own police force; officially known as the Bureau of Reclamation Police, a federal police force and regularly known as Hoover Dam's police.



Due to the importance of the dam, the federal police were delegated and dedicated to protect the integrity of the dam's purpose and establishment, along maintaining the security within the dam; safeguarding the place from possible crimes and acts of terrorism.
Collaborating with the security guards of the Bureau of Reclamation, the police scrutinize the access to the reclamation facilities and conduct routine checks throughout the restricted areas on the premises to maintain the safety of the site.



The infamous terrorist attack which took place on the 11th September 2001 led to the expedition of the construction of the Hoover Dam Bypass project; which was intended to reroute the U.S Route 93 above the Hoover Dam due to the dangers and risks it imposed based on the location as advised by the officials and also the incapacity of the route to hold the projected traffic volume across the top of the dam where it was situated.

 

The arch bridge; the major link or the key to the Hoover Dam Bypass project, is also known,or rather, originally known as the Mike O' Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge (named after Mike O'Callaghan, the governor of Nevada and Pat Tillman, a football player from Arizona who went on to serve the United States Army, later perished in a fire).

The list of interesting trivia surrounding the dam are anything but limited, as the vast areas on the premises beckon to the important roles they play to the country.



If you ever want to be in two places at the same time; this would be it, as Hoover Dam is located in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, which runs on the border of both the states of Nevada and Arizona.

Voila, as Landon would say to Jamie, "You're in Two Places at Once"
(Quote from A Walk to Remember)


Now, that would be a nicer way to picture Hoover Dam than purely mega battles, wouldn't it? 

Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and the Seals

The fishermen neighborhood complete with the fleet of fishing boats docked by the bay, their well-polished hulls glistening in the sun, and windy sea breeze blowing against the flapping tiny flags amidst the bustling urban modernization of a well-established commercial center and marina aptly describes the famous Fisherman's Wharf of San Francisco.

Dating back to its early history from the days of the Gold Rush in San Francisco which drew a crowd of migrating Italian fishermen to the coast eager to earn from the flowing opportunities, Fisherman's Wharf has seen generations of bidding fishermen until this very day. The early boats in sign were emblematic of the Italian's common fishing boats; known as feluccas, seen bobbing up and down along the bay as the early ancestors of these fishermen scour the coast for their catch. The lateen-rigged sailboats, or the feluccas represent the identity of the fishermen, or as they were modeled in the same build and design known to the fishermen as in their very homeland.
The fishing boats were not the only thing these fishermen brought, as they serenaded the bay with their songs; one that was beautifully and hauntingly melodious, as their common language of communication which can even be heard over the thick shrouds of fog.

Most of the fishermen settled down in the area close to the wharf and the fishing industry continues until this very day, by the great grandchildren known to be the descendants of the early fisher folks , in this very area, forming the heart of the Fisherman's Wharf with their unmistakable sights of fishing fleet and turning the place into one of the dearest attractions in San Francisco among the locals and tourists.



Pier 39 is the most well-known pier located at the edge of Fisherman's Wharf; bringing to life the commercialization of a shopping establishment forming the pulse of this very marina itself along with the seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, video arcade, aquarium all being part of the list of attractions.
The popular tourist attraction was the brainchild of entrepreneur Warren Simmons and was officially open to the public in the year 1978.







Pier 39 overlooks the tourists spots of Angel Island, Alcatraz Island (where the once notoriously famous prison was located), Bay Bridge and even the iconic Golden Gate Bridge which can be spotted on a clear day at this very marina.



Take a stroll down the wooden plank boards of Pier 39 among the tourists and locals and take in the lively environment set up by the local vendors running the shops here, while enjoying the cool and windy sea breeze blowing from the bay.
It can be quite a relaxing experience, and I can definitely see the appeal of this place and the reasons for its popularity. Friendly locals, interesting displays and merchandise, chilly sea breeze and scenic views from around the area are all just the few to name capturing one's attention while here on Pier 39.









Pier 39 is not just any ordinary pier filled with only the commercial aspects as it is also the home to the California Sea Lions which were originally spotted along the San Francisco Bay.
The seals have since found their new homes near Pier 39; hauling their body masses on the docks since the year 1989. While the reasons for their migration remains unclear, it was believed that the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake could be one of the starting points for the seals to move to their new homes; sheltered and being within a bay which provided more security to the families of seals.




The masses of sea lions resting on the docks quickly garnered public attention and the sight of these mammals became one of the tourist attraction as well.
Viewing docks are set up for one to take in the natural image of these live seals plopped on the wooden docks and it can be quite a daunting sight to watch the masses, or at least it was for me.





The marina is indeed full of its charms and life, as seen in the living pictures of the snapshots which are just capturing the tip of the essence of the offerings of Pier 39.
I am easily captivated by the simple view of a marina, with that picturesque scene of boats resting peacefully by the docks, and the occasional floating/bobbing motion which explains my personal fixation on this place.







As the sign says, Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39 is definitely the pride and part of the soul of San Francisco's identity and definitely truly significant of the city itself.

What else says better about this City by the Bay than a visit to capture that view of life by the bay itself?

Lombard Street: The Crooked Street of San Francisco

If you have seen a shot of the above in any travel sites or books/magazines, chances are you have heard of and known of this famous street in San Francisco.

Dubbed "The Most Crooked Street" or "The Crooked Street in San Francisco", this is definitely one of the most unique and interesting landmark in the city; after the famous iconic landmark of the Golden Gate Bridge, that is.



Lombard Street is not purely this single street, as it spans from the east to the west of San Francisco, covering the major junction of US Route 101. The Street spans from the western terminus at the Presidio to the east; the Cow Hollow neighborhood and continuing from the Russian Hill to the Telegraph Hill where it breaks off to Telegraph Hill Boulevard; Pioneer Park and Colt Tower and picks up again at Winthrop Street. Its end point rests on The Embarcadero.

The famous point of this street is the Lombard Street's one-way block on Russian Hill, known for its steep and curvaceous gradient featuring eight hairpin turns; tightly so, is a challenge for drivers as one takes a plunge down this bend. For the local residents however, needless to say, they are just too used to the road that there is no longer any element of fascination in it; or maybe not so true.

The street's rising popularity despite its early establishment in the year 1922 is attributed to its unique twists and turns as a vehicle makes its way in a zig-zagging manner around the turns and bends of this interesting street. The street was in fact, a solution for the precipitous gradient of the hill itself; which at a 27% was too steep for the most vehicles, posing high risks to the safety of the drivers and even pedestrians, not to mention the danger it posed to the wheel chairs, making it uncomfortably hazardous to most of the users.
The inclusion of the bends and turns; while still appearing to be challenging, is designed to curb and minimize the risk of the vehicles taking a sharp dive as they brake and navigate cautiously around the bends.

The brainchild of the property owner, Carl Henry, the street was then constructed in 1922, is one-way traffic road heading downhill (naturally so), with a length of 600 feet (180m).

Paved with red bricks and decorated with the beautiful garden blooms, Lombard Street's Russian Hill neighborhood where this sloped-driveway is located, quickly became the most prominent neighborhood streets with its unique attributes and catapulted into stardom in the world; drawing tourists from all over the globe swarming the neighborhood hoping to catch a glimpse of this much-acclaimed street.

The neighborhood is no longer enjoying their quiet moments, definitely, I can attest to that, as tourists, and people are all just crowding around the area to snap a few shots of this unique street which is definitely one of its kind in the world.
If the street is not occupied with its own nicknames to fill its own guest book, there is one more to add to the list as one of "The Crookedest Streets in the World"; and not just in San Francisco or United States alone.

The best way to experience this famous downhill slope way of Lombard Street is to take a drive in your car to navigate around the eight hairpin turns; taking each one at a time to delve in that surreal experience but it was definitely worth it.



Taking a good shot of the street can be a challenge; wrestling the crowds and also the angle (which, provided you can disperse the crowds hovering impatiently near you as you take each shot).
An aerial view would be ideal; or from afar, to get those cables out of sight (as mine had so unfortunately included). One of the best location, and most recommended would be from Colt Tower which provided a complete and ideal view of this one-way drive.

Flowers in bloom, cars appearing like miniatures on the bends, and the red bricks make this part of Lombard Street seem like a fictional and imaginary land which only exists in story books; but this is as real as can be and is definitely well worth the time and value to be included in any sightseeing list while in San Francisco.

 

It is definitely a picturesque location that one can walk away and bring home proud, to stash in the collection of one of the postcard locations in San Francisco (and the world); and of course, a tick off the travel bucket list for unique locations around the world.

Universal Studios Hollywood - Where Movie Entertainment Lives

Known as "The Entertainment Capital of LA", the Universal Studios Hollywood is no longer a stranger to anyone in the world. While many are accustomed to the existence of Universal Studios sprouting in various locations around the world, this particular one in Los Angeles remains one of the most prominent, not to mention on the list of one of the most visited tourist attractions around the world.



The famous movie studio and filming location site is one of the oldest to exist and is still in use till this very day. It is not hard to imagine why, as the name Hollywood is synonymous with movies, celebrities, fame and glamour as fed to most of us around the world in the trendy showbiz which have been in existence for so long, as far as any of us can remember.

Today, the mention of Hollywood still brings to our mind the glamorous moments of the celebrities walking down the red carpet and posing for the photographs while clicks and flashes go off in a frenzy while we watch from our televisions at home. The visuals can do wonders in the mind; and hence, the image of glittering moments are embedded as our mind works remarkably at associating the images with the term, and automatically, Hollywood; it is the place where movies and social excitement reside, at its highest point of brilliance and right in the spotlight.

It is for this exact reason that the people behind Universal Studios came up with the idea of a grand entrance with the iconic red carpet leading to the main gate for visitors to enjoy that momentary thrill of being a movie star; to strut on that well-acclaimed walk of fame just like the celebrated idols most have dreamt so much about. It is almost customary to pose for a photo when you are here, simply because you're living a dream; even if it just for a few seconds, or make it minutes.



I have not been to the other Universal Studios around the world; no, not even the one closest to home, the recent site being in Singapore, mainly because I have always wanted to visit this particular site first. After all, it is termed 'The Entertainment Capital' and also 'The Coolest Place in LA'; both the much publicized advertising tag lines for Universal Studios Hollywood.

Located in Universal City in the Los Angeles country of California State, United States of America, the Universal Studios Hollywood is also the First movie studio recreational theme park around the world. While the site was understandably a filming site; with studio and filming sets set up across its land, Universal Studios Hollywood was originally intended as an introduction to the movie filming, sound stages set up and access to the actual filming sets through its customized tour packages to offer visitors a glimpse of movie making and production, since the year 1964.




This gradually revolved and grew into a recreational theme park over the years, following the reception of the public and also the blooming minds of the creative folks running the place.
Thanks to their creativity that we can now enjoy and be thrilled with the wonderful insights we get from directly accessing the filming sets and locations available on this very site, while also be entertained with the rides and moments with the appearances of some of our favorite animation characters here.

The memorable and animated Woody Woodpecker; which was created since the 1940s, is an iconic and much-loved character with whom most of us are familiar with the sounds of his pecking(adorably so), is also interestingly named the mascot of the Universal Studios Hollywood.

With the mascot, Woody Woodpecker and his recognizably, significant other, Winnie (in case you're not aware, yes, Woody's taken!)



Like most theme parks, Universal Studios Hollywood is a land filled with much enjoyable and entertaining attractions to look out for. From spotting costumed characters of familiar animation and movie icons to the thrilling movie-themed rides and museums, there is just something to fit everyone's preference and to keep one happy while on the park.

One of the most recommended would be the Studio Tour; which is probably the emblematic ride for an insightful experience into the world of movie making right here in Hollywood.
Visitors would embark on an approximately hour's tram ride which takes them around the backstage lots and filming locations; while witnessing some of the special effects taking place and the 3D motion pictures unraveling in some of the locations. Enjoy the ride, and be prepared to laugh to the animated tour's guide narration while on the tram and also, be ready to be thrilled with the exciting events unraveled on this tour.











Movie-themed rides are also the crowd drawing attractions here; and some of the more memorable ones(may differ according to personal preferences) based on the highly-acclaimed movies are as follows:-
(located on the Lower Lot)

Transformers: The Ride

Revenge of the Mummy


Jurassic Park: The Ride


The above rides impose the height and age restrictions due to the level of excitement which may be deemed unsuitable for young toddlers and children.
(Also, some of the rides such as Revenge of the Mummy and Jurassic Park also restricts bags to be carried on the rides and there are locker facilities provided in a designated area for visitors to store their belongings for free (within an allocated time) or for a minimal fee).

However, Universal Studios Hollywood is not all about the adults as back on the upper lot of the theme park, there are various animation-themed parks which are bound to fascinate the younger ones.



The Simpson Ride

Shrek 4D



There are also dry and water theme parks created for the enjoyment of the young children.

Another attraction not to miss out is the Special Effects Stage, which is an enlightening session on the revelation of the secrets and tricks involved in the making of the blockbuster movies.
Do be there early, as the studio is packed to the brim with the eager crowds, and who wouldn't want to know what really happens behind those fantastic images we often wonder about on the screens?

Enjoy exploring the Universal Studios Hollywood on foot, to take in the various scenes unfolding at the different themed-location sites.

Be prepared to recognize/bump into familiar and lovable costumed characters on the streets, and when you do, just smile at the camera and take a picture!

There is simply something for everyone in Universal Studios Hollywood, and the best is that one can enjoy an entertaining yet exhilarating experience in a place where the spotlight shines on and one have long imagined from the screens and have harbored hopes of living that lifestyle.




Yes, Universal Studios Hollywood is not just an ordinary theme park; it is a lifestyle and it is where Movie Entertainment and fame lives~



For more information on Universal Studios Hollywood, kindly refer to their official website here.