Select and share your best photos of 2013

It's the time of year where we look back and remember the great places we've been, things we've accomplished and plan ahead for the future.

It's also time when I select my favourite photos of the year. They come in all types: portraits, scenery, food, nature, abstract. I usually determine my very best photos by the degree of difficulty to shoot them and the personal significance of them.

I thought it would be great to share my favourite photos with all of my blog readers, as I have done in previous years (see right side-bar for my Top Tens). But I'd also love to see YOUR best photos of the year too.

Running from Jan 1st to Jan 20th right here on *The Kuantan Blog*, I'll be hosting a blog hop entitled "Top 20 Photos of 2013" and it's open for everyone to join!

If you have a blog/website and would like to share your best photos with more people, simply take a minute to join this blog hop by visiting the page at the top of the blog. Here's the link: 

Top 20 Photos of 2013 blog hop

This is my first time hosting an event and I'd love to get more bloggers involved!

Braving the monsoon rains in Kuantan: A Video

Severe flood warnings are out across Kuantan as the monsoon season has hit hard in its first couple of days. There is widespread flooding around the town but I went out to take photos and record this short video so you can see what we're dealing with.

And here are a few photos I took whilst on my walk around my immediate area:

Mr. Samindan tries to unblock the drains outside his restaurant and my apartment block in Bukit Sekilau, Kuantan

Cars slowly making their way along Jalan Dato' Lim Hoe Lek, Kuantan

Slow moving cars kick up ridges of rainwater along Jalan Dato' Lim Hoe Lek, just beside East Coast Mall, in Kuantan

And here are some more photos which are credited to Life@Kuantan facebook page:

Near St. Thomas school looking to Jalan Tun Ismail, Kuantan

This is a public car park close to Berjaya Megamall (background)

These two gentlemen had to wade through chest-high waters at Shahputra college, Indera Mahkota, Kuantan

Petrosains @ KLCC

Petrosains was top of our list of places to go during our KL trip. Last time we were in KL we arrived too late in the afternoon and couldn't get in. So we made sure to arrive earlier this time. 4:30pm is the cut-off time to enter.

All visitors to Petrosains have to queue at one entrance - the Dark Ride. We waited for between 20-30 minutes and while no backpacks and food and drink are allowed, the staff bent the rule for us as we had young children.

The Dark Ride is a short, 5-minute ride where you sit in a slowly moving carriage and are presented with visual and audio effects explaining more about the earth and industry. At the end of the ride, you alight and the tour of Petrosains begins. Unfortunately no photography is permitted on the Dark Ride.

Lauren illuminates a light

A scene inside Petrosains, KLCC

The eternity mirror

Dinosaur ROAR! Leah was scared

Lauren and Leah kept us entertained during a brief pause for rest

Petrosains is a great educational and fun place for the whole family. We were enjoying it very much when the staff asked us to hurry up and see more things as the time for closing was approaching! We had not even got half way through the place!

Lauren posing with some huge building blocks!

The following projected images were great fun. You stand in front of the white screen so you can see your shadow. Then the objects on the screen obey your every action. For the first two photos, the coloured bits and pieces accumulate as you hold your arms open. The butterflies land on your arms and head as you keep still. And you can move and chop the coloured sausage shapes at your pleasure.

Had fun coming down that rope slide right there at Petrosains

There was a lot more we didn't have time for, as I mentioned earlier. It's well worth the visit!

KLCC at night

We made sure to visit the iconic Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) on our recent trip to the capital. Who is not amazed when staring up at these magnificent towers illuminated in splendor at night? Here are some photos I took of the towers and surrounding area:

Kuala Lumpur (KL) trip 22-25 November, 2013

As payment for doing another proofreading job for The Majestic Hotel, we enjoyed a 4D 3N stay and this time brought our great friends along with us where we enjoyed the connecting rooms provided.

The pinnacle of the Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC

We also loved seeing the Petronas Twin Towers shining proudly at night, a must-see for any trip to the capital.

The next few blog posts will document our trip to KL and the great time we had there!