With a turnaround of 4 weeks from Christmas 2022 to New Year (NY) 2023 (1 week later), followed by Chinese New Year (CNY) 2023 (3 weeks later) and my getting older day slotting in between them. It usually gets forgotten. What makes this year 2023 different?

Birthday is a low key and low profile event

As I aged over the decades, birthday for me has become a low key and low profile event. No major celebrations, nothing glamorous or extravagant. I can’t compare to my friends celebrations at fanciful restaurants. 

I am a Capricorn, that also explains I guard my privacy a lot, even though I am active on social media. 

I bought my own 3-in-1 gift and I got gifts too!

If you recalled reading my Christmas 2022 and Birthday 2023 wish list, I rewarded myself with a used Wotancraft Trooper Medium camera messenger bag, why do I call it a 3-in-1 gift? Basically this is a Christmas 2022 + Birthday 2023 + Chinese New Year 2023 gift for myself.

I am also blessed with some small and thoughtful gifts from my friends too, I really appreciate it!

Of gatherings and treats

With my birthday falling in between a busy period of NY 2023 and CNY 2023 whereby people are busy shopping for CNY goods, spring cleaning and getting back to work mode. My birthday gathering is like a mini CNY gathering as well. There was even a gathering that had Christmas 2022 + my birthday 2023 + CNY 2023 feel to it with this group. I am thankful and grateful for the meal treats, I decided not to take photos of the food, as the friendship and presence far outweighs taking photos of the food and sharing on social media. 

There has been a regular birthday cake gift from Gloo PR, an agency that I worked closely with for the past few years, truly grateful for the friendship and working relationship. I was able to share my birthday cake with my family, relatives, cousins and nieces at an early CNY reunion gathering. 

Feeling humbled, touch, and very grateful for the gifts and treats blessings for my birthday January 2023.

Thinking about a few things

At the start of the year, there were some news reported that got me thinking deeply about a few things. Along with my Yearly Themes, that I set for my Yearly Theme 2023 (Photography and Travel) – Explore and Yearly Theme 2023 (Technology | Business | Personal) – Transform, I would like to add something. 

Here are some words and thoughts to remind myself for Year 2023

• Be kind, grateful, contented, humble and down to earth 
• Life is too short to be fighting the wrong battles
• Stay low key and low profile whenever possible
• Peace and Tranquility (less dramas, avoid dramas)
• JOMO over FOMO
• Sustainability 

Another year older in 2023, another year wiser (hopefully). Once again, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for all your well-wishes, treats, gifts and blessings.

The post Birthday January 2023 Thoughts appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

I would also like to take this opportunity to say a big Thank You to various camera, travel companies, travel community partners, technology brands, pr and media agencies, organisations and fellow photographer friends, filmmakers, creatives and supporters for this great working relationships, friendships and support for my photography and travel portal/blog during this Year 2022 as the world accelerated the reopening and recovery of the economy. 

I probably wrote too much in previous editions of Merry Christmas posts, therefore I decided that I would leave that for my year end reflection post instead. Here’s wishing all of you a Merry Christmas 2022, hope you have a great time with your family, loved ones and friends over food, drinks, gatherings, warmth, care, hope and love.  

Thank you for your belief, support and encouragement in Year 2022! 

The post Merry Christmas 2022 and Happy Holidays! appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.

My Christmas (December 2022) and Birthday (January 2023) Wish List

How do I come up with a 2-in-1 wish list? Basically, it’s Christmas (December) and my birthday falls in the month of January, thus a 2-in-1 combo gift wish list! Here is my Christmas (December 2022) and Birthday (January 2023) wish list!

Cameras

I have previously tested and reviewed Canon EOS R3, EOS R6 and EOS R7, I have also recently had a short hands on with the latest Canon EOS R6 Mark II. It would be great to add another of those cameras into my current setup, any one of the 3 Canon cameras listed below would be an awesome addition to my current setup!

• Canon EOS R3
• Canon EOS R6 Mark II
• Canon EOS R6 
• Canon EOS R7

Lenses

• Canon RF100-500mm f/4.5-7.1L IS USM 

This is one of the Canon RF lenses that I reviewed previously, and I like it a lot.

Accessories/Peripherals 

• Wotancraft Pilot 10L

Technology Gadgets

• Apple MacBook Pro 14” M1 Pro
• Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max
• NAS Solution 2 Bay or 4 Bay
• Sandisk Extreme Portable PRO SSD V2 2TB
• Casio Pro Trekker

I would not go too much into the details of my accessories/peripherals and technology gadgets list above!

My Christmas / Festive Season Gift Guides 2022 

This could be the first time that I compile and share with all of my followers and readers my Christmas / Festive Season Gift Guides 2022 that I received.

Photography

For those planning to get yourself a new camera or buying a camera for your loved ones, check out Canon Christmas Gift Guide 2022, whether you are a professional or serious enthusiast, content creator or just entering into photography!

Books/Zines

Planning to get some books to read? Check out No Missing Tools by Fernando Gros, you can get it from his website! One of the books that opened up my mind in thinking, writing, thought leadership and creativity. 

I recently published a new photography zine, it’s my second zine in the areas of photography therapy and exploration. If you are interested, visit MagCloud platform, you can get a physical or digital copy of TGH Photography Therapy Zine and Playbook, or even both physical and digital copy together!

Lifestyle Technology Gadgets 

I have the following brands Christmas 2022 / Festive Season 2022 Gift Guides to share with you! Do visit them and check out from the various brands offerings during this festive season:

• Jabra
• Acer
• LG
• Samsung
• Dell

Merry Christmas 2022 and Happy New Year 2023!

Wishing all my followers and readers a Merry Christmas 2022 and Happy New Year 2023 in advance! 

Any kind sponsors for any of my Christmas 2022 + Birthday 2023 wish list? 

The post Christmas 2022 and Birthday 2023 Wish List appeared first on TGH Photography and Travel Portal/Blog.