By Sim Bak Heng
New Straits Times - Persekutuan, Malaysia
28 January, 2008

WHAT do you know about Tibet, a place which has been touted as the "Roof
of the World"? Datuk Dr K.L. Siow can tell you more from his six-day
trip to the country last year. Dr Siow, a die-hard photographer, took
interesting pictures of the rich culture, panoramic landscape and
traditional hospitality through the lens of his camera.

A total of 80 photographs of this mystical and ancient autonomous region
of Southwest China will be displayed at a photo exhibition being held at
the activity room on the ground floor of Wisma Tiong Hua in Taman Sri
Tebrau, Johor Baru, until Feb 3.

These photographs are among hundreds that the 64-year-old consultant
surgeon took.

Dr Siow found his tour of Tibet totally different from tours to other
parts of the world.

Tibet's capital city Lhasa alone, which is located over 3,000 metres
above sea level, could pose a physical challenge to any potential
tourists, including him.

"I enjoy photography very much and I like to travel alone just for
photo-shooting. But photography in Tibet was a real challenge.

"Due to the low air pressure at high altitude, you get tired extremely
fast. I have to slow down my movement and use tele-lens to capture most
of the pictures.

"It is challenging as you move up to 5,000 metres above sea level.
However, the higher you go, the better the scenery," he said.

What impressed Dr Siow was the scenery at Potala Palace, which has a
magnificent view both day and night.

"The sky is all blue and clean as the clouds are below the palace. When
night falls, you will know how close you are to the stars and moon at
the palace.

"Tibet is a place where any pictures snapped will be beautiful as the
scenery in the highland area is near perfect.

"The deep blue colour of the sky is a perfect background for outdoor
photography."

He added that the best time to visit Tibet is from May to October.

Dr Siow is the president of the Malaysian Chinese Cultural Society,
Johor chapter.