Spectacular Autumn Colors @ Westonbirt Arboretum 2011

event :: Autumn @ Westonbirt Arboretum
date :: 1st + 2nd October 2011
venue :: westonbirt arboretum, tetbury, uk.
theme :: blue + red

[1] We personally think it's not an overstatement to say that Westonbirt is the most popular autumn color watch in UK. We first came here during last year's autumn. It was so beautiful so we planned to go there again this year. We took a pose similar to this (but at a different spot) last year and it got selected by the Westonbirt staff to promote in their website during summer.




[2] They asked permission few pictures that hubbykun posted on our blog. Since some photos have pictures of kids, we asked permission from the parents too. Because of this, they also offer a year free membership for the both of us.




[3] The normal rate for the entrance differs according to season. In winter, an adult entrance fee is £6, for spring and summer it is £8, and in autumn it is £9. this basically gave an idea that Westonbirt offers the best view during autumn.




[4] A photography magazine once mentioned this place is really beautiful during autumn some photographer made this place as their annual prilgrimmage during autumn.




[5] The brochure said that during autumn this year, the Westonbirt team went to Japan to take new seeds.




[6] Last year, we went in a big group of more than 20 people from MCB. This year, Kak Keen & family together with few other MCB would like to join as well to enjoy the color of autumn here.




[7] We initially planned to visit during late October during peak time just like how we did last year, but hubbykun was going to work trip in the next 2 days. So we have to go in early October instead.




[8] We were also lucky because autumn arrived earlier than usual this year. Our personal favourite was the Japanese maple collection in Westonbirt.




[9] Even though we were a few weeks early, some of the trees already started changing colors, but it's not as vibrant as the one we saw last year. Some tree were still in green.




[10] When we reached Westonbirt on Saturday, the entrance gate was not yet opened. we were the second visitor that day (another visitor beat us to the chase and was queueing at the gate). We were there around 7.45am after picking up Hanis and Min from Kak Keen's house at 7.30am.




[11] The earlier plan was to have Ayiq and Min. But I guess 7.30am was a little too early for Ayiq's schedule :P




[12] Kak Keen's family (including Hanif, Azwan and Omar) arrived about an hour later. Because last year, we went to the Silk Wood only together with MCB, this year we planned to spend time with them at the Old Arboretum.




[13] Before that, we were having quite a fill photographing and videographing at the Silk Wood section. Min and Hanis were such a good sport.




[14] Because we were early, there were not many people in the park, so it was easy for hubbykun to take pictures and bully us to do many weird poses for the video shots :P




[15] There was a lot of people walking their dogs in the Silk Road. Having been bitten by a dog when I was five and chased by them on a number of occasions, I'm not very keen to be near one.




[16] Some of the leaf are changing colors. Cool eh!




[17] Min and Hanis was collecting different types of colored leaves for their Art project too. I was helping to to point out a few I found particularly interesting.




[18] Hubbykun's told us that his favourites are the ones where a leave has many colours on it i.e. in between the changing the colors.




[19] Kak Keen requested hubbykun to edit one of the Westonbirt picture a little earlier as her birthday gift to Abg Zahar.




[20] Loved all their couple photo shots, so romantic! ;)




[21] It was so much fun having a bigger group (then our usual couple's trip). Made the day merrier and of course we were able to explore different photo poses.




[22] One such example was this one which hubbykun said reminded him of Grey's Anatomy advertisement cover :P I particularly liked this shot best too ;)




[23] Last year, we didn't do any video shoot. So this year, hubbykun took the advantage to take more video shots (scroll down to the end of this entry for the video).




[24] I think one of the funniest one were the one where we did the mexican wave. With this, we have a complete video collection of Westonbirt on all seasons.




[25] Azwan who was here for some extended work specifically requested some video and photo shots to show to his students in Malaysia.




[26] He even specifically requested one shot that the kids were sitting one atop each other with his at the bottom most. Hubbykun and I was a bit concerned on back pain, so the plan was changed that only Ayiq and Shafiq were the only ones on top. Min and Hanis were at the sides.




[27] We took a short picnic break after that. Kak Keen brought fried rice that Azwan cooked for breakfast that day. We forgot the sandwiches, wedges and chocolate milk we brought in the car. We only had it for lunch with Min and Hanis




[28] Kak keen stayed on only until 2pm, they later went to another Eid open house event.




[29] We kidnapped Hanis and Min to stay on with us to take more pictures. We later went to carboot sale, but it has almost ended.




[30] We ourselves came here again the next day just the two of us to take more photos as yesterday's session was too short (for hubbykun's definition at least :P).




[31] I slept late the night before because I was packing the luggage for hubbykun's few months trip. Due to lack of sleep, I was not my usual energetic self ('perasan') during the second trip.




[32] I was so sleepy that while hubbykun was trying on different sceneries and macro shots, I was sleeping at the bench nearby. hahaha.




[33] Hubbykun couldnt do this last year, because at the time he hasn't owned a macro lens yet. We bought then when were in New York. I'm glad he did because it was a really good investment.




[34] We were extremely lucky that the weather was sunny during both days. I remembered last year, when we came as a group, it rained a bit after lunch and most of the gang left right after. we stayed on of course, and alhamdulillah the sky cleared right after that.




[35] Farah/Imran, Khairi/Unic and Abg Jamal/Kak Odah came here 2 wks after we did. Farah called to inform me that there were huge posters of her and myself to promote the Westonbirt Enchanted Christmas (the Westonbirt team invited us for a photoshoot with their professional photographer last year). Kak Odah told me that they even have in at the men's toilet :P I felt like a real celebrity because apparently the posters were even displayed in Birmingham train station! Quite a number of the photos hubbykun sent were also used in the Westonbirt website.




[36] I really wanted to go to the Enchanted Xmas display this year as we were busy with the photoshoot last year. We only had a short time to explore the display by ourselves after that. But since hubbykun was away, we didn't get to.




[37] Finally the video of the trip! We also would like to wish this opportunity to wish Happy Holiday + Happy New Year to everyone + Merry Xmas for those who celebrate :)










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