Squeal like a pig!

Pandamonium!

2011-04-10T21:00:00.004+08:00

Farder's latest endeavor. Our 2nd border collie. Male. Lazy. Razor sharp teeth. Cuddly but has an affinity for biting your shorts and tugging on it till it rips. He has so far put holes in 2 pairs of my shorts and torn a gash on my index finger with his tooth (I was trying to save my shorts and he bit down harder on my finger instead). I call him pandabear. Farder calls him Dazzle! I told him that's a girly horse name, but ehh. At this point this ankle biter responds to anything that moves within his eye line. Cuteness accompanied by pain.

This face...

2011-02-28T10:35:00.000+08:00

interrupted me when I was working on the herbs pictures

How does your garden grow?

2011-02-27T17:16:00.002+08:00

I sometimes take for granted that in my garden, thrives little bushes of everyday humble herbs and spices that I grew up with. It's so readily available (just don't let them die!) that no matter what time of the day, if we're cooking and want to add extra fresh herbs, it's just out in the garden.

Coco

2010-12-05T00:27:00.000+08:00

New monster!

REMEMBER TO FIND THE LIGHT

2010-11-21T19:54:00.003+08:00

I relented and finally got my dream lens. Not a big deal to some, but rather surmountable to me. I tend to find excuses and convince myself otherwise whenever I'm engaged with large purchases. I got the EF 24-70mm f2.8 L. Now I need lust for a better body to match this fine piece of glass. I'm thinking the 5D. Which Mark? Well, we'll see when the MKIII comes out and depending how much I'm willing to part with figures closing to 5 digits.

I love the quality of the glass, and of course its wonderful depth at wider angles. I was confined to my 50mm in the past. I used that as my main lens because I wanted a lower stop. I had to re-accustom myself with variable zooming and this affects my framing a lot (whoopee once again when I switch to full frame!). Also, because of the clarity of the lens, I notice shadows and highlights more. Even on my beaten up 350D, I have never paid attention to the surroundings when I shoot, it was always about the subject. But now I have to remember to find the light.

Just of good measure, one taken with my 50mm 1.8

Thomas Alva Edison

2010-09-19T10:15:00.003+08:00

JAMES M. BARRIE

2010-09-18T16:49:00.002+08:00

Buhludd

2010-09-18T15:37:00.006+08:00

Been too long (as always). I wouldn't have done anything, if not for the fact that one of my regular directors of photography asked me why haven't I been taking any new pictures lately. he's right. so I did.

I WANT YOU!

2010-07-27T00:09:00.004+08:00

5D MKII. Nuff said.

UGLY BETTY

2010-07-06T22:35:00.002+08:00

Well, we have a new addition to our brood. Brought her back yesterday. Farder says she's for keeps, but Marder says no, Marder also claims she's quite ugly with her wonky ears and huge pot belly. She's the runt of the litter and really small compared to other puppies her age. Oh, she's also a Belgian Shepherd/ Malinois. Which brings the total to 4 (possibly 5, if we choose to keep the other male, whom I have christened Marry).

She's got a really sweet face, and eyes that sparkle and water like an anime cartoon. No joke.

RECALL RECOIL

2010-06-14T14:10:00.004+08:00

Lately I've been hit with a wave of nostalgia. I lovingly reminisce about my childhood, and things I grew up with. Maybe it's also the reminder of only 1 golden girl left to live, (Blanche passed away a few weeks ago) and all that's left is Rose.

Don't laugh, I did grow up with 70s - 80s situation comedies, which at that time was peak. Golden Girls, Three's a Company, Love Boat, heck even Gilligan's Island and all those glorious tacky outfits and atrocious scripts so fake it'll make silicon look organic. My cousin indulged in Dynasty, Dallas, Falcon Crest (??!); my brother would reenact Airwolf, A-Team, MacGyver, who knew Richard Dean Anderson would age annoyingly? Oh and what about Quantum Leap eh? Hmmm.... good times, an era ruled by wind proof, no motion, stiff hairdos. Yes, some of our programmes came a decade late, but that's how we got to know about those class A entertainment ;)

Throughout my early teens till late, I use to loath any reminder of these cringe worthy entertainment. The hair was bad,the loud floral prints, the loose long sleeved blouse worn tucked in at the waist (oh cringe! mom's jeans), the acting was tolerable, but oh the script! Who would have thought, years later that I would change my stand. Retro is always in huh? 2 decades ago, retro was about the 50s-60s. Then it progressed to the 70s.

Now, the 'Noughties' deems that retro is 80s-90s. My generation. Yes I am proud and claim ownership that I belong to this very plasticky, bad haired, fluorescent colours (remember Hypercolour and zinc sunbloc??) carrot cut, stone washed jeans? Good God! Stone washed! How can that be a colour? Ok, there are some things I still disapprove about that era. I did revel in bermuda shorts. But seriously, my initial interests in my early life was cultivated based on the entertainment and recreation (who remembers laser tag!) birthed by the neurotic minds of the baby boomers.

Of course the generation now, and the current fad of time does not totally exhume a bygone era and relive every aspect of it. Mostly (and only) the arts will be romantic enough to dig out the old and call it retro. And it's got the power to influence like your future depends on it. Fashion, music, art styles all look to the past for revamps and inspiration.

A friend showed me this site Look at this fucking hipster
and it made me laugh so hard. First of all, the site is ingenious for its ridicule. Secondly, it's so true that it's undeniably funny. What the 'Noughties' have managed to do is pluck every single era conceivable and dump it into a giant fashion blender and viola! A Hipster is born!

Emo is so passé!

ASAM LAKSA

2010-04-29T17:32:00.003+08:00

Long overdue post about my cooking endeavors with my crazy girlfriends. Actually did this a few weeks ago, but was just too lazy to put it up. We attempted to make asam laksa. I asked 2 people I trusted for this recipe, both are true Penangites of course, my mother and the cleaner/ cook at the office.

It was quite fun prepping for this. The outcome, well I would say pretty good for a first try, but it did lack a few points that would hit the 'whoar!' flavour notes. Taste grade from my mother, 75%.

Looking forward to our next session when SF finally gets to join us after much absence.

Giving Up

2010-04-29T14:05:00.005+08:00

Realised been spending too generously on my comforts. Time to slash the indulgence budget. First step, no more pedis (!!!). Will be doing my own for a while. I know, sounds poncy that I pay someone to cut, file and paint my nails but it was like my mini stress relieving therapy. Oh well, we must do what we must.

COOKiiNG

2010-03-29T17:49:00.005+08:00

I wouldn't say I enjoy cooking tremendously, but I also wouldn't say I detest it. I can cook to survive and I can cook to entertain (ok certain dishes only but at least I know enough prep work to survive). Given, I would not gut and clean the fish myself, I have a valid reason not to peel fresh prawns as my digits will swell up if I get pricked by their thorny shells. Nonetheless, I have found myself wanting to know more about our traditional cooking methods and dishes, which undoubtedly was made to be nagged down from one generation to the next.

My mother isn't exactly encouraging when it comes to mentoring me about her 'how to's' and advices, but she certainly will not hold back on the 'DO NOT's'. For example, 'DO NOT splatter oil on the floor!' or 'DO NOT leave the kitchen in a mess!' CLEAN AS YOU GO! Well, I have to admit with all the years of this type of tutoring, I am a much cleaner fuss free cook. Yeah so what if I don't physically cook all the time? I use to get chased out every time I attempt, but I'm not alone, my brother gets the same treatment the moment he picks up the spatula and starts stirring whatever that's cooking on the stove.

But there are still quite a number of things I have yet to learn, I never imagined I would yearn to learn the traditional methods and dishes of our heritage, but that's exactly what I look forward to now. My mother knows how to cook many a type of chinese and nyonya food, as most ladies in her age whom has a household of their own, they know what to do and how to do it. No google, no wiki, just years and years of actual practice I suppose.

Being more domesticated with old age? I don't know, maybe. In the past few months, my girlfriends and I have started playing house in one of their homes. We would meet at her house and invade her kitchen with attempts to 'cook'. It started out with a couple of steamboat sessions, but it's rather enjoyable and a whole lot of fun. We totally disregarded the asian rule of girls not making a ruckus or loud noises in the kitchen because giggling while chopping onions is more fun.

And after our sit down meal, we would hook up the Wii and laugh somemore... good way to learn and practice tradition I would say, only now our tradition includes the Wii.

FREELENSING

2010-01-30T14:52:00.003+08:00

Been too long huh, well I was busy with work, and lazy so yeah... Been experimenting with the camera again, well more of I'm so bored but desperately want to take pictures so what can I do? Discovered this technique called freelensing, according to flickr's freelensing group's definition:

Photos taken with the lens detached from the camera but held in place and moved around to focus. This also lets extra light in sometimes causing light leaks and giving a vintage look and feel.

Also:
- Gives extra bokeh by shrinking the area in focus (aperture is 0)
- Allows for super macro shots
- Delicious light leaks
- Tilt-shift effects

If you're worried about getting your censor and the MAJOR front bit of your camera dirty or damage, then this is not advisable. Even in a dust free environment (does this really exist??) there are risks. Exercise with caution. You are after all exposing the front area the whole time you're searching for your focal point.

In retrospect, the effect is a softer cross processing, lomo-ish kind of look, which requires very minimal post processing. It's kinda hard to crush the blacks or bring up the contrast without spoiling the effect. So here are my attempts, not sure if I'm liking it too much, but it beats the old standard clear sharp looking photos.

HONG KONG PHOOEY FOOD SERIES

2009-11-30T21:23:00.004+08:00

How can a trip to Hong Kong be complete without indulging in food? Well, I did try to eat the Chinese food there, but being allergic to pork (major key ingredient in Chinese cooking!) made it rather tricky. I had 2 potential flare ups, which I had to suppress with antihistamines. Sometimes I take them more than I do vitamins... Even the 'vegetarian' dishes were booby traps! Oh well, here's some 'foodie' pics. I didn't ingest the porky ones, my friend did.

HONG KONG PHOOEY 1.0

2009-11-26T22:16:00.005+08:00

Been a while since my last post, due to laziness and lack of inspiration. However, I'm back with some pictures taken in Hong Kong. I was there for a friend's wedding. The last time I was in Hong Kong, I was 5 or 6. Somehow my brother and I managed to contract head lice (from the local kids we were playing with!) and my index finger got caught in the hotel elevator. Good times... Not bad, made the whole trip with just the 50mm F1.8 :D

till the next post... still working on editing the rest of the pictures.

I like chandeliers :D

2009-10-07T00:50:00.000+08:00

Huck Finn Steamboat

2009-10-05T04:11:00.004+08:00

Yes, yes, it's been too long. We had a steamboat dinner at a friend's place. It was also mid autumn festival. There was too much food to be had and too much laughs to digest.

SUI BOKEH

2009-07-25T21:41:00.003+08:00

Bored, messed around with what I could find in my room ...

A GARDEN FULL OF MALINOIS

2009-07-24T15:39:00.005+08:00

Been out playing with the doggies, we have 3 Belgian Shepherds. Hana, BJ and Zoba. The 2 boys bite. Zoba is Hana's son (she's an angel with a rabid obsession for frisbees and balls). He has this annoying habit of looking upwards and snapping at thin air... until you have your back turned, then he'll snap at you! He thinks it's playing or some attention grabbing ploy, in all our years of dog rearing, this is the first.

I attempted to call him Dobby when he was younger, as you can see, he's got bigass ears and he really does look like a house elf. But then my father proceeded to call him Zoba. I call him Zobe-Zobe or Idiot for short.

BJ, Hana & Zoba

Ballsy Water

2009-06-04T22:40:00.003+08:00

Had time on my hands, my eyes and brains are watery from all the gaming I can ever muster. Even then, my mind won't stop buzzing. Well at least I didn't take these shots in the middle of the night (yes I used to when the mind decided that sleep wasn't important). Oh my poor eyes!

So here's some proof of my mind's preoccupied handlings.

Drop

Not so big drop

Water

Fatality

Addiction (I like this the best)

Wash-Wash (Repost)

2009-05-26T01:45:00.005+08:00

The girls had their baths today, here are Britney's pictures.

I've added Chica's pictures in as well. Also been meaning to mention, when my mother was bathing them, she conveniently and unassumingly picks up my father's bar of soap and washes their face with it. "Eeeeeee! How can you use daddy's soap on the dog?" "Why cannot? They're clean wat." Well yes they are, but isn't that like another version of taking someone's toothbrush and circling the toilet bowl with it? My mother seems to leave me gobsmacked ever so often these days...

Eughhhhh, I'm melting ...

... (why won't you help me!) ...

Ya happy now?

... (whimper...whimper...whimper) ...

Aaaaaaahhhhhh!

Standing in the corner

2009-05-18T04:04:00.002+08:00

I was digging through my junk to look for some fountain pen ink cartridges and I came across some of my old writings, letters, poems, mostly nonsense. I found 2 pieces I wrote in 2001 which I never archived. I remember writing them but I guess I didn't retype it into my computer.

This one was unfinished, I realised this as I was typing it just now. So I finished it in 2009. Yes moan and groan about the long years in between! I would appreciate very much if any feedback were given. I rarely write nowadays. I blame global warming!

Standing in the corner, four more hours to go,
The sky is getting dark, nightfall descends.
How many hours more does she have to be idle?
Four more hours.
Unmoving like a statue, she breathes the cold air,
Her veins are still warm, cheeks flushed in pink,
The porthole to her soul vacant, staring blankly upon the outside world.
Living, heart beating, the figure observes.
People passing by her, as the day folds to an end,
They ignore her, paying no attention to an apparition,
As when one chooses to ignore a sinister presence.
A ghost standing at the corner, waiting for the final hour.

Arms crossed, holding her sides, fingers tightly clenching the fabric of her coat.
It is cold tonight.
The statue moves,
Loosening her grip, a chill brushes across her face,
She shudders to the little warmth from her body,
Oh how she yearns to be warm!
The hour is near, night will fall soon.
Palms now forcefully rubbing against her sides,
Her exposed hands trying to keep the heat,
She stands there waiting,
As if appointed by fate, instructed to stay,
To obediently wait – the final hour will come soon.

A glimmering penny rolls to her feet,
The statue reaches down to pick it up.
She rolls the coin between her fingers,
Looking at it, feeling the copper, its shape, its colour and value.
Someone must have dropped it,
Kicked and trampled to find its way to where the statue is placed.
One penny, even it has value.
Unlike the statue, slowly turning cold as the stone beneath her.
She tucks the penny into her pocket,
A penny to her name, she is one penny more.
How many pennies will find her as she continues to stand here.
She waits – the final hour will come soon.

The statue tires, hunching her back, fighting the ache.
How unbecoming of it, wavering and bending to the bitter wind,
The frost scalds her skin – she is all flesh!
And she is nearly all bones too.
With every gust of wind that blows,
The statue sways with fatigued ease,
How much longer does she need to endure this?
Faltering, the statue slumps against the wall with defeat,
Hands tucked deeply in her pockets.
Slowly, she slides to the ground, she sits now.
Knees drawn up against her heavy chest,
She waits – the final hour will come soon.

Morning has come, the hour has passed.
The streets are beginning to stir.
The statue sighs longingly with a breath of cold air.
Imagining as it was the last that will be expelled from her depleted being,
Still, she sits as she did before the final hour came.
She feels the effervescence of the cold, will it not cease?
As long as there is still warm liquid running through her veins,
Her heart beats its weakened rhythm, it will not cease.
People were emerging with hasten steps warming up to the cold.
They had places to be at, they had their daily lives to run to.
The statue sits there, she has no where to go.
She had arrived four hours before the appointed hour.
She waits – the final hour had passed.

A glimmering penny rolls to her feet,
Among the shuffling of feet and the swishing of coats,
The penny has found the statue, she does not dare think,
Another? After the final hour? Two pennies to my name.
She closes her eyes and drops the penny into her pocket,
More people are about now, but people pay no attention to apparitions.
With her head bowed down, she slowly opened her eyes.
A pair of black shinny boots stood close to her.
The boots belonged to a gentle sir clad all in black and a tall hat,
“Miss, I believe you have my penny?”
She gripped the coins in her pocket and replied,
“Sir, I believe you have my time? Four hours to the appointed hour.”
She waits no more – the final hour has at long last come.
“You are late Sir.”
“Apologies Miss, I seemed to have misplaced my scythe.”
“And now you are carrying a cane.”
“Yes Miss.”

.
Originally uploaded by Tom Andrews

More 50mm views

2009-05-15T21:25:00.003+08:00

Yes, still haven't tire from the new toy yet. Although I must admit, I'm running out of things to shoot!

Day 2 of 50mm

2009-05-10T01:17:00.004+08:00

Well I pretty much went trigger mad on the 2nd day of my new lens. Still not getting used to the focal length, but loving the results. My old kit lens was over due for a cleaning (which I haven't gotten around to do). The 50mm is damn sharp k. Yes it's still new, but I hope it stays that way. I'm not the best person with camera maintenance.

Anyhoos, here's some pictures from today. Yes and I edited them today too. I love editing!

Chica

Bella

Candles & Sticks

Bathing Baby Buddha

Baby Buddha

Lotus (my current favourite)

I can't stop staring at my girl staring at me

2009-05-08T19:25:00.002+08:00

I finally gave in and bought the 50mm f1.8. I know it's not an expensive lens, but hey I kept finding more uses for the money I was suppose to spend on the lens. Alas, no more excuses.

I've used this lens before, apart from the gorgeous bokeh and DOF, I find it a little troublesome to back and forth with the focal length. But nonetheless, it's still a great lens to have.

Oh, and as my luck would always have it, apparently all Canon items went up by 15% from the 3/3/09. So I ended up paying a bit more for what I could've gotten. Oh wells. I'm done for.

I'm so proud that my dog knows how to turn on her Tyra poses!

HAHA

2009-04-21T00:31:00.000+08:00

Too funny not to post...

The Terminator Toilet

日本の侵入! (The {psuedo} Japanese Invasion)

2009-04-19T10:30:00.003+08:00

K, been youtubing too much lately. Imagine, I've managed to watch 4 period dramas, all full length and high quality all on youtube :D

Anyways, reason for this post is because I came across some hilarious Anglo-Japanese stuff.

#1 - Gimmeabreakman

An American living in Japan for 17 yrs or something, has a Japanese wife, blah blah blah. His videos are achingly amusing. I think he's a teacher of some sort, English I presume. Anyways, his videos are of him and his Japanese cultures and also giving Japanese tutorials via youtube. He has quite a few channels, and they're all funny.

#2 - Magibon

What is this phenomenon? Well the West seems to be enthralled by the constant bombardment of the 'kawaii-ness' from the East, many has begun emulating the culture. Prime example, Magibon. According to Wiki, Magibon (not her real name) was born in Florida, but now lives in Pennsylvania. Before becoming a YouTube celebrity, she worked as a pharmacy checkout clerk. She learned to speak isolated Japanese phrases from watching Japanese television dramas and listening to Japanese music. If you are compelled to visit Magibon's youtube page, you'll leave with a heavy sensation of wtf-ness. Nevermind. It is still amusing. She even inspired a song!

Sayonara. Or how they say it in Japanese, By-bye!

BRIT & CHIC(A)

2009-04-13T14:39:00.003+08:00

They weren't posed, just stuck them up there and waited. They actually couldn't wait to come down and were whining. I love their expressions, very Life magazine I may add :D
I'm quite lucky I have such posers.

CHOICES DERIVED FROM STRESS RELIEVING

2009-03-16T22:47:00.004+08:00

Muddled with work, PMS-ing, mind needed clearing, so I photoshoping...

Kids jumped and swam in the canal during Pride, Amsterdam 2008

It will speak

2009-02-19T12:41:00.002+08:00

It really does...

Glazed Philosophy

2009-02-17T15:08:00.007+08:00

Is it acceptable to admit to medicinal treatment for one’s feelings of malaise? Is it really clinically verified or just jumping on the bandwagon and admitting that in fact everyone’s a little 10% depressed all the time?

Of course it is acceptable. As long as it is to someone’s reasoning or justifications. The humankind is surprisingly tolerable when it comes to another persons’ acknowledgements for their own health, particularly the mental health. People would almost automatically be sympathetic if not empathetic when learned about so and so’s behaviour was because of a certain brain dysfunction.

There are however, another group of people that would react the exact opposite. Instead of embracing and encouraging treatment or fake supportiveness without fully understanding the condition, they smile at you with underlying tones of ‘how dare you impose your condition on me like that and expect me to treat you like a normal person’. These are the people who do not want to know about the sickness, those who would rather go about their lives thinking that there is always something to the cause. Well as long as it is acceptable to them. They would rather ignore the condition than face the sordid truth because it is too outrageous or too fashionable to qualify as a legitimate illness. They who think that it's downright rude to participate in attention seeking behaviour and that hypochondriacs are disturbing. Stark raving loonies are scoffed upon. This section of people unfortunately makes up ¾ of what society deems which is appropriate and proper. They are the law enforcers or taboos and the writers of stigma.

On the other hand, if one were a sufferer of this infirmity would it be so clear-cut as to question one’s own sanity? Being said, the mind is indeed conscious. But can the mind make sound judgements when plagued in one of these manic episodes? To the infected mind, there would be little clarity to right and wrong, but it will always be right to the sufferer. The awareness of the wrongness that outcomes from a bad decision haunts the sufferer as much as the confusion that outcomes with emotions and feeling that is unexplainable to the sufferer. Both the elements mix and dwell with one another creating an inseparable aspect of catch 22, cause and effect with no start or end.

With that, as we are now in the 21st century with much more forgiving mentalities one does often time questions (meaningfully or jokingly) the state of their own sanity. We are exposed to the habit of interrogating for an answer if not most often supplied freely with many. We have learned to query a condition with formulaic engineering means. Detection, diagnostic, solution and treatment. Simple enough. There are even pages and pages of self-evaluation tests freely available on the internet with the catch of ‘this test is not an actual medical psychiatric examination and is formulated for entertainment purposes only’. Along comes with it thousands of sites recommending forms of treatments, support groups, counselling, even alternate medicines for those new age loonies. Seeing that the world so readily promotes and embraces the issue of depression and mania is comforting to say the least, but in actuality, the world is filled with more people on the happy pill than one would be aware of.

Now would you dare admit to yourself and subject yourself to be clinically proven that you are down in the dumps?

La niña conocida como chica

2009-02-14T17:24:00.005+08:00

Meet Chica. Well that's what I'm calling her. My family seems to digress. My father brought her back yesterday. Someone bought her for a girlfriend, they broke up and we ended up with the dog.

Chica is a chihuahua. A long haired one to be precise. She's tiny, only 10 months old and she looks like a ferret, fox, mouse.

Don't know if she's for keeps as we're still adjusting to her behaviour and since everyone knows there's already a white reigning princess in the house.

Update: My parents have started calling her wah-wah (as in wahwah from 'chihuahua'). Yes I know. And I call her Chica. Now because she's a dog, they normally go 'bow-wow' right? If you know the Lynx commercial that has all sorts of girls getting all hot and bothered while muttering the catch phrase, well this dog's name has inadvertently become relative to that. Bow-Chica-Wah-Wah! Those lynx ads are on youtube for those who are interested.

What do you make of it?

2009-02-13T17:32:00.002+08:00

What has life become? What should I believe in anymore? Where else can I invest in more false hopes to atone and justify my misgivings?

Ruby

Recipe for the depressed

2009-01-14T03:16:00.005+08:00

Can't help but think "is it all worth it?" Then the need to survive and sustain strikes with reality... It may not be worth it, but it's still a necessity. Followed by bouts of misery accompanied by waves of regret and moroseness. Then the thought of guilt from over-reacting. Then the justification of defense, the self assessment, queries and doubts, that's when the judgements gets all mixed up. Finishing off with the feeling of dejection, unaccomplished. The end result is a deflated dull and desolate soul.

TWEAKING IN THE WEE HOURS OF THE FIRST DAY OF 2009

2009-01-01T02:22:00.009+08:00

As established, I photoshop when I want to de-stress. Well I guess I need a little bit of that since I was working till 11pm. It was 12am new year's day when I stepped out of the bathroom after my shower. Well still feeling antsy, I de-stresse ... I've never done before and after picture comparisons but just this once.

This is the original picture taken in auto mode.

Tweaked for the retro look.

Tweaked and treated for the aged look.

I don't know what brought on this malaise of colour, but it's what I've been doing lately in my editing. More on my flickr site.

More processing to keep calm

2008-12-11T20:30:00.004+08:00

Yes, I need to find a way to distract my mind from going insane. Haven't blew up over work in a long long time, until now. . . think zen . . . ohm...ohmm...ohmmm...

BEST VIEWED LARGE (on Flickr)

REMASTERED

2008-12-09T01:29:00.002+08:00

Was dicking around, and reworked these.

Happy happy joy joy

2008-12-08T19:50:00.003+08:00

Amidst my pre-christmas last minute money faced attempt to do a quick turn around cash job, I am temporarily relieved from the stress and frustration with working from home, and doing a support job (which I detest). I have found out that processing and editing my own pictures is rather therapeutic and addictive. Yes, it's quite narcissistic but who cares!

SUMMER '08

2008-12-08T02:26:00.003+08:00

Finally got around to sorting somemore of my holiday pictures, ah... the good times!
These pictures are best viewed large. So hit my flickr page if you want to see better ones.

Will You Marry Me?

2008-12-01T23:54:00.002+08:00

Was bored again, so I made these :D

9 little bitey things

2008-11-30T17:59:00.002+08:00

Our female Belgian Malinois had babies recently. Now they're all grown up, running and stumbling and biting. These little buggers look like mongrels but they're so intelligent. They're like little versions of guard dogs, ready to bark and pounce. Rather cute actually. But they're bite is already painful!

Babies and their mummy Hana.

mummymummymummy!

ma the floor's all wrong...

mummymummymummy! hmmfphfgh!

Bella, still looking like Bruce Vilanch.

Furry dreams of reminiscence

2008-11-15T17:19:00.003+08:00

I dreamt of Bam last night. In the awake world, the dogs were barking. I opened my eyes to the shock of hearing the actual barking of him. That low hollow whopping boom. It was unmistakably his bark. I forget and resigned it as a norm of random barkings in the night. It carried on for a while, among the orchestra of our other dogs barking. I slowly realise when I was reminded, it was only a haunting of the voice of my departed dog and my unwitting conscience in the late night. And yet my eyes were not fully apart. I lay in bed saddened by the thought that amongst the numerous barks, one that was significantly absent was one I will never hear again. I silently cried into my sleep laden lids and yet there were no tears.

Like a projector through my mind, I saw him. Lying gallantly on the grass in our garden. The moon was out, casting silvery dusty light over his entire being. He was not transparent, but he's usual colour was replaced with a serene bluish pallor. He never looked more regal, more perfect and calm. He was gazing into me. He gave me a smile. I was in awe. Our contact never broke. I started to feel sorry, I started to cry. He was still looking at me. I was ashamed. As we stared at one another I begin to understand what he meant in his eyes. I am relieved. As I acknowledge that thought, he begins to disappear. I felt a quick sense of dread as I begin to lose him again, I started to protest as his image became thinner and thinner. And still his eyes never left mine, with the assurance of certainty and confidence that things will be better for where they are. He is gone.

Walk with me won't you?

2008-11-13T23:27:00.005+08:00

I still can’t deny the reminiscing of the love hate past I have with this city. Give me traffic, give me noise, give me the hustle and bustles, give me the silent vacant stares of strangers that passes by. I revel in the anonymity and appreciate the company of my fellow wanderers. London.

B-ORH-DUH!

2008-11-11T17:12:00.002+08:00

Well, yes I was bored . . .

Britney's Piggy

+

Shoe

Damn!

2008-10-17T21:34:00.004+08:00

(I wrote this when I was in the hospital, feeling much better now)

Well, it’s been 8 days since I’m stricken with the damning unidentifiable illness. I’m so tired and pissed off about the whole thing I’m past caring. But I’m only human after all (and I can’t help feeling, I’m being punished).

My temperature fluctuates between 36 – 39 degrees Celsius. I will alternate from feeling extreme sense of coldness, to feeling as if I’m harbouring an angry furnace in me and it’s spitting fire at me with every breath. My painful bursts of agony in my head will start to appear at the nearest sign of the painkiller wearing off. My joints started swelling up 3 days ago, in the beginning they just ached. Now it looks like I’m pregnant with water retention.

I’ve been through 3 Accident & Emergency visits to treat my high temperature. 2 of those ended up with me having blood drawn and getting it tested for dengue, checking and rechecking my white blood count.

Finally, enough is enough. I’m done feeling like a pregnant Harry Potter, I’m getting admitted. And getting more tests done. I’ll be tested for:

1) Renal (in case my kidneys are failing, hence the swelling)
2) Febrile Studies (an investigation as to why my vicious fever)
3) Arthritic Profile (in case it wasn’t the kidneys and I had rheumatic fever
instead or some form of hereditary rheumatoid arthritis)
4) Dengue (again! 3rd one)
5) Chikungunya Virus (Chiku-
what??? Google it) this test takes 3 working days to
get back.

It’s always certain that once under the care of medical attention, your pains and ailments tend to subside. But in actuality, I am indeed getting better. Under observation, I didn’t get my bouts of high fever that night, I had a slight one. Instead my joints got more swollen then ever, felt like Violet Beaureguard (Willy Wonka 1971) when she started to inflate into a blueberry! I was given pain killer/ anti-inflammatory meds since morning and yet it didn’t help.

I didn’t sleep the whole night either. The meds wasn’t sleep inducing, just mildly relieving. I spend the whole night listening to Harry Potter read by Stephen Fry and poking at my Nintendo DS and willing for morning to come. My mind was actively racing, but my body gave up functioning 4 days ago.

Finally, the doctor came to see me, looked, poked, prodded. “No fever ah?” he asked excitedly. “Nope, but why all my joints swollen?” Shoves fingers disguised as sausages in his face. “Hmmm…. Yes ah… your tests all came back negative you know? Not typhoid, not malaria, not dengue” “What about arthritis?” Silence. He thumbed through my file quickly… “Hmm…. Ah I cancelled the arthritic profile because I wanted to concentrate of the febrile studies” “Oh…” “Nevermind! We can do one today, I ask the nurse to come take your blood ok?” “Ok”
I cursed in my mind and let it pass. No more energy to get worked up. I just wanna go home!

Shortly, the nurse came in with a syringe. By this time, I’m so used to the needles and blood I didn’t bat an eyelid. Oklah, I’m not afraid of needles and pain at all lah, but there’s always a first time! Well, just as the nurse was strapping the band around my arm (to restrict blood flow) I whipped out my phone and asked her if it was ok to record the whole ordeal, she asked if I was scared, no I was bored.

Well, afternoon was spent with more Stephen Fry and me emailing my friends my new video of my blood drawing. A few attempts of games on my computer, until I got irritated with them and tried to sleep.

Finally, evening came. I asked the nurse has the doctor gone home? It was a Saturday after all. Normally they only work half days. She’ll check. Suddenly I got a wave of ingenuity and strut out to the nurse’s station. “Hi!” I said “Hi! Ah, doctor went home already. He said to tell you, sorry he’s got something to do, and won’t be coming back.” “Ok, my test how?” “Ah, your test ok.” “Ok, then can I go home now?” I really didn’t want to spend another restless night in the hospital. I know I’ll get more rest at home. “Ah? Let me check with the doctor first ok?” “OK!”

I figured, I’m only on pain meds; no more fever, tomorrow’s Sunday, what if the doctor doesn’t come again? I’ll chance it, worst come to the worst I’ll go to the A&E again. I’m a pro now! I was discharged with more painkillers and anti-inflammatory meds; I practically danced my way to the dispensary. I just need to get my Chikungunya report and see the doctor next week. Yay! I get to sleep in my bed tonight!

Since then, I got progressively better. It’s been a long slow one. My final test result? NEGATIVE! But this is what the report says:

CHIKUNGUNYA SEROLOGY

Chikungunya IgM Negative

COMMENT: Result does not suggest recent infection. However a negative test result does not preclude the possibility of exposure to or infection with Chikungunya virus.

Right. I’m saying I had it! And it was from that damn mosquitoes from that damn location called Le Chateau, during shoot.

Body assault count:

4 x blood tests (drew a total of 7 test tubes)
2 x injection to the ass, one on each side
1 x saline drip
1 x urine sample (not easy if you don’t pee standing up naturally!)
17 x painkillers (pill) within a span of 5 days
(no. it's not the stoney kind, I was sober
and suffering still...)

GRAFFITI STREET ART

2008-08-16T15:11:00.003+08:00

Ok, can't resist but have to post some more eyecandy graff art I took (mostly from Leake Street). Why? Because this is MY blog and I'm narcissistic and because I want you to see the glimmer of beauty that are produced my many underrated but highly talented street artists from round the world.

I cannot get over the fact that, these pieces of art from the tunnel are poignant, some subtle, some direct, some shocking, some discreet, some even sarcastic and satirical. But most of all tangible and simple enough to make the statement as it was meant to be. And bloody beautiful to look at!

These artists are regular people with messages and a streak of rebellion and bravery to attempt spreading art with all forms of medium available (most of the time unsavoury to the local council and authorities).

I agree, there is a fine line between street art graffiti and vandalism. Forget the juvenile tagging with just clever angling and control of a spray can producing sometimes incomprehensible scribblings of a signature. That is not art. That's just testing if the power of CCTV and it's enforcers actually work. Well?

I cannot stress enough the beauty of the art found in Leake Street tunnel and what Banksy's visions and his art forms stands for does to the lay man. It's easy to understand and pretty to look at. Yes I'm all for the man, and I do think the sun shines from out of his ass ok? Enjoy...

(as usual, more on my flickr page)

I think the original had a stab wound on his left side of his chest and a knife in his right hand. It's gone now.

Banksy's Injured Buddha

Banksy's CCTV

Banksy's yellow flower

Banksy's Chimp

Leake St Tunnel

THE CANS FESTIVAL

2008-08-11T18:18:00.002+08:00

Did a bit of searching on the WWW, found the official website for the Cans Festival. A good insight to the showcasing of the many talented artists' work that we saw (well remnants of) in Leake Street. So much creativity stuffed down one tunnel. Divine!

THE CANS FESTIVAL

BANKSY MANIA!!

2008-08-10T17:18:00.003+08:00

Yes, I have gone Banksy mad. On my last few days in London, my girlfriend and I (which so kindly obliged) went hunting for the ever disappearing works of the elusive Banksy. He may be considered overrated by some, but still he is beheld in the eyes of avid street artist/ writers/ enthusiasts alike.

His anonymity adds to the attractiveness of his reputation as a guerrilla activist/ artist. His real identity is still not revealed to the mass public. His work is simple, satirical, cheeky, poignant and beautiful. He fashions his style and technique (mainly stenciling) after Blek Le Rat (a French dude), but in my opinion Banksy's skills are far more refined and versatile in style. He is more an artist than a rebel graffiti writer.

Well enough of sounding like a poncy art enthusiast, here are just some of the pictures I took of Banksy's work in London, as well as the old art exhibit Banksy held in Leake Street celebrating the works of street art in stenciling. Unfortunately many of these masterpieces have been vandalised or rather graffiti over by tasteless scribbles. But judging from the pictures I found on the WWW the exhibition looked glorious!

More on my flickr page http://flickr.com/photos/oynque.

Disclaimer: I am not a pretentious street art connoisseur. I just find it simple and effective enough for my brain to comprehend and appreciate. Mind you, another girlfriend and I went into the Tate Modern and left 30 minutes later giggling like potheads because we found the 'work' to be ridiculously funny and that some people actually stood in front of a plain canvas with just a 6" slash across it going 'ooh' and 'ah'. Abstract is my ass :D

3 of Blek Le Rat's iconic stencils

Love Hate

Tesco Allegiance

Merbra?

Do not paint over this

Also, do not paint over this

One of Banksy's iconic images

Kawaii?!

I love this

Yes we are!

Poodle Guard Dog by Banksy

Royalty

Damn yoU!

Well... sometimes it does...

Boo!

Look at the pigeons

Meh!

Ham-ham?

AMSTERDAM CANAL PRIDE PARADE

2008-08-05T04:18:00.002+08:00

Just got back from Amsterdam for Pride Parade, first time visiting the country. Did all we should and shouldn't have done. Best of all, had a blast at the Parade! Plenty of things to see too! I'm only posting a few pictures here, more on my flickr page.

LONDON 1.0

2008-07-29T18:08:00.003+08:00

I'm in London at the moment, actually been here for almost a week now. Here are some pictures taken. More to come!

PUSHING BUNGA KEKWA

FOR THOSE WHO DIDN'T KNOW WHAT BRASS BALLS SHOULD LOOK LIKE

DIVINE

PAUL

REPENTING PEWS

CROWNING GLORY

PACE OUT
Their feet sync with every step, and they weren't even marching

DOG'S DAY OUT 2.0

2008-06-29T21:42:00.003+08:00

Another gathering organised by Puppy.com at the Bandar Utama Central Park. I've only slept for 3 hours the night before, then I got a call from my mother (from downstairs!) telling me to wake up so we could go to the park to see the doggies play. I grabbed my camera, shoved it in my bag and off we went. At the back of my mind, I did wonder if I would have enough battery for the day. No I did not. Battery went flat after the first 6 shots. I know, should've brought a spare.

So that's why I only have these to show. Overall, good day. It did rain a little and it was an overcast sky. It's always nice to see the characters of all the dogs and their owners. Can't help but compare the obligatory look-a-likey resemblance.

CHOICE (these 2 are our Belgian Malinois L-Hannah, R - BJ)

PONDERATION

THE EVIL HUSKIE

"I LOOK PRETTY! OH SO PRETTY!"

QUIET FAITH

2008-06-21T01:59:00.002+08:00

No, I'm not swept by a sudden wave of religiousness. I've always had faith in the divine powers. No, this isn't an entry of fortification. I just wanted to photograph what surrounds me daily, and yet most of the time forsaken. I'm well pleased with the results too!

IN THE NAME OF ...

... THE FATHER ...

... AND OF THE SON ...

... AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN

TRUTH

2008-05-31T04:31:00.000+08:00

What is the meaning of being truly happy? Can one be happy without being truly selfish? Is there virtue in being self-absorbed under the pretence of being true to yourself? Fine lines. Very fine lines indeed.

When we’re miserable we long to be happy. When we’re happy, we’re worried about the happiness being gone and barely enjoy the happiness. Less in time, alas happiness gone! So what does it really mean to live in the now and savour it? At what conscious level do we acknowledge the moment and be contend with the happiness we have for that time? Questions. A million. Answers? Stop and smell the roses (along with the organic dung fertilizer).

When asked “How are you” the normal reply would be “Fine, thank you.” Now how fine are you really are in answering? Blatant courtesy replied by subliminal lie. No? You are lying now. Are human beings so afraid of their own emotions to answer the obvious to another’s face? Of course it would deem a little inappropriate to just walk around with your heart on your sleeve. Crazy people do that. Right, in all the sane humanity that we live in, we certainly do not let slip our vulnerability. We lie. All the time. Big ones, small ones, harmful ones.

But in truth, are we so accustomed to the habit that sometimes we lie to ourselves? And when we don’t, we take a step back and have a revelation and think, “wow, I’m being honest with myself. I’m actually admitting my fears, my greed, my wants, my lust, my envy…. (recite the seven deadly sins and you’ll get it). From then on, it’s all honesty policy. How liberating, how New Age. Be true to yourself. Be honest with yourself. You’ll be happier. Put yourself first, others second. Only you can make you happy.

So tell me now, can personal happiness come without selfishness?

(and no, don’t BS me about the “When I can make/ see other people happy, I’m happy too!” Sure. Go back to Care-a-lot and get stuffed by a Carebear)

THE MOCKERY OF LIFE

2008-05-27T00:40:00.001+08:00

It's been a long while since I put words to rhyme. Meek attempt, but they are ramblings of my mind.

Clouded mind so full of distress
What is the soul suppose to suppress?
The feeling of disdain?
Or the feeling of being vain.

Taught to live as humble beings
Being thankful at every means
But what does reality subject us to?
Seems like a mere mockery of a fool

Contentment is what we should not forget
Rejection in life we ought to accept
To learn from Life and preach its ways
Never to question or ponder its mundane days

How true is this tale of Life for us?
Is it right to question it thus?
The essential queries that plays on our minds
The answers abundant but never for us to find

With Peace of the Mind
With Calm of the Heart
With Disgruntlement of the Soul
We shall never part

For it is Life itself and its parodies of fables
That leads us through our daily foibles
Believe in it or maybe nought
Life is worth it, better lived when fought

Boh Plantations

2008-05-04T23:58:00.003+08:00

GHOST MACHINE

ESCAPE

'NO PARKING HERE'

SNAKES AND SHADOWS

JELLY WATER

2008-03-13T00:36:00.004+08:00

Well it's been too long since my last post. Actually don't know why I bother to update it cause there's only a few ppl which bothers to check. Ah! I know! To show off my photography! Hehehe.... as if my flickr account isn't enough. Yes I am entitled to my narcissism as I have an ailing ego.

Anyhows it has been a very long time since I picked up my camera to produce something substantial. Afterall, I do have other responsibilities that I unfailingly shun. Well here are some of my efforts. Never done high speed before and not quite sure how it would turn out. As you can see, pretty good for a first timer eh? I'm thrilled! Oh and a speedlite helps a lot too...

I love how the water behaves as if it's alive and has a sense of solidity, almost gel like... when I was editing the pictures I can't help but compare them to 3D liquids. Well, life imitates art and art imitates life eh?

The pictures are best viewed large. So feel free to click on it and select all sizes for a bigger view :D

Till my next post .... cowabungga dudes!

TRIBUTE TO WILD EYES AND BIG HAIR (A misunderstood era)

2008-01-25T21:10:00.000+08:00

This post has 2 sides. A slightly sad part is that my father has graciously traded our chunky Shiba Inu, Chokichi with another puppy. Why? Because Choki wasn't performing well as an agility dog, even though he's won a few ribbons (dog shows, not obedience or agility) when he was with us. Who would've thought that the heavy boy could charm the judges! I likened Chokichi to a fat child mildly exposed to some cases of ADD and borderline autism. Ok, I might be overly critical here but that dog lives in his own world and only does what he wants, when he wants to. He's pretty smart though, he figured out how to lift the latches of his kennel gate. And when that happens, it's like roping a baby cow. Not denying that he's one of the most adorable faces I've seen. We'll miss him very much, but rest assured he's gone to a good home.

Good luck boy!

Now, our latest addition is a 2 month old border collie. A little intro courtesy of Wiki:

The Border Collie is a breed of herding dog that originated in the border country of England and Scotland. They are widely regarded as the most intelligent dog breed. [1] Border Collies are highly energetic, and as a result have a tendency towards neurotic or destructive behaviour if not given enough to do. They are still frequently used on farms all over the world for assisting with the handling of livestock, and they have also become popular as pet and sport dogs. Though known to be reserved with strangers, these dogs can also be protective of a human family member and affectionate to those they know.

I'm grinning at the neurotic and destructive behaviour, can't wait! This lack of technicolour beauty is called Ziggy Stardust. Yes, you read correct. It's my little tribute to Glam Rock and Glam Metal. This is because if you stare at her face long enough, you'd notice her wild hair, her one blue eye, her black and white 'masked' face, well pretty much like a strung out fox! Mr Bowie and KISS, this one's for you...

ZIGGY STARDUST (Ziggy for short)

ZIGGY EYE

What can you do with a B&W dog? You make the picture B&W!

She's got squishy paws

DAMNATION IS INEVITABLE

2008-01-09T21:57:00.000+08:00

This is more of a ranting post than anything. Blame it on hormones or the delicate shitty state of mind, I feel like a certain four letter word that denotes fornication. Haha, I'm being polite in my own blog. How dumb is that?

Well, I can't explain my state of mind at the moment apart from pure utter laziness and have taken the liking to procrastination without a purpose. That and the obsessive compulsiveness to do fuckall! (there, I used the F word. Fuck it!). Hahaha...

Oh god I'm really going out of my mind. I try to avoid psycho analysing myself. I truly do, but I really wonder what makes me a functional person a few months back with driven goals and purpose to a recluse that avoids any form of responsibility and work like the plague. Phew! Now try reading that in one sentence, I didn't put in any punctuation, cause that's my style.

All of my life I lament about the mundane, the monotony of things and the futile answers that comes with my annoying questions that accompanies us as we sail through life. Yeah, sail with all sorts of storms in the unmerciful undulating seas. Conclusion? Nada. Tadak. Nothing.

With so many self evaluating quizzes and tests to tell one if they're indeed bi-polar, multiple, or a schizo, it's hard not to self diagnose and proclaim that the malaise state that one is in is due to irrevocable facts that was caused and done in by other factors other then thine own righteous self. Everything seems to have a subtext nowadays. Constantly people will find or make excuses for certain fuck-ups in situations. What happened to plain honesty and owning up 'I fucked up, alright?' let's move on.

Why? Is it the fear of admitting failure or wrongness? Nay! Tis because of the shiny face value one enacts to protect the flailing ego. Admit it, we all have one that needs stroking ever once so often. Somehow it feels nicer (or more acceptable in society) if some one else did it. Oh well, enough of my complaints. I ran out of them for now, why can't skittles be little colourful happy chewy candy?

In the meantime, I shall settle for my only resource that makes me smile nowadays, as I discovered I really love to laugh. Even maniacally. Watch Russell Brand and The Mighty Boosh on youtube...

I sometimes think that it's easier to live in the 18th century where debauchery and filth floats on the same par with the noblemen and society only scoffs behind your back, or behind a handkerchief. The only means to life is to wake up, run about, drink till sun down and then to bed. Anon!

THE MIGHTY BOOSH

2008-01-07T14:44:00.000+08:00

Say what you must, but I really do think that this is comedy at it's simplest and purest presentation with undermining slapstick stupidity and idiocy that it has become ingenious.

JEAN CLAUDE JAQUETTIE

LOVE GAMES

BOOK FINDINGS

2007-12-31T22:31:00.000+08:00

Well it's New Year's Eve, my parents, my cousin Brian and I decided to go get dinner at this new Penang cuisine place in Atria. I was skeptical as I truly believe that no shop can beat my beloved Little Penang in Mid Valley when it comes to Penang food in KL.

Anyways, good excuse to be out of the house. The food is good, but definitely not authentic Penang style. Now I've shamelessly consider myself a Penang food connoisseur, and the food there isn't authentic enough. I find that the chef might have jazzed it up too much and added his own 'modernisation' touch too much and lost the authenticity.

So after the mediocre meal, we proceeded to jalan around abit cause Brian wanted to go to the game shops and I insisted that he bought a book instead. So happened there was a book sale going on. He wanted to get The Golden Compass. It was the only way to get him to read, he only chooses books which he's seen the movie of. It used to be the other way round... Well we didn't manage to find that book (strangely). I on the other hand made 3 purchases, 2 to indulge in my design decorating side, and 1 lazy read.

OUTER SPACES by Diarmuid Gavin. I first learnt about this phenomenal garden designer when I was in the UK. He was on this BBC show called Homefront together with another fantastic designer, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. Diarmuid Gavin's work is modern, simple and cleverly inspiring.

JUDITH MILLER FURNITURE (World Styles From Classical To Contemporary). I've always wanted a more detailed pictionary on furniture from every era. I think this is perfect.

MISFORTUNE by Wesley Stace.

Imma happy clam!

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES FROM SATURDAY MORNINGS

2007-12-31T09:40:00.000+08:00

My utmost favourite thing in the world, that is able (without fail) to bring me out of any funk I'm in is cartoons from my childhood. Reminiscing these cartoons just make you feel damn good! How many can you identify?

Ok these aren't cartoons, but I watched them alot when I was a kid, don't know why?

AMY WINEHOUSE CAN R.I.P

2007-12-31T02:13:00.000+08:00

New year's coming very soon. I love this song. Sung by this Kelly Osbourne looking girl named Adele from South London.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

BIZARRE DREAM 1.2

2007-12-05T06:09:00.000+08:00

Dammit! It's 6:09am. Ok I normally don't wake up this early unless I have shoots. What compelled me to get up and write this early in the morning?

I had a freaking horrible dream! It was the epitome of nightmares. I've dreamt of death and all but nothing compared to this strange and yet very real dream.

I only remember bits of it. I know I was working at my regular place and the place was crowded with people, cause there was a shoot going on in there, as was casting for another job. So it was swarmed. I remember I was at the highest floor (3rd I think) finishing up my work. I turned to go downstairs to leave (it was 5am!) and I suddenly noticed that there was a Texan couple, dressed in show rodeo clothes, with many horses in the room. Given, the room was huge, it was a size of a gallery. At that point I took it as acceptable to have this sort of spectacle in the office. So, as I was passing them, they were putting their horses to sleep. They lined up their horses from the smallest to the biggest, 2 in a row and this went all the way down along the stairs. Here's where the strange kicks in, the horses were laid down (we all know horses sleep standing) on the floor. The couple was going to every horse and tucking them in. As I got further down the line, I noticed that the horses don't look normal, kinda emaciated and dirty. Then some had wounds, then I saw one which has his stomach open and I saw raw ribs sticking out and this horse was still breathing! The couple just carried on their way and tended to the animals as if it's routine. When I almost reached the bottom of the stairs some of the horses were just carcasses left.

And the I reached the bottom. Could I just walk freely out of the door? Noooo. There was a camera set up with a jib arm, crew, dp and all right at the bottom of the stairs. Now how the hell am I suppose to get pass? Anyhow I politely waited and tried to squeezed my way through and just as I was right behind the weights, it came swooping down and hit me. No matter, made polite remarks and excuses of me being ok and continued to walk away.

So, as I was leaving the building I noticed there were many strange and shifty looking people hanging around, but remembered there was a casting going on, so I brushed it off. As I passed the office gates I bumped into a casting manager as he was about to leave too. Because the office is so full, we had to park further away along the houses. We made some small talk as I saw my car and disarmed the alarm with my remote key. Usual. As I got in I thought, damn I left my computer at the office. Ah, nevermind, I'll be in again in a few hours and people hardly go up to the 3rd floor (yes Mr & Mrs Texan horse couple didn't cross my dream mind). As I sat in the drivers seat I noticed that my left side window was down, and that my computer bag was there, empty. The sleeve was just left there on top of the bag. I tried to remember why I took just my laptop and not the whole bag. Then it hit me, shit! I left it in the car and someone came and pried the door to get the window down and took my computer! Oh the waves of shock and horror engulfed me! I was thinking, don't care about the car, that can be fixed. Needs a new paint job anyways. But my computer! It's new! Not even 2 months! Gone! Stolen! I was cursing the bastards and thinking what stuff I had stored in it as I consciously drove to the nearest police station.

When I got there, found a parking spot, parked and got out. I heard a familiar voice, it belonged to my director. Then I turned and saw the whole crew there. They were having a shoot. Before I went in to make my report, I don't know why I found myself holding a chair and placing it near the monitor set up for my director. He took the chair from me and asked me for his coffee. "Ah, thanks. Where's my coffee ah?" "Coffee?! Me? Ah, ok I go get for you". So off I went to the catering area to fetch his coffee and bumped into our wardrobe stylist. Didn't talk much cause I was still shaken from my 'lost'. Got back on set, gave the coffee to him and then said to him "My brand new computer got stolen! My car got broken into near the office! That's why I'm here! To make a report!" "Oh! Really?! Stolen?!" "Yes!" "I thought you were here to help. That's why I was thinking, how come you're here". At the last sentence I thought to myself, if you were wondering what I was doing there, why did you get me to fetch your bloody coffee!

. . . . . and then thankfully, I woke up with my heart pounding and thinking damn! I lost my computer! Until I turned and saw it in sleep mode on my side table. PHEW!!!!! Relieved! I'm so gonna get insurance for it later today man! And Back up my shit!

Ah... the curse of dreaming in full Technicolour, Dolby and DTS surround sound!

LAST SHOOT OF THE YEAR

2007-12-04T13:20:00.000+08:00

Well, we're into the last month of the year and everyone's into holiday mode. This was from my last shoot of the year. Yeah baby! I'm taking a break! Woo-woo!

Swine & Pearls

Oriental Celestine

3rd Finger Salute: Reflected

Reflecting

Till then... happy holidays!

FULLMOON PARTY PICTS

2007-12-02T22:44:00.000+08:00

Hah! Wished it was the beach side sorta full moon party eh? Well no. This party was for my 2nd nephew, he's 1 month old. Chinese customs celebrates the 1st month of every baby.

Well then, as usual with any family gathering with this side of the family, there are plenty of the little ones running around. Here are some pictures I took.

Eaten

Bubbly

2 chopsticks and 1 plate

Oooh those cheeks!

Choto Mateh!

Ummmmmm.....

Hmmm....:D

Blurry Grin

Baby Zach

MALACCA

2007-11-18T19:36:00.000+08:00

Went down to Malacca for a recce for an upcoming shoot. Here are some pictures I took. Been playing a lot with monochromatic hues. The 2 coloured ones are in high contrast to make the selected colours pop.

Symmetry

Asymmetry

Wall

Teapot

Tin Man

Open Roast

Hopefully will get to shoot some good ones during shoot, please pray that I won't be too stressed out!

CONGRATULATIONS MR & MRS CHIA!

2007-11-08T02:19:00.000+08:00

Well, her big day is over. I finally got around to processing Ange's wedding pictures. Didn't take too many. Was too busy! :P
I borrowed my brother's G7 for this, as I didn't want to lug around my DSLR in heels! I've treated the pictures to be overly desaturated, almost having a b/w metallic feel. Is retro back??

So below are just highlights of what happened....

We got manis and pedis....

And then went to Dragon i for lunch....

Wedding morning. We woke up at 6:30am for Ange's make-up.... ok, given she didn't sleep much.

Typical make-up artist's brush case and box.... Ms Make-up artist wasn't too happy about me commenting on stuff. Well that's what I was there for... QC!!

Then I got distracted with the super fake lashes... my most favourite shot of the lot.

All smiles! Wedding dinner.... before going into the banquet hall.

Kelly or Chloe?? I could never tell who's who....

Ange and her mum holding hands.... on stage Kong was serenading her with Bon Jovi's songs. Yalah! Sure must sing la!

The Menu... no I didn't put the rose petal on the pickled chillis... it was there.

Finally, the customary pouring of the champagne.

The bride and I .... (camera phone!)

All in all, it was a tiring but very fun weekend. Congratulations to the happy couple!

BALI SHOOT 1.5

2007-10-22T23:24:00.000+08:00

Been very very lazy in processing the Bali pictures, so I'm doing it bit by bit. It was a 3 day shoot in Bali, we mainly spent 1 day around Danau Buyan, and 2 days at Mt Batur, in Kintamani.

The ad is another Astro (we did the Transformer Robots one earlier this year). We shot a little over 1000 ppl at all times. This shoot was physically challenging as well as mentally straining as the terrain on the mountains are really steep, slippery (lava rocks and sand is no joke!) and well if you make 1 mistake and slip, adios muchachos, turn off the lights!

Mt Agung & Mt Abang. Viewed from Mt Batur

Goat Ppl - The incline on these mountains are literally 45-30 degrees! I'm not lying! The locals skied down as if it was powdered snow! Those small coloured specks are the locals

Antz - Our talens had to run throughout the whole commercial, bravo! I sure felt like dying after climbing that mountain. I dreaded the descend.

Till the next one.....

Yay!

2007-10-19T23:31:00.000+08:00

Today I met up with one of my best friends, Jaye. We went to The Gardens to have a look see at shoes (which I may get for another best friend's wedding). Jaye was pestering me last week to tell her what to buy for my birthday. So, luckily for us as we were in Isetan looking for my shoes, we passed by a Thomas Sabo counter and I spotted the charms :D

I've always liked charm bracelets, especially little sparkly enamel ones. I chose a little black enamel flying pig.

Here's the link to Thomas Sabo, he's really got some cute cute stuff:

Thomas Sabo

On another note, I saw these great Steve Madden shoes which I wanted but they didn't have it in my size! So... next mission, but Steve Madden shoes. I love his vintage designs and they're actually quite comfy. As for the shoes for the wedding, I got a pair of red peep toe slingbacks from Lewre.

Until then..... Imma happy clam today!

BALI SHOOT 1

2007-10-05T15:27:00.000+08:00

We went to Bali for a shoot last month. Finally gotten around to process some of the pictures, here's a few. We were shooting mainly around Mt Batur area, which is in Kintamani. One word sums it all up... TOUGH! The phrase 'conquering a mountain' has real meaning once you've actually climbed one.

The historically active Mount Batur (Gunung Batur) is located at the center of two concentric calderas north west of Mount Agung, Bali, Indonesia. The south east side of the larger 10×13 km caldera contains a caldera lake. The inner 7.5-kilometer-wide caldera, which was formed during emplacement of the Bali (or Ubud) ignimbrite, has been dated at about 23,670 and 28,500 years ago (Wheller 1986, Sutawidjaja et al. 1992).

The SE wall of the inner caldera lies beneath Lake Batur; Batur cone has been constructed within the inner caldera to a height above the outer caldera rim. The Batur stratovolcano has produced vents over much of the inner caldera, but a NE-SW fissure system has localized the Batur I, II, and III craters along the summit ridge. Historical eruptions have been characterized by mild-to-moderate explosive activity sometimes accompanied by lava emission. Basaltic lava flows from both summit and flank vents have reached the caldera floor and the shores of Lake Batur in historical time. The caldera contains an active, 700-metre-tall stratovolcano rising above the surface of Lake Batur. The first historically documented eruption of Batur was in 1804, and it has been frequently active since then.

Here's a wide shot of the mountain. We were shooting on the 2nd highest peak, and around that area.

(courtesy of Wikipedia.com)

Mountain Dog - I don't know how this dog got up there, but even he made it!

Lost Boy - This was taken at the Danau Buyan Park. We also shot some shots there. It has 3 lakes, and gorgeous forests.

Which Way Now? - Danau Buyan Park.

Jetty - Another lake on the otherside of Buyan.

Handsome Hog - This little pot bellied big is a pet of the locals living at the foot of Mt Batur.

Starburst - In the forest of Danau Buyan Park

50 MILL BRIT

2007-09-26T09:01:00.000+08:00

Been experimenting with my friend's 50mm lens. It's a tool that can make anyone look like a pro photographer, love the depth of field ... I think I'm gonna get one!

Solemn

I'm Wishing...

Uh-Oh!

Caught with her favourite hobby, chewing tissue paper

CONGRATULATIONS MR & MRS SEOW!

2007-09-06T01:53:00.000+08:00

Yes, it's all official! I've put up some pictures just to whet your appetite (ok, not many but for now ok la) ... more to come when I get back from Bali.

No, it's not for a holiday, it's for a shoot, hopefully I have pictures to show that as well. In the meantime, click on the link below and browse :D

Flickr Oynque

FOOD PORN

2007-07-21T00:18:00.000+08:00

I'm down with a cold, at present I have a rolled up tissue stuffed up my right nostril to prevent further leakage. Ok, enough about my sordid sickness.

Reason for this post, I came across this wonderful short video of someone actually bothering to document the different types of food found on the Pearl of the Orient island called Penang.Thank you for that! I guess everyone that misses Penang reminisces firstly about the food. Well I do. And thankfully when I have a craving for Penang food, the next best thing I'll settle for is from Little Penang Cafe. Forget home cooked food by people from Penang, unless it's hawker style, there's second to none.

Ah.... blissful Penang. Now, everyone that knows me will think I'm ever praising this wonderful state. No, I'm not from there, my mother is, and I still have aunts and uncles and cousins there. My biggest obsession of the island's cuisine? PENANG CURRY MEE! The best can be found on Swatow Lane. Ask anyone, I can eat Penang Curry Mee, any time, anywhere and I'll never get bored. Being in KL, it's hard to satisfy Penang craving if you want authenticity. Some might argue and loads may give their recommendations as to where to get the best Penang Curry Mee, I still believe it's Little Penang (the Midvalley branch). There's a shop in SS2 (it's a branch from the actual Penang stall in Lorong Seratus Tahun), that sells aunthentic Penang food. No doubt, it may be authentic, but not to my liking. Swatow Lane still rocks!!!!!!!!!!!

I think one can possibly eat to death in Penang given the many choices and variations of all types of cuisine, be it Malay, Chinese or Indian, whether you want to admit it or not, even they themselves will declare that it's signatory Penang, i.e: Pasembor, Nasi Kandar and the infamous Char Koay Teow (my least favourite dish, don't ask). On the other hand, concerning food again, one can have the choice of modern restaurants with Westernised cuisines, and even food from other states. But hey when you're in Penang, you bloody well digest it!

Ugh... Penang is really FOOD HEAVEN (to me lah!) and I love every inch of that island :D

OMG, I think I just indulged in food porn! :O
p/s: Oh and for all those that calls curry mee, curry laksa, it's CURRY MEE ok? Especially in Penang!

BEQUEATH ME

2007-06-30T01:35:00.000+08:00

I wrote this in 5 mins (no, I'm not bragging). I was at work, and was pondering about work, and after numerous 'negotiations' with the suppliers I found myself saying the first 2 lines, the rest just came with it. I know, it's amateurrish but what's the point of having a blog and not use it to shamelessly publish your own work???

Give me money
Give me sin
Give me ideas
For me to begin

Give me misery
Give me grief
Give me solace
That I receive

Give me comfort
Give me peace
Give me respite
With plenty of ease

Give me burden
Give me despair
Give me a life
Which I can bear

RETRO PLANTS

2007-06-19T21:55:00.000+08:00

I took a look at my garden today and was pleased to realise that my mother still grows the exact same plants as we had in our old house when I was growing up. When I was growing up I liked spending time in the garden. No, we never had lush spacious lawns with ornaments or fountains.

We had a small section fenced up at the corner of the house, there I would spend hours digging through soil and 'replanting' (to my mother's horror) different types of plants. I loved their leaves, their colour, texture and even smell. We never had proper flowering plants, if we did I'd pluck them. We had spices, typical of any Malaysian household with a bit of soil, we'd throw seeds in there and watch it grow. We grew curry leaves, tumeric, kafir lime, lemongrass, screwpine leaves, spring onions, papaya tree, even birds eye chillis. Having a 'spice garden' was no big deal for us, it was really a common thing; my mother would send me out to the garden to pluck or dig something that she'd almost immediately throw in the pot.

I loved playing in the garden, all sorts or leaves and plants which had different textures and consistencies, I was 'cooking' on my own in the garden. OK, given I was about 6 years old. But I still remember them, chopping, mixing, mashing, sometimes actually boiling and burning them just to see what would happen. Sometimes I had Mr Snail and Ms Earthworm to stay for dinner, I'd pretend I was making a meal... then glance at the snail and wondered how it looked like without the shell on... *crunch* Oh... he's just oozing a lot of slime. Most of the time I'd use anything I can pick up and throw it all in the mix, alive or not. My culinary session would always end with my mother calling me to come in before it gets dark, but by then I'd be covered with mosquitoe bites anyways.

Anyhows, I'll take some pictures of the spice plants we have now some other day. In the meantime these are some of my favourite plants that reminds me so much of the glorious secret garden days. Nature is indeed and artist. These have such graphic forms and yet organic, its colour, shape and texture... au naturale.

It's leaves are edible, and sold in markets as 'ulam'. It smells of mangoes.

Bougainvillea - timeless

Papaya leaves

I always loved the heart shape leaves and the white specks on th leaves

The shape and texture, again the white specks, reminds me of dappling sunlight through the trees.

THE SHIBA INUS WENT SWIMMING

2007-05-31T15:07:00.000+08:00

It was hot, there was a huge pot... they went swimming. They're so cute paddling and swimming!

Chokichi

This is Sushi (my mother tentatively calls her that cause her owner hasn't named her) Chokichi's sister. She's hanging with us for a while.

TWEAKED

2007-05-27T16:24:00.001+08:00

Yes, I was bored and the pictures looked too plain, and some of them not quite there... so I had to 'paint' them to make them look more interesting.

The Durian - Yes the tree is fruiting, but with our unpredictable winds, this one fell off prematurely.

Our white Koi which I coloured him amber. I have to admit, my composition sucked on this!

Keep on trucking!

SHIBA INU

2007-05-26T23:49:00.000+08:00

This is our latest addition. My parents are mad over this little tyke. His name is Chokichi (that's Fortune in Japanese) and since he's of Japanese heritage, so we gave him a Japanese name. Well, it was either Chokichi or Nando (no idea why, but my father seem to like that name, both my mother and I instantly thought about the chicken restaurant!)

Chokichi is a Shiba Inu. A what?? Exactly the expression I get when first mentioned the breed. My brother thought it was an Indian girl's name. According to Wikipedia:

The Shiba Inu (柴犬 shiba inu or shiba ken?) is the smallest of the six original and distinct breeds of dog from Japan. A small, agile dog that copes very well with mountainous terrain, the Shiba Inu was originally bred for hunting. It is similar in appearance to the Akita, though much smaller in stature. Inu is the Japanese word for dog, but the "Shiba" prefix's origin are less clear. The word shiba usually refers to a type of red shrub. This leads some to believe that the Shiba was named with this in mind, either because the dogs were used to hunt in wild shrubs, or because the most common colour of the Shiba Inu is a red colour similar to that of the shrubs. However, in old Japanese, the word shiba also had the meaning of "small", thus this might be a reference to the dog's small size. Therefore, the Shiba Inu is sometimes translated as "Little Brushwood Dog".

He looks like a fox.

Welcome Choki!

60s KITSCH

2007-05-15T01:08:00.000+08:00

Got home from work today and found out that my mother has bought our dear Britney a new dress. It's drenched with shiny sequins! Looks quite whorish... (which my mother reprimanded me for the comment) but oh well what the hell, let's put it on the dog and see how ridiculous she looks.

It was hilarious!!! Ok, ok, I'm not going to make fun of my poor dog anymore. She posed very well given the garb that she's in. Actually she hates wearing anything, she feels totally constricted and is temporarily imobile and just freezes there. But the look on her face... classic! Pissed off as ever! Hahahaha! But she did well...

This one has such a 60s portraiture to it no?

This one reminds me of those baby portraits taken in the studio, and look she's smiling!

This is her typical "I've had enough" face... I love her!

I think I may have just found my picture for my Anya Hindmarch bag :D tee hee....

IRRITABLY ANNOYING

2007-05-13T11:59:00.000+08:00

Yes, that's exactly how I feel for the past few weeks. I don't know if it's the heat, the stress from work, or the feeling of being jaded with life. Morbid? Yes. Depressing? Certainly. Futile? Story of my life.

The simplest things would tick me off. Ok, given that I've got a very short temper. Although this quick shortening of the fuse even annoys myself! Imagine that? I'm pissed off even at myself! (Well most often times not at myself, of course it has to be trigerred by some imbecile, the world is full of them, there might be one waiting to meet you later as soon as you step out your house).

Haven't found much that motivates, only aggravate. I'm praying fervently for devine intervention. For my life to be better, the grass is always greener and we yearn for the better no? Well I did. Until lately, I'm really trying to be retrospective on things, but to no avail. Comparitively I know I've got it good, but isn't it human nature to keep complaining as if the force that's responsible for our very existence has the best after care customer service in the universe. Well I think that department's out for lunch at this moment... or for the past 2 months even.

I rant on like I thrive on negativity? Well that fuels my hostility in turn gives me a temporary adrenalin rush and hence motivates me for 15 minutes to up and do something. Then I deflate like an untied balloon to feel all soggy and rubbery once again...

THE BOYS HAVE GROWN

2007-04-11T09:33:00.000+08:00

More pictures of the puppies, they've grown quite abit since the last time I shot them. Came back at 11pm last night, saw all 3 of them were in the house in their play pen. We let them out for a bit and all hell broke loose with bumbling brown furry cuteness!

FLOWER DRUM SONG

2007-03-30T11:07:00.000+08:00

Cold weather countries have cherry blossom, we have our own durian blossom! Who would have thought, these lush cream coloured clusters would bear fruit to the King of Fruits, the durian. Mind you it has taken this tree 14 years to start blooming (only started a little last year) but this year, they're all over the tree. Oh, if you're wondering by now, yes I do have a durian tree in my house. My father thought it'd be quaint to bring the rugged rural feel into our garden, hence he planted a small orchard outside. The only one that has been bearing (so far) is the rambutan, the mango and the custard apple trees got hacked down to make way for the new kennel. Hopefully this year we'll see some thorns in the tree :D

FINALLY IT'S ON YOUTUBE!!

2007-03-28T09:11:00.001+08:00

Well I've been waiting and hunting and finally, found the commercial I produced is on Youtube. I couldn't upload the clip myself because of the conflict of interests. So now it's on public domain. This is a commercial about the various sports programmes provided by our local satelite tv station. This is the one we got to go to Tokyo and Prague. The 3D animation is done locally.

SUPER SAPIEN:

Astro Super Sapien

MORE CUTE PUPPY PICTURES

2007-03-25T11:36:00.000+08:00

Oh well, they are so bloody cute anyways!

Their mummy - Lola

PUPPIES ARE SO DARN CUTE

2007-03-17T18:34:00.000+08:00

My dogs are my models and they never complain as much. I really love shooting them as subjects. Well it's time for a little photo update. Had a mini photoshoot with our new poodle puppies. They're 5 weeks old, all boys... gotta start them young in front of the shutter no?

Left Profile

Frontal - Not very happy with the sunlight in his eyes

Right Profile

Yawn...

Hmmmph....

Ok, what's next? - He's got the look on babies when they're about to cry!

Group Shot (not quite)

Bison

Bam - Nuff said.... the look on his face says it all. By now my dogs are used to me calling their names and pointing this thing in their faces and clicking and sometimes blinding them with the flash!

NIGHT DRAWING (again...)

2007-03-13T02:30:00.000+08:00

Well the shutter muse has struck again... (usually it's at night which is turning me into an insomniac!) Anyways I had fun doing these although I am running out of ideas how else to 'draw' with light.

If William Wallace was gay... would his kilt be this colour??

Red/Blue Flower

Mixed Flower

Red Flower

Tungsten Flower

Schizo Kitty. Don't ask me how or why I have this lamp. I won't tell.

Finally, a signaturem ok, not perfect but.... pfffffft!

ECG

Mary-mary

SHOPOPOLIS SAGA (a story with pictures)

2007-03-08T02:55:00.000+08:00

By now, you should know that I'm very bored, can't sleep and is addicted to photography! Curse or cure? Don't know. Anyways, I've always liked stop motion photography. I've piece together one about a gay pig in the past. Well this is a similar technique but not so much animation, simply because the dolls are quite rigid and have only 1 expression. I've yet to find a set (of figures) that I can use in a proper stop motion mini feature. Oh well, here it is... SHOPOPOLIS SAGA! *just scroll down fairly fast and use your imagination*

ANOTHER BRAG SHOT OF MY PET!

2007-03-07T00:44:00.000+08:00

Can't resist, she's too cute!

And one of the shots of my venetian mask... bored wat!

TRIGGER POSSESSED

2007-03-06T01:25:00.000+08:00

I was bored, and then went trigger crazy again... been meaning to try out light painting/drawing. Still need to perfect the technique. Although it would be a very fun thing to do when in a 'certain state of mind' ;) Basically it's just moving the light crazily and creatively (as much as you can!) in the dark. Consolation: It's dark and no one can see you waving around like a fool!

Star

Tartan

Thumbprint

Starlight

Writing - a hard skill to master (especially if you have to remember where is what...), but if done nicely, it'd be kick ass!

Intermingling (coloured LED & single bulb white LED)

Astral Spiral

Tripping!

And the end after effects :D

This is the object which inspired me, a glass block with LED lighting at the base, why it illuminates an x-ray of a dog? Dunno...

PRAGUE (iii)

2007-03-02T13:55:00.001+08:00

Here's the third entry of some more Prague pictures. These were taken in the St Vitus Cathedral, located within the Prague Castle itself. It is also the seat of the Archbishop of Prague and contains the tombs of many Bohemian kings, this cathedral has Gothic architecture and is one of the 'big ones' in the city. Creepiness meter: A whole damn lot!

Gothic = Bohemian = Gargoyles. Right, They have some of those fellas sitting nice around the rooftops outside the church. Supposedly guardians of the extablishment, they were doing their job alright. Come rain, come shine, come sleet, come snow. Yes, unfortunately the Gargoyles also acted as a rain gutter channel allowing water to flow through its mouth, onto the ground. If you stand beneath one and look up, looks like it's puking! I swear!

Part of the tomb of John Nepomuk, they spent 2 tonnes of silver making this gigantic thing... he's the patron saint of Bohemia and was actually thrown into the river from Charles Bridge (wiki it if you wanna know more)

Wider shot that wasn't taken by me

This is him:

Praying....

One of the many stained glass religious scenes by Art Nouvo artist Alfons Mucha

Chapel of St. Wenceslas, the most ornate and extravagant chapel in the whole church, yeah baby, bling bling maxed!

Wider shot, not taken by me

Someone's tomb... couldn't find out who's though...

There are a lot of chapels in here, about 17 if I'm not wrong, each with it's on patron. Other than that it's a huge mausoleum with a lot of important people in it. Somehow, it was okay to have the chapel of your murderer (St Wenceslas) just a few feet away from your ornately decked out silver one (St Nepomuk). Yah, Wenceslas was the one who ordered John to be thrown off the bridge which he now guards (in statue of course!)

PURPLE PILLOW POOCHIE

2007-02-27T19:22:00.000+08:00

My muse and the easiest most accessible subject, my dog. She's so obedient and child like my parent's has adopted her and so now I have a canine sister. I wouldn't say she's spoilt, (ok, she is by doggie standards) but she deserves it cause she's so well behaved! I'm serious, I'm not like those gushing mothers who says their brats are angels, you have to meet this one to see for yourself. During bedtime she curls up above my head, sometimes she has little doggy dreams and starts yelping cause she seldom barks while she's awake, and in the morning she lays on her back (with all fours in the air) and rubs her eyes with her little paws. If you wake up to that every morning you're bound to smile :)

SATURDAY MORNING

2007-02-24T13:11:00.000+08:00

Woke up, saw the sun was out, grabbed the camera and started clicking ... then went into the house and played dress up with the dog (which she absolutely hates!) here are the results:

Close up of one of my parents' rampant bonzai plants, I believe they're called 'Sui Xin'

A cluster of these tiny white fragrant flowers. I like the DOF here, with a slight foreground blur :D

Now the next 2 are happy accidents. They're the first few shots I took straight away (after I took the camera from my room which was air conditioned). There was condensation on the lens which acted like a promist filter. Balanced it our in PS, kinda lomo looking no?

And then this is Britney in a lovely Chinese Qipao, although she doesn't look too pleased about it

She was staring at me after I took off her dress. Yes I know we're not suppose to dress up the doggies, but they're too cute!

PINKY & THE BRAIN

2007-02-16T08:25:00.000+08:00

Well inspiration struck last night, was clicking away in my room till 6am. Couldn't really find anything to shoot but I really love these shoes and flash photography and coloured gels, so I went crazy with pink! Love the harsh frontal light which created strong shadows and vignetting.

TIIPPY TOES

PINK DOGS - Kinda Lomo-esque huh?

TIPPY PINK - Ok, fuschia.

ORI TIPPY - Shoes in their original state and colour, no flash, just a top light, and yes the focal point is intentional! :p

HIT ME BABY ONE MORE TIME! - How can I not take her picture?

Well till the muse visits again (I know they're actually coming for a concert!) ... HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

WHO INVENTED PROCRASTINATION?!

2007-02-14T14:10:00.000+08:00

I want to know why on earth humans have the behavioural tendency to procrastinate? Laziness. Can we blame genetics? Well I blame the jet lag that I'm having since I've returned (yes lame, but I think there's some truth in it!). Plus just finishing a 24 hour shoot isn't any help.

My biggest weakness is procrastination, and to a certain extent some denial. Best for me to get something done straight away, or else it's very hard for me to get around to it. Anyways, I shall try and coax my mind into going back to what I'm suppose to do, and fantasise about how my life can be better.

by

KATSU 16

I love this picture, from flickr of course. A boy and his dog, somewhere in London. Given the amount of homeless people around the world, I'm always amaze and comforted in thinking no one can be alone, not even the homeless, given any situations they are in; they choose to have pets. But no, after checking with the person who took this shot, turns out that this boy wasn't homeless, they were just waiting for his mum who was in a store. But I still love it.

PRAGUE (ii)

2007-02-08T19:01:00.000+08:00

Hello, this is the second installment of the Prague series. There's more... that's the good thing about having your own page huh? So I can flood it and be narcissitic! Most of the pictures are taken at Charles bridge and Letna Park, oh and there's the castle as well. While we were on the bridge, it was sleeting on and off (as the temperature was rising) and the sun was going in and out. It finally gave up after lunch and it was gloomsday...

In the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit

Spangling Stars - Didn't do much on this one, just balanced the black a little, the sky's all real.

You Da Man!!

Relief

Twiggy - I like the highlights (can you see it?)

Main Hall of the Prague Castle - gorgeous ceiling, gorgeous chandelier, very spooky castle!

Car Stuck, how???

Trail - Walking up towards the viewing point

Snowed Park - Damn long walk! And then I saw this:

View from Letna Park

Till then....

PRAGUE (i)

2007-02-06T13:04:00.000+08:00

These are some of the Prague pictures I've selected, there's more to come (when I get the time to sort them out!). When we arrived, it had snowed the whole night so everything was freshly dumped with powdery snow. And while waiting for us with our bags, our taxi got a parking ticket. He cursed and mumbled under his breath, got in the driver's seat and greeted us with a toothy grin "Hotel?" "Yes please!" contemplating that if we were part of his curses. Cest La Vie!

We stayed along the river bank ("Archibald on the Bridge" I swear!) and it was a short walk and a hefty climb up the stairs to the Charles bridge where you get the Old Town Square on your right and the Lesser Town Square on your left. Yes it was that simple. All the shops and restaurants are on either sides. But after a few days of walking like that to get around, we weren't that keen about the hype anymore. They do have a nice cosy restaurant next to Archie's abode, but the menu was rather limited.

Oh and it was freezing as well, the first 3 days was well into the minus, then on our last 2 days, the temperature started going up and the snow melted, and then the snowstorm decided to attack Austria instead :D

Charles Bridge view from our room

Jaye - 1st morning of our trip, everyone was trigger happy!

And we Oohed and Aahed at the snow and curse the cold

On the way to the Old Town Square where the infamous clock tower stands... freezing even more, I love the cold!

... and we continued clicking all the way home.... our hotel is at the end of the block.

The night view from our room, superbly blocked by a tree!

That's all for now, till the next one....

FLICKRITIS

2007-02-05T01:20:00.000+08:00

Well, I've changed my page layout (finally!). Thought that black is a little depressing, although it's a wonderful background for pictures and it makes them pop.

Also I've just signed up for a pro flickr account after 'trying' it for 3 years. Yeah, needed to create more sets and wanted to display more than the 200 photos which comes with the free account.

I guess I can never tire of flickr. There are so many interesting photos to be seen, there are professionals and ametuers and plain people that just post their pictures up to link to their blogs. I can spend hours on end going through page after page of those gorgeous pictures and marvel at their technique and art. And mind you, it's an environment where everyone (mostly) are helpful, friendly, kind and not afraid to give you any input on your work whatsoever. It's a world by its own, that has it's own sustaining ecosystem. It's like travelling and seeing new places in every P.O.V possible. You can even look up places in your own country and be amazed by some interesting shots you never knew existed. I'm not exagerating!

I look at pictures and it's intriguing to know the whos, wheres, whys and even the emmotion of the picture when it's taken and the result. It may be my flickritis flaring up again (it can become a dysfunctional disorder if left untreated), so I guess it's best for me to take my meds now :D

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KONICHIWA!

2007-02-02T01:42:00.000+08:00

Well, as promised here are the Tokyo pictures, boring, yeah I know. But hey we had only 2 days and mostly working!! :P

Woe and Behold

Bus!

Cosmetic Crossing

Raining Lights

Ganged Up

Electric 'Babirella"

Ginza Crossroads

Fujiya

Shinjuku at Dusk

Shinjuku at Night

Rainbow Bridge

Look ma, Legoland!

Squares or...

Tokyo Tower

Cafe

Naked

Burgers or Boobs?

Taste is gooooood!!

Take care monchichis!