Out For Shooting

Went out for a photo shooting session yesterday. Spent half a day for the photo session in Orchid & Hibiscus Park, Butterfuly Park and lastly at the Bird Park. We'll need to pay entrance fees for all these 3 parks.

Entrance Fees
Orchid & Hibiscus Park - RM 1
Butterfly Park - RM 8 plus RM 1 for camera
Bird Park - RM 15 (Local) , RM 30 (Foreigner)

Spent most of the time in bird park. Not long after entering the big cage, i was thinking thinking in my mind what if there's a bird shit on my head. Before i finish talking to myself, there's a splash of fresh hot and creamy stuff landed on my shoulder... "Holy Shit...It was a bird SHIT!" ... Ran straight to the toilet to clean myself ... Luckily i brought along extra T-shirt so i could changed at the end of the photo shooting session.

Photo shooting at the Orchid and Hisbiscus park was easy. Didn't see much of special or rare orchid species in the park. What you'll see was mainly a species called Dancing Lady all over at the park. I think we'll able to find much more species and new hybrid orchid at those Orchid Nursery.

Moving forward from botanical park to the insects park, the Butterfly park. Again, i couldn't find any really impressive butterfly in that park. Not long right after entering the park, it starts to rain .. Ran to a hut to wait for the rain to stop. There's a fan in the hut. So it was just right to cool myself as well. After the rain stops, tried to take some butterflies pic. It was a dissapoinment as i was not able to get any nice shots. At last i gave up. skill hasn't reach that level to shoot insect.

The last destination would be the bird park. Paid my money and went in with the welcoming SHIT. The first section was the 'Love Aviary'. The love birds and parakeets are flying all around freely. Able to snap some nice photos of the lovely and colourful birds. They seems to be quite tame. They'll come near you once you settled down for a while. They were used to human beings.

Walking further into the park's zone, you'll see some storks, peacocks, starlet, doves, flamingos and some other species. It was a challenging tasks indeed taking photos of moving objects. Lucky enough to see the peacock spread their nice bright feather. Me and another Caucasian lady can't stop pressing our shutter button.

There are white flamingos too. Not able to find the pink version of it in the park. Taking photos all the way and the sky starts to get dark again and it pours as expected. I was hiding under the hut again. Well althought it was raining i was able to take photos from the hut.

All the storks and peacocks are actually sharing the same hut. Well it was a bit scary as i feel like i am in the Jurassic Park. There's waterfall and surrounded by those giant birds. After the rain stops, i proceed again to few more zones and then leave the park. My hands were really tired holding that camera....

Yoga

What is YOGA?

I don't really fancy about Yoga all these while. Indeed i laugh at my wife when i saw her practicing it at home. Well i feel it was a bit weird and doesn't help much. But I was totally wrong about it.

Scorpion Pose - Variation 1

I started to hang around with the yoga gang and all of them are very friendly and funny.
My wife and the gang asked me to join them for yoga practice. So i joined for fun.
I don't really take it for serious.

Surprisingly, after each of the yoga session, i really feels the difference. Even with those simple bending,stretching and relaxation, it does work out on our body, mind and soul. So i got addicted to Yoga.

"Concentrate Concentrate, Control Control, Straighten your knee"

Early this year, i joined the Self Mastery Course, this course is very useful to me. I've been through a very hard time in my work and by attending the Self Mastery course, i indeed feels much better in controlling and focusing in my personality.

From there, i'm getting more and more active in practicing Yoga and i never skip any of the asanas class.

Ivy : Well dear. You always late for something but I never see you late for your
Dog Show and Yoga class.

Our Teacher

I joined my wife in her Super Advance Yoga every Saturday. Due to i need to wait for her there at the centre, so might as well i joined her. In returned, my body is getting much more flexible and able to do all the advance poses.

First Try Out

Don't really have time to go out to test out my newly acquired toy.
So did some in-door shooting. Someone asked me whether i have a model.... he he ..
Well of course i have ...

Model 1 :
=======
Species : Tortoise
Scientific Name : Geochelone Elegans
Common Name : Star Tortoise
Origin : Indian Subcontinent and Sri Lanka

Model 2 :
=======
Species : Tortoise
Scientific Name : Geochelone Carbonaria
Common Name : Cherry Head Red Footed
Origin : Panama and Colombia to Paraguay and Brazil

Model 3 :
=======
Species : Dog
Common Name : Doberman Pinscher
Origin : Germany

My Travel List

It's almost end of the year. As usual, it is time for me to plan my vacation too.

For year 2008, planned to go to several countries but not all the dreams come true.

1) Vietnam - December 2008
2) Cambodia - Mission Accomplished
3) Silk Road - Cancelled
4) Nepal - Cancelled

As for Vietnam trip, the backpacking plan has been extended to another 2 countries which is Cambodia and Laos. Well i've been to Cambodia but it doesn't do any harm to stop by Siem Reap again before proceeding to Laos.

This trip will be only me, Ivy and Haan. We've bought one-way-ticket to Hanoi and from there we are taking our own sweet time to travel around these 3 countries.

For year 2009, below would be my To Travel List

1) Lombok, Indonesia - Mt Rinjani, Sengigi Beach, Kuta Beach and then to Bali
2) Nepal

As you can see, my next year overseas' travel list is very short. This is due to i need to save up for my new house renovation ....
But travelling within the country is always still in plan. Usually is an ad-hoc plan whenever it pops out from my mind.

My New Toy

17/09/08 - Got myself a gift

What is Aperture?
What is ISO?
What is Shutter Speed?

All the above sounds very alien to me all these while. Planned to get myself a DSLR since beginning of the year and finally got a D80 for myself. Initially, planned to get Canon 450D. Comparing the specs and price with Nikon, i feel it is a bit over price. Well look at their spokeman, Simon Yam. So that got definately got to pay. In fact i don't fancy Canon. Both Jamie and my boss was using Canon. They strongly recommend Canon. Decided to go ahead with Nikon. Haan also using Nikon D40.

Nikon D40

At first i was planning to go ahead with the cheaper unit same as Haan. Then after reading the specs and all,it doesn't really attracted me. Then starts looking into D60. When I went to have a feel on D60, it was ok to me. Then I saw D80. I take a look on it. Oh My God. I like it. Put away on the technology being used in D60 and D80, definately D60 is using a better technology. The D80 body is much more solid and the grip area fit nicely in my palm. There you go, i took the brochure and compare again. Ha ha.. Discuss that with my wife, and with all the feedback from others, finally fall into D80. I kept Upgrading.

Canon 450D & 400D

At the same time, my PMO head a.k.a my boss as well, he was looking into DSLR as well. His friend told him the same thing, get D80 instead of D60. So with the 'Semangat Berkobar-kobar', we planned to buy our units together. Then Haan was interested in getting a Tamron 18 -200mm lens. So she also want to tag along to buy it together so that we could have a better bargaining power. Planned to buy it on 17/09/08 as it was a holiday, good opportunity to travel all the way to KL and buy it. Went to pick up Haan from Kinrara and then we went to Low Yat for my DSLR.

Day Before Buying - 16/09/09
----------------------------------
Nikon announced their new DSLR model, D90. Well i know i am not going to buy it as definately out of my budget. At first, got a very good deal from a dealer in Pudu Plaza. D80 body plus Tamron 18-200mm for the price of RM 3380. Then just to make sure i didn't make a wrong decision, i ask around again. They said why not just get the standard kit as the lens was 18-135mm which is enough for person like me. Further more the lens is original Nikor lens which the quality is definitely much better than Tamron.

My friend, Chai Mey, she sent a link for me to read on the review of the high power wide angle zoom lens will indeed distort the picture quality. Haih... then this has caused me to think for the whole day. Then my boss was telling the same thing. He said he will want to settle to standard kit lens. Then i ask another of my friend. Lagi teruk, straight away say why am I getting older model like D80. So forget about the conversation...It was a torturing moment with all the comments and thinking.
Really feel to bang my head on the wall that time.

Then my boss said his friend just bought a D80 standard kit lens a week before which cost only Rm 3120 include some other freebies and gave me the address in low yat plaza. Then he 'Fong Fei Kei' telling me that he is going to wait for another 2 weeks as the price will drop again. I didn't listen to him and insists to buy it the next day and i finally made a decision to get the standard kit version.

Nikon D80

Around 6pm, Haan came down to the level 1 pantry area and we chatted on the plan. Then Loo and my boss also join. I told Haan, my boss is going to pull out.. ha ha ..

At night, Haan pulak told me she's going to wait also for her lens. So at the end, i am the only one to buy. Anyhow i drag her to go together with me as i am not good in bargaining...hehehe ..

Actual Day

07/09/08 - Wedding Actual Day Woke up about 8am to prepare myself for my actual BIG day. I need to depart from the house at 9 am.

Warren : Aiyoh. I am hungry. Nevermind, we go there and eat.
Andrew : Yah, there got food for us to eat.

Chai Mey : Andrew, 'Lam Ching Chor Mei'?
Andrew : Yes I am....

Then we all starts our journey from Bercham all the way to Sg. Siput. At the traffic light, we wind down the window:

Chai Mey & Warren: Andrew, 'Lam Ching Chor Mei'? There is a U-turn in front. Andrew : Yes I am...

At another traffic light:

Chai Mey & Warren : Andrew! 'Lam Ching Chor Mei'?
Andrew : Find me a U-turn Faaaassst ....

Ha ha ha ha ... that's our conversation on the way..... When we reached, i am not allowed to get down from the car ... ha ha .. they said the little boy who suppose to open the car door for me not yet arrive ... Then i waited in the car and another sound came into my ear, this time round is Nicholas, asking the same question; "Andrew, Lam Ching Chor Mei'?" ... Ha ha ..
My answer still the same .. YES, I DO ....

The little boy reached few minutessss later, then i went into the house wait again before the 'Tai Kam Che' give the green light... While waiting, the Tai Kam Che brought a bowl of dessert which suppose to bring a good luck to me and my wife ... I start eating the sweet dessert and the Tai Kam Che starts with her wishes loudly... sometime it is bit irritating but it's fun...ha ha

At the same time, i feel a bit embarrass as there is not much of food for me and my friends to eat .. Only some cakes and drinks ... Well, never mind ..

The green light was given and we all go in and as usual, all the busy body 'Chi Mui' blocking my way...

Indra : Congratulations...
Ami : Congratulations...
Andrew : Thank You and WHY are you gals standing here???
Ami : Aiyah .. You know I know lah ...
Andrew : i don't know wor...so move aside and let me thru ...
Indra : We want toll fees ...
Andrew : Toll fees? .. Toll fees would be the last thing i should give ...

Bla Bla Bla .. there you goes with all the questions being asked ... Then i was being asked to do a POLE DANCE ... and i did ..
And then they asked me to eat a delicious Sg. Siput delicacy ...
There are 3 bars of cold jelly filled with a creature in it .. well it is not Siput ....

Yes, you are right, it was a CENTIPEDE ...
Me, Warren & Nic ate each of those creepy things ... When i bite on the centipede, it smells like a roach ... Almost throw out .. ha ha ...

Well anyhow, at last i managed to see my wife .. then we went downstairs and the tea ceremony starts ... After all has been settled, it was about 1.30pm, we changed and do some clean up and then we all went out for Ipoh White Coffee .... Around 4 pm like that, all of them took off heading back to KL....

I AM NOW A HAPPY MAN ....

Wedding Diner

06/08/09 - It's my wedding diner night.

It was another tiring night. We woke up the next morning as usual and there's nothing to do. Went breakfast with Haan. Brought her to a nearby Dim Sum shop in Sg Siput. Chatted with her quite a few topics. While chatting, i've put on another joke (which i feel it was only a joke) that related to me and my wife, she commented on the things that i've said as she said it is not a proper things for me to say. She told me as a lady herself, she felt that will hurt my wife feelings. Even though she told me with a smiley face, i can sense that she really don't like what i've said. So i took her advise not to simply take something and made fun out of it.

After we ate, we went home and then i packed all my stuff and took off to Bercham with Haan. Oh wondering where is my wife? She went for a manicure. I've rented a few houses for our friends and family to stay overnight. I drove in and out few times like a mad person to bring my friends and family to the house i've rented so they can settle down and prepare for the diner. Then i ask my brother in law to help out to send the bridal car for decoration and collect the hand bouquet.

Well by the time i get ready, it was about 5.45pm. So i rushed off to pick up my wife at the make-up artist salon. When i reach there, she was so angry as the make-up artist totally screw up. The make up is not good and the hair styling skills was so bad. My wife was thinking to rush off to another hair-stylist to redo her hair. But too bad we are out of time. It was 6.30pm already. Believe it or not, we as host, late again to reach restaurant. Luckily my brother in-law was there early. So without any choice, both of us and Haan rush off to the restaurant.

As usual, the situation was a bit messy as all the tables being arranged by us for our friends has been taken by somebody else. When the rest of our friends came, once they settled on their table, Haan, Ervinna, Jamie, Nicholas and Warren starts taking photos and recording.

Thanks guys and gal for all the help and happy memories that you've gave to us. By the time the diner was over. All the balloons are almost gone ... ha ha ha ha ... And then, here we go again with all the crazy things as the folks is not around already..ha ha ... Shoot quite a lot of photos ...

After all the photo shooting session ends, we went back home and i felt hungry...Doesn't eat much .. Luckily Warren ask the restaurant to pack the left over home and we ate it before we went to take our good night sleep.

Night Before My Wedding Dinner

With all the preparation and stress, finally our wedding receptions has been successfully completed during the weekend. Nothing special to brag about as the wedding is just a simple ceremony. At first we've thought that our wedding going to be a bit dull BUT out of my expectation, it was a really happy ones as our funny friends took the effort to drove all the way to Ipoh to attend our wedding and lots of jokes and funny stuff going around...

Me & Ivy went back to Ipoh on Friday and manage to bug a good friend of mine to tag along. Ha Ha ... It was raining all the way back to Ipoh since noon till night. In chinese, they said if it is raining when you are hosting a dinner, this means you are STINGY ... he he .. Well i guess my friend does get surprise when she sees an unusual behaviour of mine and Ivy. Ha ha . We quarrel a lot plus with all the vulgar words .... We spoilt our image ... I guess this is all because that both of us really wants to get the things done smoothly but the reality is not as what we wanted. Another things is that we are chasing with time as well. We were thinking to go back to Sg. Siput to help out on the preparation for that buffet night. Imagine that we as a host, we reach Sg. Siput around 6.30pm on Friday itself. But luckily there's no one arrive yet and almost everything has been done by the relatives. Anyhow, we helped to arrange the tables & chairs and welcome all the guest for the night. It was a tiring night entertaining the guests.

I was trying to avoid long contact with the uncles and Ivy's brother's friends as i know i am going to get it badly from them by asking me to drink beers. I don't like beers as the gas really makes me sick. I don't mind whisky or brandy. But anyhow at almost the end of the night, i've been drag over and forced to bottoms up a can of beer. So i am sporting enough to drink it. That can of beer really makes my stomach full of gas. After the first can, they wanted me to continue again, i was thinking i am history if keeping on like this. But lucky enough my brother in-law drank it for me....(phew) ... Then i slowly, slowly and slowly dissapear away from that table. Ha Ha Ha ... At around 12 mid night, most of the friends and relatives went home and left only the Drinking kakis..

We started to clean up the whole place and then i went for a bath. My leg was really in pain and swollen. In pain because i've stand and walk a lot for the whole night. Swollen because i ate ground nuts. Ground nuts are forbidden food for me. While bathing, suddenly my brother in-law knock on the bathroom doors looking for me. Thought the whole gang ask me out to drink some more. Luckily it is not. Only my brother in-law want to have a chat with me and of course not to miss out the beer. So i entertained. I jump into bed straight away after the chat. Thinking of going for a facial in the morning but then not able to made it. Oh yah, you might be asking where is my friend. Well she went into the room not long right after she ate something and then slept early. Actually she doesn't likes to attend those kind of event but due to she is generous enough, she attended. I feel sorry to left her alone that night ... Really appreciate for what she did.....