Photowalk at Kampung Baru Kuala Lumpur

In my last blog post, I mentioned about the Photowalk at Kuala Lumpur with a few of my photo enthusiast buddies, it was truly an enjoyable trip. We meet as early as 7.30am in Sentral KL and started the journey to Dang Wangi Station by MRT and having breakfast at the famous coffee shop, Kedai Makanan Yut Kee, Dang Wangi.

I have been hearing so much about this place. You can find many write-ups about this place by many bloggers. The restaurant started since 1928 which is my grandfather time. I think now is running by the 3rd or 4th generations of their family. It is a typical Chinese Hainanese Kopitiam (coffee shop) with wooden chairs and marble tables, you can find some antique decoration around the shop. This place is quite crowded with the locals as it’s located in a strategic location in downtown.

As this is my first time having breakfast there, I ordered the recommended Hainanese Chicken Chop and Roti Babi. As for Roti Babi, if you translate literately, it means Pig Bread …. hahahaha… unfortunately I couldn’t find any pig in the bread except some mince pork, lap chong and vegies … To be more appropriate, it should call pork bread ..

Chicken Chop

Roti Babi

I really enjoy the breakfast, it food is tasty (although I don’t called it the BEST), I like the moist texture of the chicken chop. The only weakness is the portion is small for a big eater like me ….. hahaha…

After breakfast, we walked around the place. I found quite a number of graffiti on some old buildings. Some people may critique this vandalism acts, but I rather amaze with the beauty and artistic drawing on the old building walls. I guess if the authority set aside some locations for them to perform their talents; they can turn Kuala Lumpur into a beautiful ART city …..

We walked toward the direction of Kampung Baru where mainly Malay community staying there. Old Malay architectural buildings or kampong houses can be still found there. Those houses / buildings have historical value and they have witnessed how a small Malay Kampung turned into a Metropolitan City, now the capital city of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur.

The high rise buildings surrounding by the Kampung Baru creates unique modern and traditional contrasts view. I guess you need to walk around to experience this impact.

KLCC - Cityscapte View

Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur

People there at Kampung Baru are simply amazing as they are friendly and approachable. Majority don’t mind we take photo of them, we can take the opportunity to make friend with them, and we do some small chatting with the locals to understand their living and cultures. I think photo-walk is not just taking photographs but rather the opportunity to interact with the local people there.

 

We found a number of stray cats and all these meow-meow becoming our photo shooting target. Look how close we are with these meow-meow … hahahaha

Even our PEN LOVERS (FB Group) founder also doing the same ... hahaha

This is my favorite shot of a meow meow …..

I ended my photo-walk earlier because I have other appointment. As for the rest, a few of them continue their journey to explore the Petaling Street ….

It was a fruitful day and I am looking forward for another photowalk in KL again … I am wonder which part of Kuala Lumpur would be good ?

Do you have any suggestion?

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P.S. By the way, we did some planking shot in Daya Bumi .. that would be another story. I hope I have the courage to write and show you some of these crazy planking shots that we did …… hahahaha …

What is planking … click here ….

 

Time for photowalk again in Kuala Lumpur

I am so wanted to write my Blog, but with so many works back in the office really made me not only “nut head” but also weary, tired, exhausted, worn-out and my brain is like almost drain off due to so many things to do, so many things to think, so many things to decide, so many things to plan and monitor …. I stare at the empty writing page in my blog, my mind is so blank as a white piece of paper ….

Wow !!! Nevertheless, all these things that I mentioned up there are sound so fulfilling in life hor !!?

Wow!!! Sound so “Important” of me in the office hor….

Wow!!! Some of you started to wonder what I do in the office hor ….

Well, somebody would love all these because they said it is “self fulfillment” ….. I guess you are right, I shouldn’t complain so much after all just like a superstar in the office … everyone look up to you…..

It is like you have reached the highest point of Maslow’s Hierarchy Theory which is SELF ESTEEM!

However, I don’t feel like it, I only felt STRESSSSSS!!

I think partly due to some events are going on in the head office side and I really can’t do much about it. For those who are close enough to me would know but if you don’t, please don’t be K-poh (busybody) to ask around …. Wakakakakaka!!

Despite all my grouses, old man mah!! I am happy now because tomorrow is a public holiday which is our Agong’s Birthday. And the best part is I am going out for the De-stress Shutter Therapy with some buddies in PEN LOVERS for some photo shooting (TT).

It is just a simple walk around in Kuala Lumpur to take some photos, I call it Kuala Lumpur T.T … For me, I am whole life staying in Kuala Lumpur, you may ask me what else to see or what so interesting about Kuala Lumpur, don’t you see enough?

Do you know there are many unusual photos taken from a usual environment? Sometime, you need to use your heart to see thing and not the eyes. There are many great street photographs came from simple places ……. it is depend how you see thing.

I am looking forward for tomorrow T.T. I am going to walk around town and forget all my office works. I am looking forward to capture the daily life of our downtown people. Malaysia is a beautiful country which consists of many races and rich in culture. Walking around in Kuala Lumpur would make our scope of thinking larger and not confine our thinking in a four walls office.

Yeah!!! Kuala Lumpur TT here I come!!! YEAH!!

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BTW, when we go out for photo shooting under hot sun at busy streets of Kuala Lumpur, we must make sure we are wearing properly .... 


First, T'shirt is a must, no other shirt because it is going to be hot and sweaty walk.

Secondly, must wear short pant. Try to wear a longer pant and walk under the sun, you will get regret to die har!~~

Third, a good walking shoe is a must. It must be comfortable and durable for walking because most of the time, we walk and stop and stop and walk ... we may walk a few kilometers ...... no doubt is good exercise but if you wear wrongly... hei hei hei .... good luck to you.

Last, even you are nuke, you better bring your camera ... hahahaha. Imagine you go out with a gang to do photo shooting but later you realize you have leave your camera at home ...... hahahaha.. So for me, I will bring all my camera accessories ... my baby PEN for sure loh ... hahahaha.

hehe, btw, I am going to use by baby lens of PENTAX 25m with f1.4. Although it is manual focus but I really like the clarity, mini size and super sharp result.


P.S. That small mini lens is actually a CCTV lens ... small and not costly. So have you wonder what type of camera that is so so so so flexible that can fixed a CCTV lens into it. I think the DSLR cannot leh, only the m4/3 camera system and I would recommend the Olympus PEN loh  ......

What is hard to break?

I have received this email from a friend. I don't know who wrote this email but I am 100% or even 110% agree of what he/she had written. Our habits are die hard. Even we have committed to change but at the end, it comes back again. Most of these bad habits are related to physiological and physical needs such as smoking, watching pornography, bad eating diets, telling lies, lateness, sleep late, gamble, procastination and many many many more ...

Therefore, I believe many of  us are experience the same, our heart might be willing to change but our body are weak. It is all due to our flash or desire that failed us....

I do agreed that Habit is the most hard to break, the following email explained to you ...

Enjoy reading.

WHAT IS HARD TO BREAK ?


Diamonds are hard to find but not hard to break.

What is the hardest thing to break then?

The answer is: HABIT


If you break the H, you still have A BIT. If you break the A, you
still have BIT. If you break the B, you still have IT!!!

Hey, after you break the T in IT, there is still the 'I'. The person
at the end of the day, is the root of all the problems. Cute???

Now, I know why HABIT is so hard to break. Its destiny is in its name.
The word itself.


My lecturer taught me never, never, never to ASSUME . Because it makes
an 'ASS' out of 'U' and 'ME'.....

That's what friends are for ...

Ring, Ring …. “ Hello Hello …… “

“…. Okay Okay !! … Let go Yam Char …. “

The above is the conversation that someone is calling you to “Yam Char”. (It is a Cantonese word of “drinking tea” and it actually means your friend is calling you out for a social gathering)

When somebody called you to Yam Char, you are blessed because it means you have friend(s). For me, we human cannot live alone. We all need friends. Off course there are people prefer to be alone who dislike mixing around. But generally, they are considered less happy people, usually shy or introvert or maybe a bit of low self-esteem ….. or maybe outright lazy to go out… rather to be the slave of the T.V !!!! Wakakaka …

(Ops !! seeing a few rotten eggs throwing from far to meeeeeee……!!! Blusttttttt !! )

See!! If you are presently having this kind of thinking in your mind, refute my statement cum feeling to throw rotten eggs to me, you are fit into my description of the above that you are an unhappy person ……. hee hee!

(Ops … RUNnnnnn-ahhhh!! …. instead of rotten eggs … this round knifes were throwing in ………………………………….)

Friends - Everyone needs friends, especially during difficult times.

A true friendship is a relationship that survives during tribulations or crisis moments. When a friendship was established base on materialistic driven or merely enjoyment, it is not a true friendship because it can be easily disappeared or challenged during a crisis time.

For me, a true friendship exists when you can freely share your thoughts (or problem) and be comfortable with emotional safety with the other person. A true friendship is you can share your common interest with one another and had mutual respect on the uniqueness of individual characters. A true friendship is beyond hanging around for good moment, but rather it is the moment that someone willingly gives you a helping hand when you are in the worst phase of life.

Recently, a friend is in his worst phase of life due to certain reasons. But I have seen many of his friends showing support and concern to him. Words of encouragement have been flying in non-stop in fb / sms trying to encourage him. Even some called for Yam Char session to console and cheer him up.

Sometime, your friend may not able to resolve the problem you face, but lending you their listening ears would reduce some tensions, at least when you are feeling relieve, you would have a better state of mind to deal with the issue.

Even for me, I have some issues that troubling me and today, I receive some messages from my friends…  …

One says ...

“Don’t think too much …. We are behind both of you !!!”

Another one says ….

“Steady bro. We are behind you.”

Well, isn’t life become sweeter when you have friends like that?

Isn’t it like having a glass of cold water when you are under a hot sun?

Wow … that's what friends are for ….. 




Hehehehe ……

(As for the rest of my friends which are not up in the blog ... I hope you won't mind. But if you are, please call me lah, I can take your funiest face and then do a highlight of you in my Blog ... Wakakakaka [evil laugh] ......)

Pen Lovers TT at Olympus Office

It was a sunny day. A group of 20 over PEN Lovers matched into Olympus Office on a Saturday morning on 14 May 2011. We were greeted warmly by the Olympus Sales and Marketing staff. In addition, It is our honor of meeting the Managing Director of Olympus Mr Tan Tick Boon and General Manager, Mr Yong Kee Nyap. Surprisingly it was not what I expected to see someone in elderly look but rather, looking young and energized plus "Liang Sai" (Handsome).

The new Olympus office is located at 10th floor in One Mount Kiara. When we entered, Wow!! I love the conference room and the foyer. A few tables with chairs were placed there, perfect for small group discussion or for lunch. I can see Olympus do take care their staff welfare very much. It is a place for them to relax and mingle around. A small pantry was set up with some latest kitchen utensil and equipment which prepared for the convenience of staff.  Everywhere was decorated with big posters consist of world class photographs. It had made the place so "Chun" and beyond words to describe ....

The showroom was also decorated perfectly, no only various model of cameras were displayed there, but they have decorated the place with beautiful objects which are perfectly good for macro shooting … I think we can spent hours over there to shoot at those decorative items. Haha ..

  

We are actually "a bit" sorry to the Olympus Management because of our mischief. As usual, we are like a bunch of big boys (despite some had became daddy) and acted like small kids playing their big toys. While the MD, Founder or even our “PEN Lover's Teacher” were giving speech or sharing in front, some of us cannot seat still and busy playing with our cameras ...

Sound of Click Chak , Click Chak continous hearing onsite ...

Hahahaha ... That what made us so called photo enthusiast loh ... 

Once the camera in hand ... Ah Pa Tol Ng Yin Dak lah !!!! (It is a contonese saying, once you hold something that you love... even the father call you, you also cannot recognised ......)

We were having fun, doing small chatting at the back and not paying full attention ... Ah yah! Got a bit-lah, on and off loh ^.^ At least for my case, I am like that lah ... hahahaha ... soli loh ....especially to the MD ... :)

Not so sincere hor !! Hehehe ...

Hahaha … I hope the MD won’t mind after all, we are so crazily because we are so engross to his product mah (A Good Sign!!) and forgotten about the office or meeting ethic …. Hahaha ….

The following photos, I called it the "Caught in the Acts!!"

If you have sharp ears, you would probably hear shutter clicking sound non-stop.

hehehehe....

It is indeed a good sharing session especially to the new members of PEN Lovers, I believe most of us take home with more information about the Olympus and some photography techniques and also photo editing technique using Viewer2. For those who are interested in lenses, had the opportunity to test and play-play with it. I believe many of you have "kenal" Poison of wanting to buy already …

So, Guys, why wait? GO BUY BUY BUY ...

Like I said in my previous post .. Olympus is a Poison to your Wallet but is an Antidote to your stressful life .... isn't that true !! Wakakakakaka .....(BTW, we are laughing all the way to do street shooting and Mr MD laughing all the way to the bank .... ) Muakakakakaka !!

This TT in Olympus office was a good platform for exchange of information and  learn from one another. Let gives Koon Yik a "Thumb Up" for a JOB WELL DONE!! Bro... GOOD JOB!!

At the End of the session, some of the PEN LOVERS moved on for street shooting at Central Market … I don't want to elaborate more about the street TT. But is Guarantee Fun ... If you want to know how fun are we having ... Go and Buy You a PEN Camera and Join our PEN LOVERS GROUP  in Facebook ... Okay!! …..

The End ...



Ops, one more thing...

You can seat there do nothing .....
but I rather seat there do something ....
But, what's better thing to do?
Off course having fun in my PANT...
OPPSSSS!! .... Soli soli (typo error) ...
Off course having  fun with my PEN .....
Hee! hee! hee! hee! ...

Olympus, My Poison or Antidote?

I am “whole life” buying Olympus … Yes, no joke!!

(Please don’t think Olympus have paid me to write this blog) Ok!!

Well, at least is true up to this point of time. I am not sure in future. So far, I have six cameras in life and all of them are Olympus made. From the first camera, a film camera was also from Olympus until my current camera, an Olympus PEN EPL-2.

“Why?” some K-poh would ask.

Honestly, I don’t know why.

Every time I wanted to change my camera, toward the end, I went home with Olympus. I remember there were a few occasions, I was comparing a few brands but I ended up buying Olympus. Nobody pokes me to buy or influence by friends who used Olympus or had threaten me …. But I just decided to buy Olympus camera … emm!!?

Why ? Why ? Why?

I still remember when I wanted to invest into a better camera (instead of compact camera.) I was thinking to get a DSLR camera; People told me the best DSLR camera is either Canon or Nikon. So, in one of the Merchant Fair, I am so prepare to buy the Nikon 3100 which I have checked a few times already …. (money is so ready, too bad, they failed to win my “buy”)

Cut the story short I ended up with Olympus again!! I bought PEN EPL1 !! (before I upgrade to EPL-2)

Olympus again!!? How come plan to buy Nikon but ended up with Olympus …..

I must have been “Cham” by Olympus Poison Poison!! Any Oly Antidote? LOL

Even, after I reached home I felt a bit regret that I didn’t buy the Nikon 3100 ….

hehehehe …

Nevertheless, now I reflect back, I am not regret that I bought Olympus PEN … I love the PEN because it is compact and light weight but producing DSLR quality photo … The most important is I got to know a bunch of PEN Lovers who are using Olympus PEN. I am getting more active into photography with this group. Prior to that, I don’t even know the different between DSLR and Micro Forth Third … not to mentioned all those alien words like aperture, ISO , metering and all those lenses type … Gosh! So Crazy !! It is so confusing ….

But through PEN Lovers, I started to pick up knowledge about photography and it gave me many opportunities to learn about camera, lenses and such. I started to join them for T.T, a photo-walk around activities at street or certain location that we do one thing together, i.e, take photograph. I am also actively share my photo in facebook or flickr so that others can comment on my photo …Don’t under estimate this process as this is the best way to learn and improve our photo shooting skills.

I never thought I would set foot into Olympus office and meet the Managing Director and General Manager. For me, they are up up up up out there, in the planet MARS. I can only think of the reason for me to go Olympus office is the time I want to send my camera for service, but is only services center and not the corporate office :)

But last Saturday, with the help and initiative from the PEN Lovers founder, Koon Yik Chin, we have the opportunity to visit Olympus new office at One Mount Kiara and meet up with the MD and GM. 

We are glad that Olympus had given such a recognition to PEN Lovers. We appreciated Olympus allowing us to use their conference facilities to conduct our owned training session. Even the PEN Lovers' Signature Poster was hanged in their new conference room …

It is indeed a solid recognition to all the PEN users and we are truly appreciated for the support from Olympus.

Time is getting late and time for me to chow!! I will cover the Olympus Buddies T.T @ Olympus office in my next post … okay? 

Hahaha, stay tune if you are interested! 

BYE!!

(You may check my previous blog post on the purchase of PEN, click here).

P.S. Oh!! Forgot! Is Olympus a Poison or Antidote for me?

Well, I would like to answer ......

"Olympus is Poison to my Wallet but is an Antidote for my Stressful Life, with Olympus I can paint my life with many exciting colors   .....  "

The Return of My Luv

It has been a long farewell with my luv, people said time is the best remedy to forget the pain of loosing something important in our heart. But each and every day, time passes-by but the lonesomeness remains there; the lost of pain gobble the heart and made many sleepless nights ….. Deep inside, the heart is howling out many times … calling you … but you remain unanswered……

Why ? Why ? Why ?

Who is so crudely separated me from you? Is it intention or just an accident?

I do not have answer….

Though you know but I know you can't tell me now.

Mother of a missing child could lodge police report and get everyone in public to help her. Owner of missing pets can print posters and paste everywhere hoping some kind hearted people would find their pets.

But, missing you, I am so helpless. What can I do to get you back?

Although I have tried to look for replacements of luv … but they are not you. I could not find the same passion that in you in other places. Yes, some of them could be more beautiful or even better … but maybe the chemistry is not right. My heart remained lonesome ….. I cannot forget the wonderful and sensation images after going through your loving body … They are simply awesome and no replacement.

Finally, I decided I want you back, my heart yell for the return of you … I don't care, I can't wait anymore …

I believe only "you" can replace the loss of "you". There is no other replacement in the world. No matter how much it cost me … I still "willing" …

Yes …

No regret!!

No return!!

No more waiting!!

No more searching around!!

Enough is enough!!

.................................................................................................

Therefore, on 13 May 2011, after loosing you for 20 days, I walked into a shop and buy a panny back.

The Panasonic 20mm f1.7 Pancake lens …

Hahahaha .. this is my luv …LOLz..

I am happy now and like many prince and princess stories, from now onward, they are living in the castle happily ever after ….

The End

See also the earlier post on farewell lettle to my panny ... click here

CHANGES IN LIFE

Many people see this word "CHANGE" as a Monster as if it will eat you up alive!!

We human dislike changes because it will interrupt our daily routine which we had been comfortable with it.

We human dislike changes because fear of the uncertainty and the feeling of insecurity because we are not in control of the outcome.

We human dislike changes because we may need to add or minus something in our life in order to accommodate the changes ….

No matter how you dislike, when changes come, no one can run away ……

You either have to accept and work thru the changes or you run away from the situation but still caught into another form of changes for you. No matter how, when changes come, either you happy or unhappy, like or dislike … Changes will still come to you.

Therefore, let face it fearlessly!! Take this as a challenge!! Let welcome it !!

At least I know I got the divine protection from up there …..

In Roman 8:31 it states, " ….If God is for us, who can be against us?

Lord Jesus, I trust you!!

 



Happy Mother's Day

Hi, wishing all Mothers a Happy Mother's Day!!

I just passed the 46^th Mother's Day without a mother, it was a strange feeling. It never occurred to me what so big deal about this day until I lost her. For the passed 45 years, I enjoy Mother's Day with my beloved mum but I could not recall any special things that I had done for her on these days. Most likely, we went out for a normal family dinner or bought her some small gifts. Since my mum birthday was on May 5 which is near to the Mother's day, we used to celebrate the two occasions together.

Nothing special? Yes, I can't recall anything that is special …. Why ?

Emmmm……………

I guess human being is like that, when we really lost somebody that is very dear to us, and then, we will start regretting for not doing enough or not doing something more special for her, or something that are more substance for that person.

Time that passed will never return!!

If time can be returned (How I wish …), I asked myself, how am I going to celebrate this Mother's Day with her?

I think I will bring my mum and my whole family to a photography studio. I will dress her beautifully like a bride; we will take many many many family photos with her. She will be the star of the day shines wonderfully …. I am going to ….. then ….

But ….no more star, no more bride …. no more mother…. the imagination slowly faked into the darkness …

because I don't have this opportunity any more …..

I am glad that my Mum is with the Lord, Jesus Christ. At least I know where she is now. I truly missed her and I believe if I continue to stay with the Lord, one fine day, I will have the opportunity to see her again…..

Mum, I missed you and Happy Mother's Day.

What is two-hour to you ?

What can you do with two hours?

Some would go for an afternoon snap ….

Some would watch a movie ….

Some people would use the two hours to write a blog like this ...

Some do nothing and let it passed by …… …..

"So what!?" an angry man stares at me "Is my two hours, why you so K-poh…?"

Well, the two hours are belonging to you; you have the sole discretion what best for you.

………………………………………………..................................................

For me, I decided to spend my two hours for TT (Photo walk session) with my friends at Brickfield where the famous Little India is located. I have been to Brickfield several times, but I only took some night shots during the last Deepavali festive season … but never had opportunity to take day time photos. Taking photo in bright day is much easier than night. With sufficient lighting, it is easier to capture shots with clear images.

I was having fun interacting with people there. Honestly, the easy race to capture photo is the Indian, they are super friendly and they don't mind people taking their photo. Then, followed by the Malay, but the Chinese is the most difficult people to take picture, generally they are very caution with strangers…..

Therefore, body language is important in street photography … if you are carrying a dead looking face, please please please, I beg, don't join our T.T .. hahahah .. LOLz.

(I think next time must do a smile test before allow joining the T.T …. Wakakakaka!!!)

For me, a successful street photographer is not how sharp photo he/she had taken but rather did the person have offended any one after he took the photos. We must learn how to respect people. If the person notice you are taking his photo, at least give him a smile.

If his body language showing sign of consent, then goes ahead to fire the shot. If it is uncertain like moving his head away, then ask for permission ….. Do some small talks would help to ease the tension …. The bottom line is, our body language must be friendly and courteous … a big smile is a MUST on our face.

Sometime we can go for extra miles by letting the person see the photo in the camera, at least he/she deserves to see how the photo look like, do some small talks K-poh like how business doing, what he is selling ….. If the person likes the photo, we should ask for email address / fb link so that a photo can be emailed or share with him. However, just a word of caution, please be careful, don't simply share your link of your fb account, you should make your decision by judging the person first impression …

Therefore, the beauty of street T.T (street photography) is the INTERACTION part with people; don't be afraid to make friends with people.

The worse street photographer is the sniper who hides at the back of a pillar or a dust bin and tries to shoot far far away, and ran away quickly before people notice …. 

Hehehehehe  … which category of photographer you are ….

…….. The friendly one or the dislike one …. !!?

Last but not lease, let me share with you how my three friends enjoy themselves, they have made Kuala Lumpur a better place to stay.

The End  (^_^)