I like flashing.

(Finally) got my strobe, a Sony HVL F58.

Now, to find the time to practice and play around with it.. :-p

Quickie.

Been busy these past few days.. will do a full post sometime :-)

Hoping to get a strobe soon! HVL42, or HVL58? Hmm...

(plus) One!

Second item on my "wishlist*":













SAL 70-200mm f 2.8 G!

*Wonder if I should rename this "list" into "dreams and fantasies" instead..

-Untitled-

This is one of my favourite shots taken during the trip to Yunnan. If I remember correctly, this was taken with the camera hanging down my neck at chest level, in continous burst fire mode. This boy was a student in a private school that we went to "teach". The students there are mostly children of migrant parents from other provinces in China. They are charged exorbitant fees for attending public schools, and many cannot afford it. Therefore, private schools of this kind are set up. These "charitable" schools usually charge lower tuition fees* and are set up to cater to the needs of these families. However, with no source of funding other than through donations and school fees, private schools resort to taking-in as many students as they could possibly squeeze into a room**.

*In Malaysia (and most other countries, I believe), private schools are usually for the "rich" and "famous" and charge extremely excessive rates for tuition.

** Based on my ever unfounded, biased, and frankly, quite silly opinions :-D

You're No Fun Anymore...

...but that's my only line!






















This boy was one of the pupils in the aforementioned school. He's fondly remembered for walking around the assembly area during breaks eating stuff with his bare hands.. which I suspect were never washed. The water taps there only had c-c-c-cold water. The school children do not wash themselves up let alone bathe during the five, six days in school. (The children would go home on weekends)

Then again, that was during winter.

Possibly related note to self: I find it very hard to write when I'm not thinking up stupid/lame/offensive/snide comments. It's like, "you're no fun anymore", that sort of thing.

The Long-Overdue Entry

This post (and the next few) will be dedicated to my trip to Yunnan, China during the 13 - 22 Dec 2008. The purpose of the trip was to "teach English". The real purpose cannot be disclosed here in case the Authorities accidentally stumbled on this blog while searching for "Tianamen Square" and decided to eat cake instead of doughnuts while singing "ke ren lai".

I would not do a day-to-day log as I'm way too lazy to come up with something like that. Instead, I'll just post some photos and give some colourful commentary along the way. Heh.

The Serious Part.

The photo of this woman and (grand?)child was taken on the way to the school which we would be teaching. The thing I remember about her was that she lent us a lever to the only water tap available in the immediate area. Without her, we would have boarded the bus without washing our hands after visiting the toilet.

Is tap water a luxury in this part of China? I don't think so, but for some strange reason the tap had no lever. Think about it, why would local residents carry a lever along with them whenever they needed water when they could just install one and use it among themselves?

Unrelated note to self: keep a b***** journal next time you're travelling!

Let's talk about things...

...that go boom in the night!

I shoot with these:

Sony Alpha A700
Sony Alpha A100 (my old, worn-out body with a "sticky" shutter release button :-P)

SAL DT 18-70, f/3.5-5.6 (the "kit" lens)
SAL 75-300, f/4.5-5.6 (the cheapest tele zoom)
Minolta AF 50 f/1.7 (2nd/3rd/4th/???-hand lens. Still good, though.)

Now, the all-important wishlist (so you know what to get for me on my birthday, heh)
1. Carl Zeiss 24-70, f/2.8 ZA SSM

No, these are not guns. No, those are not rifle scopes. No, I don't literally "shoot" things!

Monkeys!

Actually, just one monkey.


1/400, f/2.8, ISO 200.

Teh monkie wuz "thees" klose!

Random Reassignments of Really Ravishing Rubbish

Number 1: The Larch

And now, for something completely different:

1. Zambry = LOL.

And now, for something completely different:

1. 1TB External HD :-) Copy, copy, copy, copy..
2. A700.
3. New lens?

And now, for something completely different:

1. Social Issues in Malaysia, and how to solve them.



Economic Stimulus Package, anyone?

GReader Spam: Round Two.

Ahem. The second round.

Let's start off with another photo of Kuching.


Sunset photos are addictive. Like Coca-Cola, or the Power Rangers, or Wonder Woman. Heh.


Evil Expanding Post of Evil


200% eviler shot of a building posted yesterday.


Caves are dark...


...and I don't have external flash. Wanna contribute? :D


In all honesty..




Anyone remember Para Para Sakura? This is the Pari-Pari Cave.


..which has absolutely no relation to the Para Para.


Green Stuff in Dark, Enclosed Spaces...


...is what some people are very good at breeding at home :)


Ever played The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion?


Well, this is the Fairy Cave, in HDR Rendering.


What happens to your eyes...



to be continued...

The (fully) grown post.

(Note: You can click on the photos for a larger version.)

First post ftw!

...waitaminute...

Kuching Waterfront, at night.


Expansion pack! One (1) new photo!






















I know, I know, this temple could be anywhere.. But it's in Kuching, really!


Second Expansion Pack! WooHoo!


Kuching Riverfront, from the other side. Those of you who read the name of the photo file will probably wonder why I spelt biulding instead of building. Heh.


This is becoming like The Sims!


The Empire of The Man.


The Sims: You Are The Flesh


No really, YOU are teh flesh.


The Sims: Are You My Daddy?


RoarZ! (actually, more like *yawn*)


Calm Water + Blue Sky = Arsenic Poisoning

Sign beside the lake reads:

WARNING
LAKE WATER CONTAINS HIGH LEVEL OF ARSENIC, PUBLIC IS STRONGLY ADVISED NOT TO FISH, SWIM AND BATHE IN THE LAKE OR TO USE LAKE WATER FOR DRINKING AND OTHER PURPOSES.

Iron Man


I post this photo for one reason and one reason only.

The sign on the bottom-left reads:
"...In 1992, the street was closed to vehicular traffic and converted into a pedestrian mall."


Rays of Light.


Obligatory sunset shot. Not good. But it's the best I have. I lack skill. (Note to self: must go again!)


The Government. Teh gov't.


An imposing structure along the river. This is the Real Ultimate Power! (currently under construction)


Wonder if I'm spamming anyone's GReader..


Ahem. Sign reads: "Air Panas" (Very direct translation: Water Hot). *Puts hand in water*. *Awkward pause* ... Hot Water FAIL.


The Reason


You know, this is why some people go to Borneo.


Annah Rais. Longhouse. Bidayuh.


I wuz dere.


House of Skulls


Among the graffiti found on the walls of this house include: BABOK (love) NANAKOI, GENGHENG SIJOBOY, and ROSLI JANTAN


Flowers.


Insert stupid-lame comment here.


The Cutest, Sharpest, Snappiest, Spiniest, Coolest Fake Marching Porcupine Ever.


Really! (Ok, maybe not)


Need For Speed: Kuching


Cars travel at 50km/hr! One out of 1000 cars are modified! Loud, obnoxious, stupid techno music coming from random cars on the road is a rarity! Do you feel the Need for Speed?


Bau (Smell)


Dewan Suarah Bau: Hall Civic Smell (So much for direct literal translations)


The long and not-so-winding road.


Note the weird colours. Not my fault! It's the friggin' polarizer!


More Flowers. Just because.


Heh.

End of GReader spamming (round one). :D