Photos: My December with Smokey.
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Smokey is Sandy’s timid cat. She spent a month with me because Sandy had to go back home for her year-end break. She’s a lovely timid cat and I enjoy scaring the hell out of her most of the time. But we bonded eventually. Now she’s back with Sandy. :sniff:
Ten things from Twenty Ten.
First off, Happy New Year to all. I haven’t been updating for a long long while partially because I was very caught up with my work and dedications.
It’s the time of the year when I look back at 2010 and noted out some of the things which clearly made my year (either great or miserable).
1. Someone broke into by car and stole the car battery
I still have no idea how someone could open up a locked car hood and took out the battery.
2. Became an avid photographer covering certain events and functions (such as), and getting some good shots off people as well.
Had a great time with great retro dressing models.
2. Now I See Spiritual Revival Concert 2010.
I wasn’t an official photographer for the event but since anyone can basically just go up front to take photos, I just went ahead. Anyway. Shot for 2 concerts, first one was in New Era College Kajang, and the second at a University in Sunway.
3. Staged photoshoots.
Managed to ask Joanne & Leo, Fang Wen and Shirley & Ezone to model for me. I still feel that the photos are lacking a lot though. Need more practice.
4. Desmine and Melissa’s Wedding
My first ever Wedding photoshoot. And I didn’t do quite well. Hmmm. But they are a loving couple. Apparently starting a family soon ^^.
5. UPM Dogathon 2010
Once again, not an official photographer. But I reckon I got some great shots that day.
I realized I didn’t blog about this since I was on a break. Regardless I had a fun, great and emotional time at Port Dickson.
7. Chinese Opera Charity Concert
This was a charity event so I wasn’t paid for it (nor I was for most of the events). But still enjoy taking photos of the actors and mostly actresses on stage. Also didn’t blog about this but most of the photos can be found on my Facebook.
8. Alex and KaeChing’s Wedding.
Was a guest but that didn’t keep Esme (my camera) away. They finally tie the knot after… 7-8 years?? And they will surely have many more years to look forward to.
9. CSSUPM Freshies Day.
Welcoming the lovely juniors to the family away from home.
10. English Language Dinner
Was called to shoot this event. More photos on Facebook. Though I think I was paid for this. Since the dinner was free for me ^^.
11. Some random shots of people around me
Nova might kill me for this. But its a
lovelyvery descriptive shot.12. Macro photography.
Loving the Tamron 90mm lens I have right now.
3. Met Karen Kong during Alex and KaeChing’s wedding.
I’m a fan for hers though not so recently. But I do like some of her songs. Did managed to get a couple of photos of her.
4. Won a few tickets online for miscellaneous events.
Tickets to Moto GP UK from Air Asia, which I didn’t go because it was in the UK. And they gave me the tickets 1 week before the event.
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NTV7 Star Live Concert 2010 tickets from DailyChilli.com which I gave to Sally.
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I did won tickets to Alice in Wonderland special screening though… I misplace the photo but I gave the tickets to TJF and Wei Keat. That particular screening was pretty harsh on my wallet though cause even though I got the tickets for free… I was fined for speeding on my way back from the cinema TT.
5. Got my photo published in a magazine.
I remember I intended to get a photo out in a magazine during my 2010 resolutions which I made in 2009. And in November 2010, I got my first photo out in the Digital SLR Magazine Malaysia October 2010 issue. I submitted the photo in September and I was very disappointed when it didn’t come out in the September issue but was really shocked when I saw it in the October issue. Won a memory card as well. Hurray for me.
6. Took care of a CAT for a whole month.
Smokey isn’t mine. She’s Sandy’s cat but Sandy is having her break so I offer to take care of her. And she is one timid cat. Enjoy my time scaring her all over the place. She’s going back to Sandy soon though. I might miss her. But she’s better off with Sandy since I found out that I can be quite a bully 
7. Lost some weight.
I have no proof of this yet though since I haven’t weight myself for sometime. But since most of my jeans are a lot looser than they was, I guess I should have lost a few kgs. But definitely didn’t reach my target of 65kg. Perhaps somewhere within 70kg to 75kg. I’ll keep trying the coming year.
8. Cried my eyes out during the CSSUPM Annual Camp.
I did mention that it was emotional but you would never guess how emotional it was for me. Perhaps only the few who sat beside me knew what had happened. But it got me to change some parts of me though I guess. Some parts of the evil me still remain but I’ll slowly take care of that.
9. Travelled all over Malaysia.
I went to Malacca, Johor, Penang, Kedah, Pangkor, Perak and also went back Labuan for a few weeks. Didn’t managed to go outside Malaysia though like in 2009 when I went Taiwan. But AirAsia is already flying to South Korea and also New Zealand next year. These destinations are really tempting me. Maybe I will really fly to this places in 2011.
Went to AIMST university in Kedah when my sister enrolled there.
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Got attacked by monkeys and leeches during my trip to Pangkor. It was funny though.
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Went to Malacca with CharYong to meet up with FangWen for her photoshoot.
10. And finally… Made a decision to get my doctorate by 2013.
I have to graduate by then. Seriously I have to!!! Working hard on it now. Progress this year had been better than the past years but its still a long way to go and I still can’t see the end of the road. But I’ll keep walking… And I have to go on a faster pace as well. Lets do it!!!
I hope your 2010 was as eventful as mine ^^
Forgiveness – how to begin
I really want to say forgive me, to all those whom I’ve hurt. I know its hard for some people to forgive me for the things I’ve did. But I hope that even though its hard, perhaps you can find some forgiveness within you to forgive me.
Thank you God for always forgiving me for the wrongs I’ve done. Thank you God for helping me to continue forgiving and continue loving despite the conflicts which are present. Thank you God for making me understand that life without forgiveness isn’t a life worth living. Please help them understand as well.
Alan
(photo was taken during the Taize prayer during CSSUPM Annual Camp, song lyrics are taken from Oscar Lopez’s song – Forgive me)
Spaghetti Grill, Midvalley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur
If you’re looking for a place to eat at Midvalley, do give this place a try. It’s located on the same row as Chili’s but just further down. It offers quite authentic Italian pasta and pizza with bottomless drinks for a dirt cheap price of RM10. The taste of the cuisine might not be as good as more authentic places, such as Little Italy in KK, but it’s definitely better than some other pasta places such as Pizza Hut or Domino’s.
Watch out for this signboard the next time you are at Midvalley
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The interior gives you a calm and cozy feeling. This, along with bottomless drinks, might stop you from leaving ^^
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Can watch sports here also (Too bad World Cup is over)
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Some of the food on the RM10 set lunch. There’s also a dinner set which cost around RM16 which includes soup and other appetizers (can’t remember, sorry)
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Calzone (simple but yet delicious, but it sort of look like an oversized curry puff)
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Chicken Bolognese pasta (with a piece of garlic bread on the side)
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Chicken salad (looks like KFC popcorn chicken plus some vegetables)
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Pepperoni Pizza (A lot better than what’s offered by the Pizza Hut)
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They really have a brick oven with wood fire at the back of the restaurant.
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Anyway, do give it a try.
You might be wondering what I was doing there recently right?
I met up with the bride here to give her the wedding photos. And thus, ends my first wedding assignment.
In case you didn’t catch that post, visit here.
The Food in Penang
Please make sure you are not hungry when you’re reading this or you just might get more hungry at the end of the post
I didn’t just went for the Proteomics Workshop in Penang nor did I just went to take photos at St Anne’s Church, I had a great time filling myself up with some great food as well.
This is all thanks to Olivia, JJ and Dominic.
The day after I finished the workshop, JJ took me to Seberang Perai where Olivia was staying at and our first stop was Sungai Udang (Coordinates: precisely at N05 9.050; E100 27.750)
This place is famous for its curry seafood which I had to say was great 
~Curry Fish~
~Curry Crab~
They serve the dish with either bread or rice. Imagine dipping bread into the curry and eating it. (I’m salivating).
Quench the spiciness of the food with a bottle of cool sugarcane juice
After that we ventured to a night market nearer to the Seberang Jaya area where Olivia recommended some of the nicer food to me.
~Some type of chicken~
~Soft version of the egg rolls you normally have during CNY. I like this one~
~Sandwich with BBQ pork and meat floss in it. Damn nice~
~Finished it with this nice cool dessert~
At night, we ventured to somewhere (I really should take note of what I eat and where I eat and how much it cost)… to have a steamboat dinner. I remember it was nearby Bukit Mertajam area though.
~Steamed fish steamboat with the extras dishes we ordered~
Later, Dominic went across the road to buy some of the nicest kuih I have ever tasted. Seriously damn nice.
~The kuih~
~The family that made them…Vehicles were lining up literally to get some of these kuih~
And finally, the next morning, I had a nice tasting hor fun for breakfast in Penang. This one can really fight with the one in Perak
All in all, thanks to Olivia once more for bringing me around Penang to ‘see’ Penang through my taste buds.
Food in Pangkor (July 2010)
We went to this place called Ye Lin seafood garden which sit pretty much within walking distance (around 1km) of Vikri Chalets. Ye Lin, is apparently one of the best seafood restaurant in Pangkor and I really agree with that statement. I had one of my best seafood experience in Ye Lin. I would really recommend this place to everyone whose visiting Pangkor.
*Apparently the whole dish cost around RM125 for 5 people, which considering what we ate was well worth it*
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~Soft shell crabs~
~Floured cuttlefish~
~Laksa steamed fish~
~Cray fish~
Reviews: Nijyumaru Japanese Restaurant, Sutera Utama, Johor.
Managed to grab a bit here with Janice (although it would seem like she’s the one craving for it) and a few friends during my stay at Johor while covering Li Hong’s wedding (Photos might be up soon)
I’ve heard quite a lot from Janice about this Japanese Restaurant and it will be a pity not to give it a try while I was there.
Food’s a bit on the expensive side but since we did have quite a good lunch, we didn’t really order much to eat.
*Photos are taken by me and Janice. Since we were both snapping away at the food, I’m not really sure which one is taken by me and which one by her. So even though I watermarked it, credits go to her as well*
This is Seafood Nasu. An assortment of seafood in an eggplant (RM 18)
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This should be the Sal Mentai Yaki (RM 14)
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Soft shell crab tempura (RM 12)
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Sake haru maki (RM 18)
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Unagi Ura Maki (RM 15)
I hope I didn’t get the menu wrong. It was sometime ago when I ate it. All in all, definitely one of the best Japanese food I had so far. Well worth a second visit.
Photos: Shirley’s birthday 2010
Place: TGI Fridays, The Gardens Midvalley KL.
Date: 12th June 2010
Photos:
Speak no evil
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The cake
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The chilli sauce
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The grilled lamb chop
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The girls
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The girls and one guy
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The over-photoshopped-photo of a girl.
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The table at the side
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The backdrop of TGI Fridays
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The poor little birthday girl who had to come by KTM because her bf is a bit busy on that day. (Next time tell us earlier so we can go fetch)
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The challenge: Blow it!!! Blow it!!!
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The crazy look. @.@
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The celebration (I like his hat)
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The slice of cake
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My Ferrari
Nikon 35mm f/1.8G
Gotten this lens recently
Really love the bokeh but it becomes a bit hard to control at f/1.8
Also distortion is quite easily seen using this lens
But it gives really sharp photos.
Tested it out during a trip to Papa John’s pizza recently
Will most probably be my fixed-on lens if I don’t need a zoom or the 50mm higher prime.
Shirley and Ezone’s photoshoot
Managed to get this young cute couple to model for me just before they went back to Borneo. It was a bit hard to start off as always since I was at a loss of ideas. But once it got off things went a bit better.
Location of shoot: UPM Bukit Expo and Presint 2, Putrajaya.
Here are some of the photos:
Thanks again to Shirley and Ezone for helping me out with this
A few more tips regarding photography
- Snap as much as you can
- Best lighting conditions are early in the morning or during the evening
- Starting is always hard but after a while it will become easier to conduct the shoot
- Allow the subject to do something with each other.
And with this shoot I’m hope I’m ready for my big assignment this Saturday.
