I almost miss you, Arnolds

I gonna say something not many people gonna believe it, but it's true that someone actually said I'm "losing weight"! Even though, days ago I was having a high-cholesterol meal at a rather secluded place.

This was just only the starter - Potatoes Wedges.

Follow that, here was the main course - half spring chicken set, with coleslaw and french fries.

And you might thought the location must be one of those dozens new shopping malls that sprung around the island - WRONG!!

Looked kinda "retro", so it's unlikely for one to associate a food outlet among those clothing and "cam barang" stores, eh?

In fact, I was hunting high and low for this outlet that some claimed their chicken meals are better than "Finger Lickin' GOOD!", when I realized it is actually "hidden at one corner" (I almost gave up at one stage).

So "Arnolds" is still at CP - City Plaza along Geylang Road.

It was an enjoyable meal on a carefree afternoon, the only grouse was that you may have eat those chicken without using any utensil but with your own bare hands (Caution: It's HOT!!)

(P.S: the content of this entry is my own initiative with no single part of it being meddled, influenced by whosoever or whatsoever, thank you.)

[Kotravelog Update] - Penang Sojourn 2009

Since this blog is incorporated inside Kotravelog.com. It's obviously gonna be served as a platform to inform the world of any update of my travelog.

And so here I present to you the latest update - "Penang Sojourn 2009"

(Please click on the above "titlebar" or here to access the log)

SOME OF THE PICTURES TAKEN
Early morning fire at Lebuh Campbell

Roadside stall selling "Kek Gula-Melaka".

So let's enjoy the sight, scene and colours... Please feel free to feedback and comment on any aspect of the log, thank you ...

How and Why I saved my BAG...

For one simple reason - TIMES ARE BAD... simple as that.

This bag may look ordinary, but it's useful to me as it can stuff quite a number of stuff in it. Furthermore, it was a complimentary gift!!

So when recently, the adjustment buckle or fastener gave way due to crack in the piece that holds the strap. I decided to do something like this (as pictured below).

By removed the buckle, that supposed to snap the straps together, that was meant for a waist pouch, I decided to use it as a replacement for the adjustable fastener for the carrying strap instead.

Anyway, not the first time that repair job is being done on this bag, as months ago, the lousy material of the "hook" had made way to allow this metallic ring to hold the strap to the end of the bag.

I would say in times like this, one really have to think hard to be prudent and not being perceived as a miser.

Around Clark Quay at Sunset...for another practicing...

Attempt to look for two re-chargeable batteries proved futile, after my last hope was crushed when the shop where I bought my S2000 told me there's not replacement as they are not sold separately.

Bah, looks like I might have to dump the complimentary charger since not replacement can be purchased off the shelf.

Anyway, on my way out of the shopping mall at Clarke Quay, I decided to seek solace by continue my practicing with my camera.

(Picture above)This is somewhere near "Liang Court", beside the Singapore River, using the "Auto" mode of the camera as I tried to learn to grip my camera (ISO800, shutter speed:1/9sec, aperture F3.5).

As I walked further down to the pavement that is dotted with number of restaurants and clubbing outlet, I decided to snap this picture, with the help of tripod, despite some stares from the rather rapid human traffic that walked past me (ISO100, 2.3sec, F3.5).

Noticed the "ghostly" effect, I decided to change my camera setting and obtained something like the above depicted (ISO320,1/2 sec, F3.5), as we all the see the brightness of the lights seems to dim and managed to "freeze" the motion of those people walking - due to the faster shutter speed .

Further down the road along the way to the Clarke Quay station, I snapped this picture of "Riverside Point" from the bridge that bridged across the Singapore River (ISO800,1/12 sec, F3.5).

To be honest, I don't like taking pictures using flash light, unless I mastered the tactic of using it properly (if not you would have to endure those merciless stares from folks that caught unaware of it), but sometimes, pictures would not turn out to be as good as you wish.

However, the irony part of it is that using flash would help to eliminate some of the "jerkiness" spot in some shots, but the outcome is usually less-desirable (the lighting composition seems unbalance IS01600,1/34sec, F3.5).

Also, I wonder if taking night shot using this camera without flash light is impossible? The picture above seems to suggest that the case, shot like this need higher shutter speed (see the blurred images of those ladies?), but the setting such as the aperture would be compromised, how? (ISO800, 1/3sec, F3.9)

I actually love this above picture I took - the patron chatting with the waitress against the backdrop of the Singapore River and the bridge (ISO800, 1/2sec, F4.3).

However, without the use of the tripod, shot like this needed to be taken with discreet and a faraway distance. Beside a steady pair of hands are required, the condition of lighting, the shutter speed and the ISO is something that require quick decision from the cameraman.

Anyway, still learning or perhaps next time at night, I would either ask the subject not to move and S2000 shall to use to take still picture...

I'm sorry that I have to lie BUT ....

I think the whole idea is wrong.

The moment as I stepped out of my employer-provided shuttle bus onto the pavement that leaded to the Bishan MRT station, I noticed there was a group of I perceived as “financial advisers” hanging around outside the “Citibank” outlet of the station's premises.

It was only after I finished sending my text message to an acquaintance that I realized this group of “advisers” were actually a group of donation solicitors for a charitable foundation, when one of them – a petite lady came forward and approached me.

“I'm sorry to interrupt you for a while, but we are not selling anything.” said the slim young lady as she made her brief introduction to me.

“We are actually here to seek donation for XXX (a charity organization).”she added as she handed over a slightly worn-out laminated placard that detailed the facts, figures and other relevant stuff of the organization she works for.

Two interesting features that stood out on the placard that read something like this (if I remember correctly) –

• We DON'T ACCEPT CASH DONATIONS
  
  
• and above this eye-catching statement depicted three boxes which detailed the monthly figures that required each potential donor to commit after they select one of these options.

Of course, the carrot of the “deal” is all donation made is tax-deductible.

Having listened to what she said, I replied, “I'm actually not prepared to commit myself every month for a certain amount to donate, but I don't mind making a ONE-OFF donation.”

“But it's TAX DEDUCTIBLE, and you pay income tax right?” she harped on.

“Actually, I don't ...” I was telling a white lie as I find it unacceptable for any charitable organization to solicit donations on such “hard-selling” tactic.

I always believe making any kind of donation should be out of own will and such “hard-selling” tactic should be discouraged.

No doubt that fact is some less-privileged groups are seriously lacked of funds to maintain the operating of their organizations, but would they ever feel good if they realized that some of the funds they collected are from this method?

(P.S: anyway, out of goodwill I reminded that lady, "it's getting late...")

Practicing my photo shoot again using still "models"....

Using these oval-shapped balls as my "models".

Using hand-held for this shot.

I used "micro close-up" for this shot while learning to grab the finer details of this ball.

No flash light used as I closed up this shot...

See those "pimpled" surface of this ball? micro closing-up again

Maybe the focusing of the shot was at "Steeden" not "Sherrin".

TO BE CONTINUED .... as I keep exploring the good points of my Fuji S2000.

Pizza Thosay, anyone?

The waiter apologized to me for the almost 35 minutes wait to have my order served.

"We are sorry, as the oven was not working properly while preparing your order." explained the middle-aged man who served me.

"Well, it's OK..." replied a weary-looking me after a day of long hard work chasing the national team in their preparation for their crunch qualifier.

As I suddenly had an urge to have some thosay for my dinner (having skipped my lunch for the day), I decided to head down to Syed Alwi Road's Ananda Bhavan Vegetarian Restaurant (pictured below).

And so when I asked for thosay, I was being recommended the counter cashier to try their latest dish to offer - Pizza Thosay.

"It'll be ready in FIVE minutes." said the cashier after I made my payment.

Nonetheless, I was too tired and hungry to protest why the kitchen broke their promise until the waiter apologized.

So I went on to savour my new-styled Thosay (not those conventional type) that was prepared in a shape of Pizza, with ingredients such as those found in your typical Italian pancake but minus those meat (as I was having my meal at a vegetarian restaurant).

I chanced upon this outlet years ago while hunting around for a place to fill up my stomach with a colleague and saw us having our dinner settled in this eatery opposite the famed Mustafa shopping center.

Since then, whenever I'm around this part of Singapore I would make it a point to have my meal there.

Appreciate the art of photo-taking

I realized it photo-taking is more than zooming and focusing after I bought my "Fuji S2000" (above).

As a "noobie" (novice) in this art, terms like shutterspeed, aperture, ISO etc. are some of the jargons I came to pick up or refresh along the away.

When I'm using my compact "Fuji F31fd", those jargons were not issues since all the default settings are good enough to meet my expectations.

Fuji F31fd - this has been my default camera since Jul 2007

And that's being the reason why I decided to opt "Fuji" when I decided to buy a much sophisticated camera, but to realize it's the camera NOT brand that determine the outcome of the picture, as what a colleague told me.

Having "trial and error" a few sessions before he said that, I realized what he meant.

There were a few shots I took that failed to "freeze" the motions of subjects, it was then the term "shutterspeed" came to the picture.

Like this picture here, I was told by increase the "shutterspeed" and "ISO" would eliminate the "shakiness" of this picture.

Increase of the "Shutterspeed" would have "freeze" the motion right?

The increase of the "shutterspeed" is not the deciding factor if the "aperture" is not able to compliment with it, as this may result the picture to be "over or underexposed".

As the result, the ISO setting of the shot would decide how much light it's going to "brighten" up the picture, but the over-reliant of this setting will do more harm than good to it with the end-product will turn out to be pixelated or "noisy" in photography term.

Toa Payoh Stadium is one such photographers' nightmare, if one's camera is like your truly's

Other that the above-mentioned, the other critical thing to take note is the lenses of the camera. It is to say the importance of camera's lenses is more than that of the body itself because the focusing of it on the subject is equally crucial.

When I first got my “S2000", the idea was to get something that is "presentable" to be alongside with the rest (you can't expect someone holds a "compact" cam among this crop of shutterbugs, as above).

Soon, the reality struck and what a shock I was in when I first made my debut on the pitch side of Jalan Besar Stadium.

Beside the ability to anticipate where actions are going to take place is something that really takes time to master, constantly having to change the camera settings according to the surrounding lighting is another arduous task as I need to have fast, nimble fingers to press those tiny buttons on the camera body as and when is essential.

Two pictures of the Old Supreme Court - the day was shot using hand-held, while the night-shot was aided with tripod.

This picture was digitally enhanced to look more "sharper" as the subjects are those buildings and Singapore River.

I also learnt that when taking picture like the above-portrayed, it's best to remain still until the shutter is sounded.

It taught me that how good the picture was taken also depend on the lighting condition then and as times goes by, I appreciate terms as such “RAW” images, why DSLR is the preferred choice for sports photography, the use of “monopod” instead of “tripod” when taking action photos, the importance of using “slow-sychronized” flash in poorly-lit areas etc.

Perhaps at this stage, what my colleague told me are areas I should be focusing at,

“Basically, photo-taking is about 'trial and error', it's doesn't matter which brand you using but the camera you're holding.

You may have master the settings of one particular camera, but that settings doesn't mean are applicable to other cameras as each individual camera varies from one and another.

It's about keep shooting and practicing.”

Wise words, indeed.... Thanks.

1st Slingers' Game in TWO years....

It was such a long time I last watched a game of "live" basketball, as most of my peers know me as a "football" man and not a "hoop" man.

So after a two-year absence, I was back in Singapore Indoor Stadium, the home of the ABL's Singapore Slingers, to catch the island's sole professional cagers in action.

Just a short scribe on the match....

The Slingers dominated large part of the game with a huge 27-point margin after the first two-quarters over the visiting Satria Muda from Indonesia.

But the guests regrouped themselves after the half-time break and gave the home team a good account of themselves.

Unfortunate for them, the Indonesians paid the price for some poor finishing that was well-matched by the equally strong Slingers' defence in the first two quarters and ultimately paid the price for their defeat.

SOME PICTURES FROM THE GAME
Singapore Indoor Stadium - the ONLY venue not to be torn down for the Sport Hub.

Fans waiting to enter the indoor.

Teams lining up and getting ready for the start.

The team's mascot is a hit with the kids.

Slingers on the move.

At Half-Time break.

Slingers on defence.

Final Score - Slingers 96 Satria Muda 72