Blink of a Lense

A day before Chinese New Year Eve

2012-01-30T16:16:00.003+08:00

A day before Chinese New Year Eve which is a very happening night for the Chinese People to do last minute shopping ^^ There are a few place which held night market before the chinese new year eve, this is one of the place i visited the Segama side =)

well here is a few shots which i taken at Segama

The place is Crowded with people selling, buying and window shopping =)

the place is crowd with many people from afternoon till the next morning

And they are entertainment too...

well this are some shot i taken on the wonderful night which only happen once a year...

Sunday Breakfast ^^

2011-12-26T08:24:00.009+08:00

Just around Gaya Streets where they usually have the Sunday market, Placed an interesting Coffee shop which have been my breakfast since i was young till now =). "Just trying to introduce some food around Kota Kinabalu city" ^^ This Interesting shop have two stalls which make a variety food such as Laksa, Beef noodle, Claypot Chicken rice with salted fish (afternoon menu), Kon Lau mee, Mee sup, and Wan Tan. This two Stalls have been partners in doing these special dishes for more than 25 years before i was born..

this is the laksa side =) they also have beef noodle but sadly i didn't manage to take any picture of it...

Laksa

Claypot Chicken rice with salted fish which is the Laksa side lunch menu. As for the Kon Lau mee side which is my good friend's dad who open =)

sorry that i did not manage to take the Kon Lau mee but i got the other dishes =)

Mee Sup

Wan Tan

This is where the Shop Located =)
(picture taken with my hand phone Samsung S2)

Seafood BaK Kut Teh

2011-05-24T21:19:00.008+08:00

Time fly so fast and now is May 2011. i have been traveling around lately due to my work... =) been to many interesting places and eat interesting foods which is also one of my Favorite hobby "eating" =D this one of the interesting food you can find in Sandakan the " bak kut teh" which is usually or always serve with pork in it's soup. But this bak kut teh is different from the others, it's serve with seafood and vegetables in it's soup, which rarely can be found around Malaysia or you can even say Sabah ^^

" Syn Lok Bak Kut Teh" is the shop name of this interesting bak kut teh.
Well i have only just try a few dishes only..

"Fu Cuk"

"Prawn"

"Fish slice"

"vegetables'

"Prawn Ball & Pork ball"

well this are the only dishes i manage to try and there is other more special dish which i haven't try yet. If i am to go Sandakan again i am sure to try the rest of the other dishes =)

pictures taken by Lumix TZ10

Photos by my Old Buddy

2010-07-31T23:11:00.009+08:00

It's been long time since i update my blog and also use my old buddy "Nikon FM2" well here are some shots i snap using my old buddy.. indeed i lost a lot of skill in film..

Yayasan Sabah Tower

The Yayasan Sabah Tower (officially known as Menara Tun Mustapha) is located in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. It was built in 1977 and it is the second tallest building in the island of Borneo after Wisma Sanyan in Sibu and followed by the Ministry of Finance Building, Brunei in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam. This 30-storey circular glass sculpture that reaches 122 meters high is located in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. It is named after Tun Datu Mustapha, a former Chief Minister of Sabah. The building used to be known as Sabah Foundation Building (Bangunan Yayasan Sabah). It is home to the '@mosphere' restaurant at the 18 floor, which slowly spins to provide a complete view of Likas Harbour. It makes one rotation per hour.

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque

You may see the picture Familiar because i have taken this with my DSLR camera on night scene but this is the morning view..

Built on a 2.47 acres site at the Likas bay, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is exemplary of the Islamic contemporary architecture. Situated near the sea, this majestic white mosque boasts similar features to the Nabawi Mosque in Medina. This floating mosque has a prayer hall which houses three madrasahs and accommodates from 9, 000 to 12, 000 people at a time.

By far the largest mosque in Kota Kinabalu, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is even possibly the most beautiful one in Malaysia – the man-made lagoon which surrounds it gives a serenely gorgeous and dramatic look to the mosque on a full moon night.

The rising of the city

Shopping complex

As usual the place i visit most on Monday Coffee Bean KK

The Wisma Merdeka Shopping complex and also Hayatt Hotel

Fish market where all their boats park..

Fish statue

Located at taman pocket where you can view beautiful sunset

was trying to snap the bird but skills is not up to the level..

Well i was lucky that day that there was performance held there.. so i have plenty more chance to snap around with my old buddy

their music were fantastic..

and also her singing.. =)

the performance was attracting all the people passing by

trumpets wish i could play too

as you can see even it's so hot people gather to hear the beautiful music played by them..

The place i develop my pictures...

Flower Hunt in the City

2010-05-13T11:12:00.008+08:00

Just some short update recently not much time to upload and blog but here are some pictures i took around my City "Kota Kinabalu" which is located at Sabah, Malaysia..
Went for so call "flower hunt" around the city.. so happy that the city still have some softness..

this are the common flower along the streets which is the Hibiscus
(Malaysia national flower)

Bougainvilleas

also known as "Bunga Kertas" in Malay

with variety colours..

and some unknown flowers name to me but yet common around the city because i don't know their names... =P

some other unique and colourful flowers with make the city colourful and lively

new leafs growing out...

some buds waiting to bloom... ^^

we do also have Plumeria

also known as "bunga kemboja" in Malay..

some striking yellow flower...

And of cos beautiful trees when they bloom...

you can see it along the road side...

well i don't really know it's name but i call it " KK sakuras"

well this are some shots i took around the city...

will try to update more..

Sunset at Tanjung Aru

2010-01-19T12:43:00.012+08:00

Tanjung Aru is a sub-district of Kota Kinabalu of Sabah, in Malaysia. Its main feature is its beach called "Tanjung Aru Beach" which stretches to over 2 kilometres long. It's one of the place where families hang out on weekends and also part of tourism attraction.. the island opposite there is call "Pulau Sulug"...

This are some photo shoots of the Beach

It has beautiful tree structures

and variety of birds too..

Love birds dating

the way i look at it parrots i guess =S

Popping out of their home..

Some black & white shots

It's also a good place for Photography too.. =)

Place to relax, sit & drink while enjoying the sunset and view..

This are some sunset view

more pictures ^^

the beauty of the sunset which makes my heart calm and in "awe"

I just love the sunset and the clouds

and just a little poem to end my blog...

Listen To The Sunset

Listen to the sunset,
Hear its silent sigh
As it falls down the horisen
Warning, the moon is nigh

Listen to the sunset
Hear its silent threat
That darkness will be upon us
It makes everyone upset

Listen to the sunset
The vanity of its words
How beautiful this sunset is
With its colour, and birds

Listen to the sunset
See its pretty hue
But I cant enjoy the sunset
If I am not with you

All the pretty colours are meaningless
So are the birds, and the sounds
Because it all means nothing to me
If you are not around

Just remember this though,
Promise you wont forget,
Even if your far away,
We'll be watching the same sunset

So listen to the sunset
Enjoy its beauty true
When you see it, think of me
And I will think of you

Orchidaceae

2010-01-17T22:34:00.007+08:00

Orchidaceae, the Orchid family, is the largest family of the flowering plants (Angiospermae). Its name is derived from the genus Orchis.

The Royal Botanical Gardens of Kew list 880 genera and nearly 22,000 accepted species, but the exact number is unknown (perhaps as many as 25,000) because of taxonomic disputes. The number of orchid species equals about four times the number of mammal species, or more than twice the number of bird species. It also encompasses about 6–11% of all seed plants. About 800 new orchid species are added each year. The largest genera are Bulbophyllum (2,000 species), Epidendrum (1,500 species), Dendrobium (1,400 species) and Pleurothallis (1,000 species). The family also includes the Vanilla (the genus of the vanilla plant), Orchis (type genus) and many commonly cultivated plants like some Phalaenopsis or Cattleya.

Moreover, since the introduction of tropical species in the 19th century, horticulturists have produced more than 100,000 hybrids and cultivars.

The complex mechanisms which orchids evolve to achieve cross-pollination were investigated by Charles Darwin and described in his 1862 book Fertilisation of Orchids.

this are a few types of orchid that i took

this are some of my photo shot of orchid in Sabah...
hope to go to the orchid farm one day

Sipitang Taekwondo Upgrading

2009-11-16T22:00:00.008+08:00

Well as you see i love landscape shot and macro a lot but also now i am trying to take moments shot too so this what i did at Sipitang rather than just a driver..

In the same time i was also trying to shot in B&W mode in creative style

well this is the outcome of it..

this was just the starting of the upgrading from the lowest belt which is white..

inner forearm block...

imagining how to punch...

worrying and nervous i guess???

to yellow belt and she looks confident...=) so is the photographer in shooting B&W haha..

the examiner and their coach...

olympus ^^

this is the one step sparring.. the boy trying to attack the girl

nah dun play play with little girl o.... what a fiery counter attack by her...

well as usual the examiner tell their weakness in what so they could improve...

trying to pay attention to what the examiner is trying to say..

wondering??

curiosity???

imagining???

some demonstration....

and some practical...

learning and also having fun.. =)

teaching some foot works here... which is the forward stance..

the back stance...

want to fight me come!!!

some self defense technique..

the team...!!!

some close up shot of plants ^^

2009-11-14T18:45:00.010+08:00

More more more shots about my mountain trip... This time it's about close up shot of plants..

the white hibiscus

and actually it's my first time life to see a white hibiscus...

some berry looking plant...

some common flower which you can see by the roadside but this caught my eye because it was finding it's way to the sun light... "all the way up"

some hairy looking buds...

the dew which is still on it...

purple flower!! or i am not sure about it's colour...

looking at it's freshness in the morning..

i wonder if this is eatable hahaha =D

some pinky to brighten up your day

or may be some green to relax your eyes..

haha was talking about shooting macro plants and i dunno where did this pop in to my series here..

the pureness of dew "crystal clear drop"

some plants that growing by the side of the path as i was trekking up to Laban Rata

wish i got a book that tells the name of each plants...

there are a lot more lovely plants up on the mountain rather than the famous plants like the rafflesia, pitcher plant or orchid which is well known..

this are some of the example which i took

something curious that make me wonder why almost all the plants "flower" on the mountain way face down...

more...

unique aren't they...

i love nature because they are full of beauty and mysterious..

my friend call this alien.. do it look like one????

some other shots which it's flower are from the center

o this is on of the Flowers that my swimmers make fun of after they heard it's name from the guide.. it sounds some think like "re de den drem"..

trees all looking like this when we almost reach Laban Rata

Yellow and yes it look like the SUN...

took this picture near by Lows Peak

some small plants on the way to the Peak.. it looks like frozen up..

pop out among the bushes

Love is like a lilac

It is beautiful just like you

The smell is relaxing, A smell that you yearn for

A desirable smell,

It releases stress

It refreshes you

A part of life that you need

So that you continue to appreciate life

It grows

It does not destroy

Flowers keep creating other flowers

The beauty of the flower suddenly becomes more visible to others.

Flowers bring beauty to the home, just as love does.

It keeps creating

It never destroys

Just like love.

scenery on the way to mountain trip

2009-11-13T21:39:00.000+08:00

Second post of the day ^^ guess today i am a bit free and picture are all minimize already cause now i feel all of a sudden nothing to do and lonely.. and i am thinking of someone and i miss her.. hope my heart is like the legend i post here.. well my trip started of for Likas my work place, i drove up and it's my 1st time driving up there and we when pass Tamparuli which is on the way up and it's famous of it's "Tamparuli mee" and not forgetting it's famous bridge..

Jambatan Tamparuli...

this is the view from Pekan Nenas if not mistaken a.k.a Nabalu in black and white trying to make it dramatic a bit in the shot but i guess i fail...

this is the view bellow looks like a valley...

O0~ i love the clouds covering the mountain and it's like playing hide and seek with my camera...

look at this told you i love the cloud covering it but i like this the best because it's circling the mountain.. wish it circle finish that time.

The History of Mount Kinabalu Climbing

Mount Kinabalu towers 4095 meters (13,435 feet) above sea level. It is the highest mountain between the mighty snow-capped Himalayas and Wilhelmina (4509 meters / 14,793 feet) in Irian Jaya. It is also one of the most accessible and spectacular mountains in the world. Because of the earth movement, in is still growing with the rate of 5 mm (1/4 inches) a year.

Ever changing, it is the mountain of tropical rainforest, colorful blossoms and golden sunset, but also dark and violent storms. At times, a ghostly mist shrouds the mountain and it is easy to believe the local Kadazandusun's claim that it is the homeland of their spirit world.

In 1964 Kinabalu Park was established to protectMount Kinabalu and its plant and animal life. Its 754 square kilometer (291 square mile) terrain stretches upward from lowland rain forest to montane forest, cloud forest and sub alpine meadow, before finally reaching a crown of bare granite. Only at Mount Kinabalu can you eat breakfast in a lowland rainforest, lunch in a cloud forest, and enjoy dinner in a subalpine meadow!

The trail to the highest peak winds along the southern side of the mountain. It is an 8.5 kilometer (5.25 mile) trek to the top. For most people, from a 9 month-old baby (carried by father) to an 83 years-old New Zealander, the journey takes two days.

The Kinabalu Park Headquarters is located 90 kilometers (56 miles) from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah's capital city. More than one million visitors have enjoyed the park since it opened. In the year 2000, UNESCO have declared Mount kinabalu as The World Heritage Site.

Today's relatively comfortable two day climb to the peak is a far cry from the travails of the early explorers. In 1851, Sir Hugh Low, then the Colonial Secretary for the British crown colony of Labuan, credited as the first person to climb the mountain, took nine days to reach the summit plateau, traveling in a group of 42 people.

Low and John Whitehead, a zoologist who discovered two of Kinabalu's spectacular birds, Whitehead's Trogon and Whitehead's Broadbill, both started their historic ascents from the village of Kiau, situated on the southern flank of the mountain near the Kadamaian Waterfall and recruited their guides and porters here. This route was both steep and arduous, and when the park was gazetted in 1964 and the Kinabalu Park HQ was established, the ascent route was changed to the present one.

People from the nearer village of Bundu Tuhan supplied most of the guides and porters, and Bundu Tuhan's most famous son, Gunting bin Lagadan, reputed to possess remarkable powers, become the first officially registered park guide. Though Low reached the summit plateau, he did not reach the peak that now bears his name. John Whitehead is the first person who reached the summit in 1888.

Low discoveries focused the attention of the scientific world on Mount Kinabalu, but it was not until 1910 that the first botanist (and incidentally the first lady) Lilian Gibbs, climbed the mountain and discovered many species new to science. Increasing interest in the mountain's natural richness culminated in major expeditions organized by the Royal Society of Great Britain in 1961 and 1964.

Thus it was that in 1964 the Kinabalu Park was gazetted and when the park first opened it was a far cry from the world class facility it is today. In the early years the road to the park was largely a narrow muddy earth track, passable only to 4-wheel drive vehicle. This restricted access to real enthusiasts, but when the road was finally sealed in 1981 visitor figures shot up.

Today more than 200,000 people visit the park each year. Of these, about ten percent have successfully reached the summit. Within the last few years however, an increasing number have come to enjoy more strenuous activities, including Mount kinabalu climbathon, mountain running and mountain biking.

this is the view from the headquarter before we depart for the climb and this year one of 200,000 people visit the park is ME!!!!! ^^ here is where the climbing journey begin

trees which are still standing up on the mountain...

some sunset view from Laban Rata...

more....

CLOUDS!!!!!

the sunlight and mist combine...

totally makes it look so sacred and heavenly for me...

when the sun is going to sleep

really give it's beauty too....

this is the view of the Lows Peak on my way up around 0430 morning...

people far behind me trying their best up...

St.John's Peak from taken from the side...

and this is taken from the peak

it has it's legend which are told by local people living around the area..

There are two stories that led to the main beliefs in the origin of the mountain's name.

The first derivation of the word Kinabalu is extracted from the short form for the Kadazan Dusun word 'Aki Nabalu', meaning "the revered place of the dead".

The second source states that the name "Kinabalu" actually means "Cina Balu" (which would fully mean "A Chinese Widow"). Due to the lingual influence among the Kadazan Dusun of Sabah, the pronunciation for the word "cina" (chee-na) was changed to "Kina" (kee-na).

It was told that a Chinese prince, was cast away to Borneo when his ship sank in the middle of the South China Sea. He was subsequently rescued by the natives from a nearby village. As he recovered, he was slowly accepted as one of the people of the village. Eventually, he fell in love with a local woman, and married her. Years went by, and he started to feel homesick. So he asked permission from his newly-found family to go back to China to visit his parents (the Emperor and Empress of China). To his wife, he promised that as soon as he was done with his family duties in China, he would come back to Borneo to take her and their children back to China.

When he made his return to China, he was given a grand welcome by his family. However, to his dismay, his parents disagreed with him about taking his Bornean wife back to China. Worse, they told him that he was already betrothed to a princess of a neighbouring kingdom. Having no choice (due to high respect towards his parents), he obeyed with a heavy heart.

Meanwhile, back in Borneo, his wife grew more and more anxious. Eventually, she decided that she will wait for her husband's ship. However, since the village was situated far away from the coast, she couldn't afford to come to the shore and wait for him daily. Instead she decided to climb to the top of the highest mountain near her village, so that she could have a better view of the ships sailing in the South China Sea. Thus, she was then seen climbing up the mountain at every sunrise, returning only at night to attend to her growing children.

Eventually her efforts took their toll. She fell ill, and died at the top of the cold mountain while waiting for her husband. The spirit of the mountain, having observed her for years, was extremely touched by her loyalty towards her husband. Out of admiration for this woman, the spirit of the mountain turned her into a stone. Her face was made to face the South China Sea, so that she could wait forever for her dear husband's return.

The people in her hometown who heard about this were also gravely touched by this. Thus, they decided to name the mountain "Kinabalu" in remembrance of her. To them, the mountain is a symbol of the everlasting love and loyalty that should be taken as a good example by women.

Local legend among the people of Ranau, a district in Sabah, has it that St. John's Peak was the stone which her body was turned into.

KADAZANDUSUN BELIEFS

An ancient mythology lies at the heart of Kadazandusun culture. A Kadazandusun creation myth tells how the supreme deities Kinohiringan and his wife Umunsumundu made the earth while Kinohiringan created the sky and the clouds. But the clouds were smaller than the earth and Kinohiringan was ashamed. To save his pride, Umunsumundu reshaped the earth, making it smaller, and thus created Mount Kinabalu, the mountain that we know today.

A Kadazandusun story tells of a giant king named Gayo Nakan ('big eater') who lived at the base of the mountain. His people tired of his enormous appetite and were had pressed to feed him. Hearing their complaints, the king told them to bury him alive at the top of the mountain. Bringing all their tools they laboured in vain, until the king uttered magic words and sank into the rock up to his shoulders. He then told his people that, due to their lack of patience, drought and famine would afflict them - but promised to help them in times of war. Fearful and penitent, the people made their first sacrificial offerings at the wishing pool below the summit that was Gayo Nakan's grave.

if i am not mistaken this is call err??? i forgotten huhu~

rope~ hang on to it or you will lost your way.. neh=P

South Peak (3'921.5m)

more...

trying to get the best point of view of the South Peak

okay okay this i know it's?? it's called the donkey ears if not mistaken... =P

on my way down yes the mist is coming in covering the top..

yea it's a bit scary cause i am scared to lost my way in the mist..

yet nature keep me calm and curious with the surrounding...

and thank God he slow the mist down...

hehehe trees here are really short...

a waterfall you meet on the way up and back.. ^^

shooting with a slower shutter speed...

and yes i made it back..^^ hooray!!!!!

Bee~

2009-11-13T20:25:00.000+08:00

Huh~!!! it's been long since i last blog... well during the time i haven't been blogging i when for a mountain climb and here are some picture i snap around and might be more series of it coming up soon...

it was buzzing around glad it didn't sting me. =P

wow look at the hard work till it's wing ragged...

look at the nectar collected by it... "really a hardworking bee indeed"

My Honey Bee

Drink the nectar of greek gods with me
Of the sweetness that’s near to me
My flower child
Buzz in my ear
Sweet songs of passion
Surround me with kisses and sighs
Fly into this lovely space
Come to me with smiles
And tell me no lies
Tell me tales of hope and joy
Filled with our dreams
And that you need me
And must have me
And be with me forever…

Ben Youngblood 1997

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque In The Night

2009-10-08T22:32:00.000+08:00

The Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is the second main mosque in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia after State Mosque. It was officially opened on 2 February 2000 following a proclamation of Kota Kinabalu as city status.

By far the largest mosque in Kota Kinabalu,

Built on a 2.47 acres site at the Likas bay, the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is exemplary of the Islamic contemporary architecture. Situated near the sea, this majestic white mosque boasts similar features to the Nabawi Mosque in Medina. This floating mosque has a prayer hall which houses three madrasahs and accommodates from 9, 000 to 12, 000 people at a time.

It's a man-made lagoon which surrounds it gives a serenely gorgeous and dramatic look to the mosque on a full moon night.

The Kota Kinabalu City Mosque is open for public visits daily except Fridays from 8am to 5pm. There are no fees charged on visitors and the City Mosque is located about 3 kilometers from Kota Kinabalu City (10 - 15 minutes drive away).

Random shot at my hometown

2009-09-30T20:20:00.000+08:00

This are some random shot i took back at my hometown at Papar on the way down from keningau.. that day i was so privilege to get some shot..

this Tarap it's one of the local fruits well known in Sabah here.. i did post it up in my previous post

And yes this is the KING of the fruits the "Durian"

not forgetting the "rambutan" also one of the local fruits..

hehe and this look like a crown too but sadly is not the king... this is a young pineapple..

this is call Rebung and also known as bamboo shoots

a new life sprout out into the world..

some green here and there...

Ooo~ and i love it's expression hehehe and it's photogenic too..

lying down lazily

the commander in charge.. stand so straight and smart..

and it's followers or hehehe wifes..

mother love and sunbathing

i love flowers too and this is a Red bougainvillea, especially for you..

this is the flower of the lime tree

and feather

"Hope" is the thing with feathers

"Hope" is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without the words
And never stops at all

And sweetest in the Gale is heard
And sore must be the storm
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm

I've heard it in the chillest land
And on the strangest Sea
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb of Me.

Nelumbo a.k.a Lotus

2009-09-29T22:24:00.000+08:00

Nelumbo is a genus of aquatic plants with large, showy, water lily-like flowers commonly known as lotus or sacred lotus. The generic name is derived from the Sinhalese word Nelum. There are two species in the genus, the better known of which, N. nucifera, or "Sacred Lotus," is the well-known national flower of India and Vietnam.

There is residual disagreement over which family the genus should be placed in. Traditional classification systems recognized Nelumbo as part of the Nymphaeaceae (water lily) family, but traditional taxonomists were likely misled by evolutionary convergences associated with an evolutionary shift from a terrestrial to an aquatic life style. In the older classification systems it was recognized under the biological order Nymphaeales or Nelumbonales. Nelumbo is currently recognized as its own family, Nelumbonaceae, as one of several distinctive families in the eudicot order Proteales. Its closest living relatives are shrubs or trees (Proteaceae and Platanaceae).

These plants are unrelated to the bird's-foot trefoils and deer-vetches of the genus Lotus.

The bud of the lotus on it's way to bloom

When it blooms you can see it's beauty

Oh Lotus flower with beauty kissed by dew,
Waits upon the water for its Spring debut.
No other flower anywhere,
Has such beauty to compare.
Lotus flower, I love you.
This love song is just for you.

a close up one..

was trying capturing them in pair

lotus pods

a very frequent guess

i took this and i wanted to show my love.. yet i still couldn't show it.. hope this will brighten up your day and worries "are my wish while taking this picture"

Atkinson Clock Tower

2009-07-14T22:12:00.000+08:00

Sorry for some late update here.. usually my partner will blog for me but guess she is busy so i have to blog to keep it update a bit..

Here is what i am going to share the Atkinson Clock Tower

The Atkinson Clock Tower is one of the most enduring landmarks in , it stands prominently on a bluff along Signal Hill Road adjacent to the old Police Station. Built in 1903, this all-wood, no-nails structure was built in memory of Francis George Atkinson - the popular first District Officer of Jesselton during the British North Borneo Chartered Company Administration, who had succumbed to a tropical disease at the young age of 28.

This Clock Tower has the distinction of being the oldest standing structure in the whole of Sabah that survived the destruction of Jesselton town during World War II. Till today, it still serves to keep the city's time.

This is where the Atkinson Clock Tower is located..

The black and white version which i think will look more dramatic..

love the trees adding the extra

hope you did enjoy it... ^^

suvit a.k.a sunbird

2009-06-16T22:30:00.000+08:00

The sunbirds and spiderhunters are a family, Nectariniidae, of very small passerine birds. There are 132 species in 15 genera . The family is distributed throughout Africa, southern Asia and just reaches northern Australia . Most sunbirds feed largely on nectar , although they will also take insects, especially when feeding young. Fruit is also part of the diet of some species. Their flight is fast and direct on their short wings.

The sunbirds have counterparts in two very distantly related groups: the hummingbirds of the Americas and the honeyeaters of Australia. The resemblances are due to convergent evolution due to the similar nectar-feeding lifestyle. Some sunbird species can take nectar by hovering like a hummingbird, but usually perch to feed.

This are some pictures i took of the sunbird.. hopefully i am right that this is a sunbird but i don't know it species name..

so steady even on a petal

Food

Is this a type of sunbird too?

maybe not probably just there for food..

nice synchronize movement

couple dating or courting

may be chatting ^^

Finish looking already? Thank you and welcome back again

Thanks for visiting..

Titanic?

2009-06-15T15:16:00.000+08:00

Okay, maybe it's a schooner?

Took these shots in Sutera Harbour. There were loads of them actually and the scenery was great! I recommend Sutera Harbour if you'd like to shoot some pretty romantic sceneries. =)

A lil' info:
A schooner (pronounced /ˈskuːnər/) is a type of sailing vessel characterized by the use of fore-and-aft sails on two or more masts with the forward mast being shorter or the same height as the rear masts. Schooners were first used by the Dutch in the 16th or 17th century, and further developed in North America from the early 18th century onwards.

Boats.

As you can see, that building over there, that's the Pan Pac. Or Marina? Okay I can't really tell the difference but I'm sure it's either one of them.

Look!
Para gliding! :)

This reminds me of titanic. Right? =)

During 7k, tons of people date here. Haha. :) *looking innocent*

Up there, that's the Marina.
Sutera Harbour's actually a very nice place to hang out at.

Enjoy the pictures!

Harvest Festival - Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan! =)

2009-06-14T08:28:00.000+08:00

I know this post is up quite late, a few weeks late, but it takes time bah. Hehehe. I've posted some of these photos in my Facebook. Bet some of you have seen it, but seeing it once again can do no harm to your eyes right? =)

Basically, on the 31st of May 2009, which was 2 weeks ago, I went to KDCA to look around, seeing all the Kadazan natives celebrating Kaamatan also known as Harvest Festival. Not only Kadazans of course, people from different races came as well to celebrate it.

That's Me, with 2 teenagers in their costumes. Kinda cool, don't you think? And yes, I am still taller. Hahaha.

They were the usherers for the day. Pretty and good looking usherers I must say.

Most of them were teenagers. Okay, maybe not all, but they do look like one.

These were the VIPs for the event. All wearing the Kadazan traditional costumes.

Now this must be Kadazans different ethnics I believe.

Haha. Babies were included as well ah. Don't play play.

Guess they were waiting for the arrivals of the guests or VIPs.

It's nice to see a large community of Kadazan ethnics with their costumes. Never thought there could be so many of them. I'm thoroughly impressed!

The uncles or also known as... 'MAMAI'.

Bet that girl 2nd from left was tired from standing too long. =P

Closer shot.

The traditional dance called 'Sumazau'.

The Kadazans have also developed their own unique dance and music. Sumazau is the name of the dance between a male and female, performed by couples as well as groups of couples, which is usually accompanied by a symphony of handcrafted bronze gongs that are individually called 'tagung'. The sompoton is another musical instrument. A ceremonial ring of cloth sash is worn by both male and female. The Sumazau and gong accompaniment is typically performed during joyous ceremonies and occasions, the most common of which being wedding feasts.

The Kadazan have a musical heritage consisting of various types of tagung ensembles - ensembles composed of large hanging, suspended or held, bossed/knobbed gongs which act as drone without any accompanying melodic instrument. They also use kulintangan ensembles - ensembles with an horizontal-type melodic instrument.

^{Source: Wikipedia}

Magagung.

Large gongs I tell you. On those 2 eventful days, the sound of the Gongs can be heard all over the place. Even on television itself.

Look at that uncle's expression! haha. Nice one.

Portrait shots.

Now those look scary. Where did the insides go?

That's me. Traditional handicrafts were sold there as well.

The Humabot Ceremony

This is the final stage of the observation of the harvest festival and is in the form of merry-making and entertainment. This ceremony is now celebrated at village, district and state levels annually (30 - 31 May). A variety of entertainment and activities in the form of dances and traditional sports are held and the climax of the event is the selection of the Unduk Ngadau (Harvest Festival Queen). The Unduk Ngadau symbolizes Huminodun, the sacrificed daughter of Kinoingan.

The rituals described above are typical of the Kadazan-Dusun of the Penampang-Papar area. Other dusunic groups, the murutic groups of the interior and the paitanic groups in the east have different rice harvest rituals. For example, the Lotud Dusun have a series of eight ceremonies - Mansalud, Monuras, Tumakau, Matang, Mongoi Rumali, Mogimpuun, Sumondod and Monumbui. The essence of this ceremony however is the same, that is of thanksgiving for a plentiful harvest.

Source: Wikipedia

There were tons of people. Hard to find parking spots. Hmmm.

VIPs arrived.

Portrait shots.
Have I ever mentioned Kadazan girls are my taste? Haha....

Me and them.
Yet I am still the tallest. Bangganya~

They looked like Sarawakians. I believe they are.

Mr.Policeman. Haha.

It's nice to know that these traditional instruments are still around. =) Guess our generations aren't so forgetful of where they came from after all.

People responsible for the sound of the 'Gongs'.
Gung~ Gang~ Gong~

Portrait Shots.
Black and White.

I combined these photos altogether and they created a nice combination!

The laaaadies. =) Haha I like leh~

Some more info about Kaamatan. Source : Wikipedia *as usual!*

The Kaamatan Festival is an annual event in the cultural life of the Kadazandusuns of Sabah since time immemorial. In its deepest sense, Kaamatan festival is a manifestation of Creator and Creation relationship, as well as Inter-Creations relationship. It embodies the principal acts of invocation of divinities, appeasing, purification and restoration, re-union of benevolent spirits, and thanksgiving to the Source of All. It is part of a complex wholesome Momolian religious system centered on the paddy rites of passage and the life cycle of Bambarayon - the in-dwelling spirit of paddy.

Appeasing is done in respect of Bambarayon, Deities, Divinities and Spirits, who may have been hurt by human wrongful, acts. Purification is performed in respect of human and spiritual needs for forgiveness followed by resolutions to make themselves worthy of the gifts of life from God. Restoration in necessary to ensure the health and well being of Bambarayon, mankind and other spiritual beings. Re-union is realised in respect of human needs to be integrated in body, mind and spirit within the concept of the seven-in-one divinity in humanity, as well as re-union of Bambarayon with human Sunduan. Finally Thanksgiving is observed as befitting for all creations to express their gratitude and appreciation for the gifts of life (through Huminodun) and all life supportive system on earth that their Creator lovingly and generously gave them.

Double Six Monument

2009-06-10T00:12:00.000+08:00

Some people may not be aware of this monument located in Sembulan so that's why I'm posting this up. It's actually not that big, and it's quite eerie to stand there knowing that 6 man died there. =.=

Double Six Monument

Looks familiar to you? Well, it's actually located near Grace Point. The place where us Sabahans often 'lepak-lepak' with friends and family. Now that you know this, drop by there and take some photos of it yourself. =)

In Black and White.
This shot makes the monument look as if it's floating in the middle of the ocean. The concrete looks like the sea. Like it.

Heard of Tun Fuad Stephens? The place where you often go and jog around? He died here on the 6th of June 1976 in a fatal airplane crash with 6 other leaders. Today's the 9th of June which means 3 days ago was it has been 33 years since the crash. Wow.

He was the first Chief Minister of Sabah. =( Hmmm. Life. So fragile.

Me. Vachel. and.. more me. =)

2009-05-31T19:51:00.000+08:00

I went on some meeting the other day and took a photo of myself. Haha. * I know how to vain vain also sometimes, don't laugh please, thank you.*

Mind you, those attires were new okay? *sigh*

Black version.

Blue.

Neon Green. =P * bet your eyes burning now.*

Blue.

Light Yellow.

Pink. Hehehehe.

Purple.

Red. *need sunglasses liao?*

And to me, the nicest one among those colorful ones, the WHITE ONE. =)

Okay and now.
Black and white me.
hahaha.

So... yeah. Me. =P

I present to you....

2009-05-31T18:21:00.000+08:00

FREAKY LOOKING GRASSHOPPERS!

This post will be another proof of what an interesting place my work place is. haha. You can find anything you want there. From flowers, to birds, and even grasshoppers. If you very 'rajin' to hunt them down, you'll get these nice shots as well! XD

When you look closely at it, it is actually a pretty creature. I bet one of you used to step on these poor creatures didn't you? Or or! You used to capture them and placed it in your pocket when you were just a small 7 year old didn't you? AHAH! Caught red handed! =P

Some info from Wiki about grasshoppers:

Grasshoppers have antennae that are almost always shorter than the body (sometimes filamentous), and short ovipositors. Those species that make easily heard noises usually do so by rubbing the hind femurs against the forewings or abdomen (stridulation), or by snapping the wings in flight. Tympana, if present, are on the sides of the first abdominal segment. The hind femora are typically long and strong, fitted for leaping. Generally they are winged, but hind wings are membranous while front wings (tegmina) are coriaceous and not fit for flight. Females are normally larger than males, with short ovipositors. Males have a single unpaired plate at the end of the abdomen. Females have two pairs of valves ( triangles) at the end of the abdomen used to dig in sand when egg laying.

They are easily confused with the other sub-order of Orthoptera, Ensifera, but are different in many aspects, such as the number of segments in their antennae and structure of the ovipositor, as well as the location of the tympana and modes of sound production. Ensiferans have antennae with at least 20-24 segments, and caeliferans have fewer. In evolutionary terms, the split between the Caelifera and the Ensifera is no more recent than the Permo-Triassic boundary (Zeuner 1939).

Okay this one looks as if its furious at me.

Grasshopper: ^&%^&%#!! What you doing?! I am no celebrity for you to take take picture ah..
Vachel: Why lah?
Grasshopper: -____- fine. as long as u don kill me will do.

Think this one's a very close shot of it?

WELL THINK AGAIN!
hahahaha. I am so cool.

Nah. Actually ah.. =P Hahah I donno whether I should say this or not. =P Ok lah I say larr.

Actually, I rolled/lied/ on the grass to take this ONE GRASSHOPPER'S photo. I gave him a free photoshoot. If only he could talk, I'm sure he would thank me. =) hahaha.

Side shot. Good grasshopper. Didn't seem to run away from me. Good good grasshopper.

Showing off his camouflage skills.

"Yea, like I cannot see you kan? *click*"

You have no idea how tiring this was!
☺

Pictures taken awhile ago....

2009-05-19T20:55:00.000+08:00

I've taken some photos long time ago and thought that I might as well share it with you!

I went to climb Mt.Kinabalu for so many times already. It's almost an annual activity for me. So these photos right here were taken back in 2005 or 2004 if I'm not mistaken *sorry, memory loss* and I find them quite interesting. Mind you, I did not own any DSLR or whatsoever back then, so, I had my skills way back then already okay? =)

I googled 'Periuk Kera' on WiKi and found out that they are also known as "Nepenthes". Of course I'm not so sure what kind of species these are, but I'll place down some info that I found...

They 'swallow' little insects...

The Nepenthes (pronounced /nɨˈpɛnθiːz/, from Greek: ne 'not', penthos 'grief, sorrow'; named after the mythical drug Nepenthe), popularly known as Tropical Pitcher Plants or Monkey Cups, are a genus of carnivorous plants in the monotypic family Nepenthaceae that comprises roughly 120 species, numerous natural and many cultivated hybrids. They are vine-forming plants of the Old World tropics, ranging from South China, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines; westward to Madagascar (2 species) and the Seychelles (1); southward to Australia (3) and New Caledonia (1); and northward to India (1) and Sri Lanka (1). The greatest diversity occurs on Borneo and Sumatra with many endemic species. Many are plants of hot humid lowland areas, but the majority are tropical montane plants, receiving warm days but cool to cold humid nights year round. A few are considered tropical alpine with cool days and nights near freezing. The name 'Monkey Cups' refers to the fact that monkeys have been observed drinking rainwater from these plants.

Source: Wikipedia.org

These are carnivorous plants. The word carnivorous sounds frightening already. But I believe they do not eat human flesh. Right?

Even if they do, you can always kill it. You're a human anyways and IT IS OBVIOUSLY just a PLANT. *well at least a.. priceless plant.*

AirAsia: The Best Low Cost Airline

2009-05-18T15:45:00.000+08:00

Hello again, my dear readers. I'm back to update you guys up with recent photos that I have taken during my trips to places and around.. here. =)

These photos here were taken when I was on my way to a swimming competition. I heard from some people that we are not allowed to take photos of the airplane? But haha, I guess I knew how to hid it well. To all the readers outside Malaysia, here's some info for you. =)

AirAsia Berhad (MYX: 5099) is a low-cost airline based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It operates scheduled domestic and international flights and is Asia's largest low fare, no frills airline. AirAsia pioneered low cost travelling in Asia^[1]. It is also the first airline in the region to implement fully ticketless travel and unassigned seats. However, as of 5 February 2009, AirAsia has finally implemented allocated seatings across all AirAsia flights, including in their sister airlines, Indonesia AirAsia and Thai AirAsia. Its main base is the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Its affliate airlines Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia fly from Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand and Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Indonesia, respectively.

....Source from Wiki.

Since you know, I know, everyone knows that I'm ALWAYS around with my camera, everything seems so interesting. What more, an airplane! A RED ONE!
With colorful words on it saying,
"AMAZING".

Source from Wiki~

The airline was established in 1993 and started operations on 18 November 1996. It was originally founded by a government-owned conglomerate DRB-Hicom. On December 2, 2001, the heavily-indebted airline was purchased by former Time Warner executive Tony Fernandes's company Tune Air Sdn Bhd for the token sum of one ringgit. Fernandes proceeded to engineer a remarkable turnaround, turning a profit in 2002 and launching new routes from its hub in Kuala Lumpur International Airport at breakneck speed, undercutting former monopoly operator Malaysia Airlines with promotional fares as low as RM1 (US $0.27).

In 2003, AirAsia opened a second hub at Senai Airport in Johor Bahru near Singapore and launched its first international flight to Bangkok. AirAsia has since started a Thai subsidiary, added Singapore itself to the destination list, and commenced flights to Indonesia. Flights to Macau started in June 2004, while flights to Mainland China (Xiamen) and the Philippines (Manila) started in April 2005. Flights to Vietnam and Cambodia followed later in 2005 and to Brunei and Myanmar in 2006, the latter by Thai AirAsia.

A new budget terminal, the first of its kind in Asia was opened in Kuala Lumpur International Airport on 23 March 2006. Built at a cost of RM108 million (US $29.2 million) and spanning some 35,000 square metres (116,000 square feet), the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) is the new home for AirAsia Bhd. LCCT will initially handle 10 million passengers a year. AirAsia Group is expected to carry 18 million passengers in 2007.

AirAsia operates with the world’s lowest unit cost of US$0.023/ASK and a passenger break-even load factor of 52%. It has hedged 100% of its fuel requirements for the next three years, achieves an aircraft turnaround time of 25 minutes, has a crew productivity level that is triple that of Malaysia Airlines and achieves an average aircraft utilisation rate of 13 hours a day.^[2]

AirAsia is currently the main customer of the Airbus A320. The company has placed an order of 175 units of the same plane to service its routes and at least 50 of these A320 will be operational by 2013. The first unit of the plane arrived on 8 December, 2005.

On 27 March 2006, the Government of Malaysia announced that AirAsia will take over 96 non-trunk routes, in addition to 19 domestic trunk routes. This was part of Malaysia Airlines route rationalization programme which saw a large number of its domestic sectors being transferred to AirAsia from 1 August 2006.

On December 27, 2006, AirAsia's CEO Tony Fernandes unveiled a five-year plan to further enhance its presence in Asia.^[3] In the plan, AirAsia will strengthen and enhance its route network by connecting all the existing cities in the region and expanding further into Indochina, Indonesia, Southern China (Kun Ming, Xiamen, Shenzen) and India. The airline will focus on developing its hubs in Bangkok and Jakarta through its sister companies, Thai AirAsia and Indonesia AirAsia. Hence, with increase frequency and addition of new routes, AirAsia expects passenger volume to hit 18 million by end-2007.

On September 2007, AirAsia's Kuala Lumpur hub is fully operated with A320s while Thai AirAsia received its first Airbus A320 in October 2007. Indonesia AirAsia will receive its first Airbus by January 2008.

On April 5, 2007, AirAsia announced a three-year partnership with the British Formula One team AT&T Williams. The airline brand is displayed on the helmets of Nico Rosberg and Alexander Wurz, and on the bargeboards and nose of the cars. ^[4]

On September 27, 2008, has on its list 106 new routes to be added to its current list of 60 over the next few years.^[5]

On 12 November 2008 AirAsia abolished fuel surcharges . In doing so claimed to be the ' first airline in the world to abolish fuel surcharges'. ^[6]

By May 2009, the airline had flown 55 million cumulative passengers.^[7]

Those were the rest of the airplanes. That's from MAS which is the Malaysian Airlines. Tickets cost more than AirAsia of course, AND provides better comfort. :)

Another plane of AirAsia. Not so colorful as the first one. :P

Okay maybe it's because I took it in black and white. But still, it's only red and white mostly. So yea.

The people 'under those gigantic wings'. I wonder what do you call them?

I like this shot! Looks like one of those shots that will be put up on a billboard. Right?

ByeBye Kota Kinabalu.

And now, EVERYONE CAN FLY! =)

Flowers do Blossom at my Work Place.. =)

2009-05-12T12:40:00.000+08:00

Halo~ I'm back! So long since I've updated this blog. Hmmm. Everyone's been busy lately including myself, due to that, I've had no time to update things here. Oh well, to make it up to my fellow visitors, here I present to you guys...

Shots of flowers that I took at my work place!

I work as a coach. I work at the swimming pool. Swimming pool = sports complex. =) Okay in easier words, beautiful flowers grow here. And I'm lucky enough to have the skills to capture them into film. =)

I have no idea what flower this is, I've tried searching online but to no avail. Haih. But all I know is this one's still sleeping... and...

This is how it looks like when it's awake! =) Beautiful right? Looks like a cabbage though. But a very very niiice cabbage. Haha.

A Hibiscus! =)

You do know what's a hibiscus right? It's our country's national flower! Also known as 'bunga raya'.

The leaves are alternate, simple, ovate to lanceolate, often with a toothed or lobed margin. The flowers are large, conspicuous, trumpet-shaped, with five or more petals, ranging from white to pink, red, purple or yellow, and from 4-15 cm broad.The color of the Hibiscus grows darker as it ages. The fruit is a dry five-lobed capsule, containing several seeds in each lobe, which are released when the capsule splits open at maturity.

Hot pink flower. Another flower which I couldn't locate the name of it. *sigh* Might as well just enjoy the beautiful color of it...

Notice that there's something on the stigma? =) That's a bug! A bug feeding on the flower! Sometimes beautiful flowers don't need to be the center of attention, other living things can have their chances. Hehehe.

Tried taking shots of it in Black & White. Tell me what you think?

I found this near the Lake. =)

This.. is a.. PLUMERIA! Also known as 'Frangipani'. All this while I've been walking around not knowing what it is called, but haha, NOW I do. =D

They are now common naturalised plants in southern and southeastern Asia, and in local folk beliefs provide shelter to ghosts and demons. The scent of the Plumeria has been associated with a vampire in Malay folklore, the pontianak. They are associated with temples in both Hindu and Buddhist cultures, though Hindus do not use the flowers in their temple offerings.

In several Pacific islands, such as Tahiti, Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tonga and the Cook Islands Plumeria is used for making leis. In modern Polynesian culture, it can be worn by women to indicate their relationship status - over the right ear if seeking a relationship, and over the left if taken.

There was a bug on this one too! Nice!

Now this is one of the shots that I had fun doing. It's great and cool to know that you can do THIS with your DSLR! Some people thought I photoshopped this one, but NOOO, I don't do that. I have no time for photoshop as I'm all original. =)

Did I mention that I love white flowers? =)

The END.

Teamwork

2009-04-08T21:09:00.001+08:00

I apologize for the super late update. It's been almost a month now, due to the hectic schedules and competitions, I have NO TIME to update this blog. But I do update my photos in my other photoblog which is http://v3jetsphotography.aminus3.com. =) You may drop by there too!

Ok here are a few shots that I took nearby my house. It's about ants working as a team, supporting each other so that all of them could get on to the other end. It's nice to see little creatures like these work, cos you might not really have the chance to see something like this again. Cos maybe you're too busy to have a look and get values out of it. =) I'm lucky I have my camera. Haha.

These ants are also known as 'Army Ants'.

Army ants are active, aggressive insects who live in temporary nests that they make by linking together their own bodies! They move their colonies regularly in search of prey that may include everything from insects to small mammals. There are about 150 species of army ant. They are found mostly in the warm tropical and subtropical regions of the Neotropics in South and Central America. In Africa, similar types of ants – driver ants – are also sometimes called army ants.

Special adaptations to their on-the-move lifestyle make army ants fascinating to study. Like all ants, their mouths have two scissor-like jaws called mandibles. The mandibles are not for eating. They are for crushing, cutting, and biting. Army ants can only swallow liquids.

An army ant community is divided into three groups: a queen, drones (males), and workers (females). There are several different kinds of workers. Each type has a different kind of mandible. The giant mandibles of the guard army ants protect the smaller workers from predators. The medium-sized mandibles belong to the soldier army ants. Their main job is to capture prey, cut it up, and deliver it to the colony.

The name army ant (or legionary ant or "Marabunta") is applied to over 200 ant species, in different lineages, due to their aggressive predatory foraging groups, known as "raids", in which huge numbers of ants all forage simultaneously over a certain area, attacking prey en masse.

Another shared feature is that unlike most ant species, army ants do not construct permanent nests, and an army ant colony moves almost incessantly over the time it exists. All species are members of the true ant family Formicidae,but there are several groups that have independently evolved the same basic behavioral and ecological syndrome. This syndrome is often referred to as "legionary behavior", and is an example of convergent evolution.

I'm a Nature Lover.

2009-03-18T12:13:00.000+08:00

Thanks to this photography thing, I'm so into nature now. Haha. What I mean is, without these beautiful nature that surrounds us, I won't have anything beautiful and natural to capture with my 'wife' right? So, GO NATURE! I think I might even go into the thick forest just to get some beautiful photographs.

Okay these pictures were mostly taken outside my house, near some 'longkang' *drain* and don't worry everything's clean and pretty. =)

This is in the inside of some flower that I saw. Tried something new now! =) Glad that some people actually liked this one. Love how the sunlight shows through the petals..

Also taken from outside my house. Looks like a morning glory flower but I don't have any idea what it really is...

It's SHIMMERING LIKE A GLITTER!
@_@~~

Someone said this one looks like a bunch of stars but haha, stars that will hurt you.

More Pictures of Flowers from OUTSIDE MY HOUSE! =D

A combination of blue and purple. Blurple.

Nice leh. *applaud's self*

OH WAIT!
This flower reminds me of lavenders! haha. The one with nice smell one.. hehehe...

DRAGONFLIES!

Yeap you got that right. There were butterflies flying and buzzing around outside my house. I never cared about them before but since I'm into photography, I'm more interested to everything. Haha. Even dragonflies! Trust me, they're not boring creatures after all.

That one up there's really nice isn't it? My babypanda's favorite cos it's in her favorite color. Which reminds me of her actually. =)

There were a few buzzing around.
I TELL YOU!
I spent an hour just trying to get them to stay in one place. Somehow I wished that there was a small little microropes to tie these creatures down. Damn.

But all the work was worth it. =)
See the details on the wings? You can even see the transparency on its wings! Nice..
I like it I like it I like it..

Just like an art.
Wait, photography IS an art!

One dragonfly stucked itself on the wall, so what again lah! *tangkap/captured*

haha. I mean, with my camera/wife. =)

I should really walk around my neighbourhood more often, god knows what I'm gonna run into right? haha.

"I Took the Moon Down For You"

2009-03-17T11:42:00.000+08:00

Took shots of the moon few days ago. The moon was shining so brightly and in a very captivating way! It shone through the whole of KK, and probably to places that weren't surrounded by clouds. I tried to capture shots of the moon early in the morning too, and the results are satisfying... =)

Taken During Night Time

"You're like the sunshine you brighten my day
With everything you do and all that you say
I'm like the moon so dark and cold,
Without you in my arms to hold.

Like the sun and the moon we're so far apart
But you're always with me here in my heart
When I see you, I glow when you shine on me
Like the sun on the moon across mountain and sea.

But when we're together and I kiss your lips
It's so wonderfully special like a total eclipse
As we drift apart slowly on me, your light glows
Like the space between us my love for you grows."

FOLKLORE

Full Moons are traditionally associated with temporal insomnia, insanity (hence the terms lunacy and lunatic) and various "magical phenomena" such as lycanthropy. Psychologists, however, have found that there is no strong evidence for effects on human behavior around the time of a full moon.^[7] They find that studies are generally not consistent, with some showing a positive effect and others showing a negative effect. In one instance, the December 23, 2000 issue of the British Medical Journal published two studies on dog bite admission to hospitals in England and Australia. The study of the Bradford Royal Infirmary found that dog bites were twice as common during a full moon, whereas the study conducted by the public hospitals in Australia found that they were less likely.

Many neopagans hold a monthly ritual called an Esbat at each full moon, while some people practicing traditional Chinese religions prepare their ritual offerings to their ancestors and deities on every full and new moon.

Near side of the moon. =)

The side of the Moon that faces Earth is called the near side, and the opposite side the far side. The far side is often inaccurately called the "dark side," but in fact, it is illuminated exactly as often as the near side: once per lunar day, during the new moon phase we observe on Earth when the near side is dark

Took it in black and white.
This one reminds me of Twilight, New Moon.

Looks like the Earth.
Still so beautiful as ever!

Makes you wonder, what's out there?
Aliens? Haha.
Like this shot though. It's like the Moon's the only thing out there that stands out more, obviously, than the Stars. I should try capturing the stars some other time huh?
=P

Taken During Sunrise

This was taken at my workplace. The Moon was still clearly visible and the contrast between the Moon and the color of the sky is just simply eye catching.

The sky's almost bright and the sun's coming out now.

The proper English name for Earth's natural satellite is, simply, the Moon (capitalized). Moon is a Germanic word, related to the Latin mensis (month). It is ultimately a derivative of the Proto-Indo-European root me-, also represented in measure (time), with reminders of its importance in measuring time in words derived from it like Monday, month and menstrual. The related adjective is lunar, as well as an adjectival prefix seleno- and suffix -selene (from selēnē, the Ancient Greek word for the Moon). In English, the word moon exclusively meant "the Moon" until 1665, when it was extended to refer to the recently-discovered natural satellites of other planets.Subsequently, these objects were given distinct names in order to avoid confusion.The Moon is occasionally referred to by its Latin name Luna, primarily in science fiction.

The beautiful view at the Likas Sport's Complex lake.

The sunlight overshadowed the Moon but you can still see bits and pieces of it, no?

It's nice to have such a beautiful 'satellite'. Makes my job much more great!

My Hometown, Papar.

2009-03-11T19:20:00.000+08:00

I'm a Papar-ian if that's how you'd like me to call it. Yup, that's where my hometown is. I usually go back there once in awhile, whenever there's any occasion or the whole family just feels like going back. Obviously, the 'kampung' scenery and surroundings made my hands itch to snap again! These pictures were taken awhile ago, but it's never too late to blog about it right?

We went to the fish market in town. Lots of different species of fishes I must say? If you notice, there's something inside that red-looking fish's mouth. Have any idea what it is?

See the small little tail?

Yes, it's another tiny little fish in a bigger fish's mouth. Nice? Haha.

Looks like 'ikan basung'.
I think?

Ahuh. You guessed it. Those are sharks. Have no idea where they got it from, of course from the sea larr, but you know what I mean right? O owh, my stomach is starting to grumble already! SLURPS!

Stingray or also known as 'Ikan Pari'. There was an article that I came across once about a giant Stingray and it was totally humongous! I couldn't remember how big it was exactly but it sure looks scary to me.

Giant Stingray Picture: <-- click to see!

Uncle selling fishes.

That's my dearest dad. Haha. Behind him was his former primary school, Sekolah Cheng Hwa. I had to zoom in the picture to actually see the name of the school. Wow, such a long time ago eh dad? Primary school some more!

Somewhere in the middle of the town.

Black and White.

In photography, you'll get the during the snapping of those pictures and once you got home, open all of them on the computer and you'll get to see every story behind every single picture. That's why I'm into this. It captures every moment, even some moments that I never thought I'd get to relive through again.

The doggy that takes care of the place or kampung?
I guess.

I'm a fan of flowers!
No I'm not 'soft-soft'.
I just like how they look like and the colours, very captivating!

I love how the color stands out.
I love everything that stands out actually. =)

Red. =)

Wilted flower.

Reminds me of Petronas Twin Tower.
Haha!

I climbed all the way up to the hill just to get that picture up there. You can see almost the whole of Papar when you're up there so I took this one to show to you guys! It's tiring leh.

'Batu Sumpah'.
Cursed stone?
Believe it.

Chickens.
Donno whether its a cockerel or a hen. Haha. Looks like hens to me?

Chicks!
VERY CUTE LEH!
I feel like squeezing it. Do you know how tiny it is comparing to the size of my palm?

'Ikan bakar'.
You burn the fish and that's what you get.

Of course not throw it into the burning choals la.
Like that one up there. That's how you do it. It's very delicious okay?
=)
Most Malaysians will know about this, but I'm not sure about Americans, Europeans or other people around the world?

Cat.
Miming?

I like black and white pictures. They look so, cool.

Owh okay.
Niiiice chicken. Please do not attack me can?

Hen or rooster?

Okay, now confirm hen already. Haha.

That's my little cousin. Cute isn't he?

'Kuih makmur'.
Usually Malays or to those whom celebrates Hari Raya will have this 'kuih' everytime it's Hari Raya. Nice. =) Sweet sweet like that.

Tarap.

Tarap is a fruit belonging to the family of Jackfruits also known as 'Nangka' which has a taste like a fusion of banana and mangosteen.
It's really nice!

He's trying to 'steal' some for us. =)

More Taraps.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marang

Mangoes!
I love love love love mangoes. There was this one time, we had this whole basin filled with mangoes, my dad and I finished the whole thing. Of course my dad ate 10 of it and I had the rest of them, which was 20.
Haha.
Please do not look down on me.
Never ever EVER look down on me.

That's my aunt. My dad's sis. =)

Vivienne and my aunt. Pointing at a cow dung trying to freak me out. Haih.

'Ubi Kayu' also known as Tapioca.
Google it please!
I have problems copying and pasting the definitions from Wiki.

Dad and my aunt.
Was laughing at something. =D

That's also my aunt. =)

The paddy field.
I like sceneries!
I can even get married to them.
Ok, just kidding!

Bamboo plant.
If I were to be a REAL PANDA, that would be my main food. Haha.

Panda in the bamboo forest.
Panda=ME.
Get it?

Taken from 'bawah kulung'.
That's what our local people call it.
'Bawah kulung' means under the house.

Hope you enjoyed these pictures! =) It's nice to be back to your hometown once in awhile, and run away from the hecticness of the life in the city. Sometimes, all you need is peace and quiet and some of the 'kampung' feeling, no? =)

St.Francis Convent's Charity Bazaar

2009-03-09T18:28:00.000+08:00

I WOKE UP LATE.

I woke up late yesterday! It was my intention to do so since I had no work in the morning... But someone called ah.. Donno who ah.. Woke me up ah.. So early.. Haih... I was so sleepy some more! But think think again... I should go la.. So I went...

I went to the St.Francis Convent's Charity Bazaar! The bazaar was held to raise funds for the soon to be built building in Bukit Padang. Almost opposite to KIS a.k.a an International school.

I went to Convent last year, or was it this year? Okay, I'm sure it was last year la. Went there to do my part as a Malaysian citizen! Of course, to vote for the right "parti". Hehehe.

Okay back to the bazaar. The whole place was so crowded and it was so damn hot!

The 1st person and probably the only person I looked for once I reach the school.
Konea and her best friend, Asyiqin.

They sold roasted lamb also. People actually ate roasted lamb at 8am in the morning. You GUYS are so lucky the school provided a toilet especially for 'guys'.

But of course the toilet was on top of the hill la. hahaha.
Girls' one so near. =.="

I think that stall belonged to EFA a.k.a the Ex-Franciscans Association, since it's very special and all.
Looks nice.

Puteri and the girl who made my shoes dirty.
And also didn't make me angry.
Because... because lah!

I donno why she so vain one.
So different from her friends. Weird leh..

The school's building.
Very veeeeerrryyyy old.
Donno how many 'puluh tahun' already.
Looks better in black and white though.

The babypanda and the panda.
She made my shoes all wet and dirty.
Argh!

Best friends.
Asyiqin, Konea and Alyssa.

She got nothing to do.
The one on the phone donno dating with who. Haih.

The morning sky was so blue and clear.
But in the evening.. WAAAH!
Heavy rain leh.

Best friends also.
Konea and Puteri.
Donno how many best friends she have. Luckily got only one boyfriend. =.=

One of my favourite shot. =)

Her favourite shot.
That's the people she always hang out with in school.
Even in outside school. Sometimes I become their bodyguard. You know lah, under age. =P
Asyiqin, Konea, Alyssa and Nathalene.

Can you see how crowded the place is?
That's only around 9am.
You have no idea how it looks like around 11am.
sigh.

"Uncle! Lai lai lai~ Buy pokok bunga..."
Seriously, they got sell pokok bunga also.

People starting to serbu the school during this time.
Mostly male teenagers. Trying to 'pok pok' the convent girls there.
haih.
I am so lucky.
Haha.

The Dewan Kecil is very Kecil.
Hahaha.
That's the prefect stall on the right side.

Open gas oso donno how.
Someday she might even burn the whole house down.
Haih.
.
.
.
.
.
I left early to change my shoes because of the uncomfortable wetness. Haih...
But then I came back! =) Yeah~

My favourite shot of her also.
This was taken on the 1st floor of the building next to the Main Hall.
Love the color of it.

Notice the girl that looks very sakai, donno looking at what?
Ah, that is Cassandra Ng also known as Purut.
Swimmer.

It was an okay-okay bazaar for me. The heat was totally teruk la.. But it got better in the afternoon, not that hot. But lots of people! Hmmm...

St.Francis Convent.
Sara, Rachel and Serena's former school...
And her school now.

Memorable 2008 Christmas Day... =)

2009-03-04T21:38:00.000+08:00

On the 25th of December last year, of course, it was Christmas! Wished people early that morning and later somewhere around in the evening, I got the chance to meet up with her. =) Yeah~ Walked around the Mall, Center Point? And then later on, we, her sister and her "s.o", her and I headed to the Tg.Aru Beach~ =) Hands were so itchy to photograph things! I think I just had my new filter so of course I wanted to test it. Hehehe...

Here.
Pictures of that day!
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That's her sister. Tantinie. Or we just call her by Ninie. Ignore the hats, they were so excited about Christmas, they were walking around town wearing that silly hat.
But it was cute.
Two santarinas walking in town. How rare. Haha.

Our coconut drinks. =)

Her and her sister. =)

Again. Told you, two santarinas. Both in a look-alike dress. Haha.

Indulging on her ice-cream.

Tried on the filter. Love the result! =) This is one of my babypanda's favourite shot. She stole it. Haha.

Another one. Also her favourite.

I'm seriously, good, in, taking, sceneries aren't I?
*PROUD*

Teddy given by Celina! Merry Christmas!
And of course, my infamous talented hand holding the bear and making the bear more cute. Haha.

I think this was taken by her, Konea, babypanda, HAHA.
If I'm not mistaken la.

She couldn't stand the heat. =(

Her and her pink baby. I just love seeing her in dresses. Should buy her more dresses! =)

Aren't we just so sweet?
Years of hardwork and we're still standing still as ever.

=)
Vachel and Konea.

Donno what she was doing. I think she tried to take my photo?
Nah~ my camera more canggih than yours. =P

Yerr. Trying to act cute some more. Haha.

No one knows how I feel, even her. I can't explain all the reasons to these feelings everytime I lay my eyes on her.
Haha. Emotional.
Sentimental.
JIWANG!

Konea: "Me?"

Like this shot.

Please do not fall or you will show some 'things' that you're not supposed to. Haha.

Lots of other people brought their camera along that day too.
Looks like everyone, I mean, EVERY SINGLE PERSON, is into cameras now.

Sony Cybershot T2 advertisement... =)

Overall, it was one of those days that I will remember for the rest of my life. Nice right my pictures? Credits goes to me please~

GOOD NIGHT PEOPLE!

Late Chinese New Year Post! SORRY!

2009-03-04T20:18:00.000+08:00

I'm trying to update as much as I could! I took so many photographs but didn't blog of any. WHAT LA! Nevermind, I'm making it up to my fellow viewers! * if I even have any *

SO HERE!
Some lions 'tung-tung chang'-ing~

If you can see the human beings inside, just keep quiet larr okay. Don't ruin the Chinese New Year mood and don't ruin the kids' fantasies of seeing a pretty HUGE lion dancing.

But of course the fact is got people inside wan la. HAHA.

Stare into my eyes~

I oso wanna jump from one poll to another poll. I oso can wat. But of course with the ambulans around and the best paramedics in town la. I'm very 'expensive' okay?

Very hebat can. I oso want! Again, I am too 'expensive' to be broken. Haha.
*proudness*

MOOD SPOILER!

man in blue. *sigh* You should not have shown yourself. Tch.

There he is again!

This one very special leh~
Purpur colour some more. Makes you feel like you wanna eat them. Got this one candy, I forgot the name ah, same colour with that lion. Haha.

Nyummy~

Through the eyes of my Camera~

2009-03-02T18:35:00.000+08:00

I work at the pool. From as early as 5am till 7.30 pm at night. There's a jogging track near the pool with nice looking trees, especially if taken by MY camera, hehe, so one day, I snapped them! HAH!

Somehow, these pictures made me love the nature more and more.
Save the planet people. =)

Pictures were taken around 4pm. Told my kids to run while I spend my time relaxing. HAHA.
Poor little kids.
Train hard la you all.

Just to remind you guys that the sun was burning my skin! Clearly the global warming effects are affecting me and my life. Haih.

Actually, saw these trees 2 days earlier, just that 2 days later then I decided to photograph them. Mana la tau suddenly kena tebang right? haha.

Nice leaves. If I were a monkey, I would chew on them.
Haha.
Ok bah, you people just enjoy the pictures okay? I don't know what to say man!
Pictures are worth a thousand words, make use of them!

Try staring at this one for 10 minutes, you might even start weeping with mucus dripping out of your nose.
Who knows suddenly you'll notice an ant who's crying for the death of its soulmate on the leaves?

Anything can happen man.

They remind me of halloween.

Halloween trees are scary looking!

Like this one!

Trees.
May all of you be haunted with scary looking trees tonight.
Good night people!

Sutera Harbour KK!

2009-02-26T20:04:00.000+08:00

These pictures were taken last year! Like 3 months ago? Just that I didn't have the time to upload them AND blog about them. Was very busy AND lazy. Lazy worms are still attacking me, forever and ever.

Sutera Harbour is one of the best places to shoot sunset sceneries. Especially by the jetties. They're amazingly beautiful! Imagine the real scenery, how beautiful it is, when even in photographs, it takes your breath away...

Another one. I'm pretty good at this. :)

That's Rachel and my aunt. My aunt very young leh. Oh, correction, my 'darling'. =)

More scenery shots!~

Annual 7k Charity Runs are usually held here. =) Hopefully this year I'll be able to make it if no competition clashes with it. Hmmm.

I'm still improving my skills on capturing portrait photos. =) Another experiment of mine. Haha.

Rachel and Sara.

Vicki and Rachel.

More portrait photos. I just love to shoot photos of people! Haha.

Nice isn't it?

A natural I must say. =) haha.

She made my job easier..

"Underneath pokok kelapa.... I will fall for you~~"

=P

Me to you bear. =) Very cute leh the bear.

Okay.. This is a combination of two advertisements.
First advertisement : Corns
Second advertisement: Phones
Combined = Enjoy your corns while browsing for gadgets.
corns. O.o

With kipas some more. Hebat leh~

Taken at Gaya Street! Remember my previous post about Gaya Street? :)

Okay. Enjoy these pictures!

Next post coming up!

Blink of a Lense

A day before Chinese New Year Eve

Sunday Breakfast ^^

Seafood BaK Kut Teh

Photos by my Old Buddy

Flower Hunt in the City

Sunset at Tanjung Aru

Orchidaceae

Sipitang Taekwondo Upgrading

some close up shot of plants ^^

scenery on the way to mountain trip

KADAZANDUSUN BELIEFS

Bee~

Kota Kinabalu City Mosque In The Night

Random shot at my hometown

Nelumbo a.k.a Lotus

Atkinson Clock Tower

suvit a.k.a sunbird

Titanic?

Harvest Festival - Kotobian Tadau Tagazo Do Kaamatan! =)

Double Six Monument

Me. Vachel. and.. more me. =)

I present to you....

Pictures taken awhile ago....

AirAsia: The Best Low Cost Airline

Flowers do Blossom at my Work Place.. =)

Teamwork

I'm a Nature Lover.

"I Took the Moon Down For You"

My Hometown, Papar.

St.Francis Convent's Charity Bazaar

Memorable 2008 Christmas Day... =)

Late Chinese New Year Post! *SORRY!*

Through the eyes of my Camera~

Sutera Harbour KK!

Late Chinese New Year Post! SORRY!