Picture of the day

Miniature Schnauzer.

Been with my family for 4 years. I no longer take care of tis dog.
She loves my mum more than me. So she sticks to her.
If you want any advice on this breed, let me know.
Miniature schnauzers are known for their lively personality.
Highly intelligent and easy to train. A very faithful companion.
It takes commitment and interest to take care of dogs.
Never keep a dog if you are reluctant to bathe, feed and walk the door.

Picture Above: Taken on the 12th of June 2007 at around 1:45pm.
Pei Pei was jumping to reach my legs and I took pics from above.

The forgotten town, Paloh

It was a Saturday morning. Took a 45-min slow drive from Lian Seng Garden, Kluang to Paloh, to see how things have changed in the small town. It is about 37km from my place. Getting there is pretty simple. Drive along Jalan Mersing towards Kahang and arrive the traffic junction after the SSAJ school. Turn left at the traffic junction and drive straight until you reach the small town.

Just as I thought, the pace of life in Paloh is usually very slow, a BMW Z4, 5 Ferraris, 2 Porsche, and a few other sports car drove past me at a pace which I could hardly distinguish which car models went past my car. What r these guys doing in Paloh?

I took my quick lunch at about 11:30pm and walked a few rounds and end up walking Logan's shop.

Logan Pendandan Rambut

Logan is a friendly person. He invited me in 2 his shop and told me many stories about him self when he was young. He was a photographer and he shown me thousands of photos he has taken when he travelled around the world.

Never would i have imagined a person staying a shop house like this, is an experience Vidal Sassoon certified hair stylist. He shown me his certificate right at the top of the mirror and his two sons were smiling.

He attended many cut & color classes and training in the London Acandemy of Vidal many years ago and he has been to other parts of the world for training as well.

Certified Vidal Sassoon Hairstylist.

Someone to help him and take care of the place for him.

His youngest son. Life doesn't get much better and simpler than this.

Logan's shop is just behind this railway track

A small town indeed, but there is a railway station which has been operating for more than 40 years. For many years, the people in Paloh travelled on a daily basis to work in Kluang, Johor Bahru and Singapore by train.

You can still see many classic cars and bikes in this small part of Johor.

Traditional baskets are still being used till this day to carry foods.

The house may be old, but the structure remains tough. Very much tougher than many new condominiums in Kuala Lumpur.

You can't see this in Kuala Lumpur.
Many kids and young adults and have no idea where their parents used to stay.

Wind blowing in your face.

How do you subdue yourself in the calmness of the afternoon as you notice the beautiful shades of aqua blues of the oceans? As you try to relax and take a nap, you hear different kind of fishes swimming around the area, and not very far from where you lie down, you see spinner dolphins jumping playfully. Then for a while, you realize the wind blowing in your face and hair. Did you just feel silence of the sea soothing your body and soul or feel the presents of God Almighty and his wonders? Praise God for His love and mercy.

4 Pictures Above: Taken in Kapalai Resort, Sipadan
Sabah Malaysia February 2007

Photojournalist

After blogging for a week now, I realized that my interest is really about journaling real life events. Journal article that tell true stories. There are many types of journalism, but for now, I just write things that happens around me. Hence.. I also bought my own camera, hopefully, to capture photos that will reflect true stories.

Interestingly, many photos of weddings today are taken using photojournalism style which help the bride and the bridegroom to remember events around them rather than them only on that special day. If any of you or your friends r gonna have weddings this year, please let me know. Just love 2 take moment-capturing photos that tells a story.

In a nutshell, I do not like to take studio or product or business photos. Not very much into portrait or photo session. I don't like the subject to appear on the photo specifically for the beauty of the photo. That is so unnatural. So unreal.

I prefer photojournalist style photography that capture real life stories which makes it all worthwhile for me. Nevertheless, whenever there is opportunity in all kinds of photography, it is good to humble ourselves and learn it.

Picture above: Take at 5:43Pm on the 12th of Dec 2006 at Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.

Most beautiful voice since Carol King

In the midst of the crowd, a pleasing tune accompanied by a beautiful voice slowly attracted the people from other houses nearby. I was busy taking pictures of the guests outside the bridegroom's new house in Klang. I asked myself, "Nice CD. Who sang this song?". The song ended on a catchy note and I continued to take pictures. About 10 minutes later, another enjoyable song was played from the CD. A very matured voice...singing a traditional malay song. "Beautiful song," I said. I continued to take pictures again. It was not until I walked pass the main gate, suddenly realized the songs that I thought played from a CD was actually sang by a little girl. Live. Amazed by what I heard, I stood there for a while and listened to her voice attentively again.

The person with the most beautiful voice since Carol King, was right in front of me. I snapped a few photos of her. As I was snapping, I also realized it was the same girl who played on the swing earlier on. No wonder her dad told me.. she will be next Siti Nurhaliza earlier on. Incredible voice.
I shook hands with her mum and asked about her singing. Her mum was sitting next to her all the time, encouraging her as she sang more than a dozen songs until 5pm. Amazing. I wished I could sing songs on the bridegroom's house on that day. But it was time to go. I believe, as bright as her eyes, she will be a bright star one day.

Pictures above: Taken on the 3rd of June 2007 at Bukit Tinggi, Klang, Malaysia.

Nouvelle Star

A friend of mine sent me a video of this amazing "Hum a Tune" performer at Nouvelle Star yesterday. This french reality television is very similiar to American Idol. The show searches for the best singer in La Francophonie.

However, this guy is unlike any other singer.

Watch the video.





He also performed in a Morning show and the video can be seen at
http://www.devilducky.com/media/60062/

Search for "Nouvelle Star Joseph" in Google.com. Fantastic performer.

Instead of singing, this dude creates tune by using his mouth.
Superb. I wish I can do that. Well, there are many things to learn in life other than taking photos. Matt, let's get a guitar in Singapore quickly.

How long will you still be in love?

The earth makes one small rotation, it's one day

That represents one day they are in love
A righteous and beautiful attachment
No limit, and also no defects

The earth makes one large rotation, it's one year
That represents one year they are together
A permanent horizon
Like their heart, it will never change

How long will they still be in love?
Loving each other for 10,000 years, to overcome ordeals courageously
Flying through time's narrow limits
They pull the plane of this area close
To link them together tightly

Picture Above: They lady above is 84 years old. Both of them were there to attend their grandson's wedding. Taken in Bukit Tinggi, Klang, Malaysia at 4:07PM on the 2nd of June 2007.

Happens every morning.

It was a scenic Friday morning, far to beautiful to have it spent indoors. As usual, getting up out of bed, stretching my arms away from the body and my vision slowly started to focus the image of my clock. By 7:30 am, I left my condo to the usual area I exercise. A few regulars who came here early in the morning were just about to leave as I reach the main gate. I contemplated for a while. A long while. I sat down beside the corner, looking at their expression chatting with friends around and I realized different age group appreciates different values in life and suddenly...I realized.. I have been here in the morning for more than 150 times since 2003. Without wasting much time.. I did a 15-min stretch and walked at the park for about 40 minutes.

As soon as I arrived at a small bridge, a large number of pigeons flew to some group of people who were there 2 feed these birds some bread. Stopped at the small bridge and took some morning shots. Truly, these pigeons are the symbol of peace. In places where people live in peace, there are pigeons. From the other side, the wild monkeys, in their hunger for food came without hesitation and many pigeons fled in terror while some remain at the top of the stand.

If you are a regular here, you know this happens virtually every morning at Kiara Park, Taman Tun Dr. Ismail.

Picture Above: Taken at 9:13AM on the 1st of June 2007.

Living in Bali

Looking towards the sea at the Seminyak beach on the south west of Bali, Seija knows how far she has travelled since her days as a graduate student in Finland. After travelling to many parts of Asia and a few times to Bali, she knew someday she has to stay in this small part of the world. From the sea, from the sun, bouncing off the walls, off the glass, off the rice fields, Seija was looking for reflection in nature and delving into the happy parts of her life. She wanted to live in a relaxed atmosphere and maintaining some basic international lifestyle, dining and shopping, while still retaining its traditional spirit and breathtaking natural surroundings. Ever since she lived in Bali 4 years ago, she couldn't be happier doing business and raising Anna here.

Seija is not the first foreigner who has found "home" on the island of Bali. There are approximately 25,000 foreigners living and working here. Most of them are staying in southern coast in Seminyak and parts of Kerobokan from Ulamas to Petitengent. There are also a great number of expatriates living in Ubud, known as an art center of Bali.

For Seija, raising Anna in Bali is easier than I would have thought. The lifestyle is Bali makes it very affordable for them to get proper education and with the growing number of bule kids, many parents are putting their kids in a playgroup to encourage interaction with the locals few hours a day.

Staying in Seminyak area allows Seija and Anna to go to the beach very frequently and enjoy the Balinese carefree lifestyle. Although Seminyak is a township and a residential area on the south west of Bali, it remains a very less crowded place compare to Kuta beach. On a sunny day, you will see many expatriate enjoying their jog, locals playing football and many couples having a good walk here.

Picture Above: Taken at 5:53 PM on the 10th of March 2007 at Seminyak Beach, Kerobokan, Bali.

Morning

Beautiful - beautiful morning outside,
Bright with the sunshine and glows in the sky.
Birdies are singing and dewdrops are falling:
It's a beautiful morning outside.

Day after day in this wonderful way,
Nature is showing its wonderful face,
With sunshine at mornings, and cheers every where;
It is morning again in this world.

I was eager in heaven to go on a stroll;
It was mother who who showed me this wonderful world,
With radiance and sunshine and glory to all;
I forgot the heavens the place of my soul.

Now that I am grown up a man in this world,
I will sing to the glory of God's given love.
I will look to the sunshine for youth and for joy,
For sunshine brings morning to all.

Picture Above: Taken at 8:30AM, 1st of June 2007 at Kiara Park

Alisha

All she ever wanted was to play. To participate with other kids in drawing pictures of animals and flowers. To have fun actually. But it was time for her to go. Her dad struggled for a while to find a pen and a paper but finally wrote an email address on it and past it to me. "Terence, please send me the photos of her to this email address. It's my wife's email address," said Mr Syahir, a proud father of his 7-year-old daughter. Alisha's mum added, "She likes the camera very much". In reply I said, "Oh really.. I guess she is practicing to be a model in the future". They smiled. A few minutes later, I called Alisha, and she gave me one of those friendliest natural look and smile. A smile that seems to throw everything around her out of focus. A smile that seems she had known me for years.

Her mum called her as it was time for them to leave, but she ignored and stay focus on the drawing paper around her. Her mum called her again the second time. Alisha gave a disgruntled expression as her emotions slowly became bittersweet. She got up on two feet and looked at her mum. Her face would go into one of those rare stern looks. As she was walking away, she looked back to see the crowd of kids at the lower ground floor oval. She's disheartened. Her eyes tells that she wanted to stay longer and have more fun. But it was really time to leave the Carnevale Onecard event at the 1 Utama Shopping Centre

Picture Above: Taken at 5:10PM 27th May 2007.