- Never Stop Dreaming -
Just after a few days of intense heat frying my brains...I was already whining and screaming about the crazy summer. Even until now I can never and will never understand why or how some people just love summer so much. I mean yeah the flesh parade on the beach are great but I am no fan of half-baked chocolate-bar-walking-wannabes. I prefer the night-roaming-vampire-white species over anything else.
And then with no more choices left, I screamed out loud in my Facebook status that I really HATE summer, the bugs, the heat, the sweat, the lethargy, etc. and my my my gosh. In a twist of fate, talk about prayers answered, gossip about Heaven playing Facebook...the clear blue sky with not a single cloud in sight of the day was transformed overnight in the darkness. Massive menacing storm clouds crept in to haunt any young kids in the middle of the night to rob the sky of any crystals, moon, or light and unleashed tears of darkness.
Splatter splatter, howling winds and leaves rustling were all that accompanied me thru slumberland last nite. Morning was greeted with the same thunderstorm last night as well...distance mountain ranges were embraced in thick grey fog leaving only the summit partially visible, my my what a sight! Temperatures plunged to a cool 23 degrees for a good change but I really wonder how long will this last because in the abscence of the snow, rain will be my next obsession.
All these really led me to ponder, God, did you really saw my Facebook Rave? If you did, would it be possible to add you? Have just so many questions I would like to ask you...stuffs like do you have PlayStation 3 up there? What do you do when you are free? Who spin the white fluffy clouds? Can I pay you a visit without dying?
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Japanese...
- Never Stop Dreaming -
Over the short span of about 2 years here in this relatively unknown valley, I have witness quite a number of extraordinary events that are quite intruiging. From massive "live" volcanos, mountain ranges to sacred valleys and castles. This place has some of the most rustic Japan to offer if you think Japan was all about Tokyo or Osaka or Kyoto.
But all that nature and landscape aside...it's the local people, kids and folks here that I find to be the most memorable. Kids here were taught since young to follow rules and boy do they REALLY follow them that is until they are old enuff to think for themselves and go rogue. Take for example a simple card game with the cards faced down on a board, each card had a hand scribbled point which was clearly visible on the back of the card. Well you can literally cheat if you want but that would take the fun outta the game...
I didn't say anything to these kids, didn't give specific rules not to cheat but they took the initiative to cover their eyes and pick the cards randomly when playing with their friends. This really amazed me since such situation will NEVER be possible in SG. Probing further, I found out that here in this part of rural Japan where competition is not as intense as in Tokyo or SG, the parents teach the kids that when they find even a measely 10 yen on the road, they are NOT allowed to pocket it but to give it to the nearest Police Post. And yes these kids really do that...I have seen it.
While given Japan's technological advancement, kids here still go out and play in the sand, run in the sun and get all dirty. They immerse themselves in the wild and little girls go running after dragonflies and catch them. Bugs, beetles, insects for once are not considered scary and mashed on sight. They are in fact loved by most kids who would catch them in the wild and keep them as pets. Of course only beetles are kept as pets while the rest are simply play things. I would see a kid in SG scream at the sight of a dragonfly and "shoe" any other creepy crawlies at sight. Though I am not a huge fan of bugs and insects, such scenes are really good for a change. The only thing that might be a little less fortunate are that they are not that computer-inclined.
Then it really comes to a point where I believe that every child when born is innocent. It's simply THE environment that they grow up in that makes them Hitler or Pope. I do believe that the inborn trait of a child itself may be even neligible in contributing to the goodness or evilness of the child. When I say the environment, I refer to the place, family, association, contacts, life-style in general and does not point to s specific factor since ALL these factors will ultimately mold the child.
Kids aside, at my work place...almost everyone sits on chairs with rollers. So from the young to the old, once in a while they fall from their chairs because the chair slipped away from their asses for no apparently reason. No foul play here but simply the USER's error I believe. Each time I swore I tried really really hard not to laugh out loud but it's really really funny to see them fall. It's almost like watching those Japanese Prank TV shows live...
Anyway Summer is finally here since the humidity and heat is similiar to SG. I really dread such season after experiencing white white winter. But still it's better than SG since in Summer, the skies will be in rich deep ocean blue void of any traces of fluffy clouds. The visible mountain ranges with more mountain ranges behind disappearing into the far horizon on a clear day is really good for photos. Blue skies and green fields, just lacking the floral shirt, straw hat, a cup of lemonade and a beach.
Hachi more days and I will be able to bathe myself in Ben and Jerry's, soak myself in Movenpick, cover meself in Long John Silver's, Nasi Goreng Ayam, Wonton Mee, Bak Chor Mee...
Over the short span of about 2 years here in this relatively unknown valley, I have witness quite a number of extraordinary events that are quite intruiging. From massive "live" volcanos, mountain ranges to sacred valleys and castles. This place has some of the most rustic Japan to offer if you think Japan was all about Tokyo or Osaka or Kyoto.
But all that nature and landscape aside...it's the local people, kids and folks here that I find to be the most memorable. Kids here were taught since young to follow rules and boy do they REALLY follow them that is until they are old enuff to think for themselves and go rogue. Take for example a simple card game with the cards faced down on a board, each card had a hand scribbled point which was clearly visible on the back of the card. Well you can literally cheat if you want but that would take the fun outta the game...
I didn't say anything to these kids, didn't give specific rules not to cheat but they took the initiative to cover their eyes and pick the cards randomly when playing with their friends. This really amazed me since such situation will NEVER be possible in SG. Probing further, I found out that here in this part of rural Japan where competition is not as intense as in Tokyo or SG, the parents teach the kids that when they find even a measely 10 yen on the road, they are NOT allowed to pocket it but to give it to the nearest Police Post. And yes these kids really do that...I have seen it.
While given Japan's technological advancement, kids here still go out and play in the sand, run in the sun and get all dirty. They immerse themselves in the wild and little girls go running after dragonflies and catch them. Bugs, beetles, insects for once are not considered scary and mashed on sight. They are in fact loved by most kids who would catch them in the wild and keep them as pets. Of course only beetles are kept as pets while the rest are simply play things. I would see a kid in SG scream at the sight of a dragonfly and "shoe" any other creepy crawlies at sight. Though I am not a huge fan of bugs and insects, such scenes are really good for a change. The only thing that might be a little less fortunate are that they are not that computer-inclined.
Then it really comes to a point where I believe that every child when born is innocent. It's simply THE environment that they grow up in that makes them Hitler or Pope. I do believe that the inborn trait of a child itself may be even neligible in contributing to the goodness or evilness of the child. When I say the environment, I refer to the place, family, association, contacts, life-style in general and does not point to s specific factor since ALL these factors will ultimately mold the child.
Kids aside, at my work place...almost everyone sits on chairs with rollers. So from the young to the old, once in a while they fall from their chairs because the chair slipped away from their asses for no apparently reason. No foul play here but simply the USER's error I believe. Each time I swore I tried really really hard not to laugh out loud but it's really really funny to see them fall. It's almost like watching those Japanese Prank TV shows live...
Anyway Summer is finally here since the humidity and heat is similiar to SG. I really dread such season after experiencing white white winter. But still it's better than SG since in Summer, the skies will be in rich deep ocean blue void of any traces of fluffy clouds. The visible mountain ranges with more mountain ranges behind disappearing into the far horizon on a clear day is really good for photos. Blue skies and green fields, just lacking the floral shirt, straw hat, a cup of lemonade and a beach.
Hachi more days and I will be able to bathe myself in Ben and Jerry's, soak myself in Movenpick, cover meself in Long John Silver's, Nasi Goreng Ayam, Wonton Mee, Bak Chor Mee...
Monday, July 13, 2009
Oh my...what a bootiful day!
- Never Stop Dreaming -
The deep blue sky was a sight to behold this morning since everyday had been really cloudy if not rainy. But as the bright rays of the morning sun filtered thru my paper windows, shadows were formed and they disappeared. The occasional melodic symphony of the wind caressing the leaves led me to wonder if it would be another overcast day. These uncertainties vanished the moment I stepped out of my front door with a nice hot cup of coffee to start the day. The sky was indeed basked in deep rich oceanic blue of the Caribbean but the angry storm clouds were closing in from the side masking the mountains. To me this was probably the last few days of such splendid weather before the insane summer heat caught up with me. Frying an egg on the top of my head was already an image taking form in my head.
The massive mountain ranges lined the horizon while the lush green fields painted the vast land beneath the deep blue sky…welcome to my kind of place where the phrase “concrete jungle” were unheard of. Somehow I had this unexplainable anxiety inside me seeking a channel to erupt as I drove such beautiful scenery early in the morning. In fact I felt thrilled to be in this amazing weather since in less than a weeks odd time, I will be eating vehicular fumes coupled with sweat and heat to complete my annual summer pilgrimage back home. A new week, a fresh day to start the week, things to look forward to the weekend, new toys, a white shirt for a change (since every other day I had be clad in nothing less than my usual Black Death outfit). I had been questioned as to why I am always wearing black and my reasons were that black was a color that doesn’t get dirty easily which was in fact a silly lie with a nano fraction of truth to hide my hideous laziness… :p
Going back to the strange anxiety, I really do not know how to explain it if you ask me since the feeling is expressed explicitly in Boredphucks’s “What a beautiful day” except that I don’t dance around coconut trees. Might be partly due to the fact that I am heading home to sample Mum’s cooking, give Grandma a big hug, lie in my Huge Teddy Bear, eat LJS with cheese…But I am sure there are other reasons as well but at the moment I really can’t tell. It’s just amazing to be alive in such an environment to tell myself that I would wake up everyday like this to go to work without any contemplation or hesitation.
The deep blue sky was a sight to behold this morning since everyday had been really cloudy if not rainy. But as the bright rays of the morning sun filtered thru my paper windows, shadows were formed and they disappeared. The occasional melodic symphony of the wind caressing the leaves led me to wonder if it would be another overcast day. These uncertainties vanished the moment I stepped out of my front door with a nice hot cup of coffee to start the day. The sky was indeed basked in deep rich oceanic blue of the Caribbean but the angry storm clouds were closing in from the side masking the mountains. To me this was probably the last few days of such splendid weather before the insane summer heat caught up with me. Frying an egg on the top of my head was already an image taking form in my head.
The massive mountain ranges lined the horizon while the lush green fields painted the vast land beneath the deep blue sky…welcome to my kind of place where the phrase “concrete jungle” were unheard of. Somehow I had this unexplainable anxiety inside me seeking a channel to erupt as I drove such beautiful scenery early in the morning. In fact I felt thrilled to be in this amazing weather since in less than a weeks odd time, I will be eating vehicular fumes coupled with sweat and heat to complete my annual summer pilgrimage back home. A new week, a fresh day to start the week, things to look forward to the weekend, new toys, a white shirt for a change (since every other day I had be clad in nothing less than my usual Black Death outfit). I had been questioned as to why I am always wearing black and my reasons were that black was a color that doesn’t get dirty easily which was in fact a silly lie with a nano fraction of truth to hide my hideous laziness… :p
Going back to the strange anxiety, I really do not know how to explain it if you ask me since the feeling is expressed explicitly in Boredphucks’s “What a beautiful day” except that I don’t dance around coconut trees. Might be partly due to the fact that I am heading home to sample Mum’s cooking, give Grandma a big hug, lie in my Huge Teddy Bear, eat LJS with cheese…But I am sure there are other reasons as well but at the moment I really can’t tell. It’s just amazing to be alive in such an environment to tell myself that I would wake up everyday like this to go to work without any contemplation or hesitation.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Fireflies' Painting
- Never Stop Dreaming -
A while ago I was at this place, 辰野ホタル公園 (Tatsuno Firefly Park) near Suwa City in Nagano Prefecture. Though at that time I was only like a week away from throwing away almost SGD$3700 for a new camera, nonetheless the old one (KissDigitalX/400D) did served me well with a modded TC-80N remote. There is absolutely nothing wrong with my current cam except that I just wanted to explore the vid capabilities of the new cam at the expense of a lot of money of course.
So there I was trying to swipe those irritating tiny flies buzzing around my face. But being surrounded by many other menacing photographers, it was only natural that I peeked at their gear. My huge ego was at play but at least the expensive lens mounted on my camera lifted me up in the hierarchy a little despite using an entry level 3 year old camera. After all it's the skillz and the photos taken that counts in the end but still I succumbed to the ugly side of envy.
All that squabbles aside, here are 2 pictures from that day. I collected about 50 odd lens' food before my camera juice became totally drained. Why only 50 you might ask...well each photo was taken with a shutter speed of about 3 to 5 minutes with no flash used. Edited the white balance in LR2 and stacked a series of photos together to merge into 1 solid art piece in CS3 extended.
Enjoy nature's very own light painting done in the magnificent bioluminescence of the fireflies...
A while ago I was at this place, 辰野ホタル公園 (Tatsuno Firefly Park) near Suwa City in Nagano Prefecture. Though at that time I was only like a week away from throwing away almost SGD$3700 for a new camera, nonetheless the old one (KissDigitalX/400D) did served me well with a modded TC-80N remote. There is absolutely nothing wrong with my current cam except that I just wanted to explore the vid capabilities of the new cam at the expense of a lot of money of course.
So there I was trying to swipe those irritating tiny flies buzzing around my face. But being surrounded by many other menacing photographers, it was only natural that I peeked at their gear. My huge ego was at play but at least the expensive lens mounted on my camera lifted me up in the hierarchy a little despite using an entry level 3 year old camera. After all it's the skillz and the photos taken that counts in the end but still I succumbed to the ugly side of envy.
All that squabbles aside, here are 2 pictures from that day. I collected about 50 odd lens' food before my camera juice became totally drained. Why only 50 you might ask...well each photo was taken with a shutter speed of about 3 to 5 minutes with no flash used. Edited the white balance in LR2 and stacked a series of photos together to merge into 1 solid art piece in CS3 extended.
Enjoy nature's very own light painting done in the magnificent bioluminescence of the fireflies...
Thursday, July 9, 2009
1, 2, 2, and lots more but...
- Never Stop Dreaming -
I have 1 pair of eyes, 1 laptop, 1 flash, 2 cameras, 2 lenses and so many events. Took an assortment of photos but so little time to process them. *Sigh* and in 2 weeks time I will be going home for my well deserved summer break. I yearn for a nice warm hug and a sweet lovely kiss but there will be more photos taken when I am back.
Although some have lost their patience and asked me when can they see the photos...I can only say soon. It's time consuming to process photos since I have already said that I like to push myself to the limits to bring out the best and hopefully nothing less. The photos will be ready only when I say they are so apologies to all...since this passion is not bring in my dough for me (I have a day job to sustain my passion!)
The 5Dmk2 is amazing and by far the most expensive camera/gadget/equipment/toy/treasure/gem, etc that I have thrown my money willing for but everything about this little baby screams for "JUSTIFIED". The 5Dmk2 sure doesn't disappoint and each and everyday I am still squealing joys of surprises whenever I bring it out to play. Unfortunately the only sad issue and probabaly the biggest disappointment for me is that I can't edit the HD vid on my Mac. No doubt I do love my white Mac to the core but the integrated graphics card can't support Final Cut Pro so I am stuck with just viewing the RAW vid footage from the cam. It's not bad I would say but you see I like the personal touch to it...the way I want to see it and the way I want everyone else to see it. A silent expression of my sub-consciousness reflected thru photo/video-graphy.
It's been raining continuously for a while now despite Summer's strolling in and I am really loving every bit of this cold weather before the heat boils things up. SG would be good only in the nights...
I really want a break at the moment to enjoy some private moments, away from work and all other disturbances and I guess I would try to do just that when I am back in SG.
I have 1 pair of eyes, 1 laptop, 1 flash, 2 cameras, 2 lenses and so many events. Took an assortment of photos but so little time to process them. *Sigh* and in 2 weeks time I will be going home for my well deserved summer break. I yearn for a nice warm hug and a sweet lovely kiss but there will be more photos taken when I am back.
Although some have lost their patience and asked me when can they see the photos...I can only say soon. It's time consuming to process photos since I have already said that I like to push myself to the limits to bring out the best and hopefully nothing less. The photos will be ready only when I say they are so apologies to all...since this passion is not bring in my dough for me (I have a day job to sustain my passion!)
The 5Dmk2 is amazing and by far the most expensive camera/gadget/equipment/toy/treasure/gem, etc that I have thrown my money willing for but everything about this little baby screams for "JUSTIFIED". The 5Dmk2 sure doesn't disappoint and each and everyday I am still squealing joys of surprises whenever I bring it out to play. Unfortunately the only sad issue and probabaly the biggest disappointment for me is that I can't edit the HD vid on my Mac. No doubt I do love my white Mac to the core but the integrated graphics card can't support Final Cut Pro so I am stuck with just viewing the RAW vid footage from the cam. It's not bad I would say but you see I like the personal touch to it...the way I want to see it and the way I want everyone else to see it. A silent expression of my sub-consciousness reflected thru photo/video-graphy.
It's been raining continuously for a while now despite Summer's strolling in and I am really loving every bit of this cold weather before the heat boils things up. SG would be good only in the nights...
I really want a break at the moment to enjoy some private moments, away from work and all other disturbances and I guess I would try to do just that when I am back in SG.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Chicken, Goat, House...
- Never Stop Dreaming -
The title of this entry was deliberately coded in such a way that only special people with animalistic and rural senses, people affiliated with the Kumpung Kid or a strong sense of rustic SG vibes before the 80s can decipher. So really no point trying because I know that if you are not in any of the category listed above, you are better off doing something else. Of course if you are shameless enuff, you can ask me directly for an answer (Like I will give...) but the FIRST CORRECT ANSWER that I receive in my mail will beg some goodies from Japan so hurry...(There are numerous hints hidden in this entry itself so find them and de-code it. No they are not the hints in brackets...hahaha!).
Question - What is encoded in the the phrase, "Chicken, Goat, House"?
[Rules of the House]
1. Anyone from SG who reads this blog can participate.
2. Only 1 entry per person.
3. Include your name and contact.
4. Answer in 1 sentence no more than 10 words.
5. Don't ask for hints...it's all here.
6. Don't bother visiting the market, there are no answers there either.
7. I set the game, the rules and prizes.
8. I can alter No. 7 in anyway, whenever and however I want.
9. Prizes will be ready for collection from 3rd Aug 2009 to 14th Aug 2009.
10. I do not entertain anything else than what is stated above.
:p
Updates and updates and more updates.
Finally after a long time, I have time to finally sit down and do some decent photography editing. I know I have been piling up a lot of photos that are waiting to be edited before I publish them since I am not a huge fan of simply pushing out un-edited photos. The rainy days for the past couple days were really good for my mental and physical health so I drew a lot of inspirations.
One of the main reasons that gave me time to do my photos were that I was so over hacking my ipod touch (and the now gone Iphone), getting Final Cut Pro to work only to find out that my Santa Rosa Mac is not compatible with it, meeting up with friends, planning to get a new camera, installing new applications, etc. Hmmm...I thought I said one of the main reasons...now that's quite a handful of reasons. Getting all these off my routine lifestyle and the abundance of time since the kids are having their tests, I hauled my beloved Mac to work and fiddled the photos from there. It's really time consuming since I had to salvage any useable stuffs and do a whole lot of editing. Then while looking thru the pictures, I found so many mistakes in my photography which had led me to exhaust my limited time to cover the flaws. Maybe my standards were a little high but that's besides the point for sub standard works. Until now I have only been able to complete the Star Studded Wedding for the after shoots...haven't even touch the night ones, the trip down south and the OTHER wedding.
Still trying to get aquainted with my new Canon 5Dmk2. The feel, the weight and the sound of the mirror flipping when I depress the shutter button are all so beautiful that I swore I could have held my camera snuggly to bed every night. Too bad I can't edit the HD vids since FCP can't work on my Mac...drats! Have some events coming up before I make my way back to where I used to be. Still am pretty messed up and undecided about packing my mini "cargo" to lug back. Hopefully I can empty as much as I can jsut in case I decid to move to a different city. Reserved myself a slot on one of the huge metal "birds" back and yes this time round I can say for sure I am filled with so much more anxiety than last year other than the fact that I literally have 7 weddings invites this year alone.
Still on the topic of weddings...seems like the usual Chinese wedding have become more of a hassle for me to look forward to less attend. Wedding at least for me is a private affair of 2 sweet lovebirds stepping into a new journey of bliss and happiness have turned out to be quite a sore to hear, to see and to experience when more people are invloved. The more brains cracking, the more complex the whole process will be so might as well keep it simple. Of the infamous Cardinal Sins, Greed, Gluttony and Pride strikes when such complications arises to ruin the sacred affair of what originally was deem to be the private affair of 2 people. I have to really confess that prior to every wedding event, I am so excited to grace it but only to discover the ugliness of it all as the wedding draws near. Parents can quarrel, siblings can squabble and relatives can be severed of all ties...I really can't imagine anymore how much damage can a simple and magnificient wedding can cause to all those around. I do believe that not only Chinese weddings are like this, Japanese ones are not spared either. It makes me dread Asian weddings as I aged thru the years...
Ok ok aside from all that...There are really a lot more things that I am actually looking forward to and one of them is of course to improve my photography. No doubt some friends may find my pictures to be pretty eye candy but it is by professional standard far less than acceptable. That is the hard cold truth I like to subject myself to since the warm consolation from my friends compliments are not beneficial for improvement. Maybe I am pushing myself a little further so that I can do more with it, hopefully make some side cash from it in the future. Photography is like a form of art so whether it is good or not depends on who looks at it. With a good range of decent gear in my possession, sub par works are not an excuse so I am really looking forward to more shoots with my friends here in Japan and also when I am back home. Had always wanted to visit the same places but to approach it with a different perspective. Well also to visit new places that was erected while I was away. I like to see pictures that I take in the way that is not possible in reality or too expensive to replicate in reality. Therefore I chose to manipulate it thru softwares that I am able to afford. That't that way it is so I do spend a lot of time fiddlying with the sliders...
Mmmmm...there are so many things I want to do when I am back. I want to eat Long John Silver's with cheese of course, I want to catch a couple of movies, I want to go for night drives, I want to chill (So have you figured out the encoded message yet) at Altivo or any of the other watering holes, I want to have bass blasting thru my ear drums at the clubs, I want to see the familiar faces that I like, I want to frame some scenes, people and places, I want to eat Laksa, I want to eat the crispy Nasi Goreng Ayam in Lucky Plaza, There are so many so many things I want to do when I am back and yet none of them is to stay in Singapore...how ironical. I just crave for all these temporary and then I guess it's back to my second base and to enticipate the in coming winter skipping autumn again.
Chinese food are not bad but mostly have been down the gutter given that they are prepared by dis-tasteful and rude PRC bummers. So Malay food like Mee Siam, Mee Sotong, Mee Goreng, Nasi Goreng Ayam, Nasi Lemak, etc have all retained their authentic favor and sweet Kumpung attitude. India food like Roti Prata are not bad as well since that is all that I eat from them. The bottom line is that if my favorite store is tainted by PRCs, then I shall boycott it. Don't want to waste my effort, energy and time over useless garbage.
Hmm why am I plagued by anger as I enter more stuffs...totally unplanned for. No I am not angry just a bit too excited to experience a change of environment. Looking back I do ask myself time and again that if I had the chance to do all this again would I still choose to pick this path? The answer is obviously without a doubt a YES. Made friends from different parts of the world, widen my narrow perspective by leaps and horizons, became a lazier person, became better in photography, improved my Japanese a wee bit, still can't coincide (Still not getting the hint?) harmoniusly with pesky insects, bought a decent car for the price of a DSLR in SG, ate Whale and Horse sashimi and the extensive list goes on and on.
But I doubt I will be amused by the same silly antics that the usual SG crowd like to display...Social ungraciousness. Forget the PRCs, locally bred aunties fighting for MRT seats, barging in before the door open, unruly behavior and not forgetting the middle age men and Ah Peks oogling at hot girls in not so hot clothes. Well for the first part words have been replaced by signs to convey message to the barbaric Cave Aunties because they have evolved towards the past to only response to simply signs that usually have a picture, lines or some form of real world representation like animals, birds or flowers than wordy and complex passages. For the second group, well the suppressed libido are seeking other channels of release since virtually safe Porn Publications and Medias are banned while lethal STDs services are legal. Man I say it's all about the money...or were "They" actually thinking that it's either the real thing or nothing else? Beats me though...
In an unusual twist of colors, lifestyles, insane temeprature and sounds, I am sure I will be quick to fall back on these comfort zones that I grew up with before heading back here.
Alrite...that's about it.
I miss you so much...
The title of this entry was deliberately coded in such a way that only special people with animalistic and rural senses, people affiliated with the Kumpung Kid or a strong sense of rustic SG vibes before the 80s can decipher. So really no point trying because I know that if you are not in any of the category listed above, you are better off doing something else. Of course if you are shameless enuff, you can ask me directly for an answer (Like I will give...) but the FIRST CORRECT ANSWER that I receive in my mail will beg some goodies from Japan so hurry...(There are numerous hints hidden in this entry itself so find them and de-code it. No they are not the hints in brackets...hahaha!).
Question - What is encoded in the the phrase, "Chicken, Goat, House"?
[Rules of the House]
1. Anyone from SG who reads this blog can participate.
2. Only 1 entry per person.
3. Include your name and contact.
4. Answer in 1 sentence no more than 10 words.
5. Don't ask for hints...it's all here.
6. Don't bother visiting the market, there are no answers there either.
7. I set the game, the rules and prizes.
8. I can alter No. 7 in anyway, whenever and however I want.
9. Prizes will be ready for collection from 3rd Aug 2009 to 14th Aug 2009.
10. I do not entertain anything else than what is stated above.
:p
Updates and updates and more updates.
Finally after a long time, I have time to finally sit down and do some decent photography editing. I know I have been piling up a lot of photos that are waiting to be edited before I publish them since I am not a huge fan of simply pushing out un-edited photos. The rainy days for the past couple days were really good for my mental and physical health so I drew a lot of inspirations.
One of the main reasons that gave me time to do my photos were that I was so over hacking my ipod touch (and the now gone Iphone), getting Final Cut Pro to work only to find out that my Santa Rosa Mac is not compatible with it, meeting up with friends, planning to get a new camera, installing new applications, etc. Hmmm...I thought I said one of the main reasons...now that's quite a handful of reasons. Getting all these off my routine lifestyle and the abundance of time since the kids are having their tests, I hauled my beloved Mac to work and fiddled the photos from there. It's really time consuming since I had to salvage any useable stuffs and do a whole lot of editing. Then while looking thru the pictures, I found so many mistakes in my photography which had led me to exhaust my limited time to cover the flaws. Maybe my standards were a little high but that's besides the point for sub standard works. Until now I have only been able to complete the Star Studded Wedding for the after shoots...haven't even touch the night ones, the trip down south and the OTHER wedding.
Still trying to get aquainted with my new Canon 5Dmk2. The feel, the weight and the sound of the mirror flipping when I depress the shutter button are all so beautiful that I swore I could have held my camera snuggly to bed every night. Too bad I can't edit the HD vids since FCP can't work on my Mac...drats! Have some events coming up before I make my way back to where I used to be. Still am pretty messed up and undecided about packing my mini "cargo" to lug back. Hopefully I can empty as much as I can jsut in case I decid to move to a different city. Reserved myself a slot on one of the huge metal "birds" back and yes this time round I can say for sure I am filled with so much more anxiety than last year other than the fact that I literally have 7 weddings invites this year alone.
Still on the topic of weddings...seems like the usual Chinese wedding have become more of a hassle for me to look forward to less attend. Wedding at least for me is a private affair of 2 sweet lovebirds stepping into a new journey of bliss and happiness have turned out to be quite a sore to hear, to see and to experience when more people are invloved. The more brains cracking, the more complex the whole process will be so might as well keep it simple. Of the infamous Cardinal Sins, Greed, Gluttony and Pride strikes when such complications arises to ruin the sacred affair of what originally was deem to be the private affair of 2 people. I have to really confess that prior to every wedding event, I am so excited to grace it but only to discover the ugliness of it all as the wedding draws near. Parents can quarrel, siblings can squabble and relatives can be severed of all ties...I really can't imagine anymore how much damage can a simple and magnificient wedding can cause to all those around. I do believe that not only Chinese weddings are like this, Japanese ones are not spared either. It makes me dread Asian weddings as I aged thru the years...
Ok ok aside from all that...There are really a lot more things that I am actually looking forward to and one of them is of course to improve my photography. No doubt some friends may find my pictures to be pretty eye candy but it is by professional standard far less than acceptable. That is the hard cold truth I like to subject myself to since the warm consolation from my friends compliments are not beneficial for improvement. Maybe I am pushing myself a little further so that I can do more with it, hopefully make some side cash from it in the future. Photography is like a form of art so whether it is good or not depends on who looks at it. With a good range of decent gear in my possession, sub par works are not an excuse so I am really looking forward to more shoots with my friends here in Japan and also when I am back home. Had always wanted to visit the same places but to approach it with a different perspective. Well also to visit new places that was erected while I was away. I like to see pictures that I take in the way that is not possible in reality or too expensive to replicate in reality. Therefore I chose to manipulate it thru softwares that I am able to afford. That't that way it is so I do spend a lot of time fiddlying with the sliders...
Mmmmm...there are so many things I want to do when I am back. I want to eat Long John Silver's with cheese of course, I want to catch a couple of movies, I want to go for night drives, I want to chill (So have you figured out the encoded message yet) at Altivo or any of the other watering holes, I want to have bass blasting thru my ear drums at the clubs, I want to see the familiar faces that I like, I want to frame some scenes, people and places, I want to eat Laksa, I want to eat the crispy Nasi Goreng Ayam in Lucky Plaza, There are so many so many things I want to do when I am back and yet none of them is to stay in Singapore...how ironical. I just crave for all these temporary and then I guess it's back to my second base and to enticipate the in coming winter skipping autumn again.
Chinese food are not bad but mostly have been down the gutter given that they are prepared by dis-tasteful and rude PRC bummers. So Malay food like Mee Siam, Mee Sotong, Mee Goreng, Nasi Goreng Ayam, Nasi Lemak, etc have all retained their authentic favor and sweet Kumpung attitude. India food like Roti Prata are not bad as well since that is all that I eat from them. The bottom line is that if my favorite store is tainted by PRCs, then I shall boycott it. Don't want to waste my effort, energy and time over useless garbage.
Hmm why am I plagued by anger as I enter more stuffs...totally unplanned for. No I am not angry just a bit too excited to experience a change of environment. Looking back I do ask myself time and again that if I had the chance to do all this again would I still choose to pick this path? The answer is obviously without a doubt a YES. Made friends from different parts of the world, widen my narrow perspective by leaps and horizons, became a lazier person, became better in photography, improved my Japanese a wee bit, still can't coincide (Still not getting the hint?) harmoniusly with pesky insects, bought a decent car for the price of a DSLR in SG, ate Whale and Horse sashimi and the extensive list goes on and on.
But I doubt I will be amused by the same silly antics that the usual SG crowd like to display...Social ungraciousness. Forget the PRCs, locally bred aunties fighting for MRT seats, barging in before the door open, unruly behavior and not forgetting the middle age men and Ah Peks oogling at hot girls in not so hot clothes. Well for the first part words have been replaced by signs to convey message to the barbaric Cave Aunties because they have evolved towards the past to only response to simply signs that usually have a picture, lines or some form of real world representation like animals, birds or flowers than wordy and complex passages. For the second group, well the suppressed libido are seeking other channels of release since virtually safe Porn Publications and Medias are banned while lethal STDs services are legal. Man I say it's all about the money...or were "They" actually thinking that it's either the real thing or nothing else? Beats me though...
In an unusual twist of colors, lifestyles, insane temeprature and sounds, I am sure I will be quick to fall back on these comfort zones that I grew up with before heading back here.
Alrite...that's about it.
I miss you so much...
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
An Epic Begins Here...
- Never Stop Dreaming -
Finally after the long wait it's finally over...or is it just the beginning? I was in Tokyo over the weekend after trailing some charts resembling economic supply and demand representations here in Nagano for over a month. Met up with another fellow SGrean in Tokyo, A, another avid photographer. A was amazing laid back, suave and blended into the Japanese community just like me...but deep in our hearts, we are still very much the Kampung Kids from back home craving for the occasional Laksa and Mee Siam.
The temperature and humidity in Tokyo was relatively similiar to that in SG and despite me coming down from Nagano (dressed to kill), I soon found myself at the mercy of the intense heat. I was literally melting as the scorching heat zapped me of my life-sustaining fluids. To preserve my egoistic image in Tokyo, I disrobed my Jacket only to lost the Iphone I found 6 months earlier, !"#$%&'! Found it and lost it...guess like I am not fated to be with it. Walked around with A following my crumpled map with faded colors printed from a not so decent printer. Kinda reminded me of those SAF topo days...2 of the locations were stripped of the gem I was desperately seeking. I had brought hard cold cash...20 odd pieces of freshly scented Japanese bank notes with no crases ready to spurge them. Finally after sweating so badly, A and I made it to the 3rd and last location which I had mapped. 2 pieces left and I was unable to do a physical check.
Counted those 20 odd pieces of bank notes and handly them reluctantly to the shopkeeper in exchange for a white glossy box in a brown paper bag. A bit relieved since my main motive for this trip down to Tokyo was fulfilled. The nearby Mac at Akiba was the obvious choice for a well deserved break where I unboxed the gem and tested it out. Had brought along a 35L to do the test because of the shallow 1.4 depth of focus (think creamy buttery smooth blurred background with the subject in crispy clear focus!). The shutter count read 0 which of course meant it was brand new and not tested (I presumed). Vid went smooth, pictures were sweet and the sound of the mirror flipping was a little more beautiful than my old one. After the initial checks, I went to Akiba to grab some nice P.L.D filters before parting ways with A who had to attend to personal biz. Anyway a really BIG thanks to A who accompanied me thru this sweaty ordeal.
A mixture of anxiety and dispair filled me as I made my way to Harajuku to meet M, my model from Kyoto. Chilled out for a while at a sweet cafe in Harajuku before heading to Shibuya for my dinner alone since M had a dinner date with her family. Aldgate, which I found thru the net was where I wanted to go for my dinner since I have been craving for decent Fish and Chips. Besides Aldgate was a British Pub with a rather rustic medieval setting. The Fish and Chips were not as fantastic as what the net had described but the British Ale, (Aldgate's Ale) was amazing. Along the years my alcoholic escapades had led me to salivate over a pint of Old Irish or British Ale and this place surely didn't disappont. Kilkenny(s) were superb and my all time favorite but still nothing beats a local British Ale. Too bad such an exquisite taste is not a fad for 1 huge hairy beast of the forest, the Mighty but Tiny Bear...Haha! :p
Since I was alone, drinking alone in a pub would be one of the last thing I want to do. Went over to another table of 3 Japanese girls to join them for a drink since everywhere else were either non-Japanese or Japanese guys. Was really really really taken by surprise to discover that one of the girls was actually the daughter of a Japanese teacher in the next town from mine in Nagano where my friend, another foreigner, taught! What a coincidence...brats! Came some 246km from Nagano to Tokyo and only to find another fellow country bump like meself...how hilarious!
After that, I kinda wanted to do some partying to re-discover my dancing roots but in the end, I skipped that since my funds were slowly being depleted and I had to start getting aquainted with my new TOY!. Well, initially I had planned to party thru the nite to conserve funds but the amount of dirt that I had built up after all that unpleasant sweating experience in the day was just intolerable. All I want now is a nice comfy bed and a shower. Had a confirmation with C that I was granted permission to crash at her place and I knew God had heard my thoughts eventhough I didn't pray. So grateful to C for lending me a shelter for the night for free so I obliged to her request for watching a DVD with her. Her choice was Batman The Dark Knight. At her place, before the movie began, I was testing out my uber expensive TOY for dead pixels on my Mac...thank God there were none visible (Maybe I was testing it wrongly...not sure). Played around a bit more with the 35L 1.4 at movie settings before sealing it back in the bubble wrap. Then the movie began and I snoozed 3/4 towards the end till the morning. While in my little dreamland, I could vividly hear C calling me to wake up and watch it as the plot got deeper. Her disturbance got no further...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Woke up in the morning covered in sweat...dang! Took a fast shower and conveyed my gratitude to C who was still in her zombie sleep before taking off. Boarded the 12.30 bus and continued to snooze till I hit Nagano and then my humble mountain shack. Popped in the battery and it was here where the epical journey of the Canon 5D Mk 2 begins....
Finally after the long wait it's finally over...or is it just the beginning? I was in Tokyo over the weekend after trailing some charts resembling economic supply and demand representations here in Nagano for over a month. Met up with another fellow SGrean in Tokyo, A, another avid photographer. A was amazing laid back, suave and blended into the Japanese community just like me...but deep in our hearts, we are still very much the Kampung Kids from back home craving for the occasional Laksa and Mee Siam.
The temperature and humidity in Tokyo was relatively similiar to that in SG and despite me coming down from Nagano (dressed to kill), I soon found myself at the mercy of the intense heat. I was literally melting as the scorching heat zapped me of my life-sustaining fluids. To preserve my egoistic image in Tokyo, I disrobed my Jacket only to lost the Iphone I found 6 months earlier, !"#$%&'! Found it and lost it...guess like I am not fated to be with it. Walked around with A following my crumpled map with faded colors printed from a not so decent printer. Kinda reminded me of those SAF topo days...2 of the locations were stripped of the gem I was desperately seeking. I had brought hard cold cash...20 odd pieces of freshly scented Japanese bank notes with no crases ready to spurge them. Finally after sweating so badly, A and I made it to the 3rd and last location which I had mapped. 2 pieces left and I was unable to do a physical check.
Counted those 20 odd pieces of bank notes and handly them reluctantly to the shopkeeper in exchange for a white glossy box in a brown paper bag. A bit relieved since my main motive for this trip down to Tokyo was fulfilled. The nearby Mac at Akiba was the obvious choice for a well deserved break where I unboxed the gem and tested it out. Had brought along a 35L to do the test because of the shallow 1.4 depth of focus (think creamy buttery smooth blurred background with the subject in crispy clear focus!). The shutter count read 0 which of course meant it was brand new and not tested (I presumed). Vid went smooth, pictures were sweet and the sound of the mirror flipping was a little more beautiful than my old one. After the initial checks, I went to Akiba to grab some nice P.L.D filters before parting ways with A who had to attend to personal biz. Anyway a really BIG thanks to A who accompanied me thru this sweaty ordeal.
A mixture of anxiety and dispair filled me as I made my way to Harajuku to meet M, my model from Kyoto. Chilled out for a while at a sweet cafe in Harajuku before heading to Shibuya for my dinner alone since M had a dinner date with her family. Aldgate, which I found thru the net was where I wanted to go for my dinner since I have been craving for decent Fish and Chips. Besides Aldgate was a British Pub with a rather rustic medieval setting. The Fish and Chips were not as fantastic as what the net had described but the British Ale, (Aldgate's Ale) was amazing. Along the years my alcoholic escapades had led me to salivate over a pint of Old Irish or British Ale and this place surely didn't disappont. Kilkenny(s) were superb and my all time favorite but still nothing beats a local British Ale. Too bad such an exquisite taste is not a fad for 1 huge hairy beast of the forest, the Mighty but Tiny Bear...Haha! :p
Since I was alone, drinking alone in a pub would be one of the last thing I want to do. Went over to another table of 3 Japanese girls to join them for a drink since everywhere else were either non-Japanese or Japanese guys. Was really really really taken by surprise to discover that one of the girls was actually the daughter of a Japanese teacher in the next town from mine in Nagano where my friend, another foreigner, taught! What a coincidence...brats! Came some 246km from Nagano to Tokyo and only to find another fellow country bump like meself...how hilarious!
After that, I kinda wanted to do some partying to re-discover my dancing roots but in the end, I skipped that since my funds were slowly being depleted and I had to start getting aquainted with my new TOY!. Well, initially I had planned to party thru the nite to conserve funds but the amount of dirt that I had built up after all that unpleasant sweating experience in the day was just intolerable. All I want now is a nice comfy bed and a shower. Had a confirmation with C that I was granted permission to crash at her place and I knew God had heard my thoughts eventhough I didn't pray. So grateful to C for lending me a shelter for the night for free so I obliged to her request for watching a DVD with her. Her choice was Batman The Dark Knight. At her place, before the movie began, I was testing out my uber expensive TOY for dead pixels on my Mac...thank God there were none visible (Maybe I was testing it wrongly...not sure). Played around a bit more with the 35L 1.4 at movie settings before sealing it back in the bubble wrap. Then the movie began and I snoozed 3/4 towards the end till the morning. While in my little dreamland, I could vividly hear C calling me to wake up and watch it as the plot got deeper. Her disturbance got no further...Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.
Woke up in the morning covered in sweat...dang! Took a fast shower and conveyed my gratitude to C who was still in her zombie sleep before taking off. Boarded the 12.30 bus and continued to snooze till I hit Nagano and then my humble mountain shack. Popped in the battery and it was here where the epical journey of the Canon 5D Mk 2 begins....
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