hide-out at the heart of Georgetown

well, since I am publishing this...it will not be a hideout anymore :( The location? can walk from KOMTAR/Lower Penang Road...it's just behind GAMA complex, 5 mins walk from the big screen in front of KOMTAR.

it's a great place for enjoying Chinese tea, having snack/real meal in a quiet and peaceful environment, and even for few puff (at the far end corner, see the 云烟厢signboard from inside as shown in one of the picture attached)...it's perfect for some real talk/conversation or just simply playing with the tea set inside an colonial era town house/bungalow (could be dated back to late 19th century), with two small gardens at both sides. Yes, you don't have to go to Melaka old town area to find one...there are still many in Penang, in good condition too...just look at the tiles...this is real. 

One does not have to kneel or sit on the floor to have all the fun. Food is good too at reasonable price. Had only tried the chinese tea 兰贵人(made from 高山茶) so far...pretty good and the 甘 taste will stay within one's mouth for a while. I am not a real tea expert, but do enjoy having this chinese tea. Had stayed for >2hrs in one occasion, and the owner or waiters didn't kick me out :) The decor is good with some bamboo outside, right beside the windows, yeah, good for window light shots of people. And another thing I like...I can park my car right in front of the cafe. Which is pretty rare in this part of the world...

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Size does matter...

Well, first time I see such a huge toad in my life. At Bukit Hijau of Kedah, lurking under the shade, guess those insects feasts in the wild makes the size really matters. Have been to this water fall recreational park 3 times, seeing the toad at the first time in 2004, but fail to spot it again for the 2nd and 3rd. Wonder whether this creature has really gone into extinction. Anyway, the toad appears to be clumsy and lazy, expected with this kind of size. It's bigger than my fist, well, probably 2, doesn't appear to be scared of human. There was a small toad squatting on top of the creature originally, but it just gone away before I clicking my shutter, thanks to my new learning curve on digital photography and the speed of my Canon Powershot G2. Here are some shots of it. Beautiful creature, isn't it?

shame on them

i just cannot believe it when I read the headlines on nytimes.com: Obama Calls Wall Street Bonuses ‘Shameful’ . It's about bonuses payout to Wall Street executives in about $18.4B for the year 2008. Yes, it's for 2008, the year the earth "stood still" looking at the financial system meltdown, and it's a B for billion which is a common term these days. It's either this or last week, 65000 job loss in US, which added to the bigger pool of millions unemployed in US alone - thanks to the media/research firm/government and so many groups/orgs that can spit out some useful data for others to chew on. For the rest of the world, it's up to the government to tell the truth, or sort of the truth or, just simply BS all the way.

What's bothering me is the executives/big bosses/senior management will still get the bonuses, usually, it is just too big to imagine, and it's their fault for mismanagement, big part of it, to bring the company down or worst, bring the nation system down? It's not just the financial big boys...it's the same for many big corporations..."yes, it's been a bad year, so there goes the bonuses for the employees"...remember the usual statement? "but, I still get mine and the rest of my VP's" Don't the executives supposed to take the helm to run the company and be responsible for the outcome of it...profitable or loss? and it's the grass root of the company that help to build/develop/manufacture/crank out the product/service.

In fact, it's the grass root working level people who takes the biggest hit...what bonus? if the job or same pay is secured, that's good enough---is the common thinking in mind for many. The working class including management too, the lower level ones, and the rest - these people are either use their brain or hands or both. For many, with pay or without is like with food on the table or not. The job is not about how to get to the next level of VP or CEO or the CEO at another company or their next level of career or a big bonus. It's about how to help the company to be profitable, healthier, and so on . I hope I still get this right.

I am not surprise, honestly, when I read the news...it's just happening again and again. yeah, it may get fixed...time will tell. For the time being...yes, shame on them.

note: I do strongly believe in free market and little government (and intervention)

breakfast in CNY?

haha...this was what I had for breakfast today, after CNY in Ipoh. Though in a rush, I haven't forgotten there must be alcohol for meals, even for breakfast...why? just like the feel of it, especially on a weekday, not working, and CNY. First I had ordered the usual kopi-ice (iced latte for you "gourmet coffee" suckers :) , then I realized I haven't had the Carlsberg Gold for many days...not bad, prawn mee with beer, plus all the curious eyes from other "patrons" of this "kopitiam" ...

It's Chinese New Year time, enjoy, have fun, and spend more time with family and friends...恭喜发财！

Make full use of Canon kit lense (only if it's sitting in the dry box)

Like many old Canon Users, kit lense that comes with the camera is pretty much useless once the upgrade bug strikes you. What can you do with the sub standard kit lense other than sitting in the dry box for the next gazzilion years?

Well I have picked up this DIY through reading/browsing internet. There are lots of home grown engineers and KUDOS have to go to them for sharing. I am just megaphoning their good work here.

What you need to do to change the kit lense to super macro with too shallow DOF? LOL. Get a body cap and make a 40mm circular hole; you will need to buy a used one or else sacrfice the one that comes with the body. Next you need a 58mm filter; some epoxy glue filter and body cap together, but i used insulated black color tape. Make sure body cap mate with the front side filter (not the threaded part of the filter). Finally screw this DIY converter onto the kit lense front side. Wa...la... now you have yourself a useable kit lense.

Disclaimer:- This DIY is not suitable for childern below 12; cut body cap at your own risk; inner kit lense is exposed with this setup and will collect lots of dust possibly damage your kit lense; only operate in manual mode; and shooting object tend to be very close to the lense when taking shots.

the other side...

where do all these freakin' vehicles come from? it does puzzle me when I was in massive traffic jam during a drizzling morning in weekdays - working days at 0630. The congestion usually occurs near the T-junction that my little hideout linked to the outside world-the main road. According to my "theory" and with some suggestions from others - they are mainly from Balik Pulau (in English - Return (to) Island) to avoid the dangerous road from Balik Pulau to Relau/Bayan Baru/Paya Terubung. It's located on the western side of the island and scarcely populated on the "other side"...was pretty surprise, I was driving average 60 to and fro as there were not many vehicles and everybody seems so relax...it's like I was in Kuala Kubu Baru (if you been to Fraser's Hill then you will know this little town). The pictures taken may not be revealing all - especially the laid back feel, but there are some real good spot to shoot the western shoreline with the town right under your foot...

could it be the last....?

there is an update in couple of hours...it could be bad news. The atmosphere during lunch today seems overclouded with this incoming event...is this the "farewell lunch" was the best joke I have heard during the 7-8 courses lunch. I would admit, I didn't expect to attend my first pre-CNY lunch with top guns which was in such a mixed feeling - to celebrate a year (per lunar calender) of hard work with good results, and the fear of no increment, pay-cut, or worst, layoff. Sometimes, I am wondering why there is such a coincidence why a bad thing starts brewing while something good have just happened?
even attention was pointed to Obama, if he can do the right thing to revive the economy by spending right on public work/sectors. yeah, do the right thing right is the key!
Does all these affect me? hell, yeah! well, not so much. I am just sad over how other feel. Whatever or wherever the cut it is on spending...there is not much to spend already, therefore, there is no real cut for me :) just come and come quickly, i am just sick of waiting...The cut I am expected, is to cut the bad stuff/feel/fear/negative thoughts from all of us, so we can move forward in a positive mood or manner. YEAH!!!

call me sexist3

note: credit goes to the person created the "flowchart"

call me sexist2

lighter side of the day...
note: credit goes to the person created the "flowchart"

call me sexist

note: credit goes to the person created the "flowchart"

Two & Half Pint

Gloomy and doom-my are what I observed daily, as seen on people's faces or maybe their mind...mine too, maybe I just read too much Michael Lewis and Paul Krugman. But their point of view is simply intriguing...in short, all these were just man made, out of greed and everything is about short term gaining and to hell with the rest/world. Yeah, it may be applied to a great proportion of the population, the rich is getting filthy rich, the poor is getting poorer...to many, those in between well, still get poorer, and have to work 2-4 times more. No matter how, it is still a short term, definitely it is not going to last for the rest of my life, and many people's lives. Yeah, it ain't no rosie picture, but there is still tomorrow, sun rising from the East. Why don't we just make the best out of it during the bad times, to come out stronger, better, and a more beautiful mind?
-written after a 20-hr work/staying awaken and 2.5 pint of guinness, draught :

Kinkaku-ji 金閣寺

The scenery is awesome at Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion Temple金閣寺), Kyoto, Japan. How to get there? Buy a one-day pass at about 200 ft from Kyoto Train Station entrance (after going thru an underground walkway with lots of restaurants) and hop on. Bring along a Kyoto map, and point to the Kinkakuji location to ask which bus or just look at the bus label. It's the last or 2nd last stop for the bus towards the temple direction. Bus fare? 500Yen.
Even the temple entrance ticket is different, like real hand-writing using a "brush-pen"毛笔. The walking route will guide one from one spot to another...just enjoy the walk and feel the "zen" 禅, the greenery, the cleaniness, the unique arrangement of the garden (it was a general residence back in the shogun-samurai era) and converted to a buddhist temple. The point of attraction, the golden pavilion temple as shown in the picture is located next to a lake. In a fine day as shot, blue sky, cool brisk, and at early fall...it's like walking in a surreal atmosphere. By the way, the golden pavilion as seen now was actually a re-built in the 1950s after a man-made fire...pity. From the net, the winter scenery of the golden temple is like a serious PS scenery, where it was "buried" with snow and ice (the lake).
Don't worry about the little sourvenir and cute-little-biscuit along the way...but do pay attention to the good luck charm or amulet...there are a wide variety of them from traffic safety, better exam result, to love! Before you walked out, there are more and rows of pop-can vending machines as well. There is a Haagen Daz vending machine outside the sourvenir shop beside the car park. It just reminded me returning to reality...


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Food: "Chee Cheong Fun" at Penang

many not-from-Penang would be surprised there is a good "Chee Cheong Fun" in Penang. In fact, I was, and still is :) But this another type of "chee cheong fun" with "prawn sauce gravy" and sweet sauce (brown sticky sauce), with sesame sprayed on top, and of course, chili sauce (as in most Penang food). It's great to find a place in Georgetown these days so packed in the morning, I am sure there are others hot spot...but just not this part near Komtar where many businesses had moved away. Lots of decent Penang food at this 2-unit merged "kopitiam" (Hokkien for coffee shop), and but have to look for parking...

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Colorful Penang

I always want to do a good introductory website for Penang island, a place where I stay but just simply don't have ample time. If you ask me what I like about Penang, well, despite the political environment, it just has rich varieties of scenery and also foods that I love, as well as the gang of frens for kopitiam chatting. Penang has beaches, hiking trails, hills, heritage buildings, national parks, you name it.

I'm not good at writing blog, but hope that my photos do justice of telling good story about heritage Penang. If u wish to know how I create the web template for rotating photos, no magic, just download a magnificient web template and install into adobe lightroom. Lightroom helps me to generate those interesting slideshows in flash thru preinstalled template. Go google "tiltviewer" to download the template. If the slideshow doesn't work on your PC, pls leave a comment and let me know. U can click on the photo to view the gallery. Enjoy the album...

Food: 怡保旧街场天津鸡丝河粉

Many know one of Ipoh food goodies is "chicken slice noodles" (鸡丝河粉). If you are looking for 鸡丝河粉at Ipoh, go try the "authentic" stalls at Ipoh Old Town. OK, not really linked to the popular Oldtown White Coffee or Cafe, even though both shops located on the same street in old town.

Most people treated as the best (me too) is at Tian Jin coffee shop at Ipoh Old Town 怡保旧街场天津鸡丝河粉. One of the critical ingredients is the noodle "hor fun" or 河粉 if pronounced in Cantonese. It is the smoothest I have tried and the soup is excellent. First tried in the 80s where whole bunch of us (in high school uniforms) after school, stopped over for lunch, on the way to a friend's house a Kg Tawas. I had the 鸡丝河粉 and a sweet dessert Custard. More than 20 years later, this duo is still as good. Of course, I had been there many times in between.

Other goodies: satay (got to try it, haha) located at the alley in between the neighboring coffee shop 光兴and天津. Soup noodles w/ fried stuff at front entrance is another Ipoh goodies too.

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