Most anticipated movies of 2009...

Well, this is just my taste. Being a sci-fi lover, most of my favourite movies biased towards those created with good imagination of visual effects and ideas. Here are the list, and believe that similar with most of the people, my top list of anticipating movie would be Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen.

Transformers 2

Such a stunning special effect. With more meteors falling into the orbit of earths destroying skyscrapers, it just means more machines. Well, look at one of the real big machine, just looks like Constructicons/Devastators, combinations of multiple transformers into one.. movie would just extend beyond my dream, couldn't wait to see it!

Watchmen

from director of "300". I just never forgot those "photoshop" effects applied to "300" movie, the color-burnt sky, high contrast scene, great visual effect. Hope this Watchment would be unique too. Based on the cold war era, Watchmen described the world that is packed with Superhero, kind of. Interesting to see how Dr. Manhattan killed those vietnamese soldier with super power, if that's really happen, America has won the Vietnam war. A must see...

X-men Origins: Wolverine

Cool...some favourite character of mines are in... like Gambit. It describes how Wolverine gets his undestructive Andamantium skeleton and blades. I would just never miss any X-men movies...

DragonBall Evolution (七龙珠）

Looking at the trailers, I just hope that it won't spoil the reputation built by comic, in fact the most success comic of all time in Japan! Can't wait to see 龟派气功...

G.I. Joe!

Teaser trailer is out. Remember those famous super soldier cartoon while you're kid? Go watch the real movie dude!

to be continued...

江城

bumped into this "couple" picture, taken couple years ago at the spot where 汉水(Han Sui) joins 长江(ChangJiang). Find that it's touching of the scene where the couple holding hands and staring at the foggy rivers. Utilized the remaining 30mins prior to night fall taking some pictures... It's cold that day as I had to wear a vest and jacket during a meeting earlier the afternoon - guess what...heater is not a standard feature for WuHan area infrastructure. As suggested from Mr Octopus, foggy/greyish day shots can be turned into black and white - which will create another feel, as I was pretty disappointing that moment as all shots were so "grey" or "blue" because of the temperature and the weather...it turns out pretty good as attached at the collage-turned into gray scale+increase contrast+increase gamma+increase blue a little (to keep the cold feel), 3 years later ...that was my very first trip bringing a dSLR. 江城(river city) is another name of 武汉(Wuhan).

note: the trees shot, stone bridge, house reflection shots were shot at 东湖(Dong Hu). The rest on right were taken at the spot where the two rivers join.

New Sentosa @ Ipoh

This is not the Sentosa at Singapore. Found it not too long ago, located at about 5mins from the south exit of Ipoh on North-South Highway. The exit that adjacent to the McDonald, or more unique landmark, JayaJusco. If you missed the highway exit, you will see the toll plaza if you're southbound :( The shop is at the corner of a shoplot at Ipoh Garden South.

Have a couple of good food at this coffee shop; 猪肠粉(chee cheong fen), 及第粉(gap dai fen), 炒猓条(char keow teow), 云吞(wonton) &面 (mee)-cna just order the云吞, (炸)料 for 汤粉noodle soup. Drinks? I love its white coffee, hot - "thick" enough...for those who likes cold drinks...still can order the ice version.  

To start with, if you are alone; order a 云吞面(wonton noodle) either prawn / pork version or just mixed. Watch out, the skin of the wonton is so thin and smooth (almost see thru) but yet you will not be "breaking" it when pick it up from the soup - hey, must order the soup version...dry one is for amateur. Finished the noodle too fast, sorry, no picture of the noodle :( 

Then go for the 猪肠粉(chee cheong fen), order the mixed叉烧(char shao) and虾(prawn), it's hong kong 猪肠粉(chee cheong fen), therefore, can mix too. The chili is in another small plate, and can add more of the deep fried minced (little) onion using the spoon on the top. Yes, it's smooth, freakin smooth, almost as good as the one at stadium. Now, two dishes plus a drink, perhaps?

Can go for the 及第粉(gap dai fen)...maybe I just miss this so much, it was so good...the 锅气and also the fried oil on the 河粉(ho fen) smells great can almost tast the wok (if you know what I meant)... well, the rest...it's up to your stomach capacity.

Good location and good food, one stop place to cover many so you don't have to drive around at Ipoh if you are in a rush...many of the good food open at different time...need a 12hr to go to most of them, and this one open at 7 or maybe 6:30 in the morning...yeah!!! by the way, this is not a replacement for the legendary food places - it's just an alternative.

Note: the proper way to order "iced-latte" is "kopi雪"not kopi-ping as in Hokkien speaking region. Ipoh is Cantonese speaking region.

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Happy Valentine & 364-day!

It's kind of quiet this year for Valentine's (and so did the CNY). Maybe I just don't go out or social that much? where've I been all this while? All I heard/seen is the couple package meal at Soba Yoshi, RM100++ In fact, it's for 2, haha...not a bad deal consider the pricing there. When walking at the mall, somehow, I didn't notice there is Valentine's day "thing"... where's the chocolate / teddy's bear / card and most important the flowers? and all the pink thing?

Not that kind of "romantic" person to celebrate this day for "lovers" or just simply good friend (in US, not couple also can celebrate this)...but would like to celebrate or wish in another way...happy 364 day + today, why just restrained to ONE day...be generous and sincere, make it all year long! if can afford, dine out all year long at your choice...from Lorong Pencuri to Ferrighi Grill/The View (well, if in PG) and those places in between...or the special chef's choice at the 1 table place in town...or simply I cook and throw in a bottle of Lafite? plus the flowers on the left...my favorite "duo"

Happy Valentine & wish you happy on the other 364-day :)

蘇州之寒山寺

《楓橋夜泊》月落乌啼霜满天,江枫渔火对愁眠。姑苏城外寒山寺,夜半钟声到客船。-- 张继
This is a poem by a 唐朝Tang Dynasty student 张继. 寒山寺Han Shan Si (Han Shan Temple, buddist) located at the old canal by a bridge (see picture) called Jiang Feng 江枫 outside of the old city of 姑苏城Gu Su. 姑苏, ring a bell? one of the names of 蘇州SuZhou in old days, remember 金庸天龙八部？...The temple is ~1500 yrs old built before 唐朝Tang Dynasty.The bell of this temple will be rung 108 time during new year.
The poem translation taken from a webpage with more description:

• The moon goes down, crows cry under the frosty sky,
• Dimly-lit fishing boats ‘neath maples sadly lie.
• Beyond the Gusu Walls the Temple of Cold Hill
• Rings bells which reach my boat, breaking the midnight still.

Don't you think it's so cool to tour a place which we read it through a +1200 yr old poem? It was also part of the 唐诗三百首

Flatliners

First watched it during college days at Central Market cineplex...at that time, cineplex is rare and so different from the traditional big theaters or cinema. Maybe because of the near real effect in this new breed of cinema, it gave me the creeps and haunting effect until now :( Throughout these years, I watch it replay on cable or satellite STAR, TNT, USA...lost count and lot track. And usually, I would try to avoid it before going to sleep...

As a big fan of Kevin Bacon, I won't missed this movie. 

It talks about a group of elite med students, trying to create a death experience in school, therefore it is "flatlined", and then resurrect by others at the table. It's to be the first to die and comeback to tell the experience. Taken place at a museum like hospital as temporary lab...for autopsy and lecture. It started with a real creepy, dark, mysterious mood + atmosphere when these students going thru lectures in "museum" hospital. Kiefer Sutherland was the leader among the team...he went out to stare at the sun/sky and said... it's a good day to die... They finally gathered and do the first trial to die...Keifer die for 30seconds. He was saved but the event seems open up a tunnel or channel to bring back some childhood experience and bring them to life, where others cannot see it... the story continues with others like Julia Roberts, William Baldwin (Alec's brother)...where each of them encountered something in the past and the duration was also being pushed beyond 1:30 of death.  Have to stop here or you will lost the fun of enjoying this movie, a must see movie on my list.

苏州之虎丘

虎丘(HuQiu, Tiger Hill) is a garden like tourist spot at 苏州(SuZhou). It was made famous 2500yrs ago (yes, 500BC) for a burial of a king 吴王 at this region of ancient China during the warring states 春秋era. His son 吴王夫差 buried him with thousands of famous swords at the 剑池Sword Pond (see picture), including the famous 鱼肠剑(YuChang) Sword, according to legend. Many emperors since then trying to search for these treasure but without any luck. The tour guide did mention about the huge rock about size of a few modern day concert stage that we stand on next to the sword pond was the place where a feast for the labor/worker/craftman was held after the burial. And all these labors were slaugthered at this same spot after the feast...err...and that's why there are a few of the column like pillars at at four corners of this stage/rock to "control" or "protect" if you know what I meant. The characters on the stone walls dated from 明朝Ming dynasty (1400+ AD) and some even older.

The hill mentioned, is actually 30m tall. Per geological information, this place was originally under the sea and it surfaced from sea level, that the reason it was also name 海涌山(Hai Yong Shan, "hill came out from sea"), as labeled at the banner/signboard at the main entrance, next to the stone lion. As I don't know much about rock or geology, I cannot tell those signs of sea in this place...one may ask...it's SuZhou, it's 1.5hr from Shanghai, how can this be sea? There must be evidence to say so, and I believe it.

SuZhou people are lucky as this huge park/garden is full of awesome scenery's; not like the smaller scale Chinese gardens园林 for some royal or rich families...one can spend a day there to do some painting, take pictures (I wish I can stay longer, and the light is brighter) of the little pond, the moat, the walls, the pagoda (it's leaning too), steps (108 if I recall it according to the tour guide), greenery, flowers (lots of them), and walking around... Most of the buildings were NOT 2500 yrs old, as 虎丘HuQiu has gone through multiple wars, fires (some man made), and negligence ...

How to get there: join the tour by buying a tour package ~RMB200 at Shanghai travel center next to Shanghai Stadium 上海旅游集散中心(上海体育场南) at Puxi, which includes a few of the famous spots at SuZhou, including this 虎丘. Duration 0900-1800. Check with the hotel concierge on the ticket purchase and package 24 hr ahead so don't have to take subway to the Puxi, Shanghai Stadium/Sport Center exit and walk to this travel center to buy ticket on the same day.

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Thaipusam in Penang, 2009

Thaipusam is always a grand day when all the devotees of god doing all kinds of activities on that day to show dedication to god. It's a big event for Hindu but no doubt many Chinese with same beliefs in gods are involved as well. The piercing of Kavadi is simply an event that should not miss. Piercing is done so as to reduce the sin that we have made. This gallery is to show you the great event taking place in place this year and hope you enjoy the album, by clicking the photo. Cheers!

RAW vs JPEG

Everyone knows shoot RAW is better than shoot JPEG, but by how much the improvement is? some may wonder. 

for me i would have to admit i am a little retarded, it took me 2 years before seriously give it a try shooting RAW. ...Yes I am starting and going to shoot RAW a long as the camera is capable.

You can read all about it on the web, but you haveto try it yourself to believe it and realize the advantages of shooting RAW. Post processing in RAW is also way better. You always read it on the web that you can recover photo quality (for instance over/under exposure)....conveniently CS3 has recover slider - just move your mouse vigorously (hehehe) and you'll definitely see the difference.

OK picture speaks for itself. I am sure attached photo you can easily tell which is RAW and which is JPEG...if you can't don't doubt yourself.... it's just too much resizing for blogging... but seriously there is a difference. And don't worry about the wording if its too small, the intention is have you to look at the Moon not the setting and date. in short RAW picture is all most making the moon on my monitor look 3D, and JPEG is like the opposite of RAW. ahhahahah

what are you waiting for go get yourself a 8Gb storage card and start click click in RAW. 

YoU WilL LovE It.

:~)

 

Golden Dragon Loh Mee (金龙卤面）

This could be the best Loh Mee that I have ever tried in my life.
I never keen on having Loh Mee and definitely not my favourite noodle. Typically I choose hokkien mee over Loh mee due to the spicy soup awakening your appetite, and yes prawn taste as well. I keep hunting for good hokkien mee stalls around Penang and try all of it, and yes, will introduce the best hokkien mees in my future blogs but not now.

Anyway, it just happen that my wife brought me to this Loh Mee at Perak Road, well without other good food stalls in vicinity I have to order this bowl of Loh Mee reluctantly. That bowl has just simply changed my mind and perception. Soup is good and concentrated. Feel so contentful with those soften pig intestines, chicken legs, eggs inside. Everything just slip into your mouth smoothly, well, coupled with the strong taste of chilli and garlic as well. Taste is just excellent. Soup is really thick and those strong smells just buried inside. Go taste it, hopefully it would change your mind too. Cheers!

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Maa Roy Thai Restaurant, Penang

Thai food is always my favourite. This Maa Roy Thai Restaurant can be found along Abu Siti Lane branched from Macalister Road. Food is quite nice, with couple of good dishes. Go and try the steamfish with lemon. The sour soup coupled with strong garlic taste would boost up your appetite. The softshell crab is good too, smell good and real crispy. Mango Kerabu taste like a strong blend of sour, sweet and spicy, really good as well. Decoration of the shop is so so, but I would emphasize more on the food. Green curry is just so so. Not all the food taste excellent but going with my choices probably won't go wrong. Go enjoy...

It should be near "A" and check out your left...

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苏州之耦园

苏州园林甲天下。苏州园林综合建筑、山水、花木、雕刻、书画集于一体，漫游于园中将经历步移景换的意境。拙政园和留园名列中国四大名园，耦园为现有60多个园林之一。自公元前6世纪春秋时吴的部局；水陆并行、河街相邻，还可在园林里外见到它之缩影。所摄之照片不及实景之一二， 尤其带不出书卷气，只好把对联，匾额及诗画也带进。撑艇老妇有唱江南小曲，吴侬软语加上沧伤。。。

由上海旅游集散中心买苏州一日游套票约200人民币.大约1.5小时车程。启0900-回 1830。

Ou-Yuan is unique among other SuZhou chinese gardens because it has 2 gardens in one residence, therefore it's called Ou ("O") for being duo/twin/couple. It also subtly implying a couple live in "low profile" or quietly and away from the busy life (hideout) especially city. Built in early Ching Dynasty 1644-1910 (not sure the exact date). Three sides of it adjacent to water/river and the remaining side is a street. It's filled with classical chiese residence elements like study, living room, lobby, artificial "hill"/garden/pond,plus lots of trees and plants. It's like a chinese painting of a residence, in reality. In fact, there are many chinese painting and calligraphy in the rooms, guess it's a must for scholar/government official those days. This garden is the remaining of 60+ gardens at SuZhou and "melt" into the old city city plan dated 2500+ yrs ago in the warring states era - where the city was planned to be criss-cross with waterway+land...

How to get there: join the tour by buying a tour package ~RMB200 at Shanghai travel center next to Shanghai Stadium 上海旅游集散中心(上海体育场南) at Puxi, which includes a few of the famous spots at SuZhou, including this Ou Yuan. Duration 0900-1800. Check with the hotel concierge on the ticket purchase and package 24 hr ahead so don't have to take subway to the Puxi, Shanghai Stadium/Sport Center exit and walk to this travel center to buy ticket on the same day.

。。。以下简介采自中国网。。。

耦园位于苏州市内仓街小新巷，原为清初陆锦涉园。清初，保宁知府陆锦致仕归里后于此始构涉园，一名小郁林。后一度由书法家郭凤梁赁居。继为崇明祝氏别墅。同治十三年左右，归按察使湖州沈秉成，聘画家顾沄主持，重修扩建如今。因一宅而有两园，遂称耦园，并寓夫妇偕隐双栖之意。1941年为常州实业家刘国钧所得。

全园布局，颇为得法。黄石假山作为全园主题，堆叠自然，位置恰当，陡峭峻拔，气象雄浑，为苏州园林黄石假山中较为成功的一座。实为值得游赏流连的去处。此园因在住宅东西两侧各有一园，故名耦园。古时两人耕种为“耦”，“耦”、“偶”相通，寓有夫妇归田隐居之意。

东园面积约4亩，以山为主，以池为辅，重点突出，配搭得当。主体建筑坐北朝南，为一组重檐楼厅。这在苏州园林中较为少见。其东南角有小院三处，重楼复道，总称“城曲草堂”。西园面积更小，以书斋及织老屋为中心，前有月台，宽敞明亮，后有小院，幽雅清秀，隔山石树木又建书楼一座；其南亦有一院，为不规则形状，西南角设假山，设置花木，间置湖石，显得幽曲有趣。

全园主景黄石假山，筑于城曲草堂楼厅之前，石块大小相间，手法逼真自然。假山东半部较大，自厅前石径可通山上东侧的平台及西侧的石室；平台之东，山势增高，转为绝壁，直削而下，临于水池，绝壁东南设磴道，依势下至池边，此处气势为全山最精彩处，假山西半部较小，自东而西逐级降低，坡度渐缓，止于小厅右壁。东西两半部之间有谷道，两侧削壁如悬崖。而绝壁东临水池，假山体量与池面宽度配合适当，空间相称。山上不建亭阁，而于山顶山后铺土之处，散置十余种花木，随风摇曳，平添了山林趣味。而池水随假山向南伸展，曲桥架于水上，池南端有阁跨水而筑，称“山水阁”，隔山与城曲草堂相对，形成以山为主体的优美景区。

。。。。。。

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金马仑

this is not Cameron Highlands the highland place. It is a coffee shop (commonly referred as kopitiam 咖啡店 in Penang), as recommended by 食神50mmf1.4. Paid a visit there just now for dinner. The place is airy, not so cramped and lots of food stalls; char koay teow, siam fried rice, western food, ... and the 煮炒(in Hokkien spoken region, like Penang) or 大炒 (in Cantonese spoken region). Picture shown is 煮炒 and dishes included: belacan chicken, fried peas with minced pork, “Kum Heong" fish fillet甘香鱼片 and  omelette芙蓉蛋. First threes were recommended by 50mmf1.4 :)  The foos is excellent, will try others on the menu (as posted on the signboard above the cook) next time. When the bill came, I almost laugh out, haha......go and try, then you will know why. It's a good family eating out place, and be there before 730pm to get a table.


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Searching of Koay Jetty, in memory...

Koay Jetty, a long-gone historical sites that is famed along with Chew Jetty, has been demolished by the waves of modernization constantly affecting Georgetown Penang. Well, if Georgetown is accepted as one of the UNESCO heritage site much earlier in 2004, Koay Jetty may not be gone. It just have to give way to the construction of Jelutong Expressway. Thanks to the highway too, it does help to improve the daily life of Penangites, allowing faster and shorter distance to go to downtown from Bayan Lepas or Greenlane. Well, guess that Koay Jetty just shouldn't be there, it just can't follow the fast pace of urbanization and city life...

Koay Jetty is just unique. Different than Chew, it has vast space of swamp area in front of residential area. 1st picture shows the blending of modern building with the old wooden houses as well as the serene mangrove swamp, that's one of it's kind among those clan jetties. In fact that was the only mangrove swamp at east coast of Penang. It's just quiet. During our visits all residents have moved out, guess with compensation, though not sure if it's a good one. The feeling was nice, as if those isolated city park encompassed by modernized buildings, it's simply a jewel within the city that didn't seem to be interrupted by the quick pace of city life which was just very nearby. Bird chirping were heard loudly and if you don't know, the mangrove swamp was believed to be the home to 30 species of birds, including northern migrants and the largest nesting colony of the protected Black-Crowned Night Heron. During those old days, flocks of birds can be seen around this area, hovering on top of those high-rise apartments. Now, they are nowhere to be seen beyond the demolish of their habitats. Concerns of Malaysia Nature Society has come true. The highway just ended the mystical swamp area with the heritage buildings of Koay Jetty, together with the habitats of those bird species.

Well, enjoy these last 2 photos of Koay Jetty, just forget about searching for this heritage that fails to be preserved...

Store Rules 1856

Seriously, I am wondering what the world will be like if these were enforced today...
1. ok
2. ok
3. ok, replaced with modern electrical appliances
4. ok, sounds good too.
5. haha
6. many practice these even further today, 10% of monthly salary
7. now I got a problem :(
8. ok too, save money :)

note: shot taken at US Pizza Islandglades, near Green Lane