474. Another busy week

Although it's holiday season, it doesn't feel like it. Was basically running all over town attending parties and dinners. As always, it was a good time of catching up with old friends and some new ones. It's nice to see that everybody can come together once a year and just hang out. It seems that everyone is still the same person and as crazy as ever. Despite the change in lifestyle, geographic location and even status, all can still get along and have a good time. I know some whom with their elevated *ahem* status, they're too good to hang out with us mere mortals. :P Gosh, I hope people don't say that about me. That'll be a new low for me :) Oh! By the way, Saddam Hussein has been executed early this morning, and on that note......................

............A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!!!!!

Ogawa eye mask (A gift from my bank); my long awaited lens hood is finally here! They told me to wait 2 weeks, but it has been about a month.



Party @ Dawn's; Mervyn conducting the Carollers from AIGC


@ Victor & Valiant's house


Saddam, with the noose around his neck

473. MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!!!

472. Interesting meeting

Had the opportunity to meet a few new friends on weds evening, Sawa San, Wee Liang & Edward. Sawa San is the owner of AutoSelect, the famous Japanese tuner that created the Yellow Shark GT-R. It seems that the mark of a great person is the willingness to share their knowledge. For someone who's achieved so much, he's a simple, humble person.

Edward, Wee Liang, Sawa San & I; Wee Liang, Sawa San & Chong

Wee Liang & Chong in front of E&O Hotel

Anyway, back to the present day. Christmas is in the air! While shopping, decided to get my first ever Christmas tree for my room. Yes, I was a Christmas tree virgin, but virgin no more. :D Got some lights to decorate it too. Then went over to Wee's room to brag about it. Mocked his big green Christmas tree for lack of ornaments. He likes it that way, me too, but I can't let him know that :P

My 1st ever Christmas tree

Happy Tree Friends; Me mocking Wee's tree :P

In the evening, went over to Subha's apt for a party. I was the designated turkey guy. Hunting down the bird and finding someone to roast it was a fiasco. Apparently the bird I had was not halal, so I had difficulty finding someone to prepare the bird. Luckily I had Nicholas' contact sort that out for me. We had a very sumptous meal and as with all parties by a swimming pool, someone got thrown into the pool. This time around, it was Suresh who got thrown in. :) The rest volunteered to jump in after that. :) 'Twas the nite before the nite before Christmas. Ahhhh! So the holiday starts.

By the pool

A view from the poolside

471. Christmas Shopping

Spent the last few days doing last minute shopping. While getting the goodies, got myself a new tripod and a wireless remote switch (Canon RC-1) for the camera (It'll arrive in 2 weeks). Watched Eragon as well. Perhaps my expectation for the show was too high. Felt the show was rather corny. Got bored after a while.

Finally had the chance to really listen to foreplay's album, X & the tribute to Luther Vandross. Both albums are excellent. Wee stole my Carpenter's album though.

After doing some research online, found the white paper on the Canon's RS-60E3 remote switch detailing the circuit.

Activity = Connection
No press = Open circuit
Half-press = Sleeve + Ring
Full press = Sleeve + Ring + Tip

Figured it's straight forward enough. So made my own. :) Heh heh, free wired remote switch for my camera! :D

Ran into Pragas, Jimmy & Joanne @ Queensbay while on my last minute shopping thingy. They're carolling with their church group. Ahh, miss those days when life was much simpler :P

My new tripod; My homemade remote switch for the Canon 400D

470. The morning after

I had so many things lined up this MORNING. Breakfast with parents, church, then Gurney Plaza & so on. But waking up at about noon kinda killed all those plans. Sigh. I'll try harder next week then. :D

Met up with Nicholas for lunch. Then it's back home for a nap before tonite's BBQ at How's place. As with all his BBQ parties, the food and drinks were just brilliant. Had a blast just chillin. Lovely weekend this was.

Caught sight of these 2 spiders spinning their web in my garden


Shots taken from How's crib, Peel Avenue is one of the nicest streets in Penang

469. Another Year Older....

....but wiser? As they say, growing older is mandatory, but growing up? Well, that's optional. :)

The day started pretty normal. Off to my kandang in the morning. Then Met up with Chuwy & his family for dinner @ TGIFridays, Queensbay. Ran into Wei Wei as well, so asked her & Stanney to join us. The food was awesome, but as with all new places in Penang, half of the Island's population (and another million or so from mainland) wanted to get it. It was unbelievably packed. They were refusing customers becoz the kitchen was full. The kicthen was full? Didn't bother to ask them what they mean by that as I was let in. After a wonderful meal, time for my cake. I was made by the staff to stand on my chair (I swear teacher, I didn't do it). I was made to stand for a good 5 hours (OK, OK, it was about 5 mins) while they asked me to give a speech, sang 2 songs and made me blow out the candles 5 feet from the cake. :P Shirley was celebrating her b'day there as well, so kinda went over to her table to wish her as well.

Me feeling a little shy; Did they realise how long this is taking?

The gang @ TGIF; Lorna, Shirley & Sophia

After dinner it's off to, where else, but Soho Penthouse. The typical gang was there. All in all, it was a very memorable evening.

468. Pre B'day celebrations

We had to celebrate today with my family becoz Seng will be leaving for KL tomorrow. We had dinner at Sriwan & then it's off to Soho for some drinks and to wait for the clock to strike 12, to commemorate the end of my adolescence (Hey! some ppl blossom late, k). :D Soho Penthouse was fully booked by Dell S & P, so we had to cramp ourselves in a corner downstairs. Gosh, this brings back memories of pre Soho Penthouse days. The evening was, how shall I put it, vague. I remember arriving at Soho and all, then I remember Beau ordering a couple rounds of Tequila, then there was Brandy, there was a Flaming Lamborghini, a flaming water & more Brandy & then blur. Oh, not forgeting cake in my face! :P I'll let the pictures do the talking. Wee comandeered my camera and I guess I have him to thank for the memories. :) All's well that ends well.

467. Shooting Stars

Hmmmm, after having a long day at work, took a drive up to Teluk Bahang dam. On the way up, made a stop at Batu Ferringhi night market for some CDs and DVDs. It's amazing what RM32 can get u these days! Just look at the list of goodies I got below.
a) So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute To Luther Vandross
b) The All-American Rejects - Move Along
c) The definitive Ray Charles: Disc 1
d) The definitive Ray Charles: Disc 2
e) Carpenters - The Golden Collection
f) Fourplay - X
g) U2 - 18 Singles
h) DOA - DVD Movie

It was really quiet at the dam and the night sky was a sight to behold. Guess the rain really cleared it up. Took the opportunity to practice my astrophotography. Didn't manage to get any good shots though, but was rewarded with 5 shooting stars. 1 was particularly spectacular. Burning very brilliantly and lasted relatively long.

My Shots of the nite sky at the Dam (these pix just doesn't do it justice)

466. The Reviews

Watched Déjà Vu, Casino Royale & Happy Feet recently. I thot all were pretty good. But then again, I went with rather low expectations as I saw Deja Vu to pass time, my friends said Casino Royale was pretty bad and Happy Feet was my own bias.

Déjà Vu was surprisingly interesting. The thot of turning the experience of Déjà Vu into time travel and such. Gotta give credit for creativity.

As for Casino Royale, I thot Daniel Craig did a good job, this being 007's first mission & he has to potray a rather "clumsy" Bond who just got his double O status. But Poor guy even have websites condemning him. Anyway, I thot it was good enough to watch the 2nd time.

Hmmm, Happy Feet, it's not so much the story that got me, it was more its soundtrack. Their mixing of the different songs is interesting and refreshing. :) I'll definitely get the soundtrack when I have a chance.

On that note, I gotta say, I can't believe there are websites and people out there who are so obsessed with the casting of Daniel Craig as James Bond! What about Saiful Apek as Cicak Man??? My God! Please, you guys have a good movie for crying out loud while we get Cicak Man! Malaysia Boleh!

465. Photo Gallery 2 - CANON EOS 400D

These are the photos taken during the 2 weeks that I was offline.

At Anthony's Wedding





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At Esplanade


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At Nah's Wedding



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At Teng Baike's Wedding