Nick Chan Dot Net

Sunrise at Queensbay

Written by Nicholas Chan on March 15, 2010 – 10:57 pm -

That day, a few days ago, I woke up very the early to fetch mom and dad to the airport. Then I was alone that time, no idea where to go, it’s so early and remembered that the tripod for my camera was in the car, so I went to Queensbay to take some photos and let the wind blow.

Maybe it rained a bit during midnight, it’s so chilly and windy that morning. Cold… and I like!

It’s very quiet early in the morning. The sun hasn’t got up yet and it’s only a little brightness from far. Forgotten that I was only in a short pants and t-shirt, waiting the sun come up to warm me up.

No people at Queensbay, only like 6-7 people, one people sweep the floor and some were like me letting the wind blow and got people go morning walk too!

Some more got boat pass by! By the way, the sea at Queensbay is so much nicer than Gurney Plaza, there’s no ugly muddy seaside. Gurney Drive is so geli (ugly) during low tide.

Got aeroplane also! Flights are always early. Check out my dust spot on my camera sensor, so cool.

Waited for like 45 minutes, the sun has got up in the end, it’s time to pack up and go home.

Tags: Cool Stuff, Lifelog, Morning, Penang, queensbay, sunrise
Posted in Cool Stuff, Lifelog, Penang, Photography | Comments

Kek Lok Si Visit Number 1 During Chinese New Year

Written by Nicholas Chan on March 5, 2010 – 1:49 am -

Kek Lok Si Temple, Penang most famous pagoda temple, also very famous with big big Kuan Yin statue in South East Asia, perhaps Asia. During the past 15 days of Chinese New Year, the temple was lighted up with lamps and LED at night. The only problem is that they only light it up during the Chinese New Year and not during normal day, no idea why and don’t like not lighting up during normal days.

Road towards Kek Lok Si temple was jam with cars going up to the temple every day for the past 2 weeks. I wanted to go there to take photos for a long time already, and I have got chance. Why Visit Number 1 because that I went up twice, this was my first time, with the Leo Club people and I was there late, so didn’t take many photos.

Stupid traffic jam made me stuck in the car for almost an hour. It’s really that crazy, the road is so narrow and we were hanging there. Reached the temple at around 10pm and it’s late already. Didn’t really have the mood to shoot and there’s too many people, I don’t like people without camera waiting me to take photos, because they will be just standing there looking at me with the tripod. So, I thought of going there the other day.

More over, due to time constrain, I can’t shoot the whole Kek Lok Si, every corner of it.

KOKahKOK, user of Canon EOS 400D.

Alvin Yang, user of Nikon D90.

Him Keat, no camera.

Lion Ong Lai, user of Canon EOS 500D.

Wallace, no camera.

Kenny, user of Canon EOS 400D, most powerful with 17-40 F4/L Lens.

The Leo Club people was Lion Ong Lai, Kok Sheng, Tze Yang, Tee Jin, Him Keat, Kenny and Wallace. Some were there early already, so they get to shoot more, and for me, who were late, only get to shoot a little.

We took the lift up to the Kuan Yin statue there, unfortunately, it’s late and we only get to go up but not down. Paid RM2 for it and met a long-time-no-see friend, Ah Leng.

Got up but didn’t get the chance to go near to the foot of Kuan Yin statue and when I wanted go up, they closed the lights already. OMG, that’s why, I planned to go there again on the other.

Although lights closed, we took some group shot before walking down to the car park, in the dark! Stay tune for the post of my next visit. =)

Tags: cny 10, Friends, Leo Club, Lifelog, Light, Night, outing, Penang, photoshoot, Temple
Posted in Festival, Friends, Leo Club, Lifelog, Penang | Comments

Throw Coconut on Thaipusam Day at Datuk Keramat

Written by Nicholas Chan on February 13, 2010 – 2:52 am -

Oh hello, I am back again and now I am going to talk about the Indian’s big Thaipusam Day that happened two weeks ago. I am so lucky to be in one of the states that has big celebration for this big Indian/Tamil/Hindu festival. As far as I know, Penang and Kuala Lumpur are the two places here in Malaysia that have it big.

Last year, some friends did invite me to go to the festival to do some photoshooting, but because I couldn’t wake up so early in the morning, so I missed it. This year was different, I didn’t plan to go photo shooting too, but it’s just that on the day before, Thaipusam’s Eve, the procession has already started and I was going no where after the Chung Ling Memorial thing, so Chien Chern, my friend decided to go visit a friend at Datuk Keramat Road whose his dad’s shop is just right in front of the Thaipusam thing.

So what they had that afternoon was the coconut throwing and some procession take place and people pays respect to the Indian god by contributing prayers thing like fruits, candles.

Till now, I still remembered it’s a very hot day, the sun was hanging high in the sky, shinning down, with the heat radiating the ground. I didn’t care because I wanted to shoot the festival and share it up.

The coconuts were bought by people mostly have their business along the road, they throw the coconut on the ground, break it, is to clean the road for procession, as a respect to god, a prayer, for wealth and health. It’s said to be good luck to throw the coconut. I did try before long time ago when I was small, when my dad had a furniture shop at Datuk Keramat Road, it’s now moved to Gottlieb Road though.

Arron and his family.

At the time 2.30pm sharp, “piak piak piak” sound can be heard and coconuts were everywhere on the ground with the juice splashing out. The scene was epic. Try not to stand near to them because the coconut can be rebounded. Hehe, just like a basketball.

Part of the road was block for this thing and people who bought coconut were at the middle of the road while me and other people like me who see for fun and takes photo were on the other side, hoping that did not get hit by the coconut.

These coconuts although are hard, but it’s actually kinda easy to be squashed. At some time, some un-squashed will roll to my place and I will pick it up and join the fun too!

Chien Chern, Me and Arron.

The whole thing was like 15 minutes. The aftermath was cool with a wet coconut juiced road and coconut every where.

The MPPP people were very efficient, when everything stopped, they quickly come and swept the coconut to a side and let the real procession began and don’t want to stuck the road.

The next thing after the coconut throwing was the procession thing, with devotees paying respect and offerings.

They walk with their bare feet and I believed the road is not hot already because it had been juiced.

I don’t really know how to describe this, so I’ll let the photos speak. =)

Happy Thaipusam, super belated!

Tags: datuk keramat, Festival, fun, Happenings, Hot, Lifelog, Many People, Penang, sunny, thaipusam
Posted in Festival, Friends, Lifelog, Penang | Comments

Hiking to Moon Gate with Friends

Written by Nicholas Chan on February 6, 2010 – 1:06 am -

The initial plan was Chien Chern come to my house to fetch me go to Penang Hill Tram Station to fetch Arron, Chen Yuen, Yiphing and Sher Reen to Botanical Garden, then hike up to Penang Hill and eat some ice kacang, then take the tram down and sit Arron’s car back to Botanical Garden for Chien Chern’s car. But FAILED because the tram service was down for repair work. So sad man.

While at the tram station, while waiting for Arron them to come, Chien Chern and I got no place to go and simply drove around the area and found a temple. So we went in to take a look and I prayed.

The temple was pretty cool and it’s quiet in the morning. I saw monks at there.

In the end, all two car drove to Youth Park and hike up to Moon Gate and come back down. It’s still exercise afterall but we were quite late at that time, it’s almost mid-morning already.

Moon Gate is a stop at the hill for resting. The trail up to the place where I always go hiking with my mom. It’s pretty fun and sometime can see monkey at there.

I did check how long the trail was before, it’s about 2km and it’s not very tall, around 230m above sea level and took us like half and hour. Wonder how long will it takes for us to climb the Mount. Kinabalu tallest in South East Asia.

Sher Reen, Yiphing.

I have got no food up there and at that kind of time, there’s no water service too, so I drank tap water up there, hopefully it’s clean. =) Feeling a little bit of hungry, Arron gave me a bite of his prepared sandwich. Thank you.

Chien Chern.

Spent like 30 minutes up there, crapping and shouting after other people went down, so at a moment, it’s only us up there. Very not quiet but a bit creepy. But soon, there’s hiker came up again and we turned our voice down. If you go hiking during the evening, there’s nice kopi-o to drink, music and many people up there, quite happenings.

Stim look with Arron.

There’s my respectful Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s photo. Rocks.

We wanted to go Penang Hill still, but no luck connecting it to there. There’s still a route at the back of Moon Gate, but no sure where it leads to. A little bit scary. Haha.

Nice view from some part of the hill.

We then went down under the hot sun. Very surprise and now only I know there’s still people go hiking almost noon. It’s like people go there at anytime of the day, don’t know night got or not.

Tags: Exercise, Friends, fun, hiking, hill, Lifelog, Penang
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My 2010 New Year Eve in Penang

Written by Nicholas Chan on February 3, 2010 – 8:22 pm -

Some friend must be thinking, “isn’t my new year’s eves are always in Penang (my hometown)?” Pretty wrong, last year I spent my New Year’s Eve at a cold and people-not-enjoying-new-years-eve place and that’s Guangzhou.

People at there don’t really interest in New Year or New Year eve, Chinese there are more to Chinese New Year, but so New Year Day is still a national public holiday. Still remember that I spent my day touring Guangzhou and at night counting down in the hotel room, watching Hong Kong’s great fireworks from the idiot box. It’s still fun though, because I was traveling. =D

Same thing as Christmas Eve’s morning, I woke up then went for dim sum at the same dim sum house. I don’t know whose idea it was, it’s just “IT’S DIM SUM AGAIN!”.

They as in Yiphing, Chai Wei, Chien Chern and Chen Yuen went back to their places and would be meet in the afternoon. As for me, I went for college hunting to ask info about studies. Went to The One, Disted and Equator and still I’ve got no decision in my mind. I am going to wait for my result in March already. I think I’ll go to a college whichever needed to pay the less.

Then went to meet Anthony, my tuition teacher at his new place, big renovation was going on because he wanted to remove all the wall in his new house. Seems interesting and just stayed there for a while and listen to his ideas on the interior design.

After college hunting, I actually got no place to go. I was supposed to go meet my friends at her house and I was in the middle of her house and my house, thinking should I go home for a rest or not. After thinking for a little bit, decided to spend the whole day out and only go back home at midnight. Save petrol by not going back and out. Hehe.

Very lame, we were suppose to think what to do and where to go at Yiphing’s house but in the end, we spent the whole afternoon at her house, crapping mostly and eat instant noodle. Thank you Yiphing for the instant noodle. At one time, I don’t know what we were screaming and shouting until the neighbour came complain, it means seriously that the place need better noise insulation. =D

Shit, act gay.

6pm came and in one car, I was the driver, we went to Queensbay Mall to check out the countdown concert. Unfortunately, there’s no Yiphing here, it’s only me, Chien Chern, Chen Yuen and Chai Wei. Mom keep telling me that it would be very jam around the area but what I saw was smooth traffic, just like the Chinese always says One Road Smooth Wind, which means move smoothly all the way.

The concert was starting at 8 and it was like 6.30pm when we arrived. It seems like there’s no crazy fans waiting at the front line, since there’s nothing to see yet, we went into Queensbay Mall and roam around, without sense of direction and shops to go or things to buy.

My favourite thing to do is standing in front of any of the Mac, iMac biggest screen 27″ preferably, turn on Photo Booth program and make fun, then bluetooth all the photo for self-storage. =D Very lame right? It’s a form of my entertainment when I found Apple’s computer at the store. We spent like half an hour at there and took quite many photos. Hopefully no one were laughing at us and the Apple people didn’t even want to bother us.

Accidentally bumped up with Mxdoing Min Xiang and his friend Sammy, they were going for a movie instead.

Very sad that after playing so long at the Photo Booth and walking the whole mall, the concert still not yet started. The MC were just interacting with the people. I don’t have the Rock’s Zone ticket, so I didn’t bother to go in early.

Very lame, we went into the mall again. I went to get my camera batteries because I was scared that my camera will run die if I keep on shooting useless stuff.

It’s dinner time after that. Almost all restaurant in Queensbay Mall are not very low priced, so we went out of Queensbay Mall and found Mommy Wang at the opposite. Not very low priced too, but do serves not-bad Taiwanese food.

After dinner for sure would be the concert time! Since we have got no ticket, we stand pretty far from the stage and only can see from the screen. I didn’t have a zoom lens, so not thinking of photo shooting that time. Just enjoying the crowds and music.

It’s a Chinese concert, organized by local Chinese commercial radio 988, there’s 2 Taiwanese singer (Tank and Power Station) and many local artists and what I was waiting for was the Taiwanese singer only. =D They came out at the very end of the concert for countdown of new year.

Met Alvin there.

Then P1 Wimax were giving out a lot of air banger but it’s lousy, it goes airless after a few bangs.

Cheong Kin were there too!

After Tank came out on stage and sang many many song, I really meant many, maybe he is popular so the whole half and hour was given to him, then we went somewhere near backstage to wait for the fireworks. Power Station took the stage on after that, and they were counting down for it. Found no where to sit, it’s everyone, and since the road was block, we sat on the floor. ^^

5-4-3-2-1. Yoyoyo, happy new year!

Didn’t have a tripod with me so I can’t shoot nice fireworks photo. I took them handheld at a slow speed. The fireworks was not very awesome, it’s like 10 minutes long only.

Amanda the blogger was there too!

And met Lester, Emily and Jameson.

The night had not end yet, the most shitty thing was queuing up to pay parking ticket, the line was half and hour long and after paying, the whole carpark was a massive jam, takes another half and hour to get out. Scary. I was thinking that won’t I have to repay my parking ticket because I exceeded the time limit after paying the parking ticket and not out of the mall, but it’s not a problem already because there’s guard collecting ticket and need not insert into the barrier machine again.

It’s only jam at Queensbay Mall carpark, the road outside was smooth. The night then ended with a supper at Upper Penang Road. Then it’s home everyone. Happy Chinese New Year for now! Haha.

Tags: concert, eve, Friends, Lifelog, New Year, Penang, queensbay mall
Posted in Event, Friends, Lifelog, Penang | Comments

Random Photos in Town

Written by Nicholas Chan on January 30, 2010 – 1:46 pm -

This is just a simply crap post writeup. Today is Saturday and I want to wish you all Happy Thaipusam. It’s a very happenings day here in Penang and all the Indian comes out to party on the street. I like festival, I like happenings and I like my hometown, Penang.

Though, traffic jam will be everywhere and I need to take the longest route to go to any place to prevent passing by Jalan Utama and Jalan Dato Keramat where the Thaipusam possession is held.

ITP school of engineering so hidden in Victoria Street. First time knowing that there’s a school here.

Back to crap post, one fine day, I took the Sony T200 out instead of the Canon 400D, it’s tiny and sleek, but the quality is still far not to par with the DSLR, very suck for low light, yet still it’s fun to shoot. I like shooting it in 16:9 format, wide screen is nice. Although I still can crop my photos taken with DSLR to 16:9, but still I kinda lazy some times.

So, the reason of going to town was helping dad to do stuff like cheque deposit and collect stuff from the post office. He drives and I work it out.

I don’t ride motorbike. Do you?

Went to the Poslaju office to collect a parcel for dad, and he thought it’s something important, but turn out to be 4 RM10 Padini voucher, yet still pretty cool, I can go shopping already! It’s some reward scheme by the credit card company.

After that passed by Little India and saw a lot of Indians at there doing their business. If you wind down your window when passing this place, you can hear a lot of free bollywood music. Kinda cool. =D

At this moment, I am sitting in front of the computer, writing blog on one hand, and the TV behind me is playing Leverage latest episode. Do you watch Leverage? =D Enjoy. Gonna plan where to go later already. Chao! Happy Thaipusam once again!

—Xpax Big Freekin’ Sale PROMO—

Image by Channel X.

No bluff you one! Channel X is really having the Xpax Big Freekin’ Sale right now. It’s really very big because there’s many many big deal and big promotion. I know many of you are heavy mobile user, so only I share this big mobile deal with you all. This is for Xpax, U.O.X. and S.O.X. users, but if you are not also nevermind, can just go in any mobile store to sign up one.

50% discount on Channel X downloads all day long, buy-1-free-1 during the happy hours and win hot hot hot prizes! OMG, so tempting, luckily I am a Xpax user too. Faster go check it out, you can enjoy all these until 31st March 2010.

Tags: Cool Stuff, crap, georgetown, Lifelog, Penang, random
Posted in Lifelog, Penang | Comments