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Category: Cool Stuff

  • Hueisean At Masjid Kapitan Keling

    I never know that we can visit the famous Masjid Kapitan Keling (Kapitan Keling Mosque) on Pitt Street just until recently I saw photos taken from that mosque, only then I know it’s actually open to everyone. Visit it not because of being religious, it’s just because of curious and want to check out the historical building and culture of it.

    This is very famous mosque in Penang and is located in the UNESCO World Heritage City of George Town. I knew this mosque for quite some times as when I was a kid, I always played at the five foot path outside the mosque. My grandparents once lived near to the mosque.

    I went there on one fine afternoon with my dear, Hueisean and she was the model for my camera that day. Haha. The day was rather sunny and cloudy, it’s just something in between where the big red Sun comes out in a while and hide behind the moon sometimes.

    The mosque is built by the Indian Muslim in the 19th century and there’s locate the very famous Nasi Beratur (Queuing Rice) that operates after 10pm. Nasi Beratur is a Malay dishes stall that have people queuing up anxiously for their food every night. It had been there for more than 10 years and people are still queuing patiently for it everynight.

    We didn’t really knew the Muslim culture well as girls actually need to wear something to cover up the whole body to go in. She has a sleeveless shirt and luckily she brought a jacket. I was all set with jeans and polo-tee. It’s a respect to the religion and culture.

    In conjunction with the recent George Town Festival month, they have set up a huge poster of old-Penang in their compound, decorated with a little bit of sands and box of crates, which give a sense of back-to-the-days. It allows people to bring their mind back to the olden days and imagine about how Penang was like back then.

    Actually, there’s nothing much to tour about inside, it’s just a short walk along the corridor and we are not allow to step into the hall. Shoes are of course not allow. Nevertheless, it’s a nice place to visit and good to learn about others culture.

  • Noon At Kek Lok Si Temple

    Noon At Kek Lok Si Temple

    One find noon in Penang, mom and I went to Kek Lok Si temple to do something, I followed along to snap some photos as I haven’t been there in bright daylight before. It seems fun, but it was a short trip up there. Kek Lok Si temple is one of the most famous and gorgeous temple in South East Asia and it’s a good place for photoshooting.

    It was a bright and sunny day, yet there’s a little windy breeze blow as the Kek Lok Si temple is located a little bit high from ground level. I saw quite many foreign and local tourist checking out the place and take photos.

    Ever since Penang has got the UNESCO World Heritage City status, more and more tourist are flocking into this little so-called “Pearl Of The Orient” for its lovely heritage town and of course the famous food.

    Kek Lok Si Temple is one of the place that you must not miss when you are visiting Penang. Doesn’t matter if you are Muslim, Christian or other races, it’s good to check out the architecture, culture and art of this temple.

    Kek Lok Si Temple is not a small temple, it’s huge and have several sections for you to visit and explore. As for me, I only went to the main hall and didn’t went UP to other area as it takes like an hour and more if you are an avid photographer. We were there to do some stuff at the main hall.

    Nevertheless, it’s still nice to move around at the main hall area to take some shots. Parking is RM2 at the entrance of Kek Lok Si which is rather cheap as you can park as long as you want.

    One thing I dislike while checking around the place is I saw this zinc roof with shape into Chinese-style roof. It makes the place so cheap-looking and lousy. Instead I think they should just replaced with it better ceramic roof which resembles a real Chinese temple architecture. =)

     

  • A Day Out With Yashica 635 Twin Lens Reflex Camera

    A Day Out With Yashica 635 Twin Lens Reflex Camera

    Do you know what is Twin Lens Reflex camera, the TLR? It’s an old vintage camera which has two lens and your viewfinder is on top of the camera and people look down into the camera to take a shot.

    My uncle borrowed me an very old camera, the Yashica 635 dual format TLR camera to play out. He kept it for super many years, it still looking good and in a very good condition for taking photograph. The dual format means that it can support both 120mm film and the 35mm film that we normally use.

    120mm is not really my favourite as it’s not easy to find and the processing and developing of it is costly. Luckily there’s an adapter which allow the camera to use 35mm format film, though this turn the camera into portrait mode.

    With much excitement about this ancient camera, brother and I went to buy a Fujifilm Superia 35mm film for RM12 to try it out. Spent about half an hour to figure out how to put in the film as there’s no manual for it and finally we’ve successfully have the film fixed in the camera.

    Everything is in manual, focusing, shutter speed and aperture. It has a wide aperture of f3.5 and fastest shutter speed of 1/500. We have to wind every exposure film ourselves manually as there’s no battery and automated part.

    After fixing the film, we quickly go to Straits Quay to try out the camera since the day was still bright. As you know, film camera without a flash and slow ISO film is always not advisable to shoot during low light situation.

    Focusing is easy with a magnifying glass on the viewfinder. However, setting up the best setting for shooting is not easy and we have to refer to the setting of DSLR like shutter speed and aperture. Haha. We are not pro to estimate it yet, I really salute the user of this camera back then. There must be a standard for it but I don’t know yet.


    We wanted to shoot all 36 exposure of the film but failed because the winding problem of the camera and we wind all till the end and we shot about 16 shots.

    Thought of going to the camera shop to developed the film right after it but couldn’t find any photo shop that is still open on a Sunday evening. Haha. And not much of them are developing and printing film, that’s a sad thing. Then we went to develop the next day, scanned into digital format and turn out to be good and love the bokeh and the photos taken by me. Haha, so proud of myself. XD Some shots were taken by my brother too.

    Seems like film camera is kinda fun, especially old old one. =D

    One more thing, it’s not easy to frame the photo as it’s inverted in the viewfinder and superhard to take landscape.

  • Chinese Opera At Penang Kuan Yin Temple

    It’s the Chinese Hungry Ghost Month now and you will see some ghost set-up stages around town. These stages are used for performing Chinese street concert (kotai) and performance like Chinese opera which is said as an entertainment for the “people” of afterlife.

    Sounds eerie ya? No worry, it’s just another happenings celebration by the Chinese. Last month, there’s a 30 days-long Chinese opera show at the Penang’s famous Kuan Yin Temple on Pitt Street. It’s not for the hungry ghost festival but it’s for the birthday celebration of Kuan Yin Goddess – the Goddess Of Mercy.

    The Chinese opera show was performs by a group of Chinese performers came directly from China. I wanted to check it out earlier already but it’s was not showing or finished every time I went to check it out. Last week, it was the last show of the Chinese opera and I was lucky to be there to catch the show.

    Spent some times checking out the show. I think they are really cool, especially the make up and the setting. Even though I don’t know what they are talking about on the stage, it some sort of Chinese dialect, but I think it’s really nice to see. Unfortunately there wasn’t any LED display showing subtitles, some Chinese opera shows are quite high tech with LED display showing subtitle in Chinese which makes the show more understandable.

    Combination of acting, cool make up, Chinese music instrument and setting give a sense of, CHINA.

    The show was actually meant for the Goddess Of Mercy so there’s no chairs prepared. So you can see people brought their own chair to see the show.

    What do you think about Chinese Opera?

  • MoonTree 47 – Nice Heritage Place And Cafe To Chill

    Penang’s George Town has gained the UNESCO World Heritage title 3 years back and restoration work of old colonial houses and shop lots can be seen all over the town. Some of these old colonial houses turn into accommodation, cafe, shops, and of course an 3D art gallery. In fact, the whole architecture is a piece of art.

    There are already some nice cafe and accommodation hotel which are restored from the old colonial houses and will soon increases more and more. I have been in search of this kind of place all over George Town to chill and enjoy the restored architecture. Muntri Street (Lebuh Muntri) is a nice street with many old colonial shophouses and it’s getting more and more famous to tourist as the increasing of the backpacker guesthouse.

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    MoonTree 47 is a cafe, art gallery cum homestay which is located on Muntri Street. It blue exterior attracted me to check out the place. I went there for lunch few days back and it was a fruitful meal.

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    Upon entering the place, I come across many antique art pieces like old door and furniture which spice up the place.

    I was trilled and excited to see the antique-ish interior. The decoration of the heritage interiors give a sense of relaxing and throw my mind away. It made me want to sit down and surf the Internet all day long in MoonTree 47 and sip their homemade coffee.


    Look at the chair and table used, it’s so classic and sweet.

    It gives me a feel of not belonging to Penang, it’s like out of the busy city, slow, steady and chilling.

    MoonTree 47 houses a variety of vintage antique collection. Vintage classic furniture, photos, camera, radio, photos and more. It’s a nice little museum that have other functions e.g. cafe, homestay. =)

    A little bit of green sparks up the place too as you know it’s the “Go Green” era. How can a place full of art pieces be complete without green arts? It truely blended a fresh and sense of nature into a vintage space.

    How I wish I could spend time online and forget about all the misery and the coming stressful days.

    Look at how they decorate the washing area. They are just old items reused and decorated with some colours, mirror and green. It’s just so perfect in match.

    If got a chance, I’m gonna visit it again and relax myself at there with some nice coffee and MacBook. =D Forgot to mention, free wifi is available. Hehe.

  • Tuesday Tanjung Bungah Market Pasar Malam (Night Market)

    Tuesday Tanjung Bungah Market Pasar Malam (Night Market) – Pasar malam, also known as night market is my favourite as there have a variety of delicious street snacks to eat and cheap stuff to shop for like clothing, mini electric appliances, accessories and more but the most important, is the food. Unlike in China, night market doesn’t station at a place every night. Every night is at different places around Penang.

    On Tuesday night, there’s a wet market and food court which turns into a crowded and happenings night market when sun set. Cars started parking by the road side and people of all walk of life flows into the night market to bring a happening atmosphere.

    I do go there occasionally for some light snacks, like crepe cake, hot dog, bubble tea, and local delicious hawker food.

    Frankly, it’s not the best night market in Penang yet as Jelutong Taman Kheng Thean Night Market (Friday) and Farlim Night Market (Wednesday) have even more street food for you to choose. Nevertheless, a night market in the middle of the high end condominium residential area of this Tanjung Bungah bring a sense of local-ness to the high class living. You can see foreign residents enjoying night market too.

    After a day of tiring work, a little walk at the night market with some icy drinks on hand is very relaxing. It get you out of the busy-ness of the city and traffic jam and slow your mind down.

    What do you think about night market/pasar malam? =)

  • 1st Avenue & Magazine Road, Penang – Night

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    Nothing much, just want to say good night to everyone. =) Went to Magazine Road to eat Chinese tang yuan (rice glutinous ball) just now for supper and like the way 1st Avenue Shopping Mall stands in the middle of a heritage city. – Good night everyone.

  • Bersih 2.0 – Favourite Photos, Video and My Thoughts


    Look like a warzone, but it’s them who fired it to the people. Trying to disperse, what for? Let them walk peacefully to the stadium. Then people happy, but not.

    No, I wasn’t there at the Bersih 2.0 rally yesterday in Kuala Lumpur, but I have to tell you that I wanted to be there so badly but physically I am in my hometown. Even though I wasn’t there, my spirit was and is there always, to support a clean election and process of making a real democratic country.


    It’s just people, walking on the street, with no weapon. But the police force fired tear gas and water canon to them.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMtV7zj5yMA]

    709, 9 July 2011, was a historical to the Malaysian citizen, it’s a day to be remembered in my opinion as people of all walks of life came together, unite and walk for electoral reform. It’s the government who stupidity condemned the peace rally. The keyword is peace, it’s not like the Vancouver riot, it’s not a riot, it’s a peace rally. There’s no dangerous weapon, it’s just a peace walk to voice out the voice of Malaysian.

    The government was being stubborn and keep saying that this Bersih 2.0 is illegal. What the hell is being illegal when people just want to walk on the street to voice out? It’s a planned peace rally, just walking to voice out to the King. If it’s illegal, then what’s legal?

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64Gg8l0Hkcc]

    If the Election Commission, say OK with the 8 demands, then there will not be any rally and riot. It’s not demand for changing the rights of the Malays also, but you all crazy people just scared of the 8 demands and uses all ways to stop the rally from going on, but you failed. Not many turned up, but still it’s more than 20,000 people. 20,000 is a small number of the total population, but it represents a big part of it.

    If the government friend friend with the Bersih, shake hand, give Bersih a stadium, then there wouldn’t be any injury and running around the city. The traffic will be smooth and business as usual. But no, the government didn’t want to give the stadium and block all the road to KL, of course this will cause massive jam outside KL and business stops! Stupid road block is the cause of the disturbance of KL folks.

    And somemore, why catch people wear yellow shirt? What the hell is this? Why wearing yellow shirt is delivering a negative message? This is the super ridiculous and very gay and very pointless!


    No way, DS Anwar’s bodyguard will be hurt so easily by just walking. Hit by canister?

    We, part of Malaysia, not whole, just want to show what we think on the street only and you shoot us like crazy with tear gas and water canon. It’s you, the PDRM who was being rude, aggressive and dangerous. Malaysia is a civilized country, you think the Malaysian will fight? It’s not 1963 anymore, come on it’s 2011 and there’s no Malay, Indian or Chinese, it’s all Malaysian who took part in the rally TOGETHER!

    Bersih, might have political message, SO WHAT? If the government is clean and good, then what for you are scared of the rally and preventing it to happen and stop all the top leaders from entering the city? I don’t care of what the opposition is doing, but I only care about a real electoral reform for a fair and clean election. If you win it cleanly, I will keep my mouth shut for sure.


    Sad for the old aunty who came to support.

    Seriously, think about why people are joining the rally? People not joining the rally doesn’t mean they don’t care or disagree with it, why don’t you think about they concern, but just afraid of being caught? OK, they might be chicken, but I am sure they have the heart for it. Look at Twitter, the updates of Bersih, just look at the attendees, and the photos, it’s a true spirit of being unite together, all races, that’s the most lovely part of Bersih, it’s not PAS, it’s not DAP, it’s not BN, it’s not MCA, but it’s Malay + Chinese + Indian = Malaysians.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzZz20SClgc]

    One thing I very TULAN is when A Samad Said wanted to submit the memorandum to His-Majesty King, the police stopped him. He is a very old man already, and he has no melee weapon or gun or anything, why the hell the authority, the upper level of police don’t allow him to get through? OLD MAN + a few papers of memorandum, that’s all, they also don’t let them go through and talked so rudely. Come on, he is just an old man.

    Well, I write this hopefully won’t get caught (HAHAHA), I love my country, I am not fully disagree with the government, just some wrong doings of them, yet I am proud of being a Malaysian. Exercise your rights, register yourself for election at the nearest post office and voice out during the next elections. Malaysia Boleh! – 1 Malaysia!

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmauVB5BpYA]

    Credits: Al-Jazeera, @eugeneteoh

  • Bloggers Without Borders With Hotlink Prepaid

    Hey guys. Do you know that Hotlink prepaid can now do data roaming when you are overseas? Yes, you can! With the new Hotlink Prepaid Data Roaming, you can surf the net, check the mail and blog wherever you want. No need to pre-activate like post paid.

    Screen shot 2011-07-10 at 5.26.38 PM

    So I need a favor from you guys here. In order to let me do live blogging at Philippines with Hotlink’s Prepaid Data Roaming. I need you guys to vote for me in the Bloggers Without Borders contest. =) Vote, vote, vote then I’ll be sharing every cool stuff at there with you through blog, Twitter, Facebook and almost everything.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ox6zTRJdSM]

    Just help to vote for me here and I’ll bring you some surprise too! Cheers!

  • Lelong.my E-Commerce Fair 2011 – Largest E-Commerce Fair In Malaysia

    Last time it was Lelong.Com.My and now it’s Lelong.my! I am sure everyone of you heard about that site and if you have not, it’s like the E-bay for our own Malaysian, it’s a website for auction and online shopping in Malaysia only.

    Lelong-Ad-Final

    Lelong.my will be holding the first and the largest E-Commerce Fair in Malaysia which will be happening at Mid Valley Exhibtion Centre (Hall 1 & 2) for a better shopping experience, which brings your favourite online shop to an offline location!

    Lelong.my E-Commerce Fair 2011

    Date: 12, 13, 14 August (Friday – Sunday) 2011

    Time: 11.00am – 9.00pm

    Location: Mid Valley Exhibition Centre (Hall 1 & 2)

    It will be a very awesome event at Mid Valley as it will be featuring 240 participating booths which actually have online stores at Lelong,my, live bid your favourite item from as low as RM1 (like gadget and camera starts from RM1), charity auction, free gifts and talks on how to start your own e-commerce and more!

    Blogging Competition

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    Lelong.my also organized a blogging competition in conjunction with this big event and the prizes are Samsung Galaxy S2, Viewsonic ViewPad 10, shopping voucher and more! It’s really very tempting and the best part of all is that it’s very easy to join the competition and win!

    All you need to do is just follow this 3 simple steps and you are on your way to win your prizes.

    1. “Like” Lelong.my’s Facebook fan page (www.facebook.com/lelong.com.my)
    2. Write a blog post on: Your Most Memorable Experience Buying Online
      1. The post can be both positive or negative, describing the experience
      2. Include the Lelong.my E-Commerce Fair masthead
        (http://ecfair.lelong.com.my/2011/wp-content/uploads/eventdetails.png) or promotional flyer (http://ecfair.lelong.com.my/2011/wp-content/uploads/Lelong-Ad-Final.jpg)
    3. Submit your blog post to Lelong.my via the Facebook page “contest” tab (closing date: 31st July 2011)

    And you are done! You are on the right path to win your awesome prize. Check out the website for more information!

    What do you think? Fun right?

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