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  • A Saturday Out With Penang Friends

    Last Saturday was a fun and happenings day for me in Klang Valley. It felt really good to meet up a few friends who was from hometown Penang too and also from the same high school. We went for dinner, bubble tea and chit chat a lot that night, and too went to play LAN game together. =D

    Saturday was 2 days after Arron’s birthday and he wanted to treat us Chinese food as a celebration for his recent birthday. Happy belated birthday my friend. We went to fetch Chen Yuen (a.k.a. Nicholas David Raykee Aw) from the LRT station as he stayed pretty far from us, and the to fetch Tee Jin and Hsieh Zhen. It was only 5 of us that night, but it was awesome.

    While waiting for Chen Yuen who came all the way from Setapak, Arron and I saw some silly stuff happened at the car park of the LRT station. The Toyota Innova tried to reverse parking, but in the end drove over the divider and stuck there. LOL.

    After fetching everyone, we had dinner at a famous Chinese restaurant called Loong Fong at Paramount Garden there. GPS was our guide to the restaurant as we are a group of alien in this city. Though, it was not really hard to find afterall.

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    The dinnerwas a wonderful dinner and later we went to look for Gong Cha bubble tea at SS15. Although it’s same price as Chatime, I like Gong Cha more. We chit-chat all along and take photos. It was a nice day out and is looking forward for more outing. =D Lots of place to explore in Klang Valley, any recommendation? I want to go to KL Bird Park, National Zoo, KLCC skybridge, Broga Hill, Ampang LookOut Point, where else I can go? =)

    A little jokes on us is that we call this gang, the animal gang as we always do all those jiao jiao (bird bird) stuff, which is just means lame stuff. Hahaha.

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    =)

  • 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.

  • Go To Eat Penang Road Famous Cendol

    My brother, Yikhung who is studying in Singapore came back to Penang for holiday and I had my wonderful time spent with him for the past few days but unable to do so now cause I am now back to school. Last Saturday, after fetching him from the airport, we went to Penang Road to eat the famous cendol.

    Cendol, chendul, chendol, I don’t know which is the correct spelling. I don’t really care where the delicious and mouthwatering cendol comes from, but I am pretty sure that our Penang’s is uniquely awesome.

    We parked our car behind Chowrasta Market and took a walk to the cendol stall.

    And we saw tourist strolling along Penang Road and a weird man lying on the road. Really homeless and crazy. It’s so dangerous and take the road as a bed which is so uncomfortable. Come on homeless, get yourself wash up and get a job.

    It’s really thirst quencher on a super hot weather. Icy cold dessert running down the throat to the stomach make the day fresh and happy.

    Then I played with my brother new lens all along, it’s a Canon EF 28mm f/1.8 lens which is a very sharp fixed lens with wide aperture. Love it a lot.

  • Agora Gallery Reviews How To Be Accepted Into A Gallery

    Agora Gallery reviews the best way to get accepted by a gallery

    Even in the age of the internet, when artists can display and promote their works in a huge number of ways, the role of bricks-and-mortar galleries like Agora Gallery is still an important one. It helps artists to achieve a level of legitimacy and a sense of being established in the art world that can be beneficial both to their self-confidence and to their career.

    Therefore, the process which artists go through to get their work shown in a gallery is worth thinking over. There are some artists in the world who are so famous that almost any gallery would be happy to show their work, but there are very few of them. Most professional artists have to present themselves to prospective galleries such as Agora Gallery carefully. Often, this will be the first time they have heard of you or seen your work, so the impression they get matters.

    Agora Gallery offers advice on portfolio submission

    Research is a vital factor in getting that first impression right. It’s easy to find out about most galleries you’re interested in applying to — visit their websites, read their promotional material, speak to anyone you know who has a connection with them. Work out if your work might be suitable for them. If it’s obviously not a good match — if they only show oils and you work in watercolour, for example — then don’t apply. Many galleries, including Agora Gallery, work in a range of mediums and styles, but it’s worth checking in advance.

    Similarly, if you work in a number of media, sit down to decide which is best to show the gallery. If you think two or more would be suitable, try one first. If it’s not successful, you can send in the others. Don’t confuse the submission by trying to present all your kinds of works. Angela Di Bello, the director of Agora Gallery, reviews many portfolios and she finds she gets the strongest impression of an artist’s style and approach when they have submitted a consistent body of work.

    If you have a contact at the gallery — one of the assistants there, perhaps, or an artist who has shown there in the past – it’s worth trying to get in contact through them. While your work will ultimately have to stand on its own merits, an initial personal touch like that can make a difference.

    Remember that a gallery is a business. If you already have a reliable customer base, they will be interested in hearing about that. If you have made sales all over the world and are held in international collections, or have won a prestigious award, that is relevant information. Don’t be modest at the wrong time; it’s important to share this sort of detail.

    Sometimes a gallery owner or director might approach you at an art fair or some similar event and express interest in your work. If this happens, make sure to react in a friendly and approachable way, and to get the contact details of the person who’s talking to you. Follow up soon after the first meeting while the details are still clear in their mind.

  • 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? =)

  • Sad Cannot Go To Philippines

    Still remember I made a video to ask you guys to vote for me so I could go to Philippines? Really sad that I am unable to go to the Philippines trip brought to you by Hotlink due to some personal reason. Anyway, I want to thank you guys for all the support and vote, really thank you very much and I will bring you more interesting content soon. =0

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db0XOoSkvFk&w=640&h=390]

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