Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III USM Telephoto Zoom Lens

I know it's not the time to spent more money when the economy is during recession. We are supposed to save for future during this tough time, turbulent time, bad time, poor economy etc. etc. But I just want to add another lens to my old and only DSLR EOS400D. An additional toy for big daddy. Yes for my own self. Daddy also need a toy.
After scouting around for the right choice ( I choose the cheaper version instead of the pro ),
I manage to get one with the lowest offered price in town at RM880.00
It's hard for me to get through without it. I already told myself to refrain from over spending for these few months, especially after regretting buying myself a PDA phone, HTC Viva. Now I am on with another spending, all charged to my credit card !

OK, I pledge not to spent on any others toys or IT gadgets for at least 3 coming months. And cut down on other expenses, petrol and entertainment and no shopping for clothing nor shoes etc..

My First Test..

30/4/09 - I realize I have problem using Zoom lens. My hands are shaking and I prefer taking photos of people in action or street photography and scenery / landscape. It cost me RM880.00 to realize my interest. Anyway, I still like this new lens. No regret.

A Valuable Lesson Learned

Something I want to share with everyone. Yes, never judge a book from it's cover. This is something we all can learn from the Britain Got Talent. Susan Boyle at 47 just never give up and she won her audiences and judges heart in the audition. Lets hope she'll turn her dream into reality. Something we all know from here is that, It's never too late and nothing is impossible. Never give up and everything is possible as long as you got the will and keep on dreaming.

47 Year old Susan Boyle wows the judges with her performance in the auditions for Britain's Got Talent, singing I dreamed a dream from Les Miserables.

My Kampung, My Weekend

Another week end. Nothing much happening. Take a walk again around the village with 2 kids from next door following for photography. Still walking the same route as I used to for my brisk walk. And here are some of the photos taken at around my kampung.
Since the day is so hot, the kampung kids can be seen swimming along the 'taliair' The kids next door on photography session.

Sunset.
The Chinese kampung kids swimming along the 'taliair' as well. The day must be really warm and hot !
The small road where I used to walk. Lots of animals around, such as cows, ducks, chicken, goose, sheep, lambs and cats.
Another dip.
Trees everywhere.

First Chinese Muslim In Malaysia

I think this is the first Chinese architecture Muslim Mosque in Kelantan, and also in Malaysia. Located at Rantau Panjang, very closed to the southern Thai border, about 500 metres away. Just in front of the mosque, you can see the Immigration Check point.
And for those who have not been to Kelantan, Rantan Panjang is a small little trading town which sells a lot of Thai products to our Malaysian visitors and at the same time sells local stuffs to the Thai visitors. And Sungei Kolok is the nearest town in Thailand, which is quite a walking distance from the check point, or alternatively you can either hire a trishaw or a motorbike to get there. One important advice to those who are crossing to the Thai border, do not deal with anyone approaching you with all sort of offers especially the illegal one, be it motor bike service or tour service especially the 'men only' visitors because they may force you to visit the brothel or else.. !
While you are in Rantau Panjang you can also visit another Thai architecture Buddhist Temple, Wat Uttamaran at Lubok Jong, Pasir Mas district which is on the same road on your return journey to Pasir Mas town.
Back to the mosque, as to date, the mosque is almost 95% completed and is expected to attract mostly local and Thai tourist.

Aku Cinta Pada Mu..

She's still young and beautiful, and I am already forty something. She is a princess and I am in the army. We are of a different culture, different country and a different world. We speak different language. We have full of restrictions and obstacles in our relationship, but nothing can stop us now.
We live in a fantasy world. We can fly..
I hope you'll enjoy this video clip over here, a beautiful song with an English subtitles. The lyrics is really good. I really enjoy it and it touches my heart. Have fun with.. The Myth on Endless Love.

In The Morning

Trying hard to keep myself fit, I had a brisk walk around my residential area. And this is what I capture..

On MC.. and my reading goes haywire !

I was doing some gardening yesterday evening, and injured my hand. I thought I used more strength on my leg instead but suddenly I injured the elbow. I think it's something to do with the bone. So later, I got difficulty lifting up objects and the pain got worst during my sleep as I can't even move my right hand slightly, as any wrong position will cause more pain to the elbow. So I didn't sleep well last night. This morning I decided to see the doctor as I can't even turn the switch on of my car. I have to use the left hand !
The doctor gave me some medicine, and say it's a common occurrence among elderly people. However my blood pressure rise to 180 over 90 something. Probably due to my lack of sleep yesterday. She increase my hypertension dosage and gave me 2 days medical leave for rest ! So my off day is official.
And I just checked on my blood glucose level. I have my personal machine at home. The reading is 16.5 ! Something is wrong with the machine ! My own blood pressure meter reads 159 over 94. One thing for sure, I need to change the batteries of both machines and start picking up on some exercise and get away from my lap top more often ! Hey readers, if you spending more time on your pc and lap top, it's time to break away and do more exercise or you'll have the same problem as I am having right now ! Everything goes haywire !

Simple Guidelines For Happiness

1. Free your heart from hate.

2. Free your mind from worry.

3. Live simply.

4.Give more.

5. Expect Less.

New Cabinet

Prime Minister and Finance Minister 1 Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

Deputy PM and Education Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin

Ministers in Prime Minister’s Department
Unity Dr Koh Tsu Koon
Law and Parliament Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz
Religious Affairs Brig. Gen. (Rtd) Datuk Jamil Khir Baharum
Economic Planning Unit Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop

Finance
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak
Deputies: Datuk Chor Chee Heung, Datuk Dr Awang Adek Hussein

Education
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputies: Datuk Wee Ka Seong, Datuk Puad Zarkashi

Transport
Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat
Deputies: Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri, Datuk Robert Lau

Home
Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein
Deputy: Datuk Wira Abu Seman Yusop

Information, Unity, Culture and Arts
Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
Deputies: Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum, Heng Sai Kee

Energy, Green Tech & Water
Datuk Peter Chin Fah Kui
Deputy: Noriah Kasnon

Plantation Industries and Commodoties
Tan Sri Bernard Dompok
Deputy: Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin

Rural and Regional Development
Datuk Shafie Apdal
Deputies: Datuk Hassan Malek, Datuk Joseph Entulu

Higher Education
Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin
Deputies: Dr Hou Kok Chung, Saifuddin Abdullah

International Trade and Industry
Datuk Mustapa Mohamed
Deputies: Datuk Muhkriz Mahathir, Datuk Jacob Dungau

Science, Tech and Innovation
Datuk Dr Maximus Ongkili
Deputy: Fadillah Yusof

Natural Resources and Environment
Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas
Deputy: Tan Sri Joseph Kurup

Tourism
Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen
Deputy: Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib

Agriculture and Agro-based industries
Datuk Noh Omar
Deputies: Johari Baharum, Rohani Abdul Karim

Defence
Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Deputy: Datuk Dr Abdul Latif

Works
Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor
Deputy: Datuk Yong Khoon Seng

Health
Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai
Deputy: Datuk Rosnah Rashid Shilin

Youth and Sport
Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek
Deputies: Datuk Razali Ibrahim, Wee Jeck Sing

Human Resource
Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam
Deputy: Datuk Maznah Mazlan

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri
Deputy: Datuk Tan Lian Hoe

Housing and Local Government
Datuk Kong Cho Ha
Deputy: Lajim Ukin

Women, Family and Community Development
Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil
Deputy: Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun

Foreign Affairs
Datuk Anifah Aman
Deputies: Lee Chee Hong, A. Kohilan

Federal Territory
Datuk Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin
Deputy: M. Saravanan

Sometimes I Feel Lonely..

'Life is too short to wake up in the morning with regrets,

So love the people who treat you right,

Forget about the ones who don't,

And believe that everything happens for a reason.

If you get a chance, take it.

If it changes your life, let it.

Nobody said life would be easy,

They just promised it would be worth living.'

Misty Wakaf Bharu ....

This is how it looks like at Wakaf Baharu area at 8.30 am today. It's was very misty from my house until Wakaf Baharu town, and it has being like this for the past few days.

However, as I approached Kota Bharu town, the visibility get better, probably due to lots of people, buildings and heavy traffics. But as you drive along the bridge, only the sight in front is better, but the sight on the left and right is very very misty as well. You can't even see the Sultan's Palace on your left from the bridge.

At noon, the weather gets extremely hot until about 3 pm. When I say extremely hot, it means very very hot especially if you need to get off and in the car often during work. It's like in the sauna. Actual sauna is much better as you don't have to wear anything, but in this case, you are wearing a long sleeve shirt with long pants ! I guess it's time to put on my short sleeves shirt or pull up my sleeves during work now ! And in the evening, it normally rains heavily.

Wat Pracacinaram

I am not sure I have posted about this Temple or not, but for the benefit of the doubt I am posting again for those who are keen to know. This is Wat Pracacinaram or commonly know by the locals as Wat Kampung Kulim because it is located at Kampung Kulim, Wakaf Bharu, Kelantan. It is the nearest siamese Temple to Kota Bharu town, just a short distance from the Kelantan River and even closer to the Wakaf Bharu train station. You can even walk to the temple from the train station. The temple also provide Sauna facilities to all using herbal therapy. They have different rooms and lockers for different sexes and payment is by donations. For the keen Buddhist, you can visit the temple for "saibat" by offering food to the monks on every "Wan Prak" at about 6.30 am. During the time, the monks will be chanting prayers and last for about an hour. And on every Wesak Day, the temple will be celebrating it with many activities for the young and the elderly to encourage more devotees to visit the temple. For more information or festival activities about this temple, you can always write to me as I am staying about a stone throw away from the temple.

Pot Luck and Qing Ming 清明

This time it's Qing Ming at the Pauh Lima cemetery. It's not actually a cemetery I guess, it's the yard for the family members and some others only. Anyway, my paternal grandfather and grandmother and my great grandmother (grand mother's mother) and aunt is buried there.

The grand children and great grand children from far and near all gathered at this place every year to offer prayers bringing along their own food as if there is a pot luck party going on. Some of the cousins come as far as Bangkok to celebrate this happy occasion every year without fail. As usual, my wife and me will be driving separately chauffeuring and taking care of those from Kuala Lumpur and Thailand for this event, fetching and sending them off for the day.

The Pauh Lima Siamese temple is now becoming a popular place for now with more and more people keeping the ashes of their death family members. One more building has been constructed for this purpose. The present one is almost fully occupied.

I didn't take any photos of us in celebration. But just before we leave the place, I manage to take some pictures of the temple and it's surrounding. And the last photos only shows some of our members at my house before leaving back to Thailand and Kuala Lumpur again on the same day.
So, "wa dee krup and choke dee" to the Thais and hope to see you fellas again next year ! Happy Qing Ming to all !

Happy April Fool..

Ah Foo was asked to make a sentence using 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10. Not only did he do it 1 to 10, he did it again from 10 back to 1.

This is what he came up with.....

1 day I go 2 climb a 3 outside a house to peep. But the couple saw me, so I panic and 4 down.. The man rushed out and wanted to 5 with me. I ran until I fell 6 and threw up.. So I go into 7-eleven and grabbed some 8 to throw at him. Then I took a 9 and try to stab at him. 10 God he run away.

10 I put the 9 back and pay for the 8 and left 7-eleven. Next day I called my boss and told him I was 6. He said 5 , tomorrow also no need to come back 4 work. He also asked me to go climb a 3 and jump down! I don't understand. I am so nice 2him but I don't know what he 1.