Portraits

Ahhhh, the folly of youth, real fun and laughter. Yo middle agers perhaps we should get back to this once in a while. Let go of the burden of life (is it really aburden ?) and get in touch with the time that has passed and seems so distant....

Best wishes

My Sifu sent me the following which inspired me to do the same to all and sundry...

2010 Contract Your contract of friendship has been renewed for the New Year2010! My Wish for You in 2010 May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts. May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills. May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips! May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy May the problems you had, forget your home address! In simple words ............ May 2010 be the best year of your life!!

A Happy New Year & A Merry Xmas !!

Cheers

I have horns...

I have always thought as myself as one whom babies and kids can be comfortable with. I enjoy their company and assumed they do mine. Most of them anyway...

Except for this particular niece, ever since she was a baby she would cry if I so much as came near. Its been a couple of years and we met again. She has grown and can now talk. This is what she told her mommy.... ;)

"Mommy please don't ask Pak Long (that's me) to come over, he has horns, green and three of them..." in earnest.

Maybe I do and only she can see them heh heh heh...

MyStream Photogs

Lighted by the PDA...

MyStream 2008

The clan had a great time at Legend Water Chalet, Port Dickson. About two dozen families and their cars were involved. The organisers did a great service. From the hotel arrangement to the barbeque and best of all the entertainment. No need to spend on guest artist, resident entertainers were equally great if not better.

We had singers with golden voices and natural born comedians. Mix that with camaraderie and unpretentious kinship, it made for a blast of a time for everyone.

Thank you guys.

Cheeky girl...

My niece, the confident cheeky girl who has an answer for everything. Don't mess with her...

Adult class...

Actually it was a Hari Raya Gathering organised by Masjid Al-Hidayah, Kelana Jaya. It was held in a classroom and there was a lecture as part of the event. Its quite amusing to see ol.. ehem mature persons sitting in classroom chairs with some tending to nod off despite the interesting topic of proper diet and healthy lifestyle for senior citizens.

It truly was a very informative lecture presented by Dr. Azman from Hospital Serdang. It made me think that to be truly safe in our diet, we would have to grow and prepare the food ourselves. Nothing is guaranteed anymore and the melamine tainted milk is proof of that. Milk, supposed to be the healthiest of food turns to poison because of human greed.

Anyway, a new book of which I am partly involved in its preparation is out. Check out this link for details. Not just for mariners but could be useful for anyone who would like to understand how ships are navigated at sea.

Generations apart...

From one end to the other. From a beginning to an ending.
One reminiscing the past, one anticipating the future.
Will the journey be the same ?

Oreo delight

Scrumptious chocolaty confection. RM20.00 for a jar of 50 pieces. To order call Zafni at 019-2215699.

B & W

A first test shot...

An old bum goes into a coffee shop and asks for a cup of coffee."But I don't think you can pay for it," says the waitress. "You're right," says the bum. "I don't have any money, but if I show you something you've never seen before, will you get me some coffee?"

"Well, OK," says the waitress.So the guy pulls a hamster out of his pack and it starts to dance. It has incredible rhythm and can do awesome moves."One cup of joe, comin' up," says the waitress.The guy guzzles it down and asks for more.

"Money or another miracle, or else no joe," says the waitress.So the guy pulls a frog out of his pack. The frog starts to sing, and his voice is beautifully high. A guy rushes over and asks for the frog for $300. The bum gladly accepts.

"Are you insane?" asks the waitress. "You sold a singing frog for three hundred bucks? It's gotta be worth millions!""Not so," said the bum matter-of-factly. "The hamster is also a ventriloquist."

Acceptance

There's only so much you can say or do to influence an event, a person or a situation. What most people fail to realise is the fact that once they have said or done to the best of their ability or know how, it is time to just sit back and let it roll. Accept whatever is the outcome, rejoice if its what you envisioned it to be or learn from it if it is not. This is acceptance.

Why ? Well, at this stage of my life, acceptance comes easier and I find it refreshing. Similarly, you can only care so much, love so much, after a point we all need to move on. In the end game its only you and god after all. I have also learned that the more you rely on people the more susceptible you are to being disappointed, to being hurt. You need to learn to look out for yourself. There will come a time when its just you and yourself. When everyone else is busy, when events seems to have exclude you, when time moves without you. And that will be the point when you need your own company.

Just don't go crazy over it OK.

Similar yet different

Know the common spud, I say peh-tae-toe you say poe-tah-to. Same thing with tomatoes. Similar yet different but remain as the same thing. Its how it is pronounced and listened to that creates a lot of confusion. The bane of all human issues. Especially between men and beings who came from Venus.

I kept being told not to expect people to be like me, that everyone is different. I know, I know its true yet it is so hard to accept. Just like an old friend who is a genius who became an oral examiner. Most cadets fail, why ? Because being smart he expects those cadets to be smart too. When they do not meet his perceived basic standards (which is way too high), they fail. He uses his standards not the industry standard. Why does he do that ? First because he is a genius, secondly because he is a responsible person. Committed to his job and wants the best for the industry. Which in turn became his failing because his methods disrupts the new entrant rates into the industry.

I digress, why am I babbling about this ? Well, I just came to realise that at this stage in my life I am able to and can afford to be forthright in voicing my opinions. Be it something mundane or matters of the heart. Therein lies the problem. Not everyone can do the same thus leaving me hanging and having to make assumptions.

Look, this is how I feel. Do you feel the same or am I just annoying you with my antics ? Are you merely tolerating me ?


We couldn't have gotten this far otherwise. Perhaps we express ourselves differently...or maybe your expectations is too high ?

What would you make of that ? I stay puzzled as dictated by the circumstances of these events. Why does this bother me so ? Because I have been on both end of the conversation. And one of those is certainly not pleasant. What I need is clear cut answers which does not seem to be forthcoming any time soon. See, I am not the type of person who can translate actions into expressions. I will just have to bear it I suppose, please god, give me patience...

Tioman - snapshots

One of these guys was so taken by a made up story on the medicinal value of a plant that he took one and start chewing (luckily it was not poisonous or anything)... it was difficult trying to hold a straight face that we burst out laughing. Can you guess which one ?

The island's standard mode of transport.

The little princesses enjoying (???) the boat ride in choppy seas.

The heroes, its all about them really.

We had and island wide blackout...

... and heavy rains but...


... great food, good company and...

... an excellent host, made it a fun and worthwhile trip. Puan Rozita of Nazeri's place in Kampung Air Batang, highly recommended.

Finally, our organiser, most probably imagining himself to be "Duyung". More "Dugong" don't you think ? He he he...

Raya Candid Shots

The recent raya afforded me some breathing space. It felt good to be able to look at things through the lens again. Capturing a moment in time which will be gone forever. Though these are not the greatest of pictures, these are the main reason that I took up photography in the first place.

While the adults were busy catching up the kids were at play. Bliss ignorance letting them enjoy the moments as it happens.

Selamat Berbuka...

Another 5 hours before the sweet cool sirap selasih drench your parched throats. Hm mm.....

Street Traders

The touristy bits that we see.