Grandpa Appeared In My Dream (2nd Time)

Yesterday night (should be the pre-dawn hours of Tuesday 11.1.11) my late 公公 appeared in my dream. The atmosphere was one of Chinese New Year celebration with gatherings, red colour and people chatting. He sat on a chair while chatting with well-wishers. He looked happy. He wore his usual spectacles and surprisingly he had more hair on his head just like how he looked like in his early 50s. Didn't manage to talk to him but we made eye contact, then I woke up. 11.1.11 is the 296th day since he passed away, and 23 days before the first day of Chinese New Year.

Cool Weather

I love cool weather. With temperatures ranging from 25 to 27 degrees Celsius for the most part, I'm glad I don't have to switch on the aircond in my room, which is the hottest part of the house I'm staying in.

Yesterday night the cooling effect reached 25 degrees as indicated by the thermometer. I believe the outdoor temperature plunged to a low of 24 at least during the hours of 5 am to 7 am.

Usually this happens during the months of November and December in Kuala Lumpur, but it's the first week of January now. Must be the rain water cooling effect and clouds that keep out the scorching rays of the sun.

In contrast, February is known to be a dry month and the time around Chinese New Year is often hot and dry. Whenever I look back at previous CNYs, I recall heat everywhere. So I'm gonna enjoy the cool weather while it lasts.

A Moment of Happiness

I felt happy.

Why, you might ask, is that significant enough to merit a blog entry?

For it has been ages since I felt really happy. Seen, heard, experienced too much unnecessary complicated stuff. When you encounter something simple and straightforward you will truly appreciate it.

2011: A New Year Begins

So it's about noontime as I write this, the first blog entry of the new year. 365 days ago I was in Malacca having lunch after a fun-filled night at Port Dickson. That time I felt so optimistic and eager to celebrate the new year, wishing for a smooth-sailing good year.

But smooth-sailing it was not to be. So many bumps and hitches happened, to the extent I felt real down at an intensity I had not felt in the past five years. Yes, it was that sucky, the feeling of being trapped without hope. Stress levels increased a lot almost to the extent of a time seven years ago but fortunately I didn't fall sick as a result. Not good.

If there's something good about 2010, it's the chance to travel to more places, meeting some new people that are genuine and down-to-earth, rekindling my interest in taking photos, discovering new places, and continuing gymming. Sure I did experience some unexpected good things, but also quite a number of unexpected negative stuff.

Therefore I'd say that 2010 was a so-so year at best. Not a really good one, but not severely bad either. I can only hope that this year 2011 will be better, more rewarding and fulfilling. 

Twenty-Secondth of December Twenty Ten

Time has come to the year-end duo of Christmas and New Year. One year ago, I rekindled a long subdued interest in photography. I felt optimistic about the upcoming new year.

But now I feel that this year has been nothing to shout about. Can't say it's been good, but can't say it's that bad either. Stress levels increased a lot. Some things didn't work out. A lot of disappointments on many issues and people.

Realized that some people are monsters in disguise. It's getting harder to filter out the genuine from the fake because the accomplished manipulators do it so naturally that you won't realize it until it's too late.

Talking about the good things, travelling has been great, went to places I never expected to go and re-visited some locations under a different state of mind. Exercise workout has been more or less the same, could be better if I did more than just maintenance.

Perhaps all that has happened this year is meant to be a lesson, a rehearsal, a preview for me to do better in the future. Not easy to be optimistic after going through all these, have to sort the gems from the chaff.

In summary, I'll end this post with a quote from someone known for statements that make a whole lot of sense. "When you're diagnosed with a critical illness, everything else becomes secondary." Gotta keep that in mind when faced with stressful issues.

Eleventh of November Twenty Ten

Gosh I just realised for the whole month of October I didn't post any blog entries. So here's one for the month of November, and the date's 11/11/2010 hence the title.

I've been taking as many photos as possible with the EOS 350D, now using the EF 28-135mm f3.5-5.6 zoom lens after months of using only the EF 50mm f/1.8 II.The Speedlite 430 EX has been great for flash photography, and there's so much that can be done by bouncing flash from available surfaces.

Since I'm doing mainly flash photography indoors of people and events, I use manual mode for shutter speed and aperture. For outdoor photography without flash, aperture priority saves a lot of time. I use autofocus mode all the time, with the centre point and focus lock as the main aids. Am getting familiar with the three main settings of shutter speed, aperture, and ISO to suit different conditions.

Still the hardest part in photography is not only the composition, but also the "artistic" side of it. It's the one where the Photomalaysia kakis talk about what makes a photo different from a snapshot. A very subjective thing that supersedes even a technically sound picture, whatever that thing is. Can I do it?

Update, 29 September 2010

Yet another month has gone by in the cycle of a moon. Last month it was Hungry Ghosts' Festival, this month it was Mid Autumn Festival a.k.a. Mooncake Festival. The hectic pace endures, the unexpected happens, the expected doesn't. I'd say things have been good from an overall perspective, and I'm glad to be able to count my blessings.

Been taking a lot of photos with the Canon EOS 350D using a Canon EF 50mm 1:1.8 II prime lens and Canon Speedlite 430EX. Mostly portraits and half to three quarter body photos due to the circumstances (indoor salsa dance events and dance-related parties). Main reason is to get myself familiarized with the triangle relationship of ISO, shutter speed, and aperture. At the same time it forces me to learn about bouncing flash off surfaces and estimating all the variables.

Took some outdoor photos with a volunteer model at Taman Tun park and Desa Parkcity Waterfront. Enough reasonable shots to feel satisfied, though I feel I could have done better. Attempted some outdoor stuff in manual mode at Port Dickson, obtained mixed results.

Had the opportunity to travel to Singapore, and felt amazed at the level of cleanliness, organization, and so much more about the little city-state. That would merit a post by itself, so I'll stop here. Also got to go to Port Dickson for a weekend getaway with friends, a much welcome retreat from the stress and pressure of KL life. Felt recharged after that. Need another vacation :)

Update, 29 August 2010

In the blink of an eye it's now the end of August. The past week and a half had been a hectic one, took some time to settle stuff, now taking a breather before the next round of rushing. It will happen soon. Am taking advantage of the long weekend to do some housework and other things at home.

Opportunities do not come by very often. When it comes, it's just there for a brief moment and you better be in a position to catch it before it's gone forever. Preparation, anticipation, timing.

Human relations need not be complicated but reality does not always make things easy. No matter how much I strive for simplicity, there will be times when complicated situations will be encountered. Just have to learn to deal with it.

Looking back at the past half year I'm glad to have gotten plenty of travel opportunities, and if all goes well there's a couple more in the pipeline before year-end. Some places I wanted to go I didn't manage to go, but other places popped up unexpectedly and so far they have been pleasant.

If there's one thing that I'm really happy about in the past one year, it's gymming. That's so far the main positive thing that happened. A better toned body, stronger arms, longer endurance. Healthy habits and exercise routine do make a lot of difference. Just have to keep going at it, at least to maintain what I've achieved. Starting was painful and tiring but after a month or two my body got used to it.

Yet I feel a tinge of sadness at times. The loss of two friendships, though it can be mitigated due to the premise that those two never really considered me a friend the way I considered them a friend. One did not know how to appreciate me and the other only wanted to use me. Call me sentimental, call me straightforward, but I consider friendship a serious matter. Unappreciative users and cunning manipulators need not apply.

To me, if the person doesn't know how to appreciate me, I'd keep a distance. Don't get involved whether romantically or otherwise. And I'd repeat what I read in a book some years ago: "People like to help but hate being used." Though I can't remember the book title, it's the meaning of that sentence that matters.

I really cannot understand why a person would screw up a friendship just to save money on some things. Is it worth doing so? Either that person has a warped, distorted view of friendship or I was merely a person to be used in the first place, and that means that person never considered me a friend all this while. Perhaps some things I can't comprehend because my mind is not as devious as theirs. You do not inconvenience your friend for the sake of your own convenience unless you have no conscience or a warped sense of ethics.

Nor can I comprehend why a person would become so blind and unable to appreciate someone who genuinely cared. Only to realize the mistake when it's too late, but the damage has been done, and I never forget what people did to me. Just too bad that you lost me, you just have to find another person because you are nothing but a stranger to me now.

Not everyone can be a friend, and fewer are those with potential to be a life partner. One friend is too few, one enemy is too many. Whether we like it or not we have to strive for harmony in our dealings with other people, as what we say or do is going to come back to us sooner or later.

Doggy Tales: Sights

Monday morning: Saw a pair of sweet doggies - one white with brown patches and another brown one with black muzzle trying to cross the road at BU12. I recognize the white one with brown patches, she stays in the forest clearing nearby. Further down the street at the 90 degree right turn, noticed a small white doggy with floppy ears, looks like a female who gave birth to puppies not long ago.

Monday evening: 4th Mile Old Klang Road near the Old Tin Hau Temple. Two dogs walked on the other side of the road near the temple against the traffic. One white one and one brown one. The brown one walked in a funny way. I scrutinized him, and my heart sank, he had only 3 legs. Without a right front leg he had to hop along as a tripod dog :(

Main road of OUG-Yarl Garden passing by the hill slope where the Chinese school is. The spot where a few pickup trucks sell roast duck, roast pork, and BBQ pork. The mixed Dalmatian female and two other doggies gathered around one of the trucks for dinner. Lucky doggies. They roam the residential area searching for shelter every time it rains.

Doggy Tales: Committment

I always tell my friends who want to keep a dog this: "Be prepared to sign a 15-year contract." Yes, it's true. When you choose to keep a dog, you have to give him (or her) a good life. Dog's life expectancy is 15 years, so if you get a puppy it'll grow up into a doggy and he's yours for life. Can you commit yourself to such a major commitment?

Your doggy will become your boss at home, your schedule will revolve around him, you will do many things for him - clean up the shit, take him to the vet, feed him, bathe him, walk him, and much more. You have to plan your holidays accordingly. You have to look at your living space - landed property or apartment? Indoor or outdoor dog?

If you want a pedigree dog, are you prepared for high maintenance? They got to go for haircuts, pedicure and the whole lot of periodic necessary upkeep.

A sample routine for someone's dog: Feed three times a day. Walk twice a day. Search for ticks daily. Bathe once a week - warm water only, do not bleach, use hairdryer to blow dry. Give treats to see a short performance.

You'll also need to learn how to read doggy language. Can you understand what your doggy's trying to tell you? It's more than bow wow woof woof. Their eyes, body posture, facial expression etc. convey messages to us. Even though doggies can't speak human language, they understand human communication to a certain extent. Any dog lover would concur with this. I believe the social nature of dogs has helped them blend well into human society, at least with those who love doggies.