22km a-la-cyclo-cross on the 24th Jan

1.
That's the distance I cycled with the Putrajaya cyclists. Frankly, I was surprised I managed to do it which is not bad considering this is the first time I cycle in a group for more than 10 years and this is also the first time I hit the dirt for after more than 6 years! Challenging for me (but maybe not to many of the gang today!!) and very very VERY exciting.....will do more of it in the future - DEFINITE!

2.
What I liked about the ride today was we managed to cover many kind of surfaces - road, walking path, sand, dirt, loose dirt, bushes, wooden platform, bike trail, gravel.....really exciting experience since each surface gives different traction and thus requires different maneuvering skills.
We started quite late - I was the first to be on location (and last to reach it on my T-Bolt, ahahaha!!) and at about 8:25am we started rolling, roadies leading the way (and quickly vanished from our radar shortly after!). We did our pace and stopped at many interesting locations - to take photos and to listen to briefing by the gang (seasoned and very experienced government officers, army high rankings, engineers, town planner, architect, doctors, pilot, multimedia producer...a motley of friendly people! (owh yeah, and a business analyst who thinks he should have been a photojournalists/ documentary photographer!)

3.
After the ride we had a feast (ohh yeah.....we deserve it!) and after the feast I took the toll of being so careless not to do proper warm-up & warm-down - MASSIVE CRAMP!!! Darn it, it really hurts.
...but it did not stop me from going to to Ted's studio - just to divert my course and pay a visit to the good old Saujana Impian neighborhood clinic! Got some pain killers & muscle relaxant (and a good advice from the doctor - as what I got from the Motley Bunch - get a good rest!)

4.
A couple of isotonic drinks from 7-11 and a chat with Napie & Ted after collection Ted's part of the job we are doing, I then went to the car wash place and got my old car a good bath...and the T-Bolt too.
The drive back to the condo was really painful tho.....and I just could not do anything after a decent lunch with the kids, got online for a while, did some prayers then I took the muscle relaxant and the next thing I realized everything was dark and cold....of course....it was 9pm when I woke up from a good rest!! Muscles relaxed, spirit raring to go for another ride, I had dinner with the kids and off I go..to get the T-Bolt from the car and bring it up to the condo laaa...not for another round of cycling!!

5.
Good achievement for a start..infact, it's a bit too high a benchmark but nothing is wrong with that...I bought the T-Bolt because cycling was my passion - and IS still my passion together with photography, different arena, for different purposes. Owh...I need to remind myself to get a better seat for the rig - the wider & comfy ones used by some of the bunch from Bridgestone or Velo or whatever brand I can get lah! because when your butt hurts being on a slim and sporty looking seat. Other than that, I think the T-Bolt was worth every sen I spent....wonderfully light when climbing and sturdy on dirt, sand & gravels.....minor "stunts" here and there.....great rig at a very reasonable price.

6.
Looking forward for the next ride!

Koleq revisited

1.
Okay, I am not one of those who would boast around telling every living being he went to MCKK...I'd just say I went to Sekolah Melayu Jalan Stesyen to avoid all the unnecessary mumbo-jumbo. Not that I am not thankful to Allah because it was my parents & even my own prayers been answered but I just prefer to not boas around - for what lah? Of course, some people would just attack the bunch who came from this so called School of Kings. Lantak korang la! Yg wa tau, I was there and enjoyed the camaraderie of my Xantheus Commune.
MCKK Serang Lagi!

2.
The shots here were taken at the end of 2008. Decided to drove to KK after a wedding invitation in Ipoh, hoping to get a room at the KK Resthouse but apparently everything is full house - including the homestay places!!

Masa yg tak pernah cukup?!!

1.
That's my problem...and this year i am not going to let it happen. every single moment counts - priority to my kids & family & my journey to become a professional phorojournalist/ documentary photographer/ and get some more bigger dough with my commercial jobs too, insyaAllah.

2.
What's been going on the past 2-3 weeks would be the transition part of our "new life". New because we are not going to have any maid in the house - except for weekend cleaner & care takers, 2 of that would come for one day - Sunday or Saturday.
New because the kids are starting their Chinese education - fairly OK for Neena according to the Principal BUT may be a bit tough for Alisya & Naufal....insyaAllah they will do fine.
New because Mama is going to more classes related to her own passion & business intent.
New because I have decided to take my passion more seriously and have been getting positive response & collaboration with established local professionals - not that I am retiring soon but I would know when to make the move insyaAllah...and more importantly, I just want to be free from the current organization & some of the people in it - muak & mual already with their personalities and such - and I have become more sensitive to arrogant people...and more. All these people, nak menang sgt tak abis2, silalah menang, kat akhirat nanti settle la with my Allah.

3.
The past 2 weeks been very hectic, as mentioned...with jobs, exhibition planning works, outings & taking care of the kids at the same time.....by end February we should be accustomed with this "new life"....insyaAllah....

T-Bolt

1.
...managed to get myself something from what I managed to make from last year's effort....will soon be re-living another passion that I have long neglected (since I got Alisya & Naufal!)

2.
Unfortunately, I only managed to ride the rig once (itu pun hari dah panas tapi sebab "speret", henjut jugak la!)
....been extremely busy and tired - moving to the new place AND looking after the kids first few days in the new kindergarten....and just about to complete burning back-up of the original files for my first official job in 2009 (well, we have one more session before editing can be done and prints negotiation/ finalization can be executed) but bulk of the job is done - Alhamdulillah...more to come insyaAllah....
Wanted to write about many things but maybe in the next couple of weeks after things are espected to be much smoother, insyaAllah.

3.
Dalam pada sibuk, sempat jumpa AbeDib for lunch (a long lunch!) and talked about many stuff, cycling being the main topic....InsyaAllah, will joining for weekend rides (maybe weekdays too if there's too many weekends booked for jobs and whatever)...the only thing is I need a proper gloves...and more solo ride to re-condition myself....so far only managed to conquer the hill up to the condo and ramp it up to the second floor of the parking lot, straight to the door of our home....not bad for a start, a bit too high as an initial benchmark actually.....oh well, we'll see how it goes!

4.
It's just a Proton...nothing wrong with that, right?

Runabout

Runabout
1.
I am feeling guilty. Very. Aliya is not well - on & off - and we have been busy clearing the house while the kids have to spend the day with
grandparents. We have not celebrated Aliya's 3rd Birthday due to the messy environment at our new condo and the house. Really yrying to
make it that by this evening the house should be cleared and by the end of the week the condo should be in a more 'presentable' condition
Insya-Allah.
2.
On Thursday I totally forgot about lunch as I tried to clear up the boxes in my room! I realized of only when I was placing order for
dinner with the family later in the evening. Aliya vomitted but she was in a good mood most of the evening. Have to get Mama to spend more
time with her....which means I have to clear the house alone this afternoon.....
3.
The SRi is back to it's prime condition....well, almost! A bit of tweaking (and couple of burnt wallets) it will be better than it used to be. 3k down the drain (and maybe a sprrding ticket right after I took the SRi from Mike's place), all I can say is Alhamdulillah.....worth every sen spent (or to b spent - as far as the speeding is concerned!)...anyway it is just a Proton....not a German marque!
4.
Have to rest....Must! It is gonna be a hectic weekend...and it seems like this blog is gonna be updated via my small iPod Touch more often than always...

•Transmitted via torque's iPod Touch•

The end of the year

The end of the year
1.
The Internet connection at the office hasn't been good at all.....I
wanted to write more but time is a big constraint on me. Writing on
the move? Not having the correct tool yet. Might be getting a proper
mobile soon since the P900 has been 6 years in service, the longest
ever period I have ever sticked to a mobile. My preference would never
be any Windows based device. Symbian and perhaps Apple or Blackberry
would be my choice.
2.
It is already 2009 as I wrote this. Been a hectic year to the end,
2008. My last achievements would be clinching a Rm3k wedding job at
the last moment, moving the heavy stuff to the condo and single
handedly arrange the hall and finally get a reliable workshop to get
the SRi really fixed (though quite reasonably costly!)
3.
We went to the pool & playground floor to watch the fireworks. I think
this would be the first time I watch fireworks in kain pelikat. Aliya
loves it while the twins enjoyed playing the swings instead. Hopefully
2009 would be kinder year to me & my family. One thing for sure, I am
making my next gearshift in photography, working more seriously with a
couple of professionals on different fields to start getting serious
money. Dah muak kena tindas & naya dgn manusia yg riak bongkak
takabbur, juah, mudah lupa diri & tak kenal erti syukur & rendah
diri....with people like these playing cards of your future survival,
you cannot rely on the organization anymore. I have had enough bashing
& backstabbing, I have positively took the action against the negative
situation & for the past years I have crafted my journey outside the
organization and the target now is I just want to focus on giving my
kids & family more decent life without relying on the organization too
much.....please help me Allah.
4.
Can't wait to drive the good ol' SRi tomorrow.....and maybe spend some
moolahs for myself......Hmmmm.....

•Transmitted via torque's iPod Touch•

Stronger Than Hate

1.
"....Chaos, rampant and age of distrust...
Confrontation, impulsive sabbath..."

"I stand above their remains
My vengeance I have regained
I don't know what lies on the floor
I won't be locked up anymore..."

"Run..."

Some of the lyrics, phrases, words, sentence or
whatchamacallit that have been in my head since 1980's....Slayer, Sepultura and The Punisher. The kind of music and character not meant for any wussies & wannabe....feels like hitting the pedals strong...Jamming anybody?

2.
The kids took their grandparents to dataran Merdeka recently, to visit the KARNIVAL USAHAWAN DESA 2008. Interesting stuff....even felt like walking the memorylane..

I learnt to cook rice in bamboo from one of my fosterfamily in the jungles of Pahang when I was selected by JPM & JHEOA (BAHEIS) for a program that lasted almost a month....sedap nasi tanak dlm buluh ni....especially when you eat it with lauk-pauk kampung.....perghhh!

Neena was happy to get her favorite snack (one of her favorite snacks!) - keropok lekor....

A can of Dr Pepper to start the weekend.....Part 2

1.
The kids are quite confident to perform or do what's need to be done in front of crowd nowadays. Not bragging about how talented and smart they are nor am I saying I am shaping them to become performing artiste....no, I don't have to brag about how talented my kids are - because my kids are my kids and they are not for show-off or be treated like trophies!

I spend time with them because it is a great gift from Allah - not because I want to write about it & tell the world how good a father I am lah!! I let them choose what they like to do, with some guidance. If they succeed, then - ALHAMDULILLAH....and one thing for sure they will never be a failure because whatever it is everything is destined by ALLAH thus why I try not to be like many kiasu parents dumping their kids into many activities just because they can afford it OR others are doing it, and knowing not what is it that the kids really like....the true person inside the little body. Oh well, I am not going go give a lecture on that...what I want to write here is about a competition Alisya & Naufal casually did - sand art competition at the new shopping complex I mentioned in the earlier entry.

When the DJ (ala2 DJ supermarket punyer type lah!) announced about the competetion, Alisya & Naufal decided that they want to take part - not me who influnced them....of course, Neena was curios what's going on but her age is not qualified to take part, so, yeah in 4 years time you'd be able to take part too ok Neena?!

Though Mama was quite unsure of the outcome, the kids made it through...Naufal got the consolation price & Alisya, got the 3rd place ALHAMDULILLAH.

Congratulations Kakak & Abang!
A small achievement but its your step towards the future! I am so proud of you both! (...and you too Neena!)





2.
Naufal walking the pad where he actually took his first lesson to walk. Shot recently when I took him to KLCC Park. I told him that was the spot where he used his walking-trike with his first Adidas. The shot is available in the earlier entry of this blog.
Alisya accompanied by Neena (read: tukang sibuk) on their first ever congkak game taught by Mama.....

Neena and her Touch, (what to do...whenever I am back at the rumah pangsa she will claim it's hers!) admiring the photo of Dibo The Gift Dragon & friends. The kids now have upgraded my status from "Can only be KingKong" to "Yes Ayah you can be like Dibo"

.....heaven siut...ada anak2 mcm Alisya, Naufal & Aliya & always spend time as much with as possible them! ALHAMDULILLAH!

A can of Dr Pepper to start the weekend.....Part 1

1.
Last couple of weeks been very hectic. I am not sure how many hours per day should be enough but working at 24 hours per day is a challenge especially when there are many things to be done and your priority is set to be with your kids - my priority at least! But I am coping as much as I could and try to make good progress out of anything possible, insya-Allah.....
To keep the mood on happy tunes, I always try to explore new stuff, view things from different angles (photographer's way) sometimes appreciating those very small things in life can strike a huge smile on my face. Dr Pepper for instance- something that I have not tasted in years - and I was curious enough one day to go up to one supermarket and walla! Available for sale! Bought two and on the way back to office I met a buddy who used to work in the same unit years ago and gave him one - the diet version - and boy was he happy! Instead of making myself smile I made my old buddy smile on that day too!

2.
Outing with the kids & family has always been the key highlight of the week. Nothing else is more important than this. People can write and brag about what they would like others to believe themselves as, but I don't do that...and I don't charge others whinging when they are telling the truth about their life & burden they have to face, so convenient for many to just wash these poor souls aside because they have made the cut to the "upper echelon", or think they have made the cut lah!!
...well, c'est la vie - Melayu mudah lupa (all races actually not just Melayu!)..to me being with those bunch who could not appreciate others below them is a waste of time in life and I got only one life, so instead of trying to look witty & good & impress others all the time, I just make my life really really REAL and SWEET. So I guess that's why ice-fream shops like BaskinRobins is part of the deal in our outings....heheheh! They love it...so as long as I can afford it, I will give it to them, insyaAllah.

3.
Well logically of course what kind of a father who'd not want to spent precious time with kids as cute as this!

They are not wearing tudungs full time yet but the time will come insyaAllah...this shot was done when they were testing the tudungs set for their aunties....


4.

..recently we went to this new shopping complex at the new place we have moved in to. The playground is nice and the kids love it there - spend more than an hour documenting them playing and making friends with the other kids there while Mama & the grandparents went shopping.

Yeah...they had fun, me too!

...tbc..

Natural progression

1.
I don't have any clear idea why I wrote the title above but it just came across my mind and I thought it may lead to something interesting......
2.
So far the only thing I can comfortly converse when it comes to this topic, would be the journey I am in....not the one involving ladders, snakes, monkeys and corporate setup but my journey in the photography arena...I started late, seriously! ...but I have been progressing quite well considering the kind of people and politics I have to deal with even though I am out of The Zoo. One thing for sure, if ever there will be seperatiom scheme option I might just grab it and slingshot my plan to reality.....InsyaAllah.
3.
Another natural progression worth talking about would be that of my Baby Aliya. Ok she is going to be 3 years old soon and for some people that is not a baby anymore but from my point of view my babies will always be my babies no matter what is their age : )
Now, for some reasons, Aliya @ Neena has been fond of snow. She actually collected some polystyrene pieces used as artificial snow to decorate x-mas tree and put it in a tupperware case...and claims that as her snow. Maybe one day we'll be somewhere packing snowballs Neena, InsyaAllah.
4.
A week after I wrote the above paragraph, I sense and experienced a change in my area of taking charge and accepting responsibility. It just a natural progression, nothing to do with "gila kuasa" nor am I hoping for favorable rewards or all that ZooShit.....it just a progression, sort of a rebound from a deep abyss I found myself being thrown in by the ZooCreatures. This is something good, I think.

5.
It is 5:00am and that means I have been awake for about 1hr 30min since the last word was entered in the paragraph above. Updated and synch the iPod Touch and managing the playlist on Yoda while listening to Belantara's "Pelangi & Nafiri" which is one of the best songs ever created. The lyrics:

Lihat alam sekitar
Yang mencabar mata
Akalmu yang sempurna
Ciptaan Yang Esa
Pancaindera yang dikurnia
Kenalilah warna
Pelangi yang berspektra
Simbolkan nirwana

Awan merah bergantungan
Hanya menunggu masa panggilan Tuhan

Selamilah hatimu
Persoalkan penuh jitu
Pepatah perjanjianmu
Satu demi satu
Dosa noda kelabu
Hentikan dikau perlu
Agar kedua duniamu
Merdu bak perindu

Neraca timbangan amalmu
Titian penentu nasibmu

Mari tetapkan hatimu
Mari sujudkan jasadmu

Pada Yang Satu

Jasadmu meronta
Dengan dosamu
Janjimu menjunjung
Titah Yang Satu

Sent from torque's iPod Touch

All that is needed would just be the courage

All that is needed would just be the courage

Sent from torque's iPod Touch

Delayed Gratification?

1.
The last entry was done before I went to shoot for Alisya & Naufal's last performance for their kindergarten - Little Tots. I wanted to do a complete entry - from the moment I finished packing to the end of the event but I am just too occupied with many stuff on the Sunshine Floor. I am a bit worried - with al the travelling & conferences & courses, my deliverables been sloppy & behind schedules. The boss has mentioned this to me, allowing me time to grief and let it all out...all but in the end I need to get on top of the sickening emotion I have been in.
It is bad enough the idiots have damaged my reputation, I need to pick up the bits & pieces & continue the journey....so, that's what I have been struggling to do...thus why I don't quite have the time to continue the last entry. Well....as if there are many who really read this blog anyway lah! .....but don't get me wrong, I know some of you love to read what I write about my kids and what have I - out of the spirit of camaraderie and all....I really appreciate it! Thank you!

2.
I have done a new serie - documentary - with the CHAPs. We went to Ipoh and met our buddies there - Ipoh Geng you guys are great! - and spent the whole day documenting stuff. I am still editing the best shots I managed to compose and once it is ready with proper caption & narration I will put it on my Flickr & here, insyaAllah.
Alahaiiii sooo many things to do! The Shots I did during Jeroen's visit is still not edited too. The kindergarten events.....solo outings...Belantara's.....owh not even going to talk about the invouces I am yet to submit the clients....
One thing at at time lah...one thing at a time....insyaAllah.

3.
Since I have not been good on papers when it comes to performance, I have spent much time considering my next move - outside the building I am being employed. Maybe one day I will make that step and leave all this backstabbing & buttkissing areana for good. InsyaAllah. I just could not put any more hope....too much dissappointments and its always me to be blamed. Easy for some muthafuckas to say things on FaceBook and all - sekarang kau boleh la team-up & belagak sombong & kaya....nanti kat akhirat kau dgn kuncu2 kau akan merasa laa balasan....kacang lupakan kulit....

4.
It is good to know I have many humble good buddies around me....those I can trust for real, because they are not governed by tamak-haloba & gila pangkat....for those humble good buddies - I salute you!

5.
The shot I posted was done coupple of days ago.....thats how the landscape looked like. Cropped & adjusted levels....nothing more. Sent it so some buddies and almost immediately they responded - they like it very much.

6.
It's a gratification for me...to know others are happy with the shots I did for them or sent them...
....and maybe one day I will get a delayed gratification.....

"Working" on weekends

1.
No, I am not bragging about the NatGeo stuff I bought! I am just telling a story!

On Sunday morning I did the final check on the equipments needed for the shooting....

....top section: 2 speedlights - Sb900 & Sb600 both in the proper casing with all the support equipments in it. Battery charger in a MAS utility case and Extra CF Cards & micro fiber cloth in another small casing.

....lower section contains the most critical equipments: in this photo I have the D300 body on the left, MBD-10 battery grip, Tokina 12-24mm f4 lense attached to D300, the D70s body on the left, Sigma 70-300mm APO DG Macro, Nikkor 50mm f1.8, blower, NatGeo raincoat for the bag.

iPod Touch, wrist guard, keys, extra batteries for the speedlights and some other stuffs are in dedicated pockets...and we are ready to rumble!


...erkk to be continued later deh...too dehydrated & fatigue leh...tak larat nih....

NatGeo Stuff

National Geographic's The Earth Explorer Photo Bag Collection
The NG 5162 Medium Backpack

Ordered this before I went to Singapore....was waiting for me when I came back. The shop was so impressed with the quality, they ordered one more for their own display unit!

This bag will replace the Crumpler SinkingBarge which will be serving my bro in law MrJinx in the near future.

Why this bag?
Well, because this is my rezeki.....and it will be put to good use, like all of my equipments, insyaAllah!

Travel Marvel

1.
Singapore. The Merlion (background) with a miniature one in the foreground....Esplanade Theater and The Flyer in a distance. The landmarks of the island on the tip of Peninsular Malaysia, formerly known as Temasek!

It has been about 16 years since I last set foot on this island. A refreshing experience, definitely, after 16 years I finally had the oportunity to be there again....to attend a conference that lasted 2 days and another half day of workshop/ conversation with world class professionals in the fields of discussion - I will have another entry for the conference lah! - which translates to: I have only the evening for my walk & shoot activities!

Not a problem! I take it as it is - compose the best I can with very limited light source. Al of my shots were done without flash except the shot above - CLS technique with Sb900 as the slave.
The rest would be on high ISO setting & shutter speed as low as 1/15.

I should say Singapore is an interesting place to do street & lifestyle kind of documentary. Maybe when I decided to quit working and do my documentary stuff I should stay there for 1-2 weeks and just do it....after Maghribi & Peru perhaps!

2.
Fountain of Wealth was the first place I went, was hoping to capture the splashing water but my timing was never right! It's just a couple of meter away from the conference hall....
....and the hotel I stayed is just across the road-lah!

3.
One place that I have been hearing a lot about would be Mustafa Center...took a cab on my second night in Singapore and realized that I can find almost anything I can afford (definitely not much la compared to many other rich people kan!) and can't afford! Heck even the Teva I am wearing is available - displayed like like Carre-Four's Crocs imitation. I did not but anything (infact the cash I used up in Singapore were just for my meals and taxi fares!) because I don't intend to...am moving to the new condo soon so cash is kinda tight....since I am not awarded as PPA 2 Leadership Rating 2 performer and my future rating & chance to get better pay is not looking good thank you to the Zoo bastards again....tak apa lah it is ok I can make do with whatever I have and already started working on alternative ways to make it through....I don't need a frigging Bimmer nor a farking Honda to broadcast to all I am doing well like them lah! Arrogant Bastardly Losers........sampai kiamat aku ingat what they have done to me...(emo plak tiba2 nih...sial punyer unit, it's like a contagious sector in my life already, even worse then the blardy HPV-B I am dealing with)

Anyway...Mustafa Center was nice. I observed the people in the complex, on the streets...around the area...and I actually walked back to Marina Mandarin to get the "feel" of being on the streets Singapore....

4.
What's the big deal fo going to Singapore for a conference?
Not a big deal at all....many would smirk.... hell it's just Singapore - some people commute by plane everyday to KLIA-CHANGI-KLIA or vice versa!

BUT NOT ME! That's why I treasure the experience & I took time to observe & shoot the sites I went to....utilizing the gift of being able to see, from Allah...appreciate every single moment I am allowed to use my eyes...Alhamdulillah. Though the shots may not be a world class collection but it's what I saw during my stay and it will be seen by my kids & many long after I am gone. I can't afford a luxury car nor a posh condo for each of them but I would stirve to leave as many as possible the shots I can...things that I have viewed with my verry own eyes when I am alive.

On my way to KLIA, I somehow met the GE Asia President at the KL Central who still remembers me and we had a good conversation, he invited me to visit his new office not far from the previous one when I first established contact with him for the The Zoo. I respect him a lot. A humble & friendly leader.

Wonder how would it be if some arrogant bastard in The Zoo actually sits in the position like that....

Ahaa..talking about The Zoo, I had a fruitful conversation with Arthur Shelly the author of The Organizational Zoo. Such a coincident that we used the same method to explainand relate to the characters in the office. I told Arthur my piece of mind, what I have observed & written in this blog & my journal (no, not moleskine just a close imitation of a moleskine!) and the only thing is, Arthur, you made it big and I am still a lower rate worker in a big organization! He laughed and agreed!

Arthur is a great speaker and writer....too bad I did not manage to buy the book from him - only 30 units available and gone in a jiff....but I got a better deal than everybody else, Arthur is sending me a copy free of charge!! Ahahaah!! from the author of The Organizational Zoo, for the fat guy who has been battered by the creatures of The Zoo. Not bad at all....and I can just walk to any of the presenters & authors - ExWorldBank bigwig, CIA/DEA/DIA Advisors, SAF bigwig..many others....and get conneccted fast.....maybe I should reconsider to go back to marketing & trading divisions before I retire just for the fun of it....

5.
Maybe I will have another opportunity to meet the speakers & authors....it's really refreshing to know we are on the same frequency....kinda a reward and a bit of some healing from being treated like worthless scum by the leaders I used to serve for....

6.

...so long Singapore! See you again insyaAllah!