buying new camera

One of my "need to do" thing before leaving for NZ (whenever that maybe) is buying a new camera. The one I have now is about 5 years old ..and somehow, I just get the urge to get a new camera ...but my criteria remain the same ..i want something that I can just plonk inside my handbag ...so that I'll have my camera with me all the time ...

and i dont want a cheap camera which does not have the quality that appeals to my eyes ..hehehe you can get great photos if you have the skills regardless of the quality of the camera, but having a good quality camera adds the extra miles ...in producing awesome photos! and i need that when I am in NZ (amin, amin...)

some photos taken from my friend's collection ...he is using a GREAT (and expensive) camera ..and just love the sharpness of the pictures!

Yoga - a new hobby

Yes, this exercise-shy, food-loving person is currently trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle ...Elena introduces me to this yoga studio (Maha Yoga @ Jalan Song) ...she said it is not taxing, but a great form of exercise ...i went for a trial session a couple of weeks ago ...and found that i quite like it ....but still I was dilly-dallying a bit till Liz said i need to wrap up my bum (ouch - that still hurts my feeling!), and i made up my mind to join this yoga group on a more regular basis ....

There are a few packages on offer ...i took the RM75 for 8 sessions a month ...meaning, I should be going twice a week ...right? hahahaha ...i missed the first week and a half as i was away in Melaka (enjoying great food which are high in calories - I just had to add that!) ...and now am trying to catch up the lost time by going 3 times a week ...thus far, I managed to do it ...

I kind of like it now ...firstly as it does not involve any running around and jumping or other forms of running ...and secondly, it is a bit flexible ....involve mainly breathing techniques, calming yourself ...and stretches (lots and lots and lots of stretches!) ....i felt great afterward ..and i have decided that I will try to do this at least once a week!

Just a brief insight of what i did in these sessions ....yesterday, we did that half head stand ...hahaha ...fun! trying to stand on your hear while your legs is on the wall ...i find that pose as really challenging LOL

the easy ones are ....

(for illustration purpose only)

(for illustration only)

(for illustration purpose only)

for illustration only

They all look easy ...but trying to stay in position for a period of time is tough ...towel is needed to wipe your sweat! I hate to sweat ...but sweating while doing yoga is refreshing coz I know I am burning my excess fat! hahahaha ....

Protecting the environment - Penang's way

I had a big shock on my first night in Penang last week. I went to Queenbay Mall for dinner, and then to the hypermarket to get some fresh fruits and drinks ...my stock of foods while staying 4 nights at a nearby hotel hehehe ..anyway, when i paid for the stuffs at the counter, I was told that it is their "no plastic day" ..meaning, no plastic bags being given to carry my things ..luckily I had a bag with me, so i stuff most of the things inside it - my 6-pack of Milo, 3 cans of Nescafe Mocha ...but my Innershine pack and my bunch of grapes cannot fit it! I had to carry them just like that ....

It was then I saw the signs saying that it is a "no plastic day" every monday, tues and weds there ...i think it is great! I mean it may have inconvenienced unwary tourists like myself, but in the long run, it would help to protect our environment ...less plastic bag to throw away ...less pollution and so on ...

What more can I say? WAY TO GO PENANG!!!!!

last bowling practice

Today we had our last bowling practice before the competition this weekend ...it was a bit dissapointing for me coz i did rather badly today ....but i also gain valuable tips about "adjusting the arrow", "knowing your direction" hehehehe ...am not gonna elaborate though ....

anyway, the competition is this weekend ....my mantra is I am joining this for fun and for the 5% marks for evaluation ...so, I will HAVE fun ...gutter balls or strike - the intention is to have fun ...

Gardening @ weekends

Two weekends ago, my dad took some time off to do a bit of gardening. He saw that our dragon fruit tree has been growing wild and really overgrown ...we have noticed it for some time but didn't have the time to do anything ...unt

and some branches even go over the fence onto the neighbour's yard ...

and, as always, he has a little helper ....who loves to run around and follow him everywhere ...

after trimming the overgrown branches, and re-arranging some of the branches, it is time to put more support for those branches ...using tree branches and nylon strings! and the overall results are ....

This was the first plant that we bought and planted here when we moved to this house ...it's dad's pride and joy! Plus it has been bearing lots of fruits ...yummy, juicy red-flesh dragon fruit ...

Village life: Dad's fruits of labour

Dad came back from our village earlier today, and brought with him some mangoes…about 10 of them altogether …

He proudly announced that these are the first fruits of this particular tree – planted about 6 years ago – but on the not-so-fertile part of our orchard. It is actually at the back of our cottage. I didn’t notice that the tree was bearing fruits when I went there last month! Guess it showed how observant I was ….hehehe and this is the basket that dad uses when picking up fruits in the orchard (called “takin” in Iban) …I sometimes use the takin for picking up rambutans, langsat and dabai …

Gardening time

Since we have kids in the house, our flowers and plants have been neglected ..very unfortunate, but we don't seem to have time to take care of the plants - apart for watering ...as a result, weeds can be seen competing with the plant ...the case of survival of the fittest!


and this was the "after" picture ....



I always have this habit, when I am doing something ..i tend to overdo it hehehe ...so, i ended up re-potting my mum's other cacti ...i had to replant some of them in the same pot coz i was running out of cactus soil at the time....

Father and sons...

Last month my brother came here for a flying visit ..just to see his sons. He also brought his new toy - a remote control car- with him! In Kl, he would play this car at the remote control track at Taman Tasik Titiwangsa (i did a posting on this in http://30-somethinglifeinthefastlane.blogspot.com in July 09). This car actually uses nitro-fuel, which cost about RM45 per litre...

Daddy and Al had a great time together - they clean and dismantle the car together -



and play together.....


and daddy promised adik that he'll buy a remote control car for adik when adik is big enough - something similar to Al's remote mino (and adik can use this posting as proof of daddy's promise :-)...in the meantime, adik is content to play with the tv's remote

New routine ...

Since we got the stroller for Airell, we got a new routine. If i get back from work at the normal time (and not my usual 7 or 7.30pm), i would take him out for a stroll round our housing area...just to get out from the house, to get fresh air ...and mum would accompany us!

and weewyn also accompany us one day ....

This is so much better than coming back to an empty house ....am always looking forward to go for a walk etc after work, instead of doing more work at home!

Angelina Jolie as Kay Scarpetta????

Just saw it in E-buzz...apparently there are talks to make a few movies based on Patricia Cornwell's book - the Kay Scarpetta series. If you scrolled down to my previous posting, you'll note that Patricia Cornwell is one of my favourite authors.

I don't know how well the movie will be coz from previous experience, the movies can be a complete let-down. I mean, i was completely enthralled by the books - the page-turners that kept me awake and made me ignore anything else until i finished my reading types of book - but the movie was disappointing. One example is the Da Vinci Code (by Dan Brown) - the book was captivating, the movie was ok-ish (lacklustre performance) ...another example, Along Came the Spider (by James Patterson) is a great novel but the movie was ok - not as exciting as the book! but i kinda like Morgan Freeman as Dectective Alex Cross though ...and Ashley Judd as Kate!

Anyway, back to the subject on hand - apparently Angelina Jolie was rumoured to be the leading lady in the movie as well as involved in producing the movie. I am guessing that she'll be Dr Kay Scarpetta - the medical examiner who is the heroin. Don't think she'll be Lucy coz that character is way too young (Scarpetta's lesbian neice who then join the FBI). emmmm am wondering who is going to play Morino's character in the movie....a police detective who is a bit overweight but good...in the subsequent books, this Morino character seem to fall for Kay (turns out is is just one-sided)...

Watch this space....

Book Collections

I love books! I love readings. I have been a keen reader since I was in school. My first memorable reading collections were the Enid Blyton series, the Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drews Series. One of my English teacher, Ms. Julie Kuek, used to encouraged me and she would bring a few of her own books for me to read. That was in my secondary school years...but then again, i was hooked on reading way before that. I remembered there were time when I was in primary schools my dad would leave me in the library (attached to his office, and the library staffs all knew my dad) if he was busy and didnt have time to send me straight home after school. I remembered I would either be talking to the staffs or sitting quietly reading in one corner...

This habit continues till today...during my uni days, I would go to the public library to borrow book...i can finish a paperback novel in 2-3 days if it was a exciting thriller! But nowadays, I don't have the time to indulge in this hobby of mine. I am busy most of the time so going to the library is a bit of a hassle. So, I end up buying more books than borrowing from the library....When I was in the UK, when i was skint, I would browse for book bargains at the charity shops or car boot sales ...very cheap books as well - I could easily get a novel for 50 pence!

Here's some of my book collection. These are only from one crate box...hehehe I have 2 more unopened boxes upstairs....plus a lot more books scattered round the house. I have been meaning to get a bookshelf but up till now my books are still all over the place. Note to self: get a bookshelf soon!

My favourite collections: Alex Cross Series (James Patterson), Grisham's novels and Patricia Cornwell's book...

This is one of my favourite - easy reading - book "Princess Bride". This is my own copy - a farewell present from my best buddy, Angela... it is kind of fun and easy going, a fairy tale story of love with its obstacles and happy ending (of course!). I don't own many books of this genre...my favourites are crime thrillers, forensic detective works and mystery.

At the moment, I don't have time to read like I used to. But I always find ways to indulge and immerse myself in a good book...e.g. I always bring a book or two when I am travelling (plane ride can be boring without books!) or staying in hotels...photo below showed that I am reading everywhere (even at the poolside!)

Sunset ...

Four years ago, I made a list of 10 things that I would like to do before I am 35 …at that time I was thinking about starting afresh ..re-evaluating my achievement, my life, what I have done and what I still haven’t achieve …emmm, maybe I should do this re-evaluation annually…it can be a motivational move to get me off my butt! or it can be a wet blanket for my entire month/year????

One of the items on my “wish list’is to take time out of my (then) super-busy life that seemed to fall apart was to enjoy watching a sunset …and I have done that….i remembered one particular sunset, where I was in a boatride enjoying the scenery at Loagan Bu’nut National Park… that was in 2007 …the view was breathtaking…

Here are some more pics of sunset ….taken a few weeks ago when I was on a fieldwork in Meludam/Kabong area …these pics were taken during my ferry ride across Batang Saribas …

And some nice pics of sunset in Kota Kinabalu (taken in Oct 2008) from the poolside of Marina Court Apartment ...

Roses, anyone?

I was just browsing the internet, looking for information on Cameron Highlands. I will be going to Cameron Highland in less than 3 weeks with my family …our first holiday together in a very long time! Would be glad if anyone have any suggestions on places of interests that I should visit when I am there…

Anyway, I found a site describing roses and the symbolic meaning behind the colours. Here goes, the symbolic meaning that I got from the website as well as my two cents opinion:

1. The runaway favourite has always been red roses…often the number one choice for Valentine Day’s gift, during proposal or any romantic gestures …the symbolic meaning: Red Rose signifies love and respect …but you all know that, right?
2. Yellow roses – I love yellow roses. I bought a cutting of yellow rose for my mum in Serikin a few years back – and she planted it at our kampong. Now it has grown and flowers quite often …anyway, yellow rose signifies socialibility, friendship and gladness ..yellow is after all a cheery colour…
3. Pink roses – is associated with admiration and appreciation…so guys, don’t fret if you were given a bunch of pink roses, when you are expecting a red rose …but some people also signifies light pink roses with sympathy…perhaps it it because of its calming, pastel colour..a-not-in-your-face type of colour that can offend people who are, for instance, in mourning or in need of consolation…
4. People also associate white roses with reverence…perhaps because white is always considered as clean, innocence…so, befitting the symbols for reverence and worship (admiration and respect)…but certain quarters also said white rose could mean humility …humbleness, modesty…being unassuming …
5. Orange – I have seen orange rose before…but the one that I saw at Alnwick Garden wasn’t that beautiful …hehehe compared to other roses there…maybe it’s that particular variety/species. Anyway, orange rose signifies passion, desire and enthusiasm …guys, please take note …hehehee

So, there you go … but don’t fret if you got roses of certain colours …the giver may not know the symbolic meanings associated with the colours – it’s not as if it is set in stone anyway – so, one should be forgiven for not knowing this….or maybe the giver choose a certain colour coz it held special meaning for him/her ….plus, it’s just a symbol … the meaning determined by human ….

Lady Cash's Mafia Wars

I got my laptop!!! and am now able to be online most of the time at home..apart from blogging, and doing my work at home (yes, yes I know... most people would switch off their work antenna when they are home!), I am now able to play Mafia Wars at night and over the weekend ...so excited!

I found this game, Mafia Wars on Facebook...i thought it was fun and started to play...but i never did expect it to be THIS EXCITING and ADDICTIVE...I am on level 44 now and my mafia name is Lady Cash, and the game has grown a lot since i first started. A lot of features have been added to the Game - and it's more exciting. Sometimes it is like winning a lottery (maybe I am exergerating here :-)) coz you never know what you are going to get...well, apart from killing the enemies - or even strangers - you can loot a number of stuffs - like fire bombs, armoured car/truck, napalm, C4, night vision goggle, bodyguard, body double, butterfly knives and so on ...the most common (and i think is useless!) is the brass knuckles ...i prefer the other, more destructive stuffs myself...namely the fire bomb, and napalm...

The fun is when you are allowed to kill/attack other mafias, or if you are being kind, you could just rob them! Plus is you are really mean, you can offer your service as a hitman!

So, it is a great stress reliever - you can just vent your anger, frustration online ...and getting up the levels by doing so...see, it's a win-win situation!

I better be off now...going to purchase more properties for my mafia family.

Ciao bella ...