My First Studio Shoot

I met John Ishii during one of my friends' 40th birthday at Isthmus. He gave me some tips when I volunteered to take pics for the party.


Is photography your hobby too?

Oh.. he's a pro. A darn good one!

Oh OK

I give lessons if you are interested.

Cool!


And today was my first lesson with him and the guy is really cool, and good!

John was the only pro with full gear in Phuket on the 26 December 2004. His photograps were distributed all over the globe the very next day as nobody else had their photographers in Phuket. They either dead or their equipments were damaged. He got a bIg check from Associate Press for that. According to him AP said they have never issued such a big pay cheque to a freelancer before. Naturally, he bought a nice camera with that.


JOHN ISHII

What a guy, really!

We had 2 models (law students from local uni). They were very sporting and we had fun photographing them. (kind of wierd if I were to put it: It was fun shooting them. Doesn't sound right)



That was my first studio photography, we were briefed about lighting, backdrops, modelling, interactions etc. Quite an eye opener.

I think I have the confident to start studio photography. In fact I was told that there is a studio in Desa Sri Hartamas where I can rent for RM75 per hour and it comes with backdrops, lighting etc.



Now that I have got the hang of it, one of these days I want to get a buch of my party friends to dress up nicely and photograph them in the studio.

That would be cool.

I have always wanted to do that!

Amanusa, Nusa Dua

A friend who is a designer, a professional photographer and an architect coincidently was in Bali during my holidays. He was commissioned by Amanresorts Limited to photograph their resorts for commercial colleterals and other commercial purposes. (He has been to and stayed at various Amans, lucky guy!) I had the chance to browse around for a couple of hours in Amanusa.



The view was just stunning, a paradise really. For those who love to golf, they have a beautiful 18-hole.

What's more impressive about the resort is actually the services they provide. Very comprehensive yet extremely subtle.

The ratio between workers and a guest is 7:1 (if I am not mistaken) but you hardly see them. Any of them.

Checking in process was very personal. Only the three of us in the lobby at the time of checking in.



When we arrived, we stayed in the room assigned and within a few minutes a jug of ice lemon tea (they use orange rather than lemon, delicious!) were served. They already knew how many people in the room so they had the correct number of glasses to serve the three of us.

We attacked the delicious fruit basket of, among others, buah salak, which is my favourite. Sweeet!

I love the bedroom, the patio and especially the bathroom.

Room is going for USD600 per night. (way above my little budget).

I was so inspired to do up Pura Tanjung Sabtu. One day it will come true. One day!

My jaw dropped when I was told about how Aman cater to fulfil the whims a fancies of the super rich. Unbelieveable! Just unbelievable!

Money can't buy love. But money can sure buy lotsa things!

Legong

Just because I ran for 30 minutes in the gym...

I think I deserve this.

Half a cup of yogurt ice cream strawberry flavour

Topped with a substantial amount of strawberry syrup (sweet like mad!)

So much sugar and fat

I am so going to regret this,

But, it is so freaking yummy!

Who gives....

p/s the tub says "The Creamy Taste of Ice Cream with Half the Fat"!

To the Temple

I was rushing to catch Kecak in Batu Bulan.

The driver was waiting.

I bumped into these boys near the entrance to Tegal Sari. They were going to a religious procession.

Note the head gear called dastar. Beautiful details.

Flowers on their ears.

Rice grains glued on their foreheads and throats.

White shirts.

I actually stopped them, get them to smile and...!

What kind of guest house is this?????

garden, courtyard leads to the main door of the house

I was recommended to stay at a newly opened guest house belongs to their friends located in the centre of Ubud, 5 minutes to the market, Ubud Palace and pura.

I arrived late because a couple of friends decided to "belanja" me birthday dinner at the most beautiful restaurant in the world called Bebek Bengil (Dirty Duck). The crispy duck was soooo yummy!

the livingroom

The guest house is actually a newly, tastefully renovated house with typically beautiful Balinese garden.It's a little private oasis b y itsefl!

Garden, with a fountain and subtle lighting with soothing sound of water. Neatly manicured lawn, with frangipani and bamboo. I could even smell the flowers.

staircase to the room upstairs. check out the balustrade!

Only two rooms in a big house then they are both big and beautiful.

Ground floor comes with another small private garden with a table and chair for your own semi alfresco dining. Mind you, they are not just a table and chairs. These are very beautiful collection of fine furniture, the owners passion.

my very own private garden attached to my bedroom. ideal to have you meal, read a book or update my journal. or have a puff....

The bathroom is large, simple yet functional decorated with flowers and vases. And the toiletries are from L'occitaine!

The only common area is a modern well equipped kitchen and living room filled with collection of antiques including a finely restored single chairs from Sacs Fifth Avenue, truly American classic.

view from the private garden shows the bedroom and the livingroom.

Any of you going to Ubud, do tell me, I can hook you up with the owner.

Since I was the first few guest since they opened the guesthouse, I was given FREE accommodation for two day in Ubud. Yeay!



To express my gratitude to their kindness, I will send a set of photos of the guesthouse for them to use for their website, or wherever fit.



II have not seen that many hotels suites. This house is far more beautiful, private and quiet.



I told you I had a fantastic holiday!

bathroom, nicer than Shangri-La's :-)

Monday Blues

It's 8.09am.

Just woke up.

Office starts at 8.30.

I am already late.

Malasnye nak gi kerje!!!!!!

But then, how am I going to pay my bills?

Okay lah.

I go mandi and be a good boy.

Besides I have a lunch appointment today.

Have booked my fav dimsum restaurant.

Ate like a pig.

Late night.

I HAVE to hit the gym today.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

KECAK - Abstract Series

Location: Batu Bulan

Lunch at Bumbu Bali Ubud

Had lunch at Bumbu Bali restaurant.

I chose the table right at the end to write my journal and organize my camera bag.

This was the view I got.

And the sound of water and birds with gamelan music in the background.

This is paradise!

UBUD Market Series

Woke up at 6.30am, brushed my teeth (did I?), dressed up, headed straight to the market where the morning actions were...

Fathers & Sons

During Melasti (cleansing before Nyepi) procession from the beach to pura (temple), women carry the offerings, men carry their little ones. Little cute ones!

Kenangan Terindah - Samsons

Aku yang lemah tanpamu
Aku yang rentan karena
Cinta yang tlah hilang darimu
Yang mampu menyanjungku

Selama mata terbuka
Sampai jantung tak berdetak
Selama itu pun
Aku mampu tuk mengenangmu

Darimu...
Kutemukan hidupku
Bagiku...
Kau lah cinta sejati

Ooh...

Bila yang tertulis untukku
Adalah yang terbaik untukmu
Kan kujadikan kau kenangan
Yang terindah dalam hidupku
Namun takkan mudah bagiku
Meninggalkan jejak hidupku
Yang tlah terukir abadi
Sebagai kenangan yang terindah

Holiday Villa Diwangkara, Sanur

Part of the landscape, quite popular for wedding photography.





The entrence to my private villa, with swimming pool. Very beautiful, and private.



Frangipanis on my pillows, every night. Smells wonderful.

Oh yes, the hotel was kind enough to give me a surprised birthday breakfast with cake, candles and "selamat hari lahir" song in the restaurant, courtesy of the ever hospitable GM. Made my day....

Jimbaran - a little fishing village

Balancing act



Everybody is an artist!



Bali's very own felluca



Fish monger

Pura Luhur Ulu Watu

The temple of Ulu Watu is an important temple to the spirit of the sea located along the south coast of Bali. Javanese priest Empu Kuturan established the temple here. Another Javanese priest Nirartha added more sections of the temple. He was the same priest who is known for seafront temples at Tanah Lot, Rambut Siwi and Pura Sekanan. (I haven't been to these ones yet.)

Nirartha retreated to Ulu Watu for his final days, when he attained moksa (freedom from earthly desires).


A Balinese tour guide



A Balinese man just completed his prayer at the Pura Luhur Ulu Watu




A lot of resident monkeys. Visitors are advised to take care of their belongings including their eyeglasses. I actually saw a monkey grabbed a pair of glasses belonged to a visitor.



A Japanese couple posing on a platform with deep steep drop. For those who wear shorts, they are required to wear purple sarong to cover their knees. Everybody has to tie a yellow cloth around their waist as a symbol to respect the temple.



Pura Luhur Ulu Watu, shot from the site where kecak is normally performed.



Pura Luhur Ulu Watu



The waterfall is NOT there everyday. Only when it rains. This is one of my favourite pics from this trip.



I purposely used lower shutterspeed so that I can get a silky finish for the flowing water fall and the waves against the rocks. Reminded me a lot of the Twelve Apostles near Melbourne.