The UGLY Malaysians

Captured along our favorite cycling route the climb up to Genting Peres.

Duhh....

Classic JD

We ha d a four-way conference call this morning, initiated by JD.

It was totally hilarious as JD can sometimes be such an airhead – even though he is a brilliant kinda guy.

A snippet:

JD: B, did you drop me as Facebook friend.

B: How can I drop some thing I haven’t added.

I guess the adding and dropping as friends in Facebook is quite a drama, to some people a trauma.

I have my own share of this.

I am glad it happened though.

One thing for sure, I need to eliminate some names who have been spamming me with promotions of a club. I get 3 of the same messages for the same event, of which I have no intention to go.

Like I said - spamming should be illegal.

Spiritual Journey - Makkah and Madinah

This series of photos were shot (secretly) during my Umrah, a couple of years ago. All photos were capture by using my Nokia Communicator E90.

Masji AL Nabawi, also known as Masjid Nabi

Buka puasa was such a simple yet a fulfilling spiritual experience. Its amazing how more tahn 1 million people from different background, nationalities, social status can have proper buka puasa within10 minutes and the whole Masjid is ready for Maghrib prayer. And it's free.

Makkah is always busy, hectic and I felt the crowd. Madinah is peaceful, quiet and cooling. I love Madinah. I felt like I was on a holiday.


 

This scene is typical during Ramadhan. People reciting the Quran - throughout the day - and night.

The 5 item on the foreground is actually a stand for air Zam Zam

These are retractable roofs which is opened at night. The mechanical movements of the huge roof opens up to the sky.

The Raudah - where most prayers are answered by His Almighty.

The hotels - just a stone throw away from the Masjid

Kuala Lumpur City Center - 15 seconds exposure

I was bored after dinner. The weather was perfect, in fact it was rather cold on the way back.

I reached KLCC almost midnight.

Before I managed to set up the tripod he lights were off. So it’s kind of a dark (KLCC) subject.

I like the moon and the thin cloud formation.

Rosti

rosti very easy- grate potatoes, and put into a collander.

Press the mixture to Drain some of the liquid.

Season with salt and pepper( chili flakes pun boleh)

Then mould into shape and cook: option

1) in a frying pan on a low heat about 17-10mins each side, or :

2) roast in a preheated oven around 200'c for about 1/2 hour

Yo can also add some chopped oninons to the mixture if you like..


I just found this draft, supposed to be published months ago. I was crazy about rosti - a simple Swiss potato "pancake"

Nepal

NEXT

Sand Art

I recently saw this in Johor Bahru during a photoshoot.

Its pretty cool. I haven't seen this before. Its dynamic with subtle frame transition accompany with music.

I stood there for awhile to enjoy it - and of course interview the artist.

COOL, I thought.

Tuan Senang Besar

Credit: Photo by Jason Hue

The passing of a friend which reminds us not to take our life for granted.

Kharis, even though I do not know him very well, is a jovial guy I me a couple of years ago, on his bike in Ulu Langat. Our favorite route of nasi lemak and durian finale.

We rode together at lest ONCE, climbing up Genting Peres - the political boundary of Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.

I also bumped into him running the 10km Lake Garden - Kenny Hills loop in the city. 

He was quite a jovial guy. Very active in social media, very likable and sometime he throw on my wall with some subtly controversial remarks - but I didn't mind it at all. It was just a joke. 

He had a good sense of humor, quite articulate and vocal on face book.

I am proud to have someone like him as a friend. 

May Allah bless your soul my friend.

Al-fatihah.

Shot this in Masjid Bulat in PJ while waiting for TSB's jenazah to arrive.

Nelson Mandela

One of the greatest leader and fighter I admire most. All his life he fights for humanity. What a guy. I shot this at my friends office in Cape Town. They are proud of him, Very proud of him.

Current leaders in Malaysia? Far far far far away from it.

FAR!

WAY TOO FAR!

Ikan Singgang Terengganu

One of the most simple dishes and yet one of the most delicious. Have this with steaming HOT rice. 

You will thank me.

• 
  

• Bahan-bahan ( untuk 2 orang makan )

• 2-4 potong ikan tongkol/kayu/aya / tenggiri
• 1 cm lengkuas
• 1 cm kunyit hidup
• 3-4 ulas bawang putih
• 1-2 keping asam keping
• Garam secukup rasa
• Cili padi ikut citarasa
• Air ( agak2 - kalau suka kuah banyak, lebihkan airnya)

Cara-cara

1. Masukkan air ke dalam periuk dan masak sehingga hampir mendidih.
2. Kemudian, masukkan semua bahan - ikan, lengkuas, kunyit hidup, bawang putih yang telah dihiris/diketuk, asam keping, garam dan ajinamoto ke dalam periuk tadi.
3. Rebus sehingga ikan betul2 masak, seterusnya campakkan cili padi ke dalam periuk. that's all. Selesai sudah satu masakan yang simple. Boleh terus hidangkan. Makan semasa panas - sedapppp!!!

Food food food

Can't really be abroad for more than 10 days and not missing my Melayu food.

These are traditional Terengganu food served during buka puasa just a couple of days before Raya. We all ate together, on the floor.

Buak Puasa can't be better than this.

The spread

Ulam

Telur dadar

Timung Cina

Sambal Belacan power

Ikang Kembong

Kerabu Mangga

Wondering........

This is my Things To Do List. I am quite fashion. Besides the accessibility to smart phones with endless features, I still prefer this.

Old fashion it is, but I don't care.

Speaking of old fashion, I recently founf an antique typewriter at Milnerton flea market in Cape Town and told my friend who is in his early 20s. He hasn't got a clue what a typewriter is. I have to BB him this photo - something we used before the arrival of I Mac / MacBookPro.

Hish!

Ungku Farrah

During my assignment to photograph Thistle Hotel in JB, I saw scores of painting by Ungku Farrah in different parts of the hotel. I was attracted to this one. I acquired it and now sitting in my living room.
Not sure where to hang it yet.

Nadya

I recently shot a birthday party for a little girl, 6 years old, Nadya. Delivered the finished albumand the CDs. 

I received a long sms from her mom a couple of hours later - thanking me for what she perceived as beautiful work.

HAPPY

The birthday girl

Work in progress

Adorable. They are actually my friends daughters.

KL Cab

What da!!!!

Rafika Duri

Still one of my favorite songs. 

Cape Town Revisited

I just came back from Cape Town, 10 days of really good fun.

Perfect cycling weather. My brother would appreciate this (and sooo do I). Next time, I want to bring my bike!

It was my second time there but I don't mind going there again.

There are so many more things to see and lots of (outdoor) things to do.

I cooked dinner for my wonderful hosts. This one is stir fry vegetables purchased from Pick & Pay supermarket.

This time around I pretty much covered not just Cape Town, but also almost the whole Cape Peninsula.

I took MANY photos.

Waterfront - always a lot of people - locals, tourists and buskers! Really cool place for everybody. We had dinner there once at an African fine dining Restaurant.

And I climbed up the great Table Mountain - hiking. It was wonderful experience. The view at the top - takes your breath.

I cooked breakfast, sometimes, for me and my hosts.

When we drove through beautiful little towns like Camps Bay (beautiful mansions overlooking Atlantic Ocean with the 12 Apostles as backdrop), Betty's Bay (African penguin colony), Hermanus (Whale Watching), Cape Agulhas (the southernmost tip of Africa) and many many more.

Drove up to Signal Hill admiring the bird's eye view of Cape Town.

I am back to reality now and quite busy with work and photography. I will try to share some photos - soon.

I purchased this in Long Street downtown Cape Town. A painting on plywood - from the Year 1974. I hand carried it, even the South African customs people liked it at the airport. I couldn't fit the overhead luggage compartment on board. The stewardess was kind enough to store it in the cabinet in Business Class.

Wondering...

I understand people who soup up their cars.

What I don't understand is why people have the exhaust pipe as big as Penchala Link tunnel and mega noisy. On not only that. This Proton Perdana I spotted just now has a Mitsubishi decal stickers.

Why?

Alain's 50th

I was at a friends 50th birthday party. It was quite fun. I can't believe Alain (A gentlemen from Montreal, with a beautiful wife and wonderful children) is 50.

He actually play the electric guitar on the stage with his son - Stairway to Heaven. Coolest.

When I returned home, it was after midnight. I checked my mail box and my dear friend Jim who of a shop that sells les objects des art, told me that someone bought 3 pieces of my work was sold recently.

And Jim is opening another shop in a new shopping mall called Publica (Between Mont Kiara and Jalan Duta) and he want me to have another exhibition.

Of course I said YES.

I think this time around I want to show more travel photography and most probably I will blow up some of the pieces really BIG. The effect would be different.

Lets work on it

Gunung Nuang revisited

My group of friends are organizing a trip to trek Nepal end of December. Everybody has been busy with work and we haven't really started training. In order to enjoy such a trip, one has to be very fit. Imagine walking the whole day, everyday for almost 10 days. You'd better be well prepared.

I am working on it. I have started running again.

Last weekend we decided to climb Nuang,

It was tough. Kinabalu is tough in terms of the duration of the climb. Nuang is more difficult. It is a lot more technical compared to Kinabalu.

We were not lucky in Nuang. The trail was wet and slippery - and dirty. We managed to complete trekking for 10 hours.

It was crazy but the view was fantastic.

It a brilliant camp site too. We promise to camp there soon - at least that was what we agreed there. I really hope it will be materialized.