less than 12 hours till lift off!!!!

Here i am sitting in my clinic, all smiling and excited, anticipating my first trip to Thailand. I would say the excitement begun right from the suggestion of going until plans made which materializes.
I got my clothes packed yesterday. Most important thing, my electronics, my camera or should i say cameras(read on) and my computer for daily updates on my travelogue. The idea is to travel light....."Travel light.... with ease and comfort....", so i thought to myself.
All that i have to bring along are these,
Yup, my DSLR, 4 lenses(supposed to be three, but i'll explain later) , 2 batteries, 4 CF card with total of 16 GB , a bridge camera, a tripod(not in the picture) ...... and of course my clothes, etc..etc..
I bought this LowerPro camera bag couple of months ago as i find it convenient if i were to travel as it is spacious, and contains multiple compartments for camera and lenses, a laptop, wires, strap for tripod. Convenient right? Yes, but i made me nearly RM400 poorer too.
Oh, yes, bringing my external hard drive of 80 GB space to store the pictures taken during the day.
These is how it looks like after storing the camera with its lenses... truly convenient.
Back to the story why I want to carry so many lenses... which consist of:-
Sony SAL 1870
Sony SAL 75300
Sony SAL 100M2.8 (primes lens)
Sony DT 3.5-6.3/18-250mm

Now the question you would probably ask, why am i carrying a 18-70mm when i already have a 18-250mm? Good question....
The main reason is this...

I will bring along my detachable super Macro lens that only fits onto a 55mm size 18-70mm while my 18-250mm measures 62mm.(55mm/62mm is the size of the lens)
So, while 18-70mm is already a wide angle lens, the attachable macro lens would cover more areas to fit into the photo.
So, know now why i brought along so many lens?
Now, next question would be, why am i bringing along my bridge camera????? when i already carrying my DSLR?
Presenting Fujifilm S700 or S5700 in certain countries.
Well, my answer may sound stupid, but believe it or not, this camera has certain features that a my DSLR doesn't have. Since i know nuts about post processing (though i have Photoshop in my computer) ,this camera enables photo cropping, and sepia coloured photography. Besides, since its a bridge camera, it has the characteristics of a DSLR without the capability of switching lens, of course. Despite bringing 2 batteries, JUST IN CASE if it runs out of juice....(i am being paranoid here) i have a spare camera..hihi..
Anyway, i was using this camera and the pictures turned out really nice. The reason why its called a bridge camera simply because for those with compact digital camera who wants to try out DSLR without wanting to invest too much money, and to gain the skill for manually operated cameras, hence this is the one that has the capability,features, except for the interchangeable lenses, hence its termed bridge camera.
I have taken some really fantastic shots with this camera in my previous blog. I like the super micro mode where you can take pictures of object placed 1 cm from the lens!!!!
Well, a little history on how i got into photography. Ladies and gentlemen, i present to you, my first camera, bought over 4 1/2 years ago, Sony T1......
The main reason i purchased this camera was to capture the moments during the birth of Isabelle. It served us for like 3 years before got spoil.
If my memory doesn't fail me, the camera was like RM1200, more expensive than the bridge camera!!! (which was bought in Canada) Obviously half of the price is due to the lens itself.
For a 5.1 Mega Pixel camera, it was considered high end digital camera those time.
We haven't got the time to bring this baby for repair all these time since the operating hours for Sony Centre is on week days, 8.30-5pm.....
And besides, i got a new Canon Ixus 870IS for my wife, thanks to the suggestion given by fellow bloggers.
Opps, just heard from my wife that our plan got delayed. Flight time is now 11. something pm.
Alrighty, hope to get some memorable pictures there.
Bye!!

24 hours to go till lift off!!!!!

I just received the planned itinerary today. We will be staying in this Hotel called Sukhumvit 8. Supposed to be 4 star hotel equipped with plasma TV, internet connection... I saw the website and wow... its really contemporary and modern.
These is the plan throughout our four days in Thailand.
the third day continues with
Then to take a van ride for 2 hours to Pattaya beach..on the 4th day
Day 5
May we come back with smiles and recharged........

In the event of my demise

In the event of my demise
i hope i had lived a meaningful life
so significant that the next generation would still regard me a hero
I lived for a principle, cause i live by the principle
wonderful wife, my two daughters who are sunshine to my life
like an angel my wife comforts me when i had problem
I see my grave before my time
this is something i never told my bloodlines
In case its true i die young
remember the principle i have used as guide
I pray to God to lead me back to the path of truth whenever i've gone strayed
Forgive me for the past since that i've done
You can take me anytime.
To my children and wife, be strong
for daddy watches you from above.
In case of my early demise

--Wan Chee Hung--

2 more days and counting

2 more days and counting for my Thailand trip! I am all excited, and so is my wife. She has packed my daughters stuff and hers, and i have not pack mine. Went out yesterday and got myself another Compact Flash Card (8GB) in addition to 2x2GB and one 4GB CF that i already have.Sorry that the photo is a bit blur as this photo was taken using my 2Mega Pixel cameraphone.
Oh,yes, i spent another RM299 to buy another spare battery for my camera.
Woke up this morning at 4am, looked at the clocked, and the calender....and thought to myself.."Two more days".... drove to work with a big smile. I deserve this holiday after so many years of working non stop. Besides my DSLR and my wife's Canon Ixus 870IS, should i bring along my bridge camera fujifim f700???, as a spare camera? hmm....Will be bringing my laptop long to stay online and update my blog regularly.
Been waiting for this trip for week and months, and now its finally within the next 48 hours!!!
Yes!!!!!

First time making black coffee with coffee press pot

Don't know how? You've gotta learn. Being a coffee addict, i would normally order triple expresso to keep me awake. Initially the bitterness taste irks me, but somehow, today, i love it.
Since my dear wife bought a coffee press pot for me last week, its time we bring out the grinned coffee powders,which doesn't melt away with boiling water !!!!!
Next, bring out the newly bought coffee press pot
Next pour a little amount of hot water into the press pot
Next, add 2 tablespoonfull of finely grinned coffee powder into the press pot.
After placing the wanted amount (in my case 2 tablespoonfull) into the press pot
Then start adding hot water into the press pot to fill it up 3/4 of it.
After completed this, leave the pot open with the cover and wait for 4-5 minutes
After about 5 minutes, cover the pot with its cover.
Then, gently push the simmer downwards slowly but firmly
After doing this a few times, the coffee is ready to be served.......
I would normally like it straight, without milk, without creamer or sugar.
Thats the way I like it. Man, this is going to be a real kicker!!!!

Feels like a piece of glass got stuck in my brain

Have any of you bloggers ever had experienced an anonymous commenter who kept on sending you negative, dirty, degrading, and down right disgusting messages and refuse to reveal himself?
I am having such problem right now.It started about 3 weeks ago where this person who started commenting anonymously on my poems and my family trip to Thailand. His started accusing me of my intention for joining bloggers is to get to know the opposite sex and that i am tired of my wife.
What the hell is wrong with you,man?
Then he suggested to me to go to Thailand alone to "release my urge" there and by doing so i will forget about my wife or my family.
Then when i changed the settings of my comments section to disallow anonymous comments, he registers himself as Shanti. (which in Sanskrit means Peace)... well peace my ass.
He begins to insist that i should admit my poetry is lame, then only he'll rest his case.
Well Shanti, by posting your flaming messages anonymously you think I am intimidated by you?
I don't see why i should even bother about you since you are too chickenshit to reveal your site, and who you really are, if you hate the content of my blog, you don't have to read them, by passing negative and downright degrading comments questions that involves my family, you have crossed the line, you chickenshit.
If you want to comment, like i mentioned to you earlier, reveal yourself, and not only a nick, but yourself, your site, your name, but i doubt you'll ever do that, since you are chickenshit enough to reveal yourself to the rest of the blogsphere.
Don't bother sending more comments because they will not appear on my blog.... find something else worthwhile of doing instead of being a pest. Go wank yourself silly if you want to.

-----------------------FRIENDS-----------------------------

Carry on my life today with my family
Ain't complaining, we've been always happy
but before marriage it was a different story
I'll start my story as a kid in the early 80's

I remember vividly in standard one
Tunku Abdul Malik was my school in 1981
Cho,Cheah,Chong,Lee, and Tan
Got to know them then, then started the fun

We were classmates until primary 5
can't remember much about year 2
never remember ever studying for exams we took
but passed all the subjects, hah, what a joke...

Year 3 back in 83 as i remember
was naughty and playful any boys could be
asked one of my "friend" to do an assignment for me
Ended up writing nonsense, foul languages, i was made a mockery
Supposed to write an essay about 3 friends having fun gleefully

Year 4 that's when everyone turned bad
started swearing all the foul language in Chinese
Wherever we meet, foul words spills out like diarrhea
Until we met our match in year 5, Cikgu Yahya.

A strict no nonsense man, treated the student like military
Changed, brainwashed, punish humiliatingly
for the smallest and trivial mistakes committed
By the end of year 5, we understood the reason why
Its for our own good, it was a new life.

Year six, being the pioneer batch for UPSR
i got to know friends who are as wonderful as they are
Ratnasegaran, Sivaneswaran, Sachin Pillai, and more,you know who you're
Best buddies in my life , so far...

As we were entering form one in 1989
we received a devastating news about Sachin Pillai
Killed in a motorvehicle accident, his passing was so sudden
All of us missed you so much, but you are in a better place my friend

Nothing much happened during form 1 and 2
can't remember any incidence funny and depressing too
So i ain't going to write much about it
Let's jump straight to form 3 ahead.

We were the last batch for SRP in form three
weeks of anticipation for the results for me
scored 7A's , can't believe it, and so did 52 others
Non other day can be any jovial and happier

As we entered form 4 with pride and chest out proud as ever
our smiles were soon wiped out with our add maths teacher
Chinaman like big size bugger who is soft spokened
But don't get him angry, he'll kick you out from the class and asked to hug a tree

Oh, yeah, i missed something that happened in form 3,
the first chapter in Biology.......organs of reproduction
we were supposed to draw a picture of cut section
of both female and male genital organ.

As mischievous as anyone can be, we took Ratna's book when he's not around
Erased the penis which was drawn flaccid, into an erected one
Can't help giggling, he doesn't know a thing
So we submitted our books to the teacher,innocently we acted as if it's nothin'
can't wait till tomorrow morning and see what's going to happen

The bell rang indicating the start of a class
the expressionless female teacher walked in slammed the book on the desk
RATNA!!! Keluar sini! Gatal,kah you, ni????
eh ber....er....ber....er...ber....as Ratna watched the drawing in disbelief

Ratnasegaran is his name, and making jokes is his game
back in standard 6, 7th November 1988, Hari Deepavali
the celebration of light for all Hindu devotees
bought a pair of pants and shoes, showing them off, you see

So a group of us went from houses to houses
filling ourselves with murukkus and papadam
ate so much that day to the max we can take
looking forward to visit the last house in an oil palm estate

We took a bus to BMR Estate
we're supposed to be there by 5pm, but half an hour late
seeing cows roaming around, not to mention them pooping freely
Gotta watch every step you take to avoid stepping on the "mine", you see

So we were playing fire crackers
it got bored after a while coz nothing exciting's happening
so we raised the game by a notch to make it interesting
by lighting the fire cracker embedded into a cow dung deep within

We drew straws to select the unlucky one
Ah...ha!!!! Ratna selected the shortest straw so he'll be the one
While he approached the firecracker we went helter skelter
looking for a good distance to hide from the explosive "mine"

As he held the joystick nearer to the fuse
you can see tremors as Ratna got nearer to the cracker
The moment the fuse was litted it burned at a face pace
With a reflex of a mongoose Ratna took a step back to runaway

Call it unlucky, or it wasn't his day, said Chee Hung
His first step backward landed on a fresher dung
He slipped and fell and did a ballerina split
Bang!!!! Goes the cracker with dungs hitting all over him.

It was damn funny if i think of it till today
that day was indeed memorable in everyway
1988 was the best time of my life, its worthwhile
everytime i think about it never fail to bring out a smile.

--Wan Chee Hung--

To Mr/Miss Anonymous Commenter

You left your 4th message today
Keep sending your nasty messages if it makes your day
Coz I'm deleting them anyway
Accusing me of my purpose to join bloggers
Well let me question you Mr/Miss Anonymous
As long as its signed anonymously, its always a Nobody
Why criticize with your tail tugged between your thighs
why talk tough when you don't reveal yourself?
Trying to keep me guessing who you could be
I don't waste a single second thinking about it Mr/Miss Nobody
Your act of commenting anonymously trying to psyche me?
Challenging me to write a poem for my blog i see.....
Well here you are, my poem to you.
Challenging you to reveal who are you
Perhaps you're too chickenshit to do that
I bet you'll all that, not a tiny more than a cowardly act
Want to talk tough, stand tall and reveal to all
Who is this coward who writes shit in my blog
You hope i'll publish your comment for the world to see?
Perhaps reveal your identity, your name, your add, then maybe....
If you persist to condemn, writing hate messages anonymously
Spare yourself from reading my blog, it's easy...
Just a click without reading your message, i erase them happily and easily
Use your time constructively, wag your tail and show some respect
if you're aren't interested to read, then stop reading....its easy
Otherwise stop your comments signed as Nobody
With your tail tugged snugly between your legs,Buddy
You want a poem? Well here's one for you. I respond promptly
Enjoy the poem, cause it's for you-- Mr/Miss Nobody
Challenge me? Anonymously? You mean it seriously?
Reveal yourself thoroughly to me then, if you have the balls...oopps..maybe
you're a lady, well I'm sorry... since you're nobody, your sex is unknown to me.

--Chee Hung--

Got my passport today!

As the date for Thai holiday approaches, i casually flipped through my passport and noticed something alarming! It just got aspired on the 23rd January 2009!!!! Damn! Actually my parents doesn't know anything about my family planning for a trip to Thailand since they just left for Australia to be with my second sister till the month of May. Woke up at 5.20am this morning and sent them to KL Sentral. Went right to immigration office in Damansara right after that to get my passport renewed. Reached there are 6.30am and i was sure we there wouldn't be any crowd built up at that time...how wrong was I.
The queue stretches nearly half a block waiting for the immigration to open at 7.30am. I was so sure its going to be a long boring day.. I was supposed to renew my passport and apply for one for Natalie.
----since the new immigration rule doesn't allow the child's pass to be included in their parent's passport, we had no choice, have to apply one for her. Waahh.. 6 months old got passport already...
Luckily there was a special counter for children below 2 years old where you can get get it made within 2 hours.
Surprisingly, despite the amount of people queuing up to wait for their turn to submit their form, after which again have to wait for God knows how long to get their passport, there were machines just next door to the immigration office that enables you to bypass all the redtapes by simply scanning your old passport and IC, make your payment, then your new passport would be ready within 2 hours.
We got it done before 10.15am. NOW, i can travel to Thailand..hihih.
Isabelle already have a passport since 3 years old when she traveled to Canada with my wife to visit her sister...leaving me all alone...boo hoo hoo.
Daddy! We can all go for holiday as family. I can't wait for it!!!
Yes, daddy is going to take you to visit the crocodile and snake farm there,ok?
Crocodile? Snake? Sounds scary, daddy... I don't want to go.
Chill it, sista... I wanna go, daddy!


Hehe... of course they didn't say that. I made that up. But Isabelle was terrified when she heard about the crocodile and snake farm.
I am totally excited and can't wait for it. It's my first holiday after so many years.
.
.
.My day got better when my wife bought a coffee press pot, knowing that i am a coffee addict.
Now i can make coffee from the grinned coffee beans bought from Starbucks lining on the kitchen shelf.
Looking at the clock now... 3pm. 6 more hours till the favorite moment that i look forward to every single day.....
Seeing my wife and both my dearest daughters.

My Family Day out!

Well, as couples of lovebirds swarming around Shopping Malls enjoying themselves on Valentine's Day, i was at work 12 hours from 9am till 9pm. When i got home, i just spent some quality time with my family, reading storybooks to my daughter, playing with my baby, and watched TV will wee hours of the night with my wife.
We decided earlier on that day that we should spend the WHOLE day as a family day every Sunday. Since they got to see me for only a few hours a day.
So, this morning, Isabelle was the first to wake up, followed by my wife, little Natalie, and at last, me. We had planned for a morning walk around our housing area.
wakey..wakey...Natalie!!!..........
It was a great morning. Indeed, fresh air,street road with lesser amount of cars, quiet neighbours, (probably still sleeping).
Later in the evening, we would be celebrating our parents birthday by trying out this Taiwanese restaurant in The Garden. It would be their 68th birthday. Time certainly passed by so fast.
Seeing my parents growing older with each passing years, but I am glad they are as fit as ever. My dad actually does 50 push ups at one go everyday! I can't remember when was the last time i was as fit as him.
Thinking about my parents birthday celebration brought back a lot of nostalgic moments.
this piece was painted by yours truly to celebrate their 31th wedding anniversary back in 2001.
I feel that's the best gift (physical ones of course) any children can present to their parents by creating something with our own effort rather than just spending money to buy presents.
Well, back to our first family early sunday day out.
The morning sun was just right, not too hot. You can see my dearest wife preparing the stroller for little Natalie. I was all excited and ready to go, wearing my Nike sports shoe which has been kept in the store for years now.
As we were walking, we came to a gathering of people busy with some sort of activity. It was the Tzu Chi Buddhist group setting up a collection centre for recycle items. Anyone can give their unwanted clothes, papers,etc..etc...
I am pretty impressed with the dedication these individual followers as they always serve with a smile on their face, a look of contentment and satisfaction with their job.
Though I am a Tzu Chi member myself, i provide my service more toward the medical line. Yeah, in charge of the free clinic on every first week of the month in Jalan Pudu. I must admit, providing free service with the purest of intentions yields nothing less than absolute total satisfaction.
When you are doing God's work, you have to provide a sincere service irrespective of how pathetic or dirty the environment is. Like this guy who is standing on the top of the MPPJ huge waste bin.
Well, after about 45 minutes of walking and enjoying the fresh air, we passed by Nasi Kandar Sedap, a 24 hour mamak shop equipped with free wifi, plasma TV, not to mention their fast and efficient service.
Isabelle just love eating roti canai with sugar. Both my wife and Isabelle ordered roti canai,
While I, being a big size fella, ordered a roti pisang and a roti bom! Wow, delicious stuff,man!!!!
After satisfying our gastronomic needs, its time to walk home.


We rested for a while at home, then drove to our local Secret Recipe to get the birthday cake. I decided to purchase the white chocolate with macadamia nuts flavoured cake which would send anyone to the seventh heaven once you've tasted it.
We then head back home, bathe and had lunch in Damansara Perdana with my sister and her BF, along with our parents of course, thereafter we headed to Midvalley Megamall. ( my God, it has been so long since the last time i stepped into Midvalley!) After doing some shopping, we've decided to try out the laksa in Jaya Jusco, Midvalley... which brought back a lot of memories. The last time we ate here was years ago, we were't married then.
My wife ordered the mouth watering Penang laksa, and all i could do was looking her slurping those noodles with total satisfaction. I don't take laksa since i suffer from gastritis. Isabelle being her cheeky self who can't sit still for long decides to irritate her mummy while eating.
mummy..there is something stuck between your teeth! mummy i want some sugarcane!

One thing Isabelle couldn't resist each time we go out is whenever she sees one of this rides, she will stubbornly sits in the carriage until she gets at least a ride. She has developed this negotiating skills(don't know where she learn from) where she promised only one ride....
It warms my heart to see my daughter enjoy herself so much. She just can't stop smiling and laughing while the carriage moves with lights twinkling and background music playing. When the ride is over, "Another one,pleeeeeeeeeease? giving use the most heart melting looks.. she is getting good at doing this!
Well, there are actually three reason for deciding to spend our time in Midvalley, first being of course the dinner in the Garden, secondly i was looking for another CF card for my camera since I'll be travelling to Thailand at the end of the month, and third, a weekly family gathering.
Since Garden opened last year, shamfully i must say, i've stepped my foot into it only twice.
Very majestic look, very contemporary, for high end shoppers,nahh not my kinda place. But once in a while just to hang out with the family, it ok.
I was awed with the structure inside The Gardens. Cleans. Everything well organised, the decorations as simply stunning.
I am totally impressed with the architectural design. Glistening clean floors with fantastic lighting to add to the ambiance.
I am REALLY impressed! But what surprises me most is the fact that despite the shops offering the branded stuff, and a posh look of the Mall itself, the crowd is significantly lesser compared to Midvalley. Funny....
The plants are well placed, lightings are all in the right places, creating a soothing, and calming ambiance.
The decoration is second to non. Man, you can shop and enjoy the scenery here without the crowds! But then, branded stuff too expensive lerr.
The bridge that connects Midvalley from the Garden provides a fantastic view, How i wish i've brought my tripod along for long exposure shot from here.
6.30pm, everyone started to feel hungry. So we for the first time, we went to this Taiwanese Restaurant called Fong Lye, which s located next to Borders on third floor. The food is so and so.
Its not the food, but the company that matters! In this case, its true! We truly enjoyed outselves that night.
After dinner, we decided to meet back home for the cake cutting ceremony. Not before taking this unposed spontaneous photo of my wife.
While wheeling Natalie back, she started to get irritated. That means her diapers needs changing.
In my opinion, The Gardens have the best maternity/baby changing room. They are sooooo clean and well equipped!
Natalie must be wondering why am I kept on taking photos of her... Well, that's becuase you're CUTE!
Can you see her happy and gleeful face after getting her diaper changed?
OK.... we 're going homw for cake cutting now!
That's the mouth watering cake!
Dad, mum, my eldest sister, my wife and I
That's my sister's BF.... very nice guy
My parents and my family....
The Happy Birthday song was sung, everyone was in a jovial mood.
Make a wish mum and dad, then blow the candles!!!!!
The cake was so good, by the end of 20 mnutes, ths is what's left of it.
Oh, yes, for months now i've been searching every known bookstore for Mark Bowden's Black Hawk Down, which i finally got them today.. Hihihihi....
Well, that's it. A fulfilling weekend wth family. Quality time! It feels great after at the end of the night. What is more satisfying to see your cute baby and beautiful wife at the end of the day...
Again,before ending this post, i would like to wish my parents a Very happybirthday and wishing both of you a healthy long life.