Damadi

The Plan

2011-12-22T12:48:00.000+03:00

Yesterday, it suddenly occurred to me that I may be burnt out.

I've been working on a technical issue for many weeks and still unable to close it, due to the customer's requirements not fully fulfilled. I feel tired and frustrated over this lack of progress. I'm sure the customer feel the same way too.

However, it seems that I am stuck. No matter how I try to push my brain to think up something useful, no new ideas come forth. Partially affected by this fatigue, I'm also less able to fully focus on other work.

I also have a tendency to keep on working on something, even though I'm no longer productive or effective. I'm often not aware that I've reached that threshold, and would just force my poor brain to keep on processing stuffs. Sometimes so much so that it couldn't take it anymore and just shutdown. At least, that's how I'd imagined it.

Reflecting back on how I've lived the past few weeks, yes I do feel a little burnt out. I'm not managing my time, energy and discipline as well and efficiently as I would like.

So, with these in mind, I think I'm going to try a new strategy -

Taking a leaf from school life, I'll try to introduce more break times during work hours. I'll set my phone alarm to ring once in the morning, when although I'm most productive but my focus may start to go off-track. And once in the afternoon, when my energy level is at the lowest.
I spend a tremendous amount of time online, most of it reading and looking at trivial things that is not directly beneficial to me. I will try to reduce that amount, instead using it to do some exercises or read a book. I will also try to multi-task better.
I am already going to sleep earlier than I used to, around 12-1am, instead of 2-3am. So, I'm getting more sleep and starting the day feeling fresher.
I will try to condition my mind to work better in different environments eg. I should not think of work when I'm not working. That'll allow me to relax better.
I will try to eat less and healthier. Apart from exercise, this will have direct impact on overall well-being.
I am trying to cultivate a habit of keeping a dynamic To-Do list, that'll help me to identify and prioritize important tasks everyday.

I suppose discipline is key here, to achieve what I listed above. The end of the year signals the time to make resolutions. Instead of doing that, I made a plan, and hopefully it'll stick.

The Event

2011-12-14T19:07:00.000+03:00

It started just like any other day.

The alarm went off, the bright sunlight streaming in through the window, the crisp cold air making it a monumental task to get out from under the cozy sheets. I go through the daily morning ritual that includes staring blearily at the visage in the mirror and realizing that I'm wearing mismatched socks.

The commute to work was the same as usual. Work was the same as usual. Until the fateful evening.

Actually, now that I think about it, work was not the same as usual. It was unusually "quiet". Meaning hardly anyone talked to me during the day. It felt a little like I had become invisible. However, since I was busy with some work, I didn't pay it much attention.

At around 4pm, the Boss gestured to me to come into the meeting room. I immediately ran through my mind several project items that I thought the Boss would like to discuss. Feeling less unprepared, I made my way among the cubicles to the room at the far end of the floor.

As soon as I walked through the door, the Boss asked me to shut it. There were only two of us in the strangely unlit room. There was an unmarked box on the table.

The Boss asked "Do you know what is in this box?"

I started to feel a little uncomfortable, and replied no.

Suddenly, the door opened, and a colleague walked in. His face was blank of expression and he went to stand beside the Boss. A few seconds passed, then another colleague walked in. She is also stone-faced and stood beside the first colleague. Soon, one by one, all my team members came into the room, all looking the same, lifeless eyes and languid movements. They're all staring at me.

By now, I'm feeling a little panic starting to creep in the back of my head. Am I in a dream? Or a nightmare? I didn't know what was happening and could only wait there for their next move.

The Boss asked again "Do you know what is in this box?"

Cold sweat broke out across my skin. Before I could answer, the Boss slowly move towards the box, and with both hands, opened the box delicately, as if the tiniest mistake will cause it to shatter. Or explode.

After what seemed like an eternity, the content of the box was finally revealed. It is a cake. And on it was emblazoned in bold the words "Happy Birthday".

And then it was mayhem ...

Happy

2011-12-10T15:18:00.000+03:00

Bottega happy =)

Seduction

2011-12-08T17:21:00.001+03:00

The meeting was purely by chance. He was walking past but something tugged at the corner of his eyes. He turned slowly and then, he saw her.

She was so fair, like the soft glow of moonlight. He felt like he just got hit by a truck. He was totally mesmerized.

She teased at him with her open collar. A few places unbuttoned, glimpses to the secrets beneath. The lines of her silhouette were sensual and flirty, pure and dignified at once. The curves were at all the right places, igniting dormant emotions to life.

He picked her up from the table where she was laying on. With the gentlest of force, she wrapped around his body in a snug embrace. The proportions were so perfect, it's like they were made for each other. Her skin felt smooth like silk and softly caressed against his own skin.

He couldn't resist anymore. He must have her!

And so he bought the white shirt ...

The All Answer

2011-12-06T20:29:00.001+03:00

"Are you sure?" asked Peggy.

A thousand alarms immediately went off in Jared's head. His body froze, his pulse quickened but the blood seemed to stop flowing as the mind raced furiously to process the question and seeking an appropriate response.

Just 3 words, framed as a question. Powerful enough to send Jared's world into instant disarray.
Did I do anything wrong? Did I just say something wrong? Is she upset? Is she testing me? Or is she just trying to make sure? What does she wants to know? Is she expecting a certain reply from me?

Countless thoughts and possibilities passed through Jared's head in mere milliseconds. Trying to detect any sign of danger. Trying to predict her reaction to any answer he might give. Trying to think of what to do next, should he survives the first round safely. Or not so safely.

There was no escape. Peggy was standing right in front of Jared, looking expectantly into his eyes.
There was no excuse. It was a simple question, one that Jared should have no problem answering.
There was no time. Jared couldn't possibly brush aside this question for later.

There is no way to be sure. He decides to take a gamble.

"Yes"

"Wait, no ... maybe"

Worry

2011-12-06T17:12:00.001+03:00

It is only natural to feel uneasy, to feel anxious, to worry ...

We worry because we fear the unknown
Will the test results be good?
Will the job application be successful?

We worry because we have no control
Will the weather be good tomorrow?
Will we get there on time?

We worry about doing the wrong things
We worry about saying the wrong things
We worry about doing or saying the wrong things at the wrong time
We worry about the big things
And little things
We worry about how others will feel
How we will feel ...

We worry about making mistakes
About if we have acted or reacted appropriately
Because there may not be any second chances

We worry about many things
And sometimes nothing
We worry about others
Their well-being
Their thoughts of us
Will he be angry at me?
Will she love me back?

We worry because we care
I worry because I care

So don't worry, about worrying ...

What Type Am I?

2011-12-03T21:06:00.001+03:00

The strong, silent type
~ The quiet, boring type

The confident and intelligent type
~ The cowardly and stupid type

The smart and deep-thinking type
~The naive and stupid type

The considerate and gentle type
~The indifferent and unrefined type

The thoughtful and emphatic type
~The slow and dull type

The interesting and fun type
~The reserved and serious type

I am all of the good and the not-so-good above
My flaws are numerous, but so are my strengths, and hopefully that will be enough to sway your heart ...

Understanding Others

2011-12-01T18:16:00.001+03:00

I'm feeling a little frustrated by my poor proficiency in the language. There are many words that I do not understand and many words that I cannot use to express my thoughts explicitly and truly.

When a group conversation is on-going actively and merrily, I often find myself being silent for the most part, partially because I don't know how to enter the flow of the conversation. How to contribute gainfully. If there's a good flow going, where every sentence seems to be a good joke inducing laughter all around, how can I think fast enough of something appropriate to say. By the time I think of something good to say, its way past the moment.

The clash of the languages occurs here too, because I think in one language and have to translate to the other. Even then, I was never really a "funny" person, not really the life of the party type. In a one on one, I usually much better at talking well. In a group, I tend to be in the background, giving the light to others and enjoying their banter.

So, what can I do? Sometimes all I can do is just smile ... I'll just have to try harder to think and respond faster in a better way ... and not to be thought of as boring or anti-social ...

In Time

2011-11-19T20:31:00.001+03:00

Time.

It is a concept created by man. The animals do not know time. They only know when they are tired. When they are hungry. The day becomes bright because it is bright, and dark because it is dark. But man needs order. They need the comfort of being able to measure some things by. So they created Time.

Over time (pun intended), this concept became an inseparable part of the human psyche. Without it, the mind will cease to function. Lock a man in a room that is always lit and no clocks, and see what happens.

Time.

It is not merely representing the fact that what has happened happened, and what hasn't will. It has become more than that. It has become a flow. A never-ending, never-stopping flow. And out of this, are born many myths and beliefs.

Time waits for no man. Or, from another perspective, it is more like other phenomenons in the natural world do not wait for you in order to happen. The sun will still set, even if you wish the day to be longer.

Time.

Age is associated with it. We live, and we die. We try to quantify the length of our lives, and thus gain meaning from it. Like the Ikea chair that can only withstand x number of impact until it eventually breaks one day, so are our bodies that regenerate cells endlessly until one day, it will finally lose the ability to do so.

One may have seen this calculation before - we are already spending a third of our time (per day) and thus a third of our lives, sleeping. The balance then have to halved, with one part going to work. The remaining one third then have to be distributed among many things including time for eating, hygiene and commute. At the end, that leaves us very little time to actually to the things we want to do.

Time.

Be it real or not. Be it ours or other's. It is precious regardless. Use it well.

Brain

2011-11-18T13:55:00.001+03:00

Brain: an apparatus with which we think we think.
~ Ambrose Bierce

Someone, Somewhere

2011-10-15T20:43:00.000+03:00

I've never seen a shooting star,
But I'll wish on one anyway,
I'll wish for peace, and for happiness,
For that someone everyday,

Through trials and tribulations,
Will one truly grow,
I'll wish for strength, and for wisdom,
For that someone to hold,

Harsh times and sadness abounds,
Confidence perished,
I'll wish for friends, and for love,
For that someone to cherish

Paw Bun

2011-10-13T16:02:00.001+03:00

This is too cute not to post ... yum!

Corner

2011-10-01T20:47:00.000+03:00

The new cityhas been great so far. It’s less crowded and the pace is slower. I’m quite gladI made the decision to come here a few months ago. The new job’s not bad too.At least, I don’t feel like there’s a dragon breathing hotly down my neck allthe time. My previous boss was a control-freak you see, and nothing I do everseems to be good enough for him.

This is my firsttime moving to a new place, and it took me quite a while to adapt to the newenvirons. I was happy that I managed to get an apartment within walkabledistance to the office. Now I can save on transportation, aside from adopting ahealthier lifestyle that I’ve always wanted but always put off.

Then comesthe next problem. I’m not a morning person and so I usually can’t wake up earlyenough to make breakfast. So I was really happy to discover a quaint-lookingcafe located halfway along the route that I take to go to work. The signboardwas done in a Victorian style and it says ‘LouisA’. I supposed the shop’s namecame from a combination of the owner’s own name, Louis, and the arabica coffeebeans that he uses. Something like Louis of Arabica perhaps.

I popped inthe cafe one morning to get my usual order. By then, I’ve become so familiarwith Louis that he’s already got my latte and bagel ready in a brown bag when Iwalk through the door. As I go up to the counter to pay for it, I noticed a manwearing a flat cap working behind the expresso machine. I couldn’t really seethe face though, as it was obscured by a row of coffee bean filled jars.

“Hey Lou,new guy eh?”, I shot a quick probe at Louis.

“Yeah, justgot back from abroad”, he replied, before being cut short by an elderly ladyasking for a cupcake from the display.

I took mybreakfast and left Louis with the lady. I’ll save the story of the new guy forsome other time. I had a meeting that morning and didn’t want to be late.However, it turns out that I didn’t need to rush at all.

A fire had brokenout in the restaurant below our office. Although it was small and completelydoused by the time I arrived, the fire department still won’t allow anyone intothe 3-storey building until further safety inspections has been carried out.With nothing else to do, our boss told us to go home for the day.

I started towalk home, feeling slightly shaken by the incident. With my mind beingelsewhere, I accidently crashed into someone when I turned a corner. It seemsthat I was of bigger size and therefore managed to remain standing through theimpact, but the other person fell to the ground amid a pile of scattered books.Immediately I started apologizing profusely and went to help the person get up.It was then that I took a closer look and saw that it was a young woman.

As I was gatheringup the books and in close proximity with her, I became aware that she smelledstrongly of coffee. Suddenly struck by an inspiration, I offered to treat theyoung woman to some coffee and breakfast as an apology. She politely declinedat first, but later relented to my insistence. And so we went to LouisA whichwas nearby.

Along theway, I tried to keep the conversation going by telling her how good the coffeewas this morning, which was made by the new guy who wears a flat cap. When we gotto the front of the shop, the young woman looked surprised, and then hesitant.

“Is thereanything wrong? Do you know already know this place?” I enquired cautiously.

“Yes” shereplied. “My dad owns this cafe, and its actually named after me – Louisa”

Now it wasmy turn to be surprised, but I could only managed a “Ahh...” before shecontinued.

“About thenew barista with a flat cap” her face blooming a bright red. “That’s me. I’mhaving a break from my studies overseas and came back to help my dad run thecafe”

And then shetook out the flat cap from her bag and wore it on her head, while smilingsheepishly.

“Thank youfor liking the coffee I made”

I managed asecond “Ahh...” before resorting to smiling sheepishly as well.

I think I’llbe visiting LouisA more often in the future.

Splash!

2011-07-14T05:26:00.000+03:00

Lord of the Spore

2011-06-24T21:12:00.002+03:00

Coming soon to a theater near you! The latest work by famed director Fungir Sporesson ... a classic tale about an unlikely group of mushrooms struggling against all odds to vanquish the forces of evil. Their only hope is to destroy the one Spore, in the dark moist depths of the Great Toadstool, from whence it came.

The story starts, in the polka-dot tree bark home of these fated mushrooms ...

Ear Chops

2011-06-24T20:45:00.002+03:00

Hah, what karate chops? Let me show you something even more powerful ... ear chops!

HIIYAAAAA!!!

And another one, from the front! ... HIIEEEEYOOOOO!!

The lady with the dainty horns and pretty ears is not impressed ... meh ...

Hanging Out

2011-05-30T20:12:00.002+03:00

Damn, dude! You've been picking and compacting trash for hundreds of years?

Spanish Snacks

2011-05-30T19:55:00.002+03:00

These are ... turrons! But instead, I was actually sold by the word "crocanti".

It just sounds so delicious I couldn't resist.

Kopi Segera

2011-05-30T19:43:00.002+03:00

I was given a pack of instant coffee by a Taiwanese colleague. I thought to myself, mmmmm local coffee and such a cute packaging as well - a white bear holding a blue fish with a yellow face. Which doesn't seem to have anything to do with coffee at all. Then I was told, its from Malaysia, and true enough, the info at the back says it was made in Johor =.= ...

I still have a pack of Starbucks special Xmas blend from Japan. Look at the differences in sizes. The Msian pack is huge! Is this a case of quality vs quantity?

Doesn't matter cos ... instead, I got a latte from a nearby cafe ...

The Krabby Patty

2011-05-22T18:03:00.003+03:00

It exists in real life! Just look at it ... mmm yum!

But wait, does that mean these trays of deliciousness were prepared by everyone's favourite yellow and porous sea-dweller, Spongebob Squarepants?

Nope, instead its all made by a cute lady (way better looking than Patrick or Squidward =P ... )

On the third day, I finally went ...

2011-05-06T17:22:00.002+03:00

And now I've got Ranitidine, Simethicone and Rabeprazole for company ...

Folly

2011-04-12T16:05:00.002+03:00

I am getting nowhere with you and I can't let you go and I can't get through.

~ Ani Difranco

Time

2011-04-10T13:39:00.002+03:00

Time has no meaning in itself unless we choose to give it significance.

~ Leo F. Buscaglia

Okashi Romance

2011-04-09T22:29:00.006+03:00

There was an okashi fair at Isetan the other day, and I got myself some goodies. Even Jai loves them =) ...

I know of the Meiji brand, but it's my first time seeing this product called Fran. I'm sold by the name Meltykiss ...

There're Pocky's too (in Msia, its renamed Rocky or something, due to the "imagined connotations" with a certain animal. Honestly, these people can be unreasonable at times)

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Once upon a time, there was a giant yellow car-transforming robot who came across chocolate-coated biscuit sticks called Meltykiss ...

"Oh, my darling, you're the only for me. Your velvety and lustrous brown texture. The exquisite sweetness and supreme creamy chocolatey flavour. The crunchiness and light taste of your inner biscuit body. The combination of all these, that melts in the mouth in an explosion of pleasure and continues soothingly down the throat. I don't have a mouth, but I imagine that's how it'll be."

Bee, the robot, was so dazzled by Meltykiss, that he didn't notice all the other delicacies nearby.

Sam: Quick, Cat! Bee is currently distracted. This is our chance!

Cat: Meow ...

Sam: Haha ... Hahaha ... MUAHAHAHAHA! This is all mine now. MINE!

Cat: Meow

Sam: om nom nom mmm nom nom .....

Old Toad: Sigh ... Somehow I knew this would happen *ribbit*

Cat: Meow ...

Frame of Mind

2011-03-18T13:31:00.003+03:00

It's become quieter in the office, not that it had been noisy in the first place. Of course it is, its after work hours. There're still a few persons around, myself included.

I feel the relative cold air on my skin, remnants of the day's air-conditioning. I sit at the desk, and I feel ... slightly lost.

It's been a few days since I left, the rush still fresh in my head. The past few weeks had been somewhat surreal, events happening without the courtesy to check whether I'm keeping up with the pace. Maybe I'm slightly numbed. I don't really know what to think anymore. I'm just going through each day without much conviction.

I have things in my grasp, and yet, out of grasp.

A higher purpose, that's what I'd preach. Easier said than done.

Leading the Way

2011-03-06T17:08:00.003+03:00

We were driving around slowly in the crowded carpark, looking for an empty lot. There were lots of signs with arrows on them, indicating the proper driving direction for that particular stretch of road.

I then made an observation. Those arrows are supposed to be "pointing" us to where we can park the car. However, since it failed to do so, it is then very "disa-pointing"!

Stimulant

2011-02-28T17:02:00.002+03:00

Earlier today, Sandou-san came into the room we're working in and proudly announced "I bought some drugs!"

Our eyes immediately turned to the heavy-looking bag hanging from his right hand, and something silver glinted at us through the thin white plastic layer, followed by a bright red "Red Bull" ...

Work must've got to our heads ...

Au Revoir Mon'ami

2011-02-20T18:02:00.004+03:00

He came, he saw, he ate ... and now, it's inevitably come to an end.

This journey shall forever be etched into my memory, for as long as I live. The beauty of life is not about the amount of wealth we gather, nor prestige we build, but rather the experiences that connect us to each other.

Till the next time, my friend.

Seven Stars

2011-01-22T14:37:00.003+03:00

The silence is pervaded by an almost inaudible rumble. The fragile equilibrium is shattered, leaving its wake indignation and frustration. "How am I supposed to concentrate with all that racket?!" my mind screams within.

I got up, and looked around the room. No one else seems to have noticed the offending noise. Their pebble is still hovering motionless in front of their faces. Mine is mocking me, by being very closely acquainted with its brethren stone floor.

It's been quite a fruitless week. And also, many fruitless moons, futilely attempting to achieve the basics. The levitation exercise this time is no exception. Having no desire to be the only one standing, I did the next best logical thing. I left the room with all the floating rocks.

* * * * * * *

The ability manifests from a very young age. Every kid in every school, or not in school, goes through a series of tests designed to identify its existence in them. Those who showed some potential, no matter how little, are then brought to the capital, where they attend special lessons to learn to control their newfound powers. A power that is out of control is a power that can kill.

I am an anomaly. I failed the tests as a child and my identity as a perfectly ordinary man had held fast, until one day I accidentally stumbled into the practice range of a projectile manipulation training session. I was minding my perfectly ordinary business that morning, when a ferret-like creature suddenly came into my sight. It stopped, and we stared at each other for a few moments, before it bolted into the undergrowths. My body then moved on its own, giving chase to this unknown animal.

After crashing through seemingly an entire forest, I burst onto an empty field where there was this speeding wall of fist-sized iron balls on its way to crush my skull. Witnesses later told me that not only was I unharmed, half the balls were reduced to tiny bits. No one could explain how it happened. All I remember was a sudden puff of dust and almost coughing my lungs out.

At any rate, due to this incident, I was put into the academy and have since been trying to master basic controls together with the children. Not that it's much use, because I have never had any signs of the ability at all. However, the elders are convinced otherwise, and so here I am, trying to gather enough energy in the air to create fire or magically lift a stupid stone off the ground.

* * * * * * *

The earlier rumbling came back and it sounds closer this time. Very close. I looked out a window in the hallway and saw a huge fireball in the sky. Hurtling towards me. What is it with me and projectiles? But before I could even start to think about the answer, it hit.

The next thing I know, I was standing on a nearby turret, looking at the burning remnants of the building I was in just moments ago. My attention was then immediately whipped to the presence of more rumbling sounds, which led to sightings of more fiery orbs on similiar trajectories.

The city is under attack!

As the assault landed on the unsuspecting citizenry, cries of agony wafted up from the destruction. Exasperated, I look to the palace to see if anything was being done to thwart this tragedy.

There was a woman, on a balcony on one of the far towers, and a fireball headed straight for it. There was no time to think. I feel my legs bending and for the first time, I was aware of an unfamiliar feeling spreading throughout my body. In a blink, I was in the air and in another, I was at the woman's side. The flaming sphere is upon us.

Perhaps driven by desperation, I let loose a punch. As my knuckle comes into contact, I felt a surge of energy coursed through my arm and the sphere suddenly breaks into thousands of sparks, which soon fizzled into nothingness. The two of us were standing there within this brilliance, when a group of armoured soldiers rushed into the room.

"Princess! Are you alright? Who are you? Get away from her highness you cur!" shouted one of the men as he thrust his sword at me.

Instinctively, I grabbed the blade with my bare left hand. And then crushed it. The soldier took a step back, and everyone looked at me with a combination of amazement and horror, including myself.

It was then that the earlier unfamiliar feeling turned into knowledge in my mind. I do have the ability somewhat, albeit a new kind. Maybe now I can make a rock fly.

Bentou

2011-01-16T17:57:00.002+03:00

Rainforest World Music Festival 2010

2011-01-09T17:20:00.005+03:00

Last year, I finally went to the Rainforest World Music Festival! ... alone ... Waiting for friends to develop some interest, so we can then go together, ain't gonna cut it anymore. So I planned, booked and embarked on a wonderful journey.

The festival is held for 3 days in the Sarawak Cultural Village. This means the venue also has various other displays, like an open air museum, lending a lot of flavour to the atmosphere of the events within. There're traditional longhouses of the major tribes of Sarawak and inside contains various traditional paraphernalias. Some of these longhouses has rooms which tourists can rent to stay in.

Taking advantage of the festivities, the Sarawak Tourism Board also organized other events in the village, such as the handicraft bazaar, and demonstration of local arts such as cloth weaving.

During the day, workshops were held where the performers from various nationalities sit together and showcases their individual talents or a unique piece of their culture. At the end, they usually jam together, creating new sounds or styles.

The drums workshops were not very impressive. Afterall, there's only so much you can do with beats. The strings fared much better, but my most fav are the vocals, both male and female. The voice is something one controls intuitively almost from birth, and has a dynamic range that no other instruments can match. Hearing those voices, which spans across different continents, meld into a beautiful and cohesive melody, sent shivers down my spine.

"Nyah Nyah Nyaaaaaaa!"

"Err buddy, you alright?"

Not all workshops are related to music though, as there were 2 for dances. Traditional folk dances from Russia and Bulgaria.

After all the fun, drinks had and dinner eaten, it's time for the main event - the night concerts.

Our very own local talents, utilizing traditional (this word is so overused in this article) instruments.

These musicians from India were doing something akin to a cappella singing.

Three sisters from Bulgaria, doing some throat singing.

In a tropical country, it rains quite often, and the previous night was no exception. All those feet combined with water, results mud. Lots of mud.

Reelroadb - A very talented bunch of Russians, each able to play at least 3 instruments. I liked their Russian folk music so much that I bought their album.

A group from Iran. The main guy is hugging an oversized bagpipe instrument, not a pillow.

A group from France.

In the middle of their performance, a couple women in traditional local garbs came out and danced on stage.

Braagas - another group that made an impact on me. They're from Czech Republic.

A mostly-drums group from the African nation of Burkina Faso

Was the festival worth it? Will I come back again?

Definitely =)

Broken Glass

2011-01-09T14:37:00.002+03:00

Today, I cooked for the first time in Japan. I thought I'd document it, so I got my camera to take some photographs. The one above was a test shot. At first, I was puzzled at the shadowy lines at the bottom right corner of the picture, then the sound of a falling object hitting the floor froze my body. Alarms were going off in my head, warning that something was wrong.

To my great dismay, my inner voice was right! The culprit of both the incidents described earlier was a broken UV filter lens.

Some days ago, I was unaware that the zipper of my bag was open. It was lying flat on the floor and I had lifted it up. Without any restraint to keep it safe, my camera fell out and hit the wood with a loud thud. Giving it a glance-over immediately, there wasn't any visible external damage, so I didn't give it further thought. I didn't think of checking the lens part. Sigh. At least, only the filter was done in, and the rest of the equipments were alright.

This is picture that I wanted to take, minus the UV filter.

New Year Dinner

2011-01-09T13:53:00.002+03:00

My friends and I have often hung out together, and we'd order outside food like pizzas. I was bored of that, and wanted to do something different. Something more personal and meaningful. Also inspired by Sean, on the first day of 2011, I hosted a dinner party at my apartment, where I "cooked" for my guests.

The menu consisted of baked chicken, mashed potatoes, salad greens - simple stuffs, cos I can't really cook. However, my friends seemed to have enjoyed it (though they complained that there wasn't enough food >_< ), so I felt the effort was worth it. We certainly had a good time that night. I especially enjoyed the preparation works in the evening with Jai.

Unfortunately, I was quite preoccupied with stuffs, so I didn't really go around and take pictures of that night, which is a pity because we rarely gather like this. We also had some rare guests like Lee Voon who came back from Aussie and Sue, who took some time off from her work.

The party would be incomplete without some booze and the company of a lovely lady >_< ...

If Life Is Like A Rickety Bridge

2011-01-08T15:42:00.002+03:00

Sometimes, there's no clear foothold and your leg slips. Climb back up and keep walking. No need to rush, one step at a time. And someday, you will reach the other side.

Stress

2011-01-08T15:17:00.003+03:00

Sometimes I feel like just screaming my head off ...

Walking Home

2011-01-08T15:14:00.001+03:00

The white light spills coldly onto the streets, stark illumination against the dark of the building facades. This world seems surreal, if only for a moment. The chilling air adds further to the feeling of detachedness. The impact of my footsteps reverberates upwards through my body, to my mind's senses. I can hear my own heartbeats.

I miss my beloveds. I miss the invigorating warmth of the tropical sun. I miss the enchanting tastes and aromas of cuisines a few seas away.

But here I am, on this unremarkable street, in the middle of winter's embrace. There's not much else to do but to keep on walking.

And once I've earned my keep, I shall gladly leave this land, for another which is inseparably a part of me.

The End Of A Year

2010-12-31T18:53:00.003+03:00

There's only a few minutes left to the strike of midnight, signalling the end of a year and the beginning of another.

Many people will reflect on past achievements, some will focus on new resolutions. I ... I don't really feel anything. Anyway, have a Happy New Year ...

Worship

2010-11-20T19:05:00.001+03:00

Some offerings to appease the spirits of the land ...

Old Timer

2010-11-20T19:03:00.001+03:00

I bought a bottle of water from the old lady ...

Transparent Fish

2010-11-20T19:00:00.000+03:00

Cool ... this little guy is like all bones ...

Rest Nest

2010-11-20T18:56:00.002+03:00

That's quite a nest you have there ... I wonder that kind of eggs you have inside ...

Or perhaps it houses a secret harem of winged cuties =P ...

Whoa, this guy is even more extreme ... an iron nest! What, you're afraid that the big bad wild boar might come and blow your house down?

Wishing Croc

2010-11-20T18:53:00.002+03:00

Hmm ... crocodiles ... fascinating ... ok, on to the next display ... eh, wait, what's that shiny thing on its back?

=_=" ... it's bad enough they're caged and all. Come on people, give it some respect ...

Fresh Seafood

2010-11-20T13:04:00.006+03:00

I went to Tsukiji, but my intention wasn't to see the fish trade. Besides, it wasn't open anyway that day. I was looking for some fresh seafood, as I've read that there're plenty of restaurants around that area. However, maybe because it was a holiday, the entire area felt abit like a ghost town. Maybe I was there too early (around 10am?), so the eateries weren't really open yet. The few that were, I didn't quite feel like going into them. So I ended up walking about, and I chanced upon this street where I saw this guy cooking some big shells. He'd pour water onto them, then covered it with a metal pot, kind of like a steaming method.

Man, look at those huge ... I don't know what kind of shells they are ...

Next to him, there was another guy doing some "grilling" ... to be clearer, the shells were being heated from below. Then he put some other form of orangey seafood onto the shells ...

That's some clear liquid, vinegar perhaps?

I like his way of cooking ... a miniature flamethrower!

Some final prepping and wala ...

I had one ... it was juicy and delish ...

The Runaway

2010-11-20T12:21:00.003+03:00

Alrite!! Huddle up, you punks! We're gonna start the synchronized swimming training now. Get in line and paddle to that point there ...

Good good ... if you're aiming to finish last in the competition! Come back here and repeat this exercise a hundred times! Hup hup hup!

Swimmer: Gah, I can't take this anymore ... I'm gonna make a run for it! ...

Eh? ... HEY!! WHERE D"YA THINK YA GOIN!! GET BACK HERE THIS INSTANT!

Hama Rikyu Koen

2010-11-20T11:57:00.007+03:00

I came to this garden in the city ...

And saw sceneries like this ...

After a bit of walking, I had some snacks ...

At a quaint little teahouse ...

That sits over a seawater pond ...

From the vantage point on the open air platform, I enjoyed views like this ...

Wished I had a more powerful zoom lens, so I can get a closer shot of the bird ...

Tree of Souls?

2010-11-20T11:43:00.002+03:00

There was a concept in the movie Avatar, that all life is connected ... but that thing in the middle seems somewhat ......

There's also a saying that no man is an island. Combine it with the earlier concept, and you get a whole bunch of them networky things!

The Real Bonsai

2010-11-13T17:20:00.003+03:00

And then some ...

Matsuri

2010-11-13T16:40:00.002+03:00

So, apparently there was an autumn festival happening at the Meiji Shrine the day we went to Harajuku. Lucky!

In the back, you can see a massive torii, a kind of traditional Japanese gate normally found in temples. There was some live performance happening, some guys playing instruments and singing.

On the inside, loads of people are preparing for a matsuri, or Japanese festival, where people carry mikoshi, a type of portable shrine. Essentially, it's a parade of deities. In this one, there are 3 groups, comprising of children, women and men respectively. The size of the mikoshi also vary according to the group, with the men's being the biggest.

Ojisan: Oh it is starting. Shall we go in for a closer look?

Ojisan: Look at that. What a beautiful mikoshi.

Ojisan: Oh, they've stopped. What are they going to do now?

Mikoshi handlers: Heave ho! ... Heave ho!

Mikoshi handlers: Now the other way!

Ojisan: My my, how interesting. Wouldn't you like to try it someday, mago?

And so the procession continues thus, stopping every few minutes to sway the mikoshi from side to side.

Gourmet Coffee

2010-11-13T16:27:00.002+03:00

I didn't catch the name of this shop, but how I wish that there're such places in KL.
I had Kilimanjaro while Endy had Blue Mountain.
The beans are freshly crushed and the coffee hand-brewed, upon order.

An Unrequited Love

2010-11-03T16:48:00.003+03:00

Ah ... the lovely Mademoiselle Moonette ... so alluring and mystical ...

It tugs the strings on the heart of one gentleman - Monsieur Towerique ...

Helplessly smitten, he presented her a single blood-red rose, as a symbol of his affections ...

Alas, the lady is not interested and rejected him so ...
Heart-broken, the poor chap turns to leave and flee the scene of his despair ...

But before he does, he leaves another symbol - a cage, representing his captured heart that will forever be hers ...

Evolution

2010-11-03T16:43:00.002+03:00

From the mighty Dragons *rawr*...

To the modern day Serpents ... well, at least the new generation has more bling and is less combustible ...

Bambi Eyes

2010-11-03T16:39:00.002+03:00

Please Please Please Please Please Pretty Please!? Buy me a flamethrower?

*Bambi Eyes*

Not working? How about this pose?

Still not working? How about now? *droopy antennae*

What Time Is It?

2010-11-03T16:34:00.002+03:00

I see two faces ... one with a crazy hairdo and one with a really big nose ...

The Tree and The Grass

2010-11-03T16:25:00.003+03:00

There was this story that compares the mighty tree and the puny grass. The mighty tree stands tall and strong, while the grass is soft and weak. One day, a tremendous wind blows ...

Due to it's large mass, the tree had a lot of wind resistance and was hammered violently. It bent and it bent, until ... it breaks!

Nah, it didn't break. Why? That's because it's actually a gigantic clump of grass! Moral of the story - flexibility is important ...

The Office

2010-11-03T16:20:00.002+03:00

This where I currently work - Mori Tower in Ropponggi.

Can't see it? Let's zoom in a little closer ...

Still can't see it? Let's go abit closer then ...
Now, let's go up to my office ...

*Ping* *You have reached the 25th floor*

Star Fish

2010-11-03T16:19:00.000+03:00

Hey ... what's a starfish doing in the middle of the city?

Textures 2

2010-11-03T16:17:00.002+03:00

The Rainbow Bridge

2010-11-03T16:13:00.002+03:00

This is the Rainbow Bridge, over the Tokyo Bay. However, it seems the "rainbow" is running away from it.

The Spider

2010-11-03T16:10:00.002+03:00

Oh no! A giant arachnid! The poor girls are frozen in fear!

Superhero

2010-11-03T16:03:00.002+03:00

Oh no! The aliens have come in their UFO! They're gonna attack the city!
*zing zing*

Look, there's something else in the sky! What is it? It seems to be pointing to .....

..... the Green Man! Hurrah! We are saved!
Green Man: Have no fear! I'll use my power and show those alien scoundrels ..... the EXIT!

Field of Flowers 2

2010-10-30T20:39:00.001+03:00

Flowers Galore

2010-10-30T20:33:00.004+03:00

Field of Flowers

2010-10-30T20:28:00.003+03:00

Butterflies

2010-10-30T20:23:00.001+03:00

Oh, they're actually flowers on the ground ...

Hidden Star

2010-10-30T20:21:00.000+03:00

Metal Owl

2010-10-30T20:17:00.001+03:00

Happy Halloween

2010-10-30T20:12:00.001+03:00

Sake Barrels

2010-10-30T19:36:00.001+03:00

Light Show

2010-10-30T19:32:00.000+03:00

Rainbow

2010-10-30T19:29:00.000+03:00

Bring On The Funk

2010-10-30T19:28:00.000+03:00

Monuments

2010-10-30T19:26:00.000+03:00

It's ... cut in the middle ...

It's ... sharp like a needle ...

Family Time

2010-10-30T19:23:00.001+03:00

Hmm ... so this is how you spend some quality time with your family ... and dog ... by fishing.

Fuji Television

2010-10-30T19:18:00.003+03:00

This could be a futuristic-styled set from a 70's show.

Bridge In The Sky

2010-10-30T19:17:00.000+03:00

Temple Guardian

2010-10-30T19:01:00.003+03:00

Grrrrr .....

Catching Some Air

2010-10-30T18:54:00.001+03:00

By eating some bubbles ...

Spot the Spider

2010-10-30T18:49:00.002+03:00

There's an itsy bitsy spider here somewhere ...

Can you see it?

*in a whispering voice* Pssst! Over here!

p.s. - click on photos to enlarge

Spidey in Green

2010-10-30T18:41:00.003+03:00

I couldn't find any in red and blue ...

Not Quite Winter

2010-10-28T15:56:00.002+03:00

I look up to see a stark white sky. Against such a backdrop, I simply cannot see the rain, merely feeling the wetness of it in the cold air and on my naked skin. The wind howls. I wonder if it's an omen and if it'll be a good day today.

The Glass Maketh the Beer

2010-10-23T08:40:00.002+03:00

Sapporo beer ...

I wonder if it'll taste better in these mugs ...

Book

2010-10-17T15:13:00.003+03:00

A movie or TV show spoonfeeds you. There are no possible variations - every thing is fixed as you see it ... as you hear it ... as you passively take it all in ...

A book, with just mere printed words, forces the worlds of imagination onto you ... you create the characters in your mind ... you're part of the story itself, in your heart ...

Imagine ...

Alternative Technology

2010-10-11T18:07:00.003+03:00

If it was the Japanese that invented the tesla coil, it might have looked something like this ...

Bzzzt Bzzzt ...

Mistaken Identity

2010-10-11T18:05:00.003+03:00

Thunder! ...

Thunderrr! ......

Thundercats!! Hoooooooooooo!! ....

Woops ...

The Last Flight

2010-10-11T17:58:00.002+03:00

A dragon, perched on its hind legs, leans slightly forward and tenses its body. Fire and lightning spewed fiercely from its fearsome maw. It stretches its powerful wings backwards, preparing to take a flight that may be its last. It is preparing for war.

Ahoy There

2010-10-11T17:53:00.002+03:00

Oh no, a ship's run aground! ... eh, it's only the Maritime Museum ...

Oh no, another ship has ..... I gotta stop being so panicky ...

Dimensions

2010-10-11T17:49:00.000+03:00

This building confuses and intrigues me at the same time ...

Sky Building 2

2010-10-11T17:43:00.002+03:00

But this time with a golden tinge ... and something suspicious next to it ...

It's the famous landmark - Asahi Beer Tower and the Asahi Super Dry Hall.

The Misunderstood Statue

2010-10-11T17:40:00.001+03:00

It's a statue. Of an ancient warrior. Please don't think dirty thoughts.

Oh no, you just did, didn't you?!

The Crabby Game

2010-10-11T17:34:00.002+03:00

This is how it works. First, you gotta be a little crabby ... then you gotta catch some crabs ...

Nah, just kidding. Please don't really catch some crabs >_< ...

The box contains hermit crabs. You lower a a line with some bait and try to get a hermit crab to grab onto it. It you manage to lift it out of the box before the crab lets go, it's yours ...

2010-10-11T17:29:00.002+03:00

Oh, I want one of those balloons! ... then my jealousy tripled when I saw ...

... that he's also got a ... white ferret pet! ... ugh, look at how they're looking lovingly at each other ...

Now, I want balloons and a white ferret ... pfftttt ...

Save The Future

2010-10-11T17:09:00.005+03:00

There was an event on NHK's compound yesterday ...

Yarrrghhh!!! Imma gona eat all the children! ...

Though it would have been cool, it isn't what you think ... it's this actually ...

Apparently, it's a big effort to educate the young generation on the issues of the environment and sustainability. There were various stalls with various exhibits. There're also kiddy rides, such as the one below. Only, you'll have to power it yourself ...

You cycle to generate some power, then use an electronic control panel between the handle bars to move the device.

I ... have no idea what is the purpose of this ... how is sawing a log gona teach the kid anything about saving the environment?

Ideas for Santa ... wood shavings and blocks ...

Pine cones! ... look how happy the kid is ...

Pedal-powered train! and bubbles too! ... you can see the people pedaling furiously at the back ...

Tasty Pastry

2010-10-09T16:05:00.003+03:00

So, I thought I'd get some treats after dinner ...

This is a cream puff (methinks), meaning it's stuffed with sweet cream inside. It is oh.so.good!

Pastries! ... the bakeries here are a whole different level compared to the ones back home ...

Cozy Corner and Saint Germain

Jack-o-Lanterns

2010-09-26T08:07:00.004+03:00

Guess what's a-coming?

A month from now ...

Time for some a-scaring

Its Halloween!

And to trumpet its imminent arrival - a masqueraded marching band!

p.s. - pictures were taken around the same time as the Lantern (Mooncake) festival, but has no connections to this post title ...

Ruffled Feathers

2010-09-26T08:00:00.002+03:00

Hey bud, ya got a comb or brush I can borrow?

Chirp Chirp

2010-09-26T07:56:00.002+03:00

This is like the birdy version of Puss-in-Boots in Shrek ...

The eyes! The adorable eyes!

Playing Ducks

2010-09-26T07:42:00.004+03:00

"Hey Gus, wana play hide and seek?"
"Sure Beb ... let's call Ron too ... "

97,628 ... 97,629 .................... 100,000! Ready or not, here I come!

"Quackaboo! I found you, Ron!"

"Drats ..."

The Promise

2010-09-26T07:39:00.001+03:00

One day, this shoot will grow up to be a big and sturdy tree ... and then I'll come and rest under the shade of its leaves again ...

Dance of the Water Striders

2010-09-26T07:33:00.002+03:00

Hey guys, do ya wana dance for a bit?

Yeah, let's do it!

Let's get this party started!
We'll rock this pond!

And so, they danced the evening away ...

Feeding Grasshopper

2010-09-26T07:25:00.002+03:00

Munch munch munch ... These leaves are delicious!
Please help yourself to some ... there's plenty all around ...