Trip to Kukup have been a once in a lifetime experience. Why? Well, after you coming back from a trip, you will never want to go there again for the second time. At least that's the feeling that place gave me. Here's the thing, the place is a Chinese Fishing Village which have their houses built on top of muddy sea water. When the tide is low, you can see all those junks thrown down by occupants of that village.

Fortunately, I didn't gave much expectations on this weekend's trip. I brought along Dan Brown's Da Vinci's Code just in case I get really bored. The closest people with me on that trip is my housemate Kuang, best fren Josh and my ah mui Joleen. Thanks to them, my trip ain't that bad after all.

I was promised a FUN TIME there, and I've heard a lot of people wanted to go there for holiday, so gave it a shot. But I wasn't the type of people who enjoy Mahjong, loud music, and singing Karaeoke. There's nothing much for me to snap as it's meant to be a retreat for older people. People say they go there for seafood, yeah seafood alright but it's not enough for my appetite.

I was to choose between Amber Chia + KL Fashion Week and Kukup. Kinda regret on my decision in a way. Missed my chance to meet up with my favourite model, and the chance to see how cats really walk. But it's not that bad after all considering i've saved up a lot of money and have a good time relaxing over the weekend.

Instead of joining them for Mahjong, UNO and KTV, I have some plans for myself. The sea breeze was cooling and there are seats at our private jetty which is shaded from the afternoon sun. I bring out a blanket, a pillow and start flipping Da Vinci's Code for the 2nd time (finished it once quite some time ago). Haha, yeah right, just like those people having their sun tan at the beach, I'm enjoying the sea breeze with my favourite story book.

While people are wasting their time in front of the television, I took a walk around the village and managed to capture a number of pictures. But disapointedly those villagers ain't that much photo-friendly. Din't catch a good sunset, neither a great sunrise (which i'm going to discuss later). Can't sleep properly most of the time as the place is noisy all day long with bathroom singers trying to competing among each other. You can hear the noise from a hundred feet away. Worse is that my own group of "friends" maxed up the BASS, and the house is made of wood. Argh, how can we really take a good rest???

Here's a shot i took during the evening, doesn't really have time to catch the right moment as I was scrolling around the village attempting to capture some candids


The following day, we are suppose to wake up for the sunrise. Usually sunrise is around 6.30am, but I was being waken before the clock strikes 6am. ~!@#$!!! These people never wake up to see sunrise one ka? Wake up so early for what? Tell you lah, they lost their patience eventually, and end up playing Mahjong and missed the moment. *shocked* waking up at 6am in the morning to play Mahjong?!! I can't believe people in the 20's will ever do that. I din wait for the clique, but enjoy taking photos with Kuang and teaching him how to operate my Nicky. Glad to have his companion these few days.

There's a lot of disatisfaction throughout the trip, which i better just forget about it rather than jotting it down. Hopefully these people will grow up eventually and be more organized on their next outing. Anyway, here are some snap shots I took. [Kukup, Southern Johore]

Friends from the photography club called me up for a group model shooting at A'Famosa. I wasn't really into it since the start as I heard that those models are first timers who have no experience. But at the last minute i still join them as I won't want my members to be disapointed.

Exactly as I've expected, these girls don't know how to put on simple makeup on themselves, and neither do they know the word PUNCTUALITY! Those members that asked me to go there also choose the wrong time. 4.30pm in the afternoon is not a good time to start shooting, as there's just a few hours away from sunset. If things doesn't get worse, these girls arrived when it's already almost 6pm!!! What the heck? Both of them still need "warm up" time to get used to the cameras, not forgetting they have totally no idea of how to pose. Oh well...ok, i gave them some idea which i've read through the night before



After that, we split into 2 groups, me and melvin taking vincci while kennith and chyeo takes caroline. This vincci never takes photo before and juz accompany caroline. I take her first in the hope that she's willing to learn. But she always keeps her head out from the sun, blinks her eyes rapidly, and doesn't feel relaxed at all. When i asked her to sit, or to stand on some poses, she refused to do so. Why on the first place did she wear a mini skirt if she's so afraid that we might get a good view of what's inside??? Doesn't have a decent picture after snapping for 30 minutes worth displaying. Oh well...guess i'll just forgive her for being a first timer. It's hard to work with this kinda models who never listens to instructions from photographers.

But the second half is better. Caroline is more relaxed, and gives a nice smile on the camera. She paided for studio shots TWICE before, so should say that at least she have some idea of what photographers want. Not bad after all, since we've to pay for their "make ups" (which i find it ridiculously expensive!!!) I'll take it that it's a Buy1Free1.

These are a few photos of Caroline in action, too bad we can't continue shooting after 7pm as the lighting is very bad then.





At the end of the session, we have a group photo before heading for Shakey's.


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Celebrate Dianni's birthday at night@ 一茶一桌. Thanks for the bookmark Dianni. Anyway, here are the pictures taken during that night. [Dianni's Birthday]

Woke up around 9am this morning. Went out to pick up my tuesday paper and read it up like every other day. Suddenly it rings a bell that it's TUESDAY!!! I'm suppose to have my lab replaced today, so ran back to my room to checked the venue. Mana tau, I'm so blur that i mixed up the time again, my lab is on the 9th of august. -_-"' So, back to the newspapers i read i did.

In the evening, there's no water coming out from the taps. My body felt so itchy that i've asked Corn to let me in her place to have a bath. My landlord doesn't replace the tank which was broken earlier on, so end up all of us live in a dessert when there's water rationing. Thanks to Corn @ Yok Mei, i can sleep comfortably after the bath.

Tired after coming back from Penang. Reached here around six in the evening and asked Hyuei to pick me up. As my LCD is still under warranty, i went an enquire about it. Disapointed the thing is not repaired yet. Fortunately, Ding Wen reminded me that Chang Wah has a CRT sitting on the floor. Called him as i was in the neighbourhood and borroew the unit from him. Thanks Chang Wah for being so kind, if not i've no idea how i'm gonna finish my work.

Catch up with those i've missed up during the weekend. Turns out there's a lot of updates that i missed out during the weekend off. There's this Nikon D50 review out which turns out to be better than I've expected. The noise level is comparably low at the standard of Canon's 350D. The processor is also a newer version which evaluates exposure better that it's predessor.

There's 2 more camera released during the weekend, Panasonic FZ30 and Fujifilm S9000. Turns out that these cameras makes Canon S2IS's upgrade looks foolish. FZ30 comes with an image stabilizing ring zoom, while S9000 comes in better with a 1/1.6" 9.0 MP sensor, ISO 1600, and it has lower noise level than cameras of the same category. Not forgetting it has a ring zoom (preferable compared to motorized zoom) as well as uses AA batteries, which is easily available worldwide.

While I was away, the PCM forumers were waiting to look at my photos. My FYP assigned literature is backlogged, and i've much more to attend to. Let's see how i survive

Today is Kuan Yin godma's birthday. Drove to Kuan Yin Temple to have my prayers. The place was already packed with prayers even as early as 8am in the morning (ok, tat's not early). Fortunately din bring my camera out, if not, even if not for pic pockets, the crowd will squeeze the lens break. The joysticks are being taken out right after devotees stick them onto the bowl (or whatever you call them). The place is in a mess! According to the temple's caretaker, the temple doesn't close all night since yesterday. They have been gaining good business it seems as the crowd is flooding in every minute.

Why I consider these as business? Well every year rich people tender and bid for the highest price to become the caretaker. All proceeds from the joysticks, candles, Mee Ku (Red buns) and oil purchased by devotees are shared among those caretakers. What i heard is that years ago, some guy got rich after managing to obtain the tender for just a couple of years. If i've the money, i'll really love to join into those people to tender when i'm older. Who knows i become i'll become a billionaire out of this. You know how much people visit temples everyday??? You'll be surprise that they earn more than McDonalds, who sells 1 small MeeKu for RM2 and still a lot of people go and purchase them?

I'll prefer to have my confessions and earnings go to a church/ smaller temples compared to these commercialized temples like KuanYinTemple, and KekLokSi in Ayer Itam. You can see the monks driving large Benz and Volvos in and out of the temples all da time. Unless turn a blind eye, most of these temple-goers are under educated uncles and aunty which feels it's their obligations to go there for prayers. Some are only there because they feel that these gods will provide them with those 4 numbers which will earn them money from DaMaCai. Gamblers ish! Have you ever heard about people that switch on chants for the buddha statues to listen and not to understand the contents of the chants themselves? Oh well, there's a lot of people like that who blindly follows what was done by their ancestors.

Enough of that flaming, back to my house after prayers. Dad promise to bring me to Sungai Sedim, Kedah which claims to have the tallest canopy walk in south east asia. But it turns out that the place was closed for maintenance (what a luck!!!) So end up driving to the airport to have Nando's flame grill peri peri chicken. Ok, it feel cranky crazio to go to the airport just for a meal, but hey! i'm staying just miles away from the airport. Not like i'm goin to drive an hour to Batu Ferringhi to have Nandos right?

Slept all afternoon after that as I feel so really tired. When i wake up, it's almost time for dinner. Dad treat me with New Zealand Mussles served in salad at Double Good Chinese Restaurant. Like the name says, the place is really really good. Food is nice, served fast, and I finished 2 and a half bowls of rice with the Indonesian prawns with sambal, Mussles from New Zealand, and Local fried toufu. I specially like the sauce from the indonesian prawns. If i can, i'll swallow 2 more bowls of rice with those extra sauce. Impresively, we finished the whole meal in 30 minutes, including order, serve, eat and paying the bills. When we are almost leaving, we saw a the whole restaurant was already packed. Luckily we went there early, if not, i wonder what time only there will be food in my stomach. Double Good? I'll give it a Triple!

After that yummy dinner, I finally able to play scrabble after dreaming of a game of it for a very long time. Thanks choobee for accompanying me, scabble was fun and we managed to insert all the pieces into the board eventhough i've a terrible hand that night. Who else gets 4 Es in the same game? Going back tomorrow morning, gonna miss her a lot.

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St Anne's Church, Bukit Mertajam

Last year when I visited this church is with Irene to ask for forgiveness for the terrible betrayal I did behind her. This year, we go there thanking St Anne for the 12 wonderful months together after Irene forgive me. I don't expect to see any other gals who is more forgiving than she is, if not, i'll be long single again. Thanks choobee!

I'm not a practicing catholic neither am i a christian of any type. But i'm amazed by the architecture - both the old and new churches in St Anne. Arrived there around 7pm, just nice to get the best time to capture landscapes. What i missed is just a solid tripod. But it's not of much consequence as i'm using the wide end of the lens. (more tech talk again...)

The church was flooded with devotees and visitors alike. The 7.30pm mass filled the star shaped church with people from all races. They even have digital projectors displaying PowerPoint slides while the chorus sings along with the lyrics (i know there's more advance Micromedia Flash, but for a layman, Mircrosoft Powerpoint is very "high end" dy~). Church goers are happily chanting and singing along with the chorus while I happily snap inside the church. Okey, there's an advantage having an dSLR at times, as they feel that my pictures might be featured in some major newspaper.

After coming back from Bukit Mertajam, did a small celebration for Irene's mother's birthday. Cut cake and ate that's all. Irene's staying over my place for the night, it's my suggestion as it gives us more time to spend together. :)

Love you cute! Next year's St Anne's celebration, I hope I can still hold your small little hands for prayers in this holy church.

Met up with a kind gentleman while travelling back. He's a manufacturing engineer with a masters degree in that particular field working in Melaka and spend his weekends in Ipoh/Penang back in his hometown. We talked a little about carrier prospects and he give me some useful advice before both of us fell asleep. Too bad i din get his name.

While the bus stops for toilet, get to read the J.Lo's biography while waiting for the drivers to have their supper. I've left the book unattended since i bought it as assignments, exams and final year project is piling up my table. Now that i'm travelling, i've a lot of reasons to finish the book on any noisy or shaky environment.

Reached Penang at 4.30am. At first, feel reluctant to call Irene up as I want her to have more sleep because we might be out all day. Since it's still early, we tried to wait for the sunrise in Penang Bridge. I know it doesn't sound like what a guy would like to do, but I'll happily accompany choobee till the sun rise up. Just that i don't like her reactions when we're both alone outside. Always looking right and left feeling unsecure that some bandits/pick pockets/police might show up. Hope the next time we're together, she'll give me her full attention.

Ok, so we chat, we wait, and god was touched by this loving couple that HE cries. He cries harder and harder that we later decide to forget about the sunrise and go down town to have the nice Roti Canai in Transfer Road. You people who comes to visit me in Penang next time, i bring you there to try. It's really nice the roti there. Unique view of passing vehicles as well.

When we're there, the place was still not open. Only a few people sitting there sipping away teh tarik while waiting for the Roti stall to be open 1 hour later!!! These people really have too much time. IMHO. Choobee later bring me to the Famous Roti Bakar Sungai Tiram in the other side of the island, Bayan Lepas. Factory workers patron that shop most morning which serves toasts with half boiled eggs. They also have nasi lemak served in the morning. At night, the place serves crab porridge as well as a selection of other porridge varieties.

After breakfast, get back to my place to have some rest. Fetch Irene up in the afternoon to take Fried Koay Teow in Lorong Selamat. The food is terribly expensive, but the place is always packed with visitors from all over Malaysia. The cook have 20 dishes before our turn, but she's quite fast that we manage to get our turn in less than 30 minutes. Time stops when you're in love, talking with choobee.

There happens to be a Bridal Fair in Perangin Mall when we visit it. As usual, the camera is sling on my neck, waited for the 4pm and 5pm session. Got a few photos that i managed to capture. But I try not to do flash photography as I din bring back the battery charger. Lightings is not really good as there's a mixture of yellowish (warm) and bluish (cool) lights. I've to switch the white balance quite fast as the cat moves from one side of the walkway to another.

Finally it's the day...can go back see my choobee dy. Haha, though it's only been 2 weekends since she visited me, it feels good to have her by my side again. Sent my computer for warranty after lunch, but found out that misplaced the purchase receipt. Fortunately Keong from Viewcom is kind enough to help me send it to Samsung Melaka, which turns out to be their regional service center. It means that i save up the time my LCD needs to travel to KL to get repaired. If anything goes wrong, they have to send back to South Korea or some other larger service centers already. Hope such things don't happen to my precious LCD.

Asked Seng Kuang to drive me to Melaka Sentral in the evening. He and another housemate of mine missed the Jusco Member Day yesterday as they have the day full of classes. So, after leaving me at Melaka Sentral, they can go Tesco for a bit of grocery shopping before driving back. Problem with him is that he don't really know the Melaka roads well, but fortunately we depart a bit earlier so still manage to catch the bus on time.

Shiau Fei is coming down for the weekend. Fell sorry that i can't meet up with her, but i think the trip to KL last week have already made up for my disappearance this weekend. Hope she loves the pictures i help her develop, and the Moo that comes with it ;). Enjoy yourself gal.

Anyway, Penang, here i come!!!

Not even 2 months after using the LCD, there started to be a yellow faulty line visible on the left hand side of the screen. It's a whole vertical line from top to bottom of the screen. At first i don't care much about it as it blinks on and disappear after a while.

Minutes later, the yellow line stuck permanently on my Samsung 710N LCD. Tried to switch the monitor off, restart the computer, and also try to change the display resolution. But all this doesn't help at all in improving the situation. But i don't have time to bring it for warranty as i'll be having a paper tonight.

Talking about the paper, it's suppose to be at 8am tonite. But yesterday the lecturer suddenly change it to 3pm as there'll be a Religious talk at night in the main hall. It tenses me up as this means that i've 5 full hours less to study. Not like I study the last minute, but this kinda changes gives huge impact to students.

The paper (Electromagnetic Interference) isn't really that hard, but i've this fear before exams that i can't finish study, or misread the question during exams. I've been double careful ever since i mistaken cylindrical to spherical which costs me an entire paper

In the evening, watch Stripperella Season 1 which i finally manage to download after leaving the computer on for a couple of days. Las Vegas is still 20% more to go before download complete. I don't suppose that have anything to do with my LCD as I always put my LCD on screen saver after 1 minute and shut down after 15 minutes. I don't see why the problem arise.

Drove down to the bus station around sunset to get a ticket back to Penang. I'm goin back this weekend so that i've reasons to stay back in Melaka for the holidays. Kinda miss my gf and parents as well, hope i can spend a great time with them end of the week.

Again??? I can't count how many times i've been there since i come back to Melaka. It's not like wanted this trip anyway. Woke up by Alex Koh's phone call 6AM IN THE MORNING!!! He was suppose to have some sort of interview in Shah Alam but he missed the bus. He ask me to do him a favour and drive him up to KL, and he's willing to pay me back the petrol and tolls. I'm not really into the idea as i've been planning to study for my midterm today. Oh well, since he called me up, i'll better do him the favour.

During the trip, i realised that he doesn't make a Plan B for his arrangements, and a lot of things are still not prepared at the last minute. Juniors, they will eventually learn through mistakes, or failed again if they don't. Smth I hope others can learn - Don't buy tickets in advance if you're travelling to KL from melaka. Especially the earliest tickets, it's not like that is the best time for people to travel around isn't it. Think about it, who's gonna take a 5.30am bus to KL huh? Then again, don't be too soft when u're the leader, end up you have to do 10 times the job which you can solve easily in front of your own computer. Third point, DON'T MIX Leisure with Work. You'll most probably end up regret - work not done, leisure all day. Well...these are some tips for juniors.

After leaving him in Puduraya, I found a nice parking lot under the tree in Jalan Barat, some 5 minutes walk from Sungai Wang. Last night I already gave Ruen Hyuei the money to help me buy a lens, but I called him up this morning to cancel the purchase as I'm going to buy it myself. I was wondering around KL centre at 8.30 in the morning, there's no shops open still that time. Took breakfast at a corner shop of Jalan Imbi and Jalan Barat. After the meal, can't decide wut i'm suppose to do, so give Shiau Fei a call.

Met her up in KL Sentral, and had McD's there. I was still very blur that time as I can't believe i'm in KL even then. Din take much shots in KL Sentral, the building isn't as amazing as i aspect it would end up in a frame. After that, took LRT back to Bukit Bintang to get my stuffs. Irene called me when i was in the LRT, talking about some MATTA Fair trip. I would love to go spend an autumn with her in South Korea, but I'll have to see my schedule 1st. We'll have to hold up our plans until then lo~ My industrial training hasn't confirm yet, so i can't even go travel with my parents.

Tried ask a few shops for the lens i want (Sigma 70-300mm F4~5.6 APO DG Macro). A lot of shops doesn't keep stock of this lens in Times Square, and when i found one, he quote me RM 895 if i pay in Cash!!! That's really way too expensive compared to the price i heard. But when i get into Sg Wang, there's a lot of shops who have stock of that lens. Got one from a corner shop near Parkson on the first floor for RM720, which is exactly the price that my Penang friends paid for few weeks ago. Too bad it doesn't come with a UV Filter. Will buy one later lah, since i can't find an affordable Hoya HMC UV Filter in the shop i purchase the lens from. They only have Sakure in stock.

There's this Watson's beauty and health contest in Sg Wang that time. Took my lens out and try taking some photos to make sure the unit is working. Quite satisfied with the shots, but haven't enlarge it on my computer yet...so the actual quality i'll let u ppl know later.

After all that, drove straight back to Melaka. The journey ain't that tiring as i've been used to that 90 minutes drive already. There's a few traffic jams near seremban stretch as usual, other than that...it's a tiring day. Bon Odori is held in Shah Alam tonight, but I don't expect there will be anything fun as it seems like it's going to rain anytime. With my cough, i've decided to skip this time.

Still feeling weak after sleeping all night. Might be the red wine to blame, and only slept for like 5~6 hours. Had more sleep in the bus. I prefer to travel by bus to KL as it's just nice 2 hours travelling time for a nap. If i'm driving, i'll be tired by the time i got there, no more mood to snap pictures anymore.

Since we were early, we try to find Pudu Plaza. There's one YL Camera which sells a lot of 2nd hand camera lenses and bodies. We walked for like half and hour roaming around the area and asking around to find the location. It's a run down shopping complex which is at least 10 years old. The outlook is something like those shopping complex near Jalan Hang Tuah in Melaka. I've seen such shopping complex even in Singapore's China Town, so I though it can't be that bad. After searching hard, i almost fainted when i saw the shop's name. It's a small lot under an escallator, and the place is not even the size of the room i'm renting now. To make things worse, it's not even open at 10.30am in the morning. Wasted my time walking there where i can spend on KLCC more. He's selling this old AIS lens still, which is like 8~10 years old lens. Maybe for collectors, but not for beginners for me who would just want to start learning to use newer technologies.

After making Irene walk this far, I feel rather guilty, so we decide to take a bus to Puduraya to buy our bus ticket. It's just 10~15 minutes walk, but just pay the bus RM1.50 for the trip. What to do? It's her holiday, she rather spend with me than to stay home and rest, i'll have to make her trip worth while right? Bought 2 tickets from Delima Express (which we later regret) before taking an LRT to KLCC.

Dream Cars event costs us RM15 each, but it's well worth it as the gals are better looking than some GT Girls in Sepang. Local promoters/models ain't that bad after all right? Photos will be posted later, but I don't promise much nice photos. i'ven't mastered the camera yet. The local models turns out prettier compared to some Japan GT girls. My personal favourite is Bridgestone's Carmen and her friend. Managed to get an autograph from Carmen as well as her contact number, just in case our photography club is interested in having a session with her. Panasonic girls are also very nice looking. Regret not taking more shots of them. Fortunately practiced with Irene last night as i don't have a Telezoom lens, the crowd in the morning isn't really that pack, so i consider myself lucky where i can get as close as 2 meters from the models. 2 meters is the distance just nice for using a 50mm prime lens (sharp, fast and most importantly affordable). It's always out of stock, but i'll try to get one on my next trip to KL, maybe for the KL Fashion Week or what. Lastly, can't forget Irene Tan, a model that came down all the way from Penang, for me, myself and I. Helps a lot as not all models are moving around and pose in front of the car I like.

Met up with my penang photog friends, as well as some KL photokakis. I rather enjoy their friendship and following them for outings, helps me learn a lot more about photography in a short time. Irene left earlier as she have to meet up with yvonne. I left not long after that, din wait for the Race Queen finals as according to Terrance, the Race Queen's ain't that photogenic. Other than that, I also have a competition to participate in. It's Sony Wing's first time to loan their cameras to the public to play around with for about an hour, and display as well as compete with the others. Their main intention is to let the general public working around with the camera's features before deciding on which camera is suitable for them.

There's 4 categories in the competition -- Landscape, People, Close-ups, and Abstract. I opted for the Abstract category as I wanted to improve my artistic mind. As i'm not a scientific person, there's not much creativity i can come up with in such a short time. After shooting for like 45 minutes, finally decided on a photo i taken outside Habib Jewels to be competed. Allen Ang, Irene's friend is also in the same category. He's quite good in composing his photographs, just that he's not in the mood to shoot, i wonder why. I thought his photo can win the category, yet when the results are finalized, I was shocked that i won for the category. It's nothing to be proud of, there's only 4 people in each category. But this is the first competition i've join, other than those LowYatForum photography competition which I usually turns out 2nd. Till present date, i haven't even managed to get myself a first. There's always better people, which is a motivation for me to improve myself.

The present is nothing more than a side sling bag and a food voucher but the satisfaction of winning the competition really excites me. Had our dinner at Genki Sushi, their set meals are quite worth the price, especially the salmon set Irene ordered. Their servings are rather unique in such a way you make your own green tea on the table. They provide green tea powder as well as hot water pipes connected to every table. Have a very filling and satisfying meal.

Disapointingly, the day doesn't end well. First, the monopod got broken when Irene try to keep it back up. After trying to fix it back for like half and hour in the middle of the busy Jalan Masjid Jamek, there's still no improvement. Then, we our bus doesn't come on time. Tried to check the office/booth that sells us the ticket, which turns out to have closed early. End up have to wait for almost 2 hours before the bus glides slowly into the terminal. I was so pissed off, but what we can do? Hit the driver??? Alright, that's still acceptable as long as i don't have to sleep in Puduraya. Right after the bus departs, i start hearing the passenger behind me start snoring. I was joking about him with Irene. But he's getting worse by the minute, snoring louder and louder. You can hear him snore so loud that it covers over the sound of the bus engine. You should've taken a bus, or even a plane before at least once in your lifetime. That's how loud that person is....and I can't stop him can I? On usual situation, i'll just make sure he's awake for the rest of the journey so that the other 38 passengers can have a good rest in the bus. Oh well, sometimes we just have to let these pests be themselves.

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Shan Qi is having a hard time in UM. Sleeping at 6am in the morning the night before and I woke her up around noon. She doesn't eat much as she's always worried about who-knows-what. Called her up a few times to check on her today. My relationship with my sister gets closer after she came and study in UM as she has to know how it's been to live outside without parents beside her. Hope she'll get used to staying outside, and not quitting before she even start her classes. Good luck Qi, you can get through it.

Irene have an weekend off and an extra monday off for the bday of Yang Dipertua Pulau Pinang. I've the whole weekend planned, she's a bit worried about our relationship as we are few hundred miles apart. To gain her confidence on me, and to make her feel this love lasts a lifetime, i promised her a memorable time, and giving her "a carton of confidence".

Asked Josh to help me buy flower petals from Cameron Highlands, because i see it's made available in their local markets when i was there for Irene's graduation trip last holiday. I was thankful that instead of buying for me, he gave me a plastic bag full of roses which are discarded from his family business. It's good to have a friend who's in the florist industry, but Josh, if u're reading this...i still want to be ur fren even if ur family doesn't sell flowers.

Woke up rather early, but what surprises me is that Irene's bus is also quite early. Luckily I prepared those flower petals the night before. Before i went out to fetch her, i put some potatoes into the pot to boil. After reaching my place, I helped her to take her luggage down. Waited till she open the door into my room. She doesn't jump up over excited, but i can see she's quite happy with what i've prepared for her. A bed of roses, with a path of rose petals leading to the bed. I got my hug and kisses from her after not being able to meet each other for one month.

Let her have a nap before i serve her breakfast in bed. Mashed potatoes, Harsh Browns and Scramble egg. I know, too many potatoes on one plate, but that's all i can think of for breakfast in bed, can't prepare much, forgotten about the red beans that i have though, should be a better breakfast if there's red beans and a slice of apple for her.

Later that day, we took drop by Jusco to develop some photos i want the models to autograph. Then, down to Melaka Raya to make booking for the photo shoot that Irene wanted for her convocation. I can capture similar shots for her, just that she doesn't trust me with my camera just yet. Maybe in a few years time, i can earn money from others who can trust my skills. Photoshops really earn a lot from these people, imagine RM200 for 9 pieces of 3R, 2 pieces of 11R. The cost of developing would be less than RM50, and they charge it so high yet graduates are willing to pay. Oh well...what can we say about that?

Bring her to a Park in Tun Fatimah, there's a go-cart track there, and a recreational park for evening jogs, and people to do fishing. Took her there to have a look and test out some new compositions. After a very filling meal at Pizza Hut, we go to Jusco again to get late night discounts on their bakery and sushi. All their sushi is on 30% off, same goes for a wide selection of buns. To make sure that their food are sold fresh, they sell it off cheap after 9.30pm every night.

Before calling it a day, I open a bottle of Merlot from Lindemans, suggested by an english man when i was shopping for one last night. We finished almost half a bottle before she's too tired and slept on top of my computer table. Had a great evening, and slept early as we've to make it to KL Convention Center for DreamCars event tomolo morning.

It happened just hours ago. Irene called me up informing me about that news while i was sleeping early. It's not like me to sleep at 9pm. But when i'm sick, i can sleep as early as 8pm, depends on how serious my flu is. It doesn't really matter now as i lost my sleep, and i don't suppose i can fall back to sleep before 4am this time. Got a lot to do, so might as well finish it rather than chatting and browsing for photos to look at.

So here's the thing, London won the 2012 Olympics, and a lot of people cheered. There must have been massive load of people on the subways, returning back home or going to work (it's around 0830~0930 london time) when the collision happens. Thus far, only 40 reported death, and injuries are countless. The subways are now closed until futher notice. I'm kinda worried about my friends May Cheong Su Wei, and Sudha. I hope they are alright. It'll be a hard time for them, imagine having to take an alternative route as over there, surviving there is already a luxury (for poor Malaysians like me).

I've tried to access CNN.com but it seems that their bandwitdh is overloaded with curious people all over the world wanting to know what happened over there. Here's a few links which i managed to obtain about the incident.

BBC News UK

40 reported dead in London Blast

6 explosion over 200 injuries [SinChew Daily]

Blasts cause carnage, Blair breaks off summit[Reuters]

There are rumours spreading that this is an act of Terror by al Qaeda group. No matter what happens, I believe the OIC choice of choosing London is being doubted. Other suspects i can come up with are some supporters from other nominated countries who failed to be the host of Summer Olympics. Will the nomination will be taken way? Will the OIC elect again and take the reason to enjoy the tropical Singapore for a few days before they vote? Let's keep our eyes on the news.

I went to Jaya Jusco for lunch, and go up to Popular to have a look around. Saw this book and another "J.Lo" going for only RM5.90. Having not read a biography before, i took these books home for a good saturday afternoon read. It turns up that there's more stories behind Pamela Anderson's life other then a sex symbol and running in a red swimsuit in Baywatch.

Pam was borned in a small town in Canada, brought up in a domestic violent family as her parents are still young when they have her. And her live doesn't goes on smoothly as she met up with older boys that took away her virginity when she's only 12, and then end up with brutally cruel husband like Tommy Lee Jones.

Being a blonde, she's not dumb at all. She never in her life tried to kill herself even though she went through all those problems. A caring mother, and a loving wife, she still cared for Tommy despite what he'd done to her, and their two sons. I give her all my respect for being able to tolerate all these problems, and still getting on with her life. It's not just relationship problem that occurs to her as she has to fight with a deadly liver disease Hepatitis C.

This book shows there's far more strength and sorrow to this sizzling superstar that has graced a record number of Playboy covers over the past decade than just what meets the eye. And it's a good read, consider it's only RM5.90. Gonna continue with J.Lo as soon as i've done some reading on my Synthetic Aperture Radar textbook, for my Final Year Project