My Weekend
This weekend has been quite eventful - fixed the computer for Auntie Soo Min, learned about camera white balance while sitting on the brine, went to the bank to pay bill, learnt about Ah Jon losing his hand phone (I think Ah Jon's ears must be "burning"), sent Ah Jon car for repair, etc. We met Uncle Su at the market and that was where we learnt about the misadventure of Ah Jon's phone.
In the evening we ended up for dinner at Eastwood Golf and Country Club and tried to spend the RM80 food voucher which mummy won at a function!

Eastwood Golf and Country club... (I am lazy to trim this pic. The bottom part should be trimmed by 20% to make it look nicer).

Watching sunset at this place is rather nice!

We didn't realise that they have special opening fast buffet dinner. Cost: RM30++ for adult and RM15++ for children of 6-12. I figured that most of us can't really eat. Only Ah Jon can eat more. So, the rest of us decided to choose from the menu. About 10 minutes later, the manager figured that he will give us a very special deal.

So we all ended up having buffet meal... the food was nice but we can't really eat tonight. The two boys drunk all kind of "juices", a little rice and a few pieces of chicken. I took soup, veggie and fruits and a few pieces of chicken.


Joshua pestered me to go over the bridge to take pictures... and this was where I tested the white balance (WB) thingy!

I let the camera to work out the WB and it seems that I prefer this "warmer" look...

Then I "programmed" the WB and got this "ideal" setting.... a little pale.

So I figured that ideal" setting was not always good. I let the camera decide for this type of shots!

Eastwood is rather romantic!

Later in the evening we went to meet uncle Su at a restaurant in Lutong. I think this is "Philippines pork leg" - deep and crispy fried. This is my favorite but cannot eat too much - a little fat! I tried out the WB thingy again and found the result acceptable. The normal amber was gone...

.... and the colour looks more natural....

The customised WB is very good for taking photos of this type. It is more natural. Oh... Chong Min is getting marry on 6th Dec!

Miri old town... going... gone...

At a super fast pace, the demolition work of the oldest part of Miri town is now almost completed and some of the places are already flatten. Anew foundation is being built!

This row is opposite the fish market. I was told that the fish market will eventually move out as well. Don't know whether this is true or not.

New way to park your car
This morning I went to the office and found this car which veer off the road and ended up violently on the roadside.

Could it be due to too much drinking? Or saw "something" or simply fallen asleep or the car was "not controllable at that moment of time"? Only the driver knew. So, all drivers, please love your life, take care when you drive.

Miri Old Town - Going.... gone!
I think this must be the last phase of "renovating" the Miri old town. I took these photos in early August when demolition work was in progress. Now, I noticed that the road has been blocked.

The old shop lots are those facing the fish market. On the left, you see the new building with red roof... you see that building below...

That is how the renovated/rebuilt shop lot looks like. They are still of the same double stories type but the length of the shops are actually shorter, if I am not mistaken. They looks good, made of concrete and rather solid.

The row on the left had been demolished ... on the far end is the fish market (red roof).

I took this picture standing in front of the fish market...

This row is directly opposite the fish market.

Solid timbers of yesteryear!

Skeleton .... of a building...

Stripped bare... and then flatten!

See the timber structure of yesteryear...

Just in case ... this is the main fish market of Miri.

This must be the oldest temple in Miri which is next to the fish market.

Photos of Andrew and Ivy Wedding (6 Sept 2008)
I was doing photoshoot at the couple's wedding covering the tea ceremony on Ivy's side of the family and the dinner reception. I posted some of the photos here for your enjoyment...

The loving couple.... Andrew was equipped with ang pau to be given out to the "juniors"!

Ivy... the VIP of the day

Ivy and mum

"The tea"

The eldest in the family tree will be served first, in this case, Ivy's grandma. I thought tea ceremony is meaningful and is a sort of "on-boarding". The couple, especially Andrew, must learn how to address everyone correctly! This tea ceremony will be conducted at Andrew's side of the family again.

Some of the relatives will give the bride jewelry...

The first part was the couple serving the elders and receiving "gift" from the elders. The next part, the couple being served tea by the "juniors" relatives...

Veronica ... one of the cousins...

Her youngest sister... mind you, she is very bright!

Ivy's side of the family - minus the only brother who is away studying in Australia.

Ivy's dad and mum at the wedding reception...

With Andrew's dad and mum...

Ivy, the VIP of the night...

The couple of the evening...

David Yek's daughter ... she reminded me of my own Esther when she was young...

The couple arrival ...

Cake cutting...

MC of the night...

Andrew giving a presentation ... playing the double base ...

Followed by speeches by both of them.

Andrew surely enjoyed doing this...

Two bottles of champagne to fill these cups...


Cheers ...

Sumptuous eight course dinner was served ....

Half way through the dinner, it was time for "Yam Seng"

Amazing Miri Drivers
There were so many amazing self accident in Miri...

This is a safety feature to stop drivers from driving into the divider of the newly completed flyover. With weeks, two out of four such safety devices were smashed up! Now, they are left without repair for weeks. So the next driver who is going to knock into this thing is going to be seriously hurt!
Update: 12 September 2008 This morning, I saw the one infront of Boulevard Pujut has been been repaired!

The roundabout between Pujut 3-4 (just outside GK supermarket), is a favorite spot for "flying cars". Now, the road from Miri town all the way to Lutong is literally a straight road, spanning a distant of about 12KM. However, along this stretch of straight road, there are 4 roundabouts.
On Friday evening, I saw a car right in the middle of this roundabout. You can still see the tyre mark in this picture. (This picture was taken by my son from a moving car). How did the car got itself in there? I can't find the entry point. So, it must have "flew" in! Why? Is it because of drunken driver?

Andrew and Ivy got married!


Ivy is my colleague and Andrew is also working in Shell.

He has a good time opening the champagne ...

... and yam seng for every table...

Ivy and her sister. Esther actually taught her while she was a relief teacher in Riam. Her sister is now on the way to Manchester reading Chemical Engineering.

Guess who we meet... William Ngu... the most popular and eligible bachelor around!

My First Experience in Surgery
I had delayed in going to see doctor regarding my pile for the last 24 years. This was all because of a bad experience with a doctor. The situation was manageable, ie, nothing serious until early August. Then one fine day, I pushed too hard and caused tear on the pile. It bled and then a day later, I had diarrhea and that was when real problem started. The pile became so "sensitive" and unbearably painful. Anyway, the rest of the story was now history.
I was wheeled into the operation theater at 2:00PM. I never knew that it could happen so quickly. I was completely unprepared. But that was not important. I told the nurses that I could walk and I prefer to walk myself! Can you imagine a strong man being put on a trolley and pushed around? I thought that this was some sort of child play! Hahaha...
In the operation theater, the doc must be trying to convinced me to go for lower body anaesthestic only. So I asked question like "What are the side effects and what is the chances". So, the following are the possible side effects, true or not, I also don't know:
1. Back pain. This is post surgery problem and could last for a very long time; may even be permanent. Chances? Slim but my colleague got it! But is this due to this procedure or not, I don't know.
2. Headache. Temporary post surgery problem. Problem can go away. Chances? Slim
3. Cannot urinate as the lower body is completely numb. High chance.
ok... #3 was my deciding point. I chose to go for GA. The only fear, which the doctor won't tell me was that there was a chance of me "not waking up anymore". But, I know that my time is not yet up and this will not happen to me.
When the drug was applied, I was told to keep my eyes open and look at the ceiling. Within seconds, my vision was blurred and I couldn't remember anything after that. When the doc called me, I saw many eyes looking down on me and I was told that it was all done.

It was so fast... 45 minutes only!

Good old days
When we were young, we hardly took any photo. We only had enough money to buy food and book. But then, I got RM1.00 a week as pocket money which I seldom use. This is translated to RM10-15 in today's money. I remembered that one large meat pau must be about 20 cents as compared to RM2.50 now if it is of the same size and quality.
Taking photo was a luxury at that time. And talking about camera, I had no idea what was that and I could only remember the huge studio camera which was made in China.
My first camera was a Kodak Instantmatic which was made of plastic and used "126" cartridge film. I took one roll of photos (24 of them) and the result was so disgusting that I never touch that camera again. That must be in 1970. Later my brother-in-law "gave" me an Olympus which used half frame 36 mm, ie, 72 shots from a roll of 36-exposure film. This camera took very good quality photos and was quickly confiscated by him because his nephew used it to take naked pictures of children using my name!
I complained to my parents and my brothers quickly went to Labuan and brought back a huge Yashica top viewing camera using 120 film. To me, that was the beginning of "real photography" because I suddenly realised that I didn't have money to buy film and process photos. Then, being enterprising, I figured that if I can process my own photos, I could make some money and also support my hobby. So, I went off to buy an enlarger, some chemical and paper.... (to be continued)

This is the only family photo my parents took. I figured that it must be taken in 1961. My youngest sister was not yet born. My eldest and third sisters were not in the photo as they were married!