GAH.

Back from Genting. I'll update my blog really soon. I promise! =)

RANDOM PIC OF THE DAY.

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Random picture of the day! Heh.

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I named this picture Spirituality.

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Taken during my vacation to Sarawak a few months ago. Captured near the great hall of Ching San Yen Temple or famously known as the Muara Tebas Temple. A little description on that place, it's built 200 years ago and occupies an ancient site. It's a place where travellers gave thanks after safely crossing the South China Sea. Muara Tebas has been a fishing and trading village for centuries. The host deity of the temple is Buddha Shakyamuni. Other deities include Sea Goddess Macho.

The edits i've made? Some unsaturation on the centre of the picture, shadow and highlight, abit of exposure manipulation and some other random edits. The main subject of this picture however, is the man kneeling towards the altar. It is to show the sincerity and the spiritually of a modern man. Comments and critiques are welcomed as i'm not a pro in photoshop-ing yet. Heh.

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As to all my readers, have a great weekend there! Adios.

SCUBA DIVING IS JUST FUN!

It's going to be a totally different experience for today's post, i'm going to talk abit on scuba diving. I've wanted to write on this topic since i was back from Redang but couldn't really do it cause i was still working. Till recently, after i quit my job i've done some research on it.

A little bit of introduction before i go on any further.

You'll probably be asking, what's scuba diving? If i were to define it, it'll be swimming underwater while using self-contained breathing equipment. It's a really adventurous and challenging hobby i'd say. Before one wants to proceed to any leisure diving, he/she will have to take up the diving course which ranges from beginner to advance diver from a list international diving agency. In Malaysia, the more popular ones are PADI, NAUI, SSI and SDI. However, personally i like PADI more. PADI stands for Professional Association of Diving International, if i'm not wrong. For beginner courses, they offer the Open Water Diving (OWD) course which will cost around RM1k+ . Upon completion of the OWD, one will then be a certified open water diver, which means that they can start diving at the open sea till the maximum depth of 18 metres. During the course, they need to go for theory classes, some confined and open water dives and of course not to forget, exams. After the OWD, they can opt for the Advance OWD course which after that, they will be able to dive at the maximum depth of 30 metres

The course structure of PADI.

For me, I've tried the Discover Scuba Diving (DSD) before at Redang a few months ago. A truly amazing experience I'd say tho it's abit scary.


When i first signed up the course, i was asked to sign this form which says that if anything were to happened to me, PADI will not be responsible for my death, i was already abit freaked out. Then, i was brought into the "classroom" where i was asked to watch this PADI DSD video before proceeding for any dives. The video, was really scary. Guess what's the first thing my instructor showed me from the video? "3 types of method that can cause death while diving". Sigh. It seems that a diver can die from drowning, lung expansion injury and underwater accident. After watching it, i was thinking if i should just leave the classroom and forget all about diving. But nah, since I've already thrown in 150 bucks for it. Later on which i also learnt about all the gears needed and some basic skills for safe diving. All these, which includes equalizing the pressure underwater, mask clearing, purging, a little bit on buoyancy and some underwater hand signals. I was then told by my instructor that if anything happens underwater while diving, i will have to settle it underwater first. I'm only allowed to go back to the surface of the sea if the problem has gone worst. Man! What kind of crap is this? So i asked, Does that mean that even if i drowned and was about to die, i have to settle it underwater first? My instructor answered me yes, with a serious tone. Thought of changing another instructor but nah, it didn't happen cause there's insufficient instructor for that day.

Ok, after all the classroom crap, he decided to bring me for my first dive. After having geared up, i looked something like this. Except that i'm a guy.

Before i go for some serious dives, i was asked to perform the few techniques I've learn from the classroom under the water. Everything was okay except for the purging thing, where i need to purge my oxygen regulator if i accidentally drop it from my mouth while diving. After several tries, i finally got it right.

It was something like this when i perform all the techniques I've learnt.

After getting everything done, there i go! My very first dive of my life. The feeling was indescribable. It feels so relaxed underwater, with the water so warm and clear. I've never felt so secured in my life before. The underwater world was really great. Managed to see alot of pretty fishes and beautiful corals. One thing i realised when i was diving, the fishes treated me as if i'm one of their family too. I guess they just have the thoughts that anything that swims under the sea are part of their family. A few little anchovies even accidentally banged into my earholes while they were swimming as if they didn't know that i can actually eat them up. The experience was a truly unforgettable one. At that time i was regretting why didn't i get a underwater camera before heading to Redang. Well, the dive lasted for about 45 minutes untill my tank ran out of oxygen. It was an amazing and awesome dive as i managed to see a seaturtle, clownfish and also moray eels. From what i heard from my instructor, not every one can be as lucky as me to spot any seaturtles and moral eels underwater.

Right after my first discovery dive, i've made up my mind that one day, before i graduate as a doctor, i will definitely get my open water diving course done. To me live is just short and we should experience everything as we can before getting too old for them.

So, for any divers that have gone thru my page, do drop by me some details and comments on the OWD courses if you've known any of them. Thanks alot! For the time being, I hope i've brought up some interest on diving for you guys. Cheers!

JOKE FOR THE DAY.

Once, there was a very kind old barber
in New York .

One day, a florist goes to him for a
haircut. After the cut, he pays the
barber but the barber replies: "I am
sorry. I cannot accept money from you.
I am doing community service." The
florist is happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber goes
to open his shop, there is a thank
you card and a dozen roses waiting
at his door.



A policeman goes for a haircut and he
also pays the barber after the cut.
But the barber replies: "I am sorry. I
cannot accept money from you. I
am doing community service." The cop is
happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber opens
his shop, there is a thank you card and
a dozen donuts waiting at his door.


A Malaysian software engineer goes for
a haircut and he also pays the
barber after the cut. And the barber
says: "I am sorry. I cannot accept
money from you. I am doing community
service."
The Malaysian software engineer is
happy and leaves.

The next morning when the barber goes
to
open his shop, guess what he finds
there...











Think like a Malaysian...

















a dozen Malaysians waiting for a free
haircut !

(Malaysia Boleh!)

FIREWORKS!

The Merdeka celebration is over, yet the fever is still on around the city. Well, Malaysians are just patriotic, don't deny it. Heh. Anyway! I'm back with more pics on the Golden Merdeka Celebration at Ikano Powercentre on Merdeka eves.

So what did you guys do on the night before Tunku shouted "Merdeka!" 7 times on the same day, 50 years ago? I was at Ikano celebrating my first Merdeka event after 19 years living in Malaysia.

Had our dinner at Curve's The Apartment. The food was okay but the ambience's really good. I mean like they seriously design the place to make it look like an apartment. There's a even a balcony inside the restaurant. We were sitting next to the shower head, it's non functional by the way. Sigh.

The concert started at around 9pm. Vince was the first one to sing, followed by Zainal Abidin, Fish Leong, Juwita Suwito and Reshmonu towards end of the concert right before the clock strikes 12. I personally feel that Juwita's singing is the best, she was the vocal instructor behind the scene on Malaysian Idol, did you know? The emcee of the night was Serena C, and guess what? She can speak good mandarin man! Hah.

At 12am sharp, the skies were setted ablaze with the spectacular and awesome fireworks. The choreography of the fireworks were really impressive. Each and every bits of the shot followed the rhythm of the music played on the stage. It started off with abit of agressive rhythm which slowly turned into a slower and lighter rhythm. I was pretty amazed with the set of firework display when it lasted for like 12 minutes. I wonder how much will it cost tho.

A few pictures i've taken with my D900i to share with you guys.

DJ Jakesman and Skeletor and Deejays from Hitz.fm continues to rock and spin the crowds and party-goers till 2am after the firework display ends. Lots of trance and mixed R&B tracks.

Just a little preview on the atmosphere of the party on that night. Please be aware that i'm not a good videoman.

Perhaps this is one of the most happening merdeka party i've ever gone to. So much more different from the celebration at Stadium Merdeka 50 years ago. It's seriously worth the time and effort we spend in the car waiting for the terrible jam to ease in the carpark after the party.

Well done Ikano and happy belated Merdeka once again guys!