The Last Samurai

Dear all

Reached home today from work to catch the Jackie Chan movie on channel U. However, now am watching the movie 'The Last Samurai' on channel 5 instead. Such a good movie. I like how Tom Cruise and Ken Watanabe acted in the movie. After the movie, took pictures with my little brothers through my laptop's in-built webcam.

My little brother Izzuandi.

My litle brother Ismawadi.

Helmi

Nikon - At the Heart of the Image

Dear all

13/04/2007

Currently conducting training for new and existing colleagues. The 2nd of 4 days. So far so good. After work yesterday, headed to Vivocity with Dearie for dinner and some window-shopping. Something to point out though. We had just reached Vivocity when spotted an exhibition for Sony Digicams. Also on display was a Sony DSLR, not sure of model though. Decided to just have a look and feel of the camera. As soon as the salesperson saw me holding the camera, he started to explain of the camera functions, specialities, how good the camera is, what a good buy it is, blah, blah, blah. Hehe, my trusty Nikon DSLR however is in my bag. I feel like wanna take out my Nikon and tell him how good mine is but no, I'm not so mean.

See what I mean of my Nikon.

A closer look of the same picture.

After that, was looking around for a place to eat but many other Singaporeans also happen to be hungry at the same time as us. We went here and there but the eating places was full. No tables at all. Argh, forget it. Decided to buy movie tickets first before having our meal but abandon our plans as the selection of movies are not to our liking. Drop by the Canon shop which is just beside the cinema hall. I must say that Canon lenses are slightly cheaper than Nikon but still, I love my camera. We finally found a table at Long John Silvers. While having dinner, spotted Ibrahim, my old Assistant Front Ofiice Manager. Such a coincidence.

After dinner, accompany Dearie to look at clothes before we sat down and slack outside.

The tall skinny snowman at Vivocity.

Dearie took this photo while learning the autofocus function of my camera.

Gotcha. Taken secretly.

Take care all

Helmi

Last day of peace

Dear all

Fifth and last day of leave. Oh, how time flies. 'I don't wanna go back to work '. Its raining heavily outside which makes it worse as Im cooped up at home.

Helmi

Shooter

Dear all

Watched the movie 'Shooter' earlier. Out of rating of five, would give it a four. Worth the money. Mark Walberg is good. Refreshing movie for sniper fanatics like me. Good storyline and many twist in the movie. Really explain in details of how a sniper think. However at one point, tends to exaggerate.

Compare us. We are so alike, the moustache and beard I mean. This is how I look after 4 days of not shaving my moustache and beard. Only shaved my cheeks and goatee.

Now what I need is a rifle to shoot all the irritating people out there.

Helmi

Area cleaning

Dear all

Fourth day of leave, recharged and refreshed. Woke up to loud noises under my block. Many foreign workers cutting up the trees around my block. Thats good though. Gives my block a facelift, hehe. Now the area looks tidy and more bright.

My mum, being the usual neighbourhood 'busybody' asked one of the workers why such work is being done. Apparently, the MPs will be doing their neighbourhood walkabout this Sunday.

Helmi

Just bored

Dear all

Unable to sleep so took out my camera and test the macro capability of my new lens.

Macro's not for me.

Helmi

Guard duty at home

Dear all

Currently awake looking after grandma. Been doing this for the past 3 days. She has the tendency to be awake when we sleep. That's fine though however as soon as shes awake, she will try to get out of her bed. We are just afraid she will open the door and get out of the house.

Dearie came to my house today. She and my little elder brother got on very well. He was awake till past midnite and refused to sleep while shes there.

Taken with her N72 camera phone and after some photo editing.

Helmi

Urgent leave

Dear all

Extract taken from Wikipedia:
Bawean is entirely Muslim, though this is heavily blended with shamanism and folk animism. For instance, the prevailing belief on the island is that if you swim in Teraga Kastoba, the crater lake, you will become cursed and die.

Was at home on Saturday night when my grandma fell sick. I mean, very sick. But sick in that way, if you know what I mean. My family is Boyanese and our ancestors hail from the Bawean Islands in Indonesia. Throughout the night and till the next morning, I was awake running errands here and there and keeping watch on my grandma. My relatives and a neighbour was also here to give 'support'. What an experience. Fearing for the worst, we prepare ourselves. However in the morning, my grandma's back to normal.

The same uncles, aunties and cousins who came last night and left early morning next day visited us again today plus even more relatives. I feel restless and following my instinct, I took out my camera and start snapping. Had great fun taking family pictures.

Heres some for you all to enjoy.

Then. Now. Then.
Now. Me and Grandma. Don't mind my eyebags.
Grandchildrens and grandma. She had eleven in total.

Hoping for the best. Take care all.

Helmi

Sungei Buloh part 2

Dear all

Here are the pictures as promised.

This is what greeted us at the entrance. I nearly made a U-turn.Dearie was in front when I stopped walking and framed her in my camera viewfinder. When she turned, I snapped. All natural lighting and expression.

Observation tower Yes, Im lagging behind. She can't wait to get out of the place.

After the tour of Sungei Buloh, Dearie had to wash her feet. She's wearing sandals and her feet got so dirty. I won't post the pictures of her feet though. We proceeded somewhere else after that. Guess where the picture below is taken at?

Helmi

The Malay reunion

Dear all

Morning shift today. We managed to take a group photo of the Malays at Front Office.

From left to right:

Guys; Jamadi, Faizal and yours truly

Bitches; Norain, Liah and Rynn

Work was crappy. Being a saturday, the local contingents are irritating as usual.

While waiting for my team to finish work, took some snapshots.

My pen at work;

Try to guess what is the item in this picture

Take care all

Helmi

Sungei Buloh

Dear all

Off day today. Went to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve for the first time ever.

Heres a sneak preview of the pictures;

Will post more pictures tomorrow.

Helmi

The day of the Crumplers!!!!!!!!!!

Dear all

Was on way to work yesterday afternoon when decided to drop by at Crumpler Raffles City. When I entered the shop, initially wanted to just have a look around. But 10 mins later, I'm out with a spanking new crumpler bag, the 5 million dollar home. So happy, hehe. My friend Faizal SMS me minutes later that he has also just bought a crumpler bag. He got it from the boutique at Wheelock Place. Both of us have been talking about buying a new crumpler bag since few days back. Hence, today is the day of the Crumplers.

My new bag;

Girls from my workplace. From left to right, Ms Myanmar, Feeling Ms Singapore, Ms Japan and Ms China.

Something happened at work today. A lady walk-in wanting a room for the night. Was quoted $290 before taxes however she only has cash of $120. She said that she can only settle the rest upon her departure. When informed that we need more to cover for the room charge, she then started to talk rubbish such as was previously from the hotel industry and that the $200 unguaranteed amount should not be an issue as the amount was small. I was like WTF you talking, woman?????? We are running a business here and not a charitable organisation. Wanted to turn her away but finally came to an agreement. She will get her friend to guarantee for her room charges later. Sadly though, that friend of hers refuse to do so when they approach the desk an hour later. This friend who's a regular guest of the hotel was just an indirect acquaintance. With no one to guarantee for her room, she then said that her cousin will be here tomorrow and that she will be able to settle the money. Crap!!! So we have no choice but to vacate her out of the hotel. In crude terms, we have to chase her out. Bye bye, crazy woman. Im not trying to be evil or sadistic here but I think this lady is a psycho. If you're nice, I will try to help. However, this is not the case.

After work, went to One Night Stand at Clarke Quay with Liah, Tang Lin, Emily, Sadiq (Again!!!! Yes its 3 days straight that I've been meeting him) and of course my dearie. Liah commented that it will be her last time there as the service sucks. No comments from me but my expectation's not high anyway.

I like this picture. I called it ' your drink over your girl'.

Left for my home shortly after. What a day.

Helmi.

Amazing Race Asia

Dear all

Just woke up, getting ready for work soon. Hope work is fine today as compared to yesterday. One more afternoon shift and off day tomorrow. Theres a training later titled 'adding sugar to our salt'. Funny names by funny people.

Came across the website of the upcoming Amazing Race Asia. Must be fun.

Gonna bring my camera out today.

Helmi

The boyanese reunion

Dear all

On afternoon shift today and what a dreaded day. I mean it. I dread this day. Theres only me, Sandra and Tom, just 3 of us as well as Momo till 8pm. Even though number of arrivals is low, its busy as always. However, I must say its smooth sailing. Sandra's been taught well and Tom is those once-in-a-while trainee who can stand on their own against the guest. He's even better than some of the full-timers.

After work, met up with Norain, Liah and Sadiq at Mr Bean cafe. We called it the Boyanese clan reunion. Slacked around for a while before I proceed home. Took just 1 picture and I like it very much.

Heres presenting Norain.

Last afternoon shift tomorrow before my off day on Good Friday. I can't wait.

Helmi

Where are you my crumpler

Dear all

Decided to use a different bag today. Don't ask me why but I changed to my crumpler bag. Headed to Suntec City before work to run an errand. Once there however, decided to look for camera bags. Need to get something smaller than my current camera bag. One which can just fit in one DSLR for my everyday use. Dearie gave me her blessings to get one but not now though dear. I'm suddenly eyeing the crumpler camera bag , 5 million dollar home. Dearie, thats a hint for you, hehe. Headed to work after that. Nothing much to mention except that Liah is back from her holiday in Australia. The workplace suddenly feel LOUD.

After work, met up with Sadiq for supper. Theres me, Sadiq, Faizal, Tang Lin and Daniel. Exchange news and talk of old times. Oh yes, Sadiq wanna get a Nikon D80. Yay, another photo enthusiast on the way. Get one soon and we can snap together.

Helmi.

The continuation of Cat Show

Dear all

As promised, here are the pictures.

Parked my bike somewhere near this signboard.













This is Roy, one of my uncle's 2 cats. She won 4 winner ribbons. Means for the next competition, she will enter the championship round immediately.





















Isn't she photogenic. The cat I mean!!! The lady in red cap is my auntie.









My other auntie with her cat. It's called Sinoux













This cat won in one of the categories.

















The concentration of a cat before the competition.










Seriously no idea what this cat is thinking but I think it's hungry coz I am at that point.

















Dearie with my Nikon D40. While I'm taking pictures, she's taking my pix.

Dearie took this shot of me in action. Its not easy you know, I was shoved and tussled by other photographers. In simpler words, molested.





Another shot of me by dearie.













One of the judges for the Cat Show. I believe she's Japanese.







Either his cat lost badly and he's sulking or sleeping due to the long day of competition. Hope its the latter.










They deserved the food. Their cats did them proud.

After the cat show, we headed to town to snap some night landscape pictures. Will not post them though as theres dust on the D50 (not sure how they got there) and the pictures turns out.......eeeeeew. The pictures on my D40 turns out blurry as did not bring my tripod along.

And lastly, a picture of my bike when I send dearie home. Now revamped after the servicing.

Comparison between the Nikon D40 and D50. Apparently, the image on the cheaper but newer D40 turns out to be better than the D50. However, I will not judge on this outing itself as the lens attached for the camera model is entirely different. D40 with the kit lens and D50 with the Tamron lens.

Take care all

Helmi