HK Trip - Lost

I'm not sure what to write for this post.. thus the title LOST..  Its been 6 years since my last trip to HK.  That last trip I went alone and climbed a mountain (about 3/4 way) and it was a blast.

I planned to scale the mountain again for this trip as I found some peace and made one of my major decisions in my life on that little hill...  So actually when a friend of mine decided to go for a short trip to HK (I think I proposed it at first).  Its immediately in one of the "to do" list in my head.

It went quite well until halfway when it started to rain and we got stuck halfway.  I actually wanted to continue but I gave up as I thought its a bit selfish of me to continue this personal journey of mine (I know my friend will definitely follow me as its a bit dangerous).  

I did not get what I really wanted on that trip and its a bit sad actually.  Although my friend did consoled me and say we could try again next time when I get fitter and more prepared.  It is a sound advice but truthfully, I did not want to go back up again.  Maybe I will scale another mountain or hill but I decided to give up this one for good.  Don't bother to ask me why as its a personal thing and I do not wish to share it! :P

So the rest of the trip I dedicated most of my time trying my best to show a side of HK to my friend who has never been there... I think he did enjoyed his trip (I hope :P) except for the mountain part I guess hehehe

I have posted some photos on my facebook... Do feel free to browse them :)

This is our future generation....

Its been some time I wrote about social issues in Singapore.

I actually wrote this a few days ago when I saw an article in our ST.  1,500 coke geysers

But I did not have the time to refine it until another article came in and attracted my attention which has the same issue I wish to point out.  YOG caterer acts on food  I  just want to point out to a particular paragraph in this article.

Full-time national serviceman Leslie Wong, 20, who was stationed at the Marina Bay floating platform, said the 15 or so meals he has been given so far were similar to the one that has been criticised.
He said: 'One of the meals was a dry, tasteless piece of chicken with a few slices of carrot and some soggy rice. I ended up throwing most of it away.'
He said that while he had no complaints about the portions, most of his friends on duty at the same venue chose to buy their own food instead of eating the packed meals.

I think by this time you should understand what I am pointing out.  Yes, our future generation does not care a bit about wasting food.  Its scares me because they do not understand the effort and labour to produce each grain of rice. 

I've been to Thailand and Burma and I have seen how the people work in the fields.  I have seen homeless child hunger for food and even water in Thachilek and Maesai and I just find it so revolting that Singaporeans here, wastes food for no reasons other then being greedy and selfish.

That 1500 bottle of coke can be donated for a better cause.  The experiment is already well-known, why is there a need to re-enact such an experiment in such a grand scale?  Just to beat the world record while another part of the world is starving?

The young man in NS, who is supposed to protect our motherland complains about the food he was provided (yes its bad for SFI to do that) but just threw it away recklessly.  Its just soggy rice!  Its not rotten or contaminated.  Its just plain food to keep you FULL and from hunger!  I remember the MRE (meals ready to eat) packets in army days and the rice was like cake and I just ate it even if it taste like shit.  If not, I just don't take it.  Thats the problem with Singaporean, We take and grab things that are free without thinking we ever need them .. The kiasu syndrome.

It so wrong to do such things.  So much injustice is done to those farmers who grew each grain of rice. 

Trust me, what goes around will come around.  We import our food and we don't grow them.  When world food shortages comes (and its already starting).  WE will be the first one to feel the impact.  And THEN you will STARVE.  And THEN you will feel what is it like to be hungry.

Here's a stark reminder to those who waste food and one of my favourite journalistic photograph.  A picture of a starving child in South Africa in Sudan by Kevin Carter.

 

Getting Married in Thailand - Documents Required

Just a brief record and guide for those who wants to get married with a Thai partner in Thailand.  You need a few documents before you can do it.

1) A copy of your passport and photos (passport size). and spouse to be.

2) A search result hard copy letter applied at the Registry of Marriage to prove you are Single (or divorced)
https://app.rom.gov.sg/internet/emrs/rom_emrs_start.asp  Cost is bloody $35 for this letter.

3) A letter from work pass division of MOM of your spouse to prove she is not working currently in SG.  Need to have a copy of his/her passport and passport photo.  Apply at the MOM workpass division office.

4) A Certificate of No Criminal Convention (CNCC) applied through Sngapore Police at Cantonment Complex.  Download the form here.  Bloody $45 dollars for this certificate.  (This one better as at least they give a certificate, unlike the stupid letter from ROM)  You may need to draft a letter yourslef if you did not go to the Sinapore Embassy in Bangkok to get a letter of instruction.  Just write that you need a CNCC for marriage purpose in Thailand will be fine.  A copy of photo id or passport of your spouse to be is also required.  And remember to bring your passport (not IC) if you are applying in person.

5) A letter from your current employee, stating your current job and salary.  (A copy of your letter of appointment or contract will do also). 

6)And finally,  a completed Affidavit form (accquired when you go to Singapore emabassy in Thailand) with 2 referees details.

And thats it for first part of the process..... TBC.

 

 

My new birthday toy - Spinner 360

I have been waiting for Lomography Society to come up with something(toy cam) exciting to play with and recently they release the Spinner 360.  You can check out the camera here for the details but I just want to write a short review about it.

One word - FUN! It's really fun to shoot with it but I think you need to buy a lot of film for this as each roll shoots only up to 8 images... I already burnt 2 rolls on my first encounter with it.

The camera seems to be quite well built.  The hood is actually metal!! Think it serves as a counter weight for the spin as if I removed it, the camera will not spin as fast.  Operation is easy and the results were quite stunning. (More photos in the photo gallery)

Pictures were actually quite sharp, the lens is multicoated too.  The only complaint is that there is no locking button to stop the camera from adcidentally advancing.  I could remove the rubber band but its a bit of a hassle.. which cost me some wasted space on the film.

I also bought the digitaliza bundle with the camera to help me scan these panaromic shots.  Thanks to Ndroo of fuzzyeyball.com to confirm the thickness.  It actually works on my old Microtek i900 :P. 

Think I will sping more in the coming months....

It's getting interesting...

For more then 2 weeks I have not wrote anything as I was away again in Thailand.  This time my mum tagged along and we had tons of things to do.  First off is to go to Bangkok to settle our marriage certificate and passports for my wife and kids.

I already hit a wall at Bangkok at the Singapore embassy on day 1 (we were there for 5 days and 4 nights.)  I did not have the necessary documents as requested by the embassy so I need to re-arrange another day to do it.  It seems that those written in the thaivisa forum does not apply to a Singaporean marrying a Thai citizen :P  I need to provide I have no police or criminal offense and I need to submit a query to MOM to show my wife is not currently working in Singapore.  I also need  a letter from my current employee (letter of appointment) to show I am still working in SG... duh.... bloody hell, how come Singaporeans so difficult to get married in Thailand one leh???

Passport for wife and the kids were easier.  Very straightforward and it will be posted to my wife in 8 working days time. 

This month is interesting also as my Team Lead in my job has left.  Quite suddeb actually and he only broke the news 2 weeks prior to his departure (although I did learnt from another teammate he is leaving)  So when I'm back at work tomorrow.  He won't be around anymore.  Although I don't agree to some of his certain work entihcs and practices, I will still give my best wishes to him in his new job :)

I too have certain plans in my mind and its regarding my own future career.  I have this vision and am currently drafting a plan to make it come true.  It will take months or even years but at least I know what I want.  So stay tuned for nore as mentioned in the title... ITS GETTING INTERESTING>>

TBC

Albert Khan and his Autochromes

Colour photography was actually already in used in the early 1900s.  (1907 is the brith year of autochromes if you wish to know).

I actually watched an episode of The Wonderful World of Albert Khan (6 part series) on the BBC Knowledge channel 2 months ago and I was hooked by the colourful photos (or glass plates if you want to nitpick) shown on the TV.  Naturally, I went to research more on this interesting techniques and found out its actually quite similar to the bayer layer technology we are using currently now in our latest digital sensor!

So I went to amazon and got a copy of the book to learn more about the photos Albert's photographers had took and it was facinating!  Its very surreal to see the beginning of last century in a colourful way.  As I was much more used to the black and white conventional pictorial of that era. 

Another book I bought at the same time is A Century of Colour Photography.  Which shows how colour photography was developed and changed.  Another good read for those who are interested in photography.

Just what I needed!  Books that contains 2 of my favourite subjects!  History and Photography! :D

A short trip to KL Malaysia

I am getting a bit bored with the usual routine of my shift work and I really needed a good break.  Opportunity came twice actually.  Once is a gathering with my old Lion Dance buddies but that was just one night and I ended leaving the party early as I need to work the next day :P

According to my calendar, I have 3 off days from July 1st till 3rd.  3 days in Singapore, doing nothing is a bit unbearable.  And I have no idea where to shoot.. Singapore is really small .

Luckily one of my colleague is going back to his hometown in Kuala Lumpur (KL). So another colleague and I, tagged along for a short trip in KL.  Lots of foods and photography is just what I need from the mundane routines.

So we were off on 1st July in the morning.  I travelled light this time around.  A total of 2 bodies and 3 lenses.  One digital A900 and a film body Dynax7.  The lenses I chose for this trip was my Minolta 16mm fisheye and 35mm f/2.  The last lens I took was the lensbaby composer.  I recently saw the result of the aperture competition and the slot aperture intrigues me to cut my last blank aperture disc as a slot.  Pretty good results.

I love history and I adore old buildings.  We visited the Pudu prison which is in the process of being tored down for "progress".  I find it a bit sad though that we always have to destroy part of our history due to the need of progress... Yes, we need the land but can't they find a way to salvage one of the buildings in the prison complex to serve as a future reference?  I guess we just like to forget the old and welcome the new.  This is always true in South East Asia.  Thailand and Singapore has it own share of tearing down old buildings or retrofitting/refurnishing "heritage" sites into a modern building.. Why can't they just leave it as gritty old buildings? 

Besides the Pudu prison, we took a long walk along the prison wall and around the pudu market area.  Taking everything in.  Its always fun to walk in an unfamiliar environment.  The next day we went to the Batu Caves (never been there before) and its another intereseting venue to shoot.  I will visit there again if there is an opportunity, this time with my MF gear :P

KL has changed a lot too.  I used to go down to KL for buisness trip in my old job under bizwebs.  Almost at least 4 or 5 times a month.  The last trip I went was in 2006 if I remember correctly and I nearly can't recognise some of the places.  The bus-station (Pudu Raya) is now under renovations and we have to take the buses at Bejaya Times square.  Prices has also increased.. hahaha.. but still much cheaper to what we have here.

Anyway, the rest of the photos of the trip are posted on my facebook.  Do take a look if you are interested.  I am still in the process of sorting out my digital shots.. So you might want to check later to see more updates..