Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Hello 2009...

Apart from the US Presidential Election, terror attacks in Mumbai and the escalating tension in the Arab-Israeli conflict, I'm sure the year 2008 will mostly be remembered as the worst year in the financial market history. I think everyone would agree that the most defining moment for 2008 financial turmoil was the collapse of investmant bank Lehman Brothers which created a domino effect that put a the entire global financial system at risk. In fact, right after the collapse of Lehman Brothers, other major financial institutions in the US such as the AIG, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, and many others admitted failure. At the stock markets, almost every asset class lost significant value. Many people from all walks of life have had a punishing year financially in 2008. Billionaires like Rupert Murdoch, Laskmi Mittal, the Ambani brothers, Warren Buffet were among others who've lost billions of dollars during the turmoil. Small fish like me, losing some $$$ in my portfolio can also be very painful. Let's just hope for better prospects in 2009, or will there be??

Happy New Year!

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Friday, November 14, 2008

Random Pics - KL

Photos below taken during our trip to KL last month. I planned to do a lot of street photography, but the heat, sudden heavy rain and loaded tummy really discouraged me to do so.

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My view of the Petronas Towers. I actually wanted to take night shots of these towers with its glorious lights, but our evenings were pretty occupied till late.


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The LRT over Jln Sultan Ismail and Bukit Bintang. The development in KL has been rapid and impressive. Traffic congestion is quite major in this city, therefore the LRT was built as a way for travellers to avoid heavy traffic in KL especially during peak hours. Other forms of public transport like buses are medicore, and taxi drivers can be notorious for haggling over fares.


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Part of the Pavillion Mall (view from our hotel room). Exactly 2 years ago, at an almost similar room location, I can only see construction labourers working on the pilings, concretes etc.

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Local jazz band performing at the Starhill lobby & lounge

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

What's up??

Little cousin and nephew being so excited with the lens. DSC_5745
To all my relatives, friends and colleagues, it was such a pleasure catching with some of you last month. Especially to all the relatives, click here for more pics..will upload more soon.

To my "Night at the Grudge" buddies, that night was such a blast..we should do that on a weekly basis next time.

Saturday, September 13, 2008

Love Your Fruits...

Pictures taken at Sao Paulo's Municipal Market (Central Market)during my working trip summer last year.

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This fruit stall is one of the many that could be found in the market. However, this particular stall is quite popular and frequented by trourists at all times - he seems to be the only vendor who understands and speaks English fairly well.

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Monday, September 8, 2008

Hello Angels

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Definitely not Charlie's Angels..

Thursday, August 14, 2008

LPGA Canadian Women's Open Pt. II

On Wednesday afternoon, I managed to take few photos during the CN Open practice round. Hoping to bump into Natalie Gulbis and Annika Sorenstam, but I came a bit late. Luckily Lorena Ochoa was still playing and all I can say is that definitely there's a huge difference between us the amateurs and the pros...

Click to enlarge photos...





Lorena Ochoa


Not sure who's bag..



Another thing that I noticed is that there's an increasing number of LPGA pros from Asia, the Koreans in particular. And of course not to forget Yani Tseng from Taiwan who recently won the 2008 LPGA Championship. Unlike Michelle Wie, Yani Tseng is quite humble and is more disciplined.

Me and the misus will be watching the second round later this afternoon. Unfortunately, no cameras are allowed..I should have asked for media accreditation earlier...haha. More pics of the practice round here





Wednesday, August 13, 2008

LPGA Canadian Women's Open

Our annual golf tournament held last weekend was a success. The weather was good and my game was not that bad at all, although I didn't win anything! But, I'm still very happy because the misus is the champ in the women's category, in fact she scored 2 strokes lower than me!
Anyway, this week will be an exciting one! The Canadian Women's Open has just started and is taking place at Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club... just 2 blocks away from our house! Yesterday, the misus and our good friend watched the practice round and below are some pictures that she took with Sony T10. She regretted for not taking my camera along as apparently most spectators were with their "Lokomotif Camera" (DSLR Camera). I thought cameras were not allowed even during practice rounds. I was wrong..so PGA ladies, I shall see you all later!
Annika Sorenstam

The new number one..Lorena Ochoa. Apparently, Annika is more approachable according to the misus.



This must be Paula Creamer's bag

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Monday, August 4, 2008

The Dream Bag

Meet my new Nike SasQuatch bag in all its glory. Thanks again to my dearest misus for this unexpected gift...what a surprise! Will post more pics of our recent activities soon...

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Monday, July 21, 2008

The Cottage Experience

I've heard colleagues and came across some brochures talking about "the cottage" experience in Canada. After 3 years in Canada, me and the misus finally had the opportunity to enjoy this very Canadian getaway. Thanks to our good friends, the Lauzon Family for inviting us to their cottage last Saturday, it was indeed truly very relaxing and enjoyable experience. Work related stress was completely forgotten, although not much to think about when it comes to "the work" itself. But for some people, severe pressure is more on trying to cope with their superior who has no sense of professionalism, which could potentially be mind damaging...hmmm...something to write about soon...

Anyway, back to our cottage experience, we spent the whole Saturday just hanging around, eating, chit-chatting, boat riding, swimming and canoeing. I didn't swim and canoe, but enjoyed my lazing around moment at the deck by the lake - the moment when Montecristo was my best friend. The misus enjoyed swimming in the lake, although she was just literally dipping at one corner - her paranoia on big pikes might bite....

Overall, we had great fun and planning to do it again but, this time to spend the whole weekend at a different cottage, some place where there are golf courses nearby...
Front bit of the cottage
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The side patio

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One of the host, Andre Lauzon aligning the canoe. Fyi, Andre and his wife Josie lived in Brunei for almost 11 years. Andre used to teach at the 6th Form Centre in Gadong (my college back then), while Josie was with the CfBT

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Click here for more pics





Wednesday, July 2, 2008

The thing about golf

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Pic taken during fall last year at the 1st tee-box (central course), Meadows Golf & Country Club, Ottawa, Canada

Nowadays, golf is no longer the game for the high-powered people or for the upper-class. The way I see it, it’s an addictive game that is now affordable to many. The addictive bit is quite hard to explain, perhaps it is an individual thing. To me, it’s the joy and fun of “whacking” or “cracking” the ball (common terms used by me and one of my best golfing buddy). Another thing is about the courses itself i.e. appreciating the beauty of the sceneries and the fun of overcoming obstacles normally water hazards, bunkers, and sometimes ball surrounded by geese.

However, I think every golfer would agree if I say that the game is not as easy as it seems. In order to have a good swing, ideally there are quite a number of fundamentals that one needs to learn and know well. Among others are correct grip, stance, body-turn and tempo are all very important. The mind also significantly affects the swing. If one were not in a good mind shape, I’m pretty sure the balls will fly haywire. Just like having coffee or tea. To me, no matter how expensive or high quality the coffee or tea is, it will still taste normal or perhaps badly if he or she is not in a good mood..

Anyway, I don’t take golf seriously, but I love to play it a lot. Once my misus told me that I spent too much money on golf stuffs, constantly asking me the difference between a cheap, average and above average price clubs. After taking up few golf lessons and played on course several times, the golf town is now her favourite shopping store! She just recently bought the Cobra 4 Hybrid, ordered a Nike Hybrid, now awaiting the Callaway X20 demo clubs for 5 days trial, and will soon decide either to buy the X20 or the Ping Rhapsody set. Hahahaha one needs to do it and “get the feel” in order to better understand golfers' mindset. Welcome to the club hon..you’re now officially my golfing mate.

The beauty of golf is that no matter how good or bad you played, you will keep on playing more and more and more. To me, apart from leisure or “bad golfing” it helps expand my network at all levels, strengthening bonds with friends, colleagues, and of course now my better-half.
To those who wishes to start golfing...good luck and all the best!!
To all golfers...life is short..play another 18...




Friday, June 27, 2008

Lovely

Munir & Wani 08

Another lovely couple after me and da misus...hehehe

Monday, June 16, 2008

Innocent...

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This girl is usually shy when one were to take a picture of her. But, not when she speaks! She can be very outspoken and loves to outsmart the daddy at most times. She's still in pursuit of getting a book on physchology...hmmm very deep for a 13-year old girl!

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Flashing Harry

Harry is the exact same breed as Kimo, but with totally different character. The misus and I finds him very playful and adventurous. Unlike Kimo, Harry loves jumping from one place to another esp. to higher places and..... now his latest fascination is the speedlight...

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Wednesday, May 21, 2008

???


Saw this guy during our outing to Mount Tremblant last February. Not sure what's he suppose to be...strange but quite an entertainer.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Karipap


Karipap (Curry Puff) is the name of this cat (colleague's cat), not sure why...

Monday, May 19, 2008

No Title





Shots taken at Omega Park, Montebello


Monday, May 5, 2008

Nike One

"...Keep your head down and eyes on the ball..."
My favourite - Nike One
Looking forward for tomorrow's game. Tee-Off 8:06 am at Pineview

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Mothernature at its worst

Snowstorm February this year



It took almost 2 hours clearing up my driveway.









Friday, May 2, 2008

Untitled

Golfing season is back! Started playing 2 weeks ago, with some patches of snow still visible alongside the fairway. Played again yesterday at the Canadian and could not even score a par. Balls flew left right here and there....my Sumo was totally off, but Carolyne ....I LIKE! Nevertheless, I enjoyed the company of my buddies and we shall play again next week.

Will post pics soon...

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Blessing a newly born...

Last weekend, the missus and I attended a colleague's "Mandi Berlawat /Bezikir" event for their newly born child. I consider "Mandi Berlawat" like some sort of a baby showering ceremony, Muslim Malay style. Usually, the ceremony is held after 40 days of giving first birth. I'm not sure about the rational of such ceremony, but the way I see it is like thanking the Almighty for blessing the parent for a healthy newly born child....



I'm not sure if its related to Islamic teaching or merely a tradition, but cutting the baby's hair was part of it...


Something that the ladies below enjoy doing especially after cooking, eating and cleaning......group massage???


Saturday, March 15, 2008

Depressed

A depressed young Brazilian boy...
Took this shot at Portao area in Brasilia, Brazil





Friday, February 15, 2008

Trial Shots

Currently in the learning process of shooting people, faces or anything related to human..... Shots taken with the recently bought D300 and Nikon 17-55mm F2.8 IF ED...there're a lot of exciting features of the D300 that I'm going to explore....

For the moment, need to forget about golf stuffs, but I guess there's no harm getting the new Nike Sumo Hybrid and I still need to get the Nike 3 wood plus the tour bag...KJ Choi really inspire me a lot..hehe




Monday, February 11, 2008

The Mind Game


Old Gas Cylinders


Saturday, January 19, 2008

The Parliament



Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada