Things you'd probably haven't seen in detail

I got myself a "Macro Extension Tube" last Thursday so I can snap pictures close up using my existing lens. It was very hard taking pictures as the depth-of-field was very shallow. One technique I learned from a book to help me take the pictures were to snap in bursts so that at least some of the pictures turns out OK.

Water droplets on a leaf after an afternoon shower. My lens and the clouds can be seen on the droplet's relection

Water droplet on the edge of a leaf

An insect emerging after the shower


Hibiscus pistil and stamens

Rosemary leaf closeup

The flower is 1cm across and the ants are about 1mm in length

Another magnificent view of the Hibiscus

Jamiroquai F1 concert + Malaysian F1 Grand Prix

I went to Sepang yesterday to see the Formula One Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix. The race was cut short (only 32 laps) due to a heavy downpour. The podium finishers were:

1. Jenson Button (Britain) Brawn - Mercedes 1h 10m 59.092s
2. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) BMW Sauber +00:22.700
3. Timo Glock (Germany) Toyota 00:23.500

Felipe Massa's Ferrari only managed 9th place. Sigh :( Anyways, I snapped some pics of a fan there to cheer me up :) Have a look-

I'm OK!

Safety car's out

Malique @ the essentials

Naturally 7

Jay Kay's gig was supported by 2 bands.

I've been a HUGE fan of Jamiroquai since I watched Godzilla and heard the song "Deeper Underground" and when I heard that he's coming to Malaysia, I knew I can't miss this chance to see him live! The rain was still falling but it stopped when Jay Kay started to perform. Cool. I was snapping pictures like mad (at least 500 shots) and the 'Live View' function really helped me to 'rise' above the rest. The shots were taken by me using Canon EOS 450D with EF-S 55-250mm IS glass. ISO was set at 1600.

The man

The songs that he performed on stage were :

Use The Force
Canned Heat
Little L
Love Foolosophy
Cosmic Girl
Traveling Without moving
High Times
Alright
Black Capricorn Day
Space Cowboy
Seven Days In Sunny June

The Kids

Deeper Underground

P/S: I'm pleasantly surprised that my post has been linked from Jamiroquai's official site here: http://www.jamiroquai.com Cool :)

More of Jay Kay's concert pictures at my flickr page!

My Photoshoot

Finally, a picture of my car. Its a Proton Satria GTi.

Proton Satria, (also called Proton Compact in the UK) is a sporty 3-door hatchback based on the Mitsubishi Colt. Proton gained a lot of valuable engineering knowledge from its takeover of Lotus which ultimately led to a special Lotus badged version of the Satria being produced; the Proton Satria GTi . This was Proton's attempt at the sporty, performance hatchback market. Very popular in Malaysia and has a large following in Australia and the UK.

Here are some of the performance mods:

• Mitsubishi Evolution III engine swap
  
• HKS F-CON V ECU
• HKS 272 deg camshafts
• HKS Slide campulley
• HKS titanium valve springs
• HKS Super Fire Racing iridium plugs
• HKS SSQV sequential BOV
• HKS 1.5bar boost meter
• HKS full auto turbo timer
• Sard fuel regulator
• Sard thermostat
• Sard magnetic oil sump nut
• Tomei 1.5mm metal head gasket
• TiAL 38mm wastegate
• Brian Crower titanium retainers
• Brian Crower +1mm valves (16)
  
• Apexi Power Intake air filter
• Bored valve seats
• Evo 3 oil cooler
• NGK ignition cables
• Power Enterprise kevlar timing belt
• Blitz Nur Spec 3inch muffler
• Custom 3inch exhaust system
• Samco intercooler connectors
• Thermo Tec thermal wrap
• Custom turbo manifold
• Custom intercooler
• Custom intercooler pipes
• HKS Kansai aluminium strut bar
• HWL Shocks
• Project Mu brake pads
• HWL Springs
• Mitsubishi Evo III slotted brakes
• Mitsubishi Evo III gearbox

More of my Satria GTi HERE

Sunday photoshoot

I had a chance to snap some photos yesterday. I almost nearly canceled it because it was raining heavily. Luckily the sky cleared up somewhat around 6+pm to reveal beautiful orange rays during sunset. For this photoshoot I invited my friend as the model (the car, that is). Shots were taken on a Canon EOS 450D using Canon's EF 50mm f/1.8 lens. Here are the pictures in HDR glory.

Aqiqah at Bidor, Perak

My sister in-law held an aqiqah for her baby recently at her hometown in Bidor, Perak. The ceremony was attended by the local village people. It was a pretty hot day but it all ran fine without a hitch.

One of the family members start cooking the old-school way the night before the ceremony.

Mmmmm... Donuts!

When I was buying groceries after work, I saw this donut place that my office mate told me about. Went into the place and wanted to order 3 donuts but I ended up with 6 donuts instead. In case you're counting the donuts in the picture, there's only 5 there. The 6th donut (Snow White) has been devoured by me :) It's a nice and cosy environment to relax and enjoy the donuts and boy, the donuts tastes real good! Good stuff...

Azlin & Hakim Happily Married on the 17th of January 2009

Went to Muar Town (also referred as Bandar Maharani) in Johor with 3 of my friends to attend a 'Kenduri Kahwin' of my long time friend, Azlin whom I have known since 1992. The ceremony was very lively with traditional Malay dancers entertaining the event. Azlin and her husband looked very elegant in their traditional Malay dress.

The Malay dancers with their colorful clothes and elaborate jewelries.

After attending our friend's wedding, we went to Tanjung Emas where we took some pictures.

The Sultan Ismail Mosque at Tanjung Agas.

We had some light snacks before heading for our early dinner.

Amy (left) and Miss J (right) posing for a glamour shot at Muar estuary :p

After the photoshoot, we went for 'Murtabak Singapura' located on the other side of Sungai Muar (Muar River), Tanjung Agas.

Amy (left), Miss J (center) and Naz (right) in front of Murtabak Singapura restaurant.

Moments before digging in... Murtabak originated in India or possibly the Middle East. The one we're having was made of minced beef, onion, garlic, lotsa eggs and some other spices.

The cook preparing the Murtabak. Note the ketchup dippings in front of the pan.