Everybody knows...

'Cause everybody knows

That nobody really knows how to make it work

Or how to ease the hurt

We've heard it all before

Everybody knows how to make it right

I wish we gave it one more try...

Thanks to Azfar for introducing this song to me. He's got some good tunes playing at his blog. I personally love his taste in music... :)

Oh, no! Not another Yasmin Ahmad tribute..??!

Oh, yes... So read it or leave it!

(the wasurenagusa- courtesy of kmitoh2.blogzine.jp)

I am neither family nor friend, but there is an aching emptiness inside me at the thought of her being gone. It may seem weird but the song 'Selamanya' by Anggun would best describe my feelings.

Her view of life has made an indelible mark on mine. I love her stories, look forward to each new one and know that I will always go away satisfied after.

But what made the most impression on me was how devoted she was to her parents, and how humble she was before Allah. To her parents, I am sure, no better child has ever existed. She is my idol in this regard. She left me fervently wishing that I could emulate her example.

Ironically, the story she was currently in the process of completing is entitled 'Wasurenagusa'- Japanese for the 'forget me not' flower.

It was as if she knew what was coming.

Daijyobu Yasmin-san, we definitely will remember you...

Berubah angin...

Erm... kawan-kawan,

Ada sesiapa yang berminat untuk membeli digicam Sony Cybershot model lama (DSC-V1) dengan SLR function?

Aku terasa keperluan untuk menebus kembali sedikit modal akibat daripada keputusan yang telah diambil untuk berubah angin beberapa hari yang lepas...

Jika ada, sila beritahu ye? Terima kasih! :)

Keluarga di sana sini...

Weekend kali ni sibuk dengan hal keluarga...

Dekat kul 10.00 pagi kami bertolak ke Alor Gajah memenuhi jemputan keluarga di sana.

Makcik aku kawin. Panggil makcik pun ikut pangkat jer, jauh lagi muda dari aku sebenarnye...

Ni mak dia, Nek Ngah aku. Cukup liat nak amik gambo dia! Dah tu macam ada deria keenam lak- time orang elok-elok nak amik gambo jer terus dia kalih... :P

Meriah gak majlis, siap ada YB datang sume...

Lepas tu terus ke Port Dickson lak for a different sort of 'family' gathering. Ape lagi, Hari Keluarga Jabatan aku ler...

Acara dimulakan dengan poco-poco yang selayaknye aku panggil tarian cacamarba aje... Keras kejung sungguh bebudak jabatan aku ni ropanyer!

Ada gak event untuk budak kecik- antaranye tiup belon paling beso dan lumba lari dalam air.

Lepas tu baru lak game untuk mak pak budak! Dimulakan dengan Terompah Gergasi!

Charlie Chaplin- ish, hazab tul berlumba camni tau! Kena pakai sarong, topi, pegang payung... Dah tu kena kepit bola celah kangkang lagi!

Phua Chu Kang pun ade! Ko pakai ler but tu, gi masuk swimming pool kumpul air dalam but pas tu tuang air kat but tu dalam besen. Paras air dalam besen paling tinggi menang...

Lepas tu lumba naik pelampung gajah lak! Macam-macam tul akal manusia ni kalau nak pedajal orang kan?

Ada lagi 2-3 event yang aku tak dapat shoot... sebab aku pun kena pedajal gak!!! :P

Malamnye, dinner! Sebagaimana korang nampak alas meja tu, tema malam tu adalah 'Batik & Kontemporari'...

Makan malam (yang agak mengecewakan dari segi kualiti dan kepelbagaian) diselang-seli beberapa acara lagi- ni musical chairs untuk bebudak...

Ada pertandingan karaoke dan lucky draw. Beriya brader ni tarik lagu 'Lamunan Terhenti'- sedap bole tahan...

Orang tua pun tak mo kalah ni, ikut main musical chairs!

Lewat majlis selesai, dekat 11.30 malam camtu. Ada sampai tersengguk menunggukan habis...

Ciannn dia... Dapat tido kat riba mak pun jadi lar...

Esok paginye sarapan! Adeh... tetap kureng ler juadah yang dihidang...

Walaupun cukup syukur dapat makan, namun kurang berbaloi dengan harga yang dibayar. Salah sorang member keja aku yang biasa buat part time sebagai waiter pun perasan gak segala kekurangan dan dok bising komplen tak sudah!

Aku rasa puncanye sebab banyak sangat orang buat event serentak kali ni. Kalau tak silap congak, ada dalam 3-4 lagi event selain kami!

Ni anak Melayu tengah makan sarapan...

Ni lak anak mat salleh mana ntah... :P

Lepas sarapan tu free and easy. Ikut suka ler nak buat pe pun!

Ada yang ronda-ronda keliling resort naik beskal...

...tapi tarikan utama tetap ler kolam renang dia yang luas dan pelbagai tu!

Untuk dewasa ada, untuk budak ada, untuk orang yang adventurous pun siap ada water slide bagai. Cuma tak ler segrand A' Famosa ke, Desa Waterpark ke (kan Abang Apai, kan?)...

Sebelum menutup entry, seperti tahun lepas, aku nak highlight buah hati aku yang sorang ni- Syukri!

Syukri ni anak member keja aku. Langsung takde kaitan dengan aku tapi ni ler antara 'anak buah' faveret aku.

Comelnyer!!! Ish, nanti panjang umo insyaAllah, Raya ler baru dapat jupe dia semula... :'(

Exercising my lens...

After spending half a day stock taking last Saturday, I decided to blow off some steam at the Secret Garden, 1 Utama.

Which means... lagi-lagi gambo takde makne buat tatapan korang!!! Muahaha!

Admission is free but you need to get a pass from the Ground Floor Information Counter at High Street. This ensures that only a maximum of a 100 pax can clog up the place at any one hour.

You can smell the green as well as the subtle fragrances of the blooms upon arrival at the Upper Roof elevator lobby.

Other than relax, this visit allowed me to practice adjusting my shots manually. I really need to learn to make split second adjustments based on surrounding conditions.

Otherwise I'll be too dependent on the cam's auto function and not dare take that next step- buying one of those RM3k plus DSLR cameras.

It's really tough though. This time, I've fixed the lens opening to the smallest available value while concentrating on playing with the exposure time and focus.

In my opinion, a good shot is one where we, as the photographer, are satisfied with the result as is. No editing needed whatsoever.

A viewer's opinion is secondary as there's no way we can satisfy everyone. But if the image you captured manage to evoke some sort of emotion from most of the observers, that's a bonus :)

Another challenge is capturing the unusual in the ordinary.

Take these bunga raya for example. They are common, common, common (what with it being the national flower and all...). So how to shoot it in a way that make us sit up and take notice?

As you can see, I failed here. They look just like any other bunga raya. Well, better luck next time :P

And luck does play a big part in a shot. The light falling on a subject a certain way, a hat being blown away by the wind, a bird landing and cleaning it's feathers by a shallow pool...

All are chance!

So it's up to us, who love taking pictures, to capture that moment that would otherwise pass unnoticed by others...