My Leisure Shots

Doing photography at your own leisure pace sometimes could be very enjoyable. To prove my point, I did these shots today just to please myself in terms of lighting and camera control. All these subjects were 24 inches movable human figures that I have bought years ago.

The shots came out with surprising visual outputs. Who needs to get real models if we could do it with this little toys.

Feast of Colors

Nothing is better to have your eyes feast with colors, especially colors from nature. Every time I go to the Bird Park, or bird sanctuary, my mood would swing to happy and cheerful side.

These photos were taken with my new toy, Canon 50D in a rainy day at Sungei Buroh and Bird Park. The camera really is fantastic, comparing with my old Canon 10D.

The Shooting Star

When I looked at the shooting star, it gave me lots of thoughts. The thoughts about life, about ourselves.

I am lucky to live to this age, but there were lots of people who did not have such luxury, and they left us on the path we have walked through. My younger brother Kwok Weng (谢国荣) was one of them. He passed away at the age of eleven. Recently, I heard that one of my young friends, his elder brother also passed away at the prime time of his life. It makes me think harder, what is the true meaning of life.

Sometimes, we are toxicated by the social structure and rules, and we think as long as we live in these conditions, it would be meaningful; or so called contributed to the society. But have we really think deeply that all these really contributed to our REAL life??

Life is to serve others? Life is to sacrifice? To obtain name and frame, are these really has impact on our quality of life?

I always tell my friends and members of my family, I would rather live a life and have my last breath with a smile; then to hang on with a tortured expression on the face. Since I walked through my sixty, I have chosen to live the way I wished to be, and not to anyone else expectation. I treasure everyday of my life, and refused it to be manipulated by others.

When I was young, I read a story about someone who sold his soul to Satan in exchange for something. I thought it was only a story. I never realize that it happens in real life too.

I have a so called 'Friend', who was with me for many donkey years, he could hide his real self so cleverly that I would never expect he could do things that I would not be able to imagine. Only in these few years, from observing his behavior, I have come to a conclusion that he had sold his soul to the Satan. He is a wolf with a sheep skin. One who doesn't know him well, would easily get mislead by his big big smiles.

He makes me think of those traitors during the Wars, who can sell his own country to the enemy. He sold his friendships to achieve what he wanted. Similarity right? All for one reason: For his own benefits.

I despise people who plays with one's emotion and sucks on it. This is a low and dirty trick!

洋蒲桃
Syzygium samarangense

Syzygium samarangense, the wax jambu, is a productive tropical fruit tree in the guava family (Myrtaceae). The fruits are pear to bell shaped, about 2 inches in diameter, and may be red, pink, white, green or brown, with a snow white, juicy pulp. Some types are a little watery or spongy, but others are quite sweet, juicy and flavorful, especially when tree ripened(extracted from http://www.montosogardens.com/syzygium_samarangense.htm).

The local always call this fruit as 'Shui Weng 水翁' which is a mistake. The proper name in Chinese is 洋蒲桃. 水翁 in fact is another plant, it's scientific name is Cleistocalyx operculatus.

Two days ago I went to Pahang with Vanessa. In her parents' house there was a plant of Syzygium samarangense. I witnessed the flowers and fruits on the same plant. For Singaporean kids, I believe most of them in these days, they would not be able to see such beautiful and tasty fruits. I took these photographs just for records and memory.

Last week, I took a photograph from the kitchen's window before the storm arrived. To my surprise, when I downloaded the shot and displayed on my computer screen, I found a face in the formations of the cloud (Circled in RED). Any kind soul would like to comment on this photograph?

Emptiness

Pouring it from the jar

With greatest care

The emptiness flows with all forms and shapes

The receiving vessel

With thousand holes

Holding the great source of Emptiness

Breeze whistles among leaves

Lights needle through

Space of nothingness

Life is only a process of passing

In the stream of time

Along with

Emptiness

At its end

(Written by Chia Kwek Fah, Nov 2008)

上一回走伟奇路，应该是五十年前的事矣。一想起當年景，不尽心酸不己。事因当时是应母亲的吩咐，每天风雨不改的带大弟国榮去三山小学上课。每天都得徒步走这長長的上山路。还记得当時如果天气炎热，一路还有蝉声相随。无奈上蒼弄人，大弟在他十岁时，不幸患上无名病症，逝於当時的中央医院。我也失去了兒時玩伴。因他只小我一岁。

Last time I walked Wikie Road (Behind Selegie Road), it was about fifty years ago. Today, I wanted to view a Photography Exhibition that was house at 11 Mount Sophia Road, I have to walk through it. As I took my slow stroll, lots of old memories and heartaches oozed from the past. Went I was young then, my mum used to ask me to fetch my younger brother Kok Weng to Shan San Primary School, which was located at the end of Wikie Road (Now opposite St. Margerate Primary). I still can recall if the weather was hot, we could hear cicadas screeching along the path we walked. But good days did not last long, my brother, Kok Weng died at the age of 10 with an unknown disease at General Hospital. I lost my dearest childhood playmate; as he was only one year younger than me.



这里所拍的景，大多是今日沿着伟奇路所拍的。上途红色小屋是苏菲亞路十号对面的屋子。它的外形独特，古雅中带一絲妖艳。下图是前南華小学的旧址。五十年来它甚少变換。我的小学同学楊亮遠，与当时的南華前校長楊女士还是亲戚关系呢！当时每日必定和大弟在它面前走过。

下图这屋子应该是我長大后，屋主翻新老屋再重建的吧，很有韵味的一座小屋。还命名为宁居。实在有意思。
This unique house must be rebuilt under the new owner; it has an interesting outlook.


这基督教教堂，也有五十年的历史了。自我懂事，它己矗立在那里。
This church was at the junction of Wikie Road and Niven Road, as far as I am concerned, it was there when I was as young as seven years old.

Obama finally made it to the US President post. In his speech, he mentioned that the old American dream still lived on, and America is a real democratic country.

To me, he is voted in as the President of USA, that is the fact. But the other things he mentioned, have yet to be proven. Putting a minority as the head of a big nation, may not be easily accepted by some people. I can foresee there will be some forms of resistance rise from the society later.

As for Obama himself, if he take on the job fair and squarely, he would get the support from his people. But if he choose to slant a little, then there will be lots of unrest in the society.

This is why Bush said: May God bless him.

Health Talk on 'Heart Rate and Exercise'
This is a clip from YouTube with doctor talking about heart rate and exercise. I believe the clip is beneficial to people who are concerned with their health.

There are lots of written materials in this area, read more about it, would help you to improve the quality of your life.

Whiteness

Sometimes colour would influence someone's emotion. I am very sensitive to colours. Whenever there is a cloudy day, I will feel extremely uneasy and moody. Lots of unpleasant things would happen to me on that day.

But if I see something that is white, such as the white flower above, I would feel happy, pure, and lighthearted. If lady is in this whiteness, I think I would be drown by her glowing colour and gradients.

No wonder all brides will wear white during her big day!

Sometimes, due to personal perception, we tend to neglect or dislike things around us. If we could open our eyes as well as mind, and look hard enough at things, we may see things in a different view, understand the world better than before.

Like or dislike is a state in mind, we could change it, if we choose to. Unfortunately, people tend to stick to their own opinion; and conflicts and fights begin.

Tonight, a beetle flew into my kitchen area. If on other days, I would not hesitate to use an insecticide to spray at it, and end its life. But tonight, a straight thought ran through my mind: Why can't I have a better look at it?

So I captured it with my compact camera and released it after that. Straight right?
May be I am insane, er?

If I tell you: We became the IKEA 2009 Cover Models, would you belief me?
The answer is in your own mind.

Ha ha.

By the way, this is a real cover, nothing to do with Photoshop techniques. Those friends in the cover would agree to this statement totally.

This is the moon photo that I have taken months ago, with my Canon 10D, 70-300mm IS USM lens with 1.2x tele-converter.
The outcome was very outstanding, I could not believe with such simple set up could capture the craters hundreds of miles from us.

这是一張我自拍的月球表面像片。自己实在不敢相信自己有如此本事，连月表的火山口也拍了下来。我用的只是佳能10D型相机。加上一组75-300mm, IS USM镜头而己。呵，忘了。还加上一个一点二倍的增距镜。效果竟如此令人咋舌！怕怕。

What Is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), also known as sudden cardiac death, is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When this occurs, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA usually causes death if not treated in minutes.

The heart has an internal electrical system that controls the rhythm of the heartbeat. Problems with the electrical system can cause abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs). There are many types of arrhythmia. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or it can stop beating. SCA occurs when the heart develops an arrhythmia that causes it to stop beating.

SCA is not the same thing as a heart attack. A heart attack is a problem with blocked blood flow to a part of the heart muscle. In a heart attack, the heart usually does not suddenly stop beating. SCA, however, may happen during recovery from a heart attack.

People with heart disease have a higher chance of having SCA. But most SCAs happen in people who appear healthy and have no known heart disease or other risk factors for SCA.

Outlook

Ninety-five percent of people who have SCA die from it, most within minutes. Rapid treatment of SCA with a device that sends an electrical shock to the heart (called a defibrillator) can be lifesaving. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which are often found in public places like airports and office buildings, can be used to save the lives of people having SCAs.
(extracted from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/scda/scda_whatis.html)

More and more people in Singapore has gone down with sudden cardiac arrest. They were the people at large, some were athletes, some professionals too. To understand this problem and to prevent it to happen to us, could help our love ones live more happily. It also help ourselves to have a better quality of life.

The following clip is taken from YouTube, with Dr Wu giving very detail discussion in this area. The clip is half an hour long, be patient while it is buffering, but it is worth to listen.

Canon 5D Mark 2

I waited very long for this model of camera to be released by Canon. Finally, today my son Kelvin message me that it is released in US. This could be the ideal camera for most of the serious photographers who would not spend too much of money for Canon 1D series. By reading its specifications, I noticed Canon has made lots of improvement to this model. By the way, it is using Canon's new gadget Digi 4 to process captured image.

Can't wait for it to be in Singapore and have a grip on it.

The only disappointment is: It does not have attached built-in flash. Which could be crumble-some to bring along an extra heavy flash in traveling. By the way, the body itself was listed as US 2599.00

Hooray, this is my dream camera!

Local Musical Talents

Today, 7th September 2008, I went to Fast East Shopping Centre to take my lunch. After my lunch, as I walked out from the eating house, I heard live music playing at the lobby of the centre. I took the escalator to the ground floor, and found a band playing beautiful music there. It was a free performance. I sat and read the given brochure, and I realised that it was a performance related to the International Guitar Festival.

The band playing is name 'Sham and Hassan'. They sang sentimental oldies in English, popular songs in Italian and Spanish. I was entertained for an hour of beautiful happy music with no cost!

Amazingly, I noticed this band really has standard, especially the male singer. His voice is on the high notes, but it was smooth and clear. The drumer played in a very light hearted but creative way. The other base guitarist is good in fast fingering techniques. Three man team could play such entertaining music is really fantastic. A big group of audience sat quietly and give their ears a feast of soothing notes at this lunch hour.

Exercise with your heart in mind

Today, when I was in the gym doing my routine workout, someone suddenly passed out during his exercise. Though he recovered later, but he could not continue his exercise, and needed to go home for rest.

To my knowledge, his condition could be one of the followings:
1. He might have a heart problem, where he does not know about it.
2. He might be a low blood pressure person.
3. He might lost too much of water from his body.
4. He might be short of oxygen in his body and caused the brain to shut off for awhile.

Anyway, one thing for sure, this person may not aware of his physical conditions; and do not really understand the exercise principles. He looks big in size and tall physically, but slightly on the plumb side.

Lots of people who go exercise very often do not take their heart condition into consideration. In fact, anyone who is over 40s, should get a specialist doctor to check his heart condition before carrying out any exercise, especially those involve in heavy physical movement activities.

The heart rate record below is my own on today's exercise. Look at the right hand corner you would see 4 peaks reaching 150 bits per minute. That was the time I did my deadlifts. Just imagine what if you have a weak heart and subject your heart to this rate of beating? By the way my maximum heart rate is 158, and my ideal exercise heart rate should not be more than 110, which is 70% of my maximum heart rate. As I know my own exercise condition, I usually working on 130 to 140 within an hour. Therefore, once a blue moon, I push it a bit harder. But one should also be aware that I do give recovery time for heart rate to be lower down before I go for next exercise.

Therefore, in my opinion, one should take your heart with you when you go for exercise. Building up muscle groups without take care of your heart, you may end up in a package! : )

The Purpose of doing Sport

Watching the progress of Olympic Games these days, one question always pops up in my mind, when I watched the athletes performing in their event there: Is this all about sport?

If I am not wrong, I remember the President of World Olympic Council did mentioned in his opening speech that he wished all the athletes would do their best with sporting spirit, under the concept of fairplay and most of all ENJOY the Games.

The key word is ENJOYMENT.

These days, people are targeting at achievement. As if achievement is everything in sport, so much as the original meaning of participating sport is distorted. No doubt, achievement does enhance the status of elite athletes. But please remember, the majority of people participating sports, they are NOT elite players.

Then, does a coach only focus on performance or achievement on his athletes? Where is the practical value of SPORTS FOR ALL?

What an achievement for Singapore table tennis (ladies) team! They already gotten the Silver Medal in their event at the Beijing Olympics 2008, if luck is to Singapore, they may even has the chance to get a Gold for Singapore.

Anyway, it has been a long long time for Singapore to get a medal from Olympics. We should be very proud of this group of ladies.

Viva Singapore!

The Peking Olympic 2008 Opening Ceremony

From the direct telecast, we witnessed a great country demonstrated her strength, wealth, most of all, the talents of her people.

I believed most of us who witnessed the events happening in front of the TVs, would be amazed by the efforts these people did for their nation.

The Opening Ceremony showed a mixture of art, music, culture, drama and the main essence of Olympic, that is Harmony (和). We saw how the art director transfered few thousands of Chinese achievements in less than a hour artistic performance. We witnessed the use of advance stage crafts in these performance. If the people there are 'Block minded', they would not have these performance. They showed creativity to the fullest in their capacity.

China has being waiting for this opportunity to organize the Games. She has made sure that this Opening Ceremony would have the world the greatest visual impact. She has done it! The world applauses her efforts.

The Light hearted side of Olympic Games

Peking Olympic Games is just round the corner; all sport enthusiastic would be watching the Games on the venue itself, or through TV channels all over the world. The Games are all for fair play and sporting spirits; at the same time to build friendships.

I found this mime act in the Web which is some degrees related to Olympic Games. This might be the light hearted side of the Games, if you take it as a joke.

Mr. Leong Yoon PinMr. Leong is one of the pioneer composer of Singapore Musical Arena.

Information from the Web stated: One of Singapore's best-known pioneering composers, Leong Yoon Pin completed his graduate and higher degree studies at the Guildhall School of Music and the University of Newcastle upon Tyne respectively. Leong has served as the Head of Music Dept of the Institute of Education, resident conductor of the Singapore National Orchestra and Chairman of the Singapore Composers' Circle. He is currently music arts advisor to the National Arts Council, artistic consultant to the Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, the Substation and the Practice Performing Arts School. In 1982 he was awarded the prestigious Cultural Medallion for outstanding achievements in and contribution to music in Singapore. Leong also holds the distinguished honour of being the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's first composer-in-residence.

Mr. Leong is 77 years old today, he is still very active in the musical scenes. I have the pleasure to meet up with him today, and have a long chat with our pioneer music maker. He is still very involved with his music creation, despite of some hearing difficulties.

He has written a song entitled 'Marine Parade' with my poem as lyric, some twenty over years ago. He managed to get my contact and told me that he would like to meet me in person and give me a copy of this piece of work. I was honored when I heard his request, and agreed without hesitation.

Meeting up with him really is an enjoyment in life. We talked about aging, about music, about culture. We had a peaceful but rewarding session, even though this is the first time we met.

Following is the piece of work 'Marine Parade' by Mr. Leong Yoon Pin. I have his permission to upload it here.

If you are an animal lover, you will be charmed by these people. Hope you will enjoy it.

2008 Singapore Flower Show

Every year I would not miss this golden opportunity, as I know I would be feasted with colours and shapes in this Show. This year, I went on the second day of the show. It still has it charm and attractiveness.

The following are some photos that I have taken with my handphone. The resolutions and sharpness could not compare with the digital SLR, kindly tolerate.

This is a theme for the 2008 Peking Olympics!

A old style kampong house set up.

Spectrum of colours.

I personally like this white orchid.

This is a shot at the exhibition hall. The crowd is not soon busy on Saturday night, strange!