My driving test is coming within 2 hours time. I am slightly nervous but it is ok. Driving has taught me a lot about my own character. It revealed many of my weakness like over-thinking, assumptions and low performance under pressure. Funny how something so mundane can teach me so much.

No matter what it is, love, life, career, whatever. It is a process of keeping on. All of these are not meaningful if I don't keep on doing. Love someone or something each day more than the last; Living harder and living stronger every moment; Do whatever you love with more passion and experience than ever before. With that in mind, it is guaranteed that I will live a fulfilling life. Trying whatever that I've never tried before with others in mind while doing it.

Just spent an hour or so optimizing this blog and I shaved down about 2.5MB of loaded info per page. This should increase loading speed somewhat significantly. I also redid the logo and I hope everyone would like it.

Red meat + alcohol is an undeniably the most attractive food combination for any man, even if it is a really weird combination of red meat + alcohol. You see, the red meat is normal red meat BBQed with butter. But the alcohol is some really strong rum ice-cream. The ice-cream was good, tiramisu rum. Though the alcohol is a little too strong, the taste of chocolate and milk manage to seep through barely from behind it. And the rum gives a really strange nutty, date-like after taste. But all in all, great meal!

I went through the photos I took during my Japanese buffet, nothing really great so I'm not uploading them. Wish myself better luck next time! Hahahahaha!

The new Duckling shot! Crystal is all about form and calmness, keeping its resolve even in utter hopelessness (therefore the darkness of the environment). Duckling is more like a dream, an ugly duckling wishing to become a beautiful swan. The last shot was just an ordinary macro. This one packs more feelings. The water, the sunset, Duckling's field of vision. It wishes to fly!

I also experimented with my flash, but in the end, it was the shots that don't have flash truly shined. Guess I'm still not good enough with it. It's just so very hard to make the light look natural especially in shots that have the primary light within the frame (in this case the sun). Well, better luck next time.

Please click on the picture to enlarge it and read the text.

Ok, good. Here is a man who avoided direct confrontation and at the same time scared the crap out of his "opponent". While frontal confrontation may work out, a non-frontal approach like this one require much more grace and intelligence. It's something for everyone to learn from.

Just completed editing my Duckling round 2, feeling ok about it although it's not fantastic. I will upload it next week as I am a little lazy to do all the conversions. I will continue my next one which is Biscuit soon enough...... DARN, I LEFT MY DUCKLING IN MY TROUSERS AND IT IS...... not washed yet... Phew...

Hm... I think I should start writing in a more serious tone before my blog is reduced to something purely about whining. In fact, I am going to remove the whiner posts I've posted before. Well, we'll see. And I will start writing in Chinese once in a while too I think.

Tomorrow I have two important tasks to do. In the morning, I will photograph the White Chocolate Biscuit using morning light while in the afternoon, I will use sunset near the reservoir to photograph Duckling again. I'm not very happy with the last shot and I'm trying it again. Wish me luck!

And after typing this, I totally forgot about what I want to say about calling and family. Well, next time! Ciao!

My computer died yesterday, totally and completely dead. While there is still power, nothing responds or reacts. I think it's motherboard. Anyway, to continue with my translation job unhindered, my parents and I went to Simlim Square yesterday night looking for a quick fix. At the cost of about 1k, I procured a motherboard, a CPU and a casing. Then I spent the whole night reinstalling everything.

Honestly though, I believe that we paid a little too much, probably about 100 more than what we should. But hey, we forced them to work overtime. Hahahahaha! Anyway, my little baby that was once mainly glowing blue is now mainly glowing red! From a cool pond of water to a fiery blaze! Oh here we come! Muahahahahaha!

Oh and a little quote I made up for Valentine when I was reading a photography book.

Love is like light, you can only see it when it's reflected off someone else.

Neat, huh?

Today (yesterday) is a sad yet fantastic day. We're holding a "Never Say Goodbye (something like this I think)" party for Jeremy who is leaving for US soon.


I really hope he does fine there. Then again, he has his family with him so I guess everything will be alright.

Sometimes I really wonder if it is my sense of "fun" is wrong or is it others' because I find it disturbing how "harm" can become funny. Maybe it's because I've been on the receiving end of things "done for fun" that really hurt me? Maybe I'm too serious? I don't know but I really can't handle something like Jackass as "fun" or "funny". Maybe it's just me.

And I consider this picture of Bean made of beans highly entertaining and creative. Maybe it's just me.

Anyway, going to have my first attempt of making rosti tomorrow. Slightly worried about the outcome but hey, I'm a good copier, a recipe is all I need. The requirement to serve immediately will be a little troublesome though. Wonder if I can reheat on grill fire.

Bought some chocolate and a lot of books today. I feel real sad for PageOne as it's closing down. But hey, there is price to pay as internet shopping is getting more and more popular. When the new comes, the old got to go. We have no choice over it. There are a lot of fantastic architecture books. I bought about $100 worth of it. Happy yet a little sad.

And here is my Duckling.


One day it will become a swan.

Some news! The new 24-70 2.8L II is on its way out. Fortunately it's not too expensive and that means 24-70 2.8L's price will drop. REJOICE! Tamaron's coming out its own 24-70 2.8 too. Looking forward to them all! I can already imagine myself holding a nearly new 24-70 2.8L with about 1.3k of expenditure. Mmmmmmmm! Muahahahahaha!

But in that's not important. While I really do want to cover my wide angle & sub-telephoto range, I have ran into some trouble with photography. It seems that while I've been snapping away, I lost something. I lost my passion and motive that's been driving me on in the past few months. Thinking back, I lost it near Christmas period after shooting a few shots for Julia. I think it made me love portrait so much that I've totally lost interest in other forms of photography. Anyway, I'll get my chances on that. In the mean time, I'll use the Duckling as my subject!

Sometimes, all one seeks is someone who understands. Because everyone leaves, EVERYONE bloody leaves. Why must people leave? Why can't they stay? Why can't the people I like, I love, I appreciate, stay? It's like a bloody stupid joke. I'm not even asking to be appreciated or liked in return. I just wish to be together with everyone. I don't want to leave. Neither do I want anyone to leave. I've been through this once. I don't want to go through it again neither do I wish anyone else to go through it. Yet I cannot deny their fate. I know He planned something great for them, for me. This is a necessary step in their journey of life. But I just cannot accept it, the pain...

I don't enjoy winning, winning is no fun at all. I wish I can see the beauty of nature, of people, of objects. I wish to help them become stronger, more powerful, better people. No, not because I'm some sort of saintly person. But out of selfishness. Seeing happiness is the only way for me to be happy. I want to capture it, build it, present it to other people. It is the only right thing to do in my world. Or maybe, I'm just making it up, lying to myself.

Hahahahahahaha! Who knows? Who cares?

The burning desire to live and roam free
It shines in the dark and it grows within me
You're holding my hand but you don't understand
So where I'm going you won't be in the end


I'm dreaming in colors of getting the chance
Dreaming of trying the perfect romance
In search of the door to open your mind
In search of the cure of mankind


Help us, we're drowning
So close up inside


Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia?
Why does it have to kill the idea of who we are?
Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia?
How will the lights die down telling us who we are?


I'm searching for answers not given for free
You're hurting inside, is there life within me?
You're holding my hand but you don't understand
You're taking the road all alone in the end


I'm dreaming in colors, no boundaries are there
I'm dreaming the dream and I'll sing to share
In search of the door to open your mind
In search of the cure of mankind


Help us, we're drowning
So close up inside


Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia?
Why does it have to kill the idea of who we are?
Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia?
How will the lights die down telling us who we are?


Why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia?
Why does it have to kill the idea of who we are?
Oh, why does it rain, rain, rain down on Utopia?
How will the lights die down telling us who we are?
Why does it rain?

A major lesson learned today: Even with 1% chance, put in 100% effort! And say no to pornography! Ahahahahahaha!