Walk

Today

Went for another walk today. Felt I needed to do something to kick off the slumberiness in me. Went to Jalan Kayu and took my Nex 7 and Sigma 30mm with me. Instead of walking along the main road,   I saw steps leading to somewhere I have never seen before. I went up and saw that it leads to an open patch of land. It seemed promising enough.

Patch of Land

Ferns

Prior to the start of the walk, I realised something I did not realise before. There is this one tree and it's covered with ferns. Huge birdnest and staghorn ferns. I took some pictures of those. Brought an inappropriate lens so I cannot really convey the actual size of them.

Ferns

Steps

I cannot believe it but I actually went up the steps. Right on top I saw the patch of land and a narrow, short path that leads to one end of Lorong Thanggam. I have not been here before, and I am getting truly excited. Saw some bougainvillea bushes and they were an assortment of colors. There was one with light purple flowers, one with yellow flowers and one with a deep purple hue. I took some pictures of them and realise that not many came out that nice.

Yellow Bougainvillea

Deep Purple Bougainvillea

Rochelle

I also saw some Rochelle plants. I know that my mother-in-law make this into a pleasant sweet drinks. I wished I could just pluck it off.

Rochelle

Lorong Samak

I went down Lorong Thanggam until I get to the corner of Lorong Samak and Jalan Kayu. It was there that I hope I took pictures which I hope can be worthy of the history books.

Jalan Kayu Color

Jalan Kayu, desaturated

Hope to take out my Olympus EP1 and a 45mm 1.8 tomorrow.

Slim

New toy

I have to stop this. I just got myself a new toy which is not that new. I got myself an ep3. It comes with the lens that you see here and another. A longer one. 

The seller gave me a dry box, an ill fitting leather half case, meant for the ep1 or ep2 and a circular polarizer. Don't care much for any of those.

The camera itself looks brand new. No scratches or dings of any kind. It is white. Somehow adam's black and chrome looks better. Anyway, I got 1 and if everything goes well.. I will have my first photo shoot with my son.. 

Slim

Sent from Samsung Mobile

Recap.

Doing a recap. Its only 10.00pm and I feel as though its 2.00 am.

Friday night... gamelan presentation

Saturday..  Drove to cck. Picked up adam at 12. Tuition until 4. Went for a picnic at 6. Left picnic area at 7.30. 

Sunday.. went for kfc breakfast. Went to punggol marina saw a drifting event. Went to sheng siong. Came back and had lunch.  Send mother in law back at 4.00. Had dinner at 7.00. 

Phew. Thats more events than the usual weekend routine. 

Slim

Sent from Samsung Mobile

Warming up.

Warming up., a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Went to a Gamelan presentation on Friday at SOTA. It was very enjoyable. The students were taught how to play the instruments over a 5 day period. Amazing! Audiences were encourage to walk around and experience the Gamelan culture from in front and behind the curtains. From what I know, audience in an actual Gamelan or Wayang Kulit presentation were allowed to walk to the front or to the back. Such presentation usually last for about 8 hours. This, thankfully, last about 110 minutes. Adam enjoyed himself tremendously. So did we.

Slim

Via Flickr:
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA EP2 with Panasonic 14-45. Black and white mode.

Let me go!

Let me go!, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

That is me. With Idris. We were at the playground. I sat on a what looked like a short wall and I held Idris. Idris, it seemed did not want to be held. And thus, this picture came about.

This was taken by Su and I absolutely love it.

Slim

Via Flickr:
Still want to play!
Nex 7 with Minolta 40mm f2.

Test Shot from EP2

Test Shot from EP2, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

I took this. My one and only Citizen watch. It seemed to have run out of juice today, so I wore it for it to have some sun.

Slim

Via Flickr:
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA EP2 with Panasonic 14-45

Some pics taken.

Using the Ep2 now.
I am liking it. The feeling and handling is very similar to the Ep1. The focussing is faster and the LCD is great. Here are some shot.

Citizen

Casio G7900

Citizen

As I intend to use this camera for my daily walks, I do not think I will be investing much more in this system. The Ep2 cost me $190. The lens cost me $180. Its the Panasonic 14-45.  I have also bought an Ep1 which cost me $80. The lens that is stuck onto it is the Olympus 14-45, which I got it for $110. I think that that will suffice.

Slim

Ep2

Got a new toy. Well, got several new toys. The latest if is panasonic 14-45 lens attached to an ep2. I am going to play with it some more and post up some pics soon.

Slim

Sent from Samsung Mobile

Decided

Decided to change to this watch after realizing it did not match my shirt.. 

Adam is asleep. Idris is not. Thats says alot of how one spent their psle marking days...

Came back from marketing. Had to wait in the car as I could not find an empty car park lot. Anyway idris was asleep in the back. Adam and fitri went marketing on their own.. Adam was excited when he came back telling stories about his experience. One of which was when a lady corrected his pronunciation of a particular fish..

Got to go. Idris getting restless.. 

Sent from Samsung Mobile

It was early

G7900

Early
It was an early start for me today. Su woke me up at 0620. I sent her to work and I am back before 0745. Had a bite and after writing this post will shower and get everybody ready for the market.
Need to buy fish and chicken and fresh curry spices. I love the spices from this stall at Bedok Market. It just taste, hmm inviting.

Wearing this red G Shock today, yesterday and the day before. Its big, but its light. But its bright orangey red. I am sure people will notice.

Walk
Decided to change my routine yesterday. Instead of going for a morning walk, I went for an evening walk after the afternoon tuition session. Went to Lorong Halus. Could not have been there at a better time. The setting sun was setting everything a glow. It was beautiful. Used my A65 with  Minolta 70-210 f4 and it was perfect. There were many pics which was beautiful but which I did not put them up. I should use the HI shooting rate less often. I took pictures of the Heliconias that were there and the lotus flowers. I wished I could get a lower angle but I was afraid that I could not get up after I went prone. Ha Ha.

My Champion and My Hero

Fetch Su
Went and met up with Wifey to bring her home and by that time, it was quite late. Reached home to hear the news that the Hero has been Biting my champion whenever the Champion said "NO" to him. Oh no. We went into "reactive" mode. We tried to teach the Hero on how to "sayang" the big brother. At first he was doing well. He ended up slapping his brother instead. The Champion, went "pasrah". He let his baby brother do to him what he wanted. We had an enjoyable end of day even, seeing that everybody else
took it as something cute. Me, I am not quite sure.

Start
Ok. I am going to start the day proper now. In Sya Allah, it will be full of berkat.

Slim

Just reach back

Wet day today. Felt very insecure while driving. The heavy rain reduced the visibility on the roads so much that I could only see the red tail lights of the cars in front as tiny red dots.

Manage to send su to work. Manage to pick up adam and mil from woodlands. Now at the car park... typing this and distressing.  A dark day. But a brand new day nonethelesss. 

For many, today is the day for fasting. For tomorrow is aidiladha.. My late mom and my father has managed to touch the earth where the kaabah stands. Alhamdulilah. If time and allah permits, may I do the same, with my wife and sons in tow.

Slim.

Sent from Samsung Mobile

New Branch

New Branch, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

I went for a walk today, and I went walking at Joo Chiat. I walked with my old friend and we took some pictures along the way. Yup, we did not walk far, but I did walk until I felt the strain.

I had Vietnamese coffee and it was an eye opener for my friend. Literally. 4 hours later he informed me that he is still up and up! I wished I had taken pictures of how the coffee was prepared. Anyway, we wanted to take pictures for this month's theme. My friend spotted this new branch and proceeded to snap away. I looked at it and at first decided not to take any pictures since he found it first. I then decided to have a go at it after he wonders why I would not take it. So I took it and I am glad I did.

I hope the caffein in the coffee has worn off. I want to sleep.

Dad is with me today. His wife went back to her kampung to prepare for Hari Raya Aidiladha. He will stay overnight and join us for breakfast tomorrow. He should be back on Monday night.

In Sya Allah...
Slim

Via Flickr:
Nex 7 with Nippon Kogaku 50mm f2

Photos from Idris and Fitri

Morning walk.

Heliconia Buds

11th Oct 2013
Just came back from my morning walk today. Did not manage to cover a great distance, but was active for about an hour. Went to Punggol Riverside with my Nex 7 and Nikkor 50mm 1.4. Leg was hurting before I walked but as I walked adn tried to walk in a normal gait, the hurt started to subside. It still hurts, but not enough to bother me.

Cloudy Day

Bird

Roof

It was a cloudy day. So did not manage to take great shots today. Found a new eating place that sells the normal, Jalan Kayu type of food. Might give it a go tomorrow or tonight. Its called PitStop. I like the idea and the concept, I hope it will last.

Slim

Pit Stop Logo

Pit Stop Menu

Pit Stop Sign

Pit Stop Interior

Idris is 74 cm tall

Brought Idris to the polyclinic today. Found out that he is 74 cm tall and weighs about 10kg. Did not require to see this doctor for this appointment and thus all we had was what the nurse said..
He is, fortunately in the 75% percentile. So, and I am just guessing, he is fine. His audio receptionary skills are fine, although you cannot know for sure if that is true, seeing he does not sleep when told to...

He went with wifey and wifey's mummy to pick big brother from school. It was so sweet to have big brother buying him a slice of watermelon for Idris. Idris loves watermelons.. But I do not know about you, but I found it sweeter when big bro chided the smaller one for not sharing the water melon. I guess everything is fine now.

At the car park, where my tutee stays. Reached here a bit too early. Another 3 minutes and it should be fine.

Slim

Just woke up.

Having breakfast now. Still feeling sleepy after a restless night. Adam is almost ready to go to school. I should still shower. Breakfast of diced potatoes fried with eggs just does not cut it anymore..

Slim

Tomorrow

Its Idris's appointment tomorrow at the polyclinic.  According to wifey,  a normal physical examinations. She is taking leave for tomorrow so I guess it is more important than she makes it out to be..

My mil is coming tomorrow. She will accompany us at the polyclinic tomorrow.

Adam having his malay paper tomorrow. Its his paper 1 which is creative writing. Hope he does well..

Its nearly 10pm. I need to shower. I need to turn in. I am so tired.

Slim

East coast

Drove to east coast food center today. Intended to get satay. Was shocked when the whole food center was covered in scaffolding and drapes. ..
Wished we had known that it was closed for renovation. The trip back home took us quite a while as traffic was quite heavy.

Slim

Clubsnap

Went to www.clubsnap.org today. Somebody posted about using m42 lenses on an alpha body. I have been doing that for years now. Its great!

Doing his Stuff

Doing his stuff!

Tampines Mall
Adam has been pestering me to bring him to Tampines Mall. He has some vouchers to spend and he want to spend it in a Capitaland Mall. Syukur, I went and research as in which Malls are part of the Capitaland Mall. If not, I would have ended up in Compass Point.

Trying his best
He is trying his best to complete his homework. He has Malay and English homework for today. He does not have his Math homework as his Math teacher is on reservist duty. I guess, it will snowballed and crashed on him soon enough.

Fetching Su
Its 10 minutes after 4. I have to leave by 5 to fetch Su back home. I do not think Tampines Mall is possible today.

Sorry pal.
Slim

Bedok Reservoir Park

Bedok Reservoir Park, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Instead of going for a morning walk today, I went for a lunch hour walk. I could not go far, but I did walk.
I went to Bedok Reservoir Park. The last time, I actually walked on the track must have been in 1990.
Anyway, the sun was shining brightly and I began to prespire even when I am not exerting myself.
I did took a few snaps but most were so bland and boring. Enjoy this one.
Slim

Via Flickr:
A65 with Minolta 28mm 2.8

G5600

G5600, a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

Yes, I bought another one. This time, I hope it will be the beater I am looking for. Its light, and not that obtrusive. This is a g5600. It has solar but no multiband. I am thinking whether I should get the GWM-5600. That has multiband but that will cost me $148. This G5600 cost me $92. Thats a good $50 more.
I bought another G5600 but that is for my son. It is metallic blue and yes, it does look good on my wrist. I would not consider that as a beater, as that looks quite delicate. I take pictures of it soon enough.

Via Flickr:
And not the latest. Nex 7 with contax 45mm f2

Bought another g shock

DW-9052

But more on that later.,
I have more than 10 in my collection now. And I love every single one of them. But my quest for a beater still continues. I want a low maintenance watch. No solar, no multiband and cheap. I want it black. The problem arises when I look for all or one of the above for my collections. I can't help looking at the charged indicator on those which have the tough solar capabilities. And the others are just too expensive to be considered a beater.

I think
I think I may have found the answer, which should clear me of my sickness to getting new shocks. It belongs to my son and its the dw9052 model...

Its blue, its the cheapest of all the shocks in my collection and it bare bones in terms of it capabilities. It has no solar function and no multiband function. 5 or 6 or whatever. When I am wearing this, I do not have to worry about putting my hand in direct sunlight for it to be charged. And I think the size fits me perfectly. I don't feel it when I wear it and definitely, the LCD is so much clearer than the some of the other models.

I think I got it!

Slim

Went for a walk today.

Today
Went for a walk today. And this time, I brought my trusty nex 7 with me. Took some pictures, of drains and drain covers and the leaves that were on top of the drain cover. I was so happy I did. Spent about an hour today, but I went home happy. I went into a garden, tended by a Mr Lee and I was so happy taking pictures of the "fruits of his labour". Geddit? There were winter melons, passion fruit and so also kedon dong.

3some

The Kedon Dongs.
The kedon dongs are usually pickled and can be said to be very fibrous when riped. Its sour and I usually eat this with a sprinkling of salt. The fruits are what I eat during my child hood days. And as I munch on the two of them, I fondly remembers the first time I ate. It was when I was living in Bedok and when I was around 9 years old. At that time, these Kedon Dong was pickled in brine. There was also pickled papayas, which I simply loved.

The Winter Melons
Mr Lee was very excited to show me the huge winter melon. It was big. But the test is in the taste, but in that respect, he did not allow me to test it. Oh well, maybe next time, I get luckier. Enjoy the rest of the pictures.

Slim

Red Tulip

Half Eaten, Sedap!

Baby Winter Melon

A bunch of Kedon-Dong

Passion fruit

Tomatoes

Winte Melon

Sparkle.

Sparkle., a photo by Nor Salman on Flickr.

New
My neighbour has just gotten a new dog. She named her Sparkle. Her pet of more than 10 years has passed away and she was very affected by the loss. I know, nothing can replace the ones that has passed, but hopefully, this new dog can open a new chapter as the old one closess.

Bark
This new dog, is not really a young dog. She is 13 years old. Even then, she is a playful dog. When she first arrived, she will bark at me whenever I walk pass the house. Today, instead of walking off, I stood in front of the house and I observed. Although she was growling and barking, I noticed that she was wagging her tail. I decided to come again.

By the way, I have never dealt with dogs. Being a Muslim, I don't keep dogs and even though I am discouraged from touching them, I think, like us, they are Allah's creatures.

The next time
I came over again a few hours later and I stood at the front door. My neighbour came and we chatted. I told her that maybe the reason that Sparkle barked at me is that she is not sure of who I am. So we chatted and no sooner that we started chatting, she stopped barking and brought her stuff toy to me. She dropped it in front of me and I gingerly threw it away from her, asking her to fetch. I hope she did, because after that, I went away for my walk.

After the next time
I came back from my walk, and I realised that there was no more barking. Perhaps it was because she may not be at home, or perhaps, I am not being threatening. I hope it was the latter.

Oh well, life is short, make the most out of it.
Slim

Via Flickr:
A neighbour's dog. Nex 7 with Contax 45mm f2