Is Photography Dead ...

"Is Photography Dead? The last art form to be tethered to realism, its factual validity has lately been manipulated and pixelated to the point of extinction."

After reading this article I think I am officially downgrading myself from so-called "photographer" to "shutter-clicker" :) ..

2008 Resolution ..

Being directly and indirectly tagged by Dodol and Chippie respectively, here goes the list in not a particular order:

1. Save more monies!
2. Learn to take better picture (especially w/ flash)
3. Go travel to new places
4. Get one or two certifications
5. Find new and better job/role
6. Climb a mountain, and reach the top
7. Learn to better control my temper
8. Get a tattoo :P ..

Won't tag anyone, but you are more than welcome to create your own list ..

Mom knows best ...

Whenever something went wrong with our electrical appliances, my Mom never fail to annoyingly suggest that there is something wrong with the cabling, or to be exact suggest that there is a loose cable somewhere out there. My Mom is not a tech savy, and nowhere near MacGyver to mind you. She is one that does not even want to be close to a computer thinking that she will break it somehow, so naturally we usually ignore her comments and trying to fix the problems from a different angle. Surprise-surprise, most of the time fixing the cable is what we end up with doing.

This time around the same thing happen to me. I have problem with charging my handphone using a USB charger. Logically I don't think it has anything to do with the cable as the USB cable is working fine as a data cable. I mean, come on, it is just a $@#$-ing cable. What could be wrong with it. So I started buying not one, not two, not three but FOUR different USB chargers thinking that the previous one must be either faulty or has lower power output rating than what is written on the packaging.

To rub it in, today, a total Ah-Beng in the shop told me bluntly that it must be the cable problem. "You must have used a wrong/faulty cable", he said. Walaw leh, I am like "isn't that my Mom talking?". So I politely told him, "OK lor, just try and if it works I buy it!" Duh, it work like a charm ..

Oh well, I guess Mom knows best :)!

Itsy Bitsy Spider ..

"Itsy Bitsy spider climbing up the wall.
Down came the rain and washed the spider off the wall.
Out came the frying pan, and fried up all the spider
So Itsy Bitsy spider become our crunchy snack :) ..."

Fried bugs/insects has long known to be an "exotic" snacks of the indo-chine countries such as Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. So there was no surprise when we saw a pile of fried insects in one of the stall in Psar Cha' in Siem Reap. After passing the stall for many times gamely bought a pack of fried insects (we were still arguing whether it is a cricket or a grasshopper) to give it a try. Verdict, surprisingly good and tasty (not to mention filling too). Although after a while I got sick of the cooking oil taste :( ..

They also sold a horribly scary fried huge spiders that is about the size of a boiled egg! Since I hate (read: scared of) spider, I decided not to try it (although now I think that I should have probably tried at least one :( ..)

I wonder what will happen if the bugs craze reach this tiny island with not much bugs around ... deep fried cochroach anyone?

PS: It so happen that I got a bad stomach ache the same night we snack the insect :)

Do you want candy, pweeze???

As suggested by our friend, we come prepare with boxes of candies for the kids that touting around temple. Surprise surprise, we rarely have one coming at us asking for candy :)! It's either that we look poor or they think that we are to cheap to even bother ask. They practically flock on westerners and Japan/Korean tourists.

Knowing that we may have to bring back the candies, we almost plan to beg the kids to get rid of our candies. Fortunately at the end it did not happen, we even have one (i think) local tourist that ask us for our candies :) ...

Too much temple will kill you ...

Ever heard of a complain of someone visiting Europe that they sick of seeing old churches again and again? Well, same thing would happen to you in Siem Reap. Ton of tons of temple (big and small) are available for you to visit.

After visiting 6 temples today, I don't think I want to visit one anytime soon. Of all the temples that we visit, I personally prefer Ta Prhom best, followed by Banteay Srey. Angkor Wat is the mother of all temple (no question about that) but surprisingly I felt it is a bit over-hype.It's huge but IMHO, Borobudur and Prambanan (Java, Indonesia) is much better temple, although I could be biased as I am Indonesian :) ... The main temple is closed (so you can no longer climb up to see the sunset).

Having said this, I felt that Ta Prhom is more touristy than Angkor (thanks to Miss Jolie), but inside it is really peaceful and quiet (if you discount all the loud and inconsiderate tourists and tour guides).

Word of advice, bring torch if you plan to explore the temple. Some temple have very little or no light and before sunrise or after sunset it is practically pitch dark out there. Even during the day, the chamber of the temples could be very dark (trust me I felt once today :( ..). Also be extra careful when you climb a temple, the staircase is steep and extremely narrow (they even put a "Climb at your own risk" sign).

Being "gay" in Cambodia :) ...

Receptionist: Sir, do you booked double bed? *smiling and winking while looking at me and dodol*
Panda: No .... we book TWO separate bed ..
Receptionist: Oh, OK ...
Panda: Duh!

They must have thought we are a couple, luckily they did not send two Cambodian hunks to give our welcome "massage" ... or probably he just being considerate and thought that we are monogamous couple :P ..

Cambodia at last ...

After the 13 hours trip (which half of it spent waiting for the next leg of transport), we finally reach Cambodia. Luckily we got upgraded on the bus between SG-KL (Yay!), and manage to have some sleep throughout the journey.

First impression of the airport is very similar to the one that we have back in Solo. Extremely small and located in the midle of open field. Surprisingly though is that the airport condition is superbly maintained (can easily compete with Changi on its cleanliness). The city itself is very similar to small city in Java, very very dusty and hot ...

Why spelling is an important lesson for the sixth grader ..

Cust. Service (C): So Sir, can you tell me the serial number of the printer?
Panda (P): That will be 6801WVX, that is "double-U", "V" for victory and "X"
C: Sorry Sir, is that a "C"
P: No, that is a "V" for victory ..
C: Victory, that mean it is an "F" right?
P: Noooo ... a "V" for victory ..
C: Sorry Sir, I don't understand you
P: #@$!$@#%@%@ ... It's a "V" for victory, do you know how to spell victory right?
C: Yes Sir, it start with "F" right?
P: !@#!#$#@%$^%&^*&(^&(^&#%# ... noo "V" .. arghhh .. ok what else start with "V" .. Vixen ..
C: Oh OK
P: Duh!

Project Planning 101

Sounds familiar :)?

More dilbert at http://www.dilbert.com/

The Jongosh Diary: Burnt Paru ...

Never ever fried your ta-pau Paru for too long. It get crisped but it taste like charcoal when it burnt :( ...

The Jongosh Diary: Nasi Koneng dadakan ...

Nasi Koneng, kering tempe, telor dadar, ayam goreng, plus ketimun ...

Too much for the Jongosh to handle? Oh well with a lot of encouragement from the this friendly neighborhood Jongosh I manage to pull it out, well kind of :)! The Nasi Koneng need a litle bit more salt, the Kering Tempe is a bit too sweet and the ayam goreng definitely need less salt!

Nasi Koneng:

Boil daun salam, lengkuas, shallot, lemon grass, pandan leaf and tumeric. Remove the spices and let it rest.

Add coconut milk, rice and salt to the mixture (3 cup of rice + 450 ml spice mixture + 200 ml coconut milk)

Cook them in your rice cooker.

If for some reason the rice is not cook through, continue to cook for 4-5 minutes in the microwave, add water to moist them.

Kering Tempe:

Slice tempe to a small pieces, deep fried and let them rest.

Roughly chop garlic, shallot and red chili, stir fry and put aside.

Stir fry finely chop garlic and red chili. Add sliced brown sugar, lengkuas, tamarind water, continue to fry until the mixture caramelized. Add the deep fried tempe and the stir fried chop garlic/shallot/chili, mix well.

Ayam Goreng:

Boil or steam chicken to get rid of the excess fat (marinate with salt).

Deep fry chicken until it crisp and golden brown.

PS: Nasi Koneng and Kering Tempe recipe courtesy of the Ishwara family.