Senada seirama ..

more here

Too bad my B'day is still months away ...

Otherwise it will be a good suggestion for anyone want to give me a present :), it's a used lens, and it is $99,000.- only :)...

Anyone want to buy and keep first?

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).