I Feel Like A Celebrity!

At the ripe age of 29 :p, I feel like a celebrity for the first time. :D

My photographer friend and I have been planning for a photoshoot for quite some time. With the numerous chinese movies and series that I have watched, I've always been curious how I would look like in the olden times of China. So here is the unique theme I have chosen: cheongsam! :D

This is a serious shoot with effort, I went for professional hair and make-up. Setting is at Chinese Garden.

I probably have never been this dolled up all my life. It was a holiday and there were a few tourists in Chinese Garden. While my friend was changing her lens and adjusting lights, a few of the tourist went up to me and asked to be taken photographs with :p. One from China told me 'hen piao liang'. Whew it's the first time I heard that compliment. :)

When I was doing another set for modern theme near the grassland, there was a leisure photographer taking scenery who suddenly change his theme from nature to me. We just let it be. Weird and unethical guy who didnt bother speaking to us for chitchatting or asking permission, basta na lng naki-shoot (nang matagal) at umalis :p.

Another couple asked me 'are you from a modelling agency'.

There were some rain drizzles and fortunately, my friend still managed to capture some good shots for me. Here's a teaser again :)


The shot ended well and I treated my friend for dinner (of course back to normal daily wear). The power of false eyelashes - it is quite strange to be stared at, including a guy on a date with his gf beside our table who kept on glancing every so often. This guy needs some serious spanking!

Everything felt so surreal. I know I am not really pretty or slim, but I am glad for once in my lifetime, I feel like a celebrity! :)

Photography and I

I submitted some beach photos in an online contest and unexpectedly won first prize! I am fondly coined as 'award-winning' among my close friends from then on. :)


What I get for a prize, a free 3d2n stay in Angsana Bintan Resort for two, worth 800sgd! I couldnt believe this can happen to me, I have never won anything this much by luck! Hearing about the good news, it was so amazing where u feel tickles all over you!

Nowadays there are so much people into photography, investing in more lens and other powerful tools. I am still using my 3yr old p/s digicam. Living by my simple ways (i.e. kuripot?), why buy when you can borrow :p Kidding aside, I dont want to develop a new addiction, I am satisfied to just be a leisure photographer. With the p&s, I am only limited to take nature shots, where the sun helps me a lot in achieving good scenic pictures. I am happy enough when some people say I have a potential in photography :))

I am not good with taking portrait shots. Ok with the numerous times I was taken portrait shots in a studio in binondo ;p, I guess there are simple secrets a photographer needs to know about taking portraits, especially women :)

1) Vanity and not reality
It's not just about how over-clear your picture is. No one wants to be taken over-clear pictures where big pores, pimples, blackheads, scars, fine lines are clearly visible. I've heard of male photographers responding back 'eh ganon naman talaga hitsura nyan'. If you are a taking a photo of a bride, I am sure she wants you to find her best angle and work on it, make it prettier. I am not spending 100k+ for a wedding package and posing for you to take pictures of reality.. I want it to be closer to fantasy.

2) Forget about lighting
Isnt it obvious that sometiems, over-exposed pictures always make a woman prettier? The skin becomes very fair and smooth. The imperfections are hidden. The overall face shines with a glow. Same with those in dim lights. Just dont overdo and overfollow lighting rules.

3) Forget about the rule of thirds
If you can take a closeup picture of me with symmetrical perfect 10 score, I guess I probably wont be talking to you and paying you, I should be a model and you should be paying me. There are only a luckly few common people who can look so good with the camera that you can fill the whole picture with her face. Refrain from doing this so often in prenup for ordinary-looking couples. And besides, most likely the women might have splurged on her gowns and some accesories that she wants to be captured altogether rather than just her face occupying 70-90% of a picture.

4) Camouflage the fats
Fats are the worst enemy of any woman. Avoid avoid focusing on any problem areas, big belly, big thighs, double chin and big shoulders.
Shoulder fats seem to be the hardest part to get rid of, and is also the most visible in a normal half-body picture
My friend shared to me what she learned in a paid workshop. (oops I am not supposed to share then) but who cares. :p An efficient photographer should naturally camouflage the problem areas by using other elements. If the bride has big shoulders, then have poses where the groom is hugging her or putting his arms on her shoulders. Sounds witty to me.

Here are some of the latest shots I had taken while enjoying my prize in Angsana resort :) On the contrary, I guess I won because only a few people joined :p. Who cares, the best things in life are free!

Eco Tours

Joined a field trip with my friend last Sep09. Learned several things about agriculture.

Frog Farm

Trivia: How to differentiate a male from female... the female has a yellowish neck.

Other than frogs, they also have ponds for eels, fishes, etc. Other interesting fact is that all these (female) can lay hundreds of eggs. You can earn lots as long as weather cooperates.

Goat Farm

People go to these farms to buy fresh goat milk.

Bollywood Veggies

This is the closest thing to Tagaytay, but smaller and maybe, not as developed. Similar to Sonya's concept, they plant everything that they have in their menu.

Pulau Ubin Tour

Pulau Ubin is an island lying in the outskirts of SG. In it there is Chek Jawa for you to explore the different ecosystem/habitat. Went there last Aug09.

The Kite

Dont know anything about fancy editing.

Tweaked the pic I took with just MS Picture Manager, it looks good.

I like the effect of the kite.. artsy, hovering on the orange-tinted clouds. And the flyer too.

One lazy afternoon.

Holy Week '09 Surprises

Last year's Holy Week I was in Bkk. I was hoping to go for another vacation same time this year, targetting Cambodia or Taiwan or anywhere near in Asia (and not expensive!). Unfortunately I was not able to find a companion. My kumare and I already had Macau earlier this year and she'll be planning for Europe this May. Whew I don't know but I just find it too much to splurge (~5k sgd), especially in times of recession. Europe is a romantic place and I hopefully should find someone special to accompany me haha. On a serious note, I have a feeling I'll be losing one travel companion in her, after being to beautiful places, I'm sure her expectation and satisfaction levels would rise much higher.

Oh well Cambodia cancelled. I joined some other friends to Cameron Highlands in MY instead. And I didnt expect things to be this way.

First day is okay. Sight-seeing, nature trips, farm tours, cool weather, juicy strawberries. Below are some pix that qualifies for my 'nature girl' tag. (some ex-officemates gave me the title :p)



















2nd day I was doomed. We signed up for a rainforest adventure which is a trek to find Rafflesia, a rare specie of the biggest flower, followed by waterfalls and aborigines village tour. I wasnt expecting the trek to be that 'challenging'. Thank God the hostel lent us boots (the type you wear during floods). It was one HELLUVA mud and slopes and fallen tree logs and occasional big stones blocking the way. It was literally trekking in the mountains. I felt that I was in the wilderness, there were also a few paths where it felt like Sahara dessert (see picture below). There was a part where we had to cross to the other side via a bridge made of just 2 bamboo poles. I managed to cross then I heard a crack sound and few screams from people at the back. Holy cow. Nobody fell, but I think I'd be having nightmares of falling off a cliff.













I admired the other foreign female tourmates from England and Scotland who are really fit, while I was always at the end of the line catching up, it sucks! I tripped over the mud pile (tripped over the same spot twice, pathetic!) and had my pants soaked smelly in mud. I also got a mild scratch in the rose shrubs (it better not be anything poisonous - guess so because I am still alive and blogging now). As how my friends amusingly described me, I ended up looking like a fugitive in China. :p Dirtiest day!

















I owe it to my friends who 'alalay' me whenever I need a hand, thanks to them. Actually I was was expecting just some leisure walking, thus was dressed initially in kikay fashion mode :p, sleeveless pink shirt and some burloloy accesories. Then my friends told me to change costume, good thing I bought this red Cameron shirt the night before.

If I only knew the way to backtrack and return to starting point. I wanted to quit haha. Unfortunately there's no turning back. I've been to a few treks before but so far this is the hardest to traverse. All the curse words, s-word, f-word, even p-word.. lahat na ata ng mura nasabi ko na during the trek. Sorry, tao lang! Forgive me for speaking ill on a Holy Week.

My legs are really sore. I need some rest. Not sure if I'm still in Singapore next Holy Week, remind me not to do this again!

The way to and from is also a tough one, copied from by friend's site:
1. From Singapore,book a ONE way bus ticket to Ipoh at 10pm. (sold-out return tickets)
2. By 5:30 am you will be at Ipoh, wait for sunrise and board the local bus to Cameron. Takes about 2 hrs.
3. Book tours and trek the mountains of Cameron.
4. Going back, take the bus to KL at 9am.
5. By lunch time you will be in Pudaraya Bus terminal in KL and all the Singapore bound buses will be fully booked. Try to get tickets to "SIN" where Bus operators will promise to get you to Golden Mile, Singapore. Instead, you'll end up in LARKIN,JOHOR BAHRU.
6. Take a cab from Larkin Station to JB Immigrations
7. Take SMRT bus from Woodlands Immigrations to Kranji MRT.
8. Take a cab from there to your house.

I didn't rant a word for the long ~14hours byahe in going back to SG. We just had 2 words in mind 'basta makauwi'. And for me, anything is still better than the 4.5hour rainforest trek!

P.S. I got curious to research some words in wiki. I didnt know 'rainforest' is also considered a jungle (else I might have turned down this tour lol). I also underestimated the word 'trek'.

At 5,000 ft (1,500 m) above sea level, Cameron Highlands is the highest area on the mainland.
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall.
Jungle usually refers to a dense forest in a hot climate, such as a tropical rainforest.
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments. Hiking a long-distance trail from end to end is also referred to as trekking.

P.P.S My companions said I should feel proud of this accomplished mission :p. Some shots are really nice, will post them next time.

Call of Nature: Part 2

Another nature tripping walk.

Place: Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve

The cockroach-like creature is a cicada. Pinkish flower. A caterpillar.

Some weaved nests. Skink

The thorny soil. Green green leaves. And an artsy letterbox.

Wetland. Cottage in neverland. Scenic cloud's reflection.