Chariots of fire

Very good movie.

"I believe that God made me for a purpose. But He also made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure."

Photography class

After seeing enough of crappy photos taken during the SIB Likas (E) Fund-raising Dinner, sifu decided that we would need some serious lessons... ehem ehem...

So, we had photo lessons with the master.

The master explaining his philosophy of photography.

Folks, this is how flash photography should be done.

We were all ears.

By the way, I must tell you I am still drooling over the spanking new gigantic 27" Mac sitting in the church office.

SIB Likas dinner

After my first photography assignment in Ba Kelalan, this one-month dSLR user was offered (or dragged into) his second assignment... shooting the SIB Likas (English) Fund-raising Dinner.

It was a scary experience using my novice dSLR skills to cover such an important event as the OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPHER. Gosh, a heavy task indeed. What to do, there were only 2 other folks with dSLR available for the event, and there were about 900 diners to be covered. So... had to shy shy use my skills la.

Some test shots taken during the rehearsal...

Nice bouquet adorning the VIP table.

Musicians fine-tuning their sounds.

The real scary part was... I had never used one of those big dSLR flash before! It was a relief that we had Tommy, a professional photographer to guide us. The sifu said without those big flash we could not survive the big hall. So... we had one hour of Crash Course on Big Flash Photography before shooting the real thing. The sifu transplanted a Nikon flash onto my Pentax body... and it was so heavy that my camera toppled over all the time.

And now for some dinner photos...

Ushers in the welcoming line-up.

The sifu took care of the video, and delegated the photography part to two newbies.

Thank you for coming.

The UMS students who came. Young and vibrant lot.

Dance with masks. The reasoning was... if you made a wrong dance move, nobody would know who you were coz they couldn't see the face.

A song from the first family.

A talented family of musicians. Mom was singing "You raise me up" made famous by Josh Groban.

Wind and strings band from one of the schools in KK.

Little friends.

Patrick Leong from KL. His voice could melt you.

A thanksgiving song from the organising committee.

Good night and thank you once again for coming.

Of course I showed you the nicer photos la... those crappy ones too malu to show. Using the big flash was already challenging, plus using full Manual mode, and the big hall... need lots of practice.

One uncle came up to me today and said 'I like your photos la'. It made my day.

In safe hands

Where can I find a cheap and nice portrait lens for Pentax? Blur the background lagi would be very nice. Natural light is so nice. I don't dig flash photography, yet.

Beautiful, with no words

Such beautiful concept and art direction. Bet you never thought road safety advertisement can look so good.

8 hours drive to sit for an exam

Our friends from Ba Kelalan drove down 5 hours of logging tracks and 3 hours of road, to sit for an exam in Kota Kinabalu... Cikgu Sang Sigar, his wife Julia and Blaire, a volunteer teacher from US.

So we brought them for dinner in UpperStar Lintas. The Chinese call it "wash the dust".

My first time there. Pretty impressed with the place, and shocked with the crowd. Obviously they are doing something very right. Imagine a Western food restaurant packed to the brim... how often do you see that.

They've got nice food in generous portions, at very reasonable price (hey... pasta much cheaper than Little Italy la). Free wifi and computers for you to play Facebook and online games. Nice interior deco and lighting too.

Tak macam orang yang mau duduk exam besok kan. Relek jer.

"What does it take to climb Mount Murud?"

"More exercise, less fatty food... like these..."

"Who says Malaysia is a failed state?!"

"Then, worse than that izzit?"

Drinks come in nice glasses too.

"You want to study law after finishing political science?"

UK airport customs guy, "Hey how come you Malaysian students like to study law so much?"

Malaysian law student, "Oh is it? I didn't realise there are so many of us."

UK airport customs guy, "Wait, let me show you... here he comes."

A Malaysian Chinese student walks in...

UK airport customs guy, "Good day sir. May I know you purpose of entering the UK?"

Malaysian Chinese student, "Studyyy loooohhhh..."

Young photographer

Putting an old toy to good use.

Good Friday and Easter Sunday

There was a time when as Christians, we say 'God if you love me, make all things right for me. Otherwise I don't believe you love me.'

Then, there comes a time when we say 'God I have done so many things for you. I have given you so much time, energy, and money. Now, make all things right for me.'

Later comes a time when we say 'All things are possible to you. It's your purpose that matters. Though it hurts me a lot, may your will be done, not mine. Whatever comes, it is well with my soul. I surrender all. Life here is just a temporary passing, the ending will be good no matter what. Just give me the strength to hang on till that day.'

"My soul is deeply grieved, unto death.... Abba, Father, all things are possible to You; take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will."
Mar 14:34, 36

Genuine surrender says, "Father, if this problem, pain, sickness, or circumstance is needed to fulfill your purpose and glory in my life or in another's, please don't take it away."
The Purpose Driven Life, Day 10