'One week in Sillypore 3'

It's a special edition of 'One week'. Why? Cos it's all taken with my new Sony Alpha 200! Yup, I finally bought it. Got it during my lunch break at bout S$100 less than the official retail price. Still trying to get the hang of it. It's pretty heavy so I guess I'll still be using my other little camera most of the time. I really can't see myself wiping it out in some restaurant. One of the reasons I'm taking up a new hobby is to stop me from worrying bout certain stuff. Worrying is all in the mind and it's not helping the situation at all, and one way to stop it is to keep the mind busy with something else.

As you can see, it's a freakin' heatwave we having right now. Cloudless skies, blazing heat, you get the idea.

Japanese pasta lunch at Waraku. I always get a kick outta that display. It makes you hungry yet you wanna just stay outside and admire them more instead of going in to eat....

LG, life ain't that good if you got four busted screens.

Chinatown in the middle of another very hot afternoon.

Favorite black sauce chicken rice stall along Hong Lim.

A little peek at my Episode 3 Clone Troopers collection.

Where I grew up. Definitely changed a lot since then. There used to be a newstand here where I would run down in the afternoon to get my comic books.

Crowds along our prime shopping district Orchard Road and also a reason I try to avoid the place on weekends.

Strange-shaped buildings. The one in the middle of the forest was built to detect alien lifeforms approaching the planet.

Teppanyaki ice-cream at the famous Raffles Hotel. Lots of flavours! But I have yet to try any of them. Everytime I pass the place, I tell myself I'm having dessert there right after lunch/dinner. But I'm always stuffed after the meal.

Ok, now for the grand litmus test. We see how the camera works with my little figures. I haven't got the lighting done properly yet. Which means I'm still using the single Ikea desk lamp as a sole lighting source.

The figure is the newly accquired Amami Haruka from the XBOX 360 game The Idolmaster. She's part of Revoltech's Fraulein series featuring posable female figures.

Anyway, here are some of the pix. I used the camera flash in most of them as the lamp wasn't giving me the lighting I wanted.

'Junction between Sushi Avenue and Tempura Boulevard'

Ahhh....finally had a decent Japanese meal today on Sunday. Dropped by Liang Count for a haircut (yup, no more Gatsby mat) and the Kinokuniya sale (didn't find the mags I wanted). Oh, Audio House doesn't sell the Sony A200 camera that I wanted either. Strange.

Anyway, lunch was at the revamped Tampopo. It's no longer at the basement, it's now on the ground floor next to the information counter. A big plate of sashimi and a serving of inaniwa udon instead of my usual zaru soba.

But the thing that really caught my eye was the new conveyor belt.

It’s kinda like a personalized conveyor belt cos it’ll deliver your order as it travels down the belt, and makes a right turn through the slot and onto your table! It’ll stop at the opening and some kinda ‘lever’ would pop out of the black narrow slot and shove my order to my table. My sashimi order came that way but I forgot to snap a pix! :( According to the notice, it’s the first such conveyor belt outside Japan. And since you can also place orders on the video touchscreen next to your table, is this the beginning of the end for waiters?

See that? That's like the traffic light section for the junction between Sushi Avenue and Tempura Boulevard! Hah!

I believe as part of their opening celebration, Tampopo was giving out free boxes of Japanese green tea. They gave me 2 free boxes, each with 10 little packs of Japanese green tea, after I paid my bill.

'Don't do exactly what I do'

I have been keeping myself busy with some photography stuff. My lightbox project went alright I guess… as in not as well as I hoped it would be. For starters, the box I got wasn’t as big as the example. And without the proper lights and a decent SLR camera, my shots still kinda lack that elusive ‘wow’ factor.

Here’s where I based my little handicraft on. If there’s anyone reading this and wanna do his own lightbox, please follow that example and don't do exactly what I do. Here's another link to an interesting piece on cheap homemade lighting. I was actually watching last week’s American Idol while cutting up the box with a pair of scissors. Use a penknife, it’s way easier on the finger!

I have since replaced the sides with a translucent material (the kind you find when you buy huge electronic products) instead of regular photocopy paper. It lets more light in. Here are the untouched, raw results. As you can tell the lighting isn't as good as it should be.

With only one light source, it's tough getting the right lighting conditions. Using the camera flash leads to overexposure and nasty shadows. Don't use the flash and the pix turns out looking dark and dim. Also the box is a little too small. There's not enough depth to it. I should have taken the A3 box instead of the A4 paper box.

So as you can see, I got my work cut out for me.

Oh, another thing. A week ago, there was a Friday when I was really free in the office and I spent almost the entire day reading up on digital SLR cameras online. Hah, I actually filled up 4 notebook pages worth of stuff on the subject. Was reading guides, forum discussions, etc. And today, I called up one of the recommended shops and they told me the price of the Sony A200 has dropped from S$1,099 to S$960. Better freebies too, instead of $100 voucher on lens, it's now an extra battery.

'One week (give or take couple more) in Sillypore 2'

Its been a kinda emotional draining couple of weeks for me but I’m still hanging on. Anyway, this whole blog was always meant to be bout happy stuff and things I like (so no sad talk), and I do realise that the people around me, my family want me to get back to doing the things I like, be happy and all. It’s all a mental thing.

Been going trigger-happy with my idiot-proof compact digital camera for the last couple of weeks. Besides that, I have been pretty busy too, finally constructed my DIY lightbox, more on that next time! And I have set my sights on the Sony Alpha 200 digital SLR. Probably get it at the next IT show in June. A new hobby might be a good thing. I have cancelled my World of Warcraft online account but have been playing the card game with the guys more.

Quite busy at work too. More late nites than usual cos been dealing with European clients/offices and they starting work is when regular folks here start going home.

On my way to the conference inside Raffles City that I mentioned in my last post, it’s like 7.15am in the morning. There's no else around and you can almost see the sunlight creeping in above the sunroof.

Found this little vodka collection I bought bout two Xmas ago from Ikea. Completely forgotten bout them. You know wat that means. More photo opportunities with my ladies later!

New Teppanyaki joint at Suntec City fountain area. Not bad. Had the prawn set.

Trying out the Sunset mode on my camera. …er….not working for me.

My new $20 flip phone from Sony (after trading in my old phone). I got the phone strap while in Osaka last year, from a little capsule machine. It’s a metal train ticket to Umeda.

Pepper and black soy sauce shakers. The kind you find on your local neighbourhood coffee shop table when ordering soft-boiled eggs.

When I’m not at my macbook in the living room, I’m next to my PC in the study. Up yonder is the Fossil Dragon next to two Idolmaster trading figures.

Giant colored balls. Whatever.

Fruits for dessert is always a good thing.

The newspaper delivery has been late rather frequent these days. I think its cos of this big condo that opened up down the road, so he’s got more deliveries to make or something. Anyway when I don’t have my morning papers to accompany my breakfast, I’ll turn on the TV to watch the Chinese morning breakfast show.Even though I can only understand like 20% of it, I rather watch it than the English breakfast show cos the latter is always bout serious biz reports, dreary world news etc. The Chinese morning show is more slice-of-life, down-to-earth stuff like visits to neighbourhood markets, schools, hobbies, breakfast meals etc.

Hair finally loooong and ‘messy’ enough to start using the Gatsby Moving Rubber Grudge Mat I got from Japan. This is really cute tiny little jar that you can’t find here in Singapore. First time using the Gatsby mat stuff and the only reason I got it cos of the neat little packaging.

'They weren't mashy at all'

I know my family would want me to carry on living, doing the stuff I like and not feel depressed or frozen with fear and worries.

So there I was on a Friday morning 7.30am bright and early for a breakfast talk at Raffles City, Brave New World bout how the Internet is changing the media advertising landscape. Funny thing is I met another blogger there, although I wasn't sure at that time so I didn't wanna sound like some kinda nut asking if she was blogger too. Anyway, I came back, looked it up and I'm pretty sure it's her. Sure was nice meeting you, Rena.

Well, I guess part of trying not to worry and think bout it is to do the things that I would normally do, if you know what I mean. So here's a food shot that I thought was worth highlighting. Taken at the Japanese food court at the basement at Liang Court. there really were a lot of mushrooms in there and no, they weren't mashy at all.

I might be taking some time off from blogging.

My elderly uncle is very sick. I must be strong and calm. My family is strong and I must be too. But it's hard for me. I worry a lot. Worrying is not helping anyone at all. I need to focus my thoughts into something more positive. I'm like in a depression now. Its quite sudden to see him like that. He used to be so active and he loves and cares for me so much. My worrying has almost crippled me, frozen me with fear. Can'e eat or sleep. It's a horrible feeling.

My family is strong. They have excepted that he is old, everyone grows old and these things happen. It's part of life.

I know no one wants to see like that especially my uncle. My family seeing me like this is adding onto their problems. I know I must be strong, I'm an adult now. I know I need to break out of it. But knowing and acting it out are two very different things. I am trying so hard but when I think about it, I suddenly feel so sad and frozen.

He'll be like this for sometime, months or even years. I can't afford to be in depression for that long. I'll be putting my family through a nightmare. I need to snap out of it. They say it's because I had a comfortable life, no hardships growing up. That's why I can't handle this. Maybe they are right. It doesn't matter, I need to be strong now, for myself and my family. Continue doing the things I always do. But it's so hard. I must be strong.

'It's Corks! Get it?'

Looks like it's pretty quiet out there. Been taking more shots with a couple of new figures I got. Believe it or not I had that little mini-bottle of whiskey with me for years. Hey Imp, if you are reading this, this one's for you!

As you can see, I still need to work on the lighting. I stopped using the flash like I used to do and tried to do with a white background instead. I will be building some props that I hope will enhance the pix. Now I think this is a slightly better shot than the one above.

A few more shots with some new props. Knew I kept them for a reason, from my very first post! Anyway, I'm still experimenting with the lighting and all. I might have found a solution here aka my next little pet project I like to call Project: Lantern. As for this set of pix, obviously it's Corks! Get it? Corks...

Tired it again with the flash. Not a good idea but it does give that 'caught-in-the-act' effect which I ought was rather funny.

Oh yah, a little something bout the wine. Aleatico, one of my favourite red wines. It comes in a slightly smaller 500ml bottle. Far as I know, I can only find it at our duty free airport bout S$60+ a bottle. Anyone knows where else I can find it?

'Hmmmm hot cider'

Heh, as you can see, I is be having a little more free time these days to blog. Now in addition to my Macbook, I also got me a printer/scanner at the IT show last November. Here’re some prints of my short stay in New York years ago. Didn’t take many shots as I was using my dad’s big old SLR camera. My memory’s real fuzzy bout some details bout my time in the Big Apple. I think I stayed somewhere around 79th Street and Amsterdam Ave. in Manhattan. Can’t be sure cos I lost the address.

My favourite NY photo of them all is this little deli across the street. Every morning I would make a dash across to grab breakfast back to my room. Have it while watching the morning talk shows, then bout 10am plus, after rush hour, I would take the subway out to see the rest of the city. I think it was a Greek deli as in it served Mediterranean food during lunch. First time I had Mediterranean food, I liked it. Can’t find anything like that since then.


I also remembered I had hot cider at Starbucks in Greenwich Village. Hmmmm hot cider … something you unfortunately can’t ever find here too. Why can't we have HOT CIDER here?!?!? Meatballs and spaghetti where the meatballs are the size of tennis balls, now that’s another thing you won’t get here.


Springtime in the one and only Central Park!

Fashion shoooooot in Central Park!!!!

'Scouts on siesta'

Wondering if anyone out there reading this is using a Macbook and a PC to blog cos I am using both, and the Mac interface is kinda weird as in it’s hard to move my photos, can’t drag them down from the top where they first appear.

Anyway, last weekend was pretty neat. Was a lazy Sunday afternoon, took a bus to East Coast Road for lunch. Had the famous 328 Katong Laksa for lunch. Then took a slow stroll down the road. Food everywhere man. This was actually my first time walking down the road, usually it’s just a quick zoom by in a car or bus. Everyone here knows bout all the great food you can find along East Coast.







Now this was quite funny. Scouts on siesta. Saw these scouts getting ready for a siesta outside a little corner furniture store. I believe it’s Job Week this week as it’s the start of the school holidays too. Reason I say ‘siesta’ instead of taking a break, is cos while walking back from the other side of the road bout 20 minutes later, I saw all three guys knocked out, slumped in their seats, sprawled asleep.


This had me thinking ... so even if I fall on my ass a hundred times, you guys will keep those lessons coming till I can skate?

'A slight buzz right now'

Feeling a slight buzz right now from downing a couple of bottles of beer after vacuuming and mopping the entire apartment by myself.

What was I gonna say? Oh yah, reading b's latest entry made me think bout my current statis. Right now in my current gig, job or whatever you call it, it's a little different from my last place, it's good and bad. What I'm doing now is essential as in it's a freakin' boring job but someone's got to do it thing. It's mundane but less stressful at times compared to my last place. So it's good cos I'm less stressed out now, got more time to do the things I really enjoy like reading, surfing, blogging, eating good food (hehe), all that kinda stuff. Bad is work has become mostly brain-dead kinda stuff. very little creativity. The folks in the other departments are the ones after the fame and fortune and they richly deserve it too. They are pretty good. I'm no longer there any more but I'm ok where I am now. I guess you can say I am contented in a way. It's like what I wrote 2 years ago bout myself and my life's soundtrack, John Lennon's Watching the Wheels. Just read/listen to the lyrics ... that's me. I am taking it easy now. The mortgage's all paid up, I don't have a car or any kids so that means no financial commitments of those kinds.

And speaking of hobbies and free time, been taking more shots of my ladies and booze series here and here. Tried something new with wine glasses and mirrors instead.

Alright, just in case anyone is wondering, I do take shots of other than just cheesecake figures too! They aren't great but I am working on them.

'The Highlander of Ravioli'

Well, after my last post bout missing out on a decent Japanese sushi meal. I finally made my way to Kuriya at Raffles City. Been there a few times, never or I should say have yet to sit at the bar, got a table. Dinner was good and pricey as usual but shomehow not as satisfying as I expected. Go figure...

Then it's off to nearby Canele Patisserie for dessert. Sweet mother of Gawd. It was my first time eating a vanilla meringue. Sweeeeeeeet. Best way to describe it I think, it's like cotton candy only rock solid. For like S$3.80 (or was it S$3.50?), it's worth it for that huge chunk. I brought and kept a third of it in a ziplock for the next day.

But the most memorable food experience las weekend was dinner at Brown Suger. So I ordered the Beef Tenderloin with Cheese Spinach Ravioli. Now when I read the menu I never expected that when it said Ravioli, it really meant Ravioli singular tense! Yup, there was only one piece of ravioli! It was like The Highlander of Ravioli ... "There can be only one!" ... fans of the 1986 Sean Connery and Chris Lampert movie will know what I'm referring to. Heh! Don't get me wrong now, everything we had was great. We ordered at least 4 different desserts, all simply divine. But damn, I just keep thinking bout that lone ravioli sitting on top of my piece of beef.