2 February 2010

When the long London nights start drawing in and the winter weather is pretty miserable, it’s just hard to seize the daylight moments to capture presentable shots. With the limited time frame due to the hectic schedule, I just have to grab every opportunity I have. It’s tempting to stay indoors and hibernate in the nippy winter months but I’ve traveled 10,000km to London, I refuse to keep warm in the hotel only.

Princes Square to Porchester Gardens, London

The wintry chill in London is completely different as compared to the winter I experienced in Amsterdam or Madrid. I could survive on a pair of jeans without thermal wear as long as I’m covered with 2 layers of jackets and I naively assumed it would be similar in London. I was totally wrong. It is even more miserably chilly when it rains. Not to even mention that temperate drops dramatically when the sun sets by 4:45pm during winter months.

Family outing at Queen’s Walk, along the Thames River

I’ve to wrap myself up like a dumpling, layers after layers, warm coats and woolly scarves, hats and gloves to ensure I won’t stay vulnerable to the icy winds. Oh, I definitely have to keep my hood up to prevent loss of heat from my head.

The black cab of London

I believe one of the best ways to beat the winter blues is to get outside and get the blood pumping. Londoners walk a lot and I mean, A LOT! I am serious, they walk more than anyone else in the country. With such efficient transport system of the tubes and buses in London, who needs the black cab? Unless you have 2 or more suitcases which could be quite tedious to carry them by yourself.

Queensway Road, heading towards Bayswater underground station

I actually have to be grateful for I did not have to come a week earlier. Most places in Britain were buried with inches of snow due to the cold snap of Arctic wind. In fact, my friend said I was fortunate enough to get a warmer week whereby the rain washed the snow away. If not, I will be definitely sticking my bottom lip out, trying to balance myself on the icy and slippery roads. Thank you, God!

Walking along the riverbank of Thames

Thank you God for the sunshine! For the very first time, I appreciate sunshine (as you know how hot and sunny Malaysia will be).

In front of Buckingham Palace

And darn, just as I thanked God for the beautiful weather, I had to run off after this shot due to drizzling. LOL!

So much for the wintry moments in London, stay tuned for more entries.

19 January 2010

The movie Avatar is almost on everyone’s mouth ever since it was released on the 17th December 2009. Friends and colleagues are claiming how great and wonderful the movie is.

Well, what can we say when this 166minute-long movie is the brainchild of James Cameron, the director of Titanic? All hail Sci-fi King, James Cameron! Avatar is definitely the most ambitious and visually arresting film I’ve ever watched.

Now, if you haven’t already done so, go and see one of the year’s most exhilarating films.

The sci-fi blockbuster has already surpassed Transformers 2 to be the No.1 movie for the year 2009. In the domestic US market, Avatar climbs to the #3 spot behind The Dark Knight and Titanic, the all-time #1 in both domestic and worldwide market. At the foreign box office, Avatar continued to rage, blazing past the $1 billion mark; and many people are anticipating Avatar to surpass Titanic’s worldwide gross of US $1.842 billion.

Not to forget to mention that Avatar has won 2 Golden Globe Awards for Best Picture and Best Director yesterday.

Way to go, Avatar. Oscars are waiting for you!

2 January 2010

2009 passed with a blink of an eye.

Yesterday, we welcomed 2010 with wide open arms. It marks another mile of decade since the new millennium started at Y2K.

2009 has seen me walking an arduous path with several gratifying moments. I am absolutely not proud with my achievements when I looked back at the resolutions I made 365 days ago. I for one, an ambitious perfectionist, am obsessed with higher expectations.

Failures of 2009’s resolution:-
1. I failed to read a book a quarter. Ended up reading 75% of Harry Potter 6 and 65% of the Russian Concubine. Should I start reading more in 2010? Hmmm..
2. I failed to blog 12 times a month. What have I done? 78 entries in a year, which comes to an average of 6.5 a month.
3. I failed to be more adventurous. The only waterfall I visited were Chamang Waterfalls on my birthday.

Achievements:-
1. I did travel to a colder climate country. Well, even though it was only for a few nights in Melbourne, but it was worth the experience.
2. I somehow learned a few things on photography. Thanks to Uncle Bear’s DSLR and my infamous Canon Ixus 860IS which has served me nobly for 2 years.
3. And yes, I somewhat did increase my income. I have embarked on a new journey with Boston Scientific since 1 December. I am now looking forward with this challenging yet rewarding career.

Well, it is Year 2010. What about it? What am I going to do with this brand new year?

1. I shall empower myself with moderation. Moderation is the key of balance in life. I need to balance my diet which means less junk (such as sinful indulging of ice-creams). I need to incorporate exercise as a part of my lifestyle. I am definitely entering into a phase where skin-aging has started. I shall not watch dramas insanely (read: no more 10 episodes at one go). Thus, I will need to take good care of my health.

2. I shall empower myself in God’s favour. It reminds me of the song from Carrie Underwood – Jesus Take The Wheel. It is undoubtedly that I could not have achieved what I achieved today without His absolute and divine strength. “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me”, as Philippian 4:13 says. In anything that I do, I just have to let God take charge. Be it my career, future partner, finance or family affairs. I surrender all to Him.

3. I shall empower myself in my career. New year, new career. What else do I need to do now? I have a gazillion things to learn up about the electrophysiology of the heart and the cardiac rhythm management. I will gather all my strength and sources to master this rare skill, and take pride in my job. More confidence means more sales, and hence, more $$$!

4. I shall empower myself with at least 1 beach holiday. I definitely need a break from the hustle-bustle of the metropolis. Air Asia, I rely on you for the best deals now. Tell me, where should I go? Bali? Phuket? Koh Lipeh? And where are my travel partners? Ah Lang? Pn Zaleha? Jimmy? Popiah? Ah Jon? Bear ah? Moo-moo? Ah Beng? Et cetera…

5. I shall empower myself with more joy. Yes to laughter; no to tears. I shall laugh more than weep. I shall smile more than frown.

I humbly come before the Almighty God, to assist me in achieving my 2010 resolutions. I shall have faith in myself and be assured to accomplish them like winning a race.

Lastly, may 2010 be an empowering year for you and me!

God Bless xoxo

29 December 2009

Hey guys, I was just being silly and created some moments of insanity.

NOW, imagine this…

OXFORD UNIVERSITY
BACHELOR OF MARRIAGE (HONOURS – Lifetime Achievement)

Duration of Course: Lifetime
Enrollment Requirement: On a steady relationship for minimum of 6 months.

Modules Offered:
1. Dating 101
2. Courtship 101
3. Basic Relationship 101
4. Friendship 101

5. Advanced Relationship 201
6. Proposal 201
7. Pre-Marital Affairs 201
8. Meet-the-Parents 201

9. Wedding 301
10. Basic Honeymoon 301
11. Basic In-Laws 301
12. Extended Family 301

13. Advanced Honeymoon 401
14. Advanced In-Laws 401
15. Courtship in Marriage 401
16. Basic Household Affairs 401

17. Pregnancy 501
18. Basic Parenting 501
19. Advanced Household Affairs 501
20. Advanced Courtship in Marriage 501

21. Advanced Parenting 601
22. Extended Honeymoon 601
23. Extended Courtship in Marriage 601

And the list goes on and on and on and on…

I guess this is enough of my madness at this lunch break, kindly please get back to work.