Ben & Jennys' Wedding

Howard and Khims' Wedding

Lunar calendar of month of eight consider as month of fortune for chinese, many couple like to tie their knot on this month especially during mid autumn festival. Its not an exception for my friend Howard and Khim who I had attended their ROM in February. Khim is from Taiping, Perak while Howard is from Labis, Johor. For the couple that came from 2 different hometown, they usually had their dinner banquet respectively. Last week, a few other friend and I attended the banquet and bride fetching session at Labis and had a photo shoots covering both events.

Congratulations to Howard and Khim!

Canon EOS 5D Mark 2 + EF 24mm F1.4L II

Canon finally unveiled its update to the long waited 5D full frame DSLR, the EOS 5D Mark 2 followed by pre-launched website with the slogan "Destined Evolution". Now the moon finally shines, as Canon has pushed the digital photography to another new era.

Quick rundown of the feature:

• 21.1 Megapixal Full-Frame CMOS sensor with 14-bit A/D conversion
• Wide range ISO setting of 100-6400 (expandable to 50-25,600)
  
• Full HD Video capture
• DIGIC 4 Image Processor
• Improved weather-resistant body
• Shutter durability of 150,000 cycles
• Live view shooting on 3.0 inch Clear view LCD (920,000 dots/VGA)
• Build in sensor cleaning.
  
• Available Nov 2008 (USD$2700)

Besides, Canon also announcing new lens fast aperture prime lens EF24mm F1.4L II. replacing EF24mm F1.4L.


Image showed at Canon website before 17 September.


Finally ... Canon 5D Mark 2

More specs

Canon EOS 50D with DIGIC 4 + EFS 18-200 IS

Instead of launching the successor of Full Frame Canon EOS 5D, Canon is introducing EOS 50D with new DIGIC 4 processor. More specs can view from DPreview and PopPhoto.

At the same time Canon also announces a versatile lens of EF-S 18-200 F/3.5-5.6 IS which suitable as walk around lens.

Pulau Ubin and Chek Jawa

Pulau Ubin is the 2nd largest island for Singapore. The residence in the island enjoy simpler life compare to Singapore main island as its one of the suburban village.

The journey starts from Changi Jetty where the visitors get a boat ride to Ubin Jetty which is only $2.50. At Pulau Ubin, first things to do is pay a visit to the volunteer booth to get information about the land. Although Pulau Ubin is not big, its good to get the island map to keep you on the right track.

Rent a bicycle from bicycle rental shop which is not far away from the information booth. The rental varies from S$6 to S$12 per day for each bicycle. Get you breakfast or lunch at the restaurant in the small town. Convenient stores are also available to buy necessity items.

Beside pedaling around the island and enjoying the fresh air, visitors should not miss the natural ecosystem at Chek Jawa Wetlands.

Trip to Bukit Tinggi

Situated in Pahang lies 2,500 feet above sea level, Berjaya Hill is one of the famous resort which use France village as the resort theme. You can also find other attraction such as Japanese Garden and Botanical Garden. There are also rabbit farm where by the children can play and chase after those cute rabbits.


Sign outside the Japanese Garden


Some stream






Favorite photo of my wife taken at Japanese Garden


Outside Colmar Tropicale


At gateway to Colmar Tropicale


Entering Colmar Tropicale






Just cant stop clicking my camera shuttle from those unique French style buildings








At pond

Bukit Tinggi

Trip to Sentosa

Its not hard to get to Sentosa from Singapore main island. If you just want to have a beach walk and enjoy the breeze, perhaps Sentosa is the place for u. The economical way for you to Sentosa is either by Sentosa Express (Train) from Vivo City or bus from Harbourfront bus interchange for $3.00. Of course you can get there by taxi or Sentosa Cable Car ($14 for 2 way).

Once you get on the island, there are several trams for you to hoop on and its free of charge. For more information please visit the official website.


Taken at the hanging bridge to Southernmost Point of Asia Continent near Palawan Beach.


By the beach. Liked the natural sun light.


Silhouette by the beach.


Took this picture at low aperture and flash light and some silhouette feel photos at shore.

Foong Ling @ Sentosa

Portrait shooting @ MRT

Many thanks to Lei Lei who invited her housemate Hsiou Ling as our model for our photo shooting outing last Sunday. Also appreciate very much the patience given by our model during the evening.

Here are some of the screen shoots.

Hsiou Ling @ MRT

Singapore Night view

City Hall with lighting system ready for SingTel Singapore Grand Prix in September.


The City Hall Padang


The mouth of Singapore river.


Unique roof top of Esplanade, Singapore.

New Canon 1000D unveiled

The rumor about Canon 1000D finally unveiled yesterday, where Canon announced the release as another budget entry level camera making DSLR more affordable and more user friendly package.

For more spec and information, please visit the official web site. http://web.canon.jp/imaging/eosd/eosdigital5/index.html

Maokong excursion

If you are thinking of having short break in Taipei, you can take the excursion at Maokong where visitor can enjoy the cool breezes at elevation of 400-450m.

Going up to Mao Kong is never be easy nowadays after Maokong Gondola system opened in 2007. The cable car system is running between Gondola Taipei Zoo Station and Maokong Station passing by Taipei Zoo South Station and Zhinan Temple Station at total length of 4km.

The easiest way to get to Taipei Zoo Station is by MTR. Take the Muzha Line to Metro Taipei Zoo Station then walk about 300m to Gondola Taipei Zoo Station. The Gondola fare ranged between NT30 to NT50 per trip depending on how many stations you have passed.

Visitor might want to visit Zhinan Temple while on way back to Taipei. To avoid the long queue going down hill, vistor can take bus to Zhinan Temple and enjoy the bus ride along narrow hill side road.

Maokong 貓空

清境農場

Located at Nan Tou county, Cingjing Veterans Farm is well known highland for its scenic greenery farm. At 1,750m above sea level, visitors can enjoy a cool climate, with temperatures no higher than 25 °C. The sheep roams freely at the grassland and unafraid of strangers. Visitors can feed the sheep, as well as take picture with the friendly sheep in close distance. At certain hours, there will be performance such as sheep shearing, sheepdog at work showing at open air theater.


The show theater


Baby lambs





More photos

new lens

Finally bought my 2.8 zoom lens from Hong Kong. Satisfy with the fast focus and color it produced. It is heavy and need steady hands to handle this beast.

Macao & Hong Kong Trip 26 April - 3 May

Finally, I managed to squeeze my Hong Kong holiday before flying off Taiwan for business trip with my wife and accompanied by Kent.

Coincidently, our trip timing were parallel with 2 events, one is Tin Hau festival (28 April), and Olympic torch run in Hong Kong (2 May) and Macao (3 May), which certainly makes our trip more interesting and exciting.


Accommodation:
Many of our friends warn us about the high accommodation price in Hong Kong. Luckily, I have a friend from high school who allowed us to stay in his apartment. As for Macao we planned to experience the backpacker dorm which cost us only HK80 per night.


Transport at Macao:
Air port <-> Ferry Terminal:
AP1 bus (MOP3.3 per person + MOP 3 for large luggage)

Free casino shuttle bus:
Some hotel do provide free shuttle bus both way between ferry terminal and hotel. Venetian Hotel even provide free shuttle bus to Macau air port and Sands Hotel.

Local bus:
Macao has wide bus network coverage charging at MOP 2.5 per ride. (Do prepare some small change, as no change will given)

First Ferry from Macao to Hong Kong:
Purchase this ticket at Macao Ferry Terminal at HK145.

Recommendation:
From air port, take free casino shuttle bus to Venetian Hotel. Spend sometime to visit this magnificent hotel. When done, take the free shuttle bus to Macao Ferry Terminal to get other transportation.

Transport at Hong Kong:
Trams:
Electric trams that operates between Kennedy Town and Shau Kei Wan passing by Central and Wan Chai. HK2 each ride.

Peak Trams:
Runs between Central and the Peak.

Local buses:
Easy and cheap way to travel around. Fare range from HK2 to HK40 depend on distance.

Mini buses:
An interesting and exciting experience if you want to try. Not highly recommended as the traveler needs to know where they want to get off. There are no fixed route but only final destination stated on the bus label.

Recommendation:
Getting an Octopus card is the must. Its a cash card where you can reload and it can be use in most of the public transport available in Hong Kong.

Itinerary

Day 1 (26 April)

• Senado Square 議事亭前地 (Walking distance)
• St Dominic's Church 玫瑰堂(Walking distance)
• Mount Fortress 大炮台(Walking distance)
• Ruins of St Paul's 大三巴(Walking distance)
• The Cathedral Church of Macau and Bishop's Palace (Walking distance)
• Holy House of Mercy 仁慈堂大樓 (Walking distance)
• Golden Lotus Square 金蓮花廣場
• Sands Casino Hotel (Take free shuttle bus from Ferry Terminal)

Senado Square 議事亭前地







St Dominic's Church 玫瑰堂


Ruins of St Paul's 大三巴

Day 2 (27 April)

• Guia Lighthouse 東望洋炮台(Take local bus)
• A-Ma Temple 媽閣廟 (Take local bus)
• Chapel of Our Lady of Penha (At Bishop Hill, walking distance from A-Ma temple)
  
• St. Lawrence’s Church (Walking distance from A-Ma temple)
• St. Joseph's Seminary and Church
• Hong Kong (Take First ferry from Macao to China Ferry Terminal)

Guia Lighthouse 東望洋炮台


Portuguese Folk Dance performance in front of A-Ma Temple


A-Ma Temple 媽閣廟


Chapel of Our Lady of Penha

Day 3 (28 April)

• Stanley 赤柱 (Take mini bus from Wan Chai)
• Stanley Market (Walking distance)
• Murray House (Walking distance)
• Tin Hou Temple 天后廟(Walking distance)
• Wan Chai 灣仔 (Take mini bus from Stanley)
• Tai Yuen Street Market (Shopping)
• Blue House
• Old Wan Chai Post Office
• Lockhart Road Bar Area
• Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center 香港會議展覽中心
• Golden Bauhinia Square 金紫荊廣場
• Mong Kok 旺角& Yau Ma Tei 油麻地 (Take MTR and alight at Prince)
• Yuen Po Street Bird Garden
• Flower Market 花墟
• Goldfish Market 金魚街
• Fa Yuen Street 花園街 (11am – 9:30pm)
• Ladies’ Market 女人街 (noon - 11:30pm)
• Shanghai Street
• Jade Market
• Temple Street Night Market

Day 4 (29 April)

• Disneyland (Take MTR)
• Disneyland Hollywood (Free Disney shuttle bus)
• Disneyland Resort (Free Disney shuttle bus)

Day 5 (30 April)

• Lantau Island 大嶼山 (Take MTR and alight Tung Chung Station)
• Ngong Ping 360 & Ngong Ping Village (Take cable car at Ngong Ping)
• Po Lin Monastery (9am - 6pm)
• Giant Buddha (10am - 6pm)
• The Wisdom Path
• Tai O Fishing Village (Take bus at Ngong Ping Village)
• The Peak 太平山頂
• Madame Tussauds wasworks museum (10am – 10pm)
• The Wisdom Path
• Tai O Fishing Village (Take bus at Ngong Ping Village)
• The Peak 太平山頂

Day 6 (1 May)

• Central 中環 (Take MTR and alight Central Station)
• Western Market 西港城
• Hollywood Road 荷李活道
• Queen's Read 皇后大道
• Man Mo Temple 文武廟
• Central-Mid levels Escalator 中環至半山自動扶梯
• Former Central Police Station 中區警署
• Lan Kwai Fong 蘭桂坊
• Duddell Street Steps & Gas Lamps 都爹利街
• Former French Mission Building 前法國傳道會大樓
• St. John's Cathedral 聖約翰座堂
• Seafood at Mui Wo (Take ferry at Central Ferry Pier to Mui Wo)
• Ching Ma Bridge night view at Park Island
  

Day 7 (2 May)

• Wong Tai Sin 黄大仙
• Clock Tower 前九廣鐵路鐘樓
• Avenue Stars 星光大道
• A Symphony of Lights (8pm daily)

Day 8 (3 May)

• Leaving Hong Kong from China Ferry Terminal
• Venetian Casino at Macao (Free bus shuttle from Macao Ferry Terminal)
• Macao air port (Free bus shuttle from Venetian Hotel)
  

Macau & Hong Kong 2008