A Journey to Sabah Day 1 : Being Tourist

Last weekend, it was one of the weekend I been anticipating since half years ago! Because I am going Sabah with my childhood friends to attend Frank wedding! Still feel like it happened yesterday that we in Sabah and I miss them so much now. We had so much fun and experience. One of the valuable experiences of course looking at our dearest friend, Frank going to another stage of life - being someone husband and start up his own family. Not to mentioned, five years after our very first Penang trip, finally we are going trip together again!

* The SKJAP gang! *

We gathered as early as 5am at my house on Saturday morning before our flight on 7.30am. We reached right on time and manage to rented a Nissan Urvan as our transport for the next three days. So yea, being first timer in Sabah, I really wish to visit all the tourist spot and also try their local delight. Frank joined us on lunch on first day. He brought us to famous pork kon lou mee.

* Somewhere at Jalan Lintas *

* Teh C Special RM 3.80 *

* Pork Meatball RM 7 *

* Mee Soup RM 7 *

* Crumble Meat Kon Lou Mee RM 8.50 *

* Love Cheong RM 7 *

It is really of of the best kon lou mee with pork for me! The pork meatball and also internal organ are awesome! Nth much to shout on the Love Cheong though. Oh I love the Teh C Special as well where I believe we called it Three Layer Tea at here.

Done with our lunch, we proceed to check in our condo, Marina Court Condo. It is comfy despite look old and dirty. The only things we feel not comfortable with was the smell of seafood. Not sure it is because it near the sea. Done check in, we take a quick rest before proceed to next destination, Suria Sabah shopping Mall that located near our condo.

* Roti Kahwin RM 1.70 *

Manage to spot a Roti Kahwin in the mall food court and tempted to try. Ended up with disappointment since it is really taste like Roti Bakar I usually ate at my old work place, Meh.

* Milky Durian Freeze RM 12.90 *

We also smell a very strong durian flavour in the mall and ended up it was coming from a stall called Just Berry who sell durian dessert. Without hesitation me and deary shared the Milky Durian Freeze. It came with alot topping such as durian floss, coconut pudding, pomelo, sago, banana cake and of course, durian! The taste was well balance though my greedy side wish there are more durian inside. If only this shop in KL, it will be my fav dessert place!

* Thanks God no one snatch my camera away during this shot LOL *

Done with some quick shopping, we went to Tanjung Aru to chase sunset. Too bad the weather seem a little down and too many cloud. Not the ideal weather for me.

Din really capture photos in Tanjung Aru using my camera since I am using my Yashica 635 more on that time. Can't wait to finish up my film and bring it for post process!

We went to Frank house for dinner on that night before his big day. Yes, few of us are becoming heng dai chi mui (bridge and groom best man and maid) on the next day. It was my first time being someone best man actually and well, luckily things wasn't turn out so bad :P

The day one in Sabah ended with two bottle of red wine. Yes, it was that night I realize I have a bunch of alcoholic friends... LOL

Hennessy V.S.O.P Red Party

In conjunction of releasing new V.S.O.P Privilege Collection 4 bottle, Hennessy just launched a series of nationwide Hennessy V.S.O.P Red Parties at Play @ The Roof. The party promises the trademark Hennessy V.S.O.P party experience with the journey of sight,sound and taste! Courtesy to Don, I am lucky to be invited to join the party.

Of course, everything were red in the event to accentuate the party mood and feel. I want the cool laser eye cyclop alike!

The new bottle design just simply look stunning. Red could be mean danger or blood, but in this case the Hennessy bottle really do bring out the hotness, passion and also elegant! I gotta admit I love the bottle design so much and it look fantastic in certain lighting.

In the same time two nameless and with helmet DJ's was spinning for us for the whole night. The identity was hidden and will be only reveal on this year's first H-Artistry party that will be in Penang during May. Wish I could attend! I been missing out alot H-Artistry last year due to busy with works.

Of course, it was a great night with friends as well. It has been time since I drink drank drunk.

Future Music Festival Asia 2014 - A State of Trance

I still have some party hangover until today! So it was FMFA 2014 week last week! I skip the first day however I managed to attend ASOT 650 on Friday immediately after my work. So yea, I wonder how long have it been since I joined rave and party with friends.

I gotta say I love the setup despite the Stadium Bukit Jalil seem small. Wheel of fortune, pink horse and alot more exiting booths around. What more can I asked for? The moment I reached the place, Andrew Rayel was spinning on the ASOT stage. Followed up by Omnia, Markus Schulz, Armin Van Buuren and finally Paul Van Dyk.

Personally, I love Andrew Rayel! His set was awesome and amazing! Of course, most crowds was there for Armin Van Buuren! Awesome trance DJ! I feel myself like been running for 21 KM listening his set while jumping and dancing. Maybe I gotta admit I am too old to move extremely!

Some pictures with friends in ASOT 650.

Overall, awesome experience with the DJs, friends and also visual lighting around the stage. Despite the day was kinda hazy, but nothing gonna stop us from rave and enjoying the music. Unfortunately the third day of FMFA was cancelled due to some reason. It was really unfortunate since I am so eager on third day too for Pharell William. Oh well..

Anyway, photos are taken with Sony cyber-shot HX50V. I think it is really a sweet camera for concert, raver or party goer. Wish the camera has bigger sensor though (at least 1 inch) or at least, fast fix f2.8 lens while still have ability to super zoom! or maybe at the minimum upgrade, the ability to shoot RAW! I will get the camera without hesitation if any camera manufacture manage to do any of the three improvement on super zoom camera while keeping it in compact size.

Thanks Don and Manoah for the tic!

Revisit Macro : Butterfly Park

This will be my third time doing insect macro shoot in life. Here was my first and second time. Looking back my previous post, I think my shooting style look completely difference. The background is much darker.. Not sure it is because I don't bounce my light LOL My first macro attempt wasn't a proper one since I am using Olympus EP3 with 14-54mm f2.8-3.5 whule the second was with Sony NEX-5T with 35mm f3.5 lens. This time around, I am back with my Olympus OM-D E-M1 and also 60mm f2.8 lens! Thanks Robin for lending me the lens!

Honestly I guess I still don't like macro. I don't hate it but I don't like it either. It killed my eye completely since I need to squeeze my eye during focusing. Note that I am using manual focus all the time especially on small insect. Don't ask me why not auto focus. I always think it is not reliable and hard to focus what I want. In the same time, I think Olympus 5 AXIS stabilization is beautifully work when shooting macro. The half press shutter to stabilize the shot helped me alot. Of course, in the end still depend on myself to stabilize myself. Don't you know we human tend to swing even when we stand straight? Gravity bro!

So yea today I am finally shoot with proper macro lens. In fact it was my first time handle Olympus 60mm f2.8. I think it was a very sweet and capable macro lens. Plus the I just got myself a weather sealed combination when mount on my E-M1. The manual focusing was very straight forward too. Just push to focus ring to the distance you desire (in this case it was the magnifying scale) and then just start adjust yourself front and back to focus. Of course, I am doing it with one handed most of the time since another hand was occupied with flashgun. Guess my only regret today was I don't have a huge bounce card when everyone has! Hmmmmp!

Overall I am happy with my shot today. It is not perfect but I did a small step into macro world. More stuff for me to learn! Meanwhile, I am attracted by Olympus MCON-P02 adapter now. I think it is sweet to have it to mount on my 45mm and I can has a little more close up shot with it :D In the same time, start saving for Olympus 7-14mm f2.8 next year! Wide angle here I come!!

Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear Review

You see, I am not an audiophile. For me, as long as I can listen the music, it is good enough. Of course not with shitty sound quality that hurt my ear. COurtesy to Sennheiser Malaysia, I got to review the latest Momentum On-Ear! This is gonna be the most expensive headphone I owned. Not to mention it is stylish and feel premium.

Key Specification :

• Impedance : 18 Ω
• Frequency response : 16–22,000 Hz
• Sound pressure level (SPL) : 112 dB (1 kHz/1 Vrms)
• THD, total harmonic distortion : < 0.5% (1 kHz, 100 dB SPL) Contact pressure approx. : 3.2 N Ear coupling : Supra-aural Cable length : 1.4 m Transducer principle : Dynamic, closed Weight : 160 g (including remote) Load rating : 200 mW

Main Features

• Groundbreaking technologies like open-type headphones, electrostatics, one way transducer or ring radiator driver
• Equipped with Sennheiser's proprietary 18 Ohm transducers, which take technology from high-end heapdhone sector to ensure full stereo sound with every detail of breath and tone clearly audible
• All models are complemented with a headphone and earpads finished in high-tech Alcantara sourced directly from Milan to complement Sennheiser's exquisite choice of materials
• MOMENTUM On-Ear is available in pink, green, blue, ivory, red, brown and black - emerging trend for softer shades that promises to be a key look in fashion collections in the coming year.

Design & Material

I might be a sucker when come to design. Everyone love nice looking gadget isn't? Sennheiser did put extra afford on the Momentum On-Ear design and material. It coated with metal brush stainless steel at the slider and also beautifully stitches on the top part. The earpads was made from luxurious Alcantara®, where the material allowed the material breathable and avoid being warm after long

User Experience & Performance

Honestly, I think the Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear did very well. While the Earpads won't cancel outside noise due to open-back design, but it is still pretty much good in muffling most of the surround environment sound. The earpads doesn't really hurt and it is comfortable to sit long on my ear and I used it alot during my long working hour. Overall it is one of headphone I used alot during my travelling using LRT and also in office.

The details heard from the headphone is definitely well define plus with Sennheiser signature sound quality. I tested various genre of music using the headphone from rock, pop, EDM and even some stand up comedy audio (Yes I have a tonned of Dayo Wong stand up comedy in my phone for me to listen when I am stress). Personally, I felt everything is great. Left and right channel was clearly distinguish, bass was great though not too over do it and sharp and precise vocal sound. The only complain I have probably the soft vocal on some rock music I play especially when I am riding on train even on max volume. Overall, it was a great experience using the Momentum On-Ear.

Conclusion

Premium, stylish yet high performance. Definitely a headphone with no complain for average users. The Sennheiser Momentum On-Ear will cost RM829 and available at Sennheiser Concept Store @ Bangsar Shopping Centre.