GREETING | Happy New Year 2008

Wishing You all a happy New Year 2008.



2007 had past, loads of memories, many lovely journeys had been traveled.
Yet, 2008 is a new year, another new exciting journey yet to be explored.

BRUNEI | KNK | Penambang ...

... Thailand's proud of their Tuk-Tuk ... Indonesia ... have their Bajaj .... some eastern countries with their Beca .. or Rickshaw ... and Venice with their Gondolas ....

.. Brunei also have something to be proud of .... the Penambang of the water village ....



... one of the numerous Water Taxis along the Brunei River .... a single short trip across the river can be as cheap as BND0.50/pax ... and a half-hour cruise along the river can cost roughly at least about BND15/pax ....

.. come rain ... come shine ... the Penambang guys will always be there for the customer .....

BRUNEI | HM's 61st B'Day | THE FIREWORKS 4.0

... one of the limitations in taking photos stuck to one point is that, you are limited to a certain compositions only, especially if the subject is more or less at the same spot...

... this is where having a prime lens have it disadvantages... unless you have loads of prime lens with different focal lengths ......

.. in using a tele-zoom lens...by varying the focal length ... you can have a different compositions .... despite standing on the same location ....



... the photo above shows yet a new landmark .. which is the water village on the other side ...

... those light trails on the water are the lights from the moving water taxi ... which is an art of their own ...

... was hoping that I could conduct their movement... such as those synchronize swimming... perhaps .... this time they could design the number 61 ... hmmmm...... oh well... it only happens in the movie ...

BRUNEI | HM's 61st B'day | THE FIREWORKS 2.0

... the night was showered with the glitters... and glow of the fireworks.....

.. what ever it was fired in the sky ... would then be reflected on the water .... making it a nice show both in the sky and on the water.....


The fireworks... with the Royal Palace .. and the water village on the foreground ....


hmmm..... while we're on this fireworks... or in malay .... "Bunga Api" ... or in Bahasa Indonesia. "Kembang Api" .... perhaps... here are something to ponder...

Banyak-banyak bunga... bunga apa yang panas? BUNGA API!

...bunga apa yang lebih besar dari Bunga Rafflesia?? ..... BUNGA API!

... ada bunga yang harum baunya ... ada yang inda brapa jua... tapi bunga apa yang bau angus? BUNGA API!!

.... selalunya bunga mesti disiram aying ... tapi ada bunga ani.. mun di siram makai aying .. inda pulang baik .....apa nah bunga nya ....? .. BUNGA API!!

.. bunga apa yang inda payah dibagi baja...? BUNGA API!

... bunga apa yang inda kena jual di pasar bunga di Hortikultur Rimba Gadong ? .... BUNGA API!

... bunga apa yang paling lagu time Raya ...? Bunga raya!? salah ! .... BUNGA API!

... bunga apa yang inda dapat dibagi arah gelpren mun kan jalan dating?? ... BUNGA API!! .. ( lain lah mun kan outside dinner ... kan pasang bunga api... atu buang kes...)

BRUNEI | RANDOM | The Boy & The Boats ...

.. just a quick post ... an everyday local scene ....



.. The Boy & The Boats ...

.... so many boats to choose from ... just like our daily life... full of options .... the choice is up to you .... you can see the lots ... but at the end of the day .... u have to decide which path to choose ...... . follow your heart ... .. but make sure u do some research beforehand ... just don't pick blindly ...

... pray for the best ...

BRUNEI | FILM OUTING | The Golden Water ...

... been quite a long day ... was out with the guys ....

anyway .. just wanna leave u with this photo for today ....



.. the golden water of Brunei ....

BRUNEI | KENALI NEGARA KITANI ...

.... was watching the news just now ... when this subject came up ...

... Kenali Negara Kitani, KNK .. a.k.a. Know Our Country ...

.. there are actually some "unexplore" part in our country that are yet to be explored ...

Did You Know That ....

... there is a village, very close to the capital .... where the villagers drive their car without any car registration (nada plet lesen) ... and there is no traffic light in their village ...?

... there are 17 Mukims in the Brunei-Muara District alone ... and 6 of them are located at Kampung Aying ....

.. there are more then 100 villages in Brunei-Muara District! (Imagine how many Ketua Kampung!) .. and yet Brunei Muara District is the smallest of all 4 districts....

... Bandar Seri Begawan is located in Mukim Kianggeh .... and so does Istana Nurul Iman!

.. Gadong is located in Brunei-Muara District ... but Kampong Gadong Baru is in Temburong!

... Sumbiling is also located in Brunei-Muara District .... but Kampong Sumbiling is in Temburong!

.... Labu is in Temburong ... and Labi is in Belait District....

... there is no beach in Temburong!

... Kampong Pekilong Muara is not in Muara .... but in Kampung Aying!

.... Kampong Burong Pinggai Berakas is on land ... where as Kampong Burong Pinggai Ayer .. is on Water ....

.. Mukim Saba is the only Mukim .. where their Villages (Kampong) .. are called by and start with their Mukim's name ... i.e. Kampung Saba Darat 'A'; Kg. Saba Darat 'B'; Kg. Saba Laut & Kg. Saba Ujong.

... you don't have spend much if u wanna go to U.K. ... 'coz u can just go to Ujong Kelinik in Mukim Sungai Kebun ....

.. and obviously ... when people say they are going to K.L. .. they might be going to Kuala Lurah in Mukim Pengkalan Batu ....

... and on the other hand .. just to glamorise your destination ... u can say ... u r going to L.A.buan ... or aMIRIka ... or just plain UBDcity ..... ;) .. thou u need your passport if u wanna go to L.A. or Miri ...

.. and o yea ... if u think there is no traffic jam on the water/river .... think again .... just look at the photo ... ;)



... the busy ... hectic Brunei water ... during peak period ..... ;)

BRUNEI | FILM OUTING | The Waterfront...

... the day's getting dark ....

... the sun's setting ...

... the boat's getting bouncier due to the "wavy" water ....

... it's getting harder to get a "still" photo .... this is when u really need those Image Stabilizer ...

... with the unchangeable ISO setting .. (due to film constrainted.. ) .. you are stuck with just a single ISO setting ...

.... most autofocus lens would find difficulty in focusing in low light ... the lens would hunt for the right amount of light to get into focus .... and this is where the manual focus with the parallax-error-mirror comes in handy ......

... then gazing the magnificient cloud formations ... .. and with a limited amount of film exposure left.. ...... made you think twice .... .. either to capture the clouds .. or the waterfront .....

... hmmmm ..... but not much time to think about it .. otherwise.... you will miss the moment ....

.. then... * click * ....



... this is what I finally decide to take ...

.... another perspective of the waterfront .... with the marvellous cloud formation .....

FILM OUTING | BRUNEI | Jetty Business ...

... "close-up" of the village's jetty ... where the boat load/unload passengers and goods ....

.. modern jetties are now built from reinforced concrete .... although there are still wooden jetties being use ......

... the reinforced concrete do still get eroded due to the erosion of the steel bar by the salty water .....

... I think it is about time for those concern to build a properly computer design jetty .. which can withstand those salty water.... and other natural .. or man-made impacts ....

... a floating jetty should also be considered .. so that it is easier to unload/load .. regardless of the tide of the water .....



... people bargaining for fare price before taking ride to their respectful destination.....

TIPS FOR NEWBIES TO THE WATER VILLAGE

1. Use an appropriate footwear, especially during climbing the steps of the jetty, as it is quite slippery, use high heels only if you think you are stunt acrobats from a circus, hence a flat rubber sole is recommended.

2. Bring small change, a short trip across the river, can be as little as from $0.50 per person, but if you give them $1, there will be no change, anyway, on the other hand, just give them the $1, share the wealth.

3. Bargain the fare first before taking the boat ride.

4. While walking along the wooden plank walkway, see not only the front, but watch your step literally, you would never know what you gonna step on ;)

5. Due to the "mysterical" and fascinating maze of walkway, becareful of where you are heading, you might end up at someone's kitchen!

6. Smile, and be polite, the villagers especially the children are very welcoming and friendly, and please do not be rude, as the people in the village are all related to one another in every other relationships i.e. uncles, aunties, granddad, cousins, 2nd cousins, 3rd cousins, sister's husband's cousins etc ....

7. Make sure your camera have enough film, batteries and memory cards etc, unless you wanna miss your chance of a lifetime ... leaving all those sweet, beautiful memories of Kampung Aying just in your heart ....... I Heart You ....

BRUNEI | FILM OUTING | Yayasan Water Front ....

... where there's a river ... or water .... there's usually a water front .... or water/river banks ... what ever you wanna call it ...

... looking at the photo .... if only they can extend the water front (to the left of the photo) .. to about few hundred metres more ... this for sure will make a beautiful and magnificient water front .... facing the serenity of the soothing water ....

.. and that water front can then be used as a spectators arena for any water events... such as "dragon" boat race ... kayak race ... and such ...

.... and during normal day ... it can be used as a jogging track ....

.. for sure will gonna be a touristy event/area in the Brunei calendar ....

.. thou many years ago ... an annual water events were done along this stretch of water ... which include ... night time boat float processions during HM's Birthday Celebrations .. powerboat racing .... and "dragon" boat racing etc ...



... a view of the Yayasan Water Front .... from the water .... ;)

BRUNEI | FILM OUTING | School on Water ....

... sssss ... aaaaaa...... yyyy ...... aaaaa...... SAYA ....

.... aaaaa.......ddddd....... aaaaaa ...... ADA

..... bbb ... uuuu .... kkkk....... uuu .... BUKU .....


.... SAYA ADA BUKU .....


... those rythmic tune... of the school children in the school .. still lingers in my ears ....

... for those living next to the school ... or just happened to pass by the school .... never fail to capture those melodic voices of the children learning to spell .... read ..... and counts ....


.. then listening the cheers of the children everytime ... the bell rings for break ... and seeing their ever so happy face especially during the-end-of-school bell ...........

... I was still small at that time ... and I presume ... some of the children are now having some good jobs somewhere....



.. The photo shows Sekolah Rendah Dato Godam, Mukim Sungai Kedayan ..... one of the primary schools at the water village ....


..... dua kali dua ... empat ....

.... dua kali tiga .... enam ....

.. dua kali empat .... lapan .....

...... dua kali lima ...... ;)

BRUNEI | FILM OUTING | River Cruise ...

.. I think I have uploaded about 10 photos from the 36 exp. film roll (.. thou 2 frames were exposed)... so here are some more of it .....

... when visiting a foreign land ... the visit is usually not worthwhile unless you cruise along their river .... with their local means of transport ....

... Bangkok with the Chao Praya River ........ in London.. one will cruise along the River Thames ... .......... and the famous Seine River boat cruise is a "must" in Paris ... .......... and obviously relaxing in the gondola in Venice....

.... well my friends ... in Brunei ... the visit is not complete without cruising along the Brunei River ... seeing all those "exotic treasures" .. that is unique only to Brunei ....



... cruising along the Brunei River .... with Mukim Tamoi on the background ... (few villages form a Mukim ..... few Mukims form a district) ....

Mukim Tamoi is one of the Mukims at the water village .....

FILM OUTING | BRUNEI | Of The Jetty & The Clouds ...

... before going to the film outing .. I said to myself I will only use one roll film of 36 exp. ... but after processing I found out that, the actually exposure was less than 36, because the first few frames was expose earlier while inserting the film rolls...

.. so is a 36exp. enough for an outing?

... well it depends on what u wanna shoot ... but for me I just wanna challenge myself.... challenge myself as to how much "useable" / "quality" shots that I could take with just the 36exp. ....

... I guess... if you manage to get at least 20 good photos from a 36 exp. that should be better than .. having a digital camera with 4GB but with more half of them are deleted ...

.... in handling film camera... one can not just shoot in continuous mode .. *traatatatatatatat* ... 3 or 5 or 8 fps .. or what ever the frame speed of your camera... otherwise... u will just waste the whole roll of film ....

... buuuut... if u think just because you are using digital SLR ... you can just shoot in that *tratatat* mode ... think again ... DSLR have a limited shutter cycle counts ... once it reached that "expiry" mode... u need to fix your shutter ..... ( I guess.. this part is where the salesperson often left out....) ... so you've been warned .... ;)



.... a long extended jetty .. with a lovely cloud formation at the background ....