Pandaland instead of Disneyland. Japan is cancelled, Sichuan China is the next stop.................

As luck would have it. An earthquake disaster struck Japan. 9.1 magnitude earth quake plus a tsunami that came rolling in after that put everything in the country to chaos. Kinda of a grim reminder of the Banda Acheh Tsunami back a few years ago. 

So I had a tough decision to make, go or not go..............with the nuclear meltdown and constant supply shortage of water and basic food. Its was a decision of mine not to add in anymore strain to the country resources. Plus i think its really not nice if people are suffering and your having good time. 

So there I was yesterday scrambling mad to cancel my flight with Air Asia and replacing it with a alternative to Chengdu. Peace to u bro Patrick at Air Asia call center Singapore( this guy got my credit shell refund in less than 24 hours ). To be honest i was lost when i decided to cancel my flight before yesterday, i mean come on. The preparation, the anticipation build up to Japan  was kinda of a rush for me. 

So I did the logical thing which was to streamline what are my options..............10 days to burn, not gonna just waste it like that.........it came down to 2 choices. Option a. Vietnam - a trip from North to South over 10 days. Option b. China - Sichuan over 10 days. Weather wise both was at the right time. Finally decided to settle on China as I still had some CNY leftover from last year's Guilin trip. The only issue now is with my visa. Got to get it done asap.....................

Ready for Japan

Shit me, i've just realised that i have not been updating my blog for like a year. Things was like so fast in 2010. One minute I was in KL, then moved to Singapore for work. Had to of course go through the whole shit load of exams to get my license to work in Singapore.

Singapore is a really lousy place for outdoors............bottomline, fullstop. I spoke to my colleagues, most kids here don't get to see a walking cow for like most of their growing up years. I'm an adult, when i'm in Malaysia, i get to see it minimum once a week. Well i guess, the reverse is true. Most Malaysians don't get to see 3 or 4 Louis Vuitton store on one stretch of the street. If you're a shopping fan, Singapore is great. Anyway, that's another story.

So anyway, i've been slogging my ass here in Singapore trying to make some moolah. Sacrifice my weekly weekend ritual of the outdoors since July 2010. Honestly i dunno how long i can last with the city life here. Its so boring..........no jungle, no waterfall, no wildlife to observe, I haven't even seen a street rat for like ages. So i figure i better start planning something. Sometime in November last year when Airasia X decided to fly to Japan. I looked at the website and went ahead and booked a trip there. 10 solid days of backpacking. a bit of the city, a bit of the countryside, try to fit a hike in there, highlight of course is the 2011 Tokyo annual fishing show. Cost me like USD 500 for a tickets. Thanks for the great deal Tony (CEO of Airasia). So i really getting excited about it, been surfing religiously on what to do and where to go. Hunting for budget accommodation. Watch this space.....

Kimono clad Geisha

Tokyo drifting with the GT queens...........

Batu Caves Training

6.30am dit dit dit dit...........There goes the alarm, time to get up for training

Usually on an uneventful weekend, i normally get up to Batu Caves for some keep in shape and fitness training.

huh............. isn't Batu Caves a temple cave where the hindus do all the body poking stuff at 1 time a year and people go into a trance to give thanks to Lord Murugan.

Yes, yes.............That's the thaipusam festival. I'll post a brief write on Thaipusam later

The 272 steps up to the cave is what i after, how hard can 272 steps be right ? One way ok, Up down 1 round ok, but try challenge yourself and try to do a 5-10 lap of up and down and tell me if you get a workout.

Many people do laps up and down the 272 steps on weekends. Although the place was not intended as a exercise area, the temple priest are generally ok on people doing their walk up and down the stairs

Some unwritten rule that most fitness guys and girl abide by while training here
1. Always give way/priority to devotees performing prayers here. Also forget about helping them up especially children or old folks, its a burden they have to carry by themselves. I've seen people kneel all the way up 272 steps with my own eyes............

2. Observe the no exercise area at cave entrance after the 272 steps

3. Help the temple priest carry stuff up to the temple if you see any, they usually leave bags of it at the start of the 272 steps.

4. Do not feed the monkeys

Benro A-550EX Tripod .............. My new toy

Unextended pose

Extended pose

I couldn't believe it...................RM 5500 almost went down the drain...........My Canon EOS 400 DLSR + the 18-200mm lens almost went crashing to the floor while photographing the sunset at Mt. Bromor. It was lucky that i always instinctively held on to my camera. It was one of those cheap ass sakure tripod that cause the problem. The plastic mounting snapped in 4 places. Really couldn't believe it

The moment that happen an old chinese saying flashed my mind "You already bought the cow, make sure you get a rope for it". This saying literally means if you already spend a bomb on something make sure you get something worthy to look after it as well. Wise word for the day

The next day watching sunrise at Mt.Penanjakan, i still had to use my broken tripod. I carefully tied in place very crudely and holding the camera on my hand. It was a bummer photo shot and i told myself i had to get my hand on one of those strudy looking tripod once i get back. I immediately threw the entire sakure tripod into a bin just before i left Cemero Lawang.

Upon my return, I did my research based on photography forums, reviews and blogs. It was down to three brands Benro, Manfrotto and Gitzo.

I ended up chosing Benro over the rest due to a few objectives 1.Sturdiness, 2.value for money 3.weight aspect cos i do a lot of travelling. I also did found out from the net that Benro was made in china and built quiet similar to Gitzo's specs. ( Thank God for the Chinese capitalism ). the price is way cheaper than Gitzo. Manfrotto i find is too heavy for me. Fortunately i do not shoot like a professional, else i would settle for a Gitzo which cost a bomb. I only need the travelling tripod for the occassional sunrise and sunset or waterfall shots

I manage to research a place called YL Camera shop just down town in Kuala Lumpur stock the Benro tripod, located in Pudu Plaza on the 1st floor. So i decided to pay a visit there today to get my hand on a Benro tripod. I tried a few model keeping in mind my objectives.

The salesgirl was cool and she help me out in finalising my decision. And finally......
Model : Benro A-550EX ( Black colour )
Price : RM 500

Specs :
4 section
1470mm Max height, 480mm folded
1.45kg weight
Support up to max of 6 kg weight

All objective met, it even came with a bag and strap. So happy to have settled with a decent tripod for my future photography outing. Good thing also,found out the YL shop does trade in, so now i'm planning for my next outdoor toy Vosonic VP8870...................muahahhahaha

Taken with camera resting on it

Size when collapsed

Size when extended

Box bag and tripod

Cool wing nut for locking the height

Extendable and collapsible legs

Balancer checker and compass

Degree dial

Camera locking plate, very solid

Plate fixed on camera