Saturday, 12 January 2008

January 11, 2008: My New Toy

Yes, the above is my new toy!

Santa suppose to bring it during Christmas, but somehow Santa lost his way

while cycling from Stockport to Kuala Lumpur.

Anyway, to shortern the story today I got my long awaited new toy!

Model: Olympus SP-560UZ (Ultra Zoom)

Main features:

The Olympus SP-560 UZ is an elegant, compact digital camera—ideal for intermediate

and advanced digital photography fans who crave power and versatility.

The Olympus SP-560 UZ is an elegant, compact digital camera—ideal for intermediate and advanced digital photography fans who crave power and versatility.

8 megapixels: The SP-560 UZ captures photo-quality, 300dpi images up to 8.2” x 10.9”, and good-quality 200dpi images up to 12.2” x 16.3”. You’ll have extra room to crop photos or enlarge your favorite parts of the image.

Amazing zoom: Optical zoom magnifies subjects without sacrificing resolution. This amazing 18x optical zoom goes from an ultra-wide angle that lets you capture crowds to a super telephoto view that brings distant objects right up to you (35mm equivalent: 27mm-486m). The 5.6x digital zoom picks up where optical zoom leaves off, stretching pixels to make the image look bigger.

2.5” LCD screen: The high-resolution LCD lets you easily compose shots or share them with friends and family.

Optical/digital image stabilizers: Sensor-Shift (optical) automatically detects and compensates for hand vibration, steadying and sharpening the image. High ISO sensitivity (digital) means that the image sensor can handle short exposures to light, allowing fast shutter speeds that prevent blur due to camera shake or subject movement.

Face detection: This camera tracks faces within the frame and automatically focuses and optimizes exposure for sharp, brilliant photos.

Shadow adjustment: Capture scenes exactly as you see them—even in difficult lighting situations. You’ll be able to shoot in backlit situations or outside in bright sun when dark shadows are prevalent.

Advanced image preview: Before you take the shot, let Perfect Shot Preview display the effects of various settings including zoom, exposure, white balance and metering—right on the LCD. You can even view them all at once on a multi-frame window.

High-speed shooting: Shoot fast-action sequences like a pro. At the click of a button, you can take up to 15 shots per second to capture split-second action.

On-camera editing: Remove red-eye, resize, rotate, adjust brightness—and more—right there on the camera.

Scene modes: Choose your mode, and this camera automatically adjusts settings such as shutter speed, flash and focus to adapt to the situation. This camera features 33 scene modes, including portrait, landscape, night scene, sport and more.

Movie mode: When a snapshot just isn't enough, you can record 640 x 480 movies, with audio, at 30 frames per second.

Memory: This digital camera comes with 47MB of internal memory. Get the most out of your camera by adding a 512MB or larger xD™ memory card. How much memory do you need?

Of course I love my new toy! THANK YOU Darling! Anything from you,
even a jar of gherkins or a box of cheese biscuits is always substantial to me!
I am so excited to try out my new toy. The minute I got home, I took off
my coat and went straight to the balcony. Luckily the red rose is ready
to be modelled!

So, where is the outcome?

Errrrr , let me upload the Olympus Master software to my notebook first.

Then I'll have to read the manual on how to transfer the photos from

the camera to my notebook, before I can upload it to Flickr.

Until then, just admire the camera, will you!

Thursday, 10 January 2008

January 09, 2008: those who do not dance

Painting: Dancing Daffodils

A crippled child
Said, “How shall I dance?”
Let your heart dance
We said.

Then the invalid said:
“How shall I sing?”
Let your heart sing
We said

Then spoke the poor dead thistle,
But I, how shall I dance?”
Let your heart fly to the wind
We said.

Then God spoke from above
“How shall I descend from the blue?”
Come dance for us here in the light
We said.

All the valley is dancing
Together under the sun,
And the heart of him who joins us not
Is turned to dust, to dust.

-- gabriela mistral

Monday, 7 January 2008

January 06, 2008: O tea ...

.
.
The first cup moistens my lips and throat.
The second cup breaks my loneliness.
The third cup searches my barren entrail
but to find therein some thousand volumes of odd ideographs.
The fourth cup raises a slight perspiration
- all the wrongs of life pass out through my pores.
At the fifth cup I am purified.
The sixth cup calls me to the realms of the immortals.
The seventh cup - ah, but I could take no more!
I only feel the breath of the cool wind that raises in my sleeves.
Where is Elysium?
Let me ride on this sweet breeze and waft away thither.
~Lu Tung, "Tea-Drinking"

Sunday, 6 January 2008

January 05, 2008: The fifth day of 2008

Hi everyone,

How's the new year so far?

My 2008 is good so far and the coughing is getting better.

I went to my brother's house last night - of course to meet the new born Ain Balqis! She was asleep when I arrived.

And testing her vocal once a while

Here Ain Balqis with her sister Ain Batrisya

I went back to my apartment in the morning because the handyman is coming to fix the ceiling. After morning webcam chat with Herb and while waiting for the handyman I took a nap on the sofa . But my morning nap was later disturbed by a familiar sound

by who else other than my frequent visitor .... which later flew over to nerium oleander (the red flowers) on my balcony

How's your day?

Love - Larra

Friday, 4 January 2008

January 03, 2008: May your day beautiful ...

.
Here, sharing with you a beautiful red roses.
May your day beautiful too.
I have not been in good health lately.
It started with fever, followed by coughing that's getting worse the last 2 days.
Been to the Doctor again and given stronger prescriptions.
Hope it will helps.
I am off to bed now, not knowing how many times I'll be awaken
by the coughing.
See you when I see you!
Love - Larra

Tuesday, 1 January 2008

January 01, 2008: Welcoming 2008

Welcome 2008!
Goodbye 2007!
Thank you God for the wonderful 2007.
AND, as usual
I will always ask for more in 2008.
THANK YOU also to all my friends on 360
- You guys are great! You've made my life great in 2007 -
.
.
Love - Larra
{edited later}
After finished cooking my first lunch for 2008
I was watching Celine Dion on TV
In one of the segment, it's about her recording the song "Eyes on Me"
I always admire her voice
and this song is just beautiful.
And I found the same video on YouTube.
Here, for you ... especially for you Hon. Enjoy!

December 31, 2007: New Year Countdown in Kuala Lumpur!

.
HAPPY 2008!!!!
Have fun! Be safe!
I am here all alone, gazing stars *******
with a packet of 'kuaci'