way to go, Sony!

When it comes to commercialized audio system, I’ve was taught by my father that the brand Sony is the best.

I bought the W960 phone recently, and so far it has not disappointed me.
Some reviews say that the multi-functions are a burden for its tiny processor,
However I never think there has any frustrating lag while using it.



Once in a blue moon the phone does freeze / hang, but with just the help of the task manager, or in worse cases, the power button, it can go back to its normal condition.

Since this is the debut entrance for Sony to combine the organizer, walkman and camera in one phone, all functions are not really 100% given. I can say that they are 85% of excellence, and I am pretty much happy with it.

Audio performance is good, the bass is not as strong as a dedicated walkman phone, however, still acceptable and enjoyable, with a very good intuitive GUI.

All Walkman phone series of Sony comes in handy with a set of multimedia buttons, on the side of the phone (Play/Stop, Forward/Rewind and Volume Control). You can press them easily even when the phone is inside your pocket. This phone do not have the Play/Stop button, instead, you can press the call receive/end button on the earphone cable itself. Quite convenient.

Camera quality is acceptable, still clear when the subject or scenery has not enough lighting, with max 3 megapixel resolution.

The organizer, even though it’s not as elaborate as the ipod, but it’s still helpful and has a lot of functions including calendar, notes, alarm and so on.

The internet function is really cool, and I can always use the messenger from my phone when the 3G is active.




However, Sony goes more advanced when they came up with the W995 phone. Bigger screen, better media player.







And in 2009, Sony is ready to compete all out with the ipod.
If I ever have enough money, I’ll definitely grab this one from the shelf.
Check out this Sony idou (still hasn’t got its official name yet.)

my own review of lentera hati

Personally, this album is not one of the outstanding masterpiece of Siti Nurhaliza.
Our expectation is that she’ll be singing each syllable powerfully and richly,
but this album was created in a very relaxed way.
One can mistakenly say that this album is a half-past six product,
however, of course, it still has some quality in it
and still much better compared to some other singer albums around.

I still enjoy this album, though I miss the richness and uniqueness from a good arrangement; combined with the good powerful vocals of Siti Nurhaliza.

Di Kayangan Kita

The introduction is like a warm welcome for the first time listener.
Only that when it goes to the middle part, it sounds quite typical.

Bintang Malam

This track is a song that I would like to listen to, many times.
Catchy and cute, from the beginning til the end.
The song lyrics praises the man that one likes, and calls him the star of the night.


Cinta Ini

Introduction is not really intriguing.
As it goes to the chorus, it sounds like a pop song, awkward but you still want to listen to that part.

Ada Masa Mata

This piece, of sunda keronchong genre, is my favorite track.
Cleverly done, cute. And the lyrics has good meaning in it.

Jangan kunci pintu hati
Lepas pandang sebalik diri
Bila indah telah pudar
Atas apa kita berdiri?

I really like when the backup male sang that sings insync with the beat of the string instruments. Clever!
And the bass that supports the song along the way makes you feel cheerful.

Bulan Yang Mesra

A song that goes into asli genre.
Calming and soothing. But a bit too heavy for the common listener.

Seloka Budi

The introduction reminds me of government sponsored cultural performances.
At some part, this song is like those traditional songs sung by the singer Aishah.

Rasa Antara Kita

This piece started in a relaxed way, and slightly builds up in the beginning. Ending is creatively done in a different scale. It also has a meaning that we can contemplate with.

Manusia boleh berkata apa mereka suka
Janganlah tersalah tafsir tanpa merenung takdir.

Jelmakanlah Ayumu

This song has full instrumentation, including piano, string, percussion, winds and brass, but I don’t really get the impact. Maybe there’s something about the arrangement. It ain’t leaping out of the ordinary.

Di Taman Teman

Supposedly the featured track being played on air, this piece really has the influence of the singer’s past traditional albums.

splurge.

Yipee!



I went to the mall and I brought something back.


I brought back a black Parkson paper bag.







Wonder what's inside?






DKNY. Be Delicious. For Men.
Finally I got my favorite fragrance!

I also bought one Renoma shirt, huhuhu.


Hm.. I spent too much already.
Must go back to saving mode again...

a contribution to my school

Last week, alas, was the night, after our determination to sacrifice a few weekends to attend rehearsals.

It was the annual dinner for the alumni for my high school.


Held at a very huge ballroom in a five star hotel, the main lobby was a breathtaking view.





By the way,
have you ever watched the animation Beauty and the Beast before?


Do you remember the fabulous hall where they danced,
before the Beast brought her slowly to the balcony to see the stars?


It was the best scene inside the whole movie.




Same not? Same not?




Here’s a snap shot of the car that brought me to the hotel from my apartment.




Ha ha. Just joking.





And here’s my first shark fin soup in my life. Tastes… normal.




The show was fun, and the team was great. Old boys and current students of the school joined together, with something in common: we are the members of the school orchestra.





Cute!

watch what u eat

I dashed into the studio for another rehearsal, and I opened my bag and put my right hand into it, to get the lead sheet.

Suddenly there was a small jolt of pain as my fingers touched the bag.

There they are again, small tear of the skin on each finger, right close to the part where the nail grows.

Not to mention the sudden rare outbreaks on my skin.

I looked into my diet. What have I missed?

Daily diet-

Breakfast- fried noodle with fried egg, yolk discarded. And a glass of warm water.

Lunch- a plate of white rice with huge serving of raw salad we call ‘ulam’. Some soy sauce for taste, and some fried bittergourd too. Also, a glass of warm water.

Dinner- two slices of wholemeal bread with fried egg (yolk discarded), margarine, peanut butter and olive oil.

Occasionally, during weekends-

I consume meat when I order some food in Old Town Café.
I consume extra fat and sugar when I munch a few slices of cake.
I get more of that, plus caffeine, when I drink ice blended chocolate drink at the coffee shop.


Then I realized that I’ve not taken enough vitamin and minerals.

So the other day I went to the groceries,
Bought a packet of powdered milk, Nestum cereal mix, and oranges.



Also, I started to eat some carrots during lunch for vitamin A.

Miraculously my fingers and skin improved a lot in just one day!

my point of view

It’s a conflict that has happened since years ago and there’s still no end to it.
Growing up as a teenager in Malaysia, I am so accustomed to our mindset of thinking that the Jews as our eternal enemy, and it felt as if it’s blasphemous to even talk about them. Reminds me of Voldermort.

After all, it’s already written in the holy book that we should be cautious of them, and the others who are our enemies.

And then there came a phase where I got to know more friends of not from the same race.
And then entered the freedom of access to unlimited information, called the internet.

Being me, who sometimes like to go in contradict with the society,
I had this urge to know more about the conflict of Israel/Palestine.
It’s kind of interesting, how come we end up hating them so much?

Through asking around and surfing the net,
Indeed I got a cocktail of information variety.

Close friends emphasized that regardless that the issue is viewed in 1001 ways,
It’s inevitable that the prophecy is stated in the Koran, and it couldn’t be avoided.

Few more friends, (one is from Singapore) told me that there was once in history, a Moslem country offered sanctuary for the Jews, and they lived for a quite a few years, in harmony.

I really like what Tun Mahathir said in his www.chedet.com, emphasizing that the source of the conflict is not about religion, but political, when the Europe decided to declare a strip of land to be given to the Jews, and leave the mess to the Arabs.

He also said that, “true, good brains can make a strong powerful country, but good brains without ethics will create a monster”.

I myself cannot totally side either of the two.
I believe that in a war, both sides could be wrong.

Once, a Chinese friend who is currently learning Arabic, said to me-
“I thought that the term Assalamualaikum is religious.
But as I learn this, and talked to other Arabic speakers around the world,
It’s a common thing to greet this way regardless of your religion.”

I surfed the net and I only saw one or two opinions saying that this act is forbidden,
Based on the prophet saying-

“Do not give salam to the Christians and the Jews. And if you see them in front of you, push them away to the narrow lanes.”

However, one must be aware that this was said during the war, when Islam received threat from outsiders.

There is also a verse from the holy book-
“When someone gives you a greeting, reply it even in a better way.”

Islam does not practice cruelty beyond reason.
Although it is very stern in applying the compulsory rules, but it is also flexible.
True that we must always be cautious when it comes to things that might give a bad impact to our faith, but why must we create enemies instead of trying to leave in a peaceful world?


Jews, Palestine, the strip of land, and my different way of thinking about this-
There is a reason why God created everything in this world.
And some reasons are left unknown.

ranting.

Apparently these few days I've got so many small annoying problems that might make my life feel difficult.

I went to the nearest TMPoint from my office, which took me half an hour to travel under the hot sun, and waited for a few hours- just to be told that I can't subscribe internet just yet because my apartment address is not detected by the system. I'll have to wait for a few days, (not confirmed), til the technical people can verify that the internet service is available in my area.

I've got trouble with housekeys.
The former housemate couldn't turn up at the moment to return the keys,
the new housemate needed the keys so I duplicate a new set for him.
The duplicated set was not a perfect copy, he couldn't open the door.
My other housemate informed me and he had to lend his own keys.
In the end, everyone started to get upset.

And my phone 3G line was barred the same day they send an sms to inform that my bill is ready to be paid. And it will take three working days for my online payment to be effective, so that they can reconnect my line.

Like, what the??

Okay, I'm giving up being attached to these trivial problems, because they do occur in life.

Face the fact that problems will always continuously happen in life.
Accepting it with an open heart, and you'll be alright.


Definitely there will a time that you fall back into feeling bad,
and you accept the situation again. The faster you accept it, the quicker you'll cope with it.

yoga

A while ago, when the clerics decided to rule out that yoga is, to an extent, not permissible. It caused a stir and recieved various response among the public.

Some agreed, some don’t.

Some says it’s good to curb those who are not really knowledgeable from getting themselves astrayed away from their faith.

Some says it’s nonsensical.

Practitioners were either insulted, or decided to follow the rules and stopped performing it in future.

My impression towards yoga-
I’ve always perceive it as a good method to maintain good health; physical and spiritual. I even considered to learn it if I’ve got the chance.

When this issue arises, I thought of browsing the internet to surf more about yoga.
Is this really a practice that would change the faith of Moslems?

I discovered that yoga is closely related to the founder religion, but it’s focused on spirituality and demands one’s attention to his Creator.

Really, it was a fine line there.

But to me it’s not really all that wrong to practice yoga, if you are equipped with sufficient knowledge. Even one friend of mine, a pious Moslem, is a yoga instructor.

Personally, knowing that I devote my life to my trumpet performances, physical work-out and also my main career, I think yoga is not an option opened for me.

This whole issue of yoga, has instead opened myself to appreciate what has been given to me to maintain my spiritual health- the performing of shalat, five times per day.

Besides as an obligation to communicate with God, now I perceive the shalat as a gift-
in just that five minutes for each session,
the performer will put aside his worries, his thoughts, and anything stressful-
just to be in this quiet, serene and special moment with God.

When you see it like a burden, it will feel difficult to perform.
When you see it as an opportunity of meditation, it'll give a new impact for you.
Try it on.

random band shots

Saxophones.




Senior and junior.




Trumpets.




Trombone and french horn.





Toiletries?




Ah, no, they are stuff to use to maintain the instruments.

pictures say a thousand words

After years of calmness at the surface, tragedy strikes in a sudden.

Great expectations for some events, but in reality they were full of regrets.



Other events, went with grace and full of impact, they bring pride in our hearts.



Those who left, for a better place.



But through crisis, different groups of friends are united.



Once a while, a warm gesture offered to us when in need.



And those who cared to be with us for a brighter future.



And even when anything happens, some still standing strong and tall.

water life

Shots of my new aquarium.
Looks empty and "quiet"? Let's take a closer look.




Neon tetra flocking together at one corner.




Two snails moving slowly on the small "log".




Prawns hiding underneath.




Orange tetra.




Pinkish fish.




The mud eater.




I like this one.

nothing or something

“You get motivated by DOING things, not thinking about them” – Andrew Matthews.

Last week I fell into this emotion of feeling that all my involvement in music seems worthless. I’ve traveled far across cities to join youth orchestra rehearsals and live bands, but suddenly there was a moment that I feel tired of it all.

My materialistic side shows its face and I started to remind myself that I actually didn’t get any cent out of any performance. And I don’t feel that anyone gave me any acknowledgement that much. It seems that I achieved nothing. Zero. Nada. Have I wasted my time?

Not being myself, I skipped a few rehearsals last week, but on Friday I decided that I need to restore integrity. I started attending all practices as usual.

I went to the big band rehearsal and hang on with whatever feeling that I have. I also obediently went to the youth orchestra rehearsal on Saturday.

When I dragged myself to be responsible, slowly I see some light.

Out of the blue, the cute flautist told me this.

“Man, your playing has improved A LOT! I’m not saying this just because I’m being nice, but really, you’ve improved a lot!”

I was pleasantly surprised, and I thanked him for letting me know.

Apart of that, I can’t stop myself complaining about my low moods to a very nice friend, who is also the leader of the live band I’m joining with. He’s a successful music enthusiast- reaching many levels; owning a music school, a jam studio, and a music instrument shop. He also recently finished sitting for ATCL exam for his clarinet. At the age years younger than me.

Then suddenly he said, agreeing to what I feel, “Yeah, sometimes it’s just daunting! I would say to myself, what the heck am I doing rushing here and there working things out like a cow? But then, we hold onto this saying- GIVE BEFORE YOU GET.”

I told him that I’m glad that now I know I’m not alone. It’s just a normal thing, to feel frustrated once a while, and forget to be grateful with the privilege that we’ve already got.

Seriously, how many of us have the chance to perform

So now I am just going to do it, to perform and contribute, while finding ways to improve myself. At least, hey, with this tight schedule of rehearsals almost every night, I’m completing my quota of at least one hour of trumpet per day. That’ll definitely do me good.

Looking forward for KL Pac orchestra rehearsal tonight!

something different

I am at a coffee shop now.
Feels a little bit tricky when you want to write a blog and at the same time eating chicken chop.
I must remind myself to get all the journal drafts from my office next time.

Thanks dear dear Z

Thanks for believing that I could be someone bigger than I appear to be, when everyone lose hope on me.

Thanks for giving me the assurance when I can't see the light.

Thanks for being there, helping me decide what's best, supporting my decision, and help picking up the mess with me whenever I did anything wrong.

Thanks for lifting up my spirits each time I fall.

Thanks for playing Scrabble with me on those warm windy afternoons.



Thanks for making me see clearly that there are still many of us in this world who still love me.

I'm bored. Or am I just confused?

Nowadays, things are not as they used to be. It's another phase where I will need to stand alone, with courage and pride.

I've got a few projects coming up, but I can't deny that I am feeling half-hearted and maybe it's just a state of confusion that is in me. I feel as if my week nights will be filled with a tight schedule but I do not really see the benefit of it.

It also feels like I get all the obstruction whenever I want to go to rehearsals, and it makes me starting to get bored.

Is there any hidden meaning or something beyond this?

It's up to me to find it.