The first Kiss

Holding your hand, I promised that we would never have to go through what happened ever again.

The months passed as the holidays drew to a close. We decided to meet up for New Year’s Eve with all our friends. Ryan, Michael, Rayhan and Michelle. We’ve been planning it for weeks and we finally decided that spending time with one another would be the best plan yet.

Buying beers and tidbits for our very own party, it couldn’t get anymore exciting than this. Getting a room in the most prestigious of hotels with an amazing view of the towers, we could not ask for more.

By nightfall with less than 2 hours away to January 1st, most of us were already drunk but still having the times of our lives. Spin the bottle and card games were our entertainment for the night. Yet I could not shake the uneasy feeling I had inside me. I headed out to the balcony.

I stared out at the streets of the city, the brightly lit towers people running around with their friends making fools of themselves. But none of that mattered; it was the last night of 2010 and he beginning of 2011, a new year. We just wanted to have FUN!

Then, you came by my side and hugged my arms. “What are you doing out here alone? It’s cold,” you asked. Putting my arms around you, “I can’t help but having this feeling that something was missing earlier, that something was giving me this uneasy feeling and that something has just come into my arms.”


You leaned your head against my chest as we just looked at the towers. I lifted you up playfully and went and sat by the lazy chair on the balcony and you slept along me. That feeling was undeniably the best part of the night. Hugging you, keeping you close to me, watching your every breath. It was nothing I would ever imagine having something like this with anyone else.

I saw my watch it was 11.57pm. “Guy’s its almost time!” I yelled. We all stood by the balcony holding hands, arms around one another, we were the band of friends that were possibly the most fun and close knit that any other friends I’ve ever had.

“10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2…,1 HAPPY NEW YEAR!!”

We all started hugging each other and wishing each other. By the time it was done, the twins decided to bring out the shots that they had been saving up till that point. Many events happened after that, but we’ll get to that some other time.

All I could remember from that night that meant the most to me on the balcony was facing you and whispering, “As long as the moon is our witness, I shall always love and care for you. No matter what happens in the future. Always remember that if we do separate ways in the future, I will always be looking for a second chance because I treasure what we had with all my heart.”

And we kissed.

To be continued…

365 DAYS

Not the best of results but still managed to meet my uni requirements.

All I am looking forward to do in the next 365 days is writing more, getting a job, experience new things and further my passion for photography.

Deferring my university entry to 2013 has given me the opportunity to mature myself more as a man entering the dog-eat-dog world and I have started looking for a job to begin this journey into adulthood.

So, I'm looking forward to starting a flourishing job as a freelance photographer and valuable internship experience in a bank firm.

A day with the Canon 1000D+Prom+After Party

The day started with a little expedition of testing out the new camera.

Then came the part where the Singh, Malyali, and me checked into our room at the Hotel Royal on Jalan Bukit Bintang.

PROM! JW Marriot was filled with beautiful ladies and suave men. Looking their very best, they came in groups to celebrate their final day of college with a bang. Performances from all the lecturers, amazing food and meeting up with old pals made the night even memorable.

After party at Nero, Vertigo at Gardens was by far the highlight of the night. The smooth R&B music made the night even funkier. All the more was meeting new people and having a great time with the friends. I highly recommend two songs to get any party going.

1.Seven Nation Army ( Glitch Squad remix)

2. Warp (Bloody Beetroots and Steve Aoki)

Meeting new people and chilling with a few friends. That made 15th June 2011 an unforgettable night. 

Was running through my photos I had taken previously and came across one that really made my day. The picture that made me venture into photography.

The Last Week of May

The perils of examinations have been somewhat a drive for me to strive for better things in life. With Math and Physics out of the way, core calculus and economics are the only remaining subjects in the way of the freedom I so direly need right now. Being constrained by your parents that limit your vast range of capabilities to only one channel can be depressing. Having taken oath that I shall continue my writing once I am done with my exams is a way that I shall express myself. Not forgetting the Holga camera which secretly looks at me everyday asking me to play with her. But all shall be done when 15th June shall be over.

The ultimate question was what do I do when the exams are over for 3 months? I can't write and take pictures all the time although I would love to, but I have to face reality with my chest forward hands by my sides, and hope for the best. I always know that person I've known for the past 7 months will come up with some way of making use of me. So all I can do right now,is wait..

Which Side of Manchester?

The Red half and Blue half of Manchester are at war, and what other way to settle it that the final day of the Premier League. Let's say we're in for one hell of a final day of the EPL and the odds are to Manchester City to take it.

Unless QPR decide to pull out a stunner and United knick the title, it's going to be a nervy last day.

A Tough week ahead.

The week started out pretty well with all the exams being over and a two week break to relax and catch up on work before the finals. It gave me some time to go to the gym but all was wasted as I picked up back injury. Clueless on how it happened, I have been advised to visit the doctor as the pain has been persistent for the past few days.

Another ting that was playing on my mind was which university to choose. Herriot Watt or Southampton? Both are for Actuarial Science and I am planning to do Investment Banking. A real mind boggler, I need advice a.s.a.p before my finals. Looking to financial help has not made the week any better.

On the bright side, I finally ordered my Holga 135BC analogue camera which was due to arrive yesterday. Because of a simple mistake by the sender, it was delayed and my time to start using it has reduced. Well eventually, I can wait for it to arrive, stuff a CN400 film inside and start using it.

Well, that's all for now. Feedback on the university choice would really help. Thanks.

Roshan Menon

The South Pacific Seafood @PJ Old Town

     The family was undecided on dinner plans tonight and decided to drive around Petaling Jaya looking for a good restaurant to eat in. In the end we decided to eat here, South Pacific Seafood restaurant. Might I say, it was one of the best Chinese food I have eaten in a while.

     What we ordered was the "Tiga Rasa" ( three flavours of sweet, sour and spicy) fish, the sizzling ot plate tauhu, Indonesian style deep fried squids and their best seller, the ever tasty satay.

     My verdict : A must try restaurant for dinner with the family. Averagely priced, it would make a good night out.

The La Sardina, the amazing little sardine can that could.

                    The La Sardina has been my companion since early December of last year. What really drove me into its path was when I saw one of my good friends having a little plastic camera that had a flash which was blinding. And so, I was transported back in time reminiscing the time when I had my little Kodak film camera as a 9 year old.

          When I decided to get one for myself, the blue colour of the Sea Pride edition caught my eye out of the many that was available at the Lomography store. And to my surprise, after 3 months and a few holidays overseas, this sardine cam has had my back in providing me the opportunity to remember the special moments I had with my family through its marvelous pictures it produced.

          But before that, I am not going to bore you with the camera specifications, but all I can say is that it has an amazing wide angle lens which makes panoramic pictures fun to take.

          The MX button on the camera also gives Lomographers the ability to multiple exposure shots with such ease. With two simple settings of bulb mode and normal mode to adjust the shutter speed whenever you’re indoors or outdoors makes it a user friendly camera too.

          All in all, for those who are new to Lomography, I highly suggest this cute little sardine camera for amateur Lomo enthusiast. Keep the Lomo movement alive! Let’s bring back the use of Lomo cameras.

          Here are some of the pictures from my first roll using the Sardina with a CN400 film. Hope you like it.

         

The Legend is making a comeback : LOMOGRAPHY

     Being a curious cat, I decided to venture into the forgotten art form of lomography a few months. A simple question, why lomography? For starters, my first camera was the old Kodak film camera and that was the first time I got the taste of photography. Later on, my uncle had pursued a degree in Photography and my love begin to grow. Over the years, the digital compact cameras and DSLR's have been increasingly popular and people are forgetting the film camera. Hence, I decided to invest in a good film camera, La Sardina.

     I have a compact camera and have played around with a DSLR and they have been a wonder to use and take wonderful pictures with, but a film camera gives me a certain child-like enthusiasm. Nothing else gives me that feeling. Hence, we come to the 10 Golden Rules of Lomography. Rules set by Lomographers around the world,

1. Take your camera everywhere you go.
2.  Use it anytime, day and night.
3.  Lomography is not an interference in your life, but part of it.
4.  Try the shot from the hip.
5.  Approach the objects of your lomographic desire as closely as possible.
6.  Don't think (William Firebrace).
7.  Be fast.
8.  You don't have to know beforehand what you captured on film.
9.  Afterwards, either.
10.  Don't worry about any rules.

 For new lomographers, WELCOME! A world full of surprises and mystery awaits you. And fret not, its a small investment worth making on a long term basis. Now, I would share some pictures taken by Lomographers around the world and perhaps some of mine too.

   Multiple exposure shots and light painting are the parts of lomography i really enjoy the most. The ability to shoot such amazing pictures with an old school camera is a real wonder. Now for some pictures that I took with my La Sardina.

 I admit that I would have never had the idea without the help from my good friends, a pro lomogrpaher/ Energizer Bunny Shue Wan Nee and Asmeeta, soon-to-be pro Lomographer/ Instagram Queen. :) Pictures taken with Diana F+

I hope you guys have fun if you ever decide on undertaking an adventure to the world of Lomography.

Bye for now. Arrividerci.