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.

     

The Penrose Staircase

The simplicity of Christopher Nolan's idea in Inception hit me in that spot. Curiosity hit me like a gush of wind. I had studied about dreams before but the idea the Nolan had was different from the mainstream ones. "What if one could penetrate/control another's dream and had the power to control it?"

Hence it led me to the amazing discovery of the Penrose Staircase. A depiction of a 90-degree staircase that turns as they ascend and descend that forms a continuous loop that goes on forever. A person may climb it forever and it will never get higher.

This design is clearly impossible in the 3-Dimension world. Hence, this can only be experienced in a lucid dream.

The Accident

     How could I accept the fact she was gone? I couldn't bare myself to think of the mistake I had made to let this all happen. Tears ran down my cheeks.

48 hours before


     I took Madelene my golden retriever out for a walk. She loved her walks. She would always jump around every time I bring the leash out. It was the indication that she was going for a walk and with her playful grin on her face. Eight years she has been with us and she was like part of the family.

     Angie, my 5 year old sister wanted to tag along so she could play in the park while Maddy would run around
with other dogs. I would sit there perhaps call my girlfriend Rosie to keep me company as I watch them.

    There were a few kids playing soccer at the field. I knew some of the guys. They were school mates. Siva was in my class. I was talking to Rosie and didn't realize that Maddy had gone quite far away.

    Moments passed and it was getting dark so I decided to head back.I called out for Angie but there was no reply. I searched for her everywhere but I couldn't find her. I ran around looking for her and Rosie helped me.

    I heard a barking noise and turned around and saw Maddy barking at a car where two guys were heading into the car in a rush. I ran over and saw that Angie was in the car. I panicked. I ran as fast as I could towards the car and smashed the window. A bulky man came out and punched me in the stomach. I retaliated with a punch on his face. I managed to get Angie of the car and ask her to go to Rosie.

   The driver came out of the car with a gun and shot me straight in the arm. I fell to the ground. The gun shot was heard loudly and Siva and his friends came over to help out. Maddy jumped at the driver and bit his hand before he could shoot me again. Angie ran out of Rosie's reach straight to Maddy to rescue her. I managed to get up and started running towards them to get Maddy and Angie to safety.

   The driver saw me and shot me at the stomach with my other hand and Rosie came to me. I pushed her aside and ran towards them. Maddy had disarmed the driverwhen I got to him and punched him multiple times. Siva came running and took Maddy and Angie to safety. But before anything could happen, the driver took out a knife and stabbed me on the back. With blood oozing out I fell to the ground.

   At that time a speeding car was coming towards me but before he had time to break Rosie pushed me aside and got hit by the car.I screamed my lungs out. I couldn't move to help her. Jay,Tom and Max ran towards me to help. Siva ran towards Rosie to see her and Angie and Maddy were safely on the field. I passed out.

   I could remember the wailing of the ambulance and people saying that I was losing blood. Voices saying Maddy was dead. I couldn't put it together.

   As tears ran down my cheek I closed my eyes leaned back and breathed my last breath.

A second Chance

Do you believe in second chances? I do, and everyday I hope I get that second chance with her.

Katy Perry's song, The One that got Away explains the exact feeling I get every time I am around her and every time I think about her. That moment we shared, when there was no one around, just the two of us. How I treasure that moment everyday. I wouldn't want to regret not having that chance.

Her wavy hair, her beautiful eyes, her charming smile and an intellectual person. She may be small but good things come in small packages. Everything I would look for in a girl. She is one person I have always wanted to spend time with, day and night, rain or shine.

Her craziness matches mine. She made me feel alive. No one has made me feel that way before. No one.

Yet to tell her how I feel after all this years might just go to waste, but all I hope is I do get a chance to re-live that moment or maybe get a chance to let me make her happy for a change. She deserves to be happy. I want to make her happy.