Feeling Like A Fool

I'm beginning to feel like the village fool, I am. Not for any reason, but it suddenly dawned on me that its a rather stupid thing to be putting up the pictures I've been taking. Its like, I'm the only one who knows how to take a pretty picture or two. That, and the fact that its as though cameras are a real novelty when almost any Tom would have one. Some, even have two! And that does not include those expensive accessories they tot around with them, making Aje look like a bigger fool. But sigh...if I can't be Someone's fool (that is with a capital 'S', mind you), than at least I can be the camera's. And when you think about those fools who were fooling around with the people's money somewhere in Shah Alam, I'm not so bad after all.

I read somewhere but can't be sure where (now I'm not only a fool, but senile as well!), one of the Chief Executive Officers of a water supply company earns something like RM400,000 plus per month. I mean, that's like wow!

Had not the PR Selangor State Government's initiative to bring back the water supply under its control, the people could have been fooled further as there were plans (prior to March 2008) to increase the water tariff in the state, citing rising expenditure cost. Huh? OK, perhaps the CEO and the management team is asking for more perks which by the way, the monthly pay quoted above is not inclusive of any (perks). Its good that PR won. Otherwise, the CEO and his company, instead of providing service to the people of Selangor, were leeching them dry. Literally! Hmm...talking about leeching.

2 days ago, I went for a traditional medicine treatment in Taman Tun Dr Ismail. The treatment, quite similar to leeching (for medical purposes), and can be found within the annals of Islamic history. In trying to find a hadith for this, I instead found this blog here which some may find useful for them. This one and only entry in the blog, is dated May 2008, and it may be wiser for one to call the number there if one is interested.

Anyway, in wanting to rid of a childhood problem that has persisted, I was recommended to this 'AKUBEKAM' here. Nice set-up they have there, but I think I may need to go to another of their centre as I am not too comfortable with one of their consultants.

Now, I have had 2 'bekam' (blood letting or cupping) treatments before. One, was by a Chinese medicine man in Malacca but who has since migrated to Germany. The other, was by an elderly Malay gentleman in Ampang who was reputed to have been a Jungle Scout for our Army Commando units. And now with this latest, I found out that each have their own techniques as well as apparatus to treat patients. The recent treatment, despite the consultant mentioned, was far more pleasant than the previous two. And though I am feeling much better now, it was not so soon after the treatment.

After having drained a fair amount of blood from my body, I found myself woozy and soon as I got back home, took a nap. But upon waking up, I suddenly found I had a ravishing appetite that had me consuming more than double than my daily diet. Now that, is another thing which may prevent me from going for a follow-up treatment, as close friends may testify, for my physique, I really do not eat much at all! Unless, off course, the food is too good to be left alone by itself. But I guess, that pretty much is the same for almost everyone.

Back to the 'bekam', I am, trying my level best, to convince my Emak to follow suit to treat her rashes as well as her high blood pressure which of late, seem to affect her more often than before. Think I may have succeeded as she has agreed to go sometime next week. But knowing her, she may just pull out at the last minute. Sigh.

Lastly, as befitting the title of this entry, I do hope the song below bring smiles to listeners. Which reminds me, I do find the need to visit Pok Ku, and to listen to his collection of Eva Cassidy, a recording artiste I have been fortunate to listen to with courtesy of Pok Ku himself, off course.

Spirit Of The Rain

Before anyone gets the title wrong, no, the word 'spirit' there do not refer to a living entity or deity. Rather, the ambiance. And somehow, I would like to think that many would share my sentiment about rainy days - I find the sound of raindrops as well as the cool air, comforting, especially towards the end part of a heavy rain. But mind you, heavy here does not include storms or anything where the gale touches 20mph or more!

Anyway, I did not get much chance to 'play' with Manan's camera today as it rained for the good part of the afternoon. Stuck in the house, it suddenly dawned on me to try and capture the mood of the day in pictures. And, it began with the picture of the tree below.

Nothing extraordinary about the picture above. But with the rain falling to wash off the dust and what not, the leaves look greener and more beautiful. Still, whether rain or shine, there is beauty everywhere; its just a matter of how one look at it. So, kindly excuse the music in the background ( a cliche as it may be to some).

Surprisingly, for someone who had to restrict this day's 'photography adventure', I found myself taking something like 149 shots on a space that measured something like 24 by 40ft! Off course, many were repetitive shots in either wanting a better angle, or to get as near as the perfect shot as I could. On this blog here, I will be uploading something like 8 of the shots I like best here, while putting several more in Pictures-Only; do have a peek there as well.


When I followed Manan into the camera shop in Subang Jaya, the first question the owner asked me was what kind of shots I like best. I replied nature, naturally, but not necessarily landscape. He then asked, birds or trees. I was stumped momentarily as I thought that the question was getting too scientific for my liking. Still, I replied I like birds.

The reply I gave for the second question was not well thought off, and triggered by what I perceive to be barraging. Now, while I would like to shoot birds on camera, I neither have the experience nor the necessary equipment, bearing in mind that the camera Manan loaned to me was the very basic and nothing more. As for now, my shots will be of trees and plants that strike me, with a landscape shot or two thrown in.

Undeniably, the picture above is not a landscape shot. I mean, stuck on the porch of the house in the middle of a city (fringe, actually) what landscape can I shoot? Fluke shot, actually, what the above is. The larger picture of this shot is at Pictures-Only.

Then, somehow during the course of my shooting session, I changed the camera mode to black and white for a particular shot. Having done that, I totally forgot all about it and just clicked away, resulting in several black and white shots such as the below.


By the time I was done, I felt like a junkie who was high. I might have kept on shooting had Emak not told me the time. Do give your critic without fear or favour. Only then, would I be able to learn and hone whatever skills I have in photography.

What Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong