Walking around Pavilion

It had been a while since I did a photo walk, be it solo or in a group. I had some free time this afternoon, but due to drizzle outside, the photo walk ended up mostly indoors.

All the malls were packed with Chinese New Year shoppers, and taking a camera out at this time was not ideal. But the decorations were well worth the hassle. Anticipating heavy traffic around Bukit Bintang, I decided to lark the car at KLCC and took the walk across to Pavilion.

The main foyer at Suria KLCCPavilion. This was more like it .....

The decorations at Suria KLCC were rather subdued and predictable. A lost opportunity really considering the number of foreign visitors coming to the place. Not many snaps were taken there and I swiftly made my way across to Pavilion via the pedestrian walkway.

The scene there was different, and I arrived just before the scheduled lion dance show at 3pm. The crowd was too packed, and decided to walk further down towards Fahrenheit, Sungai Wang and finally, Low Yat Plaza.

At Fahrenheit 88It started to drizzleLion dance in front of Lot 10

After a spot of browsing, I doubled back to Pavilion, taking the time - as the main foyer where the lion dance show took place were empty - to snap more frames.

Back to Suria next, and then across to Avenue K at the Leica Store. I thought that there was an exhibition going on there, but I got the venue mixed up. Oh well, I caught up with an old friend there instead, and looking at one of the photographers there setting up a mini-studio to try out the Leica S medium format system. An RM100k outfit that I could never afford! That camera was pumping out 37MP files from its sensor. Mind boggling!

It was time for tea after I left, and I took out dinner for my boys back at Suria. A long day indeed ...

SuperBowl Morning

I delayed my journey to ParkCity this morning. Why? It was the SuperBowl halftime show and I couldn't resist it. It was Beyonce after all and the show was simply amazing. I didn't think she was lip syncing, but then again I wouldn't have noticed it .....

The show lasted a good 15 minutes leaving everyone breathless. And then came the start of the second half.

Kickoff. 109 yards return. Amazing. Can't top that. But unfortunately I had to leave for the clinic across town. And then the lights at the stadium went off. Game got delayed. Well, it took me 45 minutes to drive to ParkCity as traffic was awful. Maybe everybody stayed back for the halftime show as well ......

Yee Sang Dinner

It was now a tradition that we have a yee sang dinner near the Chinese New Year, every year. This time it was last evening at Ming Palace, Chorus Hotel. This was the restaurant that Anita had been coming for the close to 30 years. Of course, the hotel was used to be called Ming Court back then, hence the name.

The food there was nice, but expensive. At least the quality was predictable. My boys were used so used to the place coming here since they were babies that even the waiters knew them already. And the boys certainly knew what to order from the menu.

It would be the Year of the Snake this new year. Wishing all my Chinese friends and colleagues a happy and prosperous year ahead.

The Cemerlang House

Back in 2001, when we were still in the UK, we bought a house near the in-laws at Taman Cemerlang. The plan was to set up my family there when we returned, as the house would be located right in-between both our parents. But things did not go according to plan. We returned to Malaysia to spend time with my father-in-law who was awaiting a cardiac bypass. He wanted to wait until we returned home before he went under the knife.

Then Anita fell pregnant. My dad-in-law waited for Idlan to be born. By the time, we were based at his place in Taman Setia, and had been ever since. On the odd weekend, we would stay at the Cemerlang house, but over the years, with me changing my job, those occasions were getting few and far between.

Idlan when he was a babyIrfan at the living areaIdlan was close to tearsWe were now in the process of buying an apartment in Bangsar, and decided to let go of the house.

Even though we hardly stayed there, we and the boys had strong affinity to the house as they enjoyed spending time there. With the garden and all. Idlan actually cried when a buyer came over during the weekend. He wanted to still keep the house, but we thought that bit would be impossible to maintain so many properties. We thought about renting it out, but that would be more of a problem in the long run. We couldn't afford to spend much on the house, and it would be better for us to sell.

The kitchenIrfan at the dining areaFrom my travelsThe view of KL skyline from the loungeWell, it looked like it was going to be good bye house. We will miss you .......

I Need Sleep

I was already fast asleep in the car on the way back from dinner last night. I was that tired, having had to return to the hospital on Thursday after work. One of the patient became ill plus a new admission. I ended up sorting things out well past midnight. Rather than return to Gombak, I spent the evening at the apartment instead.

Hardly had much sleep, followed by a busy day at work, I was zoned out by the time I reached home last night.

Luckily Anita had planned dinner and got the driver to take us around as I was too tired to drive then. The next thing I remembered was waking up on the couch at 2 in the morning.

I then staggered bed into bed, and woke up refreshed in time to drive to work this morning. So, clinic was sorted out, and it was time now for lunch. A quick detour to Bangsar, then the apartment before joining the boys and Anita later during their swimming class. That was what Saturday going to be like. I hope.