Foot in Mouth Dept.

Ballfoot Talk.

No, not football talk but ball foot.

Wah! Went thru a series of agonising pain recently and talk about the 'Golden Age'!

You see, when we were younger then, we were told to prepare for the senior years called the "Golden Years". I recall some young insurance saleman telling me to save for those years and boy, was he right. The Golden Years actually means that it is a time where you bring out all the 'reserved gold' and start to spend! That is, if you have saved enough!
One would spend on 'golden' rimmed bifocals, (maybe) golden false tooth (or dentures), gold rimmed walking stick, or even (golden) costs of wrinkle creams, hair restorers, pain killers, hearing aids and even a gold plated wheel chair! Just kidding lah!

After visiting a bone specialist, an Orthopedic doctor, I was told that I have a problem called "Archilies Tendonitis". Sole, Tendon, Metatarsalgia, blub,blub....What the heck was that?

He said something like...... I have damaged a part of my foot's blah!blah!blah! Huh?

Just what was that?Huh? Alamak! It was also part of ageing and the most important of them all, I was wearing a wrong type of slipper/shoe/footwear for many, many years! Now turn back to the 70s. Do we know what we were supposed to wear besides Bata shoes and Tat Seng flip flops? Nah!

Now, this specialist tells me that! So what to do now?
He said we have to wear the right footware so that it can prevent further damage and it also helps to reduce pain and may even help heal that part of the body. After listening all his explaination, I began to realise that all the while and for so many years, we ALL were wearing the WRONG type of footwear!!! The present type like the flat-based (sole) flip flops like the so called "japanese slippers" are trouble causing! Just go look at what everyone that you know of, are wearing today? Still flip flops! Looks like they are going to flip and flop BIG time.

My medical cost of anti-inflammation, pain killers, vitamins and plasters cost me several hundred ringgit and eventually still needed to buy proper footwear.

The only brand that can do that today is a brand called CROCS.

It is a very well made footwear which is specially made to protect almost all parts of your lower foot. It is very well padded at the right points and absorbs impact bearing down from our body while walking. Besides CROCS there is another well known brand called Scholl which makes only slippers.

CROCS makes ALL types such as slippers and walking shoes.

Abuthen, they even make shoes for working!

Wah! The undersole is made like a sport car GT tyre!
The main and ONLY purpose of buying CROCS is for its Sole which I believe is the ONLY brand available here in Malaysia today. You can got to:- http://www.crocs.com/ to view their set up. For that reason, I bought 4 pairs. One to go out. One to use while working in the garden ,one to use it 'inside' the home and one for wifey. This Colorado based company in the USA have spent so much effort in designing the soles to perfectly fit your foot contours so that you will not feel any strain but comfort. Believe me! It works!

They are available at many pharmacies throughout Malaysia and there is a very large outlet located at Ikano Power Centre, Mutiara Damansara, PJ, Selangor where the range is almost complete. Go there for better choice. They have got a very large selection for kids. Let us start them right.

Just see the contoured moulding and it is very cushy and soft. Almost 2 inches thick! Excellent shock absorbent

In spite of manufacturing these footwares in China, they are still pricey but no choice!
Either this or pay more for medical bills let alone further suffering. Otherwise, should care is not taken, complicated surgeries, injections hospital visits is going to be very regular!

So far, it helped greatly. This is the golden Age remember?

My only wish is that all other footware brands (especially the local ones) offer these type of medically correct shoes and slippers as a standard and eventually, it would be more affordable thus saving so many other in terms of sufferings. Wondered what happened to brands like Tat Seng?

Note: This particular blog is NOT sponsored or supported by CROCS nor I am promoting this brand . I am writing this to let my readers know that there is a way to prevent foot
problem and there is a relief to those who are already suffering from it. I paid for the four pairs of CROCS by my hard earned 'Golden' Ringgit!

(All photographs are taken by my new camera)

Rare Bird

BIGFOOT & RED EYES!!

"....Once upon a time, in the year late 1700AD there were sailors and explorers babbling about a strange bird that is not Big but small like a fowl but have Big Feet. It digs deep holes in the ground with their powerful legs, lays the eggs and build a mound about the size of a Kancil car! It also measures and control the mound's temperature by adding and/or removing organic materials for the right warmth doing all that with only their large feet! After a few weeks,the hatchlings just flies off from these deep holes! No other kinds of bird does that except for reptiles such as crocodiles........."

Welcome to the stranger part of Birding. As a beginer and have also bought up many books on Asian Birds, I have not heards of such birds described as above. A Bird behaving like a reptile?
Strange but true.
This is the Tabon Megapode (Megapodius cumingii) or in Malaysia, we call it Ayam Tambun.

( These above story is by Ms Ravinder Kaur and pix by Alim Biun)

This bird exists and is proudly found in Borneo, Malaysia. Sadly, it is fast dissapearing and have been listed as in 2008 IUCN Red List Catagory. A Danger warning of fast dissapearence and near extinction!!!

In this month's volume of The Malaysian Naturalist, Ravinder Kaur's story on our bigfoot is an eye opener to me as I have not yet have the orportunity to see one alive, yet! Alim Biun's photos are excellent because it gave me a better understanding what this megapode is all about.
Malaysian is still a home to so many fauna and flora that need studying and with the fast dissapearance of our forrests, we may lose many more especially the ones we have not even named them!!!
Quickly go get a copy of this June's publication of the Malaysian Nature Soceity (MNS) today or better still, be a member and help to preserve our national treasures before they are all gone. Just log on to:-http://www.mns.org.my/ attention to Leong Wee Chin and says (Donald G.H Tan sent you!!!!)

Another lovely photograph is by Jake Atonson which he took on 23rd December 2006.
His web page is at http://www.pbase/kaukulator/image/72306239 Many thanks to him.

(psssst....further down the mag, Laura is whispering about 'spitting spiders'! No, not that weird chap across the bar counter...!!!)

R.E.M.I.N.D.E.R !
The Fraser's Hill International Bird Race is ON this coming weekend . Be There!
See You There! Enjoy!

Pissed Off Dept.

HONK to Support!

It is usually very quiet this part of Klang. As far as I know it IS normally very quiet in Klang until some smart alec decided to raise the fuel price astronomically. So the people cannot tahan already and began to take to the street (highway..hic).

"...some ass also said something like...Malaysian veri peaceful wan. No nid to mogok here and mogok there...." Many do not think so. They are all so pissed up alleady.

Today, just an hour ago, a crowd began to build right in front of Carrefour Klang along the Shapadu Highway at the Jalan Kapar junction. Boy, they are all pissed off. I was told that they are waiting for more to join them later. Maybe about a thousand!

Wave Brudder! Honk!HOnk!

I can also see so many cops at all four coners of this highway. Klang got so many policeman wan meh? How come we don't see them when we want to? Or be there to 'frighten' the would be crooks? I guess all Klang cops are there and the Balai must be empty by now!!!!!
Berhenti! I also think that the cops would prefer them to 'berhenti' (stop) this protest as it haven't rain for the last four days and is getting very 'hot'. Maybe go into Carrefour for a cool Ais Lemon Teh.
Also look like the coming weekends are going to be busy!!!!

Changing Camera

FAREWELL My Lovely,
Hello HANDSOME!

In May 2002, I bought the Sony Cybershot DSC TI. It was launched two months before.

This surprised many of my friends because I was a serious photographer before this and they thought being a diehard, digital photography would not interest me.

My collection of standard 35mm SLRs and numerous lenses plus bellows kit for super Macro shooting was the main stay then.
My collections of 18,000 negatives collected from my 35 years of photography, KodakChrome slides and large format 120 slides shot with Hasselblads and Roleiflex were commercial grade too. Now, these are all of no use since digital cameras came about.

My first Digital Camera. My Sony Cybershot DSC T1
I was very happy with this super compact Sony DSC T1 which became my travelling companion in shooting wild orchids in the deep jungle and under Monsoon Rains, Photographing show winning orchids at Thai International Shows plus other overseas trip and adventures.

(This rare Bulbophyllum orchid species found in Pulau Redang was shot with the DSC T1)
Some good video clips were also done with this Cybershot. She have been good to me after all these six years. Super small and super slim is her best asset.


Time changed. Specification improved and I was off to find a replacement getting me better Megapixels, higher optical Zoom, and quicker shutter speed.

No, I decided, not to get the full time DSLR which ,for my needs, would set me back at least RM 30,000++. Another compact camera attracted me is the newly (also) launched Cybershot DSC T300 but then, some feature fell short.

I began to look for something between the compact Cybershot type and the bigger DSLR.

I was recommended the Olympus 570UZ, The new Nikon P80 and the also new Sony Cybershot DSC H50. It took 2 weeks to compare feature for feature and of course my preferred requirement comes first.

I had the opportunity of placing all 3 of them side by side. Comparing the feel, looks and the features. For the Optical Zoom, Olympus (20X) beats Nikon (18X) and Sony(15X),
For Video Function, Sony beats both Nikon and Olympus. Only Sony can 'zoom' while video is shooting. For nature shots, only Sony have the 'remote control function' while the other 2 has none. I would also need it for Birds Photography. Mounted on a Gorillaz tripod it can be used to shoot hatchlings on the nest while its mother feed them at only 10 inches away. I can also shoot a video with this mounting. Sony also beats the two in having tiltable Rear LCD screen (3") when Olympus have a fixed 2.7" and the Nikon fixed 2.5". Finally I decided on the Sony Cybershot DSC H50 mini DSLR camera.

Hello Handsome!

The Sony Cybershot DSC H50
This is how he looks like!

Mounted on a tripod to take a macro shot in low light and on a tripod and the LCD sreeen tilted.
Shooting far subjects in 15X optical zoom needs a steady hand even it has a super steady shot.
Mounted with the rear LCD tilted up. A view hood is added to cut off glare.
The extra large LCD display is bright and with a right cable it can be viewed in High Definition 1080p in a HD1080p LCDTV.
The grips are comfortable and is light weight

(This rare terresterial orchid Nephalaphyllum pulchrum is shot with the new Sony Cybershot DSC H50)

Whoa, This camera is Awesome! From now on all photos appearing on this blog would be on this camera. The older T1 would always be a backup then.

Free Water

Whoopie! Selangor Got Free Water.
Niamah! No Water Today!!

What the fcuk is going on? At 3pm this afternoon, we, in Klang Utara, our taps ran dry!
Pochee! Yeelek! No Water! Until the time of writing this blog, still no water the coming!

At 8pm news, they say Selangor giving 20something of free water and is approved. So where is da water? How to wash topside?backside? frontside....what-lah all tok, tok onli!

Hey PUAS!

Pulau Pisang

Going Bananas over an island!

Just heard the news about our Pulau Pisang.

Oh No! Just what is going on? Why are we getting so much problems over our own territories?
First, it was Horsburgh and the two little Rocks and now this.

The Minister says we "got to do some homework" to solve this and I personally think that it is going to suck. Sinkapore may have some thing (like a document...... blah!blah!) that we do not have and looks like they going to "Jaga" the Lighthouse for quite awhile.

Yark Chew lah!
Someone is not doing his work properly!!!!
Chiak Keng Chiaow!

Anyway, I am already going bananas with the fuel rise. And maybe, just enjoy this 'You Tube' clip on Harry Belafonte's Banana Boat Song ala Crazy Banana Girls version. Releks lah brudder!



Good hor?

Fraser's Hill International Bird Race 2008

The Race is On!

This year's annual Bird Race of Bukit Fraser is set for 21st. and 22nd. June.

Venue: Fraser's Hill, Pahang, Malaysia
Date: 21st. and 22nd. June.
Organised by: Fraser's Hill Development Corporation(FHDC)
Details can also be viewed at:MNS- Malaysian nature Soceity's website at http://www.mns.org.my/index.php and WWF website at:http://www.wwf.org.my/media_and_information/events_main/index.cfm/uNewsID=5640
The website for FHDC is at: http://www.pkbf.org.my/events.htm

This Annual International event is truly a must go if you are very interested in Birds. Mainly because it is a breeding season and is where all male birds shows off their breeding plumage (...i.e fully dressed up!) In the Birds' world, the guys got the colors and the gals......well?...yawn!.

The last year's event showed an excellent turn out but I truly did not like what it has become compared to all those previous years. This is a Hutan Simpanan (Forest Reserved)area. There are too many noisy motobikes, some even played fire crackers! Do we need all that kind of stalls selling clothes and trinklets stuff?

Fraser's Hill is a very, very special small place and is very fragile to unnecessary over crowding!It is a very peaceful place where human and nature bonds.

There is no 'shopping malls', 'no amusement parks' or 'no vegetable farms' nor even a casino! Some tourists were clueless and mentioned that Fraser's Hill is a boring place and was wondering why did their Tour Agency brought them up here in the first place!! Poor folks!

Last year, at the bird race, some VVIP came in their helicopter (iron bird!) and hopped onto their special cars. The bazzar-like atmosphere turned out to be like a day time pasar-malam!!! Hey! this is a Bird Race! Have some Quiet Please!

Also please see my blog report and a 'You Tube' shot last year! http://donaldghtan.blogspot.com/2007/06/frasers-hill-international-bird-race_25.html

Here are pictures of some rare birds that you can spot ...err....(if you are lucky)

a) Large Niltava
b) Scaly-breasted Munia
c) Brahminy Kite
d) Zebra Dove
Enjoy!

Buy cheaper goods from now.

The Great INDOMEE & IBUMEE Scam

When buying instant mee for trips to see birds, catch fish, photo orchids or to trek in the wilds, we always carry some packets of these with us. Because it is ultra-lightweight and placing them into our Camelbaks are never a problem.

The receipe we loved most is the dry one. The"Mee Goreng Asli" which was around for quite a while. Occasionally, at home, some slices of soft red tomatoes, thin slices of celerey stalk and of course, a large fried egg, sunny side up, will always do the trick. Also with the coming Euro 2008, this 'mee goreng' is surely cheaper than at the mamak shops.

Due to the recent fuel hike, we are buying extras of these just in case we do not wish to go out for the un-necessary and expensive supper.

DING DONG!!!!
Now also got fake (imitation) wan!!
At first say, 4 years ago, the original Indomee Mee Goreng usually sells for only RM2.30/pk of five. Then 2 years later, it went up for RM2.85/pk of five. Then, it dissappeared with no stock for four weeks. My wifey came back from Jusco BBK with a pack of five for RM3.39!!!!
Wah the price shooted up already so fast. But better lor, so long no more stock also.
Wait!Wait! Why is the brand so different want? Packaging same color, Pattern also same, the illustration such as the fork, the mee, the prawn, the bowl...all same design?
We quickly open up our last remaining pack of the original and compared the difference.
Yo!...Heeeeer's Big...cheeeeto!!!!!!

Then, hor, we went to another hypermart to try to get the old brand and found that the original Indomee is now selling at RM4.00/pack of five.!!!! And that would be 80sen per pack which was at only 45sen each. Just how many percent increase is that?

So back at the 'fake' tipu look alike brand, they even sold it higher that the Indomee. Is this the work of the "Evil' Consortium of Instant Noodles?
Hey, CAP, NCCC...Ministry.......go check them for profiteering, Quick...quick!

You have been informed. Please do not be cheated. Tell everyone. We consumers got to be strong and united.

Just like the dory crap which is still being done even till last night at "the Manhattan Fish Market (all branches), The Robert Harris of New Zealand (of all person) at One Utama, and The Catch at Sunway!!!! See the classy joints also cheat us!

You can read my 2 year research report in this blog site from here: http://donaldghtan.blogspot.com/2008/05/fakebluffcheat.department.html it is Part 4, the final I would be writting of this fake fish business. You got to shop smart.

The Manhattan Fish Market in One Utama, PJ
Robert Harris New Zealand in One Utama

The Seafood, Mid-Valley, KL
The Manhattan Fish Market in Ikano Power Centre, PJ

There! Kementrian, all got proof already, got to warn them now! Don't be so lazy! Kita sudah jutuh standard!