Foundry Photojournalism Workshop: It Starts!

Sunday, July 29, 2012


Well, it started this afternoon...the 5th Foundry Photojournalism Workshop held in Chiang Mai was launched by its co-founder Eric Beecroft , and with a lovely keynote address by Maggie Steber.

The classes will be held at the impressive facilities provided by Chiang Mai University's Faculty of Fine Arts....computer rooms, overhead projectors, amphitheater, you name it...it has.

My first class Multimedia In Storytelling starts Monday morning, and I am to teach how to produce audio slideshows that rival in quality and content more elaborate multimedia productions, using their own images and audio generated in the field, and to produce cogent photo stories under the simulation of publishing deadlines. Some of them have already discussed their project ideas with me, and are quite interesting.

Monday evening, I'm on tap to show my audio slideshow "The Cult of Durga".


Roost Juice Bar at Jalan Dhoby, Johor Bahru.

Roost Juice Bar (N1.45707 E103.76401) located at pre-war shop lots of Jalan Dhoby, Johor Bahru downtown. This bar serve many good foods especially with the One and Only Unique 'Yogurt Juice'. I'd heard about quite sometime ago, but only until recently have a chance to step into this 'Unique' Juice Bar of Johor Bahru.

Roost Juice Bar at Johor Bahru

I was attracted by the rustic design at the main entrance, evoke the childhood behind...


The atmosphere was just Great! I like the 'old' setting very much!
There are few different dining area, and all the tables and chairs are different from others...and...all are 'old'...

The ground floor dining area

The bar counter design was Simple & Unique! Just can't imagine that a few old mosaic tiles can created such an beautiful Art creation!
I believe the 'green' seat below is belong to the year 60s...I wish I can find one of these 'sofa'...

At the other corner was the children paradise! There were many toys display during the good old days...(except the yellow thing...)

Another cozy corner from Roost Juice Bar

Walking on the 'steep' staircase to the first floor might be a challenge for old peoples...the steps were slightly small compare with the standard staircase...

The staircase to the first floor dining area of Roost Juice Bar

2 red welcoming seats appeared in front of us just right after the staircase on the first floor...

The leather briefcase was the attraction beside the seats...I like the old display cabinet and I know where to find it! :)

On the first floor, another nice 'old' design which is has a different feeling compare with the ground floor...the owner make use of the lighting to enhance the comfort dining area just felt like steped in the 'Time Machine', injected more rustic appeal to the charming interior of the bar.

The first floor dining area of Roost Juice Bar

Behind the old wooden glass doors, there is the smoking zone...

The smoking zone on the first floor...

Was wondering the purpose of the wooden ladder on the right...well...its actually the access to the 'mystery small room' on top of the smoking area...I will find out on my next visit...:)

The mystery room on top of the smoking area

There was a access to the next door balcony's sitting area which was suitable for group of friends gather around with some drinks...

The next door balcony area...

The romantic corner for couple

Alfresco dining area at the back on the first floor...

An ancient fan hidden in this area...search for it!

At last, we decided to dine at this 'Art' table...

The table had the same design as the bar counter...'the old mosaics'...

It was kind of special that written the food menu on the mirror...

The food menu written on the mirror...

Let me show you the decorations around the Roost Juice Bar...

The mini jukebox at the bar counter

 One of the antique telephone set in Roost Juice Bar

Top left : toys from the 70s. Top right : the owner even make use of the electric cable to presented an art with the bulbs! Bravo! Bottom left : some old TV and Hi-Fi, take not of the white service bell behind...Bottom right : the Unique service bell on the first floor...

Do you have the magic cube before?

I had the Hainanese Beef Noodle, my wife tasted the Grilled Chicken Chop and my daughter had the Mushroom Pasta for our weekend dinner...

The Hainanese Beef Noodle at Roost Juice Bar


The Grilled Chicken Chop

Apologies that I forgot to take photo of the Mushroom Pasta. All of us had the signature drink - Mango Tango (Unique yogurt fruit juice).

Mango Tango - Yogurt fruit juice

The beef noodle was Awesome! Mixture with some salted vege, peanuts, tender beefs served with rice noodles. The grilled chicken chop was above average and my daughter finished her mushroom pasta! The foods were Delicious with the different dining experience! Rustic ambience!
The Damage : RM40+ with drinks.

The cafe bar is the ONLY one serve the special yogurt fruit juice in Johor Bahru for the moment. I call it as - Musuem Art Cafe. A 'Must' visit place if you happen around the area!

Roost Juice Bar
9, Jalan Dhoby,
80000 Johor Bahru.
Business hour : Mon - Sat : 12pm - 4pm, 6pm - 12am, Sun : 6pm - 12am.

Location map of Roost Juice Bar at Jalan Dhoby, Johor Bahru.


My Sunset photos Collection by Galaxy S mobile phone

Monday, July 23, 2012

I would like to share my sunset collection which are taken by my Samsung Galaxy S (GT-i9000) mobile phone for the past 2 years...

The photos are snapped from different places, different days...because if I have a chance to snap...I won't let go, especially the sunset...:)

Along the North South Expressway, Pagoh rest area

Bukit Gambir, Muar - Johor.

Tangkak town, Johor.

On the Highway at Sungai Dua, Butterworth

The Power lines...Permas Jaya, Johor Bahru.

The Silhouette at Taman Desa Tebrau, Johor Bahru.

The Lost kite...Taman Desa Tebrau - Johor Bahru

Taman Desa Tebrau



The golden sky at Taman Daya, Johor Bahru.

The photos below are all from the same location but taken in different days....Danga Bay of Johor Bahru.





Under cloudy evening, when Haze attacked...

All the photos above are taken by the Samsung Galxy S running on Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.4 (custom ROM) with stock camera application and minor edited on the exposer and colour. I'm satisfied with the 5MP camera from the phone and will continue to share more on the sunset photos, because I like sunset very much!

POV: Finally! A Minimalist Gear....


I'll be in Chiang Mai in a few days for the Foundry Photojournalism Workshop which formally starts in a week from today. I wasn't keen to haul my usual gear with me, especially with my stops in London and Bangkok, so I have just what you see in the picture.

Depending on whether I have the time or not, I intend to shoot a couple of personal projects in Chiang Mai so I chose to take a Leica M9 with an Elmarit f2.4 28mm and a Voigtlander f1.4 40mm, a Fujifilm X Pro-1 with a Fujinon 18mm and the Tascam DR-40 to record audio. All of this fit in my small Domke F-3X (with room to spare); a small and tough shoulder bag I've been using almost incessantly for a couple of years. I shouldn't forget to mention my iPhone4S, which will be useful for ah hoc photography.

Heck...the Tascam audio recorder is larger than either of these two cameras!!!

I will post sporadically during the coming two weeks...with most of the posts from Chiang Mai and the Foundry Workshop.

The Famous Coconut Shake at Klebang, Malacca (Melaka).

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Under the hot sunny day, after the 'A Date With The Bloggers' event at Malacca...we (with Robin) decided to look for some drinks that can really ease the thirst! Robin suggested the Famous Coconut Shake at Klebang and without a second words, we drove directly to the destination.

The Klebang Original Coconut Shake (N2.21583 E102.20688) is located next to the Caltex Petrol Station along the main road. You will not miss it if you take note on the petrol station.

Once we arrived at the stall, the queue was Long! My goodness! It was under the hot sun....

The Long queue under the sun at The Coconut Shake's stall...


The Klebang Coconut Shake's stall along the roadside...

We realized later, the long queue at the stall was for those customers who want to 'ta-pao' (take away), there's a dining area is loacted further in at the end of the alley...

The area was packed with customers! It took about 5-10 minutes to get a table and waited for 15 minutes for the Coconut Shake....while waiting for the drinks, we tried the nasi lemak pack (RM1.20) which was not bad!

The nasi lemak available at the Klebang Coconut Shake.

Here is the Coconut Shake Special! With additional scoop of Vanilla Ice-cream on top of it.

I like the concoction of the Ice with ice-cream, coconut drink and the flesh. Refreshing! The taste was not over sweet with the nice fragrance of the coconut drink and some flesh. It's special and a 'life saver' under the humid hot day!

The process looks simple, they blended the drink with the a lot of ice cream and pour into the mixer. The magic is within the mixer!

The cost of the drink was RM2.00 and RM1.50 for without the scoop of Vanilla ice cream.

It's really reasonable price for the unique Coconut Shake!

The business hour : 12.30pm-6.30pm daily (Friday: 2pm-6.30pm)
Tel: +6 013-399 4061

Location map of Famous Coconut Shake at Klebang, Malacca.