Bergendang or Bermukun and Joget.

Among the Malays, Melanaus and Kedayans of Sarawak, the "Bergendang" ceremony is kept very much alive. The photos above(taken this evening) shows a "Bergendang" performance that is held at the Kuching Waterfront. Guess what? Anybody is welcomed to participate in the dancing, young and old. Visitors to Sarawak can pick up the dance steps very quickly. But the real fun begins when the ladies playing the drum ( named " Mak Gendang" = Lady Drummer) and singing the "Pantun" ( a four-line verse poetic message) gets response from the men. The men reply back in pantun-style the message or question embedded in the "Mak Gendang" pantun. Thus this answering and replying of pantuns continue for hours on end. Today the " Bergendang" is very much part of a wedding celebration activity and held mainly during the night in many villages through out Sarawak.

Black & White Photography.

Black & white photography, for me, is one of the most interesting and inspiring aspects of this art form we call our hobby and passion. It’s raw & refined, natural & unusual, bold & subtle, mysterious & open, emotional & impassive, simple & complex, black & white & everything in between. The monochromatic image has been with photography since the beginning, but what began as the only way to capture images has turned into something much deeper.
There are still some photographer out there concentrating on black & white landscape work.I'm here practice,practice and practice.

Art with my Olympus DSLR.

Here are some shot taken this afternoon in the city.I wanted to practice food shots but most of the food shop already at rest after lunch.

This Kuching City high rises has pretty interesting architecture if you get a chance to shoot along the streets.I tried using monotone,sepia direct from my camera.

Some people may argue that you can mimic those effects(Monotone/Sepia B&W) on some photo editing software.

That is true but the advantage of doing this in camera is that it applies the effects in relation to the current exposure,making it more real and natural.

This is the effect from the art filter (Grainy film B&W filter) direct from my camera.

All the above photos are snap using my Olympus E-620 with Zuiko ED lens 14-54 f2.8-f3.5.

Buying a Chess Set.

Both picture taken with my Olympus E-620..Zuiko ED lens 14-54mm f2.8-3.5

One of my family member invited me to his son birthday party and I think Glass Chess Set make a good and wise birthday gift to his son.Playing chess teach kids critical pondering skills.

Mobile Phone.

I like taking picture of people talking on phones.Many years ago we did not carry our phone with us where ever we go,now that most everyone carries phone with them.I won't hesitate to snap a picture of someone making an expression while talking on their phone.

A Day Out with RELA.

RELA on watch.

What is Rela?

RELA, or Ikatan Relawan Rakyat, is the People’s Volunteer Corps that operates under Malaysia’s Home Affairs Ministry. It was created in 1972. It’s members are Malaysian citizens who volunteer to serve, and they have the power to carry firearms, arrest individuals, and enter premises without permits.

What is the role of Rela?
According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Rela’s role is to

• Act as a ‘home guard’, to maintain security and peace before take over by security forces.
• Safeguard defense targets, transfer and protect civilian to a safe place.
• Act as the ‘eyes’ and ‘ears’ of the government, to collect information for enforcement units, and patrolrespective districts for crime prevention.

Rela has been empowered to catch undocumented migrants since 2005.

Currently, there are 480,023 members of Rela. Any Malaysian citizen can join – there are no educational or physical requirements, and there are no background or criminal checks on those who join. New members attend 3 – 14 days of training.

Monochrome Maniacs-Firewood.

I wish Monochrome Maniacs a healthy start to the new year 2010 & It's the beautiful work by Aileni.

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Some country during winter was indeed going to be cold and that the villagers collect firewood to be prepared.

In my country Sarawak most villagers collect firewood for cooking & grill.

Urban Squatters in Kuching.

Squatting was also common in Kuching  City and many squatting occupied their unauthorized sites for a decade.Their generally located on open government land or on unused private land.The presence of foul odour  and other unpleasant features did not stop me from visiting a 40 years old Encik Ismail  who had lived in squatters for a decade.

Ismail house is built one small step at a time and he say sorry for the interior appearance of his kitchen in a typically ramshackle.

The unpleasant features at the squatters.

Monochrome Maniacs-Butterfly

Monochrome weekend hosted by Aileni click HERE to view others from other part of the world-Thank You.

Black & White butterfly.......

Monochrome Maniacs-Window of Pre-War Building.

My entry post for this week is Window of the Pre-War Building.

The Monochrome Weekend hosted by Aileni (Thanks to You).Click

H E R E to check out others mono maniacs.

When it comes to a cloudy day or overcast conditions, do not lose hope ; you can still get great pictures. The clouds in the sky diffuse the light so that the subject is illuminated with natural evenly distributed light with the harsh shadows eliminated. You may still need to use a flash if the pictures appear too flat, but you may also like to shoot in black and white, instead of color. Black and white photography works very well on overcast days.

Olympus E-620 set mood to grainy film with Zuiko len 25mm f2.8.

Street Photo Documentary-Struggle...

Unless we are born from rich family or with silver spoon in our mouth or children of the riches,powerful person on earth..........

We all have to work to earn a living but some are more fortunate than others when they can afford lots of things in their life from the daily hard day to day earning but those less fortunate have to struggle just to make ends meet.

Life goes on,rainy or sunny.

Monochrome Maniacs-Lalang.

There are many B&W maniacs out there..or you can join them by visit HERE

The lalang grass is a pest or weed to the local here.
Lalang can thus be seen easily in empty land which have not been cared for , rice fields which have not been worked on for many years and even houses which have been left unattended.

Monochrome Maniacs-Leaf.

Below is my monochrome images collection & to view more from other maniacs around world hosted by Aileni click

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I notice the raindrops on the vegetation leaf.

Soon the dead leaf is curling,turn brown and dry.

Monochrome Maniacs-Bicycle.

Other monochrome images can be see at the monochrome weekly hosted by Aileni

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There are probably lots of people out there,who wonder if they could ever find happiness riding vintage bicycle.In Kuching is not a country,like for example China where people ride bicycle.Kuching small city,there's little space for bicycle to go around.Many drivers find it weird you ride a bicycle.In many people's eyes,it's too hot,too dangerous and too crazy to cycle around.

Monochrome Maniacs-Abandoned House.

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A run down and abandoned house.The sad sites that I found in Kuching City.

Monochrome Maniacs-Wooden Malay Home.

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When shooting architecture I always keep reminding myself to try shooting typical Malay wooden house in black & white .I just hope that the monochrome image like this really work well to bring out the feeling of nostalgia and bring back the old days memories.

Monochrome Maniacs-Pre-War Building.

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These photograph were taken with Olympus E-620 .I adjust the setting to auto granny film as I found this pre-war colonial building of 1880 look more vintage in B&W.

Monochrome Maniacs-General Post Office.

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The main General Post Office in Kuching City.

Monochrome Maniacs-Forest Park.

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Forest Park in Black and White.

Olympus E-620 with ED 14-54mm f2.8-3.5.

Monochrome Maniacs-Remembering Old Days.

MORE MONOCHROME HERE

When I was a kid this is how we have our breakfast,lunch and dinner.