Dad birthday on 15thMarch

While we are not into big celebration and inviting other relatives and friends over for a birthday party. It doesn’t mean that we will skip the celebration at all. As 15th of March is my beloved dad birthday, we continue to have a quite meal together as a family and bought him a sugar free fruit cake from Bakerlyn. For some reasons, I actually love this cake even though it is on the expensive side, but it is some money that I think you shouldn’t skip on it.

My dad continue to be one of the most important person in my life, and I’m glad that I can continue to journal his life as much as I can.

Happy Chinese New Year

If there are one major event that Chinese shouldn’t miss in their entire year, if will be 年三十(direct translation will be year thirty or we called it new year eve) it is the major time that as a family far and near gather together and have a big feast dinner. While this year we can’t really gather the whole family members since my brother one in Ireland while the other one in New Zealand, those of us are here in Brunei continue with this tradition of feasting.

Then during the night, we played a few fireworks to keep the kids happy and excited and blasted a 36shot firework canon!

First day of Chinese New year, spend the whole morning trying to setup and capture some family portraits. Using 2 flash as strobe with umbrella, I got a decent result with studio lighting. But the whole scenario was frustrating to me in a way that the 2nd flash didn’t fire most of the time, due to slow recycle speed and it eat battery like crazy. Simple term : unreliable!

Then the second issues I have is the backdrop, the background that I have at home wasn’t suitable for a full family portraits so the result wasn’t as satisfying as I want, gonna need to do some photoshop or retaking if necessary if I want a better result. 

   This is one of the technique that I learned during my times in KL, this is actually shooted with one flash as a strobe gelled with a full CTO (orange color) filter to give a sunset look. It was taking around 12plus pm.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But other than that I have plenty of fun shooting them, knowing that whatever it is, I manage to capture a memory and moments of our family history.

Merry Christmas to you all ^w^

Maybe kind of late, but I wanna wish all my family, friends, and my readers a happy blessed Merry Christmas! I been pretty busy for the last 2 week with works + preparation & practice for the Christmas Carolling. Also wanna post minor update.

Birthday Celebration for Majorie Tan + her friend

Majorie & KennethMy favorite for the day. I title it   人小鬼大For the last few days we been going around houses to houses and singing Christmas Carol, which the main purpose is to bless the family and to strip up some Christmas atmosphere and spirit. The practice itself is like a nightmare, thanks God the end result was alright >w<

Then 25th itself we have lunch at Orchid Garden Hotel for Christmas celebration. I didn’t took photo of the turkey, but IMO Orchid garden serve one of the best turkey in town; tasty and juicy without the dryness that usually associate with turkey. Great stuffs!

 Since all the major event has been cleared, now I starting to go into cruise mode for a while, and year 2010 going to come to an end. As the time draw close, I also have to get ready for what is going to unfold next year. But as for now, I’m looking forward to 28th since I gonna take a 3 and a half day leave, that’s mean that hopefully I can relax til the year end and get ready to kick my gear for year 2011.

Marilyn Birthday

Today is my nieces Marilyn birthday, so as usual. We have makan, birthday cake and etc. What make it unique is that we have the latest add on together with us tonight. My youngest nephew to date, the eldest son from my 3rd brother, Victor. Ezekiel Emmanuel Tan Ngee Ern!

 

It is definitely a joy to see that God has bless my brother with a wonderful boy and more years of responsibility ahead of him of coz :p But his presence has definitely bring joy to the household. Everyone just love him!!! But I think the dogs don’t really like him because of jealousy though :p

But for some reasons, today event actually kick me to reflect on my decision for taking up photography. I bought my first digital camera at the end of 2008 and first DSLR on july 2009; and in this 2 years I have learned so much on photography that I can never imagine I will 2 years ago.

Yet, I have never regret picking up photography, I think the only regret is I didn’t pick it up sooner. But at least it wasn’t too late. Photography in a way have change my life, it changed my perspective and also how I see things around me. As I look through photo that I took over this 2 year, it actually make me grateful with what God has done in my life, and also the decision of getting into photography.

The most important aspect of photography to me I believe is capturing the moment and memory. You may have the latest and the best camera equipment with you, yet it you fail the capture the moment / memory, it will be useless. Of course, it depends on the subject and the reason of your photo. When it come to family photography, personally I don’t believe any photo that you taken will be a waste. The photo that you took may not need anything to others, but for the family members it will be a monument that can last for a life time. When ever you flick open and see the photo, it will have the power to bring you back to that stage of event. For me that’s the power of photography can do, and for me, I feel grateful and privilege to journal down my family life into something that is tangible and memorial able. 

November Round up

For me November is really one of my busiest month for the year, both socially and in work. First and foremost is my birthday celebration with my family members, which I have already blogged about it.

This is a photo of us went to Tasek Lama for hiking.

A family carnival organized by La Vida

Jackson and his family came and visited us all the way from USA

Thanks to Betty for the invitation to attend the AIA seminar for Importance of Financial Planning, very informative and educating.

Then I have company lunch with the colleagues

A outdoor activity with the youth at Berakas Foresty

Then there are Smarter charity events and Let’s drive organized by Telbru and lot’s of other. It was a shame that I didn’t have the opportunity to go and participants. The other event I really missed is the BTclick photography meet up that I unable to attend due to commitment, hopefully I will be able to attend their next gathering.

Then this morning I attended an Open forum hosted by Asia Inc regarding IT security at ICC. A really short session, I wouldn’t said I learn a lot from there, but it is pretty interesting to know how much awareness the local field inregrading IT security.

I also watched “The Social Network”, real interesting drama that base on true story about Facebook founder. No special effect, no gun shooting, no action, just pure talk; yet the script is brilliantly scripted and acted. I can happily give it 8.5/10

Thanks to Gadong mall to make 3D cinema available in Brunei with a cheap price, I have rewatch Avatar 3D which came with extra footage. Even it is the 2nd time I watched Avatar, due to the 3D effect and great story, I was captivated through out the movie without boredom. Great stuffs! 9/10

I also watched Megamind 3D, great family cartoon with a interesting turn of event. 8/10

December I believe gonna be another busy month, especially need to plan and arrange for the Christmas event, activity and of coz GIFT!!! Yet gonna look forward to it. ^w^

Happy Birthday to Me, Happy Birthday to Me♫

OK, today isn’t my actual birthday, it is actually few days ago. Anyway, that’s beside the points.

Not sure is it me getting old, getting mature or being sentimental, I know that as the year passed by, I appreciated my family, my friends and the teams more and more.

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They are absolute irreplaceable for me in whatever way. Though as a family we don’t really speak much with one another, but time and times again the affirmation of love that is show inwardly and outwardly is something that I really cherish.

Then the team members that I have. Lot’s and lots of time I find myself privilege to work with this team, all of them are quite successful in their career; GM, principle, FC, executive, architect. Yet despite the differences, profession, status and even age, we manage to work together as a team for over this past few years.      

   

The amount of times, effort and preparation for the birthday celebration for me & Terence is just unbelievable. No words can descries the sense of awe and when I saw the table settings, lighting, foods and the effort of dressing up. BTW, in case you haven’t notice, the theme for the night is cultural costume; that’s why most of us are wearing Chinese shirt. I really thank God for them,  they have impact my life, showing love and care, encouragement and correction, agree to disagree, and showing me how it is to be in a family of God, not just in words but also in action and example.

Of course, they are not the only one around my life, peoples that around me; friends, youths, colleagues, clients, all of them have shape me in so many ways. I may not be a celebrity, rich man, highly successful career etc, but one thing I know. As of what I have right now, I am blessed. Thank you so much with big love ♥

Happy Birthday Lily

Sorry for haven’t been updating much with my blog lately, been really busy for the last 2 weeks with the camp preparation, executing, and the finishing works. It is definitely a fun and memorial to the participants. How I know? Just have to look at their FB status loh, where else? >w<

Last night, we have an advance birthday celebration for my 2nd nieces from my eldest brother. A very typical TAN family style! Great meals prep by my brothers and a birthday to follow after that. A slight difference will be her bf Choon Fatt is with us this time.

  

Wishing you a sweet 16th birthday, Lily! ^w^

Departure of Lap Lap family

Today is the departure date for lap lap family; as far as I can remembered, I have knew Lap Lap family for almost 10 years or more. All the family members from the dad (Ray), wife (Eva), Joshua, Joel and Hannah have impacted my life one way or another.

They are a family gifted with musical talents, hospitability, creativity and more importantly a heart for peoples and a heart for Him. I have in my life received critics, advise and encouragement from this family; and working with their kids when their are as young as form 1/2 in music ministry, and they have been in the band ever since the time I started the youth team. It is really sad to see them leaves, but knowing that it is for the greater goods for the family that we are happy to send them with a blessing. Since we all know and believe that such separation is only temporary for we will for sure meet each other again one way or others.

At the airport, it was flooded with a big group of peoples ready to send them off, I always believe that number of peoples whom come to send you off will always speak about how much you have impacted the life of others (not unless your flight is at odd hour where peoples can’t make it lah) :p

To lap lap family, thanks you so much for treating me as part of your family through out this time, teaching me so much and being an example as how a family can be and a testimony not just for me, but also to Lily also. Thanks you, God bless you all and paalam!!! Sana magkikita tayo muli! ^w^

Happy Father Day

As part of our family style, we have our father celebration at home with foods, singing and cake cutting. If my 2 brother is around it will be even better! But no worry, I will look forward to the days for me to snap a full Tan Family portraits!