2nd Day Rehearsal @Dataran

This morning started with something that I dread - rain. It pours really early in the morning. I arrived just in time to take shelter under one of the tents. I don't mind getting wet but the camera may not. But the rain went a way living the rising sun still sleeping behind the clouds. Fortunately the camera can go manual and I can set my exposure. Most of the video shots this morning were under the grey clouds. But the bright sun finally defeated the clouds and the above shot of me was taken. Behind the cheerie smile lies a back ache and tired muscles. Has to withstand this for two more days. Tomorrow will be the 'Ambang Merdeka', a prelude to the actual event and also a reenactment of the actual 1st Merdeka Day.

50th Merdeka Day Rehearsal

Today is the first day of Merdaka Day rehearsal. Got to be at Dataran Merdeka by 7 am. Dragging the HD cam and all its accessories on my backpack plus the tripod on my shoulder. I finally got my crew tag from Megat of Pak Ngah Production when I arrived at the location. It was 6+ am and it was still dark but the place was crowded with participants, mostly students and military personnels. I really did not know what the agenda for today but I was given a quick brief. Well who cares, I have my crew tag and I can be anywhere. No one is going to stop me except that big army tank.

Penang For The First Time

I had been to so many places in the world after all these years but this is my first time in Penang. It is a working holiday and all paid for, room service and all. Well except the running around expenses to get the best shots. The weather wasn't that friendly nowadays. Everyday looking up at the sky looking for my friend the sun. I had one good shooting day though which was Saturday. Armed with my phone camera and my old DV videocam, I experienced Penang through my lenses. All the still shots here were shot using my phone camera including the panoramic shots which were sticthed together by ArchSoft Panorama Maker.

Looking through my hotel window on the first day:

Full resolution pix: http://www.freewebs.com/johaziz/Personal/From%20Naza%20Hotel1.JPG

Looking through my hotel window on the second day:

Full resolution pix: http://www.freewebs.com/johaziz/Personal/From%20Naza%20Hotel3.JPG

On the way home we stop by Bukit Merah Laketown in Perak:

Full resolution pix: http://www.freewebs.com/johaziz/Personal/Bukit%20Merah%20Laketown2.JPG

Wish You Were here

I have been given a project to shoot promo video about travel and holiday in Malaysia. For this 3 months I will be going all over working and experience the places and food, virtually for FREE. Kind of living in a postcard for a while. Last weekend I was at Desaru Damai beach. The place was quite quiet, nice place if you need some peace. Either sitting at the balcony looking at the ocean or just hang around the pool. The food wasn't that great but there are places nearby to choose. There is also a fruit farm nearby, quite unique, complete with monkeys. I was hoping to see the full moon rising at the horizon but missed the date by two days. Instead I went for a boat ride on the river in the evening to watch fireflies. It was like watching Christmas tree by the river. When I came back to the hotel the moon was high up. It is always a beauty to watch the moon.

Damai Beach Hotel:
Bigger panoramic photo:
http://www.freewebs.com/johaziz/Personal/Desaru%20Damai%2020Hotel_lores.jpg

Big Boy with Small Toy

Few days ago I bought and tested a MIDI keyboard for my composer friend Pak Ngah. He said he needs a small all-in-one keyboard to use with his laptop so that he can continue working while he is traveling. I chose Alesis' PhotonX25 for him which has everything he needs, a MIDI keyboard and also an audio recording unit. With all the VSTi, virtual instrument plugins installed on his laptop, he can have the whole band or orchestra in his back pack. When he is back at his studio he can transfer the files to his desktop and do the final mix.
I feel excited about this because the very instrument I am testing will be the tool that will be used for his future compositions. Though his genre is traditional, major part of his tool is digital. Who knows this instrument that I am testing will be used to compose pieces for famous stars like Siti Nurhaliza and many more ;)

Read more about PhotonX25 :http://www.alesis.com/product.php?id=15

Everyday I Learn

Around 15 years ago I wrote a lyric-poem. I was so much in love and so heart broken. Yet there is beauty in every moment:

Everyday I Learn

I like to write a book
If you like to take a look
The times that turn to moments
The stars so bright the moon just fallen

May be I'll write a play
About a place so far away
So many things that I've spoken
Oh I wish that they were diamonds

Everyday I learn
That this world can turn
All the colours that we see
Are people like you and me

Everyday I learn
That this world can turn
All the diamonds in the sky
Are miracles in my eyes

I like to go away
To a great big out there
Looking for something that I miss
More than a moment bliss

May be I'll stay
If I can find my way
For everything under the sun
You will always be the only one

After traveling the world looking for love and happiness, I finally found what I was looking for. I always thought the answer is somewhere out there, but it is always near. Then I wrote this one:

Everyday We Learn (Present)

I like to read the book
Would you like to take a look
Of past, future and present
Of stars, moon, sun, earth and heaven

al-Quran the name we say
Allah's guidance to lead the way
So many things He has spoken
It all worth more than diamond

Everyday we learn
that this world can turn
All the colours that we see
Allah made it for you and me

Everyday we learn
that this world can turn
All the diamonds in the sky
His miracles in our eyes

He like to show the way
Would you like to walk His way
Look for things that we've missed
More than a moment bliss

Perhaps you'll like to stay
Close to Him in our prayer
For everything under the sun
He will always be the only One

The Beat From The Past

The mid 80s was a wonderful time for electronic music. The New Wave and all that. I was so crazy then even to the extend of building my own gadgets. Electronic musical instruments were so expensive like you have to sell your arms and legs to own one. Then came Roland with a drum machine called Drumatix TR-606 that is quite affordable. The sounds were pure electronic like those rhythm section of the electronic organ. The big difference was it is programmable. You can see that big 'Computer Controlled' on the panel. It just blew my mind to see that. Wow a computer inside this small box. Roland came out with a Bass Line to go with it. I sold that away. Really regretted that.
A couple of weeks back I went back to dad's and clean up this old friend. Now it is considered a 'legend' because many virtual instruments software nowadays copied the concepts for those Techno musicians. I guess I must have been one of the earliest Technos.