Video taken in Hong Kong

This is unedited video taken in Hong Kong. My Canon MVX3i (Optura Xi in US) camera cannot transfer video properly. So I'm busying working on how to transfer the video instead of editing the video. Some nice part of the movie still in the tape. The PC keep on losing synch signal with the camera.


Peak Tram


Symphony of Lights (1)

Symphony of Lights (2)

Sight Reading

One thing I still cannot learn properly is sight reading. Each time I want to play a song (for example The Entertainer), I need to read 1 note by 1 note. I guess have big issue because my music theory is not strong. I don't know what is the note at the forth line of treble without chanting the slogan “Every Good Boy Does Fine” (which is D note in this case). First thing I need to do is improve my music theory. Second, is to improve sight reading. I've got some interesting free tips for sight reading in this website . I'll extract from that website. Look at the tips number 10 :P

1 Develop Your “Relative” Sense of Touch.

Acquire the skill of playing so that you don’t need to look down at your hands. Without looking at the keyboard, glide your hands so you feel the two and three black keys (like Braille.) When you need a C, D, or E, feel for the “2s.” When you need an F, G, A, or B, feel for the “3s.” Most good sight-readers don’t need to look at their hands while they play and this drill teaches you how to find any note without looking at your hands. Then you will be able to keep your eyes on the music and look ahead and this will greatly speed up your sight-reading.

2 Develop Your “Absolute” Sense of Touch.

Always sit in the same place. Middle “D” is recommended because it creates a symmetrical pattern in both directions. Sometimes you may need to make a page turn or your hand will jump from a high position to a low position on the keyboard. It is handy to not have to look down to find the correct position in these cases. By always sitting the same place at the piano, you will develop a physiological memory of all 88 keys on the piano!

3 Practice Finger Technique Without Looking at Your Hands.

A creative way to do this is to play your scales and arpeggios in the dark. This will add confidence to your sense of touch. This exercise is to further enhance tactile awareness that is developed in steps 1 and 2.

4 Learn the Four Groups of the Lines and Spaces:

Lines in the Treble “E G B D F”
Lines in the Bass “G B D F A”
Spaces in the Treble “F A C E”
Spaces in the Bass “A C E G”

Try to just learn these without the typical slogans: “Every Good Boy Does Fine,” or similar phrases. Each time you attempt to read a note using these slogans, you have to go through a 2-step process which seriously slows-down your speed. Just memorize the groups as fast a possible by saying them out loud frequently.

5 Practice Only the Rhythmic Information.

In a composition you are working on, ignore the correct pitches. Just play the rhythmic infomation of the piece on any notes. Your brain will enjoy the ability to work on just one thing.

6 Practice Only the Pitch and Fingering Information.

In a composition you are working on, ignore the correct rhythm. Just play the correct pitches along with the correct fingering. Don’t try to play in time here. This way, you can focus on just the right notes with the right fingers. your brain will enjoy the ability narrow its focus. Eventually, you will be able to play the right notes with the right fingering and with the right rhythm all at the same time!

7 Play Easy Pieces up to Tempo.

Force yourself to keep going no matter what. Don’t worry about mistakes. This helps you to look ahead.

8 Play Difficult Pieces Super Slowly.

Don’t dare make even one mistake. This helps to develop accuracy.

9 Look For Patterns in Music.

Don’t be afraid to look way ahead for a second just so you can anticipate what will be easy or difficult. Patterns make it easy. If you detect a pattern then you can devote your concentration to other things.

10 Study Music Theory.

Professional sight-readers never read every note! They get a sense of the overall chord and “fill-in” the blanks. With a solid knowledge of music theory, this becomes natural and immediate.

Micro Genius Super King (2)

Today, got myself to Bukit Jambul Shopping Complex with HY and PF to buy more Micro Genius cartridge game for my mum. Each sold for RM10. Some games I've seen before such as Adventure Island, Tetris, Bubble Bubble etc. A lot of 99 in 1, 199 in 1, etc. I assume those are repeat games with no difference whatsoever. Which I found later to be true. 1 of the cartridge are not abled to be slot in. Will get it exchange later.

Hong Kong trip

In January 26, I was in Hong Kong with Kwee Keak for 5 day trip. It was a great adventure for us since neither of us been there and we stayed in Mongkok Dragon Hostel.

I started off with worry hearts since the validity of my passport is less than 6 months. But it seems, all the immigration in Malaysia, Macau and Hong Kong don't even bothered by it. I wonder why. Maybe I've fix date return ticket?

The place we went is the Peak, Big Buddha, Madam Taussaud, Arena of Star, Yuen Long, Ocean Park etc. We skip Disneyland. No big deal since I went to California one anyway.

We got ourself day trip ticket costing HK50.

Front
Back

This ticket will bring you almost all the tourist attraction.

However, if you want to buy Wife Biscuit (Lo Po Peng) in Yuen Long, you need to take KCR line:

Front
Back

This card include bus trip to town area of Yuen Long that sell Wife Biscuit:

Free bus boarding pass to Yuen Long
But they don't even check our
boarding pass. Trust their passenger :)

KCR ticket holder
Note about change of free bus ride

We don't really plan that much. I've print all the map, interesting places description from website and forum (http://forum.lowyat.net/Travel&Living), and try to plan while on the plane from KL to Macau. That's it. Few hours planning on board of plane.

Our journey include taking MTR to Big Buddha. Spending rm4x for riding skyrail to Big Buddha:

Front

Back

The whole skyrail is blanketed with fog. So nothing to see there. Paying rm4x to see nothing is a bit expensive. :P

Trip to Hong Kong is not done without a trip to Ocean Park.

Front

Back

Ok, that's all for now. Showing ticket instead of picture. Sorry about that. Will post real picture soon (or never if I'm too lazy) :P.

Eh, I did drop by computer center. It looks like Low Yat Plaza. This is one of the brochure:

Computer Shop Brochure in Wan Chai

First post!

Yay! I was intending to have my own blog long time ago. I actually started with friendster blog but its too troublesome since only friendster member can read my blog (or is it not?). Hence, I register blogger.com since kiasu man blogger told me blogger.com is widely used. But I've encounter problem with blogger.com sign up until I use firefox. $&#@($, M$!

Anyway, I'll start my first post with what I've got lately from room cleaning. Yup, Chinese New Year is over but I still have some cleaning up to do. And from there, I open up my old console. The Micro Genius Super King.

My first console! I wonder there's IQ404! LOL!

Side way

The other side. It stated imported by Srica.
I wonder whether the company still exist.
Plug into my mum's room. Yup, she's the one playing!
Still new! Who want to buy?
Woot! It still works! Playing Mario Bros 3.....
Level 1

It does remind me when I'm kid. After school (SRK Jalan Pasar 2), I will walk through a shopping mall called PGB Plaza (our school call it Pejabat Guru Besar (means Headmaster office) since student caught loitering there will need to meet the headmaster) in Jalan Pasar. Inside the mall, there's a console shop whether a lot of kids congregate there to play Micro Genius. They charge RM2 for 1 hour. Normally I'll just stand there and watch since I don't have money to play. Life is so sad back then :P. That's primary school life.

Anyway, the price drop and during secondary school, mum bought it for rm140. But we only play for a while since TV start to have problem from playing too much...:P

Now, I'm 29 and the console still works. I guess electronics back then is quite durable compare to now where all the company is cutting cost.

Happy playing mum!