This is Wednesday

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Picking a fight?

Sabah World Water Day 2012 Photography Competition

I saw this in the local newspaper and wish to share it here so that all photographers out there could take part and showcase their creative imagination in the form of photographs.

The contest is divided into two categories namely STUDENT and OPEN.

Mark your calendar for 20th - 21st March 2012 and visit the exhibition.

PRIZES

OPEN CATEGORY
1st Prize X 1 RM 3,000.00 Cash + Certificate
2nd Prize X 1 RM 1,500.00 Cash + Certificate
3rd Prize X 1 RM 1,000.00 Cash + Certificate
Consolation x 10 RM 100.00 Cash + Certificate

STUDENT CATEGORY (Form 5 and Below)
1st Prize X 1 RM 500.00 Cash + Certificate
2nd Prize X 1 RM 300.00 Cash + Certificate
3rd Prize X 1 RM 150.00 Cash + Certificate
Consolation x 10 RM 50.00 Cash + Certificate

COMPETITION CALENDAR
Closing Date : 10th March 2012 (Saturday)
Prize Presentation : 20th March 2012 (Thursday)

Visit Jabatan Air Negeri Sabah's official  State level World Water Day website for more information.


Let's click, click!

Ischa

Ischa posing for the cam during a recent visit at a local wildlife park. Her outfit was so selected in anticipation of meeting mr. leopard at the zoo later. Her wish was granted - mr. leopard was indeed at home that day.

Location: Zoo Negara, Kuala Lumpur
Date: December 2011
Time of day: Late afternoon
Lighting: Available light

Blue Butterfly

Shot this beautiful butterfly during one overcast afternoon when I was shooting a steel bridge under  construction.

It was preoccupied collecting sugary nectar from the red Ixora flower.

I could not identify this Blue Butterfly but this is in Sabah Borneo and the book "Butterflies of Malaysian Borneo – a pocket guide" may be of help to butterfly/moth enthusiasts.
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Pulau Sepanggar

Pulau Sepanggar is a small island off Kota Kinabalu coast and located between Gaya Island and Sepanggar Bay. To get there you have choices of speed boat or the slow moving small 6-passenger sampan which would be a torture if you are a person who hates waiting

By speed boat, say 75HP outboard engine, you will reach the island in about 25 to 30 minutes time. The island has no electricity but the school is powered by hybrid solar-generator system.

Location of Pulau Sepanggar. [Google Map]

Approaching Pulau Sepanggar



Yayasan Sabah (Menara Tun Mustapha) seen from a speeding boat.



SLR cam zoom






Village on the seashore



Thief monkey lurching as we get on with business


Eagle hovering near the settlement probably preying on the folks' chicks



Mt Kinabalu is clearly visible on a good day. This island could be a perfect spot for capturing sunrise shots of Kota Kinabalu and Mt. Kinabalu.

Upside down house in Tamparuli

Location: 

Tamparuli, Sabah
(Kg. Telibong, between Shell gas station and SMK Tamparuli)
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Opened to public: 

Since 1st February 2012

Visiting hours:

8.00am - 8.00pm daily

Fees:

Adults - RM10 (MyKad holders), 

RM18 (non-MyKad holders)

Children - RM5

Babies - FOC (2 yrs old and below)

Rumah Terbalik (upside down house) is one of Tamparuli's latest attraction and is so named as it sits on its roof. Attraction would be an overstatement to a modest build as it serves more of a pit-stop for travelers going to Ranau, Sandakan, Tawau, or tourists wanting to sample the Kiulu White Water Rafting.

The 140 square metre house is equipped with kitchen, living room, bathroom, dining room, bedrooms and the interior is decorated with many unique features of Sabah. Except for a 'bubu' (a traditional fishing trap) everything is placed upside down including - from rice cooker, stove, furniture, to electrical appliances such as fridge, sewing machine and air-conditioners.

A guided tour to the interior house takes not more that 15 minutes during our visit and it was on the 4th day since its official opening. After sometime, perhaps, you could spend more time there when less people are waiting in the queue. Considering a RM10 per person, it could be a one-of visit to many unless the owner add up more attractions within the centre in the future. The house is designed for a small family of three and hence its small size.

The 'tamu' (their term for the souvenir shop) is somewhat loosely stuffed with not many souvenirs to choose from. It would be a good idea for them to sell Sabah's unique handicrafts and other local products in the future.

The cafe is quite roomy and comfortable with delicious selection of chicken/tuna puff and pastries but only small quantity is made available at any one time. My personal fave is the chicken curry puff, they come straight from the chef's oven and they are tasty.

Since people treat this place as a stop over rather than electing for a full guided tour, I would think that a small souvenir shop is also made available near the ticket counter. There is plenty of space and resting benches at this area.

Plenty of parking space.

Buy your ticket here

Tour guide gives a brief talk and the lecture continues throughout your visit

No photography is allowed inside the house, so your best bet at firing away the shutter is when you are outside it.

At the 'Tamu' - the souvenir shop:

This upside down garage is located outside the centre and everyone is free to take some picture during their pit-stop.