Hey -- what were we doing at Casuarina Road on Tuesday July 7, 2005?
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/800s@f/5.6, ISO200, +0.3EV, AWB -2
What else -- what all Singaporeans like to do when they have some free time -- snack on the best food.
Casuarina Curry Restaurant arguably makes the best roti-prata in Singapore :
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/60s@f/5.6, ISO220, +0.3EV, AWB -2
Chris was the gracious host for lunch. "More than 30 flavors" was what I overheard the waiter tell him of the roti-prata as I fiddled with my D70 trying to figure out why it couldn't focus!
And if you wonder how I could take the first 2 photos shown above when the camera couldn't focus -- simple: those were taken after lunch! By then I had found that the lens' aperture switch was unlocked, leaving the camera's auto-focus mechanism deactivated.
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/80s@f/2.8, ISO800, +0.3EV, AWB -2
Golly -- they had finished all the roti-prata before I completed taking the photos!!
Luckily there's something left on the wall. Hey, Greg, pass me some bananas..
All satiated, we had a wonderful lunch. Funny -- the best flavor for me was actually the plain old roti-prata, altho' the mushroom flavored one was yummy too.
It was still a hot, sunny day. All the people seemed to have headed for the beaches..
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/800s@f/5.6, ISO200, +0.3EV, AWB -2
We decided to head for Greg's house. Vince and Chris were waiting for me to get into the gleaming Toyoto Camry:
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/250s@f/5.6, ISO200, +0.3EV, AWB -2
And a Garden of Eden greeted us when we arrived at Greg's house in Lentor Avenue:
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/60s@f/8, ISO560, +0.3EV, AWB -2
The beautiful multi-colored koi is worth a tidy fortune. Come back in 10 years for a wonderful koi meal, anyone? Always had deep-fried garoupa and carp with sambal blachan whenever I went to Jakarta -- simply delicious!
Not to worry, Greg -- probably not yours anymore, as you would have sold your house and moved to Perth, right?
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/400s@f/8, ISO200, +0.3EV, AWB -2
Nice neighbourhood view from the koi pavilion in Greg's garden.
The lush growth of the plants and shrubs lend an air of tranquility to the garden:
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/125s@f/8, ISO200, +0.3EV, AWB -2
Vince has always been a dream husband for any gal -- that is because he places top priority on pleasing his wife and kids. He is a family guy, hard-working, thrifty and an excellent dad and husband. Always dependable, I have never seen him lose his cool!
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/60s@f/8, ISO200, +0.3EV, AWB -2
Problem is, I think he tends to worry a bit too excessively -- even when he has no reason to. Maybe that's why he frowns so much.. lol
Hey Greg -- isn't that a tongkat ali growing in the background? Chris told me you got it from him to grow in your Eden some time ago.
Chris, on the other hand, is the live-wire amongst us. Never a dull moment with him around, he is always making others smile. Wanna know what he said about the melon... ??
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/720s@f/5.6, ISO200, +0.3EV, AWB -2, no flash
Ever the generous guy that he is, Chris holds the melon 'ha-mid kuah' that he kindly bought for us to try. It is a very sweet melon imported from China.
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/60s@f/5.6, ISO200, +0.3EV, AWB -2, fill-in flash
Amongst us, Greg arguably has the sharpest intellect. He is known as an innovator, most at home with the latest geek things. Here he demos the Kodak digital camera.
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/60s@f/8, ISO200, +0.3EV, AWB -2, fill-in flash
Jack is the scholar amongst us: he likes to excel in everything he does! He is a generous, warm-hearted kind of guy, always ready to take on challenges of any kind. He revs up slowly, but like a mercedes-benz, once he is on a roll, there's no stopping him! Neither could anyone overtake him.
No wonder Jack was a 1969 Colombo Plan scholar. And today a successful engineer-businessman turned fund manager. And his engineering business? He left it to Angie, his more-than-capable wife. Lucky guy!
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/60s@f/8, ISO200, +0.3EV, AWB -2, fill-in flash
Actually all my friends are bright guys with lots of talent. All of them produced kids who also have their genes, the children either inducted into gifted-kid programs run by the government and/or subsequently winning scholarships to study uni locally or overseas.
D70, 24mm f/2.8D lens, 1/60s@f/8, ISO200, +0.3EV, AWB -2, fill-in flash
I wonder if the next generation will enjoy friendship that is as long-lasting and enduring as ours is ?