In My Life

SE W900i ‘Configuration Error’

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:29:00 +0000

A few days ago my phone suddenly displayed this message during startup and refused me further access. I did not abused it in any way but I guess after nearly five years there bound to be hiccups like this. I am not a phone addict. I rarely use it for calls or even short messaging. It stays in my pocket most of the time while making the service provider richer. I am not going to dump it either for the new Android or God forbid me, the iPhone.

Sony Ericsson w900i is a solid built phone. A guy would feel comfortable with it in their hands. After five years it is still in good physical condition. I am truly happy with it except the lacking of A2DP (Stereo Bluetooth) feature which is frustrating for a Walkman Phone. I have decided to keep it till it truly fall apart.

I have a sound knowledge of electronics and programming but I have never done any phone hacking. I guess hacking my own phone is considered legal compared to giving to a repair shop and they will fix it under five minutes and will charge me 50 bucks for it by just pushing a button. So I Googled my problem and found several answers. Since I am new to this, the lingo I read sounded a bit alien. But after a while I was able to translate it to a dummy perspective. So here are the things you need for the job.

1. The DCU-60 phone-to-USB cable, that came with your phone when you bought it.

2. USB Flash driver. This is a different driver than the one you use to transfer files to and from your computer. This driver is used to read the firmware of your phone. I used the Gordon’s Gate flash driver. You can download it from SE-NSE.net - http://forums.se-nse.net/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=942

3. XS++ v3.1 Flashing Software. It is used to restore the firmware to its factory default or update it. You can download from http://forums.se-nse.net/index.php?app=downloads&showfile=575. For updates you can go to Sony Ericsson Update Service or just Google for the latest firmware.

This the screenshot of XS++. It is simple and straight forward. To access the flash firmware you need to press the ‘c’ button on your w900i together with the right joystick and connect the USB cable after you press connect on the software. Most of the instructions I have read just mentioned ‘c’ button but never mentioned the right joystick which got me lost for a day. The phone has to be in the off state and the SIM card removed prior to that.

These are the three steps you need to do to revive your phone.

1. Flash the Main Firmware. The latest Main Firmware I have found is ‘W900_R5BC004_MAIN_GENERIC_SA_RED49.mbn’.

2. Flash the File System. The latest File System I have found is ‘W900_R5BC004_FS_EMEA_1_RED49.fbn’

3. Flash the Customize File System or CUS. You can select the phone model the CDA and Region from inside XS++.

Just click ‘Flash’ button under Procedure Control and wait for 5 minutes or so. When it is done, unplug the cable, re-insert the SIM card and turn on your phone. It will go through the setup wizard and your phone OS will look brand new.

If you need more more information you can visit these two sites:

SE Flashing and SE-NSE v5

Technorati Tags: Sony Ericsson w900i,flashing,debranding,configuration error

Muslims in Memphis new logo

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 16:50:00 +0000

Recently I was asked to design a new logo for the ‘Muslims in Memphis’ website. The logo has to include the letter ‘M’ and also reflect a bridge particularly the Hernando de Soto bridge or the Memphis bridge which looks like the letter ‘M’. I used to live in Memphis and have seen the bridge many times but I have never crossed over it. I guess there wasn’t a need at that time. But this time I have to take a closer look and show you the process of designing the new logo.

I downloaded the picture of the bridge and removed the background and converted it to a monochrome. I drew three overlapping circles to divide the length into equal parts. The circles are also the base shape for the overlapping two ‘M’s that I had in mind.

I stylized the bridge and constructed three arcs to make the overlapping ‘M’s. The first ‘M’ is indicated by a red marker. Notches were added to the top of the arcs to make it look like arches of the mosque to have a feel of Islamic where mosques are the central body of the community.

Here is the completed construction with the first ‘M’ in front of the bridge while the second is behind the bridge. While the ‘i’ is at the centre at the intersection of the two ‘M’s. The logo is well integrated with the bridge just as the Muslim community in Memphis integrating themselves with other communities by building bridges among them.

The final construction was exported to Adobe Illustrator for coloring to make it available for printing works. The white ‘M’ represent sincerity while the red and white stripes were added for that American touch. After all the Muslims in Memphis are part of the American society. Though I have left Memphis long time ago but this logo made me feel close to this community that I love so dearest. I hope with this logo my presence is still felt there.
Link: Muslims in Memphis website

Technorati Tags: Muslims in Memphis

BVI Class of ‘75 Reunion 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:21:00 +0000

1973 perhaps a long time ago when I was young and foolish. Uncertain about many things in my life or what the future may brings. But one thing for sure I wanted to be an artist as a career. Perhaps in my rebellious way I could express myself through my art. But it was not art for art. It was advertising art. Coke was the ‘Real Thing’ and blue jeans was not just something we wear, it was a skin. Advertising looks so exciting then. So I rocked on and joined the first School of Design in Singapore. It was uncannily named Baharuddin Vocational Institute. For the first time in my life I entered an educational institution where people spoke the same language which was art with a slang of insanity. It was a pivotal two years which most of us could not forget. It was more than a school. It was like a home. It was more than schoolmates. We were like family. But through the years of free and easy 70s we never did get high or lost our innocence. We were truly happy. But sadly we have to come to term with the law of time. In mid 1975 we finally graduated and moved on with our lives separately. Though some did stayed together but collectively we never did.

After 37 years we finally got together again for tea and dinner. With the magic of internet we found each other, well almost, for some are still missing or passed on. But the real magic was not the internet or the electronic media, it was us who made the persistent effort. We may have achieved many great things in our lives and careers but our friendship worth more than gold. It is priceless. For that night we were truly back in 1975. We were young again in our hearts. May we will be forever young.

Thanks to our lecturers who were standing in the centre of the photo above. From left, Mr Richard Wee, Mr. Wee Chwee Beng and Mr. Loh Khee Yew. We the class of ‘75 salute you Sirs.

Look us up on facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BVI.Class75/

Technorati Tags: Baharuddin Vocational Institute

JELITA AZIZ Logo Design

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:28:00 +0000

Logo design is not as simple as it may seems. A lot of thoughts go into it. It is not just a graphic or text and colours. It is building an image of a company or organization. That is why some logos can cost thousands of dollars even if the initial idea started on a piece of napkin.

I really don’t design logos professionally nowadays unless it is for close friends and family. The above logo was designed for my sister’s fashion academy. She got a unique name that sells. It inspires the initials effortlessly of high fashion. It has the aura that add the shine to most fashion items. The iconic look will help business expansion.

As most of my design it started in my head. I was thinking of a sans-serif font. Then I add a blunt hook down the corner of the ‘J’ like a bud stem that represent new ideas. Then I add a wave across the two letters for the flare to bind it together like a family.

For the construction I used my autocad software Rhino 3D instead of Adobe Illustrator. As a 3D artist I am much at home with Rhino and its precision. Then I export it to Illustrator for the printers to use.

This is how the logo been reformatted for the design of the entrance. You can find out the progress of JELITA AZIZ Fashion Academy on the web:

Blog: http://www.jafashionacademy.blogspot.com

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JA.Fashion.Academy

Technorati Tags: Jelita Aziz Fashion Academy Logo

Palm TX - Resurrected

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:22:00 +0000

This is not a shot from the past. This is the present. This is my Palm TX shot in February 2011. It is hard to believe that a six year old device can look this good. It never aged because it did not had a chance to. I only used it for around six months before it went into a comma. The digitizer alignment went off perhaps because of some apps that I had installed to make the GUI looks cool. I thought it was a faulty panel and messed up with it. From my previous experience resurrecting my Palm Vx I realized that if the digitizer alignment went off badly I have to do a hard reset and should delete the ‘backup’ and ‘upgrade’ folders on the PC side before a new Hotsync. Reload all the apps one by one and check which one was causing the problem.

The only way to resurrect my Palm TX is to replace the digitizer panel. Fortunately parts for most Palm devices are still available. I got mine from PDASmart. They have most of the parts except the earlier Palm Pilot models. You can actually put together a new Palm device from scratch if you have some experience in DIY electronics. Probably Palm PDA will be the VW Beetle of the future in term of PDAs.

Replacing the digitizer panel is not rocket science. If you have some experience opening up your toys while you were a kid you can certainly be able to remove the plastic chassis which is in three parts. Though it may sound easy you still have to be gentle with it. The print behind the back that says ‘Made in China’ probably give you some signal that you have to drop that wrenchy approach.

After removing the plastic chassis then you have to unplug the LCD assembly from the motherboard. It has to be plugged out rather than slide out. You still be able to work with the LCD remain plugged but it will be cumbersome with things dangling around. It is also safer to work because the battery is permanently soldered to the motherboard. You will not get electrocuted but the circuitry might get short circuit if you accidently drop a metal tool on the board. So you have to keep those things away in a safe place.

This is how it look from the back with the motherboard still attached. As you can see the back panel of the LCD assembly is fully insulated to protect the motherboard. After you have separated those two then you have to peel off all of the insulation materials from the LCD pack panel to get access to the digitizer connector.

Underneath you can find the flex ribbon cable and connector for the digitizer which is on the left side.

Flip up the black locking part and pull the flex ribbon cable out. Insert the new digitizer cable in and lock down the connector. Make sure the copper track of the flex ribbon cable is facing down. All the packing insulation for the digitizer has to be peeled off before attaching it to the front face of the LCD panel.

Before you plug back the LCD panel to the motherboard make sure you paste back the insulation material on the back panel of the LCD unit. Before closing everything up you need to turn on the device to make sure the device is properly assembled. The most important thing is to test if the digitizer works. If the device has been lying on the shelf for a long time you need to recharge the battery. When everything works normally then it is time to reattach the plastic casing. From my experience putting it back is more difficult than opening it up. To get everything snap in right takes some patience. Screwing back the four screws is easy but make sure you don’t loose it because it is so tiny. I lost one of it somewhere in the carpet and couldn’t locate it. I went to the phone repair shop and got it replaced.

Now I am having the second honeymoon with my Palm TX. I reloaded my old favourite apps and even bought a couple of new ones. I got a new cookbook software evidently named PDACookbook from WakefieldSoft. It is much more elaborate than my old one. It is loaded with 1000 recipes plus my own and I can insert photos. But most of all I am excited with Softick’s Audio Gateway, a Bluetooth solution which allows a stereo Bluetooth headphone to be paired with Palm TX. Because of that I bought a Sony Bluetooth stereo headset MW600 which includes an FM Radio.

All these were not possible when I first bought Palm TX six years ago. Hi-Fi Bluetooth was still new and it was a pain to get things to work together. I could say Palm TX was quite ahead of its time. I have tried recently connected to Facebook with it and even YouTube via Wi-Fi. It works flawlessly. Though it do not have those glossy features of present devices, the Palm principal of ‘keeping things simple’ that makes it a charm. There is a special beauty in simplicity. Sadly many people prefer complication in life.

Technorati Tags: Palm TX,PDACookbook,Softick Audio Gateway,Sony Ericsson MW600

Eid Fitri 1431 @KL Convention Centre

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 22:16:00 +0000

Thank you MSC Malaysia for inviting me for the Eid Fitri Open House at the last minute. If I was invited earlier I could have come in my Baju Melayu (Malaysian traditional dress). But it is kind of strange to wear Baju Melayu and attending Eid Fitri event after 2 weeks. Well Malaysians take Eid celebration quite seriously compared to other Muslim countries. One month of celebration even to the very last day. Some women even bought extra new dresses and shoes during this month to attend all the open houses. The economy must be booming.

When people asked me where I am from I just say that I am from JAZ Multimedia and we are creating intellectual property targeted for animation. I am here to show my gratitude to MSC Malaysia and MDEC for their help. It is a kind of party talk but it is the truth but behind the truth I will attend any event where there are plenty of nice food where I can eat the whole night. That separates the young ladies and the senior ones. The young ones can eat the whole night because their metabolism is still working well while their seniors are counting their bites. Well me as an advanced youth who are not afraid of extra kilos because my metabolism always take good care of me.

That is Yang from MDEC and Beverly from MRCB Technologies in the background helping themselves with the food. So which category they are in? The young or senior? I will not comment on that because they might chase me out of the incubator the next day. Let say they look great that night.

It is time to show the MSC logo in this post. Look world this is the organization that been helping me for the past three years. They have helped me with the incubator space for developing my Palestine 3000 A.D.. Find out more about them on my Palestine 3000 A.D. blog. There are also links on MDEC and MRCB Technologies who collectively manage the incubator at KL Sentral.

So what is Hari Raya event without Malay traditional dance. Yes it was a party last night not just of Malay and Muslims. There are other people of different races and religions attended this big event at the Grand Ballroom in the spirit of One Malaysia. It is not a political event just a gathering of technology people in full colour of Eid. Probably art creature like me is a minor here.

Well that is Naz on the left and Linda Onn on the right trying to make some noise that night. They are the presenters of the evening and going around pointing their microphones at people. Caught Linda straight on with my camera. She did not catch me with her microphone. Probably this Palestine activist looked too serious for a fun conversation. Linda you will be safe with Upin and Ipin guys.

The party started at 3 pm after Jumaa and ended at 8 pm. I had sampled most of the food on all four corners. Met some nice people and some strange ones. I hope MSC and MDEC will invite me next year. It seems I will be in their family for a long time. Malaysia is my home now for no other country will support my radical ideas like Malaysia. It is also the best place to celebrate Eid and be colourful.

Technorati Tags: Eid Fitri,Hari Raya,MSC Malaysia,Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Remembering 2010, Syd Mead & Kubrick

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:54:00 +0000

We are in the middle of January 2010 and still too early to look back on the year. I am not referring to the calendar but the Peter Hyams film '2010: The Year We Make Contact' the sequel to Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey'.

Sequels are usually disappointments. '2010' is one of those. It is a film that shouldn't be made at all. Stanley Kubrick has left his mark on '2001'. Peter Hyams didn't even come close. '2001' is an art film while '2010' is a main stream aiming to make a quick big buck in the age of fast food of 1984. With Roy Scheider in the leading role we are expecting Jaws attacking in outer space anytime. It is a pop-corns and soda entertainment pampered with American patriotism. Soviets were the enemy then and who would have thought that in the year 2010 they are history.

The only name that I respect in '2010' is Syd Mead, the visual futurist. He designed many of the visual concept for '2010'. Though he is my idol but his works for '2010' from my point of view are not his best. His work for Blade Runner which is 2 years prior of '2010' is one of his best.

I met Syd Mead in L.A. in 2001 during the Siggraph Conference. He is the gentleman on the right in the photo. Though he was never involved in Stanley Kubrick's '2001: A Space Odyssey' but as a visual futurist he was invited to give a talk in a special session remembering that film and 1968 the time of turbulent in United States because of war protests and civil rights movement. Young people then were looking for a better future and '2001: A Space Odyssey' gave a certain hope and a warning message. There should be a balance between science and spiritual. Our intellect is limited by our senses. There are things that are beyond our senses. Outer space is just one big distraction. There are so many things that are going wrong on earth. Yet billion of dollars are spend on distractions not only on outer space but wars.

It was unreal to have a conversation with Syd Mead. He said some people were disappointed with what the future turned out to be. That perhaps separated art from life. I am always for the art. I bought my second Syd Mead book that day, 'SENTURY' and got it autographed.

This is one of his illustration for the film '2010' from his book 'OBLAGON'. His signature can be seen clearly here with '2010' just below it. '2010' is the film but not the date of the artwork. It was done in 1984 or probably earlier. There are plenty more in the book but most of it are double spreads and difficult to scan unless I really have to press it hard and flat which might damage the binding. It is just too precious for me.

I had attended Siggraph since 1994 all over United States. I have collected many pins, books, posters, videos and other souvenirs from Siggraph. But the above conference batch is the one that I really treasure most. I have Syd Mead autograph on it next to my name. The date was 17th August 2001, 3 weeks before 9/11 tragedy that changed the future. Liberty is lost and fascism rules finally without any involvement of the Soviet Union. We need a new vision and hope in the cinema. 2010 is not the year we make contact but we remains out of contact and distracted. Stanley Kubrick, we truly miss you.

Technorati Tags: 2010,2001,Stanley Kubrick,Syd Mead,Siggraph

A Stopover In Batu Layar

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 17:54:00 +0000

On our way back from Punggai we made a stopover in Batu Layar. Its ultra wide screen view of the sea and beach will make any traveler want to stop over. A great view to gaze for hours but not to dive in for a swim unless you are a surfer or windsurfer. But there are no surfers around. Probably it is just too way out of reach.

There are many chalets around from single room to dorm. The price is quite reasonable. During this holiday season it is surprisingly quiet. Probably the management needs to add more facilities for guests who are staying in the middle of nowhere.

This particular chalets are just beside the beach. Being able to gaze at the amazing view from morning till night is just sheer bliss. Added to that the front space is large enough for outdoor activities. The rest is just limited by your imagination.

The biggest setback of this place is the cafeteria which is under renovation. If you are going to stay here for days you just need to drag along a bagful of canned food. The nearest town where you can buy groceries is around 15 km from here. Probably that is the reason that we did not choose to stay here despite its spectacular view.

A Getaway In Punggai

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 21:17:00 +0000

It was a weekday and there was no traffic on the road. It is not an episode in a dream. I was fully awake. Quite an awe for a city guy like me. But in Punggai, at the east coast of Johor, it is an everyday sight. So last Monday my sister and I decided to pack up and head for this middle of nowhere guided by my trusted GPS unit.

The weather was unpredictable. It rain and shine at any minute. All the photos that were shot here look like the sun was shining all day long. I just dread of the idea sleeping in a wooden hut in the middle of the night. Surprisingly the accommodation at the resort is not primitive as I thought it would be. It is kind of a remote suburb with concrete walls, flushed toilets and air-conditioned. I was expecting mosquitoes and crawling insects all over but it was quite tamed.

Well there is a wooden structure in the middle of it. Not a total concrete jungle after all. Trees are scattered everywhere and the walkway is paved with sand with electric cables hanging from pole to pole. It is looking more like a holiday resort.

Below that wooden structure is actually the cafeteria where we can dine or the food can be delivered to our chalets and we can eat at the front yard under the trees. I was actually prepared to rub two sticks together to make a fire if things fail. Here they have all the modern cooking facilities. The downside is they only serve rice and noodles which are all fried from morning till evening. But you can cook your own stuff at the backyard. If you drag in some kind of meat you could have a barbecue too.

They said the beach is just behind but if you want to be safe and live longer you could splash in the pool. The swimming pool is just in front of the cafeteria. A favourite place for the kids especially my niece. During peak hours the pool may look like a tadpole colony.

Here is the view of the pool and part of the resort from the second level of the 'Mawar' chalet. It is the only one in the resort which is two storey

They do have a kid playground at the backyard but not that well maintained for what I saw. But to a little girl like Sofia a swing of any condition is fun. Though she fell a number of times.The sand on her palms and knees just bewildered her. Not the kind of thing she experienced at home.

With her feet buried in the sand and waves coming on to her with big wave sound which is beyond her home TV speakers. The look in her eyes revealed many questions. For the first time she realized that it is not a small world after all.

The Weddng @Dewan Jubli Intan

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:46:00 +0000

Last weekend my family and I were at Dewan Jubli Intan Johor Bahru for a wedding of our neighbor's daughter or was it their son. I was not sure because I had my hand full with Sofia my niece. For all I knew It was her day. Armed with a balloon the hall was her big playground. The king and queen sat helplessly on stage while my little warrior princess was turning the place upside down.

It was a wondefful wedding and it was still Eid. Everybody all dressed up probably for both occasions. My dad had a second serving while my sister took a break as a mom and chat with her friend. While me doing guard duty with food in one hand and my camera on the other with my eyes locked on Sofia. Who said a man can't multitasking?

Sofia is 2 years old today. I could not be with her for I am back in Kuala Lumpur. All I had was a photo of her and me. It was a moment to remember. Happy birthday my little princess.

Masjid Al-Bukhary - Revisited

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:15:00 +0000

It is Ramadhan 1430 and Masjid Al-Bukhary is the place to be for Iftar in Kuala Lumpur. Not just because of the best Lambok porridge in town but for the well organized Iftar and the hard working volunteers. Yes my post about Al-Bukhary this year is about the dedicated people behind it especially those who are responsible for the fine food.

When talking about food I definitely have to sneak into the kitchen except that it is not like the normal indoor kitchen. It is a tent erected behind the masjid. This is a large area for preparing the food for the large crowd. All made possible by the generous contribution from a prominent philanthropist as mentioned by brother Yusuf, the head cook. As I heard they received the biggest budget for Iftar in town. There is no need to mention name but jazakallah khair.

Here is brother Yusuf giving some instructions to his assistant brother Ismail. These are the two guys that are responsible for the best Lambok porridge in Kuala Lumpur (Sorry Kampung Baru). They have to prepare three big pots everyday. I was also able to snoop around for the secret recipe. I guessed it right. Besides the porridge they have to prepare other dishes later that involves five cooks.

Here is Ismail and Yusuf paddling their way to a culinary delight of Lambok porridge. Oh those spices and herbs working their magic on me. A year in waiting and I am finally here witnessing a miracle happening before my eyes. Steadfast patient I say and it was just noon on a Ramadhan day.

Here is the porridge laid out on the mat served in a foamed polystyrene bowl at the dinning hall. Though it is not served in fine china like in fancy restaurants but it is delicious and free. I am most humbled by His Grace. Complimented with some starters of curry puff, papaya and dates. That changes everyday and all were surprisingly delightful. But we will always have the wholesome dates and porridge.

Here are some other hard working volunteers serving food for the second session of Iftar after Maghrib prayers. All working like a clockwork. There was actually a long queue on the left. All anxiously waiting for the tasty delight after a long day fasting. The size of the crowd seems to doubled compared to last year. Could this because of my post I did last year? I wonder.

Though food seems to be the focus of Ramadhan that is between refrain and indulgence, but it brought people together from all walks of life. From people who are ever willing to serve and the people who are waiting to be served. It is a synergy beyond any other religious practices or celebrations not just for a day or two but for a full month. It is when friends meet friends and strangers meet strangers that may bloom into friendship in a peaceful and mutual environment. A glimpse of paradise perhaps.

My SX-424 - From Rock To Ramadhan

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 21:41:00 +0000

Recently I had a bit of free time at home with family. Since I was in a mood of resurrecting old stuffs so I laid down my old Pioneer SX-424 receiver on my workbench. It still look good for a vintage. I had not been listening to it for decades. One of the channel was off. The station indicator was broken due to prolonged heat. Below is how the original indicator looks like from a photo I got from the net. It was a long amber coloured plastic with hidden small bulb on top reflecting the light at the bottom tip.

There was no trace of it. Probably it just vaporized. No need to be CSI about it. Lets move on to the millennium. Most of the indicators nowadays are LEDs and some are super bright. I found some of those in my tool box. LEDs work on DC (Direct Current) that has polarity while the original bulb voltage supply of 7 volts is AC (Alternating Current) that has no polarity. All of the bulbs including the bulbs for blue silkscreen panel are AC based. Amazingly those bulbs are still alive after 4 decades. A simple solution of connecting a bridge rectifier to the AC supply did the job coupled with a resistor to the LED. Actually it just need a half bridge but I only have a full bridge in my toolbox. Looking from the top here is the rectifier soldered at the top of the VU meter pins.

Update (19/1/2010): I have found the SX-424 schematics from the net. The voltage supply for the bulbs are DC and not AC. Since I have the full schematics now I can totally overhauled it. More news update in the future.

Here is the assembly with the LED connected to a small strip of Veroboard and wired through a trimmed mixer fader knob. The white wire is the original wire which is attached (not electrically) to a metal slider at the top of the silkscreen panel.

Here is the final assembly properly placed with the Veroboard been pushed inside the plastic fader which is glued to the metal slider. The LED pins are purposely bend in that way so that it stays close to the silkscreen panel and not protrude out.

Below is the shot of the LED been lighted behind the tinted plastic panel. The pins were painted black giving the illusion that it is floating. The super bright LED has a glassy look compared to the normal LED which looks flat. The illumination looks quite close to the original amber plastic but without the long strip.

So what the big fuss about this receiver unit you may ask. It was the most priced item when I was a teenager. Paired with the turntable and the speakers I could stay in my room for hours and perhaps days and annoyed my neighbours. I could feel the earth moved and even my walls. That was how loud it was and it is only 12 watts RMS per channel.

This is how the tuner unit looks like. All analog and mechanical. Those metal plates are the variable capacitors that tune the frequency of the reciever. It had hosted many legendary music and voices. The legendary voices of Brian Matthew, John Peel and even American Forces Radio in Vietnam had gone through it. Those were the real rock days.

The resurrection of the receiver is not for rock. Rock is dead long time ago. It is for the Ramadhan month. I really missed the radio especially listening to the Adzan during Iftar. It was a tradition many years ago before TV and video took over our lives and we are glued to the tube.

Palm Vx - My 'Girlfriend' Is Back

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 18:36:00 +0000

Since the last get together of my Palm Users Group - PalmX, I felt a real yearning for my Palm PDAs which are all in a comma. My first Palm Pilot that I bought in 1996 is broken badly with a cracked chassis and a totally dead black screen. That needs major replacements. My Palm III was sold to a friend because I was not happy with the weak IR and probably retiring in India. My Palm Vx is totally neglected after I bought the Palm TX. Despite its full multimedia feature Palm TX had a major touchscreen problem. The replacement is costly and need to be specially ordered. The feel is also different. It is flimsy and not as firm as Palm Vx.

Of all the Palm PDA I have I really love the Palm Vx. It is the best engineered Palm physically. Some says it is the most sexiest. It upheld the initial principal of Palm PDA that is to keep things simple. It should not be anything else but just a Personal Digital Assistant with the emphasis on 'personal'. It should not be a phone that intrudes every minute or trying to be a Walkman or a video player or a net browser till we go blind and most of all it must be absolutely Microsoft-Free.

For those reasons I need to bring back the romance that I felt back in November 1996. Since there was nothing really wrong with my Palm Vx except a real flat battery that been lying dead for 4 years or so. I needed to recharge the battery. The charger that connects to the cradle is not working and had been for long. It was designed to supply two voltages. One connects to pin 2 on the cradle that is 4 volts for charging and the other connects to pin 8 which is 5.5 volts to light up the LEDs when the Palm is docked. When I checked recently the voltage at pin 8 read 5.76 volts. That probably caused the Palm screen to go black. But I have a portable charger that uses two AA batteries. It is a reliable device. After docking it for 12 hours it only managed to charge the Palm for only 5%. Though the Palm was resurrected but the power was not enough to make it fully operative. The combined power of the AA batteries of 2.8 volts was probably not enough to supercharge a real flat battery. The Palm Li-ion battery rating is 4 volt. So I need something equal. The only available power I had was from my USB port on my computers.

The USB power output is 5 volt and that is slightly higher than needed. I do not want to take a risk and connect the USB power directly to my Palm. I need to use the charger as a buffer. It might heat up the charger electronics. So I opened up the charger and hooked the USB cable directly to the charger electronic board. With the USB plugged to my laptop I pressed my fingers on the components. I felt no over heating and it was safe to slot in the PDA. Some insulation was needed because the Palm Vx chassis is made of metal and was resting on the charger electronic board. A multimeter is needed in this kind of situation to check for short circuits and voltage reading.

After 2 hours the Palm Vx was fully charged and working. I managed to reinstall all the software and data that I backed up on my laptop. I created a new user profile on the Palm Desktop so that it is not the same as the one that I used for my Palm TX. In that way it will not install Palm TX specific software on my Palm Vx. Some software crashed the Palm and after a reset the touchscreen went out of alignment. If this happens it is better to do a hard reset and delete the 'Backup' and 'Upgrade' folders on your computer Palm folder.

Here is the photo of the portable charger which is also known as 'SyncCharger'. The red LED is ON if the charger batteries are flat or no power connected to it. Once new batteries are inserted or power is connected the red LED will turn off and the green LED will be ON when the Palm is docked and the charging starts.

Here is how the USB cable is connected to the charger by hooking it to the opposite ends of the battery clips finally. During the test it was connected to the PCB's terminal directly. It is not rocket science but polarity and level of voltage need to be monitored. Do not take things for granted. For example the black wire on this USB is positive and the orange wire is negative. For this experiment I only secured it with Scotch tape so that I could detach it quickly if things start smoking. I will solder it permanently and cut the cable shorter so that it can be folded into the the battery compartment. Normal batteries still can be used in times when no other power sources are available. I usually used rechargeables. The SyncCharger is a handy device because it is slim and not as bulky as the original Palm Vx cradle. The primary feature of the SyncCharger is it is cordless. But with the USB cable connected it is not considered as fully cordless anymore but it is still portable.

One of the new found software for my Palm Vx is HiBattery. It displays more detail info about the Palm battery status compared to the Palm built-in battery graphic monitor. For a 10 year old device with an ageing battery I find it useful. According to it my Palm battery is still going on strong. As I had mentioned Palm Vx is the best engineered Palm PDA ever. But every palm PDA will eventually develops its own personality that reflects the owner. My Palm PDA is dear to me because of the things that I put into it. My little notes and thoughts over 13 years since the first Palm Pilot are all there even my collection of recipes and bookmarks of my ebooks. Hundreds of little bit of pieces that may mean nothing to others but are precious to me. That was how I perceived Palm when I first bought it. Something really personal and little parts of me. Though it may not has all the bells and whistles of the present technology but it is still Mi enamorada.

Sometime in life it is possible to reclaim lost moments. New does not mean it is better. The best things in life are usually simple.

Palm X - 'Black Thing Meeting'

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 08:15:00 +0000

Two weekends ago I attended my gadget Yahoo group - PalmX get together that they casually named 'BTM' or the 'Black Thing Meeting'. It is nothing dark about the occasion except the dark gadgets that we all carry around in our pockets like PDAs, handphones and the likes. Though the Palm hipness has faded the friendship still shines. Nobody flashes their Palm nowadays or even carry it anymore. It was just a reason to get together based on a some common interests like gadgets or even art.

I managed to talk about 'Palestine 3000 A.D.' and showed some futuristic gadgets that I designed. I didn't managed to show all because as usual there are excitements and digressions. But there was some focused moments like above when one of our member talked about Petronas. It was about oil and we just got to listen ;). There are many other casual moments but my camera almost flat battery allowed me to capture only that one shot and it became a moment.

I was informed today that Palmx is 9 years old. Hope there will be many more BTM to come. It all started on a window browsing day in Singapore and I felt in love with the first Palm Pilot. Never realized that 13 years later I ended up with a group of guys in a coffee shop in KL. I am not weird after all. Happy Birthday Palmx.

KEMAS - 'Getting To Know ICT' Lecture

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 03:07:00 +0000

On the 16th May 2009 I was invited by KEMAS to give a lecture on 'Getting To Know ICT' to young students in a small town in Batu Pahat, Johor. It was a full day lecture in Bahasa Malaysia and that was tough, Not just because of the duration but also the language medium especially when it has to be formal. Not to mention that I was on medication because of the allergy attack I had few days ago. It was quite a trip not only because of the drug but also reminiscing about on how ICT was inspired by the generation of the 60s. From the movie '2001: A Space Odyssey' , Douglas Engelbart -the inventor of the mouse, Intel chip 4004 - First commercial microprocessor, the Altair 8800 that sparks the personal computer revolution, Microsoft and Apple, the Amiga, the first Mac, IBM PC, the first Windows and finally Windows XP in 2001.

As a kid who grew up in the 60s I thought 2001 and beyond was like the sci-fi movie. But there I was standing at the podium in 2009 talking to a generation of my future who has little knowledge of the magic in their hands. The magic that was inspired by a colourful generation. So I asked them "What will you give to your future generation?" I looked into their eyes for some answers. Like I was when I was a kid their age, I had no idea what would the future brings.

In 2001 I was in in L.A. attending the computer graphic conference 'Siggraph 2001'. I had a chance in meeting the futurists of the 60s in a special session reflecting the time when '2001: A Space Odyssey' was screened. We remembered the Vietnam war and the protests. Yet during those troubled times there was hope for a better future. Man landed on the moon the next year and many other events followed. In the following photo in front of the L.A Convention Center I felt that I finally arrived. It was the end of a revolution and a dream. A rainbow's end in la-la land.

I hope the kids that I spoke to will arrive at their own dreams. I hope they don't waste their times on the internet and computer games. We will be arriving in 2010 soon. It was also a Space Odyssey about it but it is not the same. Dreamers are too few nowadays. It is just about getting bigger or smaller, better and faster and cheaper in China.

The 3rd Year in Incubation @ MSC Cybercentre

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 12:38:00 +0000

This is my third year working and living in the incubator at MSC Malaysia's Cybercentre in KL Sentral. A business hub which is designed to be bomb and earthquake proof. A perfect place for an Incubator. I had wasted the first year because of other distractions. It was a two year contract so I had requested for another year extension. MSC-MDEC was kind enough to extend my stay. It is nice to have people believe in what I do though it may seems crazy sometime but it is an organized madness. I had traveled a long journey for this and deep in my heart I am sure this is my destiny. There will be many more lonely nights but in my mind I am in a retro future.

Sometime I have to come down to earth at the CIC(Creative Innovation Centre) located at the ground floor. The above photo was shot at the display area where you can see my work 'Palestine 3000 A.D.' is displayed. In United States probably some people may shoot me for doing this and perhaps Big Brother is watching me.

Here is the CIC's control centre that manage the CIC and also the incubator. I call it 'Ground Control'. Beverly the lady in black is 'the mother' that manages the centre. In this photo she looks pretty busy preparing the paper work for the new batch of 'freaks' that will be joining us soon. Well I hope they are. Life can be boring when it become too sane. We need to loose ourselves sometime.

After what been said MSC Malaysia is not a looney institution. It has helped many technical and creative innovators, not just Malaysians but also foreigners like me who are based here. Ideas can be worth more than gold or oil. It is a little diamond that shines in the human head. It can be on the left or right. But this centre is strictly for the right brain people. One thing for sure I know I have come to the right place.

Tanjung Piai - At The Tip Of Asia

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:45:00 +0000

Last Sunday I traveled south, really south to the southern most tip of the Asia continent to a remote place called Tanjung Piai. The first time when I was there it was ten years ago. I remember that the weather was wet then and it was wet again last Sunday. It is a kind of chill that you'll feel near Bermuda Triangle. Rumour has it that Tanjung Piai shared the same mystery. But if you disregard all that Tanjung Piai can be a tranquil place to get away from it all.

It is also a rustic fishing village where time stood still and you don't feel like getting older. Everyday is just the sky, the sea and the clean air that you breathe. It is not National Geographic but it can be unreal to be there. It is not the DVD, it is real life

Things have improved much since my last visit. The resort has a proper entrance without the toilet by the side to welcome you. I was there with my sister to meet with a motivation group to discuss some travel business plan. It is a new area of market that we are developing. Travel business in Johor is not the same as in Kuala Lumpur or other big cities. There are many unexplored areas that you can go and staying away from the usual tourists hotspots. Though it can be rustic and remote but it can be a perfect place to conduct workshops at an affordable price and stay focus.

Beside the old dorms that they have the resort has build a new extension on the south side with more decent rooms. If you are into fishing you probably can bring your fishing rod and fish from your bedroom window. But one experience that I had last Sunday that I can't get at Disneyland is the full double layered rainbow. It was a complete arc end to end cradled on the horizon facing the equator. It was so huge that the top was around 11 o'clock high. It was impossible to capture the visual with my camera. I probably need a super wide angle lens or a fish-eye. The full arc lasted around 5 minutes. Looking at it straight I really felt that I was looking at the gateway to another dimension. For a momemt I was lost.

My name is Palestine - اسمي فلسطين

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 13:18:00 +0000

In my life I have never done much work in the real world. All my creative works in the past were all done in the comfort of my studio clattering the keyboard and pushing a mouse. Looking through a liquid crystal window and creating virtual imageries and sound. Fantasies to be admired, to entertain and to sell. It made a lot of people happy. Sadly all our laughters had deafen our ears to realities and blinded our eyes to sufferings. We became mute to all things that are going on around us. But in silence our conscience still can hear the cries. The cries that are so deafening even from thousand of miles it can make our hearts bleed.

Now for the first time in my life I am working with something that is real. It is so real that every word that I wrote and every stroke that I drew about Palestine 3000 A.D. seems parallel in Gaza at this very moment. Though nearly a thousand years apart the state of mind remains. In empathy I am at war. This current episode is scheduled to be completed in March-April. But the war in Palestine seems to have no end.

3000 A.D. is an expression of time. If the world just stood and watch the war in Palestine it may continue for the next thousand years. The Zionists must really think seriously about the future especially the future of their children. From the way things are going the Zionists are actually creating a living hell for their future children. The children that they have lied to. Robbing someone else land is a crime and a sin. The promised land is no more on the very day they broke their covenant with God. They will not be around to protect their future children. Nothing last forever. You can kill people but you cannot kill the hearts and minds of the people.

No man ever so mighty could be immortal. No matter how mighty they became but eventually they will surrender to the ground. There they will lay and decay helplessly. So are the mighty weapons and machines that they had created and idolized. They all will return to the ground. Lying there rusted and twisted without any might and gently beaten by the wind and sand. All of their great names will be dishonored. The ones that remained honored are the righteous. For that name is Palestine.

Palestine, my name is Palestine
I wrote my name at all fields with a unique font greater than all titles
The letters of my name, the letters of my name, live inside me, feed me, spread the soul and fire inside my body
The mountains of the river, knows me well I spent all my power and ask my nation help
And Saladin was calling, calling inside me
And my Arabian root is asking me for freedom and revenge
And those flags which were folded at the battle of Hatiin
And the caller of Al Aqsa Masjid is calling for help
And thousands of prisoners are calling for help
Calling the greater nation and calling for millions
Go to Jerusalem, to a war where the oppressed are, to stop the injustice of the Zionism, and raise the flag of Palestine
My words will remain the same Palestine, Palestine, Palestine

This project needs your support.

Che Guevara, Malcolm X, Obama & Me

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 15:41:00 +0000

Some people said before that Barack Obama will look odd on the dollar bill. But the President-elect seems to be a popular icon nowadays after he won the election. I couldn't remember when was the last President of United States was considered an icon especially to the world. What kind of President he will be is yet to be seen. Accepting the task as a President to cleanup all the mess that George W. Bush had left behind is just too much for one man and by itself deserve a praise. He is the new hope for America and also to the world. Hope he will learn from history and be more empathetic towards his 'enemy'. The rest of the world may not think the way Americans do but do not demonized them. Different cultures with different ideals but with a common goal of freedom, peace and happiness.

Obama had inspired America. Uniting the Red and the Blue. Inspired the world and hopefully uniting people at war and promoting a lasting peace. The message looks so good on print. Great speech writers and great artists all worked together and created an icon. I love those red and blue posters. It has that radical look, strong and persistent. But will Obama iconic figure be legendary as Che Guevara or Malcolm X? That is yet to be seen. What I can see is in Photoshop. I spend the whole Saturday compositing those iconic figures together and included myself in just for the fun of it and having the chance to put on my beret again.

The base picture is of Che Guevara, the hair and the beret. Then I took a photo of myself with the same pose and layered it over. Converted both to grayscale image and then filtered it down to five shades of gray. The edges were cleaned up to achieve a more graphic look. Then I took the glass frame of Malcolm X and replaced mine. Then I separated the 5 shades of gray to different layers in Photoshop. Each layer was then converted to different colours of red and blues. I gave the highlights a yellowish retro look. But where is Obama? I just copied the word 'HOPE' from one of Shepard Fairey 's poster on Obama and pasted it on my design. 'Hope' is what Obama is all about. People are hoping for a real change. The 'O' was changed to a crescent moon and star symbolizing a new hope to the Muslim world. Hoping Obama will improve the American foreign policies which is the real enemy for many decades. The peace in the Middle East will resonate a global peace. God bless America and hey why not the world too?. For God's bounty is unlimited which spans beyond the universe. He is Most Gracious and Most Merciful.

Update: 7th October 2012

After 4 years in office, President Obama hasn't done much for change or hope. That righteous image has turned into 'the lesser of the two evils'. But evil is still evil, lesser or greater. How could God bless America when Americans have lost their sense of righteousness. Money is the new god which favors the rich more than the poor. Yet the poor are fools that fell on false hope. For the fools, 'the lesser of two evils' look more sane than Mitt Romney, 'the greater of the two evils', aka Bush 2.0.
What America really needs is a totally new 'Operating System' and not the illusion of choice. The power needs to return back to the people. It should be 'By the people and for the people' and not the privileged few. Republican and Democrat belongs to the War Party. We need a peace maker. For making peace takes a lot of patience and intelligence. For many years the U.S. Presidents are lacking of it. Nothing more than a puppet on a string manipulated by corporations.

Swatari & Eid @Dewan Perdana FELDA

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:09:00 +0000

Last Sunday evening I was at Dewan Perdana FELDA attending a graduation ceremony of Swatari Dance School an annex of Pak Ngah Production owned by my celebrity friend Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zain. Since it is still Shawal we also had an Eid dinner. In Malaysia Eid is celebrated for the whole month. Here are the family members of the students:

Food may not be the highlight of the evening but I would not miss out on traditional Malay food. There was no real rush because it is free-flow throughout the evening and everybody took their time and enjoying the show.

Though Eid is in its third week but it is nice to see the traditional ketupat, lemang and rendang being served. My tummy probably got tired of it but my eyes still like to have a feast. It is reassuring that I am in Malaysia and it is still Eid.

Though the dress code that evening was Malay traditional but there is always a guy who missed on crucial information. There he is my friend Syed Hassan in his maroon jacket and dark polo shirt together with his family and the famous Pak Ngah or officially called Datuk Suhaimi Mohd Zain.

Majority of the Swatari students are young children. They learn the many disciplines of Malay traditional dance and also get the chance to travel overseas for some cultural exchange. They may not be sharp with their moves but Swatari stresses much on discipline.

There is also a group of Japanese students who studied Malay traditional dance under Swatari. They stayed in Kuala Lumpur for two years. With their full Malay traditional dress I didn't realized that they were Japanese initially. Their movements were graceful and it is hard to believe that they spend two years just to learn Malay traditional dance.

The Swatari group visited Japan mid this year and they were well taken care off. The children enjoyed themselves and learned much from the trip.Here is the top Japanese official receiving a token from Pak Ngah for her dedication and the hospitalilty.

Here is the young teen group displaying their flare in Zapin style and a mix of Silat. It is quite breathtaking to see they flipped and turned in mid-air and yet moved gracefully to the Zapin music. Incidentally the music was remixed by me with new rhythm arrangemnent of Arabic Darbuka and Indian Tabla. The piece actually was part of the music lesson I conducted at Pak Ngah Production last year. Nobody told me that they were going to use it for the show. They also brought the music to Japan. The Japanese seemed to like it very much.

The Swatari students who have graduated could joined the Swatari professional group if they are good enough. The Swatari group won a Gold Award for the best performance at the Asian Youth Arts Festival this year in China. They really deserved it for their dedication and hard work. For this group of young students their future in Malay traditional dance is about to begin.

Eid Fitri 1429

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:24:00 +0000

Ramadhan 1429 though over but it is still close in my heart. It was like a friend who came for a visit and kept me company through the days and nights. Though alone in a big city but I have never felt lonely. It was sad to see it left but it was time to go. After nearly a month of fasting I felt weak. The train terminal is just next door and so I pampered myself and bought a first class ticket home to JB. Through the window I could see the bright city lights finally faded behind and the country sides passed by like postcards with kerosene lamps around the houses ushering the coming of Eid. What a wonderful sight to see while having sahur.

The long awaited day finally came. Eid Fitri greeted me in the morning. Here I was again in Masjid Jamek Bandar Baru UDA in JB. I always miss this place. It gave a special meaning to be home. Though many things have changed but this place remain the same. Shukur alhamdulillah. More than glad to hear the takbir again.

I felt that there was a fewer crowd this year. Lesser traffic and less colourful. Perhaps it was the gloomy economy but Eid is not about economy. We should always be grateful for what we have or even for what we don't. There is always a wisdom to every circumstances. It is the fitrah that Allah gave for without it life will be without balance. Let celebrate the fitrah.

Eid came with a special prize. My niece Sofia is one year old this Eid. Sometime I wonder where was she all this time. She really changed my life. Now my shirt is always creased and sometime wet. Lost the freedom. Lost much sleep. Lost the 'eligiblity' though still eligible. But it worth the sacrifice. Nothing else can compare. It is just sheer bliss. May your Eid be blissful too.

Iftar @Masjid Wilayah

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 17:24:00 +0000

Last Tuesday I decided to visit masjid Wilayah for iftar. The weather was fair and I think I could get good shots of the masjid. The sun was about to set and it was a perfect moment. The first time when I visited masjid Wilayah I was awed by its design. I couldn't believe that I was in Malaysia. It is so majestic and yet it is quite obscure.

After climbing two flights of staircase I reached the second level. This is where the main hall is with a large courtyard and a fountain in the middle. It is quite breathtaking to see it for the first time. The above shot was taken after iftar and Magrib while waiting for Isha and tarawih.

Masjid Wilayah is also a favourite place for celebrities to have their 'akad nikah ceremony. Its size and beauty give an illusion of being in a large palace. A kind of place that just married couples will feel like in a fairy tale and hoping to be happy ever after.

Behind the man congregation is the women section. I am not sure of other times but during tarawih that was the arrangement. It was without a divider and just a space in between just like during Rasulullah time. I managed to get a quick shot before the rest came.

More info: Masjid Wilayah

Iftar @al-Bukhary

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:03:00 +0000

Masjid al-Bukhary is situated at Jalan Hang Tuah in Kuala Lumpur. Tightly located beside the main road and the Monorail track. I was always curious about its beauty everytime I passed by from monorail. So last week I decided to drop by for iftar.

It is fairly new masjid completed sometime last year. It is a modestly build without much expensive materials. Mostly emulsion paint and moulded plaster. It is not air-conditioned and fairly opened so the public could take a peek from the main road and the monorail. Yet with all the thriftiness it still look elegant. Climbing from the side stairway I could see the beauty of the interior shining trough.

I stayed from Maghrib till Isha'. Teraweh was a bit tough in this masjid because there is no air-conditioning and the small fans are too remote. Here is the shot of the jemaah preparing for salah.

The dome also looks impressive even without the usual chandelier.

One thing great about iftar at al-Bukhary is the bubur lambok. It sure gets my vote. The spices help to rejuvenate the long day fasting taste buds. Al-Bukhary will definitely be my frequent place for iftar this Ramadhan.

Iftar @Asy-Shakirin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:06:00 +0000

Last Friday I decided to go to Masjid Asy-Syakirin near KLCC for iftar. It is also known as Masjid KLCC. It is a moderate sized masjid and a hidden beauty. Tourists who visited KLCC rarely knew of its existence. A walk in the park probably will get them there. I met a couple of tourist who wanted to see the masjid but it was late. People at the masjid were preparing for iftar. They were busy setting up tables and chairs because it was a special iftar that evening. It was sponsored by Khazanah Nasional a government related company. Here is the pix taken before iftar:

But I am not there for that free food. An ordinary bubur lambok is fine for me. I am more interested to see the beauty of Asy-Syakirin. It is not a pretentious masjid because from the exterior it kind of look ordinary. But the interior is well crafted. It has an interesting dome where at a certain angle you can see the KLCC towers through its glass panes.

I felt comfortable at Asy-Syakirin. It is a city masjid for a city guy like me. So I stayed over from Maghrib till teraweh. It was a modest crowd packing up around three quarter of the main hall. There is also a lower hall which is used during Juma'at. During iftar women hanged around that area. The women prayer area is upstairs at the balcony, the first class seats :). Here is the ordinary class area for men :) :

Iftar @Masjid Jamek

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 21:36:00 +0000

Ramadhan 1429 is finally here. Last Monday was the first day of Ramadhan in Malaysia. I spend the first two days with family back in JB. It was a public holiday. There were no fireworks or concerts to usher the holy month, just a moment of peace.

On Wednesday I finally went back to KL to start work. I felt a change in the air. Ramadhan bazaars are everywhere and the masjids were busy preparing for Iftar. This Ramadhan I intend to visit various masjid in KL for Iftar and start a photo journal of Ramadhan. The first stop is Masjid Jamek. It is an old masjid in the city surrounded by palm trees. For a moment I felt I was somewhere else. It has a certain Moorish feel to it and a memory of an old friend from Memphis.

After collecting the Lambok poridge, drink, fruit and dates the crowd sat around in the extended wing talking to each other or just keeping to themselves. The women has their own private area. There are many foreigners that came. Some were tourists or just expatriates like me. Though diversed in nature but we gathered as one in the special month of Ramadhan.

More info: Masjid Jamek