Bock Villanyi Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - Hungary

We brought a couple of bottles of Hungary's finest wine back with us ... and we opened this one just a couple of days ago. It was worth the wait ... very good!

I found this info online ... The Bock winery is one of Hungary’s leading producers, with a long and remarkable history of making wine. József Bock was awarded the prestigious title Hungarian Winemaker of the year by the Hungarian Wine Academy in 1992.

The Bock family’s winemaking tradition can be traced back to the eighteenth century and spans over nine generations. Along the way, history has tested each generation of the family. Most notably, World War II, and the ensuing Communist-led government meant nationalisation of wine production. However, in 1958 the family was able to buy back a small area of the estate it had lost to state ownership. Since the fall of communism, the Bock winery has gone from strength to strength, establishing itself as one of the pioneering producers in the new wave of private wineries in Hungary.

The current owner of the family estate, József Bock, is a qualified mechanical engineer and
took over running the winery after his father passed away. From this relatively modest
inheritance in 1981, József Bock has gradually built up a 55 hectare estate with plots of land
in most of the very best vineyard sites in Villány. At the same time he has extended and
modernised the winery, which is equipped with all the latest technology, and built a
seventeen room guest house with its own restaurant.

Merry Christmas from Dubai!

Hello and Christmas greetings from Mall of Emirates, Dubai!


Beyond these mega trees and decorations, the malls were having rather good sales ... Our favourite were the Centrepoint outlets :-)


Mirdif City Centre ... new mega mall at Dubai!

Fatty Mee Hoon Kueh - Berkeley Gardens, Klang

Add: 19 Lebuh Bangau, Berkeley Gardens, Klang
Other review: Kampungboy-Citygirl does a great review here, and it highlights how this little street in Berkeley Gardens aka Taman Kenari, is also the home of 2 very famous BKT joints!

We really like the mee-hoon kueh here, nice and simple. Its the variety which is hand-pulled :-) Its the variety which is hand-pulled :-) Funny how the aunty-boss here bosses her 3 maids around, with the technique of kneading and pulling the dough!

Nikon Centre KL - 70-200mm f/2.8 VR2 and 105mm VR Micro

My first visit to the friendly and informative Nikon Centre Kuala Lumpur in Berjaya Times Square ...
Add: Lot 01-10, Level 1, East Wing , Berjaya Times Square, 1 Jalan Imbi , KL
Tel: + 603 214 20218

I went there to test-drive two lenses, with my humble Nikon D80.

AF-S VR Micro-NIKKOR 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED Nano-Crystal Coat ... I want one!


It doesn't just do macro, its great for "general purpose" shots too :-) Here's a nice model set-up in the middle of Nikon Centre which allows for enthusiasts to play with lenses, bodies and point-and-shoots too!


And The Beast ... Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II. Here's a shot at 70mm, f/5.6. I decided on this occasion, that the 1.5+ kilo weight was too heavy for me ... for now, anyway!

Poolside at Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur

A quick dip in the pool at Berjaya Times Square, and a few shots with the Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D yielded the following photos :-)


I love the bokeh :-)


The depth of field on f/1.4 is rather remarkable :-)

Cosmo's World at Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur

We had a look-see at Berjaya Times Square's Cosmo's World on my last trip home :-)

This is Supersonic Odyssey ... Wikipedia describes it as a custom looping roller coaster built by Intamin AG. Did you know ... It is the biggest indoor roller coaster in the world. It has 3 inversions: a heartline roll, a loop and a corkscrew!

Cosmo’s World is the largest indoor theme park in Malaysia.
It's an adult and children theme park with an abundant variety of entertainment and rides.
The park will be filled with state-of-the-art rides, live performances, themed shops, snacks outlets, games as well as family fun.
If you want to visit the park, you'll the go to level eight. A ticket will cost you RM25 for adults. Children till the age of twelve are paying RM15.
But when you have booked a package 3 days/ 2 nights in the Berjaya Times Square Hotel you get 1 day free in Cosmo's World.

I normally shoot on full-manual or aperture-priority with my Nikon D80, but tried out shutter-priority in this instance to get some motion blur on this occassion :-)

Berjaya Times Square - Christmas spirit

Nice little stall on the ground floor of Berjaya Times Square in KL, selling christmas bits and bobs ... Captured with the excellent Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D.

Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D - Nikon lens review

One evening, me and my Nikon D80 and a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4D enjoyed a little shooting session in the garden ...

I love how fast and compact this lens is, f/1.4 rocks :-)

Hi Bam-Bam! I love her eyes :-)

Bam and Bibs :-)

Be prepared to pay about RM$1,000 for the 1.4D AF, or RM$1,800 for the newer 1.4G AF-S version. However, I still think the humble 1.8D version is damn good too ... Only RM$350!

Simply brilliant, I love it!

Pudu Jail as seen from Berjaya Times Square hotel

Here's the view from the Berjaya Times Square Hotel, in Kuala Lumpur ... photos were taken from the 18th or 23rd floor.

Hmmm, what do you think the boys are looking at :-)

Yes ... Pudu Jail! Build of this magnificent piece of history started in 1891, and completed in 1895. It served as a prison until 2007.

Some recent events ...

In June 2009, the government finally decided to destroy the complex by developing it in phases. When the MP for Bukit Bintang Fong Kui Lun (DAP) asked why the building is not being retained as part of Malaysia's heritage, Deputy Finance Minister Awang Adek Hussain (UMNO-BN) replied: "To our opinion, it's not something to be proud of."
And, June 2010, the eastern wall of the Pudu Prison complex was destroyed to make way for a road widening project.

Good bye, Pudu ...

We prefer breakfast-time at O&S Paramount!

My family have been frequenting O&S for breakfast since we were little :-) But this was the first time we showed up here for some dinner!

Add: O & S Restaurant, Corner-lot along Jalan 20/14, Paramount Gardens, Petaling Jaya
Located: If you know where the Tops supermarket , formerly the old Paramount Cinema. The O&S coffee shop is directly opposite the Caltex Station.

Otak-otak ... mediocre!


Satay - Not bad lar ... espesh cos its been so long since I had any!

Ikan bakar ... Pretty decent. Hokkien mee - I can't remember, yes it was that forgettable!

Overall, I'd certainly stick to O&S for its magnificent breakfast fare in the future!