Hobby : Aviation Spotting @ KLIA

8th September 2007 : 14R actions

MH Bunga Raya just landed

SQ triple seven, rotates very early for the lion state

White B737-200 'classic', delivering poslaju for Borneo

Just arrived from Xiamen, PR China

Gulf Air A340, very very late rotation (near the end of 14R)

Was at the Weather Station from 4.30 pm to 6.45 pm. Was expecting fellow MalaysianWings members, but was dissappointed becouse of (1) no MW members, although there were some casual spotters, (2) dust dust dust on my D70s CCD, and it couldn't be removed with the blower (need to go 'D Check' at Nikon Malaysia at PJ), and (3) soft 70-300mm G 'cap kambing' lens ... hmmm, need to buy the new 70-300VR!

Parents Moved : From Butterworth to Yan

Part of wooden veranda at the back of the house

The road to Peranginan Titi Hayun, on the foothill of Mount Jerai (the tallest mountain in Kedah). This is near the front entrance of the house
Mature durian trees, part of the parcel!

My parents have 'pindah rumah', from suburban Telok Air Tawar near Butterworth, Penang to the village settings of Kampung Dusun Manggis, Yan Besar, Kedah. They bought an acre of land there early last year and construction of their dream house started late last year. It was only 80% complete when they moved into it about 3 weeks ago to prepare for my sister wedding. Alhamdulillah, the wedding was successful, with the full commitment of 'Sistem Pakat Yan', which a community wedding caterer, consisting of locals from the surrounding villages. It was also a good opportunity for my parents to get to know their neighbours. InsyaAllah, more photos and report to come.

Training Photo : Sek Men St Martin, Tambunan

Back to school training photos. This time, at Sekolah Menengah St Martin, Tambunan, Sabah. Was there for a half day Seminar Inspirasi Bijak Belajar for more than 230 students. Most of them are Kadazan-Dusun where the large majority are Christians. As always in Sabah, it is the entertainment part of the seminar that they loved the most. The school hall was a makeshift of zink, steel and concrete. Simple yet effective. The students? Well, how surprised was I, they are very very participative, for a rural school.

Me, posing for the album. The D70s was set to the 10 second self timer, on the stage with the Tamron lens.

Nice grin, and good teeth you got there mate! Notice the half day Bijak Belajar work sheet being used by the student.

Is it me they're laughing at. Biasalah tu. Abang Fitri 'lawak'

Now this is overboard 'lawak'! Happy that they truly enjoy our 'fun and enjoyable' seminar as we advertised.

Now, its the girl's turn. Actually, this was taken during break time show.

Travel : Kota Belud district, Sabah (Part 2)

A fisherman prepare his net to be casted into the coming waves.


"Pak Cik, lets call it a day will ya? Dah nak Maghrib dah ni. Mak Cik dan anak-anak kat rumah tak sabar nak rasa ikan yang Pak Cik tangkap kan?"


The sun setting as gentle waves wash ashore at this little known fine beach about 25 km from Kota Belud town.


Hanging bridge are plenty in Sabah, especially in Kota Belud and Tamparuli district. Mind you, this bridge is tough. Got the guts to cross it?


Shallow river, plenty of fish. But bewarn, age old strict local rules, called 'bombon' only allow fishing during certain times in a year to help breed young fish . This is a very effective yet simple nature conservation done by the local communities.

[ All photos with Nikon D70s with Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 lens attached with circular polariser. Camera setting mostly were 'Aperture Priority' and picture setting sometimes 'Neutral' and sometimes 'Landscape' to capture natural yet vivid colours]

Travel : Kota Belud district, Sabah

View of Mount Kinabalu, the tallest montain in South East Asia and its reflection from Kota Belud district. [Nikon D70s with Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and circular polariser filter attached]


The vast expanse of paddy field was a nice surprise to me, reminds me of hometown Seberang Perai, minus the Mount Kinabalu in the morning view backround. [Nikon D70s with Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and circular polariser filter attached]


Another view of the mountain and its reflection, spent the whole morning by this river, but ended up soaking myself at another river uphill. [Nikon D70s with Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and circular polariser filter attached]


Late afternoon view of rural Kota Belud, partly due to haze from burning paddy fields. [Nikon D70s with Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and circular polariser filter attached]


Lompat! Local kids having the time of their life. The place where the naked kid is jumping into the river is actually quite deep. Tak berani kami yang lebih tua tapi tak konfiden berenang terjun! Their mother (not in the photo), are washing clothes in the same river, not far from them. [Nikon D70s with Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and circular polariser filter attached]

Travel : Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

First series of my 2 weeks journey to North Borneo, namely Sabah (Kota Kinabalu, Tambunan, Kota Belud, Kudat and Sandakan), Labuan, Brunei (Bandar Seri Begawan and Muara) and Sarawak (Miri).

Alhamdulillah, for most of my trip, I was blessed with clear blue skies, friendly local assistants and good, or may I say lucky, timing.

Children playing beach football during sunset at a water village (Kg. Sembulan) in the outskirt of Kota Kinabalu. Most of the villagers here are foriegn immigrants from Indonesia and Philippines, making a decent living in Sabah, Malaysia. [Nikon D70s with Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G]

Sunset view from Kota Kinabalu popular waterfront. The hill in the background is part of Pulau Gaya, an island just several kilometers from the city which houses several water village, mostly made of Indonesian and Filipinos. [Nikon D70s with Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and circular polariser filter attached]

The Sabah Foundation building, standing majestically as the tallest building in Borneo. [Nikon D70s with Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and circular polariser attached]

Part of a water village in Pulau Gaya, several kilometers from the Kota Kinabalu city. [Nikon D70s with Nikkor 70-300mm f4-5.6 G]

The MAS B737-400 plane that took me to BKI from KUL on the 2nd of April. [Nikon D70s with Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 and circular polariser filter attached]

Photo : Kluang Railway Station Coffee - Part 2

13 December 2006 : Must visit and the most happening place in Kluang

The people that makes the place a happening place. Its really wonderful to find a multiracial coffee shop working hard and happy together to please their custimers, whom most are regulars.

Photo : Kluang Railway Station Coffee - Part 1

13 December 2006 : Must visit and the most happening place in Kluang

You just got to try out this place if you ever happen to be in Kluang. This coffeeshop have even been featured in the magazine "Going Places" of Malaysia Airlines. It has the probably best 'roti bakar' in the country, with its own home-made 'kaya'. Don't be fooled by its simplicity, the 'nasi lemak bungkus' and was great too, not to mentioned its excellence self brewed coffee. More photos to come.






Kluang Railway Station Coffee

Most visit destination in Kluang, Johor. In fact, it could be the only reason to visit Kluang.

Birth : Aysha Illiyyin Binti Mohammad Fitri

Fitri and Suzana : Our second child. Born 18 October 2006. Born at Hospital Besut, Jerteh, Terengganu.

Alhamdulillah. Terima kasih kepada semua yang mendoakan kelahiran dan yang datang melawat (serta bagi duit raya). Aysha dan Umi serta Ameera masih lagi di Besut (Suzana belum habis pantang).

Gambar : 1. Aysha semasa 3 minggu, 2. Aysha dan abah, 3. Aysha dan grandpa (Dr Shukri Abdullah), 4. Umi, Aysha dan grandma (Pn. Khadijah), 5. Maksu (Ariffah), Aysha dan grandma

Photo : Me and my daughter

23 September 2006 : In-law house at Kampung Alut Lintang, Besut, Terengganu

Photo : Not far from my house

Whitewater Rafting : Kiulu River, Sabah

Friday 11 August 2006 : Whitewater Rafting Level 1-2 (Beginner/Honeymoon Level) at Sungai Kiulu, Tamparuli, Sabah

Went with my sister Nurul Husna who is studying at Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu. The tour company, Riverbug based in Kota Kinabalu. The location is about 1 hour and 30 minute drive from Kota Kinabalu. The whole journey, including equipment rental, safety briefing, a guide in each raft, sumptous bbq lunch and return trip to hotel costed only RM130 for me and RM100 for my sister (university student rate). The guides were very friendly and our guide especially, Apeng, was the funniest of the whole lot. It was total amazing fun... too fun that I had to be resqued after being swept away for almost 400 metres by the river currents after our raft capsized! Did some thrilling body rafting too. Because of the rain the previous night, our journey was extended to 14 km instead of the usual 7 km. Highly recommended for all. Will go back for the fun again.

Happy Birthday : Happy 1 year old Ameera

Umi and Abah loves you Ameera...

Exactly 1 year ago at Hospital USM Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Alhamdulilah, my lovely wife, Suzana safely gave birth to a wonderful girl that has changed and filled our lives with happiness and fullfilment. We named her as Ameera Sofya Binti Mohammad Fitri. Semoga panjang umur, hidup diberkati Allah, jadi anak yang solehah dan cerdik, cerdas dan cergas yang akan menyumbang kepada agama Allah, umat Islam, keluarga, bangsa dan negara. Kami semua sayang Ameera

(Ameera have been with the grandparents in Besut for more than 1 week now. Word from there is that she is getting plummier! My wife is concentrating on her Master's thesis and I'm constantly on the move for duty. More updates and photos about her in the coming days/weeks)

Travel : Rest in Bintulu

Arrived in Bintulu last night after a 2 and a half hour drive from Miri and feasting delicious Sarawak durian at Simpang Niah . Did some street photography this morning around Kampung Jepok, on the banks of the Kemena River in Bintulu. Actually, malas aah nak tulis lanjut. Nanti dah cuci gambar akan post maklumat lanjut.

Visit : Brunei, Sarawak, Sabah and Johor

13 day trip to Brunei, Miri, Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Putatan, Sipitang, Tamparuli and Johor Bahru from 30 July 2006 to 12 August 2006. Mostly for seminar. Some for marketing. And at least one for whitewater rafting. Will update more if possible. Wish me a safe journey. Thanks.

Seminar : SMK St John, Kuala Lumpur

19 July 2006 : Seminar Pecutan Akhir Peperiksaan

Yes, another seminar in Bukit Nenas Kuala Lumpur. This time, the seminar was attended not only by the exam year students of Form 3, 5 and Upper 6, but the Form 4 and Lower 6 students also came in large numbers. Coming to St John reminded me of my Penang Free School days, because both school shared many similarities such as being over 100 years old, founded by the British, boys school (with some Form 6 girls!) and urban. A special thank you to the teachers who came and stayed back during the seminar despite it being a Saturday. Thanks also to the students who helped coordinate the seminar and assisted the technical works.