WE ARE REVAMPING!!!

Hello Guys and Gals,

No pictures for you today ... ha ha ha ... cause we are now undergoing a major surgery for the next few days .... we are revamping www.prewedding.info, www.hubbacks.org and www.mykenduri.com .... all our projects to, perhaps a newer nicer home to be able to serve you better!

Thanks to all you people who helped us on our journey .... we could not have done it without you!!!

Love and Thanks,

Lloyd Gan a.k.a. The Hotel Station Master

IT'S A MYSTERY .... EVEN TO ME!!

What the????

Hello Guys and Gals,

Yesterday I received a call and an email from John W. Ishii. He was so excited that even I did not know what was going on ..... so I tried to dig for more details .... well, John has asked me at Pre Wedding [dot] Info to help put together a couple for a FREE Photo Shoot. Eh? That really surprised me!!! I asked John if he had any prerequisites and all he kept telling me was that he wanted to try a "NEW TECHNIQUE" for Pre Wedding ... and he was adamant not to tell me more .... so it's a mystery, even to me!!!

Oh, for you techies out there, John W. Ishii recently upgraded his equipment to a Nikon D3X .... so what has this got to do with anything? Well, firstly, it's one of the first cameras to achieve a resolution of 24.5 Mega Pixels .... closer to real film if not more!!! Fuyoh ... it's not cheap though .. its around USD8,000 for the body only!!! If you want to read more on the nikon, please click here and here. If you would like to read more on John W. Ishii, please have a look at his web site http://www.johnwishii.com.

Ok Ok .. nuff said. Now we are on the look out for 1 couple who would like to have a Photo Opportunity with Mr. John W. Ishii;

Our Basic Terms and Conditions;

• Please provide a closeup and full length picture of yourself & partner.
• The date of the shoot will be END APRIL - EARLY MAY
• The location of the shoot is currently a MYSTERY (even to me!)
• All couples will be shortlisted and interviewed by Mr. John W. Ishii
• The couples will receive, in return, a copy of the pictures in DVD format
• The couples will have to bear costs for their own gowns, make up and other accessories

That's simple. No other pre requisites. We will only open this for a week from now, so registrations will end on 12 March 2009! If you are interested, please email us;

• Your name
• Your email address
• Your contact number
• Your photos

to : shoot@prewedding.info

GOOD LUCK AND THANKS FOR READING!!!

AERIS & CALVIN

"Chained"
by The Hotel Station Master

Its been a very challenging and frustrating couple of months for me. Since taking over @THSH, loads of skeletons in the closets are beginning to surface. Not many people know the amount of troubles we have to go through just to maintain our current outlook. In fact, I had a very cordial visit from one of the government agencies today, and they told me the scenario. Its not like I am blaming that particular government agency, as they were very helpful and cordial, its the fact that there was so much history (literally!) in the running of this Hotel that even I am bewildered despite having 16 years in the Hotel Industry. Well, I should not mope about it, cause I am now in charge and I guess I will have to do something about it. That's the tough part. At times I do feel like chained. Literally chained to the pole ..... so much to do, so little time (doesn't that sound familiar?)

Anyway, today I received an email from a couple that had come to @THSH in my infancy days, in fact the photos were dated 28 July 2008. Just received them today and I'm not complaining. I would like to thank Aeris and Calvin for remembering to post me some pics even though I have not been really active posting online. You would think that I have a backlog of pictures, but to be honest with you, there are many, many people and photographers who still owe me pictures even though I have signed an MOU with them. Guess its pretty apt to say, "When it rains, it pours". Ha ha ha .....

When I opened Aeris's email, whammy! I was shocked to see that they had scribbled something on the photos .... eh? A "Thank You" note to me on the pictures? *Blush* *Blush*, No need lar ... I didn't do anything whor .... I now very shy leh .... *Blush* *Blush*. To see that they did take pictures with some tourists, that makes me happy! It actually doesn't take much to make my day, whats more important is that the couple enjoys the photo shooting session here! Thanks again to Aeris and Calvin!

Eh? Got my logo some more ..... Where you copy from ar???

Wah, sleeping ka .... Calvin kept you up all night did he????

A happy gathering with tourists from another planet? Ha ha ha ....

In case you are wondering, Aeris and Calvin also happened to use the same bridal house as Gavin and Laney, their photographer was Meng Soon, and you can view more of their works here.

DOUBLE DOUBLE

Erm ... quite apt that is, Double Double which can also be tied in to the Chinese character "Double Happiness". For the inundated, here is an excerpt from Wiki (I love Wiki! Maybe because it's free?)

Double Happiness (simplified Chinese: 双喜; traditional Chinese: 雙喜; pinyin: Shuang xi; sometimes translated as Double Joy or Double Happy) is a Chinese ornamental design commonly used as a decoration.

It is a ligature "囍" composed of two Chinese characters 喜 (xi, 'joy'), compressed to assume the square shape of a standard Chinese character (much like a "real" character may consist of two parts), and often modified in various ways. - excerpt from Wikipedia. Full article here.

Despite my title reading Double Double and it being tied to 'Happiness', it is by no means a happy time for me. Why, you may ask. Well, firstly, after sitting down with our 'Couple Selection Board' to select the couples for our community project, I feel for all the couples that were unsuccessful because this time around, we had to stick more closely to the rules and regulations, unlike our first community event. It was a learning point for us from the first event and we even threw in some 'exceptions' for our Road Trip Up North, but alas, it was still a very, very close call. In fact, we were torn in between so many applications and deliberated for more than 3 hours! Goodness.

I, on behalf of our partners and @THSH, would now like to Congratulate our 3 + 3 selected couples, (Wait, isn't that considered a Double Double?), on your success and they are;

MAX ONG & NIEL YOW

TONY HO & CONNIE YEOH
LENNARD LIM & JOCELYN YONG
VANESSA CHIA & CHEAH SIN DEE
WONG YUNN LOOI & LAU WENG HUNG
CHEAH KEI YUEN & POO MING LEE

I hope that you will enjoy the Community Event as much as our earlier participants."Is that all you wanted to say? Are you lamenting on your emotions?" - you may ask ..... well .... not quite.

In the spirit of our DOUBLE DOUBLE, since we have the couples, @THSH and our partners are keen to welcome our latest partner, our "Northern Network Partners" - Fotokrazy.com. Fotokrazy is a photographic forum catering predominantly for photographers in the Northern Region and they have agreed to come on board! Please note that it's always been @THSH's policy to work with any interested parties in the the areas of promoting our National Heritage, be it Buildings to Natural Resources.

Guys and Gals, please give a big welcome to;

All in all, I would believe that this announcement will help us garner more interest in our Community Events and more people/organizations would come in to help us! And now our real work begins, as we start our engines and check our compasses, err ... GPS units as we head North! Look out as we will be revving to your city soon!

SIMON & RACHEL

I'm in 'La La Land' after taking cough syrup this morning on an empty stomach. Been sick, frustrated and demotivated cause small hotels like us always don't measure up to the guests expectations. What's wrong with @THSH? I know that the building is old and needs an uplift, but its tough running this place with all the legalities, manpower constraints and financial restrictions. Many people assume that it's a walk in the park ... well let me tell you, its not, and it 's no stroll by the beach either way .... Problem is, there is rumours in the hotelier circles that big corporations are eyeing us for a takeover (since years ago, but I'm only 6 months old here!) ... I feel it's sad cause then @THSH will most probably become a boutique luxury hotel and I will have to say 'Bye Bye' to all you beautiful brides and grooms out there....... so much for believing that @THSH should remain as a community-ish model of sorts with events on the side ....

And then came Adam. Adam again? Yup, just plain ol' Adam! Not the Adam you are thinking about I bet, but Adam Ong ... the most consistent photographer from Touch that comes to my place for a photo shoot. The one who gave me a wrong blog address the last time. You remember him? Bet not. Well, to be honest, I have been poisoning Adam to try and take new angles and poses for Pre Wedding Photos here @THSH, cause if you can remember, I said that most of the shoots by Bridal Houses in Malaysia are very similar, due to time and budget constraints. What I really like about Adam is that he is always very bubbly and loves to exchange a few banters with me.... Appreciate that. So, whats the result? Be the judge of that yourself!

ME & YOU (A duet/dialogue)
Another 'haiku-ish' free form by Hotel Station Master

leaning on the wall
eyes wander towards yonder
frustrations inside

leaning on the wall
hearts a flutter with doubt
where can you be, dear

lift your spirits,love
for I am here, awaiting

go, tunnel of life

lift your spirits, love
for I await you, wanting
forever with you

I cannot fathom
why you'll want me, forever

for confused am I

I cannot fathom
why you'll stay with me, forever
doubts blur my heart

have courage my love
a pillar for you, to lean
throughout confusion

have courage my love
a beacon of light, I give
to clear your doubts

man are blind, my dear
committing and providing
material wealth

man are blind, my dear
they give up easily, for gain
forgetting themselves

look to the stars, love
neither commitments matter
but your guidance, seek

look to the stars, love
neither wealth or gain I seek
but the warmth of love

shelter me now, dear

as I embrace you, together

your strength in silence

shelter me now, dear
I was foolish, doubting you
longing your comfort

through the Storm, love

you and me, together, us

our love now stronger

through the storm, love
undying flame of passion
ignites a new beginning

Me & You

-end-

First and foremost, @THSH would like to Congratulate Simon and Rachel on their nuptials. May you be blessed with loads of health, wealth and prosperity! I must have met them in passing but always too busy 'arguing' with Adam .... ha ha ha. Ar well. Anyway, eh, Adam, how come you make your series like 'sepia' like that ar? Want to capture the rustic feel is it? Later people complain @THSH look like haunted house again. (Argh!). Also, this haiku-ish poem was written in my 'La La Land' mood .. so apologies if it looks weird, must be like writing a poem when you are on LSD, CRACK or DOPE in general ..... ar well. If you would like to view more works from Adam Ong, please view here. (Adam, can you change your play list on your blog? Or no time is it?)

GAVIN & LANEY

A Lamp!
For more information, please click here.

Baa Baa Black Sheep, have you any wool .... oops! Wrong lamp there, must be the hunger, keep on thinking Lamb, Lamb, Lamb .... The Silence of the Lambs ... Clarisssseeeee (slithering sseee's) Oh err ... lost my rocker there for a minute! Today and yesterday have been the same for me. Been very anxious about some of my projects and have been pacing the floor downstairs in my restaurant. I really do not know what the future holds for me .... hope everything turns out well! Help say a prayer for us @THSH ok?

Right. What's that with 'A Lamp'? I honestly like the design and how they managed to capture (with some PP-ing I guess) the mood of the catalog picture. It looks very modern yet minimalist, and the black background (shouldn't I say lack of lighting? Paradox!) is not overpowering ... hurm .... with a lot of photographers coming here for pre wedding shoots @THSH, I have not seen any (with the exception of model shoots) one bring lights here. I guess in photographers lingo that will be C.L.S. which stands for Creative Lighting Systems and considered a revolution in your age old Flash Pack technology. Hurm ... thats interesting. In fact, these days, lights for photographers are so advanced that they incorporate all sorts of technological gizmo's and even battery packs in case you have no power source! Amazing these things... make me really itch to go back to it as a hobby ... (Oh no! Wifey is now 'eyeballing' me! Will have trouble tonight!)

Get it already? No? Ok, the next couple I am showcasing will feature the addition of A Light (A Lamp = A Light). Their Bridal Studio actually brought one (01) standing light for their photo shoot ... and I will be sending them the bill for using my electricity ... I think it came out to be about RM2,000.00 for 4 hours shoot .... Ha ha ha!

Shall I do another 'Haiku-ish' Free Form? Is that what you guys want? Hurm ... normally I write these proses from the female perspective, maybe I should write it in the male perspective? What you guys think? I don't know, no comments on my other proses from before ... Please say something lar!!!

Ok, ok ... let me get my 'inspirational' music playing in my old winamp .... (Don't like the newer versions!) ... This time around I will try Gloria Estefan's Mi Tierra Album ... nice one that, award winning Latin Musicians and album ..... if interested, please view here.

MY KEYBOARD
Another 'haiku-ish' free form by Hotel Station Master

my keyboard sits
at the edge of my table
waiting for only me

as I take my chair
contact! my fingers breeze
click clack, words swirling

through my keyboard
my fingers flow, prancing, alive
I cannot fathom how

a dance in time
your support means much to me
click clack, twirling words

through my confusion
with you, I am a maestro
now, keeping in time

through my pain
you cushion my every move
click clack, word after word

through my times of anger
your silent resilience shines
calming the savage

through my hesitation
your direction never waivers
click clack, step after step

every pen and paper
eyes us with envy, you and me
as I lean on you

I cry in pleasure
interpret, accurately
click clack, time after time

the lights go out, night
my fingers knows your warmth
hugging you tightly

the wolves howl, moonlight
with every stroke, I caress
click clack, forever more


my keyboard sits
at the edge of my table
waiting for only me.

-end-

In actual fact, I guess many people would say I am crazy, a keyboard 'haiku-ish' free form? Well, I wanted to try and do one about our "everyday common objects of use", that we take so much for granted. Besides, I do believe Gavin is working in an IT firm of sorts, so I guess it should be quite appropriate to do one on the humble 'keyboard' .... Hee hee, I actually met this couple about 3 months ago (wah.. you actually do meet couples eh?), but I left them to "get busy" .... with the photography lar ..... Gwa ha ha ha ... Oh, to Gavin & Laney, on behalf of @THSH, Congratulations on your wedding! We wish you all the love and joy in the world! As I mentioned earlier, they were using a Bridal House, their photographer was Anson, and you can view more of their works here.

In actual fact, I have become a corrupt Hotel Station Master, as I accepted an email bribe from Gavin which he sent yesterday, and I quote, " * attached: something to brighten up your mind :-D ", unquote!

The Email Bribe from Gavin ... Thanks man ...
But it's a little tasteless, left loads of lip marks on my LCD Screen!
Gwa Ha Ha ha!

We have also recently launched our Historical Project on the life and times of A. B. Hubback & T. R. Hubback, called The Hubback Brothers. It's still part of our efforts to promote our National Heritage so please support and drop by here!

TAN CHEE WHUI & CHOOI CHEE YEEN

As some of you may know, I have been away for a business trip and now I just got back to the office.... loads of work to catch up on and now rolling out new projects .... (What? Crazy ar? No time leh ....). Anyway, we have invited our original 14 photographers to hold an online exhibition but I think that will be on one of our partner sites. We have asked them to do some PP and they can be as creative as they want .... That comes to the biggest question in the photographic circles (I guess) ... to PP or not to PP? PP actually means Post Processing, and in this modern age of technology and such ... it normally means Adobe Photoshop (isn't it now called creative studio???) or other programs like Lightroom, etc., etc. There are people out there that can even make your skin so smooth, (and cover up your flaws; like me and my 'strawberried' nose... Ha ha ha) you can put any facial center to shame .... that is what Post Processing is all about. Now, of course any ordinary person would love to look good in a photo and with PP-ing, as this can actually help you look good if not extremely beautiful/handsome.

But the question is, to what degree would you want to PP your pictures? To most 'old styled' photographers, PP can be, to some, a cardinal sin, but even in the old days of film, there were instruments and paint that you could use to PP your film (did you know that?). In today's terms, PP-ing provides a wonderful and convenient way for photographers to be more creative and innovative, flaws that appeared on the original shoot could be touched up at a moments notice, special effects could be added to transform the mood of the photos ... However, there is always this 'grey area' as to how much of the photo should be PP-ed? Hence our online exhibition, we will show you the before and after shots by the photographers themselves. You be the judge of that.....

'Nostalgia from a bygone era, waiting for my soul mate'

'A dreamy romance'

'Cooling off, under the fan'

'Who's there?'

'Touching - a tender moment'

Honestly, I never met Chee Whui and Chee Yeen, partly because they came on a Sunday (err... is that correct? Or I was too tied up?) so I was in constant contact with their photographer Wong Whye Kong ... in fact, he actually contacted me way way way back on 7 June 2008! I actually received their photos on 25 July 2008 (Not too shabby while waiting for him to take his picks) sent via email, and I must say, I was pleasantly surprised! Right up to now, I have not seen other types of poses or shots of this kind (with the exception of 1 shot/scene cause I saw a well known Malaysian photographer take similar shots) but I must say, really refreshing! Great! Sorry for not posting earlier, but the community project at that time just kicked into high gear. The couple looks very cheeky and I am sure they would be very bubbly too!! Anyway, to the future Mr. & Mrs. Tan, congratulations and may you have many many many years of wedded bliss! (oh errr ... or they married already?) If you would like to view more works from Wong Whye Kong, you can view his 'portfolio' here.

If you are looking to register for our Northern Region Community Project, please click here.

TEASER!!! I LOVE TO TEASE!!!

It was a long day, yesterday, and I'm actually glad it's over. But seriously, the work has only just begun. First and foremost, I would like to thank all of you, beautiful people in Malaysia for coming and making this event a successful one... I know we would have to improve and I appreciate your honest feedback (got it already thanks!). I made some blunders (sorry Lam! Corrected here as per your email!), and I will work on it, it's definitely very different from the events that I normally organize and my learning curve (more like hyperbolic curve!) was tremendous. Thanks to Tommy, Alan, Jason, John, Khai from Dailylifestyles.com for the support. Thanks to Mr. John W. Ishii, Dennis, Wesley, Dr. Chen and CK Chan for lending your time and expertise. I have identified many areas of rectification and will look at improving the next one! (Goodness I am having a huge hangover from yesterday, do I really want to organize another one? Hurm .. I would have to reconsider seriously ....)

One Big Happy Family, The Guys and Gals at the event.
Please click on photo for a bigger picture.

Anyway, as promised, I am posting a teaser of all 15 Hobbyist Photographers that came yesterday prior to the 'electronic exhibition' on this blog. Am actually waiting for pictures from Mr. John W. Ishii and Mr. Wesley Wong so I can start off the electronic exhibition with their photos! (Hee hee .. hope they don't keep me waiting too long 'cause I guess the participants also wanna see how their photos came out! Curious lar!)

Nuff said! On with the photos! Oh yar! All photos are on a 'straight out of camera' basis! No PP & IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER!

Once again, I would like to personally thank all the participants for making this first event a success! Thank you GUYS AND GALS!

WEDDING COUPLES - THE 'REAL' DEAL

Stepping out from my makeshift office door, I looked at the watch ... goodness, already 1.15 pm ... scheduled for a meet with Mr. John W. Ishii, Wesley Wong, Tommy Yap at 2.00 pm ... going to the photocopier to make some copies of our almost confirmed itinerary .... as I stepped out, I saw John and Wesley sitting at the bar having a drink (images of 'play it again Sam' flashes before my eyes, now what movie was that?) ... *wow, thats really early* ... so I hurried on the copier to try and make some copies, but whammie, a guest of the Hotel just lost her passport. She was supposed to take the bus to Penang at 1.00 pm, but missed it already. Great. So I had to deal with the situation and put John and Wesley on hold, luckily, there was still time ... after advising the guest on the next course of action, Tommy walks in, great, we can start the meeting then ... after the introductions, as I was just about to get comfy, whammie, a pre wedding couple comes in for a shoot without an appointment. Great. Getting rid of the formalities with the pre wedding couple, we adjourned to a table to discuss, or so I thought, whammie, the guest that lost their passports don't know what to do next, ok, so I advised them again and asked my chef to lend them a helping hand to send them to the Police Station cause I didn't drive today. Great. Its really tough at times to just juggle everything from blogging to work to these events... *sigh* Missed my lunch time too ... luckily after the meet, Tommy and Me secretly goes to mum mum!

Ok Ok! Now lets get down to the happier stuff! So now you know who our photographers are, but you don't know who our couples are ... well, our real couples were selected by our board of moderators (different board lar) after some screening and interviewing. They are not models. They are the real deal. Not imitations unlike Petaling Street ..... so photographers, please meet your going to wed couples. Our photographer picking board, please meet the couples. World, please meet our 3 selected couples for our community event on 10 August 2008!

please click on the image for a bigger picture

So what do you think? Pretty aren't they? Now its up to our photographers to perform. I personally would love to see what comes out! *can't wait!!! anxious .... *

Our Couples lounging around in Pretty In White.

I personally loved the atmosphere
in great company!

Now I can go and get some rest (Really? You gotta be kidding, got tonnes of backlog and more stuff of the event to tie up. Geez ....) Oh, btw, I will not be posting anything about the event proper, you will have to navigate and wait for www.dailylifestyles.com. However, post event, I will, on this blog, hold an 'electronic exhibition' of sorts of the photographers, one by one ... so my dear photographers, you better start eye and finger exercises now! Also get an early night on Saturday and skip your usual hangouts at the pubs ok?