Yeah, in two days time, I will be riding from Bradford to Hamm in Germany to raise money for Bradford Disability Sports and Leisure (BDSL). Providing that we do not get lost, we will be riding to Hamm in Germany and return covering 561 miles in 8 days. For those who are interested to look at the routes, you are welcome to check it out here, those last updated on the 28th May will be the route we use next week!

I know I have not been updating this blog for ages but I hope to keep you guys updated about this trip using my twitter, or you can drop by at this blog to check out the twitter update on the sidebar. Please stay tune, I’ll try to update you guys regarding this trip.

For those who had sponsored this event, I would like this opportunity to thank you on behalf of BDSL, and for those who wish to sponsor me, it is still not too late to do so, please sponsor BDSL at Just Giving, a very effective way to sponsor the charity.

Let me just talk a little bit bout the charity.
About the charity
Bradford Disability Sports and Leisure (BDSL) is a Registered Charity for people with Disabilities. It provides disabled people throughout the Bradford area with sporting opportunities of both a recreational and a competitive nature, with some Members achieving International success. BDSL are the people who support these athletes from just pottering around playing sport with their mates right up to supporting our Paralympians and Special Olympians.

90% of the funds raised go directly to the Charity, only 10% offsets the cost of the Cycle Ride.

About the challenge
The challenge is to cycle 561 miles (that’s without getting lost!) from Bradford to Hamm (Yeah, Hamm in Germany) and back again, starting on 8th June 2008 and finishing on 15th June. The purpose of which is not only for me to lose weight and get fit, but more importantly, to raise as much as possible for Bradford Disabilty Sport and Leisure.

I now need you, family, friends, colleagues etc to make this whole thing worthwhile by donating to my Justgiving account.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: Bradford Disability Sport and Leisure will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

Wish me all the best, for the next week, the bike shown is going to be my most trusted friend!

Just a quick update, I came back from a 3 weeks break in Malaysia 2 weeks ago and I’ve shot bout 3000 plus photo during the trip, including 150 plus during a 5 hours short stay in Dubai. I also took up a photography assignment while I was back home, so I am pretty occupied by photos these days.

More photos from Dubai are on the way, stay tuned.

Tags: Dubai, silhouette

One being was I have finally made to the final list of a charity ride to Hamm (Germany). Don’t get me wrong, I am not a good cyclist and I didn’t race with anyone to make into the final list. To cut the story short, I made an application to the same event last year and didn’t get selected, so I tried again this time and I was shortlisted but was on reserve list. The good news broke in on the first Monday of 2008, not a bad way to start 2008 eh?

I will create another blog about this charity ride to Hamm, so stay tuned.

I was testing out the new extension tube I bought today, it is all manual, manual focusing, manual metering and etc. After few attempts on the chocolates, I’ve finally got something I want, the chocolates didn’t stay long though.

Got to watch my diet to make it all the way to Hamm!

Tags: chocolate, macro

We had good meal, after the meal, we just chilled out.

It was a very warm night, with plenty of alcohol. Result? This short post and hang over.

Merry Christmas everyone.

Tags: , Diana, Wang Chen, festival

Thanks Louis and Jasmine, it is a lovely gift and I need to start looking for appropriate frame.

It is December, less than a month to Christmas, I haven’t taken many photographs recently but I’ve came out a list of items I want for Christmas and year 2008 and it should save you some trouble thinking of what to get for me during Christmas or my birthday

1. iPod Touch, even better, iPhone, please!
2. Nikon 17-55mm f/2.8G AF-S IF ED DX
3. Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G AF VR ED
4. Nikon Coolpix S51C
5. Louis Vuitton Passport holder
6. Nokia N95 8GB
7. Nintendo Wii
8. Need for Speed - Pro Street (for PS2)
9. SimCity Societies (for Mac)
10. Samsung 22″ Monitor
11. Lacie 500GB external harddisk
12. Return air ticket to Malaysia
13. A bicycle

The wait had finally over on Friday the 9th of Nov, I didn’t have the chance to see one on the day it first launched but I went to check out this afternoon and I must say I love it. The look and the feel of iPhone in my hand is amazing, it doesn’t look as big as I thought. I checked out the acclaimed touch screen and keyboard, and I am impressed!

It makes me really want one, but will I get one NOW? No.

There are a few things niggle me, enough to stop me making a purchase just yet.

Firstly, you have to activate the phone through iTunes and to activate it, you will need to enter into an 18 months minimum term contract with O2.

Secondly, the cost. How much is it going to cost? It is selling at £269 in the UK and tied with 18 months contract. The cheapest will cost you £35 a month, that’s £630 in total! (Ouch!)

Okie, for some of you, splash out £900 for this cool gadget is probably nothing, you’ll get the usual free minutes and texts, on top of that, you can surf free with more than 7500 hotspots in UK, but wait, read on.

Thirdly, this is the important part, always read the small prints!

Your O2 tariff for iPhone allows you unlimited use of O2 UK’s Edge/GPRS networks and The Cloud’s UK Wireless LAN network, for personal internet use, email and Visual Voicemail (VVM) on your iPhone only. All usage must be for your private, personal and non-commercial purposes. You may not use your SIM Card in any other device, or use your SIM Card or iPhone to allow the continuous streaming of any audio/video content, enable P2P or file sharing or use them in such a way that adversely impacts the service to other O2 customers. If O2 reasonably suspect you are not acting in accordance with this policy O2 reserves the right to impose further charges or disconnect your tariff at any time, having attempted to contact you first.

More!

iPhone is restricted to use on the O2 network. To continue to use all the functions of your iPhone you must remain connected to your iPhone tarrif. If you cancel your iPhone tariff only the iPod fuction on your iPhone will work. If you attempt to use your iPhone on any other network for example by replacing the SIM card, this may mean your iPhone becomes permanently unusable.

So if I decided to leave O2 after the 18 months contract, my iPhone will become an iPod touch, or if I swap to other network, my iPhone will becomes permanently unusable?

And if I purchase the phone for business purpose, which means I can’t even check my email?

Hmmm….I would love to have one, but not at £900, I think I’ll just stick with my next target, the LG Viewty or Nokia E81.

Tags: Apple, iPhones

But anyway, I wanna share something good here today. This photo of mine is published by Telegraphy & Argus Bradford on their 2008 calendar, which is on sale now at £5.

My photo is on the face of August 2008, yeah! I think I will get a few more copies to send it to my family.

PS, a colleague asked what I’ve got after spending thousands of pound in photography? The answer is a photo on T&A’s 2008 calendar! Money well spent!!! Ha

Tags: Bradford, Lister Mills

I said in the earlier blog that I want to shoot London with 50mm, it was a failure. I was busy catching up with friends and didn’t put much effort to shoot. Here are some photos I would like to share.

There was a photography session which involved cars and models, I took this, it was quite hard with 50mm because I couldn’t go too far or too close.

Some random photos taken while we were walking toward Convert Garden.

Benji & Joey, my best friends in London, please forgive Benji’s awkward pose.

We had fun playing at these 2p machines (whatever they are called)

After four of us spending more than £10, we got some really cute prizes, look at Joey’s happy face.

Tags: london, Joey, Benji, Eric, Matthew

I will need to renew my passport tomorrow, and pick my girl friend up from Heathrow, I haven’t seen her for more than two months and I am missing her. There will be a gap in between, so I’ve planned a little photography mission, I will shoot London only in my 50mm f1.8, let’s see what can I get.

The photo above was taken ACCIDENTALLY during last trip to London, and it’s my all time favorite!

Tags: london

It was different from Manchester Pride, where crowds and participants are separated. In this West Indian Carnival, you can jump in with the parade and dance along, which I think is the best part.

Photography session was tough, as people were constantly moving in front of me. I only managed to get a few decent shots.

And as usual, after I uploaded my photos to flickr, I will browse around to learn from other great photographers that shot the same event. Guess what I found today?

Eric Tan bowing to the African Queen!

This wonderful photo was taken by Roger McNally, you can see a different size of this photo in Roger’s flickr. I didn’t know that I did that, hmmm, why did I do that? I am still scratching my head, I am sure I didn’t get drunk that day…haha, anyway, moment well captured Roger, well done.

Here’s another action shot of mine, taken by Roger’s girlfriend.

To see more of my photos from Leeds Carnival 2007, please go to my flickr or my newly built slide.

Tags: Leeds, Leeds Carnival, west indian, eric tan