Back in 1997, I got my first IBM computer. I still remember the hard disk spec is 4.3GB. That is equivalent to one Bluray Disc Movie. Oh.. the brand is Quantum Bigfoot. AND I have a roller ball mouse too. Phew, I can’t believe I actually have such a good memory.
Operating on Window 95, most of the file sizes are relatively small. Even my first digital camera captured images with only 16MB memory card. Playing games is not a problem and 4.3GB was considered sufficient for that period of time.
After spending a few hours in Low Yat, I finally came to a conclusion to get 1TB Western Digital Hard drive. Yes, that is a lot bigger than 4.3GB. This is the side effect of taking a lot of RAW photos recently. Most of my hard drives are full with my photos.
Due to lack of organizing skills, I tend to get at least 1 x hard drive a year or probably more. This time round, I spent about RM 368 for a piece of pocket size hard disk. Silver is my favourite color but you get to choose other colors too. With USB 3.0, transferring photos will be a lot quicker.
Considering that the hard disk is slightly below my budget, I decided to get a mousy which cost about RM 70. Not my necessity but I need something more reliable than ball type mouse. With one single AA batt, the wireless mouse can last for 18 months.
Believe it or not? I will tell you after 18 months but it is looking good so far. Again, I get to expose to another new piece of technology, Logitech Nano Unify receiver. This small dongle will allow you to connect up to 6 wireless devices. Which means, I can still get additional 5 gadgets.. Hooray.. 
)
Western Digital My Passport 1TB and Logitech m325 Unify Mouse
Web: http://www.wdc.com/en/, http://www.logitech.com/en-my/home
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As an Apple user, recently, I was exposed to Android os. As many of you might know, Android is a Linux-based operating system for mobile device led by Google. Android Inc, was founded in 2003 and now you can find it in many smart phones.
If you own a Galaxy Tab, I bet you are familiar with the interface. Yes, Android is not only in Smart Phones but in tablets too. The benefit of Android system is you get to download apps which are mostly free from Android Market or they called it Google Play now.
To tryout an Android system, I spent about S$ 190 to get Aztech PlayXtreme 2. This is neither a smartphone nor a tablet but this is an Android TV box. Er.. if you are technology idiot like me, the TV box is essentially a device to make your conventional TV to become Smart TV.
Instead of spending extra dollars for Smart TV which has limited functionality, now, with this device that run on Android 2.3 initially (upgradable to Android 4.0) seems like a perfect alternative. This device allows you to have unlimited boundary in the world of smart technology.
The device comes with a small portable hard disk size alike box, HDMI cables, power adaptor and a smart QWERTY keyboard with keypad functionality. All you need is just plug the HDMI and the power cables and you get to experience new things on your TV, from surfing the net, playing various entertainment media and games too.
The Aztech PlayXtreme2 is running on 800MHz ARM Cortex A9 CPU, 512 MB DDR 2 Ram, NAND 2GB Storage and more importantly, it can play almost all the media video and audio file type. If you are keen in getting a media player, this is well recommended.
You might notice the spec is not attractive but bear in mind that this is a mobile device, not a hardcore gamer PC. If you are thinking of seeing your gf/bf via skype, you can connect your webcam with mic to any of the 3 x USB ports and walla, you get to see even their pimples 
.
As many of you might know, Android Smartphone run on touch screens but with touchpad on 2.4GHz Wireless Remote Control keyboard, it makes the control a lot easier and seamless. With wireless -N or wired connection, you can download apps, games etc right at your fingertips.
Aztech PlayXtreme2, Wireless Internet TV Hub – ITV102EW
Web: http://www.aztech.com/sg/playxtreme2.html
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Did u know that volcano is the only miracle that flow hot magma below the crust to surface? Please don’t think of stuff crust from Pizza Hut when I talk about crust else you are making yourself hungry.
This volcano that I am about to show you is not flowing hot magma and guess what, you will only see this if you are following TikkoSS’s Blog. Just because you are where you are now, doesn’t mean you can’t see the world.
If not flowing magma, what do you think it flows? I know you are going to say mud as it says in the post title but that is only half true. The right answer is free cosmetic product!
Girls, if you re reading this post, you can start planning your trip here. The mud is friendly but Mr. Sun is not. Please make sure you fully cover yourself in sun especially on your critical areas :p
This is my first experience with volcano in such a close distance. Many might ask, since that place is so hot, why not just go in the evening or during winter. I am no expert in geological stuff but you just have to make the sacrifice.
If the temperature drops, you will miss a chance to see the mud exploding out from the rupture. I’m honest when I say this. Quite lucky in my case as I get to see the miracle with my own eye.
Oh.. I am not alone. My mom happens to join me in my recent trip. As much as we are adventurous, we are actually not. We did not dive in the volcano for sure and we don’t need those artificial facial product.
Both me and my mom got skin as smooth as baby buttock. Ops.. I should not say it aloud else my buttock skin.. I mean my soft skin will be expose to molestation.. Hehehe
Qorbustan Mud Volcano (PaLciq vuLkan)
GPS: Somewhere near Caspian Sea
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Last week, when I walked around city centre, I saw couple of hotties walked passed my line of sight. Without losing a few second of my life, my attention was diverted to what I called it “the nice scenery”.
Believe it or not, there are not only couple of hotties but a line full with hour glass figures. For a split second, I thought they are queuing for me but when reality kicks in, I realized they were actually lining up for salad.
The stalls attracted so many young PHAT girls which make me incline to setup a salad store to maximize my “circle of friends”. Since I don’t have the chance to open one, I decided to queue up for salad too.
Half way while queuing up, something came across my mind. Have you ever wonder, girl eating salad is like cow eating grass but why cow is fat but girl is not?
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Are you a traveller like me? If you are not and wanting to be one, there are few survival skills you need to know. Before we talk about survival skills, learning computer skill is unavoidable. You might wonder what is the relevance between computer, survival skills and traveler.
Prior to travel, you need to book accommodation, means of transport, tourist attraction spot etc. For example, if you want to visit Hawaii, you get to visit there virtually first. Thanks to the advancement of Google Map and internet, all things can be made easier.
Sometime, question is asked, “Where to find or which website should I go for to look for best deal?” Recently, I just came across Hawaii hotels. If you are looking for best deals or special promotion, this is the right channel.
As for me, I usually surf for affordable package in this website. Yes.. I am planning for Hawaii. I know it is another hot place but many told me you get a lot of nice ‘scenery’ over there. Hehe. If you are familiar with online bookings, this website is an example of user friendly site.
Either you choose the desired checking dates and check out dates or choose the best package for yourself. Remember, it also suggests famous island such as Oahu, Maui, Lanai, Kauai, Molokai or any other islands around there.
On top of low rates, you get to up to 12% off at participating Waikiki Hotels on Oahu or Maui, few other places. It is as simple as just keying in the promo code. Aqua just celebrate 10 anniversary and the attractive part about it is, you get 10% off by just showing a pic.
Sounds great isn’t it? Remember I talk about survival skills? This is one of it to fulfil your basic necessity. Why Aqua? By visiting http://www.aquaresorts.com/, you get stylish, comfortable rooms, boutique amenities, great locations, affordable rates and of course exceptional service too!
Is it really that good? I don’t know about you but I will give it a try. So, don’t be surprise if one day, I am blogging, tweeting from a place called Hawaii.. lol.. Why not you check it out yourself?
Aqua Hotels and Resorts
Web: http://www.aquaresorts.com/
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When someone told me, “It is summer now!”, I don’t really feel it as I am coming from hot and humid country. Summer is pretty much all year long in Malaysia. From here, you get to see many people start to locate their bikini and rush to beaches for sun bathing.
We, Malaysian always try to find ways to stay in OR hide behind air-cond car just to make sure that our skin WON’T burn out! Common excuse that we always say is, “So hot out there! Later get skin cancer laa..” .. I used the similar excuse when I am home BUT now, I am not HOME
To join the big crowd, I spend time going to beaches, walk on street under unfriendly Mr. Sun and guess what, walk the park too! All these are something I will not do in Malaysia. No.. I am not turning into romantic guy ..
While walking in the park, I noticed this flower. Coincidently, my macro lens was just within my reach. Instead of “ala-romantic-guy”, I turned into typical “geeky-macro-photographer”. Patiently, my mom waited for me. How satisfying when I can compose this photos.
AND this too! Believe it or not, I did not “photoshop” these two photos. Cool isn’t it. Rather than posting bugs la, insects la, geli stuff la, I decided to calm your eyes by seeing at the Black Eye Susan. Nice leh.. fuyoh.. kns.. now I self praise pulak..
I might not get the recognition from you, my fellow readers but guess what, my mom say it is nice.. I mean she really say, “WOW, these are all so nice.. can’t believe you take it yourself. With that sorta recognition from my mom, I guess it worth more than anything else..
OK.. so, do I qualify myself to get 1dx or just need to practice more?
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Macro-photography is never easy. One needs to equip with patient, steady hand, right gadgets and more importantly, the subject. All are easy except the later one, the subject. The subjects, mostly insects will not fly to you but you need to look for it.
I might look strong from the outside but I am kinda soft on the inside. Aiks, that does not sounds right? What I am trying to say is, I am not a fan of small crawling creatures. So, hunting for them is definitely not in my equation.. but well, sometimes, TikkoSS can be unpredictable
While hunting for spidy lately, I found this ladybird. As a self-proclaimed macro photographer wannabe, I will not let a single opportunity goes away just like that. Considering that ladybird is one of my favourite childhood clothing brand (wonder what happen to it now), I decided to make it my MODEL.
Now only I get to see lady bird in close up and I can confirm that it is neither lady nor bird alike. I hardly even distinguish its gender. Maybe it is gay like me virtually . From the glance of it, lady bird is like carrying a shell at the back like turtle too!
But if you look closer, it is like a split wings hiding below it. The problem with this type of wing-ly insects are they fly. Which is why makes macro photography much more challenging than any other type of photography (I will try not to compare lightning photography).
This looks like a priceless shot as you get to see the “bird” expanded its wings before it takes off. Not to brag on my skills but YEA, I AM GOOD! Anyhow, I felt this shot is a lot simpler than My Dream Shots : Dear Mr. Mozzie …
And both have the same ending, both fly away 
.. I guess now my rooms started to harvest all these small little creatures by accident
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You must be wondering why TikkoSS is kind of slow in updating post lately? Not because my interest towards blogging is fading or I am stuck in rural area that do not have access to internet. All because I spent most of my time hunting this little creature..
In conjunction with new Spiderman movie, I thought it would be interesting to include something interesting in my blog. Of course this is not an easy task especially if you are in colder place like here! BUT TikkoSS did not give up.
After long searching, I finally get to lure this Mr. Spidy to my so called, “trap” ! Ok, let’s be real.. I am not a fan of spider so I didn’t really prepare a trap but snap it instantly. Walla.. it works. Guess today is my lucky day as I suspected the Spidy is in hibernation mode.
Gosh, this is such an ugly and disgusting one. I did not know that this millimetre small insects can be such colourful yet hairy-ly scary. It seems like my macrophotography skills help me to see something my bare eyes cannot see. So, tell me how do you think of this photo?
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If you follow my tweet, you will probably realize that I tweeted “I just achieved my dream” (If you are not, do follow me @tikkoss). You might wonder what I meant. Previously when I bought my camera, I told myself, “If one day I can shoot a photo of a lively mosquito and it stays alive after that, I will be extremely happy and will label myself as decent photographer”.
Why? You need to have certain skills, patient and speed. It is a dream and I just achieved it! This is ultimately the first time I managed to achieve my dream in reality because to TikkoSS, dream is so perfect that can only be achieved when you are sleeping. Hehe..
Ok.. Let’s see the first shot. This is quite easy to snap as the mosquito is pretty much dead. So I wouldn’t claim my credit in this photo. I have to admit that the photos here are not so good or crystal clear as I have resized and downgraded the photo quality but the actual one is like “Wow!”
Maybe I am a bit “self praise” over here but that is not the point! First, you will see that the foreign mosquito is brown in color instead of black or zebra stripes. Of course, it is a lot uglier than I thought with hairy tentacles. Yuks!
The second one requires some ‘expert’ skills. I will not tell you what skills are that because I don’t quite know as well. All I know is find a way to ensure the mosquito did not fly away (which is one of the toughest things to do on earth). Even tougher than dating playboy celebrities..
So, I sneaked from the back of the mosquito and silently candid shot it. You can see the puzzled million dollar expression from the mosquito face which I personally think it is a priceless moment. Not much time to play with the camera as this photo is taken in split of the second and you only have one chance.
The last one is kind of cool as I managed to capture while it is preparing to take off! Phew.. I have the impression that this mosquito is having 5 sec “stunt” moment or probably saying “cheese” to me.. I tried to communicate by saying “don’t fly” but I suspect the mosquito don’t understand English..
Well, I DID IT! If any of you are interested in to take this kind of photo, I have tips for you. Starting from now, don’t breathe (insects don’t like bad breathe), stay cool n look macho (this is to not scare off the insects ) AND stay in jungle (they will think you are friend) ! Tough isn’t it? This is just the beginning..
Guess what happen next? DUH.. the mosquito fly away laa.. what else.. hahaha
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