It happened. It was March 19th 2011, the day that DanielCtw along with Yen went to attend the Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon Festival 2011. The time was 0500 hours and it was the time that we set on our way towards Putrajaya. I woke up like 0400 hours in order to get ready.

Why did we get up so early? That is so that we could have a chance to go up the Hot Air Balloon and tickets were only sold per session. So we have to be the top 300 people in order to fly up per session. So the time was now 0530 hours and by the time we try to find the place to queue, the queue was already this long and there were many people. Talk about kiasu-ness.

One thing though, nowadays people are crazy, go so early for a 10 minutes ride up the balloon (yes…. super bananas 10 minutes only). Nevertheless sometimes it’s an experience one had to go through to get to sit on the hot air balloon. Besides, unless you’re a crazy weirdo adventurous and outgoing person like me, hmmm.. then maybe you will be able to get an outside chance to sit on a hot air balloon again. Oppps…

Getting back to the topic of the Hot Air Balloon Festival, taken many photos of the occasion. Of course, the pictures will definitely not be all shown here but maybe at a photo album in my Facebook. Here are some of the scenes in Putrajaya.

It was early morning, and the time is now 8am. This was the first of the balloons that were setup. Oh yeah, going back to how long the queue was, there were some disappointment to some kids who did not get to go into the balloon. Pity them but well, who is going to pity me? We finally get to purchase the ticket around 0900 hours. That was practically 3 hours of queuing.

Finally balloons spotted. There was this one which was hanging upside down. Many people were worried. Though of course, there is definitely no way a balloon can go upside down. Wondered how these people think? Weird right?

Of course, I was fascinated with the mechanism of the Hot Air Balloon. Well, as soon as I stepped in, I was looking at what the person in charge was doing. Imagine Dhalsim (from Street Fighter) doing Yoga Flame.

Finally our turn (Daniel and Yen) to go into the balloon. Sweet.

Now how does it look like inside? Empty. So much for your enthusiasm. As can be seen, two handles to handle the fire.

Finally we’re going up. Up and looking towards the many small people down there. What a sight.

Both of us up on the balloon and hmmm… I failed in taking a proper shot. Problem with a wide lens when you don’t adjust it earlier. Of course, after spending like 10 minutes above ground in the hot air balloon, it was time to touch ground once again.

What a short ride that was. Next year must try to get the VIP ride.

Time to pose one for the camera. Who was taking this photo for us? No one. It was me and her. One thing about balloons, the only one I find attractive is the one from Japan. Welcome Mr Doraemon.

Ang Ang Ang とても大好き。。ドラエモン

Doraemon greeted us out from the trees. Monstrous figure suddenly appear out of nowhere. Now where is Ultraman when you need him. Aside from that, speaking of Japan, let’s do our best we can to help our friends in Japan who suffered from the earthquake and tsunami attack. Spiritually and also if you are able to donate, why not?

Star Troopers in Putrajaya? Star Wars? What has this got to do with International Hot Air Balloon Festival in Putrajaya? Well, we’ll see it later in the upcoming post.

By the way aside from all the balloons one can see, there are so many people and people would not just go there for the hot air balloons. So in order to keep the people happy, there are other tonnes of activities one could do there. Here is one of them.

FirstInMalaysia.com.my Orbing is here for those who wants a thrill of being in a ball or a globe. It sure looks fun to me. Get yourself in the ball, and you’ll be rolled around in the ball from someone outside.

Of course there is a certain age limit.

That is this little guy could not play this ORB thingy. So he went sulking and followed by his little sister. (not true… just so happens it follows the story and also a lucky shot). Well of course, it’s not only the big orb that’s having most of the attention, the other one is the little orbs where people can go right through them and become the human bumper.

The person inside the orb fell down and everyone is looking at how miserable the person was. Funny scenes captured. More on my facebook album. After quite some time of mingling around in Putrajaya, it was time for some photo of me to be shown in my own blog. Of course, would there be more about this awesome event here in Putrajaya. You bet there will be.

So stay tune. There will be more to come as soon as I find time to write it. I am such a delayer.

I was in Times Square. Lo and behold, I got greeted by maids. They were giving me Nips Chocolate. I was wondering what was happening? Well, of course I know.

I am at the Comic Fiesta 2010. Compared to the first time I’ve gone to a cosplay event, this is the 2nd time out of nearly 8 years. Yes, what a super long time.

As usual, there are cosplayers everywhere. I was lucky to shoot some that caught my eye. Using alternately the 50mm Nikkor and the 10-20mm Sigma lenses, I caught a few shots to be shown here. This next photo caught my eye.

What anime is this? Cat ears? Pink dress? Long yellow locks? I ain’t sure but this cosplayer got my attention to take those photos.

What more, she was lying down. Only problem was, I was using 50mm thus couldn’t capture the whole thing properly. How I took this photo? I went down as low as her. It would have been nicer if she had looked at my camera instead.

There are also cosplay where guys took part also. Understandably, usually they don’t stand out. Female cosplayers do. Now where’s my Mai Shiranui??? Hohohoho!!

I am the Star Wars Trooper. You are no match for me pitiful humans.

NEXT!!

As usual, there are so many animes and mangas with maid costumes, sometimes I don’t know which anime they are from. I guessed I need help from the more active otakus (manga & anime kakis)  out there.

Of course, other than cosplayers, there are also figurines that are being showcased there. Since with low lighting and no usage of flash on the figurine models, I have to make do with what I have.

Strange and weird. Of course not all turned out like that.

Love this shot. Now all I need is a different set of lens.

Back to cosplayers that really meant what they wanted to present. A group of them.

WHAT ANIME is THIS? Can someone help me??? So which is the cuter one?

More shots. Too bad I can’t get their whole attention.Of course, sometimes, I wished I could be like them, dressing anyway we wanted. It’s like releasing their stress on dressing up.

One of the sexy ones around there. A sexy devilish girl. Though the thought of seeing something like this on a girl is kind of rare in Malaysia. Definitely cool props and outfit.

Now which anime is this too? Wearing a corset and a wig. One of the most elegant cosplayer out there on that day. When there’s a devil there’s bound to be an angel.

So Angel we shall. Love the lightings on this. Too bad I only have a 50mm lens. Time to save money for Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8. It is sad because only armed with a sharp lens at a range of only 50mm, it sure is hard to take full body photos. This is the best I could do though.

A witch cosplayer. Wonder what manga or anime she is from? I am still clueless. To top it all off, we now have the photo of the volunteer group.

The 3 Nips Maid and 2 game cosplayers. Yes, the one in orange is superbly tall. Should be a good choice for Ichitaka. Hohoho…

Finally after looking at most of the cosplays I could finally recognize one. Reason: It’s final fantasy. One of my favorite all time RPG games.

Presenting Yuna of Final Fantasy X. Of all the cosplayers there, I think this is the cutest of them lot. Some crazy experience in this Comic Fiesta was when I witnessed a few cosplays which are girl characters but the one cosplaying them are guys. Now try to imagine, a big burly man cosplaying as Sailormoon. Now do you get what I mean? Gone is your appetite!!

Then I met Rukawa, a character from Slamdunk. Too bad this Rukawa didn’t really get the full costume. What a shame. I can tell you, Rukawa Kaede looks superbly stunning and at a loss for words. Don’t believe me, have a look at the photo displayed below.

GO GO GO RUKAWA!!!!!

AHAHAHAHAHHA!!! Time to disappear!

It’s time to see how did the Bon Odori festival 2010 held in Shah Alam went by. Well, this post actually continued from my last post, where I was at the BlupBlup event and the reason I left early was to get my ass over to Shah Alam at Matsushita Sports Complex to find a proper parking space and to attend this event.

Bon Odori is once a year and this will be my first time attending Bon Odori in KL area. My previous Bon Odori which was like 4 years back was in Penang in 2007. Time flies, and that was the time when i first met the group from Penang.

Here was what happened. After the event, I went straight to the Bon Odori festival and got this fan for keepsake. Not bad, a souvenir to bring back. Chin Ann tagged along.

Greeted with the fact that there are many girls and guys here in Japanese costume. Like the above, the girls are dressed in Yukata, though I ain’t sure if they were Japanese though. As it was a Japanese festival, my first thing that came to mind is, ahhhhh FOOD. Too bad I didn’t get anything much that day as I was broke. Only had RM20 in my wallet, I could only afford this.

Unagi Don for RM10

At least my stomach need to eat first before we carry on exploring the whole place. Then there was a sign board which was promoting Japanese tourism. There was even a model there for anyone who wanted to take photos or take together photos.

Of course, I don’t think that she is Japanese. People though have been saying I look more Japanese, so what happened if I were to stand side by side. That’s what I did.

Now who looks more Japanese? TADA!! My body got cut from this photo. Chin Ann must have been focusing more on the girl. Ishhh…

Anyway dance was about to start, the performers are making their way into the stage. Look at their excited faces and the crowd of people waiting to take photos. Simply overcrowded.

What stage do I mean? Have a look next.

That’s the stage, few drums and the performers are basically kinda young. Yes, I know maybe you’re all thinking that I am old, not that they were young, but they’re like age less than 20. etc etc etc… Just look at the whole group of them next.

Shot using my trusty Nikon D40 (yes I brought 2 camera bodies there. This one for wide shots), the whole performer posed like never before with hundred of cameras flashing before them.

One of the girls looking my way after I brought up my zoom. Peace…. V ^_^.

One of the good looking guys that I took on purpose. (Not for me to view, more for the girls to ogle over. Now please wipe off that saliva of yours)

Finally the dance started midway thru the program. Nothing to take to see but more of how the spectators and visitors of this event acted instead. I do tend to look in a different perspective.

I can hear her saying,

“I ish can video and take photos, lucky I ish can have people carry me.”

You’re lucky you’re small size compared to the guy.

Stayed there for quite some time and there were indeed senior members that were invited for the dance too. The dance is enjoyed by many people and I can say Japanese culture is like a part of them here. While most people concentrated on the dance, I had another look around and this time took a photo of a cute little girl…..

in Yukata. So cute eh, the lighting also helped when the sky was dark. She was eating Rocky.

Princess Yen who was away on another event earlier finally arrived and she had the same food I had. Unagi Don… (thumbs up) and after finally filling the stomach, it’s time for us to remember the day we were here.

One for the album.

Nice right? Darn my eye bags. This was what I told her earlier that day (roughly)

Dan: You know, if I were to dress in a Japanese costume, people might have mistaken me for a Japanese.
Yen : Ya, seriously. If only we were able to rent a costume before this event.
Dan : But then, people will come take photos with me. It’ll be weird & talking to me in Japanese. Should try that next time. Hehehe…

It was indeed a hectic day both for Princess Yen and me. We finally left early and had our dessert at Snowflakes after that.

Yummy….