Abdul Rashid's Blog: 8/1/08

Sunday, August 31, 2008

Month of Ramadhan in Brunei Darussalam Begins on 2nd September 2008

(Click to enlarge this greeting)

(Graphic and photo: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir)

Muslims in Brunei Darussalam will begin a month of fasting (in Ramadhan) on the 2nd September 2008, Tuesday and not tomorrow. Tomorrow is still month of Syaaban i.e. 30 Syaaban 1429 Hijrah. This is because the announcement over the Televisyen Brunei (RTB) says that the new moon was not sighted.

Therefore, starting from tomorrow night, Muslim will perform the Tarawikh and Witir prayers throughout the country after Isyak prayer for the whole month of Ramadhan. In addition, there will be a Tadarus after the prayers.

Friday, August 29, 2008

Some Photos at My Real Saving Account Expo by BIBD At-Tamwil

The BIBD At-Tamwil Berhad Transit Shed

BIBD At-Tamwil Berhad held My Real Savings Account (MRSA) Expo 2008 from 28th August to 31st August 2008 at The Mall Gadong (Ground Floor, 1st Floor, & 2nd Floor) and at BIBD At-Tamwil Transit Shed in Light Industrial Area, Beribi, Gadong.

I attended both venue on the 28th August 2008, but I only took photos at BIBD At-Tamwil Transit Shed.

ATVs are available at New Motors Sdn Bhd booth

PGO Bugrider is also available at New Motors booth Yamaha Waverunner Jetski: It will cost you BND15,980 if you want to have one. I will have one if I have a house on the bank of Brunei river or on a beach (not very likely).
Another model of Yamaha Waverunner jetski (in red colour)

Yamaha Waveruuner banner

A green Mini Cooper: Front view

Self-potrait : My reflection on the Mini Cooper

Side view of a green Mini Cooper

Back view of a Mini Cooper with scissor-type doors

Front side view of a red Mini Cooper
(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 28th August 2008)

p/s: ATV, jetski and Mini are my favourite stuffs (though it is unlikely that I am going to get one).

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Canon EOS 50D and Nikon D90 are Released in Two Consecutive Days.

Canon EOS 50D DSLR is released on 26th August 2008 and one day after i.e 27th August 2008 Nikon D90 is released. In addition to Canon EOS 50D DSLR, Canon also releases the new Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens. Nikon too releases new lens i.e AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-105 mm f/3.5-5.6 ED VR lens.

Canon EOS 50D DSLR Basic Features

15.1 Megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor
6.3fps continuous shooting, max. burst 90 JPEGs with UDMA card
DIGIC 4 processor
ISO 100-3200, expandable to 12800
9-point wide area AF
3.0” Clear View VGA LCD with Live View mode & Face Detection Live AF
Magnesium alloy body, with environmental protection
EOS Integrated Cleaning System
HDMI connection for high quality viewing and playback on a High Definition TV
Full compatibility with Canon EF and EF-S lenses and EX-series Speedlites
Available in early October 2008 at an expected street price of US$1399 in the USA. The Canon EF-S 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS lens also available in early October 2008 at expected street price of US$699 (USA)

Nikon D90 Key Features

12.9 megapixel DX-format CMOS sensor (effective pixels: 12.3 million)
3.0-inch 920,000 pixel (VGA x 3 colors) TFT-LCD (same as D3 and D300)
Live View with contrast-detect AF, face detection
Image sensor cleaning (sensor shake)
Illuminated focus points
Movie capture at up to 1280 x 720 (720p) 24 fps with mono sound
IS0 200-3200 range (100-6400 expanded)
4.5 frames per second continuous shooting (buffer: 7 RAW, 25 JPEG fine, 100 JPEG Normal)
Expeed image processing engine
3D tracking AF (11 point)
Short startup time, viewfinder blackout and shutter lag
Slightly improved viewfinder (96% frame coverage)
Extensive in-camera retouching including raw development and straightening
Improved user interface
New optional compact GPS unit (fits on hot shoe)
Same battery and vertical grip as D80
Vignetting control in-camera
72 thumbnail and calendar view in playback
Price: UK: £699.00 (Body only)

p/s: Still waiting for Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR Release.

SRTLDB:Welcoming the Ramadhan Brunch

Today (28 August 2008) teachers and support staffs of SRTLDB held a brunch gathering to mark about the end of Syaaban and the coming of Ramadhan (the fasting month).

They cooks the fish

The dessert

The chicken and the vegetables

Part of a banana tree

One of the senior teachers' plate (partly...she adds more after this photo)

The mango The chicken
From the watermelon

My boss's plate (partly...she adds more after this photo)

My plate (my standard size)...but this is my first round...I take some more after this plate is done

(Photos: Abdul Rashid Haji Tahir. Taken on 28 August 2008)

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Photos of My Suzuki Swift: Front View

Diagonal

Horizontal

(Photos: Abdul Rashid Tahir. Taken on 25 August 2008)

p/s:I hope I can take photos of cars (including my Suzuki Swift) like the one in the car brochures or magazines, especially like photos in the Lexus brochure. So far, Lexus brochure are the best brochure among the brochure that I have collected (I have collected car brochures since 1998).

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

1st National Primary Schools Sport Festival 2008: The Closing Ceremony

The 1st National Primary Schools Sport Festival 2008 was held from 18th August 2008 to 24th August 2008. The festival was organised by the Co-Curriculum Education Department of the Ministry of Education.

The venue: Stadium Negara Hassanal Bolkiah at Berakas

A gymnastics presentation by the teachers The Police Cadets Band
Healthy Mind Healthy Body

Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Lela Dato Seri Setia Haji Awang Abdul Rahman bin Dato Setia Haji Mohamed Taib, Minister of Education, and Datin Paduka Hajah Apsah Hj Abdul Majid, Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education. The parade: Brunei IIB teachers
The medal tally..

More medal tally
It is raining
The umbrellas...hot...hot...and then it is raining