Choosing between Canon EOS-60D and EOS-600D

My friend asked me, why did I choose to purchase Canon EOS-600D instead of Canon EOS-60D?

I had been using Canon EOS-400D for over 4 years. It had been serving me faithfully. Unfortunately, recently, the built-in flash was not functioning properly and it was too expensive to get it repair. As such, I need to get a new camera to replace it.


Purchasing My Blu-Ray Player

I was in no hurry to purchase my Blu-Ray player, till I bought my Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) [Blu-ray].

Purchasing a Blu-Ray Player was not really an easy task for me. There were many inexpensive Blu-Ray Players out there on the market. But I had other thoughts.

My current set-up was a 5.1 channels DVD home theatre system. There was no HDMI input/output on the home theatre system. My LCD TV set has only one HDMI input and it was utilized. Neither the TV set nor the home theatre system has S/PDIF connection.

Because of these limitations, I did not want to just get any Blu-Ray player. On top of the video quality, another reason to get Blu-Ray was the sound quality. I want to enjoy the surround sounds from the video as well. My current setup simply could not satisfy my requirements with just a Blu-Ray player.

I decided to replace my current DVD Home Theatre System with a Blu-Ray Home Theatre System.

I also put other factors into consideration. One was if the system has HDMI inputs. Since my TV set had only one HDMI input and it was utilized, I would want my new system to have HDMI input for my existing devices. I did not wish to change my TV set yet.

The other factor was that, if it could be used to watch YouTube video. Watching YouTube video was sort of the trend now, especially most of the newer models of Blu-Ray Home Theatre system had this function.

After a search, I decided on the Sony BDVE380 5.1-Channel High-Definition Blu-ray Disc Player/DVD Disc Home theater System. It is a 5.1 Channel Blu-Ray Player with 2 HDMI inputs and allows me to watch YouTube videos directly. Somehow, it just fitted into my requirements.

Now, I can enjoy Star Wars Blu-Ray, my existing devices and YouTube Video on this system.


Star Wars Video Collection

That day, I was showing off my recently purchased Star Wars: The Complete Saga (Episodes I-VI) [Blu-ray]. One friend excitedly excited, “You bought this set already! I was figuring out how to convince my wife to allow me to get one!”

He carried on, “I am unlikely to watch these discs anytime soon. I had watched these movies countless time already. But getting this set is a fan thing… A must have.”

Star Wars Complete Saga Blu-Ray Set


Some Signs Spotted in Las Vegas Strip

Las Vegas Strip is famous for its fanciful lightings and signage.

There are many small signages along the way which hardly attract the attention of passers-by. These signs were small ones held by people there. I did not take the pictures of these sign, but I recorded the wordings.

Very Hungry and Thirsty. Any Amount will help.

Need to Support Pregnant Girlfriend. Can’t find Job. Any Amount will help.

Very lie? Need Money for Cold Beer

Need Money to Pay Rent. Jobless

There are many more of such signs along the strip.


Bought the MechTech Deluxe Toy – Bumblebee from the Movie Transformers: Dark of the Moon

Bumblebee from Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Robot Mode)

Bumblebee from Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Robot Mode)

I can’t resist the temptation and bought a toy from the movie Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

Last evening, my friends asked me to join them to watch this movie Transformers: Dark of the Moon 3D. I did not watch the first 2 movies. But I had heard that the review was good and I grew up with Transformers. So, I quickly agreed.

The movie was quite long, about 2 hours. But there was not a moment to be bored. I found that it has an interesting story line, about loyalty, true to the belief and betrayal. The supposing good Autobot turned out to be the bad one. The Autobots had to fight to protect Earth from this past leader and the Decepticons.

After the movie, I couldn’t help but to go to the nearest Toy Shop and look for the toy lines from the Movie.

After looking through the line, I bought the MechTech Deluxe – Bumblebee.

Bumblebee from Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Car Mode)

Bumblebee from Transformers: Dark of the Moon (Car Mode)

Like the movie, Bumblebee has 2 modes – the car mode and the robot mode. This look very different from the Bumblebee I knew when I was a child. But anyway, who’s care. It is still the fearless and loyal Bumblebee.

I found some of the parts a bit to move, especially the back part. Whenever I want to transform the Bumblebee, I have to be careful not to break a part.

Anyway, with this toy around, I am now considering should I get the DVD of the previous two Transformers Movies: Transformers and Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (Single-Disc Edition).


My First Successful Attempt of Taking Photos of Lightning

I find that taking photo of lightning bolt is a very difficult task. We need to be at the right place, right time and right equipment.

Lightning occurs very fast. Before we can react to snap, the lightning is over. To me, taking photo of lightning bolt was like a gamble. We have to snap before the lightning strike.

I had attempted to take photos of the lightning before on a stormy night, but without any success. I remembered very clearly, that evening, I saw a lot of lightning flash. But I could not tell the actual direction where the lightning was occurring.


Camera with the Biggest LCD

During a recent event, when the models were doing cat walk on the stage, most of the audience was busy clicking off the cameras, taking photos of the models. I noticed a man, not too far away in front, holding a very bright panel. And he was taking photo with it.


Noodle, Fried Rice and Omelet in Phuket

During a dinner in Phuket, we ordered a noodle, a fried rice and omelet. These three dishes gave us much surprise on the tasty, value-for-money Thai cooking.

First we had the Seafood soup noodles. The noodle was a white color type. There are a generous serving of seafood. There were prawns, squids and vegetables in the soup.
Thai Soup Noodle

When the fried rice was served, it looked like just a simple plate of fried rice. However, upon further look, we found the gems were all buried in the rice. There were again prawns and squids hidden.
Thai Seafood Fried Rice

Just like the fried rice, the omelet looked like an egg bun, so originally looking. There was a knife provided. We used the knife to cut open the omelet. The gems were in there. Inside the omelet, there was a generous chili crab.
Thai Crab Omelet

This was another delicious meal I had in Phuket. And I know I will definitely miss the food there.


Updated My Sony Ericsson Xperia X-10 Mini Pro to Android 2.1

I saw an update message on my Sony Ericsson Xperia X-10 Mini Pro to tell me to update my phone to Android 2.1, out of the blue. I had been waiting to update this phone from Android 1.6 to Android 2.x. My wait is finally over.

According to Sony Ericsson’s website, the benefits of updating to Android 2.1 are as follows:

  1. Send files via Bluetooth
  2. New additional applications will be available in Market
  3. New Back up and restore application
  4. Multiple Google accounts
  5. Improved screen lock


A Day Cruise for Phi Phi Islands

“You may like to take a cruise to Phi Phi Islands, if you have not planned anythings for your stay in Phuket.”

That was the suggestion from the person who fetch us from the Airport to the hotel in Phuket. Since we had made no plans for our stay in Phuket, we took up the Phi Phi Cruise package.

There were two types of Phi Phi Cruise package provided by the Phi Phi Cruiser, the normal one at 1,500 Baht per person and the VIP one at 1,800 Baht per person. The VIP one included “Under Sea Aquarium at Coral Bay”. We took up the VIP ones.
Ko Phi Phi Don Harbor