I’ve shifted my Day 1 entry up to make the entire Taiwan trip a continuous series ‘cos I finally finished editing the photos so I’m sorta ready to blog now!

We booked a private taxi (according to online recommendations) for a day to take us to Keelung with the driver acting as our tour guide.
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Visiting Taiwan is one out of three things I wanna do in 2012, and I’m so glad it happened with three steady pom pi pi girlfriends. Read the rest of the entry

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So, I’ve been holding the ZR20 for two weeks, and as promised in my first post, here are some shots that I’ve taken using her.

Macro

This is always the first thing that I test out on a new camera. I like looking at the focusing length, the details it captures, and the depth of field.

The ZR20 scored very well in macro mode.

It can go as near as 2cm to the subject.

HDR

A lot of people happily use the HDR mode without knowing what it means. Firstly, it stands for High Dynamic Range, and it is a imaging method used to allow a greater dynamic range between the lightest and darkest areas of a photo.

To put it very simply, a normal shot is taken at only one exposure level and this results in loss of detail. HDR solves the problem but traditional HDR is very tedious to do. You have to take multiple shots at different exposure levels (at least three) and then stitch them together manually using computer software to produce a photo that is representative in both dark and bright areas.

ZR20 automates the entire process with just a click.

Rollover the image to see the difference between a HDR shot and a normal shot.

HDR Art

For people (like me) who want their HDR photos dramatic, ZR20 offers the HDR Art mode.

Check out the amount of details it brings out.

Love the vibrancy!

You can even take a video in the HDR Art mode.

Multi SR Zoom

One of the most impressive features is the Multi Frame Super-Resolution Zoom. It is a kind of digital zoom that merges a burst of multiple images together to improve image resolution, unlike the normal digital zoom which simply stretches the pixels which deteriorates image quality.

The Multi SR Zoom for the ZR20 can go up to 16X.

Rollover image to see how far I was actually away from the very-fierce-cat-that-I-do-not-wish-to-go-near-to, or maybe you still don’t believe ‘cos I can always walk towards it.

Then how about this?

I can’t go up to the construction area right! (Same thing, rollover to see my actual distance before super zooming in.)

Slide Panorama

Just hold the camera upright, and as the name suggests, slide it across the scene while pressing the shutter button.

There you have, a panorama stitched automatically for you. No software required at all. (Click to enlarge.)

Art Shot

For the artsy fartsy and fun side of you. Here are three of the inbuilt effects available only on the ZR20.

Minature.

Toy Camera (literally).

Monochrome.

The rest of the effects includes Soft Focus, Sepia, Light Tone, and Pop.

Chio Bu Mode

Last but not least, the ZR20 will detect pretty babes and make them even prettier!

Don’t vomit, I’m kidding. But basically, there’s this make-up level you can select and the camera removes flaws and perfects complexions when capturing faces. I personally think that the ZR20 does this quite naturally because it only affects the face area and not blur the entire photo. Good for girls who want to cheat people’s feelings online HAHAHAH!

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Saw this at Little India earlier on, and I couldn’t help but take a photo.

Then, I thought of a photo going viral in Facebook a while ago.

Indian cum HAHAHAHAHA. (Photo credit: Eileena Lee.)

Someone please cum forth and take action prease. Stop approving all these kind of sai names lei.

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This video pretty much says it all. I’m surprised I managed to fit 10 days worth of travel videos into 8 minutes (even shorter than my 5-day Krabi trip video).

Anyhows, all in all, Europe 2012 was really a trip of a lifetime for my whole family. It was the best 10 days and the best (almost) $20K spent – having tremendous amount of family bonding, experiencing different cultures, being in awe every moment, overdosing on breads cheese hams and eggs, drinking expensive water, peeing in paid toilets, etc.

Gotta give it to the itinerary and service by Hong Thai travel. They really did a splendid job and for once, I actually enjoyed a package tour and I LOVE the fact that there wasn’t any visitation to those “tok tourists shops.” For those who are interested, the package we took was 12D Romantic Europe, but do note that 2 days are spent on flying so technically speaking, there is only 10 days of tour.

Regarding the safety issues and many terrifying Europe crime stories that we’ve heard, I guess personal alertness is the most important. Prolly joining a package tour also halved the risk, but it still boils down to individuals. If you are blur and flashy all the time, then serves you right if you are robbed / pickpocketed / kidnapped.

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I’m currently staying at Loti’s house alone because his whole family went on a holiday (for two weeks!) and they have a fat cat to feed so I offered myself.

When I was single, I was quite keen on the idea of staying alone in the future. I don’t mind being #foreveralone if I have a nice house. But the hard truth is, this is only the fourth day and I’m getting a lil’ sick of it. Plus the cat isn’t helping. The cat has always been hostile to everybody except for Loti and his mum, and she hisses whenever I go near her. I was told that if I feed her, she wouldn’t do this to me, but sadly, NO. She hissed at me and even smacked me lightly this morning damnit. I shall starve her tmr morning and wait for her to succumb to me for food *evil laughs.

Anyways, here are some of my thoughts on living alone.

LOTI WHERE ARE YOU! FASTER COME BACK!

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People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for the reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it, it is real. But only for a season!

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

- Author unknown

Thanks for being there for a reason.

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