John Ragai's Travel Life

Friday, November 7, 2014

New Opening: dal.Komm Coffee

As I walk from Maybank to HSBC Bank in UPTOWN, Damansara this afternoon, I can not help but eager to know more of one new coffee drinking outlet opening which I later known the outlet as dal.komm Coffee. The unique name and beautiful bouquet of congratulating flowers at the side and entrance of the outlet drive my wife to push me to press the auto-door.

Reluctantly I pressed the auto-door and a soothing music with friendly smiles of the staffs greet us. Not bad for first impression.

I am not a heavy coffee drinker but I love roasted coffee once awhile and not to forget Alicafe Tongkat Ali and Old Town White Coffee original, two of my favourite.

Superb interior design with soothing music and well trained staffs with friendly gesture and fast helping hands with alert eyes for the guests in need for their help.

Location wise, it's very strategic as at it's back is Maybank and at the side is HSBC. A Good place to catch-up with friends after office hours or cut a deal with customers.

The offering: Customers seemed satisfactory and my wife seems happy with her take-away drink.

Here is the images taken during our visit to the outlet taken with Olympus OMD E-M5 and lens 45mm f1.8

Street to Street : Photo Exhibition.01

After months of planning, selecting, printing and arranging, a group of passionate Malaysia Street Photographers which comprise of Alifga Wausin aka Agoes Alwie, Dr. Yamin Ismail, John Ragai aka Moment Catcher, Mahfuz Jaffar, Syed Omar Al-Ghamidy, Wak Li aka Rosli Natiman and Wan Zuharuddin finally made their works display to the public on Sunday, October 12th, 2014 by the river bank next to HSBC, Kuala Lumpur. Initially it was planned to be at Laman Medan Pasar which is in-front of HSBC.
Most of these street photographers are from Fotografi Jalanan Malaysia(FJM) and also from KL Street Photographers(KLSP). Please note that you may also find these two groups on Flickr.
What being done before the event?
Alifga Wausin is the main co-ordinator, Wan Zuharuddin takes care of printing while Syed Omar Al-Ghamidy in-charge of arranging the sequence of photos. I believe the rest have their own tasks to make the event a success but I am just being there and hopefully I can help more in the future event. Thank you for your hard work, team. Thank you also goes to those who come to support us.

Here are the images of the event today.

All images taken with Olympus OM-D E-M5 with 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 and 45mm f1.8

Agoes gives his last touch

Olympus Street Photography Walkabout-Petaling Street

Greetings dear friends and I would like to share with you another wonderful day of fun in the street of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Last Saturday, September 6th, I have joined Olympus Street Photography Walkabout-Petaling Street which was organised by Robin Wong, a recognised Malaysian Street Photographer and the event fully backed by Olympus Malaysia. It's being a privilage and really glad to walk and shot with Robin Wong and the awesome Olympus users. I am also glad to see a few familiar faces like Luke Ding, an Admin for KL Street Photographers on Facebook and Flickr and Amir, who is also a KL Street Photographer member. Beside I also meet for the first time my Facebook fiends like Johan Sopiee.

I specially thanks Robin Wong for lending me his M.Zuiko lens 25mm F1.8 which I plan to purchase but I have to get a real feel of it in the street first. Verdict: It's awesome lens for street and meet my shooting style.

On the other note, I am admin for a Flickr group called OMD Street Photographers. Feel free to join the group if you are on Flickr. You also may join KL Street Photographer (Flickr) and KL Street Photographers (Facebook)

I started off my journey from Kelana Jaya LRT Station at 8.33AM where my beloved wife Agnes dropped my off and I thank Robin Wong for arranging this walk to start at 9.00AM instead of his normal time of 8.00AM. I reached at Pasar Seni LRT Station at 8.55AM and made a good rush to Central Market, our meeting place for the event.

Here is our fun and joyful journey through the street of Petaling Street.

All images taken with Olympus OM D E-M5 and lens 25mm f1.8 or otherwise stated.

Luke and Amir

Robin taking out his M.Zuiko 25mm f1.8 for me.

From here onward, I am using loaned M.Zuiko 25mm F1.8

500px Global Photo Walk 2014-Kuala Lumpur

On Saturday, September 6th 2014 was a hectic day for me as my wife and I have to wake up early in the morning to participate in our company Charity Run event. And after the event, I plan to go to Kuala Lumpur to participate in another event namely 500px Global Photo Walk 2014.

Side note: On September 1st, I have twisted my lower back muscle which left me in pain even to walk and what more to run or a long walk. It was even pain while I sit. On Friday, I was still on pain killer to relieve the pain and in desperation, I make a deal with my God whom created me and I know He always love me that if He allow me to run without pain on Saturday, I promise to read and meditate on one verse of the Holy Scripture each day. Actually this is for my own good as lately I am abit lazy to read the Holy Scripture.

My prayers being answered and I ran the race comfortably where I led the first 1.5 KM. After that I slow down due to not enough stamina and finished the race at number 7. I took photos for the event before I have a short shower and head for Kuala Lumpur. My beloved wife, Agnes dropped me at Taman paramount LRT Station and I arrived at Pasar Seni LRT station at 10.15AM and took my first shot at 10.17AM which was the first below image.

I never thought that I will met those who joined the 500px Global Photo Walk but as I walk towards Petaling Street from Central Market, I heard someone called, "JOHN!!, JOHN!!". I thought my ears play a fool on me. Sure enough it's no other then my group friends whom had walked the street with me the week earlier. Wak Li is the one who called me.

Below are the photos taken during our walk on that day. Eventhough the theme for the 500px Global Photo Walk was Patterns and Signs instead recorded their moments for the day beside shots of strangers in the street.

All photos taken with Olympus OM D E-M5 and lenses M.Zuiko 12-50mm f3.5-6.3 & 45mm f1.8