Saturday, March 20, 2010

Nearby Penang coast

Went to this fishing trip while we were on holiday to Penang. Weather was so nice, sea was calm and clear water that allowed me to go for this trip. Though it was so called last minute trip, as I only brought my reel and rod. Since it was go ahead, my other friend prepared the rest of the equipment and the itinerary.

Once we were on boat, we went to pick up the octopus from the sea. It was always the same spot, where the death seashell was thrown to the sea, surrounded by mud. The octopus will eventually goes inside the shell for hiding. When we pull up the shell from the sea into the boat, we were waiting for a while. Then the octopus will comes out from the shell and we will keep the octopus in the tank.

Once we throw the octopus into the tank, those octopus will spit out a thick blackish ink making the tank becomes black in color. The main coloring agent of the ink is melanin, which is the same chemical that gives humans their hair and skin color. As the boat moving, the water will be filtered and changed with the water outside from the boat, and once again making the water clear.

It was a good night. We did change for few spots during the night, and luck was on our side. And for this trip, it was one of my first few trip. Hence, I didn't manage to catch many but other fella fisherman able to get their fishes. In total, we able to get more than 20 fishes on that night alone. Once we landed, we dividing the fish equally. Hopefully I'm able to go for the next trip again on this nice island.

2nd Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon 2010

Location: Precinct 2, Putrajaya

This is the second year Malaysia hosting this event. We came here early in the morning to catch the morning session of the photo shooting session. Since it is Saturday, we decided to come early to avoid the jam. Soon, we were allowed to enter the compound for the photo shooting.

There is a bag called envelope where the pilot will lay it on the ground. We shouldn't step on the envelope as the pilot is preparing to blow the air into it.

At first, the hot air balloon is partially inflated with cold air from a gas-powered fan, before the propane burner is used for final inflation. I'm so lucky to get a view to catch this photo.

When the envelope starts to grow, there is a co-pilot helping to pull the string, which is tied to the top of the envelope. This need to be done slowly.

From here, one can see the envelope start to ascent and start to form like the shape of the balloon. At this stage, the pilot will start blowing the hot air into the balloon.

There is a burner that attached to the basket at each of the balloon. It will injects a flame into the envelope, heating the air within. The heater is fueled by propane, a liquidfied gas stored in pressure vessel.

This is how the envelope looks alike from the basket whenever the hot air balloon is ready to take off.

We are very fortunate to see all the hot air balloons ready to take off at almost the same time. Since the area is limited due located next to a lake, those balloons will one at a time. It will fly for quite a distance before landing. When landing, there will be vehicle pick up the pilot and the balloon.

For this year Fiesta Balloon, it does comes with new design such as Dark Vader and Levi's Jean.

There are also concurrent activities held at the same time such as para-motors, remote control aircraft flying display etc.

Hopefully this event will keep going on.