MNS Miri Branch New Committee for 2011-2012

MNS Miri concluded their Branch AGM held at Baraya Laut Resort, Kpg Baraya, Miri, Sarawak 30th July 2011 with the election of fresh faces for branch Committee. The AGM went smoothly with twenty-two stalwart members attending the event.

The new committee,

Chairperson : Peter Pillai

Vice-Chairperson : Musa Musbah

Secretary : Joyce Sivalingam

Treasurer : Amer Matridi Mansor

Committee : Miriam Chacko, Marlene Lim (Co-opted)

Immediate-past Chairperson : Anura Dason

Those in attendance were later treated to an early dinner consisting of kelupis and satay ordered specially for the occasion. Dinner was then followed by a short firefly cruise along Sg Raan for members and their family.

Special mention goes to Committee members from 2010-2011 who made this event all possible.

Here's to another productive year for MNS Miri!

MNS Miri

Kuala Baram Morning

Felt like a morning out by the lagoon listening to Yellow-bellied Prinia, Striated Grassbird, Asian Glossy Starling, Pied Triller and Collared Kingfisher instead of the tiresome drone of the workstation in the office.

How soothing the pounding waves are in the right setting.

Little mangrove claiming it's rightful place on the mudflats, this area was previously lined with nipah palm which got eroded away in time. A few feet from the erosion control boulders, native plants are slowly claiming it's stake.


Purple Heron perched on top a an established mangrove plant. At other times there'd be Grey Heron, Collared Kingfisher and Common Kingfisher on the branches.

Little mudskippers playing at the water's edge. Bigger mudskippers restrict themselves to a brackish stagnant pond nearby which is connected to the lagoon at high tide.


"Hey, your lovelies, do you come around 'ere often?"

Paradise in small little unpretentious packages makes the 10 minute drive out here worthwhile, everytime.

Aisya is 9 years old!

Aisya celebrated her 9th birthday, 02nd July, at home with an American Chocolate cake, Mommy, Daddy and her big brother Ali.

Aisya's big koko, her bestest friend and sparring partner.

At brunch the week before her birthday ... counting the hours to her 09th birthday.

Graduated her three wheeler to a two wheeler which she herself timed to coincide with her birthday. The bike was purchased approximately a month ago and she's been on it (with the 3rd wheel attached) every chance she got. On her birthday, the support wheels went off and spinning around the porch she goes!

Keluang Fly-by ....

About twenty of these big flying foxes made a flyby our house one morning, probably from the same flock from Kuala Niah that got blown over by an impending storm over the horizon. We have never seen these fellas before in the neighbourhood. Hope to see more of them ...

Tried my new wide this morning: Tokina ATX 11-16/2.8 Pro DX

Many fellow photographers have been saying many good things about this lens, thought I'd jump onto the bandwagon. Might as well since the widest lens I have now is only the Canon kit lens 18-85 that came with the 40D I bought a few years back.

Honey, hurry back ...

Pop!

Leica 90/2.8 on Vaio by Tokina 11-16/2.8

My absolute favorite wide has to be the chrome CV 15/4.5, focus free at 5.6 on a rangefinder ... on film. The Tokina would be closest to that on the 40D and 7D at 11/2.8. The "advantage" of quick digital images and distadvantage of bulky digital SLR.

Now waiting for an opportune moment to make wide sky shots of twinkling stars!

The Tokina ATX 11-16/2.8 PRO DX is available online at www.shashinki.com and possibly Yu-Teck Enterprise at Merdeka Mall, Miri, Sarawak.