So after some long considerations, I decided to get myself a new camera to replace my old used to be trusted Canon Powershot S50 which has been very good for the past 6 years, following me wherever I go.
Now, the S50 is starting to be a real pain in the ***. The metal casing is starting to crack again even after I’ve sent it to the service center last year. And it’s getting very, very slow in responding. Probably I’m impatient.
The S50 still working today but the longer I use my 40D, the more I feel I need a replace the S50.
I wanted a camera to complement my40D.
The size is important.
I don’t want a brick like my 40D to carry everywhere. Something of a size of my palm just fits nicely. I can put it in pockets and convenient enough for me to carry wherever I wanted and reduce the attention the 40D gets.
Functionality is also important.
I want a camera that has the similar functions of a DLSR; ie: manual settings and raw capabilities. The S50 has similar functionality, so there is no way I would want something lesser than that.
Besides, it needs to be also a good underwater camera.
I don’t want to be buying another camera just for diving, nor would I want to bring my 40D down to the depths of the ocean. If the casing is flooded, not only my 40D is a gone case, the underwater housing is also gone. And the underwater housing costs as much as the 40D body.
Based on these 3 considerations, I started to look for a new camera. Canon is always the brand I turn to. So, there’s not really much to look. Just look for the top P&S range of camera and I’ll have my camera.
Powershot G9 was my previous choice. But I didnt get it as I couldn’t justify the purchase to myself. Over the years, I’ve learned not to purchase something based on emotion (ie: just because I wanted it), and then justify it by logic.
9 out of 10 times, I just could not justify it. That was a year ago. The G9 can wait, I told myself.
Late last year, the Powershot G10 was released. And 7 weeks ago I really saw the need to have one.
And since then, it’s been nothing but great.
Canon Poweshot G10
A Genuine Taxi Meter
For all my 4 weeks here here, I only took taxi from this one company, Mailinh.Whether it’s to go to office, back to hotel, sightseeing or anywhere I wanted to go in and around Hanoi, Mailinh it is.
The other evening, we were somewhere in downtown Hanoi wanted to go to the Old Quater after dinner. I would say it’s probably 2km away if the taxi takes the furthest route.
Because there were no Mailinh taxis nearby, so we just took another company, Taxi CP since it’s only 2km (at the furthest) away.
After 5 minutes in the taxi, I noticed the meter was already at 3.5km and it’s fare is 38,000 VND. I wondered how far could we get around downtown Hanoi in just 5 minutes?
3.5km? You must be joking.
For the sake of comparison, I pay around 60,000 – 75,000 VND daily to office for a 25-30 minutes, 6-7 km taxi ride.
So I kept quiet until we reached our destination. At the end, it was 75,000 VND for 7.5km. Argued with him but like most of the taxi drivers here, he doesn’t understand a single word of English. Instead, he kept pointing to the meter.
At the end, we ended up with 60,000 VND. Till now, I was not really satisfied as the actual far would be just around 20,000 VND. Next time, remember to make sure that the taxi meter is enclosed in a sealed case. This taxi didn’t have teh sealed case.
Anyway, that’s just another bad taxi experience we all get.
Some time last year, I wrote about why I prefer SQ compared to MAS albeit the 2 hours transit time in Changi. The last time I was on a MH plane was November 2008, and the one before it was October 2007. I was flying SQ all the time in between.
A few weeks back, I was at the MAS office in Penang to inquire about redeeming all my remaining miles. Since I don’t plan to fly with them anymore, I didn’t care what sort of Enrich card they’re giving me. I was on a photocopy Blue Enrich card for 3 years and they don’t bother to send me a real card even I’m eligible to be upgraded to Silver card already.
Over the years, I made several requests to them to send me the real card but nothing arrived (usually they’ll send you the card upon registering and activating your account).
I complained again that day. But I didn’t hope to get anything out of it since I don’t plan to fly with them anymore.
Yesterday, to my surprise, they sent an Enrich Gold card to my home.
Upon checking out their website to see what’s in for me for the Gold card, I do find certain useful benefits which might make me consider MAS again under certain circumstances.
Here they are :
Golden Lounge
All Enrich Gold members, even when traveling Economy Class, will be invited to use the Golden Lounge. You will also be allowed to invite one guest who is flying on Malaysia Airlines to join you at the Golden Lounge. At airports where Malaysia Airlines has no Golden Lounges, Enrich Gold members will be entitled access to third party lounges (only for departures).
Priority Check-in
Priority Check-In allows you to check-in for your flight at any available Business Class and First Class counter, no matter what class you’re travelling on.
Priority Boarding
Enjoy Priority Boarding which allows you to pre-board the aircraft at the same time as First Class and Business Class passengers, even when you’re flying Economy Class.
and the MOST IMPORTANT one of all…
Excess Baggage Allowance
An additional 50% excess baggage allowance over and above the entitlement of your class of travel will be awarded to you wherever and whenever you fly with us.
Flying with MH again?
Maybe…
