Try Jusino brand. Some of their carbon fibre tripods are priced around RM500-600.

Looks ok... But aluminium kinda heavy. My cousin bought aluminium one and regretted didnt buy a carbon fibre one...

I did do some research while back to search for 10 stops ND. Hoya is a good one too, but some people said BW is better. But those are too pricey for me. Now I'm aiming for second hand Hoya HMC ND400 instead, only 8 stops but I don't mind.

Thinking to get a portable drybox too, any specific model for a newcomer?
I always move so need a portable one.

not sure about phone but i use this

it working on D7000 and D600 (tested)

but like the review on the page, the plastic material become sticky after sometime...i put it into drybox then it turn back to normal.

The remote is only about RM40 or less.

Yes, if using Android, just go to google play to search for 'Camera Remote', FOC. But u need phone that support IR blaster. Currently i'm using this apps on my S4 to remote my D3200.

Yup. Press once open shutter as long as u like until u press again to close the shutter. Just download to try, no harm, FOC somemore.

Yup. Press once open shutter as long as u like until u press again to close the shutter. Just download to try, no harm, FOC somemore.

Curtin university, sarawak campus in Miri


DSC_5595_596_597_598_599_600_601 by QiAnG92, on Flickr

I would definitely prefer without the "bokeh" flowers in front... find it a bit distracting.

Vignetting... A curse and sometimes can be a plus point depending on what you plan to do.

Anyway, shooting NEF would let you play around with how much you want vignetting or don't want vignetting.
Yes, buy what you can afford. Camera body is just part of the equation for IQ. When recommending FX body, you need to recommend good lenses as well. Good lenses cost money and adds up to the starting cost of a newbie.
Nice. Looks like vampires / zombies gonna come out from those houses. 
Taiwan? 
This is one of those landmark places for me to go. 

Thanks for the tips. High security area usually tripod not allowed. Summer time not hot?
Yup. Higher end camera bodies and lenses don't drop so much as compared to the consumer type DSLRs.
Coolpix 800 > D70 > D2Hs > D300 > D40x > D700 > D800 > ??? <Canon 1DX>? 

Hmmm, looks like I went up high and slowly came back to normal again. 
True true. BTW, which kind of hobby is defined as a need instead of want? 
Like they say, we grow into the hobby. No way out.