well.... thanking you all for some great advices and inputs.
and after some thoughts, bought an XSi kit (18-55 IS plus 75-300 III) on Boxing day for around US$740.
now is trying to sell the zoom lens for a macro lens fund.
well then.... I'll make another thread or post somewhere else for chit chat
*edit: almost forgot... I made a flickr account, I'm winm there.
is currently empty, and most likely I'll upload trial and error shots.
thanks again to everyone