Photos from my Holga

    I really couldn't recall the last time I used a film based camera. I recently bought a Holga camera and started clicking away at once. Here are some of the testing shots. I'm loving my new camera!

My new camera

View from the top. 

Can you see me?

Sniff...Sniff... what's in there?

Petronas Twin Tower on a sunny day

This shot look as if it's taken in the 80s

Interesting graffiti

I just love the colour. Very vintage!

Fisheye view

My trip to Hualien, Taiwan

   All year long, for the past few years, I mainly travel for work. I travelled to the point where I've become a very regular customer to Mr. Taxi Driver. He is so sure of seeing me again, he doesn't say goodbye but see you next month!
   However, I do try to make a personal trip to somewhere at least once a year. This year, I visit the spiritual home of Tzu Chi, the Jing Si Abode in Hualien. I was there for a five day camp for new volunteers. It's so inspiring to see and listen first hand, from senior volunteers who have done humanity work all around the world. Most importantly, I get to listen to the founder of Tzu Chi, Master Cheng Yen's dharma talk. I am truly humbled by her wisdom and compassion.
  There are many memorable talks given by the speakers. But there is one in which sent chills to my spine. What is it that's so horrifying? It's actually a talk on environmental protection. The speaker showed us some statistics on the rate of destruction. It is rapidly increasing at an alarming state! Every 1.7 seconds, trees from areas of the size a football field are being felled. It may take years of recycling to reuse back the papers that are from these trees. Destruction is working a lot faster than saving & protection.
   Plastic bags & Polystyrene carriers that takes AGES to disintegrate or NOT AT ALL are clogging our drains & filling up our landfills. Goods that are still in working conditions are being thrown away and also filling up our landfills. Foods are being wasted when there are hungry people who do not have enough to eat or to feed...The list goes on and on....
  I used to use a lot of plastic bags and use papers like nobody's business. I was aware that it does nothing good to Mother Earth and always felt guilty of it. But, I didn't act. I didn't play my part. I wanted to but I see no one's doing it, so I don't too. However, after being a recycling volunteer, I decide to change my ways. And I find it very easy after making the decision.
  Nowadays, I am more mindful of the things that I use. Now, every time I leave the house I always make sure I  have foldable recycling bags, my own chopsticks & spoon, a water tumbler & a handkerchief with me. My family has become very environmental friendly as well. We recycle whatever that can be recycled and do compost. We manage to minimize our garbage to just one bag.
  I believe that every step one takes starts with a single decision. I do hope more friends will join me in protecting this ONE EARTH we live in, for our future generations...

  Waiting at KLIA

 An educational display of the recyclables

At the exhibition hall

 I helped a volunteer took a picture of her hugging this globe. Once taken, she told me that since she has hug the world, she has the responsibility to take care of it. I felt so touch by her remark...

A senior volunteer giving her talk.

Crops in Jing Si Abode

Volunteers walking towards the lecture hall

Very yummy vegetarian food!

The friendly, warm & compassionate volunteers in Hualien gave me very good memories to keep. I find this Jing Si Aphorism even more meaningful now 

A male doll

    It's been a long, long while since I posted anything here. Things have been very busy lately. I didn't get to make as many dolls as I like. But having said that, when a loyal customer came calling me to make her a doll, how could I said no!

    This time round, she asked me to make a male doll for her. I immediately said yes because I've never make a male doll. So this is an opportunity to test my skill! After much research and trials, I finally came up with this doll. I used a female body pattern and altered it to a male body structure. It's basically has a wider shoulder, narrower hip and a larger arm and hand.

Baldy looks a bit androgynous here..

After drawing the face, I moved on to making the hair. I had to patiently glue in strips of hair onto the head. After the grueling part, time for the fun part! That's styling the hair.... here is the many types of hairstyles!

The nerdy look

The grunge look

There's something about Manly...

The perfect hairstyle

He is a hip, urban male working in the city. Therefore, he needs a pair of shoes. They are made of fake leather and black clay.

The shoe

I just love styling the doll! It's my favourite part. After that, photo session time..

Close up

Hand in his pocket

He can sit and stand

The final product.

My customer loves him! Another satisfied customer is another satisfied me! As I am blogging, I have another idea for another doll....

5 things I love about Malaysia

There are five things I love about Malaysia. Being a frequent traveler, I get to see a lot of cultures and experience life as a local in some of the countries. Every trip, no matter how mundane, definitely has it's highlights and perks. The people, the culture & the places, this is what, in my opinion, makes a country unique.

Having said that, I've come to appreciate Malaysia & her uniqueness more. As the plane lands on the runway of KLIA or LCCT, the pilot would welcome us with the line " ... and as for Malaysians, welcome home.." This never fail to tug my heartstrings every time I hear it. You know what they say, home is where the heart is :-)

So here are the five things I love about my country:

1) Colours and cultures of different races that made 1 Malaysia

Every where I go, I am familiar with the cultures of other races. And where else could I have such a sound cultural education?

2) The FOOD!

When I travel, I would usually crave for nasi lemak, maggi mee goreng ,vegetarian char kuey teow and a good cup of kopi ice ! And also, it's so easy being a vegetarian here!

3) The Petronas Twin Tower

It doesn't matter that our Twin Tower isn't the tallest in the world anymore. It's majestic beauty never cease to captivate me

4) Peaceful country

We, Malaysians, are really a blessed bunch of people. We live in a country free from natural disaster. We are also living peacefully without major issues like war & famine. I, for one, am truly grateful of this.

For the past one and half years, I have been actively involved in volunteer work. I've had the opportunity to work in a medical mission for war refugees in Sri Lanka. What have I gain from this experience? I see normal human beings lives been altered due to war. They just want to live peacefully but circumstances doesn't allow them to. Peace and destruction is separated by a very fragile fine line. I've come to appreciate the tolerance we have for each other.

This is me working in Sri Lanka. I may look very tired here. But I've had a great experience and am so grateful for this opportunity.

I am a Tzu Chi volunteer. I joined in the effort to raise fund for the Haiti Earthquake earlier this year. We went to pasar pagi & malam to raise funds. I am touched by the generosity of fellow Malaysians.

Last but not least, the 5th thing I love about Malaysia? That is my family & friends. Home is where the heart is. No matter where I travel to, I always am happy to be home with my family & friends. Happy Merdeka everyone!

Male Doll (Work in Progress)

I was given an opportunity by a wonderful customer to make a male doll. This is my first attempt! I really hope it will turn out well. I really like to thank my lovely customer for having such patience to wait for this doll. I certainly do not wish to disappoint her!

Jongker Kidd

He is fun.

He is crazy.

He is colourful.

He is a wrestler.

He is Jongker Kidd.

He is a hand painted teddy bear I made a few years back. I had so much fun painting him! As you can see, he looks like a Mexican pro wrestler. I've always find these wrestlers very eccentric. Their colours and prints are so vibrant & alive. So, when I started painting Jongker Kidd, I immediately know he is just as eccentric!

He has been there and done that with the world of wrestling. Now, he loves to travel and sometimes pose for the camera.

Loving the local cuisine

Posing at the landmark of Melaka

By the way, I didn't have a name for him for a long time. My brother gave me the idea of naming him Jongker Kidd when I brought him along on our family photography trip to Jongker Street, Melaka. He blends in perfectly with the colours of the street!

Maybe one fine day, I will create a teddy bear version of my favourite wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin! Hahaha..... not a bad idea to toy with ;)

Brenda (Work in progress)

This is Brenda, the rocker chick. While Phoebe is the fashion darling and Adia is the carefree spirit, Brenda is the musical one. She is my tribute to my favourite band from the 80s, Journey.

Sitting pretty ... waiting to be dressed

I have just painted her face. So, I put on a wig and snap a picture of her

Sewing her hair on is a real challenge. Synthetic hair isn't easy to work with. By the time I'm done, I have got hair all over my work table.

I am, however, very pleased with the result.

And now, she need to be dressed.....

Farewell! My dear Miko

Two weeks ago, Miko has left us to continue with her journey... I still find it hard to write this without tearing up. But I have to accept that life is impermanent. And when our affinity ends, we have to say our goodbyes. After, the passing of three beloved rabbits, it's easier to accept and let go this time. Life still goes on... Thank you for the good memories, Miko

Life is a journey;

we board an express train at birth

and head for the unavoidable destination of death

The scenery drifts by, and the only meaningful thing we can do

is to be good and kind to our fellow passengers

- Master Cheng Yen-

Adia

On one late night, I was deep asleep in my bed, warm and comfortable. Suddenly, I woke up to the sounds of my dog, Shiver, banging on the door. Oh no! It's going to rain heavily soon and I won't be able to have a good night sleep because Shiver will continue barking until the rain stops!

Right after the groans of the thunder & the sharp, crisp cracks of the lightning, heavy rain started pouring down. I realize then that my Sarah McLachlan playlist was still playing on my Ipod (I need music to lull me to sleep every night). The soothing vocals of Sarah McLachlan is a comfort compared to the violent thunder & rain out there. My thoughts goes to Shiver, Miko & Leo (who was still with us then) who have to brave the rain in the verandah. I, on the other hand, is warm & comfortable in my bed.

Suddenly, I have an idea for a doll. I pictured her almost instantly, sitting on an open field, enjoying nature & just being in her own world. And I named her Adia, after one of my favourite Sarah McLachlan song.

Work in progress..I used a more advance pattern for this doll.

Work in progress… close up of the face

Work in progress… back view

Finished doll… sitting on the grass, enjoying nature

Just like I imagined… minus the daffodils

Closed up shot of Adia