weekend update

I desperately need a quiet weekend for myself. But it’s not until the 4th week of March that I can finally get some.

See this weekend, I am off to Kuantan for team building. Not so ‘gungho’ on the Amazing Race but more on Retro Night party and photo session with Eunice at the beach. Both warrants to satisfy my constant need to photograph ’something’ :p

Next weekend would be election day, which also warrants a photography session. Not forgetting the arrival of my mini moo cards! Yay! Finally getting my own call cards.

Next next weekend, will be busy helping out a friend at an international event as a Powerpoint Operator. Gee, wonder what’s that gonna be like. Pray that I don’t make a fool of myself :p

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Update:
Turns out that the Amazing race was awesome! We came out 4th place – competing with the other 90 over teams. With that we won RM600 cash vouchers, and additional RM200 cash voucher for our ‘Innovation Challenge’ on impersonating the characters in Pirates of the Caribbean wearing costume made out of newspaper!

Got a headache after that so didn’t have the mood to take pictures…sorry eunice!

write I must

One of the things that I enjoyed doing when I am not out taking photos is writing. And truth be told that I put my thoughts better in paper than speech.

I’ve always admire writers because they have the influential power to change the world. Or rather, change the way we perceive the world. Be it a little piece of food review to mind boggling, soul shaking piece of news on refugees in a war forsaken country.

Writing has always been a passion that sits quietly at the corner of my heart. Too shy to come out and play due to it’s inadequacy .

But in Karen’s book, when she dreams hard enough, it becomes a reality.

revisiting jogja

I am so happy today because my leave has been approved! And so, I’ve decided to visit Jogja again :p To peep into the guest book and get the cute German hottie’s name (pray let him be on facebook!), and to settle my unfinished business with Borobudur’s sunset! I don’t care of I have to hide behind the stones after 5pm (coz the park needs to be cleared after 5pm).
As my friend Muji said – nothing is impossible in Indonesia!

a slow but steady journey

Believe it or not, over the passed 2 months, I’ve been to the National Zoo 3 times! Photographing animals is so much fun! And guess what! I’ve signed up for volunteering work at the zoo, taking photographers of little children riding horses or holding the parrot. (something like that I think ;p)

My photography journey has been great so far. I’ve been booked for 3 weddings, 1 family portrait, 1 model shoot to date and a maternity shot that’s been booked (way) head of time hehe. On top of that, travel plans has been made for travel photography!

I didn’t think photography can give me so much joy. Through my lens I’ve learned to look beyond the subject, feel their way of thinking and feeling as though they were my own and try to capture that ‘moment’ which I think surpasses whatever technique there is on paper.

If there is one thing that I can be certain of in life (right now) – this is it.

Photo session – FRIM

These photographs were taken last Saturday with my colleague Licia at FRIM (Forest Research Institute Malaysia).

5 hours of shooting resulted in nursing an aching body the day after hehe… But it gave me a taste of how it’s like being a ‘photographer’ :)

Hide and seek

An unconventional photo on loneliness and abandonment.

A candid shot of Licia putting the flower behind her ear

A ‘Pantene’ moment

Click here for more >

Day 5 – Solo to KL

Reality bites. It happens all the time, the night before I leave a foreign land, I drop dead into a deep depression.

I came to Jogja with the sole intention to photograph Borobudur Temple. Didn’t manage to get any great shots but gotten so much more in return!

The people and friends I came to know, their rich culture and creativity that comes alive in graffiti, batik patterns, and painting definitely warrants a 2nd visit.

For more photos on Solo and Jogja, click here.

Day 4 – Jogja to Solo

The morning came and Katot was no where to be found. I was told he went out for breakfast. I could have waited since I have another 2 hours before the train leaves for Solo, but I didn’t…I don’t know why I didn’t and it felt like shit afterwards, leaving without bidding farewell.

The waiting in the train station seems like forever. There were so many tracks and unlike in our KTM station, each train to a particular destination is predetermined to stop at a particular track. The passenger had to wait for the announcer to announce which train at which track for boarding. It’s too confusing…especially when I couldn’t understand a single word from the announcer. Perhaps I didn’t pay enough attention, somehow I just felt crappy leaving Jogja.

I hate leaving Jogja and the friends I came to know, who has shown so much sincerity and hospitality. Sucks…and it sucks even more with the realization that ‘play time’ is ending soon!

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I reached Solo at about 11am and had no clue which losmen to go to. After some bargaining with a becak driver who agreed to take me to Istana Griya for 10,000RP(RM4), I finally came to my senses that my holiday is ending soon and I had better enjoy my remaining hours in Indonesia than to sulk at what I should have done and didn’t do.

According to Lonely Planet, Istana Griya is high on the list of top places to stay in Solo. It’s not difficult to see why, tucked in a little alley behind the main street of Jl Slamet Riyadi, Istana Griya is a gem. Full of knowledgeable, english speaking staffs, comfortable rooms and a wide range of activities around Solo which could be arranged here. For 70,000RP(RM26), I get a double bed with private bathroom, TV and breakfast.

The rest of the afternoon was spend walking along Jl Slamet Riyadi. Unlike Jogja, the cries of ‘Becak’ is less frequent. Everyone just mind their own business, which is quite nice lah for a change.

I only managed to cruise around Pasar Triwindu (Solo’s flea market for antiques) before it started pouring again :s

Day 3 – Jogja (part 2)

At 7pm, Muji (a local friend who works at the money changer) appeared and ready to take me to the BEST nasi gudeg in Jogja :D

I wished Katot could come with us because we have so much to talk about! But the motorbike can’t fit the 3 of us so… :(

Anyway, nasi gudeg is a local specialty where unripe jackfruit is served with rice, chicken and tempe. It’s a must-try in everyone’s list to eat when you are in Jogja. Along with other local specialty like nasi uduk, scrabi, ronde and avocado juice haha!

After dinner we headed to Alun-alun selatan (not to be mistaken with the alun-alun with funfair), and had a blast laughing at blind-folded locals trying their luck to walk pass between 2 huge banyan trees. It seems that whoever succeeded would receive good fortune! It was really funny to see the locals walking round and round in cycles while their friends refuses to give exact direction to the banyan tree :p

After a few rounds of laughter, we headed back to the losmen. It was only 10.30pm and the lights were off. I had to tip-toed into my room and found Katot sleeping in the hall. I didn’t wanna wake him up and hopped to see him in the morning before I leave for Solo.

Day 3 – Jogja

One of the things I love about Jogja is that everyone is an early riser! The local usually gets up at 5am or Subuh Prayer. By 6am breakfast stalls were full of patrons. And the best part is that the sun rises at 5.30am! Which means we get to do so much more in a day! I totally love it! Since I am an early riser myself hehe…

I got up at 5am today and by 6am I was already looming at the streets with the locals and having breakfast at McDonalds! (a short note on Jogja’s McD…their ayam goreng taste much better than our Spicy KFC! A MUST try!)

After breakfast, I walked my way to the Kraton (city palace) to catch the Gamelan and Classical Dance performance. The 2km walk was extremely annoying. With becak driver calling out every few meters if I want a ride to the Kraton :s

Even though I had with me the map from Lonely Planet, I seriously had no idea where I was walking to because it can get quite confusing walking in Jogja. (although LP claimed that Jogja is a manageable city by foot!) With some help from the locals, I finally arrived at Alun-alun (‘tanah lapang’ /spacious land.) where the locals indulged in merry-go-rounds and amusement rides. And since its still an hour before the Kraton is opened to public, I plunged myself at a roadside warung for a cup of hot coffee and casual conversation with the lady boss :P

merah putih terus lah kau berkibar… di hujung tiang tertinggi..
di Indonesia ku ini…

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The Kraton is a huge palace of the Sultans in Jogja and a small walled city within the city where 25000 people lived within the Kraton compound.

Much to see in the Kraton museum, where most of the exhibits were dedicated to the beloved Sultan Hamengkubuwono IX.

The beloved Sultan of Jogja

After a good few hours in the Kraton, watching Gamelan and Classical Dance performances, I headed to Pasar Beringharjo for batik SHOPPING! It’s fun shopping in Jogja because you’ll be spoiled for choices! But be prepared to bargain real hard. Most of the batik products are marked up at least 50-70%!

Elegant ladies of Jogja watching the classical dance performances.

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Tired and exhausted from the morning walk and batik shopping, the rest of the afternoon was spend chatting with Katot and and teasing Bedhot ;p

How true is the saying ‘Never judge a book by it’s cover’. If this 38 year old lad were to walk on the streets of KL, many would have mistaken him for a mat rock or mat rempit – with his long wavy hair and skinny build. Who would have thought that this aspiring young artist has held numerous art exhibition in Indonesia and Germany? :)

Bedhot is a talented artist and a great friend to many. A funny, low profile and humble man, destined to do great things in life!

Day 2 – Borobudur to Jogja

After a couple of bus exchange and a suggestion from Lonely Planet, I ended up at Losmen Setia Kawan, near Jl Malioboro, down the alley of Gang II.

Whoa, my heart skipped a beat when I enter the losmen. Its like stepping into a art gallery! The walls were beautifully decorated with beautiful oil paintings, and the rooms! My jaw almost drop when I saw the beautiful wall murals and the batik bed sheets. Every corner of the losmen was carefully and beautifully designed. For only 60,000RP (RM22), I get to indulged in one of Jogya’s finest guest house!

My room :p

Day 1 in Jogja was spend wandering in the streets of Malioboro. Now Jl Malioboro is some sort like Khaosand Rd in Bangkok. Only, it made Khaosand Rd pale in comparison!

The streets of Maliobora is full of these jingling, horse-drawn card called dokar.

Jl Malioboro is one long stretch of bazaar selling souvenirs, cheap t-shirts, leather work, crafts, batik bags, topeng and wayang kulit puppets.

Cheeky old lady selling batik craft at Jl Malioboro :p

Jl Malioboro runs straight from Tugu Station till the Kraton (city Palace) at the far end. By foot, it’s probably a good 2.5km walk.

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PS: To know more about the talented artist (and owner) of Losmen Setia Kawan, Tattoo parlor, Bedhot Resto, Bedhot Gallery click here.