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"That's fucking painful therapy. I hope it works""It's hot & throbbing #fb""Somewhere in my cv I forgot to put #gangsta & #losecanon"
My Sad October
My grandmother left us last October. When I received the news that morning, that was the saddest day for me. I know it was even more sad for my mum and her sisters as they were very close to their mother. The truth is I am still mourning her passing, that numb feeling of lost somewhere between denial and sorrow. The thought of never be able to spend time or be with her physically deepens that sorrow inside of me. My grandmother or nini, like any maternal grandmother took care of all of us grandchildren when we were young with her unconditional love. Each one of us have their own special memory of her love . My fondest memory of her was she loves to travel to Singapore, simply to enjoy good food and shopping. Another was her beautiful family lunches of ambuyat, all of us sitting on the straw mat on the floor. She has a good memory and would calculate days to her next check-up or any important dates to her.
In the last couple of years, her health started to deteriorate and with it, her memory too. But she recognised voices, particularly her children and on her good day, us the grandchildren. It’s impossible to tell you everything I know about my nini but at least you can know of her through me. Know that she was here, know that she helped shape my life. Know that I love her, and will miss her dearly.
As we kiss her our heartfelt last goodbye on that sombre Thursday morning and lay her to her burial ground, I couldn’t help and see how serene and radiant she look as if ready to start on her next journey. May Allah bless her soul. Al-Fatihah……..
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What is Contemporary Photography?
This has been quite a talking point amongst Brunei Forever Forum, eversince some of us has been selected and invited to showcase our work in Seoul, Korea for the annual ASEAN-KOREA exhibition for last 2 years running.
In respond to this, last weekend the BFFs organised the Contemporary Photography talk at the Rainforest Gallery presented by my good friend Zhuang Wubin, a photographer, writer and researcher focusing on South East Asia contemporary photography practices. This is a first for the monthly BFF talk to collaborate with a prominent gallery in the local art scene. A very big Thank You to Doris Chann and Denis Chann, the owners of the Rainforest gallery for willing to host the talk and Lisa our BFF admin for organising. This event has been long plan to coincide with Wubin’s and finally, to present his ‘Contemporary Practices in South East Asia.’
I first know Wubin after taking part in the ASEAN-Korea exhibition in Seoul in May 2009, thru several emails and a phone call eventually. He was introduced by my Cambodian friend and well known artist , Ratana Vandy. He was doing a his research on Contemporary photography in South East Asia, interviewing and doing his research on the contemporary landscape in Brunei. I told him after Seoul, contemporary photography open up my eyes on the value and impact of it, unfortunately in Brunei we have no galleries to showcase, no independent platform so most artist or photographers showcase their work online, blogs and flickr.
I have been pushing this event for a while mainly because simply I want it to stir, educate and open up the eyes of our talent and local artist that we have and what defines contemporary. The talk had a good solid turnout mostly of young photograpers and inspiring artists. I have been a focal person and is continuing this role with the ASEAN Korea centre to bridge up and coming Brunei artists. What’s next will be an event to coach and work with artists on the subject of contemporary photography.
Doris, owner of the gallery.
All photo credits to Mr. Kulimpapat
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Another Wiser
Always look at negativity in a positive way. Where there’s a will there’s a way. and Most of all family & love ones comes first…. I try to live each day with them. Being a Virgo, I celebrated my birthday recently. Another year, slightly older and wiser than the year before. Looking back I always try to instill good values in me and be a better person than yesterday; Here are some randoms that I did in the last year……….
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Blue Paradise Part 2
Some more shots from the trip. Maiga is the most beauiful island of the Semporna islands.Clear water. White Sands. Rows of coconut palm.
We paid a visit to the imam who is also the village head ( ketua kampong) of Maiga very tiny village of about ten huts, who has been ailing sick and bedridden for a while. It felt really touching to see him lying on his bed suffering and still extend his hospitability for his wife and son to give us drinks. Bless him.
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Blue Paradise Part 1
Back in June, I went on Photo trek to the Semporna islands with Ted Adnan. I first heard of the Semporna islands a couple of years ago, their clear water, blue sky and serene beaches are what came out from a friends description which is too good to be true. I stumble upon this trip a few months earlier on facebook and decided to book at first but eventually confirmed after several communication with Mr Ted.
The journey took us from Brunei to KK with one nite spend at KK and then Tawau the next morning. On arrival, we met up with the Ted Adnan crew from KL who arrived earlier .
The road journey from Tawau airport to Semporna took about more than an hour through hills and palm plantations. My first impression of Semporna is a small fishing town, a reminiscent of old BSB in the 1980′s and with shophouses and a mosque in the town centre. Our first stop was Seafest hotel, the only high rise building in this town right infront of the fisherman’s pier and market. Dinner was at Semporna resort that evening a session to get to know each other with Ted Adnan and Rabani, a renowned photojournalist. Semporna resort was a start of a good evening with many photo op with various subjects against the setting sun.
The next morning we set out on a huge boat to the sea, first stop is the Bajau’s or sea gypsy village at Omaga.
After a good 2 hours here, we then went to atoll island, Busungan inhabited only a handful villagers . Lunch was a short stop at Kapalai Sea Resort, a 6 star resort with modern huts and a popular place for the avid divers and holidayers in middle of the sea. Apart from having its own diving PADI centre, Kapalai has its own impressive waste recycling technology and water salination system, with flushing toilets and running water in the middle of the sea. Each hut has its own glass flooring that open up to the view of coral floor below. Beautiful.!
After the buffet lunch and exploring, we left Kapalai for Mabul island where we will stop for the nite at Jeff’s scuba place. Mabul is an island with several cheap homestay for the back packers and budget travellers as an lternative to the expensive resort. Mabul also has also its own 5 star resort.
Mabul is an island of a small village community. It has also its own police post which is the base-camp for all the islands around Semporna. Sunset was a beautiful serenity….
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Too long Pause
Its been a while, so many things happened in the course of time; where do i start.?
The main one being my mum admitted to ER (RIPAS) and end up staying for 4 weeks in May. It was a wake up call for the family, for me and most of all for her. It was emotional for me and I bet my siblings too, seeing mum, treated with daily doses of medications administered intravenously. She’s recovered and feeling better now with her weekly therapy session. We and especially her looks at life with a different view, eating healthy, staying healthy; which is a good thing that comes out of all of it.
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Chot Brunei
I was invited to join a class on candid street photography by this inspirational photographer, Chot Touch. We had a small class briefing on his works Saturday nite prior to Earth Hour and a Sunday Morning outing in BSB. It was simply inspiring how Chot looked at the world thru his eyes and this is my take on the street candid;
More can be found on my Flickr.
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World Water Day
World Water day falls on 22nd March 2010..thats like yesterday but it’s never too late to remind ourselves how precious water is to us. I have posted these pics before but I simply love it!
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