Behind the Scenes

Final Voted Casted are as below and a little insights is written to tell you why the picture was taken.

#21: A Forgotten Cindarella = 26 votes

This picture was taken at the former National Arts Gallery, beside the former Majestic Hotel opposite the KL Railway Station. The building is now abandoned but with a couple of guards securing the area. When I first saw this shoe, 'Cindarella' immediately comes to mind and I felt a sense of lost out of a sudden. Hence the photo. Taken during Mother's Day, 11th May 2008. I posted it once with a story here.

#16: Whatever Fits = 26 votes

This picture was taken at a row of abandoned shophouse near Changkat Bukit Bintang. There was a film crew at that time, shooting some gangster fight scene. I walked towards the side where they parked their cars and saw this door and smiled. The wall was full of greeny moss but the door was something else. Everything fits just fine. Taken during KLickr 25th Meet-Up photowalk on April 26th, 2008.

#07: Negaraku, Photographer Style = 16 votes

My first ever KLickr photowalk at Kampung Haji Abdullah Hukum on August 19th, 2007. This photo brings a lot of memories, not only for me, but for the nation as we were the last group of local photographers who took shots of the place before it got demolished. This photo is to accentuate the difference of development and preservation and the vital need for both. Farisa was right, the picture brings a sense of national pride. This was also the first photo where a friend complimented, saying "great observation and caption, you have the eyes to see picture.. one of the best shot that day. " .. Thanks kenmin for the words.

#10: A Sparkling Old = 15 votes

This was taken on board the ferry to Langkawi in May 2007, my first company trip with Perdana Leadership Foundation. Just playing with my Digicam and thought its a nice shot. Guess the ocean mood fits the capture too. This was among the photos I exhibited for British Council's Pecha Kucha night last year.

#18: I'm Watching You = 14 votes

A test on how my Digicam can play with depth of field and macro shots. This is my little sister and I was from the back of the Avanza. Her eyes was piercing and the picture turns out to be great (for me at least).

#08: Bridge to Wonders = 11 votes

This is a small bridge at the back of my Opah's house near the paddy field. We used to crossed this bridge everytime we went to play at the tali air near the paddy field. Taken during last Raya.

#03: In Drunkenness, I Can't See You = 9 votes

This photo was taken in 2006, a movie outing I had with my younger siblings in Midvalley. Which reminds me, I have to bring them out for another movie outing this weekend. My younger siblings are probably the only love of my life who will be with me until the day I die.

#22: Kawan saya, Si Ranting = 8 votes

Just a moment for my Timberland to meet a fellow branch. Story is here. And I personally think that the story for this photo is one of my strongest writings.

#06: Hold Me Mummy = 8 votes

A blogger friend I known for a good 4 years, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. And she asked me whether I could take some photos of her baby. I simply love the moment captured here. If you click on the picture, you'll find a poem I wrote for her.

#09: Sang Bulan = 7 votes

I was on my laptop, at my desk facing the window. I like my windows to be opened all the time. Suddenly I glanced up and saw the most beautiful sight and enjoyed the moment for a while. One of those moments that reminds me how deeply I was in love with the moon. You can click on the photo to read the story I written for it.

#24: A Sunset, A Momento = 7 votes

Driving with my oldest bestfriend for dinner, I saw the sun was about to set. She immediately drove as slow as she could once she saw me ready with my Digicam. Then there it was. A Capture. With a friend I've known since I was 10 years old. We spent the whole day together. And with the sunset, it ended just so perfect!

#05: The Moon Has Been Pushed Away = 6 votes

When I was working in Perdana Leadership Foundation is Putrajaya, one of my favourite routine is to stop anywhere I can when I saw a great sight of the sun, moon or clouds. This one, is a moment for all, sun, moon and cloud.

#11: Penantian = 6 votes

Another picture from the Kampung Haji Abdullah Hukum photowalk. This old lady is the granddaughter of Haji Abdullah Hukum, who opened the settlement. In her wheelchair, she shared stories of the late Haji Abdullah Hukum, how he came here and opened up the kampung. Somehow, she reminds me of all our grandmothers at home. Who stays at home and waits. For raya. At least.

#01: Feeling Morbid = 5 votes

This so-called disturbing picture was an experiment I done while borrowing a friend's Nikon D40x SLR. I was tempted to do more than just this, probably with some real blood and bruises and dirt but I didn't want to overdo the whole concept. While being in the moment, I did feel morbid.

#02: A Farewell = 5 votes

This is one of my favourite moment and probably will be the landmark to the concept I have for the cover of my book. Taken during those crazy stops in the middle of the road while going back from work in Putrajaya. Plus, I was deeply in love with the Sun and the Moon at the time.

#04: He's There = 5 votes

A play with my little brother and the flash from my Digicam. During my sister's engagement in 2005.

#12: My Childhood Walk = 5 votes

The normal path we walked since we were small, back in my dad's hometown in Parit, Perak. I love it there. By the roadsides, there are rambutan and mangosteen trees we used to climb when we were small. This path takes us to the paddy field.

#15: Never There = 5 votes

Taken at one of those harbour (shoot, I forgot already) in Langkawi during our company trip in May 2007. I like the feel in this one. Its like waiting for something that is never there.

#19: Sedetik Rasa, Sekilas Pandang = 4 votes

On board the AirAsia to Jakarta for Jakarta Jazz Festival 2008 in March 2008. The last international flight I had was coming home from Australia to Malaysia in 1989. I was awed by the scenery and took a moment to absorb it in my soul.

#20: Tunnel of Lights= 4 votes

Love sitting at the back or front of the Putra LRT becos I get to see the tunnel. And in some occasions when I'm equipped with my camera, will always be moments captured.

#13: Breathe = 3 votes

My sister didn't realise when I took this picture. I like moments like these. Candid. Yet, doesn't look like so.

#14: An Identified Flying Object = 3 votes

This picture was taken during Atilia's Ranjau MTV shoot in Ara Damansara in January 2008. The sun was setting and I tried to experiment capturing flares. It worked to my surprise.

#17: The Perfect Light of Imperfection = 3 votes

This is another experimental shot upon borrowing a friend's Olympus.

#23: A Mother's View = 2 votes

One of my personal favourites of Bibi and Aini. Ahhhh, again, my fetish for babies.

Thanks to all who voted and the most overwhelming thing was that all 24 photos that I chosen for this voting process were voted at least with 2 votes. Hopefully the event will be a success! I'm pretty excited because most of my personal friends will be there and that's just great! I'll see you there ok!

Time to Vote!!!

Please please be honest and pick your best ones. You can vote 5 times! Let me know which is the best so I can narrow down works for KLUEUrbanscapes.

Please click on the images if you want to see the larger size of the image. Then please leave in the comments which 5 is best for the exhibition. If you think none of them are good enough, can also say, I'm open to criticism.

No 1: Feeling Morbid


No 2: A Farewell


No 3: In Drunkness, I Can't See You


No 4: He's There


No 5: The Moon Has Been Pushed Away


No 6: Hold Me Mummy


No 7: Negaraku, Photographer Style


No 8: Bridge to Wonders


No 9: Sang Bulan


No 10: The Sparkling Old


No 11: Penantian


No 12: My Childhood Walk


No 13: Breathe


No 14: An Identified Flying Object


No 15: Never There


No 16: Whatever Fits


No 17: The Perfect Light of Imperfection


No 18: I'm Watching You


No 19: Sedetik Rasa, Sekilas Pandang


No 20: Tunnel of Lights


No 21: A Forgotten Cindarella


No 22: Kawan saya, Si Ranting


No 23: A Mother's View


No 24: A Sunset. A Momento.


Thanks a lot Guys!!!

abang nasi lemak

The other day, I was walking down Jalan Tun Sambanthan with Oya and she asked me, where was the nasi lemak stall I wrote about and I showed her. this morning, I went out of the house quite early and decided to drop by that nasi lemak stall and get me some breakfast so I can take my medicine later.

the nasi lemak stall is operated by abang and his mother, makcik. excuse me for giving such name, becos thats what I call them. Abang is maybe in his early 30s and makcik is in her late 50s.

This morning I was laughed by Abang, not in a bad way tho, just becos I forgot about the "Layan Diri" concept. Noting that Abang is busy making the roti canai and Makcik was busy making drinks, all the food can just be taken by ourselves, provided we pay la, obviously.

I bet Makcik have been operating the stall for probably most of her life, and Abang is contented in just helping Makcik because thats enough for him. I do look up to them, comfortable and finding sense of security in what they do.

Last Sunday night, I was given a talk by my dad. The (R) Colonel have spoken after a long while of seeing how I adjust my life.

My dad was asking me, what am I running for? What is this life I'm aiming, running, filling up every single second with activities that eventually drain out my energy.

Yesterday, after going to the clinic with Mom, I told her.

Unlike most people who would just want to settle down, I don't see myself in that position. You know, finding a job, finding a man, and just settle down.

Growing up, we are indirectly exposed to Maslow Hierarchy of Human Need.

We have the essentials, the necessities, food, clothes, shelter.

Then we search for security, safety.

Next comes love, friendship, family, sexual intimacy.

We then search for self-esteem in our career and life.

Finally, self achievement in terms of self actualisation.

The definition to every single stage differs from one person to another. Some view love and sexual intimacy as one, and some view love and sexual intimacy as separate. Some view family and friendship as separate, and some regards friends to be part of their family.

What is this life that I'm running for?

I have lost desire in finding anyone to love, especially being convince that I am not a "find" myself. After meeting people whom I love wholeheartedly but end up not appreciating it, and meeting people who says they love me one minute but decided they are disgusted with me the next, I somehow lost faith in that kind of love. So I have diverted love into a new definition. Loving all my friends as I would love a lover. Minus sexual intimacy. Well, the innovation of those battery-operated devices might help in those urgent cases. Haha.

If I have lost faith in love, settling down might seem far far far away from where I stand.

Then what comes next?

Self esteem? As insecure as I am, I have built up my self-esteem better in such small period of time compared to some people. breaking out from inferiority complex. You name it. I am proud of myself. For someone who has been called the most ugliest girl in school 3 years in a row in a bloody boarding school to jump into the Communications line and do what I did, I'm very proud of myself.

But of course, my parents doesn't see all this. They don't know that I love writing and am very aspired to be a writer. They don't care anyway how creative and good I can be, as long as I secure a nice comfortable government job and a husband.

My dad told me, the weightage of a father's responsibility is that he must at least make sure all his girls are married before performing "haji", thats how big of a deal marriage is to fathers.

I do understand where he's coming from. I do understand my mom's concern. Heck, I would want to give away my little sister, Afiqah to her future husband before I get married myself and Afiqah is still 15 years old.

What triggered me most was that ... What is this life I'm running for?

My parents said, everything I do right now is for friends, nothing in it for me.

My father said I have lost the fundamentals of life, rushing and running for things I don't do for myself.

At times, its saddening to know how little faith your loved ones have for you.

And at other times, who is this person running my life?

The people who makes me happy at this moment. And there are more of course.
Photo Credit: Halimi Saidi / Raja Norashikin