travel

A workshop I have visited…

melanie

workshop

…unabashedly, I asked.

“So if I want to learn wood carving, can I come over so that they can teach me?”
“Yeah, why not!?” Chris answered.

Woot… I’m kinda taking his words for real and needless to say, I have started my homework with some research and hope I’ll be able to get some good woods to start.

Huh huh, Hi ci ja, hold tight !!

Again, I got inspired…

melanie

chinese lantern

… as always, spending time walking around on the feet is how I prefer to travel, be it city or countryside. I like taking my time strolling along the streets and discover the place, watching the people, tasting the food along the roadside, in the restaurants and cafes where the locals eat, talking to the locals, understanding the culture and aspect of life that we can’t see or experience from riding on a car. Agree?

During a walk on a refreshing morning, I got fascinated (silently) with this traditional handcrafted Chinese paper lantern in a small temple and my mind drifts back to the olden times. The older days were filled with characters and people live their life in a creative manner. Let’s take the artisanic handicraft for instance, handcrafted useful and decorative devices using natural and limited materials are made completely and  impeccably by hand. With simple tools. They are genius !! Very amazing. Very inspiring. If I have a chance to live in the olden days, my life sure is super-duper interesting, imaginative and creative.

But sadly most of the crafts that were practiced in olden times are not practiced nowadays, but I dream of doing one of these crafts one day ~ Melle

See what have i done…

melanie

pumpkin pau

… a few weeks ago I was in Kemaman for the 2nd time. It was absolutely fantastic with the looong hour walk by the beach. The activities also included a short hike to a wonderful waterfall ever. Got to sweat like a pig – a good sign of burning calories and best of all (ironically) sleeping in a tent with the “doors and windows” wide open. It was super stuffy in there that we couldn’t take it anymore (I dunno why) and I was left with mosquito bites all over my face – so the “chickenpox-faced”. Geez… Of all my body, why on earth attacked the face? Eeee… But hey, because of that I got enlightened with an awesome remedy to get rid of the red dots. Toothpaste. You have gotta trust me !! TOOTHPASTE. I’ve tested this method on my own skin as well as my niece’s. Yes, it is chomelliciously proven to minimize the swell. 😀

Warning no. 1: Apply a very light layer of toothpaste on skin. Both adults and children. Don’t be greedy. Just do it. Warning no. 2: Make sure skin is thoroughly dry. Very very dry. You would not like to sting your own skin. Just ask me, I was the white mice. I got myself jumping up and down, rolling from one corner to another because I did both from the above.  Yes, very c.l.e.v.e.r.

… the souvenir that I received from the trip is a recipe from Siew Fong. Pumpkin pau with raisins and wolfberries. So this is my 1st time kneading a dough. Seriously, it was fun. Albeit, the pau turned out pretty dense but edible (I guess I applied too much pressure while kneading?) but don’t worry. I will not give up cooking. This is a message to Abner – ahem. Anyways, thanks to Siew Fong for the recipe. I love this light and healthy foodie.

Up Next… Cheese Ham Bun. Whoot !! 😀

Ohh no !! I have not get the angku kuih or nyonya stew chicken done yet.
Yor… me ada b.u.s.y ~ lah ~~~~ 😛

Practice No:01

melanie

porcupine

baby sheep

friendly elephant

hornbill

… my very 1st outdoor shooting with 60D. Not very successfully done and I need 100 times of practice. Or maybe more. Wish me luck ~ =D

If I have not mistaken, my last visit to the zoo was at 5 or 6. I got pretty excited when we’ve decided to visit the zoo for some tryouts. It was not because that I could get the chance to test on my new camera. It was because, I feel grateful and it’s my pleasure to be around the nature and get mesmerized – I always love doing so. Although we find that keeping these lovely animals in the cage instead of in the wild is a bit of sad… but zoo or zoological garden is where we, as humans could study and get educated. My visit to the zoo brought back many memories, reminiscing about the good old days and knowing how beautiful nature and life is.

Admittedly, getting away from the computer and internet is a way to rejuvenate the mind and soul. So… Let’s go to the zoo, there’s lots of things to do… Remember the jingle from KFC? But sadly KFC is just ain’t there anymore. It’s like something missing visiting the zoo. Oh no… how can this be happening to the Zoo Negara. 🙁

And my advice to you is to have your meal first, or you will end up paying RM3.50 for a Maggi Hot Cup Instant Noodle. We also ended up having our KFC elsewhere after the trip to satisfied our hunger as perfection is much needed to end the trip…

Retreat @ Kemaman

melanie

kemaman

It is monsoon season at the east-coast of Malaysia but the rain does not stop us from having fun. More than words can say, the holidays were awesome !! I haven’t been having so much fun since like eons ago. We rolled down the sand dune, bowled and bouldered by the beach *my body is now aching like nobody’s business and bruises on legs and knees, ouch…*, we swam, hiked, cooked, had some local nice foods, coffee and tea, uno, countdown, juggled, massage and more. It was a crazy and fun “career” retreat !! *giggle giggle* 🙂

Thank you y’all for the company and stay tuned for more fun to come in 2011 !! *Hugs*