(⊙.⊙)☂

Status update: Been watching tonnes of anime films. Studio Ghibli certainly is one of my favourites!

From Up On Poppy Hill

Howl's Moving Castle

Laputa - Castle in the Sky
My Neighbour Totoro

Ponyo

Spirited Away
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (I don't think this is from Studio Ghibli but it's awesome too) 

Whisper of the Heart

Next on my list:

The Cat Returns

The Grave of the Fireflies (not sure whether I'll watch this yet because I know I'll be crying too much)

The Secret World of Arrietty

p.s. I can't tolerate dub versions of these. English subtitles for sure, but dubbed films really put me off. 

Oh and soundtracks, gosh, soundtracks. I must say that I respect the Japanese for their creativity and brilliantness really. Also, have I mentioned? I'll be learning how to make sushi tomorrow, hee!

City calls

This is Rosie showing off her cat, haha!

Enough of fish for now

Not feeling so happy about this

I can't believe I'm doing this! I'm going to put Project 52 on hold!

Arghhh - I'm slightly annoyed with myself, but I'm glad (or at least hoping) that I'm making some right decisions. There's so much going on, sometimes I feel myself getting sucked into fantasy, so much that I forget the reality around me. I have plenty of work to catch up on, I am travelling almost every weekend, and I would really love some time to just do whatever I want - those that also involve things beyond taking photographs. I'm just trying to find my balance.

Don't get me wrong, I'll still be doing lots of wackiness, but just at my own pace. :)

Bear with me! x

5 months away

Today's adventure @ Cotswold Wildlife Park

Strawberry ava-lunch

I need to pull myself together - it seems that I'm losing track of my days in a week.

I had been quite pathetic this week, I was out most of the time and the refrigerator wasn't really well stocked. One afternoon, I felt really hungry and the only thing I could find was a tubful of strawberries I bought from the Birmingham market. Also being too lazy to go downstairs to get some meat from Londis, I decided to make do with what I had. And tadaaah. Strawberries to go along -don't laugh- egg noodles and fried garlic, with balsamic vinegar and some soy sauce. Okay, you can laugh now.

I'm going grocery shopping tomorrow!!!

Jenna & Ewan

Just kidding! Happy Valentine's Day :) 

Gabby & Aaron

Workshop with Rosie Hardy

I've got a good reason to be late for this week's Project 52 piece.

I took a train to Manchester in the morning and left my place as early as 4.30 a.m., waited in the cold at an unsheltered bus stop for a good 20 minutes before the bus arrived, had a very overwhelming and crazy day, then got back to my room before 2 a.m. today. My mind's a dizzy mess, my body is literally shaking from the tiredness, but I've never been more happy to go through all of that in a day.

Without thinking beforehand about how silly I would make myself look, I introduced myself to a room full of photographers very happily as Rosie Hardy's fan on Flickr (very unprofessional, yes). Most of everyone else had some experience in commissioned work, so I was very very amateur compared to the rest. I was, quite nervous, but I had wanted to attend one of Rosie's workshops since she organised her first - I can't believe I finally did!!!

Jenna and Ewan were our first couple of the day, and we took their engagement photos at places near Rosie's flat. It was really cold and I don't think the thin blanket was warm enough, but they were both so amazing and happy throughout the session! I wish we had more time taking photos of them, but time passed by really quickly and we had to head back to prepare for the wedding photography session.

Gabby and Aaron arrived at Rosie's at about 1 p.m., got dressed in a beautiful white gown that Rosie bought from the House of Fraser, and Aaron in his suit. Have I mentioned how stunning they both looked? Rosie thinks that Aaron looks like Ryan Gosling, and I must agree that he has the fittest body of a groom!

Going around Manchester city in the cold was not as easy as it sounds, my fingers were so numb and I didn't like using my gloves because it was difficult to work with the buttons on my camera. We took the tram to Piccadilly Gardens, hijacked a trash bin from the council, had people high-fiving the groom, and many people took their handphones out to take photos - thinking that the couple were celebrities! We took a break and had dinner at Pizza Express, then went out again for some low-light shots. Can you imagine a pack of photographers following a wedding couple like paparazzis in the city? It was crazy fun and highly entertaining!

The workshop ended before 7 p.m., and my train to catch was a few hours later and also delayed! It was more tiring to wait for it than marching around Manchester for the day. I just realised that it takes a lot of stamina for a day's shoot. There was a point when I was too overwhelmed and had to take a few minutes to rest. I really wish I could go for more workshops like this! I am also currently saving up for a new kit, so I've got to be spending really wisely. x

Sent up and away

But I am going home this summer - finally made my decision!

Tau Yu Bak

I remember mentioning that I was going to make sweet and sour pork for the potluck, but I was out earlier on that Saturday afternoon so I thought that the dish won't be crispy as it should if I had them fried in the morning. Instead, I made Tau Yu Bak - and my first time too!

I decided to make another batch for myself during the week, and I had white bread and eggs noodles to go with it. Definitely in the mood for Chinese New Year! Only later did I realise that chinese dried mushrooms were missing from that dish. Ah, home. 

Should I go home this summer?

4/52

little houses all the same

Me by Pixellot Photography

The person who brought me into the world of photography was my eldest brother, Jon. By giving me my first Canon 350D camera, I was introduced to a very beautiful hobby I never thought I would grow to be so fond of. It might sound slightly cheesy - but I truly love taking, and making photos.

Before leaving for my studies, I requested for a photoshoot from my brother and he kindly spent his Sunday on me. I must say that taking photos of me was much harder than it looks, because I was and still am probably the stiffest person you'll ever meet.

You can also view the rest of my brother's work here. Jon is based in Penang, Malaysia - but I think he is willing to travel within the country if prior arrangements are made. You will definitely love this photographer, do check him out! 

Thank you for everything korkor! :) x

Waiting for spring

How has your evening been so far?

My Friday night is a peaceful one; the corridor is quiet and the only sound I hear is Zee Avi's from my laptop. I just made myself a grapefruit facial, only because I didn't want to eat that bitter fruit that was lying in my refrigerator for a few weeks already.

Easter is not even here yet but everyone seems to be talking about summer plans. I don't intend to go home this time round, because I know that these three years are going to fly by too quickly. I also wish that I could bring all my special people along with me. I miss my weekends with family - be it a road trip or staying back just doing anything from everything to nothing. It is most fun when my brothers are back, because I would be bugging them for new music or movies or photos to see.  

I am also experiencing a sudden craving for Japanese food. I haven't had any Japanese meals since I got here (having katsu curry or a few pieces of sushi doesn't count!). Gonbei's buffet had always been a family favourite, only until recently when the management decided to change their business strategy: advertising their buffets at cheap rates on Groupon, while reducing the quality and choices of the buffet line. I guess that it's a good thing for them, because the restaurant was packed with customers the last time we visited, in contrast to the serene ambience we used to get. A long time ago, they served rack of lamb, cod fish, fresh tuna - even mochi and macaroons for dessert. Our last visit was quite disappointing, and now Gonbei is no longer any different from other buffet outlets. 

Does anyone know a decent place for a good Japanese dinner? x

Potluck tomorrow

Chinese New Year pre-celebration dinner at Ee Xuen's on Saturday night! I'm supposed to bring sweet and sour chicken/pork, but I haven't gone out to get the ingredients and I haven't actually tried making this dish before. Wish me luck! x

This week's party in the tummy:

Bread love

Fried noodles! 'Tong fun' that we bought for last week's steamboat 

Fishy meals

Steamed chocolate muffins