sock dolls

the 15 year old sister just sent me some pictures of the sock dolls that she has been working on - and selling! (perhaps when she comes & visit in july i could exploit her & then get her to sell them at camberwell market? ;))

i'm so incredibly proud of her; she's so very creative!

here are the pictures -

ps. mountain of fur in picture no.3 is goldie the oldie golden retriever!

Gong Xi!

photog credits above to the sister b

Gong Xi Fatt Chai ! I hope everyone has good overhauls over-eaten yourselves crazy on those awesome ching-chong cookies and mandarin oranges so far this Chinese New Year!

As per tradition each year at Popo's and Granma during the festive season, I am cornered and intimidated until I deftly duck the 'Questions' usually affectionately asked by kaypoh (but very nice) aunties. These questions include:

1. "Got boyfriend already ah?"
2. "When getting married ah?"
3. "Wah, you got gain/lose weight ah?"

Though, really, no Chinese New Year is really complete without those questions, right? All jokes aside, here's to health, wealth and happiness to the new year - cheers!

Ps- and a couple of lovely flowery pictures of the Tan's to keep you occupied for the time being x

Home, before Christmas

Have been away on holiday and have been awfully lazy whale of a person. Biggest decision that self has to make on a daily basis is whether to keep nails long and what colour should self paint them.

Life has been so unfulfilling that have signed up as a volunteer at SAD - Strays of Abu Dhabi - to be foster parent/animal trainer.

The mother wanted to play around with camera and take some pictures of us. The mother complained on the bloody many buttons on SLR and had to be reminded constantly that to take picture shutter button is big big button in front of camera.

Spain post next. x

Dubai

Hello, everyone. I apologise for not updating my blog as often as I like - the blog is meant to show my slow progression (towards the better, I hope!) on photography/architecture; when I was back in Kuala Lumpur for my childhood friend's wedding, having heaps of fun! and not really being sober on most nights and all.... ;) I really haven't had time to actually pick up my camera.

But here I am again, back in Abu Dhabi. Sometimes I feel happy that I'm back here - it's not very often lately that the whole family is together at the same time - but of course, the parents would then unleash 10 months worth of nagging unto me. And as soon as I pick anything up - the mother yells at me for some thing or another.... so you start missing the independence, the silence.... perhaps thats why I stay awake on the laptop when everyone else has gone to bed; it is really the only time when it's just me, and the two oldies doggies and all I hear is iTunes going on in the background; then there're the two dogs lying on my feet, subconsciously competing against one another who can snore the loudest.

So we took a drive down to Dubai, took forever to find parking (as with most cities) and walked towards the old Gold Souk, and walked past heritage village on the way.

Traditional arabic homes are gorgeous - unfortunately not many recent designs look to the old arabic design themes for inspiration anymore - unless of course, they are themed hotels. Here you can see minimal fenestration, thick mass like clay walls, the traditional downpipe (as roofs are flat here in the desert). Also, most of the residential buildings in Abu Dhabi/Dubai are painted within the pink-brown-clay colored scheme - because sandstorms come pretty often and well, you wouldn't really notice sandy walls on a wall that's sandy colored hey?

Because I secretly want to be an archinerd, here is a close-up of the wall texture + downpipe.

My mother then got very excited about buying an 80dirham (similar to RM80) metal bucket to place in the kitchen. Dad said it's a waste of money and refused to get it for her, which resulted in the parents arguing in the car, mum sulking for a couple of hours, and then Dad trying to cheer her up by getting her a bloody pearl necklace that cost.... let's just say they cost close to how much I have to pay Melbourne Uni in tuition fees for a year. -_- I hope they didn't forget that they have yet to pay for my tuition fees for my last year at uni... if you don't see me back next year, you'll know that my education has been exchanged for jewellery.

Me trying to cheer the mother up by getting her to pose for a couple of pictures.

Cherie, I know I promised you not to venture into B&W yet - but I just couldn't help it! My sister's so photogenic that it's easy to capture her picture when she's not paying attention...

And off to the Gold Souk.

And the mother was scratching on the glass of this particularly shiny store. Silly woman.

And then there's Cassie's typical emo look when we drag her out shopping.

And then it's off to Burjuman, one of the many shopping centres in Dubai... they have some pretty awesome ceiling, but I'll save those pictures for another day (too lazy to do the slight editing for them now ;)). So just more pictures of the very photogenic sister while Cassie was trying on some Heelys.

The final picture - certainly not the best in the bunch - but it'll do for now. Till then, you lovely lot.

... OK, fine, maybe one more since I'm feeling pretty narcissistic today. Note to self: once sunnies are on head, do not put them back on face as this would result in some funkay alien looking hair.

Desert

Recently, I've taken my passion for animals to the next level - I have jumped on the vegetarian bandwagon. For the first week it was painful; I was feeling lethargic all the time and suffering, if it was possible, of meat redrawal.

Most people know I'm no fan of vegetable. Or fish. So it came as no surprise when almost everyone took a wager to see how long I would last as a pescetarian. -_-

It has been almost 3 weeks, and I have been meat-free and feeling pretty fantastic; I've started omitting eggs from my diet as well - and slowly, dairy. I know I'm doing this for the animals but I'm going to be a hypocrite and admit that I have been eyeing some awesome leather bags to splurge my Gloria Jeans wages on......

Anyway. The family, a couple of the parents' friends and I went on a desert camping trip at Liwa, which borders Saudi Arabia. This desert spans 10,000km2 and a winding road runs through the desert...

There are a number of preconceptions of what deserts are like.

Well, unlike what is showed in the movies, deserts are not flat. The sand dunes are very, very, very, tall.... and hiking up a sand dune is not easy. In fact, it's even harder than hiking up a hill because there are no trees to hold on to, and the sand is very, very soft.

The desert may look sparse and empty. It is not. It is home to plenty of wild life. We were shocked to see fresh camel dung, and various animal tracks around our camp in the morning. I think this is a scorpion trail.

We were also conscious to not leave our slippers just about anywhere or drop anything on the sand because when the wind blows it changes the landscape, so chances are we might never find them again.

The Tan Family tent:

I'm still trying to figure out how to take proper landscape pictures.

What did the lazy manda do the whole time that she was there?

Horse

Accompanied sister to her horse riding lesson today - she's getting pretty good with her jumps! We started lessons together but I discontinued when I had to go back to Melbourne - I wish I still had classes too...!

And because it's fun to play with shutter speed:

Lovely

I'm still trying to get my photography technique right - at the same time trying to find a style that is uniquely mine.

Cherie and I were talking about styles - she's all about shadows while I try to 'force' vintage into my picture through Photoshop - which is really what I should be avoiding.

So here are a few images - some PS-ed, some not - please tell me what you think of them!

They are of one of the loveliest places I know - my sister's bedroom.

And Cherie darling, this is for you (cannot get rid of reflection due to direction of sunlight from behind me):

And father's pipe: