MOVING TO WORDPRESS

After a good 9 years, I have decided to make the move from Blogger to Wordpress.

Thinking back to the good old days when I was 14 and discovering the wonders of blogging, writing about crap and typical teenager rants on Blogger... Well, it will always have a special place in my heart. 

But now it is time to move on, to work on bigger dreams. 

www.pforphyllis.wordpress.com

Combining my love for travel and writing, thus giving birth to a travel blog. My new blog will focus on travel (obvs), with a little bit of food posts and some random stuff sprinkled here and there. 

My travel posts and some memorable ones on Blogger will be moved over to Wordpress, and I will be producing some exciting and (hopefully) refreshing content as well that includes my exchange experience in the UK and China.

Thank you readers for your support all these years; I truly appreciate you taking the time to read what I write. I hope you will be lovin' my new blog!

Project 01 | Exploration x Expression

I would say one of the perks of my job − also one that gives me an almost complete sense of satisfaction − is meeting interesting people.

In one week, it would be the end of my three-month probation and I would then have executed and/or managed three events (woooh!), among them two art exhibitions and one architecture exhibition.

The first art exhibition I was in-charged of was Exploration x Expression, organised by sembilan Art Residency Program after their season four artists-in-residence Anahita Ghazanfari and Syahbandi Samat completed their four-month residency.

sembilan was introduced by Nicholas Choong, an artist whom I first approached to do an exhibition. I wasn't expecting a meeting with sembilan but I was excited to collaborate with them − before I know it the contract was signed and the planning was underway. 

From the printing of catalogues to the marketing to the discussion of artwork installation, everything was done in less than a month. I am amazed at how the people at sembilan managed the operations so efficiently as they have other (full-time) work commitments to attend to as well!

One of the highlights of the promotional efforts was making this GIF :D

Well, the end result wouldn't be as cool if not for my colleague (thanks Alan!) who helped a lot with the design, which was very different from the original one that I proposed. Nevertheless, felt quite accomplished making a GIF using Photoshop, a software that I only know to utilise 1% of it. 

The calm before the launch.

I particularly like this photo because the middle piece collaboratively done by Anahita and Syahbandi is framed on both sides by their individual pieces − not fully revealed coz you know, it's all about being mysterious.  

If you went to the exhibition and read the catalogue, you would have noticed that both these artists have completely different styles. Not to mention one is local and another is foreign, from Iran. 

Syahbandi uses the PaperMate Kilometrico ballpoint pen to draw his subjects, therefore his works are mostly black and white, which does fit the dark and brutal theme often apparent in his drawings. Whereas Anahita's work projects strong accents of colour, and they are very much inspired by nature.

Therefore, I am amazed at how their contrasting styles are able to blend so well together in the collaborative piece, complementing one another like they were meant to be. Looking beyond the surface, it can symbolise life itself, which is always a balance between reality (black and white) and one's dreams and imagination (colours). 

However, the one thing that struck me the most (what I deduced when reading the artists' stories in the catalogue), is that the painting can also portray the stark difference of Anahita and Syahbandi's way of looking at life. 

Syahbandi told me how his fears are projected onto his art, while I read that Anahita is adamant on not letting fear seep into this beautiful "other world" that is her art. The more I look at the painting, the more I felt it's a perfect representation of both the artists' life.

I don't know if you actually get what I mean, but art is subjective and what you see in the painting might reflect differently from what I see, and that is completely fine.

Anyway, when I suddenly made that connection, it was like WHOA MINDBLOWN (this is what I love about art!!). It definitely brought more meaning and depth to the already brilliant piece of work, and this goes beyond the colours and the details. It seemed like I was on a personal level with the artists as well, even though I don't know them personally. This, is the beauty of art.

Inside Scoop was there to give out free ice-cream (cempedak, chocolate and passion fruit flavours), and we had Red Bull with us too. Thanks guys, for being so supportive in the local art scene :') 

I talked to Osla, the events person for Inside Scoop (the one dishing out ice-cream to the German boy), and he told me a really interesting story about how Inside Scoop came about. I mean yes their story may have appeared several times in the media, but it is nothing like hearing it from someone, although not firsthand, telling the story with a gleam in his eye.

The inspiring story stuck with me for a while. Moral of the story: Luck and timing aside, nothing is impossible without hard work, determination and of course, talent.

These portraits are one of my favourites at the exhibition. Also a collaborative project between Anahita and Syahbandi, they went around Seremban (where sembilan is based) and talked to the locals − most of them people we would never think to pause whatever we're doing to ask about their life and listen to their stories. 

Ajim Juxta came to the exhibition as well! For those of you who do not know him, he is the first Malaysian to be one of the top three winners of the Young Art Taipei 2016 award.

During my conversation with him, I learned about his background in architectural design and how it influenced his approach as an artist. It was really cool to finally meet him after seeing a couple of his works around. He is such a nice, friendly and easygoing person, and it was a privilege to have chatted with him. 

Thanks to Nicholas for taking this photo! Here I am standing next to Ajim, secretly containing my excitement, together with Winnie Cheng (ERYN) and her brother. Both Ajim and Winnie were sembilan season two artists-in-residence.

I love how crazy these sembilan people are and I already feel like part of the sembilan family even though we have only known each other for a few weeks. I miss working with them already!

Media appearance:

Art KL-itique, BFM 89.9, Chalk and Raddy, TimeOut KL

UPDATES

Currently writing about my Chinese New Year road trip along the west coast of Malaysia!

1. Gallivanting around KL: http://bit.ly/1RSEDvh


(to be continued)

Balance

Life is always about finding the right balance.

           Like adjusting the lends of a camera until the image comes into focus.

Move the lens a millimetre, and the image becomes blurry. Turn it to the left and it is still not right.

Indeed, some patience is required to achieve the desired result.

A temporary still haven before everything dissolves into a pool of blurriness, just before the photographer snaps the photo.

Just like that, I am constantly shifting back and forth, trying to find my own balance. 

[Photo from Google Images]

After university into the unknown

"What are your plans after university?"

People always used to ask me this question. Family, friends, acquaintances, even those I do not personally know e.g. my parents' friends.

I do not blame them, because I know they are merely curious and/or interested. Because I genuinely want to know what my friends will be up to when I ask them the same question even though I know they might just give me a general answer as a way of brushing it off - like I always do. Hah. 

Well, I always dread this question. It entails the unknown, like seemingly falling down a dark abyss where you cannot see where you are heading and that no one really knows where the endpoint is. Even if you have your own aspirations for the future, you never know what you will end up doing or where you will end up going.  

Since then I have come to realise that successfully graduating from university is not even near the end of the finishing line.  

Another reason why I dread this question is probably because I know my actual answer slightly deviates from the expectations of those asking. I am certainly not looking forward to receiving disapproving or doubtful looks from people I'm not even close to.

I have always told myself that I will take a gap year after graduating from university. I was determined to take a break between studies and work to do the things I love, whether it is travelling or volunteering or taking up a course I am interested in. I feel like there is so much to do before I commit myself to a full-time job where I will be working for the rest of my life.

Before I know it, I finished my final exams, got the grades I wanted, and was officially done with university. 

Before I know it, pursuing my own passions somehow became buried under the norms set by society, especially after seeing my friends one by one getting a job after graduating. Though the pressure is not full on in your face, it still felt like I am not doing well as compared to my peers when it seemed like I was the only one left hanging without a job.

Right after my finals, I went to China for almost two months - I joined AIESEC's global citizen programme that lasted for six weeks and did some travelling after. Then I came back, and without knowing when or how, the thought of immediately getting a job has planted itself in my mind, and it seemed like the best option at that time. 

I guess it was partly because I felt guilty for travelling so much (only months ago I was back from the UK after spending a year there) because I was financially dependent on my dad so I figured I had better get a job and start funding my own travels. 

Coupled with the fear of not getting a job after a long break, I just decided to go all out and apply for jobs (basically any kind that interests me) after coming back from China. Not long after I got a job offer in the creative industry, which I gladly accepted.

I began to feel like I am on the right track. 

A little while after that, I met up with a close friend and we had conversations about our future aspirations. He is one of the few friends who inspire me a lot, and after talking to him, I felt a pinch of regret from unconsciously abandoning the short-term goals which I have previously set for myself.

At the same time, our conversations reminded me of the importance of living a fulfilled life. Some people are contented when they have a successful career. I, of course, want to work in the areas I am passionate about, and I am incredible blessed to find that elusive kind of love for a job. 

To digress, a friend once said to me, "dreams do not necessarily earn money." It was heartbreaking to hear that. Mainly because most of the time, the statement accurately reflects reality. But then again, it all comes down to what you ultimately want in life. Earning loads of money, or fulfilling your dreams? 

If you are lucky, you could do both at the same time. For me, money is not the biggest priority in life. As long as I am able to live decently and comfortably, I am satisfied. I would rather spend my money on travelling instead of materialistic things because that is what fulfills me the most. 

And I think it is important to surround yourself with inspiring friends who will be running alongside you and cheering for you on the path to chasing your dreams, whatever they may be. 

I have recently found out that it is my close friend who fits perfectly into that picture. Somehow he is the first friend who drives my passion the most, and I am very thankful for that. Because now I know there is someone who completely understands where I want to go in life without directly or indirectly demotivating me, and that is a very encouraging thought.

He showed me his bucket list and inspired me to do one. I now have a long list (it has now come to the 13th page in Word) and I know it might look unrealistic to actually complete everything on the list - I am very doubtful about that - but everything begins with the first step. And writing the list with my friend actually helped a lot in refocusing my future plans. Talking about it as well makes me feel really excited for what life has to offer.

I have slowly come to accept the fact that I will be working soon. And is it going to be okay, because I know I will find ways to incorporate travelling into my working life. And I bet nothing feels more accomplished than being financially independent to go wherever I want. 

Looking onward to the beautiful things in life :) :) :)

Carrick-a-Rede rope brige in Northern Ireland, UK [May 2015]

Gallivanting around Kuala Lumpur

Kay-elle. 

Whenever I introduce myself to people from another state or country, I will say I'm "from KL" even though I'm technically not. I live in Puchong, a suburb about 20 minutes' drive away from the city centre, so it doesn't matter whether the claim to be a KL girl is strictly true or not, right? 

I believe most people who live in the Klang Valley do the same too. Anyway, I have lived in KL my whole life, but I can't actually say that I'm a true KL-lite. I'm (quite) familiar with the LRT system - as in which line to get on to go somewhere and not remembering the station names (duh) - I know which are the busiest streets and where you can get the best Hokkien mee, I know how to get to the twin towers... but that's about it. Sure, I can list down a few of the popular tourist attractions in the city, but going to those places is a totally different story. 

Don't get me wrong, it is not that I am not interested to explore my city - in fact, I am more than happy to get lost and wander about. But I haven't had the time to do that. 

Having friends from another country visit me is definitely a drive behind putting my fantasies into actions. 

My good friend Paul came to Malaysia just before Chinese New Year and of course I needed to take him around the capital city. We did not explore KL "backpacker style" where you walk anywhere and everywhere, but rather the more comfortable option i.e. taking the car. 

It was Sunday and we started the day with a generous amount of dim sum thanks to my dad's friend. After the hearty brunch, Pavilion was our first touristy stop. 

A high end shopping mall in downtown KL, it also offers a wide variety of choices for the average consumer. It is one of my favourite places to window shop and I'd say they have one of the best festive decorations in Klang Valley.

The golden monkey statue in the middle is a bit weird though, hah. 

Next stop was the famous twin towers. The park is a great place to chill in the late evening and/or at night. It is a pity we did not stay for the dancing fountains that come alive when the sun goes down. 

It was late afternoon by the time we left KLCC, which is perfect timing to head to Shin Kee Beef Noodle Specialist (the actual shop name) opposite Central Market for our "afternoon tea"! Hands down the best beef noodles in KL. The dry noodles and kuay teow (thick noodle) soup were both equally flavourful, and I love their special minced meat topping that complements both noodle types really well! The meatballs... need I say more? I'm obsessed. 

Colourful tiles outside Central Market. 

Paul managed to persuade my sister and I to try the fish spa. It was a funny experience but it is one that I will never go for it again! It was SO ticklish and we were just laughing throughout the whole 15 minutes. I was actually tired from laughing so much.

Unknowingly found myself "dancing" with a group of performers...