Viva Venezuela

Isla Margarita is the largest island in Nueva Esparta, a north-east state of Venezuela. The state has two other islands, Coche and Cubagua across the Caribbean Sea. The weather during my visit in August was no less than 30 degree Celcius and very humid. After living in Europe for a few years, my body was struggling with the heat but deep down, I felt at home.

With a hectic start to 2011, the trip to Latin America almost did not happen. I was at the end of my employment in Scotland, and about to start a new job in Australia. In other words, I was not just getting a new job; I was emigrating. It was the busiest summer ever, but how could I not attend the wedding of a dear friend?

My friend, Yusmary and I met in Aberdeen early 2007 and we became good friends instantly. She later left for a job in Sydney but came back to Scotland for a few long business trips. We would meet for coffee and meals and would go out on the weekend for more-than-average girls’ night outs. Oh yes, we did. And that was back in the days when the economy wasn’t bad, stilettos were not as hurtful and men were rich.

In Venezuela, I was staying with Yusmary, her Italian then-fiance-now-husband, Corrado and their family in a mansion booked for the holiday. Their Italian friends stayed in another beautiful holiday home 50m away. I was introduced to everyone, as well as Yusmary’s sister, Yris and her partner Frank, whom I both got along with very well during the trip.

We spent most of our time around Porlamar, Isla Margarita’s main city and Pampatar, the wedding venue. I was accustoming with Latin American’s laid back culture, spending time idling on the beach, drinking cocktails, eating seafood, ice-creams, arepas and empanadas. Life was good.


Venezuelans are very friendly and hospitable. They are generally smiley and speak at 100 miles per hour. I know a little Spanish - and although my communication with the locals was limited, I managed during several shopping trips. Corrado’s Italian friends also taught me a few useful dialects, so I was able to join in their conversation. Grazie a tutti i miei amici da Italia. Dalembaaaaj?

My new crazy Italian friends

Isla Margarita reminds me a lot of Malaysian own, Langkawi Island. Although the latter is more traditional and modest, both islands share the same duty free privilege, touristic and fishing villages feel, as well as shiny dark-haired and beautiful brown skinned locals. You probably would not see as much of sun-bathing activities along Langkawi beaches as in Margarita, but you will never run out of luxurious stays and tasty food across both islands. The air is always warm but cooling and there are coconut and palm trees everywhere if you are looking for a shade.

Corrado enjoying the duty free privilege

We had a day trip to a small island near Margarita, Coche by boat and had very little in mind on what was in store. What lied ahead of us as we approached the island was the closest version of paradise I have ever seen. Coche has the whitest sand and the water was crystal clear and warm. The island is only around 50kmsq area and is mainly driven by tourism industry. Its main resort offers an open bar, a restaurant and several swimming pools where we spent most of our time at on the day.

Coche Island

While in Venezuela, I was introduced to empanadas, local seafood filled pastry made of corn-flour and arepas, sandwich equivalent of soft and crispy wraps with fillings like spiced chicken, beef, eggs, cheese and salads. We had arepas almost every morning at a local road-side café, along with freshly blended fruit juice. Lunch was normally fresh seafood soup and in the evening, we would dine like kings and queens with flowing wine and prosecco. The food was reasonably priced. Unlike their Latin American counterparts, Venezuelans are not big on spicy stuff but I had no complains. Or as Yusmary said, ‘Flo is very good. She eats everything’ (please picture her saying this in a very thick Venezuelan ascent, with hand gestures and all).

Queueing for breakfast

The wedding went beautifully and my holiday was made by the place and the company I had in Isla Margarita. I wish to have been more fluent in my Spanish so I could chat more with the locals and Yusmary’s family, instead of having her being the middle person all the time. Poor, chica! In between changing jobs and emigrating, not to mention that I had just got engaged at the time - to the most wonderful man in the world (of course), I only had the chance to refresh my course on my 32 hours flight from Europe to Caracas on my iPod and a notebook. Ah, the joy! As I have always learnt however, if you do not speak the language, a smile and a shared bottle of wine always go a long way. Done it before in all the foreign countries I have been to, did it again in Latin America.

I had such a wonderful time in Venezuela and felt like I have found a new family. It was like spending time with the sisters I never had, and even Yusmary’s mum said to me ‘You are like my daughter’. This was of course, after a few translations across the family, in between drinks and dancing... She probably could have meant 'Would you like to be my daughter?' Ha ha.

I hope you are having a good start to the new year. I know I am... we are. My better half is busy organizing his first solo exhibition in Australia for next month. I am very excited for him, or proud rather. Not sure if I will blog about it but I will put up photos on Facebook definitely. That's all for now, folks. Until next time, Feliz Ano Nuevo! Laters x

Mum says the darndest thing

We went for a twilight cruise yesterday and Jamie took this photo from the boat.

In the western countries, Santa Claus is known for climbing down and up the chimneys and balconies to drop off presents for nice kids. So it was a funny sight seeing a *fake Santa going up a balcony (or maybe down) of a house by the river yesterday's evening. My mum, however, had a different perspective from everyone else as per usual. She actually said 'Look! The Santa Claus is commiting suicide!'.

My mum says the funniest things, but that one has got to be the best.

*Santa is real.

It sure doesn't feel like Christmas

... after spending a few Christmases in Scotland with snow, it doesn't!

The Christmas tree has been up for a couple of weeks now but I am missing throwing snow balls at people (friends, or randomly at strangers), the cracking sound of burning logs from the fire place and the beautiful smell of mulled wine from the kitchen. This is how I am coping with summery Christmas season in Western Australia:

Watering the plants around the hoose with a hose.

Looking for spiders for the sake of being in WA.

We bought the typically Australian Falcon to blend in with the locals (not a ute unfortunately). Background is our new suburban home, a far stretch from our cottage in Crovie back in Aberdeenshire.

Beaching.

Watching a lunar eclipse from the back of the hoose. Photo courtesy of www.harrisjam.com.

I would like to think that so far, it's not bad.

The cold weather was not my worst enemy in Scotland but it was the wind rather. I got used to wearing appropriate clothes when staying indoors and outdoors (Jo, take note) but the wind got me no matter what I wore - it was just never pleasant. Therefore to not be in Scotland this time around for Hurricane Bawbag is actually quite... liberating. But I sure miss the place so much when it's calm and snowy, and the joy and excitement of skiing in Cairngorm! Ah.

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas this year and that you do not need to worry if you have been bad or good - Santa is very kind and considerate (based on what I learn from Polar Express). Be you on a skiing trip, or having turkey, or singing carols, or visiting family and friends, I will be thinking of you when I chuck another shrimp on the barbie. Until next time, have a bloody good Christmas and New year, mate!

From Western Australia with love, Flo xxx

OMG KL ILYSM?

Last year, I was in Malaysia with a dear friend who had never been to Asia. We did the coolest of the cools including (not just, but getting a license for) scuba diving in one of the top diving location in the world, a visit to the world's largest cave and spending a weekend in the second best island in the world, Penang. The first is Borneo. Fact. We also spent a couple of days in Kuala Lumpur.

A year on, I am back in KL - as the locals call it, and even though I am here for work this time, leisure is included in the package. Since I now have three weeks instead of just a couple of days, I get to organize a proper, proper hanging out, doing things like coffee-ing, lunch, dinner, shopping and most importantly, catching-up, instead of just a brief and quick meeting with a big group of friends.

Kuala Lumpur is five hours away by flights from Perth. The two cities are on the same time zone but do not share much in common. Perth is hot and dry, KL is humid and more humid. While the latter is a food and shopping haven, Perth is an almost impossibly expensive city for shopping (and I thought Aberdeen was so dear), although the restaurants are actually quite good but pricey. Both cities have rude and angry drivers, but if I must say, you are likely to have more accidents in KL than in Perth (we had a car accident on our first day in Malaysia last year. Uhuh). And I almost forgot how scary the moped drivers are in this city.

In the past five years that I have left, sky scrappers have been built at the most ridiculous pace. What used to be the place for me to park my car when I was working here, is now the 20-something storeys hotel where I am staying for this trip. I used to have the view of the twin towers from the office - which are 500 meters away, but standing from the same corner (and higher level too, mind you!) gives you the view of your own reflection on the opposite building's windows. Who knows when I come back in the future, my favourite hawkers street will turn into another street of nightclubs, as if KL does not have enough already. My office building is probably the only office building in KL that is faced with strings of bars, pubs and clubs - Thai Club, Beach Club, Modesto's, Rum Jungle - you name it, the street has it. I don't even think there's an irony that they are all on the street named after Malaysia's legendary entertainer, the late P.Ramlee.

With the monsoon kicking in, it rains most evening for an hour or two now but nothing too serious. In fact, it helps to cool down the busy streets although pot holes filled with water is not an ideal scenario for a city walker like me. I also walk with care and always look out for a potential snatcher who tend to operate the crime on mopeds. And don't get me started on the traffic rules: a zebra crossing is just a black and white painting on the road, and red doesn't always mean stop.

Despite all this, I look forward to showing my other half this metropolitan part of Malaysia. Since I decided to leave my camera in Australia, photo taking will only happen once Jamie arrives next week. So watch this space in a few weeks time for some photos. Regarding a non-job related activity, apart from a weekend in Borneo and some cultural learning experience, we are going surfing. That's right. This may sound weird but despite not having a beach, this city actually has a surfing spot at a water park somewhere. We do not know what to expect, except no shark like it has been in Western Australia as of late.

I can go on and on about KL and how I love to hate and hate to love it in so many ways. After spending a lot of time outside the busyness it has to offer, I can't say I miss its crowdedness but I have missed its colour and its easy access to lots of things (well, except a beach). I cannot wait to continue exploring it with another first timer.

By the way, since when did it adopt the nickname the garden city of lights?

One month Oziversary

The suburb where we are staying is five minutes drive from the beach, 30 minutes drive to my work place in the morning and close to shops, a shopping centre and a leisure centre that has a big gym, an indoor pool and a sauna. Our house is a gazillion time bigger than our old cottage back in Crovie and with our shipping containers still on their way, it still feels a bit empty - except for our bedroom, the fridge and the kitchen cabinet. I have bought a few plants to put around the house to make it looks liveable, as well as weekly fresh bouquet.


I don't know what we need a big house for, but knowing a lot of paintings are coming and the agent - and the landlord, are not too fuss about us putting them up on the wall, I'd like to think that those empty walls will be put into some good use. My surfboard is being put in the third bedroom until I know where to hang it. Some incoming boxes might go in there too while in the process of unpacking, which will take ages.

There is a big palm tree in front of the house, along with a rose bush, some lavender plants too (to keep scorpions away, I supposed...), three wee bamboo plants, a big giant Christmas tree at the back of the house and other random plants that I don't know much of. I am thinking of getting into gardening once I am done with cleaning the house, pulling off the weeds and killing centipedes. I heard tomatoes are easy to grow.


An old friend whom I met back in Aberdeen five years ago came to visit last week. Sudeep was in Perth for work and became our first guest in the house. What better way to welcome him than cooking a good old Malaysian beehoon? :-) It was a nice catch up. We also have a barbeque invitation coming up. It will be good to finally introduce Charlene and her family to my Scottish lad.

Workwise, everything is great. Everyone at work is pleasant, helpful and friendly. Due to the private and confidential nature of my job, I can't elaborate much except that I am looking forward to learn more about Australasia's geology and the business aspect of the industry. I have a lot planned for and I am so happy to be a part of an entity that really looks after its employees AND having fun at the same time. I am also looking forward to be in KL in the next few weeks for work, which means I can fly home to visit my folks in Sarawak. Result!

My weekends are mostly spent outdoors. For example, last week we went to Yanchep National Park up north to see some koalas. I spotted some wild kangaroos and Jamie took the opportunity to take the photos of a big kangaroos family including a mama roo and its joey. There are plenty more of national parks for us to see. It's great being animal lovers in Western Australia.



Every few days, we would go for coffee after work. Sometimes we drive to the beach just to watch the sunset and body boarders attempting post winter waves before driving back home. By the way, did I tell you that Perth is the sunniest city in Australia with over 3000 hours of sun throughout the year? Not only it's a pretty cool fact, it's also means that we just moved from a sunny spot in Aberdeenshire to the sunniest place in Australia. Awesomeness. One month on and loving it!



Before I continue ranting about the greatness of life, I shall leave you here picturing the millions centipedes dying outside our house that is now protected by centipedes killer (I don't know the real name to it, it's a kind of chemical that you spray around the house to kill and woosh the bugs away). No, no spiders or scorpions yet. Just centipedes. Bloody centipedes. And shall I leave you too a very cool and funny website about this creature of Australia? Click here to enjoy. Until next time, see ya later alligator!

30

Sorry, if you're hating the new template. My blog was playing up and because I did not pay enough attention in my C++ class back when I was in college, I couldn't retain the original layout after trying to fix it for an hour. Everything was upside down - in fact, it still is and I think I'm just going to leave it for now.

I turned 30 last week. Pretty awesome. Got 156* Facebook notifications and messages, a few cards and gifts from my Scottish family in Glasgae and plenty of love and more presents from Jamie, including a bloody awesome surfboard, except that there is no surfable wave since the past few days now that summer is approaching. The beaches have been busy too with sun worshippers, bikini lovers, six-packers and kiddos with bodyboards. I had my first dip in the Indian Ocean over the weekend too but the current was a bit too strong and I am still quite afraid of a potential shark attack.

So what does it feel like being 30? Well, it's a cool feeling really. I wished I could've celebrated it with my friends back in Aberdeenshire though. We would've rented a cottage in the middle of nowhere for the weekend, drinking cases of champagne, sitting by the fire place, eat and play silly games all night. Then somebody would've dared me to go skinny-dipping in the lake and swim with Nessie and I would do it and make them swear to never post the photo on Facebook.

But I am no longer in Aberdeenshire. :-(

The fact that I couldn't celebrate my 30th like how I intended to does not mean I did not enjoy my birthday. I have had a lovely celebration with my new colleagues at work (and made more friends!) and was taken out to a Malaysian restaurant (!!!) for dinner. I would not trade being here right now with anything. Jamie and I have been enjoying every second of Perth since we got here and intend to continue doing so for a while. Of course if I am being very greedy (and super rich), I would fly all my good friends around the world to be with me in sunny Perth to join us. Unfortunately as we speak, and because I am not super rich, everyone is saving up for a trip down under next year for a very special occasion that will make up for a missed skinny dipping in Scotland. Woohoo!

Now if you allow me, I'm going to start saving up for some cases of champagne... Until next time, cheerio! x

*an estimation. But it was plenty.

G'day mate!

It is a shame that this blog was not fully utilised to record all my traveling journals since the past months. My first impression of Perth should have been covered sometime in May/June. Instead of summing my two weeks in Holland in a Facebook status update, I should have them documented here. Then of course there is Venezuela. The privilege to share things in words have been replaced by Facebook's photo albums. I do admit, sometimes it is easier to share experiences through photos uploading. Afterall, who needs to write when pictures do speak a thousand words?

However, I still find the writing of a few paragraphs story in a blog is better than one line of witty photo description in a social network. How would you explain a photo of you holding a giant albino snake in a temple otherwise? "Holding a giant albino snake in a temple"? Really?

But let's start with Perth. Back in May, I visited the city for the first time. I have been to Australia a couple of times before but I had never been to the Western Australia territory. It was entering winter but the weather was fairly warm, especially for someone who was coming from Scotland. I wore T-shirts and flip-flops (or thongs, say the local), so people must have thought I was just another Asian who do not dress appropriately for the weather (try going to KL and you will see Malaysians wearing high boots and leather jackets everywhere).



I stayed in a nice hotel in the city centre. It was an easy access to shops, delis and my friend's place, which was just a block away. Lai, as I prefer to call him instead of his first names, is an ex-colleague whom I used to work with back in KL. He has been living in Perth for a couple of years now and I would say familiar with places to go, especially restaurants. Lai showed me around and took me to places where he normally hangs out at with his wife and kid. We went to check out a coffee place in Leederville which I thought was quite busy but very nice (they have desserts to die for). I also had a new friend, Charlene and her family taking me out for coffee and sight-seeing. Charlene is an Iban lady who has been living in Perth since Jurassic years, and she has the cutest daughters, who seem to like me a lot. But then again who doesn't, right?

Perth city is less than 3km sq, but the area is over 5000km sq. Outside the city itself are smaller cities, towns and localities where the cool shops, cafes, galleries and restaurants are. I quite like the idea of people hanging out at different localities rather than concentrating mainly at the city centre like other cities in the world. I believe this is one of the reasons why Perth has a low level of traffic jam. Nobody goes to the same direction at the same time and I notice that all the streets and road seem to be connected, one way or another. Now, how smart is that?

The people are generally friendly and that does remind me a lot of Scotland. I have yet to test their sense of humour though but if you can get by without it and focus on their good looks instead, then you are sorted. Yes, Australians are fit too. I saw an article once commenting (or complaining?) about Australia's obsession with sports but I would gladly like to correct the journalist and replace the word obsession with passionate instead. Australians live an active outdoor life style, taking advantage of the sun, the wind, the waves, the fields and the deserts around them for activites such as wind, kite or normal surfing as well as cycling, camping and caravaning - and that's a good thing.

First impression is not a deal breaker for me, but if you have a good feeling about the first time of meeting, it is best to give it a try and that is why I took the job offer (also because I need a job. He he). I like Perth the first time because I think it fits my dream life style. I even got a few friends before I moved here, which helps in both short and the long run. To come back the second time with all my belongings and my other half actually means a start of a new life for us both, so it is not just a move.



On my way to start my first day at work today, I saw a few people on bicycles on the road, in helmets and cycling attire, cycling to work. I also spotted men in smart shirts and ties driving in their cars with a surf board on their rooftops. My manager was arranging with some of my colleagues about running a half marathon and a marathon in the event called City to Surf this weekend. So as usual for me, second impression always counts.

Until next time, g'day!

Just another day

Crovie unedited, 3rd August 2011.

It is 8.48pm.

The gulls are waiting for dinner to be thrown out on the rocks.

Bagpipes music can be heard, coming from Gamrie.

Villagers are staying out, waiting for the sunset.

A glass of pinot grigio accompanies my chocolate mousse.

And there's a man holding a Taylor's guitar, ready to play some tunes.

Another warm summer evening in Crovie.

Just another day.

My last summer

Another film roll processed! It was our second one in the last seven months. The prints came out very beautiful although the digital ones need a lot of tweaking. It is really handy to have a professional in the house who has the capability of 'Photoshoping' and spends hours mixing colours, adjusting contrast and highlights, cropping and sharpening images.

Every photo came out as a mirror image though. Did they processed the film the other way round? In the pictures, the village looks as if it is on the left side where as it is actually on the right side of the beach. Shots taken when paddling back from the picnic look like they were taken when we were heading towards Troup Head. And my beautiful ring looked like it was put on the right ring finger instead of the left! Again, Photoshop and Photoshopman came to the rescue, although it is not very assuring to know that a reputable photo printing shop in Aberdeen is incapable of processing a film the right way round.

Yours truly, paddling along Troup Head after the proposal. Taken by Jamie on a 35mm redscale film.

A few weeks ago, I received an email from an old schoolmate down in England who is interested in visiting Scotland soon from just reading about it in this blog. How very lovely! I could go on and on about things to do in Aberdeenshire and the east coast, so I would suggest for her to rent a car with her friends, drive an hour away to a village by the sea called Crovie, stay in a cottage there for a week (or a long weekend even), have wine/tea while watching the sunset every evening, look for seals and dolphins, go hill walking, continue driving along the coast passing all the small villages and towns and take photos of the happy people in Scotland. If they are brave enough, I can hook them up with the local guy who can give them a couple of surfing lessons in Banff. I know somebody who knows a guy who knows a guy.

I arrived in what used to be a somber place. It was cold and grey and I was surrounded by the granite buildings, grey skies, people wearing dark clothes all the time and mingers. He he. My fellow non British friends started to moan over coffee, or tea about the weather and having nothing much to do in the city. The coffee meetings turned into night-outs, night-outs turned into dinner parties, dinner parties turned into BBQs, BBQs turned into skiing trips, skiing trips turned into road/camping trips and the road/camping trips turned into casual dinner and dinner turned into companionship. Four years and nine months later, I am proud to declare that it is still cold and grey sometimes but I've had more companionship in this place than I had in a much warmer and brighter country in the past. The Scots are amazing people to be friends with, as well as people who have lived here long enough and learn to adopt its friendliness and sense of humour.

I will be sad to leave but knowing that one day I will return, I look forward to be in Western Australia soon. A job offer came up a few weeks ago and it was a no brainer for my fiance and I to take it up and leave Scotland behind for a while. Crovie is a very special place for both of us and I love it dearly. Knowing that I am about to spend my last few weeks in this wee village, I can only soak it up and enjoy the last Scottish sun before moving to the southern hemisphere for a new adventure.

Thank you to everyone who has made Scotland a very wonderful place for me. I hope I have made a life long friendship with yous and that you don't hate me for going to live as far away as I could be on the other side of the globe. I look forward to seeing you in the land down under - possibly for a wedding next year and weekends of Skyping before occasional visits back in Scotland.

It has been a great pleasure. Let's keep in touch.

Much love,
Flo x

Back to basic

Happy Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day!

The lomography camera has not been used since the first time we used it months ago. But here's my favourite photo from that session... put up to celebrate the simplest form of photography today! You may have seen it (and other shots) before on my Facebook.

Jamie on double exposure B&W taken using a pinhole camera.

Not bad for a first timer, I think.

But I have been playing with a film SLR camera and just got the 36-film roll developed recently (kids, ask your parents). It's quite fun: there's no delete button, no viewing screen, no photo info and there's no on/off button. Not as close as pinhole camera simplicity but it is still a hardwork to handle it on my own. How do you know you're on the right ISO and not out of focus when the results will only be known after a visit to the printing shop? Thankfully, I have a pro in the house to teach me all the basics. Here are some of the results:

Apart from the last image, I think I'm getting there. I haven't got the chance for more interesting stuff because I am still quite nervous about getting the ISO right. Or even putting the film roll inside the camera. But as long as I have the Olympus SLR in my possession (did I mention that it is a loan from my lovely friend Jo? Love you long time, Jo), I will continue learning to use it and will one day probably stop asking Jamie 'Err... what does this button do again?'.

Right. Time for bed. I am going to spend my extra day off tomorrow by recuperating from an 18 mile training run I did today. The last time I couldn't feel my legs like today was after my Berlin marathon last year. It's 4 weeks exactly until my next marathon in Edinburgh and I'm actually looking forward to it and the full body massage I've booked the day before the run. Until next time, enjoy the rest of your long Easter weekend and soak up all the sun!

P/s A couple of seal sightings in front of the house today. How exciting.

Invasion

A lot has happened since my last post.

Let's start with Libya. Or Egypt. Or Iran. Or Tunisia. As much as it is tiring to hear about the power struggling and war in the middle east and Africa, we can't help but wanting to know more about it everyday. It is hard to not take notice and even harder to do so when a few friends and acquaintances are stuck in the countries affected. Lucky for some, big oil companies are acting fast on getting their workers out of the countries. Others would have to wait. A good friend managed to fly out of Bahrain back to Malaysia after only a few hours of waiting and having only told a few hours before about the decision to get her out of the country for her own safety. Bahrain was declared state of emergency for three months a few hours earlier when she was online chatting with me.

And then the Japan earthquakes and tsunami strike before the world could recover from the quakes that hit New Zealand. The eastern side of the globe was already suffering from post tropical cyclone in Australia a few months earlier. Heart breaking clips emerge every few days on YouTube and what was used to be a very entertaining website has now turned into a very depressing source of unseen footage. And now you have to read my depressing opening for a post in this blog. But really, can you at least try to imagine how do countries recover from war and natural disaster, especially at the scale they have been at these recent months?

Maybe we should save the commiseration for some other time (and other blog).


It is now officially spring in the UK. Scotland (or Aberdeen in particular) has had a hint of it a few weeks ago for a couple of weeks. Sunny spell is everywhere now along the coast of Aberdeenshire and where I live. Tourists are back flocking Crovie and taking up parking spaces for the people who actually live here. Photographers (or people who own big fancy cameras) are taking pictures everywhere around the village. And I don't like having strangers pointing their big lenses towards and deliberately doing so without even asking politely. Subtlety and manners, anyone?

This brings us to the big question that I have meant to ask about photography: when do we know we are not invading privacy when taking photos?

A few months ago, while Jamie and I were working on the shed behind our house, a lady passed by and started asking questions about what we were doing, what we do for a living and how long we have been living there for. She introduced herself as coming from the city (of Aberdeen?) and told us how beautiful Crovie is. I would like to think that I am generally a friendly person but I supposed I was a bit uneasy when I saw that she was holding a camera in her hands. True enough, after answering all her questions, she asked if she could take our photos for her photography class. We really should have said no but I still don't know why we didn't. In that quick few seconds between saying 'yes' and her clicking the camera, I was dreading thinking how many people are there in her photography class and where is the photo going to and if it's going to be published, will the caption read 'The People of Crovie'? Not that I mind - in fact I am a very proud local but a little bit I felt like I was a targeted 'interesting' subject like how animals are in the zoo. Or is that a little bit too dramatic for a description?

Is it really a personal choice of feelings to be taken photos of by strangers? How do some people mind when others don't when put in the same situation? A journalist would have introduced himself and the newspaper or magazine he is representing before he asked if he could take a photo. And maybe by knowing where the photo would be published, I supposed it helps a bit compared to what we had with the lady. I still wished to have said no to her in the nicest way.

I try not to take photos of people when they are aware of it. In the case that they are, I would make sure that they are happy or would not mind to have the photos taken. So does that mean that it is acceptable if the photos taken are not embarassing?

In Asia, street photography is relatively easy and fun because as soon as people see a big lense pointing at them, they flash a friendly smile or make a peace sign. Kids on the street are the best. They make faces and pose for you. When I was in Mabul last October, I saw two kids on a boat and thought of a photo opportunity. They saw me and waved. I missed it and asked them if they could do it again and they happily did.

Last weekend, I saw another tourist standing between two houses, ready with his huge DSLR. And almost hiding even. An older villager walked passed him and we could hear the shutter clicked. As Jamie and I walked closer, the guy lifted his camera again and pointed his lense to follow our movement. He was literally only two meters away. As we got closer and closer, I deliberately looked away and then heard the same shutter clicked. The guy had our photos taken in front of us without asking if it was OK for him to do so first.

After walking passed him, Jamie and I both expressed how uncomfortable we felt - not to him but to each other. Should we have raised our hands and cover our faces from him? Should we have gone to him and said 'could you please not take our photos'?. Should we have stopped and stand for a pose and go along with it? Or should we just brush this aside because people do it everyday, every where anyway? After all, people are free to take photos of what they want and how they want it, no? The photos might just end up in a folder tucked in another folder in their laptops. But what if they are going to be uploaded on Facebook or Flicker for people to look at?

So, how should we really do it then? Is sitting and pretending that you're just holding your camera while it silently clicks, the same as doing it openly? Or should we always ask to avoid the invasion of privacy even when not planning on putting the photos on prints and Internet?

Stormy Scotland

The east coast was predicted 19ft waves on Thursday night. Up north in Thurso east, the swells were expected to be 27ft tall with 15 seconds intervals. I imagined brave surfers would be paddling out to catch some waves. Spectators would gather to see such a perfect condition for photos and some experience. Jamie and I were tempted to make a trip up north, but Friday is still a working day afterall and we still needed to go to work like other civilians.

When I woke up, the waves were not much different to how they were before. Not calm, but no where near what was forecasted. It was probably 4ft max. So much for the excitement the evening before. But it was very windy and icy as I walked along the pathway. There was snow along the road on my drive to work too. I could see (small) dead animals on the road side as well as a lot of plastic bags and wastes from the bins due to the heavy wind overnight. It reached 60mph at some places especially the west coast, I heard. But by the time it reached Aberdeenshire I supposed it mellowed down a little - relatively speaking, but still strong. Not only we could hear the wind through the chimney in the living room, we could see how fast everything else moved outside through the windows. The red fairy lights dangling looked like they were about to be blown away. It was one of those nights. Very rare, but when it happens, it is very exciting.

Since there have not been good swell and fresh powder since the past three weeks, surfing and skiing have been on a halt for me. I am now back running to keep fit, although I'm not sure if 'fit' is the word to describe it. I still get breathless and tire easily after short runs. What a loser. Jamie has joined my one person running club and he's good at it. He has done a lot more running than I have and even ran up the hill behind the house. 17%, it says on the road sign, referring to the steepness of the hill. I would never be able to do that but then again, I did say the same thing about running a marathon. We are still trying to find good places for our training - nothing too steep or flat, to prepare ourselves for the Edinburgh course.

Banff provides some great paths for running. The air is not poluted, the pathways have no dangerous holes unlike back in Aberdeen city and there are options to run on the grass along the beach. The town is 15 minutes drive from where I live and its beach is popular among local surfers. The people are friendly and nice enough to not blow their car horns when passing by runners. In Aberdeen, people honked every 10 minutes like they have never seen a woman running before. It was annoying and there was so much need of an MP3 player back then to block away noises and distractions.

The weather is expected to be wet and chilly this weekend. But we have a plan to go surfing anyway and maybe do a bit of running before. To continue learning how to paddle and work on your arm muscles is good to prepare for good sets of waves when the weather gets better, says Jamie. I have informed Carole, who is staying over this weekend with beautiful Kelyan, to bring along her wetsuit and surfing gear. Leave your board, I said, we have enough boards for everyone this weekend.

Photo: Green room paint on canvas by Jamie Harris (www.harrisjam.com)

I have a new wetsuit to be baptised. Let's see what 5mm can do in a 4 degrees Celcius of water. I cannae wait. Until next time, have a very good weekend, everyone and unless you're going surfing, keep warm.

Sunset in Crovie

On top of Crovie hill, Gardenstown.
January 2011.
Title: Sunset in Crovie

Taken today with Nikon D70.

Selamat Tahun Baru 2011

I have no resolution this year. I'm quite happy to keep doing what I have been doing and not giving up things (I no longer have that many vices to give up anyway).

Running another marathon in the summer would be nothing new. Learning how to surf is just a continuation from last summer. I have fallen back in love with skiing. I finally gave in and decided to take my photography to another level with the power of Adobe Photoshop. And the list goes on but really, they are the same old thing, only improved. I supposed by the end of 2011, I will be a super duper fitter and more photography-smart-ass Flo. (I just typed ass. He he)

I supposed it is worth mentioning as well that recently I was learning about pin-hole cameras and how 35mm differs from 120 film. Yes... film, baby! I was once told that the best way to learn about photography is by picking up a film camera and start shooting. And with a pin-hole camera, you have only 12 shots (or 16), 120-film speaking to make perfectly lighted, compositioned and clear images without having to QC and delete and reshoot. And boy, did I have fun during my first pin-hole camera experience! The results, as you may expect, will only be ready after the shops reopen passed this holiday season. Although there was actually a talk about converting the second bedroom into a dark room before...

I hope everyone had a nice new year's celebration. I know I did. Hopefully it is not too late to wish everyone a very happy new year and good luck with the resolutions. Until next time, cheerio! x

The photo was taken during my skiing trip in Cairngorm Mountain overlooking the national park on one perfect day in December.

From the city to the hill

Your majesty: Hi, I would like 15 international stamps please.
Woman: Where to?
Your majesty: Asia Pacific.
Woman: China and all that?
Your majesty: Er, yes. China and all that.

That was the conversation I had the other day at the post office. Super funny stuff always makes my day.

I have been busy making Christmas cards this year. They may not look as cool as the ones that Jamie have made for his friends but they are just as personal and still represent the cheeseball in me nonetheless. Due to a very busy postal service across the UK this Christmas season, some of you might get your Christmas cards a bit later than everyone else in this region. So, be patient my dear friends. Especially those who are in Asia Pacific region. China and all that...

I have been sharing some winter photos on Facebook of my new place. I still can't believe that I live here now. Two weeks ago, when the snow fall was the worst it has ever been in November, I woke up to the most stunning view in front of my doorstep. The pathways were covered in fresh powder and the hills were all white and bright. Living a few meters from the sea gives me the advantage of having more sunshine than any other place across the UK too. I have heard about view before I moved here, but I had never imagined it to be that breathtaking.

Commuting to work can be a bit tough. There is a big steep hill behind the house that leads to the main roads. Every car that parks at the bottom of the hill would have had problem climbing up when it snows and the road is icy. There is an option to park your vehicles at the tourist carpark on top of the hill but if you have a bad judgment thinking it's not going to snow overnight and park at the bottom anyway, you could actually pay for the price.

It is a long drive everyday in my Forester but radio stations have been very entertaining and I quite like singing out loud in the car to and from work to the amusement of other drivers passing by. The sleepiness and tiredness get me sometimes though. Once or twice, I have continued driving instead of pulling by the road side when I got very sleepy in the morning. Dangerous, I know but I vow to be more careful in the future. If you have any tips to survive a long drive, please share them with me.

The storm has yet to arrive in this place but I quite like to see it for myself and be there if it happens this time. Last year apparently, the waves hit the roof top as if they were going to sweep the whole village away. Not that I'm hoping for it to happen but if it does, I hope the surfboards are enough for me to hang on to for survival. It would be so cool to live and tell the tale. Or die in it, even.

If you have been to Scotland, you would agree that the people are very friendly and helpful. In my new neighbourhood, everyone is twice all that. I haven't missed the city that much just yet, apart from missing seeing my friends, but making new friends here helps a lot. And it's so easy too. I am slowly making myself familiar with faces from the local shop, the pub and the gallery and so far, nobody has passed me without saying hello. It's like living in Pleasantville.

Probably not the most exciting life for some: no posh restaurants, no bars and no cinemas, but this has been the most exhilarating thing for me, even more than when I moved from Malaysia to Scotland four years ago. I'd like to think I have come a long way since in many ways, including embracing rain and winter and deal with people who thinks I'm being an old lady for opting to live in the countryside. I supposed not everyone appreciates living a life in a cottage by the sea and would rather live in a flat with no view. No offense, but I think I'm happier this way (not to mention COOL! Mwahahaha). Now who would have thunk all that? A super cool Flo! He he.

Ah, here comes another set of snow and hail. Time to build the fire. Until next time, keep warm everyone and have a very Merry Christmas. x

Bintulu

I was sun-deprived and a recent travel back home to Bintulu, a small town in the state Sarawak of Malaysia cured me. Its sunset was one of the best yet.

Shot details: Olympus E-510 with a 14-42mm at 14mm and f8, 1/200sec and ISO 800.

Shot details: Olympus E-510 with a 14-42mm at 42mm and f6.3, 1/100sec and ISO 800.

Mabul

This was taken in Mabul Island, Malaysia in Borneo. The kid lives on a daily basis with his family on the boat around the island. In the background lie water chalets for tourists who come to visit the scuba diving heaven.

Shot details: Olympus E-510 with 14-42mm lense at 26mm and f11, 1/640sec and ISO 800.

Septembered

I turned another year older a couple of weeks ago. Happy Birrthday to me... I was on a holiday. Ten days I was traveling across the continent seeing places. I was in Munich, Zurich, Barcelona and Lisbon, in that order. And how time flies when you're having fun..!

Kath and Riki Marten joined me for my adventure this time. Kath and I knew each other from university years. We have become close friends throughout the years and have been frequently in contact with each other whereas Riki, well... I was introduced to him as a nameless meerkat a few days before my trip.

I don't know if I want to talk about the entire trip in this post but I'm sure you've seen some of the pictures on my Facebook. We met up with a friend, also an ex flatmate, Aneli during our stay in Zurich. It was really nice to see her again. We also met an old friend, Goncalo who hosted us during our entire stay in Lisbon. We made some nice (and cool) people along the way including some crazy Spanish dudes (you guys know who you are).

Kath and I spent a lot of time together after months of planning the trip. It's always nice to share the joy of seeing new places with someone who you know will appreciate it as well. We both loved all the places we went to and somehow wished that our trip was longer. Kath and I talked almost everyday a few weeks before the trip and still do so after the trip. We keep on telling each other that we'll definitely do this again in the future and guess what, we will.

It's entering the reading hour now, before bedtime. I'll write again soon when I get the chance and hopefully before I'm away to Berlin for my marathon next week. And in case you're wondering what book I'm currently on, I picked up Dean Karnazes' Ultramarathon Man from Waterstones last Sunday. Inspiring stuff. If you think I'm crazy, wait til you read about this nutter. Until next time, good night, Escapaders. X

Randombrands

The famous T taken during the golden hour.

It's not what you think it is unless you know what it is.

Taken at Gamrie's gala.

Carpentry

A joiner's workshop in Fordyce.
August, 2010.

The builder is seen in the background of the third photo from top.