Malacca Weekend Trip 31 Aug 2019

It is a considered long weekend public holidays. Alvin planned for us to spend the weekend together at Malacca. We started our journey early morning nearly around 6.00am. Our car almost got heated up, but we safely arrived at our destination.

We reached Malacca around 8.00am. Alvin drove us straight to a famous Siang Chang Kopitiam which famous for its steamed or toasted bread and the half boiled eggs.

Besides that, we ordered a bowl of Nyonya Laksa to try. I love the toasts and the eggs, but frankly speaking I do not like the Laksa, it is tasteless. I still like Sarawak Laksa more.

After our breakfast, it is still early to check-in to our homestay, thus we went to the Melaka Submarine Museum. We bought the entrance tickets. Before we went into the museum, there is a pony ride and carriage ride outside at the field there.

Issac and Annabelle were trying to ride on the pony. There was an accident happened during Issac was riding the pony. He was over thrown by the pony and luckily he was alright and nothing serious or bad thing happened.

After Alvin helped him to clean off the dirt and changed to new pants and T-shirt, we just walked towards the museum. We can see 2 fighter jet planes displayed.

We walked to the submarine and get the chance to see submarine up close and to go inside and witness the living and working conditions of submariners.

The submarine is propped up on steel supports on dry land and is open to the public as museum. The submarine named the SMD Ouessant, an Agosta 70 class submarine which was built in 1978 by Arsenal de Cherbourg in France.

It was decommissioned by the French Navy in 2001 and subsequently transferred to the Royal Malaysian Navy where it was used as training vessel from 2005 – 2009 it is an electric/diesel powered non-nuclear submarine.

We are allow to enter the hull of the submarine via stairs near the bow and walk through the narrow corridor inside before existing near the rear.

The Ouessant is still crammed with its original equipment such as the torpedo launching platform, torpedo bays, engine room, navigational and communications equipment as well as the cramped mess room and sleeping accommodation of the crew.

It was almost 10.00am when we left the museum, we headed to the famous coconut shake place and had our cold dessert for such a hot sunny day. We had some Mee Rebus, Nasi Lemak, and Coconut Shake too.

We love especially the coconut shake top with vanila ice cream in the coconut! That is really yummy delicious!

After which we checked in to our homestay at Casa Blanca Guest House which is near to the Jonker Street. And the whole afternoon and evening we were walking around the Jonker Street area and eat a lot!

Pastel Palette 20190829 ~ My Autumn

This is my Autumn! I want to see the Autumn’s sunlight through the leaves. I always want to see the light through the moody circumstances and gloomy days!

Pastel Nagomi Art 3rd Class

Today before the class, we shared last week homework, we continued back last week the pastel class on the 4 seasons – Winter. After the we did the Winter, Teacher Mici asked us to stick on the wall.

After which, she gave us a simple meditation session and from the meditation we had, asked us to paint whatever images or things which came into our mind.

I do not know all about the meditation. I just know that in my mind I have a bright lightness that I can see through the dark mists or darkness. Thus, this is my painting.

And this is my artwork for the 4 seasons which learned over the past 2 weeks in the class.

Pastel Palette 20190826 ~ My Summer

This is the Summer which in my mind – clear white and blue sky, sandy beaches and blue sea. It gives me a kind of peace and comfort feeling. I know that it is simple.

I would love to imagine that if I am going to turn into my golden years later, I would want my years there after just like the Summer like this. I can see the blue sky, I can see the clear seas and looking at the beautiful dawn peacefully sun rising and the beautiful sun set too.

This is my Summer.

Pastel Palette 20190823 ~ My Spring

There is homework which Teacher Mici gave to us last night during our 2nd class last night: What stage of your life currently is now? Is it Spring? Summer? Autumn? Or Winter?

We learned how to draw four seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter in Pastel Nagomi Art method. Last time we learned till autumn.

I personally think that I do not agree at all of the question that teacher gave, because in life there definitely we will bounce to go through some challenges and trials. I should not look at my life now as like season. Even though in Spring, or Summer, or Autumn, and even Winter, that is really up to me to look at life and how I want it to be?

At that moment, I was thinking of like… How my Spring would be? How is my Summer are like? How can I see hope in the Autumn that gloomy and moody? How can I see the sunlight in the midst of coldness in the Winter?

Even Spring too… under the clear blue sky… you will see some darkness under the clouds. That is how I want myself to treat my own life the way it is.

It is just like the dandelion. After the dandelion flower head dries out, the mature seeds that attached to the white, fluffy “parachutes” which easily detach from the seed head would glide by the strong wind, dispersing…

I feel that: that is the way how I want my Spring to be. I will still trying my very best and fly high even under the wind, and whatever that come along my way.

Pastel Palette 20190818 ~ Companion

I took out the piece of pastel artwork which I did in the class days ago, and look at it again. Suddenly I felt that I was alone in the artwork… All these while, may be I am too self-centre or focus on myself but neglected the people that are around me.

It gave me an idea that I should paint another piece of artwork that 2 trees represent 2 persons. My heart feel that I need that too… It is really tired to walk alone and face all the challenges alone… Sometimes I just need a shoulder to lean on, even just sit beside, no conversation is enough…

Issac’s Sketches

I have to say that I really admire Issac’s when looking at his sketch book! It is so good that he has this talent of drawing and the sense of art!

Pastel Palette 20190816 ~ A Tree that Glows

Teacher Mici gave us homework last night. She asked us to paint what we can see after we meditated with our own painting last night. What we can see and what we would like to paint next?

I just have an idea of wanted to paint a tree that glows. I want to become that tree. I think of the tree of life which was in the Lehi’s dream in the Book of Mormon.

I want to become a tree that can glow in the dark. I want to become that person that will still try her best to become that light even in the darkness times of her life.

I want to become a glowing tree!

Pastel Nagomi Art 1st Class

Today is the first class of Pastel Nagomi Art, Aunty Jasmine also attending the class. The class started a little bit late due to the bad weather and every way was jammed.

Teacher Mici gave a brief introduction of the Japanese Pastel Nagomi, in which one uses pastel powder and fingers to create gentle, transparent, warm and heart-touching art through simple yet unique ways of painting techniques. The kanji character of “Nagomi” is “和”, which means Harmony.

The therapeutic nature of this pastel art is able to create peace, harmony, and hope from the heart of the painter and also to the people who admire the pastel art.

The results are magical, where it is able to sooth emotions, calm down and relax the mind, reduce stress and depression, increase self-awareness and self-discovery through colours and symbols, enhance self-esteem and confidence, bring joy and harmony to the heart, at the same time stimulate aestheticism and inner sense of beauty.

To start the lesson, Teacher Mici taught us how to use pastel and draw or paint, by using knife and scrap out the pastel powder, and how using fingers to apply onto the paper. We have various kind of painting tools, such as a small cutting board, circle template, paper to cut for the shapes that we desire, rubber eraser, wet wipes tissues, cotton buds, facial cottons, etc..

Everything would have to place it in a proper and neat manner, so that the whole table would not be messy. It is quite common to me as the founder himself is a Japanese. Japanese are famous for their cleanliness and neatness of doing things.

We first paint the ground, then follow the sky, and the little heart in the sky, and finally the small tree which represented ourselves in the painting. It was considered fast in completing the drawing not less than 20 minutes, and it turns out pretty well and indeed I gained satisfaction in it!

Initially Pastel Nagomi Art was not my favourite but I guess after this class, I kind of like it. It indeed reminds me from my school days when I was in my art classes. I can feel that all of my artistic senses are starting to come back and flow into my blood.

Homemade by Daddy

This morning Alvin tried a recipe that he learned from internet and made us our breakfast to bring to office and eat. It is the mushroom cheesy baked bread.

Both Issac and Annabelle loves it so much!

Zentangle 4th Class

Today was the last class of the Zentangle classes. Teacher Gek Lan taught us to use the things we learned onto the used clothing or T-Shirt which is in light colour. We brought from home some T-Shirts or canvas bags for this class.

It quite a fun experiences for us as we drew slowly and focus the patterns that we like and learn onto the T-shirt. It’s a very enjoying process and moment. We showcased our artwork and post for group photos.

Here is the patterns I drew. I bought the T-Shirts at Brands Outlet with 3 shirts in RM50.00. I intend to draw a pattern for Alvin. That is why I drew with the letter “A”. I hope he likes it! ^^