Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Blooming


A new journey will start today or tomorrow


A whole new life awaiting


Hope it will be a smooth journey

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Farewell


People come and go...they left footsteps and memories...


Just had a Farewell Lunch for our Boss who's leaving for HQ bext week..the new on just drop by today, but we didn't know that he's our new boss.. :-)




The Boss, having lunch at living area, sitting on Harvey Norman set.. (someone is eyeing and dreaming of buying an LCD Tv... :-)

Feature wall with big mirror could make a space wider just like this one



Fruits served on high clear glass panel



Main course were prepared by our immediate boss's brother, cooking and entertaining are this family's specialty.

It was a great lunch in a warm and cosy ambience, there are so many things especially the art and craft displayed in this house, most of them are souvernirs from his oversea trip..

Monday, June 16, 2008

Making a Place : Vernacular House

I did not attend the BBQ gathering due to health problem, both me and my daughter, but at least for the first time I managed to talk to the guest of honour - our blogger friend Simah, she sounds bubbly,jovial, friendly and warm...Insyallah one day, we'll meet...


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There was a briefing from the consultant and contractor yesterday before CPC Inspection, they were quiet prepared this time around and for the first time I met the architect, whom I adore since I was studying..she look a bit different...my pre conceived idea..she's not that tall as I expected and seen in a magazine...



But this entry is not all about her, but more on the architecture : Vernacular.


Vernacular architecture is more towards local context, our design should respond and derived from our surrounding, that means we need to think of the weather, the culture, the material and soul of that particular place before we start designing. Most of traditional houses in Malaysia built during pre-war and pre-Merdeka are truly Vernacular architecture with all this attributes. One could feel that the house are suitable for our climate and responding to our culture with raised floor, ample natural ventilation and lighting, proper roof overhang and suitable local material which is aesthetically pleasing and practical.





Yesterday's briefing was a bit a misconception of the idea of Vernacular, they claimed that they design is Vernacular but with double frontage and garden concept. They placed a kitchen just next to the entrance which is totally not acceptable in our local culture. And when we chanllenged them, the finally admitted that it is only the facade that is Vernacular.....




..'Fusion architecture...? too many element, wrong time and wrong place


To me, it can't just be the make up or the external outlook, it need to be the essence and soul of the house. we design a space for people to live in, there is a sentimental value in any house, therefore when we claimed that it is Vernacular, the house should reflect the whole idea and concept of the word Vernaculus (Latin).



Sometimes we tend to adopt other people's culture which looks beautiful and nice in a glossy magazine but we should realised that those are what meant to be at that particular place, in that kind of environment and responding to their climate.



It is not easy to design a house, it is not just about sketching and designing but there are so much value and input that need to be thrown into in order to achieved an ideal design..it is way different what TV drama and movies always potray, an architect with safety helmet and a roll of drawing in their hand....typical...

Friday, June 13, 2008

Countdown

Its just around the corner, 13 days to go..if base on EDD - 26th June 2008, might be early or over due just like Sufiya..but I wish that it happen on weekdays, next week ...oooh how ideal..but only God knows....

At 38 weeks and second pregnancy, its so much different from the first one, the excitement and preparation are not the same anymore, time flies very fast...the first day of seeing two lines on test kit until today are just like a few months gap.....been busy with work and little girl at home plus other activities, I don't have much time thinking or worrying about this pregnancy....but of coz the love and attention is not less..never...any child is a Gift from Him...a precious one..

Tomorrow is a big day for our friend from Istanbul..a BBQ gathering for her...hope I could join them and meeting her lovely family for the first time.....

So, baby could you wait after the BBQ...? I don't want your birth place to be written down as Hospital Rawang... hehehe



UPDATE:

Just received a news that our boss will be transfered to other Department effective this coming 16th June 08, 'hope a new one will be more pro-active, energetic and whatever a boss should be.....in one year service, this will be my third boss....!! hmmm

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Toys: Nokia N82

It was like love at first sight, the moment I saw her on tv, I knew that I'm gonna have i.....It was like a child staring at a chocolate advertisement, tantalised and wish that she could have a bite...that was how I felt....that tv commercial on Nokia N82 made a big impact....but I'm no gadget person..therefore that dream just dissappeared and resurfaced last week...
I won't mentioned about the whole spec...but one thing that grab my attention is it's camera...I don't have to rely on digital camera all the time...I need to snap photo most of the time, anywhere....


We went to The Mines and found out that the price range are almost the same and affordable, except for one thing...there are so many version, some claimed taht those are made from China, some from Singapore and even Arab Saudi...hmmm....I'm scared that we spent money on something fake.....


Whatever it is that small thing will be my next baby after this baby inside my come out in maybe next two weeks or earlier....

This would be a gift for myself after so much hardwork......

Friday, June 06, 2008

Men and Love

Georgetown, Penang....3th June 2008..hot and sunny afternoon....

An old Chinese man in white shirt and dark blue short pant was pushing his cart, selling ripe yellow banana somewhere along the road around historical town of Georgetown. His feature and gesture shows that he's been selling around that area for quite sometime ...yet he is still committed with his work, maybe he is still surviving and struggling among all these rapid development but I am sure he have seen enough and experience the good old days of Penang compared to most of us...His tired face and the old push cart made our heart melt, people like him,who still have the strength and courage to work under hot sun and dusty road....

Sometimes the best story of one place could not be found at any gigantic and monumental museum but simply from these street people who knows better...some men are truely committed to their work and some to their love one...



Alor Setar, Kedah...late afternoon...

The same couple riding a bicycle on that thin premix road not far from Taman Abdul Aziz, riding the same old black bicycle as usual, nobody knows where they are heading too, but one thing for sure they are always together..and that day, the wife looks fragile with a pain relief sticker on her forehead..people always wonder where they go, what they do...and one thing that really made people touch about this couple is no matter where they are go, the husband never leave his wife...she's always on that rear seat accompanying her husband....

This one special old Chinese couple is a testament of true love, money could not buy anything..their love is beyond our imagination..I believe it is not merely love, but commitment to each other that made them unseparable...people here always talk about them, and wonder what will happen if one of them have to go forever....it must be really hard...........

Young and modern couple could not compete with their affection and strong bonding..we might look and perceived love from different perspective..but their's is something rare and precious....

Ohhh...I feel like I need a hug now.......


' There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread'.....Mother Teresa


Have a nice weekend everyone...and don't forget to show your love one how much you care for them before its too late.....

Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Old and New : Penang

When we can't go vertical..we go horizontal...



Population are increasing each day (plus one in my tummy)...but land are scarce and people go vertical and horizontal all the way to overcome these problem. Skyline change every months and year..

We were in Penang last four days and noticed there are many development going on, works on Penang bridge extension is moving with cranes on barge, one barge is stranded at one small island not far from the bridge..Superstructure work is going crazy now...i could hardly see small boat passing by that area anymore.....it was a massive traffic, everybody are leaving the island and some are trying


Just before we approach the bridge, there is one area that has been reclaimed for a new project..not sure what it is..but it sure has made a dramatic impact not only on view, environment but also sentimental value..each day the mainland and the island is getting nearer without we realising it..




We spent time by the beach not far from the newly built Queensbay...the soil is dry and the green grass is struggling to survive, kids were running along the beach that have no white sand anymore and it is replaced with big hard boulders as protection..but the view towards Jerejak Island is just a plus point..and we could count every airplane that approached the airport from where we sit...I wonder what will happen in next ten or twenty years, will there be white sandy beaches with coconut trees with crystal clear water...or will it be replaced with indoor beach with artificial waves and sand and no more direct sun light and the smell of salt water is a thing of the past..? Are we preparing our Pearl of The Orient to be another artificial heaven just like one in Japan..?









When we were dating..back in 2000...we talked about having a house by the beach, live in Penang..eat all we can, enjoy the historical facade of old shophouses...but now those we just a dream..for me..I don't know about him...it is just a small island with everything..I mean every single things are there, but that is the downside...the road that I used to walk freely and do some sketches are now too crowded with vehicles, some shophouses has lost their historical value, ontricate facade treatment has been replaced by modern and funky signboard....fortunately there is still one shop that is facing the Island Motel still standing strong, same ambience, same people...except for those people are not a stranger anymore, they are my family now.....









Besides that, I think this island is starting losing its charm....people are hungry for development and they forget about their past and history.....