tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18550915558254001282024-02-02T15:33:32.317+11:00Wondergramwondergram is a blog about everyday wonderskaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.comBlogger86125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-82656013676450302852013-01-10T03:05:00.000+11:002013-01-10T03:05:53.294+11:00A Complete Circle...... of being on a hiatus from the Wondergram! <br />
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Salam and Hello :)<br />
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It was exactly a year ago that I did my last post. Funny enough, it was about my attempt to do the <a href="http://wondergram.blogspot.com/search/label/366photoproject">#366photoproject</a>, which by right, I would have completed. Keyword: "would have". I got only as far as the end of February! Haha... so much for 366 days! But that's alright, I'm not kicking myself about it, as it was just a fun project and there was no rules. Maybe that could be the reason, there was no rules at all. I found some IG friends who did the similar photo-a-day project following <a href="http://fatmumslim.com.au/">#fatmumslim's</a> IG monthly photo list, which came out to be pretty neat! Chantelle from FatMumSlim (yes, you read it right, Fat-Mum-Slim and not Fat-Muslim, hehe) made a list of photos to be taken daily as a simple guide for those wanting to do the project. I decided to join the fun again, this time aiming to go beyond February (haha) and who knows, complete the whole year :) <i>As if tak cukup-cukup challenge, </i>I'm also doing the <a href="http://stickygram.com/">#stickygramaday</a> , again, just for the fun of it, while I'm in the mood and on a roll here! Woot! <i>Over sikit starting new year takpe lah kan...</i><br />
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As the quote goes:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilc6OX4f5zJPrdnV47qxRYglf_qgeyW5g0mrU1pNM8XcJ-gIEUNjOkEIQp-9cL92_qGsOJ2WPONbtkmA0Tsb6BSpOBMVhE1In6bOOd60Ws67eCb2CtYA1kiHZ5_JcA0LflahcRYceGOXVi/s1600/Starting+Over+Quote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilc6OX4f5zJPrdnV47qxRYglf_qgeyW5g0mrU1pNM8XcJ-gIEUNjOkEIQp-9cL92_qGsOJ2WPONbtkmA0Tsb6BSpOBMVhE1In6bOOd60Ws67eCb2CtYA1kiHZ5_JcA0LflahcRYceGOXVi/s640/Starting+Over+Quote.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bricks in Huanglongxi, Sichuan Province, China. May 2012.</td></tr>
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A simple quote that I found in my 2012 organizer, yet strong enough to motivate me to start over (and this also goes back to running as I've been very and I mean verrrrryyyyy lazy in that department for the past 2 months).<br />
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I haven't planned what to blog, but the mood to blog has definitely come back. Instagram seems to have taken over the world by the clicks and it has become THE portal to do visual microblogs (even took me away from Tumblring). But it's fun. Whatever suits to release a bit of the daily work day routines (and stress) right?<br />
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Well, in good spirits of re-starting for the new year, and hopefully not overthinking about writing and blogging, here are some pics from my Instagram. The photos for the challenges are there in between the other snapshots... but it's always nice to see the week goes by in thumbnails :)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1INJxbM1zqPha74qsLK1PdMJAao6tM918U6YrDOjn074SdgfycIjtziOT2MJe7nrVuUvvWlxxC1ntWZtOvCYlNhJKq_Xfu1jQX_JeDjrKOfkbBqSbVvh1ixFpZf9PtyFU-0R_JFxNCk-E/s1600/instagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1INJxbM1zqPha74qsLK1PdMJAao6tM918U6YrDOjn074SdgfycIjtziOT2MJe7nrVuUvvWlxxC1ntWZtOvCYlNhJKq_Xfu1jQX_JeDjrKOfkbBqSbVvh1ixFpZf9PtyFU-0R_JFxNCk-E/s640/instagram.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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til then, have a wonderful tomorrow ;)<br />
kaylakaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-25070896089970960812012-01-09T03:18:00.001+11:002012-01-09T03:24:01.045+11:00366 Photo Project - Week #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Happy 2012 :) For this year's "collection" project, I've decided to get on board with the daily photo project for a year. For the past years, I have noticed others that have been doing this sort of project. Some call them 365 Photo Project, <a href="http://content.photojojo.com/tutorials/project-365-take-a-photo-a-day/">Project 365</a>, 365 Days and so forth. Just right before the new year, while I was browsing my Google Reader, I came across an post about <a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/2011/12/365-photos-inspiration/">The 365 Photo Project</a> by iheartfaces. Excited and inspired, I started with my first shot the next day on 1 January 2012. I only realised that we have 366 days this year when a friend pointed it out to me after my first upload (a reason why the first photo is tagged #365photoproject).<br />
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For my #366photoproject, I don't have any specific theme set for the daily photos, other than to retain the size of the photos to be all in a square shape, with a caption, day number and the date (gotta have at least one form of consistency in a collection), and to just shoot anything that captures my eyes. Most of my photos up to this first week were taken using iPhone3GS, and they are uploaded daily on tumblr and Instagram. Several friends on twitter and facebook have also joined in, so this is going to be fun :)<br />
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Here is Week 1 for my 366 Photo Project:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage10.s3.amazonaws.com/f508b238346911e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://distilleryimage10.s3.amazonaws.com/f508b238346911e19e4a12313813ffc0_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/99382956352811e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://distilleryimage0.s3.amazonaws.com/99382956352811e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage3.s3.amazonaws.com/f38f737435ef11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://distilleryimage3.s3.amazonaws.com/f38f737435ef11e1abb01231381b65e3_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span id="goog_599706554"></span><span id="goog_599706555"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage1.s3.amazonaws.com/96d28f3c36b111e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://distilleryimage1.s3.amazonaws.com/96d28f3c36b111e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage6.s3.amazonaws.com/3029704c375211e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://distilleryimage6.s3.amazonaws.com/3029704c375211e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/073a6356385311e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://distilleryimage7.instagram.com/073a6356385311e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://distilleryimage2.instagram.com/04fea84438d611e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://distilleryimage2.instagram.com/04fea84438d611e1a87612313804ec91_7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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I'm already imagining a poster of 366 thumbnail photos at the end of the year, and then looking at each one trying to recall the story behind them ;)kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-42718102325838535832011-12-15T23:52:00.000+11:002011-12-15T23:52:33.693+11:00colours in the backyardWe went to The Colour Lab for the second time earlier this evening. The first time my husband and I visited the store/cafe, we sat inside. But since the weather today was just way too gorgeous to be sitting in, we were excited to have coffee with three of our good friends at the backyard garden of the cafe. The backyard garden is like a small courtyard with lattice walls all around. They had wooden picnic tables, plants and some splashes of colours here and there, which really made the garden vibrant. Here are some snapshots of the garden ornaments that caught my attention.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I had ice coffee and a good time :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Photos from iPhone3GS</div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-26836606162259704042011-11-09T18:03:00.000+11:002011-11-09T18:03:35.260+11:00A rainbow, a river and the rainWe went on a camping trip a week ago at Lorne, along the Great Ocean Road. There are times when I yearn to be out of the city, at the very least be amongst the vast landscape, with scenic hills, grass and trees, and water... and Lorne has bits of these. The 2 hour roadtrip to Lorne was as much enjoyable as being there in Lorne itself. The weekend that we went it was expected to rain - but we went anyway. Yes, it was drizzling most of the times, but the rain on that Friday afternoon brought out a beautiful rainbow. And if I'm seeing this correctly, there was another rainbow there as well.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoruzhAQLmL_WrMg-57Jt0222o1InAQEh1jl8sQXHlE1ulgP-3NQIOq6xqvSC1bSva3wUpGDzz7wN2GRGuLXtAmN279MzgxAoICR33ySxR71CHaYytWhQyEGIOiDTNCvflCzQ4l_lcow9/s1600/PA283747.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzoruzhAQLmL_WrMg-57Jt0222o1InAQEh1jl8sQXHlE1ulgP-3NQIOq6xqvSC1bSva3wUpGDzz7wN2GRGuLXtAmN279MzgxAoICR33ySxR71CHaYytWhQyEGIOiDTNCvflCzQ4l_lcow9/s640/PA283747.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtS-Qai9Hlr1UVqPCgWWxEqEjjBg1gTlEIKCAc00na2Cu9rOUX09suWUO3KASMGRLlBcA1b-FNOsk_Bk5roAUN5K863wt3HbHzGNpq36lHdfxeJeC4N39gofn-eraFVFQ8zDbDfyVU4D-1/s1600/PA293789.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtS-Qai9Hlr1UVqPCgWWxEqEjjBg1gTlEIKCAc00na2Cu9rOUX09suWUO3KASMGRLlBcA1b-FNOsk_Bk5roAUN5K863wt3HbHzGNpq36lHdfxeJeC4N39gofn-eraFVFQ8zDbDfyVU4D-1/s640/PA293789.JPG" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZdvNLidKf5dwULJkJ_ZLFO6riWdyV_EwoUWogUIhiuGdlueekhZrOGG8jcsH6w35vXIJTh7faHBct4kn3dSW2Qef6JMLcezcjNWvc0hpyroRhKspcio_JY9ey87LU8tbCOdJQYWXcDqy/s1600/PA293790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZdvNLidKf5dwULJkJ_ZLFO6riWdyV_EwoUWogUIhiuGdlueekhZrOGG8jcsH6w35vXIJTh7faHBct4kn3dSW2Qef6JMLcezcjNWvc0hpyroRhKspcio_JY9ey87LU8tbCOdJQYWXcDqy/s640/PA293790.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrT_UIqLIMuuu2JXADgDE8x7HSIrElysBh3p69qRPdwA8TzY171oQQirQpTXNjSmbb4ooJNBttPNnLfDskn7qe6D1Hyi4TunYtLdCRNyQnsQiqFX-700XxFPIDplbx7wakCCj1wfX3Sq4U/s1600/PA293802.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrT_UIqLIMuuu2JXADgDE8x7HSIrElysBh3p69qRPdwA8TzY171oQQirQpTXNjSmbb4ooJNBttPNnLfDskn7qe6D1Hyi4TunYtLdCRNyQnsQiqFX-700XxFPIDplbx7wakCCj1wfX3Sq4U/s640/PA293802.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQdHk0jPJ_ZmCNRn1QiGgbb_S9xUKWBqNHFeZbn_5GNAXkgH3cwISwLpLFzGx2y0kq2yXoyIOrmtValdXRPaYvezbgFTVjhSuKBWVlxKzLe4KNM9lbH87L8kXFb8SdR8LCJ6ZP305RIQD/s1600/PA293816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLQdHk0jPJ_ZmCNRn1QiGgbb_S9xUKWBqNHFeZbn_5GNAXkgH3cwISwLpLFzGx2y0kq2yXoyIOrmtValdXRPaYvezbgFTVjhSuKBWVlxKzLe4KNM9lbH87L8kXFb8SdR8LCJ6ZP305RIQD/s640/PA293816.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLmGrOS8eM_CLXDUvckkSasUyuU7YeJDVwSLnH4TLGGmyTy_wGfrNGWWNPxaliUHcnfLjUki6pz3tipnkCauCSDZSeF1IiB23cfdURuSQGFnVhAyvn5pyGdQj-R7qgIZg_67wRp8fT6ta/s1600/PA293823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLmGrOS8eM_CLXDUvckkSasUyuU7YeJDVwSLnH4TLGGmyTy_wGfrNGWWNPxaliUHcnfLjUki6pz3tipnkCauCSDZSeF1IiB23cfdURuSQGFnVhAyvn5pyGdQj-R7qgIZg_67wRp8fT6ta/s640/PA293823.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Despite the rain, I think all of us that went truly enjoyed being there... setting up the tents in the rain, cooked and ate in the 'undecided' weather pattern of rain and shine alternating like very five minutes, and we made sure we made the best of it all. With hot drinks, hot food, chairs and mats, umbrellas and raincoats, card and board games, and hanging out with great companies was all that we probably needed (and also the fact that I brought a long my laptop and we ended up watching a movie in the tent while it was raining and made caramel popcorn using the electric pan!). And with all that, I am pretty sure everyone had a one-of-a-kind camping experience.<br />
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Even our breakfast was somewhat luxurious, don't you think? :)</div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-81007963667354562512011-10-25T23:16:00.001+11:002011-11-01T01:23:15.851+11:00Tuesday Morning Walk-Jog-Photog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-4c0OqZshbetXp1T8lRQBC5_KDbL23aHxlM5W5-DuGBibjtipo7svzUo3bioNZPHm4OqE6pwOMcTmQ2h2tfVwERBeUpSgHLEoz5NjChDVuY_BHMhZVLUO-wHjnWPYApflBsVWwOpEO-D/s1600/aIMG_6027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE-4c0OqZshbetXp1T8lRQBC5_KDbL23aHxlM5W5-DuGBibjtipo7svzUo3bioNZPHm4OqE6pwOMcTmQ2h2tfVwERBeUpSgHLEoz5NjChDVuY_BHMhZVLUO-wHjnWPYApflBsVWwOpEO-D/s640/aIMG_6027.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LSIyCtmIDIqoOE5Y__Hlm_Acaa3XIiLaSPm4qq2a1WjmfCAqKb1kZX7mtp6b5wVDlT7ZzaiPVdjpvM2zzRWQXbNogzm5tJbmU3IEJ2TXyOir7v3J4afJc4xjwSTR31SlrkhRyKw7WpRz/s1600/aIMG_6029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LSIyCtmIDIqoOE5Y__Hlm_Acaa3XIiLaSPm4qq2a1WjmfCAqKb1kZX7mtp6b5wVDlT7ZzaiPVdjpvM2zzRWQXbNogzm5tJbmU3IEJ2TXyOir7v3J4afJc4xjwSTR31SlrkhRyKw7WpRz/s640/aIMG_6029.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photos | iPhone3GS, touched up in PS Express</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>My husband went out for a run this morning, and I decided to join in for a "walk-jog-and-photog" along the way. The weather was quite nice, cool and breezy... and because it was about 10 am already, the sidewalks were pretty quiet as everyone else were probably at work (except for us because we decided to have a day off from going to work today). What I truly enjoy about the neighbourhood here is how the sidewalks are well connected and how the houses and apartments vary in their design. You'd be walking and passing by different facades, different walls and different gates. There's a mixture of older and newer designs, of houses and of apartments, and the variation makes the neighbourhood an interesting one. This is probably possible because the plot of lands are smaller, which are owned and developed by different owners and developers - as opposed to one developer owning a large plot of land and building houses that look alike. The mixed development, rather than a cluster of similar types of building design, seems to give the neighbourhoods a richer character, at least as how I see and experience it. I am definitely going to miss this neighbourhood... especially when the leaves and petals fall down to the sidewalks.kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-53682348549180327982011-10-15T06:41:00.002+11:002011-10-15T06:47:51.936+11:00Gorgeous Friday Evening in Melbourne<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6hyQ586gjCxeU-bEh69g9XyObvKN6H4xUwy7UsM9YpIaWHWeUHoa5HBhVKt85qiuYdWfbynUK6U8BF6xZBKPAU5uWe2UoiWnWdWN4NEPSw0bPs_sIGolKA3kEdINxZ2GLtjBgjsT2PSi/s1600/11+14+b" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6hyQ586gjCxeU-bEh69g9XyObvKN6H4xUwy7UsM9YpIaWHWeUHoa5HBhVKt85qiuYdWfbynUK6U8BF6xZBKPAU5uWe2UoiWnWdWN4NEPSw0bPs_sIGolKA3kEdINxZ2GLtjBgjsT2PSi/s1600/11+14+b" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8xiEOctlxg5WVLpNJqXSLDKf8CW2Joox7wW-iXbhnFtIeqa_7DZNIFMFaFsPvXay4KniHQaUvnAnL9V6h4Ily7pJFsdK1hWEOkK_Wjyf599h5ptCaKz4bko9Avj_fGGkA6spHdqsbRQm/s1600/11+14+a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8xiEOctlxg5WVLpNJqXSLDKf8CW2Joox7wW-iXbhnFtIeqa_7DZNIFMFaFsPvXay4KniHQaUvnAnL9V6h4Ily7pJFsdK1hWEOkK_Wjyf599h5ptCaKz4bko9Avj_fGGkA6spHdqsbRQm/s1600/11+14+a.jpg" /></a><br />
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This was how Friday evening went. The weather was just gorgeous. The gentle warm breeze that is not too hot nor was it cold - perfect. I've learned that when you get a weather like this in Melbourne, you just have to drop everything that you're doing, go outside and immerse yourself in it while it lasts. As predictably inconsistent the Melbourne weather is, it's expected to shower the whole day today, which is Saturday. We had a very early dinner at a fish & chippery, and opted to sit outdoors on the sidewalk as the weather was just way too nice to be sitting indoors. It's amazing how the timber table and bench make eating so much pleasurable, of course, also contributed by colours of the green salad served with the grilled fish and brown rice. After that, we walked to the park right next to the street. It has truly been a while since I last sat in a park, and just sat there with my husband. Trees around you.. the evening sun beaming through the leaves... poetic. No wonder writers like to go into the woods and be near nature to find solace and peace. Because for that moment, at least for that moment, there are much bigger things around you. You get to slow down. And you get to really breathe.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photos from iPhone3GS edited via Camera+ and Instagram</span></div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-26607391534229970372011-10-06T11:31:00.001+11:002011-10-15T06:46:03.371+11:00of walls and colours<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsmavdY8Jc1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lsmavdY8Jc1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfTNtnZx-jRxzMrbOIx7OIFrnKn6MUw7Z0WM4vl9uQcP-8Ewv2XLjGOdyql-0wC5RqHkPl_N1UGw5DHFqNrmBW4fkQ9RnNWN60NCKGlin0tIdkRVKT59l6121KZ4obryedZ8EZq8xsj4v/s1600/bw+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfTNtnZx-jRxzMrbOIx7OIFrnKn6MUw7Z0WM4vl9uQcP-8Ewv2XLjGOdyql-0wC5RqHkPl_N1UGw5DHFqNrmBW4fkQ9RnNWN60NCKGlin0tIdkRVKT59l6121KZ4obryedZ8EZq8xsj4v/s1600/bw+chair.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Among the things that I enjoy observing in Melbourne are the walls</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">and the small features that create contrast to the walls. They create character.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Taken at Lt La Trobe St, Melbourne </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Photos from iPhone3GS edited via Camera+ and Instagram</i> </div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-88629810686111431762011-09-28T17:10:00.002+10:002011-11-11T20:41:30.065+11:00Of the city and the rain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls7onkRY541qztvxko1_500.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls7onkRY541qztvxko1_500.png" /></a></div><br />
I’m currently at my husband’s workplace, a landscape architecture studio in the city. Isn’t this just one of the best view to do work? Large windows… the city skyline… gosh, I’m really going to miss this daily city life. Back home, I don’t work in the middle of the city, but in a university campus environment surrounded by hills and city fringe suburbs (which is actually nice and peaceful).<br />
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I haven’t driven to work for more than 3 years now. Previously, it was either me driving to the uni where I teach, which was only about 10 minutes away from home, or my husband would send/pick me up when he didn’t have meetings or site visits out of the city. Here, most of the time, he’d only drive on weekends or occasionally on weekdays whenever we have to use the car. On most days, it’s “Thank you, Mr/Ms Tram Driver!”. Although lately, since last month after doing my final writing from home for a month, I have been ‘less interested’ in taking the tram to the city. Since then, we’ve been driving to the city and going out from home earlier than usual to get the early bird parking rates (which still equates the total tram tickets for two persons). But as with most driving, there’s always the traffic jam when going and coming back. Let’s call it ‘a practice of getting used to traffic jam before we actually have to endure one on a daily basis when we go back home’. I haven’t even gone back yet, but shall we decide to live not so close to my workplace, the thought of having to drive (or even sitting on the passenger seat) through a traffic jam already feels exhausting. Is that even possible, to think and get exhausted? I think it is, and I shall not dwell on it, which may make me drown in a mental snowball that I don’t need at this moment.<br />
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Nonetheless, I have definitely enjoyed our stay here in Melbourne. Sounds like a farewell entry to Melbourne, doesn’t it… but not just yet. I still have several months left to finish what I have to finish here, and enjoy our last months here. I should really do a specific “wondergram” project as an ode to Melbourne before I go back… say, for instance, snapshots of my favourite places? Or places/corners/streets that meant something to me? What say you, any suggestions? Well, til then, let’s embrace the present, shall we :)<br />
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Later today, it started to rain... oh dear rain. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls7yeeeSBK1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ls7yeeeSBK1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i><span style="font-size: small;">Photos | iPhone, Instagram</span></i></div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-1903579957224797892011-09-24T10:41:00.003+10:002011-11-11T20:41:55.584+11:00Oh Flowers, Flowers! Where art thou?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lphh48VSAK1qztvxko1_500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lphh48VSAK1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I was little, I used to think that flowers are only for moms and adults. Flowers have always been around... in the yard, in the pots, on prints of clothing and bags, in drawing books, even on bed sheet and pillow cases. But as a kid, I didn't know how to appreciate flowers, other than associating them with being a girl and wanting some flowery patterns on my pencil cases and stickers (alongside those hearts and stars, of course!)</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My grandmother has always loved flowers, as long as I can remember. Maybe because her name is 'Zahrah' which also means 'flower' in Arabic. Whenever she's up for a visit to our house or going on a trip somewhere, she'd always remind us that she can't stay long because no one will attend to her garden of orchids. I think I had once thought in my mind, 'aww come on <i>tokwan</i>, flowers over your grandchildren???' My grandma must have loved her flowers that much! But I know she loves us all dearly too :) I think my mother must have taken after my grandma, as she too loves her flowers and plants.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>When I was in my teenage years, I thought flowers were a bit 'icky'... like a bouquet of flowers would always be associated with a very 'mushy' or 'lovey dovey' kind of thing (back then, the expression would be like, 'eiiuuewwww' right?). I'm sure some of you know what this feeling was like. <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But then, as I grew older, and becoming a woman and adult, I understand why my grandmother and my mother were fond of flowers. Flowers are beautiful and delicate. And if we look closely, there's perfection in each little flower, what ever kinds it may be. I remember going to this landscape architecture and design conference, and there was a presenter who talked about 'fractal geometry' (you can google up some images of 'fractal geometry in nature' and you'll find amazing stuff). The perfection, ratio and balance of how things of nature are created and formed are just beautiful and amazing, Subhanallah. They are proofs that these are creations by God. I think after that I never looked at flowers and vegetables the same way again... I mean just look at broccoli and cauliflower, or even leaves... beautifully composed bunches of florets, from big to small to super tiny ones.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div>And of course, when flowers are given by the ones you love (read: husband), there's nothing to squirm about, but to just be oh-so-delighted about it! I consider lilies as "our" flowers, as they were the first bouquet that my then-friend-now-husband gave me on my graduation day. They were the flowers that we had on our wedding day as well. Lilies smell nice... and there's something soft yet strong about them :)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lryio0Gra21qztvxko1_500.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lryio0Gra21qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>These are lilies that my husband gave me on my recent birthday in August.</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">I was thrilled to check them out everyday to see them bloom right in our living room.</span></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Taken with instagram)</span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></i></span></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrcnyjQBCI1qztvxko1_500.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lrcnyjQBCI1qztvxko1_500.png" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"><i>This is a bouquet of Freesias that our friends gave us earlier this month. </i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I love the delicate petals and the rainbow wrapper!</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Taken with instagram)</span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><i></i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I have grown to appreciate flowers and love looking at them. Call me a late 'bloomer', but receiving flowers is indeed one of the loveliest feeling a woman can have. Flowers don't have to be expensive, but the thoughts that come with those flowers are priceless.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Flowers are beautiful, and they symbolize beautiful things... and who does not love beautiful things?</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">So how about you? Any flower stories to share? :)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">p/s: Spring is here in Melbourne. More reasons to fall in love with flowers.</span><i><br />
</i></span></div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-24181052012912678802011-09-23T13:12:00.003+10:002011-11-11T20:42:23.186+11:00Serenity by the Sea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nbGWZ7yV7g7eOfz_sNHyJXu7ps09fN-autvYSah041hTVzn5KE78McCnl9aILnQIiH3U9Cu2C_vQklETYpLUVfoXp95KRhqNLD7gpVZfTJLbwSrksHTlvHUH_SpzCiMo7YhGapxBXMkV/s1600/aP7162963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5nbGWZ7yV7g7eOfz_sNHyJXu7ps09fN-autvYSah041hTVzn5KE78McCnl9aILnQIiH3U9Cu2C_vQklETYpLUVfoXp95KRhqNLD7gpVZfTJLbwSrksHTlvHUH_SpzCiMo7YhGapxBXMkV/s640/aP7162963.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We are lucky to live only like a 10 minutes-drive away from the beaches of Port Phillip Bay. I have always loved going to the beach, not to swim or sunbathe, but just to enjoy looking at the waters and leisurely walking alongside to it. It never fails to give me that sense of calmness, and the realization that there are bigger things in life... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> The most famous beach here is of course none other than St Kilda Beach, but once you're in the mood of exploring new places, you're bound to find somewhere new... And so we did. We have had this set of Go Explore! Melbourne cards, and would turn to it each time we feel the urge of going somewhere, but just don't know where to go. With this card, we headed to a place called Black Rock Beach at Half Moon Bay, further down from St Kilda Beach and Brighton Beach.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wuk22MD6jE7ro1b8_MwqRF34gY37bFAJi-4MxhXNyQFA8ADY7WBf9dsXcqW7HRcejH-cftA9MmWhmrkuKl6watYN1wFXnytGz8-f5hhgklVhaAOqnce1Iis8Uf8DGjQ9eKD8r5lQ9enx/s1600/aP7162944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wuk22MD6jE7ro1b8_MwqRF34gY37bFAJi-4MxhXNyQFA8ADY7WBf9dsXcqW7HRcejH-cftA9MmWhmrkuKl6watYN1wFXnytGz8-f5hhgklVhaAOqnce1Iis8Uf8DGjQ9eKD8r5lQ9enx/s640/aP7162944.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">There is a small cafe that sells coffee and fish & chippery, so that was nice to have something hot to drink and munch while we were there. This is a view from the jetty that looks over the boathouse, bath boxes and the small cafe. </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBG35VN5SlpwOp_DWi_yDRPyhUP9fE2mmariW7nC1YBj9Qw8aaeBwZx8zpxUHYRCn-xHr7IPa0uNXCFglLq9HnCDarOl9p5XBBq3hq7Xfg7DxSYe7x7aclFAI2szT7nb1eK01Zw2Rx2IXW/s1600/aP7162948.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBG35VN5SlpwOp_DWi_yDRPyhUP9fE2mmariW7nC1YBj9Qw8aaeBwZx8zpxUHYRCn-xHr7IPa0uNXCFglLq9HnCDarOl9p5XBBq3hq7Xfg7DxSYe7x7aclFAI2szT7nb1eK01Zw2Rx2IXW/s640/aP7162948.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Coffee is my life?</i> Only occasionally when I feel the need for a cuppa :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssfhyw7niRTbJuxiZ5z0b6vP-QyMOCKcORL5KzGfc_AnBZz-7arYnffwzETIsmpAFXpMdW82mO4S_jFNmdfJvVP4OyD4MuoikuE-R1U2NePw79Wp5QYK5SAVFcnCRW4ChgnW9eojAxLtk/s1600/aP7162957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssfhyw7niRTbJuxiZ5z0b6vP-QyMOCKcORL5KzGfc_AnBZz-7arYnffwzETIsmpAFXpMdW82mO4S_jFNmdfJvVP4OyD4MuoikuE-R1U2NePw79Wp5QYK5SAVFcnCRW4ChgnW9eojAxLtk/s640/aP7162957.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">When we were there, the weather was not very sunny. It was for a short while, then the clouds came so it became a bit cloudy (and started to get cold). I remembered reading a simple photography tip that when it gets cloudy and the colours of the scenery became a bit dull, a black and white photography might work best. I seem to believe so too, as you can play around with the exposures and contrasts to make the photos livelier, or more dramatic, although in a monotone. These were from the "grains" mode in my Olympus PEN, no post-editing needed (great, right?).</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUtoFbzD7OXU8O7v81hBKlXulX26ckZtZXTYgvg9C5eNmmDrD3hCoarhydk-Yk77B0iXzXVqd_8eRybeud3pSZrNBkz-lEomx-23BlU_mTDaFVY3wpqSt5cP7sUbliZ-I1D2Ijg6OjRG3/s1600/aP7162969.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUUtoFbzD7OXU8O7v81hBKlXulX26ckZtZXTYgvg9C5eNmmDrD3hCoarhydk-Yk77B0iXzXVqd_8eRybeud3pSZrNBkz-lEomx-23BlU_mTDaFVY3wpqSt5cP7sUbliZ-I1D2Ijg6OjRG3/s640/aP7162969.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">This is one of my favourite silhouette shot.</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqZnsYaQeNTbqkbPSWc9ZQ0uUI7YDNXOqzWsiVq5NNSqf5uTZANFNydne0HGrirnM_24jaomVKxjE-biRKk6VakPxOpKYr3ZnV5NNHovP5D2kMOOmrtmONRJYPRN2PMnuwy0mmLJs83gy/s1600/aP7162971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqZnsYaQeNTbqkbPSWc9ZQ0uUI7YDNXOqzWsiVq5NNSqf5uTZANFNydne0HGrirnM_24jaomVKxjE-biRKk6VakPxOpKYr3ZnV5NNHovP5D2kMOOmrtmONRJYPRN2PMnuwy0mmLJs83gy/s640/aP7162971.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
If you're in Victoria or thinking about visiting Half Moon Bay, you can get a little bit more info about its whereabouts <a href="http://walkwalkmelbourne.blogspot.com/2011/07/weekend-afternoon-excursion-to-half.html" style="color: #6aa84f;">here.</a>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-61149139676901780172011-09-23T12:19:00.002+10:002011-11-11T20:42:43.107+11:00A Cafe by the Beach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiytjYficfxDjLBQNidPoCoPHTQG7Hhyphenhyphenscl14FCD6FBrCUGKgotpeWp9YGkfKfTNPOBBTeKG3TxTqzh7eiKMbOJfwEkvmuw8ZyFuYa9s9s0cdWnlRzJXRaonNEio24v9ZUepGHI-5FsVX/s1600/aP7243229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiytjYficfxDjLBQNidPoCoPHTQG7Hhyphenhyphenscl14FCD6FBrCUGKgotpeWp9YGkfKfTNPOBBTeKG3TxTqzh7eiKMbOJfwEkvmuw8ZyFuYa9s9s0cdWnlRzJXRaonNEio24v9ZUepGHI-5FsVX/s640/aP7243229.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A while back, we visited this cafe that was located along the beach in Middle Park, called Sandbar Beach Cafe. We have driven and walked passed by it a couple of times before. The white architecture with large clear windows that allow you to see through the cafe right to the beach looked really nice and appealing, that we just had to give this cafe a visit.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iU_6ZQOQvSBcbyOHUhYMkISOBCeLwuM4kh9QJdEgvHOB-kbOwu3W78zEa6NLeLyQVwum3XjLf-flXcm8Bdk80yIs3HSgIevMNDH0oCsFxdfIuet-SyNNw-htJdBd3HsuC0Y-aTdOuM8k/s1600/aP7243225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iU_6ZQOQvSBcbyOHUhYMkISOBCeLwuM4kh9QJdEgvHOB-kbOwu3W78zEa6NLeLyQVwum3XjLf-flXcm8Bdk80yIs3HSgIevMNDH0oCsFxdfIuet-SyNNw-htJdBd3HsuC0Y-aTdOuM8k/s640/aP7243225.jpg" width="640" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And once we were in, we were not disappointed at all. The cafe was lit with lots of natural sunlight (a reason of why a photo at this angle turned dark), and the timber interior in white and natural earth were indeed a great match for the by-the-beach concept. I would have no problem sitting at this cafe all day long, looking out to the waters, while sipping some drinks and just relax...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Pb-ijqXiQpiiHuhxHubY5T4cAuLZ4CS_cFpbbScfi1__DTnBouMbax4-tnjHMKoRi4gkdJQBongWC8honfhYgnBj9uRG_Tvy3cU8L8MqRrYUJ7I4UeJoQF5sAqYTgdq_2Yd9n_k0rU6j/s1600/aP7243233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Pb-ijqXiQpiiHuhxHubY5T4cAuLZ4CS_cFpbbScfi1__DTnBouMbax4-tnjHMKoRi4gkdJQBongWC8honfhYgnBj9uRG_Tvy3cU8L8MqRrYUJ7I4UeJoQF5sAqYTgdq_2Yd9n_k0rU6j/s640/aP7243233.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">We didn't spend the whole day there obviously, but I did have my glass of iced coffee and a taste of their flourless orange cake. The best of all, visiting this cafe with my husband felt like we were on brief holiday, which was truly nice :) Must remember to visit a cafe like this again for that vacation-feel when it's not really vacation.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Have you got a place that gives you that being-on-a-holiday feel too?</i></div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-55988903135361214112011-07-14T23:34:00.001+10:002011-11-11T20:43:05.502+11:00Scanning Mementos<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lobpjeFz8l1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lobpjeFz8l1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a postcard that I bought at National Museum of Australia in Canberra, from our Melbourne-Canberra-Sydney road trip last year. It’s an aluminium three-berth caravan, built in 1956.<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I recently discovered a new liking for scanning objects, especially small cards. There's something nice (and somewhat exciting I must say) about having the surface of the cards faced down directly on the scanner and then seeing how they turn out on the scanner. I find that it is not the same as photographing them (as what I would usually do).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Here are some recent scans. Hello again, good old scanner ;)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lobqk3SYjz1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lobqk3SYjz1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">“What goes around, comes around” : When we joined <a href="http://www.ride-on-dinner.net/ride5.html">Ride-On-Dinner in 2009</a>, they gave each of us this little card to put in between our bike rims.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lobqw9hvFb1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lobqw9hvFb1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sister sent me this postcard when she was visiting Paris earlier this year. Classic :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-84557108279333674482011-05-28T14:46:00.001+10:002011-11-11T20:43:28.768+11:00Brighton Beach, Victoria<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ll117uYcDc1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ll117uYcDc1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lludau3KiU1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lludau3KiU1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lludhh22Mt1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lludhh22Mt1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Photo | Diana Mini, Fuji Sensia 100, xpro</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bathing Boxes, as they call it. This is one of Melbourne's colourful sights located in Brighton. The bathing boxes are all in similar form and size, but with variety of bold colours. People use them as shed to change, put their belonging, and as shelter from the sun or wind when they come for a swim. But most of us just wanted to go there and get a snapshot of this postcard scenery.</div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-9629421002400229452011-05-25T22:08:00.002+10:002011-11-11T20:43:50.615+11:00IKEA-Inspired Swedish Meatballs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llqwlaQVPp1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_llqwlaQVPp1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I'm pretty sure that there's a lot of us out there who love those Swedish meatballs at IKEA. Those meatballs, with the cream gravy and cranberry sauce on the side are just delicious. So last night, I gave a try at making IKEA-inspired Swedish meatballs with the cream gravy sauce. Instead of fries, I opted to make mash potatoes and serve with salad. As for the cranberry sauce, well, I took a quick shortcut by buying a small jar of mix berry conserve. The jam tasted alright, although it was a bit too sweet for my liking, but it did give that berry-sweetness combination to the meatballs and gravy. The overall combo: pretty close to the ones in IKEA I think! :)<br />
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Meatball recipe from <a href="http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/15455/swedish+meatballs">here</a>, gravy recipe from <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/cream-sauce-for-swedish-meatballs-97674">here</a>.<br />
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So if you're also a fan of IKEA Swedish Meatballs, do give these recipes a try :) Yummy. <br />
<i></i>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-81081073717805991992011-05-21T22:49:00.001+10:002011-11-11T20:44:18.230+11:00It finally feels like Autumn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lljn19BsyO1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lljn19BsyO1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Last week, it felt like winter. It was raining and it was cold. We all thought winter had come early to Melbourne this year. Even the highlands have started to get snow. This week however, it felt more like Autumn. It wasn't so cold anymore and we got a bit of sun, Alhamdulillah. So today, we decided to visit a park not far from where we live. We've walked by the park once before but have never walked through it. MashaAllah, the trees and the leaves are just beautiful. It's definitely one of my favourite parks now.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lljmtdVhLw1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lljmtdVhLw1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lljme6ZCrI1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lljme6ZCrI1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lljm67cUw81qzts2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lljm67cUw81qzts2f.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lljm4uBn9I1qzts2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lljm4uBn9I1qzts2f.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photos | Olympus PEN E-PL1 in Pin Hole Art Filter</i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Fawkner Park, Toorak</b></span></i><i> </i></div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-16488056128443640302011-05-16T20:15:00.000+10:002011-05-16T20:15:27.385+10:00Autumn Leaves<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lla9olWzqm1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lla9olWzqm1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><i>Diana Mini, using Expired Fuji Sensia 100, Xpro </i></div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-66182893811578598462011-05-08T18:36:00.001+10:002011-11-11T20:44:48.459+11:00And then season changes...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkq1vsKNQ51qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkq1vsKNQ51qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkrwbzMWYF1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkrwbzMWYF1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkvb0hO6qX1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkvb0hO6qX1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photos were shot from Diana Mini, using Expired Fuji Sensia 100, Xpro </i></div><br />
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It's true that people say in Melbourne you can get four seasons in one day. Especially in Spring and Autumn, it can get from warm and sunny to cold and cloudy in few hours. In the first photo, I was trying to capture the rain, which made the photo somewhat overexposed, or maybe it did rain as heavily as that. The second photo is State Library of Victoria during one of those sunny yet cool day. It's definitely one of my favourite kinds of weather: sunny, breezy and cool. The last photo is somewhere near where we live, and you can already see visible signs of Autumn with the leaves changing colours, while some are already falling to the ground. Coming from a country that is generally warm or wet all year-round, we can't help but to just be amazed by the changing season here. But even so, in Malaysia you can notice some trees blooming beautifully during that time of the year when it feels a bit hotter than usual. Then, you can notice some trees like Tecoma and Lagerstroemia to start flowering, and it looks just gorgeous. I'm definitely looking forward to capture some of that when I get back.kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-7654038600120474312011-05-07T17:04:00.001+10:002011-11-11T20:45:09.584+11:00a travel-inspired notebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lktblkYZ6X1qzts2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lktblkYZ6X1qzts2f.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lktbnrLhJA1qzts2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lktbnrLhJA1qzts2f.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lktbp4fPXQ1qzts2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lktbp4fPXQ1qzts2f.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lktbr5UpZ51qzts2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lktbr5UpZ51qzts2f.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I’ve finally purchased something from Handworks Nouveau Paperie. This was a gift for a friend whom I’ve known for almost three years now throughout doing my research. She really enjoys traveling to Europe very much (especially Paris) and she loves to draw - so I thought this would be the perfect combination (plus the fact that I just love notebooks like this). The tag, stamped with kikki K alphabet stamp set, says “Happy Julia Day” because I thought it would be kind of nice to remember the date that we were born as our day.<br />
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p/s: Have you ever tried wishing and thanking your mom on your birthday, just because she was the one who gave birth to you? I did sometimes, and I think it might have brought out some emotions from Mak :)kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-26755791140502719342011-05-04T20:48:00.001+10:002011-11-11T20:45:30.150+11:00the city, the clouds and some tulips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkkibdQ8SX1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkkibdQ8SX1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkmd8krPgp1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://29.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkmd8krPgp1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lknxepdwqu1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lknxepdwqu1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">These are some of the shots from my first roll using Diana Mini.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's quite nice to not know how the photos were going to turn out.</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I'm glad that most of them turned out pretty alright :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Expired Fuji Sensia 100, Xpro, Diana Mini</i></div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-47338767055697643672011-04-30T20:29:00.001+10:002011-11-11T20:45:54.081+11:00Tram Card Collection Memento<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkeuqjcuzi1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkeuqjcuzi1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I previously posted about <a href="http://wondergram.blogspot.com/2011/01/personalized-wall-piece.html">personalizing your wall piece</a> using things that you might already have, like a collection of something.<br />
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Recently a friend who was about to go back to Malaysia jokingly asked us if he could buy our framed tram card collection. We were flattered by his interest, and thought what a great idea it is to create a farewell memento of Melbourne for him and his wife!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">So from the collection of our used tram cards...</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We arranged them in a smaller frame... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkev63CUW01qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lkev63CUW01qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">He was very much delighted to receive the gift! </div><div style="text-align: center;">And of course, we were also very delighted to share a part of our ordinary collection with friends :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">p/s: we have another collection coming up called "Sugar", stay tuned!</div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-19969361886931498752011-04-28T10:11:00.002+10:002011-11-11T20:46:13.211+11:00Chasing for DianaI'm reaching the end of my 36-exp film roll on my <a href="http://wondergram.blogspot.com/2011/03/diana-mini.html">Diana Mini</a>. Last Monday, I just had to get these shots before I run out of film. We'll see how they turn out soon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk8kv1YVUD1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://27.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk8kv1YVUD1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Photo | Luna Park, St. Kilda</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk8l0x5er21qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://26.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk8l0x5er21qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo | Bathing Boxes, Brighton Beach</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Camera | iPhone 3GS on Instagram</i></div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-45080823682737222752011-04-25T11:08:00.003+10:002011-11-11T20:46:44.766+11:00Albums for Wondergrams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk6o6dj9yu1qztvxko1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk6o6dj9yu1qztvxko1_500.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Since we are entitled to 80 FREE prints EVERY MONTH for ONE YEAR from Camera House, photos have never been so tangible. Choosing photos to print and arranging them in albums are now our monthly activity. Last month, I printed 50 Wondergrams - a collection of my everyday photos that are mostly from iPhone (while there are some that were from my Olympus and my husband’s Nikon which have been Instagrammed or LomoLomoed). I would have opted for matte paper, but the free prints only entitled us for the glossy prints. Still good, as long as they are free ;)<br />
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I was thinking of crafting a square album from scratch, like one of those small albums for polaroids and instant prints. But while looking for papers and materials in Officeworks, I found this 4R album for only AUD1.00. Since the Wondergrams are 4x4, they’d fit just nicely, but with gaps at the top and bottom. So I thought adding hand-written captions for each photo would be able to fill these gaps, and furthermore, become personalized notes about each photo.<br />
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Then I saw this stack graph paper for only like AUD1.50 and thought I might be able to put it into some good use. Even if I didn’t, I haven’t used graph paper in ages, and that would be a nice change to scribble some research notes. As it turns out, I still have an unused self-adhesive book cover at home. And before you know it, the idea for the album came together.<br />
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Put it the photos, hand-write some notes about it, and there we have it: an album for Wondergrams :)<br />
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I wrapped the cover of the album with the graph paper and the self-adhesive book cover, so that the whole theme would be similar.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And whaddya know, less than AUD2.00 for a customized wondergram album! </div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-72073481404645929982011-04-23T23:49:00.002+10:002011-11-11T20:47:08.744+11:00Chocolate Nutella Coconut CupcakesI was having some friends over for tea-turn-dinner today. Earlier this week, while thinking about what to cook, I remembered <a href="http://ribbonandcircus.blogspot.com/2011/03/tuesday-chocolate-coconut-cupcakes-ccc.html">RC's Chocolate Coconut Cupcakes</a>. Yes, the sound of chocolate and coconut does sound tasty and different from our usual topping, doesn't it? I used my favourite <a href="http://o-kay-la.tumblr.com/post/545499721/finally-a-moist-choc-cake-recipe-thats-really-moist">chocolate cake recipe by Hershey's</a>. I learned that there is indeed a difference between using a cupcake recipe and a cake recipe: cupcake recipe usually makes drier texture, while a cake recipe makes moister cupcakes.<br />
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And as for the topping, I couldn't resist the thought of spreading Nutella with the dried shredded coconuts (also helped by the fact that I didn't have to do any topping myself, of course) ;)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk3wiyoLi91qzts2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk3wiyoLi91qzts2f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk3wlkCKgk1qzts2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk3wlkCKgk1qzts2f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk3wnmPyvm1qzts2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk3wnmPyvm1qzts2f.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk3wskN8pY1qzts2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk3wskN8pY1qzts2f.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Make them tiny and make the cute! Good I tell ya :)</div>kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-1414666868565248982011-04-21T23:27:00.002+10:002011-11-11T20:47:39.216+11:00The Joy in Crafting a Mail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk05mnUO1L1qzts2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lk05mnUO1L1qzts2f.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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That one night, I was preparing the wondergrams (wrapped in yellow) to be posted to Malaysia to Aim (we swapped photos that we took) and New York (to my sister, which by the way, has it arrived? And don’t forget to mail me some of your photos too ye).<br />
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I liked assembling the packs, as it involved stamping letters on the paper with rubber stamps, folding, gluing, and writing names and addresses on the envelopes. And with the dim desk lamp, it felt like I was working in some kind of old toy workshop. That was nice.<br />
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Receiving things in the mail is a lot of fun too :)<br />
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Thank you <a href="http://hyperhelluvalife.blogspot.com/">Aim</a> for the lovely photos and gift :)kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855091555825400128.post-76933873764354674942011-04-17T21:25:00.002+10:002011-11-11T20:48:06.219+11:00Some Bits of Vernacular MalaysiaWe were back in Malaysia for 2 weeks recently. The first week was hot (which got me sick for a week), and thankfully, the second week was a lot better with a bit of rain and clouds. One of the highlights of our activities this time that was out of the norm was visiting my sis-in-law's family farm. Now when I say 'farm', I'm sure an image of lush green grass, fences, vegetable patches, chicken and goats and small hut would come to mind. Well, most of those stuff were present at the farm, except for the lush green grass which is still in the process of growing. The farm is located on a land surrounded by oil palm plantations, so you can probably imagine the heat during mid-day.<br />
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“Pondok” (in Bahasa Malaysia) is what we call a small chalet or hut at the farm. It actually has three rooms, kitchen and bathroom. It’s quite nice to have something like a traditional house to visit from time to time now that even our “kampung” or family’s hometowns are mostly suburbs.<br />
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The farm is surrounded by fish ponds, where two of the brothers went in to catch some fish for my husband to grill. Then there are some patches of lime trees, <i>pucuk ubi, </i>some chickens and four goats. Going there, we brought some <i>Durians</i> that my husband's brother bought from Ipoh. Malaysians love Durian, while others not familiar with it may refer to Durian as stinky or smelly fruit. I wouldn’t describe it as stinky. It just has a very strong, distinctive smell. The fruit is fleshy and rich, and there’s no other fruit or food that taste like it. What does it taste like? It’s somewhere between sweet, a tiny bit bitter sometimes, and thick in taste. I find it funny that in shows like Fear Factor or food travel, people would be willing to eat bugs and creepy crawlers, but would squirm at the sight of Durian! It’s a fruit and it’s pretty good. If you have a chance, you MUST give Durian a try!<br />
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And for the grilled fish (which was forgotten to be photographed!), we squeezed some fresh small limes or "Limau Kasturi" right off the tree. These limes taste really good in iced tea, over noodles and on seafood.<br />
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Once in a while, it's definitely really great to be out in the farm or <i>kampung</i> or the more vernacular environment, don't you think?kaylahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10032467780267975212noreply@blogger.com0