Songs worth sharing

Currently, I'm kept busy from final week of cramming study plus there are several journalist and design projects to be completed. Moreover, whenever I have real days off, I will just simply turn off my computer and head to outdoor activities. As a result, I have not much time to update and write a longggg story in this blog. Since I've spent most of my time listening to music while I traveled and studied at home, I was back to my music world and had more chance to exchange songs with people through email or online chat.

Tonight I've received a beautiful song from someone. Though it's an old classic piece, but the story it's telling has never gone old through time passed so it was sung on the one's friends wedding. Checkout the lyrics online and feel how nice the song is. Bingo! Stranger, you won another big smile from me :D

Christian Bautista - The way you look at me



And another one from my very best friend.. you know me love!

Yiruma - Love me



How sweet and tender :)

Mood

A present from someone who's living distance. Love it since I first listened! You just sent this song in the right time haha. It makes me think of some kinda feeling I have at the mo, a bit vulnerable but at the end it puts a smile on my face.. when I'll just let it happen. Thx



Heartwarming isn't it?

Sweet Revolucion

Oh my! I'm so in love with this place :D


From texture rich walls, mix & match furniture, inspirational quotes from many revolutionists to a cup of Havana Latte' and melting moment dessert, Coco Cubano is a hot hangout spot for people who love to change and change to be/try/drink/(whatever) something they may love. Two thumbs up for the strong branding! Well, in fact, I'm not a fan of Che Guevara myself, even though his idea of 'moral' rather than 'material' is what I've absorbed. Gun or war is not the only solution for a better world but again people's perceptions are so variety and they are hardly blamed or judged. Believe in whatever makes you feel happy with your life should be enough.. right?


Join the revolucion!

A souvenir

Always interesting when a short afternoon coffee chat brought about so many fancy outcomes. In a place where coffee aroma increases the expression of genes relevant to stress relief, everyone sits on a chair and shares one's stories. And here is a story I've been told by a new friend who has many ideas in common with mine, especially having faith in "Freedom is priceless".

He shown me many photos from his trips, mostly in Asia and my attention was caught by this one. Simply explain that I love the contradiction of the seascape and these two restless men. Actually, also wondered whether they were mafia lol

This was a photo of Korea where the men always wear suits at the beach.

Thanks for sharing :)

Simply Elegant

I'd call this sophisticated jewelry art as a 'skinwear' rather than an accessory. A welcome sentence on designer's website "What's your story..." reflects an undeniable truth that many jewelry wearers carry with them their own unique story. Combined with the sleek design of handcrafted horizontal pendant and Italian cable chains, both are made in 14 karat gold, these make the enduring precious art perfectly merge with your skin :)

Are you game?

Finally, I've watched one of the film I've listed for months, Jeux d'enfants (2003) or Love Me If You Dare, a French film by Yann Samuell



Plot : The game begins when Julien and Sophie are children, but as they grow older they intensify and become more twisted and dangerous. Although they are in love with each other, the game of dare later dictates their future, and the dare even goes as far as hurting and tricking each other. Until the gamble was more than just a game. It was an obsession: better than sex, better than love, better than life itself. For better, for worse, for now, and forever.

Personally, I found this film is weirdly fun, wanna try what they did somehow haha (maybe in a safer way). Innocent, daring and touching are things that I extract from this motion picture. Actually, the story tells nothing far from reality, even though the movie uses surrealistic implications to express each characters' feeling and thought. Falling in love or happiness make you feel like flying, while drowning, deeper and forever when the system is reversed. It's funny how the girl in the film always really did what she said, excepted one thing. Ten years without meeting the guy she loves just to win the dare, I can't imagine how ten years in real world would take, especially when in her head is picturing someone all the time.

Or in fact, ten-year time is just so quick. I haven't met many people for over ten years but once we came across, I felt as if things were just happened yesterday. Then, when we chatted about our met, my memories could even recall the first hello. Surprised how our brains work, aren't you?

Fav scene :



Fav quotes : "To win this game, you need a pretty box, a pretty girl, and to hell with the rest!" (sounds crazed but the scene that the guy drives away from being arrested makes me clearly understand)

Eclectic Monday

I've spent 2 days of my weekend on whole day city escape and really had a blast. We went everywhere that brought us close to nature, which can also calm our mind. From green grass, sea shore, cliff walk to hidden cave, we ended our short holiday by looking at the sky changed its shade. The winter sea was beautiful and not so crowded, everything was close to perfect except the cold wind blow that cut our skin. I wished I could stay longer till I saw the first star but the evening chill made me give up.

As my clients' stores were on my way to the sea, I proudly looked at my work through a window seat. Always count every single project as my baby 'cause it's such a happiness, seeing them become pretty ladies, in other words, the businesses are successfully kept on.


Every twenty-four hours, we grow up and turn old bit by bit so I called to mind our design community, we've established last year and thought it's time to move forward. Back to work more on branding side along with social networking, think the deep structure/culture of the organization will be maintained as a creative, friendly and indie passionate. In term of business-related, being got used to with the market, I found our idea approach to design reflected in the way that we're stylish, quirky, sexy and smart. However, diverse characters of our members should be another key to focus on, since I want to expand the community into a larger market.

Another Good Weekend

Can't understand why I keep wake up early even I stay up very very late. Went to bed at almost 4 am this morning, my brain woke me up at 8.30 am. I forced myself badly to continue my sleep. Successfully, I extended my well-being to another 2 hours. Actually, our plan today was to have breakfast at a secret garden cafe' in Paddington, Sydney's artsy suburb. Then, bike riding in a huge Centennial Park in the afternoon. All failed to happen. Everyone was too lazy and dead haha.

However, as the weather was toooo nice to stay at home - a perfect bright sunny day, I went to an indie cafe', which its name stayed in my checklist for a while. 'Clipper Cafe' on Glebe Point Rd was far more than just its cute appearance. Nice coffee, yummy sandwiches, free wifi and beautiful people sound welcome enough to spend your morning at?


Before I jumped into a bus, green grass and refreshing pond attracted me till I unbearably entered a park. Breathe in fresh air costs you nothing, take it in as much as you want! I sat facing the sun and found my eyes were too sensitive to the brightness. As a result, I laid on the green with my face down like a lazy seal and started reading a book. My watch's ticking slower, while the world constantly spins in its normal velocity. Until I realized that it's time to return home, I looked up and there, I met a little sleepyhead sitting nearby.

Cute isn't it? :)

Photo : SugarLullaby Studio

Stay or Away

The omen is always an interesting subject. Like a mystery which is hardly explained through any scientific theory. Yesterday, a best friend of mine received bad news - her family member passed away. Rewind the story back to friday morning, she said to me she wanted to return home. I was surprised. There was no clue of thing that could let her down. We hung out together and she always laughed and smiled. Later, she mentioned about a relative who was very sick and she wanted to visit.

That evening, a text message from her family, living 18 hrs away by plane, made the darker stage of twilight even darker. "I know the reason now.. why I really want to return home." her sentence pierced my heart. I know how it feel - this kinda sign used to happen with me once.

I don't believe in ghost yet in the existence of people after death. It's your thought that keeps them alive. Stories of them make their images never die from your memories. Be glad when you sometimes cry for the beloveds you lost, you are collecting the special moments between you and them in your heart. And these make them stay..

At the end, I brought the friend to a fairy wheel. To get closer to the sky a little bit - to lessen a distance between her and the angel.

Photo : SugarLullaby Studio

Why We Travel

There are 26 reasons from different people on why set out for a trip is in their veins. Some of these also similar to my reasons and it's the question that can be answered only after you start traveling.

I used to travel just for pleasure, spending time with family and friends or running away from something. These days my perception is a bit changed. I'm looking more for an answer of my future.. self-discovery maybe, sharing more experiences with people I met on my journey. Many times, I met new people by chances. Some made me feel like it's such a fate and later we end up become friends for a lifetime.

Inspired by multimedia article featured in NY Times' Travel. Take a look. You may be able to give yourself some answers or share similarities with them.

Here are my reasons answered by others :)

WITNESSING A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS IN THE ADIRONDACKS, OCT. 5, 2008


"We try to go away for weekends as much as we can, and the Adirondacks is the nearest place. It’s a great feeling to hike to the top of a mountain. I love the feeling of looking out, and you can see everything. And it’s a great thing to do together as a family. Normally, I don’t see my parents that much. Whereas, when we hike, I get to see them. Normally, there’s other stuff interfering, whereas, when you’re hiking — it’s like it’s a good opportunity to just talk to them.”

A DREAM FULFILLED, WASHINGTON, JAN. 20, 2009: Natosha Sutton, 48, N.C., rejoicing at the National Mall as Barack Obama was sworn in as president of the United States.


"So many people were there, regardless of their race. Yes, he is the first African-American president. But he also just seems like a really serious person who’s willing to try to do the best he can for our country. That picture was taken right after he was sworn in. For me, that was the finishing moment — that this is real; this is the truth. At that moment, I was just thanking God it had happened.”

TWO OLD FRIENDS AT THE TEATRO GRECO, SYRACUSE, SICILY


"Each year you feel more a part of the country you’re in. When I go back, I find it harder and harder to understand what I saw in living in a big city where the values are so different. Here it’s not all about money. It’s more about family and friends. "

AT THE DECHEN PHODRANG MONASTIC SCHOOL IN THIMPHU, BHUTAN, MARCH 27, 2008


"When you show a digital image to kids from a place where they don’t see that so often, they get really excited. But this time it was in slow motion, so I was bending time right there in front of them — and they were ecstatic.”

AT FIREFLY, NOËL COWARD’S FORMER RESIDENCE, PORT MARIA, JAMAICA, OCT. 21, 2008 Peter Graf, 42, an executive vice president of SAP, a German software company


"On vacation, my wife and I always look for special places: serenity, the great view that sticks in your mind so you can go back later when you close your eyes. There’s a bronze statue of Coward on the mountain. When you stand next to it and look over this bay, it’s one of the most beautiful things you could see. It’s just bursting with life.

SHARING A PHOTOGRAPH, ODDAPALLI, INDIA, NOV. 20, 2008 Dr. Dagmar Schmidt Etkin, 53


"Each day, we started at 5 a.m. and went until at least 10 at night. I’d take the kids on nature walks, and then I taught classes — chemistry, environmental sciences. I really made a connection with the children and staff at the school. I feel like they’re part of my family now. Besides being a chance to be with my son, it was, personally, a wonderful experience.”

Time Wastes Too Fast

From "And the Pursuit of Happiness" by Maira Kalma via The New York Times' Opinion.

This is pretty much interesting as the article was expressed through colorful art work and those cute handwriting.

I reckon you checkout the full journal on her blog (If you don't mind just follow my letters back to the link in the beginning) so you can experience how fun it is! Gotta run for now, enjoy the pictorial! ;)

Sugar Lullaby

Nothing much I just try to encourage myself to have a sweet dream tonight. Oh my.. these inspirational photos by Amy Atlas make me really miss my 23rd birthday.


May your sleep be sweet and see you in my dream :)

Generation Y & Marriage

Up early so I started my day with an online article and kinda like this:

"I think a lot of people get caught up in trying to be perfect," he says. "Wearing the right things, saying the right things. The bottom line is, if you want to spend the rest of your time with them, you don't want someone who's always on guard - you want someone you can relax around." - Luke Keller

Actually, this article is more about men's perspectives; however, I'd think about it in a bit neutral way :)

Photo : Creative wedding photographer ever, Mango Red

The Brain That Changes Itself

The title is from a book I've come across couple days ago in a boutique-style bookstore, which provides a bold and eclectic range of new and classic art and design titles as well as specialist knowledge.

The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge is the New York Times and International Bestseller that talks about :

An astonishing new scientific discovery called neuroplasticity is overthrowing the centuries-old notion that the adult human brain is fixed and unchanging. It is, instead, able to change its own structure and function, even into old age.

We see a woman born with half a brain that rewired itself to work as a whole; a woman labeled retarded who cured her deficits with brain exercises and now cures those of others; blind people who learn to see; learning disorders cured; IQs raised; ageing brains rejuvenated; stroke patients recovering their faculties; children with cerebral palsy learning to move more gracefully; entrenched depression and anxiety disappearing; and lifelong character traits changed.

THE NEW YORK TIMES:

“The power of positive thinking finally gains scientific credibility. Mind-bending, miracle-making, reality-busting stuff...with implications for all human beings, not to mention human culture, human learning and human history.”

From this blog, obviously, art and design are my profession as well as sources of inspiration but in fact, I was raised with scientific background. Biology is my most fav field of study even these days and Chemistry as a secondary interest. My very first dream career was to become a doctor and honestly, it wasn't inspired by saving mankind yet I just wanted to safe and take care of my beloveds especially family. When dream was transformed, the twisted ending was far from the beginning. However, I do believe that no matter what you are doing or going to be, when it's time to look after people you love, everyone can do the best of their abilities. It is a reason why I'm going to study about brain :)

Over Again and Again!

Love these creative dudes! They make me fall in love with their work another time. A new video from Crush & Lovely under the project "Fifty people, one question". This time, they are in London, UK with the same question of "To Wake Up". Compared with the Brooklyn one, it's kinda less touching as the ways people answered sound a bit too formal for me. Anyway, beautiful music once again!

Fifty People, One Question: London from Fifty People, One Question on Vimeo.

Here are people's impressive comments from their site :

"Somewhere, over the rainbow, skies are blue. And the dreams that you dare to dream Really do come true."
—Maria, Sandra y Tita CHAVES-Portugal, 28 from Lisbon

“To wake up is a blessing. Waking up humble without plans or expectations, in acceptance makes waking up true to itself. To live without expecting that you will wake up is in a way.. waking up. But to be direct, I would wake up in my girlfriends arms, because she makes me feel like I can live forever.”
—Dejan Djuric, 22 from Kitchener, ON CA

“Floating deep and still in a cenote in Mexico. Completely suspended on water, fish swimming below me, nothing above me but the sky and everything in our world and out of it happening at once. And hopefully holding hands with someone else floating with me in the cenote in Mexico :)”
—Amanda from New York, 21 from Bel Air, MD US

“I'd want to wake up 10 years ago. before i started letting my life get away from me. before i made all my mistakes. before i let my family and friend down. im sorry. i love you.”
—Paul McConomy, 23 from London,

“I don't know if I will wake up tomorrow. All I have is now.”
—C, 36 from Edmonton

“In a scary place, with no fear. In an ugly place, looking at the beauty. In a place of hate, loving all. With unique people, looking at their uniqueness. ”
—Jorge Mendoza from Tempe, Arizona more than, 20 from Tempe, AZ US

Umm.. me? To wake up.. I want to be awaken by morning alarm of our magpies living in backyard. Next to my grandparents' bed in their old room where ghost stories and urban myths had been told every night before us, kids, went to bed. My grandpa starts to have Alzheimer.. and I want to be with him.

How about you? To wake up..

Home is where your heart is

I can't remember my last time reading Thai interior design magazine. It must be very long long longgg time ago.. till it's lost in my very short memories. "Room Mag : Ideas for practical living" was one of my most fav - casual and hip style, left those lux and palace-liked behind. I never love living in big house as number and large dimension of rooms just simply decrease family bond. Although my home in Chiang Mai is not that huge, it's big enough to separate our family members. Sometimes, we hardly knew whether who were at home. When phone rang, we had to walk down to second floor, cross to another wing of the house or even look around our back-front-side garden to get the person to the line. Finally, we ended up using 2 numbers of home phone and sometimes mom even called to my mobile just to ask me out for dinner.

Fortunately, we own our land, meaning, home renovation or build another one in the same fence are able to do so. As a result, I and my parents are thinking about building our dream cottage with 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, a little library and family spaces for living, cooking and dinning.

As I want this house to be more than just a place we keep our stuff or sleep in one another bed, I'd like to add heart and soul to create 'life' for the place. Start collecting room decor ideas, which Love, Thai way of life, contemporary art and relaxation are main ingredients.

Concept : Thai Retro (Good old days)

Concept : Art Room (Built with Love)

Concept : Pastel Flower

Concept : Welcome to My Home Gallery

Concept : Together under the same roof

Concept : Sense of Space

Concept : The Oasis in town

Concept : Me Myself and Home

Personally, I prefer beach house cottage but as my hometown is a city of mountain, a combination of water and green should be better :)

Photos : Room Mag

Happy Weekend

Whenever I was trapped in a situation that involved other people, it's always very hard for me to say 'No' if anybody asked for help. Lately, I has just disappointed a person by saying 'No' after I've never stopped saying 'Yes' for one's assists for a while. I used to feel some kind of guilt every time I was about to deny. Now, I realized it's time to set myself free from the system that I was struggled.

And here I am! Less stress and feel more life!! As I have more time for myself and friendsss, winter tripssss are being planned. Kick start from next week :)

As my work and study schedule is much more settled, just from last week of this month till next month, I have the least 4 movies to complete haha plus those on DVDs that haven't added in yet. Watched 'Is any body there?' last weekend then 'Transformer' at a cinema and a Thai film 'Memory is Short, but my Love is Long(direct translation) or Best of times(given english title)' on DVD yesterday, Coco Avant Chanel for next week also The Proposal, which just got an invitation. Oh! Thinking about trying a boutique cinema(kinda taking shoes off and lying back on rows of long cushions that bear more resemblance to beds than seats) with their choices of indie film next friday too.


It's not only those films that make me enjoy this leisure time. But choosing people who are going to share these experiences with you are a bit strategic. 4 movies 4 types 4 people 4 different interests - Drama, Action-Sci Fi, Romantic(Super Heartwarming), Biopic Drama and Romantic-Comedy. Found that when I got the right person in each film, it made the movie experiences be more memorable. We had more to talk/critic/discuss after the film and it's a simple good time that was created. A lot better than dragged someone along and found him/her fall asleep while we were watching (I wasn't that serious or felt bad, just it made me feel sleepy too haha :P)

Theme Song : Went to a cinema yesterday and got a crush on NZ tourism ads' music - "Forever Young" by Youth Group

Fish and Bird

Second artsy day at Gallery of NSW. I didn't expect to see this new media exhibition as there was no hint about this special temporary visual art exhibit anywhere in the city. Normally, I always checkout art mag or website or grab postcards from an indie cafe' but as I mentioned in the previous post, these two days were completely impromptu.

We spent half an hour in the first painting exhibit. Most of art works are from late 18th century known as a movement in Romanticism - emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual. It's one of my most fav period besides French Renaissance and Pop Art.

La villageoise(The village girl) by Jules Goupil (France, b.1839, d.1883); oil on canvas, Purchased 1894

Picked: I was really motivated to do human painting again. Drawing has been being in my vein since my very first memories. I did a lot of human hand drawing when I was in early primary school and started adding some poster color when I was in grade 4. However, there are only 2 things I love the most when it comes to Portrait Paintings - drawing their eyes and coloring their skin/flesh. The 18th cent art that characterized the Enlightenment was inspired me enough to do more practice in painting the softy tone of human skin and find own technique to create blurry and dreamy painting.

And here comes my best-loved exhibition of the month! :

Circle D: Fragile Balances 2008 by MARI VELONAKI

The work continues Mari's obsession with the creation of dual protagonists who are engaged in a delicate yet ambiguous relationship. In Fragile Balances, we affect the state of their relationships the more we interact with them. In the process, we are simultaneously delighted and unsettled by their uncanny responsive behaviours, and, by our own empathetic connection to their individual ‘personalities’.

Fragile Balances' characters are embodied as two luminous cubes, each comprised of four high resolution crystal screens and Bluetooth wireless links. Fragments of personalised messages wrap around each cube, and also flow between the two objects. If abruptly handled by the visitor, the texts become disturbed and barely readable. The visitor must therefore establish a delicate and respectful relationship with the objects in order for them to yield their messages.


The text on these cubes is a sequence of loving notation between 2 virtual characters invented by artist: Fish & Bird, which were inspired by a Greek fairy tale about a fish and a bird who fall in love but cannot be together because of their ‘technical difficulties' - the ill-fated characters.

Each cube is in direct communication with the other. As one cube 'writes', the other one pauses as if waiting to hear back. At the same time you glimpse responses on the second box as a lateral, poetic conversation unfolds. It’s like coming across an expensive Victorian pre-cinematic toy that’s been digitalised. It’s an odd, and again implicating experience, holding an intelligent box as it writes, “If our eyes should meet, what would we have in common?”

The cubes are interactive and can sense when they are handled. The text and sound alters when the visitor picks up the cubes and turns them around. Smooth movements will trigger new message but if you move the cube too quickly, the text will become difficult to read.

This work is fragile and only two can use it at a time.

Video : Meet an the artist and see how it works!

In the mood of Art

Haven't enjoyed losing myself in art galleries with others for a while so I've spent 2 days indulged in aesthetic mood. Again, we made the days totally unplanned like our first ferry tour. I just love it that way. No routine, be yourself, set it free. We walked along the arch of trees in Hyde Park and asked each other what we felt like doing today. MCA was our destination on the first day. The exhibitions were pretty much inspired so far. I've noted down so many interesting quotes and artists' concept behind art pieces.

My fav wordings :

From Rick Maynard : Australian Aboriginal Photographer

"As my body recovers from addictions so does my spirit"

"For me, photographs have always been personal, and living with these pictures somehow I hope to convey the intimacy of a diary." - R. Maynard, 1992 from 'Portrait of a Distant Land' exhibition

Note : I like this idea 'cause it's exactly the same as how I feel when I take photos, share 'em and read my own journal from those photos I've taken.

"I've let my frustration go, and I wonder about the others, will they let their frustration out here or release them on the community? I often wonder, with the experience I have of frequently visiting this place, how different I will be when I get release.. from prison" - R. Maynard from 'No more than what you see' collection

Note : For some people, prison can be equivalent to a sanctuary. Talk about sanctuary, I just attracted to the opening sentences. "I've let my frustration go, and I wonder about the others, will they let their frustration out here or release them on (something else that related to the public or others)?" It reminded me the time I sat in a park and looked up to the wide canvas of blue sky.

Next day, with the same person, we went to Art Gallery of NSW. There, I found a very interesting interactive art/installation which I'll review in another post ;)

Girls are always girls

Visited a blog of a friend who I've known for over 10 years. A girl who has never been treated like a girl from our guy mates. A student vice president, a leader in many school activities, an entertainer, a comedian, a person who has many many talents combined. An independent one - an alpha type.

Today, I've seen her in another point of view and it's her post that's beautiful enough till I'd like to translate into English.

She wrote a blog, sharing an untold love story. I wondered if the guy's also our high school friend. However, I didn't wanna waste my time guessing who he was. The only thing I know is he's the lucky one..

"Sometimes, the word 'love' is hiding in where we cannot see."

Inspired by a wording from Japanese film she has watched in late 2007, "Rainbow Song" - Love endures, but remains elusive, a sad but sweet Japanese meller about friends who never became lovers.

The movie was ended with a tear traced a lonely path down her cheek - without any hidden agenda, just it's too heartbreakingly beautiful. A year later, that impression brought back and this time, it's beating her heart. May an experience was blended with the film into one.

"I...like walking behind you, even though every time, I had to see you...following someone else"

"When I touched your back.. I felt warm, even though it's the touch that pushed you to be brave to confront with the one you love.. to say that you love her"

"Today is so cold and lonely. Yet.. I'm still here. Wondering if I'm waiting for you to come back or not. But anyway.. I'll keep smiling and gaining strong real soon.

The least, we are not pulled apart by death as in Rainbow Song"

Surprised and realized that she's just another ordinary girl.. from very deep inside.

Photo : +oo™ sofa collection by Blu Dot for Urban Outfitter