Happy 21st, Fee

One of my favorite images; lighting up of Kong Ming Deng in Kukup


So, I'd be 21 when the clock strikes 12 tonight. When I was young, I dreamt of parties and huge celebrations and that I'd ask for everything in the world on my 21st but now that it's here, it's just another day to me now and I dread growing up.

My friends expected me to throw a party this year but all I wanted was a getaway. I've been lucky to have had big surprise parties planned for me when I turned sweet 16 and 18, and there's nothing more I could ask for. This year, I want nothing more than a quiet birthday and simple dinner with my friends. I wanted to depart on the day itself and explore new land but work and exams do not permit that. My mom has been really kind to plan an overseas trip for me in September and one possibly at the end of the year/ beginning of next year because of school. 20th birthday was the most painful birthday I've ever been through and it left me scarred, it changed my life forever. But this year, it opened my eyes to new possibilities and brought my mom and I closer and I'm really touched by what she has done for me. I'm lucky to be able to end my exams tonight and cut myself some slack for a day before work piles up again. It's quite an emotional day for me because this day last year I was a complete wreck and when I think back at times, I still break down. But time sure has its way of making one feel better. Here I am, in disbelief of all that has happened, stronger and wiser than I was before. I know better things are waiting for me out there.

I've learnt to find joy within.

Here's to a joyous August, and a happy birthday to myself.

(:

xx

Sunshine of Joy

Taken with Nikon D90 + Sigma 30mm f/1.4

A tiny little shoot adventure with Doldie at a newly discovered place near my area a month back or so. Credits to Des for the shots here. The boy is getting pretty good with the camera and I'm overjoyed that our adventure trips piqued his interest in photography. Look at Doldie, she is so much of a little baby and she never ever fails to amuse the both of us. I hope to document as much of Doldie as possible before time tears us apart someday since she's already 6 this year and not a little puppy anymore (however much she may seem to look like one). Des loves it when I make her wear this bathrobe instead of her dresses (or Hip Hop Hoodie as we like to call it...) because he thinks that she doesn't look like a girl in any way, which I fully agree given her aggressive nature. Can't help but think that she looks like a little Taekwondo fighter in this outfit.

This series reminds me of the livejournal/tumblr days... Those days were long gone and I've grown up so much over time. A little reminder to self to never look back.

Have yourself a happy August, guys! It's one of my favorite months of the year (: No prizes for guessing why!

xx

Instagram Update

1) Paul Maison De Qualité with the boy a few weeks back. I had the Medium Sirloin steak which was really good and done just right (: The steak was pretty big and the potatoes were really nice. My mind is quite a blank now so I won't go into the details. Paul's has been highly raved so you may like to go and have a try if you haven't.

391A Orchard Road

#03-16/16A/17

Ngee Ann City Tower A

Singapore 

Tel: +65 6836 5932

Opening hours:

Bakery:

Sun-Thu:  8.30am - 10pm

Fri-Sat:  8.30am - 11pm

Restaurant:

Mon-Sun:  10am - 11pm

2) CrazyWorld Cafe with the best friend, TL, on Wednesday after my shoot. Before TL told me about CrazyWorld, I have never heard about it before and was pretty amazed at why majority of the people hadn't known about it. The concept was really...homely. Think taiwanese old school concept with vintage toy decorations, and works of a local photographer. I had the Seafood Marinara and TL had the Fish and Chips which was honestly average but everything else made up for the food. I had my first try at fruit beers and Baileys Cheesecake which was....fab. :D Please do try the chicken wings if you ever head there too, it goes really well with the pairing sauce!

24 Temple Street, Singapore 058569

Tel: +65 6223 7553

Opening Hours:

Mon : Rest Day Tues: 6pm to 10pm Wed – Thu : 12pm to 10pm Fri – Sat : 12pm to 11:30pm Sun  : 12pm to 10pm

3) Brenda and I after our shoot at WhiteCottage and lunch at Stranger's Reunion! No pictures of the food but the Smoked Salmon Sandwich was delicious :D (I'm not even a sandwich person to begin with).

4) Some time back when D and I brought Doldie out for a shoot at one of the new explored location at my area. I guess this could count as D's first official try at being behind the lens. 


5) SALTED EGG LIU SHA BAO @ Victor's Kitchen with the mates during lunch break! We never knew good dim sum was just a 5 mins walk away from us all these while. Apologies for the bad picture but the insides were piping hot and it was so yummy ^_^ I'm never a porridge person either but I tried so hard to finish the bowl of pork porridge when I was so full. It's almost always full and there's always a queue during lunch time. 

Victor's Kitchen (Sunshine Plaza)
91 Bencoolen Street
#01-21 Sunshine Plaza
Tel: 9838 2851
Opening Hours: Tue to Sun 1030am to 8pm
                         Closed on Mon

6) My baby hugging her bear bear on a rainy afternoon (:


7) Yesterday, after a 5 hours long shoot. 

8) Me, the day before yesterday, all happy after purchasing my memory card and reflector. My passion burns a hole in my poor pockets.


9) After yesterday's 5 hours shoot, D and I made our way over to We Are The Furballs for some happy doggie time! Here's Slinky, the Daschund <:

10) And Bui Bui, the French Bulldog who fell asleep in Des's arms. We were both really really happy being surrounded by pups. The owners are really friendly and sweet people too <: Better photos will be up when I upload them from my camera!

Check out more about it here: W.T.F
45 East Coast Road, Singapore, Singapore 428765
Tel: 6348 6330


Instagram has made it really easy for me to document my life since it's not possible for me to bring Benji out on a daily basis. It has been a helluva busy, tiring and fulfilling week and I can't ask for more (: I'm finally spending a day just chilling at home and resting because my entire body is breaking apart from long hours of shoots. Can't wait for exams to be over so I can get down to doing the giveaway and so much more! I'll be taking a break from shoots this week and just spending the rest of the days mugging and editing photos so I can put them up here as soon as possible. 

Goodbye July, and hello August! 

xx

Benji's first few shots at home

My baby Doldie, who has extremely huge and heavily lined eyes. I am jealous.

Baby Nomsie who hasn't appeared on this space or my Instagram for awhile cause she's staying with D now since I can't keep the both of them together.

Noms loves to be stroked (,: Whenever someone puts their hand into the cage, she'd come to you and rub her head against your hand. So adorbs hehe ^^

See how much she loves to be stroked (:

Trying to turn her into a Holland Lop

Random lovely sunset taken from D's window

Bulky on my purple sheets. This was an extremely random, unintended shot as I was playing with both cameras on the bed and I took a test shot but I like how it turned out (: This was taken on DX format, with the Sigma 30mm.

All photos taken with Nikon D800 + Nikkor 50mm f1.8 (except the last photo)




Hello everyone! I've been extremely chirpy of late because life has been so kind to me. Thank you for the lovely emails, I've finally cleared the last project for this trimester yesterday and it was such a relief.... Those insane nights when I had to stay up to finish up on pictures and the project are gone (for now)! Exams are coming in two weeks' time, but I promise to keep this space going as much as possible since I have a lot of photos to clear.

It's been a year since I last felt.... some sort of real happiness/ real positivity. Thank you D, for being a pillar of strength and support all these while and for being willing to fulfill my dreams with me in time to come. Thank you for reinstating my confidence when I feel lousy and for doing everything you can to keep me happy. Thank you to all my dear friends who have been holding me up this past one year and making sure I was okay every now and then. I may miss the past..... but I need to learn to look forward. Big fat hug for all of you (,:

I am very, very blessed.

xx

Haw Par Villa

I'm sorry to have to put you through the gruesome photos of the ten courts of hell but I like the fact that it spurs people, or I for that matter, to think about our deeds regardless of your religion. I've been to HPV quite a number of times, and this recent (1 month+ ago) trip was made because D hasn't been to here for close to 2 decades I suppose. It's nice knowing that it isn't that much of a ghost town now with the opening of the circle line station and everyone should pay a visit before it gets demolished in future. I'm guessing it's sooner or later, and it's a sad truth ):
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In other news...........


Meet Benji, my new D800 which I've been dreaming for months. The joy of holding it in my hands (even though the weight kills my wrist/ shoulder) is.... indescribable. I've finally gone Full-frame and there's so much more that I want to do with it. While I had wanted to sell off Bulky to raise funds for Benji, I'm really glad it didn't materialize. My obsession with cameras made it really difficult to part with Bulky, especially when it's been with me for 3 years + and it created so much memories for me.

And D, who recently decided to pick up photography as well, is more than happy to take over Bulky to go on shoots with me. (: I can't wait to bring both the boys out together, it'd be so much fun!


Bulky and his new (not-so-little) younger brother, Benji and a DSLR-shaped flashlight that I hooked onto my keys. My obsession with cameras is a little scary at times. (Taken from my instagram)



As what D said, " This is the best 21st birthday present for yourself."

Indeed, best and most expensive present ever.

(:

xx