TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

i like to travel and go for holidays if i have the extra money!

  • Germany,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

    Exploring Germany: A Journey through Mainz, Frankfurt, Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, Baden-Baden and Tumberg

    Delayed but not forgotten, join me as I revisit my journey through Germany with friends in October 2022. The colours of fall painted a picturesque backdrop to our adventures, from historic city strolls to the mesmerising countryside. Although time has passed, the memories of this autumn escape remain vivid. Let’s take a belated but enchanting trip through Germany.

    Photo by Zanariah Salam.

    Last year, in October 2022, six of my friends and I embarked on an adventure to Germany to attend the Frankfurt Book Fair. We seized the opportunity to explore other parts of Germany—specifically Karlsruhe, Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, and Tumberg, replacing our initial plan to visit Strasbourg. The travel companions included Adah, Yati, Nilam, Zana, Mimi, Zalila, and myself. Zalila joined us later during the Frankfurt leg. Unfortunately, our friend Yan couldn’t make it as she had to complete her thesis.

    Our journey commenced with a gathering at KLIA, featuring eager faces ready for the outbound flight. A series of flights, including UL 315 and UL 501 with Sri Lanka Airlines, brought us to Frankfurt, where our exploration of Germany would begin.

    14 Oct (Friday): Arrival in Mainz
    Touching down at FRA Airport at 3:20 pm, we took two taxis to Mainz, sharing the €67 fare for each taxi. Our home for the next few days was Aussicht Mainz-City, a cosy abode at Früchtstraße. After settling in, we took a breather, enjoying a simple yet satisfying meal of bread with sambal that Nilam and Adah had made before the travel.

    While Früchtstraße might not have major historical landmarks or tourist attractions, it contributes to the overall fabric of Mainz’s urban life. The residential area where we stayed offers a glimpse into the daily life of Mainz residents. The accommodations here range from apartments to cosy guesthouses, providing a more authentic and less touristy atmosphere. The area also has small shops and cafés as well as Apotheke.

    Früchtstraße area where we stayed.

    15 Oct (Saturday): Riverside Strolls and Cultural Gems
    On the serene Saturday of October 15th, we dedicated our day to indulging in the allure of Mainz. A leisurely 3.6km stroll along the Rhine River path unfolded, revealing a breathtaking canvas of vibrant foliage along the riverbanks.

    Rhine River Path.

    The afternoon was gracefully embraced by a visit to the Gutenberg Museum, where the fascinating history of printing came to life. Mainz, renowned as the birthplace of Johannes Gutenberg, the ingenious inventor of the printing press, witnessed the creation of the Gutenberg Bible in the 1450s—a pioneering work that revolutionized the world of printing.

    That was Yan, dolly version.

    Our journey continued to the enchanting Kirchgarten, a district steeped in history and adorned with well-preserved timber-framed houses. These architectural marvels, featuring exposed wooden beams, intricate designs, and steeply pitched roofs, transport visitors back in time, offering a glimpse into Mainz’s medieval past.

    Walking through Kirchgarten is akin to a captivating journey into Mainz’s history, where every step echoes the city’s rich heritage.

    One of the timber houses in Kirchgarten.

    16 Oct (Sunday): Culinary Delights in the Rain
    In the morning, the girls went to the laundry to wash our collective clothes. Despite the whole day’s rain, we stayed home and updated our journals. However, the culinary scene of Mainz was not to be missed, although the cuisine originated from Italy. Lunch at La Stella included a delightful trio of pizzas: Vegetariana, Margherita, and Salmone. The rainy weather couldn’t dampen our spirits as we savoured each bite. Ja gut!

    17 Oct (Monday): Botanical Beauty and Homemade Comfort
    We visited the Botanical Gardens at Johannes Gutenberg University. Besides autumn trees showcasing their colours, the flower plants were displaying their prettiness. I collected some autumn leaves for my journal.

    Later, we dropped by Rewe to buy ingredients for dinner. I was the cook for the night, so I prepared pumpkin soup, which turned out a bit too spicy for Nilam and Zana. We enjoyed the soup–with bread, of course.

    18 Oct (Tuesday): Transition to Frankfurt
    We checked out of our Mainz stay at 10 am. As the day unfolded, Mainz bid us farewell with a downpour. Undeterred, we pressed on, taking a bus from Fruchtstrasse to Mainz Hbf, eventually making our way to Frankfurt Hbf. Despite a one-hour train delay, the anticipation was met with relief as we reunited with Zalila, who had patiently waited for 3 hours at the main station alone. Navigating through rain and delays, we finally arrived at Panorama Hostel. When I booked the dorm for 7 pax, I looked at the photos on the website, but upon seeing it later, the dorm was small for 7 people. Nonetheless, we made do with the hostel’s amenities. A swift turnaround led us to the Frankfurt Book Fair, where we received a comprehensive briefing from the chief delegate, Encik Khair Ngadiron. The evening was spent arranging books at the pavilion and Oyez booth, followed by a well-deserved dinner of Kebab rice with salad at a restaurant near the hostel.

    19 Oct (Wednesday): Immerse in the Book Fair Buzz
    The dawn of the Frankfurt Book Fair marked a full day of literary immersion. I attended Oyez’s booth from 9 am to 12 pm and later joined the rest at the Malaysia pavilion. Each moment was a testament to the vibrant world of words. The country of focus was Spain, with King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier officially opening the fair. We left the fairground at 4 pm and went to Alim Imbiss for dinner. Later, we walked to Primark. For the first time in my many visits to Frankfurt, I got to try a Frankfurter hotdog, this time sold by a Muslim man outside Primark. It was delicious. I bought another one because apparently, the cold weather made me even hungrier and was also to make up for all the time that I didn’t get to taste it.

    20 Oct (Thursday): Sketching in Journal
    At the book fair, I waited at Oyez’s booth in Hall 4. Later at 1 pm, I went around the fair, sitting and sketching a bit here and there in my journal. My friends were all over the fair doing their things.

    21 Oct (Friday): A Public Day of Literary Revelry
    With a deliberate choice to skip the book fair, we set out to Romerberg on the cold, rainy morning. We had hot drinks at the cafe nearby to warm ourselves. We then walked to Alter Bruecke. Later, we visited the Struwwelpeter Museum, allowing us to delve into the rich tapestry of German folklore. Both the Struwwelpeter Museum and Goethehaus were a bit different from when I visited years ago. They had relocated, and it was much easier now to look for both.

    We later went to Palmengarten, the rain became heavier and we explored the garden while holding our umbrellas. The garden never ceases to amaze me.

    It was my birthday today. The girls brought a few pieces of cake to celebrate my birthday complete with a birthday card. It was beautiful. I mean the friendship. My birthday has always been a day for me to reflect on what have I done throughout my existence in the world. I wish to do more good things. In sya Allah, in the years to come.

    22 Oct (Saturday): The 2nd to Last Day of FBF
    Returning to the book fair on its public day, Zana, Mimi, and I conducted a workshop on how to create line drawings in a folded zine. As the day unfolded, we meandered through the halls, adding literary knowledge and treasures to our collection. The evening was reserved for a special dinner with MBKM, bringing together minds and stories.

    Photo by Zanariah Salam.

    23 Oct (Sunday): Farewell to the Book Fair and Frankfurt
    The last day at the book fair was bittersweet. We conducted another workshop, and this time, Mimi and Zana taught participants how to create pop-up zines and paper-cut art. We savoured the final session, explored the cosplay events, and bid adieu to the vibrant halls. A post-fair dinner at Alim Imbiss near the hostel added the perfect finishing touch to our Frankfurt adventure.

    24 Oct (Monday): Transition to Karlsruhe
    Checking out from Panorama Hostel, we bid farewell to Frankfurt and Zalila, while the rest of us ventured to Karlsruhe. Zalila could not take more leaves as she had work to attend to. A comfortable train journey brought us to our new abode, Harbour Apartments, where the promise of new experiences awaited.

    25 Oct (Tuesday): Exploring Heidelberg’s Landscape
    While Zalila set off for the airport in Frankfurt, we embarked on a train ride that led us to Heidelberg, where we immersed ourselves in the old town’s charm. From strolling along the Rhine River to exploring the historic castle, the day was a delightful mix of history, culture, and scenic beauty. We walked up to the hill where the Heidelberg castle is situated. I was catching my breath; nonetheless, the landscape was beautiful from up there.

    26 Oct (Thursday): Nature Retreat in Baden-Baden
    The allure of Baden-Baden beckoned, and we answered the call with a day trip. A train journey from Karlsruhe Hbf to Baden-Baden Hbf was followed by a scenic bus ride to Tiergartenweg. Our chosen route, the Korbmattfelsen circular path, offered a leisurely 1.5-hour hike amidst nature’s beauty, enjoyed by Adah, Nilam, and Yati while the rest of us stayed at the bottom–we were old ladies with back pain and weak knees, haha. We had our late lunch at a Turkish restaurant. The day was punctuated with moments of serenity, culminating in a return journey back to Karlsruhe.

    27/28 Oct (Saturday):
    As our time in Karlsruhe drew to a close, we explored a half-day adventure at Karlsruhe’s botanical garden. A leisurely picnic intertwined with sleeping under the sun, photographing, writing, and sketching allowed us to absorb the tranquillity of the surroundings. The afternoon was dedicated to exploring Karlsruhe by foot. We did some shopping.

    29 Oct (Sunday):
    We made a last-minute decision to visit Tumberg in Durlach in the early morning. We took a funicular train to reach the peak. We checked out from our abode at 6:45 pm as our flight the next day was at 05:30 in the morning. There were no public trains available after midnight. Transit at Sri Lanka airport was 12 hours, and we flew the next leg at 13:15 and reached KUL at 19:30.

    Photo by Norsa’adah Ahmad.

    That was the end of our journey to Germany in October 2022. A few months later, our book ‘Jerman, Kami Datang!’ was published.

    In the pages of “Jerman, Kami Datang!”, our collective of friends invites you on a literary and visual journey through the heart of Germany. This collaborative masterpiece weaves together essays, short stories, poems, artworks, and photographs, capturing the essence of our collective adventure.

    Our book is more than a mere travelogue; it’s a testament to the diverse ways in which we experienced and interpreted Germany. Each contributor found inspiration in a unique facet of our travels, whether it was the rich history, cultural encounters, or the sheer natural beauty that Germany offered.

    The essays within the book provide personal reflections and cultural observations, offering readers a nuanced and immersive experience of our time in Germany. Our collection of short stories takes you beyond the realms of reality, blending imagination with actual experiences to create captivating narratives set against the backdrop of Germany. Our poetic expressions capture the emotions, nuances, and fleeting moments that defined our German adventure.

    The visual elements of “Jerman, Kami Datang!” serve as a complement to the written word. Explore our collection of artworks and photographs that paint a vivid picture of the landscapes, architecture, and cultural moments we encountered.

    As we present “Jerman, Kami Datang!” to the world, we extend an invitation to relive the magic of our German escapade. Whether you are a fellow traveller, an art enthusiast, or someone with a passion for cultural exploration, we hope our collective work resonates with you.

    Jerman, Kami Datang! can be purchased at my store.

    Share your thoughts, memories, and questions about our German journey. Your engagement is a valued part of our narrative.

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  • Austria,  MISC,  Vienna

    The Water Nymphs

    Two ladies at The Albertina came and said hi to me. They were all wet as if they just came out of the water. Their faces were diabolically beautiful and they had long hair that touched the floor. Their long hair was decorated with some kind of white fluffy algae. Behind them were two long trails of water that ran down their long hair. That’s pretty much all that I can sum about them because if they have a body each, I could describe more.

    “Welcome to The Albertina,” both of them greeted me while smiling. “How do you like the museum?” they added.

    “It’s great! I am loving the fact that I could see Joan Miró, Marc Chagall, Picasso, Edgar Degas, Paul Cezanne, Albrecht Durer, and many more here! ” I told them excitedly. I had visited a few other museums previously but none of the visitors ever try to make any sort of conversation with me. Well, neither do I but I was glad that at least here people were making effort to start a conversation.

    “Das ist lieb! How about we invite you to visit our realm? Are you up to it?” they babel simultaneously. At first, I was reluctant but since I was alone and not rushing anywhere, I guessed I didn’t have any reason not to follow them. I said yes.

    We walked; I mean I walked –they floated– until we reached a big frame with a gold-coated wooden border. There was a realm of water inside; gleam and mossy. I went near the frame to get the sense of the height; it was more or less my tall.

    “Climb through,” they directed. I climbed after them and immediately soaked in water and once in there, I immediately became like them; I was disembodied. Breathing got easier. My face turned flawlessly pale but my vision became very clear. My thinning hair grew longer and white fluffy algae immediately came swimming towards me and giggled before finding their spots to sleep in-between my hair strands. After a while, they were all over my hair sleeping soundly.

    Two men appeared in front of the frame. I startled and froze, so does the two ladies. The men were admiring us three until one of them who looked puzzled questioned my presence there, “aren’t there suppose to be only two nymphs?” The other man nodded and then scratched his head and touched the frame to see if it was real.

    Beep! Beep! Beep! The security alarm went off.

    The last thing I heard was the sound of marching boots. It subsided as I slowly froze.

    Painting: The Water Nymphs (1899) by Gustav Klimt.

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  • Austria,  MISC,  Vienna

    A bookmark named Rain

    It was raining that morning. I contemplated whether should I stay in bed or should I just head out for coffee. I opted for the former as rain and I cannot get along very well. I stayed in bed for a little bit more and tried to write in my journal about the visit to a few art museums the day before. But I was all miserable, I could not write anything as the coffee smell lingered about. It was not like the next room occupant was making coffee, it was all in my brain. I cannot do anything without having a coffee first. It is a ritual and I am religious about it.

    I got out of bed, put on my jeans, sweater and hooded coat, and walked to Aïda Cafe. In the rain. It had been my go-to cafe since the day I arrived in Vienna. I ordered a black coffee and a croissant and sat by the glass window, looking out to the rain and people walking about doing their thing. Some were running as fast as they could trying to cheat rain, some strolling happily in their colourful wellies with umbrellas on their hands. Some were just like me, all hooded, hands in pocket, and walking without care.

    I looked up the sky looking for a sign if the rain might stop anytime soon as I had plans to go to other art museums. I was trailing Klimt’s works and every day was precious to me as I was looking forward to seeing his works up-close; to be mesmerised, to be inspired. But the rain showed no sign of stopping. I sipped my coffee and looked out again, this time, down. There I saw few red maple leaves lying on the ground; their crisp brown leafy body soaked in the rain. A particular leaf caught my attention as I heard it calling out to me.

    That moment when you are stuck and hope that the wind (or someone) will set you free.

    Posted by Nor Emila on Wednesday, October 16, 2019

    “Please help me. My petiole is stuck under this chair and it’s hurting me,” I heard the leaf was saying. I raised my hand and showed it the wait sign. I could not talk loudly as people would think I’m crazy. I finished my coffee and croissant quickly and walked out. “Danke Schoen!” I said to the waitress while waving. “Bitte,” she said waving back.

    I quickly went to help the leaf. I pulled the chair up and picked up the leaf. “There you are,” I said to it.
    “Thank you, you saved me!” it screamed with joy. Almost crying.

    I wrapped it in the serviette that I got from the cafe, and put it in my pocket carefully so that I would not crumple it. I walked back to the hotel and took it out of my pocket. I wiped it dry and laid it on the table under the table lamp, to let it feel warm. Poor leaf had been in the rain all morning.

    “So what’s your name?” I asked the leaf trying to make a conversation. “Should a leaf has a name?” the leaf looked puzzled.

    “Well no. Are you a girl or a boy?” I asked some more and I got the same puzzled look. ” I am just a leaf, not a seed,” it said, making some senses into me.

    “OK, you’re it. Can I give you a name then?” I asked the leaf. “Sure, you are my saviour!” the leaf said cheerfully.

    “I shall name you Aïda, to remind us of where I found you,” I said to the leaf. “Sounds girlish. Anything not so girlish?” the leaf said.

    “Well, I can name you Rain. Would that be good?”

    “That is awesome, I like it,” the leaf said. “It will always remind me of the hardship that I went through; I was blown away by the wind far from my birth tree, stuck under the chair’s leg, got myself all teary, and then soaked in the rain. You and I, we met during the rain. I like it,” the leaf further explained.

    From then on, I call it Rain.

    “Rain, I gotta go out and see about a Klimt,” I told Rain. “What about Klimt?” Rain asked. I explained to Rain that I am a fan of Klimt and that it has been my intention to visit as many of Klimt’s works as I can during my 6-day stay in Austria.

    “I will introduce you to him soon,” as I left Rain in the room and made my way to Leopold Museum and The Secession. I bought a book entitled Klimt written by Gilles Neret and a few other books. When I went back to the hotel, I showed Rain the book. We read the book together and Rain loved Klimt so much that I let it resides in the book.

    “Do you want to live here forever?” I asked Rain. “You haven’t seen other books yet. You will love Schiele too. And perhaps I can introduce you to Kafka, Capote, and the likes of them. I can introduce you the those from my country like Zaen Kasturi, Dina Zaman, SM Zakir, Zainal Rashid, and many others. Would you like that?”

    “Bitte. Yes please!” Rain replied.

    “And, you will have some friends too from the oak and other maples family but they all have no names, unlike you,” I told Rain about my collection of dry leaves that reside in other books.

    “Aha, I see you helped others too. I can’t wait to see them,” Rain said cheerfully.

    It has been 9 months that Rain came back home with me. Rain is my best buddy now. We read Klimt just now and I left it on page 52, where the Cottage Garden is. Looking at Cottage Garden makes me happy, and Rain told me that it makes it happy too.

    We are alike.

  • Morocco,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

    Trouvaille, A Gourmet Lucky Find: Marrakech

    • A guest post by A. Nazri, Marrakech.

    Why on earth would a Malaysian girl, who spent a few years in Germany, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands suddenly move to North Africa and become involved in a gastronomy project?

    I would like to believe that I have a special (or rather sacred) bond with food. I just love eating so much. Travelled half the world for food. From having a cup of coffee and banh mi in the streets of Saigon to indulging at a Michelin star restaurant in Paris. When I first travelled to Morocco, I immediately fell in love with the flavours and harmonic myriads of spices and colours. A couple of months later, I decided to set myself here in Marrakech.

    Marrakech is a fashionable city in North Africa. You can see it being portrayed even in the Berber rugs, the plates and bowls. Oh, I could go on and on about this. If ever visiting Morocco, one shall not miss the opportunities of seeing Berber women in Ourika Valley weaving the rugs. Each of them represents a tribe, a story and feelings.

    But, my main adventure is to focus on its local cuisine. Voila! I decided to set up a food tour agency, Trouvaille Gourmet, where we curate the gastronomic journey everyone should embark on. Or more accurately taste! Did you know in Morocco, the locals will send their raw dough to a communal oven? Everyone will come with their colourful fabrics and trays, that is how the baker will recognize who’s who. It is not just an oven but a place to socialize too. It even used to be the old version of Tinder, where sometimes people found their soulmate at the communal oven. At Trouvaille Gourmet, we aim to deliver stories of food.

    And not just to deliver stories, but to make sure people taste the real flavours of Marrakech. As we walk through the busy souks where most trading takes place, thousands of different goods, colourful, monochromatic or any colour combination you could ever think of. My personal favourite is the antique shops. Carved masks from local woods, handmade Berber jewellery, bronze wine glasses, the list of treasures just goes on. Feast your eyes! Now it’s time to feast the stomach with scrumptious local snacks. Such as briouate, msemmen, and to satisfy your sweet tooth, have a taste of Moroccan sweets and cookies like ghriba, a coconut cookie.

    I can say, the never-ending surprises are the pushing factor for me to migrate and set myself in North Africa. If ever visiting Marrakech, don’t forget to buzz us! Experience the eye-opening gastronomy journey with us, Trouvaille Gourmet. Below are our contact details. Should you have any inquiries, or collaboration proposals, we would be happy to answer.

    À bientôt!

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  • Bratislava,  Slovakia,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

    Wen Dee Tan won BIB Golden Apple Award 2019 in Bratislava


    The Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB) is one of the oldest international events concerning illustrations of children’s books. The award given at the event is one of the most important prizes in the domain of illustrations of children and young adults’ books not to mention the Hans Christian Andersen Award.

    The BIB has been held biennially in Bratislava, Slovakia, since 1967 under the aegis of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and under the supervision of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY). The event is regarded as one of the most illustration competitions in the world.

    Last year a total of 416 illustrators from 47 countries joined the competition. Six Malaysian illustrators participated and one came out as one of the five winners of BIB Golden Apple Award 2019.

    Those participating were Khairul Azmir Shoib, Tan Yun Ru, Leong Yoke Mee, Eng Gee Fan, Kok Wai Ling and Tan Wen Dee, of which the latter won the Golden Apple Award 2019. Wen Dee submitted illustrations from the books, Lili and El Circo De Los Monstruos (Circus of Monsters).

    The prize-giving ceremony took place on 25th October 2019 at Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava. Receiving the awards on behalf of Wen Dee was Dato Ganeson Sivagurunathan, the Ambassador of Malaysia to the Republic of Austria and Permanent Representative of Malaysia to the United Nations in Vienna. He is also accredited to the Slovak Republic.

    Wen Dee received a Golden Apple award, a winner certificate and cash prize of USD1500.

    On another note, the session of the International Jury of the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava 2019 took place in Bratislava on October 20. 2019 – October 23. 2019

    Members of the jury:
    Mr. Ali Boozari, Iran, Ms. Graça Lima, Brazil, Ms. Akoss Ofori-Mensah, Ghana, Ms. Nor Emila Mohd Yusof, Malaysia, Mr. Alexejs Naumovs, Latvia, Mr. Igor Olejnikov, Russia, Ms. Daniela Olejníková, Slovakia, Ms. Tatjana Pregl Kobe, Slovenia, Mr. Yuval Saar, Israel, Mr. Zhigeng Wang, China

    1. The jury chose Mr. Alexejs Naumovs, Latvia as the chairman of the jury.
    2. All required conditions for the work of the Jury were met.
    3. International Jury of the BIB 2019 awarded following prizes:

    GRAND PRIX BIB 2019
    Hassan Moosavi, Iran: Boxer

    BIB GOLDEN APPLE 2019
    1. Janis Blanks, Latvia: Mole Cricket
    2. Soojung Myung, South Korea: The Skirt That Spreads to the End of the World
    3. Anton Lomaev, Russia: Lullaby for a Small Pirate
    4. Wen Dee Tan, Malaysia: Lili, Circus of Monsters
    5. Chengliang Zhu, China: Don’t Let the Sun Fall.

    BIB PLAQUE 2019
    1. Guilherme Karsten, Brazil: Aaahhh! Ride!
    2. Maja Kastelic, Slovenia: Koozi
    3. Chiki Kikuchi, Japan: Letter of the Scarlet Maple Leaves
    4. Andre Letria, Portugal: War
    5. Anat Warshavski, Israel: The Restaurant at the Edge of the Pole.

    HONORARY MENTION FOR TO THE PUBLISHER
    1. Ecuador: Comoyoko Ediciones, 2019, Quito: A ritmo endiablado de bomba / At the Evilish Rythm of the Drum
    2. Brazil: Editora positive, 2018, Curitiba: Um livro pra gente morar / A Book where to Live in
    3. Brazil: Companhia das letrinhas, 2018, Sao Paolo: Apesar de tudo / In Spite of All
    4. United Kingdom: David Fickling Books, 2017, Oxford: Tornhill

    THE CHILDREN JURY of the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava 2019 DECIDED TO GIVE THE PRIZE OF CHILDREN JURY TO:
    Svetozár Košický, Slovakia

    Nominations of the Children’s Jury:
    1. Peter Uchnár, Slovakia
    2. Cornelia Bredschneider & Katharina Guntzer, Austria
    3. Levi Pinfold, United Kingdom

    Link: http://www.bibiana.sk/en/events/bib-2019-awards

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  • Bratislava,  Random Thoughts,  Slovakia,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS

    The Jury

    Last year (20 – 27 October 2019) saw a significant event to my career of 10 years in the children’s picture book industry. Being one of the members of the international jury for BIENNALE OF ILLUSTRATIONS BRATISLAVA 2019 (BIB) was such an honour. I could not imagine in a million years I was selected to be one. It was like completing the final page of my book of illustrating for children’s book. I can now put it to rest after struggling 10 years in the industry trying to make the best out of it despite some hiccups and obstacles.

    With PhDr. Zuzana Jarošová, General Commissioner BIB and Chair of the International Committee BIB.
    With BIB members of jury 2019.

    I know I did my best to contribute to the industry. I know I did my best to not just promote myself but to promote my fellow illustrator friends as well. It was fun carrying extra baggage just to carry local books to be exhibited overseas. It was fun promoting them in ways that I know I could help. It was fun helping some of them published their books. It was fun travelling with some of them. It was fun chasing them around to submit their participation. It was all fun until it wasn’t fun anymore when my efforts were looked down upon. Just like a book, the ending is inevitable. I saw it coming.

    I need to find my happiness. I decided to adjourn illustrating picture books for the years to come. But just like a book, I might pick it up and start again.

  • Austria,  TRAVEL/HOLIDAYS,  Vienna

    Newfound idol—Egon Schiele

    When I first saw Schiele’s works at the Leopold Museum, I immediately fell in love, mostly because of the colour scheme that he used and the twisted body shapes and the expressive lines. There is one of his works (Cardinal and Nun) that I felt connected to Klimt. After reading the descriptions, it validated my suspicion. Later, I did some readings on the Internet and found out that he was the protégé of Klimt.

    Cardinal and Nun (Caress), 1912. From the description beside the painting, it is believed that Schiele was paraphrasing Klimt’s The Kiss.

    Schiele was a major figurative painter of the early 20th century. His work is noted for its intensity and its raw se*uality, and the many self-portraits the artist produced, including na#ed self-portraits. The twisted body shapes and the expressive line that characterize Schiele’s paintings and drawings mark the artist as an early exponent of Expressionism. But na#ed aside, I am in it for the art. Below are some of his works that I love.

    Portrait of Wally, 1912.
    Kneeling Female in Orange-Red Dress, 1910. I especially adore this one for the colours. Beautiful!

    Apart from female figurative, Egon also painted portraits of himself. His Self Portrait, 1910, was the very first work of his that I saw and immediately fell in love.

    Self Portrait, 1910.

    Apart from figurative, Schiele also did some landscape paintings.

    Crescent of houses II (Island Town), 1915.

    Egon Schiele (1890 – 1918) died young at the age 0f 28. In the autumn of 1918, the Spanish flu pandemic that claimed more than 20,000,000 lives in Europe reached Vienna. Hi wife, Edith Schiele, who was six months pregnant, succumbed to the disease on 28 October. Schiele died only three days after his wife.

    Me at Leopold Museum. 😛
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