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Malaysia postcard series: KL
Just trying out on postcard composition for my Malaysia postcard series. Will explore other composition style. Do you like it?
KL postcard – mixed media (watercolor, pen and pencil)
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Art & Places: Fontana del Pincio, Montagnola Park, Bologna, Italy
When I walked aimlessly along Via Dell’ Iindependenza from the Bologna Centrale (after I got myself lost in Firenze), I saw this beautiful steps with a fountain that leads to a park. I did not know what park it was because I just went where my feet took me. Only after I went home, I learned about the name of the park: Montagnola Park or Parco della Montagnola. The fountain is called Fontana del Pincio.
The fountain depicts a nymph on the back of a sea horse, both struggling against the embrace of an octopus in a big seashell. These elements are positioned in a lunette (semi-circle shaped space) with floral motifs. On the centre of the lunette, there is a mascaroni, or decorative keystone of a lion holding two shields that merged into one, which is actually Bologna’s state emblem. The lion’s head depicts a lion donated by Marquis Obizzo d’Este to the commune in 1293.
Looking at the sea nymph and the seashell, it reminded me of Boticelli’s painting ‘Birth of Venus’, you know the one standing on a seashell with no clothes on just her hair covering her private part. The elements of nymph, horse, seashell were among mythical elements commonly used during Early Florentine Renaissance period.
The fountain was sculpted by Diego Sarti and Pietro Veronesi in 1896, both were masters graduated from Academy of Fine Arts, Bologna. They also sculpted two bas-reliefs on both sides of the sculpture dedicated to the University of Bologna (Colombarini) and the free city (Sabbioni). The impressive staircase access to Montagnola Park was designed by Tito Azzolini and Attilio Muggia in 1892. The steps of the Pincio is equipped with 72 metal candelabra with six or four lamps.
Me standing at Parco Della Montagnola. Self-portrait, Nikon D40X with the help of a tripod and wireless remote control. Bologna, Marzo 2010
Information credit: http://www.bibliotecasalaborsa.it, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bologna
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10 Top Travel Quotes and Blog Banners
These banners are free to use. You can copy + paste the codes in your blog. They are made from my own drawings with meaningful quotable quotes from famous people. Enjoy!
Basically the size is square 250 x 250 pixels but if you want a smaller size, please adjust the size value. To be on the safe side, copy the codes and paste it onto notepad program. Copy from notepad and paste it onto your blog. This way it will clear up all text formatting from my post editor.
Other banners (quotable quotes, Hari Raya, etc) can be found here: BLOG BANNERS
Source code:
<a href="https://emilayusof.com/category/blog-banner/"><img src="https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/emilayusof/travelq01.jpg" alt="get your free blog banner at emilayusof.com" width="250"></a>
Source code:
<a href="https://emilayusof.com/category/blog-banner/"><img src="https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/emilayusof/travelq02.jpg" alt="get your free blog banner at emilayusof.com" width="250"></a>
Source code:
<a href="https://emilayusof.com/category/blog-banner/"><img src="https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/emilayusof/travelq03.jpg" alt="get your free blog banner at emilayusof.com" width="250"></a>
Source code:
<a href="https://emilayusof.com/category/blog-banner/"><img src="https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/emilayusof/travelq04.jpg" alt="get your free blog banner at emilayusof.com" width="250"></a>
Source code:
<a href="https://emilayusof.com/category/blog-banner/"><img src="https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/emilayusof/travelq05.jpg" alt="get your free blog banner at emilayusof.com" width="250"></a>
Source code:
<a href="https://emilayusof.com/category/blog-banner/"><img src="https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/emilayusof/travelq06.jpg" alt="get your free blog banner at emilayusof.com" width="250"></a>
Source code:
<a href="https://emilayusof.com/category/blog-banner/"><img src="https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/emilayusof/travelq07.jpg" alt="get your free blog banner at emilayusof.com" width="250"></a>
Source code:
<a href="https://emilayusof.com/category/blog-banner/"><img src="https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/emilayusof/travelq08.jpg" alt="get your free blog banner at emilayusof.com" width="250"></a>
Source code:
<a href="https://emilayusof.com/category/blog-banner/"><img src="https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/emilayusof/travelq09.jpg" alt="get your free blog banner at emilayusof.com" width="250"></a>
Source code:
<a href="https://emilayusof.com/category/blog-banner/"><img src="https://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq205/emilayusof/travelq10.jpg" alt="get your free blog banner at emilayusof.com" width="250"></a> -
Art & Places: Singapore Zoo illustration by Sally Heinrich
One thing that I love about travelling is to discover art. When I visited Singapore Zoo with my family, this illustration really caught my attention. The details of trees, plants and animals are amazingly and finely done. The information of the illustrator is not written there, I did look hard through the details to find signature of the creator but could not find any.
Finding the information on the Internet was not easy as well without the right keywords. I searched for Singapore Zoo illustration/s, Singapore Zoo illustrator but could not find any information. Then I hit ‘Singapore mural illustrator’ and voila! #3 search on the list leads me to Sally Heinrich. The illustration has been done by Sally for Singapore Zoo. Other than four sections of the mural (each approximately 100cm x 75 cm), the mural has been used in the Zoo shop, and also on buses, packaging and merchandising.
Sally has illustrated more than twenty books as well as writing and illustrating her own picture books, non-fiction information and activity books and novels. Besides publishers, her clients include advertising and environmental agencies, design studios and Government departments. Her commissioned artwork ranges in scale from wine labels to a mural for the Singapore Zoo, to one-off pieces for celebrations such as weddings and birthdays. She also regularly runs workshops in creative writing and illustration for both children and adults.
Her work has been recognised through fellowships from the Asialink Foundation, The May Gibbs Children’s Literature Trust, Varuna-the Writer’s Centre and Arts SA, and her original artwork and lino-prints have been exhibited in Australia and Asia.
Having previously lived in Darwin, Sydney, Singapore and Malaysia, Sally is currently based in Adelaide.Here’s Yassin admiring the details of the illustration.
Information credit: http://www.sallyheinrich.com/
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Beautiful Surprise from VanityTrove!
Today I received a good smelling trove from Victoria! Wanna see what I got from her?
Now, let’s unveil what’s inside my trove:
I got Kao Essential Damage-Care Nuance Airy Shampoo, Kao Essential Damage-Care Rich Premier Shampoo, Dirty Works Bath Soak, Evanose Essencious Invisible Sunbrella UV Mist SPF 45, Ettusais BB Mineral Cream, Yadah Lip Crayon Pencil, Erabelle MIZU Therapy Mask, The Body Shop Shiso Whitening Serum (15 packets!) and Aw Boon Haw’s Act-Q-Patch.
Thanks Victoria! Loving all the beautiful surprises! (Victoria T. is a virtual beauty consultant from Vanity Trove).
Now what have I done to deserve this VanityTrove?
Here’s how it works:
1) Sign up for an account to be a member on www.VanityTrove.com
2) Subscribe to receive the month’s edition in advance for only RM60.
3) Receive the trove and enjoy the beautiful surprises within it!So, if you are looking forward to receive beautiful surprises like the above, do join the VanityTrove club. The theme for June is Best Friends Summer (like mine above) and for July it’ll be Destination: Beautiful (July’s edition ends in 3 days – hurry!).
Basically, the VanityTrove concept is simple. The experts behind Vanity Trove find the latest beauty trends and share with you in a form of VanityTrove. For only RM 60.00 each month, you will receive a surprise filled with beauty treats made for a different beauty story each month, delivered right to your doorstep. You can also buy for your mum, sister or girlfriend, just purchase the gift from VanityTrove and have it sent to their doorstep.
Enticed? Why wouldn’t you be?! Head now to VanityTrove! You can also subscribe not only monthly but quarterly, semi-anually and anually.
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Facebook cover photo for RAP
A job commissioned by Jack AA for his RAP page.
This illustration is licensed to RAP. If you are interested to make one, please contact me: emila@emilayusof.com. Copying, cropping and editing is prohibited. -
Winner of De Palma 2D1N contest
Remember the De Palma contest I ran last month? I already have the winner’s name in hand. But before I announce the winner, let me share the participants’ messages.
1. Maria Victoria Nyirop – By reading the review, I thought that this place will be an awesome place to bring my parents for their vacation.They (my parents) both at age 72 and 62 deserve to win this 2 Days & 1 Night Stay at De Palma Kuala Selangor. Knowing them both very preserving over greenery view of nature, not to mention fireflies phenomenon at Kg Kuantan Fireflies Sanctuary is perfectly fit their love about the nature. Mr & Mrs Nyirop deserves this stay as their wedding anniversary gift, mother’& father;s day gift from me(the daughter).I will fly them both all the way from Kuching to Kuala Selangor if they win this stay.This is not for Marvic but for Mr&Mrs Nyirop… and YES.. this 1 daughter and 3 son, 2 daugther-in-law and 4 grandchildren of Mr&Mrs Nyirop will join together for this getaway and treat it as our family getaway… wahhh..how cool is that…
2. Taheera Rosheena Mohammed – It looks like an ideal place for me and my family. We love the outdoors but we’re always looking for a family friendly environment with fun activities, and charge reasonable rates. Being syariah compliant gives us the confidence that the management cares about the guests needs and therefore this reflects the whole outlook of the facility. Love the fact that it’s also not too far from the city if we wanted a quick getaway.
3. Adzreena Ya’acob – Being a Work-At-Home-Mum, with 3 kids and no maid i think all of us at home deserved a gateway . Yup, kids and Ayah of course bored whenever mama being a “Hulk” . :p And i know that Kuala Selangor have a lot of interesting places to offer. Thus , a quick gateway is all of need.
4. Fadzilah Mamat – First of all, I would like to say that the idea of a syariah compliance hotel is just brilliant! The reasons why I deserve a free stay in De Palma Inn Kuala Selangor are :
1. I personally think that all hotels in Malaysia (a majority Muslim country) should be syariah compliant. And I applaud De Palma for being the pioneer.
2. I really want to experience the stay in a Syariah compliant hotel and then share it with my friends and my blog readers.
3. The place look so welcoming and I’m sure my family will enjoy our stay.
p/s : Win or not, I’ll definitely go there for a relaxing getaway with my family. Thank sis Emila Yusof for this review. I’m totally sold!5. Debbie Elaira Tehin – Hi kak Emila, I want to win the 2 Days & 1 Night stay at De Palma Kuala Selangor Hotel, not for me, but for my best friend, Yenny and her family. Yenny got married 2 years ago, exactly yesterday, 29 May 2009 to Mr A. Now, she has a beautiful baby boy, Qaleed, who’s going to be 1 year old in August 2012. I want to win this for Yenny because she’s been there for me, no matter what, although she lives in Pahang and I’m in Kuching, Sarawak. Yenny and her family deserves such a nice stay at De Palma Hotel Kuala Selangor, and it will be perfect if I win this for them as their 2nd wedding anniversary gift. Both Yenny and her husband love nature. She worked with Malaysian Nature Society before, and her husband is currently working with Jabatan Perhilitan. They both enjoy nature so much, and I still remember following Yenny to catch bats (yes, bats) at night for her Masters program. On the other hand, her husband loves photography and birds, and when they had time and before Qaleed was born, they would go to Fraser’s Hill for birding activities. I really think this would be a great gift for Yenny and her family, as they’ve been working hard lately and they need some time off for a vacation. I would love to win this for Yenny, my bff. Thanks in advance, Kak Emila and to De Palma Hotel.
6. Syuqiyah A. Hamid – It’s not easy to handle three little kids during my family vacation. My husband and I couldn’t enjoy happy moment like others, because we had to keep an eye on our kids all the time. My husband and I then decided that, if we want to have more enjoyable holidays, we should change the way we plan our holidays. It should be a big family vacation instead. So, this time around, we are planning to have an extended family vacation, which would also included member of my aunt’s and my brother’s families. My aunt, who is also the babysitter of my three kids, could then assist us in taking care of the kids. This will then free us to have more enjoyable private time. De Palma Hotel seems to be a perfect place for this extended family vacation. My husband and I love the beautiful wooden chalet. My aunt and uncle must have fallen in love with the calm and fresh environment, and also the idea of the barbeque picnic. My kids and their uncles and aunties would spend hours playing in the pool. Staying at the hotel will also give us a chance to visit Kg Kuantan Fireflies Sanctuary. It’s like a sweet dream for me and I hope it will turn to reality.
7. Nurul Izz – A bunch of amazing friends of mine and I are graduating this year (finally!) and it would be nice if we can have a little bit of mini vacation somewhere away from civilization and reality – even though we can never run away from the fact that real life begins soon after the oh-so-dreamy vacation ends.
8. Suliza Haron – Dear Kak Emila and De Palma Hotel’s management, Why i want to win a stay at De Palma Kuala Selangor? Because i would love for my son, Qeeb to experience a nature getaway and stay in traditional chalet with a modern touch. Play in the pool, lots of space to run, and visit all the places of interest nearby, listen to the ‘nature’ sound at night and loads of other activities. I bet i will get a good hotel service too!
AND THE WINNER IS:
SYUQIYAH A. HAMID
In addition, De Palma is topping up the prize for a runner-up: 2D1N stay at De Palma Ampang! De Palma management has selected:
FADZILAH MAMAT
At De Palma Ampang, Fadzilah can experience the syariah compliant feel, especially on Friday, where De Palma Hotel Ampang conducts Friday Prayers to almost 2000 muslims.
To Syuqiyah and Fadzilah, please e-mail me your address to emilayusof@gmail.com. I will pick up the vouchers tomorrow and have it delivered to you by snail mail. Vouchers are valid for 3 months and that gives both of you a time to plan the trip.
Thank you to all for making this contest a blast! To those who did not win, worry not, I will try to come up with another hotel stay contest soon.
BIG thank you to DePalma Hotels management team for the generosity in sponsoring the two stays.
