heART of Seeing

Clustered at the edge Blooming where you were planted Joyful spring is here Sweet petals of love There live dreams in lush green leaves Can we wish for more? We stalk the blue sky Bursting from the yearning stems How high can we go? Sticking together Weaving through the spring sunshine  Nature comes to life  My sunny side up Those beautiful little suns Kissing the morning

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air a miracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day we are engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize: a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curious eyes of a child, our own two eyes. All is miracle. ~ Thich Nhat Hanh If water derives lucidity from stillness, how much more the faculties of the mind! The mind of the sage, being in repose, becomes the mirror of the universe, the speculum of all creation. ~ Chuang Tzu To be nobody but yourself  in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else  means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting. ~ E.E. Cummings Blessed are the cracked, for they shall let in the light. ~  Groucho Marx

According to Colin Nicholas , "The Orang Asli are the indigenous minority peoples of Peninsular Malaysia. The name is a Malay term which transliterates as 'original peoples' or 'first peoples'."  They all live on the Peninsular of Malaysia. Project Love Orang Asli (Project LOA), is part of the AsiaWorks Leadership Program's contribution to the community in Malaysia. It serves to develop the small village of Kampung Orang Asli Batu 16 in Gombak, Malaysia into a place for tourism.  I was invited to the LP186 team's fund raising event on the 3rd of January and did not pass up the opportunity to start the new year contributing to a good cause. Located at the area between Kuala Lumpur and Genting Highlands, this village is a potential place for tourism, and also a close getaway for a short city break. For a start, plans are in place to help the villagers to promote their offerings, such as selling their goods (handicrafts) and services (jun...

Hello friends, I'm going to join the masses of people saying "I can't believe it's 2016 already!" When I think about 2015, it seems to zip by, yet I can't remember much of what I was doing a short 12 months ago - this either means that I had so much going on that my brain could not keep up or I was just on a lot of drugs, hahaha ... because I don't remember taking any, I am going to go with the first option.   I know this is a bit late for Thanksgiving and all the thanks that comes with it. I was going to write a a bit about all the things I’m thankful for this year, but then I thought that’s been done by like every blogger in the universe. So I will keep it simple, by saying I am thankful just to be alive and to love and be loved. Wishing all of you a fabulous 2016! 

It was a typical harsh tropical mid afternoon, I had some time to spare in between errands and the park was within my sight. So I grabbed the OMD EM-10, alighted from my car and stormed the park. And for the first time, put my "free"  40-150mm F4/5.6  lens to the test.  I'm not sure if the park sweepers there are used to seeing a lone ranger with a camera at this time of the day, but they sure did give me some "interesting" glances. No, I did not take their portraits, haha. Chasing harsh light is not an easy situation to tackle. Basically I'm using contrast and looking for patterns or shadows created by the light.  round and round stone trooper waves of steel now, which is the right way? "tree" on the greens in between... 2015, you did me well my friend. Until next year ...

The sky is deeper blue today Because I have awareness.   ~ Sister Dang Ngheim In a mind clear as still water, even the waves, breaking, are reflecting its light. ~ Dogen Zenji As the year draws to a close,   having lost two friends,  I really needed to read about happy stuff and all that to remind me of, not only the things that make me smile, but also that I have a crazily good year to be looking forward to. Reconnecting with photography is one of the highlight of my year and starting this blog recently sets up a sweet end to an otherwise difficult year in many aspects. It has been about connection for me. To reconnect to a hobby that I have set aside for many years. To connect to my deeper core of what is really essential in my life. To further cement the many parallels and connections of photography and life. The process of contemplative photography, by itself can be a meditative and intense experience, connects seamlessly with my sp...

Haiku originates from Japan.  It is a minimalist form of poetry. The writer has 17 or fewer syllables through which to convey an experience.   It usually consists of three lines, containing 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively. These three lines pare down an experience to its essence, you say what happened in a few chosen words. Writing haiku is also a form of meditation that begins with the recognition of something occuring in the everyday Traditionally, haiku is about nature, sometimes serious, often comic. It did not rhyme. The poem usually referenced a season of the year. Long called the “wordless poem,” haiku was a way of life. It was associated with spiritual practice. Poets and common folk alike wrote haiku to praise, describe, and to open the heart and mind. Basho, the best known haiku poet, was a Japanese samurai who devoted his spiritual life to writing poetry. One of the principles in contemplative photography is  reducing the subject matter...