My Birthday Journey

Yesterday around 3 pm, I received a phone call, "Hi Lydia, this is Alycia... my wedding would be coming up in 6 months time, and I would like to meet you for a discussion of your services. Really love your works, I'm working as a nurse and this few months would be very busy for me... I have only tonight to meet you up at 11.15 or 11.30pm at Orchard's 24 hour mc donald." I was quiet shock of the timing, so I said "Is it possible earlier or latest at 11pm?" But this "Alycia" answered, "So sorry, I can't leave before 11.30pm actually. Can only meet you after 11pm". And so I said ok. Once I got there, suddenly I'm surrounded by happy birthday song from some friends, hahaha what a smart plan of Santy and Yuli. Although I had already suspicious, but Yuli managed to distract me with her call and sharing of her tiredness in preparing her hip hop team which was going to perform in President Charity on that night as well, and Santy distract me with her invitation on tomorrow's outing at East Coast. hahaha very smart and very well planned. Thank you Santy, Yuli, Daisy, Suang, Tepi, Simon, Colin AKA Bernard haha, Chealvy, April, Rachelle for being part to make this an unforgettable surprise birthday and meaningful moments. Thanks for Caroline too, spending quality time in celebrating my birthday. Thank you also for all my friends that giving me birthday greetings on facebook, phone calls and phone sms. And for one "angel" who doesn't want me to reveal the name, the angel who always believing in me more than I believe in myself, gave a special present for me, treasure the passion in me. Thank you for being a great inspiration and really treasure what you've done. And today on 31 January, I was at East Coast when I heard another birthday song ,"Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to.... dede... Happy birthday to you," ... and I was just in tears, couldn't control at all... I heard my Dad, my Mum, my Brother... sing choir together for me.. this was really a touching history of my family, never happen like this before haha ... what a creative family. Thank you Mum, Dad, Koko... your voice warm my heart so much. Make me feel so special. I'm really speechless ... surrounded by so many people who believe in me, showered by the many people who love and care for me. God is really showing me SO STRONG how precious I am as His daughter, "kesayangannya" King of Kings. He is the very best friend who has always been involving Himself in every part of my life. So secure to live this life that is totally under His Control. Thank you Daddy ^ ^

Irish Coffee

Irish coffee... born from a heart who cares to serve and meet the need. The original Irish coffee was invented by Joseph Sheridan, a head chef at Foynes, County Limerick. Foynes' port was the precursor to Shannon International Airport in the west of Ireland; the coffee was conceived after a group of American passengers disembarked from a Pan Am flying boat on a miserable winter evening in the 1940s. Sheridan added whiskey to the coffee to warm the passengers. After the passengers asked if they were being served Brazilian coffee, Sheridan told them it was Irish coffee. And here I was at Coffee Nations Cafe, drinking the best Irish coffee that I've ever tasted in Singapore, it's cheap la huahahaha, only around 5 bucks, plus drink it with nice friends around like Joyce, Rosa and Jenny, makes everything perfect. =P

Never Say Goodbye

In Singapore... I meet a lot of new friends always every single week, especially Indonesian. But very often farewells are happening as well. And today I spend time for the last photo hunting together with Lisa before she is leaving Singapore soon. Really treasure this few times hanging out with her. The more I get to know her... the more I'm grateful knowing her. Thank you Lisa, for your excitement always in me and photography. Adventuring together with us. Watching movie in cinema with drinking Starbucks coffee in the same time hahaha... carry the same Canon's bag and camera. Bring a great joy to us. I'm gonna miss you, Lisa. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend. Really brighten my days. We'll keep in touch... and definitely will see you again someday... so never say Goodbye ^ ^

Fire Lighters

We start photo shooting session from 8.30 am until 8.30 pm. There were some people involved in this team. Desmond the main and brilliant photographer, assistants photographer me, Sen Ming and Maggie, Daphne who did the 4 different sets of fabulous make up for all the beautiful models, Lydia Lau, Josephine, Diana, Adeline. I'm so grateful being around with people who lives out their passion. Have you ever noticed the difference passion makes? People with passion enjoy the climb as much as they enjoy reaching the summit. It creates a fire that never goes out. It was a long day, but if you love what you do, being around people with passion, you'll never work another day in your life. Thank you Desmond, I learned a lot from you, you're such an excellence, fun and hilarious photographer, your passion is a fire lighter to everybody. I'm so glad to be part of the team.

Sweet Wedding

A sweet wedding on 18 January 2009 at Singapore Art Museum. The wedding is simple, yet so meaningful. And the love story of Kok Siang & Phoebe, really touching. Love is like a friendship caught on fire. In the beginning a flame, very pretty, often hot and fierce, but still only light and flickering. As love grows older, our hearts mature. And our love becomes as coals, Deep-burning and unquenchable.

www.dzignforyou.com Is Under Construction

www.yulimaria.com

"My ability grows to the level of my dream"... this value lived inside of Yuli Maria strongly and unshakable. Whenever we spend time together, that word "dream" has been always sparks with fire in our conversation. Not with anybody I could have this kind of conversation. Yuli is one of my inspiration to not live merely for exist, but living out our dreams. Ordinary people grow great by dreams. T.E. Lawrence said, "All men dream but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that is was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible."
Dear Yuli, I've witnessed one by one of your dream come true, and today... Congratulations!!! On 20th January 2009, 2.13 pm : www.YULIMARIA.com HAS BORN. Thank you for sharing your dreams, vision and involve my design and photography to be part of your history in the making. I am truly honored, amazed to see your passion when you create the art of the food.

New Relationship Through A Language Of Camera

It is amazing how a camera could speak languages, give birth to a new relationship. I met this little girl named Caleigh yesterday in a friend's wedding. We were both stranger to one and another. But when I started to shoot around, I looked at this flower girl and took some candid photos of her emotion.

However she knew and realized that I was taking her picture. Miraculously she communicate back to me and my camera. Though I was in a few meters away from her, but she often looked at me, smile, pose, even dancing ... walking step by step closer ... closer ... and closer to where I was sitting holding my camera, with my friend beside me. These pictures shows her communication of being secure and confidently accepting my interest toward her pictures. So refreshing. There... our sweet relationship began =)

Homelessness

A person who is houseless does not have a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. This person may be sleeping on the streets, with friends or family, in cars or abandoned buildings or in shelters. But people who don't have shelter are houseless - not homeless! Homelessness has nothing to do with a lack of shelter. Homelessness is about a lack of connectedness. Belonging somewhere is about belonging with other people. Like belonging to a family or local community. Some people may have no house but they are not homeless. Some other may have more than one house but actually... inside of them, they might be homeless. So who is the poorest? The "Houseless" or the "Homeless"? It's the matter of the heart ... (Inspired by Rebeccas Community in helping houseless people finds hope)

Thankful

"God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thank you?" - William Arthur Ward

God gives each of us more blessings than we can count. Those blessings include life, family, freedom, friends, talents, and possessions, just for starters. Winners recognize the size and scope of God's blessings ... and real winners (like you) spend plenty of time thanking Him. =)

My Friendship With Rainbow

This Video was created last year hahaha... when I still edit it using Windows Movie Maker. The first video was taken using my camera pocket in Melbourne June 2007, and the photos were taken when I was in Ubin trip on November 2007. Rainbow is really special, God put a rainbow in the sky as a covenant and promise to remind His people that He would never destroy all mankind by water again. The rainbow is also a symbol of God’s faithfulness and mercy. (Genesis 8:13-17)

And when I see this video again ... I'm so in tears reminded by my journey with His rainbow. 2007 was the toughest year for me, I thought I couldn't even make it and have courage to move on. I gave up. But His rainbow always shows up, again, again and again. When I look at my life right now after this one year ... I still love God, love His church, serve Him, I could step out do business in this country as foreigner, I could have video and photo camera equipment even though through installment and paid the price by working hard. Debt free, paid rental fee, installment and all the bills monthly regularly. My mum healed from cancer, ... All of this is because God never never never give up on me. If I look at myself, this Lydia is really not perfect at all ... but now I understand why bible says, "when I am weak, I'm strong, when I'm poor, I'm rich" ... is because Jesus was never give up to died for me on the cross, even now He is still never give up praying for me every single moment. After all this years .. God is truly faithful and full of mercy, and He is God of His word. Thank you... Rainbow, for never give up on me.

New Year's Journey

In one night, so many things going on. In one year, some things may happen according to my way, but some things were not. Some brought happiness, some brought sadness and dissapointment. Regardless of any circumstances and how things may appear right now, cultivating a spirit of gratefulness is wonderful to embrace this New Year. Grateful attitudes never develop automatically. Need to cultivate them and train them much like programming a computer. Life is like a garden, we will grow what we cultivate. Gratefulness will come when you cultivate it in the soil of your life. And in 2008 I'm so thankful for my camera and my blog, gave me a place to cultivate a spirit of gratefulness, gives me a new perspective of life, and courage to embrace 2009 with a new hope, a new heart, a new beginning. Happy New Year ... May 2009 be the best year for all of you =)