Merry Christmas with a fish

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY!

I didn't make cards for Christmas this year. Very sad but I don't feel like making one but this is my 10 minutes christmas card! :)

No we are not celebrating Christmas this year. We don't have a christmas tree up. We don't decorate our house with christmas sparkle. We don't have presents even for my little brother. We don't have the whole family together. We don't have Christmas spirit neither did we have a happy talk.

I'm sorry for all this thing that unfortunately will upset you on this very Christmas day. But don't worry. I've lighten a candle and sit at the top of our house in the silence of the night. Everyone has gone to the centre of the city, to churches and family's house to celebrate Christmas. My house out was quiet and peaceful.

Christmas is about giving and I'm giving my heart to those who needed. I've made 10 minutes card on the last day of school to say "Merry Christmas" I've spend time painting boxes to these great kids in Cambodia. I wish I could do more. I don't wish for a christmas present I wish for a miracle (... sorry can't tell you) I'm happy for all that I've been given. All the love, the care and the heart of all the people who have given me so much strength in mylife and it's time to thank you all for being there, for helping me, for cheering me up and for not giving up on me.

Nuff said with all that talk...

HAVE YOURSELF A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Paint on my leg

A drop of paint of my legs turned into this. I love the feeling of paint on my skin. It's so different and fun to be painted on. You completely changed into a super duper colourful person and awesomely excited. It's great fun!

It's the fourth day of holiday. I'm enjoying it!

I have time and energy to go swimming (yeshhh!) I read a book.

I clean my room.

I created a creative corner.

I cook.

I watch series.

I have Art on my table.

I drink from my fishy cup.

I painted my leg.

I drink tea.

I sleep in.

I draw.

I listen to music.

I'm not doing h/w.

I'm not doing assignment.

I'm not at school.

I'm not waking up early.

I'm not thinking about anything.

hahah ooooh THE JOY OF HOLIDAY!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Creative corner

Hello there!

First day of holiday, I woke up late like I want, had a shower, read a book, ate a bread roll and clean up. Confession: I'm surprised by just how many stuff I threw away; 3 bags! I'm a lazy person who chuck everything into my room and don't tidy up. But when I'm not in my room then I am very tidy. I guess cause when I know nobody is watching, I live in a rat place. haha

Anyway, my room is tidy now. Everything has a place and I created myself a little Art & Craft corner. I was going to wait until tomorrow morning to take a photo of it because the little table under my big one when pulls out will face to the open window. I found the cute table cloth downstair in a pile of old one that we don't use anymore. The patterns are so cute and very artsy so I thought I would use it to cover scratches and cut under. It has an official name now, not like before when I just use it - Art & Craft corner.

If you find yourself bored this holiday - clean up your room and make yourself a little room for Art!

I dreamed a dream...

I just thought I share some thoughts of my own here.

It's December and Christmas is coming. But, I have no Christmas' spirit this year. I put on my little calendar book with "Christmas Card List" last wednesday. I haven't started yet and have no plan on starting this year.

My plan failed... I went Christmas shopping for Christmas presents to some kids in Cambodia. I had three boxes and I am going to put presents in for them. I've met the kids, played and had a wonderful wonderful time with them. It was the winter dance last night. Everyone seems to have fun, and my friends were asking me why didn't I go. I said - It's a waste of money! I saved that $20 to buy these presents for the little ones. I just think there has been to much for me and not much for them. I had $20. I can do something with it that would make the cuties happy and warm my heart up a little.So I went out this afternoon with Joshy and Eunice and we got baby stuff, soaps and toothbrushes. The box above is to a 4 years old girl - Ly Heang who is a little cambodian friend of mine.

I'm nervous sending these boxes to the kids. All I have for them is a little love that they need, a little thing that I can give and a box that I've painted. Gosh I miss them!

It took my quite some time to pain this box cover. It actually has two layers or more. I painted the box planning to spread the colour and mixed them with next one so it looks streamy. And I failed completely. Came home today, I tried to fix it by re painting the yellow part to red and then cover the blue and purple with white this time. The dress original was white but somehow it got mixed up with the purple and started looking very crappy so I repainted it with blue. The leaves idea flew out of no where when I stuck the butterfly on it. The hair was yellow stream to red but now it is black again because I like it!

COOKIES OBSESSION

ooooooOOOOOOH!

Miss me?

I'm back writing a post including clay making and cam whoring!

You see that weird looking tribe-e alligator/dinosaur/monster?

It's made by meeeee! I once again find myself obsessively playing with clay. It's so FUN!!! Like seriously! If you seriously have never play with clay.... =.='' GO BUY EM! THEY ARE ONLY 10,000VND a box (small selection of course xD)

Anyway, it's Glenn W. Christmas present along with the Cookie that Eunice made and the Shit man we made together. Well I made the shit, she did the head xD

Down here, is a photo taken and edited by Ms Eunice Yin :D of me and Cindy trying to climb the wall xD

Cheers!

P/S: I need to be back on my assignment that I have no brain to do...

I have to re do it how boring!

BUGS BUGS BUGS

Woa, such a long time with no post!

Today featuring BUGS BUGS BUGS photography course with Andrew.

I don't particular like bugs by the way, but they're part of nature :) Photos today taken using macro on a normal camera if you're wondering. It's quite good for a first timer using macro.

My reason for not writing the past weeks is because I was getting my examination results back. Some good some bad... and I was busy in Hanoi with family things. There is something else that I missed out on the Saturday I was in Hanoi. Megan is part of the International Choir of Ho Chi Minh city and they performed a Christmas Classic and Carols. I felt very bad not coming because I said to her I would but then realising that I had to catch a flight to Hanoi right away. I missed out on her performance the second time.

Morenos are back

Exam week... errrm... Horrible for me but I am so glad to see the Morenos back!

Incase, you didn't know, Manuel and Julie= were my teachers when AIS SAIGON first commence. And that was 4 years ago. The thing about teachers for me is that I always appreciate and love them a lot after they stop teaching me ... haha Okay! Let's move on. I haven't told you about Rachel and Carlos yet. OOHHH they are bloody CUTE! When Morenos left, Rachel was a little one years old girl, and Carlos is still in his mother's womb. Rachel is, well I supposed she is 4 now. She has grown bigger and taller of course and soooo adorable.

I don't think Rachel remembered me but we had a lot of fun chasing around. (although she banged her head twice =='') She is such a cheeky one. I would absolutely steal her if she says yes haha It's the first time I met Carlos apart from looking at his photos. No word! Sooo cute haha but he only laughed at my funny face today and not running to his mum like yesterday... It's so nice to see my old teachers again, to talk to them, and to know how they're doing.

I MISS YOU RACHEL! :( YUP NEVER STOP CHASING ME HAHA XD)

=> Rachel made my week so much better. BIG HUGS!

Tired.

It's Teacher's day today!

I've been working on 12 cards this pass week. Most of them are done last sunday. Tireless after 12 hours sitting and drawing.

I wasn't very happy during the week. Always, I'm happy in the morning or at least relax and fresh but it's get harder in the afternoon. I guess I'm under a lot stress with different things. It's exam next week. 5 hours of sleep everynight. I don't feel like eating much either.

Today, giving the cards to teachers, it makes me feel better to see their smile and brighten up someone mood.

It's great to work on the Fish project again. I haven't been working on it for such a long time. Sometimes we do need a little time off to get that excitement going with our art. Get that creative juice going!

Thank you to all!

For the Week

My Fish Mug

I've been very busy this week doing extra homework from the Friday that I was in Phnom Penh, plus writings that people have been asking me to do, even more I got a detention for that. Should I celebrate? My first DETENTION! hahaha... I don't think my teacher would believe me if I say I stayed up until 1.00 trying to do all the missing work that I have to do (and I actually did) I haven't had a break since I got back. Always stayed up till 1.00 am. Tireless going to school, and the only thing I was looking forward to every morning is to water the garden, adjusting and taking care of them.

It is apparently the best thing to do in the morning. Relax and cheer myself up! I always walk on the grass to my locker, stop and walk around the garden. I take Photography instead of eco-garden on tuesday afternoon (i want to do both) I know it's weird but I hate to squash myself into a bunch of people so I prefer as little people as possible. Don't get me wrong, it's good that we have a lot of people interested in the garden and everyone at eco garden has been doing a good job, though the soil need some compost, new nutrition. Some of the plant are dying which is very sad... :(

(I took better photo than these of the garden but I don't have em right now)

So many things are upsetting me at the moment, including myself...

Nicole posted my paintings on her blog along with sweet words about me and my blog. I'm so happy to hear from her and yes thanks to the internet, I've found Nicole's blog. We started to exchange thought about art and how hard it is to squeeze your time into creating it.

View the post here!

A drawing of us three (Tran Fish, Má Phuong and me) on the first day of our trip

and word of the day is "AWESOME". No one can say the word quite like me, and I've been announced as Awesome Ada!

Enough for today! I have to get back with my homework and prepare to face mum with a detention form... See ya!

Back from Cambodia

Me being silly on the bus.

One of the three mugs Daniel designed with a permanent pen. Ada = Amazing Dysfunctional Awesome! xDD my new nick name

My room buddy-old good friend- Fishy. We both got a fish mug together and a bell "ring ring" bracelet :D

The kids (more coming)

“Look into it, and expect the unexpected.”

These were my words before I sat on the bus and set off to Cambodia. What can I say? Was it one experience to remember? I was amazed with just how much have changed from what was in my memory. Ask me how was Cambodia? And I would say “Awesome!”. It was one unexpected and a surprisingly amazing experience for me.

The kids with broadly bright smile were the best and bestest part of the trip. I’ve got all these girls giving me lots and lots of hugs and kisses, and all the boys teaching me this cool hand shake and heaps of “Hi-5”. They are just the happiest kids on earth!

I was happy to hear from the teachers, who were cambodians and were so inspiring as for how long and how much they love teaching the kids.

At Steung Mencheay, I made friends with these group of beautiful smiles and confident kids who would come up and grabbed my arms immediately as I step my feet into the small primary school. HELLO! They waved, they asked questions in Enlish, they smile and they were absolutely gorgeous, lovable and delightful to see. “What’s your name?”, “How are you?”, “How old are you?” - Srey Leak is my best friend here. She taught me games, and as for more she taught me words in Khmer (even though I can barely remember anything) We had fun playing games, and sharing a little of our culture through different games we played and a little knowledge of language.

The Kais village Orphanage, where I had way too much fun with cute babies and these four adorable girls. The babies were perhaps for most of us the greatest experience. But for me, after putting two cuties to sleep, running wild with four little adorably cheeky girls was the best thing to do. They inspired my heart so much, we played “Duck, Duck, Goose” and even a game that I made up. The little ones enjoyed swinging in my hand as much as dancing with me in the wind and speaking ridiculously in some language we don’t even know. The grass was green, the ground was comfy and the wind blew our mind off just so we had too much fun.

I couldn’t say goodbye to all these adorable, wonderful kids. I ended up with saying “Bye bye” and “See you again” so many times I can't count. Many hugs, many kisses, many “high-five”, and many byes. Srey Leak asked me “When do you come back?” and I shed tears trying desparately to find a way of answering that very question. I left with my heart missing them.

The food here were … well AWESOME! And not just that, the restaurants and café are always relaxing, inspiring and beautiful. There is somehow always something the customer can do. I bought many books in a café next to our hotel. I went in and look at many inspiring art gallery café. It was always a new experience to go in a restaurant, to look at their setting, their presentations, their food and their art. I love that we get to choose our restaurant for lunch to taste different food along with an amazing vegan restaurant. I also love the performance of monkeys dance with it uniqueness and entertainment. Tiny Toones performance was great to watch and was another great time for the kids at PIO. Art is expected as well as respected and preserved.

I would say Cambodians are religious, and it is one good thing that they are. The country is based on NGOs and very much tourists. Religions is something that should be kept for it gives faith into the people. Morning of the third day was as much horrible and sad as it is a great place to learn why and how Cambodians live and become who they are today. I’ve seen things like this, in Vietnam like Con Dao island prisons and more, but still the cruelty and babaric of Pol Pot went deep into my thought. I made a stop, and in slience I prayed. Look at the faces, look at the skulls, and what’s left of it. You ought to be feeling something. Is it sad or horrible?

We left with a different experience in everyone of us. The killing field was massive. I’m shocked of what’s in front of my eyes, one sleepless night.

My experience of Cambodia was inspiring, touching and aboslutely awesome! I will sure come the next time, to see the faces and smiles of beautiful kids (I miss them so much right now!) to enjoy the amazing taste of food, to spend great time with friends – a small but hilariously wonderful group and to getaway from school.

I didn’t have any issue with the smell or conditions the kids are eperiencing. It is probably not hygienic for us but to be realistic, there are worst places than this that I, myself have been to. I was just happy to see their smiling faces. I always love spending time with orphans for many reasons because they deserve more love from us than anyone else. They need people to appreciate them, so that they feel loved and show them the wonders of life. Being an orphan is hard and lonely enough. I love them because they always are happy, always with a smile and always sweet and touching. The bigger kids don’t get many chance to be adopted. They aren’t just the only one who learnt something new, they opened my eyes to many more things than I could’ve ever imagine. I just really wish we have more time in this stunning country! I want to see more, I want to spend more time with these kids and I want to go further to orphanage that don’t get much visitors, (might be far but it’s worthed to be reward the most amazing time with kids. I also want to learn more, about the people and to experience more of this gorgous country.

P/S: I don't know what to say so I'm putting my 500 words reflections on :) Cheers! (more than 500 words xD)

I don't have all the photos yet but I'll put more up soon !!!

Spectacular!

All packed and ready to go!

Spectacular!

I'm not even in Phnom Penh yet and I am already this happy. The wind is flickering my hair a little but it's all that my heart is happy.

I have often been ask why I get involved into so many activities and I guess I just feel happy doing something good. I feel the need to do these things. It makes me happy and it keeps me happy, a warm fuzzy feeling when you know you've done something good and that life is just beautiful.

I like to see the smile on someone face, the sound of laughter. And it is even more amazing when you are the one who make that happen! I know for each of us, the experience is distinctively different, but it warm up your heart and fill it to the top with happiness, right?

Don't you just love it?

If you ask me, I enjoy the quiet and meaningful of life.

See you in four days!

--L O V E F O R L I F E --

They sing, they dance.

They laugh, they smile.

Life to them is an amazing adventure!

Oh just how much I love them so!

L O V E

Finding peace for myself

I was finding some peace for myself and what I get is ever greater than that!

What can I say? I had such a beautiful day! I woke up early in the morning and said to myself: "Forget the bad week and have fun!"

And I did.

After three hours traveling from school to the orphanage that AIS has been supporting, I was rewarded with great time just playing and cuddling and feeding cute little babies. Taking photographs, play and dance and talk to kids. I took over 400 photos of all these kids who was hugging me, holding my hand, sing with me, play with me, talk to me, smile at me, laugh with me, even make me blow my guts off many many balloons, and are just adorable to me. I enjoyed and have just so much fun this time for many time I've been here and I can't help but say thank you to these adorable cuties, for making my day the best! I feel so much better after being terribly sick and whatever I've done (that was horrible to people) while being one sickie.

(Sorry I know I'm just horrible)

I can't wait to see them again!

We hit the road and I did this drawing of this little girl who loves dancing so much!

They inspired me!

Totally blob-ing

Yuppi I know this is what I've been saying ever since I STARTED blogging again, but seriously isn't fishes fun to draw? (and easier to amuse yourself?) Right! I'm that weird girl with "fishy" problem and here is ANOTHER fishy drawing.... (sorry sorry xDD Bare with me!)

No post because of busy busy school and I've been running down on a fever the past 4 days *terrible* I'm getting better and thought I should share something for the week here.

Going to Cambodia next week!

...........

P/s: is there such thing as Blob-ing? Eunice thinks it reminds her of me hahha... Oh I have to go to school now xD

HAPPY BIRTHDAY VIDEO! YAY

A little Eco-friendly wrapping present for one of my bestest friend in the whole world - It's Eunice's birthday today! Yay! Though I feel sorry for my neglected brain to not have any proper wrapping paper and so I've managed to try and wrap it with paper and some little decoration - ropes and leaves.

Our alien photo of Eunice's birthday bash at MOF!

She didn't want to make such a big deal out of it :D

!HAPPY 16th BIRTHDAY!

May I present you to the lifeless video around!

HAVE A BLAST ;D

Traditional Arts

Going to Ben Thanh market with my mum like usual, I bought this Matryoshka Doll today! I'm loving it! I still remember my first Matryoshka when I was little and I always play with it. Mum gave me a barbie doll and I pulled its head out in one minute (haha I know I'm violent?) But with this Babushka (what I called it), it never was damaged and I've always been amazed with it :) Just one sad thing, I don't know how we lost it...

Babushka is Russian nesting doll if you're wondering.

A little fun video about my new Babushka.

This Babushka is Vietnam made so it's not the same as I remember.

Anyway, along with this Babushka, I bought some Vietnam hand-painted traditional mask.

Isn't it amazing?

Life is wonderful when Art is preserved and kept for everyone to enjoy.

These masks have a tradition, a tell and so I hope you enjoy my post today!

Today was a beautiful day for me. We went out with Ghaidaa family. They are great and also, it was the first time I've ever been into the Muslim mosque. Quite an extraordinary day to be in the mosque and meet muslims... hmm thinking I should be doing my h/w now right?