Tag: sabahphotography

where to? home

From KK to Sepanggar, Ranau or Sipitang, you can travel by bus, taxi, grab or even foot if you’re crazy. From KK to KL it’s a bit more than 2 hours via flight. That’s why home feels so far. Home to me is somewhere that is accessible. Somewhere where you can be yourself and do things you want. I spent a long time doubting my every step. Being at home for close to two years gave me room to figure out my next move. That’s why home here is so special to me. I’m still uncertain about where home actually is. I use the phrase so casually: “Hey let’s go home,” referring to the hotel we’re staying at for a week in Taiwan. “This feels like home,” being at the beach resort that I really do consider a second home in Sabah even though I’ve only been there twice. Writing this makes me realise that home is where my family is. In Taiwan, I spent a wonderful week in an air bnb with Tata and Patti. At the resort, we spent our Christmas away from family. Kl is home because family is there. Ipoh too. Often my inner battle is between Sabah and KL. I refer to our trips to Kl as “going home,” but when in KL I know Sabah is home too.

I hope you have a great holiday season where your home is.

dec.

This was taken during my birthday trip during the end of October. It seems like such a short while ago. Right after this trip, church reopened, school -in-person began again and life seemed to resume as normal. I got caught up in the busy-ness of it all. Here we stand at the last month of 2021. Spotify wrapped is released, Christmas trees are put up, end year examinations begin and flight tickets to home are bought. Yet, it’s too soon for me to begin to re-evaluate my 2021 and plan my 2022 resolutions.

5 weeks left. Here’s to making the most of it.

3 years

Whoa! Just as I planned to update today, I received a notification that today marks my third year anniversary on WordPress! It’s been quite a journey. Blogging for me began as a trend. My two close friends started posting and that inspired me to have a voice as well! However, at age 13 I didn’t have much to say as I was still figuring myself out. My first two blogs were named after milkshakes and scents and had nothing to do with either of those things. I wrote about the most random of things from travel tips to new recipes.

Now as I look back, I’m so grateful to see physical evidence of how much I’ve grown. I started this when I was just entering the teenage phase and here I stand nearly at adulthood. I can definitely say that I’ve found myself.

Photography for me began on a whim. I joined my school’s Editorial Board because I liked to write and found myself taking an interest in photography. It started when I touched a camera for the first time, my dad’s Nikon D350, to take photos on Sport’s Day when there was a shortage of photographers. Even now, I’m one of the very few photographers n school. 13 year old me would have never imagined that I would become president of the Photography Club (newly formed this year!) in school.

To future me, at 17 I see how far I’ve come from 13. I know you’ll see me and feel the same. Life moves pretty fast so don’t forget to take a step back and take a pic to remember.

blue seas blue sky

Another weekend getaway. This time to my favourite place on the coast. Everything seems brighter under the sun. Colours, feelings. The slight price of added melanin is worth it to spend a few hours bobbing in the ocean.

As someone who doesn’t like in their hometown, it’s places like these that make living away from family okay. I feel so grateful that I’ve gotten to experience so much even though I’m as young as I am. I read once that God made places like this to give us a glimpse of paradise on earth. I’m sure paradise above would be so much greater.

it’s in the details

Took this quick snap during a morning walk last week. I went away for my birthday weekend to Kundasang. The cooling atmosphere was refreshing after a whole week of heat in KK city.

With some fine tuning via lightroom, here’s the outcome of this photo.

the people around us

Apparently not many people bring their DSLRs to the vaccination centre. I got lots of smiles and everyone was super friendly. After going so long without socialisation, I was in heaven.

I find that my camera is a great conversation starter. People point and ask me to take their photos as if it’s a natural instinct when a camera is around. I really expected people to shy away but right now we can hide behind a mask and ‘smile’ for a couple shots.