Valentine's card for your loved ones? Individually designed handmade cards...RM5-RM10..
Interested?? call 012-6411010

Location : Bukit Laggong
Date : 26 December - 27 December 2005

February is just a month away...
Have we thought of a Valentine gift that will surely bring a smile on our sweetheart's face, yet?

Hmm..how about roses?

They say..
"Red roses are for love and passion
White roses are for true love and purity of the mind
Yellow roses are for friendship
Pink roses mean friendship or sweetheart
Black roses mean farewell"

A bouquet of red roses is among the most traditional gift given on Valentine's day. Red roses proclaim "I love you"..but in other words, aren't we also saying, 'I am a traditional kind of guy"?

Well, I think being in love does not mean that we should be an extravagant spender overnight. Love is beautiful when it is true and simple. Love just needs a small message from the depth of our heart..These cards are made for that special day, but then again, we can always celebrate our love on any other day..

-I love card making and I also do customized gift boxes. Interested? hehe..

Pulau Batam is one of the largest 3,000 islands in the Riau Archipelago and is closest to Singapore, which is only 20 kms away, just one and a half hour ferry-trip south of Johor. The declaration of Batam free trade zone in 1989 has turned the island into a popular tourist gateway. Even if Batam is multi-ethnic, it is still the Malayan culture and Islam which forms the root of the local culture. I have the opportunity to experience a Riau Malayan wedding during my visit to Batam.

We traveled by car from KL to JB on early Friday morning and reached Stulang Laut jetty about 7.00am. The first ferry departs at 7.40am daily and we had to rush to the boarding check-in point. We reached Batam one and a half hours later and were greeted by the groom's uncle, Bapak Sulaiman HAR. The groom, Iqbal and the bride, Artita Octavia were waiting for our arrival at their home in Tiban. The reception was held at the groom's home on Saturday. The groom's father Bapak Shuib, is a very well-known man among locals in Batam. He is the Head at the local Education Ministry. His guests includes: from the poor yet helpful and soft spoken kampong folks; to the rich yet humble VIPs of Batam. To name a few, the Chief Police of Batam, and Wali Kota (the City Mayor) are among the VIP guests.

Last Friday was a very busy day for the entire family and friends at Tiban. They were busy preparing food for the wedding reception. "Rewang" is a term we are familiar with among Malays in Malaysia. Malays in Riau also calls it "Rewang", and they wear baju kurung or baju melayu during formal events.

Although the main theme for the "Pelamin" was red and gold but it was also decorated in an elaborate colours of green and yellow. Unlike our local Malay weddings, the bride and groom will sit at the pelamin and both their parents will also be seated at both sides of the pelamin. The newly-weds and their parents will be flanked by the blessings and greetings from the guests.


In the meantime, traditional dances were performed. While all the guests were enjoying the party and the lunch and diner offered, the sound of music echoed through. They also invited guests to sing at the stage, and Indonesians are good singers, they sing very well! I was surprised to see makciks and pakciks sing..they have very good voices. Most of them sang Keroncong and Melayu Asli and the most famous dangdut, some even sang English songs..in Indonesia English language is very "unfamiliar" for the locals especially among the seniors..but as Roslan or the mat salleh guy in Malysian idol would say...their dictations and pronunciations were excellent!

The food was great too. It was a buffet for us! I am a "hantu" for prawns and almost every dish has prawns in it...and by the end of the day I was so full until I can't stand up straight!

The wedding reception ended at midnight. We had a great and colourful experience throughout the day.
Before we left Batam we had the opportunity to see the famous Balerang bridge. It connects Batam Island and Galang Island. Unfortunately I can't take a clear picture of the bridge as it was raining.

We headed home after a shopping spree in Nagoya and Batam Centre. I walked away from the malls with more loot than I can sensibly took home, grinning from ear to ear.

The journey home was a bit longer than before because the weather was not as good as we expected. The sea was a bit "rough" so it was a "bumpy" boat trip home.

To view more photos, pls refer to ritaharris.fotopages.com

For the past 2 two months I have been to Penang, Trengganu, Johor, Alor Setar and Indonesia..These are a few photos taken during the journey.

Date : 9 June 2005 - 10 June 2005
Location : Sungai Tua

...We had sooo much Funnnn!!!!!

These are some of the photos and clips from the wedding montage i prepared. It took me 3 days to complete the whole thing..
Song tracks are from :
1. Gamelan Dance Music (song title:Timang Burung)
2. Sheila Majid (song title: Cinta Kita)
3. Alam (song title: Baju Putih Pengantin)
Total images/photos: 250
Total time :12 minutes

Location: Petronas Gas Station, Gambang Arah Barat RnR
Time: 1.20am, 30 May 2005

...moths or butterflies?
Scientifically, butterflies and moths belong to the family of Lepidoptera, which is derived from the Greek words lepis (scale) and pteron (wing). Lepidoptetae are divided into butterflies and moths.
To distinguish the former from the latter is that butterflies usually fly during the day while moths are nocturnal. Another general way to indentify is the way they rest : Moths rest with their wings opened in a horizontal position, while butterflies fold both wings together in a closed, upright position.

Well..they are definately moths!

bottle painting....my work of art!!!...heheh.

I am selling..Interested?