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Make time for parents to avoid empty nest syndrome

By Compassion
empty nest syndrome (cartoon by John McPherson)

empty nest syndrome (cartoon by John McPherson)

KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Shahrizat Abdul Jalil today urged children to make more time for their parents to avoid them from suffering the Empty Nest syndrome.

The Women, Family and Community Development Minister said children should stop giving parents excuses such as a busy schedule as it may cause them sadness, a sense of loss and loneliness.

She said mothers and fathers may grapple with the syndrome following sadness and depression after their children leave home to start a new life in studies, work or marriage.

According to Shahrizat, a study by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) found that 41 per cent of parents aged above 60 suffered from loneliness.

Speaking to reporters after launching the “Kasihnya Ibu” exhibition in conjunction with the national-level Mother’s Day celebrations at the National Art Gallery, near here, she said the percentage is expected to rise should nothing be done to rectify the situation.

“Don’t use busy schedules as a reason, it is a child’s responsibility to care for and protect their aged parents,” she said.

In line with the Mother’s Day theme of “Sentiasa Ada” (Always There), she said although technology helps to keep family members connected it cannot replace a person”s actual presence.

Also present at the exhibition was the Prime Minister’s mother, Tun Rahah Mohd Noah, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Senator Heng Seai Kie and National Art Gallery director-general, Datuk Mohd Yusof Ahmad.

In conjunction with Mother’s Day, the ministry is also providing free health screenings to mothers at 56 LPPKN Nursejahtera clinics until May 15.

[source: http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Maketimeforparentstoavoidemptynestsyndrome_saysShahrizat/Article/#ixzz1M1ekqreY]

不一样的鸡场街

By Beautiful Melaka, Photography
鸡场街的倒影

鸡场街的倒影

上个星期难得有空,便和Dylan到闻名的鸡场街(也叫文化街)街拍。我们已经在鸡场街街拍摄了几次,而这次又到鸡场街是给自己的挑战。一直寻找着完美,几乎忘了那不完美的存在、那不一样的感觉。

常常欣赏网上和朋友们的鸡场街照片,觉得都是很复古,很优美的马六甲老街。我和朋友们一起也拍摄过的几条街,豆腐街、打铁街、青云亭街、马车街、海山街等等,也一样追求完美的照片:大热天的蓝天白云、复古混合殖民式的建筑物、还有那满街好奇的游客。

这次和Dylan出来街拍,我们希望能随性而不追求这完美的照片。不必在乎角度、曝光,只要感觉对了就按下快门。

拿了妹妹的Panasonic傻瓜相机,我们便出发了!轻轻松松的走向那鸡场街,寻找不起眼的事物、不一样的感觉:

Two little friends… united by courage

By Compassion
Here's how to do it: Ellie (right) shows off her new prosthetic leg to Charlotte, who hopes to get her first pair in a few months

Here's how to do it: Ellie (right) shows off her new prosthetic leg to Charlotte, who hopes to get her first pair in a few months

Smiling together, the two pretty blonde girls could easily be mistaken as sisters, not new friends with a unique bond.

The lives of Ellie Challis and Charlotte Nott have taken almost identical paths. Both started life as healthy babies — until they contracted meningitis and had to have all of their limbs amputated.

The incredible survival story of Ellie, now seven, gripped the nation after she fell ill in 2005 at just 16 months old. And in December, three-year-old Charlotte narrowly survived the illness, but at the cost of her arms and legs.

‘Charlotte put her stumps up against Ellie’s to say hello,’ said  her mother Jenny Daniels, 29,  yesterday. ‘She was so happy to  see someone else with stumps just like hers.

‘Ellie was great — she showed Charlotte that she could get around easily with or without prosthetic legs and Charlotte hobbled after her. It was very special.’

Hello, pet: Seven-year-old Ellie, who contracted meningitis in 2005, makes friends with the lambs during a day at a farm

Hello, pet: Seven-year-old Ellie, who contracted meningitis in 2005, makes friends with the lambs during a day at a farm

Ellie’s parents Lisa, 37, and Paul, 47, have helped her learn to walk on prosthetics, start school and ride a bike. ‘I know exactly what Jenny is going through,’ said Mrs Challis.

‘I remember thinking that Ellie would never have a normal life. But it’s great that we’ve been able to show Charlotte and her family that there’s very little Ellie can’t do.’

Charlotte’s parents – Jenny, an administrator for a book publisher, and air conditioning repairman Alex Nott, also 29 – are just starting to come to terms with what has happened to their daughter.

You have a go: Little Ellie is all smiles as she shows a curious Charlotte how to operate the wheelchair

You have a go: Little Ellie is all smiles as she shows a curious Charlotte how to operate the wheelchair

‘When Charlotte caught meningitis, my world fell apart. I was terrified about what the future held for her,’ said Miss Daniels.

‘So to see Ellie running around was so special to me – it has given me hope for Charlotte’s future.’
Ellie became the youngest person ever fitted with £10,000 carbon ‘flex-foot’ legs two years ago.

Ellie also let Charlotte have a go on her wheelchair – it is too tiring for her to use her prosthetic legs all the time. She controls it with the stumps of her arms.

I'll race you: Charlotte (left) and Ellie giggle together as they get behind the wheels of toy cars

I'll race you: Charlotte (left) and Ellie giggle together as they get behind the wheels of toy cars

Charlotte will have to wait until she is five before the NHS can provide her with a wheelchair.

She hopes to get her first pair of prosthetic limbs in the next few months once her wounds heal.

‘I still say thank you every day that Charlotte is still here with us,’ said Miss Daniels.

‘Watching her playing with Ellie was a miracle.’

[source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1383674/Two-little-friends–united-courage-Amputee-victims-forge-firm-friendship-contracting-meningitis.html]

Feel for Jonker Street

By Beautiful Melaka, Photography
moody evening of Jonker Street

moody evening of Jonker Street

Looking back of old photos sometimes gives us some clue of our development in photography. And early this week, I flashed back the old albums in juesatta and realised that the style of my photography has changed throughout the years. Something I’ve gained and that something is also missing.

I wanted to looking for something that missing…

Two days ago Dylan and I decided to do street photography again. Besides favoring the nostalgic street, we chose Jonker Street again where we did street photography a few times, so that we could know how far we could go when shooting at the same location.

That afternoon when we arrived, I told Dylan, “Let’s forget about what we’ve learnt of photography: composition, exposure, and quality. Put those lesson 101 aside and shoot only what we feel like shooting.”

And Dylan said to me, “Right! Rules are made to be broken.”

Like a wise person once said: if you intend to break a rule you should always learn it first to make sure you’re breaking of it is all the more effective! Then we’d decided to give a go.

Without relying on the decent performance DSLR camera I have, I grabbed my sister’s Panasonic compact camera and we were off searching for the ‘feel’ of street.

Thanks to Dylan for the company and we had so much fun learning together. May all beings be happy.

Outcome of the shooting session:

Let’s go Cambodia – Ta Prohm Temple

By My journey, Photography
trees growing on Ta Prohm Temple

trees growing on Ta Prohm Temple

First thing we did after arriving in Siem Reap and had our breakfast in town was to go to Ta Prohm Temple, which known for the trees growing on it, and that Tomb Raider by Angelina Jolie was filmed at. We have to thank Miss Chong from our trip who made the arrangement to Ta Prohm Temple and Angkor Wat, which initially were not included in the tour. We are glad that we were able to make out there, as a trip to Cambodia without Angkor Wat would be disappointing.

visitors making their way through the jungle the the temple

visitors making their way through the jungle the the temple

It took about 30 minutes bus ride from town to Angkor. Before we entered the area, we stopped at the ticket booth. Each of us had to have our individual photo taken and printed on the pass. This procedure is to avoid people from sharing or transferring their passes.

The passes we purchased got us access to all of the Angkor temples and they were not exactly cheap, however they were worth it. After gotten our passes, we proceeded to first destination, Ta Prohm Temple.

A brief history of Ta Prohm Temple from the web,

Ta Prohm is the modern name of a temple at Angkor, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia, built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara. Located approximately one kilometre east of Angkor Thom and on the southern edge of the East Baray, it was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university.

Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm has been left in much the same condition in which it was found: the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings have made it one of Angkor’s most popular temples with visitors.

The temple of Ta Prohm was used as a location in the film Tomb Raider. Although the film took visual liberties with other Angkorian temples, its scenes of Ta Prohm were quite faithful to the temple’s actual appearance, and made use of its eerie qualities.

Ta Prohm is the only temple that has not been restored, but left just as it was found. The courtyards, walls and roofs of Ta Prohm have been repaired to prevent further deterioration and the inner area has been unclogged of dense bush and jungle vegetation.

serene Buddha statue

serene Buddha statue

Our guide told us that we had only 45 minutes to visit Ta Prohm Temple because we had to visit Angkor Wat then Phnom Penh. We knew it was insufficient to explore the whole temple in that time frame, therefore we had to take a cook’s tour.

Bus stopped in front of Ta Prohm Temple with Buddha face tower as the gate entrance. That morning, the place was crowded with visitors.

When walking from the gate to the temple, we went into the jungle through a slippery muddy walkway after a rain. We saw some landmine victims’ music instruments performance and raised landmine awareness on our way. We took a few shots and quickly headed to the temple not far from the front.

Arrived at the front the temple, we were like wow, we were finally here at the Tomb Raider Temple, old and magical temple! The outlook of the whole temple was magnificent and we were wondering how people could build such a place centuries ago.

We entered the temple separately and each of us made our own exploration of the place.

As I walked inside, I saw more temple ruins and wall-carving, featuring stone reliefs of devatas (minor female deities), meditating monks or ascetics, and dvarapalas or temple guardians. However, parts of the structure had collapsed and some part of the ruins were close for repair work.

The temple is famous of overrun by very large and old trees. I saw tree roots that engulf the structures were very interesting to behold.

Soon as I was taking shots of the large tree, I noticed that visitors around were unfamiliar faces. I knew time was up and most friends had hopped back into the bus.

I made my way out of the temple unreluctantly and just before I left the temple, I met an old Khmer lady sitting in the ruins offering blessing and incense for burning. First thought came into my mind was to take her portrait shot. Having her consent, I took the first portrait of a Cambodian, which turned out to be one of my collection of Cambodian faces. I started to seek for unique faces from this trip.

old lady at Ta Prohm

old lady at Ta Prohm

I was the last to get into the bus yet was in time. We then departed to Angkor Wat.

45 minutes was just too short to tour Ta Prohm especially for people who want to explore and snap photos. Knowing that early morning is the best time to visit Ta Prohm: less visitors and dawn mystical atmosphere will intensify the experience, I just know that I have to be there again!

May all beings be happy. Sharing some shots which I took after the jump:

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