May 10, 2014

CAFE NORITER | TWO


Cafe Noriter is such a full-on house of quirks! I almost finished an entire roll of film snapping the cutesy stuff that I'm sharing the photos in three parts :)



This Korean playground in Taft, Manila reeks of teenage youthfulness. We took advantage of the emptiness of their two-storey seats where you can freely sit, or as how we did, sprawl on the floor (I know someone who did more than sprawl haha). I was delighted that the place had only about two small groups of students scattered around the back on a Saturday, so I was able to take photos much to my heart's content.





May 7, 2014

NEW LEAF BOOK CAFE | IN COLOR


Among the famous temples and ancient architecture, I also made sure that we get to visit at least one coffee shop in Siem Reap. I researched two, just in case there was still time, but we circled the Old Market Area twice and didn't find Sister Srey Cafe which supposedly was our first choice.

Doing my homework in researching before a trip pays off in times like this. *pats self on the back* We found the second coffee shop tucked in 75 meters east of Old Market: New Leaf Book Cafe. It's a restaurant and bookshop in one, and occasionally a space for events like social talks, workshops and movie nights. Book coffee shop with a purpose!


What a perfect way to start the morning of our last day in Siem Reap :) We ordered a usual breakfast platter with hash brown, mushroom, bacon and scrambled egg, but what really took my appetite to a roll was their noodle soup. Tasty and flavorful to the palate, warm and comforting to the stomach. I should also not forget to say that they have the friendliest and most polite staff! :)

And what would a great morning be without a cup of rich Cambodian coffee! Quiet moments like these are the ones that I sincerely enjoy and make sure to keep and relived for years to come. I hope my short yet blissful memory of Cambodia will never cease to haunt me. 





May 3, 2014

THE ETERNAL LIST


I am not particularly a list person. I think it's a thing only meant for the neat and orderly; two adjectives that I will never categorize myself in haha, so here goes a photo-list of the things I badly want to do now (and almost always, apparently).



1. Shoot


I always mentally plan to go out/somewhere every week just to shoot. But I never do. I have not gotten my rolls of film developed for almost two months now because a roll would seem to take me forever to finish. 



2. Read

Office work do not count. I want to have a satisfying leisure read, be buried into somebody else's piece of imagination and get my head out inspired and renewed.



3. Write

Obviously, if you don't read, you can't write. I am having such a HARD time to write these days, and more noticeably for the last year (something who writes in her day job should not say). I was never a good writer, but if I wanted to, I knew I could come up with something readable. Not now. It feels like something was switched off. I can't recognize the same familiarity anymore. It is painful every time I try. And with this, I came up with the theory: My sense of expression has been sliced off from writing and diverted to film photography.

(Ironically, this item has the most number of words in the entire list).



4. Go to a coffee shop

Preferably with a friend (more preferably with the bestfriend), and/or while doing #3. The cozier, the better. Let's pretend coffee won't cause my teeth to fall off.



5. Travel

I want to get out of here! Here being any of the following:
  • this town
  • this country
  • this lifetime :p
At this point, it doesn't matter if it is on a beach or a crowded city. Somewhere I can do items 1 to 4 altogether (but not simultaneously hehe).

May 1, 2014

GOODBYE, APRIL!


To turn 27. A year of film photography. Casual walks, dinner foodtrips, golden hours. Days passed by with me lugging around with my old cameras and film. I have always yearned for something to call mine. I'm assuming everyone does. And I'm guessing too that this is innate, something that runs through our veins -- to hold on to something and deem it ours. A natural act to survive.

I have found mine in film. It's a joy, my joy. Despite the inquisitive looks I get the moment I hold a camera up to my face, their usual doubts as to how something primitive is still surfacing the modern times, and the little jokes you get for using something vintage. Despite that. No amount of doubt can break my love for film :)

The film days are numbered, they say. And that's exactly why this is a great time to live and shoot with film!