The Centre for Asian Photographers: A one-stop spot for shutterbugs! |
- The Centre for Asian Photographers: A one-stop spot for shutterbugs!
- What drives the new Subaru Legacy 2.5i (VIDEO)
- Saying goodbye to the popiah uncle!
- What Zouk stands for and why it should stay
- Uruguay coach: Rodriguez just like Maradona
| The Centre for Asian Photographers: A one-stop spot for shutterbugs! Posted: 28 Jun 2014 06:00 PM PDT
What is more, consumers are leaning more towards taking photos on their phones to upload on Instagram rather than investing in a proper camera. Wong decided to set up the centre to promote photography and provide an avenue for enthusiasts to gather, learn, take photos, sell their art and tap on the resources that are available there. Less than a year old -- the centre opened last December -- it has become popular among students and retirees including the curious passer-by. The Centre for Asian Photographers is a gallery, library, studio, cafe, learning space as well as hang-out area for professionals and hobbyists alike. You do not need to be good in photography to enjoy the facilities there. The centre also provides classes and workshops and is also a space for photography organisations to have their events there.
"I also worked in Leica for one and a half years," says Wong. He wanted to explore the artistic side of photography which is something Leica is famous for. However, he decided to open the centre when he realised that in Asia, Leica was more of a sales-driven company. He got an investor to invest in the concept. One of the reasons why Wong opened the place was because he realised that the camera "Previously, the concept of the centre was unacceptable but I managed to get Leica to experiment with it for awhile. It had a coffee bar, which is a way to get people to relax. We found out that it does work because in Malaysia, people like to build rapport," says Wong. He travelled around to do research and he discovered that a lot of places have a community space. It's also a place to relax, functions as an activity space and also a place to showcase photography. The Centre for Asian Photographers is a space where people can learn. The Photobook Club is very active there and they have their meetings at least once a month with about 30 to 40 people attending. "People do a lot of commercial photography and there is no emphasis on art. This initiative will help to change that. The concept has worked in developed countries. One of the things I notice is that the dominant element is the cafe," says Wong. The cafe at The Centre for Asian Photographers belongs to The Cat in the Box, who is renting the place. To generate income for the place, the centre also sells merchandise as well as art and the output of photography. Workshops and galleries also contribute to the running of the centre.
The Centre for Asian Photographers is a place for photographers to hang out and edit their photos without the noise of a usual cafe. The library at the centre was very lucky to receive 700 books of art and photography from Balai Seni Lukis Negara. The best thing about the books is that they are Asian focused. At the end of October, the centre will be organising a convention to promote art photography. Besides reaching out to photographers, the centre is also targeting new parents who want to remember the growing-up days of their children. The location is strategic because it is at The School in Jaya One.
The Centre for Asian Photographers Gallery Admission  |
| What drives the new Subaru Legacy 2.5i (VIDEO) Posted: 28 Jun 2014 05:57 PM PDT NEW YORK, June 29 — All-wheel drive and invisibility come standard with the new Subaru Legacy 2.5i. The new Legacy is certainly improved and it is a decently designed sedan. — New York Times
|
| Saying goodbye to the popiah uncle! Posted: 28 Jun 2014 05:57 PM PDT IPOH, June 29 — Are you ready for the story of a popiah seller in Canning Garden, Ipoh who was in business for more than half a century? I warn you, it is a heart-wrenching one. His volatile temper made him highly unapproachable. Yes, this was one grumpy uncle with an acerbic tongue that he would not hesitate using should you cross him or create a ruckus because you were impatient. At least, that was what he was famous for. Apart from the delicious popiahs. My Dad and I once witnessed him letting fly but that was quite recent and he had toned down considerably by then. I am actually touched by his down-to-earth, no-nonsense attitude and inspired by his never-back-down demeanour despite the traumatic ageing process that had evidently taken its toll on his battered frame. Back to him and his antics. Since he operated only from one location — this back alley in Canning Garden — and exclusively on weekend afternoons, the crowd could be a tad intimidating at times. You had to be prepared for a good long wait especially if the ones before you ordered his popiah by the dozens. Don't bet your bottom dollar on him starting business on time either for this was a one-man show starting from 3pm, and the set-up time usually took him a good 20 minutes or so. I remember vividly one Saturday afternoon when we were the first in line; we actually helped him to set up his stall.
And then he went into his routine, slowly setting out all his utensils; bowls and plates filled with fresh ingredients and condiments for the popiah. The extended waiting time was predictable, as after all, he was not known for being the fastest worker on earth. He would churn out hundreds of his trademark fresh spring rolls filled with chilled crab meat by hand, rolling them into almost uniform sizes with a precision and flair that would put many newer hawkers to shame. A single roll of popiah went for RM2.50, while buying them in pairs would set you back RM4 for a packet. The pricing was considered slightly premium compared to similar stalls in Ipoh back then (this was in 2011), but when one is willing to stand by the road side without any shade and wait for uncle's popiah, that had to mean something. We once heard him telling someone off for requesting the popiahs be packed separately: two rolls in one and another roll separately. He went on and on about how if everyone wished for their popiah to be packed in single packing, he would be losing out on the packaging materials (a sheet of plastic paper with a piece of old newspaper on the outside). Now, let's shift our focus to his popiah. So what made his beloved creation that he had been selling since 1957 so special?
The next step involved a bit of work; he would then grab a handful of lettuce and hand-shred them before scattering them over the skin. After that, he would go for the main ingredient and easily the most important one; boiled jicama in a sweet/savoury broth, and this made up the bulk of the fillings. To complete the ensemble, he then added in a pinch of chilled crab meat, strips of omelette, fried shallots and julienned cucumber. He did this on a wooden board which could fit a dozen rolls at once. So, in spite of you ordering only 2 rolls, you would still be part of the "audience" for the preparation of all 12. All his loyal followers refrained from questioning his way. And it's basic manners anyway. Here's a septuagenarian who has eaten more salt than you have eaten rice (a literal translation from a basic Chinese proverb), and he has sold more popiah than you can ever imagine!
Leow should be 77 this year. He has since retired from selling his signature popiah from his mobile stall parked in the back alley. His frail condition rendered him incapable of continuing this treasured legacy. And a reader once informed me that Leow has gone blind due to his uncontrolled diabetes. This is far from a desired ending for a man so driven by passion and tenacity throughout his life. We Ipoh folks who grew up eating his popiah and who have been touched by his inexhaustible energy, we'd like to THANK YOU, dear Canning Garden popiah uncle. * He used to operate from his stall at the back lane between Jalan Perlis and Jalan RCM Rayan in Canning Garden of Ipoh, in the late afternoons on weekends only. James Tan loves good food and blogs at Motormouth From Ipoh (www.j2kfm.com) |
| What Zouk stands for and why it should stay Posted: 28 Jun 2014 05:53 PM PDT SINGAPORE, June 29 — Here's an unoriginal confession: at the age of 17, I debuted my clubbing adventures at the iconic Zouk in a black and white printed dress with my closest friends shrieking in excitement into my ear as we jostled the crowd to get into the much vaunted room. I am not embarrassed by this cliché of my teenage years. It is a Singaporean rite of passage. That first night and the many that followed explain why, despite the fact that my Friday night allegiance has now shifted to a cup of Milo, a book and bed, I, like thousands of other Singaporeans, was sad, angry and confused, when I read that the government would not be extending the lease on the Jiak Kim riverside venue. The Singapore blogosphere is plastered with the hashtag #savezouk — and an ever increasing stream of blog posts, tweets and comments vociferously declaim the need to preserve the venue. This, it seems, isn't simply a slick campaign by the owners to save their cash cow; it's a spontaneous outpouring of emotion and anger at something being taken away by seemingly heartless and soul-less laws, regulations and real estate development.
However, the outcry that surrounds the prospective demise of Zouk is more than just spoilt whining: It cuts to the heart of two crucial issues in Singapore — landownership and national heritage. For a whole generation of party-going Singaporeans, Zouk is at once a temple, a school and a monument. It is sacred ground that unites Singaporeans regardless of race religion or occupation. It was the first large scale super club to take off in the city and it was more than a simple imitation — it was good, very good. It put Singapore on the world's clubbing map. And it did something many detractors claimed was impossible — it made Singapore cool. Every club that has since risen in this city owes a debt to Zouk. And as testament to its quality — even after many of these newcomers have shuttered, Zouk remains. It is still ranked as one of the top clubs worldwide. This is an accomplishment that shouldn't be underestimated. But regardless of these successes, the powers that be have calculated that the club sits in an area zoned for residential activities and that its lease will not be renewed after the end of 2014. On the face of it this seems logical enough; zoning is used by cities world-wide, no one wants to live next to a raucous night club and Singapore has plenty of resident-free zones dedicated to night life. In a way, this is necessary as Singapore is a small country and land zoning and ownership allows the government to build necessary infrastructure without the enormous compensation and lengthy court cases that bedevil development in other nations. However, this basic efficiency in terms of creating a meticulously planned, high-functioning city stands in the way of another long-standing government objective- developing a national identity and narrative. The government has calculated the land Zouk sits on can accommodate a 36-storey residential condominium and retail complex which will generate more revenue than a single club. It must also be calculating that Singapore's night life is now sufficiently robust that it can and will thrive without Zouk. On one level these calculations are probably correct but on another — well, Singapore has a near endless supply of 36-storey condos but it only has one Zouk. So, we have to ask: what can be sacrificed in the interest of progress and what remains sacred, does every inch of the land we call our nation have to be reduced to its maximum revenue bearing potential, and how can we reconcile this with creating a deeply rooted nation? * This is the personal opinion of the columnist. |
| Uruguay coach: Rodriguez just like Maradona Posted: 28 Jun 2014 05:52 PM PDT
"For me, special talents are those who do things that are completely out of the ordinary," said Tabarez, whose side were beaten by two Rodriguez goals at the Maracana stadium. "Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, James Rodriguez—they do things because they have certain gifts that make them special." Rodriguez, 22, opened the scoring in the 28th minute with a sensational goal, chesting the ball down and hammering a volley in off the crossbar from 25 yards. He doubled his tally early in the second half, sweeping home Juan Cuadrado's knock-down to move to the top of the Golden Boot standings with five goals. "I believe he's the best player at the World Cup," Tabarez added. "I don't think I'm exaggerating. He's a young player. We tried to limit his influence, but he kept going and made his presence felt. "Hopefully he'll continue to progress, because he's very young. Football needs players with these characteristics." Colombia's victory means that they will face hosts Brazil in the quarter-finals in Fortaleza on July 4. Colombia coach Jose Pekerman, who led an Argentina side containing Messi to the quarter-finals in 2006, said that Rodriguez was a player with rare and unusual gifts.
"In my long experience in football, I've had extraordinary footballer players in my teams, elite players of a very high technical level," said the Argentine. "I placed James in the centre of everything, because I saw the extraordinary ability that he had. "What's most surprising is that at his young age, he doesn't have any problem taking responsibility for doing things that some footballers take many years to understand. "He's a technical player who has everything to be a top player at a world level, both in terms of helping his team-mates to play and in taking the time to evaluate situations to see what needs to be done as a team. "I have great praise for what he's doing. I never had any doubts that this would be his World Cup." Rodriguez, who joined Monaco from Porto last year in a €45 million (RM196 million) deal, said that he was delighted to have helped guide Colombia to the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time. "We're very happy, because we're making history," he said. "When I was younger, I always wanted to be here. It was a big dream of mine, and we hope we can make it bigger. This is a team that really wants to win." — AFP |
| You are subscribed to email updates from The Malay Mail Online | All To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. | Email delivery powered by Google |
| Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 | |
