Journeys For Two 2009

The 2009 issue of 'Journeys For Two : Destination Weddings For The Stylish And Chic' hit bookstores and newsstands a few weeks ago. I believe that this 3rd issue of ours is the best yet and I am extremely proud that we managed to pull it off despite the fall-off in advertising budgets during these lean economic times, particularly for resorts, which form the bulk of our client base for a publication such as this.

As a publisher, we always strive to improve on the previous effort. And it is always fulfilling to see the final product come to fruition after months of toiling. For this effort, I must thank my collaborators - Eileen of Nupts & Such, Esta of Truly Harmony as well as Edward, Fiona and Suk Harn of weddingsmalaysia - all of whom played a part in helping me keep sane in my role as Editor-In-Chief.

For couples aspiring to wed or perhaps have wedding portraits shot at farflung destinations, this publication will be the catalyst for generating ideas and possibilities. Pictorial-driven, it offers many a splendid location that will be ideal for that dream wedding of yours.

Photo on cover shot by Perfect Moments Studio.

Music To The Ears

I was at karaoke last Sunday. One can throw caution to the wind and sing one's heart out when in the company of good friends. We don't judge, but we do snigger when someone starts on a wrong pitch or goes off-key midway through a song. That's what you can do in front of good friends - be silly. And there's lots of encouragement and applause too when we are screeching at the top of our voices trying to hit the notes that are way beyond our reach. All in the name of amusement.

If only Janet was there to see us sing with reckless abandon. Janet Lee is someone we like having around at wedding fairs. She is affable, chatty, enthusiastic. Most importantly, she humours us and entertains our requests when we ask her to sing. She gets us to sing along too sometimes, although we mostly only manage the chorus, and it has to be a relatively well-known song to boot. You see, we are rather hopeless with lyrics when there's no karaoke screen in sight. Still we have a good time.

Janet sings in English, Chinese and Malay, and her repertoire ranges from show tunes and arias to jazz and evergreen favourites. Some of us are planning to sing a Chinese number at an industry colleague's wedding later this year, though most of us do not read nor write Chinese at all. So I ask Janet for a tip. She sends me an mp3 of 'Ru Guo Mei You Ni' or 'Without You' in English. It sounds great but I reckon only she can pull it off, not us amateurs. So it's likely that we will go with the song that we originally chose during our karaoke session. Something with a simple, familiar melody and not too challenging but nevertheless appropriate for the occasion. Perhaps we'll ask Janet to come listen during rehearsals and let her have a laugh, at our expense.

Photo shot by Callista, courtesy of Janet Lee.

The Joy Of Reconnecting

This photo is not particularly clear, probably due to the extremely slow shutter speed and unsteady hands. I am no photography-whiz but having been around professional wedding photographers for so many years, you tend to learn a thing or two. What is clear however, is the camaraderie amongst the subjects in the photo, most tellingly apparent when we observe the natural smiles on all our faces. The opportunity to have this photo taken presented itself last Friday, before the events of my most immediate previous post, which makes writing this even more meaningful.

Childhood memories are one of those few things that stay with us no matter what. They are untainted, formed during the phase of our lives where we knew not about the stress, prejudices and responsibilities that are part and parcel of adulthood. And these were the happy memories that made this mini-reunion with my classmates from primary school such a priceless one. We had not seen each other for more than 20 years (save 1 of them) but there were no walls, no barriers; just friendly banter and humorous musings.

Sure, it was only for a couple of hours. But if we make the effort, it could well be the spark that rekindles past friendships. Yes, conversations will in time move from the harmless childhood antics of ours to ones with more serious undertones. But isn't it what re-building frienships is all about? Learning more about one another after a long lapse, getting used again to the idiosyncracies that each of us bring to the table, and more importantly, realising how we, together as a group, make each of our lives that much fuller.

Photo taken by a friend at Souled Out, Desa Sri Hartamas.

Taking Stock Of Our Lives

The sudden passing of Yasmin Ahmad makes one realise just how fragile life can be. It reminds us not to take life for granted. It prompts us to take stock of our lives. That we should appreciate our loved ones, family and friends. That we ought to put our best foot forward in whatever we do in order to achieve our aspirations. That we be grateful for the wonders of Mother Nature that greet us on our travels. That we consider doing good and contributing in our own way to society.

I admit to not have seen her award-winning films. But I have read about the accolades that have been showered on them. What I have seen are her festive season commercials. With underlying themes of humanity, unconditional love, mutual respect, harmony, they tug at the heartstrings and implore us to embrace such values for the better good.

Her work will long remain with us and having her as a fellow countryman has been a privilege. May she rest in peace.

Photo entitled 'Serenity' shot by my sister Suk Harn in Kyoto.

Keeping Friendships Alive

2 decades is a pretty long time to be friends. We were a group of 3 at boarding school in Adelaide, which expanded to 6 when we got to university. If I were being totally objective, I would have to say that our bonds of friendship are not as strong as they were before. Career and family have gotten in the way; even our yearly birthday celebrations have not taken place this year. Still I'd like to think that our thoughts are with each other every now and then, and that we can rely on the group for support whenever such a need arises.

Well, keeping friendships alive is not an easy thing to do. Like any relationship, the effort must come from all parties. I am normally one who takes the initiative to keep in touch but I am also one who knows when it is no longer worth my time to do so. So, some seemingly good friendships that I had, have gone down the drain over the years whilst newer ones have taken on a life of their own. A new door opens when one is closed I suppose.

Whatever the case, our group of 6 celebrates our 20th anniversary this year, and we are going away together for a holiday in August, at least 4 of us are anyway. The other 2 have just started a new restaurant business and without my being judgmental, can't seem to find a way to get a few days off. Being positive is a trait that has served me well, and I am looking forward to this trip like so many others we have been on in the past - Kangaroo Island, Langkawi, the road trip to the East Coast - all these more than a decade ago. The prospect of re-igniting our friendships is indeed something worth considering, and who knows, KK may just be the place to do so.

Photo shot at Street 240 in Phnom Penh.

Taking Time Out

I was just looking at some holiday photos in Phuket that Jason of Floralsense Creation put up on Facebook and it brought back not too distant memories of the trip that I took there with my colleagues in March earlier this year. We make it a point to go somewhere together every year; Bali last year, Siem Reap the year before, Penang before that and our very first company trip to Haadyai prior to that. Trips such as these are not easy to plan as there are various personalities and characters to cater to, not to mention the diverse interests that each one has. Nevertheless, they are always worthwhile as it offers an opportunity for us to bond and let our hair down after a year's worth of ranting, usually by me!

But getting back to my point about Jason's photos and Ke Wynn of Whizarts' comment about him needing a holiday, I am a firm believer of taking time out every once in a while ... heck we deserve it! Folks outside our industry tend to think that what we do for a living must be a blissful occupation to be in. That couldn't be further from the truth, as most of my friends in the wedding circle will attest to. We face the same pressures, challenges, frustrations, difficult clients, just like in any other service industry. But along with it also come the good things that make our work so enjoyable. I try not to take for granted the pleasant experiences and the decent people that I come into contact with, and this disposition is what keeps me motivated.

As for holidays, whether it is a 2-week sojourn or a weekend getaway, it pays to be appreciative of such jaunts. We often come back revitalised and reinvigorated, ready to tackle the next wedding. And when we do a good job, well, there's money for more trips to come then! I, on my part, am very much looking forward to 2 trips in August ... but more on that in my next post ........

Photo entitled 'Calm Waters' shot by my sister Suk Harn at Puget Sound, Seattle.

Potential For More Intimate Celebrations

A few of us were invited by Rama V for dinner last night, courtesy of Natasha of The Peak Xperience who coordinated the invites. Hooi Joo of Table 10, Shen Yi of I Do Weddings, Patrick of Exes Studio and Sidney of Big Boys Oven were among our small group of diners who had the opportunity of good company and great food, in a charming setting. Although we are all in the wedding industry, it is not always possible for us to meet socially, particularly when everyone of us is so busy with our own work and personal lives. It took the organisational skills of a wedding planner to get us all together for an evening out.

This is not the first time I have been to Rama V. Though not a regular, leisurely dinners with friends, a business dinner and even a date have been my previous encounters at this exquisite fine-dining Thai restaurant. I am not a qualified food critic, but suffice to say, the epicurean in me, always finds the food here to be authentic and very much palatable. The visit this time was however augmented by the presence of its new owners, Andre and Danny, who joined us for dinner. Rarely have I seen 2 persons so passionate about the food they serve, and it was an absolute pleasure sampling the variety of starters, mains and desserts that came our way throughout the evening. Lighthearted conversation was the perfect complement to the food and company, and whilst we did listen intently to Danny's insightful account of 2012, it did little to dampen the fine spirits we were in.

As to the pertinent question whether Rama V would make a good wedding venue, I would say that the potential is definitely there for more intimate celebrations. Patrick remarked that he shot his first wedding at the restaurant many years ago. So, it has always been in our midst. All it really needs is a re-introduction to the wedding market. Last night's laid-back yet sophisticated dinner was clearly a step towards that.

Photo shot at Rama V.