Bye 2011, Hello 2012

© Jasemaine Gan. Please do not republish or distribute images and contents of this blog without written permission.

Wow, the final day of 2011 has arrived. Time passes by so, so fast.

2011 started off with sending my beloved grandfather to Heaven. It was my first year without both my Ah Gong and Mama. I love this photo of them... happily laughing together... I'm glad I captured this moment. I can't ask for a better grandparents :)

2011 is also the year that I start taking baby steps back into songwriting.

I participated in Julie's Biscuit movement called "Share the Love". It was my first time back to the recording studios after a long, long time. I miss the feeling of the recording booth, the crisp clean smell of the recording studio, and looking at cool equipments.

2011 was also the year I finally realized a little dream of mine to teach/lecture, officially. I remember the day when I walked in the class and got mistaken as a student, lol. It was a great experience. Such a great feeling to meet and mingle with young people. Some has even become a friend. I miss them! :)

Performed at Live@The Actors Studio. It's been ages since I last performed at a singer songwriters gig :) I shared the stage with these talented songwriters!

Handled the renovation of the office cum training space. Turning this...

Into this!

I love this place very much. I remember clearly how each and every item in this office is selected, purchased, assembled etc etc etc... The amount of work poured into this 500sqft+ office is overwhelming... I can't imagine setting up my future home o_O Teamwork and patience is key.

One of the most impromptu and greatest things that happen this year, was the travel (which reminds me... I've yet updated about the travel log)! I flew to Manchester to meet my brother. It was like a, "Hey why don't you come over?" to which I replied, "OK!" and got to the flight bookings... The timing was nice so everything went smooth, except the glitch on the day of flight! Gege brought me around Manchester, then we traveled to London, Santorini-Greece, Scotland then back to Manchester before heading back to KL. Four incredible place in two short weeks. One AWESOME experience.

2011 was also the year the girls and I FINALLY went on a road trip. It was a very simple yet memorable getaway with the girls. Check out the video I made to commemorate this special outing, lol.

Other highlights of my 2011:

- I achieve an impossible. Looking back at my folders, I shot a total of 58 shoots this year! Which includes, wedding, couple, family, pets and events. The past few months was HECTIC, but it was a great challenge. Photos will be shared via this blog and my Facebook Page, so do keep a look out :)

- My role model, Steve Jobs passed away.

- Handled VIP's biggest event since we introduced advertising and creative solutions in our service offerings in July 2011. Together with power PR lady Erin and intern Man Man, we rocked our role in We R Malaysia-There is Hope, the Musical. Mind you, we did it all in two weeks. TWO weeks! What an insane thing to do, but we did it :)

2011 is the year I rediscovered myself. With the help of my loved ones, I realized that it is essential for me to prioritize. In the beginning of the year, I was really lost; I didn't know what to do; what I was good at; what I should do... So I ended up doing a little bit of everything. As a result, I was even more lost... To add to that, I wasted precious time. 

Since then, I've learnt to let go of things and focus on what matters. Slowly but surely, the path ahead is clearer than ever.

I'm thankful for all the good and bad events that happened in 2011. It helped me filter off what I should let go, and what to hang on to :)

So here's wishing everyone a healthy and happy 2012!

First Year Without You

Ah Gong,

How's everything? Things have not been the same since you left one year ago. I remember the moment I saw you resting in peace, I couldn't control my emotions. Relieved to know you're finally free, painful to know that I will not be seeing you anytime soon.

When I visited gege in UK this June, during a train ride back to Manchester from London, gege and I had the same thought that you and mama were with us on the train. I imagined the both of you, sitting on top of the train, watching the world go by...

I'll always remember the way you dress. Always smartly dressed. A crocodile collared shirt, black slacks, belt and with a key chain hung to your belt. Not forgetting the part where you'll always pick your teeth with a toothpick. You know what? I remember the time when we were in the van, on a journey to let your ashes off to the sea, suddenly I noticed there is a toothpick stuck on the headrest on the seat in front of me. I paused for while. That moment froze for a while. Well, I don't know if its put there by someone else, but I just had a feeling it was you.

Did you know? I shot a total of 58-photoshoots this year! It's really exhausting... but every time I photograph, I remember you and immediately, my energy and game face will be back on track. Photography is my way of honoring you.

I can never thank you and mama enough for being the greatest grandparents. I thank God for the both of you.

Have fun traveling around the world and universe with mama!

Love,

Maine

"Jingu Bell, Jingu Bell, Jingu All The Way..."

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

I woke up at 6:45 this morning to wash and clean the car, filled it up with petrol and filled the tyre with air, because Papa and mommy will be traveling back to Kulim later to attend my cousin's wedding dinner.

To be honest, I'm not really feeling the Christmasy mood yet; super neutral now. Maybe life has been too busy, or maybe I've grown out of it (NooOooo!!!). 

Anyway, here's a Christmas song I wrote a couple of years back ago. Performed with Yise, Anna, Ah Be, Max, Shan Pei, Kenny... They're all talented singer songwriters, I feel honored to have them singing this song with me. Music arrangement is by Karen, and produced by Abraham Tee.

Here's wishing you a great Christmas!

Christina Perri - A Thousand Years

Papa loves to watch YouTube videos, especially during Sundays, he loves to blast his iMac's speakers while he works. The songs that he listens to, the music video he watches, I tell you, makes me feel so embarrassed. Why? Because I don't know half of the songs he listens to! I feel like our age has been switched somehow.

Looking at the YouTube videos he shares on his Facebook: Alexandra Stan - Mr. Saxo Beat, LMFAO - Sexy and You Know It, T-Pain - 5 O'clock ft. Wiz Khalifa and Lily Allen (who the hell is T-Pain?!), Flo Rida - Good Feeling etc etc... o_O

The other day, I overheard a song that he was watching on YouTube, and I casually asked him:

Me: "What song is that?"

Papa: "Christina Perri"

Me: "Song title?"

Papa: "A Thousand Years"

Me: "OK"

The song has been looping non-stop in my head. What a beautiful song, and my dad is cool :)

All I Want for Christmas Is...

OK... Xmas is just around the corner and I've yet started on my Christmas shopping :(

Since I still don't have an idea on what to buy for others, why not list down the things that I want at the meantime? I know it's impossible to get these things anytime soon but... it's nice to think about it lah, lol :)

So, these are the babies on my drool-list:

Canon 50mm F1.2 Lens

Canon 85mm F1.2 Lens

Any type of Shoulder Mount for my Canon 5DMKII-for video recording purpose

Lavalier Microphone for Canon 5DMKII video recording

In fact, any HDSLR solution will be fine :D

Or another 580EXII Flash. I'm into off-camera flash photography recently.

OK, since we're already on the list, let's make this the ultimate wishlist!

BMW 6-Series *pants* Just look at this beauty...

I think, that's it for now. Will update this wishlist from time to time. Kind of a nice way to remind myself to WORK HARDER in order to achieve these materialistic, evil things... lol lol...

Celebrating X'mas VIP Style

Organized a mini Xmas lunch celebration at Joseph's Kitchen the other day. I wanted to take the opportunity to thank Erin, Man Man, Ooi and Parry properly for the help and support they've given VIP in the past project.

It's been ages since I last exchanged Xmas gift! It was such a nice, sweet feeling to give a gift, and receive one in return :) Food at Joseph's Kitchen was great, as usual. I personally had a simple yet excellent time with them, just eating and talking and laughing...

It was also during the lunch that we got to know Parry is a B-boy! I'm kinda into hip hop dance + freestyle + B-boy stuff etc these days (er, I like watching people dance, not that I dance ya. I wish I could though), no thanks to Astro's Battleground and 8TV's Showdown. Man Man said Parry will gladly perform for us, to which Parry promptly obliged and even changed into his dancing gear right after lunch! It was definitely a first time for Erin and I... that someone is willing to dance live for us! We chose one of the overhead bridge at Publika... and Parry did his thing. Awesome... *beams*

Thanks once again to Erin, Man Man, Ooi and Parry!

Family Photography: Diong + Ari + Aidan + Kayla

© Jasemaine Gan. Please do not distribute or republish all contents in this blog without written permission.

Within the first five minutes of meeting Diong, she said to me, "You look like you really enjoy what you're doing". I was quite surprised by her comment. I never expected anyone to say that to me, what more a stranger... I felt touched, because it seems that my passion has radiated through my personality. It's a humbling experience. 

Diong is the type of client where I feel I've known her for a long time. She was so easy to talk to. She was opened to suggestions and most importantly, she trusted me. Like their mom, Ari, Aidan and Kayla were full of life. I really enjoyed photographing them. Hopefully 10 years down the road, when the three musketeers has all grown up, they will look back at these images and reminisce the day when they had a great time with mom at a park (with a weird jie jie following and photographing them). It was a pity though, that Diong's hubby couldn't make it for the shoot as he was caught up in work. Hopefully there'll be an opportunity for me to photograph them in the near future :)

Diong also left me a very sweet testimonial, which I'd like to share with you:

"She takes beautiful professional shots and with her warm friendly nature, my kids took to her pretty quickly and like i told her.. she really looked like she was enjoying herself...

... Her easy-going nature and patience made us feel at ease unlike some who you feel just wanna 'get the session over with' - none of that with Jasemaine...

 ... Definitely wanna use her again!! Overall experience with Jasemaine was 10/10."

Thanks so much, Diong, Ari, Aidan and sweet little Kayla, for allowing me to photograph one of the moments of your life together.

My 27th Birthday

All photos are taken with my iPhone 4 (apart from the first two images). 

My 27th birthday came and went by in a flash. It was simple yet memorable. On 12 November, my Uni  gang and I had buffet at Sheraton Imperial Hotel. We bought the deal from one of the group buying site... and I must say it is a good deal. The spread was really good. And unlike normal hotel food, the food was genuinely delicious :) 

The girls even made me a special "cake", out of some dessert...  Isn't this cool?

On my birthday eve, I walked into my first few hours of being 27th in Signature Gardens with Boonyee. Damn nice lah, the cinema. Love the space and comfort... it's icing on the cake to have Jacob the hunky werewolf celebrate my 27th, heee heee.

On my actual birthday, I went to work. The night before, Erin said she wants to see me to discuss about some new business prospects. I reached the office at 9:30am. First thought? "How come the doors are closed? Isn't Man Man here yet?" After I opened the doors, my second thought, "WALAO the air-cond is not switched off???!" so I turned my head towards the air-condition switch, and that's when I heard sounds from my right side. In a flash, I saw two shadows and one candle light, they were both singing and I could hear myself scream "OH MY GODDDDD!" I swear my heart stopped beating for a while!  So there they were, both Erin and Man Man holding a mooncake with a candle singing me the birthday song. Yes, you read that right, a mooncake. How Erin manage to get a mooncake in this season itself is intriguing. After the fright of my life, the two girls took me for breakfast at Joseph's Kitchen (great food by the way). They were so sweet to make me a hand made card and flower bouquet too! That really made my morning :)

After that, I had a great lunch with papa and mommy. Actually the food wasn't nice (our first time at Bangsar Seafood Restaurant) and it certainly is overpriced... but I really felt happy to have lunch with them. My birthday is not only a celebration for me, it's a celebration for my parents too :)

After work, Boonyee picked me up and we drove around. Without any plan in hand, we eventually found ourselves at Victoria's Station. It was my first time there. First impression? There were more staffs than diner there... I felt a lil' intimidated, lol. Anyway, we I really liked the starter, which was caviar!! Cheh wah so glamorous... another first time for me, tasting caviar. It goes really well with raw onion, eggs and crunchy toast :)

For my present, I specifically requested for three things from him: a hand-written card, Jay Chou's latest album in a box or hand-wrapped. I was really, really happy when I got the present, especially the message he wrote in the card. Very touched... see, simple things like these makes my day :)

Last but not least, Boonyee's family got me a super nice cake! And that, was the perfect beginning to my 27th year on Earth :)