coriander in pho

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Expressive Architecture Sketching with Colored Marker

August 26, 2022 9:47 pm

That’s the name of the course I’m currently taking.

I never really thought of pursuing my hobby in drawing in a more serious sense. I used to think that I can just be content with what I have now.

But a chat with a coach changed my mind. We chatted “the life after Automattic”, and I realized that I didn’t have something that I actually really proud of. I know I can draw, but do I know how to draw?

I then thought about activities I can do, and one of them is taking online courses. I always thought that online courses will take weeks with intensive lessons, until I checked Domestika and decided to see what’s up.

I stumbled on the course “Expressive Architecture Sketching with Colored Marker” with Albert Kiefer (his Instagram account is “housesketcher”) and I decided to give it a try.

Urban sketching has been a thing that I wanted to be good at, but no matter how I tried, I always felt that disappointed pang whenever I see the results.

Throughout the lessons, Albert keeps focusing on one thing: The courage to just… do. Just pull a line, who cares whether it’s wonky or straight. Just make the first floor smaller, it’s cute. Imagine a story, perhaps these two buildings are fighting with each other.

Be courageous.

This is not a sponsored post and I don’t receive anything neither from Domestika or Albert. I simply love the courses and Albert is awesome and a terrific teacher. If you would like to give it a try, feel free to check it out here: Expressive Architecture Sketching with Colored Marker
Kuala Lumpur Car-Free Morning

August 21, 2022 11:15 am

A nice morning walk with Pokemon Go and roti canai at mamak.

For folks who are planning to visit Malaysia/tourists: In this video, no-one is wearing mask (us included) because we are outdoors and we are doing sports activities. Please note, mask is MANDATORY for indoors area, especially public area.
Seasonal dishes

August 20, 2022 3:06 pm

My friend, an American-Korean, asked me: “Do you (Indonesians and Malaysians) have cold dishes, like cold noodles? Or dishes that’s specific for summer?”

I said no, we don’t have it. Then I realized, yes, we do not have such dishes.

Also, we don’t assign dishes based on seasons. I guess, it’s because we are in the tropics where the seasons and the weather fairly constant all year long. There are dishes based from seasonal fruits, though.

I guess that’s the perk, yeah? And perhaps, we have hot dishes even when it’s hot outside just so we will get sweaty after eating and the breeze will cool us down ?

I had bi bim guk su (spicy Korean cold wheat noodles) for lunch, and it’s pretty refreshing. Even though cold noodles usually available in Japan and Korea during summertime, it’s available all-year long here in Kuala Lumpur.

It also reminds me when my friend once commented that “it smells like winter,” when she whiffed a scent of cinnamon.

How about you? Do you have seasonal dishes in your country?
On tracking our progress

August 17, 2022 10:37 pm

I used to have an Apple Watch, until I gave it to my son along with my old iPhone.

I found myself not suitable for wearing Apple Watch — note the wording and the sentence there. In fact, I don’t think I can wear wristwatch ? My skin will get itchy really fast, and it will bleed due to me scratching it.

Another reason is, I hate to track things. It’s like… Instead of feeling motivated, I would see myself as a failure if I couldn’t keep the streak. Oh, I missed one day? That’s it. I don’t want to continue.

However, tracking things is important. It shows progress, discipline, and determination. How do you all track your progress?
Drawing practice: Puddle

August 6, 2022 9:41 pm

I’m learning how to draw upside-down, and it’s actually pretty tempting to rotate the canvas (?) I tried to stick with the original canvas orientation and learned how to draw human figure when they are looking up. It’s definitely a difficult task. Also, water reflection and texture (to show it’s, well, “water” as in water puddle in the middle of the road.)

I feel this is one of those works that I will look back later far in the future and getting myself a massive cringe. Oh well, here’s for more practices!

Quick blurbs

Saw this site mentioned the other day on Slack: neocities.org.

Scroll down and you will see “Featured Sites”. Never knew it brings back early 2000s, and it makes me so, so happy.

April 23, 2026