Maaf
The most wonderful thing about Hari Raya is not kuih raya or the excellent cooking of Roy's mom, but the idea of maaf zahir batin. Its not only a time for us forgive, but also to humble ourselves down and to ask for forgiveness. How beautiful is that?

I mean, if God can be merciful to us, His children, why can't we do the same for our brothers and sisters?

K.O.R.
I would expect Kor to be the last to leave the team. Turns out he is the first. Well, thats life.

I first met him during a youth holiday camp. I was among the invited speakers on comics and Kor was one of the participants. I only found out about this when I interviewed him for a graphic designer position years later. I didn't take him then because he was just fresh out of college and didn't have any design experience. I told him to come back when he has gained some. He did come back a year later and I took him in. He has become my very enthusiatic designer ever since.

One of the funny things he always do(without knowing, I hope) was verbally repeating my words of instructions while I was checking his works on the computer. Another thing is, for some strange reason, he keeps referring to Chin as "Ah Cheng".

Good luck, chum, and thanks for coming back for that second interview.

Chemical
Our PM's wife died of cancer on Monday morning. From what I read, she has been treated with Chemo Therapy in the US, I am sure they have given her the best.

Perhaps its time to think of other ways to treat cancer cell? Come on, we can do better than a brute act like pumping harmful chemical in our body to kill all good and bad cells, after that hoping for the good cells to grow back and the bad cells to go away.

Hate and Love
I read about this in Our Daily Bread today and find it very true, thought i post a little snipet of it here.

"Be careful with hatred. . . . Hatred is a passion requiring one hundred times the energy of love. Keep it for a cause, not an individual. Keep it for intolerance, injustice, stupidity. For hatred is the strength of the sensitive. Its power and its greatness depend on the selflessness of its use." Olive Moore, 19th-century English writer

Hatred can be the strong side of righteousness, but it needs a sign written on it with large red letters: Handle With Care.

Europa

"I think its time we start planning for our Europe trip again." My wife said.

"OK." You don't argue with someone who fought stage three cancer and won. Certainly not about a dream trip that we set out to achieve since ten years ago. So we planned. I worked on my job schedule, she worked on hers. I trained my faithful staffs, making sure that things would run smoothly when I am away. Taking an 18 days trip is no easy task. Thank God it turned out fine. My designers hold their position well without me. They do me proud.

At the end of the trip, I felt like I have reached a landmark of my life. Its not like an easy holiday but sort of a course. We worked hard to get there and we worked hard during the trip too. Planned everything from places to go, budget(ringgit is not helping), transport etc. And we walk and walk all over the place. Everyday we woke up as early as 6am and we came back normally after 11pm. Check into a hotel, check out another day. A week after we came back, both of us still have dreams of travelling.

We love it.

"Lets do it again in 10 years time." Said my wife.
"OK." Start planning.

Afro Geisha

Vovin is complaining(about something, as usual). This time his Nazriness asks me, of all the 8 character I designed for his "Gita Kasih Sang Vagabond", why can't I at least include the characteristic of Afro-man and Geisha in it? His obsession of such eclectic combination is getting stronger by the day. Since the design is done, I have no choice but to add an extra drawing just to fufill his demand. Here.

Great Malaysian Invention

To my Muslim friends, Bulan Ramadan is a month for cleansing the body, mind and soul.

Its also a time for me to visit the pasar Ramadan. And deep in the crowded pasar, there is a great Malaysian invention, murtabak jala. In the age of cross over, mix n match, cut n paste, it just fits right in as an instant classic.

Going to the pasar Ramadan with my Muslim brothers is certainly a highlight of the month and murtabak jala just make it even better.

Selamat berpuasa.

I Draw!
Vovin was complaining (about something, as usual) that I sounded too much like a musician rather than an artist in my blog. So, I decided to do something about it and write about something I love most, drawing.

Last weekend, while Vovin is throwing his temperamental ass around Penang, I was flogging away designing 8(8!) Characters for his new creation and squeezing them into a panel. Its for the header to his blog tale, www.gita_online.blogspot.com. In order not to let all those extra sketches go to waste, I decided to publish them here.

Basically, its for his Vovin-ness’ fantasy tale called, “Love Song for a Vagabond” (I took the liberty to translate it from the original ‘jiwang’ title: “Gita Kasih Sang Vagabond”)

These characters, according to his Jiwang-ness, are based on his friends and the background is basically like Lord of the Ring. First come, “Dia”, or “Him” in English. Hmm... I wonder who is this character based on, himself?



Dia is an ordinary guy around the age of 25.




Second character is called Sophia, a very down to earth princess.




Zach the thinker wannabe and also a wonderer. On top of him is Adia Ninavia, a pigeon(?).




Zen the apprentice magician, youngest among the group.





Jami, less bandito and her partner Samaseer.










And finally, Ahmad the warrior.










To read Vovin's story or see Lefty's finished artwork, visit gita online