:: grown up, baby ::

that's what most of the children at the Salvation Army Children's Home have to be.

one month ago, we prepared handmade covered books for each of the children.

and little fortunate angels came along to give them out. it was such a great sight to see. children should be taught how to love other children, especially those not in their usual circles.

this guy caught my attention throughout the activities. rowdy, yes, but cute too!

some of his gang.

one of the few girls who willingly gave me a straight smile.

i know how it feels to grow up without a father. still, i can never begin to comprehend growing up without a mom too. i pray that in those books we gave them, they would be able to express themselves in words, pictures...

we were allowed to visit their rooms. this was along the walkway where some of them use the "checkered" designed walls as shoe racks.

some of the toys they play with.

school shoes! so cute! i forget how small one can be.

this little sunshine is one of the youngest in the home. i wish i dared to have given her a hug... but i'm chicken that way, see. and i know, some of us are too, when it comes to reaching out to others...

...but i can pray for them, and remember them.

and look forward to seeing them soar high in life.

:: speechless ::

that's what news of death does to me.

how much more can a heart take?

with life already so fragile..

does it need any more harder of a blow?

it's like the day ending

but no rays for hope and emerging light.

we cry, we mourn

we try to understand.

but there's still life

and life in the little things.

:: sunday ::

sunday afternoon. the perfect time for an afternoon siesta/nap. still, the lot of us from my church home fellowship group fought through our tired eyes and car sickness to visit with a family.

and what can i say but only that it was good.

3 generations caught in time...

another cute boy who just would not crack even the tiniest of smiles..but, i later did catch him in all his cheerful glory while pretending to have a conversation on his older cousin's handphone.. let me tell you, the smile was adorable!

i don't fancy stray dogs much but i liked the sun on his back, so with a beating heart, i stayed and tried to capture it...

but the dog trotted along :(

future director?

oh, oh!! i do not know where to begin! she is THE MOST beautiful baby i have EVER seen!

doesn't she share some similarities with grandpa there in the foreground?

future model?

future....uh...

*draws a blank*

check out my facebook for the more silly side of this trip.

:: funfilled ::

this field trip to the mayang tea plantation, mushroom farm, chicken farm and fish cum dragon fruit farm happened two weeks ago. took a day off from work because i needed a break...and i actually craved the sun!

a house we walked passed by to get to the mushroom farm.

the power lady behind the business...she was so inspiring! she knew nothing about the industry, but went ahead and educated herself through the internet. her motto? "berani coba!" translation: "just do it!"

chicken farm. yes, those are airconds...the chickens are kept in cool temperatures.

baby dragon fruit...so beautiful!

mommy dog suverying her property ~ the fish farm

baby doggie being cute.

unfortunately, cute baby doggie recently hurt snowy during playtime, hence his lack of movement. ginger at the bottom there was just curious.

now ain't that just an adorable duplex?

:: 30 minutes ::

that's pretty much how long it took to bring us back to a place of simplicity. where?

Muara Tebas.

remember these? colorful marbels that made me, as a kid, go crazy as i would spin them round and round in between my fingers, and my imagination would bring me away for hours just wondering how the colorful thingies got entrapped inside.

it was such pleasure and relief to know that some children are still keeping the simple and traditional games alive. i could almost feel the tears coming. honest.

this dude here, went around mimicking mom and i with our cameras. and i'd say, he was doing a much better looking job! :)

i like how the guy looked back towards the camera.

this little fella was at first so shy, he ran away! after some coaxing from his mom, he sat back and gave me a priceless smile!

...and he kept on bringing it!



interestingly enough, this senior resident told us we came at a bad time for mom to do her Social Studies as the weekends are a busy time for the villagers...to get married! unfortunately though, we didn't witness any of it...

this princess would not give me a smile. but i just love this picture. and her dress!

another princess. sitting by herself...i think she was trying not to laugh.

this house was right at the end of one corner of the village. the mister at the doorway is 21. yep. he doesn't look like it, but, he's already working as a security guard. from the way he spoke, it wasn't hard to hear how tough life has been. i admire his tenacity. you can see it in his face.

this young lady gave me a pose. she was sitting in the shade in front of her home talking to her girlfriends. made me wish my friends and i could be there, sitting under handmade shades and just soaking up each other's words...

these two boys are my favourite! (hence the two edits; i can't decide!). can't help but giggle each time i looked at them while taking photos and even now, looking at the stills. believe me, those faces were all they gave. i couldn't tell what was on their minds...

but for sure they were not happy that i intruded on their rock-picking game.

:)