An Emotional Journey

A place which leaves you memory is not hard to find, but a place which bring up emotional memory is what we have to achieve for our final project, the emotional journey. It wasn't easy to find a subject at the age above 40 years old with good stories, however I'm glad a I found Mr. Yee Seng aged 66, a butcher working in Salak South market as my subject.

The places he took me to are not well known Malaysian historical spots but indeed have been accompanying him since he was young. It all started where the place he is working now, Salak South Market.

This place has been accompanying him for the last 7 years after they re-furnished the old market he used to work. He has been a butcher for more than 30 years and the market has left him all sorts of memory which he highly treasures.

"This is a place where I meet my friends everyday. There are customers who comes to the market everyday and gradually we became friends. We talk about everything, from politics to family issue and sometimes we even gossip," He giggled as the told me.

As we step into the market, a security guard came to us because the place was close by that time but Mr. Yee's appearance surprised him. They have known each other for a long time and as they meet, they kept non-stop chatting.

As I requested them to take a picture together, Mr. Security Guard was camera shy so I only manage to take a candid shot of them.


"Gerai Khinzir" is the stall where Mr. Yee works. He told me, "Everyday early in the morning at 5am I'll have to leave the house for work. When arriving the market, the sun has not even rise. This routine has been practicing for years."

I asked him, "Isn't it tiring? But all your children has grown up, why do you still insist working so hard everyday?"

He smiled at me and answer, " I'm used to waking up early. My children are all grown up but they have their own career and family to take care of. They won't have much time to spend with me. Coming to work makes me feel happy, I enjoy seeing my friends at the market, we talk and we chat., and sometimes have tea at a nearby coffee shop. When you learn to enjoy, you won't feel that the work is hard anymore."

I was amazed with his answer and I sincerely respect him for such thinking.


Next, we proceed to the Residence Hall at Salak South Village. This hall was build about approximately 10 years ago. Even Mr. Yee couldn't recall how long was it. This is the place where the residents of the village held events and gatherings.




Before Mr. Yee left the village and stayed at Sri Petaling, he has always been attending functions held at the Residence Hall and he loves the atmosphere of people from the same neighborhood gathers together.

"It is happy when you see your neighbors and friends gather together to have fun. Sometimes they have this karaoke sessions for the old folks and I actually took part too! All the laughter filled in the hall is what I missed the most. All my memories here relate to people I care and I love." He said.

What he said reminds me how my residential area used to have gatherings and parties where the women from different units prepare food and the men will help out setting up the place. As for the kids like me, will run around chasing here and there with kids from other units. We always have parties on occasions like Mookcake festival, World Cup Final, charity carnival and etc. But as time passes, people who I know moves out and new people comes in, slowly this tradition is no longer practice by the residents from the same apartment as I am. I miss those days.

Later on, we proceed to our last station where Mr. Yee stayed since he was 10 years old. It used to be a wooden house located in Salak South Village and now is refurnished. His sister is now staying there with her family.




"This house has been here for so long. We were poor at that time, my dad worked as a factory worker and my mother was a house wife. I have 5 brothers and 3 sisters and my youngest sister is staying here now. You could have imagine how big our age gap could be, I'm 66 years old but she is old 45 years old." Mr. Yee told me.

"What memories did this place left for you which makes you felt emotional about", I asked him.

"This is the place I grew up, where I used to spend happy times with my siblings playing around and have fun. We always liked to play with the stray dogs, especially puppies. We will feed and play with them and thiswill just simply make our day!'

"The last memories of my parents were also left here before the left us and to honour them , my siblings and I insist this house will remain here and pass down from generation to generation. My parents worked very hard to bring us up and I love them very much."

It almost made me teared after listening to Mr. Yee. The love and passion in him touches my heart. I could feel how he treasures all the beautiful memory left by his parents. As the eldest in the family, he maintained a good relationship with his family and siblings. He believes a happy family brings luck and happiness.

Mr. Yee spoke to me in chinese, "I am only a butcher as my life may not be as exciting as others but I appreciate my life. As time goes by, the memory from the past plays a important role. Coming back to these places really brings me back in time and memories are all flashing back. Some are happy, some are pain, but they are all indeed bits and pieces of my life."

These words makes me appreciate my life more. It is not important how exciting that your life is, is how you view you life counts. I used to think my life is dull and boring but I've changed my perception. I can live a colourful life too, as long I work for it.

After the interview with Mr. Yee, I understood that emotional memories are not necessary in extreme painful or exciting places. A emotional journey brings you to a place where your heart is emotionally linked to it, and it leaves memories which you will never forget.

Persepolis

It was the first time I came across with a animate movie with such interesting storyline. The movie, "Persepolis" really touches my heart even it is only presented in a very simple back and white sketched animation.

After watching this movie, it reminds me all the stories I've heard about Iran. Stories from different sources, such as internet, magazines and friends. I was already aware about the political and religion issues held in Iran as I watch the movie.

In "Presepolis", the main character, Marjane Satrapi faces political climate changes in her country and how she went through with it. In this movie, I see a strong character standing up for herself creating freedom and tries to free herself by getting out of the country.

When Marjane was small, she has witnessed all sorts of drastic doings by the government and how her loved ones was took away because of war and political issue. In certain extent, it actually triggers my emotions, how could a country be peaceful with such government organization?! Is the acts being done are right? In my own point of view, it is such a sin to punish people who are just fighting for the right of freedom and peace. All the people in the country wants is a peaceful life and no more deaths for war.

Revolutions which occur in the years of 1980s brings high influence to Marjane who was just a small kid and all the issues she was facing could never be understand by me. She lives in under such law and regulation and everyday seems to be dangerous. As she grew up, Marjane was sent to overseas for study because of her strong character of fighting against the law by starting to challenge lecturers in class. She was brave enough to raise her voice on all the issue she disagreed but instead she got herself into trouble. There were so many examples of how people were treated when they go against the government. First it was her uncle who was sentenced to death as he fight for the right for people and go against the useless emperor. And then it was this random girl that Marjane bump into while following her father to meet someone on doing a fake passport. The girl was to be said involved is a group against the government and was sentenced to death. According to their law, virgins are not allowed for death sentence. In such case, she was raped by a random man and hang to death. It shocks me and I would like to stand up to ask, what type of law is this?! Women are being treated as such way as if they are not human? What wrong does she deserve to get rape as in their country, virginity stands a high position?

To care for Marjane's safety before she runs in into another problem, she was sent to Vienna. It was shown how she was stereotype by other people as she starts her new life studying there. Slowly, she begins to disown her own identity as a Iranian. I do understand her as I know living as a foreigner, is not easy to be accept by others. But thank god she later got over with it and shows the true colour of being proud as a Iranian.

In Vienna, she was having a life she would never have in Iran. Her life was encountering all sort of changes term by term and when she lastly fall and couldn't bare the life style there anymore, she thought of her family. She was dumped by her boyfriend and in her mind of view, she has lost everything.

After she returned home, she met someone and fall in love. In a very short time, they got married and the marriage didn't turn out well after about a year. She was encourage for a divorce as it was not well accepted by people in their country but I think she did the right choice. Everyone deserve to have the right on deciding their life, including marriage. I do admire her grandmother's character portrayed in the film, the courage in her was well respected. She inspires me that all of us have to choose our own path and stepping on other people to get away from trouble is not the right thing to do.

I have understand more about Iran revolution after watching the movie. Is not only about how does the revolution affects the country but also each and everyones' life. Our pathways are not decided by others but ourselves.

Our Burmese Days

"Our Burmese Days" is the first documentary I've ever watch. Honestly, documentary may not be highly appreciated by every audience, including myself.
The documentary, "Our Burmese Days" brings audience to a journey involving time and space and the past of a person. It shows a relation between the person who is being interview and also the crew who are doing this interview. As the subject was brought back to the places where triggers their emotion, it develop all sorts of stories from the past to the audience. Example, the subject was brought to the grave yard of people they love, they couldn't hold their tears in front of the camera and spills the emotion.
Besides that, scenes of the subject being so emotional on particular issues are highly take note. This results that audience might think this issue is too sensitive for the audience as it contains special feelings and meanings to her.
The stories start off with the director, Lindsay Merrison interviewing her mother, Sally Merrison who is a Anglo Burmese. She migrated to England when she was young and now she goes back to Myanmar with her brother to tell stories behind history. During the filming process, Myanmar histories and culture was introduced along together with memories which touches Sally. Even small little details may link to her past and people she loved.
Another big issue from the documentary, Sally tries not conceal her true identity of being a Burmese as she felt ashamed but refuse to go further on the topic as questions were asked. She got very emotion and gives a very negative feedbacks regarding such issue.
Overall, despite the quality of filming, the documentary is a interesting topic and it is very informative. It does fulfill the part of bringing the audience to a journey of the subject's past.