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.

The Big Durian

1. What scene in 'The Big Durian' made a n impression on you, and why?

The scene where the Chinese man talk about the rumour of reasons Private Adam went "Amok". It was very memorable because the mentioned a Sultan killed Private Adam's brother. In my opinion, it is consider as a shocking incident.

2. What was rumoured to be Private Adam's grouse (pain)/ reason which lead to him running amuck?

Private Adam's reason of leading him to run "Amok" was rumoured that his brother was killed by the Sultan while accompanying the royal highness on a golf trip. His brother was murdered by beaten to death.

3. A character from Sabah ends her narrative by noting the look on Private Adam's face. What was it that she saw and how does it contrast with her feelings?

She note that she sees freedom on Private Adam's face and she wished she could be like him, running freely doing what she wants to do. She was very envy of Private Adam because she was longing for freedom for a long time. She works in her relative's food stall and depend on them as she came to Kuala Lumpur from Sabah alone.

4. From what historical vantage point is the director viewing the events of 1987? What is the 'present' of the documentary and what is its mood?

The historical vantage point of the director is looking back the issue of the past at 1987. The influence or impact cause by Private Adam's case to the director and society was presented in the film

Liew Kung Yu

In the Petronas Art Gallery, I saw Liew Kung Yu’s work, tittle “Cadangan-cadangan Untuk Negaraku” (Proposal for My Country). They are the large-scale collage hanging on the wall, which consist various pictures taken in Malaysia by Liew Kung Yu. By strolling into the details, every photo taken by Liew Kung Yu builds a connection with his audience as the photos taken were all strongly connected to Malaysian.

The first collage I viewed was the “Konkrit Jungle”. My first impression was Liew Kung Yu is trying to share the information of the animals found in Malaysia and they should be appreciate. The background was all filled with Hibiscus which is the national flower and big scale pictures of animals such as Orang Utan, rhino, horses, elephants, giraffes, goats and many more we pasted around and inside a golden frame. The collage also has pictures of tourist taking and being taken photos. All of them shows a expression how they enjoy visiting Malaysia.

Next, I saw the “Metropolitan Warisan” which was quite hard to interpret at my first sight. I wonder what was Liew Kung Yu trying to tell his audience by all pictures of highways, trains, buildings pasted together. I slowly take a look at the buildings, all of it were signature buildings in Malaysia such as the Prime Minister Office in Putrajaya, Twin Tower, magistrate located in front of Dataran Merdeka and Istana Budaya. It also has pictures of our local brand car, Proton Saga which is one of the big hit now. This collage here has awakened me from not noticing how advanced Malaysia has been, and it actually makes me feel proud. In this collage, Liew Kung Yu has included pictures of tourist again, and it shares the information of tourism in Malaysia.

Next, I went to the next collage, “Pantai Gelora Cahaya”. The first impression to the whole picture was a theme park filled with people who are having fun. The culture and history of Malaysia can be found in this collage as pictures of trishaw, boat, sea, and coconut huts. The pictures of tourist in the collage are all enjoying the viewing and having fun at signature places in Malaysia. This collage here reflects another part of tourism in Malaysia which relates to the nature instead of tall buildings in the city.

Lastly, it was the “Bandar Sri Tiang Kolam” collage. The first look on it was five different areas separated in five circles. In the four circles out of five, it contains pictures of houses, while the last circle only contains pictures of pillars. After looking into the details, the houses in the four different circles represent different categories and classes of housing area and people. There were houses from urban area such as the low cost double story houses and beautiful bungalows. Along the frame of the collage, Liew Kung Yu pasted pictures of people from different cultural backgrounds and field in rows. This gave me a perception of Liew Kung Yu was trying to connect people from different categories and classes into one. This reflects the importance of national integration in Malaysia today.

After viewing all of Liew Kung Yu’s work, I see the idea of patriotism. And just like the name of his art work, “Cadangan-cadangan Untuk Negaraku”, he still telling his audience how to make Malaysia a better place and society. He only uses random photos taken from every where he have been in Malaysia and using the collage, he make us see the whole picture by sticking bits and pieces from Malaysia. Liew Kung Yu’s art work has influenced me by changing my view towards my country and I should be proud of Malaysia.