visiting the pearl after a decade / the second weekend / part 2

cold and cloudy was the sunday air.

but i came back, fresh and bright, the following day. i was about to start the second day of the conference but before i went it, i took a moment to gaze at the rain clouds above me.

and i thought to myself, its always an awesome sight, to see nefarious, menacing monsoon clouds over the far horizon of the ocean, waiting to explode into an uncontrollable tropical hurricane. of course it didn't quite materialize the way i imagined, despite what seemed to will have inevitably happen, ( in fact, it didn't even drizzle ) the sight nonetheless was still captivating to say the least.

but i had better get moving, the day was about to start.



and almost immediately, we got busy.



after being briefed, today we were told that we would be given design tasks and we would do it together in groups. a variety of issues pertaining to idea of creative cities would be the focus of our topics and pretty soon, we got our heads cracking.



and everyone clustered together to get things moving. time was of the essence, cause we didn't have much of it to waste. we had to compose our thoughts quickly, and present our work just as quickly.



lively bursts of discussions and ideas exploded in the air, and manifestations of our limitless creativity were clearly seen all over the walls and all over the floors.



yup, even on the solid, tall romanesque columns and rich, hard wooden floors. spending time with these participants instantly teleported me back to my college days and i quickly realised how much i had missed being part of something this exciting.

an episode from my youth was re-lived, at least for a moment or two.



towards the end of the conference, all of us in the hall had a bit of an intimate session with 2 of the speakers on a more personal level. this

this had gone on for a few hours or so, and soon we had presented our work to the whole conference. one by one we took turns in presenting ourselves, though speeches and sketches, as we shared ideas and explored concepts and we had made friends with ourselves as we continued doing our work.

at the end of it, it truly was as exhilarating experience, making me deeply yearn for my college days all over again.

at the end of the day, once the conference was over, it would soon be evident that we needed to make our way home. after saying goodbye to each other, i had made plans to go back to KL with some of the Thinklab associates later on the evening. but in the meantime, as they were having their private post-mortem session, i had some extra time to spare, and so i walked around for a while on the streets just nearby the venue. a little bit of sightseeing before leaving the island for good.

along my way i discovered a thousand architectural gems, starting with the ones devoted to worship, and this colonial church was the most prominent within this area.



it was some one i had passed last night, but during the day i could appreciate it in broad daylight. built clearly during the country's colonial past, the building had an understated sense of silent dignity about its presence, and its classical structural vocabulary was a delight to witness, but i felt the way the church looked last night was still more appealing, to me at least.



it sat silent and proud in its surroundings, unperturbed by the progress of modernity that had engulfed the rest of its nearby environment. looking at this church almost made me feel like i was stepping back in time for a moment or two.



next, was also this delightfully quaint church, a lovely mix of clean white surfaces and raw red textures, designed for the tropical setting its based at ... its exposed brick wall its best feature, methinks, cause it makes the building look humble and homely even.



and pretty soon, i approach this temple, again the same one i passed last night ... and it seemed yet again, that something was happening, and of course, i step in.



yes, there were lots of people here for prayer, but what really captured my eyes the most was the gorgeous array of suspended red lanterns above me.



they provided sprinkles of beautifully striking contrasts to the dark brown and beige surfaces behind them, and they looked splendid from where i stood.



and flowers from a nearby shop, literally add colour to the streets of the temple outside.



as i walked out of the temple, it was the simpler things around me that caught my attention, beginning with how rich even the floor tiles of the pathways were. an intricate collection of geometric lines and curves, coming together to create a mosaic of shapes and colours, rich in both design and detail, and just around the corner, a deity sits inconspicuously in silence by someone's doorstep, acting as a guardian of sorts to this abode and finally, a poster, pleading for love in a world that occasionally lacks it compassionate presence.

transitional mementos on the streets where i saunter.



occasionally, i would pass by these curious 3D cartoons and caricatures, which were materialized sketches in thin metal showcasing humorous scenes and still vignettes of malaysian life.

art pieces of this nature were both insightful and cheeky, humorous and witty, and served to remind us citizens not to take ourselves too seriously, and enjoy a giggle or two when we look at ourselves. and its surprising insertion by the side of a building, added to its playful appeal to the public.

soon, after walking as much as i could, i decided to head back to the conference venue. i didn't have that much time this time around, and i wanted to see the ocean and take in it wonderful temperance one last time as as i could before we all decided to leave the island and head back home.



so i walked back to the ocean. and as usual, it takes my breath away.



and it was obviously a popular spot with the locals too. human and avian.



after enjoying the sea breeze, i walked back and soon i was greeted by ( initially ) anonymous joyful cheers, shouting out my name, and signalling peace and kawaii hand gestures.

of course, i look up, smiling. "nice,"



and soon, i walk up to join them, and i see, these people know how to have fun. they were pretty much wrapped up with whatever they needed to do, and we started breaking into groups to take the long ride home. i was really fortunate that they allowed me to tag along with them and i could see it was gonna be a lot of fun going home.

but first, lets have something to eat.



after all, it wouldn't have been malaysian of us if we decided not to have one last round at the local mamak, gulping down vast quantities of teh tarik and milo ais, munching on kuey tiau and nasi lemak, island - style, before the 4 hours back home. penang is, after all, famous for its cuisine, so it was obviously the right thing to do before we went home.

makan time, baby.



and so we dined. we feasted. and most importantly, we laughed. oh, what a perfect weekend.



and this was the last shot we took of all us here at Thinklab before finally heading home. i must sincerely thank this young, passionate and determined group of design centric enthusiasts, for having the spirit and tenacity in organizing such an well planned and eye-opening conference.

it really warmed my heart immensely to see that there are people out there, youngsters at that, who care so deeply about design, and the direction the creative industry here in the country was taking, that they were willing to sacrifice their time and effort to raise awareness on the importance of good design principles among both students and professionals alike, in the hopes that we too, as a nation one day, will produce world class designs and stand on par with great cities like Tokyo, New York, London and the likes.

lofty ambitions no doubt, but we've got to start somewhere, and to me, this was that "somewhere". you have my support, that's for sure.

( and soon i would become a part of this collective, although at the time, i didn't know it yet )



once we went our separate ways, a few of us went in one car and took the ferry across the calm straits back to the mainland.



i have to tell you, i really felt like a small kid waiting to go on a theme park ride at disneyland when i saw these ridiculously coloured ferries, all excited, and i just couldn't wait to get on one.



the night was slowly approaching, and the cover of dusk began to envelope the island. penang began to appear distant and foggy, disappearing into grey, lifeless landscape.



and as the mainland becomes clearer, what seemed like a couple of gigantic, towering, yellow mechanical giraffes signified a landmark of sorts that we would soon be disembarking.



and just before we did, i took one last shot of us on the observation deck of the ferry as a group. the big mystery here though was, i just couldn't understand why my relatively well behaved long hair had suddenly turned into a collection of curly maggi mee noodles - like locks in the ocean breeze as were leaving the island! i really dont!

anyway, expectedly the drive back home felt like fun road trip, with us singing and laughing almost all the way, regaling each other with personal experieces more ofthen than not, laced with inside jokes and humour. and one of the girls' ipod was transformed into a mobile miniscule hand held DJ console for the evening and every downloaded song was played from start till finish ... it was a karaoke moment for all us, i assure you.

this amazing weekend had pretty much come to an end when one by one, we had all reached our individual homes. the guy who drove us back was a true gentleman, for having the decency to make sure he took us right to our doorstep from one end of the state to another, before heading home himself at about 1 am, and i salute his kindness for that very reason. right now, all that mattered was my bed once i was dropped off, and tomorrow, it was back to work.

goodbye kawan, i'll see you soon.
all of you.

visiting the pearl after a decade / the second weekend / part 1

thinklab.

i first heard this word quite some time ago in 2009, but the first person i coincidentally met who was actually a member of this collective of dynamic go-getters, gave me a hug and told me she loved me almost immediately after we met. i reciprocated of course, on stage, as the legendary patch adams himself to us to do so after he told the entire audience at this conference to verbally express gestures of love and affection to our fellow men, and women, of course.

yes, i once had the pleasure of meeting the legend himself in KL at GOGM, November 2010, but that was not the only lovely surprise i was blessed with to encounter that day. in essence, i had taken my first step, quite unknowingly at the time, in becoming a part of this collective. and it started firstly for me at a design conference, in the delightful island in penang in July 2011.



which brings me here.



this was the second weekend in a row that i had to come to georgetown, penang after last week's DA + C festival, and this time i came to attend a 2 day design conference organised by a group of young and vibrant talented design enthusiasts.

and eventually i found out, that these guys were on a mission.

a mission to encourage, promote and propagate good design strategies and principles, among the students and professionals involved in the myriad of local design - centric industries in the country.

in other words, my kind of people.

and so the next 2 days were filled with the insights and teachings of several key figures in the design sectors of the local, and international, scene. the panel of appointed speakers were impressive to say the least, consisting of graphic designers, award winning architects, multimedia artists, creative directors, conservation pioneers and creative consultants.

i was truly excited to be a part of this, basking in the brilliance of these well - known designers while spending time on a charming island, surrounded by the seductive elements of sun, sea, sky and sand just around the corner of our venue. i felt deeply grateful.

the first day was structured around the eye-opening presentations given by these prominent individuals in their respective fields, and the second day would be more of an interactive workshop involving the audience.

and so we have the first day ... and these are just some of the insightful speeches of the event.



the architect voicing his concern on the direction of local architecture and its implications for the national populace ...



... the conservation head, speaking on penang's UNESCO awarded status and her hopes for the city in the future ....



... the international graphic designer, speaking on the future of the cities and how we may head in that direction ourselves ... she spoke about the world design capital programme she was a part of and once i realised we had something in common, i approached her to tell her about how i had been to seoul the year before for that very same event.

needless to say, we've been friends ever since.



and the one saying the day was over and another exciting day is just around the corner.



once the crowd started leaving the organizers decided it was time for a break and headed back to they were putting up for the past few nights.



they did decide to come back later at night to prepare themselves for the following day.
i told them i'd join them too.

but till then, it was time for a little sight seeing. it was only about 5pm in the evening, so there was plenty of time to savour the sights and sounds of the streets of the city. and so i began my anticipated walkabout to as many places as i could within close vicinity of the venue.



and so i walked out and i hear the gentle waves of the sea hit against the shore, call out to me.



i guess despite the wonderful pieces of historical and cultural treasure that dot the landscape of the city, penang will always be, first and foremost, known for its sandy beaches and gentle waters.



and irresistibly, that's where i headed to first.



i head along the elevated pathway following the shoreline and feel excited about whats' just around the corner.



and as i walk along, parts of the history of the island seem to come alive. colour and motion in one neatly designed human powered transportation package.



i continued walked along the edge of the shoreline and saw an ocean-centric infrastructure, including places like ferry jetties, waterfront promenades, ship harbours, warehouses, riverside cafes and the likes.



some of these places have been upgraded of course, but their colonial charm remains evident.



clean surroundings with well planned landscapes.



and the appearance of the colonnades of old shophouses being given a refurbished look really adds to the the richness of the urban arena of the area.



i think the general planning of this area was pretty well done, providing both pedestrian friendly and vehicle friendly access points, but i really think we need to find better artists who can make more attractive sculptures ... some of them seem odd and irrelevant placed in their local contexts. yea, i know, art is subjective and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the ones we have here just didn't cut it for me.

collectively, it was obvious that this string of complexes and paths were designed and built to facilitate trade and commerce between the island and its national and international counterparts, reinforcing a historical link between the island's past and its present.



and i approach a clock tower, colonial of course, with anglo-saxon influences. what intrigues me however is the strange sculpture located to the left of the tower. an stretched out orb that seemed sliced in an organised fashion, gleaming in stainless steel. i was told later that jokingly that these sculptures were referred to as "sliced testicles" (!) by the local populace, when in fact was meant to represent the betelnut seed ( pinang ) that the island was actually named after.

oh well, i think i prefer the unofficial name. it seems more apt, somehow ... ouch.

lets move on.



and next to it, a modern edifice, reminiscent of an architectural style from the 60's and 70's, with a strictly designed series of concrete sun-breakers 9 briese - soleil ) formed the main elevation of the building . something modern, but essentially, a blast from a recent past.



at the end of the day though, people who come here to the island would still prefer to see the romanticized version of the city state, a city i suspect they imagine whose streets are lined with rows of classical facades, veneered with layers of european renaissance infleunced ornamentation, amidst a mixture of the colonial and the contemporary.

and the penang council seems to be doing a great job of preserving that particular notion of romance.



i then walk on and i see various houses of worship on my way, all lovingly preserved as part of the rich colonial legacy that brought people of different faiths together in an urban setting that the state intends to preserve and propagate centuries ago.



a soaring minaret calling the faithful to prayer, and a symbolic tower housing a pantheon of gods and goddesses, connected by corridors of rich multi-coloured and multi-shaped collections of geometrically inspired mosaic tiles.

tis' be, the architecture of faith.



and i turn around, and a superstar greets me!

yes, its the one and only mr. rajnikanth, superstar extraordinaire, and he stands smack in the middle in the loud gusty vibrancy that is little india. as thousands of explosive colours drowned out by thousands of indecipherable noises, he flashes his glistening pearly whites in his all too famous smile to every passerby walking through this part of town.

back at ya, man.

after walking around for a while, my ears simply could not take the high volume "music" anymore, and i proceeded to get back to the venue of the thinklab event to see my comrades for the night. plus, it was getting dark and i simply took the same route back to the venue, cause i didn't want to loose my way.



as i i returned, lots of little surprises sprung up in my path.



soon however, i had come back to the chinese temple that i had seen earlier, but now it seemed busier and more frantic than it was this afternoon. curious, i approached the entrance, and i see an audience mildly amused by what was being performed.



a chinese opera. a humble performance to say the least in its size and grandeur, but captivating and intriguing nonetheless.



and the statues of the temple seem more alive at this hour.





getting closer back to the venue, i pass by the church i had earlier seen in the day, but now, as the night had fallen, the walls were bathed with intervals of showers of intense white light, lending an angelic ambiance to the house of the worship.



the distinctively powerful aura created by the artificial illumination seemed to highlight and exaggerate the "sacred personality" of the building in a bewitching play of light and shadow.



its controlled arrangement and usage of bright spotlights on the exterior cleverly brought out the building's more decorative and prominent classical features, arches and columns being the strongest.



and once i passed by the church, i had reached back to the venue, and a hive of gleeful activity greets me as i made my way.



children playing in the fields under the night sky, tourists shrewdly negotiating for rides with the rickshaw man and everyone's got something to munch and snack on.

a typical saturday night by the beach, methinks.



i walk around the vicinity of the park, and i admire the intermittent pearly sparkles of yellow light that adorn the facades of the colonial buildings that glow softly in the night.



the colonial structural language of the venue of the conference was well brought out and highlighted in the dark, and the alluring lighting served to enhance the beautiful ambiance these buildings emanate.












i simply loved each minute classical detail that i saw, gazing at how lovely its form and design was, where graceful arches and sturdy columns, strong bases and sharp pediments abound all over the walls.



i'm not really a classics enthusiast, but i do appreciate and understand of course that these buildings reflect a different time and era in our history, and they had an architectural grace about them was hard to dismiss as simply being old fashioned, irrelevant and forgettable.

and each shot i took of that grace left me temporarily breathless.



at about 11pm, i headed back into the hall of the venue, with the rest of the thinklab members and we began to gather to plan for the following day. but first, a light-hearted moment or two.



working late into the night, i saw these guys preparing for the following day, diligently. materials for the participants being decked out, the agenda being fine tuned, and the spirit of the conference being rejuvenated for another day. silently, it made me yearn for my college days!

once we were done, we all headed back to our separate lodgings for the night for a well deserved rest. and now, to day two.