The Traveller

Dedicated to Izzy, Claire, Marie, Salva, Priscilla, Justus and Catarina,

Inspired by my dearest couch surfers.


Izzy, my first surfer once told us the amazing experience of her Kiwi employer while we were picnicking at Brighton Beach.
Her employer was able to live without any money in his pocket while he was backpacking.
In fact he was working hard and travelling smart at the same time.
Anything is possible as long as we are willing to work hard.


I admire Priscilla's bravery, as she is a real survivor.
 It was interesting to know that she is close to one of her couch surfing host and actually travels with them in New Zealand.
The father of this family is a journalist and the whole family travel all around the globe.
Surprisingly all the children were born in different countries.
What a gypsy lifestyle! Priscilla told me she wants to live like a gypsy as well!


We met Tanit and Jordi in Japan.
They said precious items actually bring burden, if we never own them we never have to worry about their safety!
To be able to live freely without worrying about our precious items is one of the happiest things on earth. Their approach has leave a deep impact in my life.
When we were travelling in Japan, we were rushing to cover as many places as we can and took as many photos as possible -- to keep the memories tangible.
On the other hand, Tanit and Jordi were having a fun and just relax while travelling.
Thanks to them, I have learn to take everything easy, always look around and enjoy my surrounding, instead of busy shooting everything with my cameras.
Learning to let go will conquer the biggest fear in our lives.


The best thing of travelling is to share wonderful stories with family and new found friends.
It's not about showing off, it's sharing!
Just like when Catarina told us there is an Onion Festival in Switzerland every November and baked us a onion cake, we were so grateful to learn about it this way!


We see European backpackers everywhere and I really salute them for their independent personalities.
They worked very hard since they were in their teens and saved all up for travelling.
On the contrary, most Asian are very family dependent and most of us are unwilling to get out from our comfort zone.


So... to step out of my comfort zone look like a gypsy, I am planning to do a dreadlocks like Priscilla's and Justus's!

Tea In The Garden

Mad Hatter: Would you like a little more tea? 

March Hare: Well, I haven't had any yet, so I can't very well take more. 
Red Queen: Ah, you mean you can't very well take less. 
Mad Hatter: Yes. You can always take more than nothing. 

                                                                    

       

We made the props for the Red Queen until midnight, 

then I woke up at 7am to set up the table, tea cups, cookies, red dates, butter, apples and flowers in our courtyard. 
Ran back home excitingly to wake my boyfriend and Catarina up:

" Wake up! Wake up! We have some shooting to do!" 

They laughed and yawned.

I have been wanting to shoot a version of Alice in Wonderland Tea Time Theme at our 

red brick wall with flower bushes courtyard for such a long time. 

Then came Catarina, the perfect blonde model to be my Red Queen!

She was too tall for the red dress - 

like an Alice who drank the potion and became so tall which made the red dress looked so tiny.

Deciding outfits for the Mad Hatter character was a hard one. I gathered all the hats we have, 

put a price tag and a pigeon's feather on it, and matched them with checked outfits. 

I was quite pleased with the outcome.

Some would ask me why there was no Alice in the shoot,

well simply it's because I think that the Red Queen is a more attractive character, 

or simply because I don't have an Alice's custom in my wardrobe...

The Red Queen and Mad Hatter were insanely hungry that they finished all the cookies just after 

I shouted DONE! for the shooting session. Then a Blue Dwarf passed by and joined us for very lovely breakfast prepared by the Mad Hatter under the cozy morning sun-

English muffins, scrambled egg, orange juice, homemade apricot jam, and salad (odd one)..

Thank you all so much for willing to get up early and be my guests-of-honour at the tea! 

Here are some of the behind-the-scene...

              

              

Maysaa The Diva

We planned for something extravagant in her shoot

We took out all her chain bags

All her lingeries and all her bears

We played with the curtain

We light the smoke

To make her a Diva!

Catarina Seiler

A Bruno Dayan inspired album,

A Swiss blonde model with blue eyes,

A series of fashion shoots,

A home production,

A fun experience.

Ms. Zabra

Danee

Mad Bunnies

“But I don't want to go among mad bunnies," Ms Rabbit remarked. 

Oh, you can't help that," said the Bunnies: "we're all mad here. I'm mad. You're mad." 

"How do you know I'm mad?" said  Ms Rabbit . 

"You must be," said the Bunnies, "or you wouldn't have come here.”